Title: Finding Her/ Finding Him
Author: Malana
Rating: PG-13
Spoilers: Somewhere in an AU season 3 for West Wing, Through "Hell's Bells" for Buffy
Pairing: Anya/Josh
Summary: Sometimes things just work out for the best.
Disclaimer: I own neither Buffy nor the West Wing.
Feedback: Please Malana@mac.com
Note: This is a Secret Santa present for Norwegianne.
I had always thought that it would be Donna. Even when I was dating Amy, some part of me was sure that my future lay with my pretty blonde assistant. Who would have guessed that it would be another pretty blond that would capture my heart for good. It's interesting the ways these things work out.
I never thought that Sam would ask Donna out on a date. I never thought that she would say yes. But as angry as I was at the time, I'm glad it happened. If it hadn't I never would have met Anya. I wouldn't be sitting here now, watching her as she puts up decorations on the Christmas tree.
Yes, that's right, Christmas tree. So, we're celebrating both Hanukah and Christmas this year. When we talked about celebrating the holidays, she made it clear that under no circumstances would she be missing out on Christmas. Really, I just think she figured that she'd get more gifts this way. I love her completely, but she is more than a little interested in material goods.
I can't help but smile, watching her now. She's obsessed with making the tree look perfect. She keeps rearranging the lights so that theyÕre spread equally over the tree. God, I love her. I don't know what I would do with out her. I'm so thankful for the night we met. The night I walked into that bar.
I wanted to get drunk. I wanted to get completely and utterly wasted. I had never felt so miserable before. Sam and Donna were going out on a date. I found out through Toby. He just assumed that I already know about it. He never guessed that Sam hadn't told me about it before hand. I couldn't believe it either. Sam is usually the most considerate guy I know. What's more, he, more than anyone else, knew that I had feelings for Donna. The fact that he had asked her out was bad enough, but the fact that he didn't tell me about it first, or ask me how I felt about it, that's what really pissed me off. I felt betrayed.
I walked into the bar and sat down, ordering a scotch. I gulped it down, wincing at the strength and ordered another. I didn't normally come to bars by myself. I mean, I'll come with the rest of the Senior Staff, and I'll kick back with a beer every once in a while, but getting drunk alone isn't normally my thing. But that then and there, I just wanted to be numb.
"Girl trouble?"
I turned and looked to see a man and a woman sitting at the table next to mine. It was the man who had spoken.
I nodded, "Yeah." I really didn't feel like getting sucked into a conversation with a stranger in a bar.
"Care to join us?"
I shook my head. "No thanks."
"Oh, come on. You should drink alone." It was the woman who spoke this time. She was a pretty blonde. I guessed that she was in her early 20's.
I sighed and thought about their offer. I realized that with a few more drinks in me, I wouldn't be caring who I was with. So, I took my drink and joined them.
"I'm David. This is Anya."
"Josh." I threw back the rest of my drink.
"You look miserable," Anya said sympathetically. "Let us buy you another drink." She caught the waitressÕs eyes, and motioned for her to bring us another round. "Want to talk about it?"
I shook my head. "No, I really don't."
I absolutely didn't want to talk about it, but as much as I hate to admit it, I can't hold my liquor. Donna always bugged me about it, but I never listened to her.
Before long I was telling them the entire story.
Anya shook her head. "You must be really pissed at that Sam guy, huh?"
David agreed. "Hell, man. If I were you I'd be after some revenge."
I shrugged. "I don't know. I'm angry, sure. But Sam's like I brother to me."
"Oh, come on. Don't you just with he'd come down with a case of herpes, or get eaten by a big worm or something?"
I laughed at the mental image of that last one. Honestly, it was pretty tempting. But even as drunk as I was, I couldn't wish anything bad on Sam.
"I don't know. I still have the urge to strangle him. But really I love the guy. I mean, I do hope this thing with Donna and him is just a one time deal. But all I wish for Sam is that he's happy. I love Donna, but if she wants to go with Sam"
David sighed and shook his head. He seemed disappointed somehow. Anya however was looking at me with a smile on her face.
We sat and talked for a while longer. It really helped calm me down. David kept talking about getting revenge on Sam, but I realized that was something I didn't want. Eventually David took off, and it was just Anya and I. We talked late into the night.
She was probably the most interesting person I had met in a long time. She was blunt and crass, and seemed more than a little bit greedy. But she was also really sweet. She confided in me that she had been left at the altar a few months back, and looking into her eyes, I could see the pain there. There was something about her that I just found irresistible, and at the end of the night, I left with her phone number.
When I woke up the next morning, with a serious hangover, most of the night before was a blur. But Anya was still on my mind. I struggled with the decision for the rest of the day, but that night I called her and we arranged a date.
I still can't believe how wonderfully everything worked out. I knew on that first date that Anya was someone I wanted to keep seeing. Soon I found myself in love with her. Anya Jenkins, the woman I love. As I watch her now, a bright smile on her face, placing candy canes on the tree I know that I want to spend the rest of my life with her.
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I never thought that I would fall in love again. After Xander left me at the altar, I threw myself back into my old work. I traveled around the world, granting wishes for every scorned woman I could find. I was determined not to miss my old life. I was determined to get over Xander.
A few months after the day that was supposed to be my wedding day, I ran into an old friend. Davidisaly was a vengeance demon I met back when I was first starting out. He granted wishes for people betrayed by friends. He was a fun guy, and besides Hallie, I hadn't been around people of my own kind for a while. We decided to go to a bar to talk about old times. He had a potential client to see any way.
We had been sitting in the bar for a while, when a guy walked in and sat down at the table next to ours. He was cute, about 5'9 and I guessed he was in or early 40's. Davidisaly nudged me and nodded. I realized this was the guy we were waiting on.
He looked miserable and I immediately felt bad for him. He looked like someone had just killed his puppy. Vengeance work tends to harden you against that kind of thing, but for some reason I felt the urge to give him a hug....or maybe an orgasm.
We got him to sit with us, and eventually he spilled the story of what had happened to him. The funny thing was that no matter how hard David tried, he couldn't get Josh to make a wish against his friend. He said he just wanted his friend to be happy. I think I would have found it damn annoying if I hadn't been so attracted to him.
Eventually Davidisaly gave up, and I was left talking to Josh. I found out that he worked at the White House, and was very pleased. Not only was he handsome, but he was powerful too. A very good combination. I wondered if he was rich too.
He was very flirtatious with me, although he was also very night. I wanted very badly to go home with him and have lots of sex, but even drunk he was a gentleman.
I was staying at a hotel at the time. As a Vengeance Demon it wasn't really necessary, but living in Sunnydale had made me very found of material comforts. I gave Josh my number, but I never expected him to call me. After all, I helped scorned women, an occupation that doesn't make one trust guys all that much.
But he did call. We went out on a date, and then another. Pretty soon I was spending nights at his place, receiving many orgasms. Though I swore that I wouldn't fall for a guy again, Josh really did take my heart.
Now I'm in his apartment decorating a Christmas tree. Josh is Jewish, but there was no way in hell I was giving up Christmas. Josh would probably joke that I just don't want to give up the presents. But there is actually more to it than that. I had friends and family in Sunnydale, and holidays sort of grew on me. I like decorating the tree, and watching all the Christmas movies. I also like the way Josh is watching me as I fix up the tree. And getting presents for both Christmas and Hanukah doesn't hurt.
I think I've found love again. Part of me still has feelings for Xander, and I think I always will. But I can see myself having a long future with Josh. Sure, I haven't told him about the whole demon thing. Something about my line of work tends to put men off. I know I'm going to have to tell him everything eventually, after all, I love him. I worry sometimes about what the future might hold. But right now I'm not thinking about that. Right now I'm just thinking about the way he's watching me, and the way that having him makes me feel.
