Disclaimer: I own absolutely nothing related to the O.C. to my great and total distress. I bow down to you oh might Josh Schwartz, and thank you for blessing us with the best show ever!

Ryan stared at Marissa in shock. Marissa turned and stared at him her eyes wide and innocent.
"What?" she asked and Ryan raised an eyebrow. He couldn't believe it, Marissa had broken the deal.
"You're drinking?" he asked simply. Marissa felt a faint blush creep up but she pushed it away. She wasn't going to let Ryan's accusations ruin this trip.
"So what if I am?" she challenged and she heard Seth groan. She didn't care, if he knew what was good for him he was going to stay out of this.
"Marissa," Ryan said almost sadly and Marissa bit her lip. But she wasn't going to give in, she wasn't, she had more will power then that. She had already let him break her heart at least twice; she wasn't going to let it happen again.
"No," she said with more force then she meant to.
"When did you start again?" he asked quietly
"Just after you left," Marissa said just as quietly. Ryan scooted closer to her.
"Marissa," he said looking her in the eye "You can't throw your life away like this,"
"Why not?" Marissa said, "You are,"
"Ouch," Seth said and he grinned.
"Shhh! Cohen!" Summer said and the quiet moment that Marissa and Ryan had been having was broken. They would have to wait to finish the conversation later. They all sat in an uncomfortable silence. Finally Seth grinned.
"You guys look," he said and pointed to a large billboard advertising Disney World. Seth started jumping up and down in his seat, and even Ryan couldn't help but grin at his excitement. Even Marissa perked up and much to Ryan's delight she abandoned the spiked coke and settled for a can of regular diet coke. Ryan suppressed the grin that was threatening to escape and rolled his eyes. "Come on man, be happy we're in Disney!" Seth said clapping Ryan on the back and grinning as they pulled up in front of their hotel.
"Here we are," the driver said and they all climbed out of the car. The hotel was impressive, even to Newport standards. Julie Cooper must have been on one heck of a guilt trip, Ryan thought as he looked up at the hotel in awe. The bellman loaded their suitcases onto a cart and whisked them away. Summer and Seth had walked away and were talking and laughing quietly to one another. That left Ryan and Marissa all alone. Ryan gulped and turned to look at Marissa.
"So..." she said with a grin "want to go check it?"
"Sure," Ryan said and felt surprised to feel Marissa's soft hand squeezed into his. He bit back a grin as they walked towards the check-in desk hand in hand.
"Hello, I'm Marissa Cooper can I check in here?"
"Sure," the lady said and went to the computer. "Ahh yes, here we are. Two king bed rooms, am I right?"
"Only one bed?" Marissa said and Ryan raised an eyebrow.
"Yes we're sorry about that, when you called we told you that they were the only rooms available" the lady said in confusion
"I didn't....oh you talked to my mom I guess,"
"Oh, okay, lovely lady Mrs. Cooper was," and this time even Ryan grinned.
"It's Mrs. Nickel, but um thanks I'll be sure to tell her," Marissa said as she took the keys the lady was holding. "Thanks very much,"
"So..." Ryan said "This is gonna be weird"
"Well I could stay with Summer and you could stay with Seth," voice Marissa
"Okay," Ryan said
"Great! Hey Sum!" Marissa called and everyone turned to look at her. Marissa turned bright red. Summer turned around and waved, before dragging Seth towards where Ryan and Marissa stood.
"What's up Coop?"
"We've got a problem,"
"What's that?" Seth asked with a grin
"There's only one bed in the rooms," Ryan answered and Seth's grin faded slightly
"Whom am I rooming with?" Seth said casting a sideways glance at Summer, and then he asked with a grin "Marissa maybe?"
"Shut up Cohen!" Summer said punching him in the arm
"Oh! Rage Blackouts, better watch out," Seth teased
"Um actually you're going to stay with Ryan," Marissa said and now the grin really left his face.
"Ew!" Summer said
"I have to agree with Summer, man," Seth told Ryan, "you and I in one bed, not gonna happen. I think I'd rather room with Marissa"
"Coop could I talk to you for a second?" Summer said rolling her eyes as she dragged Marissa away.
"What?" Marissa asked innocently
"Come on Coop! You know I love you and all but is there anyway that I could possibly room with Cohen," asked Summer in a quiet voice.
"What? Sum, I thought you swore off sex at the end of the school year?" Marissa cried and Summer blushed furiously. "Okay, okay, you know I won't protest to having Ryan as a roomie, but you get to tell him,"
"Okay," Summer said giving Marissa a huge hug, "Come on!"
"So anyway there was this giant storm..." Seth was telling Ryan as the girls walked back towards the guys. Summer rolled her eyes she'd only heard this story from Seth a million and one times. But he never got tired of telling it, so she didn't get to mad at him. Although she couldn't count all the times her rage blackouts had taken over, they didn't count.
"Sorry to interrupt your little love fest," Summer said wrapping her arms around Seth, "but Coop and I talked about it, and we decided..."
"Achem," Marissa said clearing her throat.
"Okay, I decided, but Marissa agreed, that I'm rooming with Cohen which means that you, Chino, have to room with Coop. Got it?"
"Yeah!" Seth cried, "Sorry man, but Summer is such a better person to share a bed with,"
"Kind of figured that," Ryan said and gave Marissa a small grin. He decided that if he was going to have to room with Marissa he was going to make sure that she spent the whole week somber. He didn't care if it meant being with her at all time or whatever, he had to help save her. She was throwing her life away. They went towards the elevators and Marissa grinned nervously at Ryan.
"I'm sorry," she whispered "Summer was just.."
"It's okay," Ryan interrupted her, "It's going to be...fun"
"Right," Marissa said and climbed into the elevator after Ryan, "sure it will be,"
The elevator doors opened again and the four of them headed towards their rooms. They agreed to meet in an hour for dinner. Ryan opened the door to reveal their spacious mini-suite, he grinned.
"What?" Marissa asked looking around in surprise, trying to find what was making Ryan grin. She was disappointed that she couldn't see anything, she wondered if that meant she wasn't Ryan's soul mate. She wondered if Teresa could see what was so great, Marissa bet she could. She sighted. Now it was Ryan's turn to ask what was wrong. "Nothing, what are you smiling about?" she asked regretting having to ask.
"I'm just glad to be back in Newport life style. I've missed it," he added quietly almost as an afterthought as though he had just realized that. Marissa was the one grinning now, she decided that she was going to show Ryan how great Newport life style could really be, with her mother's credit card of course, so that he couldn't go back to Chino.
"Yep, this room's nice," Marissa said nonchalantly, and Ryan nodded.
Ryan stared around at the mini-suite in awe. Of course it didn't really compare to the suite they had stayed at in Las Vegas, but that had been for a whole group of guys. He couldn't believe that this room was for just him and Marissa. He felt shivers run down his spine at the thought that he was going to sleep in the same bed as Marissa. He looked over and her and she was grinning. She headed out of the living room/sitting room area and into the room he could only assume was the bedroom. He flipped on the TV and made a triumphant sound as he realized all the channel's he had. That was another (less important) thing he had missed about the Cohen's all the channel's they had. He heard the shower start to run and he sighed. He guessed that he wasn't going to get one in, due to past experiences with Marissa and her hour-long showers.
Ryan thought that really sucked. If anyone needed a shower he was the one that did. He wondered for a second if he should call Seth and Summer and ask them to borrow their shower. They were probably busy at the moment and didn't need it. Although Ryan wasn't too sure he wanted to been in the same hotel room/suite as them if they were busy in the way he thought they were. So he just sighed and went back to watching some stupid show he'd never heard of. Oh well he could always shower later.
Marissa entered the sitting room half an hour later towel drying her hair. She looked so peaceful and when she grinned at Ryan, he remembered why he use to love her, why he still loves her. She sits down next to him and leans back into the couch.
"I left you some hot water, I figured you could use a shower. If I have to sleep in the same bed with you, you better shower. Or you get to explain to Summer why she can't stay with Seth. I refuse to be a victim of her rage blackouts," joked Marissa pushing Ryan towards the bathroom. Ryan protested a little, but in the end he went into the spacious bathroom. Her ran the hot water and let it run over his tired body. As he washed his hair trying to get the dirt and grimy smell out of it, a little thought popped into his head. Very quickly he thought I've come home, he didn't know where the thought had come from, or why. He just knew that even if he had to live in Chino, that life with the Cohen's that was his real home. He knew that even if he started another life, that in reality his heart would always be in Newport beach, with the Cohen's and Marissa. He sighed and turned off the water and pulled on some of the clothes that Kirsten had bought him when he had first come to stay with them.
He hadn't really worn any of the clothes she had bought him while he was living in Chino. They were still sitting in a box that he had taken with him, when Marissa had invited him for the trip. He had dug them out, especially for this trip, and he was surprised at how much he liked his clothes. They were pretty much the same as his old clothes, just more expensive, but for the first time Ryan realized how much softer and more comfortable these clothes were. He headed into the sitting room to find Marissa sprawled out on the couch singing along to a song that was playing on MTV.
"Hey," Marissa said noticing him
"Hey," Ryan said and sat down in the tiny space Marissa made for him. Her toes just skimming his thighs. Marissa grinned at him, and all the feelings that he had had for Marissa before he left for Chino, came rushing back to him. He bit his lip and mumbled something. Marissa sat up and leaned over and kissed him. Not a quick little kiss like before, an all out I LOVE YOU kind of kiss. And Ryan kissed her back. Because he couldn't help it, because he loved her. He couldn't believe that he could miss someone so much without even knowing it. But he had, he had missed Marissa more then he even thought he could. A knock on the door interrupted their kiss.
"Ignore it," Ryan whispered, "I left it open, so if it's someone smart they'll realize it,"
"Okay," Marissa whispered back and went back to kissing. Finally the door swung open and in walked Seth and Summer. Ryan pulled away from Marissa embarrassed.
"Ew! Coop!" Summer said and groaned. Marissa's face heated up.
"Sorry Sum," she said with just a hint of sarcasm
"I'm starved," Seth said looking up from where he was watching TV.
"Cohen, is that the only thing you ever think about?" Summer asked punching him lightly "Food? And Sex?"
"Always Summer, Always," Seth said and everyone cracked up. The four of them headed over to the nearby boardwalk hotel that they were told had a really great pizza place. They didn't know if it was true, but they decided it was good to at least try it. After all if it really sucked they could just get room service or something later on. They arrived at the hotel and walked along the lit up boardwalk, hand in hand. Well actually Summer refused to touch Ryan (Ew!) and pretty much visa versa, so it was Marissa and Ryan and then Seth and Summer. But they were pretty much hand in hand.
"Welcome," the greeter said leading them to a tiny table amidst the many families that were there. "Here you go,"
"Thanks man," Seth said sitting down next to Summer. Ryan sat down next to Marissa and picked up the menu. "Geez! I'm starving!"
"Cohen we just went through this!" Summer said, "Get a hobby other then food!"
"I do, Summer, I have you," Seth said and kissed her forehead. Summer rolled her eyes and slapped him but anyone could see the quick gaze of adoration she gave him. Ryan still thought it was incredible that someone who had ignored Seth for most of his life, could be so incredibly and totally in love with him. But there was no question about it, sethandsummer were in love. Weird, definitely, but true. Ryan looked over at Marissa and smiled, taking her hand in his. They sat thought a peaceful meal of pizza, which even Seth had to agree was pretty good pizza. After that they decided to walk around, as it was too late to head to the parks.
Ryan, Seth, Summer and Marissa played the arcade games, winning small teddy bears and prizes. It was as they headed back to their hotel laughing at how surprising it was that the one who had won the most was Summer. Seth had grumbled a lot in the beginning but in the end he even laughed about it.
"Let's get ice cream," Marissa suddenly says pointing to an old- fashioned ice cream shop. Seth nods happily and drags Marissa and Summer towards there. Leaving Ryan to deal with all the prizes. He's surprised at how close Seth got with the girls, he wonder's what would have happened if he had stayed. He wonder's why they became friends, he wonders how. But he doesn't feel comfortable asking, after all he wasn't there. He's not sure of the boundary's he has, now that he doesn't live with them. He's not sure how to act when he thinks about, but every once an a while, when he's not concentrating he slips back into Newport Ryan. And that scares him because he wonder's if it will make it harder for him to leave.
"Hey man, are you coming?" Seth asks poking his head out the door. Ryan nods and grins to himself before rushing to catch up.
"Yeah, did you order yet?"
"Not without you," Seth says and together they walk into the small shop. They all order mint chocolate chip ice cream. It's something they agreed on a long time ago, a common like, so when together they always order it. Ryan notices that Marissa doesn't even finish her kiddy cone, and Seth gobbles it up. He also see the way that Summer looks guilty as she finishes her small ice cream. But when Seth leans over and kisses her, she doesn't look guilty anymore, she just looks happy.
"So Chino," Summer says leaning in against Seth, "how's Teresa and the baby?" And Ryan feels the invisible line that separates chino from Newport being drawn again. The magic is broken, he thinks as he sees Marissa's face droop. He doesn't want to do that to her, he just had to. Why did Summer have to go and remind everyone of that anyway? There were times like these that no matter how much Seth loved her he wanted to strangle Summer.
"Fine," Ryan said hoping she would drop the subject
"How does she feel that you're going away with your girlfriend and friends while she's stuck at home?" Summer said not letting go of the subject. Ryan groaned inwardly, he really felt like strangling her right now.
"She's okay with it, after all I'm only helping her out, not marrying her," he said trying to reassure Marissa, that everything was all right. But Marissa didn't seem to be listening in fact it looked as if her mind was far away. Ryan reached for her hand but she shrugged it off. Ryan groaned inwardly again. This was not turning out as he had planned at all. This was not going well. "Marissa?" he whispered quietly but she didn't seem to hear. They all stared at one another but Ryan saw the look that Seth and Summer exchanged.
Seth and Summer knew that this was the way Marissa got when she thought about Ryan. That she would get this way and basically become dead to the world. Seth always got worried when she did this, it made him nervous being around her when she was like this.
"Coop?" Summer said touching Marissa's shoulder. "Come with me to the bathroom okay?"
"What?" Marissa said finally snapping out of her daze and looking surprised to see them all staring at her.
"Come to the bathroom with me?" Summer asked and Marissa nodded. She seemed paler then usual, if that was possible, and somewhat shaky. Seth wondered what she had been thinking about. He wondered if it had anything to do with Ryan and Teresa getting married. According to Summer, that was what worried Marissa most. That she would loose Ryan forever. Seth hated to admit it but he had actually thought the same thing.
Soon after Summer and Marissa returned, they decided to head back to their hotel. The four of them separated, planning to meet the next morning for breakfast. Ryan and Marissa opened the door and got ready for bed quietly. They climbed into bed separating to their separate sides as not to touch. Ryan fell asleep almost instantly. But he woke up about half an hour later to see Marissa getting out of bed.
"Where are you going?" he asked sleepily
"I can't do this Ryan. I'm going to sleep on the couch," Marissa said and headed into the sitting room.
"What? Marissa wait!" Ryan called but Marissa shook her head.
"Leave me alone!" Marissa whispered in an almost plea, "please, Ryan!" Ryan just nodded

Reader's Note: Thanks for all the reviews! I hope everyone enjoyed this installment! Please Review! I'd love to get to know what you think