Happy Valentine's Day!

So I could only work on one thing at a time. I decided to put this out before the Valentine's Anthology for Ellamena who has been waiting so patiently. I will try to get the other story out soon.

I do not own.

It was only fair. She was always dragging Caesar to car shows and rock concerts even though she knew he didn't care much for them. So it was only fair that she go to the world's most boring geology expo ever on Valentine's Day. That's what Beverly kept telling herself as she passed through the umpteenth row of sandstone with Caesar. She knew that Caesar was not the most romantic person in the world but she was hoping for something a little less prosaic on this supposed day of love.

When they reached the igneous rock section, Beverly was fairly sure that she was going to die of boredom.

"So… how much longer are we staying?" She finally asked Caesar. It didn't help that he was silent the whole entire trip.

"They still haven't made their big announcement yet." Caesar answered while examining a shiny black rock. "Why? Are you bored?"

"No, no, just wondering. We've been here…" She checked her watch… Shoot! Has it only been an hour? It felt like she's been there forever. "… awhile and haven't really done anything yet."

"Well, they're rocks. They don't do much." Caesar answered matter-of-factly as he headed down another aisle.

Beverly blinked at him before jogging to catch up to him. "But usually when we go… places you like to have an agenda… written on a spreadsheet… color coded."

"Oh, I thought that I'd try to be spontaneous today." Caesar said. "Here hold this." He handed her a rock he had picked up off the table.

"You are spontaneous… with your experiments and inventions." Beverly reminded him. It was true. When inspiration strikes, Caesar would drop everything and run to his lab. Which unfortunately Beverly learned the hard way, when they were in the middle of a chicken fight in the pool.

"Hmm, como?" He asked looking up at her from whatever he was staring at before.

"Nothing." Beverly sighed.

"Oh look, they're starting." He grabbed her hand and led them to a stage.

"What are we doing?" Beverly asked he pulled them up the front of the stage.

A man in a suit walked to the podium. "Welcome to the 34th annual Geological World Exposition."

Everyone politely clapped. The man waited for the applause to stop. "I am pleased to start off the festivities with a special dedication. Someone rolled out a cart with a sheet over it. The man walked over and dramatically pulled the sheet off. Beverly gasped. It was a large pink quartz heart.

"Dr. Caesar Salazar would like to wish his lady friend a Happy Valentine's Day." He said with a smile.

Beverly's mouth dropped. She turned to Caesar who nervously fiddled with his cuffs.

"You made that for me?" She asked surprised.

"Well, not really make. We were on a dig and I happen upon some cordate quartz. I thought of you." He said looking at his shoes. Beverly lifted his chin so that his eyes met hers.

"I love it. Thank you." She smiled.

He smiled too. "I'm glad."

"Miss Beverly Holiday, please come and get your present." The man interrupted them.

Beverly looked up and Caesar gently pushed her up on stage. "Now, if something is gneiss, don't take it for granite." The man joked as he handed the rock to Beverly.

Beverly staggered back from the weight. It definitely was heavier than it looked.

People at the convention center laughed at the joke. Beverly hoped her smile did not look like a grimace because it was horrible. She stumbled back down where people stood around her commenting on the gift. Caesar came over and gave her a hand.

"We can go home now." He said as he walked through the crowd.

"Really? That's it?" She asked bemused.

"Well, unless you want to spend Valentine's Day at a geology convention…" Caesar smirked.

"Well, it is where my boyfriend likes to spend his time." She replied.

"Me? Goodness no. Rocks are the more boring aspect of science." He shifted the rock to one side of his body. "But sometimes you find something… surprising that inspires you." He smiled at her.

Beverly felt her stomach flutter. "Well, I hope that inspiration includes dinner." She tried to joke to hide the fact she was getting flustered.

"Of course." Caesar agreed. "Hungry?"

"Yes." Beverly replied.

"I think we can arrange for something." He said still smiling. Beverly slipped her arm through the crook of his and leaned in. His smile broadened as they exited the building.