After such a stressful fast-paced afternoon, it seemed that the unconventional few hours turned all well in the end. Mandy sat by the fountain that she and Lou had renowned their love for each other. Even looking at the leaves that danced there way down to the medieval concrete floor, she still felt butterflies in her stomach.

Mandy stared at the gift wrapped in her hand. Thoughts travelled her mind, having the complacency to be overwhelming to her. Did she pick the right gift for Lou? Was it enough to show how much she cared about him? How would he react?

"Mox, you think I made the right choice?" Mandy spoke with uncertainty in her voice.

Moxy smiled knowingly. "Of course. I mean, you did spend a pretty penny on this gift! How is Lou bound not to appreciate it?"

Mandy looked at Moxy, who nodded back. "Let's hope!"

---

"What can I say, Nolan? I never miss~" Lou somewhat bragged as he walked out the mall. Nolan rose an eyebrow as he followed him, seeing his casual deamnour by laying back was such a habit he often took over.

"We were lucky to pick something up in time. Otherwise, you would have shown up to Mandy emptyhanded." Nolan reminded him.

Lou just rolled his eyes. It seemed like today of all days he wasn't feeling like himself today. "Relax, my friend. We got it done. That's all that matters!"

Nolan thought for a second and then nodded in agreement. "That's true." Nolan felt his impatience go away and continued alongside Lou. "Well, what are you gonna do now? Anything else you wanna add to the gift?"

"Yeah, but we can't do it here. Everything is about to close, so I might as well head back to the house before Mandy does."

Nolan nodded. "Good call."

Lou and Nolan nodded at each other and decided to call it for now. As they walked further away from the mall, Lou felt something suspicious. Something felt empty.

Then his heart stopped. "Wait a minute."

Nolan stopped, noticing Lou had paused himself from walking a few metres away from him.

"What?"

Lou turned back to face Nolan.

"Where's the ring?"

------

Mandy let out a yawn as she found herself moving in the direction of home. Moxy felt the opposite and was practically skipping around the place. Mandy never knew of how Moxy was able to sustain this much energy, nor how she herself was able to keep up with it.

The sky felt less bright than blue and started to shift into a warmer, yellow abyss. She knew it was getting late and was glad that she was able to find some sort of gift that would be worth it to Lou.

"Come on, Mandy! Let's get home so you can fix up a card for him!"

Mandy laughed at her enthusiasm. "What's got you so hyper?"

"Oh come one, Mandy! I'm happy for you! You and Lou just complete each other, and I want to see you and him grow better as dolls together! This is why we need to make sure that you're valentines gift for him is perfect!"

Mandy felt her heart melt and her kindness. She knew that her relationship with Lou was very much respected and full of fondness from other dolls, but she never took any consideration for how others had viewed how she looked and changed as a doll. She felt a warmth from that.

Feeling a jolt of energy from herself, she began to run after Moxy. "Well, we better get a move on!".

Unfortunately, the universe thought that at this very moment it would act against her, causing her to trip on nothingness. What was to be a gift for her boyfriend, turned lost into a crowd of dolls.

"Oh no!" Mandy shouted, watching it roll away from her view and now hidden in the crowd.

Mox heard Mandy's signal of distress ad turned to what got her attention, causing her to run after.

Mandy timidly but desperately pushed passed some dolls hoping to find the wrapped gift box but to no avail. It was lost.

-----

Lou was pacing back and forth in the living room, Nolan concerningly watching him sitting on the couch.

"Lou, are you sure, you left it at the mall?" he asked with his arms crossed.

Lou groaned, "Yes. I think I must have accidentally left it by the counter as I was paying." he rubbed at his eyes in irritation from his own actions. How could he be so forgetful? He would normally be so organised? Out of all days, it's his day today to become the worst at remembering.

"Man, and all that money spent on it as well..."

Lou shook his head in negation, that wasn't why he was so devastated at himself. "Nolan, it's not the money that matters. I could afford five of them if I wanted to!"

Nolan mentally rolled his eyes and his mind spoke 'Weird flex but okay.'

"The problem is!-" Lou stopped himself, his fists began to shake vigorously and he felt his anger push him over the edge. No, he needs to be patient, he obviously is getting carried away with his thoughts.

He breathed and spoke calmly. "The problem is that those rings are only made once a year. I'll never be able to find another one of those rings for a long time." He leaned against the kitchen counter in defeat.

"Oh." Nolan pathetically spoke. Now was not the time to be speechless, his best friend needed some guidance.

"Maybe you can still find something that may mean more to Mandy than diamonds?" Nolan suggested.

Lou looked up. "Like what?"

"Well, how about something that may be a little more personal." Nolan let his last word linger on longer to help Lou indicate something that might get his mojo back.

Lou thought to himself, a hand underneath his chin. He walked over to the window, glancing at the infamous view of Mandy's backyard that felt oh-so-beautiful to him. Something inside him clicked. Inspiration paraded his clouded mind, overtaking everything that hindered his thinking process. Looking at that view, always connected to him. He knew that it was always whenever he and Mandy were together.

'I got it'

Lou turned back towards Nolan, a determined look on his face.

"I know what I'm gonna do."