Side note: If anyone has a particular request for a pairing or just something they'd like to see happen in the story, I'm all ears. Also, I confess to having a bit of a problem with this chapter. Maybe the reviews were getting to my head.

I was also kinda worried that maybe since Keats was my own creation and not a main character on the show, that bringing her family and friends into play was too much. But Keats' life is pretty interesting, so I hope no one will be disappointed.

Dear Jelly,

I've cleared it with the R.A. in the dorms and my parents. I get to come stay with you for five days during Spring Break after all! I can't wait to have sleepovers and stuff. Plus, you HAVE to tell me about this Ryan guy. Are you an item or what? Anywho, I'm looking forward to meeting that hot Cuban co-worker of yours…swoon

Yours until Cats Kill Mountains,

Peanut Butter

Keats smiled at down at the letter in her hands. She had missed Patty terribly during the last term and had desperately hoped that she'd be able to visit. Sarasota, though not too far away, had been distant enough that they hadn't been able to see each other since she relocated to Miami.

Ryan glanced curiously at the letter, finding it rather outdated by practically any standards.

"I've never seen anybody actually write a letter before. It's mildly refreshing…" Ryan said with a smile. Keats nodded.

"Not at all surprised. Letter writing is a dying art form. Kind of like playing the glockenspiel." She said, taking a piece of paper from her desk. She set about to reply to Patty at once.

"You're really weird, Keats. Just letting you know…" He said.

Ryan was hanging out at Keats' apartment, which was fast becoming a habit. But this mysterious letter from Keats' best friend had caused him to wonder about her family. Keats had never once mentioned anything about her family.

"Am I going to meet your parents at some point in time? Do you have any siblings? A crazy uncle even?" Ryan laid his hand over the blank piece of paper in front of her. Keats looked at him, the words forming themselves in her head, but somehow getting lost in translation.

"You really don't want to know, Ryan. I don't even want to know sometimes, and I love them more than anyone." She kept her eyes averted from him, not wanting to explain why she didn't want them to meet.

"That bad, huh? My family gets pretty overbearing, but that's family. It comes with the territory. Now if there's something you want to talk about, I'll listen. Don't feel like you have to hide something from me." Ryan pulled her chin up, his eyes boring into her own with fervor. Ryan really meant what he said…when did he get to be so sweet?

"My parents are divorced…blah, blah, that whole deal. Quite frankly, they embarrass me. Especially when they're together. It's like seating a vegan next to a butcher at a dinner party. My siblings are okay, though. Three brothers, one sister, one step-sister, one step-brother, two half-sisters, and a half-brother. You asked for it, pal." Keats said. Ryan gave her hair an affectionate tug, letting the silken tips caress his fingers.

"You know something, Keats? I just realized we've never really gone out on an official date. We went out to eat once, but at the time I was convinced you hated me. So how about we forget about family and friends for now and just think about each other." He lifted her to her feet and took her hand warmly, squeezing with soft gentleness.

She watched the waves roll back and forth with eternal rhythm. The ethereal beauty of the ocean in twilight took her breath away and Keats seemed a bit surprised that Ryan brought her to the beach.

"I didn't take you for a beach bunny, or a big kahuna…" Keats said, laughing softly. Ryan rolled his eyes playfully. Keats stared at him for awhile, half-guessing that he wouldn't sit down unless he had a towel. Unfortunately they had gone on a spontaneous whim, bringing no bathing suits, beach bags, or towels.

"Oh, you are so predictable. Here, I have a hankie." Keats whipped out a floral handkerchief and set it out daintily on a dry spot of sand. She made a big show of it, brushing off the hankie before Ryan sat down. But instead of sitting down, he tackled her where she stood. She fell back onto the sand, Ryan's body crushing down on hers.

"Who needs a hankie when I can just lay on you?" He replied with a wry grin.