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 Twenty Two

Ryan was in the rocking chair, trying hard not to drift off to sleep, with Emily in his arms. Marissa shifted in her bed and winced at the sharp pain. Ryan eyes quickly flew open. "You're awake." He said, standing up with Emily. "A nurse just came in with Emily a few minutes ago." He handed her the baby. "We've been waiting for you to wake up to breast feed her."

"Where is everyone?" Marissa asked, looking down at Emily's small round face. She looked so much like Ryan.

"Everyone's down at the cafeteria grabbing something to eat."

"What time is it?" She asked.

"It's time for a feeding." An elderly nurse said, walking into the room. She went over to Marissa and assisted her with Emily's first feeding. Emily was quick to learn where the milk was coming from and sucked on her nipple. The nurse smiled at Marissa and then at Ryan. "I'll be back in a couple of minutes." She said and then left.

"How are you feeling?" Ryan asked.

"Come here." Marissa ordered with a smile and Ryan walked over to her. "Closer." Ryan bent down. Marissa kissed him on the lips, trying not to disturb Emily. "Besides the fact that I was cut open a few hours ago, I'm feeling great." She replied.

"You know, I'd take that incision any day, if I could." Ryan joked. He pulled up a chair and sat down next to her bed.

"Have the boys seen her yet?" She asked.

Ryan nodded his head. "The nurse came in with her an hour ago when you were sleeping."

"What time was she born at? I was so caught up in everything…I have no idea what time it is." She said.

Ryan looked at his watch. "It's close to nine-thirty. You had Emily at…" Ryan twisted his head, as he tried to read Emily's wristband. "A quarter after seven, to be exact."

Emily stopped sucking at Marissa's nipple and the nurse came back into the room and helped her set Emily back into her arms. It was a little awkward, considering one of Marissa's arm was in a cast.

"How long do I have to stay here?" Marissa asked the nurse.

"Four days, if all goes well. The stitches should dissolve within a week or two." She added. The whole gang came into the room. "I'll give you guys a couple more minutes with her. I'll be back shortly." The nurse said and then left the room.

Connor ran up to his mom and kissed her cheek. "Hi, Mom!" He reached over and touched Emily's tiny little fingers. "Hi Emily, it's your big brother here."

They all crowded around her bed in awe over the tiny baby.

Emily started kicking her feet and crying.

"I see what you're getting at, Ryan." Seth said. "Definitely a soccer player, just like her daddy."

Marissa childishly stuck out her tongue at him and turned to Ben. "You want to hold her?" She asked. Ben shook his head. "She needs to know who her brothers are." Marissa said, giving Emily over to Ryan. Seth dragged Ben over to the rocking chair and Ryan gently put Emily into his arms.

"She stopped crying." Ben noted.

"See, she knows already." Marissa said.

The nurse came back into the room and everyone said their good-byes to Emily.

Connor was sitting down on the floor, leaning against the wall with his eyes drooping. Marissa was doing the same, except she was in the comfort of a hospital bed. Sandy noted this and went over to Connor and picked him up.

"Ryan, you should take the kids home." Marissa told him. "It's past their bedtime."

"I'm staying here with you." Ryan replied. "The rocking chair may seem uncomfortable, but believe me, it's not."

"It's okay, Coop." Summer spoke up. "We'll stay with them tonight and we'll drop by tomorrow morning."

"Party time!" Seth nudged Ben, jokingly. Sandy handed Connor over to Seth. "Crap, this kid is heavy." He joked.

Summer and Seth both left Marissa's room with Connor and Ben. Kirsten and Sandy said their good-byes to Ryan and Marissa, then left as well.

Once they were alone, Ryan sat back down in the chair next to Marissa and sighed. "What a day." He exclaimed, as he yawned and stretched out.

"You're telling me." Marissa mumbled.

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Seth walked into Summer's apartment and threw his coat on a chair. "Summer?" He called out, searching for her. He found her in the bedroom holding up dresses.

"Oh hey, Seth." Summer said. "How was it at the office today?"

Seth threw himself on the bed and sighed. "Well, it's nothing like working at a hospital, that's for sure. I'm so glad the weekend is finally here." He said, sitting up and watching Summer change into a dress. "Are we going somewhere?" He asked.

"Seth!" Summer yelled at him. "We're going over to Marissa and Ryan's house for dinner! She just got home from the hospital with Emily yesterday, I told you that last night."

Seth frowned. "You did not."

"I did so!" Summer said and then left the room. "Come on, it's already five-thirty. We should already be there."

Seth opened his mouth and was about to say something but stopped, turned around and went back inside the bedroom to change out of his work clothes. Seth grabbed Captain Oats, before heading out of the apartment. They drove over to Ryan and Marissa's house.

"Hey." Seth greeted Ryan with a hug. "You look like crap."

"Thanks." Ryan glared at him and said hello to Summer. "Come in." He led them into the living where Marissa was sitting down. Emily was over to the side of the living room in a cradle sleeping.

"Coop." Summer gave her best friend a hug and then went over to Emily and gasped. "Oh, she's so cute when she's sleeping!"

"That's what baby's are…Cute." Seth told her, as he pinched her cheek. Summer swatted at his hand. "So, where are my favorite nephews?" Seth asked.

"Uncle Seth!" Connor ran up to him and jumped up on him.

"Ryan, seriously, what do you feed this kid?" Seth asked.

"I eat alphaghetti!" Connor replied.

"Yeah, and it's the only thing he eats now." Marissa added. "That and cucumber sandwiches."

Ben came walking into the room. "Hey." He waved to Seth and Summer.

"Here." Seth handed him Captain Oats. "I had to borrow him, but he's all yours."

Ben quietly accepted the horse and then ran upstairs.

"So, where's Trey?" Summer asked.

"He went to visit a friend in Chino and wouldn't let us take care of Amy and Josh, so he took them with him." Ryan explained. Emily started crying and Ryan rushed over to her side and picked her up. He sat down with her on the couch and soothed her with his soft voice.

"Are you taking notes here, Seth?" Summer joked. "How did you get so lucky, Coop? All I got here is Pillsbury Doughboy, who does nothing but complain. " She said, poking Seth's stomach.

Marissa laughed and put her arm around Ryan. "Luck hit me hard, I guess."

"Yeah, okay." Seth changed the subject. "What's for dinner? When's dinner? I'm staved!"

Summer poked him in the gut. "See!"

"Dinner's ready in five." Ryan replied, getting up with Emily. "I should go check on it."

Summer held out her hands. "Can I? Do you mind?" She asked.

Ryan gently gave Emily over to Summer and left the living room. Seth followed Ryan into the kitchen, with Connor trailing behind him. Summer sat down next to Marissa.

"She's so small!" Summer commented. "I remember when the boys were born. They were so big compared to her." Emily wrapped her fingers around Summer's pinky finger. "Aw, Coop, she's so cute. I can't wait now!"

"Enjoy not having a baby around, while you can." She laughed. "Forget the peaceful nights and the well-kept house. It'll soon turn into a zoo. But, then again, if you had a husband like Ryan, you wouldn't have to worry so much. Last night, I didn't get up once to check on the baby. He was on alert all night. I'm surprised he's still awake right now."

"Well, Seth's really psyched about the baby. I just hope he's as reliant as Ryan is with Emily and the boys."

"Seth's a wonderful guy, Sum. You were meant to be with him and raise a family with him." Emily was starting to fall asleep in Summer's arms. "Have you decided if you wanted to know the gender?" She asked.

Summer shook her head. "It really doesn't matter. Although, you know I'm hoping for a baby girl. But, you get what you get, right?"

Marissa nodded her head and laughed. "It took three boys to get what I wanted."

Ben came running down the stairs and into the living room. "Mom, can I go over to Colin's after dinner?" He asked and then added. "It's Friday, I don't have school tomorrow."

Marissa shook her head. "I don't want you out late. You boys can get together tomorrow." Emily then started crying and Summer frantically gave Marissa the baby.

"But – "

"Ben, please, not tonight."

"We were just going to play video games at his house. He's got a new Playstation game." Ben said. "I'll be home by eight thirty."

"You can go to his house tomorrow. Besides, I've never met Colin's parents." Marissa stood up and placed Emily back into her cradle.

Ben stormed off into the kitchen.

"Ryan, those oven mitts look great on you. Although, I think the flowered apron's a bit minty, if you ask me."

Ben cut in between his dad and his uncle. "Dad, can I go over to Colin's house after dinner?" He asked

"Have you done your homework?" He asked, turning to get the lasagna out of the oven.

"It's a Friday, I have all weekend to do my homework." Ben quickly replied. He could hear Emily starting to cry again.

"Fine." Ryan said, carrying the lasagna out to the table.

They sat down at the table and ate Ryan's lasagna that he had slaved over all day. It was one of his best dishes, besides his famous grilled cheese sandwiches, of course. After dinner, Marissa went to go breast-feed Emily and then put her to bed upstairs. Summer followed Marissa upstairs with Emily. She had a lot to learn and now was a good time.

Seth leaned back in his chair and burped. "Excuse me…Whoa, I'm stuffed." Connor laughed at him. Ryan was at the head of the table staring off into space, while Ben sat staring at the clock. It was six-thirty.

"Well, I don't know about you…But I'm having a second helping on this delicious dessert." Seth said, taking another piece of pie.

"Aren't you full, Uncle Seth?" Connor questioned.

"Never too full for apple pie." He replied, taking a bit. "Where did you buy this, Ryan? Is it store bought?" He asked, pointing to the pie with his fork.

Ryan shook his head. "Your mom came by this morning and gave us a few."

Seth immediately spat out the piece of pie from his mouth and then wiped his mouth with his napkin. "Dude, Dad's breaking the pack on us."

Ryan shook his head. "She's always coming by with food nowadays. It's not all that bad, either. Just you wait, she'll be coming by with food for you and Summer soon."

"The pie's already affecting your brain." Seth exclaimed, making faces to Connor and Ben.

"Hey, I've been eating what she's been bringing over for months now and I'm not sick yet. So, that's a sign of her getting better in the kitchen, isn't it?"

"If it makes you feel any better, sure. But, there's no way I'm eating anymore pie when I come over here." He joked.

Ben pulled his chair away from the table. "Can I go now?" He asked Ryan, who gave him a confused look. "To Colin's." He added.

Ryan looked out the window. It was still light outside. "Call me at eight thirty and I'll pick you up." He replied. Ben gave him the directions to Colin's house and left on his bike.

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"How appetizing." Summer commented on Emily's viscous burp.

Marissa got up from the rocking chair and carefully placed Emily in her crib. "And to think in another six months you'll be doing this." Marissa said.

"And I totally can't wait!" She jumped to Marissa's side at the crib. Emily was already fast asleep. "She's a very quiet baby. I remember when I babysat Connor for you guys. Oh God, what a night that was. The twins were crazy and wouldn't go to bed on me and Connor wouldn't stop crying."

"Shhh." Marissa warned her. "You'll wake her up."

Summer backed away, holding her hands up. "Okay, now that the baby's asleep, let's go torment my fiancé." She giggled, leaving the room.

Marissa and Summer went into the kitchen and fixed up a pot of tea then brought it into the dinning room. Ryan and Seth were talking about Sandy and Kirsten's wedding anniversary.

"It's the coral anniversary." Seth explained.

"Coral? As in pink?" Ryan laughed and Seth nodded his head. "Should be fun. What are they planning to do?" He asked. Marissa sat down next to him and poured hot water into his coffee mug that read, '#1 DAD'. Ryan took the pot from her and scowled at her. He had been telling her since she got home that she should be resting and not trying to do anything around the house. She was the one who just gave birth and had a broken arm – not him.

"I mentioned it to Dad that we should have a party." Seth replied. "It's not until November 17th, though."

"Oh, Seth!" Summer interrupted him. "Tell them about…" She rolled her eyes at him. "You know…"

"Oh, right." Seth cleared his throat. "Summer and I have decided on a date for our wedding." He wrapped his arm around her shoulders and pulled her into him. "The lucky day shall be February 14th."

Ryan and Marissa both exchanged looks.

"As in Valentine's day?" Marissa asked. "Why Valentine's day? Also, I thought you wanted to wait off until the baby was born, Summer."

Summer shrugged, "Well, you know…We wanted it to be on a special day." She replied.

"Right, because Valentine's in a very special day." Ryan commented, sarcastically.

"Come on guys!" Seth shouted at Ryan and Marissa. "It's not only Valentine's day, but it's the day Summer and I had officially started dating." Ryan squinted and looked up at the ceiling, trying to think if he was right. "Come on, Ryan, as if you don't remember…Nemo?" Seth asked.

"Nemo?" Summer questioned.

"Nemo?" Ryan repeated.

"You know, that little fish…Flopping around on dry land."

Ryan finally clued in, "Oh, right, Nemo." He hit his hand down on the table. "Right…Special day Valentine's day."

Summer and Marissa exchanged looks.

"What the hell are you two talking about?" Summer demanded.

Seth shrugged her off. "Nothing. So, yeah, February 14th is the big day."

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Ben rang on Colin's doorbell and waited. No one was answering, so he rang the doorbell again.

"COMING!" He heard a woman's voice. Probably Colin's Mom, Ben thought to himself.

The door opened and Colin's mom invited him in. Molly, their dog, came running up to him.

"I didn't know Colin was having any visitors today." Colin's mom said.

"Molly, down!" Colin shouted, as he came down the stairs. "Oh, I forgot to ask. Can Ben come over tonight to play video games?" He asked.

"Colin, ask before he comes next time." She replied coldly. A man came walking into the foyer, wrapping his arms around her waist and kissing her.

"Is that your Dad?" Ben whispered.

"Nah, that's her business partner." Colin winked.

The man let go of Colin's mom and then faced Ben. "You look very familiar." The man commented, eyeing him.

"I do?" Ben asked, shyly.

"Yeah…" The man scratched his head and looked at him again. "Really familiar…"

"Come on, Ben." Colin dragged him away from his Mom and her boyfriend. "Let's go play video games."

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