(A quick note: Masa is a real Japanese restaurant in New York and IS NOT MINE! I lay no claims to it in any manner shape or form!)

Callie Shaw smiled at Frank as he brought the next packet of homework. She only had a few days left and then she could return to school. Granted that meant that she would be a constant target of snide comments from her fellow classmates, but at this time, she no longer cared. Next to Frank, Taylor tried not to notice the dark circles under Mrs. Shaw's eyes and what appeared to be a constant frown on the face of Mr. Shaw. She knew that both had been fighting lately and were trying to keep this from Callie. Taylor tried to think of something that she could do that wouldn't make Frank suspect anything, but could think of nothing. She then asked aloud, "Is there anything that I can do?" The Shaw family was surprised by the question. Mrs. Shaw spoke up, "You've done so much to help us already, Taylor. We couldn't ask you for anything else."

"Are you certain? I wouldn't mind."

"No, thank you. We've placed too much of a burden on you already." Mr. Shaw smiled as best as he could. Taylor nodded and watched the family carefully. She tried not to compare her own pain to what they were going through and knew that in only a matter of weeks, Callie Shaw would be on her way to a Women's Prison. As they walked out, Frank glared at a reporter that was trying to interview Taylor. Killer was a constant shadow to Taylor, and even was with her at school. Teachers and students alike welcomed this and enjoyed the attention that was eagerly given to them by the dog. Taylor sighed as they got into her car and pulled away from the house. Killer nudged Taylor's shoulder and Taylor reached back and petted him gently. Frank glanced at her and then asked, "Are you sure you don't mind that I'm driving?"

"I'm certain. It's just…I want to do something. I have an idea. Why don't we go out to dinner? It could be me, you and your family."

"I'm not inviting Joe."

"Yes, you are."

"No, I'm not."

"Yes, you are."

"No, I'm not."

"Yes, you are."

"No, I'm not."

"Yes, you are."

"No, I'm not."

"Yes, you are." Taylor looked at Frank and added, "He is your brother."

"I won't comment on that." Frank glanced at Taylor and saw that she meant it. "Okay, you can invite him, but I am going on the record with one last comment."

"My…don't we sound like a reporter."

"Fun-ny. I don't want him there. After what he…" Frank stopped. He didn't want Taylor to find out.

"You never did tell me why the two of you were fighting."

"Let's just say he's not too thrilled about…us."

"You and me?"

"That's right."

"Well…I think that we should try to mend the fences that we have burned."

"It's 'mend the bridges that we've burned'."

"Oh. Well, I think that we should. I know the perfect place to do it. But first, let's go to my house, I bought something for you that I hope you will like."

At the Westbrooke home, Frank stared at the car that was waiting there for them. It was a Porsche Carrera GT, 2dr Carrera, metallic black with a tan interior. He then looked at Taylor and asked her slowly, "How much did that cost you?"

"$524,245.00"

"And just what did you have done to it?" Taylor listed off the added bonuses. " Taylor… I can't accept it."

"I want you to have it."

"But…"

"I didn't think about the price when I got it. I thought about how much you need a car for yourself." Frank looked at Taylor, who was close to tears. He then sighed and accepted the gift. Taylor informed him that she would be at his home to pick everyone up in one hour. She then rushed inside with Killer before Frank could take a look at what was waiting for him on the front seat.

Joe gaped at the Porsche as it pulled up. Mrs. Hardy stared at it as well and then called Aunt Gertrude to the front door. Frank got out and tried not to look uncomfortable in the brand new leather jacket that Taylor had hid in a gift box that had been on the front seat of the car. Joe struggled not to comment and simply stepped to one side as Frank entered the house. Once Joe walked in and closed the front door, the phone rang. It was Taylor. For reasons that she would not go into, she asked everyone for their sizes in clothes and hung up. Ten minutes later, there was a knock at the front door. A delivery man stood there with four large boxes. After collecting signatures, he left. Mrs. Hardy opened hers first. Inside was a brand new red silk evening dress with a tasteful fur coat and new shoes. Aunt Gertrude found a silver evening dress with a tasteful fur coat and new shoes as well. Both women had also received a new purse that matched the dress. Joe opened his box slowly and found a charcoal gray suit with matching shoes waiting for him. Frank's contained a black suit and matching shoes. There was another knock at the door. A woman stood there waiting for Joe when he opened the door. Hair tastefully done, and wearing an outfit that suggested that she was a stylist, the woman announced that she was there for the Hardy women and rushed in with a styling team behind her. Both Mrs. Hardy and Aunt Gertrude were led to their rooms and underwent make and hair styling sessions. A stylist looked pointedly at the boxes and at the Hardy brothers. Both took the hint and went to get ready. When everyone was prepared, Joe tried not to comment as he examined the situation. It was clear that Taylor was picking them up and taking them somewhere expensive. But where in Bayport was there such a place? A few moments later, there was a third knock at the door. Frank opened it and Taylor beamed at him. "I wasn't certain about the dress code where we're going, so I thought…"

" Taylor, you didn't have to go through this much trouble."

"Yes I did." Taylor led the way to the limo and waited until everyone was in and the limo had pulled away before she said, "I'm kidnapping all of you for a night that no one will ever forget." It wasn't long before the limo pulled into New York and in front of Masa. Joe was surprised. From what he could tell, Masa was a very expensive Japanese restaurant, but why was Taylor bringing them here? And why were they so dressed up? Granted, what they had on wasn't completely out of place, but still… Taylor led the way inside and soon they were being led to a private booth. Taylor went through the proper traditions with the hostess and instructed everyone on what to do. Mrs. Hardy and Aunt Gertrude were impressed with Taylor's ability to follow the customs and language while Frank was impressed with the fact that Taylor was trying to adapt to living in America. Joe, on the other hand, suspected that there was a reason behind everything. During dinner, Taylor seemed to be forcing herself to be in a good mood. Frank finally reached out and stopped her hands from flitting around as she spoke. " Taylor…what's wrong?"

"It's…it's my aunt. She learned about what happened, and convinced my uncle to withdraw from my application. He is no longer my sponsor. I'll have to return to England in a week's time." Mrs. Hardy and Aunt Gertrude gasped in horror. "Uncle told me a few minutes before I called you. He said that it is for the best. But I do not wish to leave! He said that he had been thinking about it when I paid Callie's bail. My aunt informed him that I would be safer at my old school and he agreed with her. It was the first time they agreed on anything. He won't change his mind and says that if I try to convince him otherwise, he'll send me back the moment I try to talk him out of it!" Taylor picked up her napkin, covered her face and sobbed.

"What if…" Frank stopped and thought for a moment before he plunged ahead, "What if there was a way to make sure that you stayed?"

"And what way would that be? The only way that I could is if I were…" Taylor stopped and stared at him. "Are you mad? Are you truly mad? Have you gone insane?"

"It's the only way I can think of."

"But…we're both too young! I…you…"

"Why does your aunt really want you to go back?"

"The will that my grandfather left. As long as she is my guardian until I am twenty-one, of unless I was married, she is in control of the money that I inherited from my mother and my aunt that passed away."

"And how much is all of that worth?"

"Somewhere in the billions."

"But if..."

"Then all of it would go into an account and I would have control over it. That is; if I were living in England. Anywhere else, it would go into a trust account that I would have access to until I turned twenty-one."

"So my idea would be in your best interest."

"But…"

"I don't want you to have to go back to England."

"And I don't want to go back. She doesn't like me. She's hoping that my uncle will get sick and pass away. She knows that as the youngest, she would stand to lose her share because what little money that she has and that my uncle's money and estate would go to me."

"Wait…I'm lost." Joe looked from one to the other.

"My aunt is the youngest of four. It was my mother, my uncle, another aunt and the one that raised me. My mother wasn't allowed to inherit the estates, just some of the money, my aunt that passed away was left a large amount of money that was transferred to the account that my mother was given because she was the only one of the four to have a child. My uncle was given the bulk of the money and all the properties. If he passes away without an heir, than I inherit all of what was his. If the aunt that raised me passes away, I inherit all of what she had. I am the only living heir for all four. That was how my grandfather left his will. My uncle was the only living male heir, but has no children at all. My mother was married when my second aunt passed away before I was born and her part of the money was placed in my mother's account."

"That's the part I don't get."

"My grandfather said that his property and money were nothing more than things that can be given away or lost. It was his family that he held above everything else. It was family tradition not to leave property in the hands of a woman, even if she were the first born or not if there was a male heir. If there were no other heirs born in the family, then all money and property go to the one that has a child, male or female. That was my mother. My aunt can control my account as long as I am not twenty-one, or unwed or both. But I have to be in her sight or at least in the same country as she is. As long as I am here, she can only use her own account."

"And as long as Taylor isn't an American citizen, she's stuck following her aunt's wishes." Frank pointed out. Taylor nodded. "That's why I thought of the one way to keep her here."

"And that way is?" Joe demanded. Mrs. Hardy and Aunt Gertrude figured it out and looked at each other with a gasp.

"I…that is...if Taylor…" Frank was now tongue-tied.

"Here." Mrs. Hardy forced her engagement ring off of her hand.

"I'll make it up to you." Frank said as a way of thanks. He then went to Taylor and got on one knee and took her hand into his. "You mean a lot to me, and I don't want anything to keep us apart. Not your aunt, not your uncle, and not an ocean. Taylor, if this is the only way not only to make sure that you stay, but to show you that I love you, I want to do this. Taylor Westbrooke, will you marry me?"

"I…I…I….Y…Y….Yes."