Just Like Asthma

Stories of Seth, Ryan and Sophie through the eyes of the parents that love them

AN: These chapters are one shots and jump around in time. So any gaps of knowledge or significant events will be filled in eventually.

Enjoy.

Parental Nightmare/ Support System (couldn't decide on a proper title, guys. But when I do you'll be the first to know)

Post season 4.

Kirsten sat in the kitchen scrubbing a casserole dish with all the strength her fingers, and the disgusting brillo pad underneath them, could manage. Not because the pan really needed it, but mostly because she was tired of arguing and if she wasn't taking out her frustration on the pot she'd still be shouting.

She hoped Sophie was cooling off upstairs as well.

This was the worst of the arguments the two of them had been having and it resulted in harsh words and tears and slamming doors but no resolution.

But she wasn't asking for much, right? She was being a reasonable parent.

It was Sophie that was being stubborn. She looked like Kirsten, but she got her stubborn streak and feisty attitude from Sandy. And maybe Seth a little.

Ok, maybe from her too. But not much.

She didn't think that it would be like this; her daughter's teen years. She'd thought they'd bond over 'woman things' and become even closer than they already were.

Quite the contrary, the last month Kirsten had had the number one spot on Sophie's you - know - what list and she wasn't sure where it was coming from.

Bur they were always fighting.

Well, not fighting. She couldn't call it fighting.

Kirsten Cohen didn't fight with almost-thirteen year olds.

Today was... a build up of all the stress and frustration over the past month. Because really, was what they were arguing about that big of a deal to begin with?

Maybe when it blew over things could get back to normal.

She hoped so because she really wasn't the type to yell at her kids.

And she knew she had to be a parent and put her foot down, but it wasn't usually met with such resistance.

The boys fought with Sandy quite a bit during their teen years, and a little bit during college, but not with her.

Most of the time all it took was a stern look and a firm word or two. Or, if all else failed, the use of their birth given names.

But hardly ever did she resort to shouting at her children and even more rarely did her children argue back so fiercely with her.

Especially Sophie.

Then again, she never had a teenaged daughter before either.

Was she like this with her mother when she was Sophie's age?

Kirsten put the sparkling clean dish in the dishwasher before drying her hands and heading upstairs.

She knew she wasn't getting anywhere being angry. Maybe she should try talking to Sophie again now that they'd had time apart. She was usually a reasonable child.

Kirsten stopped at the first bedroom on her left, where she'd sent her daughter, and knocked.

"Sophie honey, can we talk?"

Knocking again and still getting no answer, Kirsten turned around and headed back towards the stairs, mind set on letting the girl have her tantrum. But at the last moment her mothering instincts got the better of her and she opened Sophie's bedroom door.

To find the room empty.

Various items of clothing were scattered over the floor and her backpack missing.

Her heart fluttered with panic before the rational side of her brain kicked in.

Calm down. Check the living room.

She went down the stairs as quickly as she could and entered the living room to see a TV, various comic books and magazines, some really nice furniture and no Sophie.

Bathrooms, stupid. She's probably in the bathroom.

After checking all three and not finding a trace of Sophie in any of them, Kirsten really began to freak out. She called Sophie's name several times and waited for a response from some obscure corner of the house, but it didn't come. She knew her daughter was mad, but Kirsten didn't think Sophie wouldn't come if she heard her calling like that.

Which meant she was too far away to be heard.

Kirsten's body shook as her mind bounced from option to option, trying to think of the best way to handle the situation.

Call Sandy. Call the police. Go out looking for her. Stay home and wait.

Sophie's not really gone and will come back on her own.

Sophie's 'God- knows- where', all by herself, and can't or won't find her way home.

In one last desperate attempt, Kirsten raced out to the back yard. She knew before she arrived that Sophie wouldn't be there but she didn't expect her bike to be missing as well.

She called all of Sophie's friends within biking distance, none of them had heard from her.

Chocking back a panicked sob, Kirsten returned to the living room and tried to think rationally of all the places Sophie could have gone.

The park. The ice cream store.

Could it really have been so bad that she just left? No note, no anything?

The movies. The bus station.

Where was her child?

Not knowing what else to do she finally grabbed the phone to call Sandy. She brushed the falling tears away, knowing that there'd be more when she told him Sophie ran away from them. From her.

Before she could dial the first button, the phone rang.

She picked it up quickly.

"Sophie?"

"Kirsten?"

Ryan.

"Ryan, honey I don't have time to talk right now-"

"Sophie's here with me"

Kirsten let out a small cry of relief.

"She is? Oh, thank God"

"Yeah. She showed up at my house about 15 minutes ago. She's kind of upset"

Kirsten tried to keep the emotion out her voice but failed miserably.

"We had a fight"

"I know, she told me. Don't worry, I got her in the living room with Collin watching television and she promised me she'd stay put"

Now that she knew her daughter was safe, Kirsten was really angry.

"Let me talk to Sophie"

"I don't think that's such a good idea right now-"

"Ryan Atwood - Cohen. I want to talk to Sophie. Now."

She could hear Ryan's soft sigh on the other end of line and she knew that if it was anything, anybody, else he would have given in.

"Sophie's really upset. She thinks you don't like her anymore…"

"I love Sophie"

"I know that. But… just come over, ok?… give me some time talk to her… give yourself time to cool down"

Besides Sandy and herself there wasn't anybody who was more dedicated to Sophie than Ryan. And nobody, not even she, though Kirsten wasn't quite ready to admit it, knew her little girl better. If Sophie ran to his place and Ryan felt he needed to talk to her, it was probably because he did.

"I'll be there in a few"

"Thank you. And... Mom? Sophie loves you"

Kirsten's eyes watered the same way they usually did when Ryan called her mom or said things like that.

"I love you guys too"

Kirsten could kick herself for not thinking immediately that Sophie would go to Ryan's, though in her defense, Ryan's place wasn't exactly close on bike.

After calling Sandy to fill him in on the events, she drove over to Ryan's. She was considerably calmer than when she spoke to Ryan and a lot calmer than when she spoke to Sophie. But Sandy had that effect on her.

Now she was feeling a very heavy amount of guilt.

It wasn't so much what she said but the way she'd said it.

And it wasn't the first time she let her temper get the better of her. But to think that it hurt Sophie enough that she'd think that Kirsten couldn't stand her anymore?

Her cell phone vibrated in her pocket but knowing it wasn't Sophie, she ignored it. She had to get to her daughter as quickly as possible and let her know she was still wanted.

She pulled up to Ryan's place and went through the unlocked door. Sophie sat on the couch on the opposite side of the room. They stared at each other for a moment, Kirsten taking in Sophie's puffy eyes and tear streaked face before she was engulfed in a hug, her little girl's soft crying not easily heard though her shirt. She hugged back just as hard, finally letting the emotions and events of the day catch up with her.

"I'm sorry, Mom for yelling … and what I said. I didn't mean it"

"I know you didn't Soph. I'm sorry too."

"And I thought you didn't want to be around me anymore …"

Kirsten let go of Sophie for a second so she could look into her eyes

"Sophie I'll always love you and I'll always want you around, don't doubt that. I shouldn't have yelled at you like that. I care so much about you sweetie."

"I know" Sophie sniffed "I talked to Ry and he explained some things"

"Yeah?"

"We were both really mad, huh?" Sophie looked up at her with wide, tearful eyes looking every bit like her baby girl again.

Kirsten swiped a few tears of her own away.

"Yes, but we can talk about that later. You want to go home now?"

Sophie nodded gratefully.

"Where's Ryan?"

"He's upstairs putting Collin to bed"

"Ok. I'm going to talk to him for a quick second and then I'll be right back, ok sweetie?"

"Alright"

Kirsten entered the upstairs bedroom to see Ryan putting a sleeping two year old in his crib.

"He's getting so big"

Ryan nodded as he stared at the sleeping child

"And he's a real handful now. I'll be glad when Taylor 's back from her business trip"

He turned from the crib and he and Kirsten walked towards the bedroom door

"Is everything ok?" Ryan tilted his head slightly in concern

Kirsten nodded before giving him a soft smile.

"Did I ever tell you what a great father you are?"

The corners of Ryan's mouth rose shyly back at her.

"Once or twice. Look, I told Sophie a little bit… about Dawn. I know we were going to wait until she was a little older but …"

She wrapped him in a hug instinctively and he didn't hesitate to return the gesture

"-And a pretty damn good brother too"

"Yeah, well, I did have some backup. I called Seth and he helped me calm her down"

"Seth knows?"

Again Kirsten fought the urge to kick herself. Of course Seth knew. Ryan never hesitated so seek Seth's advice with a problem and vice versa. If Sophie was going to run, Kirsten was glad she ran to them.

"I'm surprised he hasn't called you by now"

It was then that Kirsten noticed the two missed calls on her cell phone were from an all too familiar number. After calling back and convincing her eldest son that all was well, the two of them made their way downstairs.

"Sophie, come on. Let's get going"

Kirsten watched her daughter hug her brother tight and she could swear that Sophie seemed to have grown up a little more in the past couple of hours.

Ryan gave Kirsten a peck on the cheek goodbye and taking one last look back, she tried not let her voice betray her as she was overwhelmed with pride and gratitude for her children

"Thank you, Ryan"

Ryan's expression reflected all of her feelings and so much more.

Ok. If I were you I'd have some questions. Ryan calls Kirsten 'Mom' now? When did his last name change? What were Sophie and Kirsten fighting about?

I plan on revealing some of these questions in later chapters, so don't sweat it. I'm jumping around in time here, but the gaps will be filled.

Thanks for reading and a special thanks to my new Beta.