NOTE: I do not own any of 'The O.C' characters… you can thank FOX. If you have any questions or comment you can e-mail me at liverbrain22@hotmail.com

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Chapter Seventeen

Ryan woke up the next morning not lying next to Marissa, but lying next to something smaller – a lot smaller. Ryan threw back the covers and found Conner rolled up in a little ball. Ryan carefully got out of bed, trying hard not to disturb Conner and Marissa from sleeping, and went to the bathroom. He took a quick shower and then got changed into his casual clothes. He knew that today he wouldn't go to work. He had to help Trey out, before his family drives Ryan's whole family nuts.

Ryan tiptoed downstairs, careful not to wake Josh up, and brewed himself a hot cup of coffee. He then called Kirsten, hoping she would be up by now. It was six in the morning.

"Hello?" Kirsten answered the phone.

"Hey, good you're up." Ryan said. "Look, is it okay if I took today off? I'll work in my office any chance I get, but I have to have today off."

"Ryan, is everything okay?" She asked. "How are the boys?"

"Everything is fine, Kirsten." Ryan assured her. "It's just Trey. He got kicked out of his house yesterday, so I brought him and his kids over last night. I just need today off to help him find a job and get him back onto his feet."

"Okay, sure…Yes, of course you can have today off. And if you need anything just call me, okay?"

"Okay. Thanks. Bye." Ryan hung up the phone and took a sip of his coffee.

As Ryan was pouring his second cup of coffee Marissa walked into the kitchen. "'Morning." She said, grabbing a cup from the cupboard. Ryan poured her some juice. "Why is Conner in our bed?"

Ryan shrugged. "My guess is that Amy took up too much of the bed. We really need to work out something else here."

"Well, what do you have planned?" She asked. They were both sitting at their kitchen table drinking coffee.

"Well, today I'll get Trey to enroll Amy and Josh over at the public school, and then I'm going to go over to the restaurant and ask Sandy if Trey could work for him." Ryan replied and then added, "I'll find him a cheap apartment and then once he gets his first paycheck, he's out."

"Do you really think Trey can work at a restaurant like the Lighthouse? The place is too fancy for him. I mean, look at him." Marissa said.

She was right, Ryan thought to himself. Trey didn't fit the profile at all. "Well, I'll get him cleaned up. I'll buy him a few clothes to get him started…and of course, a decent haircut."

Marissa laughed. "Yeah, he needs one of those." She took a sip of coffee. "What about Amy? If he's going to be working full time, who's going to look after her after school? She's only in kindergarten four, Ryan."

"Well, I thought that maybe we could help him out there and –"

Marissa stopped him. "We, as in me? Ryan! Conner's finally in the first grade and I finally have freedom in the afternoon. And, in case you forgot, I'm pregnant. I'm due in less than three months!"

"Marissa, it's only for awhile. Once he has money, Amy will go to a daycare and then Josh can watch her after his school. Please, just for awhile?" Ryan begged.

"Fine." She mumbled.

"Thanks." He got up and kissed her on the cheek. "Don't worry, I'll get him a job and then everything will go back to normal." He said and then left the kitchen.

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"Whoa. Whoa. Whoa." Trey held up his hands. "I'm not getting my hair cut." He protested. "What's wrong with my hair?"

"Nothing, Trey. You just need to look…." Not dirty? Or at least look like he lives in Newport and not in Chino. Ryan couldn't tell his brother that. "You just need a clean cut, Trey. It will help you get a job. And here," He tossed Trey a dress shirt and dress pants. "Try these on."

Trey took the clothes, went into the bathroom and changed into them. When he came out, Ryan was surprised by the transformation already. "Hey, see, now that looks good on you."

Trey looked down at his feet. "Pants are a little short."

"Well, they're mine…We'll pick a pair up for you later. But for now, those will do. Now all we need to do is get you a haircut." Ryan pulled out his wallet and checked his money situation. "There's a barbershop nearby, we can go there."

Ryan and Trey went to the barbershop and Trey got his hair cut. When they returned home, even Marissa was surprised by the transformation; he was definitely going to find a job looking like that. He looked really good – minus the battle scares on his face, of course.

Amy was in the kitchen with Marissa, helping her bake cookies. Trey had gone over to the school in the morning to register Josh and Amy, but they were going to start tomorrow. Josh was outside lounging in the pool.

"You look great, Trey." Marissa commented.

"Yeah, Daddy…You look like Uncle Ryan now." Amy commented, while she ate some cookie dough.

"Ready?" Ryan asked.

"Where are we going?" Trey questioned.

"To the Lighthouse. Sandy's restaurant." Ryan replied

"Whoa…You never said anything about working at a restaurant, Ry, especially at Sandy Cohen's restaurant. Shit, the guy hates me…"

"Trey!" Marissa yelled at him. "Amy's here."

"It's not like she's never heard me swear. Isn't that right, twinkle toe's?" Trey went up to her and tickled her.

Amy started giggling.

"Okay, well, we better get going Trey. Sandy's hardly ever there for very long." Ryan spoke up.

"I still don't think he's going to hire me, Ry…" Trey began to protest, while he followed Ryan out to his car.

"Trey, you miss hundred percent of the shots you never take. Just take a chance at this one, will you?"

Trey sighed. "Whatever you say, bro."

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Seth had finally gotten rid of Summer from the apartment. All morning, he was trying to get her out. Finally, she accepted his offer of money, and went for a little afternoon shopping with one of her old friends, Sarah.

Tonight Seth Cohen was going to propose to Summer Roberts. Seth was already getting nervous just thinking about it. First things first, he thought to himself. He had to go over to his parent's house and get his Grandma Nichol's wedding band. Seth remembered the first time his mother had shown him the ring. It was just after his grandmother's death that Kirsten had told him that when he got married to that special girl, this would be the ring. And what a ring it was, Seth thought to himself. He quickly sped off in his car and went over to his parents' house.

Seth waited impatiently as he rang the doorbell for the second time. He tried the door to see if it was open, but it was locked. "Mom!" Seth banged on the door. He didn't have a lot of time before Summer was home. He still needed to go over to Ryan's, then to the flower store and then he needed to race home and get everything ready.

"I'm coming!" Seth heard his mom's voice. The door opened.

"Finally, you old people are so slow." Seth said, walking into the house. "I'm really in a hurry, Mom."

Kirsten laughed at him. "You're just nervous, honey." She handed him a box with the ring in it. "I'm so proud of you." She rubbed his arm and started to cry. "I can't believe this day has finally come…" She wiped away her tears and smiled at him.

"Mom, please…I'm asking her to marry me…For all I know she can tell me 'no', you know." Seth said, while he opened the box and looked at the ring.

"Seth! Of course she's going to marry you, silly. Stop thinking like that." She said, slapping him.

"Okay, Mom." He kissed her on the cheek. "I should get going." He said and then left the house.

Seth then raced over to the flower store. He bought twelve dozen white roses and twelve dozen red roses. He was so nervous about tonight that he couldn't remember which Summer liked best, white or red, so he bought both. After he carefully placed the roses in the back of the car, he went over to Ryan and Marissa's house.

"Seth, what are you doing here?" Marissa asked, opening the door.

"I know I should have called, but I'm kind of in a hurry…" Seth began and then looked at the little girl standing behind Marissa. "Who's this?" Seth asked.

Amy took one look at Seth and ran off into the kitchen.

"That's Amy, you remember her, Trey's little girl."

"Oh, right. Uh, why is she here?" Seth asked, looking at his watch. He was doing great. It was only two o'clock in the afternoon and Summer should be home by four.

"Now, that's a long story. What are you doing here?" Marissa asked again.

"Well, one, is Ryan home and two, where can I find Captain Oats?" He asked quickly.

"Ryan's not home and Captain Oats is upstairs in Ben's room." Marissa replied, laughing at him. "What's going on?" She asked. Before she could get an answer out of Seth, he bolted upstairs to Ben's room.

Seth rummaged around Ben's room and found Captain Oats lying on the ground. He picked him up and brushed the dust off the horse. "Ah, the floor. That boy needs a talk, doesn't he Captain Oats?" Seth asked the horse. "But for now, you're coming home with me."

With the horse in hand, Seth went back downstairs. Marissa was still standing where he left her. "Okay, what are you doing Seth?"

"Well, if you must know…I'm asking Summer to marry me tonight." Seth replied.

Marissa squealed. "Oh my God!" She went and hugged Seth. "Finally!" She blurted out.

"Finally?" Seth asked.

"Oh God, I didn't mean it like that. It's just that Summer's always talking about the perfect wedding and it's just…Well, it's just a girls' thing."

"Apparently…" Seth mumbled. "Well, I better jet."

"Good luck!" Marissa shouted out to him as he drove off.

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"Okay…So, no swearing or anything like that, okay?" Ryan asked Trey, as they walked into the restaurant. He wasn't sure if this was a good idea, but Sandy had told him that he would talk to Trey.

"Hey, Ry, I'm older than you…I know how to act my age." Trey brushed him off.

"Apparently…" Ryan mumbled.

"Ryan, how are you today? Lunch for two?" The hostess asked.

"Uh, yeah and tell Sandy I'm here." Ryan replied and then followed the hostess to a table with Trey. They sat down, with their menus, and waited for Sandy. Seconds later Sandy showed up.

"Trey!" Sandy said cheerfully, shaking his hand. "You look great."

Trey smirked at the compliment. "Thanks, it was all Ry's idea."

Sandy sat down next to Ryan and patted his back. "How are things?" He asked.

"Great." Ryan replied

"How are the kids, Trey?" Sandy asked.

"Fine, thanks." Trey replied.

"So, you're looking for a job?" Sandy asked and Trey nodded his head. A server came up to them and they all ordered drinks. "What can you do for me?" Sandy asked.

"Well, anything, I - I suppose…" Trey stuttered. "Whatever you want me to do…"

"Well, I can start you down low and then you can work you're way up. That's the best I can do. We have fine people that work here in this restaurant. It's a great group of people."

"I'll start whenever you want me to start." Trey said.

"Good. We have a position, full time, for washing dishes. Can you wash dishes?" Sandy asked.

"Yeah, I can do that." Trey replied. He really had no intention of washing dishes for a bunch of rich bastards, but he was desperate.

"Good." Sandy got up from the table. "I really have to get going." He turned to Trey. "Be here tomorrow morning at eight, okay?"

Trey stood up. "Okay." He shook Sandy's hand. "Thank you."

Sandy smiled at him and left.

"Okay, why was he so nice to me?" Trey asked.

"Sandy's always nice." Ryan replied, sipping his drink. "You're just too thick headed to have really gotten to know him."

Trey ignored the last comment and chugged his drink down. "Well, thanks little bro. I mean it."

"Don't mention it."

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