"You cheater," Michele stared in open-mouth astonishment at her boyfriend as his cart ran hers off the road in order for Isaac's to pass.

"That's not cheating. It's called teamwork," Zac said in mock sweetness after his own cart crossed the finish line before anyone's. Michele stuck her tongue out at him before sitting back against the couch to pout after she finished in next-to-last place.

After their bout in the lake, the group had enjoyed grilled hamburgers and hotdogs with the rest of the family. As night fell, the younger kids ran around chasing fireflies while the older set talked around the dwindling camp fire. By the time the clock had reached 10, the fire had fizzled out and Walker and Diana had the kids tucked away in bed and were turning in themselves. With the lower level of the house finally free, the brothers Hanson and their respective girlfriends had staked out the big screen TV in the den and were all sprawled across the thick brown carpeting, N64 controllers in hand.

"Why don't you losers, um, I mean *ladies* go into the kitchen and get us men something to eat," Taylor said, glancing over at the girls with a smirk.

"Why don't you go fuck yourself," Michele said with an equal amount of pseudo-sweet insolence.

"That's your job, baby," he said, purposely meeting her eyes, a smug smile curling his lips.

"Not tonight," she smiled back, getting up from the floor and stepping over Zac's outstretched legs on her way to the kitchen, Alexis following suit.

"Are you sure this is such a good idea, Chely? We're getting our asses kicked..." Alexis trailed off when she saw Michele leaning against the counter, a strange expression on her face. "What is it?"

"Nothing, just a little deja vu," Michele said, shaking herself back into reality and turning to open the cabinets. "Kinda weirded me out for a second."

"What happened?" Alexis asked, coming to help Michele browse through the selection of snacks.

"When I stepped over Zac's legs, it was just like that day at my house. We'd been playing Nintendo and I went in the kitchen to make some popcorn," she reminisced with a slight smile, her voice lowering to a whisper as the smile slowly disappeared. "That was really the last time things were right between us. That was the night Taylor and I..."

"Oh, wow," Alexis said, realizing the significance of Michele's statement. "That must've been kinda weird for you."

"Nah," she sniffled, forcing a shaky smile. "It's okay, no big deal." She exhaled a ragged breath, trying to compose herself as she opened up a bag of Chex mix to dump into a bowl.

"I'm sorry," Alexis said sympathetically, reaching out to tuck a strand of Michele's hair behind her ear in a gesture of compassion. Michele offered a half-smile of gratitude, trying to hold back the tears that were trying to escape.

"What's taking ya'll so..." Taylor stopped mid-sentence when he stumbled upon the scene in the kitchen, his brow instantly creasing at the state of distress his girlfriend appeared to be in. "What's wrong, baby?"

"Let me take this back into the den," Alexis said, taking the bowl of mix from Michele and slipping out of the kitchen.

"Baby?" Taylor approached Michele, who still had her back turned to him. "Is it about what I said in there? I didn't mean it..."

"I know, Taylor," Michele turned around, immediately circling her arms around his neck. He reciprocated, Michele resting her head on his shoulder as he embraced her. "This has just been kind of an emotional day, that's all."

"Yeah, I saw what happened in the lake," he said, pulling slightly away from her and brushing her hair out of her eyes. "Things getting better between you two?"

"I don't know, Tay," she sighed. "I mean, I wanna think so, but I don't wanna get my hopes up, you know?"

"Yeah," he placed a brief kiss on her lips. "I know, baby. But, he's coming around. Just be patient; give it a little more time."

"I guess," she conceded, a smile beginning to tug at the corners of her mouth. "But considering I'm such a loser and all..."

"Ha ha," he grinned, planting his lips on hers once more. "Don't worry about it. You guys'll work things out. I have faith in you - both of you."

"Well then, I guess that's all I need," she smiled, standing on her tip toes to meet his lips in a lingering kiss. Taylor backed her up against the counter as their kisses grew in intensity, Michele grinning against his lips as his hands tried to surreptitiously travel underneath her bikini top.

"You didn't really mean what you said earlier...did you?" he asked between kisses that left his body aching for more than a make-out session in the kitchen could provide. Michele pulled away, her eyebrows arching, a smirk imitative of his best one curling her lips.

"Guess you'll have to wait and see," she said and sauntered out of the kitchen, drawing his hungry eyes to follow her seductive sway.

--

Taylor spent a few composing moments in the kitchen before returning to the den. He found Michele watching Alexis furiously battle Isaac in a short game of Mario Battle. He plopped down beside her, one of his hands instinctively coming to rest on her bare thigh.

"Tease," he whispered close to her ear before allowing his tongue to dart out for a brief lick.

"You know you like it," she whispered back, tilting her head to gently suck on the sensitive spot beneath his ear. His hand crept closer to the inside of her thigh as his lips let her know just how much he liked it. He cupped his other hand behind her neck as his lips drew a trail from her ear to her mouth, his tongue briefly claiming her own before she pulled away. "Not here." She cast a glance to the room's other occupants who appeared to be fairly involved with the scene that was playing out on the screen. Isaac and Alexis were intensely battling each other in a one-on-one race and Zac was eagerly egging them on.

"They're not paying us any attention, baby," he said sweetly, covering her lips with his once more. She gave in, letting his mouth claim hers and his hands slide further up her thigh. Michele tangled her fingers in his hair as she turned slightly to better accommodate his kisses. A gentle thump on the back of her head caused her to smile wryly against her lips as she realized they'd been caught.

"Alright you two, it's your go," Zac said as Michele and Taylor sheepishly turned around. Her eyes apprehensively roamed Zac's face to check for any trace of annoyance or anger, but found nothing. She grinned at him, scooting away from Taylor to grab her controller.

After a quick game that ended with Michele mercilessly kicking Taylor's ass, they retreated back to their positions against the couch. Taylor replaced his hand on her thigh in hopes of continuing where they left off, but Michele shrugged him off, shooting him a look that clearly said she wasn't interested in fooling around in front of everyone. He pretended to pout, but Michele placed her hand on his knee to let him know she was still interested. He smiled and turned his attentions back to the game.

"Isaac, you asshole," Alexis all but screamed at her boyfriend and slung both her arms out to playfully shove him. The tactics he was using to win the games were adding up to cheating in her book and she was tired of it. He merely laughed.

"I think I'm gonna be gettin' out of your way, Lexi," Zac chuckled, scooting from his position beside her to sit next to Michele against the couch. "I know a woman scorned when I see one."

"Ouch," Michele said, wondering in the back of her mind if he was indirectly referring to her. Zac bumped her shoulder with his, greeting her eyes with a wide grin that eventually spread to her lips as well.

"I gotta pee," Taylor said a few moments later. Alexis and Isaac remained oblivious, but Michele and Zac glared at him in disgust.

"Thank you, Taylor. We all *really* wanted to know that," Michele said sarcastically as Taylor got to his feet.

"Hey man," he directed to his younger brother. "Don't you be stealin' my woman while I'm gone."

"Aw, man, you have nothing to worry about," Zac joked back, slinging his arm around Michele's shoulders with a devilish grin. Michele snuggled up to him, resting her head in the crook of his neck and smiling sweetly at her boyfriend. Zac planted a kiss on her forehead and Taylor grinned when he saw a look of utter relief pass over her features.

--

"Taylor, quit it," Michele whispered into the near darkness. Zac had retreated back to his position as mediator of Isaac and Alexis' ongoing battle, leaving Michele and Taylor without the wandering glances of the room's other occupants and he was busy taking full advantage of it. Presently his lips were firmly attached to her neck and his hand had begun the journey back to her inner thighs. "Taylor..."

"Baby..." he breathed into her ear, satisfied by the shudder that tingled through her body. She cupped her hands behind his neck and met her lips with his, readily giving in to his advances. She took the initiative and separated his lips with her tongue, sighing when he added his own. She slipped her hands down his bare chest, making sure to faintly brush his nipples. His stomach clenched beneath her fingers as she gently scraped her nails through the line of hair that trailed below his navel. Despite her distractions, he'd managed to slide one of his hands beneath the hem of her shorts, his thumb reaching out to stroke her over her damp bikini bottoms.

"Tay...we can't..." she managed to get out before his fingers slipped beneath the fabric to her bare skin.

"Let's get up on the couch," he mumbled against her lips. She nodded and they parted briefly to reposition themselves on the far end of the room's other couch, one that wasn't so overtly in view of the others. She straddled his waist as he sat, her knees on either side of his hips. She immediately planted her mouth back on his, sucking on his lower lip to invite his tongue to invade her mouth. He obliged, moaning as their tongues furiously battled. He cupped his hands around her ass, pulling her pelvis to his allowing her to feel the arousal that his trunks were unable to restrain. She ground her hips into his as she lightly bit his lip, eliciting a whimper that sent a surge of heat through her body.

"Wait, Tay..." Michele reluctantly pulled away, resting her forehead against his to pause for a composing breath. "Let's go upstairs."

"Are you sure?" He swallowed around a deep breath, casting a glance over her shoulder.

"I want you, Taylor," she all but growled against his lips, clutching her palms around the bulge that strained between them. He pressed his lips furiously to hers before prompting her off his lap and taking her hand to lead her upstairs.

"Fuuuuck....." A long, low moan escaped Taylor's lips and his eyes clenched shut as an overwhelming stream of fire scorched into his groin. He lifted his head slightly off the bed to see the blond head of his girlfriend bobbing up at down at his crotch. The visual alone was enough to send another jolt of blood to his dick and he thrust his hips up off the bed. "God, baby..."

"Mmm," she murmured around the length in her mouth, her tongue moving to tease the sensitive spot on it's underside. Taylor clutched desperately at the sheets beneath him when her teeth delicately grazed his head, the tingling pain transfixing into an even greater pleasure. She gave one last tonguing suck before letting his hardness slip from her mouth.

"Fuck, baby. Don't stop," he breathed, his eyes flashing with frustration tinged with the slightest hint of anger. "Fuuuck..."

Michele grinned as she crawled up his body, her own eyes flashing with playfulness and lust. "Poor baby," she mocked before dropping her mouth on his, her tongue instantly seeping through. He spread his long fingers around her ass, trying to slide her down onto his aching shaft. She grinned against his lips before tearing her mouth away and sliding further up his body. She felt his stomach clench and his fingers squeeze her hips as her wetness slid slowly over his belly. Her position left her fleshy breasts in perfect line with his mouth and he appeased her by slipping one nipple into his mouth, his tongue swirling around the swollen bud. He then tasted the other, Michele tangling her fingers in his hair as he pleasured her.

"Baby, please..." he whimpered against the hollow between her breasts, her heartbeat thumping heavily against his lips. She met his pleading gaze, finding nothing but lust sparkling in his eyes.

"Say you love me," she whispered, her voice raspy with desire.

"I love you." She cupped her palms around his face, bringing his lips to hers as she sank down onto his swollen shaft. He circled his arms around her back as she began to move against him, his lips staying firmly attached to hers. The bed rolled beneath them as their motions increased, each stroke pushing them closer to the edge. Michele began to rotate her hips over his, the friction driving her to clutch fiercely at his sweaty body, her own body desperate for release.

"Make me cum, Taylor," she growled. Her head spun as he roughly flipped them over, his hips immediately beginning to pound furiously into her, his body aching from her relentless teasing. "Taylor...Oh, fuck, Tay....." Her body surrendered to his, a violent orgasm rupturing through her, leaving her shuddering beneath him. He pressed his lips feverishly to hers as he came, his muscles tensing as he shot load after load, filling her with his warm seed.

"I love you, Taylor. More than anything."

--

Michele strolled contentedly down the stairs, tugging her long, slightly damp hair up into a messy dewdrop. She could hear the trash talking between Isaac and Alexis still going strong with Zac still doing his part to keep the fire fueled. She smiled as she neared the foot of the stairs, thinking that everything was finally just about right.

"Who's winning?" she asked, tugging at a strand of Zac's hair as she walked past him on her way to sit on the couch. She curled her legs under her, pulling her long t-shirt over her knees.

"Me," Isaac and Alexis answered at the same time, causing Michele to grin. She leaned her head against the back of the couch and sighed, her body satisfied, her mind clear and her heart finally content.

"Where's Tay?" Isaac asked even though his eyes remained fixed to the screen, his fingers flying over the controller.

"He's coming," Michele answered, the mere mention of her lover's name bringing a wide smile to her lips.

"You mean he didn't already," Zac mumbled under his breath. But, Michele heard him, her eyes narrowing confusedly at the back of his head. She honestly didn't know what to make of his statement; she couldn't tell if he was just being Zac or if he was being intentionally spiteful. All she knew was that the rush of happiness she'd being feeling had been instantly quelled.

It returned slightly when she saw Taylor descending the stairs. He'd changed into a wife beater and sweat pants, though his hair was still slightly disheveled. They'd reluctantly left the bedroom after their tryst, not wanting to abandon everyone else on what was supposed to be their night to hang out together.

"Who's winning?" Taylor asked, his eyes never leaving his girlfriend even though he was referring to the game.

"Me," Ike and Lexi gave their mechanical answers again, but Taylor was already too caught up in Michele to notice. He sat on the end of the couch, opening his arms so she could snuggle into his embrace. He lightly kissed her forehead, his body now filled with nothing but love.

They sat in silence for a few minutes, watching the game, laughing at the way Isaac and Alexis were constantly bickering. "I never knew Mario Kart could be so violent," Taylor cringed when Lexi ran Isaac's cart off a cliff and then cackled haughtily.

Michele nodded in agreement, her mind still partially occupied by the statement Zac had made earlier. Not that it was an unusual occurrence of late, but he had her completely puzzled.

"Okay, my fingers are falling off," Isaac said, letting his controller slip from his hands after Alexis won the race. "Someone else play for a while."

"Scared to get beat by a girl?" Alexis taunted her boyfriend, but finally loosened the death grip she had on her own controller. "Chely? You guys wanna play?"

"Nah.."

"They've got better things to do," Zac answered for them, the spite in his voice now clearly evident.

"What the hell is your problem, dude?" Taylor erupted before Michele had a chance to.

"You," he glared pointedly at his brother, before jumping to his feet and stalking out of the room. Alexis, Isaac and Taylor looked at each other in complete and utter confusion. Michele, however, was fuming. She removed herself from Taylor's embrace and started after Zac, gesturing to Taylor to stay put.

--

Michele found Zac standing just outside the back door facing the lake. He remained stoic even when she slammed the French doors shut, almost startling herself with the intensity of the crash. She was beyond upset; for the first time, anger was boiling at the forefront of her mind. She was sick and tired of the little game they'd been playing. She was ready for it to be finished, one way or the other.

"What the fuck is wrong with you, Zac?" she all but screamed, not paying any attention to the late hour and not caring who might hear her. He didn't move, his silence only managing to piss her off even more. "Answer me Zachary."

He turned around, his heavy eyes meeting hers. She had almost hoped to see them seething with anger. Anger, she could handle. But the vulnerability and hurt she saw behind his tired eyes was nearly enough to buckle her knees. She couldn't stand to see him like this, his demeanor lacking the strength and confidence it always exuded. Her anger slowly began to dissipate as their eyes remained locked. But she was still determined to get some answers. She moved to sit on top of the picnic table, realizing for the first time that the lake was pushing a rather chilly breeze off it's surface. Still, she couldn't decide if the chill bumps were from the cold or from the anticipation of the showdown she knew was about to take place.

"What happened, Zac? What happened to us?" she asked quietly, not really knowing what to say or where to begin.

"I don't know."

"I thought we were friends. I thought we were better friends than to let something like this happen," she said sadly.

"I'm sorry I disappointed you." Her heart constricted at the sound of the hurt in his voice.

"You didn't disappoint me, Zac. I just don't understand. Help me understand this. Help me understand why you and I can't be friends anymore," she pleaded.

"We could be," he said sadly. "But *he* keeps screwing it up."

"I'm not going to apologize for loving him, Zac. I'm not ashamed of it and I'm not sorry," she said, trying desperately to raise her voice to a tone somewhat resembling outrage, but the tears escaping her eyes kept it fragile and shaky. "I'm even sorrier that you can't deal with it. You were my best friend, Zac. I love you."

"I love you, too, Chely," his voice broke as he tried to will back the tears that were threatening his own eyes. "But I can't sit around and watch you be in love with Taylor."

"Why not, Zachary? Why can't you be happy for me? Why can't you let *me* be happy?" Tears were blurring her vision of him, but she could see him run his fingers through his hair and sigh heavily.

"You wanna know why, Chely?" His watery gaze met hers and she nodded. He took a deep breath, composing himself enough to speak. "I always felt like I was so special because I had you. I had a friend, a woman, who knew me like no one else did. We shared so many things and you've given me so much. You treated me like a real person, not like a little kid. And you believed in me, and loved me. And you trusted me. You made me *so* special, Michele. And now, you're doing that for him."

A heavy silence filled the few moments that followed Zac's confession. Michele kept her eyes locked into his, even as streams of tears blurred her vision. His words echoed through her mind, seeping into her heart, filling her with an intense mixture of pure hurt and raw, unadulterated love.

"I can't stand by and watch that, Chely, It hurts too much," he began, angrily swiping his tears away. "I thought I could handle it. I wanted to. God..I wanted to..cause I miss you so fucking much baby. But I can't. I can't watch you love him and make him special. And I can't..." he swallowed around the lump that had formed in his throat, forcing himself to speak through his tears. "I can't be in there, and listen to him make you cum and know that I'll never make you feel that special, that I'll never be able to give you what you've given me."

"Zac..." She threw her arms fiercely around him, holding him tighter than she ever had. He enclosed his arms around her, burying his face in her neck, finally letting his tears flow freely. They stood for what seemed like hours, finally able to comfort each other now that the barrier between them had been broken. Michele pulled away from him suddenly, cupping his tear-stained face in her hands, her eyes searching his, desperate for him to be assured of her feelings. "God, you know I love you so much, Zac."

"I know," he placed his hands on hers and slid them from his cheeks, keeping them tightly enclosed in his. "I love you, too." The raw emotion dripping from his voice left her breathless. He trained his eyes on hers and, taking a deep breath, slowly brought his mouth to cover hers. Emotions that had been building the past few months fueled the desperate kiss, Michele opening her lips to receive his. All their pent-up anguish, tension, and love played itself out in that one furious kiss.

Zac broke away breathlessly, resting his forehead against hers, tears still streaming down his cheeks. "I love you more than you'll ever know, Chely." He took a deep breath and met her eyes. "But I can't do this. I'm sorry. I hope you can forgive me."

He left her standing there, bewildered, vulnerable and alone, the cold lake breeze whipping all around her. A furious rush of tears pelted her cheeks, but she couldn't bring herself to wipe them away. She couldn't do anything. She couldn't think. She couldn't feel.

She barely heard the clicking of the French doors behind her, barely felt the presence of a body behind her, barely heard his voice as it shattered the stillness.

"Baby?"

A fresh wave of tears rolled down her ruddy cheeks.

"Zac said you needed me."

The ride back to Tulsa was a long and somber one. The day had dawned cloudy and chilly, a perfect accompaniment to the moods of the occupants of Isaac's Durrango. Michele sat curled against one door, her puffy, bloodshot eyes staring vacantly out the window. She'd tossed and turned all night, her mind and heart too heavy too sleep. Taylor sat next to her, his head slumped over on the seat, a light sleep finally overcoming him after he'd spent the night lying restlessly beside his girlfriend. Zac leaned against the other door, headphones on, pretending to be in a deep sleep. He'd slept fitfully on the couch for most of the night, but his mind had been racing far too fast for any real sleep to take place. Isaac and Alexis sat quietly in the front seat, not knowing what to say or how to say it. They hadn't known what to say since Zac had staggered in the back door the night before, his body fairly wracked with tears. Or since Michele had walked numbly up the stairs, Taylor helplessly trying to comfort her. They'd watched the scene unfold in the backyard, their hearts going out to Taylor as his own eyes clouded up at the immense amount of hurt that was so obviously plaguing his girlfriend and his brother. The tension between them had been tenfold this morning when they'd all piled into the truck for the ride back to the real world. As the truck rambled further and further from the lake, uncertainty was the only sure thing that lay ahead.

"I'll call you as soon as we get back," Taylor whispered as he dropped Michele's bags inside her back door. She nodded mutely as cupped her face in his hands. "Baby..."

"Okay, " she whispered back, offering a watery smile. He gently brushed his lips across hers, a pang of anguish shooting into his heart when she barely responded.

"I love you, Michele," he said, fixing his eyes pointedly on hers.

"I love you, too," she half-smiled. He touched his lips to hers once more, encouraged by the gentle motion of hers as she reciprocated. He circled his arms around her in a tight embrace, his lips branding the skin in the crook of her neck. She squeezed back, a sudden tinge of desperation creeping into her mind. She held him for a moment longer before he broke away, planting a good-bye kiss on her forehead before heading back out to the awaiting truck. Michele watched as he climbed in beside Zac, and Isaac peeled out of her driveway.

A familiar wave of anxiety and sorrow shot through her as she watched the truck's departure until it turned out of sight. She wrapped her arms tightly around her torso and sighed, dragging her feet to move until she made her way into her bedroom. She languidly pulled the comforter back and slid beneath it, her eyes closing and a deep sleep overcoming her the second her head met the pillow.

--

Taylor gently pushed his key into the lock, quietly turning it and pushing the back door open. It was past 2 in the morning; their scheduled photo shoot and interview had gone way longer than planned. He'd been trying to call Michele all day, but only gotten the cheerful tone of her answering machine. He knew she was probably sleeping, or out with her brother maybe, but worry had crept into his mind the instant he'd left her earlier that morning. So, despite the late hour, he tiptoed softly into the darkened kitchen. He noticed her bags were still in the same position he'd left them and a light surge of panic rushed through him as he made his way cautiously down the narrow hall to her bedroom. The faint glow of the television greeted Taylor as he reached the open door. His eyes drifted into the room, falling upon the form of his girlfriend stretched out beneath the covers. Her eyes shone through the darkness, twinkling with the light reflecting from the TV.

"Baby.." he whispered into the darkness. Her eyes shifted to meet his and a gentle smile curled her lips. He grinned as he stepped into the room, toeing his shoes off before sitting on the edge of the bed.

"Hey you," she smiled as he brought his lips down to rest gently against hers. Her fingertips softly brushed against his cheek as their lips met.

"Hey yourself," he smiled, resting his palm on her t-shirt covered stomach. "How're you feeling?"

"Better," she shrugged. "Tired, still. But okay, I guess. How about you? Shoot go okay?"

"Yeah, Zac was being a pain in the ass, though. That's why it went so late." He watched her eyes avert from his at the mention of Zac's name. "I'm sorry."

"Don't be," she tried to smile assuredly at him. "You have nothing to be sorry about. No one does. It's just gonna take some time. Everything's just gonna take some time."

"Yeah," he nodded. A moment of silence fell over the two until Taylor decided to change the subject. "So, whatcha watching?"

"I dunno," she grinned. "I just woke up and flipped it on. Some movie..."

"Well, that helps," he grinned wryly as he pulled the comforter back. "Scoot over." He slid beneath the covers with her, propping himself up on his elbow, draping his arm back over her stomach. They lay in contented silence for a while, enjoying the peacefulness their presence afforded the other, and trying to figure out what the hell the movie was about.

"This makes no sense," they both amended at the same time, laughing when they realized they shared the same sentiment. Michele flipped the TV off via the remote, dousing the room in darkness, their steady breathing providing the only sound. Taylor's heart constricted as his eyes washed over Michele's face. He didn't know exactly what had been said between her and Zac, but he knew she was hurting. He could almost see the anguish seething behind her eyes and he was willing to do almost anything to ease her pain.

"Wanna talk about it?" he whispered.

"No...not yet," she met his comforting gaze. He nodded his acceptance and placed a soft kiss on her forehead. She tilted her lips to his, meeting them in a soft, lingering kiss. He scooted closer to her as their kisses became ardent, his tongue gently probing the warm confines of her mouth. He slipped his hand beneath her shirt, his palm flattening out on the warm skin of her belly.

"You want to?" he mumbled, his lips trailing along her jaw to her neck. She sighed heavily against his ear and swallowed around the lump in her throat. "I just wanna make you feel better, baby."

"Could you just hold me?" she whispered, his kisses trailing slowly to a stop. "I just want you to hold me, Taylor. And just never let go."

"Yeah," he planted a breathy kiss on her ear before slipping both his arms around her. Michele snuggled into his embrace, burying her face in the crook of his neck.

"I love you, Tay," she breathed, her eyelashes fluttering against the hollow of his throat.

Taylor clenched his eyes shut, a tiny tear slipping from one corner. "I love you, too, baby."

--

"So, this is it, huh?" Michele said, her eyes trailing over the sheets of paper Taylor had laid in front of her.

"Yep," he sighed, sitting down across from her at her kitchen table. "Some dates are still tentative, but that's pretty much the way it's gonna go."

"Wow," she said, taking a bite of her buttered toast. "Just a couple more weeks..."

"Yeah," he nodded around a sip of coffee.

"Gonna leave me here all alone..." she play-pouted, trying to keep her tone as light as possible while the mere thought of him spending months on the road cut into her very soul.

"You could come with," Taylor suggested, though he knew the idea was unrealistic, especially since the incident at the lake.

"Nah," she nodded halfheartedly. "I'm gonna be pretty busy myself. Got a lotta stuff lined up. Besides, with the whole...thing....you know....I really should get a move on. I've got tons of stuff to do today..."

Taylor sighed as Michele quickly changed the subject and got up to place her dirty breakfast dishes in the sink. His heart sank as he watched her shoulders droop as she exhaled a shaky breath. He wanted desperately to reach out to her, but he had no idea how. He'd always known Michele and Zac were close, and as much as he'd teased them about it, he was pretty sure their relationship never crossed the boundaries of friendship. He'd honestly figured they would've worked things out - that they were good enough friends not to let anything come between them. He couldn't fathom what could've been said between them that was harsh enough to destroy any hope of restoring their friendship. And he had no clue how to approach Michele about it without causing her any more pain.

"You need any help?" he asked quietly as he came to place his dishes beside hers. He noticed that she discreetly swiped at the corner of one eye with her fingertips before turning to face him with a forced smile.

"I can handle it. But thanks anyway," she stood on her toes to plant a sweet kiss on his lips. "You probably got a full day anyway."

"Actually," he began, circling his arms around her waist and returning her kiss. "I do. But if you need me, I'll stay." He looked pointedly into her eyes, assuring her that he was serious.

"I'll be fine," she promised. "Now get out of here and go make me a hit record."

He stuck out his lower lip in an exaggerated pout as she led him to the back door, grinning when she playfully slapped his ass as she shooed him out onto the porch. He spun around suddenly and gathered her in his arms, insistently planting his lips on hers in a breathtaking kiss. "Love you."

"Love you, too," she called as he bounded down the steps and into his awaiting truck. She blew him a kiss as he pulled out of the drive, the familiar rush of emptiness and despair filling her again as soon as the truck disappeared from sight.

"Baby? You just about ready?" Taylor called in the direction of his girlfriend's bedroom. He checked his watch, noting that they were gonna be cutting their reservation time close.

"Coming.." Michele called as she came out of the room, slipping in an earring as she walked. Taylor couldn't help but smile as he watched her smooth her hair in front of the hall mirror. It had been awhile since he'd seen her so dressed up and the black silk dress she'd donned for the occasion looked stunning on her. Still, he couldn't help but notice the tiny lines that seemed to perpetually crease her forehead these days, or the sparkle that seemed amiss from her usually bright blue eyes. But he had to grin when she stuck her tongue out at her reflection and some of that sparkle returned. "You look amazing, Mr. Hanson," she smiled, coming to stand before him.

"You don't look so bad yourself, Miss Hendricks," he smiled back, gently fingering the thin strap of her dress as she smoothed down the lapels of his sport coat.

"So, let's go. We have a lot to celebrate," she grinned, that signature Michele-smile gracing her lips.

Taylor couldn't argue with that. The brothers had spent the month since their lake trip working diligently on the record and thanks to many all-nighters, had managed to get it nearly done. Inspiration had taken hold of all the brothers and the album had practically written and recorded itself. A trip scheduled for next week to Miami to get it mixed and mastered would be the final step in it's completion. They'd booked the entire month of July for promotions before the album was due out in August. The entire Hanson entourage, family and record crew alike, had planned an evening out to celebrate. Taylor and Michele had opted to take his truck instead of riding with the rest of the family.

Despite her relationship with Taylor and the rest of the Hanson family, Michele had managed to completely avoid Zac since their conversation at the lake. She'd barely seen him at all and hadn't spoken any more than a polite greeting to him. She'd also successfully managed to lead everyone to believe that she'd gotten on with her life, that she'd accepted her fate and moved on. She'd busied herself with several projects and had even taken an offer to work for a local ad agency, which had kept her days fairly busy. But the nights she spent alone told a different story. Without the comfort and security of Taylor's embrace, she often cried herself to sleep after staying awake nearly half the night wracked with anguish and grief. But it wasn't Taylor's absence she usually cried over, it was Zac's.

The restaurant parking lot was already full when Taylor pulled his truck in beside Isaac's. "Looks like everyone else is already here," he said, shutting off the ignition and sliding out to escort Michele out of the passenger side. Michele exhaled a sigh of relief as Taylor came around to her side, thankful that Zac, along with the rest of the family, was probably already seated and she wouldn't have to take the chance of having to sit beside him. She took a deep breath as she took Taylor's proffered arm and the two strolled into the restaurant.

They were greeted immediately by Diana, who threw her arms around them. "It's so good to see you," she whispered in Michele's ear before she pulled away. Michele felt a sudden rush of tears spring to her eyes at the sight of the happy family talking and laughing before her. Taylor slipped out of her grasp to say hello to his siblings, leaving Diana to show Michele the place where she and Tay were to sit. Taylor came back briefly to pull out her chair and brush his lips across her cheek as she seated herself. "I'm gonna go talk to the guys at the bar. I'll be back in a minute, okay?"

As soon as Taylor stepped away, a feeling of anxiety washed over her. She couldn't believe she felt uncomfortable amidst the family she'd come to love as her own. Her eyes discreetly scanned the room, half-searching for Zac and half-hoping she wouldn't find him. She didn't see him and figured he must be at the bar with Tay and the other guys. She began to feel more and more uneasy the longer Taylor stayed away. She began to fiddle nervously with the hem of the tablecloth before taking several sips of her complimentary water in an attempt to calm herself. Just when she thought she was going to have to excuse herself for the restroom, she felt a warm hand on the bare skin of her back.

"I wanna introduce you to some people, baby," Taylor's voice served as a warm reassurance and she smiled. She took his hand and he led her in the direction of the bar, where he spoke to two men unfamiliar to Michele. "Mike, Jim, this is my girlfriend, Michele Hendricks. Michele - Mike and Jim. They were instrumental in helping us get this record out as fast as we did."

"Nice to meet you," Michele smiled politely at the two men as she shook their proffered hands. Idle conversation passed between the group, but Michele tuned the rest of them out when she caught sight of Zac standing at the end of the bar. Her heart jumped into her throat as her eyes washed over him. It had been weeks since she'd seen him and she could practically point out every little change that had occurred over that time. He looked taller, somehow, and his hair was slightly longer. She noticed that a tan had evened out across his skin and his smile was as animated as ever. He was talking with a young woman Michele didn't recognize, his eyes fixating on hers. A tinge of jealously swept into the disappointment and sorrow she was already feeling and caught her off guard. She became awash with desperation and the sudden urge to run and throw herself into his arms and hold him tight enough that he could never let go.

"Chely?" Taylor's voice and his hand at her elbow shook her from her reverie. "You okay?" His eyes trailed to where hers had been fixed, but saw nothing.

"Yeah, I'm fine," she nodded. "But I think I'm gonna go sit back down, though. It was really nice meeting you all," she smiled at Mike and Jim and gave Taylor a tiny peck on the cheek before heading back to her seat. Her mind was so clouded with anxiety, fear, and emotion that she barely noticed when she literally ran right into to someone in front of her.

"Sorry," she and the person amended at the same time. Michele slowly looked up and found herself staring into the dark depths of a pair of eyes she'd been longing for for weeks. She swallowed around the lump in her throat and noticed that he had done the same. They stood transfixed as their eyes locked, neither daring to move, much less speak. Michele was again overwhelmed with the desire to reach out and touch him, but she couldn't force her limbs to move. His eyes were heavy and unreadable, but she knew her own were glistening with tears. He opened his mouth as though to speak, but he remained silent.

"C...con...congratulations..." she stumbled, her voice catching in her throat. "...on the record, and stuff..."

"Thanks," he whispered, his eyes never leaving hers. Michele felt her chin begin to quiver and knew that an all-out breakdown was sure to follow if she didn't break the connection his eyes were holding her in.

"Um..."

"See ya," he said quietly before lowering his eyes and slipping past her. She nodded imperceptibly as her heart tried to make sense of what had just taken place. She had truly not been prepared for facing him again. She couldn't comprehend any of the feelings that were swirling fiercely through her heart and mind. All the anger and hurt she'd expected to feel were unexpectedly replaced with longing and something else she couldn't quite define. She found herself unwittingly at his mercy, willing to forget all the pain he caused her, as long as they restored their friendship to it's pre-Taylor status. And as appealing as the idea was, she knew she shouldn't just let it go that easily. But one intense glare like he'd just given her was nearly enough for forgiveness.

Michele spent the rest of the evening in a daze, not entirely aware of everything that was going on around her. She could feel Taylor's presence beside her, but the only thing she was absolutely certain of was the continual glare of Zac's eyes on her. He was sitting at the end of the long table she and Tay were situated at, and every time Michele dared cast her eyes his way, she found his focused on her. They would lock eyes for a second or two, a condensed version of their earlier encounter playing out between them. By the time she and Taylor were getting ready to go home, she felt as though every emotion she owned had been dragged to the surface and thoroughly ripped through by Zachary Hanson.

"We had such a great time, Mom. Thanks for putting this whole thing together on such short notice," Taylor thanked his mother as he and Michele stood hand in hand just outside the entrance to the restaurant.

"You're welcome, sweetie. I'm glad we could all get together like this before you guys go away," she said. "And I'm so glad you could come, Michele. We've missed you."

"I've missed ya'll, too," Michele said, trying to keep the sadness out of her tired voice. Diana noticed and went about changing the subject.

"Well, you guys should get out of here," she smiled. "Go spend some time together. I know you've missed each other." Michele blushed as she averted her eyes from Diana's, but her face paled when she caught sight of Zac out of the corner of her eye. His eyes met hers through the glass doors, but he quickly turned away when Taylor draped his arm around Michele's shoulders.

"Thanks, Mom. We will," Taylor said as he and Michele turned to head out to the parking lot. "I'll see you in the morning."

"Bye guys," Diana called after them, but they were already too wrapped up in each other to notice. Michele had circled her arms around Taylor's waist and snuggled into him as they walked. She only released him when he opened the passenger side door for her to get in.

"I can't wait to get you home.." he breathed in her ear as he slid in the seat beside her. She turned her lips up to his, sighing when he captured them in a deep, probing kiss. "God, it's been too long..."

"Mmm, hurry..." she mumbled against his lips, grinning when he pulled away to start the engine and put the truck in drive. He kept one arm draped around her, keeping her close. She rested her head on his shoulder and one hand on his upper thigh, her body quickly becoming dizzy with the desire to have him again. But even though her body was fairly swirling with heat and lust, the one image that kept creeping unbidden at the forefront of her mind was that of Zac Hanson's eyes.

--

"Oh...baby..." Taylor mumbled, his voice muffled by his lips' assault on the warm skin of Michele's stomach. His hands traveled slowly up to her bare breasts, kneading them slowly with his palms. He placed another tonguing kiss over her navel before resting his cheek down on her stomach and exhaling a ragged breath. She sifted her fingers through his hair as he took several deep breaths, trying to regain some control of his raging hormones. The weeks since they'd last been intimate proved the catalyst for this tryst, as evidenced by the trail of clothing that led from the back door to the bedroom. But once they'd collapsed onto the unmade bed and had a few moments to collect themselves, they both discovered that they wanted to prolong their love making as long as possible, since their times together were bound to be rare within the next few weeks. "I've missed you so much..."

"I've missed you, too, baby," she sighed as his lips began to move against her skin again. His kisses trailed up between her breasts until they reached her mouth, where his tongue separated her lips before delving inside and thoroughly exploring her depths. Michele steepled her knees at his sides, the brush of her inner thighs against his ribs making him shiver. His aching hardness lay urgently between them, the heat of her body making him twitch. Michele tightened her legs around him, trying desperately to draw him closer as their mouths battled in a furious kiss.

"I need you inside me, Tay," she breathed as his lips suckled down her jaw.

"Not now, baby," he cooed in her ear. "I wanna make it last."

"Taylor, please..." the desperation in her voice tugged at his heart and his dick and he couldn't resist. He guided himself slowly inside her, a gravely moan escaping his throat as her tightness sucked him in. He kept his lips planted on the pulse in her neck, her racing heartbeat driving his hips to move against her.

"Taylor..." she whimpered as her orgasm approached, the feeling of him pulsing inside her overwhelming her emotions. She couldn't control the tears as they bled from her eyes, staining her cheeks with their dirty trails. Her body tightened around him and he spilled inside her, her name leaving his lips in a long, breathy sigh as he collapsed atop her.

"Baby?" he whispered, raising his head from the crook of her neck when he felt a trace of wetness drop onto his ear. His eyes searched hers in confusion and alarm. "What's wrong? Are you okay? Did I hurt..."

"Taylor...no..." she turned her eyes away from him, prompting him off her as she turned over on her side.

Taylor sat on the other side of her, his features muddled with confusion as he watched her body shudder with sobs. "Baby..." he reached out to touch her, but she recoiled slightly from his touch. "Michele..."

Michele lay silent, save her choppy breath, not responding to any of Taylor's actions. He stared vacantly at his girlfriend's back, his mind swimming with confusion and fear. He laid back on the bed, swallowing around the lump of emotion that had formed in his throat. He felt completely and utterly helpless as he listened to his girlfriend cry, powerless to ease her pain.

--

Taylor gently switched off the light in the bathroom, swiping at the nearly dry trails of tears on his cheeks as he walked softly back into the bedroom. His puffy eyes widened when he noticed the bed was empty. He dug a pair of sweat pants out of a drawer Michele had reserved for his stuff and pulled them on over his boxers before walking down the hall to the living room. He found Michele sitting on the couch in the dark, her knees drawn up beneath her chin, the blanket from the bed draped around her despite the long t-shirt she'd changed into. Her eyes were shining with unshed tears and she briefly met his gaze as he came in to sit on the other end of the couch. He exhaled heavily into the darkness, his mind searching for the right thing to say, but coming up empty. The silence and the tension between them was killing him. His chest tightened as his heart threatened to crumble into a million pieces. He couldn't help the sinking feeling that the woman he loved, the woman he'd lay down his life for, was slowly slipping away from him.

"I'm sorry," her hushed voice surprised him and he turned to look at her, but she was still staring straight ahead.

"I'm sorry, too," he amended, though he wasn't sure what he should be apologizing for.

"You haven't done anything," she whispered. "I'm the one to blame."

"For what, baby," he gently pressed, scooting an inch or two closer to her. "What happened?"

"I don't know," her voice wavered and her eyes lowered, tears threatening to spill again. He hated himself for making her cry, but he honestly didn't understand what was going on. He knew she was at an extremely vulnerable and emotional state, and he didn't want to do or say anything that might cause her to lose control, but he was hurting, too. "I don't know..."

"I thought you wanted to be with me," he said, his eyes never leaving her face.

"I did...I do..." she shifted her eyes to his momentarily, but quickly turned back away. "I just...I don't what's going on, Taylor." Her voice took on an edge of exasperation as she got up and went to stand before the window. "I don't know anything anymore."

"You know that I love you," he said soothingly, but firmly. When she didn't respond, he stood and went to stand behind her. "You know that, Michele." He placed a hand on her shoulder, and she turned, her eyes dark and unreadable. "Baby..."

"I know," she whispered, her eyes falling away from his. A sudden jolt of nausea rushed into his throat as his stomach twisted itself in knots.

"But not as much as Zac, right?" A tinge of anger he couldn't control crept into his voice. Her eyes flew back to meet his, wide and flashing.

"What the hell is that supposed to mean?" She was finally showing some sort of emotion and it killed him to know that it was Zac who had managed to bring it out. As much as the thought broke his heart, it brought forth a bitterness he never thought he could ever feel towards her.

"You know what it means, Michele. I've never been enough for you, have I?" His eyes turned dark and cloudy as his voice rose. "It's always been about Zac. He's the one who loves you, he's the one you hurt over, he's the one you long for." He swallowed around the vile lump in his throat. "He's the one you love."

"Fuck you, Taylor," Her defenses were weakening under his barrage, her chin quivering and her voice wavering. "You know I love you."

"Really?" he patronized. "That's why you can't let me hold you. That's why you won't even let me touch you. That's why you feel like puking your guts out after we make love." His voice broke at his last words, the truth of them hitting him full force.

"Taylor..." she cried, trying to reach out to him, but he jerked out of her grasp. He stalked the short distance to the kitchen, where she found him leaning against the counter, his back to her.

"All I ever wanted was for you to be happy," he whispered, the hurt in his voice breaking her heart.

"I am happy, Taylor," she resolved, the weakness in her voice betraying her.

"No you're not," he turned around, his exhausted, tear-filled eyes meeting hers. "Not like before. Not like you were when it was just you and Zac."

"Don't do this, Taylor," she warned, her heart constricting at the mere thought of what he was about to do.

"I just want you to be happy, baby," he brushed his fingers softly across her cheek, a mournful smile moving his lips.

"Taylor...no..." she sobbed, a fresh wave of tears rolling down her cheeks as he planted his lips softly on her forehead. She needed to reach out and tighten her arms around him while he was so close, but she couldn't get her body to move.

He gently moved away from her, leaving Michele leaning against the counter as she felt her knees want to buckle. He picked up his keys from the back counter and paused in front of the door. "We leave in a few days for Miami, and then we have promotions after that. Just give me some time."

Michele nodded, but he was already out the door. She stood there, staring at the closed door long after she heard his truck pull out of the driveway. She eventually sank numbly to the floor, emptiness and worthlessness taking over her. A sense of loneliness like she'd never known enshrouded her as the full impact of what just happened finally hit her. Not only had she lost Zac, but she'd managed to drive Taylor away, too. A pang of betrayal and guilt shot through her as she recalled Taylor's hurtful words. But the thing that pained her the most was the realization that every word he'd said was true.