Title: Old Habits New Traditions
Summary: The Young and the Restless/Heroes crossover. With her first real Valentine, Elle thinks back to the first time she heard about Valentine's Day.
Pairing: Adam Wilson/Elle Bishop
Characters: Elle, Candice, Adam mentions Candice/Thompson
Rating: PG-13
Spoilers: None
Word Count: 410
Disclaimer: The Young and the Restless nor Heroes are owned by me, but by CBS and Tim Kring. I'm simply borrowing these characters for non-profit entertainment.
A/N: Familiar with one character and not the other? No worries. All you really need to know is that they're two sociopaths with daddy issues who both know a thing or two about imprisonment. Oh, and VM fans would recognize this Adam as a former Neptune Sheriff ;) Title's thanks to my bestie, thanks, bud!
*flashback*
"Daddy never told you about Valentine's Day?" Candice asked now teenaged Elle Bishop.
Elle shook her head as Candice seemed to be painting her face with half of the items in her purse.
Candice sighed as she looked to the girl behind her in the mirror. She had been getting ready for a date with Thompson when Elle wandered in. She couldn't believe the things Bob kept her from, but somehow she had almost ended up becoming the girl's big sister in some strange way.
"Valentine's Day is a day that's supposed to be all about romance. Like the one day of the year you can feel like you're getting that fairy tale. It's where boys are pretty much obligated to give the women in their lives flowers, candy and sometimes jewelry. If the boys want to keep the women that they most likely don't shower that kind of affection on throughout the rest of the year, at least. More than anything it's an excuse to get all dressed up and be paraded around town in a way that shows what men are willing to do to get laid," Candice explained.
Despite her sheltered upbringing, at fifteen Elle knew what Candice meant by 'laid' (ironically thanks to Candice) so she didn't ask. "So that's why people have been going around all week asking if the others would be their Valentine?"
"Yep," she answered as she finished applying her lipgloss.
Feeling defeated at no one having asked her, knowing it was likely no one ever would given that Daddy had all but told her these things weren't for her, Elle wandered away to her room without another word.
*end flashback*
"Hey, you all right over there?" Adam asked her, catching her lost in her thoughts.
Elle smiled at the realization of who's voice it was bringing her back to reality as well as the fact that this was her reality now. No more Company, no more being told that love wasn't for her. Beside Adam, in his bed at the ranch, she smiled as she turned to face him.
"Better than okay," she answered as she curled her arm around his bare waist and snuggled closer to him. "Happy Valentine's Day, Adam."
Smiling, he told her, "Happy Valentine's Day, Elle," before he kissed the girl who had lit up so many of his nights and days since he met her the night of that fateful summer storm.
The End