Gentle Reader,

Please don't kill me for this cliffhanger. I hope to write again this week, but I promise nothing.

Love,

RobindesBois

We'll Get a Table Near the Street

The fourth time Lizzie and William went to their Italian restaurant wasn't until Lizzie's birthday, which could also be their anniversary, depending on whose calendar you checked.

Lizzie woke that St. Patrick's day, which conveniently fell on a Saturday, to find their bed empty and a large bouquet of yellow on her bedside table. She found a note tucked into them.

"Dear Lizzie,

Yellow roses symbolize friendship and joy. At one point in our lives together, I didn't think I could convince you even to pursue friendship with me. Now, you're my primary source of joy, my love, and my best friend.

I love you,

William Darcy"

Lizzie smiled as she slipped out of bed and walked towards the bathroom, where she found a large bouquet of light and dark pink roses on the counter. She laughed as she realized what was likely happening - William had filled the apartment with roses.

This time, the note read:

"Dear Lizzie,

Light pink roses symbolize admiration and happiness. I have never admired someone as much as I do you. Your independence, your tenacity, your passion. The dark pink rose symbolizes gratitude and appreciation. Having someone like you in my life, someone as creative and brilliant as you...I can't begin to express my gratitude and appreciation.

Pink roses also have the effect of reminding me of the shade your cheeks take on when we make love.

I love you,

William Darcy."

Lizzie brushed her teeth and hair quickly before running downstairs to kiss her boyfriend.

She found him making pancakes and standing next to a vase of orange roses. She ignored them, slipping in front of William to kiss him soundly.

"And happy birthday to you," he smiled.

"It's been great so far."

"You like the flowers?"

"I love them. And I love you." William leaned down and kissed her briefly.

"Why don't you read the next note so I don't burn the pancakes?"

"Fine. But only because I'm hungry."

The note with the orange roses read:

"Dear Lizzie,

Orange roses symbolize enthusiasm and desire, passion and excitement. There's not a better example of this than every minute I'm with you. When you talk about work, when you read, when you dance. You do everything with passion, you make me excited for life in a way I never thought I could be again.

They also remind me of your beautiful hair.

I love you,

William Darcy."

"Hey, William?"

"Yes, Lizzie?"

"Have I told you I love you yet today?"

"No, I don't think you have."

"I love you."

"I love you, too." William finished transferring the pancakes to their plates and kissed her again. "Let's eat, my love."

In the dining room, Lizzie found yet another bouquet. This time, the roses were shades of purple. Lizzie grabbed the note before starting to eat her pancakes.

"Dear Lizzie,

Purple roses symbolize enchantment and desire. Your eyes, I remain convinced, are the greatest enchantment the world has to offer. They seem to hold the fire of a thousand sunsets, the sparkle of every star, and the depth of every ocean. I could spend years staring into them and still never find all their secrets.

I love you,

William Darcy"

When she looked up, William was blushing and studying his pancakes.

"Hey, William."

"Yes, Lizzie?"

"It's only nine-thirty in the morning, and today's already the best birthday I've ever had."

William blushed a little harder, but she saw him smile.

"I'm glad. I just want to make sure that you know...that I love you. How much I love you."

"If I didn't before, I'm sure I do now." She smiled and ate her pancakes.

After breakfast, William told her she still had two bouquets to find.

"Seriously, William? How much did you spend on these flowers?"

"Don't worry about that. Just enjoy them. And know I would spend a lot more on you if I thought you would let me."

Lizzie got dressed, then continued searching. She found the fifth bouquet, red roses, in their living room.

"Dear Lizzie,

Red roses symbolize romantic love, enduring passion, and the creative spirit of love. I may not be the most romantic man in the world, my Lizzie, but before you, I never had any reason to try to be. I do possess an enduring passion for you-a passion that will outlast the stars in the sky. I tried to be creative today, filling our home with roses. As I placed them, I realized that you fill this house with passion and love more than any number of flowers could, even when you aren't in the room.

I love you,

William Darcy"

Lizzie found the last roses on the table they kept near the door, usually the home of their keys.

"Dear Lizzie,

I hope you find these flowers last. They might be the most important of them all. White roses symbolize purity and loyalty. What I feel for you is so pure, so strong, I've never been more confident in anything than I am about how I feel for you. You have my love, my loyalty, forever.

I love you,

William Darcy"

Lizzie only just managed to hold back the tears. They were on their way out of the house, leaving for their Italian restaurant, and she didn't want to get her face all red and blotchy. It was a close thing.

"Shall we go? I got us a reservation on the patio." Darcy asked, wrapping his hands around her waist and kissing her shoulder.

"Yes," she whispered, and stepped out of her hands to grab her jacket.

William pulled his jacket on, making sure the small jewelry box he'd gotten from the safety deposit box was still safely ensconced in his pocket.

He hadn't included in the note that white roses are also referred to as "the bridal rose."