Well Happy Valentine's Day all! This is...well, I dont know what this is, but it came to me while stuck outside in the cold courtesy of yet another fire alarm in my student digs. Got to love them! ¬.¬

Anyhoo, this is just a quick little Valentine's present from me to thee for y'all being so gorgeous with your reviews. I cant thank you enough! So anyway, this doesnt exactly fall into what I had planned, but it found a hole in my brain and sat there until I could get to my computer.

Special thanks to Sammie Dizzy-Dreamer for the tidbits and the 5am text ;) Love ya hun xx Get betterer too! xx

It was probably the sound she hated the most.

Some might say nails down a chalkboard, others would say phones in a movie theatre (even if they're just on vibrate), but for Stella it was the sound of an alarm clock waking her up on a cold Tuesday morning.

Of course, the sound was equally annoying on Wednesday through Monday, but this Tuesday was Valentine's day to boot. She could remember the days when she'd wake up on February 14th to breakfast in bed from a then boyfriend; or even just to the actual boyfriend, instead of the uninviting chill of a half empty mattress.

It's just another day, she told herself, trying to stop dwelling on the fact that the only things waiting for her in the mailbox were utility bills and religious pamphlets. Just another day.

Stella thought about what actually lay ahead on this 'normal' day. Chad would have no doubt affixed paper hearts over the lab again, and everyone would have happy smiles on their faces courtesy of their loved ones.

And not to mention it's Crime of Passion Day for New York City! Kill one loved one and probably kill another!

Valentine's Day sucks.

Oh, wait, she has a new sound to add the 'Most Hated' list, the doorbell.

Stella twisted under the covers to read the clock. Who would be at the door at 7.30am?

She threw the duvet back with a grunt and padded over to the door, smoothing down her hair as she went. When she reached the door, she tried to relax her eyes from the early morning scowl, to not much avail.

"Stella Bonasera?" The man asked. He was dressed in a navy blue shirt with matching shorts and his blue baseball cap bore the words 'iFlorist'. It was then that she noticed the bouquet of flowers under his arm.

Actually, they weren't exactly a bouquet, but a beautiful pale pink vase with lilies and carnations cascading down the sides. "Ms Bonasera?" he asked again.

"Yeah, that's me" she managed to utter, taking the clipboard from his outstretched hand. She signed her name and gave it back, as he passed her the flowers.

"Happy Valentine's Day" he smiled, jogging back to the van. No doubt he had a million other deliveries to do today.

"You too" she chuckled, closing the door. She put the vase on the side table, finally able to give them a proper look.

They really were gorgeous. Different shades of pink, lilac and reds shone from the green borders at varying stages of life. But it was the fragrance they expelled that was the most beautiful.

In her perusal, she spotted a card buried deep within the floral array.

Stella,

I couldn't let you wake up today with the usual grumpy Valentine's mood, especially when I'm not there to snap you out of it.

Thank you for everything you're doing for me, I will make it up to you somehow, I promise.

See you soon,

All my love,

Mac

Well that's a turn up for the books! Mac 'snapping her out of it' usually meant a coffee and Galaxy chocolate bar from the Break Room vending machines. And even though a Galaxy was her favourite, this definitely, without a doubt, surpassed all other Valentine's Days.

A smile had spread across her features and she was suddenly more awake and happy than she'd been at this time for years. She'd forgotten just how much of a sweetheart Mac could be at times. When Claire was still alive, that side of him was pretty much a constant, but since…not so much.

Stella fingered some of the flowers, relishing in the satin texture, before pulling a small selection from the vase. She didn't remove enough to make a big gap in the display, but enough to make a colourful addition to Claire's grave site.

It seemed only right to give some to Claire, this being the first Valentine's Day when Mac couldn't do it himself.

She'd do that later. Right now, she was going to have a shower, some breakfast and a generally great day.