Sleepover!

Ridge sighed and stated in a firm voice.

"I think a little distance is the best for us right now!"

"Whatever you say, that's up to you!"

Ridge's gaze fell on the open box on the coffee table.

"What do we have here!"

Curious, he glanced inside. He recognized the items immediately. Astonished, he looked over at Taylor.

"What were you doing with all this old stuff?"

"Um...I was just looking for an old address book!" fibbed Taylor quickly.

"Oh, I see!" Unabashed, Ridge was now rummaging in the box.

"You really did save everything!" he noted in surprise.

"You know me, I just can't throw mementos like that away."

He took out the parasol and looked at her with amusement. Just as he did back then, he tucked the parasol into her hair and glanced at her.

"Still looks great on you!"

Taylor laughed and giggled. She felt the exact same thrilling tingle as she had the first time.

Ridge pulled out a stack of old pictures.

"Oh my God, what did we look like back then! My hair looks awful!"

"Oh, I think it suited you pretty well!"

Slightly sentimental, Ridge viewed one picture after another. One he held under Taylor's nose.

"Here, can you remember this? That was our first anniversary!"

"As if I could ever forget!"

"I designed the dress especially for you. I'll never forget how adorable you looked into it!"

"Well, the dress was amazing. Never before in my entire life has I owned such a beautiful dress. I remember when you surprised me with it. I think I was so shocked that I fainted."

"Well, at least you were speechless for a short time. Which wasn't quite often the case."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Nothing...I just mean...usually you weren't at a loss for words. You always knew how to hold your own pretty well."

"Well, I had to stand up to you somehow!"

They winked at each other.

Ridge looked at the other pictures, squinting over at Taylor every now and then. Compared to the old photos, he became aware once more, she had changed a lot. In the pictures, she had a happy, fresh, usually slightly perky expression on her face. Her eyes radiated a special sparkle. This sparkle had disappeared completely. Now her eyes seemed rather empty and tired. Taylor nudged him.

"Hey, why are you staring at me?"

Hastily, Ridge talked himself out of it.

"I just noticed how beautiful you still are! You've barely changed!"

Taylor laughed out.

"And you're still the same old flatterer!"

"No, honestly! Your husband is to be envied. When is he coming back, anyway?"

"Not so soon. He just told me today that he's about to close a hugely important deal. So he'll probably be out of town for a few more days."

"I don't understand him. I mean...if I were married to you, I wouldn't leave you alone for weeks!"

The two glanced deeply into each other's eyes all at once. Their faces were very close together. They both felt a warm, exciting feeling spreading through them. Their breathing quickened. Taylor broke free of her torpor. Hastily, she stammered.

"I think I'll take care of the dishes now!"

She gathered their plates and dishes and fled with them into the kitchen. Her heart was pounding wildly and her pulse was racing.

"Get a grip on yourself, Taylor! He's taken, he has a fiancée and you are married!" she admonished herself.

She rushed to do the dishes, meanwhile struggling to get her emotional chaos back under control. When she got back to the living room, she stopped in bewilderment. Ridge was lying on the couch and had obviously fallen asleep. Carefully, she stepped up to him and gently nudged him. But Ridge showed no reaction. She prodded him a little harder, but Ridge appeared to be sound asleep. Taylor considered. She couldn't bring herself to wake him rudely now. After all the troubles that day, sleep was certainly the best thing. Besides, Ridge had made it very clear to her that he wasn't thinking about going home tonight. Who knows where else he would end up if she kicked him out the door now. After all, he might as well could sleep on her couch. She grabbed the blanket from the chair and carefully covered him with it. She knelt down to him and breathed a small, gentle peck on his lips. Then she slipped out of the room and went to her bedroom.

As she was getting ready for bed, the little umbrella fell out of her hair. She picked it up, her thoughts once again drifting back to the past. That night, she dreamed of Ridge and her walking along the ocean. The dream was so real that she could hear the sound of the sea and feel the wind. She felt Ridge stroking her face and giving her that charming look. His lips came dangerously close to hers.

The next morning, Ridge awoke abundantly confused. Disoriented, he blinked around. Suddenly, he pulled up, startled. He had fallen asleep on Taylor's couch. He couldn't explain how that had happened. He just wanted to stretch out for a minute and then he must have dozed off. He stretched and rubbed the rest of his sleep out of his eyes. Only now did he notice, Taylor had obviously tucked him in. A wave of affection swept over him. He felt a lot better than he had the previous evening. Despite the whole tragedy, he had slept surprisingly well and felt wonderfully refreshed. Taylor had also woken up already and was scurrying around the kitchen.

"Hey, good morning!" She smiled sheepishly at him as he entered the kitchen. "Did you sleep well?"

"Yes, thank you! I just hope you weren't uncomfortable with me spending the night on your couch?!"

"No, that's ok! I tried to wake you up, but you were just fast asleep."

"Yeah, I was pretty exhausted and worn out! Thanks again for giving me shelter tonight. I wouldn't have known where else to go otherwise!"

"You're welcome. If you didn't mind sleeping on that old thing?!"

"I actually found it quite comfortable."

"Okay, if you say so! Would you like some coffee?"

She poured him a cup

"Oh yeah, I'd love some thanks!"

Taylor gave him a nervous stare.

"I just hope you don't get into trouble now...I mean because of Brooke. I'm sure she was waiting for you last night!"

"So what if she was? Don't worry about it!" rebuffed Ridge. "I'll talk my way out of it somehow. I'll just claim I spent the night at the office. I think a little white lie is allowed in this case."

"Well, actually, I'm more in favor of the truth most of the time, but in this case, I agree with you. Would you like some breakfast? I could make you an omelet?!"

"That's sweet. I'd awfully like to, but..." Ridge cast a searching glance at his watch. "I'm afraid I've really got to go. Otherwise, Brooke will end up in the office before me and I'll be screwed."

He took her in his arms.

"Thanks again, anyway...for everything...for letting me stay here and especially for listening. I don't know what I would have done without you last night!"

"It's no big deal, that's what friends are for!"

"Yeah and I'm glad to have a friend like you! I hope to pay you back for everything someday!"

"Oh, there's no need for that, Ridge! I'm happy if I could help you! Besides, it was great for me to have some company for once and not sit here alone."

She still accompanied him to the door. Ridge got into his car and waved to her one last time.

As he drove, worry lines formed on his forehead again. He had no idea how to face Brooke or his father. All he knew was that things couldn't go on the way they used to be. He was finally tired of being pushed around.

Ridge made it to his office without much ado. He was relieved to find that neither Brooke nor his parents were there yet. That made the situation easier. He went to take a shower and then changed his clothes. As he did so, his thoughts often drifted back0 to Taylor. He was immensely grateful to her. She was the only one who cared about him and with whom he could talk openly about everything. He wondered how he had ever managed to get through life without her. That's when Ridge remembered something. He went to a closet and rummaged around in it. At the very back, he finally discovered what he was looking for. It was an old shoebox that was pretty dusty.

Back shortly after Taylor and he broke up, he had started working for Forrester Creation. After he had realized that the story with Taylor was finally over, he had packed everything that reminded him of her into this box and put it in the closet. He hadn't touched the box since. He carried it to the desk and cleaned it first. He was about to open it when the door flew open and his mother rushed into his office.

"Ridge, I have a serious word to say to you!"