Disclaimer: Not mine, borrowed and nurtured. A/N: Continuing where we left off, sort of.

iii

Where's the Kid?

Ryan woke the next morning with Taylor's side of the bed empty – no surprise there, her weekends usually started with a healthy breakfast which meant fresh produce from the French Bakery downstairs. He considered sleeping in until he remembered who had slept on the couch last night.

He swung the doona covers from his body. He could smell burnt toast coming from the kitchen, and the coffee machine whirred loudly. Coffee, he needed some, if only to quell his caffeine withdrawal.

After a shower, Ryan joined Seth and Summer at the table, passing the couch to find the blanket and pillow sprawled there – but the kid, missing.

"Where's the kid?" he asked, as Summer handed out coffee mugs.

Seth shrugged, "No idea. Gonna try Summer's scrambled eggs? Those Italian lessons really helped."

Ryan nodded, "Ok, did Tay' go to the bakery? I slept through my alarm."

Summer nodded, "Yeah, she needed baguettes, and peaches for the torte."

Ryan gulped down coffee to clear his head, "Guess the kid didn't want to stick around."

Seth shovelled eggs into his mouth until the plate was clean, "Can you blame him?"

Ryan patted Seth on the shoulder, "You still have to fill me in on the Amalfi coast."

Summer's eyes sparkled, "We have some news, but we wanted to tell you both in person…"

Ryan grinned, lowering his coffee, "You guys are pregnant, aren't you?"

Seth opened his mouth and shut it, "How did you know? Did you tell him?"

Summer laughed, "No! Did you?" and she scrutinised him with her spatula.

Ryan chuckled, "You will both make great parents, and it's about time. Do Sandy and Kirsten know?"

Summer shook her head, "It's early days, we wanted you and Taylor to be the first to know."

Ryan mulled on the idea of kids again and remembered one NYE when he'd attended a party with Seth, Summer and Taylor, when Taylor lied about being pregnant to protect Summer's dignity. That was the night Seth proposed to Summer, the first time. It was the weirdest and best night of his life.

Ryan dropped his coffee mug on the table with a loud bang, startling Seth, and Summer.

"Everything okay, man?"

"I've gotta find the kid. Tell Taylor I'll be back for my birthday lunch."

It was a feeling, a strong, protective instinct which hit him like a freight train, he had to make sure the kid was safe, that he wasn't sitting by that pay phone with nowhere to go or left to fend for himself again. Ryan had been that kid in Chino, and he didn't want anyone else to live that way.

Before he'd closed the door however, he heard Taylor call his name, "Ryan?"

Standing on the stairwell carrying multiple purchases of fruit and veg, and two baguettes was Taylor and the kid. Relief flooded him, and he covered his initial worry by muttering something about needing to buy milk, but the kid said, "Don't worry, we got some."

As the kid carried the bags inside, Ryan caught Taylor, "You could have left a note."

Taylor smiled, "Ryan Atwood, were you concerned about me? Did you forget I know Jujutsu?" She smirked when he pressed his forehead against hers, "I love you," he sighed.

"Je t'aime," Taylor kissed him. "It's your birthday, I needed peaches, and I think Seth and Summer wanted to share something with us – you know what it is, don't you? Tell me?"

Ryan smiled, "They're having a baby. You can give them those gifts you've hoarded in the closet."

Taylor clapped her hands, "I knew it! That's so exciting! I promise I'll act surprised when they tell us."

"Deal," Ryan still had to talk to Sandy about the kid's background, and what his rights were… there was an attachment growing, and he wanted to look out for the kid, keep him off the streets, and out of harm's way. He needed his friends to know, he was serious, he wanted to foster the kid.

"Tay', got a sec? This affects you too."

Sometime later, Ryan pocketed his cell, and entered the living room with Taylor, he watched Seth, Summer and Dylan putting the groceries away, and felt Taylor squeezing his hand, "I love you."

Ryan pulled Dylan aside and asked if he wanted to stay on a more permanent basis.

"What does that mean?"

Ryan pocked his hands in his pants, a stance he hoped looked both casual and non-threatening.

"It means, Taylor and I would be your foster parents, and we'd give you a home until you're 18, when you can make your own choices. All legal matters will be handled by our lawyers, and all we need is the consent from your parents or caregivers, to transfer everything to us."

Dylan stared at him, "You want me to live here?"

Ryan nodded, "Yes, if you want, and we want you to go to school here."

Dylan's voice broke, "My parents died years back; my aunt works diner shifts. I doubt she'd care if I moved. Her boyfriend handles our finances. I think he'd kill either of us, just to keep the money."

Ryan knew the type of leeches who fed on hard working women only too well, "I'll make a call."

A/N: More drabbles on the way. Thanks for the reviews :)