Title: Happy Anniversary!

Author: Birgitt Schuknecht

Fandom: due South

Rating: G

Pairing: Fraser/Thatcher

Category: romance

Disclaimer: The characters used in the following story are not mine. I do not make any money out of this. It's written for fun and for the fans of the show.

Spoilers: ATQH

Teaser: Ben has plans for a very special day!

Author's note: I cannot believe it. I wrote a Ben/Meg story. This is not my usual territory, so be gentle with me. I dedicate this to Karol, a list-sib from the RSY mailing list, and her husband! For me, writing a little story is the best way to say: Happy Anniversary, Karol!

By Birgitt Schuknecht.

"Benny, when will you tell me what's bothering you? You haven't spoken a single word for more than two hours. All I hear from you are 'ah's and 'hmmm's. Or you just give me your famous 'I-care-for-you-Ray-but-I-don't-understand-you' look. Geez, I would be better off being alone on this damned stakeout. Then I would know why I'm bored to death." Ray Vecchio was annoyed with his unofficial partner, Benton Fraser. So, what else was new? But apart from being annoyed he was also concerned. That continued silence - no Inuit stories, no information seemingly unrelated to the case they were currently working on - was wrecking his nerves. More so because it was so unlike Fraser.

"Mmmmh?" was all Benton Fraser managed. Ray almost jumped on him. Just in time he regained his control. With a sigh he eyed the man sitting beside him. Fraser hadn't heard one word of what he'd said. His thoughts had taken him miles from here. It was well past midnight, and the men were in Ray's car, observing a warehouse. They had got a hint that there would be drug transaction tonight. This was dangerous business. Ray couldn't risk to have a distracted partner at his side. So he tried once more to get through to him.

"Fraser, snap out of it," he suddenly yelled in Fraser's left ear, as loud as he dared to do. That finally did it. The Mountie's face jerked round to face his friend's. "Ray, that was uncalled for. Oh dear, I nearly died."

Ray was unsympathetic. "Better you than me. What do you think we're doing here? This isn't for meditation. Welsh will have our hides, if we screw this up. At least, he'll have mine. If we survive that is... If we have to take action I'll need all your senses. Not only the impressive presence of your outer shell..."

"I'm sorry, my mind must have wandered off." Fraser's face showed real shame. Being absent-minded during stakeouts was untypical for him. He valued duty above everything. Well, almost everything... Again his mind started to wander. With an effort he concentrated on his partner's next words.

"Well, could you call it to come back right now? I'd like the idea that I'm not on my own here." Ray hold himself back from saying more, he was too glad that he had the Mountie's attention now. "Benny, perhaps it would help if you told me what's on your mind. It certainly would help to pass some time."

"Well Ray, I'll try to explain my problem to you. Maybe you can even help me." Fraser gave his friend a blue-eyed stare that made the detective shift uncomfortably in his seat. *Whenever Benny gives me that look...* he thought, but then he just nodded.

Relieved the Mountie went on. "You see, Ray, tomorrow..." He interrupted himself, checking his watch, "ahm, today is a very special day for me... I mean, for us..." Again he paused.

Ray looked puzzled. "For us? Hmmm, not that I can think of..."

Benny blushed furiously. "No, I'm sorry, Ray, not for us. For Meg and me, I mean."

"I'm glad to hear that! What's so special about today? Come on, Fraser, shoot it. Remember my nerves..." Ray couldn't hide a little smile when he saw the silly expression on Fraser's face. Although Benny and Meg have been together for about five months now the Mountie still acted like a schoolboy being in love for the first time in his life. *Hmmm, from a certain point of view this may well be the truth...* the detective mused.

"It's our anniversary..."

"Sorry to interrupt you, Benny, but you're dating her only for five months..."

"Yes, Ray, five months, three days and fourteen hours ago I asked her for a date."

"You don't count the minutes, do you, Benny?" Ray's smile had turned into a devilish grin by now.

"To be honest, Ray, yes..."

"Oh, stop it, Benny, I don't want to hear it. Just go on." Ray had difficulties to pay attention to the warehouse. Although he never would have admitted it, he just loved his bickerings with the Mountie. Especially during boring stakeouts...

"OK, it's not the anniversary of our first date. Remember, a year ago, on the train..." Benny's face still showed an interesting colour, although the silly expression had been replaced by a serious one.

"Now I know what you're talking about. It's THE KISS. Your and Meg's cinemascope version of a 'I-care-very-much-about-you'-kiss." Ray chuckled when he heard Fraser taking a deep breath. *That really must have been a hell of a good kiss, if only the memory of it makes him breathless. Maybe it was much more than a 'I-care-very-much-about-you'-kiss. Perhaps it was a...* Ray realised that now his mind was wondering off and he shook his head to clear his thoughts a little. "And what's the problem here?"

Fraser sighed. "I'm looking for a present. To show her I remember, that I love her, that I care for her, that she's special to me, that I will be at her side forever..."

"Arghh, stop it, Benny. Do you want me to make a list? I got the picture. Just let me think of it. Promise to keep an eye on the warehouse, OK? We do not want to risk our lives for such a little problem like this, do we?" He placed his hand on the Mountie's shoulder.

"Ah, Ray, it's not a little problem, it's very important to me..."

"Don't say another word, Benny. I know it's important. But for a man with my connections finding a present for the Dra..., oops, I'm sorry, Benny, finding a present for Meg is a minor difficulty. Trust me." He gave his friend a what he believed to be a reassuring smile.

That made Fraser even more uncomfortable. "Ray, you're not thinking about contacting one of the people you happen to know from your job as a police officer? There's no way that I could give my love something like the watch you bought for your brother in law, Tony!"

Ray shrugged non-committally. "He liked it. And it was a real bargain." Fraser glowered at him. "Don't worry, Benny, just a joke. I have other resources. Give me some peace now, willya?"

The two men fell silent, Ray pondering over Benny's little problem and Fraser observing the warehouse. Everything was peaceful outside. Inside was a totally different matter.

Suddenly Ray broke out, "Got it! That's a good one. You'll like it. And Meg will like it too. Even I like it." At the last words Fraser frowned again. But he wanted to hear his friend's idea nonetheless.

"Well, Ray, tell me. I appreciate any suggestion you can make. That doesn't mean that I go for it, though..."

"Geez, Benny, hold your horses. Just hear me out. Than you can decide. And I won't be offended if you don't like my idea. That won't happen anyway. I know you like it. OK, that's what we will do..."

***

Fifteen hours later Fraser was on his way to Inspector Margaret Thatcher's apartment. He had told her that he would come to her house and then they would go out together. Ray had called Scarpetta's and ordered a table for Fraser and the Dragon Lady.

The Mountie held a small package in his hands, turning it round and round repeatedly, showing his nervousness. He had liked Ray's idea very much, surprised by the thoughtfulness of his friend. The present had cost him a considerable amount of money and Ray several favours, but his friend had assured him that it was worth it. Fraser had agreed and now he could only hope that Meg would like the present, too.

When he arrived at her door, he hesitated a second, then he knocked. In the next moment the door opened and Meg was there. Fraser took a little step back. She was breathtakingly beautiful. Her hair looked like it was made of dark silk, shining in the golden light of the hallway lamp behind her. Her dark eyes locked with his blue ones and the sparkle in hers made Fraser bending forward and place a tender kiss on her blushed cheek. There was no need for words. Reluctantly Meg stepped back and led him into the house.

In the living room she turned to her love again. Her expression was serious, but he could see the fire of passion burning in her eyes. Maybe they should phone Scarpetta's that they would be a little late...

Meg broke into his thoughts. "Ben, I want you to know that the last year was like heaven for me. I regret that I didn't open up to you earlier..." She couldn't go on, because a finger was placed on her lips.

"Shhh, my love, no regrets, not tonight, not tomorrow, never ever again. We are together now and we will be forever together. There's no room for regrets." He replaced his finger with his lips and she welcomed the sensation, at the same time sweet and full of passion. Closing her eyes she embraced her love and lost herself in a seemingly endless moment of perfection. No room for regrets, no room for second thoughts, just... him.

They broke apart at the same moment, quite breathless. Meg opened her eyes again, meeting Benton's serious gaze. Before she could say a word, Fraser took her right hand into his left one and placed a small package in it. When she unwrapped it she discovered that it was just packed in a brown paper bag. Puzzled she pulled out a brilliant white hanky. She opened it carefully and a found a delicate gold chain in it. It sparkled in the light and she gasped at its simple beauty. But there was more. Fascinated she eyed the tiny ornament that was attached to it.

When she realised what it was it took her breath away. She knew it was a symbol, but what a powerful symbol it was. It was all Ben meant to her and all what she was meant to Ben. Finally she dared to look up. Ben looked unsure, still not able to relax. He had stiffened involuntarily when she had started unwrapping the present.

"Oh, Ben," was all she could say, fleeing into another passionate kiss. And finally Ben could feel the tension flow from his body.

"You like it?" He smiled at her. He knew the answer. She had already answered him.

"It's beautiful. Where did you find it?" Again she inspected the tiny object. Despite its smallness it was clear what it depicted. It was a miniature train, an old Canadian model, one that she still could remember from her childhood days.

"To be honest I didn't. It was Ray's idea. He has a... friend who specialises in jewellery design - apart from his usual business. Ahhh, it's unique, not mass production." With a little grin Fraser remembered how Ray had taken him to Bruno at 5 o'clock in the morning, after their replacement had taken over the stakeout. The man had been... annoyed, but after many threats (supplied by Ray) and even more promises of a adequate amount of money (supplied by Fraser) Bruno had set himself to work. He had finished it half an hour ago.

"I can see that. I will have to thank Ray. You're lucky to have him as a friend, Ben." She smiled a little insecure, still not sure what to think about the Chicago detective. After all they had numerous run-ins...

"No, I'm not." Ben's face gave nothing away. She looked up at him in puzzlement. He continued with a sly smile, "We are lucky to have him as a friend, my love." Meg sighed in relief as finally all doubts fell from her. She pulled Ben into a tight embrace. His tender voice whispered in her ear, "Happy Anniversary, love."

The End.