A/N: Thanks for all the reviews for the second chapter... I'll warn you this chapter is going to be short because I want everyone to see Ryan's thoughts about seeing Marissa again... Also if I can get at least 10 reviews for this chapter by tonite before I go to bed I'll post the next chapter that's already written... Enjoy!
Disclaimer: I don't own O.C.
Ryan couldn't believe what his eyes were telling him. He closed them and counted to ten and then opened them back up and yet Marissa was still standing right there in front of him on the last step. He felt the air whoosh out of his chest as his knees buckled and he fell to the floor. Even with falling to the floor he never once took his eyes off of Marissa. He was afraid that if he would that she would disappear again.
For the last five years he has grieved for the woman in front of him and had felt as if she was still alive and to see that what he had thought and felt was the truth it just knocked the wind out of him. He felt the tears rush to his eyes and he didn't even care. He didn't care who saw him crying. He didn't care that he, Ryan Atwood was actually showing people what it was that he was feeling.
His heart started pounding in his chest as he watched her mouth drop open. He saw all sorts of emotions in her beautiful eyes that he couldn't put a name to because they were coming and going so damn fast. He really didn't care what he was seeing in her eyes at that moment. All he cared about was the fact that she was alive. What he cared about was that the girl he has been in love with since the age of sixteen was really and truly alive and breathing.
He got back up to his feet unsteadily and took a step forward. He wasn't sure about what he should do next but that was taken out of his hands as Marissa jumped off of the step she was on and into his arms. He caught her as she flew into his arms and he wrapped his arms around her. He registered that she was crying and sobbing in his arms and he tightened his hold on her while one hand rubbed up and down her back trying to soothe her. He had so many questions that he wanted to ask but right at this moment he didn't want to talk. All he wanted to do was hold Marissa in his arms and never let her go.
As he stood there holding Marissa his eyes looked up at the woman he considered his Mother and he saw the smile that was on her face and the tears in her eyes. His eyes next went to the man he considered his Father and also saw that he had tears in his eyes. It was at that moment that he, himself started crying again. He let go off all the misery he felt as he held the love of his life in his arms. He never wanted to let go of her again. He just wanted to hold on to her for forever but yet he also knew that eventually he'd have to let her go because he knew that Seth, Summer and Julie would all want the chance to hug her themselves but for right now he wasn't going to let her go. He couldn't let her go because if he did then he'd lose her all over again and that was something that he didn't want to happen.
Today on the day that he had thought he had lost Marissa for forever five years go was the day that he got her back. He couldn't help but wonder where she has been for the last five years and why she had never contacted him or anyone else but he knew that he'd get the answers to those questions once he asked them in a little bit. Right now he just needed to hold onto the girl he fell in love with and them woman that he was still in love with even though he had thought she died. He never wanted to have to take his arms from around her. He never wanted to have to move from this spot because now he had a favorite spot in this house and it was at the base of the steps. He would always remember that at the base of the steps is where he got his life back. He would always remember that it was at the base of the steps that he finally felt complete and whole once more.