Happy Valentine's Day and Happy Pharmercy Appreciation Week, everyone! I can't say how happy I am to be taking part in this event. I've been on pins and needles waiting for today to finally roll around so I could get started posting for it. This one ran on a bit longer than I intended; I'm going to do my best to keep these stories short (there are seven of them to be written inside of a week, after all). This one is from an earlier and unexplored point in the other story I've been writing, Flight of Fancy. I still haven't decided whether or not I'll do something similar for any of the others, but I hope you'll still like them! Now, on to the theme for day one: Valentine's Day!

Damn. Six fifteen.

Fareeha sat on her bunk in the barracks and stared at a clock on the far wall as though it had offended her. She shifted restlessly on her bunk, feeling as though she was ready to burst out of her own skin. Her eyes darted back and forth between the clock and an automated response from a delivery service displayed on her phone next to her. She had been reading it every few minutes for most of the day and, largely out of habit at this point, she found herself reading it again.

"Thank you once again for your purchase! Your order shipped and has been delivered to Doctor Angela Ziegler successfully. We look forward to your business in the future!"

Yes...it definitely arrived.

Finding herself with nothing to do again, Fareeha's eyes automatically turned back to the clock as her mind drifted to the thoughts that she had been trying to avoid for most of the day. Several weeks earlier, she had placed an order to have a dozen red roses and twice as many of the most expensive Swiss chocolates that she could find sent to Angela for Valentine's Day. Fareeha never had any interest in such things, but she knew that Angela never missed an excuse to celebrate something. More than that, she loved chocolate in a way that reminded her of the way she'd often heard new recruits talking after they'd completed basic training. It was a perfect excuse to do something for her that it was clear that she loved. More than that, she'd arranged for the delivery to arrive in the early afternoon, no doubt arriving just before whatever event she was holding for the occasion. She knew that, as much as Angela seemed to dislike most of the people that showed up at them, social protocol kept her from putting an end to them entirely. Angela always made such a huge deal out of her gifts, it was surely a way to brighten what would otherwise be a dreary day of having people she didn't care for ruining a day that she loved. Again, it was as good an excuse as any to go through with sending the gift. She had even paid extra to ensure that the delivery would be placed in her hands on time.

The problem, however, was the fact that Fareeha hadn't heard anything from Angela all day. Angela had definitely gotten the delivery and it was entirely unlike her to not call immediately and make a fuss over it all. It embarrassed Fareeha to no end, but despite her protesting, she loved it as much as any time that Angela made a fuss over her. More than that, she loved knowing that she'd made Angela happy. Their friendship had always seemed a little one-sided in her opinion; Angela had the more people around the world clamoring for her attention than it was comfortable to think about, but for some reason she seemed to most often choose to spend her time talking to her, a soldier who could think of nothing she had to offer that people with far more impressive titles and social standings couldn't match. Fareeha hated to admit it, but the thought was painful. She was just grateful that Angela had found a reason to come to the decision and every letter and enthusiastic call of thanks for even the simplest of gifts and kind gestures was confirmation that this hadn't changed. To get no response after sending a special one was troubling, to say the very least.

"I'd say you look like you're about to be deployed, but you don't look happy enough for that."

Fareeha jumped in surprise when Saleh spoke from somewhere just out of her field of vision. "What? I...it's nothing."

Saleh ignored her and sat down next to her on her bunk. "It looks more like something than nothing." After a brief pause, he added, "or perhaps someone."

Fareeha turned to face him so quickly that she felt a sharp pain in her neck, but by the time she had him in sight, he already had her phone in hand. Seeing that he had already figured out what was on her mind, she didn't bother trying to hide it from him anymore. "I...just thought that...well, today..."

Saleh laughed out loud, again surprising Fareeha. "Well, I should hope so! I'd hate to think of how disappointed she'd be to not get anything from you today."

Feeling sadness stabbing at her somewhere in her chest, Fareeha instinctively turned away before her expression could be seen. "I...believe it may have been for the best. I don't believe she cared for it."

Much to Fareeha's surprise, Saleh's smile had yet to fade. "What makes you so sure?"

"I think that I may have gone too far...I may have suggested too much with this gift. What was I thinking, sending her roses? Chocolate is harmless enough, but roses?"

"That doesn't sound like a mistake to me. If you want to move forward, your first step is making your intent clear."

Fareeha couldn't help smiling a little in spite of her fear. As per usual, she found it comforting that he was right. "That sounds like it came out of a textbook. Where did you hear that?"

"You, actually. You were talking about how to acquire targets and capture strategic points, but I would say it still applies. Love and war aren't too far off from each other, after all."

Again, Fareeha found herself turning away to hide her expression, though she was forcing back a smile this time. "I don't think it's as easy as charging forward and winning, but I suppose you have a point. Thank you for...bringing it to my attention."

Saleh was now smiling more widely than ever, giving Fareeha the feeling that she was missing something. "Well, that was really just something I decided to do once I got here. I'm actually here to deliver a message...and enjoy these rare opportunities when I get to tell you that you're wrong. It's not often that I get to do it twice in the same day, after all."

Before Fareeha could ask what he was talking about, she heard a commotion coming from the hallway that seemed to be getting closer. As she turned to get a better look at the doorway and make sense of it, Saleh spoke as he stood and made his way out of the room. "By the way, the message was supposed to tell you to come outside, but it looks like she's as impatient as you are."

Fareeha raised an eyebrow in confusion as she watched Saleh disappear through the doorway. As she was standing to follow him and demand an explanation, she froze in place as she saw Angela, who was waiting for Saleh to pass before she entered. Fareeha held her breath as she took in the sight. A golden qipao hugged her curves as it fell to just above her ankles, showing off a pair of matching heels that seemed to both restart Fareeha's heart and make it beat as though it were making up for lost time. She was holding a large box of chocolates and a bouquet of red roses that was only rivaled by the color making its way to her face.

"You...are staring, Fareeha. Do you not like my dress?"

Fareeha could only blink as she attempted to process the situation. Several seconds passed before her mind caught up and she forced out a response. "I—I'm sorry, doctor. I'm just...surprised to see you here."

Angela, now wearing a scowl that Fareeha knew better than to take seriously, stormed across the room and tapped her on the head with the box of chocolates. "We discussed this!"

Fareeha laughed cheerfully. In the back of her mind, the sound was odd when she remembered how heavy her heart had been only a minute earlier. She wondered for a moment how anyone could have such an effect on her, but the significance of all other thoughts paled in comparison to the present.

"I...I'm sorry, Angela. I'll try to remember."

Angela's scowl disappeared immediately, replaced with a smile that made Fareeha wonder if she wasn't glowing. "See that you do. Fortunately, you have the rest of the evening to practice."

Fareeha blinked in confusion. "Wait...what?"

"Your present, of course. After sending me something so nice, it is only reasonable that I would give you something to thank you properly. It starts with dinner. I have...made arrangements. Your superiors were very understanding and agreed to give you the evening off."

"You...you what?" Lost for words, Fareeha could only stare at Angela as she wondered what strings she must have pulled to manage such a thing. As she stared blankly, she noticed for the first time the chocolates and roses that Angela was holding as she was carefully placing them on the bunk.

"Wait...if you're here, then how did you get those?"

"I spoke with the courier service after they contacted me to ensure that they would make the delivery. I told them I was about to board a flight and had them meet me at the airport."

"But...why would you come all the way here to thank me if you didn't know I was sending you something until you were already getting on the plane?"

Angela smiled and gave an exasperated sigh. For the second time in only a few minutes, Fareeha had the feeling that she was missing something. Angela seemed to be thinking for a moment before she responded. "I simply had faith. With you, my faith is always rewarded."

Lost for words, Fareeha simply smiled and let the matter drop. She looked around the room for fear that she would start staring again and was relieved when Angela spoke and gave her an excuse to look her way again.

"Where is your chocolate? You do have your chocolate, do you not? It is Valentine's Day, after all."

Fareeha worked for a moment to tear her thoughts away from Angela's compliment and attempt to remember having made such a promise. Another playful scowl from Angela jogged her memory and led her to run to her foot locker and retrieve a large bar of chocolate wrapped in silver foil and dark brown paper. She had little interest in chocolate, but she had promised simply because Angela thought it was important enough to ask it of her. She showed the bar of chocolate to Angela and was startled to see that she was glaring at it as though it had somehow offended her.

"That is your chocolate?"

"What's wrong with it? It's chocolate."

Angela's nose twitched in response. "That is what some less than reputable retailers would no doubt have you believe, I am sure." She bent forward to pick up the box of chocolates that she had placed on the bunk and opened the package. She looked somewhat excited as she pulled one of the chocolates out and held it to Fareeha's lips.

Well...I suppose I shouldn't keep her waiting.

Fareeha parted her lips and Angela gently pushed the chocolate forward, though she let her fingers linger as Fareeha closed her mouth. She smiled sweetly, her cheeks now a bright red. "There...see? This is chocolate."

Fareeha couldn't say that she knew one piece of chocolate from another, but she was certain that it was the best thing that she had ever tasted. Before she could finish chewing and voice the opinion, a soldier came through while reading a memo.

"Captain Amari? Do you have a minute? I need your approval for—oh!"

The soldier stopped cold as she looked up from her memo and noticed Angela for the first time. She looked back and forth between her with her arm still raised and Fareeha, who was still chewing. Before she could apologize for interrupting, Angela took Fareeha by the hand.

"My apologies, but Fareeha is my date tonight."

As the soldier nodded and quickly backed out of the room, Fareeha noticed that Angela had yet to release her hand. As she felt slender fingers lacing themselves between her own, she quickly came to conclusion that this was for the best.