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

Chapter 23 Everything You Deserve

Through the darkness I can see your light And you will always shine And I can feel your heart in mine Your face I've memorized I idolize just you I look up to Everything you are In my eyes you do no wrong I've loved you for so long And after all is said and done You're still you After all You're still you You walk past me I can feel your pain Time changes everything One truth always stays the same I believe in you Although you never asked me to I will remember you And what life put you through Josh Groban

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"Do you prefer a single handed or double handed grip, Miss Taylor?" asked Vincent, with a background of tittering.

Mia closed her eyes and took a deep breath. This was his sixth gibe, following on the heels of two instances where he had touched her in inappropriate ways. How was it that she hadn't noticed it before? She bit her lip until she tasted blood. Licking up the drop of blood, she opened her eyes. She smiled and dropped the axe to the floor with a thud. "Everyone, put your weapons away and take a seat."

"Awe, me and my weapon were just getting started."

Mia watched as Spike walked silently, axe in hand, and slammed it flat side hard against Vincent's crotch. She saw Vincent flinch. Spike grabbed the boy's axe.

"Let me help you with that, mate."

Spike then took both the weapons and deposited them in the weapons basket. Mia noted that Vincent seemed to be walking a bit uncomfortably.

"Mr. Giles has informed me that this Saturday will be another free Saturday. Tomorrow I have a few handouts on weapons to go over and that's it, so come in street clothes. NO TWEED!"

There were some laughs.

"I mean, come ready to start your Friday night. Chinatown isn't far: plan on getting out of here early. Matter of fact; impress this American with that European flair. Except you, Dawn, you just show off some of those European clothes. I plan on letting you out of here early but before that you should be in student mode. I need you to dazzle Mr. Giles and a few others who have chosen tomorrow to evaluate my class. Thank God they won't see the physical stuff; that still needs so much work. Review the work sheets from past classes tonight. All right, see you tomorrow."

Dawn came over to Mia. " Miss Taylor, may I talk with you?"

"Is something bothering you, Dawn?" asked Mia.

"I thought you should know, I saw Vincent touch your boob...ah breast."

Mia closed her eyes and put her head back for a moment.

Dawn put her hands on her hips. "I'm surprised that Spike didn't throw him across the room today. I think he almost changed to bumpies once."

Mia looked at Dawn with a wan smile and said, "Vince hasn't touched you, has he?"

"No. He whistled once, but..."

"Spike was extremely restrained today. He knows that I have to take care of this... myself ...and that I am very capable of dealing with it. Don't worry about the situation: I will take care of it. I realize now that I've let it go on too long. See you tomorrow, Dawn."

"Buffy's coming tomorrow."

"I know, I'm looking forward to introducing her to everyone."

"Does Spike know?"

"He will."

Dawn gave a short wave and walked out.

Spike came back from carrying the weapons basket into the locker. "What time do you expect Faith and Wood?"

"Not for over an hour. You can go home and change if you want."

"That's not necessary, I brought a change of clothes with me."

Mia burst into a huge beaming grin. "I've been dying to ask, what the hell is that on your feet."

Spike looked down and then back at her. "You bloody well know what they are."

Mia squatted, touching his footwear, and said in a serious voice, "Spike, these appear to be white, leather, with white stitching and they have several stripes, real stripes on them. I also notice white rubber soles and white shoe laces. Here in England they call them trainers. In America I believe they are called tennis shoes."

Mia's voice suddenly became breathy with the laughter she had been holding back. "You are freaking me out. I am really afraid right now, looking at those things on your feet."

"Shut the bloody hell up; and their real name is cross trainers."

Mia stood up and put her ear to his chest. Her voice serious, she said, "Nope, still silent."

She looked up at him her brow knitted. "Did something happen while I was training the Slayers, something terrible, something that would cause you to shop for and then buy and actually know the name of those things?"

"I fit into your class, din't t I?"

Mia smiled. "Even with that huge bandage on your nose, you did. The black tracksuit looks nice, but that is scaring me too. Oh no, you bought more outfits, didn't you?"

"A couple of stylish training outfits for when I start teaching." Spike crossed his arms over his chest.

Mia gave a big dramatic shiver.

"What?"

"Nothing. As I said, it is just all so frightening." She had a look of mock horror on her face.

"Shut it."

"How did you buy those? Angel made me take away your credit card, and you would never spend your own money on something like that."

"I nicked Gunn's before I left."

Mia laughed, but her face became sober as she saw Xander approaching.

"I'll just disappear into your office, pet."

"No, stay."

"Better for the two of you to work this out alone."

"It might be safer for him if you stay."

Xander walked towards Mia. "We need to talk, Mia."

"No, Xander, enough was said."

"I said it wrong."

"You have to leave me alone. I can't do this."

"Can't or won't?" Xander asked, as he stood opposite her.

"Don't push me."

"Or what, you'll hit me, like you did Spike? Go ahead." Xander took off the jacket he wore and threw it to the ground. "Go ahead, I'm ready. Let's fight. I don't care... send me to the hospital, or even the morgue. It would be better than the alternative."

"Xander, stop being so melodramatic. Besides, I'm not going to fight with you. I don't want you to get..."

"Hurt? That's what this about, right? You're afraid you'll hurt me. Of course, maybe it'll be me that hurts you, did you think of that? Did they tell you the story of how I left Anya at the altar? Our family and friends were all there and I walked away from our forever. True story, right, Spike?"

"I'm not bloody listening to you two. I'm only here because Mia asked me to stay."

Mia looked at Spike. "No one told me about it."

"Its true, pet."

"It doesn't matter, I can't..."

Xander grabbed her by her shoulders. "You mean you won't, and if you end things now because you're afraid, which is ironic, you being a vampire chick, then how will we ever know? At least let's go into it slowly, with our eyes open to the past and knowing what could happen in the future."

"Xander?" Mia searched his one eye, and felt tears pricking in her own two. "I just can't say those words, not yet."

He pressed his forehead against hers. "When you're ready will be soon enough. I've seen that look in your eyes before. Please don't cry. I'm ready to say the words now, so here goes... I...."

Xander watched her eyes widening and she started to shake her head back and forth

"So you aren't ready to hear them either? Alright, I can wait awhile to say them, too."

She seemed to relax. He took her in his arms and hugged her.

"I so want to say the words right now, but I am not. Notice how I'm not."

Suddenly she pulled away and pointed to Spike's feet. "Look what Spike's wearing. I think it's a sign of some evil afoot.... Ha, I made a pun and I didn't even mean to."

"And that, my friends, was a change of subject at Spike's expense. Great PE classes, Spike! What is that get up you have on?

"You two are so bloody funny. You know what Harris..." Spike ripped off his bandage. "This is healing very nicely, but you need to be careful or you may find yourself on the receiving end of one yourself."

"You're forgetting about Mia here."

Mia's eyebrows came together. "Are you saying that you think you can say anything to Spike with impunity because I'll protect you?"

"I think I was, wasn't I?"

"Bloody hell!" Mia spit out in an exasperated tone.

Spike and Xander both stared at her, surprised at her reaction and use of words.

"Xander, you cannot insult Spike thinking he will just accept it as if he were a human: he's not. That's not in our nature, no matter whether we have a soul or not. Insult equals challenge. I'm surprised you haven't been drained by now from the stories I've heard."

Then she smiled. "I'm glad you weren't, but I'm surprised. The vampire part of us can only take so many challenges before we rise to them. So no, you can't hide behind my skirts. You'll have to take it like a man if you mess with the beast."

Then she turned to Spike. "You do know that if he is ever really hurt, if he has to go for more than just stitches you will feel it ten fold."

Spike just nodded in her direction.

"OK now, Xander, what did you think of my new car?"

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Spike stood in the middle of the mat. He wore his jeans, t-shirt and boots. Mia in a black tank top, low- riding jeans and low-heeled boots stood in front of him with her back facing his chest. Spike grabbed her, pulled her head to stretch her neck, and went in for a bite. Mia took a quick step back, placing a foot behind his ankle, threw her head into his chin and then pulled her foot forward. Spike went down on one knee. Mia started to run, but he grabbed her ankle.

"Damn it. I have to figure a way in this move to get the vamp onto all fours so they can't grab."

Spike let loose and Mia sat on the mat next to him.

"Maybe if you hook the human's leg all the way behind up to the knee," he suggested.

"That'll put them too close, and the head won't have the space and get the velocity to connect with the chin hard enough."

"We could teach them to throw a kick straight to the mouth, maybe knock out a fang once they are down."

"I'm not about to test that on you and your fang, and where are we going to find a vamp to play guinea pig?"

"I know a few places..."

At that point Faith and Wood walked into the main training room. Mia stood up and gave Spike a hand up to join them by the bleachers.

"Hey, strangers," greeted Faith with a smile.

"Faith, pet, how have you been?"

"Five by five, but a bit bored. No vamps or demons in this town to play with. Except you two; that's why when Giles said you were willing to spar I was like... yeah."

" Always up for a bit of rough and tumble, aren't you Faith?"

"You bet ya. Seems by the look of your nose you've already had some."

Spike glanced at Mia. "A bit."

Spike made eye contact with Robin, "Wood."

"Spike, look at you, once the big bad become savior of the earth. Didn't you train this one?" He motioned to Mia. "Well, from what I've heard she's surpassed you, even as a vampire. So here you are, aide to the teacher of these wannabe Watchers... oh how the mighty have fallen."

Mia glanced at Spike and saw his jaw flex and tighten. She brushed the back of his hand with hers. He glanced at her, saw her look and nodded.

"Mr. Wood, before we get started let's get something straight. I am the only person allowed to make Spike's life miserable." Mia looked over and saw Spike smile at that.

"As for you using me to get at him in any way, it won't ever happen again. Just to make some things clear to you, I'll give you a little vampire lesson. Only one vampire in history sought out and killed two slayers, cut a swath across Europe along with the Scourge, got his name from the way he killed, is famous enough to have twelve books written about him, and 2345 mentions in the Watchers' archives. Spike is the only vampire to pass the lurker demon trial to earn a wish, his being his soul. That very soul saved yours and all the others that day in Sunnydale. This vampire, who had her soul forced into her at her rising and who has never tasted human blood, doesn't even rate as a vampire compared to Spike."

Spike put his hand on her shoulder. "That's going a bit far, pet." Mia took his hand in hers and then moved it to her side where she continued to hold it.

"He's the teacher and I just hope I get a chance to learn everything he has to teach. All I do is to pass it on to the Watcher wannabes. You... have gotten... everything... you deserve... from Spike. So what you just said is you talking out of your ass. I'll let it go this time but if you continue to use that part of your anatomy to speak with, well then you'll learn first hand the power of a Slayer made vamp. That power got kind of bloody for Spike," said Mia as she pointed to Spike's nose.

Wood stepped back and looked over to Faith, who just crossed her arms. "Don't look at me like that. I am not on your side in this. I saw Spike burning up inside the Hellmouth. I like it better this way."

Wood turned to Mia. "I'm sorry. That was rude of me."

"It wasn't me you were rude to," said Mia, lifting an eyebrow.

Wood watched her reaction and shivered inwardly at its similarity to one of Spike's expressions.

He looked Spike in the eye. "I apologize."

There was silence. Mia looked up and saw Spike's jaw set. She took a step and put her heel onto the toe of his boot until she felt him squeeze her hand, then she stepped back off.

"I accept." he gritted out.

In a cheerful voice reflecting nothing of the recent exchange, Mia said. "OK, I have the plans for tomorrow in my office. Come on in, let's have a beer."

Mia put her arm around Faith's waist and led her in. Faith let her as if it were completely natural.

Spike and Robin walked in behind them.

"She'd do it, wouldn't she," commented Wood

"Hurt you? Sure she would. She wouldn't even give it a second thought. She'd probably feel guilty afterwards 'cause you're human, but it wouldn't stop her."

"There's something about her, ...something I can't....

"I always thought she had something even before she was a vampire."

"Everything changed for you two when that happened. Strange, she seems rather protective of you now."

" You felt that, did you? She had that before she turned too. She has a scar to prove it in the middle of her chest."

"It amazes me she loved...you."

"Obviously not enough. It didn't stick."

Wood shook his head. He had heard Emma's story. He knew enough about psychology to know there was a lot more to why she had left the Spike than she had ever told anyone. He liked seeing Spike suffer so he wouldn't tell him that the reason Mia had left probably wasn't because she didn't love him enough as she was now, but that after she had become a vampire she didn't think she deserved his love. Seeing Spike hurting, well, that made Robin happy . ~ ~ ~

With the arrangements for the demonstrations had been finalized they left, Spike carrying their gym bags. As they walked out, there at the curb was Xander, leaning on Mia's car.

Faith whistled. "Xander, nice wheels."

"Wish I could say they were mine but..."

"They're mine." Mia jumped up and down. "Xander brought my new car for me to drive home."

"The council doesn't pay that good," said Wood.

"Mia earned this from her last employment. Saving the bleeding CEO's life had something to do with it," volunteered Spike.

"Oh, Angel bought it for you. Damn, all I got when I saved him was that I nearly died, and a thank you," said Faith.

"You weren't vamped for your trouble, pet."

"True. I guess that's worth a convertible."

"And it's nighttime: no deadly rays so I get to drive with the top down. Spike show them the Vanquish," Mia grinned.

Spike pulled the cover off his car. Xander, Faith and Wood just stared.

Xander spoke first. "Bond? Was it on Bond?"

Mia supplied, "That's what saving the world, then being brought back will get you."

Faith asked." Does Buffy know because..."

"Wait, let me re-word that. That's what a quarter of a million dollars, saving the world but being brought back by an evil law firm will get you. I get a $70.000 one for the CEO, and Spike gets the $255,000 one for the world. "

Faith turned to Wood. "Honey, I'm thinking we should do a stint with Angel in L.A."

"Did you just call me honey in public? Tonight's women are scaring the hell out of me all over the place."

Faith hit him in the arm.

"Hey, we talked about using your Slayer strength on me that way! Come on, let's get in our rented car and go back to our boring hotel," said Wood.

Faith grinned and raised her eyebrows at him. "OK, but boring? ...please."

Xander was still at the curb so Mia turned to Spike. "Spike, about today: thank you."

"That thing you did with Wood, that was bloody brilliant. I got a tear in my eye. Are there really over two thousand references?"

"I don't know," grinned Mia.

He gave a quick chuckle. "Like I said, you talk pretty."

"He pissed me off and we both know that's dangerous."

Spike touched his nose. "Some of us more than others. In his defense, he knew me before I got the soul."

"He didn't know you. He saw you fight with his mother and he knew she went away forever after that. I have read every book about William the Bloody and the Scourge of Europe in the Watchers' library. At Wolfram and Hart I read reference material that Wesley got very flustered and upset. It was stuff that was so graphic it wouldn't make it on any type of movie screen at any rating. And that was while we were together. I can figure out who you were without that soul. Who you are now has nothing to do with that thing you were. Wood needs to try to get on with this part of his life, let go of the past. It's time he saw who you are now."

"Sometimes Em the things you say and the way you say them , it makes...

He pulled her into a hug. When he released her he smiled. "I don't bleeding know what possessed me to do that."

Mia gave him a pensive look, "Three major in public hugs in less than six months. This is serious. " She waited a moment, then smiled as she flicked her eyebrow up quickly.

"Three ? This only makes two, and one of those was after you came back from the dead so that one shouldn't count." Spike crossed his arms over his chest as one brow lifted just slightly.

Mia's eyes softened. "I remember...... Lorne came to get me at the hospital. I was there after that arrow Angel was trying to kill you with pierced my chest. You all thought I was dead because the First Evil appeared in my form to you. That happened because I died on the surgery table for three minutes, but you had left there believing me dead. Lorne told me everything and brought me back to the Hyperion. You hugged me so hard that not only were you close to breaking more bones but I almost cried out from the pain of the recently fixed ones. I didn't because the only thing I could think was how I would willingly go through it all again just to know that you were actually there, arms around me, and not made dust by the arrow. ....." Mia glanced away. "Okay, we won't count that one."

Spike looked deep into her eyes. "I'd forgotten how Lorne had to remind me that you were injured."

Mia went on as if they were just continuing the conversation as before. "It's still two public hugs. There was that one you gave to Stephanie, the littlest slayer."

Spike stared at Mia for a moment. He could see she wasn't going to let this conversation stay with that part of their past.

He shook it off and smiled. "That never happened, ask her."

"Oh, swore her to secrecy did you? I saw it. She nearly broke your ribs and I smelled her on you. I was a vampire by then, remember?"

"Xander will be getting jealous, better get going."

"Change of subject, very smooth. Xander will have to deal because this thing, this weird thing we have between us, I want it."

Spike put his hand to her cheek and rubbed his thumb on her jaw. "Good. Me too. See you tomorrow, pet"

He pulled his hand away. Mia morphed into her demon face. "Tomorrow we get to scare the little wankers."

Spike laughed a good belly laugh. He hadn't had one of those since before Emma left him.

Mia went back to human face and headed to her car and Xander.

"So, it seems you and Spike were having some tender moments there."

Mia just smiled. "Xander, something very strange is happening with Spike and me. For some odd reason he can stand being around me and we actually enjoy one another's company. There is a bond between us and we have feelings for each other. Not the same feelings that you and I have, and they won't interfere with our relationship. You have to believe that. If you can't trust that then, well, I can't believe I'm saying this, but I guess I feel this so strongly about this, there won't be an 'us'. I know that you know our history so I can understand you feeling, shall we say, trepidation, but there isn't passion there. And you may have noticed that with you and me, passion is all over the freaking place."

Xander chuckled. "OK, yes. With us, passion is everywhere. With you and Spike, there's no passion." He pouted a little. "But could I just this once have some reassurance.

Mia pulled him tight to her. She kissed him, pressing her pubic bone with just the right amount of pressure and at just the right angle into his groin until she felt him begin to harden. She continued to kiss him, her tongue entwining with his. Once Mia had aroused him as much as she wanted she shifted to create just the slightest friction and tangled her fingers in his hair. It was Xander who pulled back, gasping for air. Mia had forgotten his need to breathe.

He stared at her, breathing hard and then brushed a piece of her hair from her eyes. "Passion," he breathed, "and reassurance all in one."

Mia got into the driving seat of her car, with Xander as the passenger.

"You do know that owning a Masarati has to go in the Mary Sue column?"

"You know, Xander. I really don't give a fuck."

"Well there you go, that attitude kind of balances it right out."

She started the engine. After the kiss, the low melodious vibration of the engine made her hum all over. Xander put his hand on her thigh and Mia felt herself go slightly damp. Shit, she thought, this has got to be number two, the next best thing to sex. She put down the top and turned to Xander.

"How tired are you? I want to take you for a ride in the country."

Xander shifted around in the seat, adjusting himself. "Ah, I don't think I'll be sleeping anytime soon."

Mia smiled. Sitting here behind the wheel of her Masarati with Xander's hand on her thigh was a perfect end to her day.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Spike sat in the driver's seat and started his car. "Well, Mia says you are all about me, honey. OK, that little tiny part her bag is occupying is about her, but all the rest is about me. Yes, I can feel how you are about me and it feels bleeding fab. So, if things are about me, what do I want to do tonight? Xbox sounds just the ticket. I think I'll nick myself one."

Spike drove straight to the house where Mia, Xander and Willow were living. Willow answered the door. "Hey, Willow. I just saw Mia and Xander, and they said I could borrow the Xbox."

"Oh, Okay. There's a bunch of games there too."

"Yeah, guess I'll borrow them too."