Buffy was tossing and turning in her bed that night; she was restless and just couldn't sleep well. Her hair was matted to her head as she seemed to be mumbling something. All of a sudden she bolted awake and sat up. Her eyes landed on the dark figure in the corner of her bedroom. Angel stood there watching her.

"How long have you been standing there?" She asked him.

"Long enough to see you aren't sleeping well." He answered, his lips barely moving, his gaze worried.

"Why are you here? I-I mean shouldn't you be...I don't know...doing something vampirey?" She stammered blowing the hair out of her face as he gave her a half smile.

"This is something vampirey. Look I wasn't...I mean I didn't plan to come up here, I was out for a walk and saw your window open and well, I guess old habits die hard. I just wanted to make sure you were resting."

"Right." She said and sighed remembering him coming up to her window in Sunnydale and them spending time together that way.

He then walked closer as she watched him and wordlessly sat on the bed and put his arm around her as they both lay down. As she lay curled up against him, she recalled how many times they had fallen asleep just like that and she never felt safer. All of a sudden, her headache, her confusion, and restlessness eased and she was breathing evenly as he listened to her heart beat against his chest. He was very glad he had decided to check on her. This felt as natural as it ever did; this way he never wanted to let her go.

Meanwhile, the rest of the base-as it was after 1am-was quiet and the perfect visual for the 3 pairs of binoculars that were watching the place from up on some rocks. Three men were perched up there side by side on their stomachs as they surveyed the base. They wore all black and didn't move as they scanned every inch of the base. Suddenly the one on the right said:

"Shit! We've been spotted."

"What? Where?" The one in the middle said. They all trained their binoculars in the same direction to see someone or something watching them from inside the base. She looked at them with contempt.

"What is that? A demon? How could she spot us?" In a blur that was too fast for them to follow she was right behind them before they could move.

"No, I'm an Old One and you are stupid humans." Illyria said before knocking all three of them unconscious.

Just as Buffy was starting to dream, an alarm went off that could wake up the dead and she bolted upright again. Even Angel cringed.

"What is that?" He said wincing.

"The green alarm; a possible intrusion." Buffy said grabbing her clothes and hastily putting them on as the two of them hurried from the room, joining Willow, Tara, and Faith. All of whom had their hands over their ears.

"Damn B, could we change this thing to something different?" Faith said with her hands still around her ears.

"It's an alarm Faith, not a Christmas Carol." Buffy said.

"Faith's right though, Buffy.....it's worse than our orange alarm and that's more up on the food chain of alarms." Willow said.

"See? I'm not the only one who feels like my brain is being drilled." Faith said as Buffy sighed.

"Alright, I'll see what we can do. Right now let's see what set the thing off in the first place and then turn it off." Everyone nodded as they headed outside to see something extraordinary. Illyria was carrying three human men who were obviously unconscious.

"They were spying on us from those rocks; I didn't kill them because I knew they could provide you with information." Illyria said as she threw them down.

By then Willow had disabled the alarm as nobody could hear themselves let alone anyone else. People had gathered by then; including Spike, Connor, Dawn, Wes, and Fred along with a few slayers with weapons. As they turned the three men over, Buffy gasped as she recognized Riley and his friend Graham. The third man was a total stranger.

"Hey, it's soldier boy and friends!" Spike said with a smirk.

"How about we wake them up and see what they're doing here." Wes said.

"Can I hit him please?" Spike asked Buffy about Riley and Angel wasn't all that opposed to the idea either.

"No. No more hitting." Buffy said as Willow splashed water in all three faces and they all jumped awake.

As both sides stared at each other not speaking, Buffy stepped forward. She looked none too pleased. She didn't care that Riley was her ex or whatever history they had. Spying was a dangerous game. She wanted to know who put them up to this and why? Perhaps they were now playing for the other team or a third one.

"So what gives Riley? Why are you spying on us?" She asked.

"We weren't spying." He said looking her in the eye.

"Oh yeah? What do you call chillin on a rock with binoculars? The picture of stealth?" Faith asked sarcastically. When Riley didn't answer but just set his jaw, Buffy had had enough.

"You know what I think Faith? I think maybe it's time to send some demons to some government big wigs doorstep and see how they deal."

"Works for me. When do we go?" Faith and Buffy smiled at each other evilly.

"Alright, alright. You don't have to go that far." Riley said holding his hands up as both Buffy and Faith crossed theirs.

"We're listening."

"We were ordered to look in on you to make sure....you weren't doing anything....evil." Riley finished looking at Spike then at Faith and Angel.

"That's it? The government wants to know if we are doing something evil? Are you all nuts? We're fighting a war here! The Initiative was a bunch of infants in their cribs compared to this! You can tell your superiors that if they want us to be on the same side, they better not pull a stunt like this again because next time, I will let Illyria end you!" Buffy said through clenched teeth.

For added effect, Illyria stepped closer to Riley and Graham as they jumped at the mere sight of her.

"And here I thought I didn't scare any humans anymore. I like this reaction." She said twitching with a small smile.

"Buffy, please listen to me. We never meant any harm but think of how it looks from my vantage point for a second. Spike is evil and you and Faith were ready to kill each other; I mean she is a cold blooded murderer and switched bodies with you. Or have you forgotten?" Riley said.

"Was evil, thank you very much. I have a soul now and I saved the world when you ran away like the little pussy that you are!" Spike snorted at Riley. Faith's eyes narrowed.

"No I haven't forgotten, but it's something called forgiveness." Buffy said.

"It's also called redemption and long incarceration. You're all being high and righteous here, yet you hurt Buffy too. So what's your excuse, scar face? She didn't love you enough? Cry me a river man! You couldn't handle being weak to a strong slayer! That's what we are. Slayers need men who can handle playing second fiddle without going all diaper baby on us! Why do you think she was with Angel and Spike? Because they are men who know their worth and how strong they are without acting like children. I think it's time for you to leave and go play GI Joe with your friends and leave the fighting to the real heroes." Faith was up in his face and Buffy didn't stop her. Faith was right. Someone had to say it. After that last sentence she walked away.

Riley stared at Buffy for a long moment, knowing he lost her trust and with a jerk of his head, walked off the base with his two men. The others stared after them shaking their heads. They heard a van start up and drive away into the distance. Just then Dawn asked while yawning:

"Can we even have one night without drama around here?"

"Nope, sorry Dawnie." Willow answered sighing.

"Meanwhile, let's change that alarm to something else in the morning. Something less lobotomy-inducing. I believe Faith wanted 'Jingle Bells'". Buffy said jokingly as Faith smacked her in the arm with a smile and Buffy smacked her back.

Everyone went their separate ways again except Angel. She hadn't seen him vanish but he was waiting in her room on her bed as if he never left when she got back. Without saying a word, she lay down next to him again and snuggled close as she slowly exhaled. This time, she didn't fall asleep but just lay there in his arms thinking about everything that just went down. Still, even though it was a stressful experience; in his arms, she felt at total ease.

She was exactly where she was meant to be even if it was for a little while so she took full advantage of it.