A Wooded Future

by
Josie_H

Part Thirteen

SPRING

Spike had often embraced or petted his lover as Xander slept on attached to his tree but had never expected a response. On one beautiful morning, right on the cusp of Spring, he watched bulging dark green buds, soon to be lashes, flutter open for a moment as a pale hand squeezed his ever so gently. He knew it would happen but allowed himself a few tears of relief anyway. It seemed so long!

The feeding frond was still present so it was not until a day later that she withdrew and the fae Vampire was tearfully delighted to hear the soft swish of Xander’s nymph voice. The simple “Hey” was all it took to earn a passionate kiss that lasted many more minutes than a human would have survived. Xander was only awake for a few hours, but it was enough time for them to pleasure each other and for a very weak nymph to venture outside into the moonlight.

The two sat on a lower branch of the mother tree, Xander leaning back on Spike’s chest head on the vampire’s shoulder as they talked about the events of the winter.

When it came to the part where Spike and Harry were refused entry into Willie’s, Xander almost fell from the tree, he was laughing so hard, but sobered as he examined his partner’s changed form in awe.

He stroked over the sensitive buds of his own wrist then Spike’s and spent the rest of their night together alternately touching then licking the pointed ears. Spike’s hair was a mass of curls and far longer than Xander had ever seen before, but realized that it was a deliberate act to hide the ears and buds from prying eyes.

They exchanged leisurely kisses as they watched the fae family, who had shared their abode all winter, emerge to play in the moonlit balmy evening. Delighted giggles and whoops of joy made locating them easy as they romped around the area, first playing tag, then hide and seek, and finally joining with another little band of faeries to show off all manner of acrobatics and simply enjoy the warmth and freedom.

“I can’t see Harry and Michael any more.”

“They’re just over there Luv, bottom branch of that smaller oak.”

The two little faeries were involved in some very heavy petting, Michael obviously rubbing his manhood against Harry’s as they kissed.

The newly emerged Xander was wide eyed and very aroused by the display, “Don’t they know we can see them?!”

Harry broke off the kiss to look directly over to Spike and his nymph, then winked.

“Oh I’m sure they do, Luv, in fact I’m positive…” Spike grinned back at Harry and made a point of sliding his hand under Xander’s groin flap to stroke the fast growing erection while Harry watched. Xander threw his head back groaned then whispered, “You in me now… Please Spike! Now.”

Spike sat Xander forward for a moment as he freed himself of his pants but left everything else on, the soft folds of his duster saving him the embarassment of getting bark-burn on his backside. He then pulled a little tube of lube from his pocket and swiftly prepared Xander to accompanying soft groans of pleasure, and finally lifted the nymph only to lower him onto a pale fae-vampire’s shaft.

He let Xander control the pace, stroking the nymph’s shaft and caressing the soft sac in time with the undulations. Spike fell into game face and roared his completion mere seconds after Xander spilt his cool pale green seed on the branches and ground below.

Applause came from direction of the oak.






By the fifth day of Xander’s waking, both he and Spike’s buds were all at bursting point and it was becoming unbearable.

They alternately itched and ached, but even feeding from each other didn’t seem to be accelerating the process of them opening. For Xander it was so much worse – his eyes were almost swollen shut where lashes and eyebrows were trying to break forth, and there were just so many more buds than on Spike. His head hurt and he couldn’t bear touching his also about to sprout tresses. Spike cradled the quietly sobbing nymph to his chest while the Mother Tree (her own pale green canopy already adorning every one of her branches) extended a frond to both her protectors. They both suckled, but to no avail.

The following morning Xander could not open his eyes and the tight rings of buds around his wrists and ankles looked capable of killing off all sap to those regions – effectively killing hands and feet.

Spike was frantic. The bulges on his tailbone were excruciatingly painful as he shifted to feed his semiconscious partner vampire blood, at least it seemed to ease the pain a little. He tried to lie on one hip a little, and was just about to reach up to touch the aching patch at the base of his skull (knowing all the while that it would just make the whole thing worse) when Harry burst into their sleeping quarters.

Spike scrambled into the shadows, leaving his dear partner whimpering in pain mid-floor.

“You F@#$ing Prat!! What the hell do you think you’re doin’?!!! Bloody near dusted me an’ then who’s goin’ ta look after the boy?! Not you! Too busy shagging some pretty purple arse and keepin’ the neighbors amused… you bloody...” But Spike didn’t get to finish.

Harry said nothing but was holding a tiny mirror from some girl’s compact and reflected the sunlight further into the space, hitting one of Xander’s ankles. The buds immediately burst open to reveal a pretty blossom.

Spike fell silent immediately and the little faerie got his say. “You couple of idiotic babies!!! He has to have sunlight… You have to have sunlight or you’re both gonna… well die… you know fizzle out, dust to dust and all that?! Always thought vampire’s were dumb asses but this is ridiculous!”

Spike was staring at the faerie with a combination of gratefulness, incredulity, anger… and sadness. Finally he answered as Harry directed another beam of sunlight toward the stricken nymph. “Best be about your business then Luv. Boy’s not that heavy, get a few of your mates and you can pull ‘im into the afternoon in no time. I’ll give it a few more days yeah? Pain’s not s’ bad… just like a chance t’ say cheerio to a few people, boy included…”

Harry did a full aerial loop in frustration, “You really are stupid aren’t you!... Look!”

Before Spike could move, Harry had directed the beam of sunlight directly at him. His duster was on the floor and boots at the door as was his habit when in her so his feet and ankles were totally exposed. Three buds burst open before he had a chance to move further back into the tree, but when he did, Spike sat simply staring at the ring of blossom in stunned wonder.

“It… but it…” Tear filled blue eyes lifted to meet Harry’s own pretty azure.

“Told you ya big old baby! Sunlight… He needs it. You need it.”

“But…??? Vamp…”

“Sun’s yours now – comes with the territory – so come on… help me with this one… he needs it more than you!”

A very shaky, still (in honesty) terrified Spike stripped under instruction then lifted his partner gently, waited for Harry to give the all clear, and stepped into the late afternoon sun. If he was to be dust then it was with his lover in his arms.

The tree shuddered her approval as her two protectors finally found relief.

Xander almost instantly sprouted enough blossom to appear like a hand made display at some flower show, and Spike gently lowered his partner to the ground before stretching out face down beside him on the soft earth near the Mother Tree, and cried as the warmth of the so missed sun warmed his back for the first time in over a hundred years.






Dawn returned almost a week later. She was excited beyond measure by Spike’s newest development regards the sun and giggled at his leaves, but was even more amused by the appearance of the nymph.

“Xander…You’ve got flowers in your hair!”

Dawn’s gleeful observation was followed by a round of giggles as Dawn plucked one of the tiny offerings with an accompanying “Ouch” from Xander. Spike who had, only the night before, noticed some pretty little white florets on Xander’s moss covered scrotum was just about to reveal the information regards the hidden offering to Dawn, when his nymph caught his eye and conveyed an unspoken message regards Spike’s plans for a woody filled evening if he did!!

The vampire simply grinned and shrugged, staying silent for once. He and Xander had both rejoiced as they inspected Xander’s body all over for remaining blossoms that morning. They had quickly discovered after some initial exploration that each one of their florets was insanely sensitive to the touch. Licking and blowing over them had caused Spike to fall into gameface and beg for more, but even better, for Xander to writhe out of control then throw his blonde vampire to the ground and make passionate love to him.

Thankfully Dawn kept her hands to herself.





After a quick chat to Harry and Michael, Dawn headed for home. It was only late afternoon when she had been visiting her favorite fae vampire and friend, so she could see no problem, but Buffy was on the warpath having had a very bad day.

The Slayer was standing at the foot of the stairs, arms folded as she entered the front door.

“Where the hell have you been?!”

“Ummm… Magic Box.”

“And that would be a not! I rang Willow…. Oh and by the way your friend Janice and a couple of other friends you don’t think I know about! They said you haven’t been hanging out with them for weeks – even before you went to Dad’s for break!!? And Janice saw you hugging some boy two afternoons ago near the Lakeview Cemetery… so? Who is he? ‘Cause if you’re doing all this lying, there has to be something to it!”

Dawn successfully defused the situation, but after being caught buying blood, an only intermittent ‘show’ by Spike for patrol, and the discovery that Spike’s crypt was ‘otherwise occupied’, she begged them to come clean.

Two nights later, with the boys’ permission, Dawn led Buffy and Willow to the tree.

Part Fourteen

The time since the discovery of Spike’s immunity – or rather need for the sun, had been blissful for the two lovers. Their lovemaking had involved sunshine four times in the last week alone, and Spike’s color was definitely changing as sunlight and the infusion of chlorophyll into his changed system took effect (courtesy of his leaves and the fluid exchange with the Mother Tree and Xander).

Spike had rarely turned up for the ‘Scoobie’ meetings since Winter began – but they were very much a low key affair these days anyway. Xander’s disappearance, Giles’ then Anya’s departure and Willow’s interests leaning more toward the coven, saw Buffy becoming used to simply meeting the vampire near his (now Clem’s) crypt.

Once Spring came, Spike's changes were fortunately covered somewhat by the lateness of the night patrols with Buffy. Xander knew that though Spike’s further shifts were not immediately obvious to the eye at night, in the right light, every curve and sharp feature was now defined by a pretty shade of pale green, his extraordinary cheek bones and toned physique more beautiful than ever.

Ears were still being successfully covered by the “need shearing soon Spike… what’s with the sixties look anyway?” hair, and leaves that were concealed - though irritated – by discretely applied bandages. But the compensation was worth every moment of effort it took to cover his alterations as it protected their secret for just a little longer.

It was Tuesday afternoon, the day of the ‘revelation’ and happily the cemetery had only two visitors all day, so high up in her branches on their one month anniversary of their day in the sun together, Xander and Spike gave in to the joy of taking and being taken, but this time it was for comfort and reassurance as much as lovemaking. Willow and Buffy were due shortly just after sunset.

They climbed down in silence, touching all the way and ending at the Mother Tree’s base in yet another passionate kiss. It was going to be a hard night, even Harry had wished them luck as he ensconced himself in the nearby bushes.

Willow was to meet Buffy and Dawn at the cemetery around seven o’clock. Spike posed himself, deliberately leaning against a gravestone some distance from the Mother Tree. If things all went to Hell, he did not want the Slayer or the Witch knowing where she, or his nymph, was.

Xander had agreed to wait until the all clear from Harry before revealing himself – and even then, it would be from behind a group of shrubs, rather than emerging from his tree. The nymph knew the reason.

Xander was such a young nymph and in the eyes of many of his aging peers, very bold and capable. The other solitary fae folk putting his bravery down to a combination of his unusual emergence (being called out by a group of wiccans when still but a new one) and his unexpected, joyous joining with a dark one. Nevertheless, he was still a baby in any of their terms, still weaning from his constant feeding from the Mother Tree.

Xander needed protecting and Harry gathered his forces to do just that. He was no match for the Slayer or the High Wiccan, but faeries could carry their own when it came to distraction and extraction amidst the melee. Though Spike had spoken of a Xander only rescue… Harry had his own designs – there would be no leaving of the fae vampire either… Apart from anything else he and Michael enjoyed the free viewing (in a bold variety of ways!).

With the assistance of two older nymphs resident in Xander’s end of the cemetery, he had honed his blending skills and these days really was invisible to the human eye, particularly in the late afternoon or early evening. Nevertheless he was terrified. He couldn’t stand the thought that these two humans might hurt his lovely friend. He had felt it. Spike had been tense and worried for days. He kept trying to access his memories from the before and could only come up with some vague images, many of them violent or painful.

He knew the two had been friends from his before, but coupled with the violence he had seen the blonde woman meter out on the local demon community since he emerged, he was terrified for his wonderful changeling Spike.






The closer they got to the agreed location, the more Dawn worried, and as she spotted Spike in his duster, leaning against a gravestone, without Xander, she all but panicked.

Spike flicked his semi-smoked cigarette away from any foliage then pushed up to face the women.

“Slayer, Red… Bit…”

Buffy was initially rather taken aback, but swiftly chose annoyed as her raison d’etre.

“What is it this time Spike? Can’t pay your gambling debts and Willy’s finally cut you off? Go find someone else to bug Spike. We’re here to see someone not patrol...”

Before Buffy could say any more, Dawn blurted out, “Spike needs to be here! He’s… umm…” then suddenly lost her nerve.

Buffy rounded on the vampire again, this time with stake in hand, “Spike?? What’s this about? What have you done? Because I swear Mister! If you’ve got Dawn in trouble, Mr Pointy here has an appointment in your chest!”

Spike shoved his hands deep in his duster pockets, initially pulling the garment tight around him, swallowing his annoyance, then opening the coat wide exposing his T-shirt clad chest.

“Have at it, Slayer, cause then you’ll never get to see him, will ya?!”

“See him? See who?” Buffy moved threateningly close, “Spike?… For the retarded vampire in the room… See. Who.?”

Spike did a slow blink then looked directly at Willow, “The boy, I found the boy, but…”

The next three seconds were a blur as Buffy rounded on Spike and threw him to the ground ready to threaten.

Harry let out a yelp as Xander sprang from his hiding place and with a nymph’s speed, had thrown off the unsuspecting Slayer, grabbed his partner from the ground, and disappeared high into the canopy of the closest cypress tree.

Buffy was still sitting on the ground where she had unceremoniously landed, while Willow was standing beside Dawn wide eyed.

“I’ll kill it! Whatever that was… We need to do some research – that thing…”

Willow cut her off with an almost whispered and very emotional, “…Was Xander… Oh G$% Buffy it was Xander!!!”

“Willow, let it go that thing had to be a vampire… a demon! You saw the speed, and there is so no way that Xander could ever throw me down like that! Not when I…”

As Buffy bounced to standing ready for the chase (and inevitable fight), Dawn stepped in front of her, arms folded over her chest and a ‘resolve face’ that would have put Willow to shame.

“You’re not going to hurt him… or them… Buffy… you’re just not…”

Buffy’s fist tightened around the stake as she faced off with Dawn. “Wait a second… So you… you knew? You knew Xander had been turned and you didn’t think to… you know mention anything? What is this … love the undead day or what?? Dawn he could have…”

“Taceitum!” Willow’s eyes flashed black and Buffy was unable to utter another sound. “I’m sorry Buffy but sometimes… that was Xander… and if you move a muscle, I swear…!” Willow’s eye’s flashed black again and the still silent Buffy slumped against the headstone so recently vacated by Spike.

Willow turned her attentions to Dawn who was panicked and now close to tears, “Sweetie… Dawn?... It was Xander right? You and Spike found Xander.”

“Yes but Willow… he’s changed… he’s… Oh Willow he is so beautiful!”

“Dawnie… How? How is he changed? Goddess Dawn please?! He’s my oldest friend… We thought he was dead! I need to help him!! Dawn! Look at me! What do you know?!”

This was not how Dawn had hoped the evening would progress and was struggling to think of plausible scenarios that would take the pressure off her two fae friends. Buffy was still looking daggers at Willow and the witch was obviously agitated and angry.

Dawn swallowed hard then almost whispered, “He was taken… taken by a tree. He’s a wood nymph Willow – a hamadryad! And he’s… he’s happy – especially now he and Spike are…”

“Oh Goddess… I knew there was something different...” Willow struck her own forehead with an open hand, “So Sp… and Xan…”

Dawn grinned a little and nodded, “They’re… I wanted to tell you but I really didn’t know how… and now…? They love each other Willow… they really do.”

Buffy snorted with frustration and attempted to add her contempt for the whole idea but was cautioned by a single look from her dangerous wiccan friend.






Xander had taken his friend high into the cypress, Spike not even having time to register the beginning of the act. By the time they were at the top, Xander had divested Spike of most of his clothes and had him plastered against the trunk with his entire body, his panic translating to a limpet like hold on the fae vampire, and instant camouflage. In truth, parts of Spike’s pale body were still visible – provided one knew where to look – but for the stunned group below the pair had simply disappeared.


Fifteen minutes passed without a sign of Spike and his “drier thingy… and oh by the way… so not Xander!” before Buffy departed in a huff, vowing to get to the bottom of the whole debacle, and blaming Spike then Dawn in turn.






The Slayer’s exit marked Harry’s venture down to the two women. He knew witches weren’t so bad – as long as they were white ones, but everyone in the fae knew Mistress Willow had a very definite connection with the dark as well as with Mother Earth, so he was cautious.


Willow grabbed Dawn’s arm in surprise as the small blue form, that at first sight could have been mistaken for a very large butterfly, alighted on Dawn’s shoulder and began to speak to the girl.

“Typical of the thing… the Slayer! Just as well you got her DNA and not her attitude! So… stay there… and, to quote Spike, don’t bloody well move!! And they might just come back!!”

Harry then flew high into the canopy and found the terrified, and mutually over protective pair.

Xander was panicked about Spike, and the vampire (despite his bravado) was rather more frightened for his nymph than he was ready to admit. To the point that it was only Harry’s intervention that allowed him to struggle from beneath his lover’s protective embrace.

But Harry wasn’t finished, and watched as the pair shifted a little, trying to determine their mood. “The witch and that sweet girl are still here – the other one has gone. The witch is crying… and it’s about the boy – just thought you should know.”

Spike shoved sideways a little, pushing gently against his partner’s over protective grasp.

“’S OK Pet… ‘S OK…I’m fine… thanks… and… um… Let’s just go see Dawnie and Red ehh?? C’mon Luv… ol’ Harry here’s a mite worried… let’s us just sort the witch out… She’s your ol’ mate after all. Remember Red?? Willow??… ” Spike was still trying to establish just how much of Xander’s former life memories were available to the young nymph.

Spike watched as his bewildered partner struggled to match names with images, then took matters into his own hands and pushed away and started down the tree… along with Harry, who was not going to be left out(!), the faerie flying to sit on the shoulder of his fae cousin as Xander scrambled down after his partner.

The two women were standing arm in arm when Dawn saw the fae couple descend the tree. Spike heard Dawn’s heartbeat increase and smelt Willow’s tears the instant Xander stepped from the shadows.

Willow all but fell into Xander’s arms, “Ohh Goddess… Xander!!!”

Spike stepped back and let the witch meet her old friend.

The instant they touched Xander remembered… all of the before that had been so fleeting and had to do with this ‘Willow’ character was suddenly in sharp relief. She was his childhood friend, a troubled soul after her partner’s death, and his compatriot in arms at so many levels.

Willow was holding a hand that was now the temperature of the earth and encircled by leaves, it was still soft to the touch. Xander gave an automatic shiver as a speechless Willow stroked over the pretty leaves and long fingers with their amazingly hard nails.

She finally lifted her tear filled green eyes to meet the chocolate brown she had always known, but now they were framed by tiny green fronds, and the hair that had been brunette was now long and composed of long leaf covered stems.

As their eyes met, Xander simply whispered, “Thanks Wills.”

She let more tears fall before answering, “For what? Oh Xander I could have fixed this… I really could! But… Oh Xan! Are you happy?… I mean… Oh Goddess… Xander?!!!”

The nymph looked over to his partner, who simply nodded and stood to take Dawn’s hand. They then left the two old friends by themselves. As he looked back he saw the nymph lifting Willow to her feet and leading her to the Mother Tree.

The nymph and the witch talked of the past, and the present and everything in between – including the coincidence of Xander’s emergence and Willow’s presence on the night.

When Dawn and Spike returned shortly after midnight, Willow was seated against the trunk of the Mother Tree, her changed old friend’s head in her lap. Xander had one hand in hers but Spike also noted the other hand was gently stroking the buttress root of his Mother tree. It was healing for the youngster – he could remember his past as well as feeling reassured by her presence.

After Spike leaned down to kiss the boy, Willow stopped his rise and kissed the fae vampire on the cheek.

“He told me Spike. Thank you… He is a lucky m… nymph.”

“So’m I Luv… so am I.”

Willow left promising to speak to Buffy but was not all that hopeful to garner the Slayer’s support of the ‘Xander is happy now so leave him alone’ theory.

She was right, but for the moment Buffy was busy with school, work and Slayer duties. The respite was welcome.






Giles arrived from England within a week of being told by a tearful Willow, that they had found Xander, and also of his changes. But failed to mention much about Spike, other than he was looking after the new nymph.

Giles arrived in the cemetery with Dawn, somewhere around the same time Willow and Buffy had eight days before, but the meeting went very differently.

This time Spike had made no attempt to conceal his changes, and Dawn wandered off to the mother tree, hopeful that Harry and Michael would be around. The previous evening she had been in fits of giggles with their antics and witty repartee while she waited for Xander and Spike to come down from the tree. She was now sure that the two faeries kissing mid-flight was specifically for her benefit after Harry couldn’t help himself and winked at her mid his and Michael's 'spiral of passion' manouver.

The early summer’s evening was warm, and as the Watcher approached Spike stepped from the shadows. His wrist leaves were showing and now (like all the others) a deep green, matching Xander’s. In all areas – particularly his torso, they had begun to creep across like some form of exquisite ivy. Spike knew that Xander and he were both still warm from a long afternoon lying in the sun, and though he would have refused the meeting with the individual, who had so adamantly insisted on the vampire’s evil nature in the past, knew his lover needed this.






Even in the dark Giles noticed the alteration in Spike’s color immediately and spotted a few leaves poking out from inside the sleeves of the vampire’s duster. It seemed impossible! The fae did not accept demons?! He immediately drew his own conclusions. Spike must not only have protected Xander – but at some point Xander’s tree also… and then been claimed by them both. Unheard of in any account he had ever read of the fae!

He greeted the fae-vampire politely.

After a courteous reply, and Giles' look of surprise that promised further questions at some point, Giles could no longer hold over fifteen months of worry and grief. “Please Spike… Please!!!! I need to see him… I… heard about Buffy but I won’t hurt… You know I … well I… ” Giles was noticeably shaking as Spike took a step forward and removed his duster baring his entire torso, leaves and all, then tucked his hair behind his pointed ears.

“Just warnin’ you, boy’s changed much more ‘n me, so you’ll need t’ be a bit patient…”

Giles’ breath hitched and his arms folded around himself protectively. “Oh God… it’s… in a strange sort of way I still hoped… Spike… is he?...”

“’S alright Watcher… Boy is well looked after you’ll see. ‘E’s just a bit shy these days is all – an’ what with her Ladyship the Slayer gettin’ all antsy, reckon ‘e’s just bidin’ ‘is time – trying to work out how you fit in ‘is memories of the before, seems as that part is still comin’ back, him being such a young one.”

Giles looked hopeful then rather sad as he steadied himself against a tombstone, “Oh… I see… Well is it possible to reassure him in some way because…”

Before the sentence was finished a stunning green nymph wearing Xander’s youthful body, naturally adorned with leaves and bark, stood before him and whispered as loudly as he was able, “Hey.”

Despite his support via the headstone Giles’ legs gave out and he sank to his knees with his face covered by one hand, “Oh God… Oh…” Finally he looked up at the boy he had seen grow up from awkward teenager to confident adult and his other hand stretched toward the nymph in a begging gesture.

Spike moved toward Xander and held the very young and now bewildered nymph in a reassuring embrace before leading him forward. Like with Willow, as soon as Xander’s hand touched the outstretched hand of Giles, the nymph remembered significant things from his before, and rushed forward, kneeling and taking the older man in his arms. Giles gave in to the hug completely and also gave in to his grief at the loss of the man he knew.

“We lost you… I am so sorry… [hitched breath] we thought you were dead, but now… Oh my dear boy… Xander… My dear boy…”

They held for many minutes until Giles’ knees became too stiff to bear and he moved to sit down heavily. Xander sat beside the distraught man and Spike flanked Xander. Xander’s fae voice was too quiet for the older man’s hearing to pick up, and though Giles could almost make out the words simply by reading the young nymph’s lips, he relied on Spike to pass on Xander’s thoughts to the man who through high school at least, had acted almost as a father.

“I’m happy Giles… I belong here and I have the Mother to look after and she after me. And now I have a partner too – and Mother Earth herself has approved.”

Giles looked over at Spike in amazement as Xander’s message was conveyed, “Gaia claimed you? Good God Spike… I thought it was just… so no wonder… that’s extraordinary!...”

Spike shrugged,“Yeah well… Focus is the boy though innit…”

Giles shook himself a little, “Of courses, of course!”

Xander and Giles talked through Spike for almost an hour, in the end it was not even necessary for Spike to interpret since the older man and the nymph were now so close together that Xander was all but whispering in Giles’ ear.

Much of what was said was simply to reassure the ex-Watcher that Xander was ‘OK’, though Xander was still a little confused as to why the human kept asking that question.

Relief came when Dawn arrived back to drive Giles home to the Summers’ residence.

Giles hugged Xander soundly, then did the same to a rather surprised Spike, before following Dawn back to the car.

Harry and Michael were sitting on a low branch of the Mother tree swinging their legs in time as the nymph and his vampire (“Not anymore!” to quote Harry) arrived home.

Harry piped up just as the two made to climb her, “So all’s good then?”

“’Course… why’dya ask?”

“Oh… just… well apparently the Slayer’s out to fix your friendly nymph… Now I’ve seen a local cat get ‘fixed’, and not that he didn’t deserve it, but still… your nymph there needs to watch himself if that's her aim!!”

“Too right!, but figure you’ve been in the camellia nectar again if ya think that might be an option?! Not that sort of fixin’ anyway, ya daft bugger… Slayer just don’t like the ‘other’. She’ll try to reverse the deal – load of rubbish really… even Red knows that… but thanks for the heads up. She starts playin’ with majicks and we’re all in trouble.”

Harry simply nodded then kissed Michael before the two flew off.

That night Willow had a tiny blue visitor, and consequently a ward was put around the tree.

Part Fifteen

It was Willow who was finally able to piece the reason for Xander’s selection by the tree together. Two weeks after the rather disastrous night with Willow and Buffy, the witch sat with her dear friend, Spike but seconds away but giving the two their space as Willow explained.

Jesse, Xander’s best male friend at school, had been the tree’s chosen, marked from birth, but was turned by a vampire before being able to find his tree. Xander had dusted the nominated nymph with the best of intentions, and mourned his passing for years.

In the process of innocently trying to save his friend Jesse from a vampire future, he had also inadvertently identified himself to the fae, the tree had judged him and he had signed his own fate – to take the place of his friend.

As the nymph was told, he smiled sadly at Willow and mouthed that he felt extraordinarily lucky… he had carried Jesse’s fate forward in the spirit of friendship. His role now was not just right – it was also a tribute to a lost friend.

He hugged the mother tree all the tighter that night. And when Spike fed from him, Xander cried for the past and was comforted. In the arms of his beautiful partner, he felt so lucky… Much later he sent a prayer of thanks for Jesse to the Mother Earth who now contained the ashes of his old friend. She replied with a warm breath of wind and small shudder, barely two on the Richter Scale… but enough for her fae to notice. And Xander slept peacefully.






A fortnight later Buffy still had not backed down from her original premise. Despite Dawn’s repeated pleas and Willow’s quiet and logical arguments, there was no swaying her.

It was Friday evening, Buffy had already argued with Dawn over the phone bill and it had been a hard week.

Giles was staying at Willow’s parent’s house and had chosen to amuse himself for the evening rather than face the girls again.

The ageing Watcher had visited Xander each night since their initial meeting and was gradually coming to terms with the nymph status of the boy he once knew. Even garnering permission from Spike to “Query you at some stage regards your changes… Of course… personal research only.” The nodded yes was followed by a swift departure by the vampire toward the local faerie’s summer thicket.

Spike knew that Xander’s old memories were being prompted by Giles’ presence – and also that it was important for his nymph. The trouble was… his own fae nature seemed to be asserting itself more and more, to the point that even his need for the hunt was fast being replaced by an inclination to spend time with Harry and Michael rather than patrol with Buffy. It was yet another irritation for the Slayer.

Harry led him to the Summer’s house one afternoon, insisting that there was some urgency involved. The little faerie huffed with frustration as the fae vampire tried hard to stick to the shadows whenever possible, though thoroughly aware that he was sun immune these days… indeed needed the light for his leaves! But the habits of one and a half centuries were apparently still hard to break.

Spike had rid himself of his signature duster for their daytime venture, in favor of a silky pale brown, collarless ‘pirate’ style shirt, and dark brown suede jeans that were stylishly severed in just the right places so his leaves were not irritated. Feet were bare, and though Spike had argued that his Docs had never caused a problem in the past regards either stealth or speed, Harry had insisted. Given the level of panic the little creature seemed to engender, Spike simply complied.

As they sped around the back of the Summers’ home an almighty argument was breaking out between an in control Willow and near hysterical Buffy. The two ensconced themselves in a nearby substantial thicket kindly provided by the rather unfriendly neighbor. Fine fae and vampire hearing missed nothing despite the barely open back door.


“It’s rubbish – the whole thing!!! You’ve been fixated on this for months, Dawn’s a teenager, Giles was all but his surrogate father and is now grieving and desperate… and you’re… well you’re grasping at straws! Why can’t you just accept it?!”

“Buffy you saw…”

“What I saw was a demon, with demon speed – now maybe it was skin colored which I thought – or maybe green as you all keep insisting – I don’t care! That thing attacked me with vampire strength and speed and lifted Spike up a tree like it was nothing! That is not Xander! And hello Slayer?!! He was not of the humany vibe! Comprenday”

“Buffy you know yourself – just because something isn’t human doesn’t mean just kill it at random?!

“Oh believe me Willow… randomness not my thing… I’m killing bound whatever that thing is … Willow it’s a demon in Xander’s body! And I swear if he is a vampire then Spike is dust too!”

“But Buffy! Giles!?! He’s talked to him too and…”

Buffy’s voice took on the definite edge of patronizing – with a side serve of sarcasm, “ I am sure Giles has seen him – and pleased to make nice with anything that looks like him! … because he’s so Mr Objective when it comes to losing Xander! Honestly Will – haven’t you noticed – he’s not even all there these days! He actually asked me why I hadn’t mentioned Angel and Spike had settled their differences Pffft! Yeah well that day’ll come not! … Apparently Xander told him! Sheeeesh! And don’t tell me Dawn has spoken to him because me and her and trust with the whole truth scenario lately – not really up there.”

“But Angel could have…”

“Talk to the hand – as if Angel would come to Sunnydale and not at least say Hi!”

“But Buffy Spike’s different too… Surely you s…”

Buffy was already at the front door, coat in hand, “Let it go Willow – whatever that thing is wearing Xander’s body? It has it coming. And like I said turned? And Mr Spike-the-all-repenty-and-helpful gets the pointy end of my stick as well.”

Before the upset wiccan had a chance to argue the point the door was slammed closed and Dawn was making her way downstairs.

“Think we should say something to Giles?”

“Oh Dawnie… I’ve made it worse!”

“Believe me… not even up there – figure the argument I had with her last night should have woken half the dead in Sunnydale (the ones that aren’t dust of course)” Dawn smiled weakly then hugged the wiccan and took her hand.

“We can’t do anything today – and I’m sure Buffy doesn’t know where the tree is … so… is it too early for hot chocolate?”

“Never too early for that, Pet.” A leaf adorned, barefooted, beautiful Spike, with Harry perched on his shoulder, was leaning against the door-jam in the sunshine. Dawn was never happier that she had forgotten to close something!

Willow was close to speechless – still reeling from the argument with her friend, she could hardly take in the stunning figure in front of her.

Spike was all pale browns and greens, his shirt and pants hitched up so as not to irritate his leaves, and the effect, along with his longer hair (now tied back – ‘see above irritation’) and ear adorned with gold ring – at Harry’s insistence, he looked like the quintessential hero come pirate! “Goddess Spike! Harry!... What are you? Where’s? Oh Spike… and in the sun! You're so… pretty!”

“Yeah well … and you’re s’posed to be gay! So knock off with the pretty thing, OK?! Get that enough from them lot.” The last part was mumbled as Spike gave a fleeting glance back at Harry before stomping into the house past the two now bemused looking women.

“Xan’s at home… for what it’s worth. Harry here figured there was a bit of a ruckus and we should just find out what’s what. And I’m still wonderin’? Why’s she so hell bent on hurtin’ Xan?!”

Harry had fluttered over to the condiment shelf. While the others were occupied with the worries that were Xander, he alighted and casually knocked over the squeeze bottle of maple syrup. He was genuinely worried about the turn of events that was Xander and the Slayer, but reasoned it was all the more important for him to straddle the bottle and squeeze down until it gave up some ‘comfort food’. After all – a faerie needed to keep up his strength! To his credit, he did continue to listen.






Whilst the small group worried, Buffy did her own reconnaissance, breaking into numerous crypts and possible lairs – dusting sixteen vampires in the process, and surprising numerous members of the local rat population. She then wandered the cemetery they had so recently found the ‘demon Xander’ in.

After shocking Clem as he was happily watching a lifestyle program and taking notes (the place really did need a bit of ‘doing over’), the Slayer departed to eye each large tree in the vicinity suspiciously, even climbing the cypress – but to no avail.

Finally around sundown, she headed for Willie’s.






Pinned face up to his own bar, and staring at a very angry slayer, Willie was more than happy to come forth with information.

“How can I put it more clearly?… Where. Is. Spike.?? I know he comes here!”

“That’s just the thing… He doesn’t!!! He can’t!!!”

Buffy released Willie momentarily as she processed the statement before pinning him back down and bringing a stake dangerously close to Willie’s neck.

“What do you mean can’t!? Have you seen Xander?” Buffy adjusted her position a little trapping Willie’s legs between hers in a faux provocative act and deliberately lowered her tone to deliver a threat, “C’mon Willie… you know me… won’t kill ya if you just…” She undid his top button with the stake, “tell me…”; his left ear was stroked by the very sharp point, “what…” second button went; “I”, the third, “need”: and fourth, “to know”. The fifth and sixth button disappeared and the point was now at an angle that would pierce Willie’s heart or his internal organs – and he really didn’t care what her issues were!!!

“He’s a fae – they both are – so they…they’re not welcome and as far as the blood thing goes he’s probably… oh Gahhh… I don’t know… Slayer… the fae aren’t allowed in here – Spike’s not allowed… or his bloody nymph… Xander… or that trouble maker Harry… Anyway… I’ve got standards… and rights!!” Buffy let him up in shock so Willie continued, “Yeah that’s right! Bloody faeries – always wanting a thimble of this and arguing about the bill – but the bloody nymphs! And now Spike! Who would have thought!”

Buffy had let Willie up, but rounded on him at the last statement, rounded on him again, causing the bar owner to hold his hands up in supplication. “What ?! He’s been one of them for… well… months and that boy that sometimes came in here with you apparently longer!”

“One of who?!” The stake moved dangerously close again but this time Willie simply rolled his eyes.

“One of the wood people! You know Mother Earth!! He and the boy… blahh blahh… Come on!! Even you can’t have missed the ears!”

Buffy released him… “What ears?!!”

“The ears… the pointy ears… ?! Look Slayer there’s nothing you can do – short of the tree dying Xander stays like that…” The stake was back.

The tree? Which tree? It’s a demon thing right… So we kill it and Xander is free? Is that what you’re saying?” The stake was back slitting his shirt and broke skin.

“Yes… well no!! Umm it doesn’t really work…”

But the Slayer was gone.






A day later, the city council was petitioned to fell a large cypress in the cemetery. Dawn heard about it on campus and knew the probable cause.

Rather than reveal the real location of the tree, she had one of Willow’s wiccan’s (also a resident with voting rights and good connections) to propose an objection to the mayor.

Harry was frantic, even revealing himself to a rather astonished Giles in an attempt to have the murder of one of their own arrested.

The tree was Michael’s family tree and not only his boyfriend, but numerous faerie friends and acquaintances made their home there… not to mention the lovely Celone – an older, very solitary nymph, who said little but never failed to provide sanctuary, tend or rescue as needed – and had been like the taciturn older cousin to the youngster Xander. Celone would pass on with his tree, if Buffy was successful.

Willow rang Angel, desperate to contact someone who had law connections – or at least might be able to talk some sense into Buffy.

The vampire left Wesley to investigate the engagement of an LA lawyer specializing in this type of civil case (no expense spared) and arrived that evening, but did not go to see Buffy. Instead he headed for Willow’s, then to Spike and Xander’s tree.

It was merely two hours after sunset and the internal tree was still warm. As Willow called them, the two fae emerged. Xander was without coverings, though Spike was wearing what looked like very low slung, old jeans cut off roughly at the knees. The longer hair, ears, dark green leafy adornments and contrasting pale skin were highlighted in the light of the early evening moon.

Angel stopped in his tracks as Spike came into the clearning… “God Spike… You’re… you’re…” He moved forward with vampiric speed to grab Spike, sniffing at his neck then pulling back to admire his now lost Grandchilde. Spike was rather surprised to see tears in the older vampire’s eyes, “You’re more beautiful than ever.”

Spike tilted his head and gave sniff and as he pulled away to snag Xander around the waist, shot a rather wicked grin back at his vampire relative… “Oh C’mon Sire… flattery?… Not your thing really is it… Anyhow… always knew you were a big faerie at heart… ‘sides, greens an’ browns are the new black this season apparently ::wink:;… Should set you up with a nice tree ‘n all – never know… might just get on…”

Angel suddenly felt very alone and pulled his long coat around himself protectively, self consciously frowning at the ground.

“Oh c’mon ya ol’ ponce… just kiddin!”

“You have the sun now I’ve heard.” Angel said rather wistfully.

“Well yeah one of the fringe benefits innit – don’t really make up for a stunning a load of bald patches in winter though. C’mon Sire Me ‘n the boy here… happy! Just help us with the bloody Slayer can ya?”

Spike reached out and touched the arm of the now worried looking vampire. It was a typical fae touch, like liquid fire, conveying all emotions all at once - and in this case, surprisingly, the overall emotion was familial affection. Angel had no control over the tear of regret that fell as he smiled at his so changed relative.

Xander broke the moment with a whispered, “Hey we should get going.” before the four took off in the direction of Spike’s crypt, Harry, Michael and several other fae in tow.

In the end Angel only remained for a couple of hours, deciding against seeing Buffy after Willow and Dawn both explained in no uncertain terms the Slayer’s opinions regards the changelings. Angel distinctly remembered her rejection of his demon, and knew he would not help the situation by directly intervening.

Willow was able to provide all the literature that Dawn, Giles, the coven and Willow combined could find regarding protecting/defending the larger trees in the cemeteries of Sunnydale via magic and the courts of law. A quick phonecall to Wesley confirmed the availability of a barrister, and Willow warded the cypress ‘just in case’.

Now they simply had to wait.

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