(A/N: Sorry! I know this is late but I was busy studying. Enjoy!)

"Baby girl, don't forget our date tomorrow." Alec told Mara as he stands in the living room with his phone in his hands. Dressed in one of his business suits, he looks ready to start his day. He looks at me from behind Mara and smirks. "Guess you'll be lonely for Valentine's Day, Dust."

Alec is an asshole.

When I told him I plan on taking Mara out for dinner on Valentine's Day, he retorted by telling me it was impossible. At first I thought he was only teasing and maybe trying to piss me off. But no. The audacity of this best friend of mine to actually schedule their house hunting on the same day is just -- i don't even know what to say at this point.

"Tomorrow is Valentine's Day, Alec." Mara reminded her brother as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. Her back is to me and I couldn't tell what is going on in that mind of hers again.

Alec raised his eyebrow at his sister. "I know. Why? Do you have plans other than to spend it with me?" He asked, pouting his mouth like a kid.

I shake my head in amusement.

He's acting as if it would be the end of the world if Mara does not spend tomorrow with him. Honestly, he's being dramatic and a real pain to me. He says he trusts me with Mara but he always tries to be a hindrance with my plans to make his sister fall in love with me.

Mara laughs at him and pats his head like a mother would to a little kid. "I reserved a table for two tomorrow at six in your favorite restaurant." Mara admits.

We both watch as Alec's face contorted in dismay at her words.

He moves away from Mara with a frown on his face. "I don't do dates anymore Mara. You know that." He said firmly, his voice authoritative and final. He looked at me. "Do you have anything to do with this?"

I raised my hand up in mock surrender. "I have nothing to do with this."

"Wait up. He doesn't know. I planned everything." Mara admitted, taking the attention of her brother away from me and back to her.

Alec frowned. "Why would you do this?"

Mara takes a hold of Alec's hand and softly whispers her answer that only the two of them could hear. It doesn't take much for Alec's eyes to widen and watch his sister carefully. "Please?"

I watch the two of them interact, more like - I watch as Mara's eyes shine brighter than it did before her therapy session started. She's been smiling and laughing and eating like she used to. And at the back of my mind, I couldn't help but think that she maybe just trying to put up a show to not worry any of us. But I hope that talking to Dr. Rose whenever she feels like makes her better/ At least I hope it makes her at ease.

"And what will you be doing?" Alec asked his sister, looking defeated.

I guess Mara won that argument?

Mara looks back at me before answering. "Going out with Dy, of course."

I perked up at her words. "We are?"

A grinning Mara nodded her head at me. "I have everything ready. Don't worry."

"Yes I should. I should be the one planning this date, shortcake. You didn't need to stress yourself over this." I said worriedly. I didn't mean anything bad by my words. I'm worried that if she's stressed, her bad memories might come back to the surface again causing her more pain and suffering.

She pouts at us. "Please. Just this once." She said looking at the both of us. Her gray eyes pleading loudly as she did so.

I looked away from her with a sigh. I hate it when she begs like this. I can't help but say yes to whatever she wants when she looks like that. "Fine. Fine. You win."

Alec laughed at my predicament. "You just can't say no, can you?"

I glared back at him. "It's not like you can say no."

Alec shakes his head. "Anyway, you guys better not forget to meet your wedding planner on Monday." He reminds us, picking up his suit jacket from the arm rest of the couch. He drops a kiss on Mara's head and then turns to me. "Want a kiss too?"

"Oh. Piss off." I said, annoyed.

Alec walks to the door laughing his head off, while Mara tries hard to stop her laughter from taking control of her.

"Oh no." Mara suddenly said as the sound of Alec's laughter disappears. She has a horrified look on her face as she looks at me.

I walked closer to her, worried. "What is it? Are you okay?"

She shakes her head. With wide eyes she looks up at me. "I forgot to tell Alec that Rory is his date."

"What?" I asked dumbfounded.

"Well.. I told him I set up a date for him. I just didn't tell him it'll be Rory." She said, mumbling the words out as if she is ashamed.

"This should be good." I said, laughing loudly.

Oh, Alec's in for a surprise.

I spent the whole day yesterday trying to get Mara to tell me her plans or at least let me know where I can squeeze in my own idea but she straight up ignored me. I was so frustrated last night. I've never been surprised by anyone, that's a fact. I've always done that part even with the past relationship, that was kind of my job.

Mara grinned at me when I got out of my room. Her gray eyes full of excitement for the day she had planned. "Good morning Dy!"

"You look excited." I noted.

"Of course. It's going to be an amazing day! Oh don't forget to eat your breakfast." She said, rushing back into her own room.

Leaving me alone with still no idea about where we are going other than telling me to dress casual.

If it wasn't enough that I'm still completely in the dark about this date, Mara took my car keys and is currently driving my car.

Excitement pouring out of her as she giddily drives. A smile on her face. "You okay?"

I nodded my head. "I'm completely out of my comfort here. Could you atleast tell me where we're going?" I asked her.

I am excited but at the same time nervous, which outshines my excitement. Being surprised to a valentine's date has never happened to me. She caught me off guard but I am genuinely happy. She makes me happy..

"Okay. I'll tell you. Will you please stop pouting?" She said with a small smile.

Wide eyes, i turned to her. "I am not pouting!"

"Yes you are!" she said laughing at my horrified face. "Anyway, Apollo told me about this amusement park and I thought he should go. You do love those places."

My heartbeat started beating faster.

I have loved amusement parks ever since I could remember. There's just something about the rush and the adrenaline when riding the rides there makes me feel so alive. The loud chatter and the business of the place has always called out to me.

"You remember that?" I asked bewildered. She was only ten when Alec and I brought her to an amusement park, per my request. It was a fun day. Although Alec refused to step foot inside another amusement park. He got sick after that day.

She took a glance at me. Her gray eyes looking at me like I am crazy. "Of course. I was ten, Dy. Not five." She replied jokingly.

I shrugged my shoulders. "Well it was still quite a few years ago."

She laughs, as the car stops at a stoplight. She turns her head to me, her eyes showing her amusement. "You still treat me like a kid sometimes, Dy." She said softly.

"You just don't see me the same way i see you, shortcake. I don't think nor do I treat you like a kid. I treat you like the woman I love, which you are." I said, watching as her smile widens at my words.

"Good. Because you are in for a surprise today." She said before she started driving again.

When we got to the amusement park, it was already packed with people. Mara refused my money when I tried to pay for our tickets and ran off to buy them. I was left dumbfounded at the entrance of the park, looking lost in the sea of people.

I never thought there'll be these many people at an amusement park on a Valentine's Day. People usually prefer to spend it in fancy restaurants or five-star bars.

Honestly, I would have planned that if it wasn't for Mara. She loves nature and would prefer a picnic instead of something fancy. She like to treasure a moment and not treasure the money.

"Here you go." Mara said, handing me my ticket. "Let's go?

I nodded my head and got a hold of her hand. "What should we ride first?" I asked as we line up at the queue for the entrance. I can't help but feel like a kid again. It's been a while since I've enjoyed a day in an amusement park. Not to mention that my shortcake is here with me.

"Well. We should go for the rollercoaster first!" She decided with a smile.

"Are you sure?" I teased. "You're a scaredy cat afterall. You might back out. "

She grins at me. "Alec is, I'm not. I can ride that thing three times straight!" She said arrogantly.

"Well if you're sure."

We rode the rollercoaster thrice. Then we headed for the Viking which turned out to be a bad idea for me. Once we got off the ride, my head is already spinnibg while Mara is still as active as the time qe got here.

We spent most of our time in queue for the rides. We didn't get much out of the ticket.

"Here. I bought you some water." Mara said, giving me a bottled water. She sat across from me with a worried look on her face. "I'm sorry. That was a bad idea." She said, sounding disappointed with herself.

I took a chug from the bottle before putting it down. "Shortcake, that was the most fun I've had in a while."

"Really?" She asked, her gray eyes starting to brighten as her mood picks up.

I hummed. I could tell she put a lot of thought into this. She spent a lot of time with Apollo these past days that I was starting to get a little jealous of their friendship. Whenever I pick her up after her class, she would always be with Apollo without Artemis around. They always seemed to be in deep conversations so I never interrupted or asked about it.

"Is this what you've been doing with Apollo?"

She blushed and looked away. "Yes. I wanted to surprise you. Apollo also helped me plan the date for Alec." She admitted still refusung to look me in the eye.

I got up and took a seat beside her, getting her attention back to me. Beautiful. Her eyes are always so beautiful. Without a word, I leaned down and placed my lips on hers. "You are amazing." I said, my lips still touching hers lightly as I spoke. "I love you,shortcake."

I kissed her again as her eyes widen at my words. Moving slowly and coaxing her to move her lips along with mine. Slanting my head, I give us both the opportunity to get our kiss even deeper.

Mara lets go first. Her eyes dilated, breathing deeply. "I love you, Dy." She said in a whisper.