Valentine's Day had always been nothing more than another day to Sasha. Tom had never been particularly romantic and quite often any plans that they had made had been forgotten by him. She could remember times of humiliation when she had waited at restaurants, only for him to never show. She could remember never seeing flowers or even a handwritten note. It was almost as if it hadn't existed in his mind and therefore Sasha had never managed to experience it with someone she thought she loved. She would have liked to, even if it was just a bunch of flowers or a silly little heart bear gifted to her. But that had been too much to ask for and so she never did.

It wasn't something she mentioned either, aside from once when she had been drunk and ranting to Wolf about Tom's lack of romance and care. She never saw the point in it. Just because Danny got Kara a gift for the day, or other crew members exchanged presents among each other, didn't mean she had to mention it. They probably thought she didn't care about that day. It was probably better that way.

So her surprise was palpable when she opened the door to her cabin and was greeted with a bunch of marigolds and a stuffed grey bear holding a card. For a moment, she found herself lingering in the doorway, eyes on the gifts as if afraid that if she looked away, they would vanish and she'd find herself staring back at an empty room. Where it had come from, she didn't know. She knew it wasn't Tom. He had never bothered in the past and he certainly wouldn't now. That ship had long since sailed and she had ruled him out automatically the moment she had seen them.

Stepping into her room, she shut the door behind her, eyes still fixated before her, brow creased in confusion. She had never considered marigolds before as a flower she particularly had much interest, but at that moment, they had already become her favourite. Her feet carried her over towards the gifts and without even thinking about it, she picked up the card that the teddy bear held. She didn't even realise she was holding her breath as she opened it, not until she started reading and ended up taking a deep breath.

Dear Sasha

I know it's not exactly the most traditional of gifts to be leaving for a valentine, but that was all I could find. I know you've never really had a valentine before, and I wanted to change that for you. I hope you realise you deserve all this and more.

Yours

Wolf

The note was short, kind of to the point like she had come to expect with the Australian. But she hadn't expected him to have left this for her. Sasha could vaguely remember the conversation she had in the past with him, little snippets of what she had told him. She couldn't believe he had actually remembered what she had said. She could have sworn at the time he had been as drunk as she was. But he had remembered and he had gone out of his way to do more for her than anyone ever had.

Sure, they had flirted at times, and Sasha had often harboured a what if in regards to Wolf Taylor. Who wouldn't? He was funny, honest and very attractive. Most of all, he had a heart of gold and was decidedly the best man she had ever met. But she had never pressed the issue any further with him. She wasn't sure if she wanted to get into another relationship after two failed ones. Though she had to admit, she didn't think there would have been anyone else after meeting him.

Trembling hands picked up the teddy, pressing it close to her side as she reached for the marigolds. They didn't need to be roses to be the most beautiful and thoughtful flowers she had ever received. The whole gesture had proven that Wolf had more romance in his little finger than most men she had ever met. For a day she had expected nothing of, it had taken a turn for the better. Her mind drifted towards the last part of the note staring up at her. Yours, he had said. Hers… it was almost as if a moment of clarity had settled on her, giving her a completely different perspective of it all.

He had been hers, all this time. He had already given his heart away to her and he had simply waited for her. But what Sasha hadn't realised was that Wolf had her heart as well. She hadn't seen it, too blinded by her own fear of taking that step further. But she had already given to him and now she could understand why he had been so patient to wait for her. He had known, even when she hadn't.

Setting down her bear and flowers, clenching the note in her hand, Sasha swiftly exited her cabin room. Her feet seemed to instinctively know where to take her, until she was standing outside his door. For a long second, she hesitated, hand held up but not making a move to announce her presence. It was a silly feeling, especially after her revelation but it was something she couldn't quite help. What if she had been wrong? What if she had jumped to the wrong conclusion? What if he had done it because he was feeling sorry for her? But she shook that feeling off, straightened her spine and rapped against the door.

He didn't make her wait long, the door opening to reveal him wearing a grin on his features. A brief part of her wondered if he had been waiting for her, waiting to see if she could make the connection or not.

"I got your letter and your flowers," she started, not entirely sure what to say now that she was standing here before him. "They're beautiful, by the way. Wolf… I um…"

"I know," he said, giving a slight nod and Sasha could feel the weight lift from her shoulder with those two words. "The least I could do for you, Sasha. I meant what I said. You deserve all that and more."

"I'm afraid I didn't get you anything in return. I wasn't really expecting to be doing anything this Valentine's Day," she admitted, flashing him a sheepish look, watching as it caused a burst of laughter from the Australian, and unable to stop her own smile from forming.

Her next actions were impulsive, even for her, as Sasha found herself stepping forward, wrapping her arms around his neck as she pressed her lips gently against his. She could feel his arms snaking around her waist, dragging her closer, if such a thing was possible, and she knew she could have stayed in this moment further. But she still had things she needed to say and so the kiss remained short for now.

"I want to say thank you, for being there, for being the one person I can count on, no matter what. For listening when no one else does. For knowing who I am without even trying. Thank you for walking into my life when you did. I don't know what things would have been like if I hadn't met you," she told him, bringing one hand around, fingertips lightly tracing his jaw. "Thank you for loving me, even if it took me this long to notice. Thank you for waiting, for never giving up."

"I'd never give up on you, Sasha Cooper," he told her, and she couldn't quite deny the tingles that filled her body at his word. "You're worth waiting for and I would have waited a lifetime, if it meant one small moment like this."

She surged forward again, but this time he met her halfway. She poured every unspoken word she had into that kiss, fingers twisting into his hair, felt as he did the same. They stumbled backwards into his cabin, the door slamming shut behind them. Valentine's Day had never meant much to her, but sometimes one's perspective changed. And she was going to make sure it would be a memorable one.