Valentine's Day.

Any other year, I'd walk past all the displays of red hearts and roses, with a finger raised, claiming single life was the way forward... Until I met him.

We were no conventional couple, with Zak being a paranormal investigator and haunted museum owner, no normal present would do. And that only added to my problem.

What the hell do you get a guy like him  for Valentine's Day?

I know what you're gonna say too. Women get the presents, not the men.

Well first up, we fought for equality, and I, believing it, felt as though Zak should have a present too. Even if he was really difficult to buy for.

Sure there was a whole load of things I could have bought him, but I wanted to give him something meaningful, something he would keep...

I had spent hours, trawling the internet for the perfect item, when they all came across at once. Undecided on the best one, I bought three presents and closed my eyes whilst hitting the pay button.

Now, I was currently stood in his house, balancing two boxes in my arms, whilst looking at the third present which had to be delivered and carried into his home, all whilst he was at the museum.

Looking around his house, I set the boxes down on the dining room table, before running back to the car and grabbing the rest of the things I also picked up.

Perhaps I was going over the top? But right now, I was filled with excitement and that is what drove me on.

With only a couple of hours to spare, I got to work decorating his lounge. Hooking black love heart and bat shaped bunting across the fireplace, helium filled balloons of red and black hearts in their clusters. Hanging fairy lights, which seemed to have other ideas, but after a stern talking to, stayed put in their positions and finally threw some rose petals around the room to make it perfect.

Admiring my work, I grinned before running into the bedroom to get showered and dressed up.

With the pandemic, this year we planned to stay in for valentines and I planned to make it special, with his presents and fancy lingerie for later. But for now, I had a pretty little red dress and went without shoes because I had painted my toes and they looked too cute to hide in shoes.

With curly hair, I sprayed myself in perfume, just as I got the message from Zak that he was gonna be home in 5 minutes.

Letting out a little squeal of excitement, I raced into the dining room, flicked on the lights and lit the candles I had placed throughout the room. Before filling the ice bucket and sticking two non-alcoholic beers inside it.

"Hello?!" Zak hollers from the garage door which joined the kitchen. Gracie came bounding in and ran straight to her bed, a bone between her teeth, most likely a Valentines present from her daddy.

"Close your eyes!"

"Yeah, umm, I can't do that! Come here."

Giving the lounge and dining room one last look, I head into the kitchen to find him holding one of the biggest bunches of roses, I'd ever seen.

"Holy.... Zak they are beautiful!" I exclaim, noticing a few had little crystal studs in the middle.

"You like them?"

"I love them!" I tell him, getting a little teary.

"No tears.." He says giving me a kiss.

I take the bunch from his arms and instantly realise the size as I struggle to hold them. "There has to be like 50 here?!"

"There's a hundred roses." He tells me casually, making my jaw drop. "The florist put that cellophane around them because they are already sat in water, meaning you haven't got to worry about finding vases."

"Wow." I whisper, turning away from him to hide the tears. Placing them on the side, I smooth over a couple of petals, admiring their beauty, when Zak speaks again.

"I said no tears, otherwise you won't get your other presents."

"There can't be anymore." I tell him, wiping a tear away as he gives me a small gift bag.

I recognise the signature blue colour and look at him. "Zak..."

"What's the point in having money, if I can't spend it on you?"

"But-"

"Put me out my misery and open it. Please? I hope you like it.." He interrupts, looking at the bag eagerly.

I do and feel myself getting emotional all over again. "I- I love it."

"Yeah?" He asks sounding surprised. I nod, throwing my arms around him. "Thank fuck for that. Let me put it on you."

Stepping back, I allow him to take the heart pendant necklace out the box before looping it around my neck and clasping it shut.

"Only real diamonds for you." He whispers in my ear, kissing my neck as I hold the pendant to my chest.

"Thank you so much."

"I'm pleased you like it." He says as I turn to face him. His eyes go from my face to my neck before he grins. "I want to see you in just that necklace later."

"Deal."

"Now, why did I have to close my eyes? What's happened? Did you break something?"

I frown before gasping. "Oh my! I almost forgot! You have completely stolen my thunder, but close your eyes and take my hand."

"Sounds ominous." He answers, doing as I ask.

I lead him into the lounge and stopped once I knew he could see the decorated lounge.

"Open your eyes."

He laughs and cranks an eye open before smiling. "Oh wow. Look at all this. Did you do it all?"

I nod, following behind him as he approaches the coffee table picking up the small chocolates shaped like skeleton heads. "These are awesome."

"Thought you'd like them."

"I love them. I-" he pauses as his eyes look over my shoulder and to the dining table which hold his presents. "What's that?"

"What does it look like?"

He rushes forward, but I block his path, smiling. "Ah ah ah. Take a breath, it's fragile."

His fingers are wiggling with anticipation, but I step aside and let him go to the table. "Is this..."

"The original? Yes."

He steps away instantly, taking a breath before moving back to the table. "Was this used in the film?"

"Certificate says so. I had it all authenticated. It's legit, and now it's yours." I smile, walking over to look at the castle.

Originally used in Dracula, I had bought the Dracula Castle, which the movie team had used to film with. It stood at a whopping seven foot and the details were incredible.

"Holy shit... Holy shit." He says looking between me and the castle, unsure of what to do.

"Before you open the next two presents... Have these." I tell him, handing him a pair of white gloves.

"Wait.. What's next? This is incredible! I- I'm lost for words." He tells me, pulling on the gloves as I move a box in front of him.

Carefully, thank heavens, he opens the box and gasps again. I grin as he looks inside and carefully lifts the small items out one by one.

"Original shadow puppets used for Dracula." I prompt. "I can imagine these in the museum, red light behind them and their silhouettes casting up the walls."

Zak hadn't spoken and I wondered if something was wrong, but one look told me that he was rendered speechless, his face however mimicked a child on Christmas morning.

I fully expected to lose him for the rest of the evening to these puppets, as he would want to position them perfectly and to test which lighting would work best for them..

"Don't forget, you have one more." I whisper, rubbing his back.

Taking a breath, I watch his hands shake as he pulls the last box across and carefully opens it.

"No. No stop it." He says backing away and covering his mouth.

"I have a case ready for them." I add.

He looks at me, in shock. "But I thought, I thought someone bought these?!"

"They did and then decided to sell, it was right place at the right time. I got them checked, like you taught me. All original. You're looking at Dracula's top hat, gloves and glasses. The real deal."

I don't know what to expect, but it sure as hell wasn't tears as he gave me a hug.

"Hey, what's wrong?" I whisper holding him tightly.

"Nothings wrong. It's perfect, beyond perfect. I don't know how to ever say thank you. Whatever you want, it's yours. Just tell me."

"You are all I need." I smile. "That and maybe a kiss."

His mouth meets mine and I'm given a toe curling kiss which makes me slightly light headed before he pulls away and goes back to his presents.

As he begins to examine them in greater detail, I step away and crack open one of the beers before sitting on the couch, admiring my man and a job well done.

I'm on my second mouthful of beer, when the bottle is taken from me and Zak is throwing me over his shoulder. Gloves no longer on his hands.

"Oh! Where we going?" I laugh.

"I'm too ramped up. I need to say thank you, properly."

I grin and take one last look at the lounge before we disappear into the bedroom.

Valentine's Day? I nailed it!