Title: Afterglow 42/57 (not a WIP)

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

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

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Afterglow Chapter 42 Worries

Stand your ground  
You're big enough
Stand your ground  
You know too much
Today drifts into tomorrow  
And you can almost taste the sorrow
Stand your ground  
You've had enough
Lost and found 
 Diamond in the rough
Today drifts into tomorrow  
You feel your soul's been borrowed
Stand your ground

Robbie Williams

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Willow tried Spike's door and found it open.

"Get up, Spike! Mia just left and she was carrying weapons."

Spike sat up. `"Where did she go?"

"I don't know."

Spike jumped out of bed.

"Oh, wow… you actually have nothing…" Willow turned around as Spike pulled on his pants.

Spike was out of the door in less than two minutes. He followed Mia's scent across the river to a church. He caught sight of her going around the corner and ran to catch up.

He heard Mia say, "Mommy", and watched Drusilla walk from the shadows.

"Bright. They made you bright and too shiny."

"Drusilla," greeted Spike as he came up behind Mia.

Mia stepped in front of him, blocking his view of the other vampire, and growled.

"Just how off the ledge are you, Dru? You nearly died last time you were here." Spike shook his head. "Don't answer , I know it, you're a complete loon. But that will play to our advantage, won't it love?" He glanced to Mia.

She turned her demon face on him, growling louder.

"Well then, Mia, pet, I take that to mean you would prefer me to step to the side and just watch."

"My girl, my girl, my girl," clapped Drusilla. "Ooh, so special you are, horse and carriage, horse and carriage, goes clippity clop, clippity clop…. evil little balloon…. pop goes the weasel."

"Yes, all squishy in his pants," said Mia

"That man with the gun, his privates are no more. Destroyed they are William, she is very special our girl." "Bloody hell, Mia, and I thought your putting fangs in him was bad enough," He backed up a step shielding his crotch instinctively.

"What a party…. bright bits and lights, dancing…. tastes and bites." Drusilla made a biting movement and her hand weaved in the air.

"And presents for you, Momma," Mia pulled from her coat pockets half a dozen railroad spikes, and dropped them on the ground in front of Dru.

"That's why your weapons bag is always so sodding heavy," commented Spike.

"Oooh, look: my William's favorite."

"No, Dru…MY… William's."

Dru cocked her head and stepped up to Spike. She looked deep into his eyes.

"Lost? Ours is truly lost? Hers goes on forever."

"No, his is blonde, tanned, human and warm. She is the Slayer, the very one you always saw. Remember her? Face it, Drusilla you are so far down the list now, you might as well go to a computer software convention to find someone."

Spike was trying hard not to laugh. The look on Dru's face was priceless. Drusilla sauntered back towards Mia. Mia went to pull the sword Angel had given her and stopped.

"Wait, this sword, it's too good for you. It's not even worth pulling it out. Besides it'll get Drusilla cooties on it."

Spike couldn't help it: he laughed. Drusilla had no idea what to make of Mia.

Dru put out her first two fingers and looked deep in Mia's eyes.

"Ah, Dru. I should tell you that… No, never mind, you crazy bint."

"Be… in… me." Drusilla said. She stared deep into Mia's eyes.

Mia stared back seemingly hypnotized.

Drusilla moved her fingers a little. "Be…in …me"

Suddenly Mia rolled her eyes. "As if. I am so not into women. Even if I were, you wouldn't be my type. Too skinny and pale."

Mia punched her in the nose. It started to bleed. "Wait, there's some color."

Drusilla went into her demon guise and growled. She charged. Mia ducked, grabbed her by her waist and spun her round before letting her go: she flew against the wall. Drusilla got back on her feet and sprang towards the young vampire. Mia vaulted over her back, grasped Dru's dress, tearing it as she did, then with both hands she heaved her and threw her end over end flying out of the alley.

"Bad girl," Dru stood at the opening of the alley, "Mommy's pretty dress."

"Come, punish me, Momma."

Dru jumped and was face to face with Mia. Drusilla punched her in the face, hitting her cheek. Mia turned her head with the blow, but turned back with a grin.

"Please…. Spike hits harder than that when we play."

Dru hit her again. Mia used both her hands, placed them on Drusilla chest and pushed. Dru flew in the air backwards. After righting herself, Drusilla launched herself at Mia and let loose a flurry of punches, Mia blocking them. Drusilla began to slow.

"The one that sees everything, even with only one eye: just think what he will see…. as one of us. And there will be no bright and shiny for him. Fair is fair, my little one. I should have yours."

"Dru, is that the best you can do, or was that an attempt to get me to stake you? Afraid of what I have planned? But, I heard you enjoy torture and that is my choice for tonight's entertainment. We have a lot to talk about, so many things to discuss. You see I have these worries, mother, that only you can lay to rest."

Mia, still in human face, swung into a roundhouse. It had so much power and strength that on impact you could hear the crack of Dru's chest as her ribs and sternum separated from one another. Mia actually grunted with the move. Drusilla's body flew up in an arc twenty feet to the back alley wall. It hit with such force that it bounced and fell six feet in front, brick and mortar pieces falling with it. Blood began pooling around her head and shoulders. Mia and Spike walked down the alley to survey the damage. Spike pulled Drusilla's head up by its hair.

"Well, that's sodding gonna leave a mark."

Mia pointed to the wall where a slight outline could be seen. "Already did. That is fucking awesome, if I do say so myself."

"And you bleeding just did."

"Tell me you're proud."

"About the wall, or Dru, or the quips?"

Mia's eyebrows knit together and she cocked her head.

"Seriously. Em, I've never heard you talk so much during a fight. If you were shorter and blonde I might have….. No, never would, forget it. You are so far down the list you might as well go to a computer software convention: what the bloody hell was that?"

"As in, computer nerds and geeks."

"I knew what you meant but you were in a fight. You don't even talk that much when we fight."

Mia gave a short laugh. "So, what? ... I lost points for my commentary? Excuse the fuck out of me, hitting her just didn't seem enough for me, I needed to inflict more. Wait a minute: I know what this is, you're jealous. I had all the fun and you had to watch. Carry her. I'll get the railroad spikes and we'll use a roof. You can use my sword, deliver a few of those cuts you told me about when we discussed what we would do to her when we finally found her."

"Love to, pet, but no time. Sun is up soon."

"There is time!"

"You know there isn't. You can feel it, just as I can."

Mia's nose wrinkled. "Spike, wait. I can smell something. It's one of those …"

"Yes, I caught it too."

Mia looked at Dru, and then in the direction of the scent.

"Got your silver chord? Go. I'll bring her so you can have the dusty honors. I'll be right behind you."

Mia took off in a blur.

Spike threw Dru over his shoulder. "Well, love, imagine this, just you and me together again. But not for long. Mia, that vampire you created, the one that was the woman who loved me enough to die for me, she'll be joining us soon and she's bringing a stake. Wasn't right what you did, Dru. You took the only woman who loved me unconditionally. Drusilla, she even went as far as to tell me first how she felt before I told her. Did you know she left me after she became a vampire, and then went off and fell in love with Xander Harris of all people? I know I'm in love with Buffy now, but the point is that I lost something rare there. You deserve what's coming to you. I wanted to do it in L.A. when you first sired her but you jumped from that bloody building. It has to be done. It does, Dru. Besides I couldn't stop her if I tried and I'm not about to. As much as I cared for you, everything changed that day in the warehouse when you stole Emma from me".

Spike was following a ways behind Mia, Drusilla on his shoulder, when he heard a scream; he recognized it as Mia's. He just dropped Dru and ran full out. Spike found Mia next to a muddy mess, with her sword sticking out from what must have been the creature's head. She was curled up in a ball, rocking and holding her head. Spike knelt to touch her, but just as he did, she passed out. The muted rusty gold of first light appeared on the horizon. Spike grabbed her sword, picked her up and ran.

Spike was halfway up the stairs to their apartment when she spoke. "OK, I can walk now."

He went on to the top of the stairs. "Spike, put me down!"

Spike set her on her feet.

"Dru?" asked Mia, rubbing her temples.

"Out in the open. Maybe the sun will get her."

"No, she's resilient; it'll take a lot more than that to kill the bitch."

"Sounds like one of those things you might have inherited."

"That is so sweet. Sometimes you are just so sweet to me."

They both were laughing as they entered the apartment and were greeted by Willow.

"Do you know how worried I have been about you, Mia? It's after sunrise. I thought of all sorts of things, then other things, then the aftermath of those things. I pictured having to tell Xander and Buffy…."

"Red, relax. All solid here: touched though."

"She said she was worried about telling Buffy, not that she was worried about you," teased Mia. "Nobody worries about you. They don't need to, you're the Big Bad."

"I was worried about him," said Willow in a quiet voice.

Spike's eyebrow went up. "I know someone else who should worry about me," he said, looking at Mia.

"Eek, help, no, stop." Mia rolled her eyes.

Spike breezed past her, grabbed her bottle of vodka from the kitchen counter and held it over the sink.

"Spike, what are you doing?" asked Mia flatly.

"Worried?" He smirked.

"You know that would constitute alcohol abuse."

He chuckled.

"I need that; I have family issues to deal with." Her voice rose a little.

Spike unscrewed the cap.

"Please don't make me say it in front of Willow."

He dribbled a few drops in the sink.

"Fine. I worry about you," she answered a little nonchalantly

"Explain how."

"No." Her eyes narrowed.

He poured more into the sink.

Mia took an exasperated breath and began. "I stepped in front of an arrow, took a plastic stake in the chest and tasted one of those creature's blood all to save you. OK, satisfied?"

Spike grinned, put the cap back on the bottle and set it on the counter. He came back around and was greeted by a heavy crystal ashtray to the head.

"You bastard."

"Me? You just bloody hit me in the head with an ashtray."

"Cracked the ashtray too, thick head."

Willow giggled, "That would have almost been touching if you hadn't blackmailed her into saying it, and if she hadn't hit you with the ashtray. So why the disappearing act, Mia?"

"Family worries." She got up, poured herself a tall glass of the vodka, downed it and then poured another.

"It was Drusilla, Red."

"Here? But didn't she nearly die the last time she was in Prague?"

"She's a nut job," shrugged Spike.

"Did you dust her?"

Spike motioned to Mia. "This is not a celebratory drink. We were interrupted by one of the creatures."

"Do you think Dru will stay? Maybe you can …"

"We're leaving," announced Mia. "I intercepted a message from the man, or rather god, Mot himself. He said, "Scatter, children and not to any of your homes that anyone may know of. And no killing: only eat to sustain. Wait for my word, it is she." I'm starting to think that somehow I am connected to them by the blood from the one in Paris. Now we need to go and figure out a way to kill death itself"

"So your scream and head pain that caused it was inflicted by the one you killed?" asked Spike

"No, I think Mot did that. It happened after the thing was a pile of mud."

"I bloody well don't like it; this death god can attack you from anywhere."

"It won't get through again; next time I'll ride the pain. It caught me off guard."

"Em, it can hurt you."

"So what? You hurt me all the time. I don't let that stop me from kicking your ass."

Willow laughed. Spike looked her direction.

"What? It was funny, and true…mostly."

Spike looked back at Mia. "That's different."

Mia rolled her eyes. "How?"

"I have special rights and I refuse to share them with anyone else."

Mia came around the counter and gave him a big wet kiss on the mouth.

Spike grimaced and wiped his mouth.

With a grin, Mia said. "I want a contract to that effect on my desk by the day after tomorrow. It'll be a mutual one: we will share the rights. I think we'd better have your slayer sign too, so that she knows and understands. I'll have Xander look it over, but I'm pretty sure he'll have no problem with your rights having exclusivity. We must file it with the council to make it all legal."

"Oh my Goddess, you guys are seriously full of shit."

That made them all laugh.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~~ ~

Mia stood at the Prague apartment's awning-covered picture window. The awning enabled her to avoid the sun and enjoy the view. Spike walked up and stood right behind her, his head just above her shoulder and next to her ear.

"Think she's dust?" he asked.

"No, I'd feel it."

"So, I'm yours?"

"Yes, as opposed to hers."

"And you're my forever?"

"That's not exactly what she said, but let's not have this conversation. But there is something I need to say. Spike, this morning, right before dawn when you found me next to the creature….well…" Mia turned to him. "Thanks for…."

He interrupted her. "You're wrong, you don't need to say it. Once you told me I was special, a vampire with a soul. I could go on fighting evil nearly forever. If I'm special, what does that make you, Miss Ubervamp?"

Mia looked at him coyly. "So, you saved me from igniting in the dawn's early light because I'm special in the fight against evil?"

He just looked at her for a moment. One side of his mouth twitched up, then he smiled. "Yes."

Mia grinned at him. "I only told you that stuff about being special because I thought I might die that day. I wanted you to go on if I died."

Spike continued to smile, but held back a laugh. "I knew that."

Her face became sober. She closed her eyes for a second, then opened them. "I did die that day, Spike. That's why I was out there last night. I wanted to kill my sire."

His smile faded. "I know, Mia. I lost Emma and everything we had planned together that day, remember. But we were talking about me saving you this morning. You never have to thank me for that. How about we just go on doing it for one another, no thanks necessary?"

"But you are worth a thank you, Spike, just like you are worth a right hook when you piss me off."

He shook his head with a chuckle, " Alright then. I should tell you that last night with Dru, …you were brilliant, bloody brilliant. She's probably nursing a mother lode of a headache, but proud as hell. I heard her threaten to sire Xander, you know she…"

"That wasn't a threat; she wanted to see how strong I was. Last night was a big test for me. I more than passed. Think hard, Spike. Last night before she hit the wall: it was there. Did you smell it? Close your eyes, see the kick, hear my foot hitting her chest, feel the force and there… there it is."

`"Bloody hell, how did you do that? I was there, the river, the sounds, the smells, the….the fear,vampire fear….. Drusilla's fear, and it was even sweeter for being mixed with her blood."

Spike gave a low, deep in the chest, growl.

"Down, boy. Drusilla was afraid, and now I know she'll never touch what's mine. You know what I want, what would be perfect right about now?"

Spike gave a softer growl. "Why the bleeding hell would you torment my demon by even suggesting something like that? Willow is sitting right there. Buffy and Xander are miles away in London, and that's enough for me to just forget that…"

"A cigarette." Willow is almost always here and I am dying for one."

Both Spike's eyebrows went up as he smiled. "Oh that. I can do that for you."

Spike pulled out a wad of bills out and walked over to Willow who was at her computer.

"Willow, do you think you could go get some prezzie I could give Buffy from Prague. Pick yourself something up too."

"Shopping? You want me to go shopping to get Buffy something from you?"

"Am I asking too much?"

"No, no I'll go. I was just surprised. Will you guys be alright? I mean, no broken furniture or dishes please."

"I'll restrain myself,"

"Me too," added Mia

Mia waited and watched as Willow went up the street. She lit the cigarette and took the long awaited drag, then sighed.

Spike sat next to her on the couch, smoking his cigarette. "You should just tell the lot of `em you smoke. Have a fag whenever you want."

"No, a girl has got have a few secrets. So, what do you have planned when we get home?"

"I'm not psychic, but I know it's same as you."

"Well, I don't share, so you'll have to wait your turn with Xander."

Spike rolled his eyes, and slapped the back of her head.

"All joking aside, when we get home, Spike, we have to figure out how to kill a god of death. The last time you and the others went up against a god, things didn't go well and I'm worried."

"That slayer won't be involved this time and you, the slayer that will be, you are vamped and very dead already."

"True." She grinned, but then her face became sober. "I wasn't really concerned about me though."

"I'm not worried. I've got you to protect me, remember? You are the Bigger Badder."

With only a slight smile she said, "I couldn't get you to say that again for my digital camera, could I? It should be something they put in the Archives." She was joking but the worry could be clearly to seen on her face as she looked at him.

Spike stared at her for a moment. "Mia, we can do this, you and me. We can take out this bleeding thing. You have to know that. Tell me you know that."

She took a deep breath and put on a smile. "I know that the guy who could close a Hellmouth and take down the First Evil can take out this little earthbound god-wannabe. Use me. I'll be your weapon.

"My what? Bloody hell, do you know how that sounds!" He shook his head and chuckled.

Mia started laughing. "Sorry. I meant, like so you could use…"she broke out laughing again. " I meant I'm your secret weapon, no I'm … Oh, I am so shutting up…this isn't helping any." There was more laughter from her. He watched her laughing but he wondered about her worries. They had no idea what powers this god had. But then again he, this Mot, had no idea how strong they were. Spike knew worries or not, they could do this together. He smiled. He hadn't seen her laugh like this in a long time. He was glad she still could. Before the demon, as Emma, she had laughed all the time. Both of them had always been laughing together. Suddenly he wished he could see her do this more often. Listening to her now, Spike realized how very much he had missed it

As always in the past, her laughter was becoming contagious and although she kept trying to explain her words, it wasn't helping any. `Use me, I'll be your weapon.' As if she would ever let him tell her what to do…right, his weapon. Spike laughed then.

He glanced at Mia and for a moment he felt as he hadn't since before last New Year, before Emma had gone back to University for the new semester. Shortly after that they had run into Buffy for the first time since Spike had come back and become corporeal. After that things changed. Everything had been simpler before that. There had been no big evil to fight, no great, long lost loves to face and decide on and no new wonderful ones to lose.

Just what it was that he felt, watching and laughing with her, he couldn't name. He would have called it a lightness of heart or purity, but they were vampires so that was definitely not it. Whatever it was, it felt good to laugh with her like this. Sure He and Mia had a chuckle from time to time but not an all-out laugh. And it did him good to see her look so carefree.

Truth was that even with Harris in her life, Mia seemed to carry some sort of weight around with her. Spike believed that he had been spot on in realizing that she was carrying the dark power and the one and only as Buffy has once been. No one but him knew it either. Spike shook his head. No one knew but him and Angel. Bloody hell. She had reached out to the only other person she thought might understand, and look what he'd gone and done in Paris when he found out about it. Well, as a result he'd gone and gotten thrown over a twenty foot wall. That made him laugh again.

"What?" asked Mia, no longer laughing but gasping a bit.

"I was just picturing you practically throwing me into the river in Paris."

That started her off again laughing. " Everyone clapped when you got up without a scratch, didn't they? I could hear them."

Spike joined in her laughter, " Oh yes, I was probably the talk of the Left Bank for quite sometime. And I did have a scratch: I bruised my knee climbing out on that bloody rebar ladder "

"You did not, you liar." She laughed

"Did so. Like I would show you that after you…."

Mia stopped and stared up at him her eyes sparkling. " Ok, I have had the best time ever in Prague. I don't have any idea why you hate it here so much."

Spike stared at her.

She burst into laughter, "No? Come on, Spike. The old you, swathe- cutting you, would have called it boring."

He grinned, then gave her a hard nod, " You're right. The swathe- cutting Spike got Dru and me caught by a mob and hey, so far neither of us have been caught by one of those. If I take a mental step back, this trip has been like a lovely little holiday. I've watched you beat the hell out of my Sire. Seen the aftermath of your destruction of a serial rapist, been hit on the head with an ashtray and…."

"Got to carry me round like a sack of potatoes."

"Oh yes, big highlight of the trip."

She grinned so broadly he chuckled.

"Do I weigh the same?"

"What?"

"Now? Do I weigh the same as you remember?"

He smiled slightly and cocked his head, " Mia, what….?"

She looked away and took a deep breath, " Sorry, it's nothing. I was just…. well, us laughing made me think about. I shouldn't have."

He put the heel of his hand to her jaw and moved his thumb along her cheek. "'Salright love…."

"Spike, please don't…."

"Pet, I thought of the same thing myself." He smiled and pulled his hand back. " We used to laugh a lot back then, didn't we? We used to shag a lot too. Think we might have time for one of those as well before Willow gets back?"

Mia gave a little laugh, "Depends who's on top."

"Oi, just what's that supposed to mean?"

She snorted, "Wouldn't you like to know."

"Right then." Spike scooped her up and threw her over his shoulder.

"Spike!" Mia shifted around. "Put me down, it wasn't an invitation."

He took her into her room.

"Spike, stop or I'll…."

He threw her on her bed and looked down at her. "You'll what?"

Mia's eyes narrowed slightly. " I'll beat the hell out of you."

"And that is supposed to deter me how? Vampires tend to get violent."

"If you think I'm going to just let you……."

"Tell you that you now weigh more than a bag of potatoes but less than you did as a human, and even less than when you were a vamp in L.A." He grinned at her. " You need to eat more."

Mia burst into laughter. "You are such a shit."

He grinned, " No, the name is William the Bloody, not what you said."

"Now you're just trying to make me laugh. But thanks. And you should talk: people say you are even thinner than you used to be. You need to eat more."

He gave her his hand and pulled her to a standing position next to her bed. " Admit it, Mia. You were secretly hoping I'd do it."

"Admit it, Spike. You were secretly hoping I'd beat the hell out of you."

He chuckled, "Well, with all this talk of needing to eat more, what say I buy you some lunch?"

She gave a small laugh, "Oh, and we would be going where in this light?"

"I meant buy, as in have the Council pay for. I'll put it in the microwave add the Burba weed just the way you like it."

"How can I resist an offer like that? Hey, do you realize you have made me more meals since I became a vampire than you ever did when I was a human. And you told me you could cook. I always expected you to cook me something but not even an egg."

Spike walked into the kitchen. Mia followed.

"Yeah well, between you and me, Mia, I say I can do a lot of things but….."

"Oh, don't even say it, Spike. I have this image, this picture of what you are and if you ruin it for me I really will have to beat the hell out of you."

He turned and looked at her. She grinned at him.

"Sometimes, Mia, you make it very hard for a bloke like me. I love Buffy, you know I do, but you go and say things like you have all afternoon, things that appeal to the demon in me, and I just want to do things….."

"No, you mean I've been reminding you of Emma, and you want to say and do things you'd do to Emma."

He shook his head, "No, the demon in me responded to the beat-the- hell-out-of-you bit. Emma would never have said that."

Mia gave a short laugh, "Yes, but Spike, you never knew this, she used to think it."

"That explains so much." Spike pointed at her with both hands. "I must have known that at some level." He ran his hands through his hair. " I'll be damned. Why didn't I realize that? I'm usually so good at reading people. Some how I……."

Mia walked out and sat on the couch. "My work here is done now." She picked up a magazine.

Next thing she knew, Spike's fist was connecting with her jaw. He looked down at her. "Your work is done?"

"You implied I was too skinny."

They looked at one another silently for a moment.

"I'm thinking Willow should come back soon. There is the potential for furniture destruction in the near future. Maybe you should call her, Spike."

At the same time they burst into laughter.

Mia shook her head. "We are so very sad. We can't even go two hours without one of us getting hit." She gave a little laugh.

"Well, at least we always have fun," smiled Spike.

"True. I always have fun with you even if I end up bruised and bleeding."

Spike laughed again and she joined him.