A/N: Sorry I have taken so long to update this. I never intended to leave it this long, things just sort of got in the way! This is a short chapter, I had a bit of trouble with it as I didn't really know what I wanted to do with it. I have a firmer plan for the next ones though, so keep an eye out - they will be quicker than this one, I promise.

Disclaimer: I still don't own the BSC.


Mary Anne

I printed off the booking confirmation for the flight to JFK airport. Taye and I would be landing there on the 20th July, hiring a car and driving to Stamford, where we were staying the night before driving to Stoneybrook on the following day. We had booked a small bed and breakfast in the town over from Stoneybrook for a couple of nights.

I was beside myself with excitement, and wasn't sure if I could wait another three weeks to see my old friends. I had been so glad when I had got the reply from Kristy. I guess in my heart of hearts I knew that she wouldn't ignore it, I had once known her well enough to know that, whilst bossy and overbearing sometimes, she was also one of the kindest people that I knew. But a small part of me had worried that she would still be holding a grudge over what happened between us all those years ago, and so when I saw her reply in my inbox, it was a great relief! I cried (of course I cried), and immediately replied to her, telling her that Taye and I would love to come to the party, and that I would speak to Dawn about it too. Dawn was as excited as I was about the idea of a return to Stoneybrook, although her job meant that she couldn't fly at the same time as us, instead she would be arriving in Stoneybrook on the day before the party.

Unfortunately, although Kristy had extended the invitation to my parents too, they were not going to be able to make it. My dad had suffered a heart attack last year, and was still not in the best of health. He was doing much better now, but flying was really out of the question, and driving across the country wasn't really an option either. It was a shame, as I knew both he and Sharon would have loved to have seen their old friends almost as much as I was eager to see Kristy and the others.

As I was pinning the travel details to the notice board in the kitchen, I heard the front door open. Taye always arrived home from work around about the same time, six-fifteen, and I waited for him to come through to the kitchen.

"Hey, honey," he said, giving me a quick peck on the lips. "Good day?" I worked as a teacher in an elementary school, and as school was out for summer, I had been at home for most of the day.

"A very good day, thank you. I booked the flights to Connecticut, just now in fact. The hotel and bed and breakfast are also booked, so we are all set! I can't wait for you to meet my friends and see where I grew up!"

"I can't wait either. I'm just glad that you and Kristy seem to have buried the hatchet finally." Taye knew all about my relationship with Kristy, and had been gently hinting at me for some time that I should try and make contact with her.

"I know, I am too. And I am going to get to see Stacey and Claudia too, and maybe even Jessie and Mallory. It's going to be fantastic, though a little odd at first I should imagine. I just don't know how I am going to wait another three weeks! Especially as I don't even have work to take my mind off it!"

"I'm sure you'll be fine. You are very industrious; you will find something to do for the next few weeks. As long as you remember not to push yourself too hard." Taye gave me the look that I had seen so many times over the last year and a half.

I rolled my eyes good naturedly. "Taye! Honestly, I am fine. You know that the doctor has given me the all clear, more than once, and that I am as good as new. I promise not to start bungee jumping or white water rafting, but you really don't need to wrap me up in cotton wool!" I berated him gently. I knew that he just did it out of love, and that he trusted me to know my limits.

We sat down to dinner and had a pleasant evening together. My time with Taye was always spent pleasantly. We had met through mutual friends four years earlier, and while it had not actually been love at first sight, it had come very close. We hit it off immediately, and although it's a cliché, I felt as though I had known him forever. The day we got married in Barbados was the best day of my life. I am the first to admit that I went off the rails a little when I was a teenager, but looking back I can see that I was never really happy with any of the different boys that I dated. Logan was different, we were the best of friends, but all good things come to an end, and of course it would never have lasted as I moved to California. I had all of the usual experiences with boys in college – I had a couple of boyfriends, but nothing serious. And then, when I met Taye, everything seemed to fall into place. I knew that we would end up together, and I knew that we would be happy together. Our personalities complemented one another perfectly.

I knew that Taye was right. I would be able to find plenty to do to amuse myself in the coming days. For one thing I had to buy Watson a 70th Birthday present, and pack, and make sure that everything was organised here before we took off. Just another three weeks before I would see all my old friends (and Stoneybrook) again!