The door squeaked open just as Tyler lit the last candle. Looking at the feast he had prepared he smiled. Tonight was going to be great. Tyler thought all afternoon about how he was going to make this evening special, in order to cheer up Piper. And after much thought he finally figured out the perfect way to do it.

He would remind her of their first date, after their fight that is. He had prepared the same garden salad, lemon chicken and cheesecake that he had that night several months ago. He was sure that the second Piper saw it her eyes would light up with excitement and she would smile that genuinely happy smile that Tyler missed so much. And who knew, if the time seemed right, maybe he would do it. Maybe he would propose. After all, the ring was hidden securely in his coat pocket.

Hearing the clang of keys hitting the table he held his breath, knowing she was coming. Her shoes made faint clicks on the floor and Tyler counted them, each one bringing her a step closer to him. From the candlelight he could see her shadow as it grew bigger and bigger. Then, in an instant, she was standing before him, holding the dress that she had bought this afternoon. Slowly he saw a smile begin to creep upon her face. Haphazardly she dropped the dress to the floor, the delicate blue material seeping out through the bag that had been placed over it. And then, in one quick movement, she was hugging him.

Tyler hugged her back, taking in all of her. The sweet fragrance of wildflowers danced around him. Her delicate arms squeezing him with all her might. Tyler smiled, overwhelmed with the feeling that he had accomplished. He had made her truly happy.

Pulling her back, so he could look her in the face, he saw the glint in her eyes. The same glint that he had seen the day she had given him that picture in his office.

*~*~*

Piper smiled, looking into Tyler's eyes. She couldn't believe it was happening tonight. He was actually going to propose to her. Being the sweetheart that he was he had even gone through all the trouble of bringing the past to the present. He had made everything look just the way it had on their first date, well actually it was more like their 12th, but it was the thought that counted. Besides, they had just gotten back together after that date so it was sort of like their first……again. But that wasn't the point, the point was that he had thought about this enough to put forth 100% effort in order to make it memorable.

Sitting down next to Tyler she placed the napkin on her lap and from under the table reached out to touch Tyler's hand. He gave it a gentle squeeze and then began talking to her about her day. Piper willingly conversed with him, although her mind was somewhere else. She just wanted to end the boring chit-chat and get to the real important stuff. She couldn't wait to be engaged again.

An hour or two passed, filled with more boring shop talk and eating. The meal was wonderful and for a while Piper began to forget about the proposal; that is until Tyler grabbed both her hands and made her face him.

Her heart began to beat a million miles an hour. The moment of truth had arrived and she was going to end up passing out right her in the middle of it all. She carefully took a breath, hoping she wasn't making it too obvious that she knew what was in store.

"Piper, I love you."

"I love you too." Piper said, barely above a whisper.

"I'm so happy to see you so alive tonight. You had been so sad for the past few days, so unlike yourself. And well….along with this special dinner I umm…..well, I got a little surprise."

"You do?"

"Yep. I do. Now close your eyes and open your hands." Tyler said, removing a small box, with a red ribbon on top from his pocket and placing it in Piper's hands. "Okay, open them."

Staring down at the small box in her hands Piper carefully began to remove the ribbon, her hands shaking like leaves in the wind. Minutes seemed like hours as Piper opened the white box to find a small blue velvet box inside. Removing the box from the package she began to open it, hearing the faint creak of the hinge. Piper's mouth dropped open in surprise as she saw……

"A necklace?" Piper asked, flabbergasted.

"Yea, I thought you could wear it with your dress tomorrow. I hope it matches."

"Um….it's…..umm….it's nice." Piper said, saddened.

"What's wrong? Do you not like it? I can return it, we'll go together, I'll get you something you want." Tyler said, sensing that something was wrong.

"No, it's not that….it's…..just…..nevermind."

"No tell me. What is it?" Tyler said, taking Piper's hands in his.

"Well….umm…..what…..what happened to the umm…..the umm…..the…."

"The what? What happened to the what?" Tyler said, concerned. He could feel Piper's hands shaking. "Piper, honey, why are you shaking? Are you okay?"

"I'm just…..where's…..where's the ring?" Piper said, close to tears.

"What ring?" Tyler asked, not quite understanding what Piper was getting at.

"The….th….the….engagement…."

"The engagement ring? What engagement ring are you talking about honey?" Tyler said, pretending he didn't know anything about the ring that he secretly had hidden in his jacket pocket.

"The one…..the one I saw in your drawer." Piper said, tears now surfacing to her eyes and spilling over, dripping down her face.

"Oh, that one." Tyler said, knowing he shouldn't say much in order to get Piper to open up to him.

"Yea…that one Tyler!! That one!!! I thought you were going to propose to me. Isn't that why you sent me out today? So you could set all this up and propose to me?!?!? Isn't that why? Tell me Tyler!! Tell me…is that ring not for me. Am I not worthy of it? Do you not love me? Why don't you tell me!! Just tell me!!" Piper said, now overemotional. Throwing the necklace on the table she rose from her seat, knocking over her glass of wine. Spilling to the floor Piper went to clean it up, now losing all stability and sobbing over the broken glass.

Tyler moved to where she was, attempting to take her in his arms. However he got no luck. Instead Piper pushed him away, getting up off the floor and running to the bedroom where she slammed the door in Tyler's face.

Standing in front of the oak door Tyler stared at it, trying to figure out the best way to approach this. He had just discovered that what had been his well guarded secret was in fact not that guarded after all. Piper had known about the ring and now she probably laying on the bed, sobbing because the man she loves didn't propose like she had expected all along.

"Piper, baby, please open the door. Let me explain."

"No! Go away! I don't want to talk to you!!" Piper yelled, tears evident in her voice.

"But Piper…."

"NO!!" Piper yelled, throwing the clock towards the door, having it smash into a million pieces.

Tyler knew there was nothing he could do. He just had to wait and hope that the relationship that he was working so hard to maintain wouldn't shatter into pieces like the alarm clock and wine glass that lay in shambles on the floor.

Removing the ring from his pocket he played with it in his hands, thinking.

Would this ring ever be on Piper's delicate finger?

Would she ever smile at him again?

Would she ever be his wife?

The questions danced in Tyler's head, filling him with sadness and helplessness.

A/N: Hope you all liked it. Review and let me know!!