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: NC-17 for sexual content but only in a few chapters mostly it is R for language

Pairings: Spike/Buffy Spike/female? Original Character/Male.

Summary: Following his time as a ghost, Spike met and fell in love with a newly empowered Slayer. Although Buffy returned to Los Angeles to find Spike alive, Spike remained with his new love. Together with Buffy and others, they all had to fight against a plot involving Angel, and a group trying to raise the Master with in him. During the fight Spikes love was turned into a vampire by Drusilla but Angel's team was able to put a soul in her. Now changed and not her former self the Slayer left Spike. Buffy consoled him after his loss and they came together. But will their relationship survive when his past love comes into their lives again?

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

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After Glow 3 Old Habits Die Hard

Spike woke to a sharp pain on his hand. Suddenly he realized that he'd forgotten to close the curtains last night. He jumped out of bed and through the door to the hallway. While he examined the slight redness of the minor burn, the events of the previous night and the incident with Buffy came back to him and he wondered about her as he padded down the hall and toward his rooms. Why was he being so stubborn about this, especially when it was so out of character for him to forgo pleasure of any kind? Maybe, deep down, he expected that the woman that left him would return to being Emma, and would ask him to take her back. Would he take her back? Sometimes he wondered. Most of the time Spike believed that he had moved on and had accepted that the love he had shared with Emma had died with her the day that Drusilla had drained her. But he was unsure and he didn't want Buffy or himself to get hurt. He got a headache just thinking about it. Stopping at the door to his suite, he listened for signs of life inside. With the silence of his predatory self he snuck in and saw Buffy still sleeping. His recent thoughts of Emma irritated him. Leaving the room quietly, he headed down to the lobby. Killing something sounded good right now, so picking up the phone he pressed the speed dial.

"Wolfram and Hart, Angel's Office, how can I help you?"

"Harm, in on a Saturday? Get me Angel?"

"Okie dokie, he made me come in to work today."

"After what happened you are lucky to be working at all."

"I didn't know what was going on, and you know it. I so want to quit having to apologize."

"Just get me Angel."

"Right, because you are Mr. Big Shot and get every thing you want now."

"No, because I feel like killing something, and if you don't want it to be you you'll put Angel on."

Harmony said nothing and the next thing he heard was Angel. "Angel here."

"Hey, got anything I can kill?"

"Spike, how do you know when I have an assignment perfect for your talents?"

"I have a horrible headache and killing something is all that will help it?"

"What's going on?" Angel had been a bit too empathetic since Emma left him.

"Nothing, just..."

"Girl troubles?"

Spike could just about see the sardonic grin on Angel's face.

"What other problem could a guy as handsome as me have?"

"Saxium demons, trying to nest under an elementary school in Long Beach."

"Not too safe for the kiddies. I'm thinking you want 'em all to make it to their summer vacation?"

"Yes, and be careful. I heard these demons are originally from the Philippines."

"Damn. That means that mucous is liquefying in the demons' offspring, making it easier for them to digest their prey. Don't fancy losing any of my parts. I'll swing by and pick up a flame thrower."

"Spike, seriously, you need anything, you know just to talk well..."

"For bleeding sake Angel, I am fine. I just drank Jack last night and I think it had more kick than I had remembered. , Now quit with the concern act, it's really creeping me out." snapped Spike.

"Jack who? You better not have..."

"Daniels, you daft twit. I never had ill effects before, but this last few months I haven't had as much as usual. Now, shut up so I can go kill some critters."

They hung up without saying goodbye. Spike realized he had forgotten to mention Buffy's possible plan to stay a couple of weeks longer, but he couldn't bear talking with Angel again so soon after Angel'd been all mushy and concerned for him: that was worse than anything Angelus had ever done to him.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Buffy woke up with a headache. Remembering the margaritas she'd consumed she chastised herself. She knew she wasn't a drinker, but she had tried everything she could to get to Spike last night. Two weeks here in California might not be enough. Buffy had to get Spike to consummate their relationship because she knew it would bind Spike to her, and that it would make it easier for her to tell Spike the news of Emma's residency in England if she was sure of her own relationship with him. Buffy knew Dawn would never forgive her if she didn't spend some of the summer with her, but she didn't want to go anywhere without Spike. The only way she could be sure of both these things would be by not telling him about Emma (or Mia as she called herself now) until they were in the air.

On the table she found the note saying Spike was on an assignment, but would be back later. She sat down in front of the TV to wait for Spike. As the sun began to set she decided to take a shower. With a towel wrapped around her she hunted for something to put on which was more suitable than the ineffective seduction clothes she'd worn last night.

Buffy went to Emma's old drawers in the hope of finding something that would be a little more flattering than one of Spike's t-shirts. Looking through Emma's clothes she felt as if she was doing something wrong, but at the same time she wondered why Emma's clothes were still there. Pulling out a stretch tank top and some yoga pants, she turned toward the bed. There in the doorway stood a dirty, bruised Spike.

"If I remember right she had a couple pairs of, what did she call them, capri length work out pants: they might fit you better, love, as Emma was about 5 inches taller than you."

"Oh. Spike, I'm sorry it's just I had..."

"Slept in your clothes?"

"Yeah, but it was the going into your stuff and...."

"They were Emma's. I know it sounds sad, but I kept them just in case she decided to send for them."

"You still think she will?"

"No, wear what you want, but do me a favor. Sometime in the next two weeks take those things to that teen center Angel likes to help."

"Are you sure?"

He cocked his head, a vague look of surprise in his eyes. "Yes, very sure"

Clutching her towel she motioned to the shower. "You look as if you could use one, I didn't use up all the hot water."

"Right then, I'll see you in a bit."

He went into the bathroom and Buffy sat on the bed. Her head had cleared and she felt better. Slowly realizing what had just happened, she smiled. She searched round a bit more and found a skirt. On Emma it had probably been mid-calf length, but it was almost floor length on Buffy. It had layers of beige colored lace. Worn with the tight mustard gold colored tank top she had found it made her feel very feminine; it was perfect.

She poured Spike some blood and put it in the microwave, but waited for him to come out of the bathroom before she switched it on. This was nice: Spike home from work and her doing the domestic thing. Buffy shivered at that thought. Nice; what was wrong with her? The souled vampire was in the shower and she was getting his dinner of pig's blood ready. Angel had left her so she could have a normal life and what was this? Was this as close to normal as she'd ever get? The doubt faded as Spike with wet hair, and an unbuttoned shirt, jeans and bare feet came in. He was beautiful, and as normal as she needed.

Buffy started the microwave and then leaned on the counter. "Bit bruised there."

"Yeah, but not liquefied so it's all good, especially since I managed to eliminate an entire nest of Philippino saxium demons."

"Saxa miums?"

Saxium, pesky little critters, teeth in rows like a shark, size of poodles but shaped like a rat except in the head: they are one eyed, no fur, round, no ears and all teeth.

"You said something about liquefy," shivered Buffy. Even as a slayer certain demons gave her the wiggins.

"The newly born have no teeth, so to be able to eat they have this thing they do."

"Like a fly?"

"Exactly, how'd you know that?"

"Jeff Goldblum."

Spike shook his head as Buffy handed him the warmed blood.

"You eat, pet?"

"Not really hungry, just got rid of a headache"

"That was a bit of my fault."

"No, it was mine, I'm sorry about slutty Buffy last night."

Spike looked away for a second, remembering what he'd called her five years ago. Smiling, he turned back.

"Don't call yourself that. I mean, I know how absolutely irresistible I am."

Buffy rolled her eyes. "Yes, I guess I am lucky that you deign to spend time with me."

"Poker then?"

Buffy scowled, "Ok, but I'm not going to let you win."

"You know you lied about that, I beat you fair and square."

"Fair?" Both of Buffy's brows came up.

"Well, pet, you know, old habits die hard."