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.
Dedicated to tempestsreach who inspired the story and deserves all the hugs that one could provide.
…….PART 12………
Spike woke his Childe as the sun went down.
Xander blinked to consciousness as an open wrist, and an adoring, familiar smile greeted him, though was puzzled by the surprisingly formal words.
"We are to have guests this evening, Childe. You must be here with your Sire. It will be a difficult meeting as it is your first time with humans."
Xander blinked slowly in confusion then replied, "Um wha?...Hmmpf… morning?" Instantly, his instinct told him that formal words required a formal response, and swiftly corrected his error. He struggled to sit up and added, "Umm… Please excuse me Sire. I was not yet awake." Xander dropped his gaze in an indication of his submission, and the fledgling was caught under the chin by a caring hand as he did so.
"You are forgiven of course! You are only newly made Pet, and we have many lessons ahead. All you need do now, is follow your instincts and your heart. I'm here. Sire will be here… always… just like you were for me. 'S my turn to be strong, innit." Spike stroked Xander's hair gently then leant down and kissed him on the lips, claiming the fledge's mouth with all the possessiveness that came with his new role of Sire.
Xander allowed the invading tongue in with a sigh of joy and relief. The former human felt truly… happy - definitely dead, he knew - but blessed by the presence of, and claiming by, the only being he had ever truly loved, Spike, and now his Sire.
Spike enjoyed the moment, feeling his own strength increase by the minute and wondered if that came with the new role, or whether it was simply a function of the tender care Xander had given in the past weeks along the added boost from his Mistress Illyria. It mattered little.
They were about to face a challenge – one his newly risen Childe was hardly ready for.
Noting the still rather bewildered look on his fledge's face he inquired, "Xan, Luv? Childe… Are you with me?"
"Hmmm? Oh… Yes Sire." Xander stiffened then realized that he remained in his Sire's embrace, and relaxed a little, though tried to be more attentive.
"We have to meet our old friends tonight, Jason and Mark. You must remain in your human guise… do you understand?"
"Yes Sire." Xander's soul shuddered at the thought of meeting the men who had been so helpful with Spike, but his demon responded instinctively with the answer, and was rewarded by the invitation to nuzzle again.
Spike knew that the evening was going to be difficult for the young fledge with newly awakened demon fighting the soul, so pushed the issue, "You must wait until we are alone again to feed, then you will have my blood… Do you understand? You must not allow the demon out unless I give you permission."
"Yes Sire… " Xander pouted a little and the act earned him an immediate bite.
Spike was acutely aware of the unpredictable nature of a Childe barely a day old, soul or no soul, and was unwilling to risk his friends' lives. His decision was swift and pragmatic. He needed his fledge compliant, so sank his fangs into a willing neck, and drained Xander yet again to the point of semi-consciousness, then lay him gently on the couch.
He returned just enough of the precious liquid from his own wrist, to have Xander conscious, his young Childe's dear soul at the surface while the demon sharing the body so sated and willingly submissive that it was beyond any independent act, and there would be no risk of attack. The newly risen demon was simply too drained to assert itself in his Sire's presence even if humans were in attendance.
Jason and Mark were to arrive at seven.
Spike prepared a platter of finger food for the guests and drank as much blood as he could manage while Xander snoozed lightly on the couch.
Their friends were punctual as always.
Mark held his tense partner's hand tightly as the door was answered, and both bore near frantic expressions as the door opened. Whatever they expected, Spike knew… nothing could prepare them for what their friends had to divulge. The vampire took an unnecessary breath before greeting them.
Jason pulled Spike into a hug, but looked over the slim shoulder to spot a deathly pale and very thin Xander lying on the lounge suite. Jason gave Spike a last squeeze before racing to their lost friend's side. "Ghoddd! Xan! What… where have you been…?"
Xander blinked awake, still lethargic after his Sire's decision to half-drain him. He registered the known voice, a human, and friend from his … life. He felt an absolute level of fatigue and knew he was hungry as he heard the heartbeat. But Sire had told him, no feeding. And his soul knew this man was… Jason… Friend. Friend!
Despite Jason's kind attention, the young fledge looked to his Sire for direction, noting that Spike was welcoming Mark with a quick hug and kiss on both cheeks. He began to worry more. He thought he had been asked to be by his Sire's side, but was now struggling even lift his own hand… Xander let a tear fall, he wasn't sure why, but he knew he had failed Sire. He looked for Sire, his panic almost palpable and sending the same through the familial link.
Mark looked a little puzzled at the greeting. William seemed… changed, confident, strident even. Certainly there was an urgency to his actions, but it was hardly the behavior of the near catatonic invalid they had seen a few evenings ago.
It was mere seconds before Spike felt the distress of his young one, and let Mark find his own way in as he sped to the rescue of his young Childe who was starting to breathe quickly, and Spike knew that despite all good intentions, Xander was likely to fall into game face without the physical contact of his maker.
He moved swiftly to his Childe's side, then pulled him closer, "You OK luv?"
Mark joined his partner and did not fail to note as Spike had gathered Xander onto his lap, and the taller man had all but plastered himself to their friend William, the brunette's face cradled against William's neck.
Jason was aware that something had fundamentally changed and approached with caution. "Xan? Hey… Buddy?"
Xander pulled tighter into his Sire and refused to look at their friend.
Human spelt food… or danger, he wasn't sure. There was conflicting knowledge spinning through his mind uncontrolled. Their heart beats certainly spelt food, all temptation and condemnation embodied. Still the newborn fledge held his human features for his Sire. And his Sire felt his struggle, and kissed him soundly for his show of strength. He visibly sighed and relaxed against Spike and chose a defensive semi-slumber, cradled in his Sire's arms.
The two friends settled onto the opposite couch, and Spike, holding tightly to Xander's hand, addressed them, "Obviously Xan is back… but uhhhhm"
Mark had already guessed. The emaciated and almost submissive form of their friend spelt torture. He squeezed his beloved's hand and received the same back. To have a partner abducted and tortured was their own worst nightmare embodied.
Both remained silent for a few seconds. What should one ask, when their dear friend sat with his partner showing a deathly pallor?
Spike adjusted Xander's position so the brunette might lie on the couch comfortably. He lovingly covered the form with a throw rug, ensuring Xander's head was cradled in Spike's (Sire's) lap. "I am sad to report that we have held something from you… Was happy to leave you blokes in the dark regards my own status… But things have changed a bit."
Jason looked not so much worried as resignedly sad, then said, "Were you, you know, um… ahem… doing drugs or tricks or something? And did Xan you know… did get caught up in that too… you know… even the whole HIV pos? Please Spike?… Whatever this is… we're friends?"
Spike looked utterly confused, "What? No! Um… No… Bloody Hell! Nothin' to do with any of that!"
Spike took an unnecessary breath. "Um… it's just… He was so injured… beyond recovery…dyin' when he was given back… I mean really dying… so the Fate's have dealt us both a bit of a different hand…"
The two friends looked even more confused and concerned but Spike continued quickly, "Figure it's time for you blokes to suspend disbelief for a moment, 'cause I'm afraid we've got something to show you." Spike's voice dropped to a low growl, "You believe in the other?"
Jason and Mark were both looking very puzzled.
"I'd hoped we might still be friends after this, but understand if you can't. And if you can't, I'll take the boy here and you won't need to see us again. This is… I guess a little bigger than… ah bugger... how about you to see me as I truly am…"
Both Jason and Mark looked puzzled then utterly shocked as Spike shifted to game face and bit his own wrist savagely, his Childe waking to the scent, and latching onto the wrist automatically after also shifting to full game face. He growled his approval, a sound that would have made a full grown lion pause.
Spike could hear the two hearts racing and smelt extreme fear, so fell back into his human form as his Childe continued to feed, and he addressed their friends, "The boy here and I didn't think we needed to let you know what I really was… least not when I was under the weather. Ensouled you see, us both now. You lads were right kindly, and I do thank you for that. Will always thank you."
Xander fell off the wrist, shifted back to his normal features and snuggled down on the couch again. It seemed as though, like any newborn, feeding and sleeping occupied most of each day.
Mark was incredulous, genuinely questioning his own eyes. "But that's… you can't be serious? How did you?"
Spike continued, "Give us a moment pet. Xan here had no chance of survival but in the unlife. He was dying, bleeding out, so damaged that none could have saved him… and… I couldn't lose him… couldn't… he saved me… now it's my turn." Spike ignored his guests for a moment in preference to burying his face into his partner's neck, softly licking his own mark, and letting a tear fall.
Jason was utterly speechless but Mark interrupted again. "This is insane… How? You can't expect us to believe this … OOookay… Where's the hidden camera… Great joke now… come on William!"
"No camera mate." Mark and Jason's heartbeat sped as their friend remained sincere. " Got the soul of William, but sorry, not human, and now… neither is Xan." Spike shifted into game face, dropped his 'mockney accent', then added in a very low tone – as though to frightened children, "You need to know. I am a vampire, we both are, I'm an older one, but the boy here is new."
Xander had been staring rather dazedly but suddenly registered his Sire's stress and tilted his own head to allow his Sire to drink, but Spike merely kissed his lovely fledge in gratitude.
Mark and Jason were beside themselves. Mark in particular. There was nothing in his past that could possibly have prepared him for this. When his patient's had described 'the other', he had prescribed medication. Now he was witnessing… something! He would have blamed it on a drugged drink – but had yet to have anything orally.
He wondered at his own perception, but seeing Jason's face, realized that this was a shared experience and therefore very difficult to question.
Spike did the only thing he could think of. He left his lovely friend to sleep and moved with vampiric speed to kneel in front of their two friends grasping a hand of each in his.
"Please just…"
Jason gasped at the speed, and Spike heard his heart rate step up even more, "G#! But you could hardly… and the illness was …"
"Real Pet. The illness was very real. Xan saved me from dust. My turn now to help him innit? Even if his status is… changed."
Spike continued to speak quietly, "Most humans are able to go through life oblivious of 'the other'. Xan here is a child of the Hellmouth – grew up with our kind and fought the good fight for years… and now you know too. The other have been here forever.
"Boy here has been part of that for his whole life. Me? Part of that realm for over a century… And frankly don't care if you can't believe or don't want to, 's your choice. Regardless we both thank you and consider you friends. You were so kind when others were not."
Mark finally shook himself from his shock and asked, "So… you're, um… what are you?" Then fell back as Spike fell into gameface again and faced him directly. "I'm an ensouled vampire mate."
It was a worried looking Jason's turn to speak, "So… the hospital runs… It was about human blood wasn't it! That's what Xan was doing – getting human blood. But… no biting? What's with that? And … oh geez… How old are you?"
Spike smiled and leaned forward to squeeze his friend's hand. He noted the lack of pulling away so answered the question truthfully. "No biting pet, and… I was born in the eighteen fifty four, pushin' a hundred and fifty."
Mark stood, "What? That's impossible!"
Spike leaned over in his human guise and kissed his friend gently, "You believe what you need to believe, but this is our existence now. If you can remain friends, we would like that, but if you can't, I will help Xander to understand."
Jason was musing to himself, "I never did see you go out in the day – figured it was the meds or something… and with the languages and…" Jason suddenly looked up accusatorially, " Wait a second! What's with the food knowledge and the cups of tea and… and… f#$ Will… How are we supposed to understand all this?"
Spike spoke very quietly as though to a spooked animal, "You're not pet, it's fine… been alive for a long time is all – learned a lot and enjoyed the best and now just have a different status is all. To you still consider us the same old friends, just different physical status. Only ask that if you can't accept, that you don't report us – as a courtesy, of if you're going to, at least give us a chance to get out of town!"
Jason was incredulous, " What? Of course we wouldn't! Geez! What did you? No! You're safe with us of course!"
Mark was still shaking his head and Spike knew the medico was struggling so lifted his arm up and offered his wrist, stating simple, "Test it yourself." Mark felt for a pulse. There was nothing. He then felt for Spike's carotid, still nothing. He stood in frustration and went to Xander, Spike moving with him in case the fledge became panicked.
Testing for the pulse on their friend, Mark simultaneously noted that there was no movement of the chest at all, he felt the cold skin and saw the pallor. He had almost convinced himself that it was a terrible dream, that Xander was in fact dead, and that the previous conversation was a figment of his shocked psyche. But then Xander rolled onto his side, moaned "Sire?" and shifted into gameface as soon as he smelt his maker's presence.
Mark scrambled back to where Jason was sitting wide eyed and they say side by side, watching in disbelief as their friend William opened his wrist and allowed Xander to drink a few pulls before drifting back to sleep.
Mark stared in wonder as Spike's wrist literally knitted itself back together in front of his eyes and in the few seconds it took to sit down opposite them and begin the conversation again.
Spike gave his wrist a cursory lick then leveled blue eyes at the pair, "Boy had been tortured to the point of certain death. I made a choice. Powers backed it. Know the lad would like to keep your friendship, so would I. Think you can?"
Jason looked thoughtful "I, um… Do we have to mention it? I mean I didn't know but, um, it didn't matter then did it! And it's not like you're anything different, except, well, umm, a whole lot not 100 human but um…" Jason looked up embarrassed then dropped his tone, "I mean you seem stonger and… look healthier, so that's all good right?" Mark was still tense but Spike heard his heart slowing to a more healthy pace so Spike simply smiled.
Spike grinned at the two and began to hope all might indeed be well. "Yeah, part of the package I guess – thanks for sayin' it though."
They all sat for a while in silence before Spike spoke up again, "So you guys up for a drink? Figure couple of shots of the good stuff 'd be in order?" He stood, pulled three tumblers from the cupboard, some ice from the fridge, and retrieved a bottle of Jack Daniels from the bedroom.
Mark was still shaking his head a little, trying to take it all in but took the glass all the same.
Two hours later the television was on, Chinese food had been ordered, and the friends, though still rattled, were well on the way back to their previous comfortable status.