The group that arrived at the Embassy house was almost as together as it had ever been; possibly more so because Xander had begun to accept Spike as part of the gang in the aftermath of Buffy's death. Despite the travel, the day, the night and the spell, no one of them was really ready to go to sleep. There was too much that couldn't be said, and too many questions that couldn't be asked.

Marbury lead them through the corridors to the back.

"We have three double rooms, and one twin. You'll have to work out who sleeps where yourself, sorry. It's rare that we have so many guests here."

Xander opened a door at random, into the twin room and everyone took places on the various pieces of furniture. Spike leant himself against the dressing table, Dawn pulled herself up onto the chest of drawers.

Marbury pulled Buffy aside for a moment as Willow and Tara snuggled together on one bed and Giles propped himself on it against the corner of the wall. They were waiting for Buffy.

"A goodnight to you all," Marbury said as he ushered Buffy back into the room.

He closed the door behind her and Buffy cast a speculative eye over Spike and Giles before taking a place against the base of the bed Xander and Anya had claimed.

"When does our plane get in?" Buffy asked.

"Around midnight," Giles said.

"And my room…?"

"There's a guy from the government in your house at the moment," Willow said.

"From the government?" Buffy repeated.

"It's okay, he's just there to look after Sunnydale while we were here," Tara said.

Buffy nodded in relief.

"Okay. So we're going home, and we'll do what we always did. But I want Faith to come back to Sunnydale and be the Slayer."

Willow, Xander and Giles had already gotten over their shock. Buffy had made her decision and was able to watch the others.

Spike blinked once, visibly worked the thought through his mind and then nodded. Tara looked nervous, but was reassured by Willow's calm acceptance. Anya narrowed her eyes at Xander as if to make sure that he hadn't orchestrated the whole thing.

Whatever argument Xander had in response to her accusation was interrupted by an outraged shout from Dawn.

"She tried to kill you!"

Buffy felt herself almost split in half. She found she couldn't just override Dawn's concerns, however much she had wanted this to be easy.

"And I beat her, Dawn. I put her in hospital for months. And when she came out I beat her again. Angel supports her, she turned herself in, and I don't want to fight anymore."

Dawn slid off the chest of drawers and scrambled across the floor to where Buffy was. She squashed himself next to her sister and rested her head on Buffy's shoulder. Buffy automatically put her arm around Dawn and stroked her hair.

"You'll be okay?" Buffy asked.

She was disappointed to discover that she was justifying her decision. But looking after Dawn was a familiar, and comforting thing, and maybe it would hold her to this world again.

Dawn nodded. Buffy kissed her temple, relieved that things were okay.

"You'll fight her if she goes bad again, though, won't you?"

"Definitely."

"Buffy's back, Faith's good, lets talk about happier things," Anya said. "Willow rebuilt the Buffy-bot."

"How is she?" Buffy asked.

"Okay," Willow said. "There are still some bugs to work through. The pun generator needs some work done on it. The government guys were quite interested in her."

Buffy grinned at Willow's pride. It was good to see excited nerdy Willow again. The last time she'd seen Willow she'd been rescuing Tara's mind from Glory's. It was strange to see think how little everyone had changed.

Dawn was still her little sister, who needed her. Tara and Willow were still beautiful together. Anya could be wildly inappropriate, without actually being wrong. Xander was still solid dependable guy; Giles still knew stuff and Spike could get on her nerves. Although, apparently, Giles knew more than he should, and Spike was a going to teach her something worth knowing.

Buffy shook her head and focussed on the conversation.

"But how long will it take them to get out of the house?" Anya asked.

"They're pretty sharp," Tara said. "I imagine they can leave without a trace."

"Better than the army," Xander said.

"Better be," Spike said.

"I'm sure that you won't notice that they were there," Giles said.

He seemed to be falling asleep. Dawn was leaning against Buffy's shoulder, eyes closed. Buffy closed her own eyes and leant against the top of Dawn's head.

"It'll be fine," Willow said. "We'll be moving out anyway, so we can just take our stuff when we get there…"

"What?" Buffy demanded.

She sat up sharply and Dawn let out a shout as she fell over.

"Willow said she was moving out," Buffy explained.

"You can't do that," Dawn said, in much the same way that Faith was not allowed out of jail.

"Dawnie…" Tara began.

"Would you have moved out if Buffy hadn't have come back?"

"She had to come back," Willow said quietly.

Both Dawn and Giles turned incredulous looks at Willow. Buffy felt a cold stab of fear run through her. Her eyes met Spike's, and she was reassured by the certainty and resolution in his. She knew that he would be there for her.

"Would you have left?" Dawn demanded.

"No, of course, not," Tara said.

"Then why are you leaving now?" Dawn's voice had gone from resolute to petulant in half a non-heart-beat. But Buffy agreed.

"You can stay," she said. "It will be nice, to have more people around. And better for Dawn, getting her off to school, and when I go patrolling."

"Or just cooking," Dawn said.

"It'll be cheaper than college," Buffy said.

She saw Willow smile and nod, so closed her eyes again, relieved that everything was going to be okay.

Spike asked after their Coven and Willow was eagerly explaining about the contact the First Lady had given them before anyone noticed that Buffy had fallen asleep. She was snoring quietly on Dawn's shoulder. Everyone else suddenly became very quiet.

"It is late," Tara said. "We should go to bed. Willow and I will take one of the other rooms."

She helped Willow up and they said their good nights. Everyone smiled tired but content smiles in response. Xander gave Buffy's shoulder a gentle squeeze as he stood, but she didn't stir. He and Anya left just as quietly.

"We'll let the girls take the double bed?" Giles suggested, although he didn't relish even sharing a room with Spike.

He looked at them. Dawn was mostly asleep, too. Spike pushed himself away from the dressing table and stood up straight.

"No," he said.

Giles gave him his best, 'and what do you mean by that?' eyebrow.

"The Slayer's sleeping with me. If she dreams any she'll better knowing she disturbed me, rather than the Nibblet."

"It's okay, Spike," Dawn said, forestalling any argument Giles might have made. "Giles and I can share."

She moved around a bit so she could push Buffy to her feet.

"Hmmphle," Buffy said, as Spike picked her up.

Dawn climbed to her feet and smiled at the way her sister had snuggled into Spike's chest. Spike's expression dared her to say anything, but the undertone was amused, not dark. Dawn pressed a kiss on Buffy's cheek before Spike carried her out the door.

She smirked at Giles. Giles decided that he was too tired to worry about it at the moment. Spike had made a point. It was worth remembering that he had a soul now; and was more comfortable with himself than Angel had been. He obviously cared for Buffy, and had been affected by her death. Giles gave up rationalising Spike and took his pyjamas to the bathroom to change. At least Dawn would be an easier roommate than the vampire.