Obvious FYI: I don't own anything that even remotely has to do with The O.C.!

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The next time Ryan woke up, Kirsten was sitting next to his bed reading a magazine. She herself looked tired, but perked up when she saw him stir.

"Hey, Ryan. How are you feeling?" Kirsten asked gently as she smoothed Ryan's hair.

"Fine," Ryan replied, but continued, expecting Kirsten's follow up question. "Headd hurtt."

"Ok, honey, I know. Lets get you inside, have some breakfast, and take your medicine, ok?"

"Ok," Ryan replied and slowly sat up. He steadied himself as the quick bout of dizziness subsided and he then stood for the walker as practiced many times.

Seth and Sandy were already awake and were awaiting Ryan. Sandy got the medication while Kirsten prepared some applesauce and toast. Since Ryan's face was so swollen for so long, he hadn't eaten much solid food, as it was hard for him to open his mouth wide enough and chewing irritated his stitches. Since he was on a feeding tube for a long period of time, Ryan's body needed time to adjust to real food, so bland meals came first.

"So, Ry. How'd you like your first night back home?" Seth asked as he plopped himself in the chair next to Ryan.

"Goodd. I know you sleepp onn floor. Comfy?" Ryan answered smiling, remembering last night.

"Oh it was comfy, bro. Don't you worry. So comfy in fact I decided to get up and go back to my own room," Seth replied jokingly.

"Oh. Sorry," Ryan answered and picked at his applesauce.

"Come on, I was kidding! Come on, you know floors aren't meant to be slept on…when there's bed calling your name," Seth stood up for himself.

"Joke. Righttt," Ryan replied nodding his head. After his final bite of the toast, he turned to Kirsten. "Ccann we go walkk now?"

The doctors suggested frequent exercise, within reason and his abilities. Walking to the end of the driveway and back was on the list.

"Sure," Kirsten replied, clearing Ryan's plate. "Do you want to go with him?" she turned to Sandy and Seth.

It wasn't that Kirsten didn't want to walk with Ryan, she just figured her husband and son should get as much interaction with Ryan as possible before he went to Weldon. Besides, she was exhausted and was thinking about lying down and continuing reading her magazine.

"Sure, you ready, kid?" Sandy asked as he walked towards Ryan.

"Yesss. I gett up no helpp. Thankk," Ryan stated as Sandy went to help Ryan stand up from the chair. It was true that he needed only supervision in standing but any Ryan, injured or healthy, wouldn't ask for help anyways.

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The threesome made it down the driveway and Ryan rested on the curb. As he stood up to grab the walker again, he noticed Marissa approaching them.

"Oh, hi. I was just coming to say hi this morning," Marissa addressed the three.

"Hi," Ryan replied, looking at her intently. Something was bothering him about her, but he couldn't decide what.

"How are you feeling, Ryan?" Marissa asked hesitantly, noticing his expression.

"Goodd," Ryan replied and moved closer to the girl.

"Uh, we'll let you guys talk for a second. We'll be right over here," Sandy said as he pulled Seth to the side just a bit. They were far away enough to simulate some sort of privacy, but close enough to stop trouble should it occur.

"So how does it feel to be back home? Sorry we didn't talk much yesterday, you fell asleep so soon! I don't blame you. Summer and Luke want to come by later if that's ok." She stopped her rambling as she noticed his confused expression again.

"'Rissa," Ryan stammered out.

"Yes, Ryan. It's me, Marissa…don't you remember me?" Marissa asked, fear creeping up in her stomach.

"Yesss. Neighborr."

"Yah, that's right. Do you remember anything, uh, else?" Marissa tried to coax something out of Ryan.

"You say I live Bosstonn," Ryan replied shortly.

Marissa thought for a moment. "Oh! I did say that, didn't I? We were standing right here, when we first met. You remember that?"

"Yesss. Why surprise?" Ryan responded. As Seth told her, his memory was either perfect or splotchy.

"Oh, well, I don't know. I didn't even remember that myself," she laughed.

"We friend?" Ryan asked suddenly.

Marissa stared at him. "Yes, Ryan. We've been friends since you lived with the Cohens…recently we've been, well, more than friends." Did he really not remember her like that?

That got Ryan's attention. "More?" he said, racking his brain for detailed memories.

"Yah, more. Look, how about we get you back inside. I can tell you are tired. Can I walk back with you?"

"Ok. How more?"

Marissa remembered Seth's comments a few days previous. He's not going to do anything for you. This is about him. She'd have to change her approach. "Well, can I tell you some stories about us?"

"Ok. Lets walk," Ryan replied. The two made their way back up the driveway. Seth and Sandy had heard everything and were happy to see the two talking.

"Well there was this one time at a carnival…" Marissa could be heard as she laid a gentle hand on Ryan's right shoulder. This was about him.

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Ryan woke up from a nap on the couch a few hours later. Exhaustion still came easily to him and the medication he took made him drowsy. As he was coming back into consciousness, he heard the phone ring with Kirsten answering it.

"Hey, Ryan?" Kirsten began as she noticed Ryan awake and sitting up. She came towards the couch with the phone on hold and against her shoulder. "Ryan this is Luke on the phone. He is asking if he can come over to see you today. He'd like to bring Summer with him. Do you feel up to seeing Luke and Summer later today?"

Ryan thought for a moment. He liked those two. He'd like to talk to them. "Ok."

Kirsten smiled and went back into the kitchen to finish the phone conversation.

About four hours later, Luke and Summer rang the doorbell. Ryan answered it, walker in hand, with Seth lurking behind.

"Oh, hey Ryan!" Summer exclaimed as she entered the house. Seth had told her not to call Ryan 'Chino' yet.

"Hey, Ryan. Good to see you," Luke said honestly as he followed Summer.

"Hi, frienddsss," Ryan said with a smile.

Kirsten, Sandy, Seth, Luke, Summer, and Ryan sat outside and talked until Ryan began to fall asleep in his chair. They reiterated to Ryan everything that had happened in the past six months in Newport, but it wasn't to jog his memory, as Ryan remembered everything. It was a recollection of events. Some were happy, some funny, some sad, and some trying, but they all served the purpose to remind Ryan what he was coming home to.

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Story is coming to an end soon! Thanks for staying with me so long!