Valentine's Day was one of Charlotte's favorite days of the year, excluding Christmas and her children's birthdays. The thought of a day dedicated to love always made her heart flutter and she would dream of what magical things could happen. She always wanted someone to bring her black roses or one of those beautiful bouquets that resembled artwork, but most of all? She wanted someone to know her well enough to know that's what she wanted.

Charlotte was the type of person who got to know every person she met like the back of her hand, even the briefest of strangers. She loved the feeling of understanding someone and the way their lives have shaped them. It felt so intimate, as if she was getting a glimpse into their hearts each time she listened intently to her friends go on about their interests. Carly loved to edit her favorite shows, Marjorie enjoyed those little art classes offered at bars, and Winter always seemed to be talking about poetry, how it amazed him.

To be loved is to be known.

And for that, Charlotte made sure to know everyone around her. She knew what it felt like to be pushed to the side and set on a shelf for years, unwanted. She'd be damned if anyone around her felt that way.

It's the way she had felt the last three years of her marriage. She had been madly in love with him at the beginning and put the effort in to keep their relationship alive. Charlotte would spoil him with concert tickets when she knew his favorite artists were coming into town, invited his friends over every weekend, and would put down deposits for tattoos at the shop for when he felt 'impulsive' and in need of 'some new ink.' She had learned the perfect way to make his spirit shine brightly.

Charlotte was left in the dark though.

No matter how many times she told him about her dreams to take dancing classes, he never booked one for date night. He always bought whatever inexpensive bouquet was offered at the gas station and never paid attention to the way Charlotte always picked out black roses for herself. The longer she felt unknown, the more resentment she began to harbor. They had two beautiful little girls together though and she would've done anything to make their family work out. Stella was ten years old, soon to be eleven in May, and Eden was freshly three years old.

When Charlotte finally had the courage to file for divorce, she was so afraid. She was losing the one thing that meant the world to her: her family. She had built her life around her husband and their sweet little girls. Those first few weeks where she came home to an empty house because the girls with their father were gut wrenching for her. She wondered if it would be the death of her. She had never meant for it to end up like this, she had tried her hardest and it blew up in her face.

It wasn't enough for him and she wasn't sure if it would be enough for anyone else. Many nights she found herself crying herself to sleep, begging God to tell her where she had gone wrong. Would anyone love her the way she wished them to? She was half convinced that she would die alone with only her daughters at her side.

That all quickly changed when she met a certain mean redhead and began to see her in a new light. She was completely infatuated with the woman and was devastated that she had to hide her true feelings in fear of losing her friends. It only got worse when Mia was fired and she had to start standing up for herself to Marjorie and defend some of Mia's actions. Just another thing that was about to blow up in her face, she thought to herself.

Charlotte couldn't have been more wrong.

She had never imagined that nearly a year later that same mean redhead would've become the love of her life. Their time together was filled with laughter and lots of movie watching, especially after Charlotte found out Mia had never watched any rom-coms growing up. 'The Wedding Singer', 'Pretty Woman' , and 'Serendipitous' were some of the first movies she managed to get Amelia Mae to sit through. Mia always got a good laugh out of how Charlotte seemed to tear up at the happy ending each time they watched.

Oh how much she loved her sweetheart.

It didn't take long for Mia to learn how much Charlotte enjoyed the dance scenes in movies and it sparked interest in herself as well. She had danced many nights with her in the kitchen, lit up by the refrigerator light, and cherished those moments dearly. She wasn't much of a dancer herself, but for Charlotte, she'd give her the world. Taking her to a few dance classes was nothing and came like second nature to Mia.

Charlotte was a natural when they went to their first dance class and couldn't help but giggle when Mia tried to impress her. It was so foreign for her, to have someone who wanted to put in the effort to do the things she enjoyed too. They went to three classes and Charlotte never thought too much of it, her heart filled with so much appreciation for her love. Each day, Mia proved to her that she was not invisible. In her arms, Charlotte knew she would not be forgotten.

Char was sad she was unable to take the day off from work to spend their first Valentine's Day together. Mia reassured her that they would have their time together soon and a few hours apart would be alright. She was over the moon when she opened her front door the morning of the special day to find Mia holding her favorite flowers and a cup of coffee. She threw her arms around Mia and nearly knocked her over. Laughter filled the porch as Mia caught her balance quickly and pulled her darling girl in close.

"Good morning to you too, babygirl." Mia chuckles, her breath tickling the side of Charlotte's face. "Someone's happy to see me, hm?"

"Of course I'm happy to see you, darling! It's Valentine's Day." Charlotte beamed, practically bouncing on her toes. "It's my favorite day because-"

"Because it's dedicated to showing everyone how much you love them?"

"How'd you know I was going to say that?"

"Remember how you came back to mine that night when I found you in the bar? We stayed up all night talking and even held hands?"

"Mhm?"

Mia brushed a stray hair behind Char's ear and gave her a soft kiss.

"You told me about how much you love this 'magical day' that night."

"You remember that from way back when?"

"Of course I do, baby, I remember everything you tell me."

With the cheesiest smile on her face, Charlotte pulled Mia inside the home. They worked together as a team to make heart shaped pancakes for Stella and Eden. Hearing the squeals from the young girls made the extra work worth it. Their smiles were just as cheeky as Charlotte's and they immediately dug into their plates. Their hands were sticky with syrup but they had never felt such pure joy as they did in this moment.

Eden's syrup wasn't only on her hands though, most of it landed on her pajamas and chin. It made Charlotte wonder if any food actually made it into her mouth.

"Here, Eden baby, let Mama clean you up." Charlotte mused as she went to wipe up the mess left on her babygirl.

"Thanks Mama!!" Eden's enthusiasm shined brightly in the early morning sun. "Was so yummy! You and Mia did a good job!"

Charlotte was about to reply when Mia beat her to it.

"Oh don't sweat it, babydoll, Mama and I were so excited to make a special breakfast for you and Stella. Do you know why?"

Eden tapped her chin and looked over to her big sister, trying to see if Stella knew why.

"Is it because it's Valentine's Day, Ms Mia?"

"That would be why, Stella-bug, I knew you would help Eden figure it out." Mia laughed, wiping her face clean just like Char had to do with Eden. "Speaking of which-"

Mia walked over to her bag and pulled out two bouquets of flowers that she had picked up for the little ones. She always brought Charlotte her beloved roses, but she wanted to start setting Eden and Stella's standards high. She was a firm believer that no one was too young to receive flowers and be showered with affection.

Nothing was like watching her young daughters fall in love with Mia for Charlotte. It made her heart flutter to see that Mia not only cared about her, but also about Eden and Stella. Not to mention the many times they spoke about possibly adopting a baby together years down the line or becoming a foster family. Charlotte had loved before, but she had never loved someone as much as she loved her Amelia Roberts.

After dropping the girls off at her mother's, Charlotte was spoiled with being driven to work by her favorite mean redhead. She much rather would be spending time with her, but little did she know a certain someone was planning something special for them. The day seemed to drag on forever until her break rolled around where Carly came in to relieve her and strangely enough wished her a Happy Valentine's Day and to have a good weekend. It didn't make any sense until she walked out into the parking lot for fresh air and saw a huge limousine waiting.

For her.

Charlotte half expected Mia to climb out of the back seat but was even more surprised to see some of her best friends. Lillian, Vienna, and Maxine. The same group of women she hung out with in high school and would sneak around with, going skinny dipping at the lake or getting tipsy in the bed of their boyfriends' truck. They still got together from time to time when their schedules lined up but it wasn't often. She was so happy to see them.

She climbed into the car and the chatter immediately began, the four friends unable to hold any moments of silence together. They drank mimosas as they were chauffeured around the city and made their first stop to a spa. After a facial and a much needed back massage, Charlotte and the girls were treated to mani-pedis. They stopped for a small lunch before the driver told them they needed to hit the road again to keep with 'Ms Roberts's schedule.' Charlotte couldn't help but blush at the mention of her beloved, her belief confirmed that this was all planned by none other than her Mia.

The next stop was a high end salon where Charlotte was able to get her color refreshed and hair styled to her liking. She was also dolled up by another stylist and almost didn't recognize herself in the mirror. She had never felt so beautiful.

Just as a silly suggestion, Charlotte said they should all go try on ball gowns. It shocked her when they all agreed and next thing she knew they were in an upscale boutique trying on dresses she could only dream of affording. Charlotte tried on one gown in particular that was deep maroon in color and had beading that covered the bodice and slowly spread at the bottom. Just as she turned to look at herself in the mirror, she noticed someone standing behind her.

"Hello Sweetheart." Mia spoke, "You look absolutely stunning, Char. Is this the one?"

Charlotte's eyes widen in disbelief,"Is it the what? What do you mean?"

"Is that the one you want, baby?"

"Oh Amelia Mae, you can't! It's so expensive and I couldn't possibly ask you to!"

"You're not asking me to, Charlotte Victoria, I'm offering." Mia laughs, "Besides my Princess should get to look like one for where we're going."

"Mia-" Charlotte spoke softly, her eyes even wider than before. "You...you didn't."

"I did, baby."

"You're taking me to a dance?"

"Not just a dance, more like a grand ballroom set up just like-"

"Just like the movies! Oh my gosh, Mia!"

For the second time that day, Charlotte nearly knocked Mia over with her hug.

"You're welcome, my love, you deserve it more than anyone. My kind, beautiful Charlotte."

Their evening was spent in a large, candlelit ballroom with a band playing the music. It was the most thoughtful thing anyone had ever done for Charlotte, well, that she knew of yet. When their dinner was finished, Charlotte was led to the dance floor by her love and couldn't help but admire the way Mia's hair looked in the candle light. Her features seemed so much softer in the dim lighting. She fell a little more in love with her the longer she looked.

At first it was just the two of them swaying to the music and holding each other close. Charlotte knew that classical dancing was not Mia's thing and didn't expect her to waltz with her or anything like that. So when Mia took the lead and began to twirl her around on the dance floor and show off the dances they had previously tried in class, she was shocked.

"Mia, how did you-"

"I picked up a few extra classes, sweetheart, I wanted this to be perfect for you."

For us.

"But-"

"I don't dance, Char, but for you I will."