Spoilers: Sometime in early season five – or possibly late six BtVS. Warnings: M/M – if you don't like boys together, don't play here!
Disclaimer: Don't own the characters nor make any money from stories etc, and bow down to their original creators Joss, et al., plus all the wonderful online writers who continue to give the Buffy/Angel verse characters life.
PART 11
By week four of Autumn, Xander remembered the feeling… but in the previous year he was still attached to her completely. Now it was odd.
He still suckled daily but knew her feeding frond contained a different mix, the more he took, the less he seemed to need, and the more tired he became. Initially he put it down to the shortening days, but now the reason was clear. His mistress was changing, her bright green hues giving way to rich yellows. He noticed his own changes as the fatigue kicked in with a vengeance.
Xander was increasingly melancholy and lethargic. Even Harry and Michael's overt antics (for private viewings only) did not seem to raise more than a smile.
Spike noticed the change in behavior as the weeks of autumn progressed, but it was only as the Xander's normally rich green tresses began to turn yellow that both realized what was going on. The most distress was caused by their falling off completely – it seemed that the transition from green to red to yellow to falling off was only a matter of days.
Dawn still visited almost every day and tried to be supportive, "Think of it like chemotherapy, only better! (well, sort of!) At least you know it's all going to grow back better than before… Ooooh! I know! Just think of it like a fashion throw out… like at the end of season… gone the old tresses, in with the new!"
Seated on a thick root of the Xander's tree, she looked over to Spike for support and saw only intense concern for his dear nymph. She realized for the first time just how utterly besotted the two really were. "Oh geez I'm sorry! I was just trying to be… you know… funny. OK hey… introducing 'Foot in Mouth' Dawn… I'm sorry Spike. The Mother Tree is doing this too right? It must be about Autumn… Why don't you ask Harry – he'll know. Where is Harry these days?"
"Think he's off tryin' to find another venue for 'is lot this winter."
"Couldn't they stay at Casa del Summers? I mean… Buffy wouldn't even know since she's all Ms 'I've got a life and work and school' blah, blah!
"Don't reckon the little uns do so well inside Pet. But it's a right sweet thought. Reckon if Harry's still pushin' it in a week or two it might be time for you to ask again."
As the weather closed in, Xander also did some seasonal shedding of bark (no worse than Buffy after a weekend in Hawaii as Spike pointed out… to no avail) but it was the loss of his last leaf – one from his wrist - that had him sobbing quite inconsolably. Spike realized that it wasn't just the shedding, it was a whole system changing for the young nymph. He asked around and finally Lily filled in the gaps for the new fae vampire. All the trees and wood nymphs had apparently done the same, shutting down and storing water and nutrients for the winter ready for full hibernation. It still didn't seem to console the upset new one.
Xander was in his usual spot at the base of the tree, ready for his nightly embrace – though the goodbyes were getting harder as the day for 'no wake up call 'til spring' came closer and closer.
In reflection, Xander's tantrum should have been expected on the last day before 'the big sleep'.
There was no reasoning with him. He sat knees under his chin, with tummy and extremities a little swollen with vital water for the winter, wasting some of his precious fluids in tears as they dripped onto an increasingly cold earth. He drew mindless patterns in the dirt and didn't look up as Spike made another attempt to talk.
"C'mon Pet… can't be bad enough for tears can it?" Spike could clearly see the probable cause for distress but had hoped Xander would accept his changing state. The confused nymph accepted his partner's bleeding wrist easily, but abruptly pulled away for apparently no reason.
"Look at me – I'm so ugly! I'm going bald… everywhere… and I'm swollen… and I'm so… tired and can't do… You won't want me in Spring if you remember me like this! Oh please! Just look at me!" And Spike did… There was a slight paunch and a marginally chubbier face… and if he were honest, limbs that were a little softer and thicker than he was used to, but they both knew the reason.
Spike wrapped his arms around the distressed nymph, "You daft bugger! I'm not goin' anywhere – you know that! You're it for me now Luv. 'M tied to you – willingly mind – as much as you are to her! So stop all this rot, and give us a kiss, cause we've got a door to make!"
In the winter months, the Mother Tree would lie dormant unable to perform the nightly ritual of giving Spike a protected place to sleep, and Xander would be in hibernation, permanently attached to her and only sentient for a few minutes a day. Spike could go to the crypt but coupled with the need to be near his partner, he really dreaded that option. He could, and would, take refuge in the warmth of the centrally heated Summer's house occasionally, or visit Willow at the coven headquarters at the rear of the local library to get out of a chill wind before heading out on patrol, just like in the past. But now he needed, and wanted, more.
His preference was the tree, and even if Angel had quietly worried about it as an option, in truth he had made his choice months before and was increasingly drawn to his nymph partner, and (if he were completely honest) weary and happy to sleep through nights spooned at the back of his beautiful friend on the floor of their soft living abode.
It was the most vulnerable period for all the fae. The trees vulnerable as their nymphs slept, though most of the oldest trees were left alone by humans these days, the creatures that lived in their loving embrace often suffered.
The water nymphs still enjoyed their lake, though the fountain was often off and the lowered water temperature tended to leave them more inclined to sleep too.
The faeries had it hardest, particularly those who had lost their homes. The removal of Harry's family thicket was the loss of protection from the worst of the winter winds and rain if there were no small evergreen plants around. The whole 'hide under a mushroom' merely a child's tale! And sleeping outside on the Mother Tree's branches not an option.
As a vampire, Spike adored the darker months yet really despised the cold when not in 'good circumstances' (i.e. Unable to find a human abode with suitable heating). He would now have the best of both worlds. Now Xander's Mother Tree invited one of hers to find comfort in her warm soft interior, yet gave the dark one the freedom to exit and feed. The agreement was that he would also protect her and Xander as they slept in exchange for his lodging. Yet he gambled and won… Spike added one caveat to the agreement as he accepted the terms. Harry and his family would also be given sanctuary from the cold. Their thicket had been flattened at the end of summer to make way for another 'memorial patch', and it was rumored to be a particularly cold winter. The little ones would not survive without help.
Unlike other tree nymphs, however, he was always semi aware and able to protect tree and partner were it needed.
The tree welcomed the Spike's decision to share some of the big sleep with his nymph partner.
Xander's 'before' carpentry skills came to the fore and Jack (Harry's older brother) praised the young nymph as the two fitted the beautiful, 'A' shaped door. It appeared for all the world like part of 'Her' at her base and had it blessed by the tree herself.
There was no handle on either side of the door rather it warmed to the touch on a particular spot and opened just enough to let a resident slip inside. The door led to two small openings within the Mother tree. The first one seemed like a strangled mish mash of roots, but on second examination made a series of beautiful individual beds and sitting areas for Harry's kind. The second was a vaulted space padded by old sawdust and the softest of mosses, and had a strange configuration at its rear. An odd shaft, its only function was to allow Spike to ease himself into the space, then embrace his dear lover as he slept the winter away with the Mother Tree.
Xander rallied a little on the last evening of autumn, he would try hard to be a good companion to his lovely vampire and would have headed out to meet him but he was just so tired.
Spike found him sitting at the base of the Mother Tree. What were once thick tresses of new leaves on his head, were now barren stalks, even his green eyelashes were missing as were his eyebrows giving him the unhealthy look of a cancer patient from the human world. Spike didn't care – he knew it was time, indeed felt it himself, though not as strongly and thankfully his hair had remained. They had talked about decided to put him to sleep for the winter in the loveliest possible way.
Spike stripped and made passionate love to him – their face to face passion audible in the already quiet trees of the cemetery should one know what to listen for. Spike rode with tears in his eyes as his beloved fell into semi-consciousness in the afterglow knowing that once fully asleep, Xander would not rouse again for close to thirteen weeks! Spike kissed him tenderly then lifted him gently and placed him close to her inner walls on the soft sawdust.
Spike watched with morbid fascination as the Mother Tree bound the nymph to her with a series of roots, finally inserting the feeding frond that would only provide sap as the weather warmed, before falling still herself.
His lovely nymph was asleep, as was the tree. The faeries ensconced next door had also fallen quiet. Spike lay down beside Xander and threw an arm over the nymph's strong inert figure. Even this close he felt strangely alone. He rolled over his sleeping friend until his mouth found the boy's right nipple and on cue the frond extended from its nub. Spike latched on for comfort not food and finally as one with his companion, he too slept.