She hated the sounds of a hospital. Somehow she thought she could still remember some of the sounds she heard during her own extended stay in the Georgia hospital—the way the sheets rustled as the nurses pulled the up and tucked them in around you, the way the papers flapped as doctors flipped their charts, the sound of machines beeping and hissing from all different directions. An occasional sob, a raised voice, a hushed whisper—it was all too damn familiar.

For a moment she simply sat beside the bed just staring at him. The doctor seemed happy to deliver the news that his face had been unscathed by the fire and that the only burns he'd sustained were minor and were on his hands…as if somehow, their concerns were that superficial—as if that was what they were worried about. Her hand trembled as she lightly stroked his arm, careful to avoid the bandages on his hand.

"God, Billy," she whispered. "What the hell were you thinking?" She shook her head, fighting the battled that raged inside her mind. Part of her literally trembled with anger. It was so damn selfish to do a thing like this—to make a choice that would impact so many people. How could he think this would a solution? Why?

That's where it got complicated. She knew why. Reaching into her pocket, she pulled out the photo Jill had given her. The sight of it once again brought tears to her eyes. Jill could tell her she wasn't to blame, but the evidence to the contrary was pretty damning. Billy would have never been in that house if it hadn't been for her. She destroyed his life and he was trying to finish the job.

The chair scraped hard against the cold, tile of the floor as she scooted closer to the edge of the bed. She leaned down, half laying next to him. "I'm here now," she said softly. "For what it's worth, I'm here."

She jumped as she his fingers move slightly through her hair, sitting up straight as she heard his sharp intake of breath. "Easy," she warned, gently lowering his hand back to the bed. "You've got a few burns on your hand, but you're gonna be ok."

He looked back at her, blinking, his chest moving in a quick rise and fall as he still struggled to take breaths. She stopped him as he reached for the cannula at his nose. "No..No..you need that. It's gonna help you breathe."

Billy stopped, listening to her for a moment. He opened his mouth, "The.." He coughed, and writhed in pain as pain ripped through his body.

"What?" Phyllis leaned into him, her arms around his shoulders as she helped him sit up. Her arm heart pounded in her chest as she watched him attempt to catch his breath. The sight of him struggling was unbearable. "I'm going go get a doctor," she said quickly, standing and heading towards the door.

"No," he managed, "I'm okay" He held his hand up… "Just a minute…give me a minute."

She stopped, watching him.

He leaned back, closing his eyes and taking a few deep breaths. He thought back to the events of earlier, his mind felt as if it was swimming in the same smoke that filled his lungs. Everything was a blur, a mix of flashes and memories.

His eyes opened again to see her sitting back beside him, her face creased with worry. "Our house?"

Phyllis stared at him. "What?"

"Is the house okay? Did they save the house?"

"I…I don't know. I mean, it was still standing when I got there, but the firefighters were still there when we left."

Billy nodded. His chest ached and his head throbbed. With every blink of his eyes the room seemed to spin more and more and it seemed more difficult to keep his thoughts together. "Your dress," he muttered, feeling his consciousness drifting away.

"My dress?" Phyllis repeated his words, her confusion evident.

He nodded, unable to form the words any longer.

"Billy." She called his name, standing and leaning over him. "Billy…no, please don't do this. I need you here with me. Please, Billy. I love you. I can't lose you now…"

It was something in her voice—something that reminded him of another time—of another moment, of a time when she'd promised him they'd have a life together, a future. It was a time she'd told him it was what she wanted.

He forced his eyes open and there it was—that smile..the smile he'd waited to see then, and the one that would keep him going now.

Phyllis took a breath, closing her eyes in grateful thanks. "Thank God," she whispered, leaning down to kiss his lips.

She stood off to the side as the doctors scribbled notes on the charts.

"How's he doing?" she asked, anxiously approaching as the stepped back.

The doctor smiled. "Quite well," he answered. "There are some things that medical science can't take credit for and this I believe would be one of them."

Phyllis thanked him and watched as he walked from the room. She quickly joined Billy on the bed, sitting close to him beside his legs.

"What?" he asked when she didn't speak.

She shook her head. "You know you scared the hell out of me." Her eyes met his, tears now filling them, the terror of the moment finally fading enough to allow her real feelings to shine through. "What were you thinking—doing something so reckless?"

"I was thinking about you….about a life without you. I know it was crazy and selfish and I shouldn't have done it, but I just couldn't face my life without you." He exhaled, shaking his head as he thought of it all over again. "I just couldn't."

Her eyes stared into his for a long moment before she spoke again. "What you did—what you put me through…it was horrible. The thought of losing you…of living my life without you—it was the most horrible thing I could ever dream of." She looked down at her hands, the realization now becoming clear. "But it taught me something…." A small smile spread across her face as she thought back to a moment many months ago. She leaned close to him, pressing her lips against his quickly before speaking, "I'm beginning to think I can't live my life without you."

Billy smiled, her words sparking his own memory. "I knew you'd catch on eventually," he whispered.

6 months later

"What do you think?" she asked, stopping to spin around in front of him.

"I think it's bad luck for the groom to see the bride before the ceremony," he grinned, bringing his hand up to cover his eyes.

"Bad luck?" Phyllis scoffed. "Please…we don't need no stinkin' luck." She smiled as he wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close to him.

"I can't believe this day is finally here," he sighed, looking up at the newly finished ceilings. "I was beginning to think they'd never get it all finished or that by the time they did we'd already be common law married."

"I'd still want the ring," she giggled. "And I still want you." She kissed him softly, pulling away slowly as she felt his arms wrap tight around her. "Hey," she whispered. "We've got ten days in Italy ahead of us. There'll be plenty of time for that. For now, we better get out on that porch before your mother sends in the cavalry."

Billy laughed. "Alright..Alright…." He took her hand in his, taking one last look at her as he rested his hand on the door. She wore a fitted white gown with silver floral detail that she'd joked was "strapless and sexy but one shouldered for taste." In truth she could have worn anything and she still would take his breath away.

"You ready to become Mrs. Billy Abbott?" he asked.

"I've never been more ready for anything in my whole life."

The End