It was a nice evening in February. There was some snow on the streets that even mice could walk through. Most of the mice stayed inside their homes, preparing some cards and gifts. Surprisingly, Baker Street wasn't an exception.

In Baker Street, Elizabeth was making the cards, while Basil and Dawson were sitting, drinking tea, and reading the newspaper.

"Here you are, uncle," Elizabeth said and gave the finished card to Basil. Basil takes it and examines it. It was a card with a magnifying glass with ribbon and code writing.

"Not bad, dear niece. Your secret coding is improving." Basil said.

"But Elizabeth, it's not Valentine yet?" Dawson said.

"Oh, that day doesn't mean much to my uncle and me. So I gave this as soon as I made it. It's also more fun with secret coding." Elizabeth explained.

"Yes, she used to send cards on Valentine's Day, but after the "Broken Valentine" case, I said she can give me any day whether she wants, Valentine's Day or not," Basil said before.

"I still have one for you, doctor. But I can give it to you later."

"That's quite alright, dear," Dawson said. "You know, I like to hear about this 'Broken Valentine' case."

"I don't know... It happened almost a year ago."

"Well, why not tell me about it now? It's February." Dawson said.

"Well…"

Right then, someone knocks on the door, and Mrs. Judson goes to open the door. Then a lovely couple enters, which Basil and Elizabeth recognize immediately.

"Mommy! Papa!" Elizabeth cheers and runs to hug them.

Dawson was surprised to meet Elizabeth's parents. Her mother was lovely with the same eyes as Basil's. Hair in a bun and turquoise dress. Elizabeth's father was a handsome-looking fellow as well with an elegant yet simple outfit. The color of his eyes, nose, and fur indicate that Elizabeth has gotten her features from him.

"Long time no see, Cynthia," Basil said, still sitting on his armchair. "This is my friend and colleague Doctor Dawson. Dawson, my little sister and Elizabeth's mother, Cynthia, and her husband James Andermice." he introduced.

"Please to meet you both," Dawson said as he got up and greeted them.

"So, how was South America?" Basil asked.

"Amazing. We wanted to explore it more, but we needed to come back here. James's sister Anne is pregnant and we promised to come to see her. Then we'll go see relatives in Paris."

"Well, we did have the honor to meet Mr. and Mrs. Stilton in Scotland in the summer," Basil said. "And Sir Charles in his club."

"Why are you not in touch with the rest of your family?" Dawson asked.

"Andermice is one of the rich noble families in Mousedom, and as I told you, what kind of person Mrs. Andermice is, she wasn't happy when James chose my sister," Basil explained.

"But she is a lovely-looking lady," Dawson said.

"That wasn't the problem," James admits. "My mother kept saying she is too…"

"Wild, not staying still, no manners. Please, if by 'manners' she means being a snob, I'll rather be wild." Cynthia said.

"That's what I love about her," James says to Dawson. "I wouldn't be surprised if she joins for women's rights, which I don't mind."

"Try not to go in any movements. Mom's heart would break."

"No worries, brother. I'll do things passively." Cynthia said to Basil.

Soon Mrs.Judson brought more tea and cheese crumpets.

"So, has our little girl behaved?"

"Papa!" Elizabeth pouts.

"Well, you need to be specific with that word. She is her mother's child." Basil said. Cynthia giggles at that. Elizabeth sure has most of her features from her father, but her personality comes from her mother.

"Point taken," James admits. "I assume she follows you during your work."

Basil looks at nervous Elizabeth. She does follow him, but she also gets into dangerous situations but better not mention it. "Most of the time. Although there are times she has helped solve the case, like the one I was going to tell the doctor just now."

"Really? Do tell." Cynthia said curiously.

"Now I warn you. It was a 'close call' situation." Basil warns.

"Please, after that King Cobra situation, I won't be surprised if she bites someone's tail."

"Papa!" Elizabeth shouted awkwardly.

"Well, actually, she does that," Basil said. "Now, the case I'm going to tell about happened in this same month a year ago. It started four days after Valentine's Day…."

*****

February 18th, 1897
Baker Street 221 B ½

It was a nice winter morning, then. Basil was in his robe while he was trying one of his chemical experiments, while Elizabeth was reading one of his books.

"You know what, uncle…" she said.

"Mhmm?"

"This whole Valentine's Day is nothing but bogus."

Basil stops his experiment and looks confusedly at his niece. "Excuse me?"

"You heard me, bogus." Elizabeth said. "Bogus in ten factorial."

"That's a lot of bogus." Basil points out.

"And I stand for each and every one of them!" Elizabeth declared.

Basil had to put his chemical equipment aside to listen. Elizabeth sure wasn't like any other girl of the same age. But she did sigh with romantic moments, so of course, he was curious to know what makes her say such a thing on Valentine's Day. "May I ask what brought you to such a conclusion?"

"I thought Valentine's Day was a day of love." Elizabeth said, "But in ancient times, it had nothing to do with it."

"Technically, it was for the goodness of love." Basil cleared while preparing his pipe and sat on his armchair.

"Well, she was either dumb or she was made up so men can dress into animal skin and go after women like some barbarics." Elizabeth said annoyedly. "It was more like an excuse to act as an animal than be romantic!"

Basil tries his best to hold his laugh. To think she would actually read the origin of the holiday and complain about it. That's probably something you get when you're traveling and learning about different cultures. "Well, it's a good thing I'm not courting anyone."

"Why? Can't find the right woman?" Elizabeth asks teasingly.

"Well… that too. But no, love is dangerous in my line of work. I wouldn't think straight, or I would miss out on clues…"

"... Get your sweetheart into danger by Professor Ratigan."

"I'm serious, Elizabeth."

"No, I get it. You'd rather stay single than take a risk on love." Elizabeth said before thinking about something. "I wonder if I should take back that card I gave you on Valentine's Day?"

"No, just because I decided to stay single doesn't mean I wouldn't care for my favorite niece."

"But I'm your only niece." Elizabeth smiles.

"All the more reason to care," Basil said. "And just between us, you…"

Suddenly, someone knocks on the door. Mrs. Judson goes open it, and there's a police constable.

"Mr. Basil, I was asked to bring you to Mousedom Hospital," Constable said concernedly.

"To the hospital? What for?" Elizabeth asked.

"Asked by who?" Basil asked.

"By Lord Adrian."

Basil looked all shocked before he got off from his armchair, took off his robe, and put on his jacket and hat. "Lead the way, young man!"

"Hey, wait for me!" Elizabeth shouted and followed them.

Once outside, they jump on the passing carriage that is known to pass the area where Mousedom Hospital is.

"Who's Lord Adrian?" Elizabeth asked as they sat down on the carriage step.

"Lord Adrian is a member of the same mountaineering club as I, the International Society of Mouse Mountaineers. Or, in short, ISMM." Basil explained.

"You're in the mountaineering club?" Elizabeth holds her chuckles.

Basil looks annoyingly at her. "How else do I get to enjoy fresh air and exercise?" He asks. Elizabeth still holds her chuckles. "Lord Adrian is an explorer. Your parents met him a few times before you were born."

"You think something happened to him?" Elizabeth asked.

"I hope not, but he does have family here, so it may be related to them. Also, he knows I'm a detective, which explains why he asks me," Basil said.