Jake's hand held hers lovingly as they walked down the pier late on a summer's night. They had just had a perfect dinner and now a perfect walk. Just talking and being a couple. Marissa noticed other people look at them in envy at how much in love they were. Marissa was truly in love.

The first time she had met Jake was at NYC. They were both at the coffee cart lining up for their daily caffeine when Jake turned with his ice coffee and bumped straight into Marissa, coffee staining her new white top. Marissa had never seen someone so embarrassed in her life and he was the first person to make her smile after leaving Orange County. After that they became friends, since Marissa was still wary about her heart getting broken again. Jake was one of the nicest people she new in New York and she developed strong feelings for him.

Marissa was stopped out of her thoughts as Jake stopped walking and turned to face her. She gazed into his hazel eyes and couldn't help but notice how cute he looked, his scruffy brown hair blowing in the wind. Jake reached out and gently pushed a strand of her blonde hair behind her ear and kissed her tenderly. Marissa savoured his touch and then noticed how nervous he was becoming.

"Jake…what's wrong?" She asked worried but then she became aware why as Jake went down to one knee, holding her hand.

"Marissa Cooper…I love you…" He breathed out, still shaking nervously.

'Oh my god…" Marissa whispered as she blushed.

"And I can't imagine not spending the rest of my life with you…"

Marissa's eyes welled up with tears as she saw Jake reach into his pocket and opening a small box, revealing a beautiful yet simple diamond ring.

"Will you marry me?" He asked hopeful as he saw tears in her eyes.

Marissa was speechless. She did love Jake very much and did want him in her life but, would her heart be broken yet again? Should she take a chance again? Smiling widely as tears rolled down her cheeks she gave him an answer.

"Yes Jake…yes" She laughed as he stood up smiling widely and spun her around in the middle of the pier. He kissed her passionately and placed the ring on her finger.

"I love you" He whispered, kissing her nose.

"I love you too" She smiled happily at the man she loved.

Getting home late Marissa and Jake expressed to each other how much they really loved each other until they slept in each others arms with smiles on their faces.

-----

"Hello? Can I please talk to Miss Roberts...Yes this is Marissa Cooper." Marissa rang her best friend from her work payphone in the nurse's lounge.

Marissa always talked to Summer when she moved to New York. She became her confidante and their friendship grew stronger despite the distance. Since moving back to Orange County she discovered Summer was engaged to long-term boyfriend Seth Cohen and was now working for a marketing company. Summer and Seth had met Jake and really liked him. At these meetings Marissa had made sure Ryan was never there.

"Hello…Marissa?" Summers bubbly voice came through the phone.

"Summ…I have some good news…" Marissa smiled excitedly, looking at her gorgeous ring.

"Oh…I need some good news…I have to try and sell women condoms…now could I get a – " Summer started ranting until Marissa cut her off.

"I'm getting married" At that point she had to remove the phone from her ear because Summers' ear piercing squeal could be heard throughout the room.

"Oh my god Coop! I'm so happy for you…you and Jake are so cute…"

"Thanks Summ…I was thinking of having an engagement party…"

"Oh please let me organise it Coop…I need to take my mind off work…"

"I was just going to ask you" Marissa smiled as her best friend squealed again.

"So…I am matron of honour, right?"

------

Kicking off her shoes and dropping her bag and keys Marissa walked to her bedroom. After a whole day running labs she was beat and wanted to sleep. Unbuttoning her uniform and laying on the bed her fiancé walked in. Jake was a copy editor for the Orange County Register.

"Hello beautiful" He softly kissed Marissa's neck and climbed next to her in the bed.

"Hello fiancé" She smiled and snuggled into him.

"How was work?"

"It was ok…I called Summer today."

"Oh yes, the phone calls. I called my parents today. They're happy and want front seats." He laughed.

"Summer offered to host our engagement party."

"Well that's one less thing to worry about. Have you called your mother?"

"Not yet. I will soon though…this is around the time she visits dad's grave."

Marissa's mother was still depressed from her father's death and every Friday night she visited his grave to lay flowers. Marissa wished he would be here to see her getting married but things never worked out the way you expected them to…

-----

Summer walked through her apartment door smiling happily. Her best friend was finally happy, and was getting married. Six years ago she would've made a different prediction. That Ryan, her future brother in law, and Marissa would be getting married but things never turned out the way you expected them to.

Snapping her out of her thoughts her fiancé walked in still in his bed robe and with a cup of coffee. Seth worked mostly from home in his studio doing new pages for his comic Atomic County.

"Sweetie, you didn't even get changed today?" Summer hugged him as he kissed her hair.

"No one is going to see me, except you and you can get me out these clothes if you want" He smiled cheekily putting down his coffee cup ready.

"Later…but first…Coop is getting married!" Summer smiled at her fiance who looked down not as enthusiastic.

"Oh…that's nice."

Seth had always wanted Ryan and Marissa to be together. He knew they belonged together yet Marissa moved away leaving Ryan heartbroken. She says he broke her heart but Seth stood by his brother. Ryan was his best friend and he was there for him and Seth was there for Ryan. Ryan was going to take the news hard that Marissa was engaged. Ryan didn't even know she was back in Newport.

"What's wrong?" Summer asked.

"Nothing…I'm happy for her…it's just Ryan is going to take this hard."

"Ryan? He doesn't even know Marissa is back."

"I know…but I think we should tell him. Don't you think Ryan and Marissa should resolve their issues before she gets married?"

"Yeah… they should but they won't see each other." Summer contemplated this, but Seth kissed her tenderly.

"Lets think of a plan later" He winked at her and kissing her as he carried her to the bedroom, Summer's giggles following.

a/n: Ok so this is my new story. I won't be neglecting Man Without Fear I promise. I just thought of this story and had to type it up. I will be introducing Ryan in the next chapter… Please review