Author's Note – I hope you have enjoyed this story. "Alphabet Soup" is now complete, but I have a sequel that has been playing around in my head. So…the 'verse lives on.

Darcy smiled as she walked into Phil's tower office. "Hey, Handsome," she flirted lightly. "Working late?"

"Only a few more minutes," he assured her, his eyes flickering up to her from the report in front of him.

"Great!" she exclaimed, holding up a crossword puzzle book. "I'll hang out and wait then."

He nodded and she moved over to his window. Her eyes drifted over the outside scenery for a few minutes before she turned around and leaned against the cool glass. A smile settled on her lips. She liked this view much better. Something about the way Phil went through each task with a quiet and focused dedication settled her. No matter how bad a day she might have had, she could watch him for a few minutes and her entire self just smoothed out.

"You're staring," Phil pointed out quietly as he continued working.

"Yes? And?" She gave him a semi-innocent look before glancing at her book. "What's a seven letter word starting with a z referring to 'the study of life, especially in regards to animals'?" Her lips curved in a deep smile as she shifted her eyes to peer at him through her lashes. "Besides, I like watching you work…that kind of focus is downright sexy."

His eyes came up from his report. The dark light that so intrigued her entered his gaze as it moved over her. Her skin began to tingle and tighten. As her breath grew a bit short, her lips parted slightly. He scrawled his name on the report without looking. She watched as he dropped the pen before rising and slowly making his way over to her. It was almost a stalk and her eyes widened as he drew nearer. The book fell limply from her hands before they flattened on the window behind her, feeling her heartbeat speed up as he came to a stop just in front of her. "I don't think that dress was made for this kind of light," he told her, a hint of a smile touching the corner of his mouth. "It outlines you a little too well." She blinked and started to look down, but he caught her chin in his hand. "I like it." His head ducked and he captured her mouth with his for a swift kiss.

Her hands came up as he pulled back, but he caught them before she could touch him. Trapping them against the glass above her head, he held on to them with one hand as his other hand moved so he could trace her jaw and lips with his fingertips. She could feel a warm knot inside her chest beginning to spark and flare as his fingers trailed over her chin and down to her throat. He leaned down, his lips sliding over hers once more as his hand moved to her hip. A small sound caught in her throat as she tried to pull her hands free.

She wanted to touch!

Phil pulled back slightly, his penetrating gaze narrowing on her. "Behave," he told her, voice low, almost a rumble in his chest.

"I want-"

His smile grew a little mischievous. "I know."

Her hands, still trapped, flexed as he moved to possess her lips once more. The kiss deepened; its intensity growing even as he continued to hold her captive against the glass. Sensations threatened to overwhelm her – the heat of the kiss, the cool glass behind her, the solidity of his body. She made one more attempt to free her hands, but his grip simply tightened without him ever breaking the kiss. Something in her seemed to release, unlock even, and she felt herself relax in surrender.

He pulled back at that moment. "Perfect."

She blinked up at her, her lashes sweeping up and down in a slow, languorous movement. "Absolutely."

Phil released her and then reached down to pick up her book before leading her to the couch. "It's zoology, by the way."

"What?" she frowned in confusion.

"The seven letter word referring to 'the study of life, especially in regards to animals'."

"Oh, okay," Darcy laughed lightly as she watched him move over to his desk and take something out of the top drawer, closing his hand around it. Walking back over to her, he sat beside her and pulled her into his lap. She rested her head on his shoulder, but looked up as he softly cleared his throat.

"Hmm?" she hummed curiously at the expression on his face. It combined affection, passion, expectation, and a hint of…fear? Or anxiety, maybe? "Phil?"

One corner of his mouth twitched up slightly. "Darcy," he started, his free hand coming from behind her to tug at a lock of her hair. "We've never discussed the age diff-"

"And we're not talking it now," she interrupted. "I don't care."

"I know," he noted, shaking his head. "People have started to talk." She rolled her eyes, but he continued before she could speak. "Their opinions don't matter to me," he assured her, "but I wanted to make sure you thought about it and understood that some people-"

"Some people are going to get nasty," she broke in. Sitting up straight, she turned and gave him a long, direct look. "People are going to accuse you of a midlife crisis or something while they whisper about me being some kind of gold-digger…or whatever the equivalent is for power. I. Don't. Care." Her hands came up to frame his face. "Let them talk. As far as I'm concerned, they're nothing but unhappy, jealous brats." She leaned forward, pressing her lips to his.

The kiss deepened and intensified. Darcy began to shift, wanting to move into a better position, but he held her still and pulled back. Leaning his forehead against hers, he closed his eyes before taking a deep breath. "I need to give you something," he told her.

"It's interrupting my kisses," she warned, "so it better be good."

A small huff of amusement escaped him as he leaned back. He brought up his closed hand. "I'm hoping you'll accept it," he replied, as he turned his hand over and revealed a small jewelry box. Darcy's breath caught as everything in her grew still. Phil opened the box.

The deep blue of the largest stone caught her attention first. She had never seen such a large sapphire before in her life. Its brilliant cut gave it a depth and radiance that drew a gasp as he angled it slightly in the light. A circle of twelve diamonds formed a glittering white halo around it, only adding to the amazing fire of the ring. The band itself was a simple ring of gold.

"Oh, my…" The words whispered from her as she reached trembling fingers out to brush the ring before touching his hand. Her eyes met his. Several long minutes passed in silent communication before a thread of impatience entered her gaze.

A small smile touched his face as he took the ring out of the box. "Darcy Lewis, will you marry me?"

"Yes."