A/N Look, I posted when I said I would! I think the every other week thing will be a good arrangement. Not as many reviews, but I appreciate the six of you who did review nonetheless. I have to go write a paper now, so no individual replies, but I hope you enjoy. Read and review, and enjoy!

Ryan shifted uncomfortably, breaking eye contact with Marissa as he looked down. "Donald. How have you been? How's rehab?"

Donald wouldn't be sidetracked. "My son, Ryan. I want to talk to my son."

Ryan closed his eyes, thinking of how far Jamie had come in the week he'd been with them. He'd started smiling more. He'd laughed more. He seemed more comfortable with all of them, and this was only in a week. He feared any contact with Donald would come in the way of that. "He's outside right now."

"Then call him inside," Donald said, his voice starting to sound annoyed. "Look, he's my son, Ryan. Just because I'm here doesn't mean anything about that fact has changed."

Ryan sighed, feeling Marissa's worried gaze on the side of his face. "Fine, we'll go get him. Give us a minute."

He set the phone down and looked over at Marissa. "Jamie's dad?"

Ryan nodded, his lips pursed into a grim line. "He wants to talk to Jamie."

Marissa bit her lip, but nodded. "I'll go get him."

While Marissa was off getting Jamie, Ryan stared at the phone. There was no way Donald was done with rehab yet. He had to stay for at least thirty days to complete the program, and there was no way in hell Ryan was going to let Donald get Jamie back before completing the proper treatment. He didn't trust Donald even with treatment, but couldn't fathom giving Jamie back to the man without.

Jamie walked in looking frightened and worried. "Ryan?" he asked quietly, knowing that the older man would give him the straight answers.

"Your dad's on the phone," Ryan merely said, offering Jamie a weak smile. "He wants to talk to you."

Jamie blinked a few times, then nodded slowly, walking carefully to the phone. He stared at it a few seconds before lifting it to his ear, looking down. "Dad?"

"Jamie. It's good to hear your voice, son," Donald said. Jamie merely looked down at his shoes.

"You too."

"Have they been treating you okay?"

Jamie looked up to see Ryan and Marissa sitting at the table, close enough to be there for him, but far enough away to give him his space. He thought of all they had done for him the last week. "They're great," he said quietly. "They're really nice people."

"Are you homesick yet?"

Jamie knew what his dad wanted him to say, but he just couldn't do it. "Newport isn't so bad. There's a beach here. I'd never been to a beach before."

"Your mom used to want to take you, but we never had the time." Jamie tried not to roll his eyes at the lie. He blinked to lose the dark thoughts of those years.

"And they have a daughter named Lizzie. She's a lot of fun."

"I never took you for one to like kids," Donald said, surprised.

Jamie leaned onto the counter, drawing circles. "Well, I've never been around any."

"I suppose that's true."

They remained silent for a while. Finally, Jamie asked, "How's rehab going?"

"Good. You'd be proud of me. I'm doing well. Everyone is impressed."

Jamie was secretly relieved, but some part of him still didn't quite know whether to trust his dad. He glanced over at Ryan and Marissa again. It felt weird talking to his dad with them in the other room. It was like the mixing of two separate worlds, and he didn't know how both could simultaneously exist. Newport was so different from the gloom and sorrow of Chino. Overlapping the two would just taint the good. "I'm glad. Do you think it's working?"

"I'm changing, Jamie," Donald said gruffly. Jamie wanted to believe him, he really did, but he knew how this went. It had only been a week. "I have to be here at least a month, but I'm doing well so I can get out as soon as possible for you."

Jamie didn't know if he wanted his dad to ever get out of rehab, but the thought unsettled him. What kind of person did it make him to not want to see his own father again?

"I'm really glad, dad," Jamie said, just as gruffly as his father.

"I have to go, but I wanted to check in and say hi. They finally let me call, and I did it as soon as I could." When Jamie didn't say anything, Donald added, "It's going to be different this time, Jamie. You'll see."

Jamie closed his eyes, wishing he could believe even a single word. "Okay. Get better, dad."

"I love you, Jamie."

Jamie balled his hand into a fist, digging his nails into his palm. "You too."

His dad hung up, and Jamie hung up the phone, opening his eyes slowly. He saw Ryan and Marissa at the table looking at each other with sad expressions. He was in Newport, but the chains of the past were yanking him back to the darkness of home. Would his dad ever change? He didn't know. All he did know was that he wasn't going to waste this month with the Atwoods. They just might be the only good he'd ever have.

"He says he's doing well," Jamie said to the two, walking over to them with his hands in his pocket.

Ryan stood and observed Jamie with that intense silent look he occasionally had. Finally, he nodded. "That's good, right?"

Jamie merely shrugged, looking away. "Yeah, I'm glad he's trying to get better."

Marissa sensed that this was a sore subject for Jamie and rested her hand on Ryan's shoulder. "Come on, let's finish dinner," she said, telling Ryan with a look that Jamie wanted to be left alone.

Jamie noticed this exchange, and it only made him realize once again how much he would miss them – all three of them – when this month was up. "I'm going to check on Lizzie."

Marissa smiled and nodded at him. "Please. God knows what trouble that girl has gotten into."

Jamie even cracked a smile at that. "You're probably right."

XXXXX

The next two weeks passed in a flash. Between hanging out with Josh – and a few times with Jenny and Rick – and spending time with the Atwoods and Cohens, Jamie was really starting to feel a part of Newport. When he was with all these people, he could forget his past. Chino was but a distant memory, and he felt so much more free.

This current Saturday he, Josh, and Lizzie had been playing in the pool all afternoon. Josh's parents were in New York all week on business, and Ryan and Marissa had invited him over for dinner every night in their absence. They had even said it was okay if he stayed with them, but Josh insisted he was fine being on his own next door. They had noticed he and Jamie were getting to be good friends, however, and were glad. Josh was good for Jamie, and vice versa.

At the end of the afternoon, after dinner and playing in the sun for hours, Josh went home and Ryan picked up Lizzie. "Are you sure you want to go spend the night with grandma and Papa?"

Lizzie nodded. Seth and Summer were out of town for the weekend, so Archie and Logan had been spending it with their grandparents. Instead of Lizzie spending Saturday night with Seth and Summer, Lizzie had insisted she spend it with her grandparents as well. Ryan and Marissa had offered to watch all four kids, but Sandy and Kirsten had protested. They liked to have the grandkids over, no matter how much work it took. "Me and Logan are gonna build a fort!"

"Make sure you include Archie," Marissa said, coming down the stairs with Lizzie's bag of clothes and toys. "He's your cousin too."

Lizzie gave her mom a look. "I know, mommy."

Marissa rolled her eyes at Lizzie's sour look. "You say you know but it's always you and Logan, and Archie is left on his own."

"We play with Archie. He is gonna make his own fort and we are gonna compare," Lizzie explained.

Marissa smiled and kissed Lizzie's cheek. "Oh of course."

At that moment Jamie also came down the stairs with his backpack slung over his shoulder. Ryan and Marissa both stared at him with surprised looks on their faces. Ryan was the one to speak. "What are you doing?"

Jamie raised his eyebrows in response. "I'm ready to go to the Cohens'"

Marissa bit her lip. "Jamie, just because Lizzie is going…"

Jamie cut her off. "I know, I know. But me and Sandy talked about it the other day. You guys deserve a break." Before either Ryan and Marissa could protest again, Jamie added, "And besides, they need help with the three kids."

Ryan looked at Jamie seriously. "Jamie…"

Jamie shook his head. "No. I want to go." He offered them a smile. "Really."

Ryan looked over at Marissa, who just shrugged. Marissa sighed. "Okay, let's go."

XXXXX

Once at the Cohen house, Lizzie ran off to find her cousins. Ryan and Marissa laughed at her enthusiasm. Sandy met them in the entrance, watching Lizzie go. "What, no hug?"

Lizzie called over her shoulder, "Sorry Papa! I gots to find my cousins!"

Sandy laughed. "Looks like I'm not the most important person here today." He smiled when he saw Jamie. "Jamie! Are you still staying tonight?"

Jamie nodded. "If that's okay, of course."

Sandy patted him on his back. "Of course it is! Kirsten has the pool house ready for you. You're more than welcome to stay in the house, of course, but we thought you might like it out there. That's Ryan's old room."

Jamie looked over at Ryan, who merely smiled. "Sounds good."

Kirsten led Jamie to the pool house, and Jamie waved bye to them. When he was out of ear shot, Ryan said, "You could have told us he wanted to come over."

"I didn't want to jinx anything," Sandy said with a shrug. "He suggested it last Sunday at brunch. I wasn't going to make him feel uncomfortable. He's always at your house during the day – he's never really stayed here by himself before."

"It's a big step," Marissa agreed.

"Have you two talked to Donald anymore?" Sandy asked, frowning at the mention of Jamie's father. Since the first phone call, there had been numerous others, usually every few days. He wouldn't talk much to Ryan, but Jamie always did. The conversations were usually short, ten minutes at most, but Ryan had noticed Jamie growing more and more comfortable with his father. While he was pleased, it also saddened him.

Marissa answered for Ryan. "He usually talks to Jamie. They seem to be getting along pretty well."

Marissa exchanged a look with Sandy, and immediately he understood their predicament. "How much longer until he gets out?"

Ryan spoke up now. "If he continues with how great he is doing, he could be out in less than two weeks."

Sandy frowned, agreeing that he didn't trust Jamie to go back with Donald. Yet, there was nothing they could really do right now. "Well, let's make Jamie as comfortable as we can until then." Suddenly, Sandy smiled. "Now, you two get out of here."

Ryan gave Sandy a look. "Are you sure you're okay watching all the kids? We could easily take Lizzie and Jamie home. We can even take Logan and Archie."

Sandy rolled his eyes and made a shooing motion. "You two get out of here. Enjoy your night off. If anyone deserves to have a night to themselves, it's you two." He grinned and winked. "Have fun."

Marissa blushed, but said, "Thanks, Sandy. Call us if you need anything."

Sandy laughed. "Will do, but believe it or not, we've raised kids before."

Ryan rolled his eyes but smiled. "Yeah, yeah. All right, we'll see you in the morning."

Ryan reached for Marissa's hand, waving at Sandy. Kirsten came up beside him and waved bye as well. "See you in the morning. Have fun!"

With that, Ryan and Marissa left. Sandy wrapped an arm around Kirsten and grinned. "Oh, to be young and in love."

Kirsten laughed. "Come on, let's go make sure Lizzie and Logan haven't set the house on fire yet."

XXXXX

Once home, Ryan closed the door after him and Marissa. "So, what do you want to do tonight? Movie?"

Surprising him, Marissa wrapped her arms around his neck, leaning in to kiss him hungrily. "I was thinking sex in the living room."

Ryan grinned against her lips, wrapping his arms around her, lifting her so her legs wrapped around his waist. "Mmm, good idea."

Ryan led them to the couch, leaning Marissa down carefully. Once she was settled, he pulled his shirt over his head, watching as Marissa did the same. He smiled to himself, once again floored with how incredibly lucky he was. Marissa caught onto is look and raised an eyebrow. "What?"

He shook his head, smiling lazily as he leaned down to kiss her again. "Nothing."

Her hands played with the hair on the back of his head, and their lips found each other, and nothing else was said for another hour.

XXXXX

Meanwhile, Jamie was helping Archie build a fort while Lizzie and Logan made theirs. The little boy was quiet and reserved, which Jamie liked. He loved Lizzie and her bubbliness, but he had always been quieter. It was easier to get along with Archie.

When they were finished, Archie looked at their handiwork. "Somefin's missin."

Jamie smiled at his mispronunciation. "What do you think is missing?"

"A library," Archie said after a moment's thought, pronouncing 'w' instead of 'r', his brown eyes lighting up.

Jamie raised his eyebrows. "A library? In a fort?"

Archie nodded emphatically. "For all my books."

"What books do you have?" Jamie asked curiously. Archie walked over to his spiderman backpack and unzipped it to reveal a stack of books. Jamie raised his eyebrows in surprise. He had known Archie liked books, but he hadn't realized how much. "That's a lot of books. Do you know how to read?"

Archie shook his head sadly. "Not yet."

That made sense. Archie and Logan were only three, after all. "I could show you sometime, if you want," Jamie said slowly, observing Archie's face. Archie was so quiet and sensitive, so Lizzie and Logan tended to stick together and be more rebellious together. When Jamie was younger, he didn't have any siblings to grow up with or cousins to play with, so he knew what it was like to feel alone a lot.

Archie's eyes widened. "Weally?"

Jamie nodded, trying to hide his smile. "Yeah. But first, let's build that library."

They found some puzzle boxes and old toy boxes that they stacked to form a bookshelf, which they put in the corner of the fort. Then, Jamie handed Archie the books to line up inside of it. At the end, Jamie looked at the 'library,' impressed by the little boy's organization. "All good," Archie said after a moment's thought.

Just then, Logan and Lizzie ran over from the other side of the room. "Done!" Lizzie exclaimed, plopping down next to Jamie to observe their fort.

"We have a library," Archie said proudly.

Lizzie crawled into the fort. "Oh cool!"

Jamie grinned over at Archie, who was beaming. "Good job partner," Jamie said, raising his hand for a high five.

They all looked at each other's forts, or rather, the younger kids did. Jamie watched them all with amusement, remembering when he used to try to make forts with his neighbors. Those were the good days, though. After a while, Sandy and Kirsten called saying it was time for bed.

All three younger kids protested, but Kirsten gave them the stern grandmother look. "It's way past your bedtimes. Your parents would be made if they knew you were still up."

"They don't have to know," Lizzie said innocently, blinking her big blue eyes over at Sandy, who was a sucker for that look.

Kirsten shook her head before Sandy could side with Lizzie. "No, you can play tomorrow. Come one, let's go get you all changed and ready for bed."

The kids all sighed and agreed reluctantly. Lizzie came over to Jamie and gave him a hug. "Night Jamie. Thanks for playing with us!"

Jamie returned the hug and smiled. "Night, Liz."

Logan merely waved bye, busy chasing his older cousin to the other room. Surprising him, Archie walked over to Jamie and gave him a hug, his body small and so fragile. "You my good fwiend, Jamie."

Jamie's face softened as he patted Archie's back. "You're my good friend, too, Archie."

"Night night." With that, Archie ran off after his brother and cousin.

Jamie stood, looking over at Sandy, who was smiling at him. "You have a way with those kids," Sandy said.

Jamie shrugged. "They're good kids."

"Archie's really shy, but he seems to love you. He never hangs out with new people like he did with you tonight. Don't sell yourself short," Sandy said, walking over and putting his hand on Jamie's shoulder.

Jamie shrugged again uncomfortably. "I like him."

"Come on, let's go get some ice cream while the kids and Kirsten are distracted. She would kill me if she saw me eating sweets again."

Jamie laughed but followed Sandy to the kitchen. So far, coming to the Cohen house had proven a good idea.

XXXXX

Ryan's arms were wrapped around Marissa, her head on his naked chest as they lay together on the couch. Ryan had grabbed a blanket and they were cuddled together happily in their post orgasmic glow. "I wonder what Jamie would say if he knew what we did on this couch," Ryan said after a long bout of silence.

Marissa blushed deeply thinking about it and said, "Oh god, don't joke that way."

Ryan laughed softly, pressing a kiss to Marissa's hair. "Soon enough he'll understand. Hell, at his age I'd already been with a few girls."

Marissa slightly tensed uncomfortably, frowning. "Oh, I know all about your promiscuous days in Chino," she said dryly.

Ryan smiled at her frown. "Oh, those were the days…"

Marissa turned and glared at him, her hair falling onto his chest, tickling him. "Oh, you can go relive the glory days with your left hand on your own…"

She started to climb off the couch, but Ryan cut her off, pulling her so she was completely on top of him. She squealed in surprise, and Ryan laughed softly. "You know I'm joking."

She still glared at him, though it was taking everything in her to pretend to be mad at him as she looked down at him. His hair was sticking up in all directions, his eyes bright and soft, his smile lazy and real. "Not a funny joke."

He leaned up, kissing her lightly. "I thought it was funny."

She pulled back to give him a look. "Well, it wasn't."

He smiled and kissed her again, and this time she returned in. It was a sweet, loving kiss, devoid of lust or longing. "Sorry, I'll work on my jokes," he said when he pulled back, grinning at her.

She rolled her eyes at him, but rested her head on his chest once again, listening to his steady heartbeat. "You better." He stared down at her, the smile still on his face. He played with her hair, twirling it around his finger as they remained comfortably silent. After a long while, Marissa said, "I wish you were my first."

Ryan furrowed his eyebrows in confusion. "Your first?"

She looked over at him, her lips pursed in reflection. "You know, the guy I lost my virginity to. I wish you were my first." She looked down at his chest, drawing circles. "That the night in the tiki hut was my first ever. With Luke, it was more revenge at you. And with DJ, it was drunken numbness. Alex was just trying something new. But with you… it would've meant something."

Ryan studied her carefully, still playing with her hair. "At least we had an amazing first night together."

She smiled, meeting his soft blue eyes with her own. "It was pretty amazing."

He smiled again, and she leaned up to peck his lips. "I was terrified," he revealed when she pulled back.

She raised her eyebrows at this. "Why? It's not like you hadn't had experience."

He smiled at that. "I know. In Chino it was easy. They were just girls, and it was just sex." He looked at her hair twirled around his finger. "With you, it meant something."

She smiled softly at that, pressing a kiss to his chest in response. "I know what you mean."

"I'm sorry we didn't talk more in high school," Ryan said after they had returned to their previous positions with her head on his chest.

Marissa drew more circles on his chest. "We have now."

He couldn't help the soft smile, the happiness at her words. He didn't say anything in response, and she didn't add anything. As great as it was to be able to talk freely with each other now, their favorite moments were still these quiet intimate ones between them, her head on his chest, his heartbeat calm and steady in her ears.