"I'd say someone is sending a serious message here." Lauren smiled as Phyllis slowly turned around to see a bouquet of red roses and a beautifully wrapped package being walked across the room. "Making sure everyone knows you're taken, huh?"

Phyllis scribbled her name on the clipboard, before shooting a quick smile at Lauren. "He's always been good at this stuff," she sighed. "If you'll wait just a minute," she muttered to the delivery man, standing to get her purse.

"No need," he said quickly, "Mr. Abbott already took care of it."

"Of course he did," Lauren whispered, with a sly smile as Phyllis returned to the table. She eyed the box. "Aren't you going to open it?"

"Now? We were in the middle of the.." She stopped as she saw the look on her friend's face. "Alright," she whispered gleefully, barely able to keep herself from ripping into the box. She pulled away the ribbon and lifted the tissue paper to find a simple, but stunning red dress.

"That's lovely," Lauren whispered as she craned her neck to see inside the box. "And it looks like there's a note."

"So there is." Phyllis grabbed the note quickly, holding it to her chest before pulling the small, white sheet of paper out of the envelope.

I know we're a few days late, but I hope you can find a little time in the day for me. I provided the dress, all you have to do is put it on. The car will be there to pick you up at 6. I'll be waiting.

Love always,

Billy

"Alright, I'm dying over here," Lauren groaned, "What's it say?"

Phyllis grinned. "He's sending a car to pick me up at 6. He wants me to wear the dress."

"And.." Lauren stared at her, her eyes wide with anticipation.

"That's it…that's all it says." Phyllis paused for a moment, considering whether or not to continue. Lauren was one of her closest friends, but saying the words out loud almost felt like tempting fate. "Oh what the hell…I think Billy's gonna propose tonight," she squealed.

Lauren walked back over to the table holding out a cup of coffee to Phyllis before taking a seat across from her. "Tell me absolutely everything."

Phyllis glanced behind her. The last thing she needed was the Jabot rumor mill spreading this around. "Well." She leaned forward. "Valentine's Day is…it's a little rough for Billy with it being so close to Delia's birthday, so I wanted to keep things low key this year. We just ordered in and spent the night at home and we decided we'd celebrate on another day. We've never been exactly normal anyway, right?" She smiled as Lauren nodded in agreement. "Anyway, he's just been acting really odd and then the other day I caught him going through my jewelry box. He claimed he'd knocked it over and was just putting things back, but I didn't hear anything."

"And that's why you think he's going to propose?" Lauren leaned back in her chair. "I mean, sweetie, I'm not saying he won't, but don't you think you might be getting a little bit ahead of yourself with this?"

Phyllis sighed. "It's not just that. It's everything. From the beginning, Billy was always talking about the future. He always wanted to make plans for us and now we're living together. We have a house. We have his kids visit. It just feels like the next obvious thing." She paused, considering if maybe she was being too presumptuous. "Am I wrong…do you think I'm jumping to conclusions, here?"

"If I know anything, it's how much Billy loves you," Lauren sighed, "and if you think he's about to take the next step, far be it for me to doubt you." She tapped the file folders in front of her. "Now, let's get this wrapped up. You've got a very important date to get ready for."

Phyllis bounced and shuffled, hugging herself in an attempt to keep warm. The February wind was especially chilling now that the temperature was beginning to drop as the sun was setting. She had a coat, but it didn't work with the dress and she wasn't about to sully this look simply to stay warm.

A soft sigh escaped her lips as she saw the car pull into the parking structure. A driver stepped out and opened the door for her. She leaned in, surprised not to see Billy inside.

"Billy's not…" She looked over at the driver, "Are we picking him up?"

"Mr. Abbott is already at the restaurant," he smiled.

Phyllis nodded as she waited for the driver to close the door and return to the driver's seat. She leaned back, closing her eyes as the soothing warmth of the car enveloped her. It made sense that he'd get to the restaurant early. Surely he had some things to set up. Billy wasn't one to do things simple. He almost certainly had some elaborate setup planned. She was happy to wait and see. In a few short hours, she'd be the happiest woman in the world.

"Have I told you how absolutely gorgeous you are tonight? I mean you're gorgeous every night, but tonight especially?" He pulled her closer to him as they gently swayed across the dance floor.

Phyllis smiled as she felt his lips brush against her cheek. It had been an extraordinary evening. Billy had planned a beautiful dinner at a romantic French restaurant that he knew she loved. He'd had the entire place reserved especially for them. It was as if they were in their own private world where nothing could touch them. Dinner had been all of her favorites and they'd talked and laughed and just enjoyed being together. Neither of them had been preoccupied with work or family or anything else. They'd focused solely on each other. She relaxed as she leaned into him, enjoying the feeling of his strong arms around her.

"How about some wine?" he said softly as he locked eyes with the waiter.

"You know what, I'm actually okay." Phyllis smiled as she took a seat.

"No wine? Alright, dessert then? I hear they have an amazing chocolate mousse." He laughed softly as he watched her eyes perk up at the mention of chocolate. "Two of those," he smiled as the waiter headed back towards the kitchen.

Phyllis reached across the table, her fingertips lacing through his. She just had to be patient. He was waiting for just the right moment. He had a plan and she just had to trust that. Everything would happen exactly as it was supposed to. He'd ask and then she'd tell him. Then they'd both be happy….exactly the way it was meant to be.

"You ok?" Billy stepped inside, holding the door for her to walk in before closing the door behind them and stepping in himself, "You've been pretty quiet since we left the restaurant."

She forced herself to smile. She was being silly. It was her own fault…setting herself up to be disappointed. Lauren had been right—there was no reason to think Billy was planning anything. She was expecting too much too soon…it's just with…it would have made things so much easier. Now, she didn't know…

"I'm fine," she said, her words rushed, as she turned towards him presenting a forced smile. "Why wouldn't I be? I just spent the perfect quasi-Valentine's day with the man that I love and now we get to home to our house." She leaned against his chest and closed her eyes as his arms pulled her tight against him. The feel of his lips against her forehead were soothing—a reminder that even though things hadn't gone as planned, she still had everything she wanted.

"You know what," he whispered. "Wait right here…I still have one gift for you."

She opened her mouth, her breath almost instantly catching in her throat. Her heart beat faster. Maybe this was it. Maybe she hadn't been wrong.

Billy returned to the room holding in his hand a black gift bag.

Phyllis blinked as she lowered herself onto the sofa. She turned towards him as he sat down beside her. "It's so…big." Her words were slow as she tried to process.

"Yeah," he said quietly, "But what's inside isn't. Why don't you open it?"

She reached inside, her hand trembling as her fingertips fell on the cool silk. "Oh," she whispered, her eyes burning slightly as she slowly pulled out the black, lace negligee. "It's…It's beautiful."

"What's wrong?" He could see the look in her eyes as he furrowed his brow. His soft hands were on her face and then sliding down her neck.

"Nothing." She couldn't show her disappointment, and she shouldn't even be disappointed—she had no right to be. He hadn't done anything wrong. She just wanted….it didn't matter…. She took a breath. "Nothing," she whispered, leaning close enough to him to brush her lips against his, "Nothing's wrong."

Relief flooded her body as she saw his lips curve into a soft smile. "Alright," he mumbled, "Why don't we go upstairs and then you and I can finish our celebration there?"

"That sounds perfect. I'll be up in just a second. I just need to take care of one quick thing first."

Billy nodded, standing with her and planting a series of quick kisses down her neck before stepping away. "Don't be long," he whispered, picking up the negligee, "Can't forget this."

She smiled as she watched him head upstairs.

Phyllis stood still for a moment before walking over the closet. She shuffled the boxes and bags on the top shelf before finding the small white boxed topped with a red bow. Carefully she removed the top, a tear running down her face as he eyes settled on the contents inside. Tonight should have the perfect moment. The timing was perfect. He'd ask her to marry him and she'd say yes. They'd come home and she'd give him his gift.

It had taken her months to get everything perfect. She knew nothing about motorcycles which made getting one custom built almost impossible, but this was something she knew Billy would love. Nothing was too good for him. Once she saw it, the completed project, she knew how happy it would make him and that simple knowledge made all the hard work worth every single second.

The second part of the gift had been much more recent and far more unexpected. She'd been working like a crazy person, getting almost no sleep, and spending time with the kids who regularly had some sort of sniffle or cold. She simply assumed she'd caught something from them. The only reason she'd even gone to the doctor was to try and get something to help get her energy back so she could get back to working late and going in early. Instead she found out she was pregnant. She and Billy were going to have a baby. That day she went out and found it—the tiny onesie that read "Daddy's Ride or Die". Instantly, she'd known it would be the perfect gift—the gift he'd want more than anything. But now, she couldn't tell him this now.

She'd tell him of course, but…

"Phyllis?"

She jumped, shoving the onesie back onto the top shelf and placing the top back on the gift box. He'd love the motorcycle tonight. The rest would come later. Quickly she closed the closet door, and headed upstairs.

"Hey," he whispered, his face falling a bit as she walked into the room. "No offense, beautiful, but you're still very overdressed. You better get in there and take care of that." He gestured towards the open bathroom door where she could see the negligee laying on the counter.

She smiled. "One second." Phyllis stepped inside the bathroom, quickly pulling the door behind her. Her hand shook as she placed the box on the counter. The tears stood at the ready behind her eyes. One shaky breath and they would come pouring down her cheeks. But how would she explain it?

Billy stood, his footsteps soft as he walked over to the closed door. He leaned in close. He hadn't missed the looks, the glances, the slight disappointment in her eyes every time he asked her a question that was the question. He smiled to himself. It had all gone better than he ever could have hoped. Phyllis was smart and incredibly hard to keep things from. He was all but certain she'd figured out that he'd planned to ask her to marry him tonight and he'd done everything he could to throw her off.

"Enough." She said to herself as she stared into the mirror. She ran her hands across her face as she took a deep breath. Slowly she unzipped the dress and reached for the negligee her eyes falling on what lay on top.

Billy smiled as he heard her sharp intake of breath. He stood. Still. Waiting.

The door opened slowly. She stood, dress hanging off her shoulders, tears already streaming down her cheeks as she stood there. Her hand trembled as she held the ring out to him. "I thought," she managed before the tears cut her words off.

He smiled, covering her hands with his and kissing them softly. "You didn't think I'd let you down did you?"

She was laughing and crying at the same time and it was all glorious. "You never have," she sighed, "You never ever have."

"I'm gonna do this right," Billy said with a smile as he lowered himself down to the floor. "Phyllis Summers, Will you marry me?"

"Like you even have to ask…"she laughed. "Of course I'll marry you." His lips crashed against hers as he lifted her off her feet and turned towards the bed.

"Wait," she said, pulling away from the kiss. "I haven't even put the lingerie on yet," she smiled.

"That's okay," he whispered, his lips still hovering close to hers. "I'm a business man. I like efficiency."

"Not that I need anything else…"

She raised her head slightly from its resting place on his bare chest, "Hmmm?"

"When you walked in her earlier, you had something in your hand…it looked like a present. What was it?"

He felt her body jerk to attention as she sat up, pulling the sheet tight around her.

"Oh," she said quickly. Phyllis wrapped the sheet around herself as she reached for the robe she'd thrown across the nightstand. "I need to go get something."

Billy lay dumbstruck for a moment. "Wait..you don't have to go now. We were…This was nice. Come back here." He sat up, smiling as he heard her feet on the stairs. "Phyllis," he called. "I miss you."

"I'll be right back," she yelled, running over to the closet and spying the onesie on the top shelf. She clutched it tight to her chest as she ran back up the steps, avoiding his eyes as she headed back into the bathroom and placed it back in the giftbox underneath the motorcycle photo.

She sighed as she felt the warmth of his body closing in the space behind her. His arms wrapped around her and carefully blazed a trail of kisses down the cool skin of her neck. "What are you up to?"

"You'll see," she whispered, turning around in his arms , and holding out the box. "This is for you."

"You didn't have to get me anything. I have everything I could ever want right here."

"Trust me, this is something you'll want," she grinned. She took his hand and led him back over to the bed. "Open it."

Billy pulled the top of the box off, his eyes widening immediately as he saw the photo of the bike. "This is amazing," he said. "What is this?"

Phyllis grinned proudly. "It's your new bike."

"You did this?" He leaned in, kissing her. "It's…I don't even know what to say. I love it. It's…" He lifted the picture, his eyes falling on the object underneath.

She held her breath, watching him as his eyes read the words. He said nothing for a moment, simply reading the words again and again. He turned, his eyes finally meeting her gaze, the brown orbs now shining with tears "You're?"

Not trusting her own words, she simply nodded.

He smiled. "That's why you were so…"

She nodded again, tears now streaming down her face. Her hand lifted up to touch his as he reached out to brush away the tears, just as he always did—just as he always would.

"All of a sudden I've forgot how to talk," he breathed, a laugh breaking out.

"It's okay," she sighed, relaxing into his arms as he held her. "You don't have to say anything."

"I love you," he whispered. "I didn't think I'd get another chance…I'm not even sure I deserve it, but I'm so grateful and I promise you that you…" He stopped, grabbing her hand and looking down at her ring, "This" He pressed his hand against her still flat stomach, "Our family -You're everything to me. You always have been and you always will be."