A/N: Ok this is really the end now…I really have nothing more to wrap up after this

A/N: Ok this is really the end now…I really have nothing more to wrap up after this. I hope you have all enjoyed my little tale. Reviews are always nice, and were really disappointing on the first Epilogue (1 review for 200 hits...hmmm) and they may inspire me to write a completely new story!! Enjoy.

Epilogue 2

"Ryan" Marissa sighed with all the relief she could muster.

"I'm right here, baby. I love you and everything is gonna be fine." Ryan comforted as he went to her bedside and held her hand. He would make her believe it, even if he wasn't sure at this moment. The thought of anything happening to Marissa terrified him.

A nurse walked into the room and checked all the tubes and monitors that had been hooked up to Marissa and then turned to Ryan.

"Mr. Atwood, there's someone outside to see you. She's being quite insistent that she be allowed in here. What should I tell her?"

"Oh, it's ok. It's my sister-in-law. Please send her in, my wife will want her here." Ryan smiled gratefully at the nurse as she left and Summer entered right after.

"Atwood, what the hell is going on? They wouldn't tell me anything about Marissa or let me right in, like I thought we had arranged. Is everything ok?" Summer eyed Marissa and all the tubes hooked up. Before Ryan could answer, Marissa spoke up.

"Summ, it's ok. All this is just for the epidural, the saline drip and the baby heart monitor. My blood pressure is a bit high and I'm dilating quicker than they had expected, but I'm fine. The good news is the epidural has kicked in and I only know I'm having a contraction if I look at the baby heart monitor print out." She smiled and squeezed Ryan's hand.

"Ok Coop, you look pretty comfortable for a woman about to give birth" Summer laughed and reached for Marissa's other hand. "So, what can I do for you?"

"Um, actually, my mouth is pretty dry. Could you get me a cup of ice chips?"

"I'm on it." Summer gave Marissa's hand another squeeze and turned to leave the room.

Once Summer was gone, turned to look at Ryan with a most serious expression.

"Ryan, if things start to get out of control here, you remember what we talked about right?"

Ryan nodded and spoke in barely a whisper.

"I know, 'Riss, but it was more you talking and me disagreeing. We have two beautiful children already. I am not willing to sacrifice you for any more. Please, think of Amy and Brooklyn too. I really think we should just go for the C-section and not wait to take any chances. It will be much safer all round." He leaned in to kiss her forehead as she nodded in conciliation and wiped a tear from her cheek.

At that moment Summer returned with a cup of ice chips and a spoon.

"Uh, sorry, am I interrupting?" she handed the cup to Marissa.

"Thanks. No, Summ, we're good." Marissa replied as she spooned a mouthful of ice chips. "But I do have something to tell you and another job for you."

"Anything sweetie, that's why I'm here." Summer squeezed Marissa's hand again and Ryan smiled at the two of them as he left to speak to the doctor.

Marissa explained to Summer that she was going to have a Caesarian section and her reasons and then asked Summer to start making the phone calls to summon the family to the hospital. Summer left the room and Ryan returned.

"Ok. Dr. Miller is relieved at our decision and thinks the C-section is the better option given…everything. They'll be in to start getting you ready and I can be there for the whole thing."

"I love you" she said as a team of nurses came in to prepare Marissa for surgery.

Ryan mouthed the same sentiments back to her and stepped away to let the medical team go to work.

Nearly two hours later, Ryan finally walked into the family waiting area. He had not had the opportunity to let anyone know anything and had asked the staff not to say anything to the family until he was ready. As a result, he was virtually mobbed by all except Kirsten who had Brooklyn sleeping on her lap. Ryan walked over to her and lifted his son up and squeezed him tight. Amy moved towards her father and the three of them shared a tender embrace. As he pulled away, he looked at his daughter and seemed to convey a message with eyes. Amy had picked up her mother's ability to understand these silent communications. She smiled at her father and began to cry. Ryan had yet to say anything. It was Summer who spoke up first.

"Ryan, is everything ok? Coop, is she….? I mean did she…….? She's not….would you just tell everyone already!!"

Ryan stood with Brooklyn resting on his shoulder surveying the room filled with anyone of any importance to him. The only ones missing were Kaitlin, Sophie and Jamie whose geographical locations were not in sync with the unpredictability of childbirth.

"Hey, everyone" he finally began "I'm really sorry that you all had to wait so long. Marissa is doing fine. She's been resting and is anxious to see you all. We've made special arrangements for you all to come in together."

"Oh thank god" interrupted Julie "and the baby, what about the baby, what is it? Lord knows I tried to get Marissa to tell me what you were having. I know you guys knew!"

"Well, that's why we arranged for you all to come in together so we can introduce you to the latest addition to the Atwoods." Ryan took Amy's hand and led the crowd through to Marissa's room as they all exchanged quizzical looks. One by one they filed in and went to Marissa to give her a kiss or hug. Ryan directed Amy to one side of her mother while he went with Brooklyn to the other side and perched himself on the bed next to her.

Seth took a survey of the room and spoke what everyone else was obviously thinking.

"Hey Ryan, uh, I'm pretty sure we're here to see a baby and I'm not seeing one. You're killing me man. I've got a bet with my wife that involves more than money if you get my drift."

"Ew, Cohen, too much sharing" Summer giggled.

"Yeah, way too much information, Dad" Robbie added.

"Ok, I know" Ryan smiled and as if on cue a nurse came in wheeling a bassinet with a pink card on the front and a pink blanket covering the tiny form inside. "May I introduce you to Kayleigh Marissa Atwood." He beamed as the 'aws' resounded through the room. The nurse picked up the little bundle and placed her in her mother's arms.

"Yes!! A girl!!" shouted Seth. "I win"

"Not so fast, Seth" cautioned Ryan as another nurse wheeled in a second bassinet with a blue card on the front and a little bundle in a blue blanket. Jaws dropped and the smiles of pure joy filled the room.

"You should also meet Cooper Ryan Atwood" Marissa said as the nurse placed the other bundle in her free arm. The new family of six were all smiles (at least the ones that were more than an hour or so old) as the other family members offered their congratulations.

As the chatter continued, Sandy approached Ryan. "You dog, you" he said in his thickest Bronx accent as he put his arm around Ryan. "How long have you guys known?"

"Oh, since the first ultra sound at seven weeks" Ryan grinned cheekily. "We told Amy when Marissa was about six months, so she understood why it was so important that she help as much as she could with Brooklyn. I'm so impressed that she didn't tell anybody. I know it killed Marissa too, but she was determined not to jinx anything in the early stages, and then we decided why not surprise you all."

"Well, you did that, kid. You did that and you did good." Sandy pulled Ryan into a warm embrace.

As Ryan made his way around all of the family gathered receiving hugs and kisses and handshakes of congratulations, finally making his way back to his wife's side, he couldn't help but think that he had finally paid his good fortune forward. He had beaten all the odds and hit all the curve balls that life had dealt him out of the park. He leaned over and whispered in Marissa's ear the words he had once been so afraid to say and now carried a lifetime of meaning.

"I love you, more than life itself. You are my soul. Thank you for my life."

The End.