Author Note: Thanks your kind Reviews and Thanks for my kick ass Beta Lex.
The moon was high in the sky by the time Ryan drove his jeep up the Cohen's drive way. As he walked into the place he called home for all these years, he slowly made his way up the stairs to the guestroom. He had no idea what he would say to her but it was better then walking away like she had done not only tonight but also all those years ago. She had to have a reason for showing up at his apartment, he thought.
He opened the door to the guestroom, taking a look around the room only to realize it was empty. Her suitcase was still unopened and lying on the chair next to the bed. Something caught his eye as he walked over to the bed, a picture he hadn't seen in years.
Ryan picked up the frame, tracing the outline of people in the picture with his hand. Seth had gotten his mom a sterling silver frame with the words Best Chrismukkah Ever printed on the bottom. It was the only holiday he spent with Taylor.
He laughed out loud at the silly picture; Seth had kissed Summer cheek as she punched his arm, Sandy was giving his wife bunny ears, Julie and Kaitlin were both giving the camera the sexiest looks they could, and Ryan had jumped onto Taylor's back, causing her to fall over onto the sofa.
It was the best Chrismukkah ever, he thought before again realizing she wasn't here still.
"Damn it Taylor, where are you?"
He heard the guestroom door open. He looked up to see Summer. She was only wearing an old worn out t-shirt.
Ryan watched her realize it wasn't Taylor in the guestroom but him; she quickly pulled the end of T-shirt down to her knees.
"Ryan, what are you doing here? I thought you were Taylor making all kinds of noise. She left hours ago," the tiny brunette said walking to his side pulling her shirt down again.
"She went to see you, didn't she?"
He nodded, "She was outside the entrance to the apartments. She started stuttering when I asked her if she wanted to come in and talk; then she ran off. I just wanted to make sure she was ok."
Summer laid a hand on his shoulder, "It took three years for her to come back here, Ryan. I know she has a lot to say to you."
He looked at his old friend knowing that even time couldn't heal old wounds as some would like to think.
"Summer, seeing her again, it just made me realize how much I miss her and that I still…"
She stopped him before he could say anything else, "Ry, don't say it to me, tell her."
She stood, walking to the door before turning back.
"So I will see you tomorrow night for dinner, I hit up Trader's Joes with Seth earlier tonight for the wine. I am glad we are going to visit Marissa together."
"Call me when you find her, Sum," he said waving goodnight.
He looked back at the frame on the nightstand; it only made him miss her even more. It had taken him all this time to move on but he hadn't.
He tried dating, but each woman he took out wasn't her.
And to think there was a time when she was afraid I would never get over loving Marissa, he thought, lying down on one side of the bed.
He closed his eye and soon was snoring softy.
Ryan woke up in a daze, he didn't know where he was for a moment; he slowly remembered he was in the Cohen's guestroom waiting for Taylor. He looked to the other side of the bed half expecting her to be next to him but she wasn't there.
He walked out of the guestroom heading for the kitchen; he needed coffee before he left for school.
As he made his way into the kitchen he heard voices.
"Taylor if you get this message, please call us. We're all worried about you just call please," he heard Summer say.
He listened to Summer shut her cell phone and listened to Seth mumble in whispered tone to her.
Ryan waited for the couple of nearly five years to finish talking in low voices before he entered.
He walked into the kitchen to see Seth taking a sip of his coffee and Summer setting her cell phone down next to the coffee maker. Seth still in his sleep pants and white undershirt; while Summer had on a pair of boxer's with a tank top.
"Hey"
"Hey," Seth answered back.
"Coffee?" Summer asked.
"Yes please," Ryan said walking over to the bagels. He cut the bagel in half and smeared the wiped cream cheese on to both half's before looking up at his friends.
Ryan was not in the mood to talk about what happened last night but when he looked at Summer's face he knew something was wrong.
He could tell she was starting to get worried about the whereabouts of her best friend. He knew they were like sisters now and if she was worried; they all should be.
"Have you called Julie, she stayed with her for a while back in the day, or maybe she drove up to UCLA to crash with Kaitlin," Ryan asked.
"I called Julia, she had the maids look in all the rooms for her with no luck," Seth answered quickly.
Summer cut in, "And I called Kaitlin, she is on her way right now for spring break, she said she hadn't heard from Tay since New Years."
Ryan watched Seth put his arms Summer's waist as he tried to comfort her.
"Listen dude, I will be on Taylor watch for the rest of day," Seth lying a kiss on Summer's exposed neck as she whispered, "thank you."
Ryan took one last bite of his bagel before checking the clock on the kitchen wall. It was getting late, he thought looking up at his friends.
"Guys, I have class in an hour and half, so I have to go take a shower and get going," he said walking to the back door.
Summer followed him to the door, "I will call you if I hear from her and I will see you tonight.
He walked into the backyard on his way to the pool house. The windows of the pool house were moist on the outside from the early morning fog.
That's weird, he thought walking closer to the pool house door, 'the blinds were down.
He opened the door to the house, suddenly every thing made sense.
Sleeping on his bed was Taylor; she was on his side of the bed with her arms around his favorite pillow. Her face still puffy from crying made him cringe inside.
As he walked closer to her, he noticed something he had never seen before. She had a tattoo on the inside of her left wrist, but he couldn't make out what it was. So he walked to her side, slowly sitting down on the bed next to her. He softy picked up her arm making sure not to wake her and he took a closer look.
Her tattoo was a tiny red heart with the word Taken written in small block letters.
He let go of her arm just as slowly as he had picked it up. He walked out of the pool house straight to his Jeep and left.