Actually what I understand from the interviews of the cast and crew. Joss wants to makes things difficult for the relationship between Buffy & Spike, I mean Buffy does truely love Spike the same way she loves Angel. It all became so twisted and confusion between the characters. However what, I watched from Sarah's view on the interview of the final episode of Season 7 saying that her character does still love Angel and she cares for Spike a loyal companion for her.

I know it sounds so unfair for Buffy & Spike. But Sarah does want her fans to understand what she understand on the show. She did in fact made a wonderful quote:The thing about Buffy and Spike is that they understand each other in a way that nobody else understands her. They've both lived a hundred lives. And I think we'll see over the next couple of years she'll learn that he's someone who she can trust, who is a companion to her... (Sarah Michelle Gellar).