Chapter 4: For One So Small You Seem So Strong

With the new low-income housing development project going on at the moment, Ryan found himself working a bit later than usual which met it was cutting back time from his kids. He had to explain the situation that on some days they would have to sleepover at Kristen and Sandy's house since Sandy was also funding the project too. It didn't matter to Angie or Liam whether they were spending the night as a family, but as long as Ryan was with them they were happy.

One weekend Ryan and the kids were staying at Kristen and Sandy's place to work on the housing project when Seth and Summer came over with their kids. Angie and Liam were playing inside the house when they heard the doorbell ring.

"I'll get it grandma!" Angie ran as she opened the door, "Uncle Seth! Hi Aunt Summer!"

"Hey Cosmo Girl how's it going?" Seth smiled hugging Angie, "Is grandpa and grandma around or your dad for that matter?"

"They're in the living room working," Angie replied, "Liam that's my coloring book!"

"No it's mine Angela!" Liam was arguing with his sister, "I want to color too!"

"It's mine I'm coloring first!" Angie yelled, "You give that back!"

"You share it Angie I want to color too!" Liam replied as the two started tugging on the coloring book, "I want to color!"

"Hey guys c'mon settle down you have to share," Ryan said coming in the room as he saw the kids fighting, "You two behave yourselves or else I'm taking the coloring book away. You two are brother and sister and you love each other remember that. Now I want you two to say sorry to each other okay?"

"I'm sorry," Angie and Liam replied at the same time giving each other a hug.

"I see that you're pretty swamped with work here Ryan," Summer replied, "We just came back from the kids' doctor's appointment and decided to drop by…but if we're intruding we can come back later when you're not too busy."

"It's okay you guys are not intruding," Ryan said, "Sandy and Kristen are upstairs dealing with some phone calls for some of the contractors and designers."

"Seth headed upstairs to check up on his dad," Summer replied, "We're actually going to head out just doing a little shopping and stuff…Seth and I can take Liam and Angie off your hands for a few hours while you guys work."

"I'm not too sure if I should…I don't want to put my kids as a burden for you two to look after them while I work," Ryan protested, "I need to still balance my career and taking care of Angie and Liam at the same time."

"Oh c'mon Ryan you need a break at least and we don't mind taking care of Angie and Liam for you," Summer said, "We insist and don't argue with me okay Atwood? But promise me under the condition…you join us later on at the mall you also need a break from work."

"Alright fine I'll see if I can meet up with you guys later," Ryan said, "I'll get them ready but keep a close eye on my kids, especially Angela she has that knack to talk to people at random for no apparent reason. I have my cell on me and I'll be here at the house if anything happens or there's an emergency let me know and phone me."

"Someone is being a bit overprotective of their children," Seth said coming downstairs, "You agreed to take Angie and Liam on our behalf for Ryan? I guess…I'm loading up the little chickadees then."

"Daddy we're ready," Angie and Liam replied, "Are we going with Aunt Summer and Uncle Seth?"

"Yeah and you guys behave yourselves," Ryan smiled giving his kids a hug, "Listen to Seth and Summer okay and stay close to them at all times okay?"

"Yes daddy we will," the kids replied as they left, "We'll be good."

The Mall…

"Okay little chickadees let's rollout!" Seth replied as they pulled into the parking lot.

"Gosh Cohen you're one strange man," Summer joked as the all got out of the car, "Oh boy I love going to the mall c'mon Tristan don't you love it?"

"I like going to the toy store," Tristan replied, "Daddy can we go to the toy store?"

"Sure buddy we can do but we won't tell your mom about it deal?" Seth whispered to his son.

"I heard that and don't think I'm deaf or anything!" Summer said, "Angie…do you like to do some clothes shopping?"

"Alright I'll do that," Angie smiled, "I like some new CDs and DVDs too!"

When Seth, Summer and the kids all entered the mall, they began to walk around into the various stores and Seth insisted on heading into the music store to check out some new CDs and DVDs for the kids. However, Summer had her hands full with Paige and Marcus as they were getting fussy while Seth was taking Tristan around the Anime movie section with Angela and Liam.

"Wow they got some new Dragonball GT DVDS out Tristan," Seth said as the two were roaming around the Anime section, "Here's twenty bucks make sure your mom doesn't see you buying this okay? Remember what I taught you right?"

"That you have to be stealth right?" Tristan asked, "And I tell mommy that you bought it for me…but I know you still watch Anime movies." Tristan noticed that Liam's baseball cap was on the floor and that he didn't hear either Liam or Angela's voices as he tried to get Seth's attention.

"Wow can you believe that we picked a good day to come to the mall…" Seth said as Tristan tried to get his attention.

"Huh dad…there's something wrong because I can't find Liam or…"

"Here's another good one Gundam Wing this is pretty amazing stuff son. The box set is thirty percent off the regular price what do you think Angie?" Seth turned around and he didn't noticed through his rambling with Tristan about movies that Angela wasn't with them, "Angela? Angie where are you?"

"Dad…that's what I'm trying to tell you!" Tristan replied, "Angela and Liam are not here and that means they're lost and Uncle Ryan is not going to be happy!"

"Now it's not a good time to mention to your mom that daddy screwed up big time and lost your Uncle Ryan's kids don't worry," Seth began to panic, "Angela! Liam! Guys where are you?" Angie? Liam? Guys where are you?"

"Dad we got to find them before mom is going to realize they're not here," Tristan replied as the two frantically searched the entire store, "I don't see them!"

"So you two were up to doing some little shopping while I was not here," Summer replied as she met up with them along with the twins, "You know the routine young man it goes back on the shelf. Cohen don't you think I'm not that smart to realize what you're up to. Well let's get a move on then I want to take Angie clothes shopping c'mon then."

"Well Summer I wish that would be possible if…if I may have accidentally realized that…" Seth was too nervous to tell Summer what happened until she knew.

"Gosh Cohen what the hell?" Summer yelled, "All you had to do was watch them and keep an eye out for them! I can't believe you lost Liam and Angela that's just great Seth! This is why you weren't suppose to take them to the music store because you get distracted so easily! I bet they probably weren't with you for nearly half the time because you know Liam loves to wander around if you don't keep an eye out on them!"

"I'm sorry Summer I didn't mean for all of this to happen you got to believe me," Seth pleaded as she pulled her cellphone out of her purse, "Okay no please don't resort to calling Ryan we can find them!"

"Oh we're going to spend this time search the mall for Liam and Angela but we got to let Ryan know what's happening Seth!" Summer replied, "Knowing Chino yeah he's not going to be happy by the time he shows up to the mall and finds out we don't have his kids so let's get a move on and find them!"

Kristen and Sandy's place…

Ryan was finishing up the last of his model for one of his development projects as Sandy and Kristen arrived home. As they walked through the door Ryan's cellphone went off and it was a call from Summer.

"Hello?" Ryan replied, "Hey Summer how's it going? Listen I'm already done and I'm heading to the mall to meet up with you guys."

"Ryan we got a situation and we are really sorry but I promise you we got it under control right now," Summer replied on the other line in panic, "It's about the kids."

"Okay what about my kids you are looking after them I know that unless…"

"Ryan…they accidentally wandered off while Seth was in the music store and now they're lost in the mall. Don't worry Seth and I are looking for them right now and we're informing mall security if they see any sign of them. We're really sorry Ryan I know it's just…"

"Just keep looking and call me if anything I'll be on the way down there Summer and just make sure they're in one piece," Ryan said, "This tends to happen especially when you're with Liam he likes to wander off and that's what I get for letting Seth take them to the music store."

"I'll make sure I'll ring in Cohen's neck for you," Summer teased, "We'll call you if anything."

"I'll be there in a bit and I'll meet you guys by the information booth," Ryan replied as he hung up, "Let me if anything changes."

The Mall…

Meanwhile, Angela was walking around another section of the mall after chasing Liam and finally catching up to her little brother. Unfortunately they didn't know where they were since the mall was a pretty big place for kids to get lost in. Angela was holding Liam's hand as the two sat on a bench watching people walk in and out of stores seeing all the strangers pass by.

"You see Liam this is what happens when you wander off," Angie told her brother, "I don't know where the music store is now and we don't know where Uncle Seth and Aunt Summer are! Now we are lost in the mall!"

"Where's daddy?" Liam asked, "Will daddy come?"

"Daddy's back at grandpa and grandma's place but he'll be here later," Angie added, "But he's not going to be happy with Uncle Seth because you wandered off again."

"I'm sorry Angie," Liam sighed, "Are you sad?"

"We're lost in the mall and it's really big," Angie sighed, "We'll sit here and remember what daddy says that we shouldn't talk to strangers unless we know them." As the two of them sat on the bench, Marissa was shopping around the mall when she noticed a pair of kids sitting on a bench alone. When she realized that it was her kids, she noticed that they were both upset and scared probably realizing that they were lost as she approached them.

"Hey…are you guys lost?" Marissa asked as she approached them, "Are you two okay?"

"My daddy says we shouldn't talk to strangers unless…hey you're that lady from before you're daddy's friend right?" Angie asked, "You're Marissa right?"

"Yeah you got that right and I know you're Angela," Marissa replied as she first got a look at Liam after 3 years, "Is this your little brother?"

"This is Liam he's three years old," Angie smiled, "This is a friend of daddy's Liam say hi."

"Hi there lady," Liam smiled at Marissa.

"Can you help us Marissa? We were here with our aunt and uncle and we got lost from them after my brother wandered off away from the music store because he does that a lot in very big places. Can you help us find them?"

"Okay you guys can stick with me I'll take you guys to the information booth you can probably have security paged them there," Marissa said as she noticed Liam was beginning to get tired.

"Liam's falling asleep and I can't really carry him. Marissa can you carry my brother please?"

"C'mon little guy here I'll hold you for a little while you rest those little feet of yours," Marissa smiled as she picked up Liam, "Don't worry I'm sure we'll find them I promise you that."

"Thank you Marissa," Angie smiled, "You're very kind."

"C'mon the mall is going to close in a little while so we'll head off to the information booth."

The Mall-a few hours later…

"It's been over three hours and there is still no sign of Liam or Angela," Summer sighed as her, Seth, Ryan and the kids reached the information booth, "My feet are so tired."

"I screwed up big time didn't I man?" Seth asked Ryan.

"The mall is closing up soon and we still haven't found the kids," Ryan replied, "And where is the security guard on duty here gosh! Hey I need to use the bathroom for a minute."

"Yeah we'll wait for you here," Seth said as Ryan headed off, "If it takes some miracle to happen I hope either Angela and Liam appear within the next few minutes."

Marissa was carrying Liam as her and Angela were making their way to the information booth to see if there was a security guard there. Angie began to pull Marissa's arm as she smiled as she saw Seth and Summer waiting by the information booth for them.

"What is it Angela?" Marissa asked as Angie was pulling her arm, "What is it?"

"I see them! I think I see Uncle Seth and Aunt Summer hooray we found them!" Angie smiled with excitement as she ran up ahead as Marissa tried to call her back.

"Angela! Angela come back slow down!" Marissa yelled as Angie ran towards them.

"Uncle Seth! Aunt Summer!" Angie was yelling as she ran towards them, "Uncle Seth! Aunt Summer I'm here!"

"Oh my gosh Angie where the heck have you been?" Summer replied shocked, "We've been looking for you guys all day thank god you're safe! Where's your little brother?"

"He's here with one of daddy's friends she led us here," Angie replied as Ryan came, "Daddy!"

"Angie thank goodness you're here," Ryan smiled with relief as he hugged his daughter, "You two had me worried but thank god you're safe. Where's Liam where's your brother?"

"Angela you have to slow down you know I was carrying your little brother and he's sleeping at the moment…" Everyone was suddenly silent as Ryan as left speechless as he was shocked by the person who was holding Liam. Seth and Summer stared with anticipation but it was Angie who broke the silence.

"She helped us and she was the one that helped us get here," Angie smiled, "Daddy…are you okay?"

"Oh my gosh…it's been a long time," Ryan replied with shock, "…Marissa?"

"Hey Ryan…" Marissa stood there holding Liam, "It's…been a long while."