The following afternoon was spent quietly. Spike still having vivid memory flashes from his recent smaller state, and though understandable, his rather emotional state threw Xander and to a lesser extent Connor and Anton.
At various stages during the ensuing week, all fed the High Master two or three times. For Xander it was an exchange that guaranteed his recovery and provided reassurance; for Connor it was his own giving in order to accept and heal; but for Anton… the feeding was to ground the complexity that was High Master William – to give the tiny boy a familiar figure ‘Sir Anton’; acknowledge the grown man; the newly restored demon; and give the Master Vampire the reassurance of his surrogate Sire once more.
Melancholy… it was the only word Xander could think of to describe his beautiful Mate.
Spike took solace in private but seemed to have thrown himself headlong into court matters and his Aurelian financial dealings, and seemed to be operating at three times his normal pace. But Xander saw it, and felt it… Twice on the second day Xander spotted him standing motionless and staring wistfully out of the heavily shaded windows of the study toward a sun-drenched paddock he had so recently ridden around as a child. And that night, Teddy and Panda made a miraculous appearance, seated side by side on the bed as they had always been when the boys were small.
Spike had kissed Stephanie’s hand in public and thanked her, but in private, one afternoon, had asked politely if she might accept a hug from a Master Vampire. She smiled and returned the gesture initially rather awkwardly, but as Spike sighed and placed his head on her shoulder for a second she relaxed and hugged him close.
Just before the embrace became embarrassingly long, Spike moved, kissed her on the cheek and whispered, “Never going to be forgotten Nanny Steph… Never… but for now…” He pushed a piece of paper into her hand. It had the name of a bank in Geneva, an account number and a security code.
Stephanie had no idea how much money was in the account but automatically blushed with embarrassment and immediately began to protest. Spike countered before she even said a word, “Not up for negotiation Pet. Never had the chance to thank the first one – not gonna let the chance go with you. Figure you’ll still want t’ work an’ all – but at least this way… well… Xan and I both say thanks… and you are under the protection of the Aurelian Court for all time…”
It was the evening of the third day after restoration when Xander and Spike picked their way past the ever increasing pile of building materials and scaffolding to visit Fusee. Spike hugged the small pony who initially pulled away at sensing the demon, but calmed when William’s still familiar scent was detected and a salt lick produced.
Xander also petted the noble little steed before refreshing his water, and picking up the grooming brush to give Fusee a proper groom before bed. Spike initially stood at the head of the friendly little pony (who was genuinely enjoying all the attention) while Xander brushed and spoke of the various aspects of their home renovations that were still a concern. It was only as he rounded Fusee’s rump to begin the other side that he noticed Spike had wandered off.
He finished the brush down quickly, tossed the brush onto its shelf then went to find Spike. He worried as he noticed the High Master standing motionless at the door of the stable, staring unfocused into the early evening, the last remnants of the spectacular sunset had distant clouds glowing a dull pink on their farthest edges. He could feel his mate and there was the definite feeling of grief flowing through the link.
Xander sidled up behind Spike and slid his arms around the slim waistline, pulling his partner back to spoon him from behind. “You OK?”
A rather hitched, unnecessary breath signaled an answer to the negative before the vampire almost whispered his reply. “I miss it Pet. All of it… the sun, the riding, the hugs… you… and more than that… I miss them… it’s like they were right here – even though they weren’t really… I never even said goodbye to him you know? Never really got to know him at all… Didn’t remember her when she was well either… Don’t know what happened to Nanny, figure she went when he died… just... she was so important but don’t remember what happened to her.
It was obviously not just his rather extended duration as a pre-schooler and the experiences over the past four months that had the High Master hurting, but also the return of some very distinct childhood memories from his first five years in London with family.
All Xander could do was hold on to his partner a little tighter, kiss him on the cheek and signal his support by rocking them both slowly for as long as he needed.
Lights went on in various houses further down the valley and the street lights of the nearby village could just be seen peeping over the next set of hills. The first stars of the evening began to twinkle as Xander held his lovely mate close, Spike’s fingers intertwining with his own as silent, slightly blood tinged, tears tracked down the handsome features of High Master William. They continued hold on and rock gently. It was human comfort for the grief the human William felt - grief for his father, his mother, his lost innocence, for everything that had been forgotten in the passing of time.
Finally Spike turned in his Consort’s warm embrace and leaned up a little to deliver a chaste kiss then began to lave the still raw claim mark on Xander’s neck. The whispered, “Need you now Pet… please… take me now… it’s been so long…” had Xander move from protective concerned partner to highly aroused lover in seconds. It had indeed been such a long time since they coupled.
He kissed Spike again then whispered, “Think Fusee would mind if we take the next…”
Xander was rewarded with an almost gleeful grin, “Ahhh Pet, reckon just he might enjoy your beggin’ and moanin’.”
The sad mood evaporated as Xander was tugged back toward to large pile of hay in the final stall of the stables. “Hey… back door needs…”
“Fully my intention Luv. You, me, back door question is whose??” The wiggled eyebrow left nothing to the imagination – or plenty in Xander’s case – yet he still pulled away from the iron grip and closed the rear door, giving Fusee a pat on the forelock and delivering a cursory “Apologies in advance for the noise”, before returning to an already nude and reclining Spike.
Xander tortured his partner for a few moments by simply standing and admiring the view.
High Master William’s clothes and thick evening coat had been spread over the straw, their dark colors complementing his alabaster skin. Spike’s pleading look, legs akimbo and prudently placed pile of straw under hips had given the clear message. The vampire was already aroused and chose the moment of ‘pause’ on his Consort’s part to stroke himself to fullness before turning to desperately search for something that would do as lubricant. ‘Crabtree and Evelyn - Gardener’s Hand Cream’ it was.
Xander was stripped in seconds but was careful to throw his own warm coat over them both as he lowered himself to blanket his mate, his lover, his friend… his everything. Copious amounts of hand cream, hastily spread, meant that it was mere seconds before they were together face to face, as one again. Both men sighed as they finally let the last months and all the other worries slip away. It was just Xander and Spike, and they were making love.
Xander’s shaft was perfectly positioned and pressing Spike’s prostate as he moved with just the smallest, teasing thrusts gradually increasing (as demanded) to a frenzy of activity, of kisses, and of bites, and blood, and change of position, and of acute mating link and of coming again and again until neither knew where they finished and the other started.
The two slept sated for a time, rising sometime near eleven to simply throw on their coats, collect clothing in a bundle and run toward the house, giggling like the two little boys they had so recently been.
………………..
Connor had felt the sadness then passion through the blood link, as had Anton, and they both grinned as the kitchen door slammed and they heard the two sprint upstairs.
Preternatural hearing picked up the ensuing shower as the link filling with passion once more. But a desperate phonecall from the Chinese court and a confirmation from the High Master of Southern Africa required urgent attention. Anton and Connor shut down the link and turned to the business of the evening. The ruling couple deserved at least one night of peace.
It seemed there had to be a Convening of the Courts globally. It was a necessary measure, and one that had not occurred since the early days of the Spanish Inquisition. High Master, Consort, Full Blood, and Immortal… they would all be needed, as would their clan leaders and alliance partners. According to other courts, the Europeans had the answers.
By the end of Anton’s conversation, in some language Connor had no access to, the level of frustration was almost tangible and the urgency obvious.
Anton looked at him with a resolve Connor had never seen from his ‘Sire’ before. “Get the Ruling Couple … *now*. I need to ring Willow… and Buffy.”