Disclaimer: Slayers does not belong to me, but belongs to Hajime Kanzaka and Rui Araizumi and the companies that represent them. I'm just borrowing the characters for a little while.

Author's Note: This story was written for witch_of_the_si on LiveJournal and is a prologue to "Nine Months ... and then Some." It falls nearly three years after "Search for the Darkstar" ends. As several folks have commented on my absence, I do want to issue a blanket apology for that. I lost my job in September right after publishing the third chapter of "The Very Long Night of Gourry Gabriev." Thanks to a lot of luck and perseverance, I've relocated to a new city and have found a new job ... so I can now rededicate time to writing! Also, I got engaged in December, and that has been its own grand adventure. My fiancé is also an avid Slayers fan and has published some of his work on here as well - in fact, we originally met through the fandom!

Thank you all very much for the well-wishes and, again, much apologies for having disappeared for so long!

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Story #29: Tomorrow is Something We Remember

"Say, Amelia?"

Amelia looked up from her accumulated paperwork to see Gourry hovering in the doorway, a concerned look in his eyes and the rather large imprint of a slipper across one side of his face. She gave a little sigh and pushed away from her desk. "Oh, Gourry-san, what did you do now?"

Gourry blushed and stared at the carpet, fidgeting a bit. "I tried this year, I tried really hard to remember," he blurted out. "But, I forgot again and now Lina's mad at me, and do you know where I could possibly find a huge cache of gems that could possibly begin to pacify her?

Amelia's gaze flickered to the calendar on her desk and she flinched. "It's your third anniversary and Lina-san's birthday. It's coming up in a month or so."

"Yeah." Gourry dropped himself into a seat and sighed as Amelia moved around the desk. She lightly touched his cheek, channeling white magic into the injury until the mark faded. "I tied a piece of string around my finger the first year, but I sort of forgot what it was for. Then last year I was counting on a piece of paper, but I forgot which way I was counting. Now Lina brought it up today and I'd forgotten again and she smacked me for it. I think she has PMS."

Amelia shook her head. There was no use berating Gourry on his lack of memory. Gourry wouldn't be Gourry if his memory didn't have a few holes in it. Still, if Lina was this angry just a month away from the anniversary, she didn't want to think of what her friend would do if Gourry forgot again on the day itself. She was quite sure whatever town they happened to be in at the time would be able to withstand the destruction.

"An anniversary is important, Gourry-san," Amelia explained. "You know it has to be special for Lina-san to even mention it. We didn't even really celebrate her birthday until the two of you married. So, if it's that special to her, then she figures it's special to you."

"It is special," Gourry defended. He sheepishly ran a hand through his hair. "We just keep getting into these huge messes and I forget what day it is. Like last year, when that Wizer guy was accusing Lina of making those mage tanks."

"True," Amelia agreed. She reached over and patted Gourry's knee. "I think I might have an idea."

She leaped to her feet and headed for a cabinet in the corner of the room. She pulled out a small gem and enchanting supplies. Gourry got up as well and watched, fascinated, as Amelia went through a small ritual to purify the gem. Them she clasped it in her hands as she chanted a spell beneath her breath. The gem glowed and a symbol flared briefly in the middle before going away. She chanted another spell, adding in the date of Lina and Gourry's third anniversary and a message. The gem flared brightly for a moment, then became dormant.

"Here you go!" Amelia handed the gem to Gourry.

Gourry frowned, tipped his head to one side. He held the gem up to the light. "I think it'll take more than this one to pacify her, Amelia."

"No, it's not for Lina-san. It's for you. It's an enchanted gem."

His eyes lit up. "It'll help me remember?"

Amelia smiled. "Yes, in a way. You're to keep it in your pocket at all times. On the morning of your anniversary, the gem will grow warm. When you hold it, and only you, it'll deliver a message from me. It's a variation of the Communication spell, and one used to convey top-secret messages among officials. I think that this qualifies for it."

Relieved, Gourry slipped the gem into his pocket and grabbed Amelia up in a hug. She laughed, wrapping her arms around the swordsman as much as she could in return. He suddenly lifted her, swung her around like a child and she laughed joyfully. "Thanks, Amelia," he said gratefully. "You're the best."

"Not a problem!"