The Mistress Minna had offered another building the clan owned in St Petersburg for the temporary headquarters of the Emergency Watchers’ Council, at least until all the old guard had been dealt with and then with an option to stay.
Giles’ remained at Mistress Minna’s St Petersburg establishment, initially unable to travel, but also needed for his advice even though his recovery was extremely slow. When Spike and Xander were present on the estate, they made sure to boost his regular ‘vitamin drink’ of a few drops of the High Master and the Consort’s blood (unbeknownst to Giles of course!).
Despite his frailty, he still managed to address the young Watchers in the first formal meeting of the Emergency Watchers’ Council in a speech from behind a large boardroom table. His colleagues were ushered in only after the invalid was carried to his place in the strong arms of the High Master, Spike stunned by how light the man felt.
Settled with his lower half out of sight and warmly wrapped in a thick blanket of pure angora, he quietly outlined the plans for the current Council, its revised policies and new structure.
The thirty minute meeting went well with no dissent among the ranks, and resulted in the voting in of Andrew as the head of organization (a position he continued well beyond the ‘emergency’ period). As the group filed out, the last few watchers could not help but observe that the old Watcher had slumped forward into the embrace of the Consort, and that the High Master was looking more than a little concerned. Spike turned enough to flash yellow eyes at Andrew who was at the back of the group and took the hint, ushering the group out quickly with talk of agendas and timetables for the following day.
Andrew rose to his task as Chairperson, swiftly appointing a number of Watchers to specialist roles on the Council and immediately ratifying the agreement with the European Vampire Court, and the Covens. He also sent word to a number of other peaceful demon clans guaranteeing their protection. It was a relief to all concerned – including his own Slayers.
He had matured and grown with his Watcher’s role. Having taken an early and passionate stand with Giles against the injustices, he had quickly became pivotal in organizing other dissenters and the training in St Petersburg.
He now made a surprisingly fine leader of the whole organization, despite some still very quirky habits that were pure ‘Andrew’. Lunch still came in a paper bag and consisted of food that seemed more appropriate for a five year old; he still insisted on carrying around his pipe and taken to wearing his great coat at all times but in bed – despite obviously sweating in the heat of summer; and he still quoted Star Wars and various cartoons. Despite his foibles, however, he was a calm, tough negotiator when needed; he delegated confidently and regularly praised his colleagues and Slayers; he had an exceptional interest in Vampiric Law and wiccan practices, and a fair grasp of modern science; and an apparent ability to date some of the most beautiful, statuesque women of St Petersburg (causing some grumbles of jealousy amongst a few of the younger watchers!)
Andrew continued to visit Giles on a daily basis, including the old Watcher by swiftly debriefing him on daily goings on and asking his advice in all matters. Giles felt honored to be treated in such a way, and pleased that he could still contribute, even if it did have to be from his bed or a comfortable chair in his rooms.
It was after just such a session that Spike spotted Andrew leaning over one of the balustrades on an outside balcony, his head in his hands.
As Spike approached he could smell the tears and worried a little. Andrew had been working tirelessly for months. Spike sidled up beside the Watcher, taking care to make a little noise so the man might compose himself before needing to engage. He too leaned on the ornate ironwork of the balcony and after several minutes said quietly, “Penny for your thoughts, luv?”
Andrew wiped his face then clasped his hands in front of himself, not really moving positions as he stared out into space, “Is he going to be OK? Giles, I mean. He should have improved by now, you know, more than he has?!” He turned his face toward Spike, looking very young and very vulnerable. As pleading hazel eyes met azure blue, the latter flashed with gold at the thought their friend might not endure.
Spike answered truthfully, “I don’t rightly know… Silly sod’s been runnin’ ‘imself ragged for years… lately it’s to do with your lot. But you don’t live through Ripper and a swag of near apocalypses without some effects. Witches have done their best, so ‘ave the Docs, but he never did anythin’ by halves so the combination of illnesses weren’t a real good starting point for the ol’ librarian.
“Safe to say, he his best bet is rest and some TLC. Should have a few years in ‘im yet.”
“But you could turn him – that would fix it and Willow could give him a soul!”
“Don’t reckon he’d take to that idea mate. Too many years fightin’ for the other side.”
“But…”
“Look pet, ’Sup to you now… And you’ll do just fine… We’ll work on saving the boy, but you need to save the day. So here… pep up, reckon you might need a bit of a lift too pet… Don’t normally do this, but…”
Andrew had always wondered what vampire blood tasted like, and now he knew as Spike tore open his wrist and offered it to the man.
Andrew took the ambrosia. It was beyond anything he had imagined, yet he did not even complete a full exchange as Spike did not drink of him, so still only had half the picture. But he still felt it enough.
Taking a mere mouthful, the buzz though his entire system was extraordinary, and at a profound level he realized his part in saving the magical individuals around him. For the very first time in his life he truly felt that he was on the side of the heroes, and would give his life to fulfill his promise to them. And in that moment had insight into Giles and Willow, and Xander and Spike… and all the others. Yet just here, just now was so tired and dizzy, so he took another small mouthful then passed out.
“Oh bloody hell!” Spike stood above the unconscious body of the new Chairman of the Watchers.
Close on a half hour later, Andrew roused to be greeted by a young minion of Minna’s who was tentatively mopping his brow.
“Are you alright Sir?”
Andrew sat up on a bed that was in a room somewhere in the bowels of the Minna's building with a young minion’s careful attentions and cool cloth. He thanked and dismissed her.
“I will inform the High Master, so that all for now Sir? The Mistress said I had to…”
“No I’m… thanks you can… Hey look, I will tell the Mistress to thank you. OK?”
“Oh Um Sir, I um…”, before she even finished the sentence she scurried from the room, terrified of the threats made of her should she disappoint either the Mistress or worse, the High Master.
Andrew then saw the High Master entering the room, the vampire’s wink and grin, and Xander’s genuine smile and upturned hands causing a now mature Andrew to give the two a rather embarrassed smile… “I.. ummm... Sorry about the passing out... Anyways... I think I have a job to do… so I’d better… go do… thanks.” With that the new leader of the Watchers stood, shugged on his coat and composed himself before brushing past the ruling couple. Spike had been his role model... and he always liked Xander... but the two together were something to aspire to. He would not let them down.
By the time Moxley was turned, Giles was back at the Coven in England, still dreadfully thin and still very pale, but the sickly yellow color had faded and he was walking slowly with the aid of a stick. He was also planning a visit the Lake District the following spring to spend two weeks rambling with some old school chums and their wives. Willow happily reported the intended trip to Xander and Spike, as it was the first time that Giles had seemed to be hopeful and planning his retired future for as long as she could remember.
………………….
Apart from spending a couple of days in St Petersburg every few weeks until Giles was moved, Spike and Xander’s Court moved back to their home in Switzerland, and their attention shifted back to the affairs of the Clans, their own business interests, and some catch up leisure time.
Jim, Sandy, Andy and Kelly all arrived just after the conclusion of the Moxley incident to spend three delightful weeks at the castle of the High Master (though staff were instructed to avoid such references if possible).
Without exception, the four Americans gasped at the enormous ancient structure as they stepped from the car.
Jim shook Xander’s hand then gave in to the urge to give a rather emotional and uncharacteristic hug as soon as he alighted the limousine that had been sent to collect them from Basel. Sandy embraced both their hosts, as did Kelly, but it was Andy who was strangely the most emotional.
He held each man in turn in a long bear hug then insisted that they would, “Never try to die on me again!” Spike was examined particularly closely, Andy noting a rather obvious scar down one side of Spike’s neck that he was sure could not have been there before, and assumed it to be from the accident, and that there would be more elsewhere.
After dinner and general catchup discussions, Sandy insisted and Xander finally pulled out the police photographs of the car, and a couple of Spike’s first weeks, then the shaved headed Spike, and finally his own casts. It was sobering, even for the ruling couple. Then they dismissed the matter.
Jim was sitting opposite Spike in an antique brocade chair, enjoying a post dinner port and coffee.
“Gotta say William, this place is like somethin’ out of a fairytale! I can’t imagine many architects today with the kind of skills to even begin planning a project like this – and never mind ordering the gargoyles for the roof… In fact you’d be hard pressed to find enough stone masons in California to build it - let alone the internals!”
“Yeah well, I guess I’ve picked the right partner if we ever need something fixed.” Spike raised his glass to Jim and smiled.
“Masterstroke by your Uncle Anton while you and Alex were both convalescing, by the way. Our business is booming in the new economic climate over here. Quality buildings, exclusive contracts, and the right man running it with the right contacts. Really has been a dream run all round.” Jim stood and raised his glass, “To Will and Alex, and their leading Europe into a new era. We are all richer for knowing you. And here’s to a long and happy future.”
The sound of clinking glasses and “To Will and Alex” filled the room. And the double meaning of the toast was lost on all but the hosts.
The remainder of the visit by their friends was delightful. Shopping trips, lovely drives to wineries and side adventures to various places of interest kept the four guests fully occupied. Jim was concerned that William seemed to spend every waking hour working, but now appreciated the fact that his business interests really were global and quite a lot more extensive than his own construction company.
He noted that the young man worked odd hours, waking late and working through the night. But there were so many time zones in the boy's business, he understood that it must have been a learned behaviour. William did join them for evening meals and events, and was openly attentive and charming, though seemed to eat little and had a habit of returning to his study as the others retired for the evening.
Jim suspected that Xander was being ‘relieved of work worries’ by his partner a little for the duration of the Sacramento group’s stay. Athough there were a number of nights when he would noticed both men in the formal study in deep discussion, or on a conference call as the guests returned from the theatre or an evening meal out as ‘couples’ in restaurants recommended by the locals.
On their final evening together, much time was spent talking quietly.
Sandy ‘mothered’ her two lovely young men and gushing over how well they looked and what a wonderful time they had provided, then going on to make them promise a visit to Sacramento again at some point.
Jim spoke of work mostly, but finally pulled Alex aside to let his 'European Manager' know just how proud he was of his Alex, and how happy that the ‘thing’ with William had worked out. Xander simply grinned and said, “Thanks Uncle Jim”, which earned him a light punch on the arm, then a grin, followed by a firm hug.
Spike knew something none of the others but he and his Consort seemed to know, though he suspected Kelly already had confirmed it.
He guided Andy and Kelly upstairs and through he and Xander’s own suite under the guise of ‘showing them the ultimate boudoir’, and sat them both on the bed before taking a very puzzled Andy’s hand and placing it on his partner’s belly.
Spike could hear the faint fluttering of a minute new heartbeat and had smell the scent. He smiled at Kelly and whispered,“Now’s a good time pet… I’ll leave you to it.” Then left them alone.
Kelly could work out how Spike found out, but assumed he had overheard a conversation to her older sister in the second week of their stay in the castle. Regardless when she and Andy came downstairs, she had been very obviously kissed, and Andy seemed to be beyond happy to the point of tears.
Xander grinned, knowing the reason. Spike had promised that he would say something after they learned of Andy’s obliviousness regards impending fatherhood.
It was a teary to the two happy couples, though the farewell was a happy one, with many promises of reciprocal visits.
…………
It was past midnight on the night the others left, and they were lying in their spa nude, on the warm late summer’s evening, beers in hand and legs intertwined under the bubbles. There was a large rising half moon providing the only light other than one or two internal lights in the upper hallway near their bedroom. Just by Spike’s elbow, the same moon was also reflecting in a small puddle of water that had splashed over the edge of the spa at some point.
Spike’s foot crept further up between Xander’s legs, gently brushing against the bubbles and fine hair and increasingly sensitive skin.
Xander was trying to explain the new ideas he and Andy had for their San Francisco group, so Spike grinned as Xander totally lost his train of thought and groaned his approval as dexterous toes found their mark.
“Pet? ‘Member I was one of them synchro swimmers in a past life? Figure a bit of a performance under moonlight might just be in order.”
And before, Xander could even finish the thought process required (given most of his blood was now flowing to his nether regions), so was rather startled and then grinned at the handstand followed by a theatrical flurry of legs above the bubbles. After which it was all too quick, and he threw his head back when his already keen erection was taken to the back of his lover’s throat and sucked to completion in a matter of a minute.
He would reciprocate later when they were happily reclining in their bed, knowing he could bring his High Master to the heights of ecstasy and hold him there for an hour, then do it again. Despite all they had endured in the past, sometimes life was good.
…………………
New Year’s Eve of the same year.
Spike sat at the Memorial stone he had set for his Sire. Liam’s plain marble square was next to his sister Katherine’s simple stone cross, now standing upright again, courtesy of those setting the new marker. It had his Sire’s original birth and death dates in the usual fashion then another date the date of his final dusting after the dragon talon’s poison caused his demise. Two lines down after “Master of Aurelius, He helped the helpless and paid the price. Loved by W always”
It was merely a memorial as the dust was long gone, but Spike buried a time capsule with the AI business card, a hand drawn sketch by Angel of Connor as a baby, an ancient fob watch Angel had somehow kept since ‘back in the day’, a love note from Buffy aged sixteen – badly spelt and incorrect in grammar, and a perfectly penned hand written note in an envelope reading, “To my Sire with love and devotion, from Your Favorite Childe, Will”, and a kerchief with Angelus initials on it that Will had kept for well over a hundred years in the hope that his Sire would return to claim it. He had pushed it into Angel’s hand on the night of their last fight. Angel had returned it by pushing it into Spike’s old duster the night of his final death. As he placed the last item in the container, no power on earth could have stemmed the tears.
Xander held his beautiful partner as he cried openly then fed a little and cried some more, as they covered the container with soil.
Spike kissed the marble marker and whispered goodbye then buried his face in his partner’s strong shoulder. The Consort appreciated the profound connection and sent a prayer to the Powers That Be that he might *never* have to make such a gesture.
After an hour of simple contemplation and sadness, Xander led a very quiet Spike back to the car. Their flight back to Switzerland was leaving the following evening. Xander knew they would be back to Galway on occasion, but for now they had the Aurelian Vampire Court to run, and Anton wanting to involve Connor in the coming year. And more importantly (as he reminded his High Master) they still had not had their traditional New Year’s Shag.
The 'complaint made', and though it would no doubt prove a bit cold, they stopped the car somewhere halfway between the cemetery and their hotel, and dove into the back seat anyway to settle into an amorous heap.
Tradition had to count for something after all!
More in the Five Rings Series coming soon!