Disclaimer: I own nothing.

Summary: Post Gift. Willow is beaten to the punch by Wolfram and Hart on resurrecting Buffy. Slight X-over with Demon's Souls.

Note: No knowledge of Demon's Souls is required. I have taken some liberties with the Buffyverse timeline.

She watched on as her firm's spellcasters worked their mojo. She never knew the specifics of such resurrection spells but that's not what she's there for. She was there to welcome her.

Lilah Morgan looked on as their chants became more intense and more rapid. The end of the spell was coming soon. It's not everyday that Wolfram and Hart did resurrection spells, especially on someone that was a champion of the Powers that Be. The Senior Partners were wary of the upcoming big battle and to say that this was a power play was selling it short.

It was quite a bold move. Going to Sunnydale, stealing the remains while making sure that no one noticed. With the firm's luck lately, it was surprising that it went smoothly. The two witches in Sunnydale had no idea. And now here they are. . .

The ground quaked intensely for a few seconds before flesh quickly filled the decomposed corpse before her. The now restored blonde shot up with a gasp for air. Her eyes darted everywhere back and forth trying to process her surroundings. There was confusion that quickly melted away by realization.

Their job finished, the spellcasters retired to places Lilah doesn't care about. She approached the blonde with some caution. The two locked eyes. Lilah was pleased to see that the woman was whole. Resurrected beings tend to be crazy and rabid.

"My name is Lilah," she greeted.

"This is. . . Los Angeles?" the blonde asked.

"Very good Buffy," she smiled. She didn't miss the surprise that flashed across Buffy's face. Lilah wondered if it was surprise that she knew her name or that she hasn't heard her name in a very long time.

Things are definitely going to be interesting.

=BTVS=

Lilah opened the door to her apartment. She saw the reluctant expression on Buffy's face and just gave her a smile and motioned with her head for her to come in. She closed the door after her.

"This is my place. I hope you don't mind the accommodations," Lilah said.

She had been paying close attention to the blonde. It was hard to get a read on her. It was mainly disbelief that she could glean off her. Disbelief that she was back in this realm.

The Senior Partners didn't leave her completely in the dark. After her death, Buffy had quite the adventure on another world. She is Buffy Summers and yet she is not. How the world can change you. . . or in this case, a different dimension.

It was Buffy's fractured identity that made her appealing to the Senior Partners.

Buffy gave her a small smile. "Thanks."

"How are you feeling?" she asked.

"Tired."

Whether it was from being resurrected or from being in another dimension, Lilah didn't want to ask. It was pointless.

"I understand," the lawyer nodded. "I don't know exactly what you went through but I've been told some things. What you went through. . ."

"It's fine," Buffy interrupted her. "How long has it been?"

Lilah didn't miss the diversion. She clearly didn't want to talk about her experiences in the other dimension and she acquiesced. Lilah didn't want to test her mental stability.

"Five months."

Buffy let out a lifeless chuckle. "It's been several lifetimes for me."

"I know."

=BtVS=

Things have been looking up for Lilah. Congratulations and praised was heaped on her everyday she walked into the building. For all it's evil machinations, Wolfram and Hart can surprisingly show some form of camaraderie.

"Quite the praises you're getting and you weren't even the one that resurrected me" the voice beside her said.

Lilah chuckled at that. "You know how it is. The peon's never get the credit."

With Buffy in tow, Lilah headed for her office. Inside, she gestured for Buffy to sit as she did so herself.

"Do you have any questions Buffy?" she asked.

Buffy gave her a smile and stood up. She looked out and down the glass window. "Not at the moment. So I'm your personal assistant but not really?"

Lilah swiveled her chair to face the blonde's back. "Exactly. Of course, you're getting compensated far more than a mere personal assistant. You also have privileges. It's just a cover until something more pressing needs you."

"Hmmm. . ."

"What is it?"

"'Pressing' will be here sooner rather than later. Willow knows," she said calmly.

How Buffy knew that Willow knew, Lilah didn't bother questioning. It was going to happen sooner or later. Lilah just wasn't expecting it to be this soon. She said as much to the blonde.

"It's just a matter of time until Angel and his pals know too," she added.

It's only been a week since the blonde was brought back but it frightened her how quickly she adapted at being back. Her true expressions were either hard to read or she truly felt nothing at the mention of her friends.

"You're just gonna have to keep a low profile for the time being. They are going to poke around Wolfram and Hart and might even get some info. As much as I'd like to have you by me when Angel inevitably pops here to rile me up. It's not time yet."

The blonde turned around and gave her a small smile. "Understood. With that out of the way, how would you like your coffee?"

"Black please," laughed Lilah. "We're also gonna have to call you a different name. At least when other people around."

"Astrea will work."

Lilah immediately noticed that Buffy's thoughts went somewhere else. No doubt it went to the other dimension she was in. "Is that the name you went by over there?"

Buffy closed her eyes. "No. She was a saint in that dimension."

Lilah raised an eyebrow. A peculiar choice in name.

"I killed her."

For the first time, there was a genuine emotion in her voice. A true sadness. Lilah found herself wanting to ask, surprisingly, out of concern for the blonde. The moment passed and they and silence overtook the room.