Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Anya Jenkins/Rupert Giles, 12- Anniversary

TITLE: Birthday Cake
AUTHOR:?tiny_white_hats
FANDOM: Buffy the Vampire Slayer
PAIRING: Anya Jenkins/Rupert Giles
GENRE: Het
PROMPT: 12, Anniversary
RATING: G
WORD COUNT: 903
SUMMARY: It's their fourth anniverary, much to Giles's surprise..
DISCLAIMER: I don't own anything mentioned in this fanwork, these characters are completely the product and property of Joss Whedon.
?Happy Anniversary!? Anya announced, sitting down at the kitchen table. She wore a fuzzy bathrobe, inane animal slippers, and a manic grin, and she looked altogether far too awake for this time of morning.

?I'm sorry?? Giles sighed, nursing his Earl Grey, no sugar but just a little milk, and mourning the loss of the early morning quiet. ?Anniversary, you said??

?Yes, our anniversary,? the younger woman nodded, smile starting to wilt at the edges when she was forced to elaborate. ?It's our four year anniversary today. Well, it?s mostly?my?four year anniversary, but it?s also ours, more or less. How could you forget? It?s not like you have a tremendous number of anniversaries to remember!?

?Anya,? Giles put down his tea and gave Anya his best patient stare. ?I haven't the slightest clue of what you're referring to.?

?Four years ago, today, we met for the first time. I became human again, started a new life as Anya Jenkins, not Anyanka. ?It was your fault, too, Mr. Power-Center-Breaker.

?Rupert, do you really not remember that?? she asked quietly, earlier anger fading away in the face of her disappointment. With a feeling not unlike his stomach freezing over, Giles realized just how much his incomprehension had hurt her.

?Anya, I--? Giles let his voice fade away, pulling his glasses off and polishing them against the sleeve of his pajama shirt. Idly, he wondered what would happen the day he finally broke them.

?I promise you, Anya, I haven?t forgotten. I was merely surprised. I had no idea you'd kept track of that.? he finished quietly, at a near loss for words. Giles generally considered himself an eloquent man, but in the face of this (ancient) young woman's declaration, he was left without proper words. He hadn?t contemplated the idea that she would wish to commemorate the day she?d lost power and immortality for a human life, and that turned out to be a grave oversight. Anya was difficult to read, like a manuscript that changed language every few lines, and years of practice had yet to advance him to fluency.?

?Well, of course I have,? she answered plainly, seemingly over her disappointment, as she staried Giles down. ?What else do I have to celebrate??

?But I was under the impression that you resented your humanity? That you hated that you had become mortal, once more? Giles put his glasses back on, staring at Anya curiously. She never failed to confuse him, in the most interesting of ways.?

?Of course I did. And who wouldn't have? Humans are horrific,? Anya scowled, not fully managing to look menacing while wearing slippers shaped like plush cats. ?But, the important part is that I got over it.?

?I see,? Giles nodded, not really seeing it at all.?

?I don't remember my birthday. I no longer have any anniversaries with Xander that I feel any need to remember, and I have no any official anniversaries worth celebrating just yet with you. I?m not religious, and have no spiritual celebrations to take part in. And you don?t celebrate any of the holidays I learned to appreciate in America, here. Well, other than Valentines Day, which, believe me, is not worth celebrating when you know the backstory.

??My life is relatively unadorned with holidays and special occasions, so I celebrate this. Just because I don?t celebrate normal human holidays doesn?t mean I shouldn?t have a day to get presents!?

?Ahh,? Giles nodded, smiling gently at her.?

?It's been four years to the day since you destroyed my power center and turned me human, and four years since we first met, so, happy anniversary, Rupert!?

?Happy anniversary, Anya.?

The two lovers were quiet for some time, Giles sipping his tea sedately and staring blankly at the politics section of the morning paper, while, beside him, Anya flipped cheerily through the stolen funnies section.

?You don't miss it? Your power, I mean?? Giles asked curiously, letting the newspaper lay forgotten and placing his hand on top of hers, where it lay empty on the table.?

?Sometimes, when someone dies, or when I think I find grey hairs, or when I see women I could've helped, I miss all my power.

?I don't want to die, Giles, not at all. Being human is hard and I don't always like it, but I don't want to go back. I did that once, and it wasn't as great as I remembered.?I felt all guilty and lonely and all of my demon friends thought I?d gone soft.

?I have a life now, with you and with our money and with Bilbo, even though I don't even like cats that much, and that makes me happy. Four years ago I hated you. Quite a lot actually. I probably would have killed you if you?d given me the chance. But I'm glad everything worked out this way."

?I am, as well. Happy anniversary, Anya.? Giles leaned across the table to kiss Anya and smiled at her. ?Shall I look into making you a cake? I suppose we ought to count this as your birthday, as well.? He paused for a second, smiling fondly at his girlfriend. ?And nobody should have to go without birthday cake.?

?Yes,? Anya nodded, looking very earnest. ?I think I?d like that.?

Giles stood up, pressed a kiss to Anya?s head, and walked to his pantry. ?I think you will, too.??
fin.

Source: http://20-est-relships.livejournal.com/168301.html

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