Her whole entire week has been derailed the moment she had to have the parent-teacher conference at her daughter's school. Once again, Emily had pulled a girl's pigtails after the girl picked on her. Even though she told her not to do it again, Alexis had made a note to herself to talk to her daughter about pulling other girl's hair, and make her promise that she won't do it ever again.

The week even got more derailed when she had to go to the hospital because her mother had called, and wanted everyone to be there for her father as he went into surgery for a hip replacement. By this time, Alexis didn't even register the fact that it was February, or that it was close to Valentine's day. She was focused on her kids and her mother and her many businesses that she wished that this week was over, and that she can start over again next week..

"Wine..." she muttered, plopping down on her mother's couch that day. She was so burnt out this week, that she thought that she was going to crash and burn right then and there. It didn't even register the fact that her mother's house was covered in red roses and decorations. She was so confused that when her mother passed her the wine, she didn't even ask. "Tell me when this week is over."

Johanna Markiswell looked over at her thirty two year old daughter, who was stretched out on her sofa, looking so tired that she felt sorry for her. "Alexis," she started to say, trying to find the words. "Are you alright, darling?"

"Just tired," Alexis admitted with a little tired smile. "My whole week has been derailed-from Emily's parent teacher conference, to daddy's hip surgery, to Dax trying to see the kids." She took a long sip of her wine, letting the alcohol burn the back of her throat as she drank. She started to ask about the house and why it was covered in roses, but as soon as she thought about it, she'd forgotten.

She didn't even notice that her mother's restaurant, le Violon de Grande Ville, was covered in red roses and little tea candles on the tables before she went on her day as the head chef. Alexis was so tired that she wondered if she can just sleep on the soft sofa for a couple minutes.

Johanna sighed and shook her head at her daughter's words. "Don't let that man get on your last nerves," she warned as Alexis's phone started to ring.

A small smile tugged her lips at her mother's words, as she picked up her phone and took the call. "Hello?"

"When are you coming home, mama?" Nathan asked. Hearing her son's voice made Alexis smile, and she sit back up and looked at the time.

"Soon, baby," she answered, draining her glass of wine. "Why?"

Nathan got quiet all of a sudden, as if he was hiding something from her. "Can't tell you!" he said quickly. "Just...come home soon, okay? I think Emily's burning down the kitchen."

Oh no.

Alexis knew how her daughter Emily wanted to be a chef, just like her. She was always coming up with recipes that she thought that she would like to try, which ends up with her kitchen being destroyed.

"I'll be home as soon as I can," Alexis told her son quickly, hanging up and grabbing her things. "I'll see you later, mama!" she called as she rushed out the house and into her car to go back home.

Johanna couldn't even get a word in as she watch her daughter leave without a hug, though a tiny smile did come across her face, knowing what her grandchildren was up to. She chuckled as she leaned back and took a sip of her wine, all the knowing what was going on.

Driving down her street while her thoughts were on Emily, Alexis pulled into a parking spot that was a couple cars in front of her house, and stopped when she looked at her next door neighbor's apartment...Jonathan Meyers, the hot shot history professor down at Georgia State University.

Jonathan was such a sweet, and not to mention, handsome man, with his wavy black hair, blue eyes, and a baby face. He was always helping her out whenever she had too much things to take to the restaurant-even given her a compliment when she was taking the kids to school. Sure at the time Alexis looked like a total mess at the time, but still...it was nice getting at least one tiny compliment from a man.

Not that she was searching for it-it just came out of the blue that day, and she was smiling throughout the day.

Now, staring at his apartment, the plain brown door closed, Alexis wondered what does his apartment looked like on the inside. In her mind, she pictured it as a whole lot of papers strewn about, pictures of historical men like Einstein and Malcolm X hanging on the walls. Maybe his kitchen is pristine because he doesn't cook, or does he have a video game console and a huge, big screen TV to watch some sports? She wondered for a moment as she walked up the stairs of her apartment and pulled out her keys.

"Emily?" she called, twisting the keys and opening the door. "Are you burning down my-"

"Mommy!" the voices of Emily and Nathan called in unison as they ran towards her, arms wrapped around her waist as they hugged her. A surprised little 'oof' came out of Alexis when her children tackle-hugged her, which made her laugh. "You're home!"

"Well of course I am, baby," Alexis cooed, kneeling down and giving her children both a kiss on the cheek. "I'm always gonna be home."

"C-Close your eyes!" Emily demanded all of a sudden, her small little face in a determined look.

Surprised at the tone, she nodded and closed her brown eyes. "Alright, they're closed," she told them. Both her hands were pulled, and she didn't know where she was going until Nathan's small voice told her to stop.

"Alright, mommy," Nathan said, his voice lower than a whisper. 'You can open them now."

"What is-" she slowly opened her eyes to see a banner of red and pink hanging off the banister, the words Happy Valentine's Day, Mommy spelled out in crayon. A medium-sized teddy bear sat in the middle of the living room table, surrounded by pink and red m&ms and flower petals. Four pieces of cupcakes were sat next to the bear, and a smile of relief came across Alexis's face.

"Oh...I love it," Alexis cooed, turning to her children and kissed the both on the cheek. "Thank you. But why-"

"Hey," a voice said behind them. "Can I get in on the hugging?"

The voice made Alexis's whole entire face turn red, and she slowly turned around. She had to blink a couple times at the handsome man in front of her, holding up some more candy and a bright smile. "J...Jonathan...h-hi..." she stumbled over her words, but in her mind she was screaming into the void.

Because she wasn't expecting Jonathan to be there, being so handsome in his Guns and Roses' t shirt and jeans, something she didn't even think that a history professor would even wear. She also couldn't help but to note how his wavy hair was in little spikes, making him more handsomer than ever.

"Mr. Jonathan came and helped us do all this for you, mommy," Emily explained, while inside of Alexis's head, she just exploded with feels. "And we wanted to show you how-how much we love you." Nathan nodded next to her, and Alexis couldn't even help it as she started to tear up.

All of this...just for her?

She wiped her tears away as she started to laugh a bit, hiding her tears of joy though laughter. "Oh, so desu ne?" Alexis asked, lapsing a bit in Japanese. "Well, I thank the both of you-" she hugged them again, then looked up at Jonathan, who looked a bit surprised. "And you for doing this for me." She took a deep breath as she turned to the cake. "Now who wants some cupcakes?"

After the cupcakes were eaten and the small Valentine's day presents of candy and a new apron was gifted, the kids were fast asleep while Alexis and Jonathan was cleaning up after them. Jonathan offered to clean while Alexis dried, and they fell into the easy silence between them.

But in their heads, well...it was a totally different story.

I can't believe he's here! Alexis thought, taking the dish from him. How did the kids rope him into this? I need to thank him soon enough for doing this. Gahh, he looks handsome in that t-shirt! Okay, Lexie, you can do it, just turn around and say something to him. "Uh, Jonathan-"

"Hm?" Jonathan turned to Alexis, passing her another wet plate. She's so cute when she's nervous. I know she's a chef, but seeing her this close like this, I bet she wonders how the kids got me into this, but hey, she deserves it. Though I wonder how she'll feel if her mother kinda sorta pushed me into this?

"You know, my daughter hasn't had a really good Valentine's day in a while."

And then finding her kids trying to do something for her, I had to do something!

"Um...just...um...thank you," Alexis said once she took the plate. "For helping with the kids and their surprise...I enjoyed it, really."

"You're welcome."

"And, um, I was also wondering-"

"Yes?"

Her heart started beating loudly in her chest, and she could hear it in her ears. Jonathan was here, right here, in her apartment, looking so damned adorable, and yet she cannot even say it. All she could think about in her mind was Dax wanting to see the kids, her mother trying to set her up on a date, her children getting into trouble into school, and the sous chef knowing how to cook the soufflé she showed him a week ago-so many things rolled in her head, and her brain went dead. But right now, as she looked at him, every single thought about work, her ex-baby daddy, her kids...just floated away, and the only thing that was in this room was her and Jonathan, Jonathan and her.

"I was...wondering..." she started, shifting her weight from one foot, then another. "Um, when you're free..."

"Yeah?" Is she...is she gonna ask me first?! I mean, she is very beautiful...one of the most beautiful women I've ever met...and now I can't say anything else other than 'yeah?' Come one, Jonathan Meyers, say SOMETHING to her!!

"I was wondering....if...the kids....did they...rope you...into this?" Alexis asked slowly, drying the last dish quite fast, making him wonder if he did something wrong to make her do that. Then he realized what she just asked him, and...

Oh.

So she's not asking him out.

Jonathan forced out a little laugh as he shook his head. "Oh, that? Yeah, they did, when I came home from my last class. They were trying to spell 'Valentine' and I thought I help them. I hope you don't mind if I do that..." Please don't say that was cute, please don't say that was cute, he thought.

Because in that moment, in his head, the only thing he heard was "Kawaii ne?" when he told her, thus making him panic in his mind.

But then he relaxed as she shook her head. "I don't mind," she told him. "In fact..."

Please don't say kawaii ne, please don't say kawaii ne...

"I wanted to thank you."

...what?

"Thank...me?" he asked slowly, confused. "Why?"

She shrugged as she placed the towel on the sink, softly smiling. "Because you helped them do this. Thank you."

Jonathan smiled back. "You're welcome." he said. "Happy Valentine's Day, Alexis."