It never ceased to amaze her just how cruel and unusual people could be. Wasn't there something against that in the basic principle of humanity?

Still, she smiled. It wasn't as if some menacing apocalyptic demon was going to threaten her entire existence. No, that was last week. Knock on wood.

Besides, she was due a break, right? It wasn't like some earth shattering thing could weigh her down three years running. Wasn't there anything made out of wood in this room?

"Great party, Will. Thanks. I...I don't know what to say. Definitely not something I was expecting."

"That's where the surprise part comes in, Buffster," Xander said, his arm draped over Anya's shoulders as they walked up to the birthday girl.

"Happy Birthday, Buffy," Anya said, not even attempting to smile. She hadn't gotten the words out before she ruined their effect. "Though I don't know why you would be happy, considering your record with these things. I mean, if I were you I might begin to think the Gods rued the day I was born."

"Anya..."

"You have a way of making a person feel great, Anya," Buffy said drolly.

"I know. That's what Xander says. Of course, that's when we're having inter-"

"And we're just going to go partake of the wonderful festivities now. Punch...cake...punch..." Xander steered Anya away from the small group and Buffy gave a little laugh.

"What was all that about?" Riley asked as he came up behind her, cake in one hand and punch in the other.

"Commiserating over the wonder that is my life. For me?" She took the cake and licked the fork, cleaning all of the icing from it. "Yum. Good choice, Will."

"Yeah, Willow, I have to admit you did a great job getting this party together. I hadn't heard anything about it. I didn't even know it was Buffy's birthday."

"A little known fact we like to keep hidden. In the wrong hands, the information can be deadly," Buffy supplied.

Riley arched a brow and Willow and Buffy shared a secret smile.

"Oh! There's a dance floor set up on the corner over there," Willow told them. "For, you know, if the lovebirds wanna have a go at getting jiggy with it."

Buffy shook her head at her friend and relinquished her grasp on the cake, letting Riley lead her to the darkened corner.

"I have to tell you, I don't know how to dance," Riley said grimly.

"Not many men do," Buffy quipped. "It's easy. You stand still and let me wiggle around you. That's pretty much it." To prove her point, she turned her back to his chest, her hips swaying back and forth as she dipped up and down provocatively.

"I'm suddenly finding myself wondering why I've never tried this before," he murmured, watching her move against him.

Hours passed, and Buffy had to admit that it was the best birthday she'd had in years. No mind numbing terror. Not gut wrenching pain. Sure, she had a little spot of fruit punch on her shirt, but she'd survived the day relatively unscathed.

"You two go and enjoy the rest of the night," Willow shooed them out of the room when the party was over.

"No, Will. I can't leave you with this mess. Really. You go relax and I'll walk Riley home before I come back and clean this place up. It's the least I can do. Please. I can't take this much pleasure in my birthday; there has to be a little sacrifice. Not ritualistic or anything, though."

Willow grinned and complied. She'd do a little before Buffy got back, but only to ease the burden. She watched the couple leave with a little sadness and a lot of relief. Buffy was getting on with her life, in a safe, healthy, fun way, but the night had certain memories none of them would ever forget. Oddly, Buffy hadn't seemed affected at all. Well, she could only thank the Goddess.

"You look really happy tonight."

Buffy was silent for a moment, pondering the statement. "I am," she smiled up at him when she finally answered.

They stopped in front of the house and Riley turned towards her. "Good. I got the feeling your past birthdays haven't been so great. I'm glad I was a part of this good one."

"You were," she murmured quietly as she leaned up to kiss him. "A very big part." Her eyes looked to the sky and she smiled. "It's a full moon," she whispered. "A special time."

"Very special," he answered, his arms wrapping around her to hold her solidly against him. "It's a Blue Moon...rather rare. Like you." He smiled down to her as their lips met in a sweet, inviting kiss. It was a long while before either of them broke away, and even then they leaned in closer, each relishing the warmth of the other.

"I'd...better go. I can practically hear the mess luring me back there," she moaned good naturedly.

"I'll see you tomorrow?"

"Could you stop me?" Buffy kissed his cheek and turned to head back to the dorm, patting her waist to locate her stake...just in case.

The lights were still burning bright in the dorm's Rec Room when Buffy arrived back safe and sound. She turned the stereo on, wincing when music blared loudly from the speakers. Turning the volume way down, she shook her head to cease the ringing in her ears and changed the switched to "Tuner", choosing the light sounds of the college station's midnight program over annoying pop or pounding rock. Settling in, she began making her rounds, scooping up plates and cups and unidentifiable projectiles and dumping them into the large trash can Willow had set out for her. Down came the streamers and the lights and the banner. She couldn't help but smile at the work Willow and Xander had put into the party. It was so sweet of them, despite her horrible record with surprise parties.

One memory led to another, and soon the smile playing over her lips was tinged with bittersweet emotion. Stacking the chairs against the wall, she let out a small humorless laugh. That horrible period of her life had started on this night, two years ago, ironically the best and worst night of her life. With a roll of her shoulders, she shrugged off the melancholy feelings. The tables were folded up and moved back into place and the vacuum cleaner was whipped out, crumbs, paper, and anything else on the floor quickly becoming its prey.

In no time, the room was back to usual. Better than usual, if she said so herself. Another short trip and the vacuum was put away. Buffy stood in the doorway and looked over the room. Only two hours ago it had been filled with friends, people who liked her, accepted her, and those who knew her better than any. Well, not all of them...

With a shake of her head, she turned off the lights and the dim, orangey glow of the nightlights flickered on. She stepped back into the room and sat down on a couch, letting the peacefulness wash over her. It wasn't often the dorm was still, but around this hour things seemed to settle down and everything fell into place. The darkness was comforting, but then her life had been created for the night. As her gaze swept over the room, something in the corner glinted as the nightlight's glow bounced off of it. It was probably some metallic streamers, or a piece of the dance floor Willow had created, but Buffy got up to find out what it was anyway as her curiosity ate away at her.

Her fingertips glided over the stereo as she moved by it, raising the volume a mere decibel as the soft strums of a guitar sounded low and romantic from the speakers. She brushed her hair back over her shoulder as she knelt down, leaning forward to pick up what appeared to be a small box. As she brought it closer, she was surprised to see it was a tiny gift box wrapped in red foil with a little gold bow on top. She shrugged, figuring it must have been a gift that had gotten lost in the fray.

The room is empty
And the lights are dim
And my heart wonders
If I'll ever see you again

It looked so delicate that she couldn't help but take her time unwrapping it. The foil fell away from the small box, drifting down slowly, almost as if it was suspended in the air. Buffy laughed, realizing she'd been holding her breath. The box itself was black velvet and a grin tugged at the corner of her lips as she wondered if it was something Riley had left behind for her to find. But surely not. He wouldn't have known if she'd accidentally throw it away. She opened it gently, gasping softly a little swath of crimson silk followed the path of the foil, with the same seeming almost weightlessness. And yet it wasn't the silk that caught her attention as much as what had been lying beneath it. Buffy drew in a shuddering breath and lifted her gaze, suddenly watery, almost afraid to search the shadows. It was impossible, her mind, her thoughts, her reckless heart, were running away with her.

My tears are hungry
For an open door
When your arms held me
I never felt that way before

She sniffed and brushed any trace of tears away before returning her attention to the box. Slowly, deftly, she lifted the delicate silver chain away from the velvet, slender, shaking fingers cradling the dainty pendant. It could be some kind of sick joke. Or it could be some unsuspecting person's idea of a gift. It didn't necessarily have to be...

And I'll be waiting
And I'll be watching
Under a Blue Moon
A taste of heaven
Only happens
Once in a Blue Moon

The box fell from her grasp, revealing the small gold square taped to the bottom. It was a card, and when she opened it, she didn't even try to stop the trickle of tears that slipped down her cheeks. Buffy bit her lower lip, trying to stop it from trembling as her fingertips brushed over the smooth paper, the single word slashed in bold black script over the pristine white of the card. Always.

Do you remember
When the wind blew free
We fit together
So naturally

A muffled cry escaped her lips and oh, those memories came rushing back to her in a tidal wave. Was she dreaming or did the shadows waver just a bit? No, she didn't want to know. Didn't want to see. But she knew, oh how she knew. Strong arms wrapped around her in an embrace that was more than familiar. His lips brushed against her ear as he murmured softly, calmly, quieting her cries as his fingers caressed her face, ran through her hair, soothing the tension from her limbs. 'Yes', her body sighed. Turning slightly, her arms wound around him of their own accord, the motion having been echoed so many times it was as natural as breathing. She shouldn't be doing this, she knew that. There were so many things to say, so many questions... But the words wouldn't come. And she didn't want them to. She didn't know what tomorrow would bring, but there was here, there was now. It was all she wanted. How could she have ever thought she wanted anything else when nothing could compare to this?

And I'll be waiting
And I'll be watching
Under a Blue Moon
A taste of heaven
Only happens
Once in a Blue Moon

He nestled her back against his chest, his arms never breaking their hold on her. Her tears had calmed to the infrequent hiccups of a child whose energy has been spent by their sobs. The quiet peace gathered around them once again while the music wove its gentle spell around them, and the whole time he rocked her tenderly back and forth. Buffy looked down to their entwined fingers. It was magic. It was home. The slender chain tangled around their hands, creating a a bond between them before he lifted his hands form hers and knelt behind her. Slowly, deftly, he lifted the necklace from her grasp. She didn't say a word as he moved her hair to the side, every motion, every touch, a lover's caress. He reached forward and settled the pendant in the hollow at the base of her throat and Buffy inhaled sharply, stunned by the barest touch of cold silver against her skin. With ease, he locked the clasp around her neck and sealed it with a soft kiss that tickled the sensitive skin of her nape. Leaning forward over her shoulder, he picked up her hands and placed another gentle kiss on each palm before settling them in her lap.

"I love you," he whispered earnestly.

"I love-" Buffy replied as she turned to him, but her voice faltered in the cavernous void. "You." She breathed deeply, the ache in her chest expanding as she searched the darkness with no result. There was no one there.

As she bowed her head, tears threatening to rise once again, a subtle movement caught her attention and she raised a hand to her throat. Her fingertips brushed over the tiny silver angel around her neck.

Once in a Blue Moon...

The End

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