Few days passed and things were slowly getting back to normal. If their lives were ever 'normal'. Rachel was now up and moving around but still not up to full speed. She was now able to walk around the house with out anyone having to follow her or help her. She hated asking for help with things like bathroom issues. She tried not to go a lot so she wouldn't have to ask but now she was able to do it on her own and was happy about that.

Ryan and Seth basically lived at the Carter's while Rachel was healing. She told them to be with Sandy but they told her that Sandy and Kirsten told them to get out cause Sandy needed sleep more, and that Rachel needed more of the company. Plus they have more to talk with Rachel about then they do with Sandy. You know the generation gap.

Rachel continued to have bad dreams. But luckily no one was around or awake when she woke up from them. She didn't want to deal with them worrying. It was enough the boys had saw it the other day. The concern on their faces. Especially Ryan's. When she didn't tell him she could see he was hurt and worried. They have always told each other everything but she didn't want to relive the dreams while she was awake.

At the moment they were sitting in the living room playing the hockey game that Nick had bought her. Seth brought over his old controllers so all four of them could play at once. Right now she and Ryan were really beating Seth and Nick.

"I thought you said you were good at these games?" Nick said to Seth after Rachel scored a goal.

"No, I'm at good at the ninja not the sports." Seth stated matter-o-factly. Rachel and Ryan looked at each other and back at Seth and laughed. Nick cracked a smile.

"Ok there is a minute left and we are down by three. Come on Cohen." Nick chuckled.

"Forget it. You guys are done. Seth sucks at these games." Ryan said as his player checked Seth's. "That had to hurt." He said as Seth's guy hit the ground. Rachel laughed. The buzzer sounded.

"Game over!" Rachel said triumphantly and put her arm around Ryan's shoulder. "We are an unbeatable combo." She smiled at the other two boys.

"That you are." Nick said smiling. "Seth, help me get some drinks." Nick said getting up.

"Sure." Seth said and followed Nick out of the room.

"Well at least we can beat Seth at one video game." Rachel smiled.

"Yea, that's quite a feat." He smiled then his face turned serious.

"What's the matter Ryan?" Rachel asked seeing the boy's change in mood. He turned his body to face her and taking her hand.

"Can you tell me what those dreams are about?" Ryan asked. Rachel looked down suddenly finding her pants very interesting. "It may help to tell someone about them, make them go away too." Rachel looked at Ryan's hand in hers. She wanted to tell him. They were interrupted by a crash in the kitchen.

"Smooth move Seth." They heard Nick laugh. "You clean it up now."

"Lets go outside and get some air." Ryan said and both got up. "Guys we are going out front for a minute." Ryan said to the other two boys which Nick responded with an 'Ok I wanted to challenge Seth at that ninja game after he cleans up anyway.' Seth responded but it was muffled. The two then headed out the door. They sat down on the steps and Rachel looked around. The sun was out and she could see some kids playing baseball with a stick and a tennis ball. You learn to use what you got around here. Rachel felt Ryan put his hand on her back. She looked at him and sighed.

"I...I just relive the whole thing...in my dreams." She started. "Only it is a different outcome." Ryan kept his arm around her and squeezed her shoulder to tell her to go on. "My...my father would..." She stopped. the next word seemed to be hard for her to get out. "He would shoot at you...and it would kill you." She started to sob a little. Talking about it made it all seem real but also made her feel better at the same time. "I couldn't stop it. I would yell and try to run but I couldn't move." She said.

"It is just a dream. I am here and I'm fine." Ryan said in a soothing voice. "I'm not going anywhere." She looked at him and she had some tears that were still rolling down her cheeks. Their eyes met. She saw he meant it. She leaned towards him and he did the same. He put his hand on the back of her neck and their lips met. After a few moments they pulled apart and both broke into a half smile. Ryan was blushing a bit and Rachel knew it took a lot to get him to blush. She smiled more at him and took his hand. She kissed him again on the cheek and pulled him into a hug which he happily returned. She looked up and saw Nick looking out the living room window and he was smiling then moved away. She was a bit embarrassed but that passed.

"We should go back inside before Seth drops something else." Rachel said and Ryan laughed.

"Yea we should." He got up and helped her up and they walked back into the house where Seth was staring at the tv with his tongue out trying to beat a warrior of some kind. She and Ryan sat on the couch and Rachel looked at Nick. He winked at her and she smiled and looked at Ryan.

'Yea things are defiantly going to get better from here' she thought to herself then curled up next to Ryan and put her head on his shoulder. He looked down at her and put his arm around her. They watched as Seth beat the warrior guy and yell in happiness, clueless to what was going on.

"How bout a movie now? I got Miracle. That hockey movie on the USA Olympic team from 1980." Nick said. "I thought it would make ya feel better." He said to Rachel and she smiled at him. Seth settled himself in a chair and the movie started. She glanced up at Ryan who smiled as well and kissed her forehead. Things were defiantly going to be great.

----------------------------------------------------

OMG! The end of the story! cries I never thought it would come to an end. Will there be a sequel? I don't yet. Sorry for all you Ryan/Marissa lovers but this was my story and I wanted to be with Ryan hehe. so ok review! Tell me what you think!

Edit on 8/7/05

I got a review about the spelling. Spell check doesn't catch everything and I know I'm not the best speller in the world. I got my masters in TV PRODUCTION...you know, working on a set..not writing papers... so I really don't need the best spelling in the world... this is just a hobby for me that I do when the desire hits. It is for fun and most of my readers know that. But thanks for the input. :)