HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY, EVERYONE! ️ ️ ️ ️ ️ ️ ️ ️

Sidney hated horror movies. Like, she could handle some of them at certain times, but for the most part, they were movies that she would rather avoid watching, especially the slasher flicks like Friday the 13th, Halloween, and The Nightmare on Elm Street.

Her boyfriend, though, loved them, especially Halloween. Billy watched them whenever he got the chance. He never forced her to watch them with him because he knew how uncomfortable they made her; instead, his very enthusiastic best friend was often his partner in crime when it came to watching scary movies.

Tonight, though, she wanted to be different. It was his birthday and they were having their weekly date and so, right after they loaded the dinner dishes in his dishwasher, out came the words: "Do you want to watch Halloween tonight?"

Billy straightened when he heard her question, shooting her a curious look. "What?" He asked.

"Do you want to watch Halloween tonight?" She repeated.

Billy closed the dishwasher door and started it. "You never want to watch scary movies. Why do you want to watch one tonight?" He queried, voice colored with bemusement.

"It's your birthday, Billy, and I never watch scary movies with you," she said.

"Sid, you don't have to watch scary movies with me. You don't like them and I would never want to make you do anything you don't want to do."

"I know, but you always watch romance movies and comedies and other things that I like. What kind of girlfriend would I be if I didn't watch things that you liked, especially on your birthday?"

The smile that spread across Billy's face at her response made her heart skip a beat. Billy didn't really smile often…they were usually smirks or mischievous grins…so when he did smile, especially once that was so happy and genuine like this one, it made her feel special. The fact that it made his handsome features and boyish charm even more attractive was a major plus.

"Okay," he said, his eyes glinting with joy at being able to watch his favorite movie with the woman he loved. "Let's watch Halloween."

As Billy went about setting up the TV to play his well-loved and well-preserved Halloween video, Sidney sat on his couch with a small bowl of popcorn in her hands. She only made enough for herself since Billy only ate popcorn at the movies (she had no idea why, but he did; it was one of his lovable quirks, she supposed). She felt nervous, but watching how excited he was made it much easier to deal with that feeling.

Once he completed his task, Billy came back to the couch and sat beside her, wrapping an arm around her shoulders and pulling her into his side.

"I love you, Princess, but…are you sure that you want to watch this? I can still turn it off before it gets too far in," he offered, staring down at her in concern.

Sidney shook her head, smiling up at him in reassurance. "No," she replied. "I mean…I won't deny that watching it will make me nervous and afraid during a lot of it, but I don't want you to turn it off. Halloween is your favorite scary movie and, like I mentioned before, it's your birthday and I'm your girlfriend. I want this to be the movie we watch tonight."

Billy gave her the same beautiful smile he did earlier when she first suggested it and kissed her on the top of her head just as the opening credits began to roll.

While Billy was enraptured in the movie as it progressed, Sidney was trying hard not to hide her face in his chest or her hands. She winced every time she watched Michael Myers kill someone, jumped a bit each time the scene got a bit too tense, and her spine tingled with fear at the screechy, eerie note that the music used to mark Michael's appearances. She hated it. Like, really and truly hated it.

And yet…

Sidney looked at Billy. She watched the way he smiled, the happy expression in his eyes each time one of his favorite scenes played out on the screen, the way his fingers twitched and the way his leg bounced in excitement whenever Laurie Strode or some other unfortunate character had a run-in with the unstoppable force in the white mask. He truly loved this movie, and watching him enjoy it gave her the strength she needed to endure the ninety-one minutes of a silent, psychotic madman relentlessly pursuing his own family members on the scariest day of the year.

At one point, during the middle of the film, one of the scariest parts occurred and she jumped, instinctively grabbing Billy's hand and holding it tightly in her own, her fingers curled around it like an anchor.

Billy looked down at their intertwined hands in surprise before he smiled. Knowing that Sidney wasn't paying attention to him right now, he curled his own fingers around her hand and returned his attention to the movie.

Finally, when the film ended, Sidney noticed that she was still clutching her boyfriend's hand like a lifeline and began to let go when he tightened his grip, halting her. She looked up at him, curiosity shining in her brown eyes.

"Don't," he said gently, smiling at her. "I like the way your hand feels in mine and we haven't held hands yet."

He wasn't wrong. As surprising as it was, given their physical intimacy since their relationship began, they had yet to actually hold hands, and Sidney had to agree with him with his claim that the contact felt good. His hand was a bit callused, but it was warm and it enveloped her soft, smaller hand as if it was some kind of glove. Despite their differing sizes, they fit perfectly and it felt right.

"You're not mad that I grabbed it because I couldn't handle watching the movie?" Sid asked sheepishly.

Billy laughed, his eyes practically glowing with amusement and affection. "Of course not. I appreciate the romantic gesture, baby, but watching Halloween with you isn't the best part of my birthday night."

"Really?" Her interest was piqued. "What is?"

"Holding hands with you."

Those sweet words instantly earned himself a kiss, Sidney pressing her lips passionately against his and her free hand reaching up to touch his cheek while his moved from her shoulders to her waist, holding her closer and deepening their kiss.

Throughout the lip lock, however, their hands remained clasped together, unwilling to let go of one another.