Valentines Day. You couldn't miss it, everywhere you turned it was hitting you in the face. Roses, hearts, expensive dinners, jewellery sales reminding everyone that if you were in a relationship how much you loved your partner was directly related to how much you spent. And if you were alone, well then how depressing was that?

Kim's mind was cast back to last year's Valentines Day. Depressing was one way to put it. She had spent the day alone and miserable having just ended a relationship that she had high hopes for. It followed a familiar pattern, which always ended in bitter disappointment and hurt. However, it seemed it was always her heart that was hurting.

Obviously this year was going to be different…well at least she hoped it would be. However she had always found the forced and faked emphasis on romance somewhat tasteless. If you love someone tell them everyday or any day and show them with your actions.

She liked to think that she told Adam often how much he meant to her, how much she loved him and she liked to leave him with no doubt everyday she possibly could by the things she said and did for him and not just in the bedroom.

It wasn't that she did not like a little bit of romance, but how much did it actually mean on a day when every other person on the planet was told to do exactly the same thing. It could happen, and should happen at anytime, that's what made it romantic; unexpected moments were romantic. Valentines Day was not.

"You and Ruzek got something planned tonight?" Roman interrupted her thoughts. They were having particularly quiet day on the beat. Perhaps having love in the air had chilled everyone out.

"I hope not." She handed him the last half of the doughnut they had being sharing. "Just the usual, probably a drink at Molly's then home."

Roman raised one eyebrow as he took a shoved the last of the donut in his mouth. "Really?" it came out all muffled as he chewed.

Burgess shrugged. "It's not my thing. It's all a bit overblown and tacky."

Adam had gone back and forth about what to do. Sure he hated the full-blown clichéd dinner, roses and champagne festivities of Valentines Day, but from past experiences it was what women wanted. Certainly Wendy loved it all. Kim was different, or at least he thought she was. That worried him somewhat because everyone kept asking him what he was planning and he hadn't planned anything.

He was sitting at his desk, chair pushed back and feet up on the desk eating his lunch. Atwater was the only other person in the room. "We went out on the weekend and had a quiet romantic dinner."

"You?" he laughed. "Quiet and romantic are not two words I would use with you."

"Hey Man, I can be romantic. You'd be surprised, she loves it when I get my romance on."

The dinner had been great. They went back to the restaurant that he had first taken her to when their relationship was still young and they were dating in secret. A little champagne and a walk along the lakefront on the way home had rounded out a perfect night.

And then there were the little things that he did. Opening doors for her, making her coffee in the mornings, even when they weren't going to work together, calling her every night when they were apart just to say goodnight, leaving her favourite cookies in her work bag and of course she still had the photo of their entwined hands that he had given her beside her bed.

They were meeting at Molly's after shift. As a last minute decision he scribbled something down on a piece of paper and shoved it in his wallet. Making a quick stop at home he dropped off some shopping and headed out to the pub.

Kim was already there, with Roman and Atwater and Halstead. They were laughing pretty hard when he arrived. Slipping into the chair next to Kim he kissed her cheek quickly whilst the rest of the table jeered him.

"So this is your idea for Valentine's Day. Ruzek you suck." Halstead offered helpfully. Kim blushed a little. She had made it pretty obvious that she expected nothing.

He slipped something in Kim's back pocket and whispered in her ear. 'Read it later.'

She rested her hand on her back pocket protectively. Quietly excited about what it was. She tried to ignore it but eventually gave up and slipped away to the bar to buy another round. While waiting she pulled out the small piece of paper and unfolded it.

'Everyday I spend with you is beautiful, amazing and sexy. I go to sleep each night excited about the next day because of you. I love you, I adored you yesterday, I adore you today and will adore you tomorrow. A, xxx'

Kim couldn't stop the smile that spread across her face. She turned to look back at Adam and he was smiling at her. She asked for a napkin and pen and wrote on it. Tucking it in her bra strap she carried the drinks back to the group and then handed Adam the note.

'You are everything.'

"Are we interrupting your hot date?" Roman asked noting the sappy little scene across the table.

"You wish. She was just telling me how hot I am and giving me her number.' Ruzek shot back quickly as Kim playfully slapped his arm.

The group spent the evening laughing about previous failed romantic attempts, mercilessly critiquing the obvious couples in the bar having their Valentine's Day, trying to pick who was on a first date and who were in trouble due to the lameness of choosing Molly's as an option for a romantic night out. Molly's and romance just did not go together.

Adam and Kim skipped out early. "You know they are going to talk about us, right?" Kim reminded him as they walked towards his car.

"Not for the first time I'm sure." He shrugged. Opening the door for Kim before slipping into the driver's seat and leaning over to kiss her softly. "Sad lonely men."

"Thank you for the note."

"I meant every word." He picked up her hand that was resting on his knee and pressed it to his lips. Kim slipped an arm around his shoulder and curled her fingers through the small curls that were forming at the back of his neck. Adam had mentioned that he was in desperate need of a haircut but just didn't have the time to squeeze it in. His mouth curled up at the corners into a sweet smile.

Kim had always loved his smile but lately there seemed to be something else to them, just for her, somehow deeper like his soul was shining through and whenever she saw it her heart just skipped a beat.

When they got back to Adam's place Kim assumed that it wouldn't be long until they were in the bedroom. That part of their relationship was pretty constant, better and deeper but they shared the same level of enthusiasm.

"Happy Valentine's Day Darlin'." He whispered as he pulled her into a tight embrace and kissed her softly. Surprisingly he stepped away and led her towards to sofa before disappearing into the kitchen and pouring them a whiskey. Lately he had convinced Kim to try whiskey and they often shared one after dinner. He loved how she was willing to try things just because he liked them. On the flip side he had done some things that he never thought he would….Yoga, it was surprisingly more intense and fun than he thought.

He brought the drink over; he loved how they shared the same glass, passing it between them wordlessly. "I want to talk to you for a bit." He started nervously. "I wasn't sure what to do about today. Everyone was telling me that I needed to go big; you know the whole shebang. Something told me that wasn't you, that wasn't us and what we have become."

"The letter and this…." she squeezed his hand. "…is perfect."

"Are you sure? You didn't want the whole shebang?"

"This is the whole shebang. I got you something though." She leapt up from the sofa and grabbed her bag. Inside she pulled out a large jar filled with Pop sticks. He looked at it quizzically. Tied to the lid there was a note. 'Let's see what the future brings.'

Kim stopped him from opening the lid so she could explain what it meant. "Inside there are pop sticks with a task written on it. The blue ones are for you meaning it is something you need to do and the pink are for me. Each week we take it in turns to pull out a stick and we have to complete whatever it says. I have no idea what's in there, I didn't write them. Josie organised it for me." She looked at him nervously. "Do you like it?"

He threw his head back and laughed. "I think I might just love you a little more."

Kim swallowed the last of the whiskey in one go and leant in for a kiss and he could taste the remnants of the warm liquid on her lips. The kiss was long and slow and deep. As her body pressed against his the heat rose between them and his heart started to race. Kim suddenly stopped and pulled a pop stick from her pocket. "This is the first one."

"What does it say?" Adam asked eagerly as his hands slipped beneath her shirt and stroked her back.

Kim batted her eyes at him seductively. "It says you are not allowed to touch me." Instantly he removed his hand and grabbed at the stick. "What the fuck?"

It actually said. "Sex is on the menu, but he can't touch you with his hands" Adam groaned dramatically but was definitely keen. This was going to kill him, not being able to touch her with his hands but on the other hand Kim was pretty good at knowing how to blow his mind so he would just have to lie back and let her go despite the fact it was going to be near on impossible. She led him through to the bedroom, slapping his hands away "If you don't behave I will have to use my handcuffs." She warned him before pulling out her police issue cuffs and laying them on the side table.

Adam relented and let her take over, holding his hands tightly behind his head and at times it was hard not touching her because he could spend hours trawling over her body, stroking, touching, massaging, exploring every inch. But then she didn't need any help from him to get them both whipped into frenzy and he loved every minute of it.

When she rested her forehead on his as her breathing returned to normal he could wait no longer and grabbed each side of her face with his hands and bought her in for a soft kiss. "You are the most incredible woman I have ever met. Thank you for being in my life, for being my lover and being my best friend."

"You are surprisingly easy to love."

He heard Kim gasp when she went into the bathroom and he loved the huge smile on her face as she came back and jumped on the bed. "You did that for me?" she squealed.

"I did." Sitting in the bathroom were all her favourite toiletries, her shampoo and conditioner, body wash and lotion, tinted moisturiser and her favourite perfume. All brand new bottles, neatly lined up ready for her. "For one you always look and smell incredible and secondly when you are not here I can still be reminded of you."

"You are adorable, you know that." Kissing him repeatedly "Thank you." She snuggled into his side, effortlessly sinking into his embrace comfortably resting her head on his shoulder. "I think we nailed this Valentine's Day thing."

"Almost."

"You didn't like it?" Kim tilted her head up to look at him as he started running his fingers up and down her arm before edging across her collarbone and tracing a line down her chest.

"Oh, I loved it but now it's my turn."

"Are you going to grab a pop stick?"

He laughed "No, but I know where I want to pop my stick." And Kim squealed as he flipped her over and pinned her to the bed.

Yep, you didn't need flowers, chocolates and expensive gifts to make Valentines Day Special.