Before Chrismukkah dinner, Summer and Seth went up to his room to exchange gifts. She smiled knowingly when he handed her a small box, and when she opened it she said, "I love it, Cohen!" then mockingly, "How did you know?"

"Just a hunch," he laughed and took the box from her, carefully removing the necklace, and fastening it around her neck. "It looks perfect on you."

"Duh! Okay, now open yours!" She couldn't wait to see the look on his face when he saw the lingerie and the comic book Taylor had helped her find.

Seth excitedly tore open the wrapping paper and then pried open the box. Inside was the Godfather Trilogy. "Oh hey, The Godfather," he said, confused. "I've actually never seen these before, but um, Ryan says they're awesome."

"Wait!" Summer grabbed the box and pulled out all the tissue. She looked in the direction of the pool house where Ryan had gone to exchange gifts with Taylor. "Shit!"


Ryan was quite please with Taylor's reaction to the DVD set Seth had helped him pick out. He took the box she handed him shyly. He still wasn't sure how he felt about everything. His reaction to seeing Luke and Marissa together had confused and surprised him. He'd seen her with other guys plenty of times and hadn't gotten upset, so why was it different now? Was it jealousy? Protectiveness? Or was it just memories and old rivalries? He and Luke were friends now, and maybe now that he and Marissa had both grown up a lot, they'd be right for each other. Maybe.

Taylor had read that magazine article about 11 times and decided that she needed some serious therapy before she got into a relationship with anyone, but seeing Ryan now, she was rethinking that decision. She fidgeted as Ryan carefully unwrapped the gift and she wasn't surprised when he'd gotten it all off without tearing it. She watched as he opened the white box. She didn't know what she expected, but the look on his face at that moment certainly wasn't it.

Ryan's eyes were wide and he looked up at her with surprise, interest, and...arousal? That's what it looked like. "Taylor, um...this..."

The stricken look on his face and his inability to form a sentence was concerning her. She leaned over to see into the box and she felt her cheeks heat up when she saw the contents of it. "You must think I'm a complete whore..."

"No, no," he interjected. "This is..." he started, but soon his mind was filled with images of Taylor wearing the contents of the box and he came across the book that was laying just below the lingerie. "The Kama Sutra?"

Taylor saw a playful twinkle in his eyes, and made a mental note to investigate that later. And a little teasing right now wouldn't hurt. "I've always wanted to try the wheelbarrow." She leaned close to him and opened the book to the correct page.

Looking at the page, he took the book from her and rotated it, trying to figure out exactly how the girl was bending like that. Suddenly the door to the pool house flew open and Ryan immediately stashed the book back in the box as Summer quickly made her way to Taylor.

It wasn't until she had reached Taylor that she noticed the box was unwrapped and Ryan was holding it. "Oh no, he opened it," she said to Taylor in a low voice. Then to Ryan, "Um, we went shopping together and the boxes must have gotten switched." She refused to look him in the eyes. "Could you just pretend you didn't see that?"

Now he was forcing himself to not picture Summer in the lingerie. "Uh, sure," he replied as she handed him the correct gift.

Taylor took the box she'd given him and handed it to Summer. "I think Seth will like this better than The Godfather."

When Summer was gone, a tense silence filled the pool house. "Sorry for the mix up," Taylor said.

"It's okay."

As Ryan pulled out the DVD's Taylor said, "I guess this is kind of a letdown compared to what you thought you were getting."

"No, this is great," he said with a sincere smile. "I mean that would have been uh, great, also, but how did you know I love The Godfather?"

"Just a hunch," she replied, teasingly. The look on his face when he'd opened the first gift was still fresh in her mind and she wondered what would have happened if Summer hadn't come in when she did. "But if you want, you can exchange it for the Kama Sutra."

He laughed, and she decided it was her favorite sound in the world. "I'll keep that it mind," he replied feeling relieved, though slightly disappointed of course, that the first gift wasn't intended for him. "Thanks Taylor."

"You're welcome."


During dinner, Taylor kept looking at Ryan and grinning at him predatorily. Summer blushed every time Ryan glanced in her direction and Seth's attention was all on Summer, eager to be alone with her later that night. Neil and Julie discussed the wedding plans, and Sandy told stories from his work now that he was back at the PD's office.

Kirsten watched her husband with a content smile. This was the man she married. It was wonderful to have her whole family under one roof. Seth and Summer's relationship was obviously doing very well. Ryan and Marissa were getting along, but there didn't seem to be any blooming romance between them. She loved Marissa, but last year, when Johnny had died, she'd started to think that her issues, combined with Ryan's savior complex, would destroy their relationship, if not both of them as individuals. But here they were sitting at the table together, happy to be friends. When Taylor talked about her adventures in France, Ryan listened closely, hanging on every word. She remembered the way Ryan had embraced her at Thanksgiving and grinned, wondering what her foster son was keeping from her.

Despite the time they'd spent together recently, Taylor found that Ryan had been somewhat distant. He had been busy with… well, she wasn't sure what. Maybe she was coming on too strong; she knew she had a tendency to do that. She hoped he would ask her to do something for New Year's.

Meanwhile, Ryan had come around to the idea of Marissa and Luke getting together again, but that whole situation reminded him of all the inevitable drama that came with relationships. Since he'd graduated, he'd never felt more carefree, and having a girlfriend could ruin that, especially if it was a long distance relationship. On the other hand, he really missed sex, and he knew that Taylor would be more than willing to help him out with that when she could.

He had to make up his mind soon and with New Year's Eve coming up, he figured that making a decision and sticking with it would be a good way to start the year. Kirsten was making him and Seth go to a New Match party. Seth had invited Summer, and he decided to ask Taylor to go with him. Marissa would be there too of course, and probably Luke.

He walked out to the pool house, his former home, and through the window, he saw Taylor sitting on the bed reading a book. The sight of her so relaxed in his room made him smile and erased any remaining doubts.

"Ryan! Come on in," she called when he tapped on the glass, hoping she didn't sound too eager.

"Hey." He walked towards her and sat down beside her on the bed. "So New Year's Eve is coming up and Kirsten's company is having this party..."

"I know, she already asked me if I'd go. I already have my dress picked out," she rambled excitedly.

Ryan laughed at her enthusiasm. "Do you have a date picked out already too?"

"Maybe," she replied with a grin.

Ryan instantly saw green, but the playful twinkle in her eye softened him.

"He just hasn't asked me yet," she continued innocently.

Ryan smirked and sat down on the bed beside her. "Taylor?"

"Yes?" she asked putting down her book and giving him her full attention.

"Will you go to the New Match party with me tomorrow night?"

"Yes!" she giggled excitedly. "It would be my pleasure to go with you, Ryan."


The next night, Taylor had gone to the Cooper-Roberts mansion to get ready for the party with Summer and Marissa. While away at college, they'd come to miss these Newport events with all the dressing up and primping. The boys were going early to help Kirsten and Julie set up, so the girls would go a little later.

Taylor changed into her dress, and when she emerged she looked at her friends tentatively. "What do you think?"

"Damn, you look hot, girl!" Summer exclaimed.

"That dress looks beautiful," Marissa agreed.

Kaitlin appeared in the doorway. "Nice, Townsend." She motioned for Taylor to turn around. "Plus, it shows off your butt."

"My butt?"

"Don't worry. Girl, you got a great butt."

When Ryan finally saw Taylor enter the party, his eyes nearly popped out of the sockets. "Taylor, wow, you look..."

"Nice?" she prompted.

He leaned down so his lips were right beside her ear and said in a husky whisper, "Actually I was going to say you look really hot."

His warm breath beside her ear was intoxicating.

When she didn't move away from him, he continued, "I want to leave this party right now and show you just how crazy you're making me."

A shiver went down her spine, and between his voice, his words, and his proximity she felt like her knees were going to buckle. "Ryan..."

"Hmm?"

As tempting as it was to suggest they sneak off together, she knew they couldn't leave the party. At least not yet. "Do you want to dance?"

"Actually I'm not much of a dancer," he said, smiling. Taylor raised an eyebrow. "Shocking, I know."

She grinned back at him. "I don't care. Let's go," she commanded as she tugged his tie.

"Okay, but if I step on your toes and break them..."

"I've been warned, I know," she laughed, pulling him out onto the dance floor.

As the countdown to midnight came closer to the end, Ryan and Taylor joined Summer, Seth, Luke and Marissa for a toast.

Marissa raised her virgin margarita, "To the fab six!"

Luke looked at her with an adoring smile. "To second chances."

"To old friends and new friends," Summer added, looking from Marissa to Taylor.

"To family," Ryan said quietly, glancing over at Sandy and Kirsten dancing together.

"To finally getting out of Newport," Seth chimed in, ending the sentimental streak his friends had going, but inwardly cheering at Ryan's words.

Taylor knew she was the only one who had yet to say something. "To 2007! A new year and a new start."

After the clock struck midnight, Summer and Seth kissed, and Luke pulled Marissa aside. Taylor stood in front of Ryan almost shyly, and leaned up to kiss him. Her hand went to cup the back of his head as she brushed her lips against his. Without opening her eyes, she kissed him again, only deeper this time. Unlike their first kiss, which seemed like ages ago, there was nothing hurried about this one.

As she pulled back, staring into his eyes, Ryan felt like he'd been rocked to his very core. Taylor was aching with desire and as they leaned in to kiss again, Seth came up behind Ryan.

"Dude, we have to get out of here, pronto. The Kirsten is recruiting people to help with clean up and if we're not out of here in five minutes, we'll be stuck..."

"Seth, I'm not running out on your mom like that." He rolled his eyes and gave Taylor an apologetic look. "Why don't you go with Seth and I'll see you at home?"

"No, I can stay and help out."

Ryan smirked. "Not in those heels, you can't," he replied gently. He pulled her in to kiss her forehead. "I'll see you at home."

"Come to the pool house when you get back?" she asked hopefully.

"Try keeping me away," he replied playfully, kissing her once on the lips and pulling back before he got carried away.


TBC