It's February 14th, so I wanted to write a Valentine's Day oneshot for fun! And since I'm in a Sokeefe mood today... that's what it is! Enjoy!

Sophie had never been one for Valentine's day. 

When she'd been young, she hadn't exactly been popular; she'd had friends, sure, but not many, and when Valentine's day came around, they were always off somewhere with their own partners, while she stayed in the house in her pajamas. She watched romcoms and ate popcorn by herself, and she ate all the chocolate she wanted, even though there was no one to give it to.

Worse, were the days she went to school on February 14th. The days when there were couples everywhere she looked, kissing against the lockers or holding hands in the hallways or giggling to each other behind hands.

There were teddy bears carried in binders and bags, and chocolate passed from hand to hand.

(Sophie never got any chocolate. she never got a teddy bear, or a real Valentine)

But even though Sophie would trudge through the halls alone, she didn't mind. She wasn't missing anything, she thought; how could she miss anything she'd never had?

So she sighed and moved through the day, nodded at the people who looked at her curiously, as if wondering why she didn't have a date.

Ignoring the people who trilled loudly about their plans for the night, asked with faux sweetness where she was going with her boyfriend, asked where she had a reservation, why she wasn't carrying flowers.

("i don't have a boyfriend, actually," she would say quietly. and when people asked if she had a girlfriend, or anyone at all, she would shake her head. "no," she repeated again and again. "not this year.")

Until the year came (this year) when she did have someone to give her chocolate and teddy bears, to take her on picnics and shower her with kisses. This year, she could pass other people in the halls, and no one asked her why she wasn't carrying flowers.

This year was different.

And even though Sophie had been perfectly fine alone, she was just as happy with someone else. Just as happy, because even though she didn't need anyone on Valentine's day, she loved having someone.

And if she were to have anyone to shower her with kisses in the halls, she was glad it was Keefe.

...

(The first Valentine)

She could hardly see his face behind the petals, could hardly make out the tips of his blonde hair from the flowers he held in his hands. But she could imagine his smirk from behind the dozen roses, crooked and satisfied, and she laughed as she wrapped her hands around the stems and lifted them into her arms.

"Keefe," she scolded teasingly. "What did I say about the huge gestures?"

"Oh, this wasn't a huge gesture," Keefe beamed, taking her free hand. He pressed an elegant kiss to the back of it, and Sophie blushed. "This was a small gesture. There are going to be a lot of them throughout the day, just so you know."

"Way to work around the rules," she rolled her eyes, a grin tracing her lips as she laced her fingers with her boyfriend's.

"You know I'm an expert at finding loopholes," he squeezed her hand gently, this time pressing a kiss to her cheek. "Now... put those flowers in a vase somewhere! We have to get to school, I have more surprises!"

Sophie snorted, but she laid the roses carefully on the table as she went to find a vase and fill it with water. "You realize that takes away the surprise, right?" She called over her shoulder, setting the stems carefully in the fancy glass vase.

"You don't like surprises," Keefe said, twisting a strand of her hair between his fingers as she set the flowers on the counter. "This way, you're prepared."

Sophie thanked the heavens that her parents were at work; Grady would've blown up if he'd known that Keefe had come into the house with her without supervision. Even though nothing was happening, and they had to get to school.

"I suppose I am," Sophie agreed, reaching up to press a quick kiss to Keefe's lips. She'd told him she didn't like surprises only once, as far as she could recall, and it was years ago.

He remembered, though; or, at least, took the time to remember, since he had a photographic memory and all.

...

(The first Valentine: part two)

The next small gesture, Sophie found, was a tiny card, one that he probably got at the dollar store. It changed with the angle she twisted it to; first a dog with big eyes and its tongue sticking out, then the same dog with a spacesuit on, words on the side exclaiming You're My Whole World in squiggly letters.

She turned it around, and there was a little heart-shaped lollipop stuck to the back, with the words I'm A Sucker For You pasted on the back.

She choked with laughter, giggling as she leaned over to press a kiss to Keefe's cheek. He grinned, but kept his eyes on the road as he drove them to school. "You like it?"

"I love it. This is such a 4th grade thing, I remember I used to get fifteen of these when everyone would get the same Valentines for the class," Sophie teased. "This is sweet, thank you."

She unwrapped the lollipop and stuck it in her mouth.

...

(the first Valentine: part three)

The following surprise wasn't Sophie's favorite out of all of them, but it was sweet and she loved it all the same.

The teddy bear was pretty small; mini, really, fitting perfectly in the palm of Sophie's hand. It wasn't holding a heart, it wasn't red or pink or in any way related to Valentine's Day, but it was fluffy and cute and it fell out of her locker as she opened it.

Her lips curved into a grin as she picked it up, cradling it gently in her fingers. Keefe wasn't there to see her face (she'd made him go to class for once), so she tucked it back into her binder with a smile on her lips.

"Thank you, Keefe," she whispered into the air.

...

(the first Valentine, and all the ones that followed)

The rest of the day, Sophie found little gifts everywhere she went. A single mini chocolate bar, a red beaded bracelet, an abc list of her favorite activities and things. (Keefe, of course, had put himself down for K)

At the end of the day, though, she received the best present yet.

"What's this?" she asked Keefe, his hands hiding the final surprise behind his back.

"Before you say anything... I did make it myself. I made it a few months ago, actually. I was saving it for this." His feet shifted nervously in a way that he hadn't for all the other small gestures, tapping the ground as he brought his arms out from behind his back, showing Sophie what he'd been hiding.

"Whoa..." she murmured, taking the paper from his hands. It was a painting (that looked almost like a photograph) of them, sitting together on his porch swing. His arm was around her, and her head was nestled into his side, his head resting on hers.

They looked comfortable, at home with each other.

Peaceful.

"You made this?" she blurted. "For me?"

Keefe nodded. "Of course."

Sophie ran her fingers down her minuscule face, rendered to the smallest detail. "Thank you," she breathed. "I love it."

She laid the painting carefully down on a side table before throwing her arms around her boyfriend, burying her face in his shoulder. "I love you."

Keefe stiffened. They'd never said the words before; they'd just... slipped out.

She tensed, drawing back to stare into his face. For a moment she was worried he wouldn't say it back, but his eyes were soft as he kissed her, murmuring, "I love you too," against her lips.

...

Sophie didn't really believe in Valentine's Day, for the most part. She didn't like that everyone was expected to have a date or a significant other, and that anyone who didn't was mocked.

She didn't believe in it, but she loved it anyway; loved the surprise and the love and the kisses and the teddy bears.

Cliche, perhaps, but perfect for her.

She didn't believe in it, still. She didn't believe that there should be a day for only the couples, for only those who wanted or had love in their life.

Maybe, Sophie thought, maybe Valentine's Day should be a day for both celebrating romantic love, and celebrating being single, or celebrating not caring either way.

But even though she didn't believe in it, she still loved seeing the hearts and chocolates and flowers everywhere.

Because those were a reminder of Keefe, and the tiny little gestures that added up to love.

Not me trying to emphasis the fact that you don't need to date someone to be happy while still being fluffy-

Happy Valentine's Day everyone! Whether you're single or not, you can enjoy the holiday too! Personally, I just like eating the chocolate.

Anyway, hope you liked it! A bit of Sokeefe fluff (I managed to write without angst! It's a miracle!) for your enjoyment! Love y'all!