AUTHOR'S NOTE Just a quick heads up that the actual crossing over won't start until chapter 5 or 6. I'm sorry, I know that sucks, but I have to build the story first. Please bear with me! I promise lots of crossing over later. Plus, there will be some crossover pairings as well ) You'll just have to wait and see who they may be! By the way, when there is no bold heading to tell you where and when the scene takes place, it's carry-over from the previous chapter. Therefore, this chapter starts out in Italy, 2004.

DISCLAIMER Don't own these characters…Joss Whedon owns Buffy and James Cameron owns Dark Angel and I'm just borrowing them.

Chapter Two: In Which Buffy's Quiet Life is Disrupted

Buffy lay awake in her bedroom for hours, staring at the ceiling. She'd never been much for sleep. All those years of patrolling at all hours of the morning had left their permanent mark on her biological clock.

Luckily, she was awake at 3:30 am when the phone rang beside her bed. She snatched it up.

"Hello?"

"Hello, Miss Summers."

"Who is this? Do you know what time it is?" Buffy demanded angrily. She hadn't been woken, but Dawn was only in the next room and the girl needed her sleep.

"Yes, Miss Summers, it is 3:30 am. I have an urgent message for you."

Buffy rolled her eyes. "Well then out with it and let me go back to sleep."

"One moment please." The line was quiet for a moment.

"Hello, Buffy."

Buffy's temperature shot up as she heard that man's voice on the line. "Quentin Travers, why the Hell are you calling me?" she spat. "Aren't you dead?"

"Now, now, there is no need for that. We used to work together peacefully, I see no need for that to have ended."

"Yeah," Buffy said sarcastically. "If you call locking powerless little old me in a house against a psychotic vampire or putting me through horrible tests for information on Glory peaceful, then sure. We worked together real peacefully."

Quentin chuckled softly. "I see you recall our many meetings quite vividly."

Buffy rolled her eyes. "Whatever. Just tell me what you want to tell me and let me go back to sleep."

"I'm afraid it is not something to be conveyed over the telephone. You must travel to England to meet us. Tonight."

Buffy stared at the phone in disgust. "No!"

"Buffy, this is a matter far surpassing any quarrel you have with me or the Council." Quentin's voice was no longer cordial. His tone became cold and hard. "This is of utmost importance. You must come to London tonight!" There was a pause. "A flight leaves at 5:00 from Rome. There will be someone awaiting you at Heathrow. Goodnight."

The line went dead. Buffy hung up the receiver, seething. How dare he? Who did he think he was, ordering her around like that? Angrily, she got up and dragged a small suitcase out of her closet. She started throwing clothes into it, then suddenly stopped.

"What the Hell am I doing?" she asked herself aloud. Why was she doing what that scumbag had asked?

She sighed and sat back on the bed. She knew why. It sounded as though this really was something important and the morality that Giles had spent years drilling into her couldn't let her ignore it. She reached over the bed to pick up the phone again.

"Andrew? Yeah, hi, it's Buffy. Listen, I know it's late…"

Great Britain

Andrew had shown up just in time for Buffy to make the five am flight that Travers had told her about. She woke Dawn up to tell her that she'd only be gone for a few days and to not terrorize Andrew too badly.

The flight landed smoothly at Heathrow Airport. Now all Buffy had to do was find whomever the Council had sent to meet her.

God, she hated the Council. She hated them for everything they had put her through, what they had put her friends through, and what they had put Giles through. As far as Buffy was concerned, they were monsters. She thought that the First's agents had destroyed them, but apparently some had survived.

"Buffy?"

Buffy nearly dropped her bag. It couldn't be. She turned around. "Giles?"

Rupert Giles had just enough time to take his glasses off before his former Slayer launched herself into his arms. "I've missed you!" she said. Giles hastily wiped away a tear before Buffy pulled away and could see him. He missed her, too.

"Why are you here? Are you the Council member who's supposed to be greeting me? What's this big important life-or-death mission they're sending me on? Why are they sending me of all people? And anyway, I thought that when Caleb blew them up, they were gone for good. How have you been?"

Giles laughed quietly. "Buffy, slow down. I can't answer all of your questions at once." He smiled. "But first, yes the Council asked me to meet you here. I'm to take you straight to Council Headquarters. Those that survived have found new premises since the attack."

"Wow. Right to HQ, huh?" Buffy picked up her bag. "Must really be important."

Giles wasn't sure what to say. He had fought tooth and nail not to have Buffy put on this assignment. He knew that she had never fully recovered her desire to be alive and was afraid that this would push her back over the edge.

"So do you know what this mission is?" Buffy asked as they loaded her bag into the trunk of Giles's car.

Giles purposely didn't look at her. "I cannot tell you that, Buffy. This is a matter between you and the Council."

Buffy cocked her head at him. "But you're a part of the Council, aren't you?"

"Yes, but I am not of the level that is dealing with this situation. You will be meeting directly with Quentin Travers."

With a roll of her eyes, Buffy muttered, "Great."

Council Headquarters – London

The car ride was not nearly as long as Buffy had liked and Giles had been very quiet the whole time. Buffy would have at least expected small talk, seeing as how they hadn't seen each other in months. But Buffy didn't ask any more questions. She hadn't slept at all that night. She dozed lightly in the car, hoping to never have to wake up.

She had never been to the Council Headquarters before. It wasn't quite what she expected. Of course, she expected something like the CIA. But the new Watcher's Council was housed in a normal office building with a revolving glass door and reception desk.

"Name?" the secretary asked curtly.

"Uh, Buffy Summers."

"Slayer or Watcher?"

"Slayer."

"State your business."

"Uh…"

"Buffy is here on a matter of utmost security," Giles broke in. "She has an appointment with Mr. Travers as soon as possible."

The secretary's eyes grew wide. "Oh. Forgive me, Miss Summers. Please, go right in. He's been expecting you. Second hallway, third door on the right."

"Thanks," Buffy mumbled. She dutifully followed Giles down the second hallway and stopped behind him at the third door on the right.

"I cannot go with you, Buffy. You must meet with Quentin alone," Giles said apologetically.

"And if he accidentally turns up dead, you wouldn't really mind, would you?"

"Buffy."

"Sorry." Buffy took a deep breath. "Here I go." She pushed open the door, only to see someone else already in the office.

"Buffy?"

"Willow?"

Buffy ran to hug her old friend. "I can't believe you're here!"

The redheaded witch couldn't help the tears in her eyes. "I've missed you, Buffy!"

The girls didn't let each other go. Since the destruction of Sunnydale, Willow had been in South America, working with native witches there. She had been with Kennedy in Rio until recently, when she disappeared into the rain forest, searching for a tribe of witches reportedly hiding out. There was no way for her to be in contact with the rest of the world and Buffy and Willow hadn't seen or spoken to each other in a long time.

"How did they reach you? What are you doing here?" Buffy asked.

"The Council sent someone way into the jungle to come get me," Willow replied. "They said that they had some top secret, really important mission for me and that I had to come to England right away."

"I got the same thing." Buffy glanced around the office. Quentin Travers was nowhere to be found. "So if this mission is so important, where's our guy?"

"Your guy is right here," came a gravely voice behind them. The Slayer and the witch turned to see Travers in the doorway. He gestured to two chairs. "Please sit down, Miss Summers, Miss Rosenberg."

And now for my reviewers! Thank you to all of you AND…

Jen I actually couldn't find Paradise Lost…is it under BtVS crossovers? My favorite BtVS/DA is one called "The Children of My Dreams." I highly recommend it. And no, Dawn won't be going with her, but she'll be safe without Buffy for a little while.

Ueshiba I love crosses of these two and there just aren't enough! I'm really glad you're enjoying this one and enjoy!

Starr Light1 I'm glad you've decided to follow my orders! Yes, we'll finish Buffy (and maybe Angel) the first week we're back…we only have two and a half seasons left, lol. Can't wait!

ZombieGurl98 Thanks for reviewing! I hope you continue to enjoy.

Bluepatchesm I'm glad you're enjoying it!