DISCLAIMER: Don't own.

Both boys were sitting on the couch paying close attention to Sandy and Kirsten. Sandy was standing up and pacing back and forth like he always did when he was mad. Kirsten was sitting in the chair all curled up, looking at Sandy. Neither of them had expected the boys to hear them arguing, nor did they plan on telling the boys so soon. There was silence for a few minutes until Sandy broke it by saying, "Many years ago, 20 to be exact, your mother had-"

"-Sandy stop. Don't act like it was just me. You're acting like I did this alone!" Kirsten butted in.

"Well didn't you?"

"Not everything. Don't come off blaming me for this because it wasn't my fault." She was referring to the fact that it takes two people to make a baby.

"So it was all my fault?"

"Are you two going to tell us what's going on?" Seth interrupted.

"Yes!" They both answered in unison.

"Let me tell them," Kirsten instructed. Sandy was annoyed, but silent. He continued to pace and shook his head. Never did he expect to have to tell his sons about this now, right after he found out. He was just getting used to it and now here he was telling his sons without even a plan of how to say it. He wasn't sure how Seth would react. He prayed that it wouldn't cause Seth to want to runaway again.

"Okay now I want you to just hear me out. I have no idea what your reaction will be, but please, hear me out. Try to see where I'm coming from."

"Alright," Seth agreed. Ryan just nodded.

"20 years ago I found out I was pregnant...with your father's baby...I tried to tell your father but he freaked out when I even mentioned the idea that I might be pregnant."

"That is not true Kirsten!" Sandy snapped. "Let me finish this story up for you boys. So your mother never told me she was pregnant, she just said she thought she was. Then she took off and went to New York City for over half a year and had the baby. Then she gave your sister up for adoption." He blurted it out so fast he wasn't even sure how much he revealed.

While Sandy said this Kirsten was shaking her head in her hands. She was crying but didn't want the boys to see. This is not how she wanted to tell the boys. She felt that Sandy made it look like the blame only fell on her, and more importantly she was afraid of how it would affect Seth.

"What?" Seth asked. "Repeata, por favor. I don't think I heard you quite clearly."

"Seth you have a biological sister. She's turns 20 this month," Sandy said a little calmer.

"Hey Ryan, would you please pinch my cheek right now because I'm pretty sure I just heard my dad say that I have a sister! A sister!"

"I'm not going to pinch you Seth, but you aren't dreaming. That's what he said."

"I can't believe this! Why didn't you tell me?" Seth said aggravated and looking for answers.

"Son I'm wondering the same thing. Your mother just told me yesterday!"

"She did?"

"Oh Sandy how could you!" Kirsten yelled as tears rolled down her cheeks.

"What, tell our son the truth? You should have never kept that from us Kirsten."

"Sandy this is between me and you. You don't need to tie the boys into this mess."

"How are they not in this mess? That's Seth's sister!"

"I know that but you don't need to start bringing up personal information about this that's just between the two of us."

"So you wanted to hide the fact that you waited 20 years to tell me? Kirsten don't put the guilt on anyone but yourself. You waited to until now to tell me."

"So what are you going to announce next? The date I conceived Kassandra?" Kirsten knew she was changing the subject but was too embarrassed and overridden with guilt to continue to let Sandy go on about what happened.

"Okay I think I've heard enough. This is getting way too disgusting for me. Come on Ryan let's go and let these two fight this one out." Seth said standing up. Ryan stood up and followed Seth to the corner of the room as Sandy said, "We're not done talking yet, boys."

Seth turned back around after realizing the name he just heard and said confused, "Who is Kassandra?"

"Your sister," Sandy replied and said again, "Seth, Ryan, sit down, we're not done talking yet."

"Well could we end it...soon...this looks like it's between you and mom. Not us."

"Seth it has everything to do with you. You have a sister. Do you want to see a picture of her?"

"Okay, I guess."

"Ryan, want to see Kassandra?"

"Oh no, well I mean yes, but not now. You two look at the picture by yourselves and have some alone time."

"Okay, come on Seth, it's in the kitchen." Sandy and Seth walked into the kitchen to look at the picture.

Ryan was feeling awkward ever since Sandy told them to sit down. He took this break in the conversation as a cue to leave, especially since he was sitting with a weeping Kirsten. "Umm I think I'm going to go to Marissa's house now. Her and Summer are expecting us and this is...uh...personal family business...so I'm going to go now."

"Ryan wait," Kirsten pleaded loudly, "don't leave. Please, I need you here," she said a little quieter.

"Oh...umm...are you sure? I don't want to get in the way?"

"No Ryan, you're not in the way. You are part of the family. You didn't say anything about the big news so I'll take that as a good sign that you aren't as angry with me as the rest of them are. I could use some support right now."

"Oh no, I'm not angry with you, why would I be? I feel bad for you...that's all."

"Thanks."

"Are you okay?" He wasn't sure how to console Kirsten but she seemed to be more calm after he started talking to her so he continued.

"Not really. I don't think this family will ever be the same and it's my fault. I feel terrible. Could you do me a favor?"

"Sure."

"Keep an eye on Seth for me. He seems okay with the news, but I don't want him getting any ideas of running away again."

"Okay."

"Thanks." Kirsten got up and went over to Ryan and hugged him. Ryan hugged her back.

Meanwhile, Seth was looking at the picture of Kassandra.

"Wow, she looks a lot like mom."

"Yeah," Sandy replied, trying to hide his smile. As much as he was angry at Kirsten right now he couldn't help the fact that he loved that their daughter looked so much like her.

"But, looking closely, it looks like she has your blue eyes. Look at that dad, now all of your looks have come through in your kids. You always said that I had all your looks except for eye color. Now your daughter has the eye color."

"You're right. Seth are you okay? I mean you must be in a state of confusion right now."

"Yeah, it is a bit weird. I mean a sister? A sister? Come on who would have thought that after 17 years of being an only child that I'd suddenly have a sibling!"

"I know, I know. Do you want to meet her?"

"Umm..."

"I don't want to rush you. Take as much time as you need to think about everything. It's just that I'm going to go see her for the first time and when I do I'd like to have you there. It's going to be overwhelming."

"Go with mom."

"I'm not going to tell her I'm going."

"You're not?"

"No. If she can keep secrets I can, too."

"Dad, I think we've all been through enough today. Don't start more trouble."

Ignoring Seth, Sandy said, "So you let me know if you want to come. I'll let you know when I'm going. It's going to be soon."

TBC

Like it? I tried to put a different take on the secret Kirsten mentions in the season finale. Hope you are enjoying it. Let me know by leaving a review.