Disclaimer: I still don't own the O.C. They still belong to FOX. *fist shaking* And that probably won't be changing for well, ever. If you're all about the drama, you can skip this chapter. Don't forget to review!

Ryan's mother was standing right in front of him. The woman who abandoned him not once, but twice, was in front of his face. He didn't know whether he wanted to walk away or hug her. She left him, she kicked him out! But then again, if it weren't for her decision to leave him with the Cohens, he'd probably still be getting the crap beat out of him by A.J. Or Jim. Or one of his mom's many other boyfriends. He opened his mouth to say something, and closed it again. He couldn't think of the right words to say. "Hey mom, how's it goin'? Still spending days and nights getting drunk and letting your kids get beat up?" Uh...no that wouldn't work, he thought. It seemed like forever as everyone's eyes were focused directly on him. "Uh...hi?" said Dawn. Ryan smiled a little and looked down. "Hi." He said. Sandy cleared his throat. "Are we gonna stand here all night and watch these two say hi to each other, or are we gonna have a party?"

They all left to separate places, leaving Ryan and Dawn in the living room. She gave him a big hug that Ryan didn't know how to respond to. "I came to see you on your birthday, babe." she whispered. "I can see that." replied Ryan. "Now come on, Ry...-" Ryan stopped her. "Don't call me that." Dawn's eyes welled up a little with tears. "I'm sorry Ryan. I just wanted to do what was best for you. Why don't you just have fun on your birthday, huh?" Ryan looked away. "That'd be a first." He mumbled under his breath, remembering his 14th birthday when his mom's current boyfriend at the time beat him up so bad that he blacked out for the whole day. Ah, happy memories. He looked at his mom. She looked so earnest, so...sober. He smiled a little. "Ok...I'll try to have fun."

Ryan looked around to see a giant birthday cake with the words: "Happy Birthday Chino!" on it. He laughed as he saw it. Marissa gave him a kiss as Kirsten cut a slice of cake and handed it to Ryan. "First slice for you, Ryan!" she said. Ryan gave her a smile and started to eat the delicious looking cake. "I made it from scratch!" said Kirsten. Ryan almost spat out the cake. Everyone laughed. "Maybe this is actually gonna be fun", thought Ryan as he laughed with everybody once again. In the corner of the room, Dawn looked at the Cohens and her son enviously. They had everything. The incredible house, money, and now her son. She felt embarrassed just standing in their house. Like she was trash that needed to be taken to the curb. She took out her ratty cell phone and made a call.

A few hours later, after everyone had left, Ryan and Seth sat down on the sofa. "I don't think I've ever been this full in my life." said Ryan. He was really happy. He and his mother had made up, He had just had the best birthday party ever, and he was back together with Marissa. Nothing could be better. "Seth..." he said. "Thanks, you know, for the party. It was... fun." Seth made a face of mock curiosity. "What was that, Ryan? Did you just say it was FUN?" Ryan laughed. "Well buddy, it ain't over yet. Oh no. See us Cohens have got a little birthday tradition." Seth looked at Sandy, who was smiling at his two sons. Ryan smiled a little. "What family tradition?" Seth looked like he was going to explode as he said: "We rent like, 10 movies and pull an all nighter!" Ryan looked at Sandy, and then at Seth. "A what?" Seth rolled his eyes and repeated. "We watch movies all night. You get to pick!" Ryan grinned and nodded his head. Sandy took him into another room. "Why don't you tell your mother that she can stay here for a while?" His mother listened from the kitchen and smiled. Maybe the Atwood luck had changed after all.

She was shaking slightly, and went over to the cabinet to get some alcohol. She could always pour a mean gin. She drank the contents of the glass cup and sighed. Suddenly Ryan walked in. "Hey ma!" he said cheerfully. Dawn dropped the cup. "Shit..." she mumbled. Ryan grabbed a broom and helped his mom pick up the shards of glass. He half smiled as she looked at him. "I'm gonna go rent some movies, mom...but, you can make yourself comfortable. The Cohens, they uh, they said you could stay here for a while." Dawn gave him a hug. "You want me to stay and help you settle in?" asked Ryan. "No." said Dawn, surprisingly fast. "I mean...you go rent some movies. It's not like I wont be here when you come back." She tried to laugh, but the final comment seemed to make Ryan uncomfortable. He walked over to the Cohens, who were putting on their jackets and shoes. "Yeah, I'm gonna stay here and, you know, catch up with my mom." said Ryan, not looking up at his family. "Alright." Said Sandy. As they left the house, Seth yelled back: "I'll make some good choices for you Ryan! A little bit o' fighting, just how you like it?" Ryan laughed and nodded. He watched his new family drive away into the night.