Phyllis stared out of the glass balcony door. The Wisconsin winter had been particularly brutal this year and, after the day she'd had, going back out in the weather was the last thing she wanted to do.

But it wasn't just about her. She could hear the quick footsteps coming down the stairs and she readied her face for Katie's impending presence.

"I need some help," Katie announced, her eyebrows furrowed in slight frustration as she held the coat together with her hands. "I can't get the zipper."

"Come here," Phyllis said softly as she sat down in a chair at the dining room table and quickly zipped up the coat and smoothed the scarf down the front. "You excited about ice skating tonight?"

"Uh huh." Katie shook her head enthusiastically, "But Johnny never wants to skate with me. He says I'm too slow, but I'm only just learning." Her big eyes were wide as she explained her predicament and Phyllis couldn't help feeling a bit guilty for not being as enthused about the outing as the little girl obviously was.

"Well, soon enough you'll be just as fast as Johnny is," she whispered. She bent down and picked up Katie's ice skates. "Are you all ready to go now?"

Katie looked at her quizzically. "Where are your skates?"

"I'm just going to watch tonight." She immediately saw the light dim in the little girl's eyes, but she couldn't even pretend to have the energy for rounds around the frozen rink. It had been a hellish day. Between three meetings with Fenmore buyers, an argument with Ashley about a marketing strategy, and countless hours spent returning phone calls that Jack hadn't been able to get to yet, she was tapped out. Sleep had been a luxury the past few weeks and, if not for causing Katie such disappointment, she would have bowed out of the even altogether. "But your Daddy and Johnny are meeting us there," she smiled, "And he's going to skate with you. I'm sure of it."

Billy had enough energy for both of them. Even having just started his job at Chancellor, he still seemed invigorated by the new challenges the job brought. She was happy for him and happier still for them, but sometimes she wished he simply understood that she was truly exhausted. She looked back down at Katie who still looked disappointed.

"But I really wanted you to skate with me," she said softly, her eyes now looking down at the floor. "Daddy will be skating with Johnny and I thought you could be with me…that way Daddy and Johnny could be partners and so could we."

Phyllis sighed. She could understand Katie's plight. Billy adored her, but it was difficult when he was together with both of them, especially when the two children had such different interests. "You know what?" Phyllis couldn't help but smile as Katie's eyes lit up a bit. "Maybe you and I can do something together…just us."

"You mean like tonight?"

The excitement in her little voice was palpable and, even if she'd wanted to, she wouldn't have had the heart to back out now. "Maybe?" Phyllis said with more enthusiasm than was genuine. "How would you feel about a slumber party…just us girls?"

Katie smiled widely. "Can we bring out sleeping bags and watch movies and eat pizza in the living room?"

"Sure we can." Phyllis smiled as well then, actually feeling rather relieved at that suggestion. "I've got some sleeping bags in the closet and you can pick the movie off the tv." She watched as Katie scampered off towards the living room, lifting the remote and studying the list, before stopping short and turning to look back at her.

"What's wrong?" Phyllis asked.

"What do we tell Daddy and Johnny when they get home? If it's only girls, where will they go?"

"Well," Phyllis took a seat on the sofa beside her. "If you're okay with it," she smiled, "We could invite Daddy and Johnny as special guests once they get home tonight."

Katie sat quietly for a moment, consider the options. Finally she nodded her head. "I think that would be okay," she announced.

"I think we've got a plan then." Phyllis pushed herself back up to stand, feeling the weight of the body more than usual. At least the most exerting thing she'd have to do tonight involved laying some sleeping bags on the living room floor. Surely she could handle that.

"Hold those cups straight, Johnny." Billy glanced down and quickly reached to straighten the cardboard cup holder in the little boy's hands. "If you hold them like that, the hot chocolate will spill."

Johnny obeyed quickly, righting the cups in his hand and nodding at his father. "Okay," he said quietly. "You think they'll be surprised?"

"I do," he smiled, "And we have to make sure to tell them this was all your idea." Billy held the door open for Johnny to walk under his arm.

"We brought you …" Johnny stopped, looking back at Billy before continuing.

Katie looked over at the them, her finger pressed to her lips as she carefully scampered over to them. "Phyllis is asleep," she whispered. Her eyes moved to the cups in Johnny's hands. "Is that hot chocolate?"

"It is." Billy said quietly. "Johnny thought we should bring you and Phyllis a cup since you decided to stay in tonight. Do you want yours now?"

"Yes, please."

Billy watched as Johnny helped Katie remove the cup from the holder and opened the lid for her.

"Be careful," he warned. "It might be hot." He watched as the two of them moved over to the kitchen table to sit down. Carefully he lowered himself onto the floor, glancing at the screen as the image of some unrecognizable princess flashed by. It was almost as if she could sense his presence as she began to stir almost immediately. He watched her with a gentle smile as her eyes slowly fluttered open. "Hey," he whispered, laughing softly at the flicker of surprise in her eyes as she focused on him.

"Billy," she breathed. Her tone was initially soft, but almost immediately replaced by a swift attempt to sit up. "Katie," she said quickly. "Where's Katie?"

"She's fine." He reached out to smooth the hair behind her ear before letting his hand rest on the space between her neck and shoulder. "She's over at the table drinking hot chocolate with Johnny. I brought you a cup too, but I think Johnny may have claimed it." He flashed his best attempt at apologetic eyes at her.

Phyllis ran her hand over her face. "I didn't mean to fall asleep. I was supposed to be watching Katie."

"It's not like you fell asleep in the middle of a crowded mall or something." Billy squeezed her shoulder. "Katie was right beside you. Besides, she's perfectly fine. She was enamored with this movie …. Whatever it is."

"I know, but … I was supposed to be spending time with her and I … "

"Hey. Hey. There's plenty of time for you to spend time with Katie. It's not like tonight was your one and only chance, right? You were tired. You feel asleep. It's not a crime."

"I know, but …"

"Give yourself a break," Billy said, cutting her off before she could berate herself any further. "You've been taking on a lot at Jabot with Jack taking care of Dina and Ashley running her own agendas. I know that. It's not wonder you're worn out. In fact, why don't you go ahead and turn in. I can get the kids tucked in and I'll join you in a bit."

"You don't have to do that." The idea sounded appealing, but she hated to leave him to handle the kids alone. She'd campaigned hard to get him to fight for Victoria to allow the kids to spend time with them in their apartment. It hardly seemed fair that he would be the only one actually spending any time with them. "I want to spend time with the kids too. That's the whole reason I wanted them to be here with us. It's important to me."

"I know it is. And so do they, but that doesn't mean you're not allowed to sleep. In the morning, we can all go out and have breakfast together … unless Jabot is now requiring you to work weekends?"

"No." She smiled at him as he leaned in and pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead. "That sounds nice. I'd like us to spend time with them. I want them to know that they have a home here too."

"They know that. We'll make sure they know that." He pulled her closer to him again, this time brushing his lips against hers and lingering there for a moment. "Right now though, I want you to go get some rest. The kids are important, but so are you."

Her heart beat a bit faster at the sincerity and warmth of his words. She could see how much he meant it and she found herself a bit taken aback by the honestly in his expression. "You're important to me too," she whispered. "Thank you for understanding."

Billy nodded as he stood and then held his hand out to help pull her to her feet. He smiled as he watched her stop at the table and place quick kisses on Johnny and Katie's heads. When he thought of his family, he'd always envisioned his children and Victoria, but now, it was impossible to think of anyone but Phyllis in his home with his children. She loved them, just as she loved him and, in a streak of luck uncommon to him, they seemed to love her and accept that she was a part of his and their life now.

Life was good and if he had anything to say about it, it would stay that way.