Chapter Thirty-Seven:

The silence was deafening. After what had happened between them, he'd really thought that she would come back to him. It was as close as to spilling his guts as he was going to get and so far, nothing. Nothing except engraved invitations to the grand re-opening of The Bait Shop the coming weekend. For the opening it was a ticket only event, by special invitation.

"If you stare at that any harder, I'm expecting to see it combust," Kirsten commented dryly and his head snapped up to look at her. She stood in the doorway, arms folded, smiling wryly. Then he sighed and dropped it down onto his desk.

"Are you going to go?" he glanced at her again and then shook his head.

"Why not?"

"What would be the point?" He sat back in his chair. Kirsten's eyes widened marginally.

"Because the reconstruction of The Bait Shop is a Ryan Atwood project, that's why. It would look weird if you didn't attend," he frowned.

"It's a Cohen-Atwood production. You don't need me there. No one will think it's weird if you're there and I'm not," Kirsten regarded him for a second.

"It is an Atwood project and the only reason that you won't attend is because Kate will be there. What are you going to do instead? Go back home and sit and brood? That's original!" She leaned forwards so that both her hands were resting flat on his desk.

"Please Ryan. This was always your project. You took it on and saw it through til the end, despite everything that happened between you and Kate" He didn't respond.

"She came to see me and we… talked. I thought I'd gotten through but I haven't heard a thing from her. She's probably decided that being with me isn't such a good idea after all and is thanking God she cut her losses when she did,"

"Oh honey. I know it's hurting you right now but she needs time" He looked up at her and he frowned.

"How much time does she need?" Kirsten regarded him.

"Until she's sure"

-----

It was standing room only out there. Kate took a deep breath to try and quell the butterflies in her stomach. She always suffered from some degree of stage fright, whether she played to small, intimate audiences or to huge crowds. Part of her nerves also had something to do with the fact that Ryan and Mia were out in the audience. Her stomach was churning. She didn't know how she was going to handle seeing him out there, because she would see him. She'd woken the morning after the storm, and saw him sleeping on his stomach and the thought that all she had to do was say yes to him and she would have everything she wanted. One simple word had the power to do that and the prospect had made the age-old panic well up inside of her and she had left. He'd want answers soon.

She walked onto the small stage to loud applause. Like old times, only a piano and her guitar shared the stage with her. She stood behind the microphone and looked out across the sea of faces.

Ryan stood on the balcony, transfixed. She stood on stage in tight jeans and a camisole type top in a rose pink shade. She looked beautiful, confident and almost serene. Longing rose like a tidal wave inside of him.

"You know if you want to talk to her that badly, you should," he turned his head and looked at Sandy.

"Why do you think that she'll even talk to me?" Sandy looked at him and rolled his eyes, as if the answer was self-explanatory.

"Because you are Ryan Atwood and she loves you," Nerves squirmed in Ryan's stomach. He glanced back at Kate, who was sitting in front of her piano. He glanced at Sandy, who was regarding him.

"You love her too, I can see it on your face, I can see it in the way you look at her"

"And I'm willing to bet you any money, she'll see you too," he confided. Ryan frowned at him and the older man grinned.

Chapter Thirty-Eight:

Ryan went downstairs and pushed his way politely through the crowds. He wanted to get as close to the front as possible. He wanted her to see him. Tonight he was going to try and convince her that she belonged with him and if she turned him down tonight, then that was it, he'd walk away for good.

He got as close to the stage as he could and just watched her, feeling seventeen again. She still had that effect on him. She turned her head slightly and saw him. For a second they just stared at each other and gently Kate smiled at him. Hope bloomed in his chest as he responded.

-----

He went back stage and was shown to the little office. More memories flooded through, of the time she'd left, of her determination to leave Newport Beach behind and seek out fame on her own. It looked nothing like it had back then. The furnishings were better that was for sure. He looked around at the bare painted walls. In time no doubt they'd be covered with posters or pictures. A desk stood beside him. Already there were signs of her presence, a laptop, phone, and other office type paraphernalia. He turned his head as the office door opened and Kate came through. She faltered for a second then seemed to take a deep breath and close the door behind her.

"I was told there was someone here waiting to see me," she murmured. He just shrugged. She took a step towards him and then stopped.

"I'm glad you came tonight," she told him.

"I'm glad I did. Mia is having a great time," a smile flashed across her face at the mention of her name.

"Good," An awkward silence stretched between them.

"I hate this," Ryan sighed. He looked at her.

"I hate this weirdness. I just want you to come back. All I know is that I love you and it's killing me not having you with me, with us" he told her in a rough voice. He took her hand and just held it, looking at it.

"Just say you'll come back? We can get married, or not, whatever you want. Just tell me that you'll come home with me," her eyes grew wider by the second. She took a deep, shaky breath. All the walls that she'd so jealously guarded began to crack; felt like they were beginning to crumble. She fixed him with a look, trembling, scared rigid.

"You said that you won't ever give up on me, that you'll always believe in me," she went into his embrace. His arms felt strong and safe around her.

"I won't…and I will…" she looked into his blue eyes.

"I need that Ryan, I need that strength," his expression was sincere.

"I know. And you have it, I swear" She took another deep breath and she smiled at him. Her heart was pounding in her chest. It was now or never, the leap into the great unknown and she was terrified.

"Then I'm willing to give it a try," she told him. A puzzled expression crossed his face.

"Give what a try?"

"Us. If you're still interested?" she asked and watched him smile.

-----

EPILOGUE…

A While Later….

Ryan looked up to the sky. Cloudless, a deep shade of blue, never ending, all encompassing. He heard a child's laughter and turned his head. Three-year-old Thomas ran around his older sister in circles, the breeze teasing his corn gold hair, his face wreathed in absolute mischief. Ryan just watched his son, smiling to himself. He watched Mia grab onto his hand to still him and the little boy did so.

The music began and automatically he looked to the stairs. His heart swelled in his chest as he watched Kate slowly make her way down. Behind her was Kirsten, who carried a baby girl of no more than six months old, Grace. Ryan swallowed. Kate chose that moment to look at him and she smiled. He smiled back and watched her walk towards him. From the corner of his eye he saw Kirsten take Thomas's hand and go to stand beside Sandy. He turned his head and smiled at Seth, who stood beside him.

Today was a special day, one that had taken a long time and two more children to come to. Today was their wedding day. Ryan watched Kate hand her small bunch of flowers to Mia before looking back at Ryan. She looked beautiful, her long hair left tumbling around her shoulders, and the ivory coloured dress that she wore was plain but beautiful all the same. Six months ago she had shocked him by proposing to him after Grace's delivery. He hadn't seen it coming; he'd been content with what they had and what they shared but he'd said yes the moment she'd asked him and here they were. A small beach wedding away from public scrutiny. Kate still attracted attention but not at the fever pitch that it had once been. She had gotten her wish and faded into the background, managing The Bait Shop and taking care of the kids. That was her lot in life now, she'd told him often enough, and she was happy with it.

It had taken her a long time to come to terms with her past. She had told him everything, her stepfather's controlling behaviour, his plans for her and her mother's complicity in it all. Initially it had made him mad enough to want to do some serious damage to him if he'd been alive in the first place, then the guilt had set in that he hadn't been able to do something to help her, that he didn't try hard enough to help her when he could but she'd told him that it was in the past now, it hadn't been his fault and to stop blaming himself. They had each other now and that was what was important.

The ceremony was brief and rings were exchanged. There was going to be a private party at The Bait Shop later. Ryan couldn't help but sigh when the marriage celebrant proclaimed them to be man and wife. Kate looked at him and she laughed, her eyes sparkling. He drew her into his arms and kissed her.

THE END.