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

(Please read and review!)

* There's a lot of Connor in this chapter. So, I hope you like it! Also, thanks Grace for proof reading this chapter for me. *

Chapter Twenty Four

Connor shoved both his hands under his armpits then ran around the room making farting noises. He stopped at Emily's crib and gripped the bars, peering into the crib at the tiny baby. "Betcha can't do that either, but I'll teach you." He slid his hand through two bars and touched Emily's hand. "Look what else I can do!" He brought his hand up to his head and suctioned it against his forehead, making more farting noises. Emily smiled up at her older brother.

Ryan poked his head into Emily's room and sighed. For the seventh time that night, the baby monitor had awakened him. "Connor, it's five in the morning, go to bed."

"But, I was just showing Emily how to fart!" He protested, shoving his hands under his armpits and showing his dad.

"Connor." Ryan said. "You've been sneaking into her room all night. You have school in three hours, so get to bed. Now." Ryan ordered.

Connor shoved his hands into his pajama pockets. "I'm not tired. See." He opened his eyes wide and blinked several times. "Can we make mom some breakfast this morning?" He asked.

Ryan rubbed his sleepy eyes and frowned at Connor.

"Please?" Connor grinned.

"Fine." Ryan lifted Connor over his shoulder and walked downstairs into the kitchen. Connor giggled every time he had to duck to miss the doorframe. Ryan sat Connor down on the counter and opened the fridge. "What do you want to make?" He asked.

"Cereal." Connor replied and then added, "Chocolate Corn Drops."

Ryan shut the fridge and ran his fingers through his greasy hair. "Cereal?" Ryan asked. He put Connor back down on the floor and pointed over to the stairs. "Bed. Now." Connor made no attempt to move as his dad walked off back to bed.

Connor took a stool out from under the kitchen table and propped it up against a cupboard. He climbed the stool and stepped onto the counter. His bare feet dipped into the butter that was left out from last night's dinner. He opened one of the cupboards and took out a bowl, then, opening another cupboard, he grabbed the Chocolate Corn Drops and a spoon. He jumped off the counter, making a loud thud and grabbed the milk from the fridge. With his buttered toes and his food, he made his way into the living room and sat down on the floor. He poured his cereal into his bowl, and topped it off with milk. He turned on the T.V and began watching his new favorite cartoon, Mr. Freckles.

Josh, who had decided last night to sleep in the basement with his dad, woke up to the loud thud. He made his way upstairs and saw Connor watching T.V. Instead of joining him, he decided to go into his uncle's study. Josh sat down at Ryan's desk and rummaged through its contents. There had to be something of value that he could steal or pawn off. He opened the bottom drawer and found forty bucks and a pack of cigarettes. Satisfied with his findings, he made a quick exit and returned to the basement.

Ryan lay in his bed next to Marissa and stared at the clock on his nightstand. It was inching closer to six in the morning. He knew he had a long day ahead of him. It was a Monday, and he knew Monday's meant a lot of work at the Newport group. The only good thing about today was tonight. Tonight he had promised Seth and Luke a guys' night out. And, of course, it was all Marissa's doing.

He got out of bed and took a quick shower. As he put on his suit he smiled to himself, watching Marissa sleep. She was so beautiful when she slept. Last night Emily had fallen asleep in his arms and he noticed that Emily was like a sleeping beauty. Just like her mother.

"Connor!" Ryan yelled at the boy, passed out on the living room floor. Milk was spilled all over the newly hand washed carpets – who ever thought he'd turn into one those kind of people? Hand washed? Ryan also noticed an oily trail of butter leading into the kitchen. "Connor!" Ryan yelled louder at his son.

Connor jolted up and faced his dad. "Oh." He looked down at the floor. "Oops?" He wiped the sleep from his eyes.

"Yeah. Oops." Ryan replied. "I thought I told you to go to bed?"

"I did. I just had to eat my cereal before I went to bed." Connor quickly explained, surveying the spilled milk. "I didn't spill the milk though. I don't know who did." He scratched his head and looked around the living room. "D-do you think maybe there's someone else here…With us?" He whispered.

Ryan folded his arms and glared down Connor.

"Okay, I have to get ready for school now." Connor ran off to his room.

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Ryan was sitting at the bar with Seth and Luke at Sandy and Jimmy's restaurant, The Lighthouse. He hadn't planned on getting drunk, nor did Seth. Luke on the other hand, Ryan was sure of himself that that's all Luke wanted to do. He wanted to get drunk.

Luke downed his beer and ordered another one. "S-shit, this is awesome. I can't believe you guys get to drink for free here." Luke commented, as the bartender placed another beer in front of him. "Why the hell aren't you here every night!" He shouted at them.

Seth took a sip of his beer. "Well, right now, it's looks as though I will be."

Ryan shot Seth a look and took a sip of his own beer. "Why do you say that, Seth?

Seth shrugged. "I'm Jewish." He simply replied.

"W-why are you Jewish, man?" Luke reached over and punched him on the shoulder and then slammed his own fist down on the counter. "Why can't I be Jewish?"

Seth shook his head and ignored Luke.

"What's your religion got to do with you coming here every night and getting wasted?" Ryan asked. He was probably the least drunk out of the three of them. He knew how to handle liquor.

"Ask Mr. Roberts'." Seth grunted. "The son of a bitch won't even look me in the eye. I'm Satan to him. I'm marrying his only daughter, who I might add, had sex before marriage." He pointed out and started laughing. "It's like he gives a shit now."

"He didn't before?" Ryan asked.

"Nah. Money's the only thing in their relationship." Seth threw his hands in the air. "It's like he cares now…Now that someone is finally taking his daughter away from him. There's nothing he can do it about it, though. Nothing! I'm going to marry her and we're going to have a child together…Whether he likes it or not!"

Luke reached over Ryan and poked Seth's cheekbone. "Dude, you're so like…Rubber."

Ryan looked back and forth between Luke and Seth and stood up. "Okay, you guys have had enough. Come on, it's…" He looked at his watch. It was close to midnight. "Shit." He mumbled. "Seth, we have to go to work tomorrow and it's midnight." He knew that Ryan could just call Kirsten tomorrow morning and say he couldn't be in. Seth, on the other hand, didn't have that privilege.

Luke stood up and fell back down on his stool.

Ryan helped him up and walked out of the restaurant. Seth followed behind them, dodging the walking tables that were chasing him.

Ryan helped Luke in the back of his SUV, as Seth slid into the passenger seat. Before getting behind the wheel, Ryan slapped his face, making sure he was awake. He drove Seth home first and wished him luck with Summer. He knew he was going to need it. He then turned to Luke. "Hey, where are you staying?" He asked. Luke was passed out. "Marissa's going to kill me." He mumbled as he made his way home.

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Connor grabbed his milk and cereal from the kitchen and took it into the living room. No matter how many times his parents told him he wasn't allowed eating in the living room, he still did. Even after yesterday's spill with the milk and butter, he was still going to eat in the living room.

Connor carefully sat down on floor and poured his cereal and milk into a bowl. He leaned his back against the couch and turned on the T.V. It was close to six in the morning, so he had missed Mr. Freckles. As he was taking his first bite of his cereal, he felt a hand land on his shoulder. Connor jumped, cereal and milk flying everywhere, and starred at the man sleeping on his couch.

At first he didn't recognize the man but then he remembered the guy who was over here on the weekend. He was one of his dad's friends. Connor slowly walked up to him and poked his shoulder. Luke mumbled something and turned around in his sleep. Connor poked him again, but this time in the back. Luke quickly woke up and turned around, grabbing the figure by the couch. Connor screamed and Luke quickly let go of him.

Luke sat up on the couch and checked his surroundings. "Connor, is it?" He asked.

Connor nodded his head. He was sitting in his cereal on the floor.

"Sorry, kid. About grabbing you…I didn't know where I was for a second." Connor nodded his head. "Are you okay?" Luke asked. Connor nodded his head again. "Okay…Well…" Luke looked at his hands. They were full of milk and cereal from grabbing Connor's shirt. He got up and made his way to the bathroom. When he came back Connor was still lying in his breakfast. "Aren't you a little uncomfortable, Connor?" Luke asked, sitting back down on the couch.

"Yeah." Connor replied and stood up. His pajamas were covered in his breakfast. If he got away now, Connor thought to himself, then maybe his parents wouldn't suspect anything. "I have to go." Connor said and then ran off upstairs to his bedroom.

Amy was sleeping on his bed still and he hated it. At first he liked it, but now he hated it. She took up too much room. But he wouldn't have to worry about that anymore because today was the last day she was going to be sleeping in his bed. She was moving into an apartment today with her dad and older brother.

Connor changed into his school uniform and sat on the ground playing with toy cars, waiting for his dad to come in and wake him up for school.

Ryan's alarm clock buzzed again. He squinted at the clock and moaned. It was close to six-thirty now. He slowly sat up in his bed. His head was pounding. He was regretting drinking last night. He slipped on a pair of sweats and a t-shirt and then made his way over to the kids' room to wake them up for school. He then went downstairs and straight into the kitchen to make coffee.

"Hey." Luke mumbled, walking into the kitchen.

Ryan spun around. "You're up. I thought for sure you'd be passed out until the afternoon." He poured Luke a cup of coffee and handed it to him.

"Your kid woke me up." Luke mumbled into the coffee mug. "You have any aspirin or anything?" He asked.

Ryan grabbed the aspirin out of the cupboard and took two pills, before giving it to Luke. "So, crazy night, huh?" Ryan said, sitting down at the table.

"Yeah." Luke sat down. "Sorry. I can't really remember what happened exactly. Did anything happen?" Ryan shook his head. "Shit, that's a first." Luke was relieved.

Ryan called Kirsten and told her that he couldn't come in today. The excuse that he gave her was that he had to help Trey move into his new apartment. Ben, Connor, Josh and Amy all got picked up for school and Trey took Ryan's car down to the restaurant. He was going to work his shift before moving into the apartment that Ryan helped him get.

Marissa was in the living room with Emily, watching T.V. when Luke came in. He looked down at the carpet and was pleased at his cleaning job. He felt so bad for scaring Connor this morning that he had to clean it up. It wasn't like he never cleaned up a dirty mess before.

"Hey." Luke sat down next to Marissa and Emily. "I never asked you…How did you break your arm?" He asked.

"I fell down the stairs." She explained. "The same day this little angel was born." He stroked Emily's face. "It was a crazy day, that's for sure."

"She's beautiful. Just like her mother." Luke said.

Marissa blushed and then quickly changed the subject. "So, why aren't you at home…With your wife and kids, Luke?" Luke smile faded from his face. "Come on, we can talk, can't we?"

Luke shrugged. "It's a long story."

Marissa looked down at Emily. "She's out like a light, I have time."

Luke sighed. "Meagan, my wife, kicked me out." Marissa nodded for him to go on. "I was working with my dad down at the car dealership. Everything was going fine until this one guy came along and started dating my dad. He fucked around with my head…My dad fired me. My own father fired me." Luke repeated. "Things got bad after that." He explained. "Meagan was always mad at me, so I never wanted to be home. I started drinking like I did in college and things got bad."

Marissa knew about Luke short temper. "How bad?" She asked.

"Real bad. I was thrown into jail overnight for a fight down at the bar. When they let me out, Meagan told me I could no longer see the girls, so I begged for her to take me back." Luke stared at his hands. "And she did…Which was probably the worst decision both of us could have made. Things got ugly after that. I didn't bother going to the bar to get drunk anymore. I'd stay home and buy my own beer and get drunk at home…In front of the girls. Meagan would always complain and then we'd start yelling at each other for hours. This one time I hit her…" Luke covered his face and tried to control his emotions. "She left me alone with the girls and I was too stupid to stop drinking. So, I'd drink with the girls around. Meagan came home one night and I was passed out on the couch. She went to Sarah's room and she was crying." Luke stopped and stood up.

"What happened?" Marissa whispered. Emily was started to make noises in her arms.

"I don't know. I don't remember." Luke hugged himself and paced the living room floor. "Her face was swollen…But I didn't remember hitting her. I begged for Meagan not to call the cops. She said she wouldn't if I left her right there and then. So I did."

Marissa didn't know what to say to Luke. She never thought of him ever hitting a woman. Then again, she hasn't seen him for years. People can change, can't they? She asked herself, but she wasn't sure she could believe that.

"God." Luke stopped pacing and ran his fingers through his hair. "I shouldn't have told you all of that. I, uh…I have to go." Luke said.

"Where?" Marissa asked, standing up with Emily in her hands. She noticed Luke was starting to shake. "You can stay here for awhile, Luke. You're always welcome here any day, you know that. Just stay for a little while longer."

"No. I have to go…I can't be here. Don't worry, I'm fine." Luke said, walking to the door. "I'll, uh…Maybe I'll see you guys later. I'm just going to go over to Claire's now." Marissa nodded. "Tell Ryan I said bye."

"Okay." Marissa said.

As soon as Luke left Emily started crying. "Shhh, its okay, sweetie." She walked over to Ryan's study and opened the door. "Are you busy?" She asked.

Ryan was still in his pajamas, but he was working on one of the mall plans at his desk. "No." Ryan closed the folder in front of him. "What's up?" Marissa then began telling him everything Luke had told her.

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After school, Ben went over to Colin's house. They were playing soccer in the backyard when Luke showed up.

"Hey kid, where's your mother?" Luke slurred, staggering into the backyard.

Colin shrugged. "I haven't seen her. She might be at the club."

"Shit." Luke mumbled and dropped in a pool chair. He rested his head against the backing and looked up at the sky. His head was pounding. Not only was he working on the hangover he had from last night, but also he decided to go to the bar after he left Marissa's house.

Colin picked up the soccer ball and booted it over the backyard and out onto the street. Ben offered to go get it and ran off. "My dad's coming back tomorrow, you know." Colin said. Luke didn't budge, so Colin walked up to him. "My dad's coming back tomorrow." He repeated.

Luke brought his hand up to his eyes, shielding the sun. "I doubt it, kid." Luke replied. "Your Mom told me he'd be gone for another week."

Colin put his hands on his hips. "No. He's coming home tomorrow. He told me he would. My dad doesn't lie." Ben came back with the ball and started kicking it around in the grass.

Luke snorted. "Shit, you really think your Dad's some hero, don't you?"

"What are you talking about?" Colin demanded.

"You're parents aren't together, Colin." Luke stood up and staggered over to the patio doors.

Colin followed him inside. "What - What do you mean they're not together?" He asked.

"Forget it." Luke mumbled and took a beer out of the fridge. "Go play with your friend. He looks lonely."

Colin stood his ground.

Luke chugged his beer, eyeing Colin and finished it. "Go!" Luke yelled at him. Colin didn't move, so Luke put down the empty beer and struck Colin on the side of the face. "Get out of here!"

Colin held his face and ran outside. Ben stopped kicking the soccer ball and ran after Colin, who went straight to the garage. Colin grabbed his bike and pointed over to an old bike. "Take my old one." He told Ben.

Ben jumped on the bike and followed Colin down the road over to the park. Colin skidded to a stop and jumped on his bike. He went straight over to the tire swing and sat down.

Ben got off of his bike and followed Colin. "What's the matter?" He asked.

Colin took out a pack of cigarettes and handed one to Ben. Ben accepted it and Colin lit it for him. "I hate him." Colin stammered.

"Who?" Ben asked, breathing in the smoke and coughing.

"I don't know." Colin broke down and started crying. "Luke said my Mom and Dad weren't together and then he hit me. I don't know what to think." He covered his face from Ben.

Ben took another drag of his cigarette. "Are you okay?" He asked. Colin shook his head. "Come on, let's go to my place." Ben offered.

Colin took a long drag of his cigarette and threw it down into the sand. "Promise me you won't tell anyone about this, okay?" He asked.

Ben nodded. "Okay, I promise."

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Ryan was sitting at his desk in his study daydreaming. He glanced at the new picture frame on his desk and picked it up. As much as he loved his family right now, he still missed Aden. He knew it was going to be hard to have another child but he also knew he couldn't forget about Ben's twin. Aden was still his son. Ryan placed the picture-framed photo back down on his desk and opened his bottom drawer. Lately he'd been sneaking packs of cigarettes by Marissa. He had a feeling she knew about them though. Whenever they would kiss she would stare him down and shake her head. He made a mental note to buy some more gum.

Ryan scanned the bottom drawer of his desk and frowned. He thought for sure he had a whole pack of cigarettes there the other day, as well as forty dollars. Ryan closed the drawer and opened the top drawer. Still, there were no sign of cigarettes or money.

He heard Emily crying from the living room and sighed. He still had a mild headache from this morning. He left his study and went into the living room.

"I got it." Ryan yelled over to Marissa, who was busying herself in the kitchen. Ryan picked up Emily and cooed her cries. "Shhh, Daddy's here…" Ryan closed the curtains in the living room with his free hand. "I won't let those evil sun rays burn those beautiful eyes of yours." Emily gurgled at him and gave him a half smile. "That's my girl." Ryan sat down on the couch and flipped on the T.V.

Connor ran down the stairs, at full tilt, and jumped on the couch next to his dad. "Dad, can I ask you something?" He asked.

Emily started crying again. "Shhh…" Ryan hushed her up and wrapped a blanket around her.

"Dad!" Connor was jumping in his seat.

"What is it?" Ryan asked.

"If I found something, can I keep it?" Connor asked, enthusiastically. "Like if I were to find a penny?"

"That depends." Ryan replied.

"On what?"

"On what you found." Ryan said. "What did you find?" He asked.

"Nothing." Connor quickly replied and ran off upstairs.

Just as Ryan was about to call after Connor, Ben and Colin walked through the door. Ryan got up and put Emily back in her cradle. "Ben, can you do me a favor?" Ryan asked, wrapping the blankets around Emily.

"What?" Ben asked, walking into the living room. Colin followed behind him.

"Snoop on your brother and find out what he's up to." Ryan asked, turning around and facing the two boys. "Why do you two smell like cigarettes?" He noted.

"Uh…" Ben turned around and looked at Colin.

"My dad smokes." Colin safely replied.

Ryan knew something was up, especially when he knew Colin's father wasn't home. He then noted Colin's black eye and asked, "What happened to your face, Colin?"

"I, uh…" Colin stammered. "I…"

"I hit him with the soccer ball in his backyard by accident." Ben cut in. "I guess I need to work on my aiming, huh?" Ben asked.

"Come on, I'll have Ben's mom get you some ice for that eye of yours." Ryan said and guided him into the kitchen. He turned to Ben and pointed to his study. "I need to talk to you." Ryan said.

"I'll be right back." Ben told Colin and left to his dad's study. Ben sat down in a chair and waited for his dad to come in. He felt like he was at school and was in trouble. Finally his dad came in and sat at his desk. "Am I in trouble?" Ben asked.

"I don't know…It all depends on if you tell me the truth." Ryan swiftly replied.

"What truth?"

"Did you take something of mine from this desk?" Ryan asked. Ben shook his head. He knew better than to go snooping in his dad's study. He remembered last time when he was caught with Aden. They were grounded for the weekend. "So, you didn't take anything from this desk?"

"No." Ben shook his head.

"Why do you smell like cigarettes then?"

Ben shrugged. "Colin's – "

Ryan cut him off. "Colin's Dad isn't home. He's away on business." Ben lowered his head and shrugged. "Did you take the cigarettes that were in my desk?" Ryan asked. Ben shook his head, not making any eye contact. "Are you sure?"

"I didn't take anything, Dad!" Ben protested. "I never come in here anymore."

Ryan sighed. He never knew when Ben was telling the truth. He always knew when Aden was lying. His lower lip would twitch on him. Ben, on the other hand, was hard to read. "Then did you take my money?" Ryan asked. "I don't care if you did." He added.

Ben shook his head. He was staring down at his feet.

Ryan was getting very impatient with Ben. "Look at me when I talk to you." Ryan said. Ben made no move of looking up at his dad. Ryan slammed his fist on his desk and Ben looked up at him. "You come home smelling like cigarettes…What else am I to assume? And also, Colin's eye…A soccer ball can't do that." Ryan added. He knew from experience. "What really happened?"

Ben shrugged. "I'm not allowed to say. I promised him I wouldn't."

Ryan sighed. "Okay, go to your room, you're grounded."

"What! Why?"

"You're ten years old and you're smoking…Need I say more?" Ryan asked. "I'll make sure Colin gets home safely." He added.

Ben glared at his dad and then left his study.

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Okay, I hope you guys liked this chapter. Just trying to create some plot lines there. I promise more Seth/Summer in the next chapter.