This is ALOT shorter than I had wanted it to be. Sorry about that, but I do plan on having chapter 5 up ASAP! enjoy, oh and yes Taylor's got skeletons in her closet, lots of them. They won't come out yet, not for a few more chapters though!

Chapter 4

"I'm sorry Ryan." Summer Roberts-Cohen walked into Ryan's kitchen that night. Ryan only shrugged putting the dishes in the dishwasher. "Don't shrug at me, Ryan. Talk to me. What happened?" Ryan dropped a plate on the floor before leaving Summer alone in the kitchen. He didn't want to talk, he just wanted to be alone.

"Noah go get a bath." Ryan told his son before he stalked off to Claire's bedroom.

"Claire-bear can I talk to you?" He knocked on the doorframe to catch her attention. She nodded as she laid her doll down on the floor in front of her. "I'm sorry that your mommy isn't here, Claire. But Taylor isn't and can't be your mommy." He laid it out flatly to her as he sat down on her small bed. She just looked at him with her blue eyes before standing up and walking over to him.

"Why not?" She asked sitting next to him. Ryan didn't know how to answer that so he just asked "Why do you want her to be your mommy so bad?" He pulled her closer to him. "I don't know, daddy. Everybody has a mommy I just want one too."

"I already told you that you do have a mommy." He tried. "But she's not here, so I might as well not have a mommy at all." Ryan's heart was breaking with every word the little girl was saying. He didn't know how to fix this, he couldn't. The only way for her to have a mommy is if he had a wife and that was not ever going to happen, not again. He was not going to lose another woman he loved.

"Ryan can I talk to you?" He realized Summer was standing at Claire's door. He just nodded leaving Claire to sit alone on her bed.

"She told me what happened." Summer simply stated when they were in Ryan's living room. "I don't know what got over me…I can't fall for Taylor." He whispered pulling a hand through his blonde hair. "Why not?" Summer put her hands on her hips.

"Where is Seth?" Ryan asked ignoring her question. "With the kids, they'll be here in a little bit. Now, do you mind telling why you can't fall for her?"

"Actually Summer I do mind, so let's just drop this. Ok?"

"She's gone Ryan, there's nothing you can do about it. Not living your life to the fullest is not what she would have wanted from you. She'd want you to find someone who would love your kids as much as she did."

"Yeah, well what happens when Taylor leaves? Because you know she will! Everyone leaves, Summer." So there was his reason, it was clearly painted across his face before but no one ever wanted to admit it.

Just as he said that there was a knock on his door. Standing in front of him was Taylor. "I'm sorry for last night, I really am. I hope this doesn't mess up our friendship." She blurted before he could even think. He just shook his head all the while watching her stand there look uncomfortable.

"Atwood aren't you going to let her in?" Summer jolted him from the silence. "Oh, yeah sorry about that." He blushed a little opening the door wide enough for her to enter.

"Taylor!" Claire ran out of her room almost knocking Taylor down with her forceful hug. "Hey sweetie." Taylor smiled hugging the little girl back.

"Are you staying this time? You just left yesterday daddy looked so sad when I asked him where you were." Claire tugged at Taylor's arm as Taylor looked over at Ryan. He held her gaze for awhile before realizing what he was doing. He had to stop, he couldn't do this to himself or his children. He had to figure a way to get Taylor out of their life before any of them started to get attached to her.

"You were sad?" Summer slapped his shoulder. "Jeeze, Summer." He glared at her not just for the slap but for what she asked. "We are going to talk about this later!" She yelled before walking out for the front door. "Wait I thought Seth was coming over." He said hoping his body language told her she couldn't leave him alone with Taylor. He was too scared about what would happen. "Plans change, come over tomorrow night for dinner. See ya later, Taylor. You can come too." Summer smiled slipping out the door.