Disclaimer: Oh the usual, I don't own anything that belongs to The OC those remain the property of Mr. Josh Schwartz, Mr McG and Fox. All those people and places not belonging to anybody, in other words the ones that came out of my imagination are all mine. You could sue me if you really wanted, but all you would get would be my ugly brown potato sack, my big load of school books, and about 20 australian cents, and you are welcome to all of them, although on second thoughts I may need my school books, so you cant have them, like you would want them anyways...

GO THE JEWFRO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Chapter One

Questions and Answers

"What's wrong with my daddy, Sethie?" Seth looked down at the small blonde haired girl. She looked back at him with her big blue eyes, just like her father's.

"Ummm he uhhhhh" Seth stammered, trying to hide from her piercing young eyes.

"Do you want me to take over?" Summer asked as she saw him stammer with the question.

"No, I can handle it. Go talk to Charli." He said referring to Ryan's oldest daughter who had locked her self in her room.

"Lucy..." he said bending down to be on eye level with the girl.

"Remember how a while ago your daddy told you that your mommy was really sick?" the little girl nodded. "Well your mommy, she had to uhh le.., t... to go to a special place" he tried to come up with a euphemism.

"Will I ever see her again?" asked the child, tears brimming in her innocent eyes.

"No, well yes but not for a long time. One day you will go to where she is and she will be waiting there for you, to give you a big hug." He saw the little girls small face, now stained with tears, begin to break out in a small grin.

"Lets go see how your brother is doing, and maybe we can get some ice-cream" he said holding out his hand to her, but instead she held her arms up to him, waiting to be picked up. He turned and placed her on his back, ready to give her a piggy-back down the hall.

Meanwhile...

Summer cautiously knocked on the 14 year olds door.

"Go away!" came a muffled voice from inside the room.

"Charli, you have to let me in."

"No I don't!" With this Summer inserted the key and unlocked the door.

"how did you get in?" The young adolescent questioned rubbing her tear stained face.

"I did know where your parents kept the key." She said waving the key in front of her face, her eyes slowly adjusting to the darkness. "Charli, I'm gonna turn on the light ok."

"Ok" came the reply.

Summer slowly moved over to the light switch and turned it on. She looked over at the teenager, who with her bloodshot eyes and tearstained face looked much younger than her 14 years.

"Oh, Honey" she said walking over to the bed and sitting down. Summer held out our arms to the young girl.

"Why did she have to die?" Charli sobbed into her aunt's shoulder.

"Its going to be ok, sweetie." Summer tried to comfort her friend's daughter. She continued holding the girl, for she didn't know how long but until the tears subsided.

"Hey look, you and Sammi and Lucy are going to be staying with me and Seth for a while, while your dad recovers, so if there is anyone you want to invite over, just ask me and we can organize it Ok."

The girl nodded.

"So what do you want to do?" Summer asked the now sniffling girl.

"Can we ummm, go see the grave, it's just that ummmm at the funeral everyone kept pushing me away from it, like they didn't want to see it." rambled Charli. She had seen the pained look in her aunt's eyes when she suggested it and rambling was a nervous habit she had picked from her uncle.

"We don't have to if you don't want to Sum" Charli suggested.

"No, its okay sweetie we can go, but maybe not today, is tomorrow ok for you." Charli nodded in agreement.

"So what do you want to do today? Your uncle has taken out your brother and sister for ice-cream" Summer patted her niece's skinny knees, a trait she had inherited from her mother, in fact Charlotte-Lily Atwood, in every way radiated the late Marissa Cooper-Atwood. She and the same nose, eyes, jaw line, hair and the same tall, lanky frame. It sometimes hurt Summer to look at the 14 year old, because when she did, she saw a fourteen year old Marissa.

"I dunno. Can we go to South Coast plaza?"

"You want to go shopping?" Summer asked

"Yeah, I mean no, it's just that I like it there, everything is so perfect. You walk around feeling like all your problems can be solved by the right nail polish or a new pair of shoes. I know that sounds stupid." She said looking away.

"No it doesn't sound stupid." Summer recognized that last statement as something the Marissa used to say all the time. Charli certainly was her mother's daughter.

"Sure Honey, we can go."

"Let me just clean up and maybe change my clothes" Charli, cheered up a little.

"Sure" said Summer before walking out and closing the door behind her.

It was going to be a long road of recovery for the young girl who saw her mother die.

E/N: Just in case you didn't get it. Ryan and Marissa were married but Marissa got really sick and passed away. Ryan's taking it really badly. Charli is to. Charli is their oldest child, she is ummm 14. Ryan and Marissa had her when they were like 20 so, Ryan, Summer and Seth are about 34. Ryan and Marissa also had 2 other kids, a 9 year old Boy called Samuel (Sammi) and Lucy who is 4 years old. Seth and Summer are married but don't have any kids. The three kids are staying with Seth and Summer while Ryan gets it together back in the pool house.

So what did you think? Please tell me, I know it was short but if you like it future chapters will be longer, plus I have vacation in like 2 weeks, with little to no homework, just a portfolio and cleaning my room. So I can post heaps. So tell me what you like, what you don't, I'm a big girl, I can take it.

And sorry to all you Marissa fans but I wanted a main character to die, and she was the first one who came to mind, plus it gives Ryan some angsty moments. But I like her character too, she is interesting, the teen alcoholic. But anyways.

Oh and wish me happy birthday, It's the 17 of September.

And good luck to all those in the Northern Hemisphere who are starting school at the moment.

And Ally and Em if you are reading this email me.

Also anyone who feels like emailing, please do, I want to an e-pal and also I want to co-write a story with someone. My emails are and

(replace the (AT)s with at signs.)

Lots of Love

Beckie.

Please, Please, Please review. Pretty please with a cherry on top.