Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters of The OC. They all belong to Josh Schwartz.

A/N: This takes place post-Oliver, Ryan and Marissa did not get back together, and Seth did not run off to Portland. This story is AU and I've taken liberties with some of the characters including Theresa and Kirsten. Be easy on me, this is my first story.

Chapter 9

"So, what did the doctor say?" Ryan asks as he props a pillow up against the headboard and sits on the bed next to Theresa. He's thankful he was able to take a quick shower and change into clean clothes. He was feeling a bit grungy after doing chores around the house for Eva.

Theresa slowly sits up, wraps her arm around Ryan's waist and rests her head on his shoulder. His body is warm and comforting as she breathes in the lingering scent of toasted caramelized sugar and woodsy cedar of his bathsoap.

"He said everything looks good. The baby's heartbeat is strong, he gave me a refill of my prenatal vitamins and he wants me to avoid stressful situations." Theresa laughs quietly to herself. "Like that's even remotely possible."

"Well, hopefully with the restraining order, you won't have to worry about Eddie anymore." Ryan gently combs his fingers through Theresa's long hair and gently kisses the top of her head.

Theresa smiles and looks up at Ryan. "The doctor did an ultrasound. He was able to determine the sex of the baby."

"Really? I didn't know that was possible. Did he tell you?" Ryan asks as he sits up a little straighter.

"Yeah, he did. I wanted to know," Theresa replies. "But I won't tell you...unless you want to know."

Ryan thinks for a moment and then looks at Theresa. "I wanna know."

"You, Ryan Atwood, are going to have a son," Theresa replies.

"A son? Really?" Ryan smiles as he leans his head back on the headboard and gazes up at the ceiling. I'm going to have a son.

Ryan's smile fades a bit when he remembers the other question he wanted to ask Theresa. Since Kirsten's visit, he's been thinking back to Sunday morning, the day she told him Seth called. He remembers that Eva was at church, he was out on the back porch with Arturo, and Theresa was in the kitchen making breakfast.

Theresa senses that there's something on Ryan's mind...something he wants to talk about. "You've gotten awfully quiet suddenly. Is everything alright?" Theresa asks. "You didn't have your heart set on a daughter, did you?"

"I was just wondering..." Ryan bites his lower lip as he struggles to find the right words. "Kirsten told me that Seth called Sunday morning...but I never got his message." Ryan glances down at Theresa, but she doesn't make eye contact. "I was wondering if you know anything about that."

Theresa suddenly feels a slight panic. She forgot all about Seth's phone call. "Oh, Ryan, I am so sorry." Theresa sits up and looks at Ryan. "I totally forgot that Seth left you a message."

"So he left me a message? Why didn't I get it?" Ryan asks. "Seth was really upset that I didn't call him back."

"I couldn't answer your phone right away because I was making pancakes. When I saw it was Seth who had called, I listened to his message. I thought I saved it, but I must have accidently deleted the message by mistake."

"Okay, but why didn't you tell me he called?" Ryan asks, still confused as to why she didn't tell him about the phone call.

"I just forgot to tell you, Ryan. I'm so sorry. I was going to tell you during breakfast but then Eddie came by...and you got hurt...and everything just got so crazy..." Theresa's eyes begin to fill with tears as she struggles to keep her composure.

"Hey...hey, it's okay. I understand." Ryan puts his arm around Theresa and pulls her close. The last thing he wanted to do was upset her. "No harm done. I can talk to Seth tomorrow night when I see him."

Theresa rests her head back on Ryan's shoulder, relieved that he isn't upset that she didn't tell him Seth had called. She places her hand on his leg, then slowly begins moving it up along his inner thigh.

Ryan's eyes widen as he glances down at her encroaching hand. "I thought you were tired."

"I was..." Theresa replies, as she leans in and softly kisses his neck. "But I'm not anymore."

"It's almost dinnertime," Ryan states as he turns his head slightly to give Theresa easier access. "I think your mom is making a roast."

"Mmmm...the Ryan Atwood I know would not be thinking about food right now," Theresa asserts as she meticulously begins to undo his jeans.

"Yeah, but I'm really hungry," Ryan replies as he slowly maneuvers himself into her touch. "Besides, we live together now." Ryan turns and softly kisses Theresa. "I don't have to sneak in through your bedroom window in the middle of the night anymore."

"Those were fun times." Theresa giggles as Ryan's warm breath tickles her neck. As her hand finally reaches its desired destination, she hears a soft knock on the bedroom door.

"Theresa? Are you awake?" Eva knows how tired her daughter has been but she also knows it's important for her to eat.

"Don't come in, Mom." Theresa replies, clearly frustrated with her mother's impeccably poor timing. "I'm awake."

"Are you alright, Theresa?" Eva asks, concerned as to why her daughter doesn't want her to come into the bedroom.

"I'm fine, Mom," Theresa answers as she watches Ryan collect himself.

"I just wanted to let you know that dinner is ready," Eva explains through the closed door. "If you see Ryan, could you let him know? I haven't seen him in awhile."

"I'll tell him, Mom." Theresa walks over to Ryan and wraps her arms around him. "I will be expecting dessert later," she tells him as she gives him a soft kiss on his cheek.

"That shouldn't be a problem," Ryan replies as he listens to his stomach growl when Theresa opens the bedroom door. The delectable scent of the dinner Eva has prepared is heavenly, and Ryan makes a mental note to get the recipe. If he and Theresa are going to live with the Cohen's for awhile, someone's going to have to cook. Theresa will need more than just take-out every night, Ryan thinks to himself. Maybe I'll even teach Kirsten how to cook.

Kirsten steps into the foyer and immediately smells the aroma of Chicken Pad Thai. She's famished and thankful that Sandy has taken care of dinner. She was so excited to see Ryan this afternoon that she forgot to eat lunch.

"Hey, you're home!" Sandy declares as he sets out a plate of food for his wife. "How was your visit with Ryan?"

"It was good. Actually, it was more than good...it was great!" Kirsten sits down at the dining room table and watches Sandy pour her a much needed glass of Chardonnay.

"So, come on Mom, tell us...how is he? Are they coming over tomorrow for dinner?" Seth asks impatiently.

"Yes, they are," Kirsten replies. "I think Ryan is actually looking forward to visiting, but I can't say the same for Theresa."

"How did he look, honey? He sounded so tired when I spoke with him last night on the phone." Sandy asks, concerned that Ryan is most likely taking care of everyone's needs except his own.

"He did look tired," Kirsten acknowledges, then points her fork in Sandy's direction. "And, in true "Ryan" fashion, he also conveniently left out the fact that Eddie gave him a black eye."

"What! When?" Sandy asks, knowing he shouldn't be surprised that Ryan didn't tell him about getting punched by Eddie.

"Sunday morning. I guess Eddie went over to the house, saw Ryan and..."

"Bam! Popped him one!" Seth finishes Kirsten's sentence with a little fist action through the air.

"Seth!" Both Kirsten and Sandy clamor as Seth immediately withdraws his fist and places it on his lap.

"Is he going to be alright?" Sandy asks Kirsten intently.

"I think he'll be fine, although he does have a pretty nasty bruise around his eye and on his cheek," Kirsten replies, remembering when Ryan opened the Diaz's front door and she saw his injured face. "The strange thing is though...I saw Theresa and you can hardly tell she's been hurt. I noticed a very faint bruise on her forehead, but no where near the extent of damage as Ryan's injury."

"Well, it's good that they're coming over tomorrow," Sandy states, still feeling disappointed that Ryan didn't mention anything about Eddie hitting him during their phone conversation last night. If Kirsten hadn't gone on her impromptu visit, they probably would have never known he had gotten hurt.

"So, Mom...did you ask Ryan about my phone call? Did he get my message?" Seth asks, bracing himself for the worst.

Kirsten smiles at her son as she notices an awkward, painful expression slowly cross his face. "I was right, Seth. Ryan didn't get your phone message. In fact, he didn't even know you called. He felt really bad and said he would have called you back."

"Really? You're not just saying that to make me feel better, because I know moms have a tendency to do that sort of thing. I think it's referred to as having an 'innate maternal protection for their offspring'... or something like that."

Kirsten laughs. "Or something like that."

"Well, looks like we've got a big day tomorrow," Sandy declares as he starts to clear the dishes. "We should all try to get a good night's sleep."

"You elders can get on up to bed," Seth states as he bounces out into the family room and grabs his game controller. "I've got to brush up on my Ninja fight moves. Can't have Ryan kick my butt at Playstation tomorrow night just because I've gotten a little rusty over the past few months."

Kirsten walks into the kitchen to help Sandy put the dishes in the dishwasher. She suddenly feels tears well up in her eyes and she quickly wipes them away and laughs softly to herself.

Sandy senses his wife's silent display of emotion. "Hey, are you alright? What's wrong?"

Kirsten stares at the kitchen counter as she recalls the times Ryan would help clean up after dinner. "I was just remembering how Ryan used to wash the dishes first before putting them in the dishwasher." Kirsten smiles at the memory. "I would explain to him he didn't have to do that, but he told me they never had a dishwasher back in Chino. He washed them just out of habit."

"And we had the cleanest dishes on the block." Sandy smiles warmly as he wraps his arms around his wife and holds her close.

"I asked Ryan if he had given any thought to moving in with us."

"Oh, yeah? What did he say?" Sandy asks, his curiosity piqued.

"I think he wants to but he seems hesitant. I got the impression that Theresa is not happy with the idea."

"Well, we can all talk about it tomorrow," Sandy states as he kisses the top of Kirsten's head.

"We do have a slight advantage, though." Kirsten looks up at her husband with a wide smile on her face.

Really? And, what's that?" Sandy asks.

"Eva. She's genuinely concerned about her daughter's safety. She truly feels the kids would be safer living here with us."

"And, she's right," Sandy replies. "Everything's going to be alright, honey. I can feel it."

"I hope you're right, Sandy," Kirsten states as she warmly embraces her husband. "I really hope you're right."