Sequence From A Function

Hi

I need to create a function that will return a sequence number. The reason I need this to be a function is that I will use the function to create a view. In Oracle I would do something like this:

create sequence seq;

create or replace function f return number
as
l_seq number;
begin
select seq.nextval into l_seq from dual;
return l_seq;
end; /

create or replace view v as select f from dual;

Since Sql Server does not have a sequence object I have created a sequence table with a identity column and a procedure that inserts a dummy variable and returns the identity id. This works ok but to get my sequence number I must declare a variable, execute the procedure and select the return value.
I need the procedure to be a function so that I can use it to create my view. Since I cannot use DML in a function and I cannot call a procedure from a function I am stuck. Do I have to create an extended procedure ? Any help is appreciated