Author's Note: OK. Here is the next chapter... If anyone is still speaking to me ;)

CHAPTER 7: A SIGN FROM ABOVE

Nanny held Wilkes' head on her chest and rubbed his back. They lay on

the sofa in her suite, tangled together. It seemed odd to Nanny that

she didn't feel uncomfortable with this. Under any other circumstance,

she imagined that their current positions would conjure up all kinds

of fear and excitement. However, at the moment, she wanted only to

provide him with comfort and support, which he gratefully excepted.

After Wilkes had told Nanny the full story of Elaine's confession,

they had sat and talked for over an hour about his feelings on the

situation. He confided to her all his fears. That he wouldn't be a

good father. That his son wouldn't like him. That his son would be a

spoiled snob like his mother. That he might think that Wilkes had

suspected that he was his, but hadn't wanted him...

Nanny held him close and assured him that everything would be fine,

fine, fine in thee end. Secretly she was cursing Wilkes' ex wife, but

kept her mouth shut for the time being about that. Wilkes was

obviously very unhappy with Elaine as well. He shed a few tears,

thinking about the fact that he had been a father all this time and

never knew. So much time wasted. Nanny wiped the tears off his cheeks

with her thumbs. She found that seeing his emotional side only made

her love him more.

Wilkes had apologized to Nanny for his lack of attention to her

tonight. To which Nanny waved a hand and told him that under the

circumstances it was completely understandable. After their talk, they

had shared Nanny's martini and some of the chocolates on the coffee

table, before laying down in their current position. She looked at him

now, wondering if he had fallen asleep, but she saw that his eyes were

open.

"Penny for your thoughts?", she asked softly.

He smiled up at her, kissing her hand, "I was just thinking about how

lucky I am"

"To be a father? Yes Love. It is a gift for sure, sure, sure. I am

glad that you are big enough to see it that way"

"Well, yes... but I meant you"

"Oh! Well... I am lucky too. I'm so sorry about 'ow I reacted after

you brought me 'ome... I don't know what came over me. I be'aved like

a child for Lord's sake!"

"Tosh, tosh. I deserved that...", he said, closing his eyes, "and you

had no way of knowing my reasons. If I had half a brain I would have

told you right after Elaine told me, and we could have rescheduled, or

at least you would have known why I was acting as I was"

"Water under the bridge Willie. I just want to comfort you Love"

"I'm incredibly grateful for your support Nan. I feel so much better

after our talk. Another reason I wish I had told you sooner"

"Well, I am 'ere now darling"

He opened his eyes and looked up at her, "You called my darling"

"Yes. I suppose I did"

"I like it", he replied with a smile.

"Me too, too, too Love", she said with a grin.

"Nanny?"

"Yes, my darling?", she asked with a giggle, hoping she wasn't over

using the term of endearment already, but loving the way it sounded

too much to hold back.

"I am in love with you"

Nanny looked down at him in silence, as she searched his face.

"I do mean that", he said, pushing up closer to her, "I assure you

that I would not say it if it were not absolutely true. I... I felt

that after everything that happened today... I just need you to know

how I feel"

She was silent for a few moments, and Wilkes lowered himself back to

his original position, giving her a little space. He did, however,

pick up her hand and held it in his own.

"I love you too Wilkes", she finally said, softly.

He stroked her hand, looking up at her, "You realize that you do not

have to say that. I will love you until the day I die, even if you do

not feel the same"

"Oh Wilkes! But I do! I did not, not, not want to admit it, even to

myself, for a long time, but I do. I love you! "

"You do?", he asked with a smile, moving up to be close to her again,

"Well that certainly is wonderful news!"

"Yes. It certainly is", she said with a laugh.

She took his face in her hands, as they looked deep into one another's

eyes. He lowered his face to hers after a moment and they shared a

rather long and lovely opened mouth kiss.

"Our night is looking up", he said, running a thumb over her cheek,

when the kiss had broke, "Do you know how long I have wanted to tell

you that I love you?"

"I can imagine... If it is anywhere near as long as I 'ave loved you"

"I had, you know, planned on telling you tonight. It really is a

shame. I had so many lovely things planned. I wanted it to be a very

special evening. One you would always remember"

"Aoww, well...", Nanny replied, not sure if he was referring to

proposing or telling her that he loved her, "They'll be other nights"

"Oh yes. I will make it up to you Nan. I promise you"

"I'm sure you will Love", she said, kissing his forehead, "Your in

love with me. That certainly makes for a nice evening in my book"

He leaned back and moved her legs so that he was behind her and able

to spoon her close to him, "I adore you", he said softly in her ear.

Nanny closed her eyes, basking in this joyful feeling,"My Lord I love

being in your arms", Nanny admitted.

"It does feel right. Doesn't it?", he said, trailing his fingers down

her arm and threading them through hers.

Just then a load noise was heard from outside.

"What was that?", Nanny asked, snapping open her eyes and jumping a

bit, before another load sound was heard, "My Lord, what could that

be?"

"I don't... Oh!", Wilkes said, his eyes widening.

"What?"

"Nothing. I am... not sure what it is, but why don't we have a look",

he said, sitting up and looking at Nanny in her silk dressing gown.

Goodness, how did he miss how attractive she looked. More so, even,

then usual. Here he had been laying in her arms, with her looking like

a goddess... but there was no time to think about that now, "Can you

get dressed? I'll go to my suite and get... My coat. Yes! My coat! Be

right back", he said, standing and rushing out of her suite.

"Well... alright", she said after he was gone.

She retrieved her dress from the corner where she had left it, slipped

off her robe and slipped on the dress. A quick knock at the door told

her Wilkes was back.

"Come in Love"

"Good. Your dressed. Let's go", he said, pulling her by the hand.

"Wait! I need to be zipped, for Lord's sake!"

"Of course", he said, stepping around behind her to zip up her dress.

He had never seen her bare back and he could not help but take a

moment to marvel at it's beauty. Tiny little freckles, fair skin, the

sheer black material of her corset... There was no time for this! He

zipped her up quickly and grabbed her hand once again.

"My coat!"

"You can wear mine", he said as he ran with her out of the suite,

slamming the door, and down the hall. He jabbed the elevator button

violently upon arrival.

"Willie... 'onestly! What is the 'urry?"

"Oh... I just want to see what that noise was"

The elevator doors opened and they stepped on.

"Straight to the lobby, PLEASE", Wilkes asked Max, "It's an emergency"

Max nodded, as Nanny gave Wilkes a questioning look. It took forever,

it seemed to Wilkes, to get to the lobby, but finally the doors

opened. Wilkes ran out, tugging Nanny behind him. He continued running

through the lobby.

"Wilkes!", Nanny protested, "People are looking!"

Wilkes kept up his pace and soon they were stepping out the doors and

standing on the sidewalk with others, looking towards Central Park.

The sky above the park was lighting up pink, and green, purple, white

and blue.

"Fireworks!", Nanny exclaimed.

"Oh!", Wilkes said out of breathe, "Yes. Fireworks. Look at that"

They stood and watched the fireworks for a few minutes. Crowds of

people formed on the sidewalk around them. Many people were coming out

the front doors of The Plaza as well, to have a look.

"I didn't see anything in the news paper", a woman next to Nanny said.

"I know!", Nanny said, turning to the woman and her husband, "This is

rawther unexpected"

"They are beautiful. Aren't they?", Wilkes asked Nanny, as he wrapped

an arm around her waist.

"Yes Love", she replied, resting one hand on his back, thee other on

his chest and tucking her head under his chin.

A large set of beautiful pale fireworks went off at once, exciting the

crowd. Following by a brief pause, and another series of fireworks

which spelled out words in the sky. There was excitement in the crowd.

"Oh my Lord!", Nanny exclaimed.

Wilkes turned to her expectantly, smiling and reaching into his pocket.

"Itn't it amazing what they can do these days?", she said.

"Well... Yes", Wilkes replied, a bit deflated.

"I wonder what it says"

"You can't read it ?"

"No. I don't 'ave my glasses Love. Oh well..."

Wilkes could not believe his luck, as he watched the words in the sky

fade away. He let out a sigh and removed his empty hand from his

pocket. Several people from The Plaza could be heard saying, "Where

are they?", "What did she say?"...

"What's all the fuss about?", the husband of the woman beside Nanny

asked his wife.

"Oh, for goodness sakes! Your eye site is getting worse and worse! It

was a marriage proposal!"

"Aoww!", Nanny said, overhearing, "Did you 'ere that Willie? It was a

marriage proposal!", Nanny relayed, looking around for the couple who

were involved, but oddly not seeing any commotion amongst the crowd.

"They must be up in their room, watching from the window", the woman

said to both Nanny and her husband.

"Yes, probably", Nanny replied, before turning to Wilkes, "This woman

thinks they are probably up in their room. I wonder what she said!"

"Ah... Nanny", Wilkes started.

Nanny was distracted by thee other woman however.

"Must have cost him a fortune to have funded these fireworks, whomever

he is!", the woman said, "There is no way the city contributed"

"She thinks the fellow who asked must 'ave paid for all the

fireworks!", Nanny whispered to Wilkes.

"Nan, Really I must...", Wilkes tried again, but Nanny was distracted once more.

"Some one named Suzanne. I will have to look for it in the paper. That

is the only way we will ever find out I suppose", the woman said to

Nanny and to her husband.

"Her name is Suzanne", Nanny said, to Wilkes, as she continued to

watch the fireworks.

"Yes. I know", he said, looking her in thee eye.

"Aoww!", she said, slapping his shoulder, "You are so bad!"

"I am?", he asked in surprise.

"You could read it and you didn't tell me! Well... What was 'is name?

I would like to look for it in the paper"

"His name?", Wilkes asked, now incredibly nervous.

"Yes", Nanny replied, "Aoww, I suppose it didn't say"

"No... It did", Wilkes continued, his palms growing wet.

Before he could say anything more, the woman from beside Nanny tapped

her on the shoulder. Nanny turned away from Wilkes to hear the woman.

"His name was Willie", the woman said.

"Oh. Thank you", Nanny said, turning back to Wilkes.

"Nanny... "

"It seems 'is name is Willie! 'ow about that", she said, looking back

up to the sky, "Suzanne and... "

Wilkes watched Nanny's face. Her smile faded, her eyes shifted from

the sky to the park in front of her and then slowly towards him. She

searched his face, and he nodded his head, trying not to get

emotional.

"Oh, my stars, stars, stars!", she whispered, her mouth falling open.

He had asked her. He had really asked her, and in such a grand way!

"Nanny...", Wilkes began, as he pulled the ring, which he had

retrieved from his room earlier, from his pocket, opened it and sank

to one knee, "I love you. I have never been in love before you, and I

never thought I would... and yet, here I am. Completely and entirely

captivated by you"

Most of the crowd of people were looking at them. The fireworks had ended.

"Oh for goodness sakes!", The woman next to Nanny said to her husband,

"It's them! It's them! ... He must be a millionaire!"

"I can't even begin to tell you what you mean to me", Wilkes

continued, ignoring the crowd around them, "I would like to try, but

perhaps I will save that for when we are, you know, alone. I CAN tell

you however, that you mean more to me then anyone or anything ever

has. I would like to spend the rest of my life with you. I want to

wake up beside you every morning, and go to sleep beside you every

night. It is my wish to be there for you in good and bad, and for you

to be the person that I can go to in good and bad times as well. My

special someone. I want to devote my life to making you happy... If

you'll let me"

"Oh my sainted Aunt Fanny", Nanny said, barely audible.

"Suzanne, my beautiful Nan. Will you marry me?"

"Oh Wilkes! You WERE going to ask me tonight!"

"Well... I. Yes. Did you... know? That I was going to ask you to... "

"I suspected. I will tell you the whole story later. Oh Willie! You

are such a wonderfully romantic man!", she said, offering her hand to

help him up.

"Well... It was supposed to be a better evening that proceeded it, but..."

"Never mind that. It was perfect Love. Just perfect!"

"Is that... That is to say... Do you accept?", he asked hopefully.

"Oh YES! Yes, yes, yes my darling!", she said, hugging him tightly.

The crowd cheered, and Nanny gave him a big kiss. Wilkes laughed

happily then and hugged her once again.

"Thank you Nanny. I am so happy. Thank you!", he said in her ear.

"You needn't thank me Willie! I love you. I want to marry you!"

"Yes. Indeed", he replied.

Both their eyes were brimming with tears, as they let out little

breathless laughs.

"I must put the ring on your finger!", Wilkes announced, noticing a

lot of people were still standing around waiting for something.

"Aoww, it is so lovely Wilkes!", she said as she held out her

trembling hand, dozens of strangers looking on.

Wilkes took her hand and began slipping the ring on, but then someone

bumped him from behind and the ring went flying. Wilkes and Nanny, as

well as several others in the crowd looked around, searching for where

it had landed.

"I am such a fool!", Wilkes scolded himself, as he searched for the ring.

"You are not, not, not a fool! ... And we will find it sweet'eart",

Nanny replied, as they scanned the ground. Something in the distance

caught her eye, "There!"

"Where?", Wilkes asked.

"Here", Nanny said grabbing his hand and walking a few yards away,

just to the left of The Plaza doors, "Oh! There you are!", Nanny said

to the ring as she picked it up.

"Thank goodness!", Wilkes said, relieved.

"Look. We're away from the crowd. Maybe it was a blessing in disguise"

"Yes... A little more private over here isn't it? Now where were we?"

"Ah... I believe you were about to slip an engagement ring on my

finger Sir Wilkes, my 'andsome knight", Nanny replied, holding out her

hand.

"Oh...", Wilkes said with a smile, "Yes indeed I was Lady Suzanne. May

I have that beautiful finger please me lady"

"Certainly Sir, and you may kiss my 'and as well"

"Ah. A treat indeed", he said, kissing her hand, "Such smooth skin...

May I slip on your ring now my beloved?"

"Please do"

With that, he slipped the ring on her finger. It fit perfectly. Well

of course it did, Nanny thought. This was just like a fairy tale.

Nanny admired her ring, before reaching out to kiss him.

"I love you Nan", he said, when her lips were about to touch his.

She smiled, not leaning back, so that when she replied her lips

brushed his slightly, "I love you Wilkes", she said before she moved

in for the kiss.

What a kiss it was! It started out filled with love and excitement,

warm and opened mouth, which would not be called tame, but then it

took on a new life. The joy of their engagement, mixing with all the

bonding and knowledge of their mutual love from earlier, and the

relief that they had overcame thee obstacles and made up from their

quarrel fueled them. Their kiss became deep and hungry, as they forgot

where they were. Their hands clung to one another's backs, as their

angled mouths seeked more and more from thee other. The sound of a

couple clearing their throats was what finally halted them.

They straightened themselves, and turned around, expecting to see

people standing behind them. Wilkes was about to apologize for their

public display of affection, but stopped short seeing no one was right

behind them.

"Down here", a voice said.

They looked down to see Mr. Salamone and Miss Thompson huttled

together against the building, in a small alcove out of site.

"Oh my lord!", Nanny said quietly.

"We weren't going to say anything", Miss Thompson said, "Since you

hadn't seen us. No need to embarrass anyone, but we thought... We

thought that the way things were going you might like to know we were

here, you see"

"Ah", Wilkes said slightly embarrassed, before realizing he had no

reason to be. He loved Nanny. They were getting married. Yes they had

passion for one another, which was a rather wonderful thing as far as

he was concerned, "And what are you two doing down there?"

"We were just...", Miss Thompson started.

"We simply wanted... ", Mr. Salamone added.

"Never mind!", Nanny said as she raised her hand, "You needn't explain

to us. You just go back to doing whatever you were doing!", Nanny

said, winking and taking Wilkes' arm.

"This is not something we do... often", Mr. Salamone said, "We are

generally strictly professional. This a... a five star hotel!"

"Well perhaps you should do it more often then", Wilkes replied, "Time

only moves in one direction. Don't make the same mistake I made and

wait close to a year before making a move"

"Yes, yes, yes! You must grab 'appiness when you get it. We'll let you

two be now"

"Thank you", Miss Thompson replied.

"Yes. Thank you", Mr. Salamone seconded.

"And congratulations", Miss Thompson added with a bright smile.

Wilkes and Nanny left thee other couple alone and made their way back

into The Plaza. The crowd had disappeared, except for the group of

Plaza residents and employees who wished to offer them

congratulations. Mr. Peabody, who Nanny noticed was standing by

Maggie's side, had champagne dispersed to everyone in the lobby, as

Bill got on the piano and played love songs. Nanny and Wilkes danced,

and sang along with their friends for about an hour or so, before

retiring upstairs, exhausted.

"Well... That turned out to be a pretty special evening after all.

Didn't it Love?", Nanny asked as they rode up in thee elevator.

"Oh yes, yes! Quite!", Wilkes replied, kissing her briefly.

"I'm going to be a Lady!", Nanny said, having just truly realized it.

"You have always been a lady!", he said as they nodded to Max and

stepped off the elevator, approaching her suite.

"Aoww..."

"I know we have a lot to work out... The wedding details, living

arrangements, the plan for Eloise, meeting my family, meeting my... my

son. Not to mention my retirement coming up... But can we save all of

that for Monday Nan?"

"Well. Yes. Of course Willie"

"Ah. Very good. You see, I was hoping that tomorrow would just be

about you and I"

"That sounds lovely darling. Thank, thank, thank you!", she said as

she kissed him, then turned to unlock her door.

"Nan?"

"Yes Love?"

"Er, Hillary and Eloise won't be home until Monday morning you said"

"Yes. That's right"

"Well. Then. Would you care... to, you know, sleep in my suite tonight?"

"Oh!", Nanny said in surprise, "Well... I would like to, yes, but I

think that perhaps... I 'ave never been married Wilkes... and I want

our wedding night to be..."

"Oh! No, no. I just meant to sleep. Truly I did. I would like to wait

until we are married as well", he said, taking her hands, "I know what

it means to you to wait... and to me too, but particularly you"

"Thank you. I love you so much. Much, much, much more then I 'ad

the... Well, the two other men who I cared for in the past. It's

different with you Willie. I just want our wedding night to be

special, in that way"

"I'm honored to hold that place in your heart", he said, kissing her

hand, "and yes, our wedding night will be very special"

"Wilkes...", she started, leaning against the door frame and looking

down, "You do realize then... I am not, not, not a virgin"

"Nor I, as you know, but it has been a very long time for me"

"Oh yes! Me too... and as I said, it's different with you. I'll be

with... my 'usband"

"Yes. Yes indeed you will. Perhaps our wedding night will be like the

first time all over again then, for both of us", he said with a smile.

"It does not bother you then?"

"Of course not my darling", he said, reassuring her, "We both have our

pasts and now... We have our future"

"Oh Willie! I love you", she said hugging him.

"I love you too", he said with a little laugh, her having nearly

knocked him over.

"So. You just want to... Cuddle a bit tonight?"

"Does that sound silly?"

"No! It sounds divine, divine, divine!"

Nanny entered her suite then and put a few things in a bag. Once she

was ready, Wilkes took her arm, after Nanny had locked up, and tucked

it securely under his, as they made their way to his suite. They

passed Lily, the night maid from their floor, on their way.

"Congratulations", she said, as she passed, "Always knew you two were

sweet on each other"

"Thank you very much", Wilkes replied.

"Yes, thank you", Nanny seconded.

"Lovely people here at The Plaza", Wilkes said, after Lily had gone.

"Aoww... Yes! Quite. You know... Eloise is going to be quite upset with you"

"For taking you away? Yes. Well, we will work that out"

"Aoww... No. Not that. I will always be a big, big, big part of my

little Love's life. I was referring to the fireworks"

"Ah, yes. I suppose she'll be rather cross at me when she finds out

she missed them"

"Yes"

"Well... Perhaps I'll arrange for more on her Birthday"

"Aoww... What a sweet man", Nanny replied.

"Here we are", Wilkes said as he unlocked his door and pushed it open,

before scooping her up into his arms.

"Willie! Put me dow- dow- down! You'll brake your back!

"Nonsense", he said, stepping over the threshold with her.

"Itn't it supposed to be the wedding day that you do that?"

"We'll do it then too", he said with a smile.

She laughed deeply, "Should you put me down now?"

"No, but could you get the door", he replying, giggling with her as

she tried to manage the door knob.

He walked them over to his little cart of drinks and motioned to the

bottle of champagne and glasses, which she picked up.

"Very nice", she said with a smile.

"I'll have to get ice", he said walking into the bedroom with her.

He motioned to the night stand and she placed the champagne and

glasses down. He then laid her gently in his bed, kissing her sweetly

on the mouth.

"I'll go get that ice", he whispered, just an inch from her face.

"Do you really have to go? I'll drink it warm. I don't mind, mind, mind"

"I'll only be a minute", he said with a little laugh, as he straightened.

"Alright, but I expect my fiancé back 'ere in one minute!", she said,

pointing to the bed.

"Yes, my lady", he said, kissing her hand and hurrying out of the room.

Here she was. Laying in Sir Wilkes' bed. Engaged to him! Him

completely in love with her. Lord! How had this happened? She smiled,

marveling at how wonderful life could be when you listened to your

heart, and to what was in other people's hearts.

TO BE CONTINUED...