As the day of William’s reversion approached, tension in the household rose once more.
The adults all knew the little lad had been fed increasing quantities of blood from Anton, Xander and Connor over the last fortnight in order to prepare his system for the change. But the resulting dreams had been disturbing and required much hugging, presence of Teddy, and distractions during the day.
William had been reassured by Anton’s visit, but also felt something was amiss as each of the significant adults in the household tried to ‘do things’ with the little boy.
Uncle Connor took him around the property on the quad bike twice, then drove Nanny Stephanie and Little William into town to see a puppet show at the town hall. The traditional fairytales were worrying enough for the little boy to end up in Connor’s lap (along with Teddy) as the Big Bad Wolf approached the third pig’s house. Stephanie was quite amused as William relived most of the stories, and with the utmost sincerity, confessed to her that he thought Goldilocks was rather naughty, and that he felt sorry for the baby bear.
Willow spent two afternoons playing with William and modeling dough and crayons under his favorite tree. He was doing yet another illustration to send to his friend Xander when the Consort Alexander joined them. Willow and his big friend sat on the blanket opposite him and they all drew in silence for a while until Willow and Xander both reached for the yellow crayon at the same time. Gales of laughter ensued. William decided that sometimes adults were just too confusing – and really rather silly!
His regular riding lessons on Fusee continued and he was thrilled to jump a small log while Sir Anton looked on in the training paddock. William felt a little guilty about the fuss made – it was really Fusee who was the brave one!
Sir Anton’s early evening chat with the small boy continued and William enjoyed being welcomed into the man’s arms for a pre-dinner snuggle, reveling in the exclusive attention from *his* elegant knight. Yet it was Alexander who sought him out most often.
The Consort played endless hours of pirates and all manner of pretend games and had taken to riding along side him when Chantelle and the ever-present Gregor took their little charge for his regular lessons. X
ander took him for long walks – the larger brunette regularly returning home with the little lad atop his shoulders whooping with delight as the rather exhausted adult tried a parody of a canter as they crunched up the gravel driveway toward the front door.
Xander was everything a favorite older cousin, or cherished uncle might aspire to, even offering to help William push when a giggling Nanny S agreed to ‘have a go’ on the swing under the big tree. But despite all the adults’ efforts, William sensed that there was something amiss and rounded on Xander the night before he was to be restored.
William became more and more nervous as the evening progressed. Nanny Stephanie had said “Goodbye” rather than “Goodnight” as she tucked him in after dinner ready for Alexander’s story reading. Gregor had shaken his hand after their ride in the afternoon and told him how much he enjoyed their time together. Chantelle was keen to tell him how well he had *done*; and Fusee had nuzzled his hand as though to say farewell.
Even at slightly less than five years of age, William decided that a direct approach was best and cornered Alexander on (unbeknownst to the tiny lad) their last afternoon together.
“Consort Alexander, am I sick?”
Xander was utterly thrown and his panic flowed freely through the link to his Sire and less strongly to Connor. “Umm… Pardon?”
“Is there something wrong with me? When Cousin Emily died, everyone had to be extra nice for weeks! Mother even made us learn her favorite song – and it was *very hard*!”
Even as the Consort tried to form a reasonable answer, Anton and Connor were sprinting toward William’s suite. The two relatives stood at the door, unwilling to break the moment, Connor lifting his wrist to his Sire moments after Anton offered his own blood to his full blood Aurelian charge.
Xander’s answer was a rather choked whisper, “No! No… nothing like that. Things are going to change for us but I hope we will still be dear friends…”
William turned to face Xander and held his gaze, “But everyone is worried about something to do with me aren’t they? If I’m not sick, am I going home? Can I ask Mother and Papa for an extra few days… *please* - otherwise I will miss Xander – you said we would be together again soon… Please Alexander, can you ask?”
They all knew that reversing the regression spell would involve draining the tiny boy, turning and re-ensouling him all in the matter of seconds that were involved in chanting the reversal. With the absence of his original Sire, the only Aurelian blood would be that of Xander and Connor, and that the roll of Sire would ultimately fall to Anton. Despite their plans and consultation with the Wiccans and (surprisingly) the Paris W & H contingent, all were terrified that their careful preparations might result in an out-of-time human, or a fledgling vampire, rather than restoring the High Master with all his memories and skills in tact. At least the issue of the soul was settled – it would be permanent regardless.
Despite all the planning, none of the adults had been able to bring themselves to explain the future to their young human charge in any way that really made sense.
Though surrounded by Alexander’s strong arms, William hugged his teddy tight and his trusting and tearful blue eyes met Anton’s gaze as the older man entered the bedroom. Despite Connor’s blood, the expression on the small lad’s face very nearly ‘undid’ the Immortal.
Anton sat on the bed and placed a gentle hand on the boy’s knee. “Dear heart, we are going to help you to return home tonight. We would love you to stay, but know that this is for the best. You are always in our hearts and will be with us again soon… And be assured, that you will see your dearest friend again.”
William’s eyes went wide, “Xander is coming to see me?”
“You will be together again, yes. Now… it is a long journey so we must begin soon and it’s late so we will wait until you are asleep before you start your journey. Alexander will hold you of course, and when you awake you will be home. We will be here – we will all be here when you return.”
Anton stroked the beloved boy’s face and met the blue orbs with his (now slightly swirling) green. Thrall really wasn’t something the Immortal used often, but the little push allowed William to fall into a light sleep and relax back into the brunette’s arms as Willow’s coven joined them. The witches set up the candles and pentagram swiftly and began to chant.
Part way through Anton leaned over the tiny figure, and eased fangs into the soft warm neck, allowing all the love he felt for his Childe and for William to flow through the tenuous blood link as he did so.
The only indication of the little boy’s life departing was his Teddy dropping onto the mattress beside Xander as the small pale arms lost all ability to grip. As the beloved bear fell Xander’s tears began to flow freely. He grieved for little William and for his beautiful Spike, and he prayed to every deity he could think of to make the process succeed.
Anton and Connor could both hear the faltering heart, and the three Aurelians opened their wrists and joined hands as they dripped the combined blood into the little mouth and massaged the throat until the unconscious figure swallowed.
Xander barely had time to think that he was never more pleased to see someone swallow, before a blinding flash and accompanying energy surge rendered all in the room unconscious.
……………
Xander felt like he had been hit by a train as he returned to consciousness and attempted to roll over.
He was aware that there was a large inert body on the bed beside him and a hive of activity in the room. He tried to open his eyes and say something, but only managed a whimper before a dripping wrist was pushed against his mouth. He drank from Anton gratefully then rolled toward the cool inert form beside him and gave in to sleep.
Two hours later, the Consort was sitting hand in hand with an exhausted looking Anton waiting, while Connor and Willow gave the coven members supper and sorted their sleeping arrangements for the night. Anton kissed Xander on the temple as they waited for the certainly physically larger Spike to regain consciousness, or rather rise – as the life signs were most definitely missing.
Xander insisted that the electric blanket be turned on, knowing that Spike and his earlier persona William both loved the warmth. Xander understood that it could be hours before there would be change, yet his distress grew as the link with his beloved partner remained silent and the vampire unmoving.
………………..
Well after midnight on the following evening found Xander seated alone beside the ‘deathbed’, his head on the mattress, hand holding the artificially warmed one of Spike’s and sleeping restlessly.
The only warning was the twitch of the pale hand in his before the psychic equivalent of a scream across the Mating link blasted him awake and barely preceded his own very real one as the newly risen vampire forced him off his chair in a flash of speed and planted deadly fangs into the Consort’s neck.