Title: Advice
Rating: PG
Pairing: Marissa/Ryan and Ryan/Theresa (both implied) Also a little bit of Sandy/Kirsten.
Genre: General
Summary: Kirsten and Ryan have a talk about letting go. Ficlet.
Disclaimer: I don't own the O.C. Or Ryan and Seth. [pause] Dammit. Besides, if I owned the O.C, do you really think Marissa would suck this much?
Ryan?
Hey. Is Sandy around?
No, he's still at work. Big case.
It's 11:30 at night.
Yeah. And I'm still working too, as you can see. [chuckles quietly as she gestures to the plans on the table] It'll be a miracle if I can get finished before one...so what do you want to talk to Sandy about? Is there a problem?
Yeah—no—I mean it can wait. It's really not that big a deal.
Well--if you want--you could talk to me. I'm not Sandy, but I'm a pretty good listener.
No, that's okay. You're busy and—
Not that busy. [pats sofa] Come on. Sit.
Okay...if you're sure.
I am.
'Kay.
So...what's going on?
I just—needed advice. On...girls.
Really? I mean—Sandy and Seth are always talking about you being the ladies' man and...nevermind.
Yeah...that's not...exactly true. I just have more experience than Seth. But practically everyone has more experience than Seth, so that's not really an accomplishment.
Yeah, Seth's definitely a late bloomer. Although he's sure making up for lost time…
No kidding.
So, is this about Marissa then?
Yeah. It--I don't know. Forget it.
No. No, tell me.
How—how do you know when—when to hang in there?
In a relationship?
Yeah.
Wow. Well...that's a pretty tough question, Ryan. I mean, I guess—it's different for every person. Some people make lists...[sighs] I'm not really answering your question, am I?
How do you do it?
Do what?
I mean, you have problems with San-in your marriage, and...you still hang in there. Do you ever forget why you--nevermind. It—forget it.
No. Well, I don't know if this is the same for everyone, but...with me, it's like...even when I'm furious with Sandy, so furious I can't even see straight...I never forget why I married him. In the back of my head, I know it'll work out, because there's just no way it won't. Even when there are all these bad things crowding into my head, I never—never lose sight of the good things, because in the end, the good things always outweigh the bad. Always.
Always?
Uh huh. Always. Do--do you get it?
Yeah, kinda. But...if the bad outweighs the good...
Then I think it's time to take a really hard, long look at things. At yourself, at the other person...
Huh.
Does that help?
Yeah. Yeah, it--it does. Thanks.
No problem. And Ryan?
Yeah?
It's okay to let things go. To let—to let people go. Sometimes you have to.
Really?
Sometimes it's the only way to keep from drowning. And I really liked Theresa, by the way. She seems nice.
She is nice.
Good.
Night, Kirsten.
Goodnight, Ryan.
A/N: Oh, do I ever wish something like this would happen on the show. Until it does, I write fanfic.