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.

Just a sidenote: I'm not following the way the Ryan/Theresa relationship was portrayed on the show after he moved back to Chino. In my story, Ryan truly loves Theresa, and even though he may not be ready for fatherhood, he genuinely wants to do what's right and take responsibility. Having such selfless convictions is one of the traits I admired so much about the character, especially in one so young.

Chapter 10

"They're here!" Seth announces from the foyer.

"They're here," Kirsten echoes softly to herself as she quickly looks over the dining room table. Thoughtfully planned, but still informal. Kirsten is pleased with her table setting as she nervously twists her wedding band around her finger. She wants this evening to be perfect. Perfect for Ryan.

As Ryan walks up the driveway towards the front door, he feels a strange sensation go through him.

"Hey, are you alright?" Theresa asks, noting how Ryan has suddenly slowed his pace and lowered his head. "You know, if you've changed your mind and you don't want to have dinner with the Cohen's, it's okay. We can just turn around and go back home."

"No, it's okay. I'm fine," Ryan replies. "It's just that...I remember walking up this driveway with Sandy just a year ago. It was after AJ beat me and my mom threw me out." Ryan takes in a deep breath and sighs. His own mother throwing him out of the house like a piece of garbage was much more painful than any kick or punch her lowlife leech of a boyfriend could ever inflict upon him.

"I had called some friends but..." Ryan thinks back to the day he phoned his lawyer out of sheer desperation. "Sandy never hesitated. He drove all the way to Chino and brought me home with him." Ryan turns to Theresa with a small smile on his face. "His only request was that I didn't smoke in the house."

Theresa knows that Ryan probably accepted that simple house rule, most likely out of respect for the Cohen's. She knows he won't even smoke around her now because she's pregnant. You could have called me, Theresa thinks to herself as she takes Ryan's hand as they step up to the front door and ring the doorbell. She feels this instinctive need to hold onto him tightly for fear that, if she lets go, she may just lose him.

"Seth! Where are you going?" Sandy asks as he briskly walks into the foyer and witnesses his son make a beeline up the stairs.

"Dad, you answer the door. That's something you're really good at. Exceptionally good at, in fact. And besides, I have you officially slated as being in charge of answering the front door tonight."

Sandy shakes his head and smiles. He knows his son has been a nervous wreck all day in anticipation with seeing Ryan. In fact, they've all been nervous. Sandy knows how important this evening is for their family. This is their chance to get Ryan back home with them, where he belongs.

Sandy opens the front door and takes in a deep breath. Even though Kirsten told him Eddie had punched Ryan, he will never get used to seeing the boy battered and bruised.

"Ryan! Hey, it's great to see you!" Sandy places a hand on Ryan's shoulder and shakes his hand. Sandy desperately wants to hug him, but he's afraid that if he comes on too strong, the kid might bolt.

"Hey, Sandy, it's good to see you," Ryan replies with a warm smile.

Sandy turns his attention to Theresa and quickly observes how beautiful she looks. He can understand why Ryan is so smitten with her. "Theresa, hello and welcome!" Sandy greets her with a warm, affectionate hug.

"Hello, Mr. Cohen," Theresa replies as she returns the embrace.

"Please, call me Sandy."

"Where's Seth?" Ryan asks as he looks around for his friend, hoping to talk to him before dinner.

"I think he's upstairs. Why don't you go up and let him know you're here. He's been looking forward to seeing you," Sandy states as he nods his head towards the stairs. "Theresa, why don't we go see if Kirsten needs any help in the kitchen. My wife has many talents, but cooking, I'm afraid, is not one of them."

Ryan smiles as he watches Sandy put his arm around Theresa and guide her into the kitchen. He knows Sandy just said that so he and Seth can talk privately. There's no way Sandy would leave Kirsten alone in the kitchen, let alone attempt to cook anything.

Ryan walks up the stairs and approaches Seth's bedroom. The door is closed, so he knocks softly. "Seth? It's Ryan. Can I come in?"

No answer. Ryan contemplates just letting himself in, after all, he's lost count how many times Seth has barged into the poolhouse uninvited. Just as Ryan begins to turn around and walk back downstairs, the door opens.

"Ryan! Hey, you're here!" Seth proclaims with an enormous grin on his face. "Whoa, that's quite the shiner you've got there. Eddie took you by surprise, am I right?"

"Yeah, something like that," Ryan replies, forgetting how much of a conversation piece an insignificant black eye can be with this family.

"Enter, Ryan." Seth gestures with his arm, inviting Ryan into his room.

Ryan crosses the threshold and stops dead in his tracks. The room is in complete disarray. Clothes strewn across the bed and floor, empty soda cans perched haphazardly next to the computer, and endless stacks of cd's and comic books inhabiting every corner and crevice available. Someone could get lost in here, Ryan thinks to himself. He wonders if Summer could be in the room somewhere, meandering aimlessly, desperately searching for a way out.

"So, Ryan, as I stated in my voice message, that for some strange reason you didn't get, we need to talk." Seth throws a wad of clothes off his bed and sits down.

"Yeah, sorry about that. Theresa told me she accidently deleted your message. Things got a little crazy that day with Eddie and she just forgot to tell me you called," Ryan explains.

"How convenient," Seth whispers to himself.

"Huh?" Ryan asks, not completely hearing what Seth has quietly muttered.

"Nothing," Seth quickly replies.

Ryan absentmindedly starts straightening up a pile of comic books that are scattered across the desk. "Seth...I'm sor..."

"Wait!" Seth quickly holds his hand up to halt his friend's apology. "No, Ryan, I'm the one who should apologize. I acted like a total jerk the day you moved back to Chino with Theresa."

"Well, yeah but..."

"No' buts', Ryan. I acted like a complete jerk. And, by the way, you didn't need to agree with me quite so quickly on that." Seth stands up and walks over to his friend. "I was feeling totally sorry for myself. I didn't want you to leave, okay? I wanted everything to go back the way it was before...the way it was..." Seth bites his tongue and snaps his mouth shut. He knows he has to be careful what he says to Ryan.

"The way it was before what?" Ryan asks.

"Nothing..." Seth replies. "All I know is that before you came to live with us, my life was a living hell. You're the first real friend I've ever had. I just didn't want you to leave." Seth looks at Ryan with huge, pleading brown eyes. "Can you forgive me?"

"Seth, there's nothing to forgive."

"Just say you forgive me, Ryan."

"Okay, I forgive you."

"Excellent! Then, we're okay now, right?" Seth asks.

"Yeah," Ryan replies with a smile as he bumps fists with his friend. "We're okay now."

"Yes!" Seth proclaims, feeling completely rejuvenated. "Oh, and by the way, Ryan," Seth states as both boys start making their way downstairs. "You're in charge of making the salad."


"Dinner is delicious, Kirsten," Theresa compliments, hoping to soften the harsh glares Kirsten has been sending her all evening.

"Thank you, Theresa," Kirsten tersely replies. "But, I think you should be thanking the men. They did all the cooking. I just set the table."

"And, the table looks lovely, honey," Sandy quickly interjects, wishing the tension between the two women would lighten a bit, at least for this one evening.

Seth becomes uncomfortable and begins to fidget as a deafening silence fills the room. He glances over at Ryan who seems to have spent the greater portion of the evening rearranging the food on his plate rather than actually eating it.

"So, is anyone going to bring up the subject?" Seth asks, unable to withstand the silence any longer.

"Seth, we're waiting for the right time," Kirsten states.

"Oh, and when will that be, Mother? After dinner, when they're ready to leave? Or maybe...no wait, I know, after Eddie beats Ryan into a bloody pulp and he's laying half-dead in the hospital." Seth's words drip with sarcasm, but he doesn't care. The only thing he cares about right now is Ryan.

"Seth, watch your tone of voice!" Sandy scolds.

Seth quickly raises his hands in mock surrender.

"But, you're right, we do need to talk about it," Sandy states as he focuses his attention on Ryan and Theresa. "Have you kids given any more thought to moving in with us? We truly feel, as does your mom, Theresa, that you both would be a lot safer living here with us."

Ryan glances over at Theresa, then sets his fork down. "We've thought about it, Sandy."

"And?" Sandy asks, waiting for Ryan to expand upon his words. He has always admired Ryan's introspective nature, but trying to get the kid to talk at times can be frustrating at best.

"I have a good job in Chino. I'll need to find another job here...full-time." Ryan glances over at Sandy and Kirsten and awaits their objection.

"Well, honey, it just so happens that I spoke with your former manager at the Crab Shack, and he is willing to hire you back full-time," Kirsten states with a smile, proud of herself for realizing that Ryan would want to continue working over the summer.

"Really? That's great!" Ryan replies.

"And, he's willing to keep you on part-time when you start school this fall," Kirsten adds, hoping she isn't forcing the boy to plan too far ahead.

"Kirsten, I don't know about school. I have other responsibilities now," Ryan states as he looks over at Theresa and takes ahold of her hand.

"We understand that, Ryan. We also feel strongly that you need to, at the very least, get a high school diploma," Kirsten explains, observing how Ryan has lowered his head and is now staring down at his lap.

"But, we don't need to be concerned with that right now," Sandy interjects, knowing they need to tread carefully with Ryan. Getting the boy physically back in the house is just the first step, and for now, the most important.

"What matters most is you and Theresa...your safety and the baby's," Sandy explains. "Let us help you, Ryan. That's what parents do. They help their kids. You don't have to do this all on your own." Sandy concentrates his full attention on Ryan, hoping the boy will agree and trust them enough to accept their help. "Move back home here, at least for awhile, until things settle down."

"Okay," Ryan says quietly.

"Okay," Sandy repeats, making sure he heard the soft-spoken boy correctly.

Kirsten lets out a sigh of relief as Seth starts bouncing in his chair.

"Well, now that that's decided, when do you think you'll be able to move back?" Seth inquires, hoping they won't wait until the weekend. "The poolhouse has been a very cold and lonely place since you left, my friend."

"Well, I'm visiting Trey tomorrow morning and I should go to work and tell my boss I'm leaving, so would tomorrow evening be okay?" Ryan asks as he peers over at all three Cohen's, the inquisitive look in his eyes overshadowed by his soft, blond bangs.

"Yes, tomorrow!" Seth happily accepts Ryan's decision.

"Tomorrow evening sounds perfect," Sandy states with a warm smile as he places his hand on Ryan's shoulder and gives it an affectionate squeeze.


Ryan stands at the kitchen sink, rinsing the dishes and placing them in the dishwasher.

"Well, at least you're not washing them first," Kirsten states with a smile as she puts her arm around Ryan. "Why don't you go spend some time with Seth before you leave. Sandy and I can finish up here."

"You sure? It's no problem."

"I'm sure. In fact, I think I can hear Seth whining because he's losing at some ninja fighting game to Theresa. Now go...shoo..." Kirsten waves her hands as she scoots Ryan out of the kitchen.

"Ryan, there you are! Why didn't you warn me she was so good at this game?" Seth asks as he tries to pummel Theresa's ninja.

Ryan laughs. "Builds character, Seth."

"I don't want to build character, Ryan. I want to win," Seth replies while missing another kick and watching his ninja die a most humiliating death.

"Here, take over, Ryan," Theresa says as she hands him the game controller. "I need to use the bathroom before we head back."

Theresa walks into the foyer, trying to remember where the guest bathroom is located. She spots some rolled-up blueprints on the sidetable next to her purse, but it's the business card attached to them that attracts her attention. Hmmm...Caleb Nichol...Kirsten's rich, powerful father. Theresa remembers Ryan telling her that Caleb didn't like him...that he didn't trust him. She looks around the foyer to see if anyone is around, then quickly takes the business card and places it in her purse.

Moving in with the Cohen's just may not be such a bad idea after all.