I know these are really annoying and I'm sorry. But I'm kinda desperate to find these two stories. If you know them or the author comment or PM me and let me know. I'll delete this once I've found them. Please?
After Buffy dies and comes back, she doesn't start her destructive relationship with Spike. He becomes her best friend and they get really close. It takes you from after she comes back until the very end of the series. And at the end of the story, when spike is wearing the amulet, I think he gets his soul (I don't remember that part) but Buffy cuts the amulet off of him and they run to the bus. Then they go to LA and see angel. Eventually they get together and decide to leave together because Buffy's tired of being the Slayer and there's thousands of them.
It was season 7 AU I believe. From what I remember, Buffy has a dream of some kind that her mom and maybe Tara are in and they tell her that she need to be stronger in order to defeat the first. She has spike turn her into a vampire in order to do that. I don't remember much else in specific detail. I think Tara comes to talk to them and gives them insight. But mainly Spike is helping Buffy through the transition and helping her understand everything and they get closer. Eventually they end up together and they defeat the first. I appreciate any help I can get in finding this!