I feel the need to point out that it's not as if every fic *should* have Spike, if it's going to be B/A.
I don't think a fic has to be set in 'mystical time' to not have Spike in it. There are some who feel like B/S got it's closure in S7 (the 'love but not in love' distinction) - and that Spike didn't go to Buffy in AtS-5 specifically because he knew that and it didn't need to be said.
I suppose I should note that I'm drawing a distinction... essentially a brief mention of Spike (for "I cared for him but wasn't in love with him / don't want to spend my life with him" purposes) as opposed to extended exploration of those issues.
no subject
I don't think a fic has to be set in 'mystical time' to not have Spike in it. There are some who feel like B/S got it's closure in S7 (the 'love but not in love' distinction) - and that Spike didn't go to Buffy in AtS-5 specifically because he knew that and it didn't need to be said.
I suppose I should note that I'm drawing a distinction... essentially a brief mention of Spike (for "I cared for him but wasn't in love with him / don't want to spend my life with him" purposes) as opposed to extended exploration of those issues.