Author's Note: Sorry it took so long to update. Thanks everyone for the great reviews. Please review this one too! Watch out for the next chapter, it's a big one.
Oh, and make sure to read the last part of this one carefully.

"So you decided to come back?"

"Yeah. I've taken advantage of Eva enough. Mama says I'm still enrolled for senior year and 'Turo gets out on probation next week. They need me there and besides, I've been nothing but trouble since I left."

"I see."

"Sorry about this, I've taken advantage of you enough."

Theresa sat in the front seat of Sandy Cohen's BMW, as Kirsten drove down the freeway. The sun was still crashing into the windows with strength, but they knew that dusk was quickly approaching. Kirsten was full of smiles as she met Theresa at the airport, knowing that at least she was closer and easier to keep an eye on now. Theresa, however, was filled with a slight embarassment as she looked at Kirsten. The older woman had done so much for her already. The ticket that Theresa had used was a gift that Kirsten gave that last day at the hospital in Atlanta. It was Kirsten who picked her up. It was Kirsten who kept her homecoming a secret from Ryan.

"Does he know you're coming?" Her hands on the steering wheel, her eyes on the road, Kirsten focused her ears on listening to Theresa.

"No. I sort of gave him a hint, but I don't think he got it." She giggled after the last statement. Kirsten smiled too. It was an odd moment for her, she felt a sort of sisterly love towards Theresa. It wasn't even the same feeling she got when laughing with Hailey. She always felt more like Hailey's parent than her sister. Now, she was supposed to be feeling as though she was Theresa's parent but instead felt like her sister. Kirsten was never sure what to make of her relationship with Theresa, but she was always glad for it.

"So, it's definitely a surprise."

"Yeah, I hope he doesn't mind though." She said that instead of saying what she really hoped for. She was scared that Kirsten might say something to reassure her fears. I hope he still wants me.

Sensing, Theresa's fears, the blonde shook her head and smiled again. "He's missed you so much."

With that, Theresa smiled too.

XXX

Ryan entered the house, feeling something was off.

It had been a long day at work with the Newport Group, but he was sure that the something he felt entering the Cohen residence wasn't fatigue. Sighing, he wiped his hands on his jeans, smudging them with streaks of gray dust. Ryan was always felt a slight sense of accomplishment after a day at work. The past weeks of working at Kirsten's construction site and occassionally, even helping Kirsten's architects as they re-designed certain aspects of the home left him with a sense of importance and use. It also took his mind off a lot of his worries.

Now that work was done, he could shower, change and get a few minutes to lie down and continue with the last book on his summer reading list. Heading towards the kitchen to grab a Coke, he was paused when the phone rang. It was soon answered by Rosa, but he wondered who it could be. If it was for him.

If it was Theresa.

For some reason, he couldn't get her out of his head. Ever since his conversation with her the night before, he felt slightly wounded and completely curious. He was opening himself up to her, making her vulnerable and she shut him down. Tell me tomorrow. What difference would it make if he told her then? Perhaps she just didn't want to hear it.

"Ryan?" Kirsten's voice interrupted his Theresa-filled thoughts. He didn't reply, but instead turned to where she stood. At the bottom of the stairs, Kirsten was in a bathrobe in full make up and putting on another earring.

Ryan stayed silent.

"Honey, we have a dinner party tonight. It's an end of summer thing. The caterers are setting up in the backyard already, so be careful on your way there." Kirsten explained. Snapping into reality, Ryan realized what was off when he first entered. The living room was immaculately clean and there was all sorts of noise (probably the caterers) coming from the kitchen and backyard.

"Okay." He replied, thinking himself stupid for not noticing the clues of the dinner party. Slowly, he headed for the pool house. Sigh. Maybe the dinner party would take his mind off Theresa? It obviously wasn't her who called.

"Oh, and Ryan?" He stopped and turned, his Theresa thoughts were interrupted again. "I put an outfit on your bed. You can wear that, it's not that fancy an affair."

He gave her a half smile that filled her with a warm sensation. For almost a year now, she had been his legal guardian, but every time he gave her that sort of appreciative smile, she realized yet again that she had become his mother.

Returning to his thoughts of Theresa, Ryan continued his way out of the house and into his pool house where he was face to face with a new pair of charcoal linen pants, a navy blue dress shirt and a wife beater. Along with a few other items – belt, socks, etc. He really didn't feel liking going to a party, but he owed it to Kirsten for the job amongst everything else.

As he threw his dirty clothes into the hamper, he realized that inside were his three other wife beaters. Contrary to popular belief, he did not have an endless supply. Instead, he had four that were used, washed and repeated as often as needed. But for the past few weeks he had subsisted with only three- he gave Theresa the other one... right? So where did the one on the bed come from?

Still puzzled, he stepped into the rushing hot water of the shower.

XXX

He came out of the bathroom, thinking of her yet again. How he loved his girlfriend. Beads of water dripped down his neck, trickling down his tanned back and meeting the towel that was still wrapped around his waist. He shook his head, feeling somewhat like a dog. He laughed out loud to himself, or so he thought. Sitting on his bed was Theresa, smiling along with him.

"Theresa?" he couldn't believe it. Wasn't she supposed to be in Atlanta or something?

"Hey, I just got back today. Um, Kirsten invited me to stay for the party thing. She said I could hang out here 'til then" She seemed nervous, his eyes were still flushed with confusion.

"Okay, sure. But do you mind hanging out in the office? I kind of need to get changed." He felt awkward being so naked around her.

"Sure, no problem." She stood up and headed out the door.

Sighing, he pulled off his towel and began getting dressed. Brushing his hair, he took a moment to think of the significance of Theresa's arrival. The thought dangled on the outskirts of his mind for a moment.

Just then, Theresa's head popped back through his door.

"Hey Seth, no one else knows I'm here, so could you not tell Ryan?"