Belle’s back to normal now, since I switched off the mind control, and Eric has told me the part of the story he left out when he told it to Mary-Jade.

"She’s your kid," and it’s as simple as that. Mary-Jade is my child, another sick plan of Dimera’s to ruin the Brady and Black families, finally united in this single child, and we’re finally together as we should have been from the beginning.

It’s two minutes to midnight on Valentine’s Day, and I’m down on one knee. It’s funny that on this day, three years late but just as I planned, I’m asking Belle to be my bride.

"My dearest darling," I start, and open the ring box. I have this whole speech planned out, but before I can even start on it, she looks straight into my eyes.

"Shawn," she whispers, and I fall just a little more deeply in love with her, "yes, I will marry you, and we will raise our daughter together. Now shut up and kiss me like you’ve longed to for the past three years."

And then I’m in her arms, and this is it. I’m kissing Belle, my fiancée, and everything’s perfect. Mary-Jade is sitting over there with JT, allowed for once to stay up long past their bedtimes, my dissolved heart is beating in Belle’s chest now, much as hers is beating in mine, there are roses in her hair, candles on our table, stars in the Heavens, and I think I just saw a spatula hit us both, holding us together with an unbreakable bond forever, but that’s beyond even my sense of belief at the moment.

Romance is the operative word here, and I could describe at length every detail of our moment together, but I think this will suffice: every dream Belle has ever dreamt, every fantasy we have ever had, and every last hope has been surpassed by reality. True love is never to be defeated, and today is just the first of many of a long life of romantic days. Happiness is blossoming inside me, and I’m kissing Belle. This is what Heaven will be like. Thanks for the preview, Venus.

"I think our work here is done," Rolf said satisfied. "Onwards, little Bart."

"Done? We didn’t do anything but make Shawn fall out of a window, Greta fall back in love with Eric Brady just as he was about to propose, give Brady a girlfriend who he can reform and who will adore him forever, deflate Sami’s bosom so she forgot every scheme and plot she ever concocted so she will no longer be evil, make sure that Mary-Jade has her family together," Bart panted out, "and help Belle to find her heart!"

"Exactly," Rolf replied, polishing his halo and fluttering his wings. "If we can accomplish all that in one short Valentine’s Day, imagine what we can do with the rest of the year!"

"Humph," muttered Bart under his breath.

"Come on, Bart," Rolf said cheerfully, "miracles happen. Now who do you think would make Stefano a suitable lady friend? Perhaps Alice Horton could reform him and win me out bet."

"Not even Alice ‘God Bless Her’ Horton," Bart answered sarcastically, "could reform Stefano."

"Maybe," Rolf said with a smile, "but this is Salem, and miracles do happen…"

"Not that kind," Bart put in. "Now if it’s finding me a suitable lady friend, let’s find that Nancy chick, she is hot!"

Rolf smiled sweetly at his partner. "Venus bless you, Bart. Now get back to work!"

"I know, I know," Bart sighed, "no rest for the gorgeous…"