[One-shot ~ PG] Unbirthday

[wingzerosnuggles]

Title: Unbirthday
Continuity: Nonsensical Nuances
Length: One-shot
Pairings: 1xR
Prompt: "Bring on the wonder. Bring on the song. I pushed you down deep in my soul for too long." from Susan Enan's "Bring on the Wonder."
Teaser: "You don't have a fever so I know you're not delirious," he stated, trying to diagnose what exactly was causing her to act so strangely. "Have you, to your knowledge, ingested any narcotics, hallucinogens-" "I'm not high, Heero."
Link: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/5141105/22/ ... al_Nuances

Disclaimer: GW = not mine.

Author's Note: Using the fourth August prompt "Bring on the wonder. Bring on the song. I pushed you down deep in my soul for too long." from Susan Enan's "Bring on the Wonder." For some weird reason, this brought birthdays to mind.

Nonsensical Nuances
by mistress amethyst une

Unbirthday

Relena set the chocolate cupcake on Heero's desk, a single lit candle poking out of the baked confection. He peered up at her, momentarily putting down the papers he was reading.

"That's a fire hazard," he told her, quickly blowing the candle out.

Her hand went to her hip, and she pouted at him. "Did you even bother to make a wish?"

"What for?" he asked, turning his attention to his documents once more.

"For your birthday."

"I don't have a birthday."

"You just don't know when your birthday is. I decided today was as good a day as any."

He looked at her once more, now thoroughly confused. "You decided?"

She nodded. "It's been too long since we've had a cause to celebrate. Besides, I'm assuming you've never had a proper birthday."

"There was never a proper time, reason or purpose. Relena, please tell me you didn't plan anything grand."

"Of course not. I know better. This is strictly a private affair."

Puzzlement seemed to have permanently etched itself onto his face. "It's still not my birthday."

"It's your unbirthday then."

"Unbirthday?"

"Didn't you ever read Alice in Wonderland?"

"Dr. J asked me to read some pre-colony literature. If I recall correctly, Alice in Wonderland was an excellent exercise in logic. The mathematical references to bases and positional numeral systems in the second chapter-"

"Are we talking about the same book?"

"I think so. I do remember 'unbirthdays' being mentioned. It doesn't make sense for you to celebrate my unbirthday. I have 364 of them. You can't celebrate them all. It's not time and cost efficient."

"Well, we'll celebrate just this one unbirthday."

"Why? What's so special about today?"

"Nothing at all. It's just an ordinary day. That's why I picked it."

"That doesn't make sense."

"It makes perfect sense," argued Relena. "You don't take a special day and make it even more special. That's just not fair to all the other neglected days of the year. Better that you take an ordinary day and improve upon it..."

The way he looked at her seemed to indicate that she had grown an extra head. He rose from his seat and touched the back of his hand against her forehead.

"You don't have a fever so I know you're not delirious," he stated, trying to diagnose what exactly was causing her to act so strangely. "Have you, to your knowledge, ingested any narcotics, hallucinogens-"

"I'm not high, Heero."

Exasperated, he sat back down. "I really don't see a point to this. If I did have a birthday, I'd be turning twenty-six. Not exactly a milestone year."

"Every year's a milestone. Especially for you. You've survived eleven years in my acquaintance, more or less."

"Shouldn't I be the one saying that?"

"We've survived each other," she chortled. "Come on, Heero. Give me an excuse to celebrate."

"I have to work."

"Heero, I'm your work. Remember?"

"Playing the boss card isn't fair."

"Can you honestly tell me that you'd rather be in here reading reports?"

He paused, trying to force out a yes under the heat of her glare. "No."

"Then hurry up and eat your cupcake so I can take you out."

"But-"

"Just do it," she smiled, staring at him intently as he ate his unbirthday cake. It wasn't long until he bit into something rather curious.

"You stole it?" he gaped at her, pulling the simple diamond studded gold band from the dessert.

"Duo let slip what you were planning for next week. Pagan stole it for me. You're not the only one who hates a big fuss. I thought I'd beat you to it."

Heero made a mental note to kill Duo. "Relena, this isn't what I had in mind."

"I know," she smiled. "I really hope you don't hate me for spoiling your plans. It's just that-"

"So how exactly does this work now?" he smirked. "Am I asking you or are you asking me?"

She would always be impressed with how calmly he dealt with unexpected situations. Well, two could play at that game.

"How about both?" she suggested.

"Ladies first," he offered, looking way too pleased with himself.

"Fine then," she shrugged. "Do you want me to get down on bended knee?"

"You might tear your skirt."

"I thought you'd like that."

"I'd like to tear your skirt off myself."

She picked up a folder off his desk and swatted at him. "You're putting me off, Mr. Yuy."

"Just ask me already."

"Charming," she drawled, rolling her eyes before finally popping the question. "Will you marry me?"

Long pause.

"You can answer, you know. Any time today. Just so-"

"If you'll marry me, too," he stated plainly, taking her left hand, preparing to put the ring on her.

She laughed. "Well, if you put it that way, why not?"

"You don't want me stating all the reasons why not. Is that a yes or a no?"

"Yes," she nodded, unable to suppress a grin as he slipped the ring on her finger. "Happy unbirthday, Heero."

"You're going to have a hard time getting me a better present next year."
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I thought I might as well get them engaged since I'm ending NN at the 30th ficlet. It's a long engagement though. No weddings and bachelor parties here. I've already caved in to one cliche...