xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40"> Recreation and Renovation: part five

Recreation and Renovation: part five
by Josie_h
Notes

 

Spike was sitting on the bed, still stunned by his consort’s willingness to travel with him and take the whole…. Gahhh…. Well in fact the whole Prince Willie thing was a little too close to the bone. Perhaps they should name a certain piece of anatomy, then he and his consort could both giggle and engage said monarch in places appropriate and move on! He rang Anton and confirmed their arrangements. Buffy had still not been informed, vampire politics hardly the stuff of slayers without gentle explanation by her lover … and perhaps after William the Bloody and consort had resolved the situation one way or another.

 

With four weeks until Christmas and their trip to ‘the old world’ pending Xander, threw himself into work. He worried over a few things Spike had said regards the time it might take to resolve the ‘situation’ and was torn by his loyalty to his colleagues and boss. Unlike Spike, his was not a workplace that fitted into a laptop bag, or video conference. As December approached he was near panic wanting desperately to ask for more time off, he already had two weeks… what if it took more. He was owed nearly seven weeks of untaken time from previous three years… but… he knew the reason for the trip and had agreed and yet the rest was so …. Unknown….

 

Andy was concerned. His friend had always been a little obsessive regards projects but this time there seemed an uncharacteristic urgency. When queried Xander simply brushed off  the comments and made the ‘determined to get it done by Christmas and need a break after that’ excuse. Andy and Jim both began to worry that it was more. Xander making comments referring to ‘getting matters in order’ and ‘resolving unfinished business’ sounding awfully like something might be wrong.

 

Sandy was eventually given the task of speaking to the ‘partner’.

 

“Hi William?”

 

“Sandy. What can I do you for, Mum?”

 

“Cheeky boy…. Just ringing to see if everything is OK with you two. Jim’s worried about Alex... So’s Andy…”

 

“And you’ve got Mata Hari’s job?”

 

The older woman giggled a little “Well without the sexual favors… but essentially yes…”

 

Spike paused and decided on honesty as the easiest path. “If ‘es been odd ‘s probably my fault, I’ve asked the lad to come back to Europe with me for the Christmas break.”

 

“Oh?”

 

“Family matters… turns out a couple of ancient relatives have left some ‘unfinished business and me holdin’ ‘ the keys to the castle’. And yeah before you ask… pretty much literally. Xan not asked Jim couple of weeks extra then?”

 

“Not sure, just… he has been so ‘driven’ lately we just thought it might be…..” When no reply was forthcoming Sandy paused for a moment, then let out a relieved sigh, “Oh thank god… If that’s all it is! We had begun to think it was a health thing… he has been looking so haggard and tired of late… and keeps talking about ‘tying up loose ends’.”

 

“Daft bugger…. Oh… forgive me… lady’s present an’ all that.”

 

Sandy’s grin was almost tangible through the phone, she then processed the polite apology along what had been said regards William’s family. “We really had no idea of your history. I’m so sorry…. William…. Alex said something a while back but…”

 

There was no going back. If Xander was to have time off, then sometimes a little truth might go a very long way. Spike dropped a little of the mockney accent stating quietly, in his original upper middle class ‘voice’, “Well dear lady, I fear you’ve caught me out. No doubt Jim knows my business interests, but perhaps not my family ties.”

 

Sandy had the decency to pause and sound a little guilty as she admitted, “Yes, well, um…. we did do a little ‘research’ and Jim was adamant that you weren’t after Alex for his money…. We really didn’t mean to pry…  Just that… um…,” She trailed off then added brightly, “But you manage it so…. We know what you do and …. wonderful… and so young? Your parents must have been so proud.”

 

“Don’t know really. Took over after their time obviously… Current issue is about extended family – just been named heir to some estates in Europe, others in the line were right miffed. Just gotta head over there and sort it out… Thought since it’s Christmas and all Alex might…. Well…. I’d really like him there.”

 

“Oh sweetie….And I’m so sorry about and…. Of course!.... We were just…  Now I feel *so* silly!”

 

“’Course not luv…. But hey … we still invited to your Christmas bash given the boy had been such a pain….?”

 

“Ohhh oh of course… two weeks…..” and so the conversation flowed.

 

Their three biggest projects completed on schedule, and the next onsite requirement in late January, Xander applied for two weeks “leave without pay” only to have his t’owed holidays honored, with the proviso that Xander did some ‘research’ on European project management methods. Spike barely audibly mumbling ‘bloody junket’ and ‘make sure he pulls ‘is weight’ as Jim wished them well at the Christmas party

 

William and Alex’s gifts to family and colleagues were generous and appropriate to a fault. All had a garden theme with ‘NP’ having done some online research and finding a local specialist in garden sculpture and ‘architectural plants’. There was even a ‘groovy’ deep blue pot and pedestal with a pretty bonsai fig and its own mini lighting system for Janine, perfect for her room. Her new boyfriend made quite a show of ‘putting it up’ for all to see.

 

Jim shook Alex’s hand, and Sandy kissed William tenderly as they departed the small gathering. Andy and Kelly promising to drive the pair to the airport the following day… and then it was all happening. It was only the twenty third of December and they were heading back to the old country. This time however the agenda was clear.

 

……………………….

 

The trip across the USA was quiet. Fortunately with the new business class seats a full bed was a given and Xander slept. But the journey from New York to Zurich was silent but for a long and desperate exchange of blood under the ample blankets during the ‘night time/ movie’ section of the flight.

 

In the final hour or so of their travel Spike took his consort’s hand and began to speak… the tension and lack of communication had been so extreme that Xander would have been willing to turn around and go home in an instant despite their hours in the air, the anguish in his Master Vampire’s face as they sped toward Basel in Anton’s private jet was worrying. This was apparently not going to be easy, but then, he knew that…. That was about all he knew.

 

“Anton will meet us.”

 

Xander could not help but feel a little pang of jealousy, “And that would be because?”

 

Spike squeezed the hand, “I need him to proxy as my Sire..”

 

Xander was too overtired, far too stressed, suffering the residual effects of one too many drinks en route, and reacted accordingly, “What? Why? Some bizarro vampire board meeting?? What? Why can’t I be your Sire of the moment? I thought you needed me there… so what…”

 

The vampire didn’t answer, simply stating, “We need to change clothing pet, and…..”

 

Spike was looking very tired as he turned to hand his petulant partner a bundle of clothes and cut him off, “Pet we talked about this, you are my esteemed Consort. Your role is by my side, willing and able to defend..”

 

“Defend? Defend what?!!” Xander pulled his hand away from Spike and turned on him with a look of one betrayed, “You never said anything about defending…. So not seein’ stakage here…” He upended the bundle of clothes in what he later admitted was a somewhat childish act, yet at the time was apparently to illustrate the point, “Given the lack of wooden accessories! What am I supposed to do Spike? Protect you with my cutting wit? ‘Cause gotta say buddy, precious little on the trust meter happening here after the last fifty hours of cone of silence treatment!” He ignored the increasingly worried and desperate feelings through the link and kept on with the uncharacteristic tirade, “Tell you what, given recent history as European butt monkey to the mercenaries, why don’t you do the royalty loyalty thing with your relatives for a few weeks while I do some solo sight seeing, buy myself a set of lederhosen and trial the local beer?”

 

Spike was already too far on edge to consider any ‘mutiny’ or his partner’s possible departure, regardless of the sincerity or otherwise of the comment. He fell into game face and flew to his Xander’s neck, biting deep into the claim mark with a possessiveness bordering on savagery that had not featured in their relationship in any but the most out of control and passionate of sexual encounters. Yet somehow the act grounded them both.

 

The pain of the puncture and pull on Xander’s blood was coupled with a blinding jolt of desperation through the link *Can’t, won’t, mine!* feelings were coupled with *Love, forever, loss, grief* and Xander stilled, realized a grave error on his part and immediately began to send every loving emotion and reassuring thought he could through the link. Spike pulled off bit hard into his own wrist and proffered the dripping limb to his consort. It was taken without protest, kissed contritely and in apology then the blood was taken.

 

Xander licked the wound closed then turned to claim his partner’s lips in a passionate kiss that spelt devotion and loyalty.

 

They alighted at the Basel airport situated in the city’s French sector, and were immediately whisked to the Swiss customs by bus and met by one of Anton’s staff as they exited the building. It was daytime, thankfully valet parking and limousines were directed to an undercover area for ‘loading’.

 

They were driven to the Canton of Solothurn just east of the Basel area. Now with the link lying utterly without restriction, Xander and Spike were both in identical black on black formfitting outfits, made to fit thigh height boots and custom designed ‘dusters’ that Xander (despite his earlier ‘rejection’ moment) had to admit were …. Very cool. His had a high collar that pulled (with a flick of the right hand) to reveal the Master’s claim mark while not opening any other area to attack. Spike simply had a flap over his right nipple that revealed the regular feeding spot of his consort. Other than that the outfits were a pigeon pair.

 

 

Spike had a little time to quietly explain to Xander as they drove to the castle. The Vampire states of Europe were often interwoven or at least mirrored their human counterparts therefore the establishment of a court in this locale was a given.

 

During the sixteenth century, the Swiss Confederation was composed of thirteen self-governed states. The states were called cantons, and there were two different kinds of cantons: the six forest cantons and seven urban cantons. Though they were technically part of the Holy Roman Empire, they had become almost completely liberated when the Swiss defeated Emperor Maximillian in 1499.

 

 

The six forest cantons were democratic republics left to their own devices where demon influences were concerned, however the seven urban cantons were governed by city councils. These city councils were controlled by small oligarchies of wealthy citizens, a great number of whom were masters of vampiric families. They participated in the unicameral parliaments as legitimate members, and controlled the activities of their minions and fledges to maintain legitimacy. In return  for their protection and associated power the influence across the European regions grew. Other nations adopted different power bases but toward the 1600s the Master of Aurelius annexed the vampiric clans of Europe and silently took back control of Europe at least where demons were concerned. The Cantons all bowed to the Aurelian rule… at least until now…

 

As the two stepped from the limosine and into the ancient building, Spike took his partner’s hand and squeezed hard. There was no pretence and he received no moment of reluctance, that was behind them.

They would face any ‘Prince Willy’ scenario together.

 

A quiet voice commented as they alighted, “Great to see you William…. Alexander!”

 

 

Recreation and Renovation: part six

 

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