Whatever spell had fallen on them the night before, it had inexplicably faded. During the night, Ryan had placed her on his bed and spent the rest of the night trying to sort out his own feelings. When he finally did go to bed beside Keats, she awoke shortly thereafter and left his apartment.

The sex had been wonderful, Keats knew. But they were foolish to have jumped into bed, or couch, before they had solved most everything. There were still so many unanswered questions.

She took a run in the Miami dawn, her bare feet kissing the damp sand. It was a relaxing sensation, and one that made her able to think clearly.

So he did see me graduate…and he wasn't with Erica…is that enough for me to forgive him??? You bet!

Keats went home and immediately changed to get ready for work. She couldn't wait to see Ryan and tell him that she wanted to be with him and love him like she used to.

Ryan Wolfe rotated in his chair nervously. He'd been quite…hasty the night before. He sort of pounced on her before he realized it. He had just felt so…primal the night before. And the sex was amazing. Made better by the fact that Keats wasn't ready to give up on him.

He pulled a few files out and tried to concentrate on them, but he was suddenly aware of Keats standing quite close to him.

"Why'd you leave? I was going to make you breakfast in bed." Ryan mumbled, teasing her. He waited a bit to see if it worked.

"Yeah, right." Keats grinned. She shoved his shoulder and handed him an additional file.

"Does this mean you'll marry me now?" Ryan asked suddenly. He pulled her to him and looked deep into her eyes. Keats sighed and looked unsure.

"Don't ask that yet. It's too soon." She replied, pulling away from him. They made up only hours before, and to Keats, that was WAY too soon to think about getting married.

She certainly wanted to, but…she was holding out for something. Something she wasn't ever going to explain to Ryan, but something she desperately needed.

After a few failed relationships and a hoax of a marriage, she decided she wasn't going to settle for anything but the best. She hoped that Ryan would be the best, but she wasn't sure.

She wanted moonlight and roses…and Ryan hadn't given her many of those. He seemed to take her for granted. He was a wonderful friend and lover…but she wanted a prince. A knight on a white horse.

Am I expecting too much? Am I a fool for thinking such a thing exists? Will I be disappointed if I hold out for my fairy tale ending?

The worst part was…Ryan never really seemed to try much. Not that Keats minded…but she looked at Natalia and Eric. Eric was a charming and romantic man. Natalia was constantly being swept off her feet by him.

I guess I'm wrong for comparing them…And then there's that kiss…

Cooper had really surprised her. He was incredibly kind and sensitive…funny, cute without even knowing he was adorable…and somehow, when it came to that kiss…it was powerful. Keats was blown away by his passion.

She touched her lips and wondered how she would be able to tell which guy was the knight and which one was simply the jester.

"What are you thinking about?" Ryan asked her. It was obvious her imagination was working overtime.

"Nothing. But don't ask me that until you mean it, Wolfe." Keats said as she left him alone with his thoughts.

He smiled to himself, as it was becoming clear that she was still growing up in some ways.

Keats walked down the hallway and crossed paths with Cooper, someone she hadn't wanted to deal with yet.

"I had fun the other night at the game. If you want to go again, I heard the Marlins are playing Detroit. I have some tickets." Cooper leaned against the wall and smiled pleasantly. Keats swallowed hard and gave him a nervous smile.

"Sure." She blurted out. She felt an arm drape possessively around her shoulder and looked up into Ryan's eyes. Ryan turned his gaze to Cooper and held it for awhile. Cooper appeared to be flustered and angry.

"I think she'll be busy that night." Ryan said with a satisfied smirk. Keats began to flush with embarrassment. She removed his arm suddenly and gave him a harsh glare. She glanced at Cooper apologetically and excused herself from their company.

When we went out…I would have been so flattered that he put his arm over me…marking his territory. But now it seems petty and childish. Have I really changed that much? If so…what does that mean for our relationship?

Keats sighed to herself as she finished off an ice cream cone near the corner of M.D.P.D. She realized grimly that she hadn't had much ice cream lately, so she was more than willing to try to make up for it. She ordered another cone and sat down on a wooden bench overlooking the pale sand of the beach.

She stared out at all the people, watching them laugh and eat and play. She liked observing people. She found it to be useful practice for the art of reading people. Her ice cream began to dribble down her chin and she wiped it away with her napkin.

A gentle, masculine laugh graced her ears and she warily turned, her breath caught in her lungs.

"You're…here?" Keats barely piped out.

"Yeah…I was debating whether or not to go in and see you, but before I made up my mind, I found you sitting here. Imagine my surprise." He said with a charming smile.

"How did you know?" Keats wondered, abandoning her butter pecan ice cream.

"I asked around. I wanted to tie a few loose ends. Anyway, I'd like to see you for dinner if that's okay." He added.

Keats sat across from him at a well-lit table in a swanky restaurant. Keats knew she shouldn't have agreed to meet him, but her curiosity made it impossible for her to say no.

"So what do you want to talk to me about? What loose ends need to be tied?" Keats wondered, tearing into a steak.

"You see…I'm getting married." He said, leaning forward slightly.

Keats inhaled sharply and blinked, wondering what to say…what to feel. She nearly choked on her meat, so she set down her silverware and took several giant gulps of water.

"Oh…that's great…when is -"

"I was getting married. But I just can't do it."

"Why? Surely you've grown up by now?" Keats said with a laugh. Morgan Flannery did not laugh.

"I can't get you out of my head. You were my first love…I thought maybe if we had married when we wanted to, so young and all, that I would have been tied down too early. So I broke up with you instead of asking you to wait for me.

It was the biggest mistake I've ever made. I wanted to call you last year, but Sloane told me you had a husband. I felt so…awful. I wanted you back. I thought I'd messed things up for good…But when I heard that the marriage wasn't real, I made up my mind to come down here and get you back."

Keats tried to avoid his gaze, afraid she would get taken in when she so desperately wanted to leave him be.

"I know I don't deserve you anymore. I know you probably still hate me. I just want to say…I'm sorry for how I treated you. And, if I can, I'd like to make it up to you and prove that I'm the man you should spend the rest of your life with."

Keats had always wanted someone to say those words to her. When she was younger, she would have swooned because Morgan was the one saying them.

Ryan would never say anything like that…I can't help but feel disappointed.

"Listen, you don't have to date me or anything. Just spend time with me."

Just spend time with me…

"Come on, Morgan. This is all so sudden. First you coming here, then that revelation. I can't exactly digest it in one day." Keats said, trying to keep her head from exploding.

Men…I can't figure them out. The second you leave them for good, they come back wanting more. But if you show them love, they back away slowly.

I think I'll quit men until they come to their senses.