Gillian Kearney Fan, thank you for your review. I'm really glad you enjoyed the chapter. It certainly would be very like Taylor to do a disappearing act!

20BlueRoses, Taylor didn't seem very keen on Cal the first time they met in the series - it seemed a shame to change that! I'm really happy you like Ethan's awkwardness about having a girlfriend. You could be right: Cal might well see things more clearly when he isn't the one who's smitten. Thank you for your review.

ETWentHome, thank you so much for your kind words - I really enjoyed writing Cal and Taylor's first meeting so I'm thrilled you liked it. It is sad - she doesn't deserve Ethan at all!

Tanith Panic, I'm so glad you're not going to abandon this story! It is sad so it's good to be able to write things with a bit of humour like Taylor's argument with Louise. Thank you for your review.

Becs2202, thank you for your review. I enjoyed writing Cal's reaction so I'm very pleased you enjoyed reading it.

Ethan looked around the office and tried to think what to say. In truth, he was overwhelmed.

Taylor's smile faded and she looked a bit uncomfortable. "I know it's not much. I'm sure things will get better once we're more settled here. But we're a really small charity and we try to spend as little money as possible on ourselves."

Ethan crossed the room and put his arms around her. "I wasn't thinking that at all. I hope this doesn't offend you, Taylor, but seeing this office – how small it is; how basic, though it is lovely – it really made me realise how small your charity is." He gestured to one of the displays around the office of the different disadvantaged people they were helping. "And that makes the work you do even more incredible."

Taylor kissed him. "Thank you, Ethan! You're so sweet, babe. I'm so glad you told me. You can always tell me everything you're thinking." She looked into his eyes. "What are you thinking now?"

Ethan was mesmerised. "I'm thinking you're very beautiful and I'm so happy to be with you."

"I'm happy too," said Taylor. "I've never been so happy."

"I don't think I have either," said Ethan. He thought for a moment. "Except maybe for the first time I got to ride in an ambulance with the siren going."

Taylor let go of him. "You'd better be joking, Ethan Hardy."

Ethan smiled and hugged her again. "Of course I am."

"It was interesting meeting your brother," said Taylor, over lunch. "He really is nothing like you."

Ethan gave a gloomy sigh. "That's what everyone says."

Taylor reached across the table and touched his hand. "Babe, it's not a bad thing! You don't want to be like him. You're great."

"But he's got everything," said Ethan. "Good looks, charm, intelligence…"

"…money?" said Taylor.

"No, not money," said Ethan. "He's too good at spending it. But he has everything else."

"That's a matter of opinion," said Taylor. "I suppose his features are all in quite reasonable places, but that smug smirk of his completely ruins the effect. And as for charm, this table has more than your brother. He probably is quite intelligent considering his job, but he does a very good job of hiding it."

Ethan squirmed uncomfortably. He did have his problems with Cal, but this was still his brother Taylor was insulting. Then he had a sudden thought and looked at her in concern. "He didn't upset you, did he?"

"Not at all," said Taylor. "I know how to handle guys like him."

"What did he say?" Angry now, Ethan leaned forward over the table.

"Nothing for you to worry about, babe!" said Taylor. "He is a bit… awkward, but that's not his fault. Not every guy can have your charm."

Ethan looked at her uncertainly. "Are you making fun of me?"

Taylor seemed shocked. "Ethan, of course I'm not! Why would you think that?" She touched his hand. "You know I'm crazy about you."

"Well… it's just…" Ethan stopped. "I'm the awkward one. Not Caleb."

"Awkwardness is in the ear of the listener," said Taylor grandly. "When you talk to me, Ethan, you're actually trying to say something. Cal was too busy trying to be clever to say anything sensible."

"And he didn't say anything clever that upset you?" said Ethan anxiously.

Taylor laughed. "He didn't say anything clever at all. Anyone would think he'd never seen a woman before, yet the impression I think he was trying to convey was that his experience of women was extensive. All he did was dribble over me. That would be a good nickname for him, actually. Dribbles. He did seem like a bit of a baby."

Ethan couldn't help it. He burst out laughing.

"It wasn't that funny, was it?" said Taylor, surprised.

"No, not really," said Ethan, and caught himself. "Sorry, I mean yes! Yes, it was very funny. It's just that – and I hope I don't regret telling you this – Cal's nickname for me is Nibbles."

"Nibbles and Dribbles." Taylor was laughing too now. "How cute! It suits you. And for the record, I would much rather be nibbled on than dribbled on."

"Yes, I think I might prefer that too," said Ethan.

Taylor's leg brushed his under the table. "Maybe you could nibble on me later, Nibbles."

"Oh. Um. If you'd really like me to, I'd be very happy to try," said Ethan.

Ethan smiled all the way through his shift. It was only with a great effort that he managed to stop smiling when he had to deliver bad news.

He didn't want to be unkind and of course he felt sympathy for all his patients, but he was just so happy. Finally, he'd found someone who actually liked him and she was perfect in every way.

He even smiled at Cal when he saw him, but Cal just gave him a wide-eyed stare and got out of his way. This gave Ethan a small amount of concern, but he decided there was nothing he could do about it now.

And soon, he was thinking about Taylor again.

They'd agreed to have dinner in the restaurant they'd been to for their first date. Ethan had been scouring the internet for a restaurant they hadn't tried yet, but Taylor had gently and kindly pointed out that they didn't have to go somewhere new all the time. "The important thing is that I'm with you, Ethan, and even though I do like trying new things, I like familiarity as well. I want to be able to have dinner with you in places that mean something to us as a couple – and nowhere is going to mean anything much if we only go there once."

Ethan thought this sounded reasonable and he definitely liked the idea of eating in restaurants that meant something to them as a couple, so he booked a table at the restaurant they'd been to for their first date.

The afternoon dragged, but the anticipation was more than enough to keep Ethan going. When his shift finally ended, he went off to change and then phoned Taylor to let her know he was just leaving the ED now.

"So I hope you're nearly ready," he said teasingly. "Or should I give you an extra three hours to do your hair?"

There was a silence on the other end of the line. Then Taylor's voice came hesitantly. "Ethan."

Ethan wondered if his joke had been inappropriate. His jokes often were. "Taylor, I'm very sorry if I've offended you."

"No, of course you haven't," said Taylor. "It's just… I'm really sorry, Ethan."

"Sorry about what?" Ethan prompted her when she didn't continue. He kept his voice as light as he could, but the feeling in his stomach wasn't light at all.

"I… I can't go out with you," said Taylor.