This is a piece that I wrote for the Usako Mamoru first anniversary themes. One of those things that I'm not entirely happy with because it is SO SAPPY! (Like the next chapter of Haru will be, hehe). Because of this sappiness, Mamoru is slightly OOC, but… y'know. Hope you enjoy it though.

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Celebration

A one-shot

By Natsudori Lina

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The deceptively gentle tinkle of breaking glass. The screech of tires as they attempted to brake. A woman's horrified scream as a car ripped through the railings. Shaky gasps for air as he hung upside down, suspended by his seatbelt, choking on his terror.

Sirens.

That had been the last time he'd celebrated his birthday.

"—chan? Mamo-chan?" He started from his reverie to see two bright blue eyes blinking at him curiously. Usagi knelt in front of his birthday cake, the flames from the candles reflecting in her eyes. Thankfully, Rei had thought to grab her pigtails out of the way, holding them to the side, exasperatedly rolling her eyes at the blonde's forgetfulness.

"Mamo-chan," Usagi continued softly, "aren't you going to blow out your candles?"

He nodded slightly, and bowed his head to do as she bade him. "Wai!" she cheered happily, reaching for the knife—which Makoto held out of her reach.

Usagi pouted momentarily before swiping her finger across his name on the cake (to shrieks of "Ew, Usagi-chan!" and "Usagi-chan, germs!" from Minako and Ami).

She plopped herself quite happily into Mamoru's lap, and wiped the frosting onto his nose. He went cross-eyed trying to look at it and she giggled. "Happy Birthday, Mamo-chan!"

Mamoru smiled softly and dropped some of the cream onto her nose as well. "We match now," Usagi laughed, before sobering and cupping one hand to the side of her mouth. "Ne, Mamo-chan," she whispered conspirationally, "what did you wish for?"

He blinked for a moment before his arms snaked themselves around her waist. Mamoru chuckled as he nuzzled her cheek with his nose, getting all of the frosting onto her cheek. She squealed, and squirmed and laughingly demanded that he let her go this instant—though she'd have been sorely disappointed if he'd complied.

What did I wish for, Usako?

Just for this. Only for this.