Response to "In the Future"

[rayne-y-daze.livejournal.com]

I suspect I took this challenge rather more literally than intended. So, I bring you chapter - oh - 100-something in the Niagara!Verse. Way out of timeline - the boys' future, so you'll know how it ends. :-)

Title: The Anniversary Trip
Author: rayne_y_daze
Fandom: Buffy the Vampire Slayer/Angel
Pairing: Xander/Lindsey
A/N: Part of the Niagara!Verse, previous parts here.
A/N: Written for slashthedrabble challenge – In The Future
Word Count: 300

He'd planned this trip for months. It hadn't been easy keeping it secret from Xander; the man seemed to know freakin' everything. Still, he'd pulled it off, only announcing his plans the day before. Xander had been speechless – Lindsey made a show of marking the date on the calendar.

He checked the map once more, keeping an eye on the traffic ahead and around. In the process, he caught a glimpse of Xander. He had one eyebrow perched on high, and a sardonic smirk at Lindsey's expense seemingly kept at bay by sheer force of will. "What? I just wanna make sure we didn't miss our exit."

Xander gently removed the map from Lindsey's hand and folded it along the seams. Lindsey had always wondered how he was able to do that every time. Finally, with the map stowed safely in the glove box, Xander turned to face him again. "Lindsey." His tone was reminiscent of one who dealt with the profoundly challenged. "We've discussed this before. There is no exit. We stay on this route until we hit the border. We'll be fine. I promise."

As he smiled reassuringly, the sun shone off of Xander's hair. Since Lindsey lightened his own hair from its natural brown, his gray hairs didn't show. Xander's, on the other hand... They'd agreed long ago to refer to them as "sparkly", rather than silver. And at this moment, with the afternoon sun skittering off his husband's head, the word seemed especially apt.

Lindsey smiled. "I know; I just want this to be perfect."

Xander took his hand and smiled. "In twenty years, Lindsey, you've never let me down." He nodded his head toward the windshield. "See? We're almost there."

A sign ahead stated very clearly that in 48 miles, they'd be in Canada. Again.