Note: I don't own The O.C. This is a sad chapter for Theresa fans (because there are so many of us, right?) but a good one for R/M fans.
A while after Theresa left the hospital room, Sandy and Kirsten showed up with flowers.
"Where's Theresa?" Kirsten asked.
"She went to the cafeteria," Ryan said in a daze.
"What's wrong?" Sandy asked.
"I'm not the father," Ryan said.
They all sat in silence for a moment before Kirsten asked Ryan what he was going to do now. He said he really wanted to finish school and get out of Chino. He told the Cohens he didn't want Samantha growing up there. Kirsten suggested he and Theresa and the baby come live with them in Newport, but Ryan protested.
"We couldn't impose on you guys," he said.
"You wouldn't be," Sandy said. He looked at Kirsten and nodded.
"Okay, here's the thing," Kirsten began, "We've been thinking about it for a while and we wanted to invite the three of you to come and stay with us until you and Theresa finish high school. Eddie isn't going to be around, and nobody wants him around the baby anyway. We could help you with the baby while you go to school. Theresa shouldn't have to work anymore, she's still a kid too."
Ryan looked at the Cohens smiling, and saw they really did want to help him.
Theresa was standing outside the room and had heard most of the conversation. She walked in with a tray full of food and offered it to all of them. While they sat and ate, they talked about how if Theresa came to live with them, she could finish school like she deserved to do. Theresa's mom came back and discussed it with them while Kirsten held Samantha. They all decided it would be best for everyone if Ryan, Theresa and the baby came back to Newport Beach.
A few days later, after Theresa and the baby were settled in to the poolhouse and Ryan was in the Cohen's guest bedroom right next to Seth's room, Theresa's mom left for Chino. The next day, while the new nanny, Layla, watched Samantha, Kirsten took Ryan and Theresa to enroll at Harbor. Ryan was welcomed back, and Theresa got in easily with her test scores and GPA from her old school in Chino.
The next week, as they arrived at school together, Ryan and Theresa ran into Marissa outside the school.
"Hi," Ryan said.
"Hi," Marissa said and looked at both of them before she walked off and started to cry.
In the bathroom, she complained to Summer about the situation.
"How am I supposed to go to school with both of them here? Like it isn't bad enough that he broke up me because he needed to be alone, now he's with someone else and I have to see them together every day."
"You have to learn to live with it. You can't just not come to school. Forget about all that, there are a lot of new cute guys this year, Coop. I can introduce you to -" Summer was cut off.
"No, I don't want to meet anyone. I just want to get through the rest of high school without thinking about guys."
"C'mon, Coop . . " Summer started, but Marissa grabbed her bag and left the bathroom.
That night, Theresa and Ryan were sitting in the poolhouse kissing. The baby was asleep inside the house and they were getting friendly with each other.
Ryan started to unbutton Theresa's shirt, but she stopped him.
"I don't think I can do this," she said looking down. "I'm sorry. I love you Ryan, but this is too soon. I just had a baby and I'm really emotional, and . . ."
"You're not ready," he said and got up off the bed.
"It's more than that," Theresa said, "I don't think I'm ready to be in a relationship right now. I mean, I do love you, don't get me wrong. I just…you're my best friend, and so much has happened between us that I…" She trailed off. "I had just had a baby and my hormones were running wild and I don't know if we should be together right now. I really wanted to be friends with you. I think…I think we make better friends than lovers."
"Really?" Ryan asked. He didn't know what to say, so he didn't say anything.
He and Theresa went back in the house to have dinner with the Cohens and Summer.
Ryan walked into the poolhouse on a Saturday to find Theresa feeding the baby. She was two months old now and although she had dark hair and eyes, Ryan and Theresa joked that she got her smile from Ryan. That crooked half smile he always showed when he was nervous.
"Hey," Ryan said, and when Theresa looked up he flashed that smile.
"Hi," Theresa said as she shifted Samantha in her arms. Theresa was so beautiful, Ryan thought, holding that baby, caring for her the way only a mother could.
"I'm on my way to the Crab Shack, do you want to come?"
"No thanks," Theresa replied, "I have homework and then I'm meeting my mom for lunch a little later."
"You're really amazing, Theresa," Ryan said sheepishly, "You know that right?"
"Yeah, I know," she joked, then looked down. "Thank you though."
When he and Seth got the restaurant, Summer and Marissa were sitting at a table by themselves. Marissa was no longer mad at Ryan, she understood his confusion. It was the same confusion she had felt with Oliver. She knew if she were still mad at him, she would be a hypocrite.
"Hey you guys," Summer yelled across the room, "Come sit with us."
Seth looked at Ryan for approval, and Ryan nodded.
The sat down with the girls and Seth immediately started telling Summer about his plans for a sailing trip he wanted to take soon.
"Cohen!" Summer warned.
"Well, with you of course, if you'd like to come," Seth said as he tried to ease Summer's mind. They continued talking about his plans even though Summer was sure she could never survive on a boat without credit cards and facials.
Ryan sat down next to Marissa and smiled at her.
She smiled back and said "Hi."
They talked for a little while, and when Seth and Summer had finished eating, they went for a walk on the pier.
"How have you been?" Ryan asked. He hadn't talked to Marissa in almost two months, but he was really asking about her drinking.
"Good," she said. She knew what he meant, so she added, "Not a drop of alcohol since I went to Rehab."
They continued talking and made plans to go to the beach together the next day. Marissa was hesitant, but she agreed anyway. She wanted to see how Ryan felt about Theresa. She knew they hadn't been together for a while, but not why or how he still felt about her.
The next day, Ryan woke up really early. He heard Samantha crying on the intercom and ran down to the poolhouse to get her before she woke Theresa up. Theresa had been working so hard, she deserved a break.
But when he got down there, she was just picking the baby up.
"Hey," Ryan said, gently taking Samantha from Theresa's arms. Theresa was still half asleep and smiled thankfully. "You go back to sleep, I'll wake you up later." She just smiled and fell back onto the bed.