Stephanie yawned and rolled over. She reached out for Chris but he wasn't there. Opening an eye, she saw that the other side of the bed was empty. "Damnit."

"Rise and shine!" Chris came into the room, carrying a plate. Steph sat up and rubbed her eyes. "Wha?"

"Breakfast in bed. Happy Valentine's Day babe." Chris put the plate on her lap. She started laughing at the sight of the pancake in the shape of a love heart. "Where on Earth did you learn to do this?"

"Late night experimenting in the kitchen while you slept." He grinned and kissed her hungrily.

"I start work today. And if I don't get out of bed now, then neither of us are likely to leave it today." Stephanie pointed out, pushing Chris away extemely reluctantly. He grinned. "And you say it like it's a bad thing? Cause there's a lot of left over pancake batter that I have plans for."

"Now that sounds like fun." Steph acknowledged with a smile. "Now get back in the kitchen and cook me a breakfast. I'm going to have a shower."

"A shower?" Chris raised an eyebrow. "Now that sounds like fun!"

"Chris! I have to be at work by 8:30!" Stephanie chided. He grinned. "That's why I woke you at 6 instead of 7!"

Stephanie squealed as Chris lifted her against him and carried her to the bathroom.

~~~

"Ok, present comparison time." Integra grinned. "Lyd, wanna go first? What did you get for Valentine's Day?"

"Forgiven." She said happily. "I explained the whole situation, we argued about it a little, came to an agreement and I got my boyfriend back."

"No jewellery, no flowers, no choccies, nothing?" Stephanie asked. Lydia shrugged. "Not for me. I gave Christain all of the above, but I'm not expecting any thing in return. Tonight, I'm taking him out for dinner and then we're going back to my place."

"So what did you sort out?" Integra bit into an apple. Lydia sighed and lit a cigarette. "That next time I think I'm pregnant to let him know so we can figure what to do together."

"What to do?" Stephanie questioned. Lydia smiled. "Well it depends on a lot of things if - oh my god." Lydia stared at Steph and broke into a wide grin. "You two have discussed it. What happened?"

"That's non of your business Lyd." Integra admonished. "Although, if you’re happy to share it, I'm happy to hear it!"

"OK, so Lydia got her boyfriend back, what did you get for Valentine's Day?"

"Very subtle change of subject Steph." Integra laughed. "Breakfast in bed, a teddy bear with an 'I love you' hear on it and tonight's the big romantic dinner. You?"

"Breakfast in bed, a rose delivered to me at work on the hour, every hour so far." Stephanie smiled. "And a romantic homecooked dinner tonight."

"How romantic can it be if you’re cooking it?" Lydia asked sceptically. Stephanie grinned. "I'm not cooking. He is."

Lydia and Integra stared at her in disbelief. "Chris can cook?"

~~~~

"Honey, I'm home!" Steph called as she struggled with the roses, her bag and the door. Chris came rushing into the kitchen. "I got em." He took the roses and shut the door. As he placed the flowers in a vase on the kitchen table, Stephanie dumped her bag on the floor, spilling bits and pieces everywhere. Muttering under her breath, she bent down to pick them up, but the sound of Chris clearing his throat made her look up. "What?"

"Come here." He whispered huskily, holding his arms out. Steph nestled against him and he held her close. She laughed. "Anyone would think we'd been separated for a few years."

"Well that's what today felt like." He replied. Stephanie looked up at him. "I've only been away for 9 and a half hours. And you weren't here for 5 of them."

"Yeah but the 4 and a half hours I was here for were lonely ones." He replied, nuzzling at her neck. "So how was work?"

"Fairly good. And thank you for the roses. It was a great touch. Made me feel a lot more confident." Stephanie kissed his cheek. "How was it today?"

"I got a match on Saturday. Lambit claims someone big is going to be there, so I have to do my best yadda yadda yadda." Chris rolled his eyes. "Like I wouldn't do that anyways."

"He's just making sure baby." She yawned. "I'm exhausted. Mind if I nap for a bit?"

"Course not." He replied. "Just don't sleep till late, then be awake for the rest of the night or you'll be messed up at work tomorrow."

"I won't. Wake me up when you've cooked dinner?"

"No problem." Chris watched as Steph curled up on their bed and fell asleep instantly. After a few minutes, he picked up the phone. "Hey Mo? Yeah it's me. Half an hour. Great."

Half an hour later Modina & Neesya arrived, arms full of food. "You want us to serve it up and eat it for you too?"

"No!" Chris exclaimed. "Can you just... you know, cook it?"

Neesya looked at him in disbelief. "Why don't you just take her out for dinner?"

"I suggested that." he explained, sitting on the table as the two women started preparing the food. "But the better half insisted that we just grab something quick or she'd cook, which normally I'd be up for, but since it's Valentine's Day -"

"Considerin her background y'know, the Lioness is fairly economical to have around." Mo said thoughtfully, chopping some onions. Hurriedly she added "You know what I mean Lionheart."

"Sort of." Chris said warily. Neesya laughed. "I knew she came from money - old money at that, but I never realised how much. Kinda makes you wonder why she's slummin it with us huh?"

"Tell me about it." Mo raised an eyebrow. "Usually it's a rich kid being a brat about somethin, thinking they'll give Mommy and Daddy a scare, then run home at the first sign of something they don't like. And the rich kid always spends more than they can afford."

"But not the Lioness." Neesya said somewhat proudly. "And if what the bitch was tellin us is true, then she comes from a helluva lot of money. More than anyone here could ever hope to have."

"What's Sable been saying about my girl?" Chris asked, jaw set. Modina & Neesya exchanged a look. "What do you know about her past Lionheart?"

"Enough." His tone of voice said that he wouldn't put up with any idle gossip. Mo bit her lip. "But -"

"No buts. OK, so my Lioness doesn't talk about her past a lot. That's not a crime girls. So ease up ok?" Chris warned. He had to admit Mo & Nessya had a point and not for the first time, he wondered what Stephanie was hiding from him.