A/N: Thanks for all the support, I'm glad you all seemed to enjoy the codenames, it was fun to write I can tell you.

Buffy slung the crossbow against her shoulder much like a soldier with a gun. It had been a long while since she had used a crossbow but it was an old friend of hers and she felt pretty comfortable with it. Dawn was practically skipping down the alley they were in; swinging a broadsword about like it was a candy cane walking stick. They had been patrolling the alleyways for what seemed like hours but was actually about an hour and a half.

Buffy wondered where Angel was right now, he could have been under her very feet. The sewers in L.A where intense and complex, she was willing to bet. She had to be glad Angel had given her above ground duty because she really didn't think traipsing around in sewers would be good for her mood right now.

Spike and some ex-god woman were taking the alleyways and the streets opposite Dawn and Buffy. The Slayer had gotten a little bit of the story of Illyria from Angel earlier in the day when they were waiting around for Spike who was late, as usual. She knew that the god had taken over Angel's friend Fred's body. Killed Fred. She had been as powerful as Glory, maybe more so because she used to be able to slow down time. Until her power had become unstable and Angel and Co had to take some of it from her. Buffy was willing to bet she hadn't been happy about that.

She had yet to meet this Illyria and she wasn't sure she wanted to from what she had heard about her and the way people talked about her.

It was weird being back in America, patrolling for demons. Almost like the old days. Buffy had been taking it pretty easily in Rome. She had down a quick patrol every now and then but she had remained pretty much out of action until the Kraal's came into her town and got heavy. She was still a little worried that she was somewhat rusty. The fight she had had with the Kraal's had been more difficult then she had anticipated. Buffy was still keeping in shape, of course but she still felt like she'd lost some of her…drive for the kill.

Usually, that would have been a good thing.

For Buffy, now, it was probably going to be a bad thing.

First though they actually had to find the demons and their hideout, which was proving hard in a city as big as L.A.

"Buffy?"

She blinked; saw Dawn was looking at her "What? Have you found something?"

"Only piles and piles of garbage" Dawn smiled, "You spaced out for a few moments. You okay?"

"What? Yeah. Yeah. I'm fine. Just thinking, you know"

"About Spike?"

Buffy glared at her little sister "No, not about Spike"

"Yeah, sure" Dawn smiled.

"Don't you tease me. I'm the big sister, it's my job to tease you about boys," Buffy poked her in the ribs "So, how are things with you and Rico? Do you loooove him? Want to marry him? Wish he were here right now? Oh, Rico! I want you to hold me in your big manly man arms….!"

"Shut up!" Dawn squeaked, "Or I'll tell Angel that you still dream about him!"

"I do not!"

"Do too, and Spike" She grinned, dancing backwards "I hear you at night, 'Spike, Angel…let me get the oil!'"

Dawn broke out into hysterical laughter.

"Oh, you little liar!" Buffy howled, chasing after her "Don't think I won't slay you for that!"

Her sister screamed a small, fake scream and ran out of the alley into the street. Buffy followed her and grabbed her around the waist. She tickled her sister's ribs mercilessly.

"Buffy!" Dawn sputtered between giggles "Buffy! Not fair!"

Buffy laughed, watching as tears streamed down Dawn's face from laughing so hard.

"This is not normal patrol procedure"

Buffy looked up at the voice. Across the street from them stood Spike and…well a blue woman. Illyria, Buffy was guessing. The Slayer stood up straight and let go of Dawn. Her eyes swept over to Spike, he was smiling genuinely. Then she looked at the ex-god. Blue hair, blue eyes, partially blue skin, skintight leather body suit. Yep, Buffy did not like her already. She was pretty, in a demonic way. Maybe even beautiful.

Buffy took a step forward in-front of Dawn instinctively. When God's are around – Protect Dawn. That was pretty much instilled into her brain. She tilted her head, picked up the crossbow she had dropped and then she propped it up against her shoulder again.

"It's not?" Buffy said, looking Illyria in her completely blue eyes "Good thing you told me then"

She made no move to cross the street and neither did Buffy "You are the Slayer"

"One of them, yeah" Buffy replied "You must be the former God"

Buffy could hear Dawn's breathing increase and she reached back and pushed her slightly more behind her own body to shield her.

"I am Illyria, you and your companion are of no importance to me" She said, moving her head in an odd way "We have found none of these Kraal's. The mission was a failure"

Buffy pulled a face "Shame. You're ready to give up so easily, though? Guess God stamina isn't what is used to be"

"I could keep walking these streets for eternity if I so wished it"

"Good luck with that then" Buffy turned to Dawn "Let's go"

"Buffy, wait" Spike shouted, he walked halfway across the street then stopped "We're all on the same side here. What's say we team up?"

"No, we cover more ground when we're apart" Buffy looked at him.

"Yeah, but we're stronger when we're together" He looked right on back.

They held eye contact for a long moment.

"I agree with the Slayer" Illyria announced "Splitting up would be more effective"

"See, we'll get along great" Buffy took a deep breath, looked at Spike "Be careful"

Spike nodded "You too"

Buffy looked at him a moment longer before she turned, and walked away into the next alley, with Dawn at her side.

A/N: Oh, I don't know about you but I am just hanging on for some real Spuffy interaction again. Hehehe.