Written as a Long Stand Alone (Was written so it can be read with out reading the first story).

Sequel to Dream Once More (Archived at the Sand lot)

Author: T. Claybourne  (t.claybourne@yahoo.com)

AU And Crossover

Rating: Rated R most chapters for violence and Language, some are NC-17 for sexual content

Things are different between Buffy and Spike this time. Before he and Buffy were reunited in Los Angeles, Spike experienced real love but through a strange and tragic set of circumstances he lost the woman he had it with. Who is this woman and what happened to her? Buffy and Spike are starting again but from the beginning. Will their budding new romance survive his old love's re entrance into their lives.

I'd like to thank my Beta Reader Hawera And muses Michelle Branch, Robbie Williams and Evanescence

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Afterglow Chapter 15 Revolution

Don't fight the feeling, relax, oh child the knots in your back because you've been holding on. I feel you when you're reaching out. I'll talk you through the memories, just keep breathing with me. It's time to hold my hand and walk into the revolution..................When you can't keep on keeping on and Everything you lean upon is all but gone, everybody falls sometime but love shines on and on and with love in your eyes and a flame in your heart you're gonna find yourself some resolution Robbie Williams

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Xander and Mia walked side by side. Less than an hour ago they had shared a kiss on the couch but now they were off to the corner pub to meet Faith and Robin. Faith had called and told Xander after the dramatic events at the meeting Buffy and Willow, as well as Giles, had turned down their invitation to join them. Mia had urged him to say yes: she wanted to get to know those two better.

Xander went to sit down while Mia got the drinks. While waiting in line she transferred her two remaining cigarettes and lighter to her back pocket and left the empty pack on the bar. Sliding in next to Xander, she smiled at him. The four of them started to chat. When there was a break in the conversation Mia decided to act. Standing up, she shrugged out of her coat and draped it over her arm.

Holding it out to Robin she said, "Spike gave me this coat. I had it altered a bit, but it's still your mother's. I want you to have it back."

Robin took the coat from her, looking from it to her and back again. "Thank you."

Mia glanced quickly around the table. "I hope you guys understand. I need a few minutes, so I'm going out for some air. I'll be back"

Mia found a wall to lean on. Her mind kept flashing back to the day when Spike had given Emma the coat. The truth was that Mia had held on to it because she had felt as if it contained a bit of both Emma and Spike, and reminded her of her old life. Mia had convinced herself that by altering the coat she could change what it represented, but by giving it away tonight she had let go of the past. She felt lighter. Pulling out a cigarette, she lit up.

"Got another one of those?" Faith asked, as Mia took her first drag.

Mia handed her the other cigarette and lit it for her.

"He doesn't need that coat, you know, and it's not really my style."

"I bet he doesn't have many keepsakes of his mother."

"True: the mission, some weapons....."

"It might mean more to him than you realize then."

"Standing next to you sets all my slayer senses tingling. You were a slayer; you remember they do that around vampires. I gotta say vamps; even souled ones don't usually do such wicked nice things for strangers."

"Haven't you heard? I'm not normal even for a souled vampire."

"Yeah, but it's still weird to see." Faith cocked her head a bit.

"Life on the Hellmouth." Mia said in a matter of fact way.

"You got it." Faith replied, emphasizing her words with smoke from her cigarette.

"There's no angle here, Faith. Listen, Spike gave Emma the coat, and I know how Spike got it so I'm giving it back. If he and Wood didn't have such a bad history he might have done it himself; then again probably..."

"....Not. Spike's going to be so, what's a word meaning more than furious, about this." Faith grinned.

"Don't worry, I'll handle Spike." Mia ground out her cigarette under her foot.

"Let's go in before Xander blows a fuse. He probably doesn't want me spending any time alone with you," said Faith, as she rubbed her cigarette out as well.

"Why's that?"

Faith shrugged. "I see how he looks at you, and it was me who took his virginity." Faith put her arms up hands behind her head. "Between you and me he was actually quite satisfying... for a beginner."

Mia opened the door. "I so did not need you to share that with me.... tonight."

"Oops." Faith put her arms down and her hands in her back pockets. ~ ~ ~ Faith, Wood and Xander started talking about the time they had all fought The First. Mia listened, carefully comparing their stories with what Spike had told her. When they had finished Mia started recounting how Drusilla and Jareth had tried to raise The Master in Angel. She gave them all the details, telling them how she had been hurt by Angel, and then left at the hospital for dead. She was animated and explained things as thoroughly as she could. The others didn't ask questions. It was as if they realized that if Mia stopped, she might never be able to finish. She did finish, though, explaining in detail how she had believed Spike to be dead, and had then lost the will to live; and that her apathy had led to her being caught by Drusilla. Mia told them how it had felt to be drained and then to wake up as a vampire. She went on to explain how she had got her soul back and how agonizing that had been.

"Then they whisked me into a van, and Spike ripped open his wrist to give me something to sate my hunger so that I would not attack the humans who were in the van. After that, well that's another story that I'll have to be much more drunk to tell. Anyone else here want a drink ? I'm in desperate need." She took their orders and stepped up to the bar.

"It's an amazing tale." said Robin.

"But you've heard it before, right, Xander?" asked Faith

"No, I don't think she's ever talked about it before. The people that were there know and they have spoken about it, but she never has."

Robin crossed his arms over his chest. "I've always said that the life of a Slayer is hard and lonely, and this story just proves it."

"How did you get lonely out of that?" asked Faith.

"She and Spike aren't together. The mission came first for her, and then she lost the reason for her whole existence and had to start all over. If that's not lonely, what is?"

"She's got Xander now."

Xander coughed. "That's not really quite true yet."

"Yeah, but I know you, you'll wear her down."

"Thanks, Faith."

~ ~ ~ ~

As Mia and Xander walked home he took her hand. "You were awesome tonight."

"What?"

"The coat: your gesture touched him. He had to hold back tears after Faith left to find you outside."

"He did not."

"OK, but he blinked and stroked it a lot though. Thank you for sharing Emma's story."

"It seemed time to let it all go. Changing the subject now, hey, guess what Faith told me?"

"What?"

"She said she took your virginity."

Xander groaned deeply.

"Cheer up, its good news."

"How can that be good news?"

"Well, if you can handle a Slayer you might be able to handle a vampire." Mia heard his heart beat increase, and smiled.

"Does that mean...."

"Someday."

"As in, when?"

"We will see."

"You're evil."

"Duh, vampire." She laughed.

He pulled her to him and kissed her. His hands spanned her waist and started to move up her back.

Mia responded to the kiss, opening her mouth to him and probing his with her tongue. Feeling little electric shocks just below her stomach, she pulled back.

"You're sure about the slow thing?" breathed Xander.

"At least we need to have a real date first."

Resting his forehead on hers, he sighed. "How about tomorrow?"

"Too soon"

"Then Thursday"

She shook her head.

"Friday?"

She shook her head again.

"Saturday?"

"OK." She leaned in and kissed him again.