Title: Some Wishes

Author: Moonbeam

Rated: PG13

Disclaimer: They all belong to Joss. Grr....Argh, and all that stuff.

Timeline: Buffy-S5. Shortly after Joyce's death.

Pairings: X/A. W/T. B/A with some B/S undertones.

--------------------------------------

Chapter Two:

I'd been sitting up there for about an hour when I saw him coming. He was bruised and had a trace of a red gash across his cheek. I wondered if it would scar. The air felt cold against my face and neck as I stood up from the tombstone I had been perched on. I could tell, instantly, when he spotted me. His eyes lit up and he quickly looked down, concealing it from me. I slightly rolled my eyes. Spike. The vampire who had tried to kill me, my friends, Angel, so many times..in love with me. It was ridiculous. And gross.

"Darkness falls and she comes to me." He said dramatically, stopping a few feet in front of me.

"Spike." I said, gritting my teeth, "I'm a little bit busy."

"Patrolling." He concluded. "And it certainly looks like you've been awfully busy." He said sarcastically.

It was true. I hadn't staked a single vamp all night. It had been strangely peaceful. I didn't like it.

"Yeah well, it's leaving *me* awfully fidgety." I looked at him, purposefully; "It might impale my sense of reason and leave you with one of my wooden friends through your heart."

"Sure thing, love." He said, walking past me and taking my spot on the stone. I turned around so I was facing him and folded my arms across my chest, my hair swinging behind me. Dawn had *so* picked up that move from me.

"Get out of here." I said.

"I recall something about a free country. About having rights of my very own." He said, putting his chin in the air.

"Yeah, and I recall something about vampires being disqualified." I countered back, slightly raising my eyebrows.

"What's the matter, Slayer? Patrolling solo, now? Too good for backup?"

"You hardly fall under the 'backup' category, Spike. I usually file you onto the 'gross bad guy' list."

"Damn *right* you do!" He said, proudly. Ugh. So disgusting.

"Fine. Just stay far away from me." I said, finished talking with him. Why couldn't there be a little remote for his chip? You know, with a nice 'stop' button for whenever he got irritating. I sighed, walking away from his figure. He was yelling something after me, but I didn't really hear whatever he said.

Honestly, I didn't care. I still needed to get home, pack Dawn's lunch, do the laundry, and shower. And it was already past midnight.

Part of being a vampire Slayer? Don't count on a nine to five schedule.

When I got home, I found Dawn asleep on the floor with the television still on. She had been falling asleep a lot like that lately. Xander sat on the couch, snoring slightly. I grinned as I shut of the TV and his eyes opened.

"Buffy? What are you doing here?" His eyes moved around, frantically, "Am I naked?"

I smirked, gesturing to the room. "This is *my* living room, Xander. And I'd like to believe that you never have and never, ever will be naked in here."

"Oh." He sat up a bit, yawning as he looked around, "Oh yeah. How did everything go?"

I shrugged. "Nothing demon-y. Very tired. Get out of my house." I said playfully.

He stood up, stretching. "Yes ma'am." Our eyes both traveled down to the floor where Dawn lay, her head on a pillow.

"She won't sit on the couch." I explained, seeing his expression. "When she found out that I found Mom there.." I trailed off, figuring he understood. Xander isn't as stupid as he comes off. I didn't have to spell it out for him.

He reached forward and gave me a hug, holding me tightly, crushing me against him. But in a good way. When we pulled apart he gave me a small smile that told me a million things at once.

"I'll see you tomorrow."

"Good night." I called after him, closing the door as he retreated to his car.

--------------------------------------

I walked into the Magic Box the next day at around 10:00. Dawn was at school. The dishes were clean. The beds were made. I collapsed into a chair and looked up at where Giles stood behind the counter.

"Good morning." He said taking a sip of his coffee. I grunted in reply, resting my head on the table.

"Rough night?" He asked, his voice sounding slightly amused. Ha-ha. So glad someone finds this funny.

"Vampires have all the luck." I finally muttered, refusing to lift my head, "Getting to sleep the whole day away."

I looked up at him as he grinned. "Ah, yes. I constantly find myself envying the dead."

"You said it." I said, closing my eyes.

"How was last night's patrol?" Giles said, his voice further away this time. He was probably behind the cash register or unpacking boxes. Maybe I'd help later..

"Pretty dead." I sat up, wincing as I did so. [Sleep.Sleep.Sleep.] "No vamps. Well, except for Spike.." I shrugged, "But he's practically part of the scenery now. You know, like a shrub or a bush. Is a shrub the same thing as a bush?"

"Things have been rather quiet lately. I wonder.."

"I hate it when you start wondering. It always leads to researching and then alarming discoveries and then me killing something and having to wash grind and blood out of my new tops." He stared at me and I blinked, staring back.

"Yes. Well I wonder if something is keeping these vampires away."

"Like scaring them off?"

He nodded. Woo. See? Sometimes I know what the heck he's saying. One point for Buffy.

"Perhaps. Or maybe this is simply a quiet time and we should be happy. It's nothing to fret over." He said, turning back to the shelves.

"Phew." I said, sarcastically. Giles cocked his head to the side, regarding me with an 'aren't-you-funny?' glare.

"Why don't you make yourself useful." He suggested, pointing to a box of old books waiting to be shelved.

Knowing the day would be empty anyway, I shrugged, picking up the carton and walking it over to the empty bookcases.

"Check me out. Working woman. Buffy Summers. Career gal." I mumbled, setting myself down next to the box.

After a little more than half of the box had been shelved, I had been slightly reprimanded by Giles and re-shelved the books in the *correct* alphabetical order, I found myself fighting to stay awake. God, I should start drinking more coffee in the morning. Black. Just caffeine. I yawned and stretched out, behind the bookcases, letting my eyes close.

--------------------------------------

+This happened before, Angel. That dream I had about the Master... It came true. +

+Still, not every dream you have comes true. I mean, what else did you dream last night? Can you remember? +

Can you remember?

You remember?

Remember.

+Then we have to take care of her. Promise me, Buffy - if anything happens to me, if I don't come through this- +

+Mom. +

+No. Let me finish. No matter what she is, she still feels like my daughter, and I have to know you'll keep her safe. You'll love her like I love you. +

+I promise. +

Promise.

I promise.

+My sweet, brave Buffy. What would I do without you? +

What would I do?

What would I do without you?

Without you?

+Close your eyes. +

+Mom, I'm a vampire slayer. +

+The monks gave it flesh.made it human.+

My mother's voice rang out, clearer than ever before.

+You have to wish to see it all. +

[Wish. Wish. Wish.]

--------------------------------------

My eyes flew open, my heart still racing. All those faces. Mommy. Dawn. Angel. The people I would give my life for. This was no ordinary dream, I knew. But what did it mean?

I was almost afraid to find out.