Part 2

Ryan parked the Rover in the parking lot at the pier and both Kirsten and he got out. Ryan pushed the button on the key and the door beeped locked.

"Are you sure that you want your friends to see you with your mom?" Kirsten asked hesitantly. "Seth stopped letting me come to the pier with him years ago."

"Seth doesn't appreciate how good he has it." Ryan stated softly as he shot her a sideways glance.

Kirsten wrapped her arm around his waist and gave him a quick hug before releasing him. "Come on son, there's a cone of mint chocolate chip with my name all over it."

Ryan chuckled and nodded as they headed down the pier.

Neither one of them noticed the small man watching them from behind another SUV in the parking lot. Martin Carlisle smiled evilly as he eyed the beautiful blonde. He couldn't believe his luck! He had an insatiable appetite for beautiful women. Unfortunately, they did not love him in return. For years others had told him that he was trying to date out of his league. He was only 5'7", and he had a receding hairline and a paunch stomach. Women didn't normally give him a second look. So he decided to stop playing the dating game and just take what he wanted.

Marty didn't actually like it when a woman fought him, but he had discovered that if he held a gun on one of these women's kids, he could get them to do anything he wanted. He had expected to only be able to pull this off a few times before the cops were on to him, but this was Newport, and no one wanted to admit that they had been violated like that. So he was still quite free to continue his games with no one the wiser.

Marty glanced over at the expensive SUV that the mother and son had just gotten out of and memorized the license plate. He had his system down to a fine art. After a couple of missteps, the rapist had learned to simply memorize the car they got out of and then follow his next victims until they were returning to their vehicles. Thanks to his job as a locksmith, there weren't many cars that Marty couldn't get into.

Marty would break into their vehicle and hide himself in the back seat until the victims got in. Then he would reveal himself and hold them at gunpoint until they drove to a site of his choice. Then the fun began. The two blonds meandered lazily through the crowded pier as they talked and smiled on their mother and son outing. Marty followed right behind them.

Kirsten paid for her mint chocolate chip cone and Ryan's scoop of chocolate. They found a free bench overlooking the water and settled to eat their ice cream.

"I know that I don't say it enough, but I'm so proud of you Ryan." Kirsten said softly looking at her son.

Ryan blushed slightly at the compliment and gave her a shy smile. "Thanks."

"I know that we had a rocky start, and that it was my fault. I'm just so grateful that you gave me another chance." Kirsten continued, staring out over the water.

"You're a good mom." Ryan stated in his quiet way.

Kirsten smiled and chuckled. "I didn't used to be. I was so obsessed with proving myself to my father and seeking his approval that I virtually ignored Seth."

Ryan shrugged. "You didn't hit him or scream that he was worthless. You were far from a bad mom."

Kirsten stared at her new son sadly. It was so rare for Ryan to offer information about his childhood. "I'm sorry that you had to live through that."

"It's in the past." Ryan dismissed. "I'm just saying that even if you weren't perfect, there are much worse mothers out there."

Kirsten settled her hand lightly on his arm. "The day that Dawn left, she asked me to be your mother. She claimed that I had something that she didn't have. Then you came out of the pool house and I had never felt so humbled in my life, or so scared."

Seeing Ryan duck his face away, Kirsten squeezed his arm. "Not of you Sweetie, never of you! I was scared to death that I wouldn't be good enough for you. I was terrified that I would never be able to build a relationship with you."

Ryan raised his eyes to look at her intently. Knowing that she had his undivided attention, Kirsten smiled sadly. "I was devastated the day that you left with Theresa. I thought that I had failed that day. You left; and there was this huge hole in my heart. This past summer was hell for me. I promised myself that if only I could get one more chance, I would never let you go again. I would make sure that you knew what you meant to me, how no matter what science might say that in my heart you were my son. I vowed that you would know how much I love you. I know that Dawn is your mother, and that she always will be, but I am too and that means everything to me."

Ryan had tears in his eyes they he was refusing to release, but Kirsten could tell that he had understood what she was trying to say.

Ryan turned his head and stared out over the expanse of the ocean. "Dawn has never really been a mother to me. I was taking care of her for as long as I can remember. I did the grocery shopping when we actually had the money for food. If not, I would work out a deal with the grocer to get the old bread that was no longer fresh enough to sell. There were a few instances of food poisoning, but that was life. I didn't eat anything but peanut butter sandwiches one year. I resorted to petty theft if there wasn't any old bread available. Some days I went without food altogether."

Ryan paused and then continued. "Then there was Trey. He looked out for me until he left home when I was ten and never came back. He was tired of being the whipping boy for Dawn's various boyfriends. She never brought home anyone that didn't hit. I would clean up around the house as much as possible and make sure they had fresh needles when I could. I would go hang out with Trey to get away from the house when things were at their worst. That's what I was doing the night that I got arrested."

Ryan looked back at Kirsten and saw her wipe a tear away from her eye. He stared into her loving eyes. "I didn't blame you for not wanting me in your home when we first met, but I thought you were amazing. Dawn wouldn't have ever considered if someone would get me hurt like you did Seth. She has never protected me. Then you asked me to come home from juvie and even tried to make me feel welcome by offering to take me on the architectural tour. I thought you were the best mom I had ever seen."

Ryan smiled lovingly. "The day that Seth and I came home and you were so excited to see us – no one has ever been that excited to see me. That was when I realized that you really were my mom. Dawn gave birth to me, but in my heart you will always be 'Mom'." Ryan confessed.

Kirsten sobbed and threw her arms around her son. Ryan returned the hug and closed his eyes happily. He normally protected himself by keeping his feelings hidden. He was so glad he had decided to share them with his new mom. Ryan could tell how much it meant to her.

"I couldn't love you more than if I had given birth to you and raised you myself." Kirsten whispered. She backed away and looked into his blue eyes so like her own. "I realize that you may not ever feel comfortable calling me 'Mom', but you should know that I am going to be calling you my son."

Ryan grinned. "I'll work on it."

Kirsten smiled tenderly and then took a deep breath and wiped at her eyes. She finished wadding up the napkin that she had used to keep her ice cream from dripping on her hand and stood up. She tossed the paper into the trash can near the bench and moved out of the way so that Ryan could do the same.

Feeling the intense need to be close to Ryan after their little confessional, Kirsten looped her arm through his and they began to head back to the car. "Did I ever tell you about the time that Seth got cowboy pajamas for Christmukkah?"

Ryan smiled and shook his head. He listened as Kirsten launched into the story of a boy, a broomstick horse, and why Seth should never ride a bucking bronco on his bed. They were still laughing when they arrived back in the parking lot.

Marty smiled from the back seat of his prey's Land Rover. He was glad that he'd memorized the license plate number since two more just like it were now parked nearby. It had only taken him a moment to open the door with his special electronic key. He could already feel himself getting excited at the prospect of taking the perfect blonde woman.

Ryan glanced across the parking lot and realized he didn't know which car was theirs. He smiled at Kirsten when she mentioned that there were now three black Rovers parked near each other. He pulled out the keys and pressed the button that would unlock the doors. A short beep sounded before the world exploded in a ball of fire. Patrons of the pier screamed and ran as a car erupted in flames. Two people near the exploding car were thrown back and lay unmoving on the concrete.

Ryan felt sore all over, and he felt like he was standing too close to a fire place. There was a pungent smell in the air. Burning metal and plastic was sending a noxious cloud into the atmosphere and contaminating the salty scent of the ocean. Ryan felt as if he had a mild sunburn. His skin was stiff and dry. His face felt like it was cooking on the hot concrete that had been baked by the California sun.

Ryan forced open his eyes with a soft groan and raised his head to look around. He could feel bits of sand against his face from where it had lain on the concrete. It was as if someone had rubbed the side of his face with sandpaper. He looked to his side and saw Kirsten lying unmoving next to him.

Alarmed, Ryan ignored his soreness and pulled himself over to his mother – because that's what she was now. There was a gash above her right eyebrow, and her skin was slightly pink.

"Kirsten?" Ryan called out as he placed the palm of his hand against her cheek.

Kirsten moaned softly, but didn't open her eyes. Desperate for her to wake up and assure him that she was going to be okay, Ryan tried again.

"Mom? Open your eyes! Please Mom!" Ryan cried anxiously.

Kirsten moaned again, and the Ryan could see her blue eyes staring back at him. "Did I hear you call me 'Mom'?" She whispered.

Ryan smiled through his tears. "Yeah."

"You no longer get to call me 'Kirsten'. You just lost the privilege." Kirsten declared as loudly as her hoarse voice would allow her.

"Just as long as you're alright, I'll call you whatever you want." Ryan replied shakily.

"Help me sit up." Kirsten instructed, beginning to feel uncomfortable on the hot concrete.

"Are you sure? You have a head injury." Ryan argued.

"Trust me." She assured him.

Ryan sighed and nodded before reaching under Kirsten's shoulder and helping her to roll over on her back and then sit up. By the time he was done, they were both wincing from their numerous cuts and bruises. Ryan pulled off his t-shirt and held the cleanest part he could find against the cut on Kirsten's forehead.

By this time, emergency personnel were arriving at the scene. There was also a growing crowd of bystanders gathering to see the destruction. A young teenage girl approached the injured mother and son with a handful of napkins.

"Are you two alright?" She asked as she crouched next to them and handed Ryan the napkins to hold against Kirsten's head. Feeling less disoriented, Kirsten raised her hand and replaced Ryan's holding the napkins.

"I think so." Kirsten replied to the Good Samaritan with a shaky smile. "Thank you."

The pretty brunette nodded and Kirsten saw the girl's eyes widen as she quickly checked out Ryan's bare chest. Kirsten fought back a laugh as her son inadvertently gained another admirer.

Unable to avoid noticing of the girl's pretty features, Ryan smiled. "Thanks."

"All in a day's work," she shrugged. "I'm Brooke."

"Ryan."

"Oh just get her phone number already." Kirsten declared as a paramedic approached her.

Ryan and Brooke both chuckled in embarrassment. "I really should do what my mom says." Ryan began shyly.

Brooke grinned flirtatiously. "Yeah you should always obey your mom." She agreed before pulling a pen out of her purse and writing her number in the palm of Ryan's hand. "Call me." She breathed in a husky voice that oozed sex.

Ryan nodded. "I promise, and thanks for your help."

Brooke winked and moved out of the way so the paramedic could examine Ryan. Then she was gone.

Without the distraction of the pretty girl, Ryan was once more consumed with the condition of his mother. He shifted and tried to look around the man in front of him so that he could see what was happening to Kirsten.

"Kid I need you to hold still." The paramedic scolded.

"What about my mom? How is she?" Ryan asked anxiously.

The paramedic sighed. He knew from experience that the teen wouldn't let him do his job until the mother's condition was verified. Just as he was about to call out, his partner beat him to the punch.

"Tony, how's your patient?" Roger's voice demanded.

"Probably as uncooperative as yours! Wants to know how his mom is." Tony complained.

Before Roger could reply, a woman's voice interrupted. "Ryan let the man take care of you. I'm going to be fine!"

Ryan relaxed a bit and nodded for the paramedic to continue. Tony grinned at the impact the woman had on her son. If only his own kids were so obedient!

"Did you lose consciousness?" Tony asked as he shined a light in Ryan's eye.

"Not for long." Ryan replied with a small shrug.

Tony sighed. "I'm pretty sure that you have a concussion, but the doc will have to make that call. Let's get you to the hospital."

"What? No way! I'm just a little sore!" Ryan protested.

"Ryan, you have just survived an explosion. You are going to the hospital." Tony ordered. "Now lay down so we can leave."

"Before you do I'm going to need the young man's name and the name of his parents." A police officer declared as he approached them.

"Ryan Atwood. My guardians are Sandy and Kirsten Cohen." Ryan answered, wanting the cop to go away.

"Wait, Sandy Cohen that used to work as a public defender?" The officer asked.

"Yeah." Ryan replied warily.

"You must be that kid he took in." The cop verified.

Ryan stared at him distrustfully and nodded.

The cop, seeing his expression, smiled. "Sandy's a buddy of mine. Don't worry Ryan, I'll give him a call and tell him about what's going on. My name's Rick by the way."

Not used to cops being friendly, Ryan nodded but didn't relax.

"Take good care of him, my buddy really loves this kid." Rick instructed.

Deciding that the cop was on the level, Ryan spoke up. "Kirsten is over there."

Rick looked concerned and turned his head in the direction that Ryan was pointing. He glanced back over at Ryan and gave him a grateful smile. "Thanks kid. I'll see you at the hospital for your statement. I know Sandy will want to be there."

Just then another ambulance pulled into the parking lot with the sirens blaring. It suddenly reminded Ryan that he had a monster headache. Suddenly Tony wasn't having so much trouble getting his patient to lie down on the gurney.

"That's it kid. The sooner we get you to the hospital, the sooner you can get rid of that headache." Tony soothed.

The other two paramedics in the other ambulance began to load Kirsten so they could transport her as well. It only took minutes before the two ambulances roared out of the parking lot and to the hospital, leaving a smoking pile of twisted metal behind.

"Seth! Where are you?" Sandy demanded as he drove towards HOAG at top speed.

"Summer and I are at the Diner. Why, what's up?" Seth asked nonchalantly.

Summer fought a giggle as she traced her fingers down her boyfriend's bare chest. They had just finished another round of "make-up sex" in her room. She had lost count of how many times they had "made-up", but that wasn't what was important. Seth was back and she had forgiven him. She was happy again and all was right with the world – or at least it used to be by the alarmed expression on her boyfriend's face.

"I'll be right there, Dad." Seth declared anxiously before ending the call and jumping out of bed. He was hurriedly pulling on his boxers and jeans while Summer watched him in confusion.

"Cohen, what's wrong?" Summer asked.

"Mom and Ryan were in an accident, they are being taken to HOAG." Seth explained in a rush as he pulled his t-shirt over his head.

Summer began pulling her own clothes on. "I'm coming with you."

Seth paused long enough to plant a hard kiss on her lips. "Thank you." He whispered before beginning to shove his socks and shoes on his feet.

Summer smiled and nodded. Moments later they were peeling out of the driveway and speeding down the road.

TBC…