*Open Arms*
~Chapter One~
:::Against All Odds:::

Her heart raced as she walked quickly away. It was strange how it happened.

In a way it was like a dream, a dream that was supposed to happen, almost to good to be true. As she got into her car she sat there for what seemed like forever. Just thinking, of what she was going to do and what he would do when he found her again. Her thoughts were distracted by the red and blue lights leaving the large parking lot. They had asked her if she needed to go to some type of shelter. She had told them no that she would be fine, then they asked if she would like to press charges. She replied no once more. She glanced down and then back up and then down again noticing she was holding something. She flipped on the light. It was a small paper it had small writing on it, she held it closer to her face and wiped her soaked hair from her damp face. 'Call Me If You Ever Need Anything.' it had a number and a name that she couldn't quite make out. Then she remembered, The police were trying to get her out of the building to get more questions from her and Taylor grabbed her hand and put the piece of paper in it. She had wondered what it said. Then she had the sudden feeling of embarrassment, she hated Taylor and the other guys seeing what they had seen that night and what Michael had done to Taylor, she felt so guilty, and started to cry again.

Her head was on the steering wheel and the light was still on she squeezed to small paper as she sobbed. 'KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK' She jumped and squealed out of fright. "Carissa, are you ok? Can you let me in. I had a hard time slipping pass the cops." Carissa unlocked and opened the door. "Thank god your still here. They say that he will be out in about a week unless you press charges.." Taylor said and waited for her to say something.

She didn't say anything.

"You are going to press charges aren't you?" Taylor asked staring at her.

She still hadn't even looked up. "You know what is going to happen if I do Taylor..." She said holding back more tears.

"I know, I know. But he will stay in this time maybe for good, because there were witnesses," he replied.

"If there's a maybe then I won't even think about it. This is my life that could be in danger!" Carissa said finally looking up at him.

"Sorry. I just don't want this to ever happen to you again. You are my best-friend and we have been through everything together. But if you don't press charges....then what is going to happen?" He asked already knowing to answer.

"I don't know. Right now I need to go home. I don't feel like thinking or talking about this anymore not until I'm more stable." She looked out the window to see it sprinkling.

They heard thunder in the distance.

"Well, I guess I will let you go home and get some rest. If you need anything call me." Taylor said as he opened the door to leave.

"Taylor?" Carissa whispered.

"Huh?" Taylor turned around.

"Do you think, maybe you could come home with me? I...I just don't feel like being alone tonight."

"Ok." Taylor said understandingly as he nodded. He got back into the car.

She started it up and drove towards her small comfortable cottage home. Taylor just stared at her. There was a time that the two of them were together when they were younger. He tried to make it work, she didn't want it to work. Later on he found out that she was cheating on him with Michael, her now and abusive boyfriend. She had apologized to Taylor time and time but Taylor still felt an emptiness inside that hurt when he seen her, And this didn't make things any better.

They drove into her drive-way and both got out.

"I'm sorry if you had other thing's to do. Or if you just didn't really want to come. You know how I feel about being home alone on rainy, stormy nights." Carissa said as she tried to open the door.

"It's ok. I rather be here with you." Taylor said smiling. They both walked in and Taylor sat down on the couch.

"I will make us some hot tea." She said as she walked into the kitchen. Taylor nodded. He looked at her house, it was small but well managed and very cozy. It smelled like Strawberries with a small bit of vanilla. Taylor looked at the mantle place and seen pictures. Mostly of Carissa and Michael. As he went down the row he came upon a picture of her and him when they were going out. She was sitting on his lap in a tire swing and they were laughing. Taylor glanced into the kitchen to see if Carissa was watching him. She was busy fixing the tea.

He picked up the picture and undid the frame quickly, he opened the back up and seen the piece of paper that he had given her about 3 days before they broke up. It was worn, that much he could tell, but he put it all up quickly. Carissa brought the tea in just then. "Thanks." Taylor said as he sat on the couch next to her. They both took tiny sips of their tea. Then Carissa looked over at Taylor.

"Oh my gosh. I am so sorry," she said as she got up.

"What?!" Taylor asked touching his face.

"Oww. Oh that's nothing," Taylor said.

"Yeah sure, let me fix that up. I will be back." Carissa replied as she walked out of the room.

Taylor rolled his eyes and smiled he knew that Carissa had a tendency to over-react. But his face did hurt. He hadn't seen it but Michael knocked him into the cement so it was probably bad.

A few moments later Carissa arrived into the room with a bandage, cotton balls, peroxide, and Neosporin.

Taylor just laughed.

"What?" Carissa said letting out a tiny smile. She sat down next to him and made him turn more towards her. Then she poured a little peroxide on a cotton ball and slowly dotted the small scrapes on Taylor's face. He flinched but kept his eyes on her. She was so calm. When she was done cleaning the wound the put Neosporin on the bandage. "This is so you don't get a scar on that beautiful face of yours." she smiled and put the bandage on.

"Thanks. I appreciate it." He replied smiling.

"No problem." She replied looking off into space.

"Are you still thinking about him?" Taylor asked.

"Well, yes and no." She said still not looking at him. She could never look him straight in the eye ever since everything had happen about 3 years earlier. Now she regretted ever being with Michael, even though she loved him and would do anything for him, She just didn't know why she loved him so much. He had done her wrong more than a few times. She knew Taylor thought the same thing but he would never talk to her about it, he used to in the beginning but he gave up because she just wouldn't listen. She always had an excuse for him. All he could do then was try to comfort her.

"What do you mean?" He asked with concern.

"I was thinking about you." She said as she lifted her head just a tiny bit.

"Me?" Taylor asked shocked.

"Of what would have happened if Michael never came along....." She said looking up right into his eyes.

Taylor hadn't seen those eyes in so long. He hadn't remembered being able to see so much feeling in them. Taylor slowly glided his hand across her smooth cheek and brought his face to hers.

"Maybe we....can try again." Taylor whispered softly into her ear and then his lips softly caressed her neck and he looked into her eyes again, as if looking for something, maybe some kind of strength. "But, first you have to clear things up with him." he sighed. This was the Taylor she remembered. Why she ever gave him up, she never did figure that out. She shook her head with a certain release of anguish. She knew that if she was to be with the man she had always loved then she had to end it with Michael. They didn't talk for the rest of the night. She just lay down on his lap and fell asleep thinking of ways to tell Michael that it was over and how he would react.

She knew that he would put on an act, it was like he knew exactly what made her tick. Almost like he rehearsed the scene a million times just for her.

It was like torture. She knew she couldn't do it alone, but how could she ask Taylor to come. She didn't want him to get hurt. Then she drifted off into a deep sleep.

Taylor just sat there stroking her head. Then he kissed her cheek and picked her up.

He couldn't help thinking if he would get her back this time. He was so content, but he didn't want to get his hopes up. It was almost like he was holding his breath. He laid her down on her bed and covered her up. He just sat there for a minute looking off into the darkness. Then he thought of how she might be feeling. It was like a cloud of emotions coming over him, trying to balance his feelings and hers at the same time. He gently brushed his lips across hers and walked out of the room.

"Taylor," She whispered.

Taylor turned around to see that she was still asleep. Then he smiled.

*Open Arms*
~Chapter Two~
:::The Feeling Is Gone:::

Note:*The visitor center means the things with glass windows and the* *telephones...I'm not really smart when it comes to jail places.*

She just glared at the clock next to her bed, as if it were her worst enemy. She knew last night that she could tell Michael. Now she wasn't sure. What would happen if she couldn't tell him that she was going to press charges and she was just gonna leave him. Just like that. 'I guess I will try.' She thought to herself.

She turned over and Taylor was sitting on the edge of her bed. "How long have you been sitting there?" She asked tiredly.

"Not very long." He lied.

"Oh. Do you want some breakfast?" Carissa asked him getting up.

"No thanks." Taylor replied. She started walking out of the room.

"I don't remember being in my bed when I fell asleep did yo....Taylor?" She turned around and seen him asleep on her bed. "Aww. Your to precious." She said laughing.

She covered him up and kissed him on the cheek.

She pulled out a black skirt, a pink polo shirt, and underwear and a bra. She got into the shower and cleaned off, and got dressed. She pulled her wavy strawberry hair up into a clip and put on some clear lip gloss. She looked into the mirror. For a second she didn't recognize her own reflection. She looked so much in thought, and she looked confused all at the same time.

She brushed her bangs out of her eyes and behind her ears, and took a deep breath. "I can do this." She said as she grabbed her purse and keys and walked out of the house.

It was really cold out side for some reason. She had remembered last night it was humid. She tried not to think of what was before her, her 'mission' that she had to complete. She remembered when Michael and Herself where seeing each other behind Taylor's back. She had wished she never met Michael when she seen the tears streaming down Taylor's face. It tore her heart up just seeing him like that.

She finally pulled into the drive way of a small facility. She slowly got out of her car. She walked up to the door. Took a deep breath, and went in. She walked to the front desk and asked the lady where to find Michael. Then she continued down a long hall to the *visitor center*. She turned the corner and seen Michael being escorted to one of the seats. He looked up and had a sorrowful look on his face. "Here goes nothing." She said under her breath. She didn't know what she would say but she knew something had to happen and it had to happen today. Carissa sat down and looked down at her hands. They were shaking. She didn't look up at first. Then she picked up the phone. She heard his voice.

"Carissa, baby I, I'm sorry." Michael said sounding like he always did.

"Michael....it's over." Carissa whispered.

"Look I'm REALLY sorry. I didn't mean to do anything to you or Taylor." Michael said sounding upset. She still wouldn't look at him.

"No. Michael you don't understand it's over." She said seriously.

"I know there is no excuse and I love you." He replied.

"You love me?!" Carissa asked looking straight at him, "Now that is hard to believe. I don't think you even know what love is."

"Why are you being like this?" Michael asked sounding a little scared.

"Because, Michael I see clearly now. Taylor..." She said but Michael cut her off.

"I should have know that fucker would try to take you away from me." Michael said almost yelling.

"What are you talking about? We had the best time's together. I love Taylor." She said softly.

"What about us huh? Are you going to just throw us away?" Michael asked sounding angry.

"Don't get me wrong Michael. We had great times. For a while I thought I loved you. I don't know. You are beautiful. But only on the outside." She replied.

Michael was just looking behind her and he seemed even more mad then before. Carissa turned around in her chair and seen Taylor standing there. For some reason he looked really upset. He just looked at her and turned around and walked away.

"Michael please understand that you are out of my life for good. I am pressing charges. and I don't want to ever see you again!" She yelled. He didn't say anything. He just got up and walked off.

Carissa got up and walked towards Taylor.

*Open Arm*
~Chapter Three~
:::To Fall In Love Again:::

"Taylor wait please!" She yelled as she ran after him. He walked out the door and let it swing shut, then Carissa ran out the door .

"Taylor what's wrong?" She asked feeling something was wrong.

"How could you ask me what's wrong? You know what is wrong Carissa." Taylor said with the same 'giving up' tone he used when he was about to give up.

"What are you talking about Taylor?" She asked looking up at him confused.

"I heard you. Telling him that you love him and had great times together. Just...screw it ok?!" Taylor said walking towards his car.

There was lightening and a few seconds later a loud 'boom' from the thunder.

"NO! Taylor!" Carissa yelled trying to get him to stop. Then she ran up to him, grabbed his arm and he spanned around. He just stood there looking at her. She looked into his eyes. Then it started to sprinkle, and by this time they were in the middle of the parking lot.

"Taylor. I told him that him and I had, had great times. And that I thought that I loved him before." She paused for a moment. Then Taylor looked away. It started to rain heavily.

"But that was after I told him that I loved you. Then I told him that it was over between me and him. I told him...that I never wanted to see him again, and I was going to press charges on him." Carissa said as she shivered from the coldness of the huge rain drops hitting her from above.

Taylor still hadn't looked at her yet.

"Taylor, did you hear me?" She asked loudly.

Then he looked at her. A smile spread over his face he walked closer to her and took her clip out of her hair and let it cascade down her back and face. He pushed it out of her face and looked into her eyes as he caressed her face. All she could do was smile. He outlined her lips with his finger and then kissed her lightly.

Then she pulled him back and kissed him passionately. Taylor took her hand and they ran towards the car. He unlocked her door and then his and they drove to her house. They didn't say a word. They turned into her drive-way. She got her keys out of her purse and thought to herself 'I guess I will get my car tomorrow.' Then she got out of the car as Taylor followed. Carissa unlocked the door and walked in. Before she turned on the light she noticed that there was already light coming from the living room. She walked in and seen about twenty candles spread around the room most of them on the table and in the middle of the table there was a bowl of strawberries and next to the table there was Taylor's keyboard and a chair.

"What is all of......" Carissa tried to ask but was interrupted.

"Shhhh.." Taylor said kissing her gently. Then he led her to the couch and had her sit down. "This is my song to you." Taylor said as he sat down and started to play his keyboard. He sang:

Lying beside you here in the dark
Feeling your heart beat with mine
Softly you whisper, Your So Sincere
How could our love be so blind
We sailed on together we drifted apart
And here you are by my side

Chorus
So now I come to you with open arms
Nothing to hide, Believe what I say
So here I am with open arms
hoping you'll see what your love means to me
Open Arms

Living without you, Living alone
This empty house seems so cold
Wanting to hold you, Wanting you near
How much I wanted you whole
But now that you've come back
Turned night into day, I need you to stay

Chorus
So now I come to you with open arms
Nothing to hide, Believe what I say
So here I am with open arms
hoping you'll see what your love means to me
Open Arms

As he ended he looked up at her with a new look in his eyes. Not only love but passion. He went over to her and took her hand. He led her to the room and they sat down on the bed. "Carissa, I know that you are the only person for me. THE girl that I want to devote the rest of my life to." Taylor said as he kissed her neck. She started to unbutton his drenched shirt as Taylor moved down to her neck. She pulled off the shirt and his under shirt. She ran her fingers through his hair as he pulled the off her shirt and caressed the top of her chest with his lips.

She brought his face up to hers. "Taylor....I love you more than anything on this earth. I love you more than anything." She said.

"Carissa, would you promise to marry me when we decide the time is right?" Taylor asked.

She smiled with love in her eyes and nodded.

He pulled out a small promise ring from his pocket and slipped it onto her finger. They kissed lustfully.

Carissa stood up and looked at Taylor. Taylor just watched her with a certain glow. "Taylor. Tonight I am giving myself to you, as my first and only, to make love." She said as she unzipped and slid her skirt off.

Taylor stood up, and picked her up then lay her on the bed. He laid on his side next to her and ran his fingers along her stomach. They just stared at each other, looking into each others eyes. She unbuttoned his pants and he slid them off and threw them on the floor. Taylor undid Carissa's bra. He started to kiss her stomach and went up and caressed her breast with his tongue. She moaned and ran her hands along his neck. He started to go down again, kissing every part of her body that was unclothed.

She ran her fingers up and down his back. It was like had imagined a hundred times before, making love to her. Then Carissa brought his face to hers and kissed him with all the lust that was in her. Then she got on top of sitting on his bottom half. She started kissing his neck as he helped her slip off her panties. Then she went down to his chest and ran her fingers and tongue all the way to his boxers.

Then she laughed a sexy laugh. She took the top of the boxers with her hand and pulled them down right above his erection, and kissed teasingly. Then removed his boxers and threw them on the floor. Then Taylor got on top of her and started kissing her. "Are you ok?" He asked her.

"Yes." She said as she nodded. "Are you?" She asked him.

"Yes. I finally get to have you all to myself." Taylor said with fiery passion in his eyes.

They didn't talk very much the rest of the night, the only sound you could hear was the thunder......