Spike clasped Xander’s hand reassuringly as he calmly led his consort downstairs for the first time since his traumatic rescue. The onetime Scoobie had been confident enough in the bedroom but as they descended the stairs, angst from Spike’s consort permeated the link. The vampire stopped at the base of the staircase, opened his wrist to his beloved and rubbed soothing circles around the shoulders of his partner as Xander took three long drafts then laved the wound until it closed. The link was already strong, but the final ‘booster’ allowed Xander to enter the very occupied rear balcony.
It was late afternoon and though the many of the group were sitting in the shade, it was obvious from the heated stone underfoot that this part of the house had spent at the time bathed in bright sunshine. Stephano and his men had returned to Rome with their ‘charges’ sometime earlier, but the wiccans and Anton’s household were all present, including Gregor, standing watchful as always behind the group. The bodyguard nodded politely to his brother-in-arms as Spike emerged at the balcony doors, the vampire respectfully returning the gesture.
Willow all but fell from her chair, diving into her life-long friend’s arms and hugging him with a strength Xander began to think was not-so-human! After a few long seconds, discomfort outweighed affection, and Buffy buried a smile as Xander used a line so Willow-of-Sunnydale that it bordered on a history lesson.
“Hey Wills…. Um…. Breathing becoming an issue!”
“Oh….” Willow’s eyes went wide, “Oh! Gahhh sorry!” She immediately released and petted the ‘Xander shaped friend’.
Pulling away she stood back hands on hips and fixed him with a concerned stare, “Are you OK? I mean really…. um ….. OK?”
Xander reached to his partner, and Spike obliged by wrapping his arms around his consort, hugging from behind and resting his chin lightly on Xander’s left shoulder. Xander placed his arms over the ones enveloping him and said simply, “Yeah….Well… Not quite… you know… healed but… I really am… OK… I guess.” He shrugged a little then swiveled to kiss his lover on the forehead in a public act of gratitude, not just for his partner, but for all present. Willow smiled her approval and kissed Spike on the cheek before returning to her own partner.
The latecomers were accommodated quickly, various outdoor lounges and chairs being proffered with altogether more fuss than was necessary. Xander knew with a rather sinking feeling, that all eyes were on him. He resorted to an old habit.
“Hey guys…” Sitting without the wince he desperately wanted to do as still tender parts were contacted, Xander soon settled comfortably leaning back on Spike’s chest. He was safe and enveloped once again by his Master Vampire. A large tray of anti pasta cheese and fruit was set down well within reach of all present by one of the household help.
“So Buff, where do you have to go to get a decent donut around here, ‘cause gotta say, all this haute cuisine is just plain anti-Scoobie! Bet Anton has no idea what you’ll do for a chocolate coated Krispy Kream?” Xander grinned and Buffy huffed in mock annoyance. For all but the vampire who knew better, Xander of Sunnydale was back in the building. As the Immortal shot a knowing smile to Spike, they both relaxed back to let three old friends indulge in an afternoon of reminiscing while most of the other Sunnydale ‘outsiders’ wandered off to enjoy the sun-drenched pool and grounds.
Both Willow and the Slayer were struck by how much the now clean shaven man appeared as the boy they had known a decade or more ago… and yet how different in demeanor. Even accounting for the horror of the past days, there was a confidence and poise present, and the relationship with Spike seemed mature, easy and permanent.
Eventually Spike moved, ostensibly to have a smoke, his consort shuffling forward to let him up, then relaxing back on the lounge to continue the unexpected joy of memory lane with his two friends of old.
Anton followed Spike, accepting a cigarette and standing in comfortable silence, looking out over the hills of the estate as they gradually turned from gold to orange in the late afternoon light. Anton finally pressed the butt of his cigarette into a nearby planter and broke the silence.
“Little brother, I am relieved to see your consort healing. He is truly remarkable, with strength and resilience that many would envy, but then ….. he is but one half of a whole, and therein lies his real strength, your strength.” Anton trailed off and Spike turned to look a little quizzically at the immortal momentarily then turned back to the landscape, simply processing the words without comment. He leaned on the balustrade with both elbows, took a last drag on his cigarette and flicked the butt into the garden below. Anton moved closer and turned to rest casually, his backside against the balcony wall and legs crossed at the ankles. He leaned toward the vampire and put a friendly hand on Spike’s shoulder, smiling down at him. Spike turned his head enough to recognize the look and the gesture as one he remembered his grandfather making over a hundred years ago as he had congratulated the young William on his University acceptance, and the same look of fatherly tenderness his Sire afforded him on a freezing night in St Petersburg long ago. He felt the deep friendship and tacit respect conveyed by the gesture, and was struck by just how comfortable and how … valued… he felt in Anton’s presence.
“I have lived forever William, watched countries rise and fall, seen lovers, family and friends pass on… yet I have rarely seen the likes of you and your consort. It is apparent that you will be together for a very long time and for that I am most glad.”
Spike frowned a little, “You a bit of a seer mate?”
Anton simply avoided the question, “The universe smiles on balance William. And you two are that for each other and those around you. Your love binds you. Treasure each moment together, be it for ten or a thousand years.”
Spike felt the warmth of the hand on his shoulder and the sincerity of the words and felt profoundly moved. *Imagine a thousand years!* He eventually cleared his throat and gave a quiet “Yeah well, thanks mate.”
“I would be honored if you would both consider returning to my side whenever you are inclined. In the very short time since meeting you I have found myself drawn to you as family, and my instincts are rarely wrong. You will always be welcomed into my household as a dear brother and his beloved.”
Spike was close to tears… Anton *did* feel like family and to have that family welcome him, indeed them - he and his consort, with such generosity… Spike felt as though one more painful hole in his long unlife had been filled. He whispered past the lump in his throat… “Thanks mate… just…. Thank you…” The hand on his shoulder squeezed in acknowledgment then released him.
Anton smiled broadly, clapped his hands together and pushed away from the wall, “Well then, that’s settled! It is well past the yard arm and I seem to recall that Gregor is a master when it comes to cocktails. I’m sure the ladies would appreciate something colorful, though I suspect a single malt on ice will be more to your taste!”
Spike sniffed hard and made to follow his friend, eyes now sparkling with anticipation of a fine evening. “Anything without a bloody umbrella and decorative fruit mate!”
………………………….
A fire crackled cheerfully dominating the room. Well fed and well ‘watered’, the guests and their hosts had retired to the ‘smoking room’. Though Spike noted there must have been very little smoking done inside these days. The rich odor of pipe and cigar seemed but a memory given up by the paneled walls to only the most sensitive noses.
Conversation had paused and Anton took the opportunity to ‘talk shop’ for a moment.
“I’ve taken the liberty of having my people re-arrange your flight plans. You will leave from Venice tomorrow, just after sundown. My jet is rather cramped and sans flight attendants but it is only few hours, and I guarantee well stocked…. With the *right size* of bottle.” He flashed Spike a mischievous grin and was rewarded by a cheeky wink. “You should be back to London and home by midnight. The watchers have arranged a car for you from Heathrow.”
Spike with back on Xander’s chest as they shared one of the two midnight blue chaise lounges. He turned his attention to the ceiling and listened to his consort’s strong heartbeat. The idea of leaving was not all that urgent but he really was looking forward to going home, all the way home, in the next few days. But just now the idea of yet another day under heavy covers as they drove to Venice just didn’t seem all that inviting.
“I’ve also ordered the helicopter to deliver you to Venice, it will leave right on dusk so for the majority of the trip may still be able to see some of the landscape. It is a very pretty flight.”
Willow was almost bouncing with excitement and thanked Anton and Buffy with enthusiastic hugs. The prospect of a helicopter flight seemed to have the same effect as too much caffeine for the witch. Xander smiled as he saw traces of a joyous young girl he knew so well, waiting impatiently for her first time on the ferris wheel at the Sunnydale fair. All that was missing was the cotton candy. Somehow Xander thought Anton might even be able to arrange that too, were he asked.
The evening continued very pleasantly. Few present willing to retire and ‘lose the magic’, but eventually yawns ensued and leave was taken.
Spike ushered his consort to their boudoir for the last time… this visit. And felt the better for realizing that they would indeed come back, in vastly differing circumstances, he hoped. He idly mused that a short sojourn in Rome would also be nice…. Next time, maybe, even this time next year. Thoughts of another vacation with Xander, this time sans spies and soldiers, con Anton and their new Roman friends? It was not just nice, it was a must.
Xander stripped quickly and showered. Spike waited for a moment, half expecting an invitation to share the shower. When it did not come he removed his clothing and ventured silently into the steamy room.
It had been a good day, though he had still felt his partner’s pain and distress occasionally push through the link, strong and clear. Each time they relocated and Xander sat; whenever soldier or the Initiative was mentioned, even in the Sunnydale context; and every time a vague, even if not ‘in sympathy’, reference was made to Xander’s importance in their recent victory. Xander was now standing dejectedly, good eye closed and forehead resting against the faucet. The vampire slid into the cubicle and molded his body to his partner’s from behind. He felt Xander flinch at the first contact and watched in distress as water ran over his beloved’s mouth and he gave a near gurgled, “Sorry….. Sorry…. Just trying to get clean Spike…. Still not really clean.”
Spike whispered against the waterlogged ear, “Know you were out of it, but seems you’ve forgotten pet. I cleaned you… you were cleaned, marked, and re-claimed…. but let me do it again… good an’ proper….” The pale arms enveloping Xander squeezed tight, “Will you let me, my beloved? Will you trust me to fix this?”
The whispered “Yes.” was all he needed. He released one hand to grab the soap and began to cover the body in his arms with the clean scent of alpine flowers. Spike worshipped the generous chest, the tense back and long muscular arms and legs from behind, lathering then rinsing them. Gentle hands cupped the face and caressed the features, pulled shampoo bottle from the shower caddy and massaged the lowered head with cleansing suds before letting the warm stream remove all but the residual faint scent of daisies.
He knew what he had to do next and took an unnecessary breath, hoping the water would remain warm for long enough that he might take his time. He turned Xander and pushed him gently until his shoulders leaned against the wall just below the faucet, then nipped and kissed his way down the torso until he was kneeling before his consort. Xander was only beginning to show signs of interest, so Spike easily engulfed the entire member and began a suction that Xander felt had apparently drawn his entire blood supply to his groin area in an instant. Spike prevented a fall by cupping his consort’s buttocks with strong hands as the human’s knees buckled slightly. He continued to knead the mounds of flesh as his educated mouth pleasured Xander to the point of frantic thrusting. Spike slid a soapy finger of one hand past the all but healed pucker, and began stroking and squeezing the soft sac.
Spike was felt as Xander gave over to finding his pleasure, and also noted that his finger felt very little in the way of injury remaining in the tight channel. It would be enough that the pleasure would override the ache, perhaps by the morning. For now he was happy that penetrating as he was brought no protest.
The blonde increased the pace, swallowing the member in his mouth until his nose brushed nude groin, pulled off then dived down again this time concentrating on the feeling of tiny hairs as they gave the signs of regrowth. On his third dive down, he purred a little and twisted the finger that was still firmly ensconced until it found its goal. He stroked the prostate, sucked as hard as he could, tugged the ball sac a little and grinned a little as he was gifted with his lover crying out and he arching off the shower wall as warm seed shot straight down Spike’s throat. Xander’s knees gave out completely and with no hands truly ‘free’, Spike caught him as best he could, easing him to kneeling, still under the cascade of water then kissed him. Xander could taste himself on Spike’s tongue and groaned his approval.
A few minutes later the shower began to run cold. Spike broke their kneeling embrace, flicked off the water and tugged his consort to standing. He wrapped the human in fluffy pale blue towels scooped him up and carried him ‘bridal style’ through to the bed.
Xander noted Spike’s still unsatisfied erection as he was eased out of the towels and momentarily lifted as Spike threw back the bedcovers. He reached out to stroke the straining member, “Spike… let me…?” His hand was stilled in its path by a smaller pale one. “’S OK pet. We’ll play more in the morning. Anyways, can always please meself after you drift off.”
The last things Xander registered properly before falling asleep was Spike standing growling a little with frustration as he struggled to pull the tight heat suit over the very erect and slightly dripping column of flesh. Then he relaxed into darkness as that same now warm body slid under the covers alongside him.