Disclaimer: I of course of Having nothing to do with The Oc. Sadly. I wish. But it all belongs to Fox.

Here is the next chapter. I hope you enjoy it Please read and reply. i would really appreciate it.

Thanks Steph

Chapter 9

A whole new world.

The drive home from Atlanta was silent. Marissa was upset that Ryan hadn't asked if it was ok that Maria come live with them. Maria had fallen a sleep in the back seat. Ryan could feel Marissa's green eyes glaring at him. He couldn't help, but drive faster. Over the years he realized she must have mastered that glare, it was his trademark. The Glare. As they got onto the freeway that led back to Newport a state trooper spotted Ryan driving his Truck 85 in a 65. "Ryan, I think we have company." Marissa said in her tone that meant I still love you but it's not over voice.

He looked in his Rearview mirror sure enough a State trooper was on his tail.

Ryan pulled over.

He rolled down his window.

"Hello officer." Ryan said

"May I please see your license and registration?" The officer asked Ryan handed the License over.

"Ryan Atwood?"

"Yes." Ryan said

"Born August 25th 1986?"

"Yeah."

"Where are you coming from tonight?"

"We're on our way home from Atlanta."

"Ok, Well it says here you are from Vanstown which you are going the wrong direction?"

"I moved I haven't changed it yet."

"Well, let me go check this out.

Everything went silent Ryan and Marissa sat with only the light breathing of a sleeping Marissa and the light sound of the radio which was turned down really low.

The Officer returned .

"Well, everything checks out, although you may want to go to county office and talk to them about have your Juvenile Record erased. It seems you stole a car when you were 16 and were put on probation. " He looked at Ryan.

"Yeah, not any other offenses correct officer." He said remembering the time in college he had gotten arrested for Seth who was stone cold drunk on account of some indecent exposeure.

He looked over at Marissa who was watching the whole thing. She smiled at him.

"Yeah well that was 17 years ago."

"Yea, well I am going to write you a ticket."
"Ok." Ryan said.

"Oh My goodness, Marissa Cooper?"

"Oh My God, Josh Walters? I didn't recognize you in your uniform.

How have you been?

"Pretty good."Josh answered.

"Don't tell me this speedy Gonzalez is your husband?"

"Fiance'"

"Oh, so your not married yet."

"No, good to Know." Josh winked at her.

"Well, officer can we go home now?"

"Yes." Josh ripped off the ticket and ripped it up.

"You're finace's a great girl. Don't let her go." Josh said still smiling at Marissa.

"Ok." Ryan said miffed.

"Bye Marissa." Josh said flirtingly.

"Bye Josh." Marissa said.

Maria was a very sound sleeper cause she had slept through the ticket and the argument that followed after.

"Who was that guy?" Ryan asked.

"He was an EX."

"Ex?"

"Yeah, for about 6 months right after you moved to LA and I hadn't met Adam yet. It was before I moved to Arizona." She said

"Oh I see." Ryan was still a little angry.

"Ryan, we left it on friendly terms." She said thinking maybe he'll realize I love him and I always loved him.

"Oh, really."

"Yes, so why don't we just."

"Just what?"

"Just go on with our lives."

"Yeah, like how?" Ryan asked. Now he was pretty ticked off. Mostly because he was tired.

"Well, maybe getting married." She suggested.

"Well, you have been thinking for days about what day to get married and well there are only 365 different ones you can choose from." Ryan said a little Pissed she had brought up the wedding after have just had an argument.

"Well, I have chosen one."

"What?"

"Thanksgiving." She said pretty sure of herself.

"But, that's in 2 weeks."

"yeah, I know, but it's perfect, the whole family will all be here."

"Yeah, well we'll talk about it more tomorrow." He said as they pulled in her driveway.

"Ok, well call me." She leaned over and kissed him.

Ryan drove the 2 blocks home when he pulled the car in the Garage. he finally woke up Maria.

"Maria?" she stirred.

"Hey." He said as she opened her eyes

"Where are we?" She looked out the backseat windows and saw normal garage things.

"We're home." He whispered as if he was going to wake someone else.

He got her bags out of the back of the truck.

Maria got out the door hitting the side of the Silver Mercedes

"Sorry." She said rubbing the dent in the door. "I didn't mean…"

"It's ok sweetie, Ally does it all the time." He said patting her back.

She noticed the other dings near by.

"I don't care, I get a new one in a few weeks."

"New?" She asked

"Yeah, That's my work vehicle and they give me a new one every 4 months. This is my Vehicle that I drive, on the weekends. I hate stuffy Mercedes but My insistts I drive it or a Range Rover just so I sort of fit in around here"" He said patting the Crew Cab 4x4 F150 that was so Gigantic it took up most of the garage.

"Yeah I had a car." Maria said

"You did?" Ryan asked.

"That old Nissan was supposed to be mine. My mom bought it for me." She paused.

"I was mad, cause it didn't run, but Dan said he could fix it."

She began to cry.

Ryan walked over and hugged her.

"Well, I was wondering what you wanted for your birthday, but I think I know what you want."

"Really?" She asked. It had made her smile.

"We'll go look tomorrow."

"Awesome."

"Well, why don't you come inside?" He said motioning towards the door.

Maria followed him inside.

"I can't believe this house." She said

"It's huge.'

"Yeah, well it's not as nice as Marissa's, but it keeps us sheltered." He said standing by the kichen counter."

"Well, I think its beautiful." She said.

"Well, it's late I'll show you where you'll be staying." He led her through the big great room with the Big Screen TV and surround sound. Through the formal dining room which was full of boxes. Through the Formal Living room, to the stairs.

Maria was still in awe the huge house.

"Well, Ally and Vanessa are at my Parents tonight so you can stay in Ally's room."

He opened the door to Ally's lime green bedroom.

"Wow!" Maria said. Her mind wandering to the pictures and cut outs on the wall.

We'll get you a bed tomorrow, but this won't be permanent."

"Why not?"

"Well, Marissa and I are getting married in a few weeks, and we're going to be moving into her house and selling this one."

"Oh ok." Maria said sadly.

"Oh Don't worry, Marissa house is huge and she even has a pool and a pool house. I can tell you from experience. Fight Ally for the pool house, she says she wants it but we said when we move in that it's whoever foot is in the door first. So I would get a jump on it." He winked at her.

"Cool. Cool."

"Ok, well Good night." Ryan said as he walked out the door.

"Good night."

Ryan woke up early the next morning remember he had to call Marissa.

He picked up the phone and dialed her number.

"We are getting married in 2 weeks, then we need to start planning. I am taking Maria car shopping today."

"Oh, well I go talk to Kirsten and my mom." Marissa said.

"Good." Ryan said. "You guys make the plans."

"Oh, and I think I am going to put my house on the market."

"That's good, then maybe it will sell before we get married."

"Yeah, Maybe."

"Ok, well I need to go. Are you picking up Ally and Vanessa today?" Marissa asked

"Yeah I was thinking I would give them till 4:00 then lower the bomb about Maria." Ryan said.

"Well good, I love you?"

"I love you too."

Ryan got out of bed. He wasn't about to Wake Maria up.

But to his surprise she was up.

"Hey." He said walking in the kitchen to the smell of bacon.

"Wow, you can cook?" He asked.

"I don't think I have had bacon and eggs since my wife died." He said.

"Well, Dad you must be a bad cook."

"No, why do you say that."

"Because, there are billion different take out menus on the frig."

"That's how we eat around here." He said

"Well, in Atlanta we eat Bacon and Eggs. Eat up." Maria said.

An Hour later Maria had done the dishes and was sitting in the living room flipping through the TiVo to see what Ally liked to watch.

Ryan emerged from the dining room, in his black T-shirt and Jeans.

"Ready to go." He asked

"Yep." She said turning the TV off.

"Where are we going?"

"Well, I have a friend who has a car dealership."

"Oh you do?"

"Well, let's just say his Dad was in the business."

Ryan knew Luke wasn't Gay like his Dad in fact he was happily married and has 2 kids, but one thing he did get from his dad was Salesman ship. After College Luke opened. Ward Ford. It was a great success.

Ryan had bought his truck there a long with a few other Vehicles over the years. In fact the Minivan that Kelly had been driving when she died came from Ward Ford.

Ryan pulled up in his Truck with Maria in the passenger seat.

They walked up the desk.

"Is Luke in?"

"Yes, hold on." The Lady said.

"You don't have to buy me a new car." Maria said

"Oh, well don't you worry, I don't want to be worried about you breaking down."

Luke emerged from the back with his thinning hair.

"Oh, Ryan. Good to see you. Who might this Charming girl be?"

"She's my daughter Maria."
"Man,can I speak to you for minute."

They went to the other side of the floor model Mustang.

"Who's is she?"

"Theresa and mine."

"Oh Wow."

"Yeah, I'll explain later. She just turned 16 and I want to make her Birthday present special."

They came back. Maria was looking at the Limited Edition Explore fully loaded with every thing. Including a TV in the back.

"Yes, this is the top of the line." Luke said in his Salesmen voice.

"Is this the car you want?" Ryan asked Maria.

"Yeah, my mom had one, but not as nice as this one."

"We'll take it." Ryan said.

"Ok, if you'll follow me." Luke said.

An hour later. Maria was following her Dad home in her brand new Car. It smelled Brand new.

She would never have imagined this a week ago.

Ally and Vanessa were nice, but she could tell there was Jealousy.

"You are my Dad's other Daughter?" Ally asked.

"Yeah." Maria said.

"Well, don't do anything or I will."

"Ally, Go get your stuff." Kirsten suggested.

"Vanessa go with her." Sandy said.

"Well, we're so happy to see you, Maria. Last time we saw you, you were 3 years old." Kirsten said.

"Yeah, well I don't remember that." Maria said she was very uncomfortable.

"Yeah, see over there on the mantle ." Kirsten pointed to the picture of Maria and Kirsten.

"Wow. I remember that outfit. My sister still wears it." Maria said staring at her feet.

"Well, we better be going." Ryan said.

"Bye, Hope to see you again soon." Maria said.

When, they got home, from all the days activities and they had put Marias new bed together in the spare room instead of Ally's room, cause Ryan feared his Idea had been wrong that Ally was happy with this situation. Ryan sat down in his study. There were messages on his machine about Work of course. He needed to be there, all he could think about was how much time him and Marissa hadn't got to spend together.

Sorry for the wierd ending but i just needed to end this chapter. but the next few willl be about the wedding.

He loved her so much. He wanted her to know it.

He picked up the phone and dialed. (Not Marissa.)