A/N Thanks for your reviews. I wrote a new one shot – check it out. No individual replies today. It's nearly 3am and I'm tired. Please please please review! R/R, and enjoy!

Marissa's alarm went off the next morning, waking both Ryan and Marissa. She reached out and shut it off before snuggling back into Ryan's arms. His nose was pressed into her hair, her back against his front. She was so comfortable and just didn't want to get out of bed ever.

Ryan kissed the back of her neck softly. "Stay home today."

Marissa smiled without opening her eyes. "You know I can't. We've been over this."

He tightened his grip around her. "Just think of all the fun we could have today with Lizzie…"

She knew that he knew he was appealing to her emotions, but they both knew Marissa wasn't the kind of person to call into work. "You and Jamie will have to keep her occupied till I come home."

He sighed and she turned so she was face to face with him. He couldn't help the smile looking into her eyes. She looked so much like Lizzie. "Do you need help in the shower at least?" he asked, his grin lazily stretching across his face.

She laughed softly. "You're still up for more after last night?"

Images of the night before fill his mind, and his body began to react again. "Oh yeah."

XXXXX

A while later Marissa was dressed and ready for work. She went down the hall to Lizzie's room, taking note that Jamie's door was still closed so he was probably still sleeping. She opened Lizzie's door and saw her sitting on her bed playing with her stuffed animals. Marissa smiled and sat next to Lizzie, leaning down and kissing the top of her head. "Good morning."

"Morning mommy," Lizzie said, kissing Marissa's cheek.

Marissa picked up one of Lizzie's stuffed bears and asked, "What are you doing?"

"Playing with my animals." Lizzie sighed, her shoulders slumping. "But I'm bored."

"How come?" Marissa asked, trying not to smile because she knew Lizzie was serious.

Lizzie sighed again. "Cause I'm by myself."

"You play with yourself all the time," Marissa reminded her.

"I know, but it's more fun with people mommy," Lizzie explained, giving Marissa a look that said Marissa should have known this already.

"Oh, duh, silly me," Marissa said, wriggling her eyebrows at Lizzie before attacking her with the bear and tickling her.

Lizzie started laughing, as did Marissa, and soon Marissa had Lizzie pinned against the bed as she tickled the adorable little four year old. "I give up! I give up!"

Marissa stopped tickling Lizzie but continued laughing. She pulled her daughter into her arms, kissing her all over her face. "I love you baby girl."

Lizzie giggled at Marissa's kisses and affection. "Love you too mommy."

Marissa finally stopped kissing Lizzie and instead just hugged her. "I have to go to work today. I want you to be a good girl for daddy, okay?"

"I get to stay with daddy today?" Lizzie asked, her eyes widening. Usually she would be going to the Cohen house.

Marissa nodded. "Yes. You'll go back with Papa and grandma next week though."

"Is it cuz of Jamie?" Lizzie asked.

Marissa nodded again, pulling back enough to study her daughter. "Yes."

"Is Jamie gonna stay with us forever?" Lizzie asked innocently, looking at Marissa with those bright blue eyes that had never known pain or suffering. Marissa had vowed to herself long ago that she would keep it that way. Her daughter would never know a day of pain if she could help it.

Marissa hesitated. She had no idea what would happen with Jamie in the long run. His dad was in rehab for now, but that could last for a month or more. After that she didn't know what they would do. Jamie was young and had a hard life. He could use someplace more permanent, and Marissa had no problem providing that for him, but there were legal and custodial issues. Knowing Lizzie was too young to understand even a quarter of this, Marissa said, "I don't know how long Jamie is going to stay with us. His daddy is sick right now so Jamie is going to stay with us until he feels better."

Lizzie thought about this. "Is he really sick?" she finally asked, pursing her lips.

Marissa nodded somberly. "Yes. Remember how you got sick and we had to take you to the hospital to get your tonsils out?" Lizzie nodded. "Well, Jamie's dad is so sick he has to be in a hospital for a while until he gets better."

"Is he getting his tonsils out?" Lizzie asked, not understanding why he would be in the hospital for any other reason.

Marissa shook her head. "No, he is sick in a different way. A bad way. But he's getting help so that he can get better."

Lizzie thought about this for a little while. In the end, she just trusted that her mom was telling the truth. "Is Jamie said he doesn't have his daddy with him?"

Marissa's heart once again warmed that Lizzie would think of Jamie's well-being. "Maybe. I don't know. Jamie likes to keep to himself."

"Why?"

"Because he has been through a lot of bad stuff and doesn't like to think about it," Marissa said carefully. Lizzie always asked so many questions and they were increasingly hard to answer.

"Like losing his mommy?" Lizzie asked, remembering Jamie's sad face when he told her.

Marissa nodded. "Yes, like losing his mommy."

Lizzie frowned. "If Jamie is sad then we have to make him feel happy."

Marissa's face softened as she looked at her beautiful, caring little girl. "I think you're right. That's why me and your daddy are trying very hard to make him happy."

"And me too," Lizzie added.

Marissa smiled, nodding. "Yes, and you too. Thank you. You're such a good little girl." Lizzie beamed happily. Suddenly, she wiggled out of Marissa's arms. "Where are you going?" Marissa asked, quirking an eyebrow.

"To wake Jamie up!" Lizzie said, climbing off her bed.

Marissa stood and caught Lizzie before she could run out the door. "Woah, there." She blocked the doorway. "How about you let Jamie sleep a little while longer?"

"Why?"

"Cause not everyone likes to wake up early like you," Marissa said carefully.

Lizzie frowned. "But I wanna play with Jamie."

Marissa bit her lip to keep from smiling. "I know. Later." At Lizzie's sad face, Marissa smiled. "But you know who is awake?"

"Who?" Lizzie asked, her eyes widening.

"Daddy," Marissa said with a sly grin.

Lizzie's eyes widened, and Marissa stepped out of the way. Lizzie immediately ran past her and to the right. Marissa didn't even have to look – she could hear everything. Lizzie opened their bedroom door and shouted, "Daddy!"

Ryan's voice came bounding down the hall. "Lizzie!"

Marissa smiled, shutting Lizzie's door behind her. Oh how she loved her family.

XXXXX

Lizzie dragged Ryan down the stairs to start making breakfast while Marissa finished getting ready. When she came downstairs she saw that Lizzie was in the living room watching cartoons and Ryan was whistling while flipping pancakes. She couldn't help her smile looking at her husband. They'd been through hell and back together more times than she could count, yet here they were.

Ryan turned and smiled at her. "Have time to stay for breakfast?"

She shook her head. "Sadly, no. I need to be at work soon." She walked over to him, pecking his lips. "Have a good day. Tell Jamie I say bye."

He nodded. "I will." He pecked her lips again.

"Bye Liz!" Marissa called out to her daughter, not having time to go give her a hug.

"Bye mommy!" Lizzie called back, making her parents smile.

Marissa turned back to Ryan. "I expect dinner on the table when I come home," she teased.

He laughed. "Okay, okay."

Marissa suddenly remembered something. "Oh, by the way, my mom might visit today.." She saw Ryan's look and started backing away, grinning. "So, look out for that."

Ryan continued to stare at her. "Please tell me you're joking."

Marissa merely shrugged, blowing him a kiss. "Bye, love you!"

Marissa turn and walked away quickly. "Hey, get back here!" Ryan watched her go and called out, "If your mom comes we're getting a divorce!"

Marissa opened the door and grinned his way. "Have fun!"

She shut the door and Ryan sighed, turning back to his pancakes.

XXXXX

Ryan had just served breakfast when Julie opened the front door. "Hello? Where are you guys?"

Lizzie's eyes widened and she jumped off her chair, immediately running to her grandma. "Grandma Juju!"

Julie picked up Lizzie and twirled her around. "Lizzie! My beautiful, beautiful granddaughter!" She kissed Lizzie, then pulled back and stared at her. "And what did I tell you about calling me grandma?"

Lizzie thought about it. "Um… just call you Juju."

"Yes. I'm too young to be a grandma."

Lizzie thought about this now. "How old are grandmas supposed to be?"

Julie set Lizzie down. "Much older than me."

Ryan came up to them now, offering Julie a smile. "Morning, Julie. I just served breakfast. We have plenty of pancakes and bacon left. Would you like some?"

Julie shook her head. "Oh, no thanks. Carbs kill my figure. I'm trying to keep in shape. I just started a new yogalates class and it's kicking my butt."

Ryan raised his eyebrows. "Julie, you're in perfect shape. Come on, just a few pancakes won't kill you."

Julie stared at Ryan. "Have you tried yogalates, Ryan?"

Ryan bit the inside of his cheek to keep from making a sarcastic remark. "No, I can't say I have."

"Try it, then get back to me about pancakes." She touched Ryan's arm politely. "But if you could make me a smoothie you would be my favorite son in law."

Lizzie grabbed Julie's hand. "Isn't daddy your only son and law?"

Julie smiled down at Lizzie. "Son in law," she corrected. "And yes, he is."

Ryan looked over to Lizzie. "Liz, go eat your breakfast with Jamie."

Julie's interest piqued. "Oh, yes, where is the boy?" Marissa had told Julie all about Jamie and his situation. She was curious to say the least to meet the boy who was staying with her daughter and impressionable granddaughter.

"His name is Jamie, and he's right over here," Ryan said, pointing to where Jamie stood hovering awkwardly just barely in sight. Ryan waved Jamie over. "Jamie, this is Julie, Marissa's mom. Julie, Jamie."

Julie smiled politely and offered her hand, which Jamie hesitantly shook. "Hi, Jamie. Marissa has told me all about you."

"Oh. She's told me about you…too," Jamie said, trying to be polite. Truth was, he hadn't heard Marissa or Ryan or even Lizzie mention Julie once in the few days he'd been here. Then again, Ryan and Marissa seemed to have family popping in from everywhere.

Julie laughed and Ryan smiled at Jamie's polite lie. "Somehow I doubt that," Julie said, making Jamie smile.

Lizzie tugged on Jamie's hand. "Come on, Jamie. I'm hungry."

Jamie nodded and began following her back to the dining room, but turned back to face Julie one last time. "Um, nice to meet you… Mrs…"

Julie merely smiled. "Julie is fine."

Jamie nodded, looking down, feeling very shy. "Okay…nice to meet you, Julie."

Ryan and Julie watched Jamie get dragged away. Julie quirked an eyebrow and glanced over at Ryan. "Seems like a nice kid."

Ryan merely smiled. "Come on, let's get you that smoothie."

XXXXX

While Lizzie took Jamie out into the backyard, Ryan and Julie sat at the table and talked. Despite all the fuss Ryan had made this morning with Marissa, he and Julie actually got along pretty well these days. When Ryan first came to Newport, Julie had hated him and blamed him for everything that had happened in Marissa's life. It was only after they both almost lost Marissa that Julie and Ryan began to reconcile their relationship.

Ryan held Marissa's hand as he stared at her sleeping face. It had been four days, and she still hadn't woken up. He felt like he was in hell. He couldn't sleep, he refused to sleep. He hadn't been home since before the accident. He couldn't leave – not when it was still up in the air whether Marissa would be okay.

Someone opened the door and he lifted his tired eyes to see Julie walking in, two cups of coffee in her hand. She walked over to him, sitting in the chair beside his. Silently, she handed him the extra cup of coffee. He stared at her, confused, before taking it and holding it in his hands. Gruffly, he said, "Thanks."

"I made it black. Didn't know if you wanted anything else in it." Julie didn't look his way, just stared at her daughter. She reached out and brushed some hair from Marissa's face. Ryan had wanted to do that himself, but Julie walked in before he could.

"I like it better that way." Ryan took a sip of his coffee. It was horrible, the weak stuff that hospitals offered, but he was grateful for the gesture. Any caffeine was good caffeine at this point. He'd been worrying about Marissa and pacing so often that he felt like he would fall over and sleep if he just blinked.

"You really love her, don't you?" Julie asked after about half an hour of silence.

Ryan looked down at the now cold coffee, thinking about her question. He thought of Marissa in that model home, of the way they'd stared at each other and laughed about it not being over. He realized he didn't want it to be over. When he had pulled Marissa from that car, all he could think about was her safety. He thought about Trey and Johnny and everything that had ever come between them and suddenly it seemed so stupid. Why had they broken up? Why had they fought? He knew that Marissa loved him. That was never the problem, was it? It was always him. He was always the one afraid of admitting the truth.

Without turning to her, Ryan nodded. "Yeah." He lifted his gaze and stared at Marissa again, blinking a few times. He thought of what would happen if she never opened her eyes again, if she never smiled or talked or laughed again. He swallowed hard. "I do."

The silence between them wasn't awkward or stifling. Surprisingly, sitting here with Julie, Ryan felt more relaxed than he had since they arrived at the hospital. It was comforting to sit here with someone who loved Marissa as much as he did. It was reassuring. "I've been horrible to you," Julie said, looking down, feeling ashamed.

Ryan didn't know what to say to that. Julie had been horrible to him since he came to Newport. She had belittled him and mocked him and criticized him since he entered Marissa's life. Now, sitting here with Marissa in a coma, he had to think maybe she was right about him all along. "I used to hate you for it," Ryan said quietly. He looked down at his hands, the shame and guilt consuming him. "Now I think maybe you were right about me all along."

Julie frowned. "Ryan…"

Ryan shook his head. He would not be consoled, especially not by Julie Cooper. "It's my fault she's here. If I had never come to Newport… If I had just pulled over.."

"If you weren't there, my daughter would be dead," Julie said bluntly. Ryan furrowed his eyebrows. "He would've gotten to her some other way. If you hadn't pulled Marissa out of that car, she would've… when it exploded…" Her voice cracked and she covered her mouth thinking of it.

Ryan blinked, trying to will the images from his head. After they had both calmed down, Ryan spoke again. "She's still here in a coma. I couldn't stop it. I couldn't…"

"Ryan," Julie said forcefully. She was forceful enough to get him to look at her. She was staring at him intently, her lips pursed, her brows furrowed. "I've been wrong about you this whole time. You're good for her. You care for her. You protect her. You love her." She looked back at her daughter's unconscious face, listening to the steady beeping of her heart. "None of the other stuff matters."

Ryan thought of arguing with her some more, but he was too tired and vulnerable at this point. He looked down at his hands, folding them in his lap. "Well, thank you."

Julie thought of all the wrong she had done, all the grief she had caused this boy and her daughter for the past three years. The crimes she'd committed against them sat heavy on her chest. "Do you think you could ever forgive me?"

Ryan didn't have to look at her. He just settled his gaze on Marissa once again. "I already have."

"So, how is it taking in a troubled boy from the streets?" Julie asked as she sipped her now half full smoothie.

Ryan gave her a look and she smiled in a way that let him know she was joking. "It's been a learning experience so far," he said honestly.

"How's Marissa taking it?" Julie asked curiously. Marissa had let Julie know what was happening on the phone, but she hadn't gone into detail about anything else. Julie, naturally a curious and somewhat nosy person, had been dying to know.

"Pretty well, actually," Ryan said, thinking of all the ways Marissa had proven how amazing a wife and person she was in the last few days. "She never put up any protest or anything. She just accepted Jamie."

Julie could tell Ryan was surprised. "Well, that's my daughter," she said with a short laugh. "She's got something for troubled young men from Chino."

Ryan let out his own laugh at that. "Yeah, yeah."

"You know I'm teasing." And Ryan did know. Julie Cooper Nichol Roberts was a lot of things these days – spoiled, eccentric, gossipy, nosy – but in a lot of ways she had mellowed out. Being a grandmother suited her, even if she refused to be called one by name.

"I know, I know. So, grandma," Ryan said with a grin, "What's the real reason for your visit today?"

Julie gave him a look that let him know just what she thought of his name-calling. "I wanted to see my granddaughter. Make sure you and Marissa are spoiling her as much as she deserves."

Ryan laughed. "That little girl is more spoiled than anyone I know."

Julie had to smile at that. "She is pretty spoiled."

"She told me last week that she wanted a Gucci purse just like grandma Juju's," Ryan informed her with a smile.

Julie groaned. "That child needs to drop the word grandma already. I tell her and I tell her…"

Ryan laughed. "Just admit it, Julie. You're a grandma."

Julie pouted. "It makes me sound so old though." They both looked out the screen door and saw that Lizzie was showing Jamie the pool. Sure enough, she came running inside a minute later.

"Daddy, can me and Jamie go swimming? Pretty pretty pretty please!"

Ryan raised his eyebrows. "Are you going to wear your floaties?" Lizzie nodded adamantly. "Is your bathing suit clean?" She nodded again. "Are you going to be a good girl and not play around so you don't get hurt?"

She nodded one last time. "Yes, daddy, please!"

Ryan smiled. "Okay, go ahead."

Lizzie jumped up and down and called out to Jamie. "Jamie, he says yes!"

The two went upstairs to change. The two adults exchanged looks and chuckled together. "She really seems to be getting along with him," Julie commented.

Ryan nodded. "Yeah, Jamie's a good kid. He's very patient. Lizzie absolutely adores him."

Julie patted Ryan's arm. "Well, if he's anything like her father, it's not hard to see why."

Ryan didn't say anything, but smiled. They spent the next few hours watching Jamie and Lizzie in the pool. To anyone who didn't know their past, it would almost seem like they'd been friends all along.