Will you….?

Phoebe's POV:

My heart starts to beat quickly for some reason as I take the object from Ted. I open it and inside there is a letter. A simple handwritten letter.

Dear Phoebe,

I love you and I need to see you. I will be waiting downstairs. Please come down.

Love Craig

I re-read the short letter before Ted interrupts my thoughts.

"Can I read it?" Ted requests softly. I nod and pass him the note. My brother reads it once and then passes it back to me. "Do you want me to ring downstairs and check that Craig is actually there?"

"No. If Craig has written that he is downstairs, then he will be." The writing on the card is undoubtedly Craig's penmanship, and I know that he wouldn't lie. Not after last week. I lean against my desk and look at the flowers that are now adorning my office.

"Phoebe, I know I told you I wouldn't ever interfere with your relationship, after my actions with you and Josh…."

"However…" I add, rolling my eyes.

"However, just let give you some advice. You need to go downstairs. Even if you want to end this relationship, then Craig needs to know, and you need to end it. Though I highly doubt that is what you want!" Ted proposed and hypothesizes at the same time.

"Have you gained the ability to read minds now?" I ask in a playful though sarcastic tone.

"No, it is just that it has been rather easy to read you these last few days." I grab my bag and walk out of my office with Ted.

"Madison, can you cancel my appointments for the rest of the day and divert any urgent work matters to Ted? If it is something that can wait till tomorrow, have them leave a message. Only divert messages or calls to me if they relate to my daughter or family" I instruct my assistant.

"NO! Madison divert any calls relating to our family straight to me. I don't want Phoebe interrupted for the remainder of the day" I am about to protest when Ted looks at me concerned. "If anything urgent happens to Carrie or any of our family members that you should be advised of I will ring you. I promise."

"Okay." I relent, knowing that it is impossible to argue with Ted at times such as these.

Ted walks with me to the elevator, and I am not surprised that when the elevator doors open he follows me in. Our eighteen year different has meant that my brothers role in my life has been duplicated. Most of the time he is just my fun loving brother, whom we tell each other everything, and some of the time, he gets a little too protective like our father.

"Take a wrong turn?" I grin, as Ted presses the ground button.

"I just want to make sure you are okay. I will keep my distance. I promise I won't interfere" I nod accepting his terms.

"Okay, my big, older brother. If it will keep your blood pressure down, and stop your copper hair going grey! Though I am surprised that Eli's jumping from girl to girl hasn't done that." I joke mildly.

"Yes, my son does seem to have rather extreme and swift relationships. Thankful his twin sister hasn't adopted the same practices. I doubt that I would be able to cope!"

"Double standards" I scold.

"I know. I can't help it, and I suspect I will be the same with Macie." Ted shrugs. "But let's get back to the relevant subject matter. You. If things go well and you need some help tonight, Lily and I would be happy to take Carrie back to our place this evening. I can have her uniform laundered at our parents' house, or have Anabel pick her a fresh uniform from your house. She can then travel to school with Macie. I don't think our parents, Taylor or Gail will not mind if you skip dinner, especially in these circumstances." I shake my head as Ted smirks at me. One minute he is all protective then next he is literally helping me get laid.

"We will see. I will text or email you. I don't know how, this encounter this is going to pan out. Craig may announce that he doesn't even want to be with me anymore." I shrug

"Then he would be a fool, but I doubt that is the case."

The elevators door open, and I breathe out slowly as I step into the foyer. Ted, true to his word, is keeping his distance by remaining by the elevators, where he obviously has a bird eye view of the reception area.

I quickly locate Craig by the reception desk. Our receptionist isn't even trying to conceal the fact that she is eyeing him off. Uncharacteristically he is fidgeting a little and doesn't look his usual relaxed self. I slowly walk towards Craig, and watch as he rests on his elbows on the high bench, and cups his face.

"Hi" I state softly. Craig raise's his head, and a look of relief comes over him.

"Hi" Craig takes my hand, and I willingly wrap my arms around him. "I have missed you."

"I have missed you too. We need to talk"

"I know, but there is something I need to do first" Craig places his hand behind my head to kiss me. It feels like magic when his lips touch mine, and I desperately don't want him to stop.

"Can you leave? I really want to take you away from here. I don't want to talk here." His voice is indulgent and alluring. I nod, never taking my eyes off his.

When Craig and I exit the Grey House, we find Leighton, my CPO, already outside with the Audi SUV. I am not surprised in even in the slightest, though Craig seems a little taken back at his sudden appearance. Leighton was trained by Sawyer and Taylor and therefore, knows what I am going to do before even I do.

"All part of the package, hey?"

"Yep" I shrug a little apologetically.

"Doesn't matter. Actually I am kind of use to it now, plus it means I don't have to keep an eye on the road. I much prefer to look at you" Before Craig joins me in the car he has a quick chat to Leighton. I wonder what he just told him and where we are going.

We sit in silence for probably only several minutes, but it feels like hours. The tense stillness is only broken when Craig places his hand on mine and then I respond by gripping his hand.

"I was worried that you wouldn't come downstairs" Craig admits.

"I could tell. You looked…..Uneasy."

"I was willing to stay at the reception area forever if need be"

"Forever hey? I don't help think security would have been too pleased with that, you may have found yourself being kicked out" I tease.

"Then I would have waited on the sidewalk. Nonetheless, thank you for coming" Craig places soft kisses on my hand, whilst offering me him familiar warm smile.

"We still need to talk"

"Okay, then let's talk now. I have told you the complete truth of what happened. I have apologized and will keep doing so if that is what you need" Craig voice gives away his sincerity and regret.

"No. What I need, is to know if your ex-wife is going to make any future reappearances in order to convince you to resume your former relationship?" There is a distasteful tone to my voice.

"Never and even if she did, I wouldn't be giving up any of my time to see her nor do I have any interest in her anymore. It is over!" Craig's voice is strong and determined. Confirming exactly what I suspected.

"I should also tell you that you chose a horrible time to announce your intentions to propose!" I tell him off.

"It was an act of desperation, but I meant it. I wanted, needed, you to know that I didn't see my ex-wife with any intention or wish to rejuvenate our long dead relationship. I want to marry you. I bought the ring a few weeks beforehand if you need further confirmation of the fact you can ask Carrie."

"Carrie knows?" Craig nods in confirmation awakening my anxiety. Carrie has been asking me all weekend about Craig. She must have been so confused with my refusal to answer her questions and the knowledge that he was planning on asking me to marry him. My poor sweet daughter! I am going to sit her down and talk to her the second I see her this evening.

"Are you alright? All the color has drained from your face" Craig asks concerned.

"Yeah…. I am fine. Look Craig, I would rather put the past week behind us. I don't want to talk about it anymore. I have accepted your apology and your explanation." I comment sighing out of relief that this unpleasant situation is over and done with.

"Good! Then we can proceed as previously planned" An all so familiar playful smile grows rapidly on Craig's face. He extends his arm and pulls me closer to him, allowing me to rest my head on his shoulder. For the remainder of our car ride, to who knows where, Craig gently strokes my arm and kisses my head. Never once letting go of me. I close my eyes, relishing being in his arms once more.

"Phoebe… wake up." Craig whispers into my ear. I open my eyes, not having realized that I feel asleep.

"How long have I been asleep for?"

"Over an hour." I look up at Craig and register his surprise.

"Why are you looking at me like that?"

"You never nap during the day. You have never fallen asleep like that." Craig looks at me as if he is assessing me.

"It is just that I have been very tired lately, and I haven't been feeling well." I admit, omitting that fact that I have been rather sick for the past few days.

"Have you seen a doctor?"

"No. I am sure that I will be fine. It is probably just a virus or something" Craig kisses me again, though this time in relief. Even though I didn't tell him that the slight downturn in my health probably was a result of his actions last week, I know this is what he is thinking.

"Okay, but if you are not well in a couple of days then…."

"I will see a doctor, but I am sure that it will pass. I need to sleep more. I have just been staying up too late, lately." I reason.

"I am more than happy to get you into bed early" Craig voice is smooth and so seductive that all the right muscles respond in reaction.

"We are finally here." Craig declares. I look out the window, and we are essentially in the middle of nowhere. It isn't until I am out of the car that I realize where we are. Around us our series of mountains that form part of the Cascade Volcanic Arc. Craig leads me to a small grassed area that has a prefect view of Mount Rainier.

Craig is yet to utter a word, and doesn't until we are standing at the edge of the small valley. It is here that he faces me and gets down on one knee. He looks up at me, and our eyes interlock. Neither of us even blink.

"Phoebe Grace Harris, I love you. I love every little thing about you. I love your addictive smile, your enchanted eyes, and the sound of your voice. I love your singing voice in the shower. I love your gentle and not so gentle touch. I love the warmth I feel when I am by your side. I love your compassion and your willingness to do right when you see wrong. I love how you are passionate about your work and even more passionate as a mother to Carrie. I love the person I am when I am with you are Carrie." Craig stops to catch his breath, and truth be told, I need too also.

"I haven't been able to stop thinking about you while we have been apart. I need you by my side. You complete me. You mean the world to me. You are the best thing that has ever happened to me. Phoebe, you make me feel as if I am on top of the world, which is why I wanted to bring you here. These mountains are the highest point of our home state. When I am with you, I feel like I could conquer them and any other obstacle. You give me strength. You are the one I've always wished for. I never thought that I would ever have a chance to be with someone as phenomenal as you. I love each and every moment I share with you, and with Carrie. I would move the world to spend even a second with you."

"I want to help raise Carrie. She is remarkable just like her mother! I love her as if she is my own daughter. Let me grow old with you. Let me raise Carrie with you. Let me make you as happy as you have made me. Phoebe Grace Harris, will you marry me?"

"Yes"

Authors Note: So my life with work, family and now being sick, has meant that I don't honestly have much time to write. In summary, I can either write when I can even though it isn't a lot, OR give this part of my life up.

Nonetheless, I hope you enjoyed this chapter.