Author's Note: Sorry this one and the last one are so short, but the next one will be much longer, say perhaps close to 1000 words. Enjoy my lovelies. xoxo

PART SIX

Phyllis and Joseph walked side by side in silence. Phyllis was still nervous that Joseph would change his mind about her and stop talking to her. She had explained to him already, but still she felt like she had to defend what she did, and she had no way of doing so. There was really no way to justify the things that she had done. She could have gone into service earlier instead of allowing herself to get into the situation where she was selling herself. She knew she had to say something, but what could be said? She opened her mouth but didn't say anything. Finally, she decided on her words.

"I'm sorry," she said quietly, getting a look of confusion from Joseph. "I'm sorry for what I've dragged you into."

"You've not dragged me into anything," he said, reaching out and gently touching her hand before withdrawing almost immediately.

"I've dragged you into my life," she said. "Into my messed up life."

"You've not dragged me in. I've become part of your life willingly. I promise," he explained. "There's no life I'd rather be part of than yours."

"There's really no need to flatter me Joseph," Phyllis said. "My past is all screwed up and I'm not worthy of you because of it."

"You can't say things like that though," he said. "Shouldn't I have a say in this matter?"

"You don't know the finer details of what I've been put through and I don't want you to have to put up with dealing with my past," she explained. "I'm letting you go... I'm letting you go because I love you and I want you to be happy and safe."

"And you are the best person to make me happy, and I want to keep you safe. You deserve to be safe," he said. "So I'm coming back to you."

"You're never really safe until the ring is on your finger," she said quietly. "And even then... sometimes you're still not safe."

"Then let me make you safe," he said. If I'm going to do this, he thought. Now is the only chance I have.

"What are you talking about?" she asked, becoming confused by every word that came out of Mr Molesley's mouth.

"I'm talking about us," he took a deep breath and knelt down. Here it goes. "Phyllis Baxter, will you marry me?"