A/N: This story popped up in my head tonight, while trying to get some sleep. It just wouldn't go away, so I had to write it down. It's about the only two characters I really liked in 90210 back when I still watched it. I've read recaps, though, so I tried to use the new characters who seem relevant. Please read and review (constructive criticism is always loved). I hope you enjoy it!

Background: Shattered Hearts is set after Silver's high school graduation. Ryan never went back to teaching after the Kimberly scandal; instead, he moved to New York. Everything else will be explained later.

Silver left the school building that day feeling a little sentimental. Yes, sentimental. All her friends had laughed at her for taking such an unbelievable amount of pictures, but hey, a girl had the right to be slightly sad on her last day of high school, right? Especially considering that for the first time in years everybody were getting along. She and Dixon had fully overcome the awkwardness of their break-up and become friends. Naomi was with Liam, and she and Annie had stopped jumping at each other's throats every chance they got. Navid and Adrianna were actually engaged, although nobody could believe it yet. And miraculously, all the drama in their lives was happily nonexistent.

So it made her sad knowing that the next day she would be moving to New York. For a moment, she wondered if she was making the right decision. Leaving her sister's house and moving to a whole different city was something scary. And to say she had a narrow budget was an understatement.

"This is what you want, Silver. What you've always wanted, even if you didn't know it before." She reminded herself, not really noticing that she was talking out loud.

"Having second thoughts?" A voice behind her said.

She turned around, smiling softly.

"Hi, Dylan. I hadn't realized you were standing there."

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to scare you." He paused. "But you haven't answered my question."

She sighed, knowing that he wouldn't let her off the hook so easily. Sooner or later, she would have to answer. Dylan McKay wasn't one to get distracted.

"Sort of. Part of me wants to run home, hide under the blankets and stay there until the world is a safer place."

"You'd grow old under those blankets."

"I know. That's what's stopping me."

"Erin, are you sure you want to go tomorrow? You can leave by the end of the summer, or not leave at all. Our house is yours too, you know."

She smiled, a veil of tears covering her sapphire blue eyes. It was so unusual for her, so wonderful to hear those things. To know that there were people who truly loved her and wanted to protect her. She leaned towards her brother-in-law and kissed his cheek.

"Of course I do. And it's not just a house, Dylan, it's a home. Trust me, I can tell the difference." She paused briefly and smiled. "But I have to do this for myself. I have to figure out who I am, what I can do without you, Kelly and the guys. If I'm strong enough."

"And you doubt it?" He shook his head. He couldn't believe that a girl who had been through so much crap like Silver could doubt herself. "Look, Erin, I wasn't around when the whole story with your Mom happened, but Kelly filled me in. You went through much more than any kid ever should, and yet you managed to come out on top."

"It's not that I doubt it, but the fact is that there has always been someone there for me. I need to see what am I capable of on my own. And I need to see if there's more to me that the rebellious high school girl I've been."

Dylan had been staring at her eyes the entire time, and he liked what he saw. Courage, passion and strength. Yes, the youngest Taylor sister was ready for this. And he understood and respected her desire to stay away from everything she knew to finally find herself, the real person under all the covers.

"You know something, little sister? I'm proud of you."

Her face went through a wide range of expressions: surprise, confusion, understanding. And finally, happiness.

"Thank you. Listen, I have to go now, I promised the guys I'd meet them at the beach." She started to walk away, but suddenly she turned around. "Dylan, I'm sorry I called you an immature asshole when you proposed to Kelly."

He couldn't help but laugh. He remembered that night perfectly, especially how protective of her older sister she had been. Of course, she couldn't be blamed for it. He had been immature for quite a long time, always walking in and out of Kelly's life. No wonder nobody believed him when he returned for good.

"It's okay. I'm sorry I called you a spoiled brat the day we met."

She glared at him.

"When did you call me that?"

"Oh… " He was deliberately stuttering now. "Never. I would never say something like that about you." His eyes were shining mischievously, a crooked smile dancing on his mouth.

The two of them were still laughing when she walked away.

Ryan took a sip of his coffee without looking away from the computer screen. He had been sitting there all day, and his back was already resenting it. Sometimes he wondered if the money he was making was worth the trouble, but it wasn't about money. It had never been. It was about how happy he was for finally being on the right path. And that was damn worth the pain.

He had thought he would never be happy again. Everything he loved was shattered. Because of the Kimberly thing he lost his job, a job he was passionate about. He lost his inner belief in justice, his faith in people. But the worst part, the part that hurt him the most, was realizing how little confidence his students had in him. All of a sudden, he was the new center of West Beverly attacks. It was like being in high school all over again. And nobody had thought of standing up for him.

That was the last nail in the coffin for Ryan Matthews. When he was offered his job back, he rejected it and moved away to Manhattan, thinking a new beginning was what he needed. He even decided to give his dream of writing a shot.

A shot that was more than successful. He was praised by the critics, his first two books had been best-sellers and his writer's rights provided him with generous down payments.

Granted, he got lonely sometimes. He had his share of one night stands and hook ups, but that wasn't replacement for the friendships he had made back in California. For his family. For a woman he could actually fall in love with. A woman who was original, quirky and funny; who was both romantic and independent. The only one he could think of that fulfilled those requirements wasn't really a woman, she was just a teenage kid. Or at least she had been the last time he saw her. Kelly's sister, Silver.

"No, no, don't go there." He warned himself, shutting his eyes tight. She was one of his favorite students, and what she wrote in her blog had killed him. Of all people in school, Silver was the one whose mistrust was most hurtful.

He sighed and looked out the window, to the view of New York. Everything was in the past. And he had moved forward.