Coming Back
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RM
Disclaimer: Own nothing. Obviously.
Information: Ryan/Marissa, Marissa left for Greece at the end of season 3, Ryan is at Berkeley.
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Ryan rolled over and groaned. "Ughhh. It's two thirty in the morning..who is it??" Walking over to his door, Ryan rubbed his face and ran his hand through his hair.
He opened the door and his whole world shifted. It couldn't be. "Marissa.." he breathed softly. She stood in his doorway, surrounded by luggage.
"Hi," she said so softly and tentatively it was almost a whisper.
A gentle quiet fell between them as she sighed, waiting for his response. He took in a few deep breaths and let it out softly, closing his eyes for a few seconds before reopening them to make sure she wasn't just another dream that would cause him to wake up with a fresh heartache. She wasn't. "What are you doing here?"
"I left here to find where I belonged, where I was happiest. I was afraid, and didn't think that I could do this, that I wasn't ready for college." She rushed out, as though afraid he would slam the door in her face at any moment. "But, I tried Greece, and working on the boat was great, I got to see my Dad and everything..but I realized that the only place that I beonged, the only place I wanted to be, was with you. I want to do this, I think I can, with you. I want to be that girl again, the happy one who was meant for college and a good life, I want to do this and do well… and when I'm with you, I feel like I can…" She exhaled slowly, watching him for a reaction.
"You're back?" he asked questioningly, as though afraid to believe it.
"Yes."
"You're really…back??" he asked again, still scared it was all just a dream.
"I'm back…and I'm at Berkeley. With you. Where I'm supposed to be."
Without a word, Ryan stepped forward without hesitation and pulled her firmly into a deep hug , cradling her in his strong, protective arms. He held her there for a moment, his hands in her hair and on her lower back, breathing her in, before pulling back enough to see her face. She gave him an abashed smile and he smiled back softly, pushing back a few fallen strands of hair behind her ear. She gave him a dazzling smile back, and he couldn't wait any longer. He pulled her back in, crashing his lips on hers as he had so often and so long and so desperately dreamt about doing again.
Breaking apart for air, he looked her in the eyes and said simply, "I missed you." Opening the door to his suite, he carried her bags inside before pulling her backwards into another embrace, hugging her from behind and nuzzling her neck. "Welcome back," he whispered in her ear as he hugged her. "I missed you so much, Riss."
"I missed you more than you could know." She whispered back. "I missed you every day…but every night it was the worst…but I'm finally back where I belong." She smiled as she turned around and snuggled into his chest. "With you." She said sleepily.
Ryan kissed her forehead. "And I'm never letting you go again." He said, letting the sound of her gentle heartbeat lull him to sleep as they collapsed on the bed, simply happy to once again be in each other's arms.