Disclaimer: I don't own Stargate SG1 or BTVS. No infringement is intended. Sadly, no profit will be made from this either.

Summary: Answer to the 'Sweet Baby Girl'- challenge. The Slayer was the monk's best bet to protect the Key. So they made Buffy a mother. Wishing for a demon-free life for her daughter and with many Slayers about now to do her job, Buffy decides to check out an offer from the Air Force. And their program. Of course, with Buffy being Buffy, nothing is straight forward and unexpected things are revealed on the way.

Timeline: Starts just after the last Buffy episode, 'Chosen' (and anything after is me, not season 8 or Angel), and early season 7 for Stargate SG-1.

A/N: This is a little pet-project, so updates will be less frequent. Good news are that I've started posting it somewhere else already, so I have a few chapters already. Now that November is almost over, I'll also have time to tend to my fan-fiction again.

Prologue

Standing on top of The Hyperion Hotel, Buffy watched the night sky above Los Angeles. The slayer in her was scanning for any danger, while Buffy, the person, was deep in thought. Not that she didn't know what to do or, rather, what she wanted to do. It was more like she didn't know how to tell her friends.

"You're going to leave. Not just L.A. but them as well."

It wasn't a question. Stepping up next to her, Angel didn't say any more than that. Instead, he watched the city below. It had been almost two weeks since the survivors of the last battle in Sunnydale had moved into the Hyperion. They were still licking their wounds, so to speak, and just starting to figure out where to go from here.

All but Buffy, it seemed. She already knew.

He had recognised the signs almost immediately. Buffy wasn't taking part in any decision making. Sure, she was there and when asked her opinion she made sure to reply in a way that could be read in two different ways. The one her friends and the newbie Slayers chose to see was Buffy naturally including herself in any plans. Yet Angel thought differently. As, he suspected, Giles was starting to do as well. Because, whatever contribution Buffy made, could also be read in a way that meant her approval but didn't necessarily imply her personal participation.

Another sign was her talk with Faith a few days earlier. Of course, Angel hadn't been present but he had caught Faith's eyes as Buffy approached her and asked for a talk between just the two of them. Angel had seen the short flicker of fear of another rejection in them. Yet, when the two Slayers reappeared over two hours later, Faith had been more relaxed and more at peace, than he had ever seen her.

Faith told him later she had never seen Buffy that brutally honest with herself, accepting that both of them had made mistakes and that she had, if unintentionally, played a part in Faith's downfall. In return, Faith had bared her soul as well and they had decided to start over again. On equal levels.

It were only small, subtle things. But from that moment Buffy's treatment of Faith had changed. Inevitably, Faith had spoken up more often in their meetings. Not that she hadn't voiced her opinions before, but now she knew that at least Buffy wasn't seeing her past first before considering the merits of Faith's suggestions. Sure, they still clashed, yet it was different. Now there was true respect for each other, no more loathing or hidden misgivings. They had finally became true friends.

"A couple of month ago Riley forwarded a request for help from the Air Force," Buffy said after a long silence.

"You trust them?" Angel asked in surprise.

"No." Buffy slowly shook her head. "But Riley does. That is good enough to at least have a look. Make sure they don't do anything stupid."

Angel wasn't all that impressed by Riley's recommendation. And it showed on his face. Recognising this as well, Buffy gave him a quick smile. "Giles might have made some inquiries after Riley first contacted me as well. It's all pretty top secret stuff, but, according to Giles, they get high praises by the right people."

Still, he wasn't convinced and looked at her thoughtfully. "How do they know about you?"

"That's the not so nice part. This particular group of people apparently got an anonymous tip about a B Summers that would be a great asset to their cause. Or rather Summers' unique fighting abilities would," Buffy told him with a hint of disgust. "Anonymous sucks. Too much nasty stuff coming out of it."

"But you still want to check it out," Angel stated matter-of-factly.

Buffy shrugged her shoulders. "Keeping the nasty at bay, yeah. Live a normal life."

Angel looked at her doubtfully. "With the military around?"

"They've got a direct line to the President?" Buffy said innocently before adding mischievously, "And I always wanted to know if the so-called red phone is really red."

Raising his eyebrows, Angel just shook his head in slight amusement. Knowing Buffy had made up her mind already – which also meant careful researching on her part as there was no way she was bringing Dawn into danger – he accepted her decision. Instead, coming back to her previous comment, he asked in a slightly teasing voice, "B Summers, huh?"

Buffy grinned. There was no way they were not going to underestimate her once she actually came face to face with them.

"Why am I suddenly feeling sorry for them?" Angel asked with a smirk.

"I've no idea what you're talking about," Buffy replied, looking at him with the most innocent look she could muster. And it was a good one, too.

Becoming serious again, Angel continued, "Do they know about Slayers?"

Buffy shook her head. "The President doesn't think so – huh, I never thought I'd ever say something like that. Anyway, he won't tell them either. But he urgently asked me, well, through Riley, to at least seriously consider their request. As long as it doesn't compromise my other work."

"The President? Heavy stuff," Angel pointed out. "Buffy, what are they doing?"

Smirking, Buffy said just one word. "Aliens."

"Aliens," Angel repeated sceptically.

"Yep. Just don't tell anybody. They're fighting aliens the same way Riley's branch is fighting demons and associates. And, surprise, surprise, some aliens are friends, then there are those that don't want to be involved either way and, of course, there are the baddies. There always are. While we've been preventing apocalypses, they've fended off several alien invasions – and, joy oh joy, they even have their own Maggie Walshs." During her explanation, Buffy had turned and was now facing Angel. Much quieter, she added, "I wouldn't be in charge as such but could still do good, I hope. You know, training them. Teaching them in hand-to-hand combat and weaponry."

Angel understood. Gently brushing a tear away, he clarified, "You wouldn't be sending teenagers off to fight. Fights, from which they might not come back. No matter how good your preparations, how good your plan."

"Is that wrong?" Buffy asked, clearly afraid of the answer.

"No." He shook his head, cupping her face. "No. It's only human."

Nodding, Buffy kissed the inside of his hand. Willingly folding into his embrace, she continued, "Colorado Springs, that's were the base is, has a very low demon population. They just don't seem to like it there. It's basically a Buffy-heaven. I want Dawn to have an as normal life as possible. Not having to be afraid of vamps would make a good start, you know? Maybe I could even go back to college. I don't know. I … I only know that I need a break from all this. Demons, vampires, the works."

"And now that there are so many Slayers would be a good time," Angel continued for her, stroking her back comfortingly.

Buffy nodded into his chest. "Yeah."

"Just stay in contact and actually ask for help if something shifty is going on, okay?" Angel asked seriously.

Snorting, Buffy looked up at him. "Look who's talking."

"I'm just saying," he replied with furrowed brows.

"Uh huh." Patting his back in a patronising manner, Buffy smirked. "Don't worry, Dawnie wouldn't allow me to lose contact with Uncle Peaches again."

Angel growled. Now that Spike was dead, he couldn't even beat him to death for that. Worse, Spike had told Dawnie how much Angel liked that name and now she was smiling so happily when she was calling him Uncle Peaches that he simply couldn't tell her to stop. And Buffy knew this. "Who's bright idea was it to let Spike baby-sit her anyway?"

"Dawnie's." Buffy grinned, patting his back once more. "She kinda latched onto him the moment we allowed him into the house. Had him wrapped around her little finger within five minutes. Not unlike another vampire I know."

Furrowing his brow, he huffed. "She doesn't control me."

"Uh huh, Uncle Peaches." Buffy pointed out mercilessly. "And you've got a drawer full of sweets to give her when you think nobody's looking."

"I don't," Angel growled.

"She accidentally blurted it out a couple of days ago." Smirking, she added, "Don't worry. I won't call you a softy around the others. Yet."

Angel cringed. There went his reputation. Closing his eyes - hearing it was enough, he didn't need to see her smug face as well - he whined, "Shoes?"

Her face lighting up at that thought, Buffy quickly nodded. "Now that's a great idea!"

Opening his eyes in surprise, Angel looked at Buffy. "You hadn't thought of it?"

Grinning impishly, she shook her head. "Nope."

Wincing, he let his head drop onto her shoulder. "Damn."

Giggling, Buffy went back to patting his back for the umpteenth time that day. As contradictory as it may sound, spending time with the usually so broody Angel had lifted her mood considerably. Now it was time to face the others.

And to start a new life.