Title: Finally Found

Author: Stephanie, PracticeLuver@hotmail.com

Author's Note/Summarry: Well this is a Bobby and Lindsay fic...of course...
I don't think I'm capable of writing anything else! If you don't like B and
L (you're insane), you probably will not like this! I was going to make
this a 3 parter, but I had it all written, so I just decided to make it one
kind of long fic. Enjoy! :-)

Disclaimer: They are all property of DEK and ABC! No profit made in writing
this! And the song used at the end isn't mine either. :-)

~*~*~*~
Bobby took a deep breath as he knocked on the door of Helen's apartment. He
had prepared himself for what he had to do, but still he felt so.... well,
unprepared.

Helen opened the door with a bright smile. There was a sparkle in her blue
eyes, but all that did was make Bobby think of someone else's sparkly blue
eyes, of someone else's world-brightening smile. "Bobby, hey!" Helen said
as she struggled to put a diamond earring in her right ear. "I know our
reservations are in 20 minutes, but I'm running a little behind, so just
come on in and sit down for a minute." She then rushed off to the bathroom
to fix her hair.

Bobby shook his head as he stepped inside the apartment, shutting the door
behind him. Women could be so shallow sometimes, especially Helen, Bobby
thought, seating himself on the couch and removing his coat. It's now or
never, he reminded himself, and took another deep breath. "Helen?" he said.

"Yeah?" she called from the bathroom, sounding somewhat annoyed.

"Helen, we need to talk."

Helen came into the living room and looked at Bobby quizzically. "But,
Bobby, our reservations--"

"We need to talk."

She sensed the urgency in his voice, so she sat down next to him on the
couch. There was a feeling deep in the pit of her stomach that she knew
what was coming.

"Helen," Bobby began, "You are a great person. And I really care about you,
you know that. It's just that--"

"Bobby, I know," Helen interrupted him calmly.

Bobby looked up, confused. If she knew what he was about to say, she sure
wouldn't be smiling about it like she was now. "You- you do?"

"Yes. I know you don't love me, you love someone else. I think on some
level I have known for quite some time."

Bobby still didn't understand how she could have known and not be upset, or
angry, or hurt, or some combination of those three. "How did you know? And
why aren't you a little more, ya know, upset?"

"Well, it just seems like our last few dates have been more like two
friends getting together than a romance. And I feel the same way, I really
think we would be better off as friends. And I know that you could never
love me like you love my best friend, and truthfully, I could never love
you like she could."

"You know how I feel about Lindsay?" Bobby was still completely
overwhelmed. "But... I hardly even know how I feel about her!!"

Helen smiled. "It's quite obvious, really. Every time she comes into the
room, it's like your whole face brightens. I can tell by the way you look
at her, and smile at her. I have never seen you love anyone, I don't even
know if you ever have before Linds. But with you and her, it's something
you can tell."

"And you really don't mind at all?"

"No. I know we will always be good friends, and that's the way it should
be. You should be with Lindsay. She will make you so happy, Bobby. She's
the greatest woman I know. All I can say is, if you hurt her, you'll have
to answer to me!"

They both laughed and then hugged, happy with their friendship.

"So, Bobby," Helen began been they came apart. "When are you planning on
telling Lindsay how you feel?"

Bobby shook his head sadly and sighed. "That's the thing, I don't know if I
can... I think I already blew my chance with her. I think if I tell her
right after you and I have broken up, she won't believe me when I say it.
And, really, I wouldn't blame her."

"Hey, she will believe you, because it's true. When you say those three
words to Lindsay, she'll see the truth and love in your eyes. And believe
me, she feels the same." Helen spoke encouragingly. "And since you don't
want to tell her too soon, I know the perfect time. Her birthday is in a
week, you can tell her then."

Bobby seemed to ponder the idea for a moment before he spoke. "Helen,
you're right. I will tell Lindsay how I feel on her birthday. I want to
make it as romantic as possible, and I think I have an idea...."

~*~*~*~

As Bobby stepped out of the elevator that led to the office the next day,
he walked with a spring in his step. He knew he should be a little more
upset after his break-up with Helen, but he was about to see Lindsay, so of
course he was happy. He'd made the final decision the night before to tell
her he loved her on her birthday, but when he worked next to her all day,
he knew it might be difficult holding it in for a week. He would have to
smell her, look at her, talk to her, laugh with her, smile with her.... But
he didn't want those words to come out at a spontaneous moment. Bobby had a
plan. A plan to win Lindsay over again.

As soon as he entered the office, Lindsay came up to him and placed her
hand gently on his arm. "Bobby, hey. I heard about you and Helen, are you
okay?"

She looked right up at him with her big blue eyes, and he could not take
his eyes away from her gorgeous face. Finally he shook himself and cleared
his throught. "Yeah. Yeah, I'm fine. It was a mutual decision, we just both
want to be friends."

To Bobby's disappointment, Lindsay removed her hand from his arm. "All
right, but if you need anyone to talk to, I'm here, okay?"

"Okay," he agreed. She was such a good friend, so supportive, it made him
love her even more.

Lindsay nodded and smiled, then walked away back to her desk. Bobby was
tempted to stop her and kiss her passionately, but he controlled himself.
Just one more week, he thought. Easier said than done.

~*~*~*~

During the lunch hour that day, Lindsay went out to eat with Helen, but the
rest of the firm was still at the office. Bobby saw his golden opportunity
to talk to everyone without Lindsay there, so he stood up to round everyone
into the conference room.

"Everybody in the conference room for an important meeting now!" He
dictated, then walked into the room with everyone grumbling behind him.

After they were all seated, Eugene spoke up. "If this is such an important
meeting, why isn't Lindsay here?"

"Well, actually, the reason we are having the meeting now is because she
isn't here."

Ellenor looked confused and suspicious. "What's going on, Bobby?"

"Okay. You know how Lindsay's birthday is in a week, right?"

Rebecca nodded. "Yes, and we have already started planning her a surprise
party at my apartment."

"Well, you will just have to cancel that. I want you guys to tell her that
we are having her party at my apartment, and that you all will be there,"
Bobby paused. "And then none of you will come."

"But why would we do that? It would just be you and Lindsay!" Jimmy
exclaimed.

"Exactly," Bobby confirmed. "That is what I want. I have something
important to tell Lindsay, and I want it to be just her and me alone on her
birthday."

"What do you have to tell her?" Lucy asked. They sure weren't making this
easy on him!!

"That I am completely in love with her." He stated it so clearly and with
so much truth that everyone was stunned.

"I KNEW it!" Lucy yelled. "The way you always look at her... I was just
waiting for you to know it, too!"

The door to the conference room opened and Lindsay walked in. "What did you
know?" She asked with a bright smile.

Everyone looked at Bobby, waiting for him to come up with an answer, but he
was too busy staring at Lindsay with a dazed smile on his face. Ellenor
thought fast. "We knew that it is your birthday in a week, and we are
thowing you a party at Bobby's apartment!" Everyone nodded in a greement,
and Bobby seemed to break out of his trance.

"Oh! Oh, yeah. Everyone from the firm and the DA's office will be there,
Linds. It starts at 7:30, so don't be late!"

"OH, guys!" Lindsay squealed with excitement. "That is so sweet! I can't
wait." She then walked out of the conference room, leaving everyone to look
at Bobby.

"Well," he said, "I guess it's time for me to come up with my plan!"

~*~*~*~

A week later Lindsay stood in front of her bathroom mirror and examined her
outfit closely. She was about to head out to her birthday party at Bobby's
apartment, and she wanted to look nice. She had on a slinky baby blue
spaghetti-strap sundress that fell a few inches above her knees. The color
of the dress brought out her eyes, and that's why she had chosen to wear
it. Even though she didn't think there was any hope for her and Bobby, she
knew he would be there and wanted to look amazing to impress him. She was
in love with him, but thought there was no way he would ever love her in
return.

After applying her makeup and putting on her jewelry, Lindsay was ready to
go. When she arrived at Bobby's apartment, she got out of her car and
smoothed the wrinkles out of her dress.

Lindsay walked up the pathway to the door and was about to knock when she
saw the note taped to the brass number 17. It read "Lindsay, the door is
open. Come on in." When she let herself into the apartment, she was stunned
at what she saw. All of the lights were out, but dozens of tiny candles
were lit. There was no one in sight. She was very confused for a minute,
and looked at her watch. They had said 7:30, right?? Then she spotted it.
On the dining room table there was an envelope with "Lindsay" written on
it. She walked over to it slowly, curiosity overwhelming her. She opened
the envelope and read:

"My Dearest Lindsay:
I used to be scared that you didn't feel
the same way that I do.
But I can't hide it anymore,
I am so in love with you.

I love the way that you always
stand up for what you believe in.
When you and I are together,
I am happier than I have ever been.

I love the way your smile
can brighten even my darkest day.
I think you are more beautiful
than I could ever say.

I love the way your eyes
see right into my soul.
Whenever I am with you,
I feel like I am whole.

When I tell you that I love you,
I hope you know it's true.
Because never have I felt before
the way I feel for you.

You are everything that matters to me,
and I just want you to know,
if you tell me that you love me too,
I'll never let you go."

Her tears of happiness dotted the paper as she read the last line "Follow
the rose petals." Then she looked down and saw a trail of rose petals
leading to the closed door of Bobby's bedroom. She followed them and opened
the door.

Bobby jumped when she opened the door. When he saw her, he was stunned. He
was accustomed to her beauty by now, he'd had two years to get used to it,
but seeing her in that dress... she looked like a goddess.

Lindsay saw him lying on his bed in his black tux with a red rose in his
hand, and she started crying again, happy tears. This was all so
unbelievable to her. There were rose petals and candles all over the room,
and Bobby said those three words she had waited forever to hear. "I love
you."

He walked over to her with the rose and something else in his hand, and
kissed away her tears. Bobby then held up a tiny box. "Happy Birthday,
Linds," he said, with a loving smile on his face. She took the box from him
and opened it. Inside was a delicate gold heart necklace, with something
inscribed on it. "Lindsay, me heart is yours forever. I love you."

"Bobby," Lindsay said in a breathy voice. "It's beautiful. I love it."

"And I love YOU," Bobby said, taking the necklace from Lindsay and putting
it on her neck. He took her in his arms and kissed her lips, something he
had wanted to do forever. When they broke apart, Lindsay looked up at Bobby
and said, "I love you too, Bobby. I love you so much."

They stood there together, holding each other, for a long time. All each of
them could think about was the other, and how luck they were to have found
each other. Finally found.

"I can't believe you're here with me
And now it seems my world's complete,
And I never want this moment to end
I close my eyes and still I see
My dreams become reality
And now I know how it feels to be in love
I prayed so many nights that you would come my way
An angel from above to light my darkest day
I think it's time for you to hear these lines
'Cause there's something that I wanna say

I've finally found what I've been looking for
And now you know I'm going to love you more,
Hold me tight, 'cause it's always been you.
To think that you were always there,
To be my friend and wipe away my tears,
Now it's clear that it's always been you

Sometimes you don't expect that friends
Can become lovers in the end
Only God knows what the future will bring
So hold me close and don't let go
'Cause this is love, boy don't you know
And we're gonna be together for eternity
I prayed so many nights that you would come my way,
An angel from above to light my darkest day
A love so strong it can't be wrong,
It's with you that I belong

I've finally found what I've been looking for
And now you know I'm going to love you more,
Hold me tight, 'cause it's always been you.
To think that you were always there,
To be my friend and wipe away my tears,
Now it's clear that it's always been you

This time, this time, I'm gonna make sure it turns out right
I wanna be, your everything and by your side,
For the rest of my life
This love, this love, feels the way a love should be
Look in my eyes and realize there's no disguise
'Cause I'm in love with you"

Well, what did ya think? Feedback is appreciated and adored, and if I don't
get it I will feel like a complete failure-- PLEASE don't do that to me!!
:-) ~Steph (PracticeLuver@hotmail.com)