There it was—the sound that used to make her eyes light up, the thing that used to make her heart beat faster with anticipation, the thing that now seemed to almost always signal bad news. It was like some sort of omen, like a tangible dark cloud and she found her steps always got slower as she neared the cell phone on the table. She took a deep breath before turning it over in her hand, the message on the screen over a slightly different version of the same old song and dance. Tonight's version…

Billy

Caught up with the kids. Be a bit late. Sorry. Xoxo

It wasn't about the kids. She didn't begrudge him any time spent with them. As a parent she knew all too well how fleeting time was and she understand his need to spend every moment he could with them while they were young enough to need and want his presence in their lives. It wasn't about them at all. It was about the constant tag-a-long with them, the seemingly innocuous mastermind behind all of this.

She poured another glass of wine and slowly took a sip as she leaned back into the inviting cushions of the couch. She was stuck…in the worst way. If she bitched about him not being here, she sounded jealous of his children. If she bitched about Victoria, she sounded jealous of her. Neither was technically true. She wasn't jealous. She was tired—tired of the games—tired of the struggle—tired of the constant manipulations.

It was a game she knew how to play. In truth if a fight was what Victoria wanted, she could certainly give her one, but she didn't want to—not anymore…not with this. It wasn't about that. This was different. This mattered…at least it did to her.

Phyllis brought the glass back to her lips, finishing the contents of the glass in one quick drink. She stood, grabbing her phone and throwing it into her purse. If this was going to end, for once it would be on her terms.

Victoria glanced up towards the window the glow of headlights streaking through the pulled curtains. Quickly she walked towards the door, mindful of what she assumed would soon be sleeping children upstairs. Her breath caught in her throat when she saw Phyllis' purposeful stride towards her door.

"Phyllis," she breathed, her eyes locking on hers. "What are you doing here so late? You really should have called, you know. I have children and this is their bed time."

"You also have a nanny that I'm sure is handling all of that," Phyllis huffed, pushing past her and into the living room. She waited until she heard the door close to add, "Not to mention Billy who has become a permanent fixture here." The smug smile that played on her face was almost enough to make her want to scream, but she took a deep breath instead, promising herself a stiff drink when she arrived back home.

"Yes," Victoria said softly, allowing her eyes to drift towards the stairs. "Billy is here. He's their father. This is where he should be. It's where he wants to be. I didn't ask him to come tonight. He came on his own."

"Which of your children did you suggest to call him this time?"

"I'm not sure what you're implying. I don't have to suggest anything to Johnny or Katherine. They miss their father and they ask to see him and I'm certainly not going to keep them from talking to their father because it makes you uncomfortable."

She bit her lip hard, her insides seething. "You know very well that this has nothing to do with the children. This is about you. It's about you wanting Billy here and not with me. If it wasn't Johnny and Katherine, it would be something else. It would be an issue with Reed or something with Brash and Sassy or a problem with something at the house—it would be anything to get Billy to be spending time with you."

"That's ridiculous."

"You said it," Phyllis spat, her eyes flashing at her. "I just want you to know that even though Billy may actually believe this simpleton act you've got going, I see right through you. I know this game. I'm not particularly proud of it, but I've played this game and I'm better at it to be quite honest."

"Better at deceit and manipulation?" Victoria smiled, "Oh, I absolutely believe that. You're much better at that than me…let's face it, you've had far more practice."

"So you admit that's what this is?"

"I didn't admit anything. You think whatever you want. The truth is it threatens you that Billy would rather be here with his family than home in bed with you."

Phyllis smiled, feeling relieved for the first time in weeks. Even on the ride over she'd felt herself questioning her decision and she couldn't help but wonder if, in the end, she'd be able to do it. But now, as she looked around, as she saw the delusions being created in this house, in the eyes of the woman in front of her, she knew she'd never been more right to make this move.

"You know what, Victoria—you might be right." She watched as her face changed, her eyes flickering with a mix of shock and confusion.

"What?" she stammered.

"I think you're right. I think it does really bother me to think that Billy might want to be here instead of with me. I think in the back of my mind I do wonder if he worries he made a mistake…if he feels like he's abandoning his family and his children to spend time with me. I wonder if he feels like he has to make a choice between his children and me. It shouldn't be that way, but for some reason that's the way it seems and I don't want that for him. I don't want that for Johnny and Katherine. I don't want that for me."

Victoria stood, silent, unsure of what to do or say. Never, in a million years did she think she'd hear these words.

"So, that's why I came here tonight. I just wanted to let you know, you don't need to send him home to me. He's a free agent. I'm done. If he wants to stay here with you for the next fifty years, that's his call. I'm out."

"So you're admitting that you can't compete with this?" Her eyes still stared, wide and full of shock, "You can't compare with what Billy has here?"

Phyllis smiled at her. "Oh, no. I'm not saying that at all. I could compete. I'm just choosing not to. See…I care about Billy and I don't want to make this into some kind of stupid game. I actually want him to be happy and you're intent on making him miserable if he's not here with you, so I'm walking away. I'm taking the loss on this one. I'll be fine, but Billy wouldn't be—not without his kids." She started to move towards the door, then stopped, turning back to face her. "Just one more thing. Know this…you didn't win, Victoria. It was never a competition. I was never playing your game. Billy is yours by default. Billy wants his children and he'll do whatever he has to in order to be with them. You're just…well, you're the free prize with purchase." She smiled once more. "You have a good night."

"Did I hear voices down here?" Billy asked as he walked down the stairs. "I would have come down to check but Johnny would have made me start the book all over again."

"Yeah," Victoria sighed, "You did, actually."

"Everything okay?"

She smiled brightly. "Great actually." Her eyes followed him as he reached for his coat.

"That's good." He pointed over towards the clock on the mantle. "Listen, Vic I'd love to hear all about it, but I really can't right now. I've got to get home. Phyllis was expecting me a while ago and I'm already seriously late. She's going to be furious and I…." He stopped… "What? What's that look for?"

"Actually, I don't think Phyllis is going to be expecting you tonight," she said softly, "That's the voice you heard down here earlier. Phyllis was here."

"Phyllis was here? Tonight? Why didn't you tell me?"

"She didn't come here to see you. She wanted to talk to me. She came here to talk to me actually."

Billy drew in a breath. "About what?"

"Well, about you..about the you and the kids…about you spending so much time here." Victoria opened her mouth to speak again as she saw the look of guilt on his face.

"Damn it," he whispered. "I should have called her. I know I should have."

"Look," she stepped closer to him, touching his arm gently. "It's ok. Actually, I think it's more than okay. I talked to her and I think she understands now."

His eyes narrowed. "Understands what exactly? What did she say?"

"She says she gets that you want to spend time with your kids. She says she doesn't think you'd be happy without them in your life and that she doesn't want you to feel like you have to choose between spending time with her and spending time with them."

"I don't have to choose," he said slowly, already feeling the dread creep up inside him, "This is temporary. We're just doing this separation thing for a little while. In time, I'm going to start spending time with the kids with Phyllis. We've talked about this, Vic."

"Actually, I don't think that's going to be happening. Phyllis said she's walking away. She wants you to be with your family. She thinks that's where you'll be happiest and she wants that for you." She smiled broadly as she looked up at him. "So you see, Billy. Everything's worked out. You can come home now." She pulled him towards her, wrapping her arms around him and hugging him tight. "We can be the family we always should have been."

Phyllis walked into the apartment, slamming the door behind her. Tears streamed down her face as she stomped over to the counter and poured scotch into the glass, downing the amber liquid quickly. The slow burn was far better than the searing pain that ripped through her.

She walked over to the couch, laying down and drawing her knees up to her chest. It should have been easier since she had chosen to walk away, but it still hurt just as much. She pulled her phone from her bag, sitting it on the table in front of her. Now, of course, it was silent.