Acknowledgements:
Omi as always
The BTN8rs - with apologies
The Numb3rs dot org crew - since I did the whole alphabet inspired by their challenge
Disclaimers:
"A vague disclaimer is nobody's friend" - Willow, Buffy the Vampire Slayer
I do not own any Numb3rs characters nor do I have any rights to
anything related to the TV show Numb3rs. I plead fair use and claim
only my own writing and characters.
Charlie had made it himself, not even asking his mother for help. Despite his efforts the heart was a bit crooked and his writing slanted a bit, but he'd run out of red construction paper and had to accept that this was the best he could do.
Still, he was kind of embarrassed by it, only handing it over after much nervous fidgeting.
He waited until their tutoring session was over and Elizabeth was packing up her books and notes.
He handed it over, not able to even say the one line he'd practiced for this moment.
She'd looked at him a bit quizzically then opened the envelope and and pulled out the Valentine inside.
She ran her fingers over the outside briefly then opened it to read the message.
'Happy Valentine's Day, Elizabeth! From Charlie Eppes."
She smiled, closed the valentine and stared at the carefully drawn Phi symbol on the heart.
"It's simply divine," she told him, kissing him on the cheek.
"I knew you'd understand," Charlie said, blushing slightly.
Elizabeth smiled at him. "One day you'll meet another girl, someone more your age, and she'll understand too."
Ten years later he gave a similar Valentine to a girl he'd just met named Susan.
She understood too, just as Elizabeth had promised.
