I'm currently unsure where Three Cheers For Five Year's is going so I started this one. I know I should probably be focusing on that one but I've got a lot of time on my hands this summer. So here goes nothing. Hope you like it!
"This is all a big joke right? It is April 1st. Tell me this is a joke." Ryan Atwood was standing in the middle of the hospital in Los Angles, California. His brother had just told him his wife was dead. His amazing wife of five years was dead. "Ryan." Summer, his brothers wife, said. "Where's Noah?" Ryan asked for his son, Noah was two. "In the waiting room with mom and dad. Ryan don't you want to see the baby though?" Seth was starting to get scared, Ryan had that look in his eye the one that Seth hadn't seen in years. "She killed Sadie" is all he said before stalking down the hall to his son. Ryan didn't acknowledge his foster parents presence, instead he picked up his young son and left the hospital. Ryan was hurting. He wasn't sure he'd ever recover from this.
It had been exactly five years since that night. The night he lost his wife and gained a daughter. "Daddy" a hand tugged on the bottom of his shirt. "Yes Claire?" he looked down at her as he put the five candles on her pink birthday cake. "Noah said mommy died because of me." Ryan stopped putting the candles on the cake. He tried looking at Claire before walking out the back door to his son.
"Noah Cohen Atwood get inside now!" he yelled glaring at the eight year old blue eyed boy. He watched his son take a gulp of his soda before walking into the house.
"Claire go find your aunt Summer, please?"
"but daddy she's playing with Vivi and I don't wanna play with them" Claire whined. "Claire Jade Atwood, I need to talk to your brother right now! Go!" he told his five year old sternly. She tried to say something but Ryan stopped her. "Claire, unless you want to spend your birthday in your room I suggest you go outside. Go find Uncle Seth if you need to." Ryan Atwood was not in the mood to deal with his whiny daughter right then. Claire gave Ryan a pout before running out the back door screaming "Uncle Sethy!"
"Sit." Ryan pointed to the kitchen table chair. "Dad…" Noah started but Ryan quickly interrupted. "Tell me why you would say that to your little sister." He sat down opposite Noah. Noah just shrugged the ever popular Atwood shrug.
"That is not the answer I want. Noah, she's five. You can't say things like that. I don't even want you thinking things like that." He stared at his dark haired son. Ryan had always pictured his kids with blonde hair. Although they both had Sadie's dark hair they had Ryan's blue eyes.
"But dad it's true! If Claire wasn't born mom would still be here!" Noah stood up from his chair. "Sit back down. I'm not done." Ryan told him firmly with a clenched jaw. He couldn't believe his ears. He wasn't even sure how Noah knew how Sadie died. Noah sat down looked down at his feet before he sat back down.
Just as Ryan was about to say something Seth burst into the kitchen with blood running from his forehead. "Seth, what happened?" Ryan eyed his brother. "Your daughter inherited your fighting skills." He said running for the sink. Ryan shook his head not knowing what to do next.
"Claire did that?" Noah's eyes grew big when Seth showed them the damage Ryan's five year old did to his head. "She sure did, now ask how because it's an interesting story." Seth pressed a towel to the cut. "Do I even want to know?" Ryan rolled his eyes not wanting to have to yell at his little girl again. Today just wasn't his day.
"She tackled me and hit me with a plastic bat." Seth said laughing the whole time. "A five year old tackled you?" Ryan gave him a strange look. "Yeah, I don't know how it happened either. She's strong." He said before looking at the blood on the towel. Ryan watched as Seth's face paled.
"Uncle Sethy." Claire came bursting into the kitchen. "Oh God, your daughter scares me." Seth looked at Ryan before heading out the back door to the rest of the family. Sandy and Kirsten were out there playing with Seth and Summer's four kids.
"May I ask why you hit your uncle?" Ryan asked putting her on his lap. "I don't know." There was that shrug again. "I should have taught you two a different answer." He laughed. He looked at his two kids realizing that he just couldn't stay mad at either of them. They were his life, his everything.
"Taylor's here!" Summer came running through the house. Ryan watched as his sister-in-law made a dash for the front door. Ryan got Claire up from his lap before walking to the front door after Summer.
He watched as the two hugged, Ryan hadn't seen Taylor Townsend since graduation day. She looked different. Much different but not in a bad way. "Sum!" She cried before they broke apart. "Ryan you remember Taylor Townsend." Summer smiled. "Of course." Ryan stuff his hands in his front pockets unsure of what to say. This was the girl who helped get him kicked out of Harbor, she was also the one who helped him get back in.
"Daddy." Claire walked up behind them. He looked back at his shy daughter. "I can't believe Ryan Atwood is a daddy." Taylor let out a small laugh. Her laugh alone made a chill run over Ryan's body.
God, she's beautiful. Ryan thought to himself. What am I thinking? I'm still in love with Sadie! I can't think something like that.
"Dad, can we eat cake now?" Noah asked walking into the now silent room. "Sure, kid." He smiled back at his eight year old. "Two kids?" Taylor lifted an eyebrow.
Ryan watched as Summer exited the room. He wasn't even sure why Taylor was standing in front of him, let alone why Summer was so excited that she was here.
