A/N: Wow, so it's been a little while since I've posted a new chapter but getting out of the Navy is taking up most of my free time. That and the past three times I've tried to type this up, it won't let me save. Stupid computer.

For those keeping score at home, this chapter takes place about three months after the reunion. Picture many nights of steamy Townwood encounters in your head, but that's about as much as you're going to get. Sorry, but I euthanize smut bunnies on sight :D Also, the flashback in this chapter takes place not too long after The My Two Dads episode (4.09), but before The Shake Up (4.14).

Ryan and Taylor were in Taylor's SUV, headed toward Newport Beach from John Wayne Airport. Ryan was nervously fidgeting with his seat belt and indiscriminately changing the radio station. Taylor noticed this and decided to speak up.

"Ryan, please stop. You're driving me a little crazy. What are you so afraid of?"

"I'm not afraid. It's just that I'm meeting Belle for the first time today and I just want her to like me." He didn't add on that he really was afraid that Belle would hate him and then Taylor would forgo her own happiness in order to give Belle a happy life. Ryan gave an unconscious shiver, something Taylor didn't let escape her notice.

"Ryan," she started. "You have nothing to worry about. Except for the fact that dogs and children can smell fear. Good thing I don't have a dog, huh?" Taylor immediately felt bad when she said that last statement. She looked over at Ryan and saw that he had a pale, sickly look to him. She grabbed his hand and held it softly.

"She's going to love you."

Ryan hoped so. He wanted everything to go perfect with Belle. He had heard so much about her from Taylor that he felt like he knew her already. From all indications, he was going to be dealing with a pre-Ryan version of her mother. Fantastic. First thing was first; he had to get to know her before he could get to know her better.

As they pulled into the driveway, Ryan was reminded of a first meeting with a different Townsend.

Many Years Earlier

Ryan and Taylor walked into The Yacht Club, hand in hand, emotionally psyching themselves up for the coming dinner. Taylor squeezed his hand and Ryan returned her worried gaze with a slight smile. He stopped her at the lobby.

"Hey, we're going to be fine. Your mom can't be as bad as she was when she got Marissa and I kicked out of Harbor. She's gotten better since then. Right?"

"Unless there's a miracle, fast-acting, anti-bitch pill on the market that my mother has taken, she's still the worst mother ever. She actually asked me last night if I would mind if we went somewhere less populated so that she wouldn't be embarrassed being seen with you. She's terrible."

"Well, that may be true, but you remember dinner with my dad. He lied about having cancer. At which point, Sandy promptly punched him in the face. I can almost guarantee that this dinner will be better than that."

"Here's to hoping. Come on, let's do this."

Taylor pulled Ryan up to the maître d' and told him that they were with Townsend, party of three. He led them toward a small table in the back, populated by a severe-looking woman in a black business suit, currently screaming into a cell phone.

"Look, you little prick, if you want the services of my client for the coming regular season, not to mention his presence at training camp, then you will make him an offer that is something respectable, not this meager pittance that would have him living off of food stamps and welfare. When you get your shit together, then you have your people call my secretary. Until then, we'll be waiting to hear from you."

Veronica Townsend closed the phone with a sharp slap and Taylor reflected on the fact that only her mother could hang up a cell phone with authority. Here we go, Taylor thought, and approached the table.

"Well, well," Veronica said as she looked up. "I thought I smelled something burning. Maybe I should have the waiter check to see if any homes are burning in the area?"

"Mother, that is completely unnecessary. Any more of those and you'll be dining alone tonight," Taylor scolded. It didn't take long for her Veronica to start in with the inappropriate comments.

"Oh Taylor, I'm just making conversation. You can have an intelligent conversation with someone, can't you Ryan?"

Ryan grabbed the next passing waiter.

"Maybe some menus? I think we might be ready to order. Now."

Dinner went quickly and quietly, as it is hard to talk with food in your mouth. Dinner progressed to dessert, which progressed to Veronica having a glass of wine, which progressed to Veronica having more wine, which regressed to Veronica being a bitch. Again.

"So Ryan, let's talk about you and Taylor. I'm assuming that's why you are here. You want my blessing to continue your relationship."

"Actually, we're going to continue our relationship anyway, regardless of how this dinner goes. We just thought that it would be nice to have a dinner where we could sit down and you could find out a little about me."

"Oh I already know a lot about you. I know that your father has issues with spousal abuse. Although, it may be understandable seeing as how your mother was pissing all of his money away on alcohol. Not that he was much better. And I know that, for some reason, you insist on dating women that are attached to your family. I mean, Lindsey Gardner? Wasn't she your aunt? Even Marissa Cooper was technically an aunt-in-law. Speaking of…"

"I swear to God that if you go there, I'll…"

"You'll what? Hire someone to shoot me in the back? Isn't that what really happened with your brother? Your worthless, ex-convict brother. Isn't it strange how every member of your family has seen time behind bars, yourself included?"

They were beginning to attract attention, but Taylor's next words would draw the eyes of the entire restaurant.

"Shut your mouth, you bitch!"

The slap that Taylor delivered to her mother was nothing compared to the look it left on Veronica's face. Ryan assumed that this was the first time that Taylor had even remotely stood up to her mother, let alone assaulted her. He stood, grabbed Taylor, and headed for the door. As they were leaving, he stopped, turned back, and delivered some parting wisdom to Veronica.

"It would be wise for you to remember that, when you are old and grey and unable to take care of yourself, you will be fully reliant on your only daughter to watch after you. The quality of your care will depend on how you treat her for the rest of your life. Keep acting like this and you will die an old, lonely hag."

Ryan supported his crying girlfriend as he walked with her out to the Range Rover so that they might recover some semblance of a normal evening from this hellish night.

Present Day

"I know exactly what you're thinking about," Taylor said, "and trust me when I say that she is a changed woman. She was there for me when I felt so alone in the world and helped me raise my daughter with all the love and care that I could hope for. Ever since the earthquake, things have been different between us."

They get out of the car and head toward the door where they are greeted by Veronica.

Veronica welcomes them into the house and, much to Ryan's surprise, greets him with a hug. Taylor chuckles at his obvious confusion. She gets a hug of her own and a kiss on the forehead after Veronica breaks off the bonding moment with Ryan.

"Ryan, I just want to apologize for how I treated you all those years ago. I've made many mistakes with raising my daughter and I wish I could take them back, but I can't. However, I'm content with making up for those mistakes. I've been hearing a lot about you again in the past few months. Taylor has been awful dreamy eyed and it seems like she's been having trouble concentrating. I wonder whose fault that is?"

Ryan suppresses a laugh as he looks over and sees Taylor blushing. Veronica doesn't bother holding it in and Ryan soon joins her.

"Don't laugh at me! My boss actually reprimanded me the other day. He said to get my head out of the clouds and focus on work."

"Well Taylor, as your mother, I think I have to point out that your boss is somewhat of an ass and quite possibly has never been in love."

It makes Ryan happy to think that Taylor and Veronica have come so far and he feels better in knowing that, instead of facing off with Taylor's mother, he now has to impress her daughter.

"So where are you three going today," Veronica asks Ryan.

"Taylor told me that Belle is interested in whales and dolphins so we're going to take your granddaughter to see the Marine Mammal exhibit at the Orange County Museum of Natural History."

"I think that I may be a little too young to be considered a grandmother but I'm sure Belle will love it. Every chance you give her to talk about them, she tells you that she wants to be a marine biologist when she grows up. She is a smart little girl and has got her mother's tenacity so I'm sure that she will get what she wants."

"Awww mom! You actually remember me when I was that young? I thought you didn't even know I existed until the age of 10."

"Why don't you go check on your daughter, you little smart ass," Veronica instructed Taylor as she laughed.

As she headed up the stairs to look for Belle, Taylor smiled when she heard Veronica say that they needed to set up a time to have the dinner they should have had those years ago at The Yacht Club.

Taylor walks into Belle's room to find articles of clothing strewn all over the carpet, accompanied by tops, shoes, and multiple other items. Belle is digging through a rather large pile of clothing situated near her bed.

"Belle Renee! What are you doing? We were supposed to leave five minutes ago!"

Belle pokes her head out from the pile of clothing. At seven years old, she's already starting to look so much like the girl that captivated Ryan at the age of 18. Her big hazel eyes that held his attention get her out of lots of trouble. The only glaring difference is the raven-black hair sprouting from her head. Right now, it is done up in traditional Townsend style, held back with a headband with bangs curled over her forehead. She huffs out a breath at a stray piece of hair, creeping away from the rest of her bangs.

"Mom I don't know what to do. I really wanted to wear one of my khaki jean skirts today, you know, the ones that have the cute little embroidery on the back, but the one I set out and ironed had a small hole in the back pocket and it looks really tacky and I can't find any of the other ones that I have so I got out a blue jean skirt to wear and ironed that a couple of hours ago but now I can't find a shirt to go with it and my favorite shoes have a scuff on them so I can't wear them so now I have to wear sandals and I hope they're not too casual to wear wherever we are going…"

"Belle…"

"…and I really just want to look my best so that Ryan will like me," Belle finishes in a quieter, almost embarrassed tone.

"Belle, would you believe me if I told you that Ryan is just as nervous right now as you are?" At Belle's wide-eyed look she continues, "And, right now, you remind me of when I was a teenager, going out with Ryan. He made me so nervous and I always thought that I wasn't ready and that I needed to look perfect. I think that was one of the things that he secretly liked about me."

Taylor and Belle both giggle a little.

She pulls out a red polo from the hanger in the closet and hands it to Belle.

"Trust me when I say that he will really love you in this color."

Ryan looks up at the stairs as he sees Taylor coming down the stairs accompanied by a miniature version of herself, only with black hair.

"Ryan, I'd like you to meet my daughter, Belle."

Belle holds out her hand, which Ryan takes with his own, and they share a quick handshake.

"Belle Renee Townsend, please to meet you."

"Ryan Atwood, pleased to meet you Belle."

"So where are we going, Mr. Atwood?"

"Well, first of all, you can call me Ryan. I'm pretty sure that the only people that call me Mr. Atwood are my clients. I usually try and convince them to call me Ryan too. Unless they're really old." Ryan smiles as Belle gives a little laugh. "Second of all, I heard that you are a big fan of whales and dolphins, so I thought we'd go check out the Marine Mammal exhibit at the museum."

"Yay!" Belle jumps up and down, clapping her hands and Ryan is drawn back to his days living in Newport. "Let's go!"

Veronica tells them to have fun, and off they go.

"Did you know that some species of whale, such as the bowhead whale, can live for over a century, and that one specific whale was recorded to have lived 211 years?"

Ryan and Taylor walked hand in hand through the museum, following Belle as she rattled off facts from the top of her head. Ryan was beginning to wonder how she knew all of this when he remembered exactly who her mother and grandmother were. Those Townsends were very well known for their memories and mental prowess.

"Did you know that whales can generate about 160 decibels of sounds underwater, which is the approximate equivalent of the sound of a jet engine at about 25 meters?"

"Ouch," Ryan comments.

"Indeed. Seeing as how short term hearing damage occurs at only 120 decibels, I submit that whales are predators and the human species is their prey."

Ryan and Taylor are each holding their hands over their mouths, trying their hardest not to laugh. As they calm down Ryan says, "It's hard not to laugh at some of the things she says but I'm trying because she sounds so serious. She reminds me of you so much," he adds.

"I know," says Taylor. "Summer thinks it's a little eerie."

They are interrupted by Belle asking a question.

"So Mr. Atwood…"

"Ryan."

"So Ryan, how did you meet my mom?"

Ryan gives her the basics of the story, that he met her at high school but really only got to know her after school was over.

"Mom told me some of the story. She also said that you are my friend, Seth's brother. Is that true? Because that would be totally cool. Seth is so awesome. He likes anime and comic books and video games just like me."

"So you know Seth and Summer?"

"Of course I know Uncle Seth and Aunt Summer. They're not my real aunt and uncle, of course, since Grandma Veronica only had one child, but Mommy says Aunt Summer was like a sister to her and Reagan and Rachel, who are their daughters..."

"Calm down sweetie. You're rambling again," Taylor gently reminds her daughter.

Ryan laughs and says, "Reminds me of a certain someone I used to know."

Taylor blushes a little at this. "Tell Ryan about your school."

Belle gets excited again. "School is so awesome! I'm taking Spanish lessons right now because Mom says it will be spoken by almost a quarter of the United States in about 20 years. She also says Korean is next because you just really never know."

"You remind me so much of how your mom was when we were younger."

"Yeah, Aunt Summer says that a lot."

Taylor looks at her watch and sees that it is getting a little late. "Ryan, we need to run if we're going to make our dinner reservations."

"Awww Mom!"

"Sorry sweetie, but we've been here for over two hours. I have to get home and Ryan has to get to his hotel so we can get ready for dinner."

"You know," Taylor whispers to Ryan as they walk up to the doorstep, "you could totally stay here this weekend. It would be a lot easier." Taylor pinches his butt.

Ryan gently removes her hand from his backside and places his hand inside hers. "I'm sure it would be fun, but I don't know if I could do that with your family here. We've got plenty of other weekends. Not to mention, we've got tonight, or at least part of it."

They walk inside the house and Belle turns around looking at Ryan.

"It was very nice to meet you Ryan. I had a great time today."

"I had a great time too Belle and it was very nice meeting you as well. I actually have a little something for you that I brought from home." Ryan reaches into his bag and pulls out a bouquet of flowers and a familiar-looking, small, red book. "I figured that if you were anything like your mother, you would like something romantic. And that little book right there has a lot of your mom and mine's early relationship history in it. Just some pictures and stuff. Why don't you take a look at it and have your mom explain some of the stuff to you?"

Belle looks up, lip quivering and eyes looking like the dam is on the verge of breaking. She runs up and hugs Ryan tightly. Ryan looks a bit stunned at first, but finally squats down and returns Belle's hug with a big one of his own.

"Thank you sooooo much," Belle whispers in his ear. "It's the greatest gift I've ever gotten."

"You're welcome Belle. I look forward to seeing you again. Maybe we can see a movie this weekend?"

"I'd really like that," Belle says. She looks a bit hopeful. "Maybe the shark movie at the IMAX?"

Ryan laughs and says that he'll think about it. Belle looks ecstatic as she runs up the stairs to her room.

Taylor walks over and kisses him on the cheek. "That was so adorable. Who knew that you had such a grand romantic gesture in you? Where did you find that little book anyway?"

"Actually, I wasn't even sure that I still had it until I found it when I was going through some old things from college to donate to Goodwill. It was in a box with some other stuff from that year we were together: a little white bear, a copy of A Season for Peaches, a train ticket receipt from Berkley to San Bernardino, some other things. I've been looking at it a lot over the past few weeks, and I decided that it would be a good present for Belle. Plus, I thought maybe you two could bond over some of the stories in there. Or you could use it to tell her a little about me since I'm not so good with words."

"Oh Ryan," Taylor says as she hugs him. "I think she already knows everything she needs to know about you." She breaks away after a few seconds. "And now I'm really hungry so let's get going."

"Sure, but let me use the bathroom real fast."

Ryan looks around as he tries the third different door. "I am so lost."

At that moment, he stumbles into Belle's room, of all places. He apologizes and makes to leave, but Belle stops him. He can see the scrapbook spread open on the bed and knows that she has already started looking through it.

"Do you love my mom Ryan?"

Wow. Leave it to a seven year old to break it down.

"I love your mom more than anyone I've ever known. It just took me awhile to figure out that I can't live without her in my life."

"That's good because I'm pretty sure that my mom is in love with you. She's been walking around for the past few months with this dopey grin on her face all the time."

Ryan laughs. "Are you sure that you are only seven years old?"

"Seven and a half. I kind of had another question too. Is it okif I add some pictures to the scrapbook?"

Belle opens up her cell phone and shows Ryan some pictures. She's got a couple from that night, along with some from previous dates, before they had even met.

"How did you get these pictures Belle," Ryan asked. "I didn't even know you then."

Belle produces a large, floppy hat and over-sized sunglasses from underneath her bed and looks guilty. "I made Grandma take me out when I overheard where you guys were going. I'm sorry!"

Ryan laughs loudly. "Ask your mother about her stalking issues. I think you'll enjoy that one."

Ryan heads toward the door but Belle stops him again. "Ryan?"

"Yeah?"

"I'm glad I finally got to meet you."

"Me too Belle. Me too."

Thanks for your patience everyone. I figured that I would reward you all with an extra long chapter. I know Belle seems extremely smart for a seven year old and she might be. I based her on memories of my youngest sister, including the desire to be a marine biologist. The Marine Mammal exhibit is a real exhibit going on near me in Hawaii. Lots of inspiration in this one. All mistakes are my own since I refuse to have someone beta my stuff. Please Please Please R/R Thanks everyone for sticking with me!

AZ