A/N: This story is written for a Skye/Lucas Valentine Challenge back in LJ. Karenina requested the following: "an AU fluff piece: Lucas tries to win Skye over in Terra Nova one valentine's day, or their first Valentine's day together."

This is one of the few attempts I've tried to write fluff (angst & darkfic are generally more familiar to me as a genre), so bare with me. It's set in happyhappyland (inspiration from MissJunie's The Dating Game) where everyone is alive and friends. Expect slight OOCness, because I had a really hard time getting this to work with this couple. Also this is quite longish, since I needed to work it out before I could write a Valentine's Day that would fit *them* I hope everyone enjoys nevertheless!

1. Suspicions

Valentine's Day in paradise wasn't all that nice to a single girl. Skye woke up with disappointment that morning, having somehow hoped she could've just slumbered through the day, ignored it completely. She had yet to experience a romantic Valentine's Day that wasn't spent in bed with tissues, feeling sorry for not having anyone special. Alas, she had work and couldn't skip it. With this thought returning her to the cold reality, she grimaced, pinching herself to get up and forced her body to move.

She heard Hunter and Tasha working in the kitchen, probably making breakfast together. The morning was all set up for awkward with Hunter around, pining over her like a lovesick puppy. It was like his infatuation with her had gotten worse and worse lately, as if the recent tragedies had awoken him to the fact that Skye might not be around some day. Hunter probably felt like he needed to carpe diem or something, whereas Skye was caught avoiding him because she just didn't – couldn't – see him that way.

After dressing up and fixing her hair (with extra effort spent in hiding the dark rings under her eyes), she joined her roommates in the kitchen, trying her best to convince herself and them about the potential this beautiful morning withheld. Of course once she noticed how lovely the sunshine was outside, all she could think about was all of those cuddling couples picnicking all over Terra Nova with their blankets and delicious food. So her smile ended abruptly, turning into a jaded frown.

"Morning," she said, getting a muffled response from Tasha, who was eating cereal and a strange look from Hunter. Skye took notice of it immediately, stopping in her tracks. "What is it?" she asked, piqued by the way Hunter looked at her, as if he was trying his best to keep a straight face.

"You got something," Tasha noted and pointed at the counter behind her. Skye followed her hand, noticing only now the flowers that lay on the counter. It was a bouquet of graceful flowers with long sleek petals and smooth surface. She assumed they were some kind of prehistoric equivalent of lilies. Skye approached, almost bewitched by the sight, puzzled and worried at the same time.

"These are for me?" she questioned, picking up the flowers carefully and inhaling their sweet scent. Hunter observed her reactions with displease, thinking how he'd never get her to look at him like that.

"There was a card too," he eventually said, pulling it from his pocket and waving it at Skye. Annoyance crept onto Skye's face immediately.

"What are you doing with that?" she asked, reaching for the card, only to have it snatched back playfully by Hunter. He smirked at her, finding her annoyance somewhat of a turn on.

"Come and get it," he teased her, a boyish grin on his face. She tried to snatch it a couple of times, only to have him pull it back just in time. Then she lost her patience, realizing how Hunter was luring her closer to him, and bit her teeth together, refusing to play his games.

"Give it to me now, or I'll make your Valentine's Day a living hell," she hissed at him, actually getting Hunter to stop and gawk at her surprised. Skye then snatched the card from him, satisfaction creeping to her face.

"Thanks," she said and pressed the card against her chest, retreating to the window to read it.

"So who's it from?" Tasha inquired and leaned towards Skye, whose expression had grown serious again as she read. "It doesn't say," she revealed, a hint of sadness in her voice.

You're in my heart, and I wish you'd let me in yours

She kept rereading the line over and over again, it sounded so heartfelt and sad. There was no name on the card, no strings attached to this strange confession. Skye realized she didn't know at all whom had send this to her, and it made her would feel even lonelier than twenty minutes ago. Feeling a bit wounded by this anonymous gesture, she stuffed the card to her pocket, hoping to forget about it.

But she didn't. Not even when she walked to work, passing by the happy couples holding hands, kissing and whispering lovely things to each other. Not when she changed bandages to patients and listened to their plans for the evening, something special with someone special. The note and the flowers bothered her; they didn't fit into this picture. And what kind of a person would even send something like that without revealing their identity?

Her day progressed joylessly, this mystery pressing her brain, trying to possess her. The card burned in her pocket, and she found herself looking at it during her break, wondering if she could recognize the handwriting. It didn't seem familiar though, so she abandoned that thought. She became more and more obsessed with this secret, this someone who admired her from a safe distance.

At some point Elizabeth Shannon also took notice of her absent-mindedness and decided to poke some fun at it, thinking she was merely absorbed in her Valentine.

"So is your mind in your plans for the evening already?" Elizabeth asked, having assumed that an attractive young woman like Skye would have suitors, even if her own son wasn't among them. Josh had planned a picnic with Kara for days now, as the two had been inseparable since she'd arrived to Terra Nova.

Skye shrugged at the question, defeated, "Yeah, I'll enjoy sitting in my room alone." Her tone was depressed, annoyed at the person who'd managed to make her feel even lonelier. It hadn't exactly been easy to be in Terra Nova after her secret had come out. There was a lot of suspicion going on and people tended to avoid her.

Elizabeth felt like an idiot, knowing how innocent comments could affect a girl Skye's age just the wrong way. She hadn't wanted to rub it in. "You don't have a Valentine's sweetheart?" she asked with genuine surprise and sympathy.

Skye stopped doing what she'd been doing and looked at Elizabeth for a moment. "I have a friend who's like a brother to me and wants it to be more between us. I also have a secret admirer who thinks a nameless gift is a good way to get me smiling, when really it's not. Now all I can think about is who the hell would send something to me," she explained, her voice tensing more and more as she told her what was on her mind.

Elizabeth found her burst quite endearing, remembering how she'd once had the exact same problems in life. Some things just didn't change. "You don't even have suspicion whom the gift could be from?" she inquired, ready to grasp at anything.

Skye stopped to think about it for awhile, going through the candidates again. Hunter was too jealous to be guilty, Josh had Kara, Max was with Tasha, and she'd seen no one else even give her a second look in months. Then a nagging suspicion emerged. She recalled someone, who'd been quite willing to test her comfort zone: Lucas.

Elizabeth could tell Skye had thought of something. And she saw how vehement Skye was in denying the option to herself, which couldn't be a good sign.

"What did you get anyway?" she asked, crossing her arms, attempting to distract Skye from this unwanted option for a suitor.

"White lilies. They're not exactly local so I think they got them OTG," Skye explained, having been through this in her head a few times now. Her admirer had been through some trouble to impress her, yet thought it better to hide his identity.

"Or then they went by the botanic garden in Station Six," Elizabeth suggested, finding a more believable solution. Her comment however seemed to alarm Skye further.

"You mean the Station where-" Skye started, unable to finish as the picture formed in her head. She could see Lucas Taylor in his handsome glory, spending his time in isolation with the only company that didn't challenge him: a garden.

"Where Taylor's son is currently stationed, yes," Elizabeth nodded with amusement, then quickly realizing what Skye had to be thinking. She recalled the occupation, how Lucas had gone through a lot of effort to woo Skye. Of course a sane man would've given up his intentions for her after she had shot and betrayed him, but Lucas Taylor wasn't that sane, now was he?

"You think Lucas sent the flowers?" Elizabeth asked, raising an eyebrow.

"I honestly don't know," Skye confessed, trying to grasp this theory.

They had found him in the jungle half dead and dragged him back to Terra Nova, where his recovery had been long and painful. The Phoenix Group had fled to the Badlands, but most of the Sixers had actually laid down their arms now that the gate was gone, refusing to continue fighting. Mira and Taylor had struck a deal and turned on the Phoenix Group united.

It had taken a lot of effort to forgive and forget, but most had succeeded. Taylor had stayed by his son's side, guarding his life against any threats. He hadn't wanted Lucas dead, even after his son had stabbed him. It had probably helped that Lucas' greatest sin – the execution of Alicia Washington – had turned out to be a set up to get Taylor to expose himself. Washington had actually been restrained in the infirmary, suffering from a killer headache.

It had taken Lucas a few weeks to get back on his feet, but he was still the outcast of the group. Skye heard he'd suggested the farthest outpost himself, hoping to co-exist with his father with the help of distance. Taylor had taken the offer and Lucas had left. It'd been two months since Skye had last seen him for real: that proud gaze, quick wits and his surreal green eyes. She did recall spotting him at the colony a few times though, lost in thought, appearing less intense somehow. But those were just glimpses.

She'd treated him while he was sick, being one of the few who'd been willing despite his actions. And with time he hadn't seemed to terrifying, just lonely. Skye knew Lucas talked to his father at least once a week, reporting in from the outpost. Taylor told her about their conversations every now and then, as if trying to prove Lucas was able to change, to become a good person again.

And she knew he'd had feelings for her, some strange attraction, or a budding trust. It'd been so overwhelming back then; she hadn't really felt comfortable around him, despite his attempts. But the more she thought about it, the more sense it made that Lucas could be her secret Valentine.

Elizabeth observed her, recognizing that fragile blush. It meant trouble, especially when connected to the Commander's unstable, estranged son. Yet she kept her mouth, wondering if it was such a bad thing for Skye to know someone cared, even if it was someone like him.

"Well good luck finding out," she smiled, patting Skye's shoulder before she slipped away, leaving Skye alone and confused.

The rest of her shift didn't really work any better. Now instead of a mystery admirer, she kept thinking about Lucas, coddled up in his research station alone, pining after her. It didn't add up. She'd shot him, denied his advances, betrayed him. Why would he still hold feelings for her?

Then an idea came to her, a troubling one. Why couldn't she ask him herself? Well, obviously she'd need to go by rover and she didn't exactly have the trust of the colony these days. There had to be some way to get to him, confront him about this. And as Malcom Wallace passed her by deep in thought, she realized what she had to do.

Skye went after him, following Malcom to the lab and stopping right next to him, waiting for him to take notice of her. She was looking straight at him, leaning against the table in a casual manner. Against all odds Skye realized she was also supporting an excited smile.

Malcom eventually turned to look at her warily. "And how can I help you Skye?" he asked, hoping her problem would be easy to solve. He actually had a date he didn't want to miss and tons of things to do before his work day was over.

"You make deliveries to the outposts all the time don't you?" Skye asked, pleased with her quick thinking. Her demeanor was completely different from a few minutes ago, now she practically radiated confidence. To Malcom however, this was not a good sign.

"Yes, all the time," he admitted sourly, wondering if she could just make her request and get lost as quickly as possible. Skye had the ability to weave people around her finger effortlessly, and he didn't want to be fooled by her – not tonight.

"You don't happen to have a delivery bound to Station Six waiting, now do you?" The question sounded innocent, yet it was anything but.

Malcom felt his good mood vanish instantaneously. He sighed in defeat, "What do you want with Lucas, Skye?"

Skye tried to avert her eyes under his scrutiny, but found it difficult. There really was nothing she could say to make it seem harmless, was there? She was a former co-conspirator of his and he was guarded. Just asking this seemed suspicious. She pursed her lips, feeling uncomfortable with what she was about to say.

"I just want to see him. No planning for a military coup and no scheming, I promise," she admitted.

Malcom didn't look convinced. Yet he felt the strange urge to believe her. Taylor had made him vow he would keep a closer eye on her, but for once Malcom didn't think Skye was a repeat offender. Also he did have a delivery that needed to be made today, and he didn't want to do it himself. The drive was long, the company rude and suffering from a superiority-complex (even if Malcom were to admit that Lucas was more intelligent than he was – which he never would) and it didn't really mesh well with his plans.

He couldn't believe he was actually considering this. She seemed sincere though, like there wasn't a bad bone in her body. Malcom rolled his eyes, succumbing to temptation, "Fine, you can make the delivery I was going to do."

Skye's heart jumped, her brain forgetting for a moment that she was joyous over the chance of meeting Lucas of all people. She felt like dancing, or making a wave with her hands, but her celebration was cut short when Malcom added, "But you will get clearance at the gate, activate your tracker, and keep it short."

Ah yes, the trackers. One of Taylor's brilliant ideas was to punish her and Lucas, and several other members of the colony who were on probation with trackers. They were implanted and went on automatically during unauthorized visits outside the gates. When one left the colony with clearance, the trackers also went on, but there was no alert. Now Skye knew Taylor checked the logs almost religiously nowadays, paranoid in the light of the betrayals of the past. He would know exactly where she'd gone to.

"Fine," she agreed, despite her hesitation. "I promise to behave."

Malcom swallowed the rebuttal on the edge of his tongue, choosing not to rile her up. Perhaps she needed a little trust for a chance? It wasn't like she was very popular these days. Some patients even refused to be treated by her, or so Elizabeth had told him. A wave of sympathy passed through him. Her mother's treatment had been working better so far, and she could spend entire days outside by now, but she was still far from healthy.

"Alright then," he smiled, taking a few steps to pick up a sealed box from the table. He placed it in Skye's hands, the huge box barely fitting into her arms. "These are the samples you need to take him. Have him sign the form, chat, have some coffee and hurry home."

Skye teetered a bit when she tried to hold the box still. Her arms shook nevertheless, and she had to bend her back to get the box into her arms. This wasn't going to be easy, now was it?

"Whatever you say, boss," she groaned at him, sneering with pain as she lifted the box back on the table. A few loose strands of her hair escaped her ponytail, framing her face and she blew at them to get them off her face. Malcom observed her labor with surprising glee. Had she actually done a favor for him?

Skye narrowed her eyes in frustration and asked, "Don't tell me I just saved your Valentine?"

"That you did," Malcom admitted with glee, walking past her incredibly satisfied. Skye on the other hand felt like throwing herself on the box and never picking herself up. Was everyone on this damn colony suddenly lovesick like birds during spring?

An hour later she'd gotten herself a rover, the codes to it, Malcom's signed permission slip and was ready to go. There were still hours of daylight left, and the couples were all outside enjoying the sunlight, which didn't exactly help her. But on top of that she just had to run into Josh and Kara while she was gathering her things.

"Hey Skye!" Kara greeted her with warmth, being as awesome as always and making it impossible to hate her. Skye had had some feelings for Josh, but they were gone now. She'd realized Josh meant business with her, when he'd turned Skye down without even having the certainty he'd see Kara again. Skye had to respect that kind of commitment, even if she was a little envious of their happiness.

"Hey," Skye greeted lazily, unwilling to stay and chat for long. Josh also looked eager to get to their picnic. He'd been planning it for days.

"What are you up to?" Kara asked, holding onto Josh's forearm gently. It was the most natural thing for them; they made their relationship seem so complete, happy.

"I'm actually due to go on a supply run," Skye explained, suspicion of Kara's sympathetic look sneaking into her mind. Please don't invite me with you, she begged silently, unable to withstand the possible humiliation.

"Oh, that's too bad. You could've come with us, we have plenty of food," Kara said, frowning a bit. It was just too much, that look of disappointment. Skye felt like a jerk, until she saw Josh's face. Clearly his idea of a romantic Valentine wasn't having Skye tag along.

"Well, you'll have a great time together, and we'll just hang some other time," Skye said, flashing a strained smile.

Josh mouthed her a silent 'thank you' before he looked at Kara with completely different demeanor. "That's too bad, Skye. We'll definitely have that rain check," he said, sounding sincere, even if Skye knew he wasn't one bit sorry.

Kara was only one who seemed genuinely sad, as the moment stretched on. Skye then realized she had to tear herself away and get going.

"Well, you two have a wonderful evening. I need to get going," she quipped, and turned around while she still could. She then made a run for it and refused to look back, fearing she'd be pulled right back into a happy couples retreat if she didn't resist.

Skye didn't allow herself to relax until she was back at the rover and had checked that everything was in order. The samples were in the backseat, Malcom's forms settled next to her on the passenger seat. She'd also gotten a sonic gun from Malcom, something he'd insisted because of the wildlife, even though it was quite clear Malcom was more worried about Lucas than some hungry dinosaur. Skye had accepted the gun, albeit finding it very unlikely she would have to use it, especially on her secret Valentine.

She observed herself in the mirror for a moment, silently asking herself if it was a smart thing to go to him alone. But the words on the card haunted her; they were so simple, so honest. She needed to know for sure if it had been Lucas (not that there were many other viable options). So she started the car and headed for the gate, feeling the excitement in the bottom of her stomach. She'd missed the exhilaration of her previous lifestyle, even if it'd been dangerous and brought her almost nothing but harm. Life nowadays just seemed so ordinary.

She was stopped at the gate, and the guard gave her a long look while he went through Malcom's papers. Obviously he suspected foul play, yet couldn't ask Skye about it. "I'll have to call the Commander, new policy," he explained, turning the channel on his radio and drying Skye's throat. What if Taylor said no?

"Commander, we have an authorized supply run from Malcom Wallace to Outpost Six. The delivery is being made by Skye Tate. How should I proceed, over?" the soldier spoke into his radio patiently. Skye's nerves were under pressure, she feared it would end right here, despite her preparations.

The line on the other end remained quiet though, as if Taylor was hesitating. Skye could imagine his contemplative face; it had to be the same one he had when she made an unexpected move in chess that puzzled him. It'd been awhile since their last game, nowadays Lucas was pretty much all Taylor talked about, apparently finding no one else who was willing to listen besides Skye. She didn't mind listening, it'd become an interesting part of her week.

"Let her go," Taylor's voice responded a moment later. It felt good to be trusted again, like she might one day get back to the way things had been between them: No extra questions, no backtracking her steps and suspecting her every move. Just trust.

"You're good to go," the soldier said, motioning them to let her pass. Skye nodded back at him weakly, not sure what she was doing. The rover got going slowly but once she got through the gate, she put more speed on her, eager to get away from Terra Nova.

TBC