A/N: It was a year ago today that I posted the very first chapter of this story! *claps* Yes, you should celebrate: this thing has been through so much! And it's made it! One whole year. Yowzers. Aren't you proud :D
And you know the funny thing? I only actually like one chapter out of all of them. Just the one. Take a guess at which one.
Anyway, this chapter is to commemorate the one year birthday. And because it's so special, it's told in Larten's POV.
End lyrics: Del Amitri – Tell Her This.
Disclaimer: I've said it before...so I'm not going to say it again.
...
"SO, YOU'RE GOING TO go for another ten years?" Gavner asked, shaking snow from his hair as we stepped into the small jewellers in the middle of town.
It was early November and all ready the snow had set in for Christmas. People were out in abundance, doing their early Christmas shopping, getting ready for the holiday season. Christmas was the last thing on my mind at the moment – in one week's time it would be mine and Arra's twenty year anniversary.
"Yes," I smiled at the thought and Gavner rolled his eyes, but he couldn't keep the grin off of his face.
"Does she know?"
I gave him a look, "Of course she does."
Gavner peered over a counter full of shiny and expensive jewellery, "You've talked about it?" He asked, raising a brow at me.
I coughed, "Not exactly, no." When he grinned again I elaborated, "But we do not have to. We both know we will."
"She might not want to." He muttered casually, nodding at a small, pompous looking man who had just come out from the back of the shop. The man eyed him critically, but returned his nod politely.
"Gavner!"
He turned, grinning at me, holding his hands up as a sign of peace, "I'm kidding!" He clapped me on the shoulder, "Of course she'll want to. Don't worry." He smiled and after a moment I smiled back, and then the small man coughed loudly, "Would you like any help?" He asked, his voice squeaking and I had to nudge Gavner to stop him from laughing.
"Thank you, but we are just looking." I replied, moving away from Gavner and starting to scan the counters, though I soon turned back when Gavner said, "We're making 'us' official."
The small man's eyes almost popped out of his head and I hit Gavner's shoulder hard, growling slightly. My vampire friend laughed and turned back to the counters, chuckling under his breath.
"I'll, uh, leave you to it." The small man let out another squeak and hurried into the back of the shop. Gavner looked over his shoulder at me, a grin still plastered to his face, "Don't be mad, hun."
"All I asked you to do was help me!" I sighed exasperated, "This is the third shop you have done that in, will you please stop it and help me look for something."
He grinned again, but nodded in agreement, finally deciding to help me. I scanned silently across the rows of jewellery, while Gavner pointed at each ring or necklace and let out a not-so-quiet "No." I sighed, but left him to it.
After a long time, I finished my side of the shop and groaned quietly: there was nothing. I glanced over at Gavner, who was still only half way through his counters, and sighed again. This was hopeless. I opened my mouth to suggest we go back home – the sky was turning black, blacker than it had been during the day – when I noticed Gavner tilting his head from side to side. Wandering over to him, I asked, "What are you doing?"
He jumped slightly, grinned again, and pointed down, his finger smudging up against the glass counter top, "How about that?"
I followed to where his finger was pointing, and almost gasped: he had found something! And it was pretty much perfect: not only one ring, but three, in a set. Two looked like wedding bands, but were silver, with a thin line of tiny ruby shards covering the outer edge of the rings. The other was silver again, but looked more like an engagement ring, and had a small diamond attached to the top, the silver band of the ring joining around the diamond – encasing it – in an elegant swirl.
"Well?" Gavner asked, breaking me from my thoughts, a proud smile on his face.
I laughed, "They are perfect!" I clapped him on the shoulder and he grinned, laughing also.
The small man appeared at our laughter – he still looked a little shocked from Gavner's earlier joke – and came to stand behind the counter, "Can I help you?"
I smiled at him, and nodded enthusiastically.
...
We arrived home an hour later, the snow still falling from the now pitch black sky. It was eight at night, and though that wouldn't have normally been a problem – we were vampires after all – we had left the house in the afternoon, telling Arra we were just going out to get some dog food.
As we walked slowly up the stairs to our apartment, I put my hand in my coat pocket (like I had been doing every other minute since we left the jewellers) and closed my hand around the small box containing the rings and chain. I had had to buy a chain, because the wedding bands had been too small to fit me, so as a compromise, I'd wear mine around my neck. I grinned again and Gavner noticed, "You're gonna have to act normal if you want his to be a complete surprise."
"I know." I sighed and managed to hold the grin off, replacing it with a happy smile.
We reached the apartment, and we entered, chatting about the weather and kicking off our snowy boots in an attempt to appear normal. Zane bounded up to greet us, sniffing around the many bags we carried – dog food shopping had escalated into full out food shopping, with the addition of some clothes for Gavner and a new toy for Zane.
"Where have you been?" Arra called from the sofa, her eyes pinned on the weather forecast.
"Shopping." Gavner replied, flopping down next to her and grinning.
"For five hours?" She asked sceptically, muting the TV and snatching a bag from Gavner. He went to snatch it back but she jumped up and appeared next to me in a flash, "What took five hours to get?"
I smiled down at her, and kissed her lightly before replying, "It took us that long because of the crowds."
"Early Christmas shopping!" Gavner shouted, laughing as Zane hopped up onto the sofa and started licking his face, "Zaney! Look: we got you something!" Zane sat up curiously as Gavner reached over the back of the sofa, hand outstretched towards the bag Arra had snatched, "Bag please." He grinned still reaching for the bag.
Instead of handing it to him, Arra sat next to him again and pulled out the new dog toy: a thick multi-coloured piece of rope with a rubber ball attached to one end.
Zane saw it and instantly leapt off the sofa, lying on the floor, waiting for someone to make the first move. Gavner and Arra grinned at each other and then launched into a game of tug-of-war: Gavner and Zane pulling at the toy, Arra curled up on the sofa watching them, laughing as Zane managed to pull Gavner from the sofa and onto the floor.
While they played, I reached into my coat pocket and took out the small box, holding it tightly in my hand, smiling again. Slipping out of my coat, I hung it up in the closet and quietly grabbed some bags of shopping, moving into the kitchen area and beginning to unpack. I made sure neither of them were looking as I reached up and placed the box on the very top of the cabinets, pushing it back so it wasn't visible, but so I could reach it easily.
Half way through unpacking, there was a shout and Zane was suddenly by my side, his new toy hanging from his mouth, his tail wagging wildly. I looked over to the sofa and saw Gavner lying flat out on the floor, laughing breathlessly: Zane must have beaten him in tug-of-war. I grinned and ruffled Zane's fluffy head, and he let the toy drop, yapped happily once and picked the toy back up, trotting back over to the sofa. Gavner was still laughing, but now clutching a cushion which Arra had just thrown at him: she was smiling, and hugged Zane tightly as he jumped up onto the sofa and looked down at Gavner curiously.
"That dog," Gavner finally managed to say, catching his breath and sitting up, "is bloody strong." He patted Zane's head, hauled himself from the floor and flopped down on the sofa again, on the other side of Zane, "No room for you." Gavner looked over at me and grinned.
I rolled my eyes, "It is my sofa."
"And I'm the guest." Gavner shot back, "Right?" He asked Arra, poking her shoulder.
"He's the guest." She agreed, flashing me a playful smile. Zane had dropped his toy and had stretched out over both of them, his head resting on Arra's lap, his tail still wagging happily on Gavner's.
I shook my head and smiled.
...
A week later and it was Gavner's time to leave. I was sad to see him go, but did not want him around for our anniversary: he would only get in the way.
"You'll come for Christmas, right?" Arra asked, holding onto his chunky arm tightly.
"That's only a few weeks away!" Gavner laughed, "I might as well stay..." He trailed off as he caught my stare, "No, I'll go now and get some presents, and then come back in a few weeks."
"And stay for New Years?"
Gavner smiled down at Arra, pulling her into a tight hug, "And I'll stay for New Years, yes." He let her go and laughed, "Anyone would think you didn't want me to leave!"
She gave him her lopsided grin, "I haven't seen you for months, you turn up for just one week and then leave again. I miss you."
He smiled again, "I miss you too. You need to invite me round more."
"You need to turn up unannounced more." I corrected him, clapping his shoulder.
He smiled, "Hear that?" He asked Zane who was sitting looking up at all of us, "He gave me permission to come when I want. You remember that." He patted Zane's head and Zane gave him a doggy smile.
"Anyway!" Gavner shouted, clapping his hands together, "I'd best be off." He picked up his bag, slung it on his back and grinned at us again as he pulled open the door, "I'll see you at Christmas. Have fun." He gave me a knowing wink and left with a wave.
...
I woke up the next night, wondering why it was so quiet: and then remembered Gavner had left the previous night, so his snores weren't present anymore. I smiled at that thought, but it soon turned into a grin as I realised what day it was: our anniversary.
I turned slowly, careful not to make any noise: Zane was in bed with us. He had taken to lying on the very edge of the bed, on Arra's side, so she often slept with an arm slung over him just to make sure he wouldn't fall onto the floor. I raised myself up on one arm and let my eyes adjust to the dark, and when they had I saw that Zane was in his usual place, and Arra had her arm over him again. I smiled, watched them for a while and then slipped into the kitchen.
The box was still there, albeit a little dusty, but that didn't matter.
On the way back to bed, I opened the box and the rings practically glowed up at me: the red was very deep, but also very bright. I shut it again once I reached the bed, placing it on the bedside table, and lay down again, waiting for Arra to wake up.
After about ten minutes of waiting, I got bored and decided to wake her up – I was much to excited and nervous to be bothered with waiting. Slinking one arm over her waist, I leant my head against the other, whispering to Zane – who I'd managed to wake up – to be quiet. He stared at me for a few seconds, and then decided to lie quietly. I smiled, gave his side a quick stroke, and gently pulled Arra back so she was leaning against me.
She let out a tiny moan at having her sleep disrupted, but didn't wake up. I linked my fingers with hers and leaned over to kiss her nose. She moaned again, and half woke up, "What?" She asked sleepily.
I let go of her hand, turned so I could reach the box and placed it on the pillow in front of her, "Look." When she didn't open her eyes, I tickled her side and she laughed sleepily, looking up at me, "Look." I repeated, gesturing to the box.
Arra turned, and looked at the box. Zane was also looking at it curiously, "What is it?" She asked, going to take it: I beat her to it. Reaching over, I flipped open the box and set it back down on the pillow. While her still sleep-filled mind tried to make sense of this, I leant down, kissed her neck and whispered, "Be my mate again?" It ended up coming out as a question: rather than the romantic statement I had aimed for.
"I thought we..." She trailed off, and then suddenly burst into laughter, sitting up and picking up the ring box. I stayed lying down, not exactly sure why she was laughing, "I thought we were just going to continue on. You didn't have to do this!"
I wasn't quite sure whether that was a yes or a no, so I stayed quiet and gave her a puzzled look. She laughed again, "Larten, of course I will!"
I grinned and then shrugged, "Good." I acted as if this news didn't elate me, which earned me a poke in the stomach. I laughed, sat up and pulled her against me, catching her lips with mine. We broke apart after a while, conscious of Zane sitting watching us. I smiled and patted his head, just to give him some attention, which made his tail wag. I turned back to Arra, and noticed that she had her lopsided grin firmly in place, "Why?" She asked curiously, lifting up the ring box slightly.
"Well," I began, leaning back against the headboard, "when it was our ten year anniversary, I was on a mission, so I missed it. And then fifteen years was not really significant enough. I thought twenty deserved something special." I smiled at her grin, "Do you like them?"
"I love them! They're...perfect." She nodded at the word and then held the box out to me. I grinned and took the box from her, and she sat up a little straighter, failing to get rid of the lopsided grin. I looked down at the box for a moment, gathering my thoughts, and then smiled to myself when the words suddenly came.
"Arra." I looked up, put the box down next to Zane – he sniffed it and then closed his eyes again – and, without warning, placed my hands on her waist and pushed her back, so I was leaning over her. She grinned, and I brushed some stray strands of hair from her grey eyes, "Arra, I cannot imagine life without you: I do not want to imagine it without you. You are absolutely perfect-" she rolled her eyes at this, so I corrected, "-you are absolutely perfect for me. I..." I trailed off, one hand grabbing the ring box, the other I raised myself on, "I love you."
I took out the engagement ring, and Arra lifted her left hand, using the right to swipe at her eyes, "Will you be my mate again for another ten years?" I asked, holding her hand and ring in the same hand.
She nodded, her lopsided grin still there, and I kissed her fingers before sliding the ring onto her ring finger: it was a perfect fit. We both paused then, admiring how it good it looked, and then I took out the other rings: one hanging from a chain. She looked at curiously, so I explained, "It will not fit, so I will wear it on a chain."
She nodded, took the chain from me and looped it over my head: it was cold against my chest so I shivered, much to Arra's amusement, "Too cold?" She teased, running the chain through her fingers.
I made a face and rather unromantically slid the ring on her finger, resting it against the engagement ring, "There."
"Gosh, that was so romantic." Arra rolled her eyes and smiled, holding her hand up and studying the rings.
"You do not think that that is it, do I?" I grinned slyly as her eyes came back to me, and she gave me a confused look.
"Zane," I said, gaining the attention of the dog immediately, "Kitchen, now please." He jumped off the bed and obediently left the room. I jumped up and shut the door after him, whispering, "Thanks buddy." He gave me his doggy smile and curled up on the sofa.
"So this is why Gavner couldn't stay, huh?" Arra asked as I came back to bed, pulling her close and yanking the covers over our heads. I grinned and mumbled 'right' against her neck. She laughed softly, her fingers leaving a burning trail over my skin as she traced a scar on my back, "I love you."
I looked up and she was smiling, but there were tears in her eyes. I smiled back, kissed her gently and suddenly pulled away, remembering something. Flinging an arm out of bed, I reached around for the bottom draw of the bedside table: I pulled it open and carefully lifted out the white rose I had put there the night before. I pushed the covers back, sat up and set about tangling it up in Arra's hair. It took a while, but I finally got it to stay in place, and I sat back admiring her. She looked so beautiful. So perfect.
Her hands clasped my neck and she pulled me down, beginning what was the start of a perfect night.
'Tell her not to go,
I ain't holding on no more.
Tell her nothing if not this,
All I want to do is kiss her.
Tell her something in my mind,
Freezes up from time to time.'
...
Just a little fact, this is the longest one-shot I've ever written. And it's now bumped my list up to two chapters that I like out of all of them.
Did you guys like it? Give me your thoughts!
Thanks for reading!
- Rowan. X