It's Fate

A Taylor and Rick one shot I wrote for a challenge I posted here at the site. Check the Bold and the Beautiful forums and enter the challenge yourself. Thanks for reading!

Word count: 996

Light was streaming in through the slats of the blinds as Taylor Hamilton rolled over in bed and stretched her arms above her head as a small, ladylike yawn parted her full lips. She was about to climb out of the warmth of her bed when she realized she was actually bare-naked. That's when she spotted the man beside her, turned on his stomach, one sinewy arm draped over the edge of the mattress. Even with his face buried in the pillow, she would know that naked body anywhere.

Rick.

What the …? How could she have been so irresponsible? She didn't do things like pick up random men at bars. Okay so Rick wasn't a random man but still, this was unconscionable, unthinkable. She was so humiliated by her behavior. How much had she had to drink at Mannequins last night to do this? To get into bed with her ex?

She pulled the covers up to her chin and then thought better of cowering. She would just face this head-on. She had to face her fears or she was destined to make the same mistakes over and over again. That was textbook 101.

She gently nudged his broad, bare shoulder, for a moment savoring the taut skin there. She shook her head and yanked her hand away like he had burnt her. "Rick." She finally called his name. "Rick, wake up. You have to go."

Rick roused after a moment and rolled over in bed, peering up at her. A grin immediately came to his face. "Well, Taylor, this is certainly an unexpected turn of events, huh?"

Had he no shame? Taylor sighed. "You have to go."

"Why?" Rick asked. "You told me yourself last night that you and Thorne were over. I forget why now…" He smirked. "Fortunately I remember everything else."

She blushed bright red. "How drunk was I to do this?" She asked.

"You didn't touch a drop of alcohol," Rick said, his smile dimming a bit as his face took on a look of earnest. "Remember I found you about to drink but I reminded you that you wanted to be sober for your kids. I even said I'd drink down every bit of alcohol in the place so you didn't have to… Don't tell me you forgot all that."

Taylor shook her head. "No, I haven't come to think of it... I am just – Rick, I don't do stuff like this."

"Maybe not with complete strangers but then we're not strangers, are we?" Rick said.

Taylor shook her head. "I am getting out of bed now. I want you to turn and face the wall."

Rick's devilish smirk was back. "Oh come on. I have seen you naked plenty of times. No need to be ashamed now. Besides, I like what I see. Every inch of you is incredibly beautiful and precious to me."

"Rick, don't say things like that!" Taylor chided him as she bunched the covers up to her neck.

"Why not? It's true. Maybe last night was fate's way of saying we're not over."

Taylor's brown eyes flew to meet his blue ones. "Rick, are you serious – I mean don't answer that. I don't believe in fate anyway. We make our own fate to my way of thinking."

"Yeah and we made … fate," Rick said. "At least three times if I remember correctly."

Taylor went to lightly slap his arm but he caught her hand, holding it against his chest. "Taylor –"

"Rick, come on. Stop joking around."

Rick looked pained for a moment there. "Who's joking?"

"We tried to make things work before but we couldn't. Besides, you're young and you just broke up with Amber. There are many other fish in the sea."

"Oh stop with the clichés, Taylor," Rick said. "I know what I want and who I want and that's you." He leaned in and danced his hand across her cheek with his calloused fingers. "Can you deny last night was amazing?"

Taylor shook her head. "No. But in the real world, we don't work. You will always think I am carrying a torch for Ridge and I will always think you deserve better than to be tied to me."

"Taylor, stop. I want you. I still love you. I think I never stopped. Last night was just a reminder that we belong together. Things will never be easy being the people we are but take a leap of faith with me, okay? Be with me again in every way. Not just in my bed – or your bed, as the case may be – but be my partner in life."

"Rick, I don't want to hurt you again…"

"That's part of life, Taylor. We hurt the ones we love sometimes." Rick sighed. "But that's assuming you love me too."

Taylor's eyes wet with tears. "I do, Rick. I still do so much."

"We made fate last night happen for us, Taylor. We can keep making things happen for us. All we need is a second chance. Say you'll give me a second chance, please. Say you'll give us a second chance."

Taylor looked into his bright eyes, saw the clear want and need in his eyes. That might fade somehow, some day, but she also saw love for her in his eyes and that hadn't gone away. Whenever he had looked at her since their breakup, she realized now that look had always been there and she had been a fool to not see it and so easily toss this amazing man away for a pipedream. And the most important part was that she realized, she still loved him too.

"What do you say, Taylor?" Rick prompted her.

"I say… Let's embrace our fate," she replied and soon they were kissing.

Rick rolled her underneath his strong body and they began to meld together once again. "I love you, Taylor."

"I love you too, Rick," Taylor said. "I love you so much."

FINIS