One extra long chapter for your reading enjoyment. Remember that I have 27 already written.
"Hello?"
"Seth, it's me."
"Hey man. How was the graduation?"
"It was good. I need some advice."
"About what?"
"I'm gonna ask Taylor to marry me."
"What?!" There was a clatter, he'd bet his brother had just dropped the phone.
"Ryan, it's Summer. Why does Seth look like you just electrocuted him?"
"I finally found a way to shut him up."
"Ryan......"
"I'm thinking of asking Taylor to marry me."
"What!?"
"Ow." Summer's yell had been more piercing, something he really shouldn't have been surprised about.
"Okay, now that the two of you have stopped screaming, is there any chance you'll give me some advice?"
"Before we start advising, I have to ask if you're absolutely sure because Taylor is my friend and I don't want to see her hurt."
"I am absolutely sure."
"Okay, good."
"Married? That's.....that's......."
"Mature? Responsible?"
"I was going to say 'weird', Summer, but those too."
"How about 'right'?"
"You are so sappy Atwood. Cohen's really had an effect on you."
"I don't think it's Seth that makes me...." pathetic, weak Trey's voice whispered in his head, "...romantic."
"Maybe you should talk to Dad," Seth said. "He'd be better at this considering he got Mom to say yes."
"She was young, impressionable, and drunk."
"Well, the last time you got Taylor drunk you two got naked and sweaty together," Summer pointed out. "If you can get her to Vegas and get her drunk you might end up married."
"I don't want her to say 'yes' because she's drunk." Ryan snapped. "I want......" He hesitated, not wanting to give the pair any more ammo to tease him with. "Maybe I should call Sandy."
"I'm sorry Ryan," Summer apologized.
"Yeah, man. We'll be good. Do you have any ideas on how you want to do it?"
"That's kind why I'm calling, Seth." He said wryly. "Taylor doesn't like a big fuss made, and Lorelai is all about the big fuss; not to mention the woman is worse than you at keeping a secret."
"Thank you," Seth said sarcastically.
"Keep it simple Atwood. Take her some place special to you both, maybe the bridge she pushed you off of, and ask her."
"I should get the ring first, don't you think?"
"Maybe Mom has some of Grandma Rose's....."
"No. I want to do this myself."
"Besides, your grandfather would come back from the dead to kick his ass."
"Good point. You know that guy Kirk-"
"I am not buying a ring from his collection of rings that once belonged to women he befriended late in their lives. I'll go to a store."
"Not alone. You better take someone with you who knows what they're doing or you'll get robbed blind."
"Not to mention, Atwood, that you're not exactly Mister Fashion."
"I'll take-um, huh. Lane! I'll take Lane. She can keep a secret."
"You better take the kids with you, or the town gossips will start up and Taylor will freak."
"Good idea, Summer."
"No, it's a great idea. I don't want to be run out of town on a rail because Miss Patty thinks I'm cheating on Taylor."
"Hey, maybe you should ask her or Babette for advice."
"Oh great idea. I'd have a better chance of keeping it from Taylor if I ran an ad in the paper."
"You better tell someone."
"Huh?"
"What if that French schmuck tells her you're hanging out with Lane? He could make going out for coffee sound like a felony."
"Taylor trusts me."
"She may trust you, Atwood; but she also has real self-esteem problems. And that Michel-guy is a total asshat."
"Lorelai already suspects. Rory's heartbroken........who would you suggest I tell? Keeping in mind I don't want her to find out before I'm ready."
"Tell Luke."
"Or Richard."
"Richard." He thought about it. "That's actually a good idea. He can keep Emily from ........well, from trying anything."
"And he must have good taste in jewelry if Emily's put up with him for the last four decades."
"Funny Cohen. Richard's a good guy and he likes you. Ask him, Atwood."
"But call Dad first, or you'll hurt his feelings."
"Yeah, good idea," Ryan agreed. "Talk to you two later."
"Bye."
Ryan hung up and dialed Sandy's cell phone number.
"Sandy Cohen."
"You in court mode?"
"Hey kid. No, I'm sorry. Just doing a lot of paperwork. What's up?"
"I'm going to ask Taylor to marry me."
"....you....uhm....." There was a long silence.
"Sandy?"
"Bit of a shock, kid. Are you sure?"
"Completely," Ryan said firmly. "I want her for the rest of my life."
"That's fantastic. I'm proud of you, Ryan." Sandy cleared his throat. "Any chance you'll have the wedding out here?"
"I'm sorry." He hated to disappoint the man, but he had to be honest. "Taylor hates Newport, and all her family is out here."
"Well, you definitely have to come out for a visit this summer, then. If Kirsten can't host the wedding, she's gonna insist on the bridal shower."
"Aren't you getting a little ahead of yourself? I haven't even got the ring yet."
"Do you want help? I can make the trip if you think you'll need it. I'll meet you in Hartford and we'll find something. Taylor will never know."
"This is a small town Sandy. You set foot here and Taylor will not only know, she'll have you peeled like a grape in seconds."
"If you need the help......"
"I think Kirsten needs you more than I do, right now. I don't want her mad at me because I dragged you across the country for this."
"She'd make an exception for this."
"But would she let you come alone?"
"You have a point. And I don't think she'd be able to resist trying to help you with the proposal."
"That I don't need."
"I know. You don't like a lot of fuss made, something you and Taylor have in common. Kirsten, however......."
"She likes to fuss over her family."
"Probably because her family never did."
"Right," Ryan said grimly remembering that Caleb hadn't even walked Kirsten down the aisle when she'd married Sandy because he didn't approve of his daughter's choice. "I just want something simple."
"For the ring or the proposal?"
"Both."
"If you can't get the ring before you want to propose, you could do what I did."
"Yeah, Seth told me about the plastic engagement ring. I don't think so."
"Too sappy?"
"Not original. I want Taylor to have her own traditions. Stuff that's hers and hers alone."
"Like 'Taylor's day'."
"Yeah. Like that."
"By the way, Kirsten wants to know where you got the blanket you two sent."
"Kim's Antiques," Ryan said. "It's a store here in town. The woman who runs it is terrifying."
"This from the guy who made a habit out of facing down Julie Cooper."
"Julie has nothing on Mrs. Kim."
"This woman must be terrifying if you think Julie has nothing on her."
"How's she doing by the way?"
"Frank's still in the picture," Sandy told him. "Kaitlyn's not to happy because she likes the Bullitt better for her."
"Caleb was better for her."
"Ouch," Sandy laughed.
Ryan laughed too and then cursed as he looked at his watch. "I have to go. I'm working the dinner shift at Luke's tonight because I'm going to Friday night dinner tomorrow night. I'll call you later, Sandy. Say hi to Kirsten for me."
"I will Kid. Take care."
Ryan hung up his phone and headed out the door.
-x-x-x-x-x-
"She's making a contact, Mom," Lorelai told Emily. "It's a good thing to have."
"In her pajamas," Ryan asked Taylor again. "She met Christiane Amanpour in her pajamas?"
"Isn't it great?"
"It's great that she was in her pajamas?"
"Yes. Great that's she's so self-confident and together she was able to make a good impression despite being in her pajamas."
"You and your family are weird," Ryan smiled. "It's great."
"I'd kiss you but there are too many sharp objects around."
"Maybe later."
"If you're good."
"And there she is," Lorelai smiled as Rory came in.
"How'd it go," Taylor asked.
"I got a job on the campaign trail."
"Rory that's great."
"I leave in three days."
"Three days?"
"What about your roller coaster trip?"
"Another time," Lorelai said.
"This might be the last Friday night dinner for a while, too," Rory frowned.
"Drinks after dinner," Lorelai smiled at her mother. "Definitely."
---xxx---
Ryan looked at Taylor. She hadn't said much since they'd left the Gilmore house and from the way she kept brushing at her cheeks, he knew she was trying not to cry.
"I hope those are happy tears."
"I am happy for her," Taylor said quietly.
"But?"
She turned to face him, "I'm going to miss her so much."
"I know." He reached over and squeezed her shoulder sympathetically. "She'll be back, though, right?"
"Yes, but she and Lorelai were the only family I had for so long. I had Emily and Richard but when I went to the doctor or needed something from the store when I was on bed rest, they were the ones that were there and now she's going to miss so much. It just makes me sad."
"Think how much fun you'll have catching her up."
Taylor sniffled a little, "She was in the room with me when they made their grand entrance. Lorelai and Emily were fighting about who got to go in and she sneaked us away from them. They didn't even notice until a nurse came out to tell them that we were doing fine."
"I'm gonna miss her too. She's the only one Emily listens to about us."
Taylor smiled and leaned back against her seat.
Ryan stretched out his arm and tugged her into his side and there she stayed until they got home.
-x-x-x-x-
"Here you go," Ryan gave Taylor a cup of tea and sat down in bed next to her. "The kids are in bed and hopefully asleep by now."
"Sorry I got hysterical."
"When was this?"
"At dinner, on the way home......"
"Pfffft. That's not hysterical. Hysterical is screaming and sobbing and being unreasonable. You were just upset."
Taylor put her tea on the nightstand and scooted closer to Ryan. She leaned her head on his shoulder and twined their arms together before lacing their fingers together. Then she put a hand on his bicep, "I'm glad you're here. Can you stay?"
"Yeah." He brushed hair out of her face. "I can stay."
She wanted to say it but she was scared of the reaction her words would cause. God, did she want to tell him though.
"What's wrong?"
Taylor looked up at him, "What do you mean?"
"You got all tense just now. You can cry if you want to. It's not like I haven't seen or heard it before."
"I should be stronger than this." She mumbled.
"It's not strength to close yourself off." He cradled her to his chest. "It's cold and hard, not strength; to pretend that you don't miss your friends and family."
Taylor's eyes closed and she listened to the thump-thump beating of Ryan's heart. It was steady and solid like the man it belonged to. She wanted to listen to it forever.
"There's something I've been wanting to tell you," she said quietly. "But I haven't because I'm afraid of how you'd react. There's a part of me that thinks you might run in the opposite direction if I ever told you."
"I'm here." He wanted to make an impassioned declaration; but he knew if he interrupted her now, she'd never get whatever it was off her chest.
"I just hope you're still here when I'm done speaking," she smiled. "I know we had a rough beginning and I wasn't all that welcoming when you got here but you stuck it out and made me see you for the guy you were and not the guy I thought you might become one day. And the guy I got to know is amazing. He's kind and loving and supportive and he's a great dad, and I say 'dad' because you and I both know the difference, and he's there when I need him even if I didn't want him at first. So, here it goes, and you are under no obligation to say anything back after I say this." She took a deep breath and looked him in the eyes, "I love you, Ryan."
His throat closed up, just like it had before; only this time he felt like he was on the edge of a cliff. One wrong step, one wrong word; and he'd be falling - he'd lose her. So he went with what he knew; action.
He kissed her.
She put her arms around his neck and moved so that she was straddling his lap. She gently pushed until they were lying down, her on top. She could feel his fingers on the skin of her back just at the hem of her shirt.
"Taylor." He groaned, his hands shaking as he resisted the urge to roll them over and take charge. Letting her take the lead was the only way. It had worked out amazingly well so far.
She smiled, "Gonna let me be in charge tonight, Ryan?"
He nodded.
"Oh goodie."
"I don't mess with what works."
"That's not how it was ......before." Before the kids, back in the bar; back when they'd first come together.
"This is better than that."
She smiled at him and kissed him softly, framing his face with her hands. His hands slipped further up her shirt as he smiled.
-x-x-x-x-
Ryan opened the hallway window and slipped out with Jake in his arms. The baby in his arms quieted when the morning air hit his face.
"So that's what you needed, huh? Just some fresh air. I'd have taken you downstairs but the creak in the third step always wakes up your mom and since your old man's not to fond of heights, we're gonna stay right over here," Ryan whispered to his son as he carefully sat down against the front of the house.
He looked out over Stars Hollow, picking out the buildings he knew by their dim shapes in the early morning light. Whispering in his son's ear as he pointed to silhouette after silhouette, he felt his connection to this place growing. Chino had been hell, a place he'd wanted out of, a place of tension and fear. Newport had never seemed real to him, really; it was all too much - too big, too perfect, too expensive. Stars Hollow felt like the small town it was, like a safe place, a good place. The people were friendly without being fake or intrusive and were just crazy enough to make him feel comfortable.
Damn, it was gonna kill Kirsten; but his home wasn't in Orange County anymore.
It was here, in a two-story Colonial house with a porch, two kids, the world's most beautiful woman.........
......and the creepiest dog statue he'd ever seen.
He really needed to talk Taylor about getting rid of that thing before it traumatized the kids.
Maybe he should revisit that idea she'd had about getting a real dog. Something furry and friendly and good with kids and a little less neurotic than Paul Anka. That pet fair in the fall would be a good place to start looking.
He pressed a kiss to the top of his son's head, smiling when he noticed that the hairs were the same shade of his own.
Taylor would like that that their son looked like him. He was just glad that Josie was going to take after her mother. That glorious hair with deep blue eyes and her mother's cute little nose.......
Maybe he should get the kids a big dog; something that would attack at the word 'boyfriend'.
He could see the high school from where he sat and wondered if their kids would go there or if they would choose to try Chilton as Rory had. At least he and Taylor would be able to afford it on their own and not have to ask Emily for a loan.
Of course they'd still be going to Friday night dinner for the rest of Emily's life if the woman had her way.
What he'd told Taylor was true, though. Compared to Caleb and Julie (before she reformed) Emily Gilmore wasn't scary at all. With the Cohens in his corner, he felt confident enough to stand up to anyone in his attempts to make Taylor happy. Even the reigning matriarch of her family.
-x-x-x-x-
Taylor smiled at the party around her. Rory's graduation/going away party had gone off without a hitch thanks to Luke and if what she'd witnessed earlier was any indication Lorelai and Luke were on their way back to each other.
Arms around her waist broke her out of her thoughts.
"I can't believe you didn't tell me about this," she said to the owner of the arms.
Ryan smiled against her hair, "And miss the look on your face when you, Rory, and Lorelai pulled up? Never."
"It was so great of everyone to do this," she smiled. "Luke, especially."
"He loves Lorelai and Rory. He just wants to see them happy."
"So, is this what you were doing all day?"
"Yeah, pretty much," Ryan said, neglecting to mention his visit to a jeweler's in Hartford. The ring he'd picked out was in his apartment, waiting for the right moment.
"You know with Rory leaving and the roller coaster trip being canceled we don't have much of an excuse to stay in Stars Hollow this summer."
"I know."
"If you don't want to......"
"For some strange reason, I miss Seth."
"I'm going to remind you that you said that around October when Seth has dropped in for his fifth weekend visit in a row, during which he takes up all your time and makes it impossible for us to be alone."
"Do that." He kissed the side of her neck.
"Kaitlyn called me today. I think someone conned her into being the next person to try and convince us to come out for a visit. She said Bullitt would send a plane for us. I think maybe that's a good idea. I don't like the idea of a commercial flight with all the germs and stuff."
"I think Kaitlyn's trying to recruit us to help her get Bullitt and Julie back together."
"Really? Why would she do that?"
"She knows I don't like Frank being there. She likes Bullitt better. Why else?"
"She doesn't want her big sister's former boyfriend as her brother? I know I wouldn't. It's a little too close to incest for me."
Ryan laughed a little into her hair. "When would you want to leave?"
"Lorelai says I'll have a job when I get back and I know Luke said the same thing to you."
"Can I have a few weeks to brace for it?"
"Ryan, if we don't go now," Taylor began.
"We never will, I know." He sighed. "Okay. We'll go as soon as we can get Bullit's plane out here and pack our things."
"You won't be sorry."
"Oh somehow I think I will be. But it'll be nice to see everyone."
"I know." She hugged him close. "But it'll be good to have it over, to no longer have it hanging over your head."
"Maybe."
"And maybe since we'll be close, you can call Dawn and talk to her."
"Yeah. I probably won't let her know Frank's out, though."
"Oh, I didn't think about that. Maybe we can meet her somewhere besides Newport."
"We'll figure it out later."
"Taylor?"
"Hi Uncle Richard. Is everything alright?"
"We're leaving. We wanted to say goodbye."
She gave him a hug and Richard shook Ryan's hand. Taylor gave Emily a hug and Emily gave Ryan a tight smile before the older Gilmores departed.
"She'll come around."
"At least she didn't say anything this time."
"I wish she'd get over whatever it is she has against you," Taylor frowned.
"She will, just give her some time."
"Okay. I just hope it's before the kids graduate college."
"That'd be nice," Ryan smiled. "Why don't you go spend some time with Rory? I'm gonna take the kids home. It's late for them."
"Thank you," Taylor smiled. Then she gave him a kiss. "I might be a while."
"I understand."
Taylor headed over to her cousin and Ryan sighed.
"I love you, too," he murmured.
"Gonna tell her," Luke asked from behind him.
"I want to. Every time I try to say it, my throat closes up."
"I wasted eight years that I could've had with Lorelai. Don't make that mistake."
"I know, I know." He rubbed at his face. "Maybe it'll help to have the ring in hand."
"It couldn't hurt," Luke smiled.
-x-x-x-
"You're really coming to visit," Kirsten sounded so happy.
"Yeah, I really, really am."
The laughter made him smile. It's taken years before he was comfortable enough with his foster mother to tease her; but here they were.
"And Taylor will be coming too?"
"Yep. But Lorelai's gonna be by herself so to keep her from being lonely, we're going to leave the kids with her."
"Oh no you don't. You're bringing the twins with you or I'll come out there and teach you not to mess with their grandma."
Ryan couldn't contain his laughter, "Relax Kirsten. I was just kidding. We're all coming, I promise."
"It's not nice to torment pregnant women, Ryan."
"I'll remember that."
"Seriously. I'll.....I'll cook or something."
"Aren't you better at that now?"
"I'll buy back the Newport Group and sell it to Richard Gilmore under the condition that he hires you."
"Kirsten!" He squirmed on the couch. "That's not funny."
Kirsten smiled on her end, "When can we expect the two of you?"
"Soon. Taylor's deciding what to take as we speak."
"So in a few days?"
"End of the week, tops."
"Good. Let us know and we'll pick you up at the airport."
"Okay," Ryan smiled. "Bye Kirsten."
"Bye," Kirsten said.
Ryan hung the phone up and leaned back against the couch, closing his eyes. He smiled when a pair of arms slipped around his neck.
"Tired?"
"No."
"Have you decided what to take on this trip?"
"Taylor," He sighed. "I can be packed in five minutes."
"Neatly?"
"Funny," he tilted his head back and to the side so that his temple rested against her cheek. He smiled when he felt her press a kiss to his cheek. "Kids?"
"Fast asleep," she told him.
"Wanna fool around?" He made a face; hoping to make her laugh at his words and expression.
Taylor giggled, "When did we become a sitcom?"
"I like to hear you laugh."
Taylor smiled and climbed over the back of the couch to sit next to him, "I like it when you laugh, too. You don't do it enough."
"That really shouldn't be a surprise."
"You being the quiet type."
"Exactly." He put his arms around her. "So, what do you want to do?" "
Taylor climbed into his lap, "Anything you want."
"Really?"
"Yeah," she nodded. "We did whatever I wanted the other night. It's your turn."
"Let's hear it for fair play."
Taylor giggled. "Upstairs or right here?"
"Upstairs." Where they had condoms and a baby monitor, he thought to himself.
Taylor nodded and got off of Ryan and the couch. She took his hand and pulled him up too. She smiled and tapped his shoulder before she backed up a few steps, "You're it." Then she turned and raced out of the room. She was halfway up the stairs before Ryan started after her.
-x-x-x-
Taylor stretched out her legs across the couch on Bullitt's airplane. She looked over and smiled at the sight of the twins sleeping peacefully through their first airplane ride. Ryan came in from the back where he'd been making use of the facilities and lifted Taylor's legs before sitting down and laying them across his lap.
"You seem pretty calm."
"Long as I don't look out the window, I can pretend it's a really weird car."
"We're in private. I could try and take your mind off of our surroundings."
"In front of the kids?" He wasn't really protesting, but thought he'd check to see if she was serious or not.
"They're sleeping."
"They might wake up."
"Okay then nothing that requires the loss of our clothes," Taylor said.
"I can live with that," Ryan nodded.
Taylor put her book aside and scooted down so the she was lying on the couch. Ryan lowered himself down on her body putting his weight on his forearms before kissing Taylor.
-x-x-x-x-
Summer all but bounced up and down on her toes as she kept watch for her friends and her niece and nephew.
"Summer? You're making me dizzy," Seth said.
"Shush Cohen. I am looking for Atwood and Taylor."
"I thought I was supposed to be the excitable one."
"Is that them," Kirsten asked, jumping to her feet and craning her neck. "Oh, no, sorry." She sat back down.
"What is taking so long?"
"Well, we have two kids, carry-ons, lots of luggage, and Bullit's plane landed at the wrong terminal," Taylor's voice said from behind them.
"Taylor!"
"Ow, my ears," Seth griped, staying back as his mother and his girlfriend surrounded the young mother. "Hey, bro."
"Seth." They exchanged nods, Ryan having a baby carrier in each hand.
"You want a hand," Seth asked.
"Not if he values his life," Taylor said.
"Taylor, I am not clumsy enough to drop an entire carrier."
"Just the same, Cohen, I'll take one of the carriers," Summer said. She smiled at Ryan and took Josie's carrier, allowing Ryan to give Kirsten a one armed hug before the woman gushed over her grandson.
"Oh, he looks just like you, Ryan."
"Yeah, poor kid."
"Oh, stop." Kirsten took the carrier, lifting it up to get a better look. "He's adorable, Taylor."
"I think so," Taylor grinned, helping Ryan gather their luggage. "His sister's okay."
"His sister is almost as beautiful as his mother," Ryan declared.
Taylor blushed and quickly changed the subject, "Where's Sandy?"
"He's sorry but duty called. He can't wait to see you all tonight at dinner."
"Which we are ordering much to Mom's consternation."
"I can cook now. Why won't anyone let me?"
"At a guess? Because you're pregnant. It's the go-to excuse Lorelai used to keep me from doing anything."
"To try and keep you from doing anything."
"This is true. I got pretty good at it over the last few months. Sookie keeps buying me cookbooks," Taylor said as she and Summer led the way out of the airport.
"And let me guess," Seth said shouldering a carry-on that Ryan handed him. "You're the guinea pig?"
"For most of it," Ryan nodded. "She made a Reuben potpie the other night. It was pretty good."
"She invites you over for dinner?"
Ryan checked to make sure the women were deep in their conversation.
"Let's just say that I may be moving again."
"Get out," Seth said.
"Is that so hard to believe?"
"No, not really. Have you asked yet?"
"Seth." He shot a nervous look towards Taylor, making sure she wasn't listening. "Not yet."
"Sorry. Just wondering," Seth shrugged. "Scared?"
"A little," Ryan admitted.
"I hear that."
"Yeah, but you've been terrified of Summer for years. This is new for me."
"No other girl has terrified you before? I kind of find that hard to believe."
"No other girl was like Taylor."
"She is unique, I'll give you that."
"I like her."
"I kinda got that."
"When did you really know that you wanted Summer forever?"
"I was ten."
"I'm not talking about a little kid crush. I mean when you knew she was the one."
"When I was ten."
"Seth....."
"Dude, I'm serious. Every year since then, it's been like no other woman exists."
Ryan smiled. Now that he got.
"He smiles," Seth said in wonderment. "Does this mean you're happy?"
"Kind of."
"How can you be 'kind of' happy?"
"There are people in Newport I'm not exactly looking forward to seeing."
"Well, I think you can count on a few people not to let you face them alone," Seth nodded towards the car where Summer and Taylor were smiling at them.
When Ryan got closer, Taylor took his hand.
"Everything okay," she asked.
"Just getting in a little Seth/Ryan time."
"I've always wondered, why does Cohen get top billing?"
"Because he does most of the talking."
Taylor giggled and turned to help Summer secure the seats into the car while Ryan went to the other side to give Kirsten a hand and Seth started to drag all the bags to the back so they could put things in the trunk.
"We'll meet you guys at the house," Summer said. "Cohen and I drove ourselves."
"See you there," Taylor smiled.
---xxx---
"Hello? I'm home," Sandy called as he came in the front door.
"Kitchen," Kirsten called.
"Hey," he said coming in. "Where are they?"
"The kids are all in the pool house with the twins. I promised we could catch up at dinner which will be here in about twenty minutes. You have time to shower and change. Long day?"
"The longest," Sandy kissed her. "But it's getting better all the time."
"That's good."
"What's this?" He tapped the camera on the counter. "How many rolls of film have you gone through?"
"Only one."
Ryan came through the door, "Hey Kirsten, do we have any apple juice? Sandy!"
"Hey Kid," he gave his son a hug. "It's good to see you."
"Great to see you too."
"Apple juice?" Kirsten opened the fridge. "For the kids?"
"Yeah, Josie's being cranky and she likes all things apple."
Kirsten smiled as she got some apple juice from the fridge, "Here you go. How are you all settling in?"
"We're good. Thank you for the cribs."
"It's not a problem. They were mine and Hailey's. I've had them in storage since my mother passed on."
"Taylor thinks they're adorable."
"I'm just glad they're getting some use," Kirsten smiled. "Sandy wants us to get something new for the newest addition."
"Mrs. Kim has a nice selection if you want to visit us when you go see Seth for Parents' Weekend."
"Or whenever we come out to visit," Kirsten smiled. "Like, for a wedding?"
"Sssh," Ryan looked nervously at the pool house. "I haven't asked her yet."
"I told you he was nervous," Sandy said.
"I'm not nervous," Ryan protested.
"It's sweet," Kirsten said.
"No it's not, because I'm not nervous." His foster parents just looked at him. "I'm scared shitless."
"Ryan, don't curse," Kirsten scolded.
"Sorry."
"It's normal to be scared. I was scared when I asked Kirsten."
"I never knew that. You seemed so confident."
"I was a nervous wreck."
"You're really filling me up with confidence here, Sandy."
"Look, my advice is to go with what you know. You and Taylor don't like fusses made over yourselves, so don't make a fuss. Just ask her."
"What if this is the one time she wants a fuss?" He looked pleadingly at Kirsten. "Don't women want a proposal to be special?"
"Yes, but they also want something that shows them that the man proposing to her knows her well enough to know what she wants."
"Great."
"What's the matter, kid?"
"She's insane. How am I supposed to predict that?"
"Ryan, when Taylor comes home from work what's the first thing she does?"
"She hugs the kids and kisses them before she tells them all about her day and all the funny French words she got Michel to say."
Kirsten smiled, "And she does this every day?"
"Every day but Friday," Ryan nodded. "That day we usually pick her up at the inn and she spends the drive to Hartford helping us all mentally prepare for dinner with the Grand Dame of the Gilmore family."
"Sounds like you know her pretty well."
"Sure, now that's she's not pushing me away, she....." He trailed off. "I'm being Seth, aren't I?"
"Just a little bit," Sandy smiled. "Stop obsessing and start remembering that you do know her and you love her."
"And she loves you," Kirsten added. "You'll know when the moment presents itself, Ryan. Trust that."
"Thank you," Ryan said. "Both of you."
"Apple juice," Kirsten handed it over to him. "We'll call when dinner's here."
Ryan nodded and headed back out the door.
"What do you think," Sandy asked his wife.
"I think we're going to have to get used to him living so far away."
Sandy smiled ruefully, "It does look that way, doesn't it?" He looked out at the pool house, "I'm glad it was Taylor now and not Marissa in high school."
"I always held my breath when he was with Marissa."
"Bracing for the next disaster?"
"Hoping she wouldn't hurt him so badly he couldn't recover."
Sandy put his arms around Kirsten, "He made it and I think part of why he made it is out in the pool house having some apple juice."
"I'm glad they managed to work it out. If they hadn't......"
"Don't even go there."
Kirsten smiled a little, "We don't have to worry about him the way we used to anymore, Sandy."
"I know."
"Is it crazy to be sad about that?"
"In this family? Hardly."
Kirsten smiled, "Go change. Dinner will be here soon."
"Alright," Sandy headed for the master bedroom.
Kirsten put the menus away and looked out the window at the pool house. The doors were open and the shades were up for the first time since Ryan had left for Connecticut. She could just hear the laughter from her boys and their girls. She sighed, knowing it wouldn't last long. Ryan and Seth would both be leaving for the east coast soon; Ryan for good probably since Taylor's family was out there.
She was going to miss them so much.
-x-x-x-x-
"Summer, are you sure you don't want to hand her back over," Taylor asked.
"No way. I'm having fun feeding something that doesn't eat grass constantly."
"And Josie doesn't sleep in your room or stare at us while we-"
"Seth!"
"Why don't you just drape something over the cage?"
"Summer's afraid the bunny will suffocate or something. I tried telling her that cotton breaths, and to leave a gap at the bottom, but she won't go for it."
"Suddenly very glad the only animal I have is a made of plaster or something."
"I wanted to talk to you about that," Ryan said as he and Jake sat down on the bed.
"I thought you didn't want me to get a dog."
"That was before I thought of the damaging qualities that dog statue has. I think something furry and friendly is a good idea."
"What kind of dog?"
"Something cute - like Benji."
"You don't want a beagle," Seth asked with a smile.
"No. There was this family that had a beagle-" Ryan broke off. "Very funny Seth."
"I think it'd be cute."
"I'm not explaining why it's funny to Lorelai. I'd never go another day without hearing about it."
"He's right. Lorelai's old boss made the mistake of mentioning the fact that Luke owned and wore a Star Trek T-shirt almost every day for a year. Lorelai still rags on him for being a Trekkie."
"Yeah, so no beagles."
"Poodle?"
"Only if you want me to kick it over the fence."
"Maybe a sheepdog," Taylor said as she lay back on Ryan's bed. "It's fluffy and furry and about as far from that statue as you can get. When we get the actual dog, I think I'll give the statue back to Emily."
"Not a sheepdog, Taylor, they shed. Maybe you guys should get a nice Dalmatian or boxer or something." Summer suggested.
"I vote for whatever mutt has the best look when you two go to the pound. Y'know, keep in the family tradition of taking in strays from lock-up."
"Cohen! That's a horrible thing to say," Summer scolded him.
"Besides, we're gonna do the pet fair when it comes around in the fall," Ryan said. "Sorry. No more delinquents."
"And another Cohen tradition dies."
"Seth, behave," Summer told him as she bounced Josie a little. "I don't want my niece and nephew to watch violence this early in their lives."
"Yeah, they're gonna avoid that with Ryan as a father."
"Funny, Seth."
"He's really mellowed since he moved to Stars Hollow. Now he only threatens to beat people up."
"But if Michel makes one more crack about my background, I'm following through."
"I'll hold him, you punch him," Taylor told him.
"I was actually thinking of watching and laughing as you curse at him in French. Wait, I did that already.........."
"Hahaha," Taylor shook her head at him. "Once. I lost it on him once."
"And I will forever regret not having a camera."
Taylor stuck her tongue out at him.
"Guys? Dinner," Kirsten's voice reached them.
"Coming," Summer called.
Taylor got up and took her daughter from Summer and followed Ryan to the main house.
--x-x--
"One thing I miss about Newport is the Chinese food," Taylor said. "Teriyaki Joe's is just not the same."
"Pad Thai is hard to get."
"But you can always get a good burger at Luke's," Taylor smiled. "And if you're feeling adventurous, there's Al's Pancake World."
"What's adventurous about pancakes," Sandy asked.
"Al got sick of making pancakes a few years ago but he kept the name because that's what everyone knew him as and he had a large amount of napkins with the name printed on them. But now he sells world cuisine and it's a coin toss as to whether or not what you order will be edible," Taylor explained.
"That is one weird little town you live in Townsend," Summer said.
"Sounds like she fits right in." Seth flinched. "Who kicked me?"
"Me," Ryan and Summer said at the same time.
Taylor giggled. "I like Stars Hollow. It's not pretentious or fake. The people are nice and just weird enough without being Ripley's Believe It Or Not."
"Sounds interesting."
"You should visit. See where your grandkids are being raised."
"You can come to a town meeting. Those are always interesting."
"No, Sandy would kill Mr. Doose within ten minutes," Ryan said.
"I would?"
"Oh, I don't think so. I think Sandy would verbally rip Mr. Doose into little pieces without half trying."
"That's what I'm saying."
"Tell me when you're going to visit, Mr. Cohen. I don't want to miss you taking down that a.....irritating man."
"We'll visit in the fall after the baby's born."
"Do you know what you're having yet," Taylor asked.
"Yes, but they won't tell us," Seth frowned at his parents.
"We wanted to wait until we were all together again," Sandy said.
"Well, we are," Seth pointed out.
"Seth, stop it. If they don't want to tell us, they don't have to," Ryan said.
"I only found out I was having twins. I didn't find out the sex until they were born."
"I do not want to know the sex of my baby," Seth said.
"Exactly."
"But that doesn't mean I don't want to know the sex of my sibling."
"Should we tell them," Sandy asked of his wife.
"It's be cruel not to after all of this."
"You're right. Who wants dessert?"
"Dad!"
"Sandy!"
"Alright, alright," Sandy laughed. "We're having a girl."
"A girl? What am I gonna do with a sister?"
"Shut up, Cohen."
"Well, I think it's sweet." Taylor grinned at Ryan. "You and Sandy can share plots about how to keep those evil boys away from your daughters."
"Atwood still hung up on the convent idea?"
"Well, I haven't found any brochures yet but I'm keeping my eye out," Taylor smiled.
"A convent?"
"It's either that or an all girls' school," Ryan said.
"Do you know how promiscuous girls end up from going to schools like that," Summer asked. "Kaitlyn Cooper anyone?"
"Her school was co-ed," Kirsten frowned.
"Yes but it was a boarding school. She was around guys twenty-four/seven. Guys, empty rooms, lax supervision," Summer said.
"Convent it is," Ryan said.
"Ryan," Taylor sighed. "I'm not sending our daughter to a convent. She'd be miserable."
"And her grandfather will be disappointed that you disqualified her for her bat mitzvah."
"I can hardly wait to see Emily's face when she finds that one out."
"Emily knows you guys are Jewish. I told her a long time ago when she was making christening plans."
"And what was her reaction?"
"She really didn't have one. She just said 'oh' and started talking about Josie coming out."
"Of what," Seth asked.
"Into society," Taylor said. "Daughters of the Daughters of the American Revolution Debutante Ball."
"Did you do that?"
"Yeah, did you? Because you weren't at ours," Summer frowned.
"I was in Paris at the Daughters of Marie Antoinette Debutante Ball."
"Why Paris?"
"My grandma Hope lives there."
"Taylor looked gorgeous."
Taylor blushed.
"You weren't there, bro."
"Saw the picture. She was......." He went quiet, obviously searching for words.
"Exquisite? Divine? Sublime?" Sandy suggested.
"Yeah, that."
"You and Seth clean up pretty nicely too," Taylor said. "I loved the picture of you guys in tuxes at Cotillion."
"Where'd you get that?"
"Seth sent me an album as a baby shower gift. I'm guessing Lorelai borrowed my phone book and wrote him."
"Good job, Cohen."
"Thank you," Seth nodded.
"I think it was my favorite present," Taylor smiled.
"I'm glad you liked it."
Wah!
"Oh, I think someone's done with their dinner."
"I think the time difference is starting to set in," Ryan said. He lifted Jake out of his highchair and Taylor got Josie. "We'll come back once they fall asleep."
"If we don't fall asleep ourselves," Taylor smiled.
"Sleep, right. Ow! Summer....."
Ryan snickered. "I think he does it on purpose."
"Foreplay at its best," Taylor smirked as she led the way for her and Ryan. Once they were in the pool house and the kids were down she turned to him. "Are you okay?"
"Fine, why?"
"Because I saw your face when I mentioned the album Seth gave me. It bothers you a little, doesn't it?"
"Why would it bother me?"
"You tell me."
"Just some residual anger and maybe some jealousy."
"I'm sorry." She looked crushed.
"That doesn't mean I'm mad at you." Nice going, jackass, he chided himself. Make her all insecure, again, why don't you? "I'm just.....working through the last of it."
"Have you talked to Seth?"
"Yeah," he nodded. "But now I want to talk to you." He sat on his bed and Taylor sat next to him. "I'm not mad at you. I was. I was mad at you and Seth when I first found out. It was a familiar feeling because I'd been mad at the world for a while but it faded, little by little. But every now and then, when I'm reminded that Seth knew so much for so long, I just get a little pissed."
"And then you get mad at me."
"Not for long. And not really." He smoothed his hand up and down her arm. "Mostly I just remember being frustrated with you."
"I was stubborn, wasn't I?"
"Yes, you were. But you were also scared, so I get why you were so unsure."
"So you're not mad anymore?"
"I wasn't really mad in the first place."
"You did a pretty good imitation."
"I was more frustrated than I was mad."
"So was I. You just refused to go home."
"Good thing."
"Yeah, good thing," Taylor smiled at him. "I'm glad you didn't go home."
"Which makes all that frustration worth it."
Taylor smiled at him and wrinkled her nose. Then she looked around the pool house and back at him, "We're alone in the pool house."
"Okay," Ryan nodded.
"I seem to remember a certain someone telling me that they'd never had sex in the pool house."
"Not with the family waiting on us." He grinned, "Later?"
"Later," she nodded. "I'm looking forward to christening the pool house with you."
"Me, too."
Taylor smiled and grabbed the monitor before they headed back into the house.
--xx--xx--
"Didn't think we'd see you for the rest of the night," Seth remarked to Taylor as they watched Summer and Ryan argue over what movie to watch."
"He doesn't say it, but I know he misses his family."
"Mom and Dad miss him too," Seth said. "Dad's better at hiding it since Mom's so hormonal."
"Poor Kirsten," Taylor said. "I remember the constant bursting into tears stage."
"Have I thanked you for being on the other side of the country when you were doing that?"
Taylor bumped him and then looked at him seriously, "Have I thanked you for being my lifeline back then?"
"I couldn't just let you disappear. That would just be .......wrong."
"Do you realize how odd it is to think that we kept each other sane?"
"It is a weird notion."
"You did, you know that, right?"
"Same here," Seth nodded.
"Ryan says he likes my crazy."
"He's in love," Seth nodded.
"You think so? He hasn't said, but I hoped......" She bit her lip.
"Yeah, he's not big on the whole words-thing." Seth turned to her with his best 'I'm being serious' expression. "Before he found out, he was all 'I can't stop thinking about Taylor' and after, he was determined to be with you, no matter what. We all thought it was the kids, you know how responsible he gets." She nodded. "It was more than that, though. He said that you were 'real', that he couldn't see himself with anyone else." He grinned. "I'm glad he didn't get drunk, because there's only so much sap I can take."
Taylor smiled at him, "Thanks Seth. You just made me feel about a thousand times better."
"Yeah?"
"Yeah," she nodded. Then she looked over at Summer and Ryan, "Guys? Pick a movie or I'm putting in Yakuza Prep."
"You wouldn't," Summer narrowed her eyes.
"Okay with me. I wouldn't mind seeing it again."
"You saw Yakuza Prep," Seth nearly shrieked.
"One night after dinner with Taylor. So?"
"You saw Yakuza Prep," Seth looked at Taylor like she'd pushed him off a cliff.
"Yes," Taylor nodded. "So?"
"I'm just a little surprised."
"I'm shocked," Summer said. "I can't believe you got Atwood to watch it."
"It was his idea."
"Pardon," Seth asked.
"I don't see what the big deal is."
"I tried to get you to watch it for three years!"
"Yeah, but she's cuter than you are."
Taylor flushed a deep red and jumped up, "Does anyone want popcorn? Because I do. I really want popcorn right now." She went into the kitchen without waiting for an answer.
Summer came in right after her, "Are you okay?"
"Just got a little overheated."
"Ryan's right. You do look nice in red."
"You remember sitting on my porch and me telling you how hard he made it for me not to fall dead stupid in love with him?"
"Yeah."
"Operation: Do not fall in love with Ryan Atwood was a complete failure."
"Good."
"Good?"
"It would suck for Atwood to be in love with you if you were still trying not to love him." Summer tilted her head. "Did that make sense?"
"Yes," Taylor nodded. "He knows I love him. I told him. And while I think he loves me, he hasn't said the words yet."
"Atwood's not big on words."
"I know. It'd still be nice to hear though."
"When you told him, he didn't say 'thank you' or anything did he?"
"Why would he say that?"
"That's what he said when......" Summer cleared her throat. "Anyway, he's probably just building up to it. You know how guys are."
"I'm still learning when it comes to Ryan."
"He is an experience," Summer nodded. "But you're good for each other."
"I think I might talk to him about staying here."
"I don't know about that. It might not be good for either of you."
"Yeah, but his family's here and they're the first real family he ever had. I don't want to take him away from that."
"You can't move back here. Both of you would be miserable."
"I think if he were near Sandy and Kirsten, he'd be happy and to tell you the truth, it doesn't matter where we sleep at night. He's my home now. Him and our kids," Taylor said. "I can be anywhere as long as they're with me."
"You really think you'd be happy living here? Where so many people will point and stare and whisper - the ones who don't say nasty stuff to your face, that is? Where you mother still lives? Face it, this place sucks; and I'm not counting the memories that living here would bring back."
"Yeah, but Ryan shouldn't have to live with open hostility every Friday night without fail."
"It's better than open hostility every day."
Taylor sighed. "I'll talk to Ryan about it."
"Do that. But there is a bright side to you and him being on the east coast. We can visit whenever we want," Summer smiled. "Maybe even on Friday night."
"Oh I don't know. A girl who gets kicked out of school may not be the best person to bring to dinner at the house of Gilmore."
"Come on, I can take her. Teach her not to treat my friends like retarded children."
Taylor smiled, "I am going to miss you so much."
"I'll be a few hours away."
"Unless Ryan and I stay here."
"Which you're not going to do because Ryan hates it here at least as much as Seth does."
"Hey," Seth's voice said. "Where's the popcorn?"
Taylor made a face, "I forgot all about that."
"Me too."
"We're looking for it Seth. I think Sandy hid it," Taylor called to the boys.
"Try under the sink," Ryan said. "He hides everything there."
Taylor frowned and looked under the sink. She looked at Summer, "He's right. It is here."
"Get out a couple of bags. I'll stick them in the microwave and you get the soda."
"Deal," Taylor pulled out a couple of bags and handed them to her friend.
_X_X_X_X_X_X_
Ryan put the book he'd been reading aside and got up from his bed. The sun was high in the sky as he looked out at the view. He turned when he heard the light giggling from outside and spotted Taylor sitting with Josie on the steps outside the back door. Taylor had their daughter in her lap and was whispering in her ear and smiling. The sun lit up her hair as she pointed at something in the distance. They both looked like angels.
And suddenly Ryan knew the moment had come.
He went over to his dresser and opened the drawer where he kept his T-shirts. He reached straight back and found the little box he wanted. He slipped it into his pocket and took a deep breath before went out to join them.
"Hey," he said sitting down next to them.
"Hey. Did you get any sleep?"
"Nah. I tried reading but I couldn't concentrate."
"Sorry," Taylor frowned.
"It's okay."
"Ryan, I've been thinking about something."
"Always dangerous," he teased.
"Funny."
"What have you been thinking about?"
"We don't have to go back to Stars Hollow," Taylor said, pulling Josie on back against her chest.
"What?"
"Your family is here."
Ryan rolled his eyes, "My family is being crazy again." He smiled at Josie, "Isn't she sweetie? Mommy's being crazy again, isn't she?"
"Ryan, I'm serious. Okay, yes, Seth is Providence bound once September rolls around but don't you want Sandy and Kirsten around? If we stayed here, you could go to Berkley and I'm sure I could find a school that's not too far away from it. We could sell-"
"Stop. We are not selling the house, okay? I love that house. I love climbing out the window in the morning with Jake and watching the sun come up. I love that from the roof I can see the lake you pushed me in."
Taylor blushed, "I'm sorry about-Wait. What do you mean climbing out the window? I thought you were afraid of heights?"
"A man in love knows no fear."
"So is it me you're in love with or the house," Taylor raised an eyebrow at him as she rested her cheek on the top of Josie's head.
"You. The house is just a side benefit."
Taylor smiled as she turned to press a kiss to the top of their daughter's head and then she lifted her head to look Ryan in the eye. "I love you, too, Ryan."
"Good," Ryan nodded. Then he pressed a light kiss to her lips.
"Still haven't decided about where we should live though," she said.
"I like Stars Hollow."
"So do I. I love Stars Hollow. I love the Dragonfly, Weston's, Luke's, the Ice Cream Shoppe, and I love every insane festival I've been to since I moved there last year but your parents are here. Your sister, the one that's currently taking up residence in Kirsten's womb, is going to be here and one day, no matter how much he says he hates it, Seth will be coming back here or at least to this coast because Neil and the step-monster are in Seattle and Summer will want to be close to her dad. There's also Dawn. If we're out here you're closer to her and Frank's around now. Don't you want to get to know him again?"
"No." Ryan looks at Josie and faces gets hard. "The further he is from our kids the happier I am."
"They're his grandkids."
"I'm not giving him two more victims!" Ryan took a deep breath. "Sorry."
"It's okay," Taylor said quietly. She anchored Josie's waist with her arm and took Ryan's hand. "Don't make a decision until you have all the information, okay? People can surprise you."
"Yes, sometimes they push you into a lake," he quirked a grin.
"When are you going to let that go?"
"When Seth does."
"So, never then."
"Pretty much, yeah."
"I was wrong that day," Taylor said, tracing lines on Ryan's palm.
"What about?"
"I pushed you into a lake because I was mad and I told myself I was mad at you for being so presumptuous about needing to be in their lives and in mine. I think I was madder at myself for being scared. Your words gave me a little bit of hope that our kids wouldn't resent you the way I resented my dad."
Ryan lifts her hand to kiss her palm. "Thanks for giving me the chance." There was a moment of comfortable silence.
"Treasure this moment, Ryan."
"Always do." He smiled at her and she got his meaning.
"Not that," she smiles. "Me being wrong. You're not going to see it often, if ever again."
"I prefer to think that you were under the influence of pregnancy hormones and your mother's brainwashing rather than wrong."
"What a sweet thing to say!"
"Thanks," Ryan said. "You know we keep talking about my family and how they're here and that's a reason that we should move back. What about your family?"
"I think Lorelai will be okay. She's got Luke back. Emily and Richard will be okay. They've got each other. Rory's gone," Taylor smiled at the last part. She was so proud of her cousin and the dream she was making come true. "Besides, the three of you are my home now. As long as we're together and happy and safe, I'll be okay."
"I don't want you to be "okay", Taylor; I want you to be happy."
"I am. Wonderfully so. I have you, I have our children...."
"Look, cards on the table here." She sits attentively. "You hate this place. And I'm not wild about trying to raise our kids among "Newpsies" and sending them to school with guys like Luke used to be or girls like Holly."
"Holly got married, which can really ground a person." Taylor put her finger to lips. "I think she's even pregnant."
"I wouldn't count on it, and that's my point," he rubs Josie's little hand fondly and smiles when her fingers wrap around his. "Do you really want our son and daughter going to school with the spawn of Holly and whomever was drunk enough to marry her?"
"I think it was Chip Saunders."
"Case closed; we're staying in Stars Hollow."
"Where we have town meetings, a grumpy diner owner, a man who is systematically buying the town, and a woman of an undetermined age who keeps hitting on you."
"We also have kids whose parents we like and didn't torture or beat the crap out of us because we either didn't like someone enough or we liked someone too much."
"But what about the Cohens? I can't keep you away from the people you love forever; and I don't want you to have to choose between us."
"So they could move to Stars Hollow."
"I could never ask them to do that for us."
"What for us? Sandy hates it here at least as much as Seth, and I know Kirsten's looking for a better environment to raise their daughter."
"There's no ocean, not even in driving range. He'd have to give up surfing entirely."
"I think Kirsten would jump at the chance to get him off that board. It's a little dangerous, you know." Ryan smiles as she bit her lip because he knows that means she's thinking about it. "Richard would love the golf partner, not to mention someone to talk over lawyer stuff with."
"What about Kirsten?"
"Who knows? This is Kirsten we're talking about. She could get into the art scene, or interior decorating, or just become the world's best housewife..."
"Or give Mr. Doose some serious competition."
"She did run the Newport Group for the better part of a decade." They both smile at the thought of Doose vs. the Kirsten.
"You know, I bet Kirsten would love Mrs. Kim's store," Taylor said. "And if she and Sandy don't want to send the baby to Stars Hollow schools Chilton is part of a K-12 system."
"Where are we sending our kids?"
"I realize that the level of academics might be better in schools like Chilton, but there's also a higher level of spoiled rich kids acting out with parties, alcohol, and drugs as an attempt to get Mommy and Daddy's attention."
"We came out of it okay. So did Seth, Summer, Kaitlyn...."
"Quit while you're ahead, Ryan."
"I just want them to have everything."
"They will. A loving family, the knowledge that they're valued as the people they are." Josie waved her hands in the air and made a 'gah!" sound. "Or just that we love them."
"Looks like she agrees with you," Ryan looks at Taylor out of the corner of his eyes, and bites his lip. 'We actually have to stay," he surreptitiously pulled something out of his pocket. "Lorelei will kill me if she misses the wedding,' he opened the box and holds it out to Taylor expectantly, but has to move it out of range of Josie, because she's attracted by the sparkle of sun on diamond. "No, baby, that's for Mommy." He looked hopefully at Taylor, "Provided she wants it."
"She does," Taylor asks. "But I want to wait a year."
"A year?"
"Just to make sure," Taylor says. "It gets a year of college out of the way and gets Sandy and Kirsten settled in Stars Hollow and let her have the baby and it lets us get used to living with each other. We really haven't tried that yet. All we've really had are sleepovers or you sleeping on the couch. You think you can deal with that?"
"Sleeping on the couch for a year? Only if we get a new couch." Josie tries to reach further for the ring. 'You wanna put this on before she tries to swallow it?'
"Yes," Taylor put out her hand and Ryan put the ring on her finger. "And I didn't mean you needed to sleep on the couch for a year. I want you in bed with me."
"Good."
The door opened and Kirsten came out, "Hey you two."
"Hi Kirsten," Ryan said dropping the box into his lap while Taylor's hand rested on Josie's side. "What's up?"
"Well, Sandy and Seth are trying to teach Jake to schmeer."
"Should we be worried that they're using a knife so close to our son," Taylor said to Ryan who just smiled.
"And I was thinking that maybe I could take this one," Kirsten offered her finger to Josie who took it in a tight grip, "and go shopping."
"Last time I let a family member take her shopping, she ended up with a very tiny fur coat," Taylor said.
"I promise, no furs," Kirsten said.
"What do you think," Taylor said to Ryan. "Can we trust her not to buy out the store?"
"I think she'll be okay," Ryan smiled.
"You wanna go shopping with Grandma," Taylor asked Josie. Josie answered by waving her arms excitedly towards Kirsten. "I think that's a yes. Her stroller-"
"I already set it up," Kirsten said reaching out and taking Josie from Taylor. "We won't be long. I know when her nap time is."
"Actually Kirsten, you can keep her out for a while. Bullit's throwing that party tonight so the more tired she is the more she'll sleep for the sitter."
"Okay," Kirsten said. "Come on, little one. Let's go spend some money."
Taylor smiled as Kirsten disappeared into the house with Josie and then she turned to Ryan, "We're having dinner with them before the party, right?"
"Right," Ryan nodded.
"We'll talk about Stars Hollow then."
"Okay."
"You're being very agreeable."
"Can't imaging why," he picks up her left hand, kisses her palm.
"Ryan," she said somewhat breathlessly.
"What," he said with a not so innocent smile.
"Your parents...."
"Are busy with our kids. And I happen to know a place, just nearby, where we can celebrate our engagement in private," he said the last with a suggestive lift of eyebrows.
"You do know the way to a girl's heart Ryan," she smiled as she got up and pulled Ryan with her towards the pool house.
The two of them missed the disgusted look Seth gave them as the door closed behind them.