AN: For those that didn't know, I was multi-tasking and writing another fanfiction (To Be Remade) at the same time as this. I finished it so updates should be a bit more common with this one now if school doesn't come up behind me to fast and at the very least I will be more concentrated on this as well. With that said, I hope you enjoy!

In the end Lily was happy to be the scapegoat, claiming a near life threatening incident that caused both James and Alastair to leave so suddenly. Kenton didn't buy it but if Nnenna didn't, she didn't show it, and everyone else of importance believed the story enough.

Then in the upcoming weeks, and months, the frequent reminder that Kenton was married finally slipped from shocking and odd to a normal thought that barely crossed Alastair's mind. Life soon went back to normal, at least as normal as it could be, until on one rare day Alastair was working at his desk and doing fairly normal paper pushing that just needed a trusted eye and an important enough signature.

James had been on a mission and Alastair had been unsure as to when he would return but he wasn't very surprised when hands suddenly hit the desk and upon looking up, he saw a rather excited look on James' face. What surprised him were the words that first came out of his mouth.

"Valentine's day."

"What?" asked Alastair.

"St. Valentine's day," James repeated.

"You mean Lupercalia," Alastair said, rather confused.

"Well yeah but a little more modern."

"Then you refer to the commemoration of Valentine's death and/or burial."

"Not quite. More like the commercialized version where loved ones give each other chocolate and presents and those single hang out with friends or remain alone eating candy," James said with a grin.

"But why are you bringing it up," Alastair stressed, just the very slight hint of worry and the sound of a whine worming its way into his words.

"Because not only will this be the first time we'll be together during the day but it's also tomorrow!"

James' ending shout was overshadowed by the dull sound of Alastair's head slamming into his desk as his body went limp.

"Oh come on! Don't tell me you hate Valentine's Day!" whined James as Alastair only groaned from his position. "Seriously, stop it! I mean, what's not to like? You and a significant other treat each other, do something extra special, buy loads of chocolate that's on sale. And then there are all the flowers and the reds, pinks and whites that go with everything like how Halloween is always orange and black. It's great!"

"I don't like pink, flowers make my nose itch, and the airwaves are filled with those sappy love songs while TVs only play those stupid, completely unrealistic programs of true love and eternal love and love at first sight and all that crap," Alastair responded, his face still buried in paperwork.

"All unimportant. I would much rather prefer a real reason thank you very much."

"How about the fact that I don't need a special day to adore you or throw gifts in your face?" questioned Alastair. The questioned should've been sweet, a bit amusing, but there was an odd bight in the back of it that James just barely caught.

"Uh…alright. That is a pretty good reason," James said, confused as to what had just happened but not wanting to push. "But we are still having dinner tomorrow, okay? Meet me at my place at five and if it helps, just think as tomorrow as any regular day. See you tomorrow night!"

Alastair wasn't able to respond as James ran off. At the same time, a sliver of guilt ran through him and he immediately thought of ways of explaining himself to James. Thoughts of it filled him as he finished his paperwork and then hours later headed back to his flat.

He hadn't even realized that Valentine's Day was right around the corner but since James pointed it out, he couldn't get the image out of his head. He noticed every little detail; the excessive amount of roses in the flower shops, the ads reminding people of special products and sales around this time, the hearts taped up and printed on every empty space, the extra closeness and hand holding of couples.

All of it left a slightly vile feeling in the back of his throat and thoughts of his mother were drawn up for the first time in months.

However, any pain, regret, sadness, that would have overwhelmed him before were stopped by his more recent experiences and were halted by images of James. Perhaps, Valentine's Day could be changed. Perhaps it didn't have to keep the meaning it had once held for him.

Not to misunderstand Alastair, he would always hate the commercialized version of Valentine's Day. He did so with most holidays, but the personal meaning, something that had been warped and trapped away for years, could possibly change. Yes, he knew it could.

He knew right away what to do to make it up to James and to explain himself so once home, he looked up possible shops to visit. Eventually he found one which he stopped at the next day after leaving Kingsman.

By that point, it wasn't quite five but it was close enough and Alastair quickly headed over to James' apartment. He knocked on the door and rather quickly, James answered, his curious face quickly turning to stunned.

His eyes glanced over Alastair's before locking onto the bouquet of roses that he had in his hand. He eventually got out, "I thought they made your nose itch."

"They do and if you don't take them from me now I may just sneeze over everything."

"Right! Thank you," James said quickly as he took them and moved back into his apartment. Alastair followed, closing the door behind him as James looked for a place to set the bouquet before settling on the counter. "So what are—"

"I wanted to apologize," replied Alastair. "I know I didn't really snap but it was tempting. Valentine's Day has never held, exactly great memories for me."

"Then we don't have to celebrate it! I didn't realize! I'm really sorry and—"

Alastair chuckled at that and quickly shook his head. "No, don't think that. I appreciate it but…it's only a memory now and one I need to get over. It happened years ago and I've already settled that I'd never let my mother control me like that again. Besides, I'd rather have a nicer memory for this day."

"Are you sure?"

"Very sure," Alastair said with a deep sigh. "And once again, sorry for snapping at you."

"Hey, no need to apologize. It wasn't even that bad," James assured as he came within arm's reach and pulled Alastair forward the rest of the way. "And thank you for the flowers. I really appreciate them."

"Good because my nose did not," Alastair replied with a pointed glare that caused a laugh to bubble up inside James.

"Well now that all this is explained and done with, how about we make some memories?" questioned James as he leaned in kissed Alastair long and hard. "Hmm?"

"I thought we had dinner to go to?" said Alastair with a snort.

"Well yeah but now I'm feeling really romantic. I would say we could get some candles but something tells me your nose might get upset around those too," James responded teasingly.

"Oh shut up," Alastair said with zero heat as he hit James in the chest. "Besides, I despise cheesy things like that."

"Really? Well we could stay in and order something. Be lazy bastards. Then perhaps we could see what's on TV because I'm sure—?"

"James," interrupted Alastair, "I don't care how much this day means to you. If you try to force me to sit down and watch one of those horrid flicks that all contain the same basic plot and terrible acting and excessive crying, I will leave here and now and never come back."

"Wow, and I thought Beaches was over dramatic," said James with a grin. When Alastair glared, he quickly added, "But fine! I'll respect that and never force you to sit down and watch romantic movies on Valentine's Day. But you are watching Imagine Me & You at some point because that movie is pure gold and gorgeous."

"Fine, just wait long enough so that I forget you ever brought it up today. Then I can complain about the unrealistic and silly plot all over again."

"You say that now but I know you'll like it," James replied. "Now, dinner?"

"I'm not so sure anymore. We stayed here to long. I don't think I want to leave now," responded Alastair.

"Do you mean that in like…today or forever because I'm fine with either or."

"Today you idiot. I'll get back to you on that forever part."

James smiled and nodded. "Sounds good enough for me. So, are we getting take away from the Chinese restaurant down the street or the deli?"