Ryan: "When I was 8 a few of us would always hang out, by us I mean me, Theresa, Eddy, and Jamie... my little sister..."

Kirsten: "Ryan... I didn't know you have a little sister."

While Kirsten was pondering this Sandy had already made the connection.

Sandy: "Go ahead Ryan,"

Ryan: "On my birthday we went to my Uncle's house... who had a pool, my sister begged my mom to let her go into the pool but my mom was on her way to getting drunk and didn't want to have to watch her,"

Ryan stopped for a moment to gather his thoughts.

Ryan: "My sister kept pushing until my mom hit her... out of anger my sister went to the pool anyways... she hadn't learned to swim yet... when I saw her go to the pool I went to tell my mom but was stopped by my dad who hadn't gone to prison yet, he told me to go away that she was busy... he was drunk too and threatened to hit me if I didn't leave them alone..."

Kirsten was in tears by now already figuring out the rest of the story.

Ryan: "I uh went back to save her but she was already gone... my mom blamed it on me saying I should have been watching her... she didn't believe me when I told her about dad, I was beaten a lot after that... but nothing was worse than knowing if I had gone after my sister instead of going to my mom I could have saved her..."

Ryan suddenly became angry with himself.

Ryan: "Look now you know why I hate my birthday ok... so maybe you can leave me alone about it!"

With that Ryan left to the pool house.

Sandy and Kirsten just look at each other in disbelief neither knowing what to do.

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The next morning Marissa and Summer came over to the Cohen's.

Summer: "Hey Mr. C is Seth around?"

Seth: "Don't worry the mighty and powerful Seth is here," (As he came walking down the stairs)

Summer: "Good were going out so be ready," (Giving him a kiss)

Marissa: "I'll go get Ryan and remember don't ruin the birthday surprise,"

Kirsten stopped Marissa.

Kirsten: "Actually I think Ryan needs some time alone, he had a hard night,"

Marissa: "What's wrong?"

Sandy: "It's nothing serious but maybe today you guys should let him rest, and I'm not really sure about the whole party thing,"

Marissa: "Oh come on he'll love it, a few bad memories won't keep him away,"

Kirsten: "Look Marissa...I'm with Sandy on this one, Ryan's had it pretty hard and maybe he doesn't need a reminder of those times,"

Seth: "Ok you guys are being really weird, mom, yesterday you were all for the party now your not, did he tell you guys something?"

Marissa: "Did he tell you why he hates birthdays?"

Sandy: "Look that's very private if he wants you guys to know he'll tell you but until then we have to respect his privacy, I'm sorry,"

Marissa: "Well I'm going to talk to him, he can't stay shut off,"

Marissa walks off to the pool house.

Summer: "Wow this must be really bad

A few minutes later Marissa came back with a note in her hands.

Marissa: "Ryan's not there, he left a note saying he went to visit someone in prison and will be back by tonight,"

Sandy: "Trey?"

Marissa: "His dad...."

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Ryan was driving down the highway towards Fresno as he saw the prison come into view, his heart started beating faster and his palms got sweaty. What was he going to say to this man? The man that called himself his father... Ryan hadn't seen his dad since the day he was taken away 9 years ago, mainly because he didn't want to see that man. Ryan arrived at the prison and cautiously walked up to the front. The guard at the front looked up at him.

Guard: "Can I help you son?"

Ryan: "Ah ya I came to see someone, his last name's Atwood,"

Guard: "Ok, and your name,"

Ryan: "Ryan Atwood,"

Guard: "Relation?" (Writing on a clip board)

Ryan: "I'm his son..."

Guard: "Ok follow me; wait here while we go get him,"

Ryan sat in a room not unlike the one he was in when he talked to Seth after the model home fire, except that this was a private room.

After what seemed like hours of waiting Ryan heard footsteps approaching and the sounds of hand cuffs dragging behind. The door to the room slowly opened and a man entered....

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The Cohen family sat there in shock over the current situation.

Kirsten: "Wow I can't believe he went to see that man,"

Seth: "I know, he never talks about him, like we've met his mom, heard about Trey, but nothing about his dad,"

Marissa: "He mentioned his dad to me once, very briefly a long time ago, all I got out of it was that he was in prison and after that Ryan moved away from Fresno,"

Sandy: "Well that man doesn't deserve to have the title of dad! After what he let happen to..."

Kirsten: "Sandy!!!" (Looking at Seth and the girls)

Sandy: "Sorry... it's nothing,"
Kirsten: "Maybe we should call him, I'm worried, he's out there and he's upset who knows what could happen,"

Sandy: "He'll call when he's ready, it's not like he's running away," (Looking at Seth)

Seth: "That's right let's all blame Seth..." (Everyone was now looking at him and laughing under their breathe) "You guys are creeping me out... I'm getting pudding,"

Summer: "Well what are we going to do today? We can't just sit around thinking about it,"

Marissa: "We could go to the mall; they just brought some new outfits in,"

Summer: "That would be great and we would have Cohen to carry the bags for us,"

Marissa: "Oh but I'm supposed to look after Caitlyn later today,"

Summer: "Bring her along, it will be great!"

Seth: "What's great?" (Walking back with pudding)

Summer: "Were going to the mall!!!"

Seth: "Wow, you're more excited than usual, and did you guys just forget what's going on with Ryan?"

Summer: "Look I'm just trying to get our minds off it,"

Marissa: "You know Seth's right, Ryan's out there in pain and were going to the mall..."

Summer: "What else are we going to do? Sit here and wait for Chino all day, he'll be fine he's just off brooding, lets go!" (Dragging Marissa and Seth out of the house)

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Ryan sat frozen as a rough bearded man with messed up hair, and scars entered the room. The police un-cuffed him and sat him across from Ryan. They just stared at each other for a while until one of them spoke.

Dad: "How's your mother?" (His voice was gruff, but you could sense the tiredness of it)

Ryan: "I don't know... I'm not living with her anymore,"

Dad: "Ah... like always no one comes to tell me anything, you know she doesn't even come to visit me anymore"

Ryan: (Trying to ignore the comment) "I'm living with a new family now, I haven't seen her lately either,"

Dad: "New family? What's wrong with your old one?"

Ryan: "Look I'm just telling you what's going on, I don't want to talk about this,"

Dad: "Oh great! My son who hasn't visited me in 9 years decides to just show up and he doesn't want to talk about his life!"

Ryan: "It's my fault I don't want to see you? After the kind of father you were?"

Dad: "Hey! I provided for my family to the best of my ability, I did everything I could for you guys and you never appreciated it,"

Ryan: "Ya, everything you could... like beat us! treat us like sht! let Katie die!!!"

Dad: "So this is why you're here... you feel guilty and your trying to find a way to make yourself feel better, trying to find a way to pin what happened on me... I'm sorry it happened Ryan and I know how it must feel, to be responsible for your sister's death,"

Ryan: "Bullsht!!! It was your fault and you know it! I tried to help her, I tried to get to mom but you wouldn't have any of that... you bstard, you were too drunk to care what happened to your own daughter, you took her life away and you took my childhood away! But you're not taking my future, I'm not believing it anymore, I know it wasn't my fault"

Dad: "Whatever makes you sleep at night son,"

Ryan: "Don't call me son! I'm not your son, not anymore, I have a father who actually cares about me and what happens to me, not some dead beat who is rotting away in prison for the rest of his life,"

Dad: "You ungrateful son of btch," (Lunging forward at Ryan)

Ryan's dad slams him against the wall as the guards come rushing in. His dad takes one swing at him.

Dad: "I'm your father and I can still beat you like when you were a little boy you little sht!!"

Ryan takes one look at his dad and feels nothing for him, who was this man? He wasn't a father... Sandy was a father... this man was a killer... he let Katie die... With all his anger Ryan swung at his father dropping him before the guards came to pick him up and cuff him.

"You're not better than us, no matter who adopts you your still a poor Atwood and Atwood's don't amount to sht!!," (Before the door is slammed and he is taken away)

Guard: "You ok son?"

Ryan: "Ya I'm fine, just need a minute,"

Ryan sat there against the wall and thought about all that had happened. At least he had done what he had come to do... he could live in peace now. Was he going to become like that? No, he was different, he had people who cared about him... he had Sandy, Kirsten, and Seth, they cared for him... and of course... he had Marissa...

Ryan walked out of the prison and up to his car; he paused for a second and looked up at the sky.

Ryan: "That was for you Katie..."

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The kids were at the mall still; Marissa, Summer, and Caitlin were all trying out clothes and having fun while Seth sat staring out of sheer boredom.

Marissa: "Oh my god this one is so hot, Ryan will love it!"

Summer: "No this one is good," (Holding up a hot red dress)

Caitlin: "I like this one," (Pointing to a nice pink one)

Seth: "And I'd like to go get some comic books,"

Caitlin: "Comic books are for geeks!"

Seth: "Wow little kids... their so fun..."

Caitlin: "I'm not little geek!"

Summer: "Oh Cohen, she likes you..."

Marissa: "Don't worry; she didn't like Ryan at first either,"

Caitlin: "Ryan's cool... he's a dork... all you do is complain" (Pointing to Seth)

Summer: "I can't believe I'm standing here arguing with a child... I'm going to go find some pudding,"

The girls just laughed as Seth walked off.

Summer: "So what are you going to wear to Ryan's party?"

Marissa: "I don't know if were even going to have a party, look how he reacted by just talking about it, and obviously the Cohen's know something major,"

Summer: "I still think we should... you know cheer him up,"

Caitlin: "I can help too,"

Marissa: "Ok I guess... I just don't want to push him over the edge,"

Summer: "You won't! Now let's go look at some lingerie for after the party,"

Marissa: "Summer!!!" (Looking at Caitlin)

Caitlin just giggles as they walk on.

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The girls had all come back to the Cohen's with an angry Seth who couldn't find pudding at the mall.

Seth: "What kind of a mall doesn't have pudding I mean come on, it's a mall it's supposed..."

Summer: "Seth! It's pudding you have some in the fridge,"

Seth: "Right..."

As Seth walked off to the kitchen the phone rang.

Marissa: "Hello, um Cohen house..."

Ryan: "Marissa? What are you doing there?"

Marissa: "Nothing, just waiting around... so where are you?"

Ryan just wasn't ready to talk, not after the events at the prison.

Ryan: "Um... can I talk to Sandy,"

Marissa: "Ya sure..." (Feeling slightly disappointed)

She hands the phone to Sandy.

Sandy: "Hey kiddo, where are ya? It's getting kinda late..."

Ryan: "There were some things I needed to do... I'll come as soon as I can but there's one last thing that needs to be done... I might be late tonight..."

Sandy: "I understand... but..." (He walks to the other room) "The kids are really worried about you and Marissa's upset, she won't say it but I know she's disappointed that you can't talk to her,"

Ryan: "Sorry... I just can't right now... you can go ahead and tell them though, it's ok now, I'm ready to finally let it out,"

Sandy: "Ok kiddo, be safe out there,"

With that the phone call ended and Sandy went back to the living room to explain to the kids what had been going on.

Sandy: "Guys I just finished talking to Ryan and he's going to be a little late tonight, he has some stuff he needs to finish,"

Marissa looked upset... not only did Ryan not want to talk to her but he wouldn't even tell her where he was.

Sandy noticing Marissa's look decided now was the time to tell them.

Sandy: "Ryan told me to tell you all what happened... but this does not leave this room."

Sandy began telling the 3 kids about what happened to Ryan on his birthday, as the story progressed Seth sat in shock as Marissa and Summer were starting to show signs of tears.

Sandy: "And that's what happened..."

Marissa: "Oh my god, no wonder he hates birthdays!" (Crying)

Summer: "That's like the saddest story I've ever heard... poor Chino,"

Seth: "Wow... I knew he had it bad but never had I dreamed something like this happened to Ryan... he just doesn't show it,"

Sandy: "Ryan likes to keep his emotions to himself; it's how he protects himself from more pain,"

Marissa: "What should we do? We can't let him hurt like this..."

Sandy: "We just have to show him we care and be there for him, that's all we can do; the rest is up to him,"

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Ryan finished the phone call and kept driving on, after a while he passed the sign he had never wanted to see again in his life... "Welcome to Chino"

Ryan pulled up at a run down yard, the weeds had grown up everywhere, the grass was yellow, there were old tires lying around everywhere... among all the junk stood the gravestones of the many deceased individuals of Chino.

Ryan slowly approached the tombstone that he had approached many times before... usually at this time of year.

Ryan: "Hey Katie... I miss you..."

Ryan kneeled down at the tombstone.

Ryan: "Life's been good... got a new family, got a girlfriend, her name's Marissa, I got a new brother... Seth, you'd like him, you always liked to laugh... wow Seth would have made you laugh..." (The usually strong silent Ryan was know tearing up)

Ryan: "I went and saw dad today, I said all I needed to, I miss you so much Katie, I wish what happened didn't happen, but I have to let go... it's tearing me apart, and I know deep in my heart it wasn't my fault..."

Ryan rested his hand on the tombstone as he gathered his thoughts.

Ryan: "I'm going to go know Katie, but I want you to know I love you, I just need to go on with life, get away from Chino and that life, don't worry I'll never forget about you though... I'm going to go back to Newport and make something of myself, for both us..."

Ryan placed some flowers he brought onto the tombstone and walked off back to his car, back to Newport, back to the place that was truly his home...