Chapter 3

Ryan had been trying to find Taylor all day, and now that he had finally found her, he found himself staring across the room just watching her. Her smile that he hadn't seen for so long, was making him smile just like it used to when they were together.

"Just go and ask her to dance" Julie urged from where she now stood next to him. Ryan simply raised his eyebrows before ducking his head.

"Listen Ryan, I know that I'm not your mom and I'm not about to ask you to start calling me mom either, but I am asking you to listen; she misses you. She has done ever since you left for London" Ryan's head rose so he could glance back to where Taylor stood as Julie continued "And I know you still miss her too. I can see it in your eyes. So please, just ask her to dance"

Before Ryan could answer his father, Frank, circled Julie's waist with his arms pulling her back against his chest.

Ryan couldn't doubt the love Frank had for Julie, he could see it in the twinkle that shone from the mans eyes each time he glanced in his new wife's direction. He knew things hadn't been easy for Frank. Hell, it hadn't been easy for Ryan until he met the Cohen's. But now, as he stood watching those that had become so important to him enjoying the happiest day of their lives, he couldn't help but hope that someday he'd get his happy ending too.

"It's time for the first dance" Frank explained as he pressed a soft kiss to Julie's temple "Come on, Mrs Atwood"

Julie pulled a face with wide eyes "Lord, I don't think I'm ever going to get used to that" she chuckled as she allowed her new husband to pull her in the direction of the dance floor.

As they neared the dance floor, Ryan stopped when Frank turned to look at him over his shoulder with a grin on his face "You know Ryan, it is customary for the best man to dance with the maid of honour. And, since Summer's already dancing with Seth…" he trailed off.

"I'll go ask her, but if she goes all Taylor on me I will be blaming you both!" Ryan jested before turning and heading in Taylor's direction.

He couldn't help but falter his steps as he neared her. His palms were sweating and he was sure that everyone could see his heart beating as if it were about to burst out of his chest.

Taylor hadn't even looked in his direction. It was as if she was purposely trying to ignore him. But, he couldn't help the smile that spread across his face as he approached and she looked up and caught his eyes.

"Taylor, would you…." He started only to be interrupted by Taylor. Immediately, he felt his chance about to be crushed until he saw the small smirk lining her mouth.

"Ryan Atwood, are you actually asking me to dance?" Taylor giggled slightly knowing full well that Ryan Atwood was not a dancer, at all!

"Well.." Ryan flustered.

"I'd love to" Taylor interrupted as she held out her hand.

Blowing out the breath he hadn't known he'd been holding, Ryan took her hand and didn't want to let go. After standing for a few minutes just staring at the woman who held his whole heart, he cleared his throat and moved them slowly to the dance floor.

Neither of them could deny that it felt good to finally be in one another's arms again. They couldn't explain it, it just felt so right; so natural.

"How have you been?" they both asked at the same time. Taylor blushed and bowed her head waiting for Ryan to go first.

Whatever she thought he was going to say couldn't have prepared her for the words that rushed from his mouth.

"I've missed you" Taylor was stunned. She hadn't heard from him in nearly 4 years and for a moment she didn't know what to say or where to look. There was so much history between them. Yes, she couldn't deny that they still had chemistry but then she remembered that it was him that had caused the distance between them.

Remembering Jamie, she quickly scanned the room. She couldn't believe she'd taken her eyes off him, regardless of the spell Ryan had her under. If she could just see Jamie's face she'd feel calm and ready to take on anything, but she couldn't see him anywhere.

Panic started to claw at her chest as he head starting moving around the room.

Oblivious to Taylor's change in demeanour, Ryan continued; determined to get everything out that he intended to say "I know I have no right just coming out with it, but its…." Finally noticing that Taylor was no longer looking at him, he frowned "Taylor, are you checking someone out behind me or something, because you seem a bit preoccupied?"

By this point, there feet no longer moved and their bodies no longer swayed to the music. Instead, Ryan felt Taylor pulling away from him and freeing herself from his arms.

"Where is he? He was right there?" Taylor practically shouted as she began turning in a circle before yelling for her son.

"Taylor, who are you talking about? Who's Jamie?" Ryan was starting to panic at the way Taylor was freaking out and looked towards where his father and Julie were now stood on the dancefloor staring over at them.

From the other side, Ryan noticed Summer approaching them "Taylor?" she quizzed with concern for Taylor whilst completely ignoring Ryan at Taylor's side.

"Jamie!" Taylor gasped and it was only then he noticed the tears beginning to spill down her cheeks. "He was right there" Taylor explained as she pointed to where hers and Jamie's belongings sat on a table "and now he's gone! I can't see him anywhere!" Taylor was began calling her son's name again as more people moved to their side.

"Everything okay?" Frank asked with concern as him and Julie approached.

"Jamie's missing" Summer offered.

"Who's Jamie?" Ryan questioned as he looked around at his family, surprised as they all went on alert and rallied around Taylor.

"Taylor, don't worry. He's around here somewhere." Kirsten offered had her hand on Taylor's shoulder trying to give her some comfort.

"Hey, why don't we all split up?" Sandy suggested as he too joined the group now forming "he can't have gone far. Seth, Summer, why don't you two check out front. I'll check the hotel lobby. Kirsten can watch Parker in case he comes back this way" Turning to the happy couple, he continued to direct "Frank, Julie, why don't you mingle and see if any of your guests have seen him". On that last note, everyone started to move off before Sandy turned to Taylor over his shoulder "Don't' worry, Taylor. We'll find him"

Ryan couldn't wrap his head around how everyone was acting. Who was this Jamie and why was everyone in his family so concerned about him?

A chorus of "Jamie's" being called swept around the room as Taylor started to pace. Ryan didn't know who Jamie was, but he could tell he was important to Taylor with the way she held herself and how her body shook.

Carefully taking her hand in his own, Ryan offered "Why don't we check out the back and round the pool?"

Not wanting to stand around whilst her son was missing, Taylor nodded and allowed Ryan to pull her from the room. Sickness and nerves clawed at her throat at the thought that her precious three year old son was missing. God, she had protected him from Scott for two years, but had lost him at a damn wedding! She couldn't help but feel that she was failing him now when he needed her most.

"Taylor, there's nothing and no one out here. Maybe we should check inside again?" Ryan tried as he turned to walk them back inside only to spot something in the pool that seemed out of place.

Dropping Taylor's hand, he walked around the rose hedges to inspect. Nothing could have prepared him for the sight he found as he rounded the last hedge. A child's body floated on the top of the crystal blue water. Everything happened so quickly, one moment he was stood on the side of the pool and the next he was in the cool water. Instinct took over as he grabbed hold of the child with both hands before attempting to bring them both back to the side of the pool. Everything seemed so heavy and Ryan realised he hadn't even stopped to take off his jacket or shoes. The first 101 lesson in life guarding. He could feel his limbs tiring as he tried to lift the small child on the ledge until another set of hands reached in to help.

It was only when Ryan looked at who the arms belonged to that he realised it was Frank pulling the child's body from him and out of the water. Clearly forgotten as the group swarmed where Frank was laying the child on the ground, Ryan climbed out on shaky arms before pushing his way through. He didn't know why, but he felt a connection to this child, who he could now plainly see was a little boy. Who was at his guess, no more than three or four years old.

He vaguely heard crying and people yelling for someone to call 911. But seeing that no one moved, he crouched down and took over from his father. Tilting the boys head back, he began mouth to mouth. When about a minute went by, Taylor became inconsolable, her baby was dead!

Ryan could taste the saltiness from his own tears each time he breathed into the small child. Unsure how long he had been at this for, he hesitated before determination took over "He had to do this! He had to save this child! He just had to!

As if the child had heard his thoughts, Jamie began to cough and splutter under his very hands. Ryan stilled before reaching under the boys small frame to pick him up, the boy feeling lighter than he anticipated almost making him fall back into the pool off balance.

Everybody moved forward as the child began to whimper for his mother. Ryan didn't notice that Seth had took off his jacket until his hand bumped Ryan's shoulder to hand it to him. Giving a grateful smile, Ryan took it and placed it around the boys shoulders, giving him a slight rub to ward of the chill that he now felt in the air.

Taylor fell to her knees in a crumbling mess beside next to where Ryan now sat almost cuddling the small boy like he was human shield. Sensing his mother, Jamie moved his head from against Ryan's chest to look for Taylor.

"Mommy" The boy cried as he lifted his arms in Taylor's direction. Without hesitation, Taylor gripped Jamie and pulled him from Ryan's now slack arms before rising with her son.

Shell-shocked, Ryan slowly climbed to his question the boys words of "Mommy?" under his breath before realisation took over. Turning sharply he looked dumbstruck in Taylor's direction "You mean this is your…" Ryan paused before daring to ask "This is your son?"

Feeling the emotions of the day and nights events pulsing through her, Taylor didn't think before she spoke; she simply answered his question. "No, Ryan. This is our son"

Ryan's face drained of all colour at Taylor's words, his mouth open but no breath moving in his lungs. Seeing Ryan frozen, Taylor frowned "What is wrong with you? Why are you looking at me like that?" She asked as she looked down at her son and moved his wet hair from his forehead.

How could she ask him such a stupid question? He knew she obviously hadn't meant to reveal this tonight, or possibly any other night. He could tell from the look that swam across her face as she looked at him with an apologetic face.

Glancing down at his son in her arms, he felt his rage boiling "Looking at you like what Taylor? Like the liar you are?" Taylor gasped in hurt at his words and the anger she saw on his face. "I've never lied to you Ryan" she tried, but Ryan simply shook his head. She could see his hands tensing into fists at his sides and despite knowing Ryan would never hurt her, her relationship with Scott had made her scared and wary.

Ryan's anger was building, how could she have kept this from him, his own son? Then a niggling doubt stepped in and he wondered if the boy was even his. Before he could stop the words, they flew from his mouth "How do I even know if your telling the truth? He could be anyone's for all I know"

A chorus of shocked gasps sounded from somewhere behind him and he glanced over his shoulder to see his whole family watching them. Some displayed disbelief, others anger and a few frustration. Unsure what their outlook on this was, he slowly turned back to where Taylor and Jamie stood. Before he had turned to full face them, a stinging erupted over one side of his face and he saw the angry expression on Taylor's to know that she'd slapped him.

"How dare you say that!" She yelled "You were the one that left. You were the one that ran off and started a new life. You were the one that stopped taking my calls and you are the one that returned all my letters to you about Jamie"

"I take it you all knew this too? What lie's has she told you all, huh?" he shouted towards where his family stood.

Frank stepped forward to where Taylor stood clutching Jamie to her chest "Now come on Ry. This isn't fair to anyone, least of all Taylor and Jamie. Let's all go back inside and calm down, then we can talk this through"

"Calm down! Calm down?" Ryan seethed as he threw his arms in the air in frustration. "She kept my son from me!" he spat in Taylor's direction. Unable to hold back his anger, he stomped towards Taylor with his fists still balled up at his sides "Why Taylor?" he asked trying his hardest to reign in his anger. When she stayed mute, he suddenly lifted his hands in the air exasperated for some kind of answer, any kind of answer instead of her silence. He didn't know what he was expecting, but he sure didn't think Taylor would flinch in response to his actions. He noted the way she covered Jamie with the right side of her body and covered her head with her free hand, waiting for the punch that never came and everything in him stilled at her actions.

Ryan could feel the shock beginning to shift over his face at the way she flinched. He'd never hurt her no matter how angry he was. It was only when he looked over at the rest of his family that he could see the shock on everyone else's faces too. The only two that didn't have a look of shock were Sandy and Summer. On Sandy's he saw recognition. Sandy had seen this type of response so many times in court when he'd taken on clients of domestic violence. And on Summer's, was realisation. She knew that Scott was possessive and she had a feeling that Taylor was hiding something, and now she knew what; everybody did.

Taylor slowly lowered her arm and opened her eyes only to look at Ryan, who looked at her with confusion. When she glanced around to her family and her friends, she knew they knew her secret. She was afraid that they now knew that Taylor Townsend wasn't as strong as they had once thought.

Her heart beating wildly in her chest and bile rising in her throat, she turned on her heel as she rushed out a quick "I have to go" before pushing past everyone to head to the closest exit.

For several moments, no one moved or knew what to say, so they simply stood in silence registering what they had just witnessed.

Taylor ran the whole way home with Jamie in her arms, despite the aching in her feet and the weight she felt in her heart. Seeing the door in sight, she rushed forward opening the door as quickly as possible and slamming it without a second thought.

Taking Jamie straight to his room, she changed him out of his now damp clothes and into some warm pjs, before laying him in bed where he promptly turned and snuggled into his teddy unaware of the turn the day had taken.

Swiping her fingers gently down his soft cheek, she wiped a tear from the corner of her eye before heading to the door. The house was in darkness, so Taylor crept along to the kitchen. She needed something to help settle her nerves. But when she entered the room, Scott popped up from where he'd laid on the sofa making her jump.

"You need to clean that up" he nodded towards the front door. Taylor squinted in the direction he gestured but couldn't see anything.

Knowing Taylor couldn't see the small speck of water that he could, Scott rose from the sofa and approached her "You've got water all over my fucking floor" he barked at her.

Sighing, Taylor shook her head gently. Her day was quickly going from bad to worse "I'll sort it out. Just let me grab a coffee or something first." Why hadn't she just stayed in Jamie's room?

"No, you'll do it now" Scott spat, his patience running thin.

Sighing, Taylor rolled her eyes "Fine, I'll do it now. Just let me grab a cloth, jeez" Taylor hadn't spoken to Scott like this in a long time and put it down to her state of mind, what with Ryan returning and Jamie almost drowning.

She was so wrapped up in her thoughts of Ryan, that she didn't see Scott moving closer to her "Are you giving me attitude? Because I think you are"

Realising how quickly this could change, Taylor tried to back peddle "No" she started "I'm sorry. I'm really not giving you attitude, just let me grab a cloth. I'm sorry" This was usually the way Scott often started, accusing her of giving him attitude, or seeing someone else, but no matter how he started it, she always knew how he finished it.

Without warning, Scott stamped down on her legs, causing Taylor to crumble to the floor in a heap.

Finally having Taylor on the ground, where Scott believed she belonged, he smirked in her direction "Now you'll clean it up" he sounded almost smug.

Taylor could hardly move after she'd finished the floor, her legs were already bruising and swelling, but she managed to limp down the hall to Jamie's room where she took refuge for the rest of the night. It was times like these, that she was glad they didn't have stairs.

It had been just over three hours since Taylor had left his dad and Julie's wedding. Everyone had left shortly after Taylor had departed and the cleaners were starting to clear up. For what felt like eternity, Ryan had sat alone next to the pool after Taylor had left. Each one of his family members tried to talk to him, but he was too angry to listen. Giving up and knowing he needed time to think, they'd left him to his thoughts; but for the past hour he'd been trying to find his dad, but with no luck.

He was sat down on the steps outside the hotel gardens when Frank finally found him.

"I've been looking for you everywhere" Frank rushed, clearly out of breath as he took a seat next to his son.

Ryan smiled grimly at his father, "I've been looking for you for the last hour"

Frank chucked something in Ryan's lap " I went home to get those" Frank offered as he pointed at the letters that Ryan was fingering.

"I don't…" Ryan began as he held them up, but Frank raised a hand to interrupt him, "Taylor was telling the truth, Ryan. She didn't lie to you." Ryan looked at him sarcastically so Frank continued "For over a year she wrote you a letter every week, she told you about Jamie, what he was like, how he was growing and how much she wanted you to be a part of his life, but they all kept coming back" Frank tapped the corner where the words "Return to sender" were written.

Ryan was shocked. He'd never seen these letters before in his life. Had Taylor been telling the truth? Flipping the letter over, he double checked the address and sure enough it was addressed to his London apartment.

Dropping it back in to his lap, he shook his head. There were so many things swirling through his mind at that time and he no longer knew what to think. He needed someone to blame and unfortunately, that person just happened to be Taylor.

"Why didn't she call me when she first found out?" he questioned, more to himself than Frank.

Frank looked down at the floor before his gaze rested back on his son, "She did. But, after that woman answered your phone and told her you was in the shower, she just assumed…" Frank shook his head and tutted, "I mean, we all assumed you had someone else"

Realisation dawned for Ryan and Frank noticed something registering on his sons face "What, what is it?" Frank questioned in concern.

Ryan lifted his hand to his chin in thought as to whether Libby could actually do something so cruel before he nodded to himself, "My assistant, Libby. She had a key to my apartment when I first moved in so she could leave files there for me to sign, or to pick up blue prints when I'm was in meetings. She screens my calls and intercepts my mail." Ryan stood swiftly, and grabbed his head in his hands, "God, I am so stupid! I knew she wanted to be with me, but I never thought she'd do this to me!"

Ryan's anger towards Taylor was evaporating with every word he spoke and every word he heard from Frank. But, no it was directed towards Libby. Without thinking twice, he pulled out his cell and dialled a familiar number.

"Hello Ryan. God, I've been waiting for you to call, how are you? I miss you" even her voice was going right through him. And, why did he not notice before that she spoke to him as if they were a couple?

"I'm good!" he snapped before smiling, "Actually, I'm better than good, I got to meet my son today….." he left the words hanging and the silence from the other end of the phone said it all "Clear out your desk Libby, you're fired!" Ryan closed his phone just as her sputtering and pleading began to filter through the receiver. Turning to his father, he couldn't help the smile that widened across his face.

Frank stood and handed Ryan back the letters that he'd discarded on the steps. "You good?" he asked and received a quick nod in response. Frank nodded back "Well then, on that note, I'm going to find my wife. After all it is our wedding night"

Ryan choked a chuckle before offering a sober "I'm sorry"

Frank put his hand on Ryan's shoulder in a comforting gesture and shook his head "Ryan, you're my son, and there's nothing a parent wouldn't do for their kids"

Tapping Ryan a couple of times, Frank turned to head back the way he'd come before glancing over his shoulder to where Ryan stood, "So, what are you going to do now you know the truth?"

Ryan looked down at the letters in his hand "First, I'm going to read these and find out everything I can about my son. And then, I'm going to get my family back"

Frank could hear the determination in his son's voice and smiled before leaving Ryan staring at his starting point in his new life.