Marrisa's jaw dropped wide open. Of all the things she had ever expected to come out of Ryan's mouth that night, she had not been expecting that. Ryan's eyes stayed on hers, straining to catch some hint as to what she was thinking. Her mind still was processing what he had just asked. She couldn't even move her mouth, it just remained open, gaping at him. Ryan couldn't take the silence.

"Um, I mean… if you want, I don't know. Is this you speechless in a good or bad way?" He squirmed a little in his seat and his hands started to fidget. Oh God, he thought, what have I done? She clearly doesn't know how to break it gently. Oh God.

"Wha…W…I…Wow." Marissa still couldn't piece together what was going on. She didn't know what to say, how to say it or what she was thinking, her mind was going way too fast.

"Um, look. It's stupid. Never mind. It's just that I can't lose us. I wanted to take a step and see how far we could go, give being 'one' a chance. But I love you and that's enough. That's too big a step, you aren't ready, I get it, and you don't have to say. Just forget about it." Ryan started to get up to clear the table. He needed to get away, the horror of rejection, especially by Marissa was sinking in, deeply.

"Wait. Wait a second. You don't get to do that. You can't just drop that and leave. Oh my god, Ryan. Oh my God." Marissa was staring at him. Her eyes were completely unreadable. Ryan had no desire to watch her calmly state all the reasons it wouldn't work so he turned.

"Look, let's drop it. I get it." He stepped away, leaving his back to her. "I'm sorry I…" Marissa's arm touching his sent a shiver down his arm and it wrapped into his heart. She loved him, he knew that. But not that much. An it was starting to hurt.

Marissa circled around so she could look Ryan in the face. He was averting his gaze and she reached up and gently guided his eyes to hers. "Ryan, I had no idea you were even thinking that. At all. I was so surprised. It came completely out of left field. I didn't exactly take the news well but it was so… unexpected. I'm still in shock. I just…" She brushed his hair with her fingers as she talked. His muscles were tensed and she wanted to make it go away.

"You don't have to explain." He was going to say anything to get out of this discomfort.

"Would you shut up for five seconds?" Marissa's demand surprised them both. "Look, you were the one who knew about all this, so if I need a minute, give me time. I'm processing. I can't believe you asked. I know I keep saying that but it's cuz I can't. Just because I'm shocked that you asked doesn't mean that I wished you hadn't." That caught Ryan's attention. He looked deep into her eyes. Suddenly, he was feeling something, a glimmer of hope deep down. He waited anxiously for her to continue as he took her hands into his. "Move in. Live together. Oh my Gooooodddd! Ryan, do you have ANY idea how much every girl wants to hear that from their boyfriend? Maybe not this young but when you're this in love. It was a happy shock! One of those shocks where you are too happy to say anything. Do I want to move in with you? Why don't you answer my question first before I answer yours." Marissa smiled a little. Ryan's eyes narrowed. What was she after?

"Okay…" Ryan crossed his arms, almost like a quick defence against the question.

"Will I be staying in the poolhouse with you or in the guest room?" Marissa laughed as Ryan's eyes widened in surprise and he reached out and pulled her into a huge hug.

"Really? You will?" Ryan's voice couldn't contain his excitement.

"Of course I will. I want to live with you so much, think of how much… dessert we can have." She smiled and pulled out of the hug. She slowly leaned in, closed her eyes and met Ryan's lips with her own. The sweet, passionate kiss started to turn more heated. They started to tug at each other's clothing. Ryan picked Marissa up and started towards the poolhouse. She tried to unzip herself but since the dress was in the back it was too difficult. As she manoeuvred herself, trying to free herself, she knocked Ryan off-balance and teetering, they both fell into the pool. The last thing Ryan heard was Marissa's shriek before they hit the water. He came up gasping for breath and so did she. They both burst out laughing and started splashing one another. Both seemed to remember their very first date in the same place not so many years before.

"I love you." Ryan pulled her closely and kissed her on the tip of the nose. "I really do. I want this, with you. I mean, I didn't want it with Theresa but with you, I want this."

Marissa's face fell. She had forgotten Ryan had spent that time with Theresa. "Oh yeah. This isn't your first time, living with someone." She felt sad for some reason.

Ryan picked up on it right away. He lifted her chin and kissed her softly. "No. But it's the first time I've ever lived with someone I loved like this. Like I said, I want this. I want you. So badly. Especially wet. Preferably so. And since you are fitting my requirements right now, why don't we head for the poolhouse?"

"Smooth talking. But I am starting to get cold. Think you can warm me up?" Her eyes were practically glowing.

"Oh, I know I can." Ryan smiled with a hint of something wicked in his eyes.

Marissa shoved him back and as he fell she raced out of the pool. "See you in there, hotshot."

Ryan quickly chased her into the poolhouse. Everything was perfect. He knew something would be coming around the bend to ruin it but he didn't care. He had that night and many more, filled with dessert. He entered the door and closed it behind him, locking it.

"Marissa?" He walked inside but she wasn't there. He called out again. "Are you in the bathroom? Where did you go?" Ryan circled the poolhouse. He expected her to fly out kamikaze-style with a pillow and challenge him. He didn't know where she was. He turned back to the door, his back to the bathroom when he heard the door click open. He whirled around. Marissa stood in the most sexy lingerie he had ever seen. His mouth dried up.

"Oh, whoa." Was all he could manage to say. Thank God she was his. That was all he could think at that time.

"You like?" She slowly, sexily made her way towards him. She knew by the look in his eyes and the bulge in his pants, that he surely did. "It was funny. I had this feeling tonight would be special. I wasn't sure how I knew but I knew. And I knew that a whole other set of… undergarments would be necessary. I'm glad, aren't you?"

Ryan's body was starting to come back to it's senses. "Oh… oh yeah. You are so hot. I just want to…"

"Yes, well, we'll get to that in a moment won't we. Kiss me. Now." And he complied. As their lips touched, something carnal emerged from them both, igniting them in some hot sex fire. "Oh god." Marissa couldn't say anything else. "Take me. Now." She ripped off his shirt, exposing skin. Ryan's sweaty palms couldn't get the tiny bra clasp and out of frustration Marissa and he both tugged on it. The bra ripped apart exposing her sweat slicked flesh. Ryan's eyes gazed down. She was his, all of her. He made love to her with only that one thought left in his head.

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"I can't move." Marissa lay half off the bed, half on and she was feeling wonderful. "We have never… I have never… wow." Ryan smiled back at her as she fumbled for words.

"What you said." Ryan still didn't have his breath back.

"Mmmm, this is like a dream. A sexy, hot, romantic, sweet guy asking you to move in and then we have mind-blowing, eye-popping sex. I don't want to wake up if it is." She smiled. "It's perfect."

Ryan was about to reply when the ringing of a cell phone erupted from Marissa's purse.

"Leave it. Nothing could be more important." Ryan threw an arm around her.

"Well, it could be my… Oh. My. God. Why didn't either of us see this coming? The biggest problem of our lives! Eleven letters put together to instil fear in the hearts of all. Something along the lines of Julie Cooper. My mom. She is never going to let this happen. How could we even approach it? Hey Mom. Ryan and I need more time to have sex, so I'm going to move in with him, k? Yes, that would go over quite well, don't you think?" She sighed and put her face into her hands.

"Hey, don't worry. We'll think of something, together. Everything IS perfect when we're together. So we just need to stay that way and it'll work out." He brushed the hair out of her face. "We have to tell the Cohen's and Summer. They went out to dinner but they should be coming back soon."

"Oh my god! Summer! Marissa darted out of the bed, looking for her clothes. "I have to tell her everything! I guess, without a bra though." She stared ruefully at the bra. "It was worth it though." Ryan beamed back at her.

"Hurry up! I don't want the Cohen's coming back and finding us both naked, that can't be the best start to living together, can it? Hurry, oh my God, I'm so excited. I just, hope we can think of something with my mom." Her face turned to a worried smile.

Ryan cupped the side of her cheek. "It will be." And she believed him.

Just then they heard a car pull into the driveway in the distance.

"They're here! Put something on, quickly!" Marissa darted to the bathroom to fix her hair and makeup. Ryan watched her go, smiling and thinking of the awesome year he was about to have.

A/N- Not over yet, I just thought you deserved a not cliffhangerish chapter ending.

Happy Trails, review and shtuff, if you could.