Of course he's also robbing Buffy of choosing for herself, but I think he saw her choose way back when she gave him the amulet.

I think that is that real difference - Spike is responding to actual observation, to what he's seen of Buffy and what she wants, not just assumptions about them, at some undetermined point in the future. And at this moment, he can't think that he has anything to offer than she needs. Nothing he's seen would suggest that.

echoes of'Smashed' there...

Ooh! I hadn't made that connection. Even better.

My kudos too to kathyh then, too - Harmony's positioning really works perfectly here. I love the idea of the shifting truth-teller role - it's all relative, depending on who's talking, who's listening, what their current state of mind is. Spike has, because of the soul and everythinge else he's been through, become the kind of person who doesn't always speak his mind outright anymore, not the way Harmony does, so who better than she to provide perfect contrast?

And don't you blush, dammit - this is just GOOD. Bask! Bask in the praise. : )