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

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

Afterglow Chapter 22 Blood of the Innocently Evil

We've had our shares of ups and downs, oh how quickly life can turn around, in an instant, it feels so good to reunite with in yourself with in your mind, let's find peace there, when you are with me I'm free... I'm careless... I believe.... Above all others we will fly......... Creed

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Spike stood next to the Aston Martin. It was the first time he'd seen one up close. The only other time he'd seen one of these was on a movie screen. He ran the tips of his fingers lightly down its jet black hood and smiled. Moments ago, as he sat in it, the seats had sunk in around and practically hugged his body. The interior with its black leather and small amount of chrome, even the cigarette pack holder, looked as if it had been designed especially for him. The fact that this model was called a Vanquish wasn't lost on him either. He didn't even have to test drive it. Spike just knew it would handle perfectly, and at the price it sold for ...if it didn't...well the dealer would make sure it did. A salesman had started it for him and he hadn't heard anything that good since he'd fed on a screaming human.

"Are you sure you can afford this?" asked Mia, as she examined the sticker in the window.

"Oh yes, pet, after seeing it... I can't go without now."

"The Volvo S40 was nice, you said so yourself."

"Nice, but this, this is bloody brilliant."

"I have to admit it is the kind of car I picture you in." She smiled at him.

He turned and looked at her. "Why's that, pet?"

"All that black leather, the speed, the mystery, and the fact that it looks like... you...must have had to have stolen it."

Spike chuckled, "The fact old Bond drove one doesn't bother me either. Of course this one most likely doesn't come with rocket launchers. Those are probably special order."

"Oh, that's where I saw it."

"You bloody well did not. You fell asleep and slept through that entire movie."

"I woke up to wipe the drool from my mouth a couple of times."

"You were so busy then, remember? You had University, Wankers & Hart, you were substitute mother, and training the girls every evening, and then... there was me. That was a full time job in itself." He smirked at the last comment.

"God yes, you wore me so thin with your whining... 'Em, you never have time for me. When's my turn? Please warm me some blood? Bring me a beer? Where's the whiskey? Em, you need to do the laundry, I only have one clean black t-shirt left'. It took all my Slayer strength just to get up in the morning. Thank God ...that's over." She grinned, tilting her head a bit.

"Tell me again why I invited... you... on this outing." Spike shook his head.

With a huge smile she shrugged, "You wanted... my opinion."

"Come on; let's go tell the salesman he'll be able to afford to go to Ibiza on his commission check for two months this year."

As they walked by a red car, Mia stopped and looked in the window, then opened the door. "Look at this one, I love it."

"It's a convertible, Em. Not a good investment for a vampire, or in England for that matter."

"Angel had that old convertible before W.H. and in sunny California no less, besides the windows are tinted. Doesn't matter I'm not going to buy a car when I'm not even that comfortable driving here. But this car, it speaks to me."

Spikes eyebrow went up. "And just what is it saying?"

She got in it and ran her hand over the steering wheel. "Mia, you are the shit."

"Really? What does that Volvo over there say?"

"That one says nothing."

"Mia, you know I think maybe you didn't drink enough blood this morning."

Mia looked around to be sure no one had heard him. "Spike, just so you know, the Volvo you thought of buying, it said 'safe and mature' over and over again."

"This, this hearing the cars must be one of those things passed to you by Drusilla."

Mia stood up and leaned to whisper in his ear. "The one you are buying now says, 'Fuck me!' "

"Now I know it was passed to you by her." He grinned and shook his head.

Mia spoke very softly so only he could hear. "When we are not in public, I am so going to hit you, and I mean hard!"

"Promises, promises," Spike grabbed her hand, and they walked towards the desks and up to the first salesman.

"Hello, uh" Spike looked at the salesman's suit pocket and name tag, "Gerald Halstrom. Today is your lucky day. The black Aston Martin... I want you to write an invoice; I plan to drive it away today... paid in full."

Gerald just stared. Mia untangled her hand from Spike's and smiling, she extended it.

"Hello, I'm Mia Taylor, and this is Spike. Ever since the Bond film, Die another Day, that was the one, right Spike?"

Spike nodded.

"....he has wanted to own that car. Well, today's the day."

"Oh, yes. Wait here, please, I'll get the paper work done. How exactly will you be paying, Sir?"

"Corporate Credit Card, it has no limit," replied Spike.

"May I inquire, Sir, which company and would it be British or maybe American? It is hard to tell since each of you has a different accent and..."

"International, Wolfram and Hart."

Gerald walked away and Mia socked Spike in the arm lightly. "You are charging a 255,000 dollar car to Wolfram and Hart."

"Please tell me you didn't just bloody do the conversion to dollars from pounds in your head?"

"No I couldn't do that... it's only an approximation. Well, okay, it's an extremely close approximation."

Spike shook his head. "Somehow, in these last few months that sodding irritating trait of yours was one thing that was easy to forget. You know, the one where you add massive sums in your head while I'm still just writing the first digit down."

"I don't do it on purpose," Mia frowned. "I forgot how you hated it. You did see how I tried to cover it up, right?"

Spike smiled. "You did try, I'll give you that. It is still as unnerving as it always sodding was, though. In answer to your question, yes, I bloody well am charging it to them. It's their bleeding fault I need one in the first place. I mean, amulet burned me up and amulet brought me back, so yes, I think they owe me."

Mia cocked her head. "Well actually, that sounds very logical the way you put it. Angel has an entire garage of vehicles. The least they could do for you is buy you this one."

"Thank you!"

"And me that little red one."

Spikes scarred brow arched. "Wait, you are going to let me charge that Masarati on this card for you?"

"Is that what it is, a Masarati? I always thought they were bigger and more angular? Oh, now that I think of it, it is a Ferrari I was picturing. And yes, I'm going to let you charge it. I figure, no Harmony and Jareth as employees, no Master seeking to rise in Angel, no me having to save his ass, so there would be no me dying and rising as a vamp, no me leaving my life in L.A. and no me coming here and needing a new car."

"You sounded a bit like Fred there, the way it ran together pet, but it's true."

"That'll be just under half million on that card. Do you think we can get away with it?" She grimaced.

"Hell, its still night time in Los Angeles, so we will have possession of the cars before their morning, and what can they do then?"

"But we will be using Wolfram and Hart money, blood of the innocent."

"The money they collect is actually from the evil and guilty."

"Well, there is comfort in that."

Gerald came back and sat down. Spike sat across from him.

"Got any thing to drink, Gerald?"

"Tea?"

Spike shook his head. "Something a bit stronger maybe? The Lady here has agreed to let me make your month... if not year. Seems we will be buying that little red convertible Masarati out in front."

Spike flipped the credit card on the desk.

Gerald's face fell. "Instead?"

Mia leaned forward. "No, as well."

Gerald sat still and blinked several times. "So you would like to buy today the Masarati Grandsport Spyder and the Aston Martin Vanquish."

Both Spike and Mia, nodded

"We have champagne for the customers." Gerald suddenly looked like the Cheshire cat.

"Get your papers, call your wife, and tell your manager we are insisting you join us for the champagne," beamed Mia.

"It's boyfriend."

"Well then, call him," she winked.

Gerald took the card and while he went to gather more papers he had an assistant deliver two flutes of champagne.

Spike crossed his ankles and put his feet up on the desk.

Mia leaned back in her chair, crossed her ankles and put hers on Spike's. "Stealing cars and drinking champagne, all before noon. What a life. I never knew it could be like this."

"What's bloody gotten into you, pet?"

"I don't know? Think it's the dem...."

"Sir, there is an angry gentleman on the phone for you." Gerald frowned as he started to hand Spike a phone.

"The game's up," sighed Spike.

Mia stood up and took the phone from Gerald. "I'll take this one. She walked to the doors of the showroom.

Gerald sat down across from Spike. "I suppose that it's a good thing I didn't call Bradley."

"That might be true if I'd taken the phone, but with her on it you'll very likely see that commission check, mate. She's taken him down before and she'll do it again. Shit, I might even get to keep the card. I was thinking that a close to half million dollar purchase was pushing it... even for me, but for her..."

"You two work together for that company?"

"I guess you could say that. We handle special projects for the CEO., and we've saved his hide from time to time. And she is very good at what she does."

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

"Angel?"

"Hello? I thought this would be Spike. Who is this...Emma?"

"It's Mia now. Isn't that the thing to do? Your name changes when you vamp? Your's did, and Spike changed his. It's practically a family tradition, right?"

"How are you?"

"Blood-drinking, sun-avoiding vampire. You?

"Pretty much the same as you. .So, London? How is it there?"

"Not as grey as they say and hard to get around without a car."

Angel cleared his throat. "You were buying a car with that card? What kind?"

"Masarati. Both Spike and I were buying a car."

"Well, I knew Spike was doing something with it."

"And you were mad? Boy, that actually surprises me," Mia said sarcastically.

"Well, what kind of car was Spike going to buy? Corporate accounting alerted me to a three hundred and forty thousand dollar charge." Angel sounded tired.

"Just an Aston Martin Vanquish," She made it sound like an everyday purchase. "Why don't you ask how he is after he saw me?"

Angel sighed. "How is he?"

"Pain in my ass."

Angel chuckled, "I can identify with that feeling."

"He is sporting a wicked broken nose. It looks like he had a nose job; you know bruises up into his forehead and all around the eyes."

"Who ....Your doing?"

"Well, yes... of course."

"How's Buffy?"

"Oh," sighed Mia. "It seems Buffy knew I was here for two weeks before they came and never told Spike. He ran across me on his own. There was a big argument, and this time he broke it off with her. Spike has moved into his own apartment and started to work for the Watchers' council. He says he doesn't love her but ..."

"You know him and you know otherwise."

Mia sat down on a step. "Angel, things are so strange. Spike and I, we, I don't know how to explain what we do, we can spend time together, we laugh, we tease, we fight, I want to kill him, I want to hug him, he says things that make me cry. It's all so crazy. And last night when Xander pointed out that I was in love with him..."

"Xander pointed out you were in love with Spike?"

"No, with Xander."

"You're kidding. You are in love with Xander? Xander Harris?" Angel sounded very surprised.

"Please do not start. And why did you say it like that? It doesn't matter. You know, I did not plan to fall in love again until I was at least 65. I figured I'd be mature enough to handle it by then, but anyway Xander pointed out some facts that made it clear I was in love with him. I freaked out and where did I go...Spike. Why would I go there after everything? Wesley wrote to tell me what happened after I left. And even knowing that, I went there ranting to Spike about being in love with Xander."

Mia closed her eyes and pictured Angel in his big chair behind his desk. He always looked so unapproachable there. She couldn't understand how was it that she had just spilled all this information to him. They were never friends. Mia had stabbed him with a plastic stake once and beaten the hell out of him another time. Angel had always acted as if he cared, but she had never felt close enough to get personal with him.

"You still love Spike."

"No I don't. I mean, how can I with the Xander thing?"

"Same way I will always love Buffy, even though I loved Cordy, and feel something for Nina."

"I don't get it."

"Neither do I. It's just there. It never goes away. It changes into something easier to bear, but it's there."

"Do you ever think that you and Buffy will...?"

"All the time. I think maybe one day it will be the right time for us."

"But you loved someone else. Did you think it then?"

"Not everyday, but sometimes when I remembered a look, a scent or a word that Buffy had said. "

"So you're saying that is how it will be for me ? But the pain of it, I don't know if I can. How can either of us."

"Well, I guess it might be easier for both of you if you were driving some really hot cars."

"Angel, did you just say driving some really hot cars? Because it sounded a little out of charac... Wait, I can't say that. I was never around long enough really to know you. Just so you know, I was planning to steal the car, but not so much from... you... as from the company. I figured they owe Spike and me. We each kind of got screwed by them or their employees."

Angel didn't say anything for a minute.

"Angel?"

"I don't think I heard you, because if I did... this wouldn't really qualify as theft. I'll have Gunn shuffle papers to cover it. Seeing as Spike has decided to put you through the theft portion of his vampire training program, I won't interfere. However, no matter what he says, you keep that card afterwards, Mia."

"Angel, I know this sounds strange and a little out of character for me, but can I call you? I mean, you have been through so much and some is a bit similar to what I am going through. Would that be alright?"

"I'd like that, but just let's try for after six in the morning here."

"It's just that during the day you're so busy ..."

"I'll tell Harmony to put you through and hold calls once she does."

"I really don't like her. Could you tell her not to engage me in conversation?"

Angel chuckled. "I'll make that clear too."

"Thank you."

"I look forward to a call."

"OK. Bye"

Mia stood and gave the thumbs up to Gerald through the window.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Mia leaned back in the leather seat of the Vanquish. She rolled down the window and let the wind whip through her hair. She was bothered by what Angel had just said about her always loving Spike. She didn't want to think that this thing with Spike was going to go on forever. Maybe she would be different because it was Emma who had been in love with him not her. But Mia was still a lot like Emma; sometimes it seemed as if the only thing that made her different was the demon, and how she gave into it. And give in to it she did, like today, with the stealing of her car. She smiled and almost felt warm about owning that car. Yes, Mia, you are the shit. She stuck her arm out and let the wind blow over it.

"Awfully quiet over there, pet?"

"Just enjoying our thievery. This is almost like sex."

"I'm bleeding going to pretend that you didn't just say that."

"Okay, comes a close, um forth."

"That's sodding better, so... what's actually second?"

"Wouldn't tell you if I knew, but third is a really good fight where I get to rip a demon's head off and throw it bleeding against a wall to go splat like an egg."

"That's my girl."

"Don't call me that please."

"Right, that's... Xander's girl"

"Spike!"

"It doesn't really count as thievery when you talked him into it."

"I didn't actually do that. I just followed your logic to point out why we were using company funds for the purchase."

"Right and Grandpa folded, was all repentant like?"

"Actually, he didn't say much."

"So why were you on the phone with him for so long?"

"We were discussing the advantages of different weapons," Mia grinned.

"Bollocks."

"Angel believes the use of a broad sword is essential in the fight against demons while I like my short sword, for maneuverability."

"You are full of shit, you were not..."

"I mentioned a rapier," she added, with an innocent-sounding voice.

"You bloody well know you did not discuss weapons."

"Alright, this is embarrassing and he will kill me and make me into a huge pile of dust for telling you, but we talked about our favorite Monty Python movies. His is the Holy Grail and mine is Life of Brian, although I admitted that I love the part in Holy Grail with the Dark Knight."

"You expect me to sodding believe that Peaches actually knows who Monty Python is. I know I am a blonde, but it's bleached, not natural."

"OK, you got me. We didn't talk about Python but Tennyson."

"For some bleeding odd reason you are avoiding this question. That leads me to believe that the conversation was about yours truly."

"Only a little. I mean, you were trying to sneak a charge for a quarter of a million dollar car past him, one that the power of my persuasion made sure you are driving right now, and you haven't even thanked me for it." Mia crossed her arms over her chest.

"What did you talk about?" Spike changed gear, which served to emphasize his question.

"Why do you have to know? Oh, look at the time. We have to go back now, or I'll be late for my Slayer class. Plus, you promised you would call Xander and that you two would coordinate picking up my car. That would be my Masarati, my 'Mia, you are the shit' car."

Spike did a three-point-turn, and headed back towards London. "You talked about me, didn't you?"

"Spike, please listen carefully as I will impart some wisdom that will help you in the coming years. Listen, here it comes..... Are you listening? ...... Not everything is about you."

Mia shifted in her seat and looked his direction. "But right now this very beautiful, no, I think... sexy.... is better word... car is all about you. Every time you get in it.... it will be about... you, and no one else. OK, the fact that you have those tiny passenger seats in the back is a little strange, but still, what you put in them is about you."

"You bleeding talk so pretty, I've almost forgot about the initial discussion, and then your disguised insult."

"I know. I used to be on the debating team in high school, remember."

As they drew closer to the training center Spike changed gear and the car's engine hummed.

"It's a beautiful sound isn't it, Spike, even here in town. I hope my car sounds as pretty."

Spike rolled up her window.

"Hey."

Spike looked at the sky through the windshield. "Did you bring your umbrella? I don't see your coat."

Their day had been so nice that Mia didn't really want to explain about the coat. She would have to pull her old vinyl coat out from the bottom of her duffle under the bed when she got home tonight.

"My umbrella is in my bag in the back seat. But it's still grey"

"The clouds look as though they may break, and I'm not really ready to see you burst into flames just yet."

"Rolled up the window to save the paint job, right?"

Spike pulled to the curb. "I can get a new paint job. We got the full package insurance remember."

Mia got her bag from the back and put up the umbrella as she got out and walked around to the curb. Spike rolled his window down.

He gave her one of his smirks. "Mia, you are the shit, or as we would say here, the dogs bollocks."

Mia laughed a little and leaned over, using the umbrella to protect Spike and herself, although there was no sun yet. "Dog's bollocks, Ok I could... but, no, just doesn't have the same ring to it. I don't know if you noticed this, but....you.... have made me smile all day."

Spike shook and then cocked his head. "I guess you're right. So what does that mean?"

"I don't know what that means... and.. I only hit you twice."

"You only hit me twice but it is still daytime and there is a class to share left, so that means absolutely nothing. You'll find a reason before tonight. It seems like you are always hitting me. It is one of the many differences between you and Emma."

"Well, you always seem to give me a reason."

"I bloody well have not given you reasons to hit me, you..."

"Spike, will you please take my car to my house... please?"

"I'm not letting... him drive it."

"Fine."

"I'm taking it on the highway to see how it compares."

Mia closed her eyes. "You owe me a night out then."

Spike's eyes got wide, but then narrowed.

"That little game ended, when you left me."

"I figure you blatantly slipped back into being a selfish ass then..."

"Did you just call me a selfish ass?"

"Did you have a problem with the selfish, or was it the ass part? Spike, you will not be self centered around me. When you are, just like when we were in L.A., you will owe me a night out."

Spike sat back and tapped his fingers on the steering wheel. His eyes narrowed and moved from side to side. His jaw tightened. He sat like that for a few moments and looked her direction.

"Mia, let's just do a little adding up, you're the one good at that. Who's sofa did you spend the night on, who played interference with Xander, who put that Masarati on their nicked credit card and who is assisting with your Watcher's training class?"

Mia looked off for a moment and then back at him. " So then, in actuality you are pointing out that I'm the selfish ass."

Spike's eyebrow rose.

She leaned down and put her arms on the car door. " I agree, you're right, I am, a big huge selfish ass. After every thing you did, it's me who owes you the night out. Do you also want me to try and feel guilty or just let you be the first one to drive my car on the highway?"

Spike grinned. " I'll bloody well let you do that, but best you remember that you're no more civilized than me... vampire."

She grinned back, "I'll try and remember that...if you will."

With a smile Spike said. "Oh, I bloody well have a feeling you won't ever let me sodding forget that you aren't."

"You're probably right. Should I apologize now, or just say goodbye?" She leaned in and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek.

"What was that for?"

Mia shrugged. "I may be a vampire but I still have that soul." She turned and headed for the building.

Spike chuckled and shook his head. He had chosen to work with her and now it sodding would never be boring, that was for sure. He watched her as she walked into the training facility and thought how, although she was very different from Emma, there was enough of her there for him to care. She was right: they'd had what could be termed fun today. What the bloody hell that meant, nobody knew. Friends? Could a vampire have friends? Bleeding soul always confused things.