*****

�I can�t wait until tonight. It�s going to be so special.� Xander grinned, kissing his lover.

�Neither can I, love.� Giles whispered, allowing his lover to lean into him. �You go on to the apartment. I need to close up the shop.� More kisses, and Xander turned to leave the Magic Box, before Giles called him. �Xander? I love you.�

Another smile spread its way across Xander�s face. �I love you too. Happy anniversary.� With that, Xander turned and left, walking back to the apartment he shared with Giles.

***

Locking the front door, and waiting for the bleep of the store alarm to indicate it had begun working, Giles left the Magic Box an hour later than Xander.

Climbing into his red sports car, Giles fastened his seat belt, started the engine and drove.

***

Two candles sat on the dinner table, sort music played, and roses were sprinkled in the bed in Xander and Giles� apartment. Xander sat on the couch, nervousness running through him. Giles and Xander had been together for exactly a year today, and Xander still felt nervous every time he was about to meet the older man.

�God�where is he?�

***

Still driving, Giles began to search for his favourite CD, the one he always played when he was on his way to be with Xander. Fumbling, Giles dropped the CD. Looking out of the windscreen, he saw no oncoming traffic, so the ex-Watcher unbuckled his seat belt, and took his eyes off of the road to insert his CD. A flash of light, the grinding of metal, and the mental image of his beloved Xander were the last things he ever remembered.

***

A knock on the door made Xander jump, as he began to smile at the thought of Giles forgetting his keys again.

Xander opened the door. �Giles, did you forget�..Officer?� A policeman stood at the door, a sombre look on his face.

Xander�s heart broke as the officer took off his hat, holding it in front of him. �I�m sorry to inform you that��

�NO! Don�t you even fucking finish that sentence!� Xander fell to his knees, sobbing his heart out. �HE�S NOT DEAD, DO YOU HEAR ME?!�

�I�m sorry, Mr. Harris. There was a car accident. He died instantly, he would have felt no pain.�

Xander cried harder than he ever had. His love was gone.

THE END.