Valentine
By Astrid



Rating: PG
Category: K/T with M/M undertones and M/T/Mi/K friendship
Notes: final part of my "I Love You" trilogy; song lyircs in italics
Disclaimer: I don't own anything Roswell, nor am I affliated with, don't own the lyrics to Jim Brickman and Martina McBride's song Valentine.
Feedback: Please! Thanks to everybody who sent me feedback on Sweet Surrender & So Help Me Girl!



Kyle's POV:

If there were no words
no way to speak
I would still hear you
if there were no tears
no way to feel inside
I'd still feel for you

Okay, I can do this. What am I so worried about, anyway? I mean, I already know that Tess loves. Get this, Guerin came up to me the other day and confronted me about my feelings for Tess. He wants to help me with her. He's closing tonight and he's arranging a little romantic candle-lit dinner at the Crashdown for me and Tess. De Luca had to have put him up to this; she's bringing Tess to the Crashdown tonight. Of course, the only thing or person, other than my dad, that could get me to work so closely with Guerin, is Tess. Now I'm just trying to figure out why the hell Guerin insists on me being blindfolded. He better have a damn good explanation for this.



***

Tess's POV:

All of my life
I have been waiting for
all you give to me
you've opened my eyes
and shown me how to love unselfishly

I had a dream while I was sick that Kyle told me that he loved me. But maybe he will tonight. I was right, Maria did catch on that I like Kyle...total understatement, I love Kyle. She's been so nice to me lately. She's even helping me set up a candlelight dinner tonight at the Crashdown. Maria's even helping me get ready. I'm so excited. I can't wait to tell Kyle that I love him. Maria's gonna have Michael get Kyle to come to the Crashdown. I just made three cheese potato gratin with bacon on the bottom, which is Kyle's favorite. Okay, and now I'm wondering why Maria wants to blindfold me... maybe she doesn't want me to see how the dining room is set up. Or maybe she doesn't want me to see her poison the food--no, she wouldn't do that to me. We've bonded. No more foolishness. Okay, she didn't have to tie the blindfold so tight.



***
3rd person:

I've dreamed of this a thousand times before
but in my dreams I couldn't love you more
I will give you my heart
until the end of time
you're all I need, my love, my Valentine
"Okay, Tess, just sit here for a minute and don't take off your blindfold until I turn the music on. And don't say a word," Maria says, seating Tess at a table.

"As long as you don't try to kill me," Tess laughs nervously.

"Not a word," Maria says sternly, walking to the kitchen.

The Crashdown dining room is dark except for about three dozen lit candles. There is a crystal vase centerpiece holding an arrangement of a dozen white roses and baby's breath at the table Tess is sitting at.

Michael walks into the kitchen, where Maria is pouring sparkling grape juice into two champagne glasses.

"Where's Kyle?"

"He's in the Jetta. Want me to bring him in?"

"No, Space-boy, I want you to leave him in my car all night. C'mon, Michael, we went over this plan. Sit him out there and then get back in here and help me bring this stuff out."

Michael goes back out to the Jetta and opens the passenger door, "Alright, Kyle, I'm getting ready to take you inside, but two things first. One, don't take off the blindfold until you hear me turn on the music. Two, don't say anything, not one word."

"Okay," Kyle says as Michael helps him out of the car. "Is Maria bringing Tess?"

"I just called her cell phone, they're on their way," Michael says, bringing Kyle in through the kitchen. Maria smiles at him and he smiles back as he leads Kyle out front. Michael quietly seats Kyle across from Tess and returns to the kitchen; Maria is finishing putting the food on the plates.

"Ready to do this," Michael asks her.

"Oh yeah," she says, placing the plates and a bottle of tabasco sauce on the tray. "You got the glasses?"

"Yep, all set," Michael says as they head out of the kitchen. They set the dinner out in front of Tess and Kyle, smiling the whole time, then hurry back into the kitchen. Maria returns and puts a CD into a boombox on the counter, adjusts the volume, and hits play before running back into the kitchen.

As the music starts, Tess and Kyle both begin to undo their blindfolds. They look at each other and their surroundings, both in awe of the Crashdown's transformation.

They both begin to speak at the same time:

"Maria did a great job--what do you mean, 'Michael did a great job?' Maria and I planned this!"
"Michael did a great job--what do you mean, 'Maria did a great job?' Michael and I planned this!"

They look at each other, slightly confused, trying to figure out what's going on. Kyle looks at Tess and says, "They set us up. Not in a bad way, but De Luca and Guerin played us."

"I should've figured something was up when Maria blindfolded me."

"I should've caught on when Michael told not to say anything."

"I have a feeling that the two of them put a lot of planning into this,"

After they finish their dinner, Michael steps out, "Are you two ready for dessert?"

"I'm ready to pummel you for going behind my back, Guerin," Kyle s ays.

"I don't think that Buddha would approve of that," Michael says, stepping out of the way to reveal Maria carrying a tray. She goes to the table, "Ladies and gentlemen, may I offer you you tonight's special: strawberries and cream with a light tabasco sauce," she says, placing the plates on the table. "Enjoy!"

Tess begins to laugh, followed by Kyle. Halfway through dessert, Kyle puts his fork down, "Tess, why did you plan this with Maria?"

Tess sets down her fork and looks at him, "Because, I wanted to tell you..."

"Tell me what?"

Tess closes her eyes and takes a deep breath before opening them again. She says softly, "I love you, Kyle."

Kyle smiles and reaches across the table, placing his hand over Tess'. "Do you know why I planned this with Guer--Michael?"

"Why?"

"Because I wanted to tell you again that I love you too, Tess."

A tear falls down Tess' cheek. Back in the kitchen, Maria has started crying, too. Michael rolls his eyes and holds Maria.

"I love you, Michael."

"I love you, too, Maria," Michael says, kissing her forehead.

Back out front, Tess thinks about what Kyle has just said. "Wait a minute, Kyle. What did you mean when you said that you wanted to tell me again?"

"Uh, well, you remember when you were sick last week?"

"Yeah."

"Well, while you were sleeping, you said that you loved me. I wasn't sure if it was the fever talking or not, but I told you that I loved you, too. After the others healed you, you didn't remember."

"I thought it was just a dream," Tess says, "This almost feels like a dream."

"But it's not, is it?"

"No, this is better than any dream I've ever had," Tess says, smiling.

The music changes. Maria comes out and begins to sing.

"Dance with me."

"With pleasure," Kyle says, taking Tess in his arms. He holds her close to him, their bodies slowly swaying to the music. Michael walks over to Maria and leads her over to where Tess and Kyle are dancing and begins to dance with her as she continues to sing. The four of them smile at each other. Tess joins Maria in singing the end of the song, looking deeply into Kyle's eyes:

And even if the sun refused to shine
even if romance ran out of rhyme
you would still have my heart until the end of time
'cause all I need is you, my Valentine
you're all I need, my love, my Valentine

"I love you, Tess."

"I love you, too, Kyle."


The End