Buffy is laying on the couch next to Spike and Dawn is sitting on the chair in the living room. They are watching TV and enjoying the quiet evening off.

"Popcorn Anyone." Dawn's stomach starts making noises.

"Nibblet. If you're hungry, I'll go fix something." Spike starts to move Buffy to get up, but Dawn stops him.

"No. I just want a snack. I'll be right back. I think I can manage putting the popcorn in the microwave by myself. Just stay here. Besides," indicating Buffy. "I think she's asleep." Spike looks down at the sleeping woman on him and smiles. She really needed the night off. Good thing the Scoobies went patrolling tonight. …True, I love watching her fight, and fighting by her side, but I think I love having her in my arms more, especially when she is at peace. …And I'm turning into a bigger ponce than Peaches. Suddenly, the doorbell rings.

"I'll get it." Dawn yells as she's walking from the kitchen to the door. The Scoobies were supposed to stop by after they were done or if they needed any help tonight. She was looking forward to seeing everyone happy. But when she opened the door, she was about ready to pass out from surprise.

"Um…hello. Is Buffy here?"

"A…An…Angel. What are you doing here?"

"I need to speak with Buffy?"

Dawn begins talking louder so that Spike will hear. "Angel. …Angel what do you need to talk with Buffy about?"

Upon hearing his grandsire's name, Spike jumps up, almost throwing Buffy off the couch. He begins whispering to her to get her to wake up, but doesn't want Angel to find him with her.

"Buffy, Luv. Wake up now. You have company. Wake up my sleeping beauty." Still nothing. So he decided to kiss her. –Hey it worked for Sleeping Beauty. –Man, I've been spending too much time with Nibblet. Well, that woke her up alright.

"Buffy. There's someone here that wants to see you, but I don't think I should be here when he comes in…"

Angel walked into the room cutting him off and Buffy lightly shoves him to sit at the other end of the couch. Dawn comes running in behind him and looks at Buffy apologetically.

"Buffy. What is Spike doing here?" Angel looks at Spike with disgust.

"Spike? What is he doing here? …He…um…he helps me …uh…patrol sometimes. Yes, that's it. We were patrolling earlier and just got back home."

"Spike? Spike patrols with you?" Angel didn't like the idea of Buffy, HIS Buffy, walking around late at night in the deserted streets of Sunnydale with the most vicious vampire in the world since Angelus.

"Yeah, I do. You got a problem with that Soul Boy?"

"Actually, I do."

"Too bad." Spike added with his usually cocky smile.

"Guys, could we please get back to the matter at hand? Now Angel, yes, Spike and I do work together, but that's not the issue. What is this prophecy you called about?"

"Well, Wesley can explain it better than I can, but basically it's about a warrior of the light, a.k.a. you, joining with a warrior of the darkness who recently turned towards to the light to defeat the newest evil in town."
" Sounds familiar. Anything else?"

"This creature is supposed to have the powers of a God and something about the ultimate battle for the world. The source also said that the two warriors would find hidden strengths within and without, whatever that means. Wesley can't translate it better than that."

"Buffy. That does sound very familiar." Dawn interrupted the vampire. "It kinda' sounds like a recent fight you were in. Maybe you should call the others."

"Right. Angel, Spike can I trust you two to behave while I phone Giles." Buffy starts to walk into the kitchen and stops. "On second thought, Dawn watch them carefully."

Buffy gives one last look at Spike telling him to behave himself and then leaves. Angel and Spike stand there staring at each other for several minutes. Finally Dawn breaks the silence.

"Angel, didn't you say something about Wesley? Where is he?"

"Oh, he's waiting in the car."

"Why don't you go get him? There's no since in him waiting out there until Giles and the gang gets here."

Angel reluctantly leaves. He still doesn't trust Spike alone in the Summers' house, especially the part about Buffy not minding he was there. This doesn't look good. Something strange is happening. I just don't know what. Yet.

"Spike, you really should be nice to him."

"Why? He's never nice to me and he doesn't even know me. I know exactly what he is."

"Just try. For Buffy. I don't think she needs to deal with the two of you constantly at each other's throats, especially if this is something new, which I don't think it is. But that's besides the point."

"Huh?"

"Nothing. Never mind. Just forget it. I'll tell everyone what I mean when Giles arrives."

Buffy enters. "What did I miss?" She looks around the room and then at Spike. "Where's Angel? Did you stake him? I thought I told you to behave yourself!"

"Relax, the poofer went outside to get his watcher wanna-be. He'll be right back."

"I'm going to go make snacks. I have a feeling this is going to be a long night." Dawn exits leaving Buffy and Spike alone to talk.

"You know this is going to be hard?"

"Yeah. I know? I still don't know what he's going to say. I think I'm scared."

"Why? He wouldn't do anything to you. He's obsessed with you Buff?"

"I know. That's why I'm scared. Think about it. How would you feel if the woman you thought you loved was in love with your greatest enemy?"

"I'd probably kill him. Anything for you Luv."

"See. That's what I mean. I don't want you in a dusty pile. I want you here with me." Buffy walks over and kisses him, then the door opens and they separate quickly.

Wesley and Angel enter the room. Wesley is carrying a large stack of books and Angel is carrying a few notebooks. Wesley looks from Buffy, to Spike, back to Buffy, to Angel, and then back to Buffy.

"Well, hello Buffy. Spike?"

"Hey stuffed—shirt."

"Spike behave."

"Uh, Buffy. This is everything that I've collected so far. Do you have somewhere where I can put this stuff?"

"Uh. Sorry. Here. In here. You can put everything on the table." She leads Angel and Wesley to the dining room where Dawn has already placed snacks and even a few packets of blood for Buffy's "knights in shining armor" –more like knights in leather coats. What was it with Master Vamps wearing leather. Or being in love with Buffy for that matter. They certainly do have a lot in common. Dawn was trying, but failing, to keep from laughing at them.

"What's all this?" Angel asks looking at the array of items in front of them. Then, picking up a packet of blood. "When did you start stocking blood in this house?"

"It's for me." Spike said grabbing the bag from Angel and sinking his teeth into it.

"You keep blood? For Spike? Why?"

"For when he comes over" then quickly Dawn adds "after patrolling with Buffy. Our warriors need to keep up their strength you know."

"Warrior? Spike?"

"Yes. He is very helpful. He helped us defeat Glory the night Buffy died. And he has continued to protect us all. Even while Buffy was dead. We've come to trust him with our lives, or at least I have." Spike, now finished with the blood, smiles at Dawn.

"Thanks Nibblet."

"Dawn's right." Buffy added trying not to give too much away. "Spike has earned our trust and my respect. You should do the same. He's not the man you once knew."

"You're right. He's not. He's a vampire. Did you forget that?"

"So are you."

"But that's different. I…" The door rings interrupting Angel.

"Angel. Just cut it out. Giles is here. We need to get back to work." Buffy leaves to get the door. After a moment she re-enters followed by Giles, Willow, Xander, Tara, and Anya.

"Buffy, what's so import…" Xander stops in mid-sentence when he sees Angel standing in front of him. "Buff, why's he here?"

"Xander. It's all right. He's here to help. He's the one that discovered the prophecy I spoke about."

Willow whispers to Buffy. "So he knows about you know who?" She pointed to Spike who was standing in the opposite corner.

"Yes, Willow. I know that Spike has been helping you, but I still don't trust him."

"How did you…"

"Vamp ears. Remember."

"Oh. Sorry. Forgot."

"Angel. What is it that you found exactly?" Giles was tired of talking about his Slayer and her Vampire lovers.

"Actually, it was Wes here that discovered it." To Wesley, "Why don't you tell 'em?"

"Alright."

Wesley stands up and picks up his packet of papers. He searches for several minutes through his papers to find where he would like to begin.

"Well, from what I can tell, it seems that Buffy must save the world yet again with the help of this mysterious dark warrior."

"Why would she work with a 'dark warrior' again?" Xander said eyeing both Spike and Angel with malice. "Doesn't she do enough of that right now?'

"It says that the warrior has recently turned to the good side, or the 'light'. A battle is to be waged with a creature unknown to the rest of the world, but close to the warriors. This is basically the ultimate fight between the two forces of this world. Good and evil. All battles after this one are circumstantial for the outcome of this particular battle sets the end for the losing power." After a slight pause. "I think we all see the significance of this meeting now."

Wesley sits back down, partially hiding behind his books. Everyone stands there thinking for a moment when Dawn's original thought comes back to her.

"Hey guys. Think about it. What does this sound like to y'all? I think it's already been won."

"How can that be? I wasn't here!" Angel suddenly didn't like the idea of Buffy fighting this thing by herself. But how could she have? The prophecy said we must join forces.

"What do you mean?" Anya was saying what everyone was thinking but they still gave her their usual 'how inappropriate' looks.

"Well," Angel continues. "The prophecy said that she had to join forces with a warrior of the dark turned to the light…"

Dawn cuts him off. "Exactly. It never said that warrior was you Angel. It could always have been someone else." Dawn, and everyone else looks over at Spike. Slowly Angel follows their lead and finds himself staring at the one demon he truly hates in this world.

"Spike? It couldn't be? He's not GOOD!!! HE'S a DEMON!"

"Angel. How many times do we have to tell you that he's changed?"

"I don't believe it!"

"It makes total sense." Buffy hadn't heard his last comment. She was staring at Spike with what Angel suspected was respect, maybe even gratitude. Maybe he had changed. Buffy never would have looked at him so trusting unless…No I won't think that. There's no way Buffy would have feelings for Spike? No way at all!

"Buffy. What are you talking about? I know that I'm not a part of your Scooby Gang here, and I'm not even your watcher, but can I have an explanation?" Wesley was back on his feet again.

"About a week ago, while Dawn was visiting my father, Spike, the Scoobies, and I fought Glory –again. I won, and Glory's toast. The story goes that the victor would determine the fate of the future world. Spike helped me to kill her."

"Who's Glory?"

"A God, from another dimension. She was trying to use Dawn to open the portal that would open the door to her world and unleash Hell-on-earth the first time we fought. She died, but so did I."

"You died? When? And what are you doing back?" This was all very interesting to Wesley, but Angel didn't seem so amused. He was worried.

"Yeah. It was about five weeks ago. I didn't stay that way for long though. After about a week with me in the ground and no other Slayer called, the gang started to worry. –The watcher's council had no idea though. They still think that I never died. –Willow had this strange dream one night and decided to bring me back. The Powers That Be and Willow combined forces and here I am. I guess they didn't think I was finished with my job yet."

"Wait Buffy. You said the first time you fought her you died? Then you said you killed her a week ago? How is that possible?" Angel didn't want this creature to be back if she could kill Buffy again.

"Angel, haven't you learned yet that anything can happen in Sunnydale? I mean, it IS the Hellmouth." Angel didn't answer. "Well. When Willow brought me back, Glory was brought back so we could settle this thing between us. That's were the whole 'to the victor goes the world' thing came in. I won, so world stays good, but evil still exists. Only I don't think it's as strong now. I seem to have an easier time fighting."

"Buffy. Tell them about the side-effects." Willow whispered.

"Willow. I don't want to mention it." Buffy whispered back.

Too late. "What side-effects? Buffy what's wrong?" Angel wouldn't let this go and she knew it.

"Its nothing. I just get a little bit of a powerful adrenaline rush when I fight now."

"A little rush. Come on Buf-Slayer. Don't be so modest. You're on fire out there when you fight." To Angel with praise for HIS Slayer. "Last night she took out an entire vamp nest by herself. I was there but she didn't even need me. There were like twenty of them and I think she finished the fight in no more than ten or fifteen minutes tops."

"Buffy. Do you know what's causing it?" Wesley loved this. So many questions still left to answer. Research time. I've missed being here with this group. There was always something going on in Sunnydale. Never a dull moment. As opposed to LA that was just crawling with movie stars and lawyers. Nothing my studies could help with, but here they are needed.

"I don't know. They've been researching it for the past week, but still no luck. It seems that not many people knew about Glory. She did a good job hiding in Ben."

"What?"

"Never mind. Long story. Another place. Another time. –Hey, research crew. I think I'm going to go patrol some. It's still early. Be back later."

Buffy exists. She re-enters in a moment with her jacket on and a stake in each hand. She tosses one to Spike and leaves again. Spike turns to Angel and smiles, then he follows Buffy. He had thought that she would patrol alone tonight. Oh well. He wanted to be alone with her some tonight anyway. Angel leaves a few minutes later.