No, I did not forget Valentine's Day! Any holiday that celebrates chocolate and love is a very good thing!

I love the Conversation Hearts, those uber-sweet, tiny candies with little sayings on them. So instead of the traditional Valentine story, I chose to pull 5 out of a box and write a little snippet about each of our friends at CBI. Make sense?

DISCLAIMER: I will own the weight I will gain eating the chocolate my husband buys, but that's it!

VALENTINE'S DAY - Conversation Hearts

Cho - Angel

Now that he was dating, Kimball Cho knew he would have to do the whole Valentine's Day thing. He wouldn't take her out for some cheesy overpriced dinner. Too obvious, crowded and boring. He would cook for her. It would be easy to cook, delicious and with a little heat. There was nothing like food with a little heat to make a woman want more wine and less clothes. No one ever called Kimball Cho a fool.

The meal was perfect. Women always loved a man cooking for them. It was at dessert she surprised him. He wasn't surprised at getting a card, but the little heart that fell out. It was a horrid shade of orange with pinky red writing stamped on it. "Angel" it read. He looked up a little perplexed.

"Someone brought in a box of those to our study group. I pulled this one our first and it made me think of you. You may not know it, but Saint Michael the Archangel is the patron Saint of Police officers. Strong, protector of the hurt and innocent. I know this is sappy, but I sometimes think you have more of that in you. You, Kimball are that kind of angel."

She leaned in an kissed him lightly on the lips. "Oh and any man who is willing to cook for me, is absolutely an angel"

Cho smiled fully, something he did so rarely. At that moment, she knew he was thinking less than angelic thoughts, but really, she didn't mind.

Lisbon - Ask Me

Teresa forced herself not to snort and roll her eyes at the heart shaped donuts the coffee shop had on display. She hated Valentine's Day. There was nothing like a holiday celebrating romantic love when you were not in a relationship. She got asked out and dated occasionally, but most men couldn't handle her hours and job. And if she were being entirely honest here, they couldn't handle her. She was so used to being in control and in charge. That was how her life had worked for so long that it was who she was. The men who were willing to let her take control usually wanted a mommy figure.

Romance was seriously lacking these days. Damn! Why did that man's face pop into her head every time she thought about her love life? It wasn't as if they could have a relationship. She had just thrown the book at Van Pelt and Rigsby for that very thing. And even if they could date, she wasn't really sure he wanted her. The man was probably still in love with his wife, right? But then, he would buy her strawberries and chocolate and look at her sometimes. Yeah, she caught some of those looks. Damn! She couldn't make the first move.

She got into the office and caught one of those little smiles again. Not his big cheesy for the public smile, but that little one that actually reached his eyes. It was those moments she just wanted to scream at him. What was he thinking? Was he interested? Did he think she wouldn't say yes? Ask me, Damnit, just ask!

She knew, rules be damned, exactly how she would answer.

Jane - Love Lasts

The paper hearts on the door of the Kitchen cabinet were another reminder of time gone by to Patrick Jane. Another mark on a calendar that mocked his inability to avenge their deaths. Another reminder of how that quest for vengeance had changed him. Changed how he viewed Love and Romance and all that. He knew he believed in it. Rigsby and Van Pelt trying to have that love while fighting a rule set that forbade it showed him it still existed. Was he capable himself of feeling that again. He knew he still did. His love for his wife and child would never leave him. That kind of love just lasted. It was a part of him forever. But what about the future? He was afraid to look there. He had to keep his eye on the goal and only that. Because when he took his eyes off and glanced over, there she was.

He knew that if he looked too long, he would lose sight of that goal. She was the one woman in all these lonely years that could do that to him. He had killed for her. Making her happy had become too important to him. He delighted in her tart exterior, and felt elated at forcing her sweet interior to come out.

The paper heart suddenly seemed cruel. It mocked his past love and taunted him with the possibility of a future love. Both were the kind that lasted. With a speed born of years of practice in slight of hand, the cabinet door was bare. He couldn't stop this holiday, but at least getting tea would not be a constant reminder. He didn't need any of those.

Van Pelt - Let's Kiss

Red satin boxers? She knew he would wear them, and look amazing, but it seemed a little cheesy. The big silver Kiss, however, she could just see his delight in that little gift. Yeah, he was more the chocolate kind of guy. And a big kiss, well that was Wayne. Everything he did was big and oh, could that man kiss.

She remembered that first kiss. Even though he was under a hypnotic suggestion, it was amazing. She realized so much later, that he always kissed the same way. He would cup his large hands around her face, as if he were afraid she was going to pull away. Now whenever he had his hands on her face she flushed.

They were large and strong, those rough hands of his. She had seen him grab and cuff with them and cradled around the grip of his gun. His nails were always kept short and clipped. He hated the feeling of things catching on them. That he controlled all that power and cradled her head between them like delicate china was such a rush.

And then his mouth would brush hers just once, as if asking for permission. Then he would slowly and firmly settle his lips on hers. From the first, she had opened and responded to him. He tasted and savored every bit of her mouth. He was in complete control, but allowed her to taste and savor him as well. That first kiss haunted her dreams for months.

When she finally pulled him into that darkened office and kissed him again, Grace knew she had not exaggerated the potency of his lips in her mind. Kissing Wayne Rigsby was going to be her favorite indoor sport.

As a hand reached over her in the crowded store to grab that last oversized Chocolate Kiss, without thinking she pushed it aside and secured it for herself. She could almost taste the combination of Wayne and Chocolate now. That would be her Valentine's gift to herself!

Rigsby - My Girl

He found himself humming as he wandered through the mall agonizing over what to buy her. Wayne knew he wasn't smooth. He always stepped on his own tongue. But he was determined to find something that would melt her heart.

The jewelry stored seemed the obvious first stop, but the sales woman was a little creepy. She only wanted to show him really expensive things. He stammered something and got out fast. All he wanted to get her was one of those heart necklaces the women on TV cooed over in the ads.

The lingerie store display caught his eye. He spent a happy moment imagining Grace in that black lace number, but he thought what she would think about him buying it. Yeah, they were sleeping together, but lingerie? Those guys coming out of the store all looked like pervs to him.

Candy? She did have a sweet tooth. Of course he would get her roses and chocolate, but what else? He was about to give up when he heard a squealing and screaming. A group of teenaged girls were in a storefront that had been loaned out by the mall to an animal shelter. They were cooing over a cage of kittens. Wandering in for a moment, he peered over their heads at the cage. Cute. In a cage over to the side was a large grey cat with gold eyes surveying the madness. Wayne walked over and was surprised to see the cat lean it's head toward the bars and purr loudly.

"Oh, she wants you to pet her. She is such a sad case. The people lost their home and couldn't afford her anymore. We see that a lot now. The real problem is that it is so hard to place the older ones. She is so friendly and sweet. The woman said she always slept on her feet at night."

The voice belonged to a middle-aged woman with graying curls in every direction. Opening the cage she pulled the placid cat out and handed it to Wayne. The cat reached up a paw and tapped Wayne's face. Then giving a small meow, she began to purr loudly as she rubbed her face against his neck. Wayne found himself smiling down at the woman.

"She is friendly. I thought cats were snobby."

"Yeah not all of htem are. She likes you. We have a special today. If you adopt an older cat like this, we give you all the equipment you need. She has already been fixed and had shots. Wouldn't she make a great Valentine?"

Wayne suddenly remembered Grace talking about missing the cat she had back in Iowa. She had said she wanted another, but kittens were so much work.

"What's her name?"

The woman pointed to the front of the cage. A bright red heart told all the information, age and it sad story. But at the top, in white sparkly writing said "My Girl". Wayne smiled as he realized the song he had been humming was "My Girl"

He just found the perfect gift. He would give "My Girl" to my girl.

Ok, a little sap, a little angst and a lot of fluff. Happy Valentine's day to you all Remember, reviews equal love!!!