Chapter 8

Okay when I made the corrections to the chapter where Ryan tells Marissa the Aurora's name I didn't think that the people who had already read it wouldn't know about it...so I will repost my Author's note from that chapter... Alright, well I'm a complete idiot I kept getting these reviews that I didn't understand, but then I re-read what I had written and I was going one way (the Theresa thing was there because I'd intended for Ryan to explain why he named her Aurora...So anyway...I was being dumb! Anyway on with this chapter!!
"Dad, you're home," Marissa and Seth walk into the Cohen's house together.

Jimmy hugs his daughter, avoiding Kirsten's eye contact, "yeah, I just got back today, I was going to come over and see you after I stopped by to talk to Kirsten."

"How was your class?" Marissa asks pulling out of her father's embrace.

"Good," Jimmy nods, "good. I've learned a lot, so I think Sandy and I can start over again...and have better luck this time."

Marissa smiles at her father, "good."

"Can I talk to you?" Jimmy asks softly.

Marissa shrugs and turns to face Kirsten, "do you mind if we wait a couple minutes to leave?"

"No, go ahead, I still have some of Aurora's things to get together." Kirsten encourages.

"Thanks," Marissa nods and follows Jimmy into the dining room where they can talk privately. "What's going on Dad?"

"I was going to ask you the same thing," Jimmy responds gently touching Marissa's cheek. "You look completely exhausted."

"It's the whole Ryan thing," Marissa's words are partly a lie. "And you know Mom's driving me nuts."

Jimmy offers Marissa a smile and taking her hand he states, "well you're not going to have to live with her much longer."

"What?"

"I proposed to Hailey," Jimmy states cautiously, judging Marissa's reaction.

"Really?" Marissa's expression doesn't change, but when Jimmy nods she smiles. "Good Dad, I'm happy for you. I like Hailey."

"You do?"

"I do," Marissa nods.

Jimmy smiles brightly, "I'm glad, because there's more."

"More?" Marissa asks, "is Hailey pregnant?"

"What?" Jimmy looks startled, "no." He shakes his head quickly, "no. Listen, Caleb's check cleared, there's nothing holding you hostage in that house anymore. I'm buying a bigger house and I want you to move back in with me, don't worry about your Mom and Caleb, let me take care of them."

"But..."

"Marissa, do you want to move back in with me."

Marissa nods, "yes, but..."

"Then let me be the parent here and let me take care of this."
"My dad's marrying your aunt," Marissa's words break the silence in the car between her and Seth. Just as they had been getting ready to leave Aurora had woken up screaming and Kirsten had encouraged Marissa and Seth to go to the hospital ahead of her and that she would be there after Aurora calmed down.

"Yes," Seth nods, "our family is getting twisted."

Marissa nods in agreement, "really twisted."

"You know that when Hailey marries your dad then his step-mother-in-law is going to be his ex-wife?" Seth laughs, "definitely twisted."

"So you and Summer really broke up?" Marissa asks when they have both stopped laughing.

Seth's eyes remain trained on the road as he responds, "yeah."

"I'm sorry Seth, I don't even know where it came from." Marissa admits, "I mean, I know you guys had been fighting a lot but she never said anything about dumping you."

"I know where it came from," Seth responds. "I was going to do it before we found out about Ryan, my Mom interrupted it with the news, and you know Summer she beat me to the punch." Seth can feel Marissa's eyes on him as he stares at the road, "what?" he asks.

"I just never thought you'd dump Summer."

"Thing just weren't right anymore," Seth responds simply before pulling into the hospital parking lot.

Marissa sighs, "no there's something I understand perfectly."
"We are here to provide entertainment for the rest of this boring day," Seth walks into Ryan's hospital room laden down with board games that he had brought from the house. "They treating you alright here? Because I'm pretty sure my grandfather, and her step-father, own like this entire hospital so we could probably pull some strings. Get you a nurse hottie, maybe a nice sponge bath..." Seth rambles quickly.

"Seth, stop, and breath," Ryan orders gently.

"Right," Seth nods.

"I'm fine."

"Right." Seth nods again.

Turning to Marissa, Ryan repeats, "I'm fine."

Marissa has tears swimming in her eyes when she respond, "okay, good."

"So, what about a rousing game of Parcheesi?" Seth asks holding up the box.

"Knock, knock?" Anna suddenly appears in the doorway holding a book.

"Anna?" Ryan wears a puzzled expression on his face. "I've been out of the loop, right?"

"I just moved back," Anna walks over to the bed and gently kisses Ryan's cheek. "So you're not to far out of the loop, just to busy spending time in the ICU. But you look good."

"Thanks, so do you."

"I saw your daughter," Anna smiles, "she's precious."

"So I've been told," Ryan responds.

"You haven't seen her?" Anna asks.

Ryan shakes his head, "they couldn't bring her in to see me at the ICU. I thought Kirsten was bringing her when you guys came?"

"She woke up before we got out the door," Seth responds. "Mom was going to feed her and try to calm her down before she brought her over."

Ryan nods, "alright."

"So what do you say? Parcheesi?"