Title: Afterglow 57/57

( Last chapter deserves a full header)

Title: Afterglow Chapter 57/57 with epilogue( still to come)

It was written as a Long Stand Alone. However it is actually a sequel to Dream Once More.

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

Permission to archive just please just let me know where

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

Category: Story, a u, crossover, romance, angst, humor, some song fic, character death ,smut, future fic

Pairings: Spike/ Other Angel/ Buffy Spike/Buffy Xander/ Other

None of the characters, but the one obvious one, are mine. I wrote and post this story for pure entertainment. Any reference to other authors or characters with in the story is out of the utmost respect! I love their work too. Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy, and Fox have full rights to all the Buffy and Angel characters. Although sorry guys you can't stop me, I will continue to obsess over Spike no matter what you do to me.

A/N: I would like to thank my beta Hawera for her help this year in getting this story posted. I was sitting here with 57 chapters waiting for her to get through but she kept at it and we finally did it. The fact I had based most of the story in her place of residence was a bit of a godsend for me. She would straighten me out on several misconceptions giving you the reader more accurate facts and hopefully picture of the place. I would also like to thank those of you that have kept reading.

True acceptance and love that's what this was about. Is this in fact the true essence of love? And isn't that all any of us want, acceptance for our true selves. That's really what I wanted to explore on many levels with this story. That and of course the fact that love can be a tricky thing. Some times it comes at us from more than one direction. It's hard to know what to do when it does. Can we have more than one true love? Can you love two people at the same time? If it is possible, how do you choose who you decide to be with? (Did some one just yell out, always choose Spike?)

Afterglow Chapter 57 Those Power that Be

Ordinary? No! I really don't think so,  Not a love this true.
Common destiny, we were meant to be, me and you.
Like a perfect scene from a movie screen, We're a dream come true.
Suited perfectly, for eternity, me and you.
Everyday, well I need you even more,  And the nighttime too.
There's no way, I could ever let you go. Even if I wanted to.
Everyday I live, (I) try my best to give, All I have to you.
Thank the stars above, that we share this love, me and you
Kenny Chesney

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Afterglow Chapter 57 Those Powers That Be

Mia was in the kitchen fixing dinner when Alex and Willa came in.

"Alex, why did you let yourself get creamed right there in front of us today? You could have avoided that tackle."

"Oh, that. Little sister, you know nothing."

"Little? I was born two minutes before you."

"I meant literally, you twit. Look at you compared to me."

Willa giggled. "OK, I get it. You are as big as Uncle Angel. I wonder how that happened. I mean, look at Dad: he's not really what you would call a big guy."

Mia whispered to herself. "Oh, he's big."

"So then, big bro. Why the total destruction in front of the whole cheer squad?"

Mia spoke up. "That would be Jessica Michaels."

Alex came around the corner, grabbing a can of pop from the fridge. "I hate it when you do that."

"What?" smiled Mia.

"Figure stuff like that out. I've only said her name once in this house."

Mia smiled as she looked at him. He had showered after practice and his dark chestnut- colored hair was tight and curly, hanging to one side of his forehead. He had his father's dark blue eyes and cheekbones, but was tall and broad, like her own father. Mia had to admit it: he was very handsome. Even if she stepped back and looked at him, not as his mom but strictly as a woman; she would think him very attractive. The fact that he chose to take a beating to get a girl's attention – well, that had to be a bit of his father in him.

Willa came up behind Alex. Her daughter was a constant trial for Spike because her good looks seemed to draw the boys to her. Yeah, Mia was a proud mom, but Willa was definitely gorgeous. Actually Spike said too gorgeous, but he was just being a dad. The only other similarity she shared with her brother was her hair and eye color. Her curls were loose and bouncy, not tight like Alex's. Mia could see her own face in Willa's but there the resemblance stopped. Willa was petite and very slim. In fact, Willa was only about an inch taller than Buffy and they could probably trade clothing.

"She likes you, Alex; you didn't have to go getting all bruised to get her attention," said Willa.

Mia laughed. "So, besides Alex taking a beating, how were your practices?"

"Good," they both responded at once.

Mia smiled and looked at Alex. "And before you ask, son, it's pasta and tossed salad and we will eat it as soon as your father gets home. And as for that, I don't know how much longer he will be. He is stuck in traffic."

Both kids' shoulders slumped.

Alex asked, "Could you meet him in the driveway?"

Mia grinned at the question. "Why, Alex?"

Alex blushed, but Willa spoke up. "You know why, mom. If you two have some time alone to kiss and whatever before he comes in, he won't be all grumpy and have to have like three scotch-without-the- rocks before we can talk to him. Dad hates traffic. Mom, geez. Why did you send him to meet a client where there would be traffic?"

Mia continued to grin. "It was a special request: some little starlet. She's busy on some television studio set and asked him specifically to go there." Mia gave a big dramatic sigh: "Fine." She sighed again, "The things I have to do for this family."

This time it was Alex that chuckled. "Mom, you are so full of it."

"Just for that, Mister, I'm going to change. Get the basketball and while we wait you'd better bring it."

"Ha! And I thought you were bruised before; you'd better hope Dad gets home soon." Willa laughed as Mia disappeared up the stairs.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Spike pulled his Jeep into the driveway. He watched as his wife pushed his sixteen-year-old, one hundred ninety, six foot two, all sport-playing son out of the way and on to his butt as she headed for the basket to do a lay-up shot.

"That's game," said Mia as Spike got out.

"How come I play on the varsity team and we make it to states' finals every year, but when you and I play for having to cook a dinner, I can never win against you, Mom?"

Willa, standing on the side of the driveway, said, "I learned like two years ago to quit playing against her. It's that stupid male ego of yours that makes you keep trying."

"Yes, son, you live a little longer with your mother and you'll lose that," smiled Spike.

Mia threw the basketball to Alex, and went to Spike. "Was the traffic terrible?" she asked, her head cocked to the side.

Spike started to rant. "Yes, it bloody was. We barely crept along. It took an hour to move a foot. I could have walked here faster. I don't know whose sodding idea it was for us to live here in the Los Angeles area, but…"

Mia gave him a long deep kiss. When she pulled away she asked, "Was she beautiful in person?"

"What?"

"The star you worked with today. I've seen her on television, but…"

"I didn't sodding notice. We were going over defensive moves."

Mia raised an eyebrow. "You didn't notice? Shit, you can't have exaggerated about the traffic; because you have suffered a trauma of some sort on your way home."

Spike smiled at her. "She was nice to look at, but a bit daft. I had to keep going over and over the same move, repositioning her again and again."

Mia laughed, "Oh, but you are an old married guy. She was so coming on to you."

Spike looked confused for a moment, then he cocked his head and gave Mia a smirk with a lifted brow. "I guess she was."

Mia's eyebrow went up again, "The fact that I had to tell you proves just how very married and very old you are."

As if that had caught his attention, he looked up and around. "Where did the kids go?"

"They said something about, could I cheer you up after your time in traffic before you came in the house?" Mia grabbed his hand and pulled him through the side gate bordering the walk that was between theirs and the neighboring house.

"Where are we going?"

"Right here," replied Mia. She pushed him against the wall of the house where the privacy fence protected them from the neighbor's sight. Mia ran her hand up Spike's crotch.

Spike grabbed her and turned them so she was against the wall. He whispered in her ear. "Please tell me the children didn't actually suggest this." His hands went up under her tank top.

"Not in so many words. I think she said kiss and whatever." Mia nipped along his neck, running her hands up under his shirt. She unbuttoned and unzipped his jeans.

" For them to expect this of us, can't be good. Do you think they need therapy, love?" he asked as he moved her shorts aside.

" Maybe. Most likely, but not because they know we like to do thiiiiis….Ohh."

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

They were just finishing dinner when Willa cleared her throat loudly and looked at Alex in a funny way. He looked back at her, his eyes seeming to urge her on.

"Mom, Dad, I have been thinking about….Well, Alex and I went to this site on the internet and I read a bunch of stuff about this special strength I have, and I am thinking of going to London to train to be a Slayer."

Spike dropped his fork, but Mia just picked up her wine and drank down a long gulp.

"Alright, have you decided or is this a discussion?" asked Mia in a calm voice, her heart beating faster than she would have thought possible. She stared down the table at Spike, willing him not to say anything.

"More of an announcement," Alex said. "I'm thinking of joining the Watcher program if she goes. Uncle Rupert is a Watcher, right? It's right there on the site, he and Aunt Buffy, they were…"

"Yes, they were." Mia smiled, although she didn't feel like it.

Alex sounded excited. "Mom, that site was so cool. There is this story of how Aunt Buffy and this vampire with a soul went up against this thing called the First Evil. The vampire with the soul had this amulet and…"

Spike spoke up. "He wore the amulet during the fight and it used some magical power which combined with his soul to incinerate the First's forces, and eventually the vampire himself. The whole thing ended up by eventually closing the Sunnydale Hellmouth. It was all very epic."

"Yeah," said Alex. "I guess Aunt Buffy told you the story."

"Something like that," Spike sighed.

Mia looked from child to child. "So you are actually thinking about this? I just want you to realize that it would be very different from football or cheerleading, which only involve a few bruises or grass stains. Instead it would mean nights in the dark with demons, habitual bruises, vampire dust in your pores, and constant blood stains on your clothes. And of course, Willa, there is the early death factor. Most Slayers survive approximately three to four years. Aunt Buffy is the exception, so you can't make any decision based on her experience. If you are assigned a slayer, Alex, you'll suffer her loss when she dies, just like Aunt Diana did with hers.

Mia looked at Willa. "I knew another slayer. She was trained by the very best, a vampire with a soul, and she survived for less than a year. She was dead and drained by another vampire, the very vampire that sired the vampire that trained her. She was dead, Willa, in less than a year because she wanted to kill vampires and protect people from evil, just like you. So please think about that before you decide."

"I always thought you were trained by the best, Momma, but you knew another slayer besides Aunt Buffy, and she was trained by a vampire with a soul?"

"I knew that slayer too," said Spike, as he looked down the table at Mia.

"What was her name?" asked Alex. "Her story might be on the site."

"Alex honey, she and I were very close. I get a little emotional and I don't like to talk about it. Willa, that strength it is your gift, your destiny, and if you want to follow it…"

"Thanks, Mom."

"And me?"

Spike started, "You, Son, wanting to be a Watcher? Well that's just cra…."

"Spike! Alex, your Uncle Rupert will be bursting with pride, but I'm pretty sure you'll hate London. You think it's freezing if it drops below sixty eight degrees."

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The sun was setting over the water as Mia and Spike walked along the hard wet sand.

"I could just forbid her."

"Right, and that kind of thing has worked so well with the other women in your life." "You got me there."

"No, if she wants to we'll let her. I…I …I…." Mia's voice cracked and Spike pulled her to him.

"I was wondering when you were going to be her mom and not Mia, ex slayer, vampire with a soul and wise woman."

"Why is it, Spike, that those fucking Powers That Be like to play with me so much?"

"It's because you're so strong, Em, and they know they can. Here come the others, love."

Angel and Buffy walked down from their house to join them.

"Hi, guys," Buffy greeted them.

Angel took one look at Mia. "What happened?"

"Bloody hell, but it still brasses me off that you can read my wife like that."

"What is it? " asked Buffy

"It's Willa. She's gone and announced she's thinking of joining the sodding Slayer program in London. Alex wants to go and become a Watcher."

"Sheez!" exclaimed Buffy.

"You aren't letting them, are you?" asked Angel.

"Oh, she bloody well will if they decide that's what they want. Me, I want to forbid it but…"

Mia turned and faced them all. "Face it, guys. Those children are the product of Spike and me, and this call to fight evil, well they come by it naturally. The minute we knew Willa had Slayer strength I had an idea this would happen. I admit that Alex is a bit of a surprise but it's not too off the path. But Spike, if you want to forbid it, I'll stand by that."

The four walked up the beach.

"Now you've gone and put it like that, how the hell can I? Remember when we used to walk out here with all four of `em? Alex and Willa were always looking after your two, Joy and little Matty. It would be nice if we could keep `em small for ever."

Buffy and Angel clasped hands. They were both thinking the same thing. As bad as they felt for Mia and Spike, they were relieved for themselves. Joy showed no signs of Slayer strength and Matthew, he had no interest in books or any extra studying. Thank goodness their kids wouldn't have an aptitude for fighting evil.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Mia woke slowly. Her eyes fluttered open and she smelled the putrid smell of the creatures.

A young, worried Xander was above her. "Mia baby, I didn't know if you would ever wake up." He pushed her hair out of her face.

She looked left and then right. Spike and Angel, both younger versions, sat next to her: they all leaned against the cave wall. Angel shook his head as he woke. He sat up straight, grasping her hand hard as he looked at her.

"Mia, what the…? We were just…" He looked confused as he absorbed the sights in the cave. He looked at Xander leaning over her, and then at Spike who was still out cold. " Something is very wrong. We were just talking on a… it was sunset on a…"

Mia whispered just loud enough for him to hear. "Beach."

Angel's eyebrows came together and there was sadness. "Yes."

Spike's eyes fluttered, then opened.

Xander asked Mia, "Want to try standing?"

Mia didn't want to let go of Spike's and Angel's hands. She began taking quick breaths as if she needed them. Angel was gripping her hand as hard as she was his. Xander began to pull her up. Spike clasped her hand tightly.

"What's going on?" asked Spike, as Mia was pulled from his hand to a standing position.

Angel looked at him. "It's bad."

Spike watched as Xander hugged Mia, then kissed her. Mia caught Spike's eyes. Her eyes showed confusion and pain. Spike stood, and within seconds he was caught in Buffy's embrace. It was so strange that it confused him, and he could see from the look in Angel's eyes that Angel was confused as well. Something had happened and they were all back in the cavern with Mot's corpse, right where it had all really started.

Spike watched Mia as two tears dropped down her face. She looked from him being held by Buffy, to Angel standing hurt and abandoned, and her eyes hardened. She pushed back from Xander.

"It's not finished. Everyone here that isn't nearly immortal needs to leave now!"

They all stopped and looked at her. "Please don't fucking stare at me. I am the psychic among you and I'm telling you, it's not finished, so go. We aren't…. Mot pulled a sleep thrall on us but we are…go, this… Anat," Mia pointed to herself. "Has to finish the bastard off and I don't know what other powers he has and whether you humans could survive, so get the hell out!"

It was Wes that got them moving and they filed out through the back of the cave.

"What in the bloody hell just happened? We were on the beach and…"

"Can't you feel it, your demon? It's there inside you. It was a trick, a fucking trick. Mot did it, his last stand, to fuck with us. He did it so that when we woke up we would be.. …well the fucker won. He gave me everything I wanted and then ripped it away." Mia's voice cracked but she didn't cry, she just spoke quietly. "He took my babies and that's it, I'm done. I can't go on from here."

"Bloody did it to all three of us, Mia. Those children were mine too. And Angel had his own."

In a dull and emotionless voice Mia said, "Spike, I remember absolutely everything; giving birth and their…. I…I can't, I am sorry. I love you, but I can't come back to this. How are we supposed to? If I remember right, it should still be daytime, so you two explain it all to Xander."

Mia turned in the direction the others had gone.

Spike ran and grasped her. "You are bloody well not going out there. I don't care if we are dead again, I bleeding well won't lose you."

Mia pulled him to her and kissed him deeply, then she pushed him back. "It seems like I have loved you forever and you should always remember that. You need to go on fighting. This life is your destiny: so much magic was involved in your getting here. I want you to go on fighting. If you'll remember, for me, this life was just a few people's misguided attempt to keep me around." Then she punched him and he hit the cave wall, passing out.

Mia looked at Angel. "I love you, Angel, but…"

"I know, Mia. I don't want you to do this. I understand, but I…I love you too. You realize that if I just let you do this he'll blame me."

"And do you have a problem with that?" She cocked her head just a bit.

Angel's face was sad. "No, I guess it'll put Spike and me back the way we were."

Mia walked briskly away.

Spike came around only moments after she left and stood up. Angel stopped him as he started after her.

"Spike, let her go."

"Let her go? Angel, are you bleeding crazy? Do you realize what you are asking?"

"We should have let her go before. She never asked for this life. You and I did, but Emma never did, and now, thanks to Mot, she would remember for eternity what she would be missing."

Spike collapsed against the cave wall. "We were so happy."

"Yeah, that bastard Mot knew how to punish us."

"I want to follow her into the sun."

"Right, but we both know that there are two things stopping you. One, you are nowhere near as strong-willed as she is and two, her last words about you staying and fighting will run through your mind if you try."

"You two talked too much. That's how you know so much about me."

Angel sat down next to Spike. "Maybe, and maybe that's what he made us believe."

Angel and Spike sat there in the dark in silence. Suddenly A figure breezed in, grabbed the broken torch, lit it with a zippo lighter and then ignited Mot's body.

"Damn fucking son of a bitch, you will never win!"

Both Angel and Spike jumped up. Mia reached Spike first and her fist connected with his nose. He fell to the ground. She swung around and punched Angel.

Spike stood up checking his nose for blood. She hadn't hit him hard because there was none. " Em, love… you're back. You didn't….."

" You two were going to let me! Yes, Angel probably talked you into it, Spike, and you were a little vulnerable - and don't go getting all growly at the mention of that – but, Spike, you were going to let me go. You were going to let me go. Damn you…. you were going to let me… Spike, you were going to let me go. You were…."

~ ~ ~

EM! Wake up, love! Wake up, I'm right here. Not letting you go anywhere."

Mia opened her eyes and saw his blue eyes staring back at her. She threw her arms around him.

"You don't have many nightmares, pet, and you were yelling out aloud in this one."

She squeezed him tight.

"Oh, alright, this must have been a bad one." Spike turned on the bedside lamp. "Care to share?"

Mia told him about the dream and Spike pulled her tight against him.

"First off, I'd never let that ponce talk me into anything so easily, especially concerning you. And if this had all been a vision of some type, we'd go into the sun hand in hand because facing a near eternity, knowing we never have those two in the other rooms, would be too much even for a bastard like me. I think you just had this one because of Willa's little announcement."

"Maybe." She sighed. "I so do not want to go back to sleep after that."

"No, well it's not like you have to. Tomorrow is Saturday: kids drive themselves off to early practices. We can get up, watch a movie, then go watch the sunrise. Take a morning nap after the kids leave."

"Oh, I don't know. I was seriously thinking I just need a really good long shag. But watching the sunrise after might be nice."

Spike chuckled and kissed her. "I love you, Em, and that statement is one of the many reasons I could never let you go."

Her eyes softened as she smiled. "Thank goodness," Mia suddenly gave him her evil grin. " Spike, it's a good thing because there is this new move I read about and it requires a lot of balance but it's important that both partners hold on to one another and…"

Spike laughed so hard Mia had to kiss him to quiet him for fear he would wake the kids.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Mia and Spike were still sitting talking on the beach after the sunrise when Alex came to join them, bringing each some coffee.

"Alex, honey, you're up early," said Mia.

He smiled as he sat next to her, holding his own coffee. Mia noted that he was still wearing his pajama bottoms and t-shirt. "I think it's you guys that are up early, Mom. You guys are always watching the sunrise, have done since I was little. I remember you saying that the light beginning the day is a gift some people take for granted."

Spike leaned into Mia. "I think he was five when you said that. He's got your sodding memory."

Mia gave a short laugh, "Oh, and the fact that you remember he was only five means nothing."

"Stop it," chuckled Alex. "I was just going to say that last night's `living in the dark speech', I understand it."

Mia put her hand on his. "I'm waiting for the `but'."

"No, but… I'm going to wait a bit before I go anywhere." Alex laughed. "Besides, I live in Malibu. I kind of think that London won't have them walking around in bikinis."

"That he inherited from you!" Mia said, leaning hard enough into Spike that he fell over.

Alex laughed until Spike made him go in to get him a fresh cup of coffee. Willa came out with him.

"Hey, are we having a family morning meeting you forgot to tell me about? You know, Dad, you are supposed to email me about these things: you promised." Willa plopped down next to Spike. He put his arm around her and pulled her to him.

"Willa pet, you know my assistant Mia does all that, so if you didn't get one I'll have to talk to her about it. It looks like I may have to get stern."

Willa giggled as Mia hit him on the back of the head. "Your what, Spike? And just.when are you going to get stern…" Mia looked at him, raising her eyebrows quickly a couple of times. "…with me?"

Alex and Willa both groaned. Willa said, " Please, we are sixteen. We know you love to- do it, but don't talk about it. It just grosses us out. When it comes to sex, you act like kids our age. I mean, it's just disconcerting."

Spike chuckled and pushed her from him. "This child just used the word `disconcerting'. That alone is scary, but then she used it while talking about us… doing it. It's a bleeding crime. I'm through with her, Mia. She's all your's. I wash my hands of her."

Willa giggled, "Daddy."

"No, Willa, I'm serious. We're through," Spike grinned.

Willa got serious. "I know you don't really want me to go but I feel like I have to. There's just something, it's something in me, telling me to go. Please don't be mad at me or hurt by my needing to."

Spike put his arm back around her. "It's neither of those, pet. What it is, is that we know what could happen, and we're your parents. We love you and we don't want to lose you. "So what do I do now? I mean, besides calling Jessica Michaels and telling her how Alex feels."

Alex leaned over. "What? I don't need you to do that."

"You and Jessica need to get together before you go and break an arm or something." Willa stared back at him, her eyebrow lifted just a bit.

Mia took a deep breath. "We'll call your Uncle Rupert and then we tell your brother that we are sorry about changing the plans he just decided on, and we hope he feels alright about going to school in London."

Alex bleated out, "What?"

Mia looked at Alex. "We never told you this, but your father and I used to train Slayers and Watchers for the Council, so if anyone's going to train Willa, it'll be us."

"Oh man. So, no more watching the girls in their bikinis, but hey, if we go to the beaches in the south of France I heard they go topless there. Can we go there sometime? It's just a car ride away through that Chunnel, right?"

Willa gave a snorty laugh.

Spike took Mia's hand. "So, pet, it's back to London for us?"

"Yes."

"You'll like that, Mom," said Willa. "I remember that you love London. You always used to say that Dad was your London."

"Yes I did, and he is." She gave Spike a quick kiss. "He always will be." She kissed him again. Spike pulled her close and the kiss deepened.

Alex shook his head. "Oh bloody hell, there they go again."

Willa stood up and put her hand out toward Alex to help him up. "Let's get out of here."

Finis'.....but there is an Epilogue to be posted.