Aaron looked over the board. His time was running out. He took the rook and moved it to a position where it threatened Theodosia's queen.

Theodosia smirked. "Your mistake." She moved a knight to take the rook.

"No, yours." Aaron slid a bishop across the board, knocking the knight out of play. Knights were more useful in the beginning of the game, yes, and they were getting to the end, but it still felt good to make an offensive play against Theodosia. So often, their games were him desperately trying to defend himself from her cold, calculated attacks. Though Aaron didn't look it, he had never been the best at chess. Monopoly, though...that was where he should be feared. He not only had a natural talent at the game, but excelled at finding law-related reasons that he should be given extra money.

"You are a fool, my dear Aaron."

Aaron realized that he had left his king undefended from the side, and Theodosia took advantage of it, threatening the king with a rook. Biting his lip, Aaron moved the king out of danger, but Theodosia moved in her queen. "Check."

He moved the king again.

"Check."

He brought in a knight to block the threat of her rook.

Theodosia took the knight. "Check."

King to A-3.

"Check and mate."

Aaron flicked his king, knocking it over. "You win again."

"Bartow sixty-three, Burr eleven."

"You were keeping count?"

"Come now, my dear, I'm sure that you have a notebook somewhere documenting all of your horrendous losses."

"Now, now, that's just your own insecurity speaking. I have more pride than that."

"Do you? Do you really?"

Without his eyes leaving her face, Aaron picked up a pawn and threw it at her. It lightly hit her shoulder, falling down. Aaron gave her a rare smile. "My pride speaks for itself."

She reached forward, squishing his cheeks together. "You know, I love you."

"Please don't do that."

"Oh, does that also offend your pride, my beautiful Aaron? I'm sorry, I thought that someone as amazing as you could take this. After all—"

Aaron removed her hands from his facing, kissing each one of them. He looked at the clock. "Oh, shit. We had reservations."

Theodosia snorted. "Let's not worry about those now. I'd much rather be here. Just you, me—"

"And the cliche that is our lives." Aaron pulled out a necklace. "Happy Valentine's Day."

Theodosia rolled her eyes and grinned. "You big sap." She gently took the necklace from his hands and looked at it. It was simple, a silver chain with a square diamond. She turned the diamond over and on the back there were initials—TB and AB.

She turned red and was embarrassed to realize she was kind of crying. She sniffled a little bit.

"Oh, you're crying? I'm the most romantic person in the world, I know. You can thank me—"

"It's not you. It's just…" Theodosia was reaching for an excuse. She hated crying in front of people. "I didn't realize that my initials stood for tuberculosis until now."

"Sure."

"Can you put in on?"

Burr took the necklace from her and clasped it around her neck, taking a deep breath.

"Oh no, I know that face," Theo teased. "Are you going to give me a speech?"

Burr smiled. "Just a little one."

Theo rolled her eyes, fiddling with the pendant. "Go on."

"We've been through some shit. I won't go into it—" They both snickered "—but it's been worth it. For me, at least. I would do it all again and again, just to be standing with you here. I love you so much, Theodosia."

Theodosia was silent.

"Uh … Theodosia?"

"I love you too, Aaron, but now it's my turn for the speech." Theo smiled down at him, "Like you said, we've been through some shit. Unlike you, I wouldn't go through it again. I wish it could have been easy from the get-go, that we could have always been that insufferably cheesy couple from our first date. But I think all the drama that we went through made our relationship stronger now. I wouldn't trade you for the world, my Aaron Burr.

X 

They should really change this 15,000 word limit anywayyyy Happy Valentines Day!