Story in a nutshell: Luisa's first Sweetheart's Day with Francisco.

Authors Note: I finally saw the Sweetheart's Day episode and you might be in luck since I got two ideas from that episode. This is idea one and number 2 will be out sometime this month too. I love writing these two and I totally need to do it more.

Culture Note: there are two kinds of empanadas, the kinds with meat inside them like chicken or beef. Then there's the kinds with fillings with sweets.

Enjoy!

Luisa hummed to herself as she helped get the chocolate shop ready. Her papa was moving the large bags of flour around to make room for more supplies. Her brothers had left for school already both talking about a prank they'd play on their friend. She just rolled her eyes at the prank war that they were in the middle of.

"Thank you Luísa," said her mother, Ventura, kissing her head. "Is there anyway that could you go to the market and get more fruit for us? Your father wants to try putting chocolate on top of strawberries. I tell him it won't work but I'll let him experiment."

"Of course, mama," said Luisa taking some of the money out of the drawer. "Anything else you need?"

"If you see Tito tell him that we'll visit him and the baby soon," she said once more and kissed her daughters head.

The seventeen-year-old grabbed her basket and started to head out. "Oh, I might be home a little late," she said sheepishly. "It's sweethearts' day and I want to see if Francisco will buy me an orchid."

"You two are going to be getting serious, aren't you?" asked Ventura once more. "Do I have to have the talk with you again?"

"Mama no!" said Luisa fiercely flushing thinking about their last talk. "I'll have the fruit back as soon as I can." With that she grabbed the empanadas that she had made the night before for their lunch. She was timing it just right for when the guards went on their breaks. Francisco was a young nobleman who was friends with some of the men in the guard. They would spend time together on their lunches.

Heading to the door she smiled at her mother once more and slung the baskets on her arm. Lunch and fruit shopping. Maybe she could run into Benita or Carmen before seeing Francisco. She could use her braid fixed; her mother had done it too loose.

Skipping out the door and humming to herself she went straight to where the guards would go. Francisco nowhere to be seen right away. That didn't matter since she was early anyway and took a spot sitting on the fountains edge. The market about a five-minute walk from here.

Perfect and she was just in time to see the guards start their breaks and one of his friends. She hoped that he would be here today. Although if he had something else going on that was okay too.

In the distance she could hear someone strumming their guitar to sell orchids. She sighed hoping that he would buy her one.

She could totally wait for him to visit his brother at the gravesite. Francisco had an elder brother that had passed before he could sire any heirs. Now that Francisco wasn't training to be a doctor anymore, he was training how to be a lord himself. Luisa didn't tell him, but she knew about how he would go out with some of his noblemen friends and go on adventures.

Luísa looked at her reflection in the water and smoothed her hair out making sure there weren't any loose hairs. Then pinched her cheeks hard trying to give them some color. She wasn't allowed to wear make up so this the only way to make her look good.

"I think your smile is your best feature," said a voice from behind her. She whirled around and her pink cheeks looked even brighter when she saw him. Francisco Chale Flores-Palermo stood directly behind her.

"Oh hi Francisco I was waiting for you," she said a shy smile on her face twirling the end of her braid between two fingers. "I was about to eat my lunch; would you like to join me?"

She blinked her large green eyes up at him patting the seat next to her. Her basket of empanadas included some of his favorites. The fountain directly behind them reflected the afternoon sun hitting her in just the right way making it look like she was glowing.

"Of course," he said sitting down next to her and spotted the empanadas.

"I have sweet," she said pointing to the ones filled with pudding in the back. "And savory." Then gestured to the ones filled with different kinds of meats.

"I'll take one of each," he said starting with savory. Luisa made a note remembering that and started to share their lunch together. "These are really great, you're a fantastic cook Luisa."

"Gracias I'm glad that you think so."

You could have told her that her brothers blew up the school in that moment but that didn't matter. Francisco complimented her cooking and that made her entire morning. Every time he said something sweet to her, she cataloged it in the back of her mind to remember for later.

"You know I'd love to come by your parent's chocolate shop," said Francisco delicately. "See what you make. I'd be interested in talking with your father about business or…"

She stopped paying attention in that moment and felt her heart skip a beat. Their flirtation and small outings have been confined mostly to seeing each other at fiestas or on the town. If he wanted to see her at her parents shop or go on longer dates that meant that he was serious about her. That's what made it all the better.

"That would great," she said almost breathlessly. "I'd love to see you at the shop."

They could hear the strumming of the guitar getting closer to them. Senorita Maitea was selling orchids from her father's flower shop in the square. The name In Bloom scrawled on bag she was carrying that had orchids inside of them.

"I had something for you," said Francisco himself and produced his own purple orchid. "Would you be my sweetheart Luisa? Not just today but one day I'd to have them all with you."

What kept her from squealing and shouting yes at the top of her lungs was the fact that the square was almost packed with people. So with as much grace as she could Luisa took the flower and tucked it behind her ear.

"I'd love to have them all with you too," said Luisa and kissed his cheek gently. She glanced at the sundial at the time. Yikes she'd have to be back with the fruit and took Francisco's hand. "This might sound a little strange but would you like to come shopping with me?"

"Any more time I have with you today I am lucky to have."

With that they took hands and started to head to the market.