“I think we should have yellow lilies at the wedding” Ryan announced a little loudly. Kaitlin gave an exasperated look to the waiter who collected their empties and he walked away smirking to himself.

She groaned and put her head on the table. “I’m so embarrassed! You two are like a couple of middle aged women!” It was true. Ryan and Seth had grown surprisingly feminine in the last hour or so and the conversation had moved from how Ryan was going to propose, to wedding preparations. And they’d discussed them in great detail. “She hasn’t even said yes yet” she said, mostly to herself. She knew the guys weren’t listening. She also knew Taylor, and knew she’d probably say yes, but that wasn’t the point.

“You could have it at night” Seth said, with an enthusiasm he usually reserved for sex and comic books. “With fairy lights everywhere.”

Kaitlin stared at him wide eyed. She couldn’t believe what she was hearing. Pretty soon Ryan would bring up honeymoon options, or possible decorating choices for their first home together. They were two beers away from pondering retirement plans. Although she had to admit it was kinda cute.

“It’s gonna be awesome man” Seth said, for about the twelfth time. “Your dinner tomorrow is going to be perfect.” He gestured rather wildly and knocked his beer bottle over. Kaitlin’s quick reflexes stopped it in time before it smashed all over the wooden floor.

“Right, that’s it, home” She said, trying to wipe beer off her sleeve. “Come outside and sober up.”

Once outside, it took all Kaitlin’s strength to keep Ryan and Seth from toppling off the peer as they walked in the direction of the cab office. They each had an arm around her one of her shoulders.

“It’s midnight” Seth said, “Happy birthday!”

She grinned despite herself “Thanks Cohen.”

“24 today” Ryan said, giving her a peck on the cheek. Leaning in proved to be a bad mistake, and he temporarily lost his balance, stumbling into her.

“Okay, lets sit down.” She directed them over to a bench.

“Oh no” Ryan said after a minute. “I think I left the ring on the table.”

Kaitlin rolled her eyes. “Stay here. I’ll go find it.”

Kaitlin ran into the bar just as the waiter was locking up and leant forward, trying to catch her breath. He saw her and grinned, producing something from his pocket. “Lost something?”

Kaitlin looked up and breathed out a huge sigh of relief. “Yes! Thankyou so much.” She too the box, opened it to make sure the ring was still inside, and placed it safely in her purse. “Where did you find it?”

“In the pot plant by your table.” He shook his head in amusement. Kaitlin too saw the funny side. “Your boyfriend better be more careful in future.”

“He’s not my boyfriend.”

“Fiance?!” the waiter ventured, testing the waters.

“Just friends” Kaitlin said. She smiled at the guy, growing flirtatious. “I left them sitting outside on a bench.”

The waiter put his cleaning cloth down on the bar. “They’re probably in the water by now.”

Kaitlin groaned. “God, I hope not…”

“I’m Adam” he offered, extending a hand.

“Kaitlin” she replied, shaking it, before leaning on a bar stool. “It’s nice to meet you. And thank you. You know, for the ring.”

He nodded graciously. “No problem.”

Kaitlin stood up to leave before a thought entered her mind. “Hey, are you working tomorrow night?”

Adam was slightly taken back but seemed unfazed. “Actually, I’m not.”

“I’m having a party” Kaitlin said, “you should come.”

He smiled. “What’s that in aid of?”

Kaitlin paused. “My birthday actually.” She blushed.

“Well, happy birthday.”

“Tonight went really well I’d say” Sandy said, unlocking the Cooper’s front door.

“Better than ok. At this rate we’ll have enough funding to open another office.” Kirsten smiled when Sandy stepped aside to let her step into the hall. She put her bag down on the table and took off her heels, feeling the cool marble floor on her bare feet. She turned around and planted a kiss on Sandy’s lips.

“What was that for?” He asked with a grin.

“You complaining?” Kirsten asked, mirroring his expression.

“Not at all.” He placed both hands around his wife’s slender waist and reciprocated the kiss. The pulled apart and made their way to the living room. Their plan to relax in front of the TV for a bit was, however, stopped dead when they saw Frank, Julie and Joseph asleep in a heap of cushions.

Sandy looked at Kirsten and said what they were both thinking. “Straight to bed?”

She smiled and nodded. “I can’t believe how late it got” she said, trying to stifle a yawn. “I hope Sophie didn’t give the girls too much trouble.”

“Of course she didn’t. She’s an angel.” Sandy rolled his eyes and Kirsten smirked.

“We’ll see what they say tomorrow.”

The three of them paid the cab driver and walked up towards the apartment complex. The walk and the fresh air had sobered the guys up a lot but it still took 3 attempts to get the key in the lock once they’d made their way up the stairwell to the apartment door. When he pushed the door open, Summer and Taylor both turned away from ‘The Notebook’ and stood up.

Seeing Kaitlin walk through the door behind them, they both ignored their men and hugged her. “Happy birthday!” She hugged them back.

There was a loud cough. Summer rolled her eyes and released Kaitlin, turning to Seth. “Hi” She wrapped her arms around his neck. She was 90 pleased to see him, maybe 10 trying to stay upright. “You behaved yourself I hope.”

Seth nodded. “Of course I did. Did Soph?”

“Good as gold.”

All this time, Taylor was looking at the floor nervously. Now that her secret was out she couldn’t keep it from Ryan any longer. He walked up to her, not really noticing her unease and embraced her in a hug. “Did you have a good night?” He asked into her hair.

“Yeah” she said, but didn’t sound too convincing.

Summer watched them. “Cohen, I think we should go to bed.”

Seth nodded. “Good idea” and the two of them vanished into their bedroom.

“I should go a well” Kaitlin said, suddenly feeling a little awkward. “Bye.” She flashed a look at Ryan as if to say ‘good luck’ and pulled the door closed gently.

Alone in this dimly lit room with the woman he loved, Dinner tomorrow felt like a lifetime away. He felt into his jacket pocket for the box that Kaitlin had insisted on keeping hold of until they left the cab. He looked into Taylor’s eyes and noticed that she looked a little worried. ‘Damn’ he thought, in an uncharacteristic moment of paranoia. ‘She knows what’s coming and she’ll say no’. But his doubts were soon cast aside when Taylor spoke.

“There’s something I need to tell you.”

Now Ryan just had new doubts. “Is it good or bad?”

Taylor sighed. “Depends on how you look at it.”

“Hold that thought” Ryan said, taking both her hands and holding them at waist height. He paused and rubbed little circles on her dainty little hands.

“Let me go first” Taylor cut in, wanting to tell him her news before she chickened out.

Ryan knew there was no point arguing. “Alright.”

Taylor took a deep breath. “I’m pregnant.”

“Marry me.”

There was hardly a pause between them both speaking. The room was silent for a moment before huge grins spread across both their faces and they fell into a hug.

Summer sat down on the bed and watched their closed door. “I wonder how they’re getting on out there” she said, removing her sweater.

Seth gave her a look. “Why, do you know something?”

“Do you?”

Seth nodded. “Ryan’s proposing” he said, figuring it wouldn’t be a secret for much longer.

A smile spread across Summer’s face and she tried not to squeal with excitement. “What’s the ring like?”

“Expensive. Will she say yes?”

“What do you think?”

Seth thought for a moment and decided it was a silly question. “Wait, if you didn’t know that why are you wondering ‘how they’re getting on’?”

Summer too decided that since half of Newport would soon know anyway, she’d share as well. “Taylor’s pregnant. How do you think Ryan would react to that?”

Seth sat down on the bed next to his wife. “Are you kidding? He’s spent half the night at the bar planning their lives together.”

Summer sighed a satisfied sigh and placed a hand on Seth’s upper leg. Her touch made him go all light headed, and he was sure it was just the alcohol. “So, er, did you plan our lives together when you proposed?”

“Not in as much detail as Ryan did tonight.”

Summer looked thoughtful. “Hmm. And he’s usually a man of so few words.” She paused, her mind jumping back on track when she looked into Seth’s eyes and began running her fingers through his hair. “But you did think about it?”

Seth turned and rubbed her shoulders tenderly, leaning into her neck. “Of course I did.”

“What did you see?”

“You, looking as stunning as ever in our beautiful San Fran mansion.”

Summer smiled, but another thought played in the back of her mind. “What about kids?”

Seth pulled away a little, remembering the comments each of them had made in the kitchen that afternoon. “Kids?” He looked thoughtful.

“Yeah.” Summer shied away from the question, wondering if she’d taken the conversation too far. Her fears were laid to rest however, when Seth once again took hold of her, kissing the side of her neck.

“I love you Summer Cohen. Let’s make a baby.” He kissed her lips, deeply and passionately. Summer melted into his arms, savouring his arms around her and enjoying every second of it. After a moment, Seth spoke. “Are there still cookies left?”

“And Ice cream.”

Seth cupped her face in his hands, pushing her onto her back on top of the soft bed sheets. “That’s even better.” He smirked, thinking more dirty thoughts. If Summer hadn’t been so lost in his touch, she would have made some witty retort or hit him playfully, but as it was the warmth of his skin, and the fact her was running his hands up her body was rendering her unable to think.

His mouth found hers again and “Mmmm” was all Summer could manage in reply.