Disclaimer: If you recognize it, I don't own it.

AN: First of all, I'm so sorry for the extended wait! I have been so busy. And I have missed you all like crazy. First there were finals at the university. Then there was my grandmother's impromptu arrival. And then there was the aftermath of "The Nana." (Sorry, bad pun!)It's been an interesting couple of weeks. But, it's over now and I'm back in the groove. And now onto Kindly Words for my Kindly Reviewers.

OthfanAnna: Welcome to the Party! Here's more. I hope you like it.

cissi: Welcome to the Party! I'm glad you like it.

oc-journey06: Welcome to the Party! I'm glad you like the ideas. I thought they worked for the idea. I'm glad you like my Ryan. I wanted him to be more open with the Cohens. He's their son. He should start acting like it. And yes, there will be more Caleb/Ryan bonding later in the story. I hope you continue to read and enjoy.

Elebridith: Here's the answer to that question: Seth doesn't know. You'll learn why in this chapter. And yes, eventually, Ryan and Caleb will get there.

Marybeth: I'm glad you like my Caleb. And no, he's not such a bad guy. I was sad to learn that his character died on the OC. And I might use his heartattack in my story. Just an idea. And Seth is going to make his first appearance today. I hope you like it.

Cynthia: In this story, yea. He really is selfish. In the show, he's just a bit self involved.

Dumbeblondi02: Welcome to the Party! I love your name. I can totally commiserate! I was actually born blond which allows for lots of barbs. Oh well. I'm glad you like the chapter. Seth makes his first appearance today. I hope you like.

Babak: My lover! You're so awesome. I hope you continue to read and enjoy. I'm glad you liked the interaction between Ryan and Caleb. And yeah, I thought that Ryan needed something about himself that would remind Caleb of the person he loved more than life. I thought his eyes, since Kirsten is also blue-eyed, would be the way to go. I hope you continue to enjoy this story.

jhhhhjfjk89: I'm glad you caught the point of the chapter. I hope you continue to enjoy.

Gator-Girl: Welcome to the Party! I'm glad you like it.

SeattleJava: Welcome to the Party! Don't break a nail. That hurts. I hope you like this chapter.

Chapter 11: Seth

Grandfather and grandson managed to talk peaceably for nearly two hours, before Ryan could no longer fight sleep. Caleb smoothed a hand over the boy's head, watching his eyes flutter in an attempt to remain awake. Sensing the Caleb himself was the reason Ryan didn't want to sleep, Caleb smiled. "It's all right, Ryan. Go to sleep. I'll see you later."

Ryan nodded, looking up at his grandfather. "Why didn't Seth come home when you told him about my illness?"

Caleb shook his head. "I didn't tell him."

Ryan's eyes widened in surprise, but he was too tired to question. His eyes finally drifted shut and he slipped away into unconsciousness. Standing, Caleb pulled the blankets at the base of the bed over the boy's slumbering figure. Leaving the room, he joined his daughter in the kitchen. She and Sandy were there together, talking quietly. "Kiki," Caleb murmured, watching her cry against her husband's chest.

Kirsten looked up at her father. "Why isn't he here? He would have come running if he knew that Ryan was sick."

"I didn't get to tell him that Ryan was sick. He wouldn't listen to anything I tried to tell him. I tried to get him to call Ryan, but he wouldn't do it. All he would say was that Ryan didn't need him when he left, he didn't need him now."

Sandy stared at his father-in-law. "He still doesn't know that Ryan has cancer?"

Caleb shook his head sadly. "No, he still doesn't know."

Kirsten moaned. "Someone has to tell Seth that Ryan is sick. He needs to know."

Caleb shook his head. "He left the hotel he was staying at. I don't know where he disappeared to."

Kirsten looked outside toward the pool, the ocean and not for the first time, wished she hadn't allowed her youngest son to convince her to buy him a sailboat. "This is all my fault."

Caleb cocked an eyebrow at his daughter, "And how would this be your fault?"

"I'm a terrible mother."

Sandy shook his head, holding his wife close. "No, you're not. You're a good mother. Just because Seth doesn't understand that, doesn't mean that Ryan doesn't."

"And look at what a good mother I was to Ryan. I gave him up and let him get dumped in a family like the Atwoods."

Caleb shook his head. "You did what you thought would be best for him, Kiki. There's nothing wrong with that. You didn't know that he'd get adopted by the Atwoods. Or that he'd grow up like he did. When you gave him up, you only wanted the best for him. What you knew you couldn't give him at the time. You're not a bad mother."

The phone rang just then, startling the three adults silly. Kirsten reached for it shakily and wiped her eyes quickly, before answering the phone. "Hello?"

Seth's voice came over the receiver. "Can I speak to Ryan?"

Kirsten's heart wilted a little at the detached sound in her son's voice. "Ryan's sleeping, Seth. He hasn't been feeling well."

Seth immediately sounded concerned, though slightly suspicious, "What's wrong with him?"

"I can't tell you."

"You can't tell me? Why not? Did he tell you not to?" he exploded, seeing red. He'd always thought that Ryan had a temper, but little did he realize that he had inherited the same temper from his grandfather. Ryan's just manifested itself more often than his.

Kirsten sensed that this conversation was going downhill fast. "No, Seth, it's something Ryan should tell you himself."

Seth didn't even hear her, just plowing over her. "I told Grandpa he didn't need me. I mean I'm just Seth, the guy he can ditch at any given moment."

Kirsten, moving to tell Seth about Ryan's true parentage, gasped at the sound of the dial-tone. "Oh god," she murmured, her knees buckling as she fell to the floor. Sandy and Caleb rushed to hold her. "He hung up! He won't listen to anybody."

Everyone looked up as Ryan's voice asked tiredly from the doorframe, "Mom? What's going on?"

Kirsten looked up, and seeing the fear and exhaustion in his eyes that Ryan would only let her see, she stood and came to stand beside him. Ryan leaned gratefully into her arms, struggling to regain his breath as he heaved in air. "That was Seth on the phone, baby. I didn't know you were awake or I would have let you talk to him."

"I just woke up. I wasn't feeling well a second ago. What did he call about?"

"Your grandfather told him to call you. He was just doing that. I thought you should tell Seth about your illness yourself, and I tried to tell him that, but he wouldn't listen to me."

"So he still doesn't know?" Ryan asked, his eyes starting to see his future stretched out in front of him.

"No, Ryan. He still doesn't know you're his brother and he still doesn't know that you have cancer. Baby, I'm so sorry."

Ryan looked up at his mother. "Don't be. It's not your fault. He'll forgive me for leaving eventually. I just have to be patient." Taking a deep breath, he released it in a tragic sounding sigh. "Momma?"

Kirsten felt him start to tremble and started to lower them both to the floor. Sitting back against the wall with him in her arms and both Sandy and Caleb kneeling next to them, she looked down at him. "What's wrong, honey? Are you hurting?"

Ryan shook his head, before lifting tortured blue eyes to his mother's own. "I'm going to die. Aren't I?"

Kirsten's eyes flashed to Sandy's, her blue eyes begging him to answer this. Sandy watched the pain and heartache flash in the blue eyes that were so much like Ryan's. Reaching forward, Sandy laid a gentle hand on the curve of Ryan's shoulder. "No, Ryan. You're not going to die. You'll be fine. I don't know how long it'll take for you to be healthy again, but you'll be fine. You have my word."

Ryan nodded once, settling against his mother with a heavy sigh. Catching Sandy's chocolate eyes with his own mosaic-opals, he gave a small smile. Allowing his eyes to slip closed, he remarked tiredly, "I believe you."

Kirsten sobbed as she felt him go limp against her, holding his frail body tightly to her. Her fingers threaded through his hair fondly, almost absent in their lazy caress. Her cheek rested against his temple and she rocked him in her arms, murmuring senseless words against his pale skin, trying to comfort herself as much as him. Sandy, seeing that his wife was broken, reached out and carefully pulled Ryan from her arms. Kirsten shook her head fiercely, tightening her grip on her eldest son. "No!"

Sandy paused, speaking gently, "Kirsten. He's asleep. I just need to take him back to bed. All right? I'm just going to carry him down the hall."

Kirsten, realizing that she had went slightly crazy just then, nodded and released Ryan into Sandy's arms. Sandy hefted the seventeen year old into his arms and walked away, Kirsten following close on his heels. After the teenager was safely asleep in his own bed, Kirsten plopped into the chair there and sat. Her eyes stared at his face, almost as though she was trying to reassure herself that he was still breathing. Sandy, knowing that she wouldn't be moved, only kissed her forehead and left, leaving his wife in silence, staring at the pale features of his step-son.