Valentine's Day
Disclaimer- I do not own these characters and Valentine's is owned by anyone who wishes to practice it.
They were heavier than they looked. The roses that Raiden had bought. So much so that he worried that the paper straps that held the plastic bag would break. Wrapping an arm around the bouquet so it wouldn't fall, he patiently waited in the dojo for the sanctuary entrance to slide open. Walking down the ancient rock staircase the young duelist could feel the glass vase through the pretty plastic bag. Holding it in both arms so it wouldn't slip as he made his way to the tablet library. Sitting at an old wooden table.
Allison and Gabe looked up as their friend come in. "Where you been?" The blond asked. Stopping at the table and depositing safely his load. "Wal-Mart." He replied. "What for?" Allie asked. Fishing for distraction form her boredom. Training for Kaijudo she enjoyed. Spending hours reading over and maintaining the museum old tablets was definitely not. "Shopping." as he made sure the flower arrangement wouldn't fall off the desk.
A little more annoyed the blond asked. "What's in the bag?" She could see the tips of the roses over the plastic. "Shopping." With a goodhearted giggle Gabe smiled. Now more annoyed. "Ray! I was just trying to ask what you been doing. You left us right after school and have been gone for all most an hour."
The half Asian and half American boy let a rare smirk cross his face. He hadn't meant to fluster the girl, but now watching her pout he could see why so many boys liked to tease them. Pulling the straps of his school bag from off his shoulders Raiden replied cheerfully. "Today's Valentine's Day right. I went to Wal-Mart to pick up a gift for my mom." Both teens nodded, regarding the answer.
Moving to drop his book bag on the floor by his friends Ray noticed three bags. Two on the ground that belonged to Gabe band Allie and a third that hang neatly on the shoulders of a chair that was at the same table they where at. "Is Lucy here?" Raiden asked with duel expressions of surprise and curiosity. "Yeah, she showed up right after you left to go shopping and came with us to the sanctuary." The blond side before pointing her manicured thumb up the stairs between two shelves of tablets. "She's back there surrounded by a stack of tablets…" Flashing a smile. "And I thought only Gabe liked to read this much." Gabriel flushed red, but not out of embarrassment, but out of flattery.
For Raiden nothing felt better than seeing his friends get along so effortless with one other. Standing up from his set. Gabriel spoke for the first time since Raiden had answered. "So can we see it?" He Side. Gazing curiously at the gift. Not wanting to rumble the nice decorative bag the flowers had come with. Ray carefully reached into it to pull the vase out. The clink of glass on wood was nice to the ears once he sat it down on the table.
Allison and Gabe oohed at the sight of the v-day gift. A tall vase with frosted glass encased eight or more long stemmed rose, their dark green leaves could be seen over the edge. "White." Spoke the blond. Ray replied. "Yeah. The store had pink, yellow, red, lavender, or may by purple, and ones that were multi-colored. But I thought white would be more sensible since she's my mom and all."
Gabriel admired the flower buds that were in different states of bloom. From closed tight to full blossom. "Their pretty." He said kindly. Looking up from the arrangement to his friend. "That's why I picked them." Raiden replied. Retracting her hand from caressing one of the baby's Breath that was clustered throughout the bouquet rose. "So how long have you been giving flowers to your mom for Valentine's Day?" Allison asked. Thinking about it for a minute. "Thirteen. That's when my allowance went up." Ray said thoughtfully back. 'That year I bought mom a potted plant. Pink tulips with dark pink plastic paper around the plastic container. But I was ten years old when I first started giving Valentine's Day presence to her."
His friends continued to listen. "It was in art class. Our teacher had us make Valentine's cards for someone we loved, friend or family. My mom was the one I gave it to. The year next, I did the same thing except not in class but at the low table in our living-room. My Grandpa by me on the Sofa. The year after that, at the table in the kitchen. Grandfather and I made a garland of origami cranes for her to wear around her neck."
Gabe asked "What color wear the cranes?" Raiden spoke back. "Red, white, and pink."
Both of Ray's friends smiled warmly at him. For them nothing felt better than seeing their friend open up to them or anyone for that matter. They couldn't say that their friend with mixed heritage was antisocial or anything. Raiden was always honest with his feelings and had no difficulty talking about his interests or family. But both of them always felt like he was a little guarded. Like something he wasn't quite ready to shear or felt he had to protect. He'd been bullied in school, but no more than anyone else and nowhere near as badly as other kids. Gabe and he had been friends since grad-school and he'd only started being picked on about a year or two back. Mostly by Carny. His father had died when he was still a toddler and he had been raised practically by his mother and grandfather. Regardless of the absence Raiden had still grownup wall and even adored.
Maybe It was a since of responsibility that had been raised in him by his kind but traditional grandpa or that he had a feeling of obligation that he felt to his mother to hold him-self accountable for him-self to save her worry. Whether that be real or something he felt only in his heart. It did feel like he had to own up to something so nobody else had to.
Allison smiled warmly and side. "You know that's really sweet, doing all that for your mom."
Ray blushed. "She's worked so hard to kept us together, to keep our lags under us and to look for the light at the end of the tunnel and this…" Raiden said as he caressed one of the rose petals. "is one small thing I can do." Warmth stayed on his cheeks as he looked at the pair smiling at him. He glanced away for a second, shyness getting the better of him before turning back and asking. "Hey. What do you guys do for Valentine's?"
Both Allison and Gabriel blinked. For a short moment it looked like they were thinking on it, then their expressions softened. "Will when my mom…" Allie hesitated for a sic but continued with the same energy as her half Asian friend had. "When my mom was still hear my dad would send flowers to her, to the house and all. I remember rose in red, white, and pink. Various colors of lilies with daffodils, and sunflowers with tulips." She paused for a second to blink and look from one boy to the other and back again. "Now he just sends flowers to me. He says he's going to have roses delivered to me on my sixteenth birthday, even if am at school." Allison finished with a grin.
Gabriel spoke next. "It's a little different for me. I come from a family of mostly guys. My Dad, two older brothers, and me…, and a goldfish. Typically we don't exchange gifts with each other, we give gifts to my mom. She usually likes things like flowers, sweet, (chocolate covered cherries are a favorite for her.) Jewelry, and handmade cards. She's got really into edible arrangements the last few years."
The feeling around the table was good when Lucy turned the corner of a tablet case and came into view. Seeing the trio smiling together she walked over. "Hey, what are you guy's talking about?" Lucy spoke happily. Looking in her direction. "Valentine's Day." Raiden answered. "What do you and your parents do for the holidays?" Lucy tilted her head a bit like a puppy would. A tad surprised at the question. The girl with the long dark hair felt a little apprehensive at first. Her intuition told her that it felt like one of those questions where she might have to reveal her financial status. Lucy's family was under privileged to say it softly. By no means wear they rock bottom but there was a level of experience, of peace of mind they could not secure. Bullying had become a problem for her in the last year of middle-school. That had caused her to be more selective with what she revealed about her monetary unevenness.
Despite, she knew that the teasers were idiots. Money is something not everything, and she was being over guarded. The three adepts standing patiently in front of her wear her friends and understood her fully. "Will…" Lucy began with a sympathetic smile on her face. "My family and I don't really do much for Valentine's Day. I used to make my own cards by hand out of glitter, macaroni, and crayons. I was a kid then though. But over the last couple of years my mom and me, my dad to often time enough. We'll buy a large heart shaped box of chocolates or three small boxes and eat them while we watch romantic films."
Allison perked up. "What tape of movies?"
Lucy responded fast. "Oh. You know like the live action Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, Avatar. There's also Pretty Women, The Proposal, and a couples other."
Chocolates and cinema sounded like a good pair to everyone. Just then Gabriel spook in. "Wait, your mom lets you watch Pretty Women?" He said surprised. Lucy still smiling answered. "Will yeah. Don't yours Gabe?" The African American frowned. Not wanting to admit that parental control in his home was a lot more stricter.
A fit of light laughter fall over the three kids till Gabriel started laughing too. Once the chucking had died down Lucy noticed the roses on the table. "So. Who's the lucky girl or guy?" remembering at the last second that men liked and got flowers too. Raiden flashed his white teeth past his smile. "There for my mom. We wear all talking about what we did for Valentine's Day. That's why I asked."
"Sweet." Lucy replied. "So are you guy's going to get holiday presents for your creatures."
Allison, Gabriel, and Raiden appeared momentarily dumb struck. It hadn't crossed their thoughts to include their favorite creatures in human traditions and cultural exchange. And with good reason.
"You knew." Allie started. "I didn't think about it, but I don't think I will." Lucy blinked curiously. "And why?" She asked the question to everyone. Picking backup from where she stopped Allison continued. "Honestly I don't think she'd understand." An empathetic look on her face. "For one, Scaradorable is from a kaiju version of a broken home. It could be painful for her to hear about a custom wear you exchange tokens of love with loved one's when outside of me she has no family of her own. On top of that I wouldn't know if she understood me or not. I'd like to think she's like Gilaflame, I just don't get her chirps and squeaks, and what would I give her. Chocolate. That could kill her. Their beasties, their alien, their humanness. It's so easy just to think their stomachs are stone and their intestines are lead pipes, like the ones underneath a sink. But the really is they may not be able to eat the same things we can and it might make them terribly sick. No, I think when it comes to Squeaky I'll stick to kisses and cuddles right now. She's my baby and I love her."
Bring his thumb and forefinger to his chin in thought Gabe joined in. "I'm with Allison on this. Spending hours studying the water civilization and I've never read about their take on celebration. Them or the light civilization as will. I don't think the creatures would understand human holidays. Not to mention the effort we would have to put into. My family's will off but I only get so much a mouth for allowance. I have two older brothers after all. After house expenses and so on whatever's left over is divided between us and I can tale you it's not much. If I want extra money I have to do extra work. My feelings would be hurt to if I give Gargle a gift and he took it apart or eat it in one gulp and said nothing but a quick simple thank you. And what would I get him. Certainly not the same things I get my mother. I thought about a bubble-gun but knowing Gargle he'd either make it into a functioning but then, (not understanding that it was a toy.) or he'd try drinking the soapy syrup used to make the bubbles and could end up belching up bubbles."
"Wall what about Sasha?" Allie brought up. Knowing that Gabe was sweet on her. "You could get her one of those wind-up music boxes." The African American's eyes seemed to brighten at the suggestion.
Turning his head from one friend to the other Ray gave his thoughts. "I'm with you guys on the gift giving thing. I admire Bob but I don't think either of us would be comfortable with exchanging presence
between us, too personal for us right now. What would I give? I think he'd hat flowers. Bob's from the nature civilization, there you don't admire flowers you fear them. Not to bring money up or anything, But I only get a Hamilton a week maybe a Ulysses S Grant once a month but that's about it. You guys know I feed him sometimes. I don't do it all the time, Bob's pretty self-sufficient. There's only so much I can afford to do for him. Tatsurion can eat all kinds of foods: including fruits and vegetables, he loves meat but won't eat fish or anything from the water and he's lactose intolerance."
As Raiden made to continue Allison popped in. 'Wait. Bob, your Bob, Bob the Unchained has a zero tolerance for dairy! How did that happen?" It sounded funny the way Allie had said it and everyone couldn't help but smile at who they wear talking about as they waited for Ray to answer. "Will once when him and I where at your place, he said he was famished so I went to get him some food. You where in the shower at the time so I didn't think you'd mind. I remember just as I went through the glass door into the kitchen, I saw Tatsurion lean down and start drinking out of the pool. I grabbed all the front on the counter then after that pulled a box of cereal, some deli meat and finally half a jug of milk and a box of ice cream from the freezer. He ate it all, but two weeks later when I summoned him, he told me how sick he had gotten after I had fed him. Asking him to recite what his symptoms where I found out that he was lactose intolerance. As for understanding holidays? I think I remember being in the Quillspike farmlands and over hearing one of Tatsurian's older brother's mention that the harvest festivals were only a month away and was he going to be there. I think they celebrate both the summer and winter solstice and two harvest festivals a year."
Everyone nodded. Feeling like they, all had learned something interesting and satisfying about one another and their creatures. "You know." Allison intersected with a slight annoyance in her voice at hearing who had cleared out her kitchen cupboards and icebox the day. "It could have been the pool water that made him sick. That's for swimming not drinking."
Ray thought on that for a minute but replied saying that he still thought that the milk was the cause, that or a combination of the two's since he had seen Bob drinking from the pool on other occasions. The children continued to talk heartily among themselves when Master Chavez walked into the room. Spotting the apprentices together he strolled over to them and asked "What are you children talking about?" He said curiously.
Four sets of eyes stared from each other to their mentor. Another light smile swept across Raiden's face. "Do you know what day it is?"
Hector stopped right in front of the table wear the kids stood. Even though Raiden had asked the question with a gleefully zest in his voice the fire specialist felt a little taken aback. "AHH! Monday?" He replied. The acolytes erupted in laughter. "No. It's Valentine's Day Master Chavez." Allison said jubilant.
Hector was struck dumb for only a second before numbers and dates alongside teddy bears and red and pink heart shaped confetti tallied it-self up in his head. "Oh, that's it! It's that time if the year again." Master Chavez said unceremoniously.
Allison seemed a bit offended at Hector's lack of appreciation, especially after her and her friends had been talking so enthusiastically about it. "Master Chavez! This is the only day in the while calendar that honors love in all it's forms, romantic or other. It's the only holiday that can be practiced by anyone regardless of ethnics, faith, or place of origin."
Hector smiled and chuckled at the blond adept's little lecture on two cupids favorite hunting day. "No quise ofender Allison. I had just lost track of the days, that's all. I swear it feels like New Year's just ended." Chavez defended. Darting his eyes from the kids to the center piece on the table, he saw the vase and the pretty roses. Before the Latino could ask Ray beat him there. "There for my mom." That lighted a little more of Hector's mood.
As the Drakon tamer opened his mouth to acquire how their studies were going Lucy asked. "So, what are you and Master Nadia doing for Valentine's Day? Got anything planed?" A blank line formed on Chavez's mouth and his eyebrows went up. "You mean do I have anything in mind." It sounded like a question instead of a reply. "Yeah, that's what I said." Lucy answered.
Again, Hector felt caught in the spotlight like a deer in the highway. Nadia and himself had been seeing each other as a couple and not just a team for six months now. Things had been so busy he had totally forgotten about the holidays. It hadn't even dawned on him to get her something, he didn't even know what she would like. He looked away casting his eyes to the floor in thought. Maybe he didn't have to worry. They hadn't talked about it before now. Both had celebrated New year's together over a bottle of non-alcoholic cider (neither of them drink.) down here in the sanctuary. He can still remember Nadia's lipstick on the sparking rim of the wine glass she was using. Christmas had come before that and they hadn't celebrated it together. Instead, they both had gone their separate ways for that. So maybe Hector was putting to much thought into Valentine's Day.
A little buzz sounded a timer on a cellphone. Everyone jumped and looked at Gabriel as he pulled his vibrating galaxy out of his pocket. Hitting the quite button he sheepishly addressed everyone.
Sorry. That was to let me know when it was time to go to my after-school enrichment programs."
Allison made a face of disbelief. "You take classes after school?" The African American nodded and started to assemble his belonging. Realizing that the afternoon was moving on everybody went about their doing. Allison walked with Gabe to see him out of the dojo and Lucy went back to her tablet pillars to do more studying.
Leaving Ray and Master Chavez alone. Sliding the vase back into its baggy Raiden made ready to but before he could he noticed the deep look of thought on Master Chavez's face. It didn't take a genius to figure it out. The natural had seen it before in both tv, cinema, graphic novels, (he read both Japanese manga and western comics.) and in person. Chavez had forgetting to pick up something for his girlfriend for Valentine's Day.
Just before Hector could go back to the inner bowels of the temple Raiden called out to him. Turning around Chavez sew the kid smile brightly then pull an enchanting white rose from out of the vase and handed it to Hector.
Surprised by the gesture he was about to ask what for when Ray beat him to it again. "For Master Nadia. You forgot to get her something." Normally he would have been stunned if someone had read him so easily without him knowing. As a monk, Chavez was good at owning his thoughts. Looking from the pretty flower to Ray. "Won't your mother miss it?" The Hispanic asked thoughtfully.
Replying with soft eyes. "No. There many more in the vase. A dozen, I think. She won't miss one." Thinking about it a little longer Hector couldn't deny such a kind opportunity, especially one that led to impressing his sweetheart. Taking the flower from Ray. He brought it up to his face to inspect it better. The rose even felt pretty in his finger-tips. No thorns. Looking back up to the natural. Chavez gave the boy a kind smile. "Thank you, Ray. This means a lot." Raiden's bright grin flashed back. "You have a good-afternoon Master Chavez and if I don't see her tell Master Nadia I said hi." The half Asian then swing his schoolbag over one shoulder grabbed the vase and turned and went into the fire section of the library.
It was already dark when Raiden got home. Dropping his book bag into an empty sofa chair he flipped on a nearby lamp. Turning on lights as he went, he stepped into the kitchen, switching on the light beside the entryway. The house was quite, his mom was probably still at work and might not be home for an hour or more. His grandpa who was nowhere in sight could have been out or taking a late nap in his room. Raiden would cheek soon.
Standing by the peninsula that separated the kitchen from the living room Ray placed the bouquet in the center so it would be easy to see when his mama got home. He thought about taking the vase out of the bag but decided against it. And instead strained the bag up and arranged for the handsome green leaves and the white rose tips to be seen easily from the top.
Placing his hand on his hip, he smiled. Raiden felt good, it been a good day after all. Turning on his sneakers he walked over to the cupboards and pulled a glass out. Next place he went to was the refrigerator. Taking a plastic bottle of Coca-Cola out and sitting it on the counter. Intent on grabbing some ice from the freezer he opened the door to look inside. The open bag of crashed ice caught his eye but also the packets of hot-dogs. His mind went immediately to Bob. Hot-dogs were one of the handful of things that Tatsurion could eat. Ray would have to bring him a pack next time he summoned him. Scooping the ice into the glass and moving back to the container Raiden finished making his drink. Walking down the half, book bag in one hand and his soda in the other Raiden stepped just long enough to peek through the crack in the door to see his grandfather sleeping in his bed before heading to his own bedroom. He'd do his homework and wait till his mother got home. Ray couldn't wait to see the look on her face.
Later that night at the Wallace house. Gabe sat in his bed in the room he shared with his older twin brother. His part being the only half that was neat and tidy. Mr. Wallace and Mrs. Wallace wear almost done in the kitchen. Mrs. Wallace in a more than average good mood thanks to the big vase of chocolate covered fruit that they wear all going to enjoy after dinner.
While his brother's made the table and his parents flirted Gabriel remained content wear he was. There was a smile on the corners of his mouth and a optimistic shine in his eyes as he stared at the lit screen of his cell phone. Scrolling through Amazon, he marveled at all the wide variety of music boxes there were. Somewhere made of stained wood and had either a little dancer or a pair of dancers in it. Somewhere manufactured out of clear plastic. Others wear made from glass with crystal figurines on top. There wear boxes for children. Others with space for jewelry. With painted flowers or animals on the led, velvet on the inside, and polished with a sheen to them.
All had keys in the back or the bottom and played soothing lullabies. A gilded one caught his eye that was designed with images of frogs and had three colored gems on the led. After Allison had planted the idea in his thoughts about giving a present to Sasha. Gabe couldn't help but look. It warmed his heart to think of the generosity he could show her. To say he was sweet on her creature was under rated. It was not that he didn't care for Gargle, 'cause he did. It was just Sasha as special. His feeling for her wear special.
Pushing the screen up with his finger. It felt like the pages went on an on. And the prices on the screen wear as diverse as the boxes themselves. "Gabe-baba. It's time for dinner." His mother called. Giving his phone one more look, he sighed warmly. Gabriel didn't have the money on him now for a gift. But as he put his phone on charge and slide out of bed his mood was still hopeful. Next year he could, next year he would give Sasha a wonderful Valentine's Day gift.
Much later that night at a beautiful home over-looking the sea. Allison laid fast asleep on the large family room couch. Her homework and schoolbooks spread out over the coffee table in front of her. The house was quite. The housekeeper had left two hours ago. She'd been working for the family since Allison was little. Her father had talked about hiring a nanny for Allie right after his wife had moved out but no decision was made final.
A firm but warm hand touched Allison's shoulder and lightly shock her awake. Opening her eyes, she sew the joyful face of her father smiling down at her. "Oh. Hi Daddy. Your home." She said sleepily. "I am and I have a surprise for you." From the other side of the sofa Mr. Underhill revealed a small heart shaped box of sweets and what appeared to be a bouquet of wildflowers wrapped in thin cream-colored paper.
Sitting up and reaching for the remote to turn the tv off. (It been on mute.) She took the presents when her father handed them to her. As the niceties lay in her lap. A flash of anger zipped through her. Her mother's face had suddenly appeared. That been happing a lot lately. Especially over the last two years. Whenever she thought of her mom Allison was flushed with a wave of anger. But not just at her memories of her mother but at other things as will. Such as parent teacher night at school, movies or sitcoms wear the mother would do anything for her children, half the time when she had pancakes for breakfast, whenever Raiden's beautiful blond mother hugged her son, the times she was alone with nothing to move her mind on to a different matter, and a few moments like now that wear supposed to be happy but wear instead painted over with red.
Thinking on it. She was really starting to realize that she might really have serious problems other then, just teenage angst. So deep in her mind Allie barely heard her father calling her. Looking up at him. "Sweetie, are you ok. It looked like you blanked out there for a moment."
Allison smiled. "Yeah. Sorry about that. Thinks for the gifts. There wonderful." Moving off the couch. Flowers and chocolate still in arms. Father and daughter headed to the kitchen. "Hey. How about we make some dinner. Princess. Then we can watch some tv together. Do you remember that, when we used to sit in the same room and watch tv together. Wow it seemed so long ago." Allison's smile didn't change but her eyes did. Somber. "Yeah. Daddy. Let's do all of that. Happy Valentine's Day."
Still later that night. In a little apartment in a less scenic spot in the city. Near an old play ground that had dandelions growing up through the cracks in the asphalt and drawn and redrawn pictures in chalk on the pavement. A few floors up were the home of Lucy. It was well after hours for the family of three.
Dinner had been cooked and eaten with the dishes cleaned and put back. in the front door had been locked; door knob, chain lock, and a chair braced up against the back of the door for etched precautions. Lucy had completed her homework right after she had gotten home and now sat snuggled with her mom and dad on the couch.
The lights were dimmed and a movie played on the tv. A bowel of popcorn and a bag of milk chocolate kisses were being passed between them. The second Ice Age film flashed on the screen. Lucy's family didn't have much in way of money. By no means. But right now feeling warm, pleased, and safe she didn't feel impoverished at all.
Even more later that night. With a click and a pull the doors to the dojo were locked. Master Nadia sighed as she flipped the jingling keys in her pocket. Master Kimora was the usual one who closed the dojo down for the night but he had left early. And despite Jaha's black bird like tone, she was no night owl and liked to rise early. So that left Nadia and Hector to do it.
It was a cloudy night with the streetlights the only light on the sidewalk. Both masters could drive, but Hector liked to carpool or walk and Nadia's motorcycle was on the other side of the road. The time was right for Chavez. It was now or never. As Nadia straightened her collar and was about to walk away Hector stopped her. "Wait. Before you go." Unzipping his sports duffel bag. "I picket this up earlier." He said, not having the heart to tell her Raiden had given it to him as he reached in to his bag and pulled out the rose.
"I almost forgot what day it was till someone remained me." Lobachevsky's indigo eyes shined at the sight of the flowers. "Happy Valentine's Day Nadia." A little smile appeared on her face. The master of the water civilization had a good job in the real world and was used to giving her-self much batter then this but the rose Hector was offering her was sweet. The streetlights flickered. She preferred the black Victorian wrought iron streetlamps that were planted near the apartment building she lived at. Their soft glow and the way they attracted moths remind her of the Victorian era romance novels she poured over as a kid.
Nadia had not forgotten about Valentines but since Hector and herself had not talked about it she kept no expectation. The rose was a pleasant expectation. Moving close, she put her arms around Hector's waste. Hector wrapped his arms around her shoulders. Under the wincing light of a streetlight with the sound of a car playing a soft love song in the distance the two sweethearts shared a kiss.
Raiden's eyes suddenly popped open. He'd been dozing, head on his folded arms at his desk. The sound of the front door closing had woken him. Janet was home. He listed. He was waiting for her to discover the flowers. The sound of the door being locked, her purse being hang on the coat rack and of her sitting something in a plastic bag on the peninsula, most likely a few groceries for the fridge.
Getting up from his set he went to stand by his door frame. Robing his right hand on the back of his jeans to wipe the pencil dust from off his fingers. The boy waited a few more seconds before leaving his rom and walking down the hallway.
Janet knew that there might be something waiting for her at home. Something from Ray, and maybe his Grandpapa too. After a long Monday and then coming home to a quite house the hope of a sweet surprise regardless of what it was, was comforting. Low and behold something sat on the counter. Spotting it as she put away supplies. Ray waited just out of sight. Listening.
Throwing the store bags in the recycle bin. Janet finely concentrated on the present. The bottom scraped as she pulled it closer to her. Janet couldn't help but smile. The paper was pretty and felt cool to the touch and the surprise inside was easy to see. They were marvelous, the roses. Grounding the bag around the vase she cooed at what she saw.
Taking that as his que Raden turned the conner and came into view of his mother. They both smiled at each other as Ray walked up to the counter. "Do you like them?" Raiden spoke. The glow in his mother's faced said volumes. "Oh. Raiden there beautiful." The boy's smile couldn't get wider. Janet brushed her hair behind her era when she leaned down to smell the rose.
It felt warm. The feeling in the room. Like everything was right, like everything was going to be ok for both of them. It was a good feeling. Lifting her head from the flowers and seeing her boy's face a wave of both abortion and gratitude swiped her. All the times they had to move, all the times they had to call a new place home, all the times she had to taler him no. No he couldn't have this experience, no they just couldn't. Her son didn't have a bad life, by no means but it just wasn't the white picket fence childhood she had grown up with or the one she tried hard to give him. Despite the ups and downs Raiden still turn out incredibly. Kind, hardworking, thoughtful, with godhead on him. Janet was grateful to have her son in her life, her ray of sun-shine.
Moving around the counter she wrapped her arms around him and hugged him tight. Raiden robbed his face into her shoulder and returned the hug. "Happy Valentine's Day mom."
The End