I do not own any of the original characters from the OC.

Chapter 24

Caleb idly swirled his glass and watched the light reflect off the ice. It had all seemed so simple.. they were kids for Christ's sake... kids! And that Emily... what the hell was she anyway? He could not believe the turn of events in the last couple of weeks. Now he was going to have to listen to Julie because her daughter would be leaving. Maybe he should plan an extended over seas business trip that could last a few years...... Grimly he reached for the phone.

Marissa: Yes...

Caleb: Is that the way you answer all your calls?

Marissa: It's the way I answer all of your calls. Now what do you want?

Caleb: I would like to see you this evening. I imagine your father and friends will be out during regular visiting hours so I have arranged to see you before hours.

Marissa: Well, I don't want to see you... this evening or any other evening.

Caleb: You'll want to hear this, trust me. We have to talk this evening.

Marissa's curiosity was peaked. She hated the thought of seeing Caleb at all but could she afford not to.

Marissa: I guess I have no choice then do I.

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Stuck in traffic, Emily fumed while the clock inched closer to five. Relax, the world will not end if your five minutes late. Any way she could use the time to figure out how she was going to explain all of this to Ryan...

As she pulled into the lot she saw Ryan standing out side. She parked the truck in front of him and turned off the engine. Opening the door, he climbed in and softly kissed her waiting lips. She breathed in the smell of soap and shampoo.

Emily: Mmmm.. You smell all clean and soapy. Sorry I'm a little late.. traffic sucked.

A wry smile creased his lips.

Ryan: You should have been around before the shower. Actually, I just got out here. Kirsten called.. you're invited for dinner.

Emily: Cool.. umm I need to talk to you about something, so now or later?

Ryan: Now is as good a time as any. What's up?

Emily pulled a stack of paper from her pack. Selecting a few pages she handed them to Ryan.

Ryan: What's this?

Emily: It's a list of phone calls to and from Henry Webb's office, with notations of the name of the caller or the called.

Ryan's eyes immediately saw the highlighted calls.

Ryan: That no good son of a bitch! Why in the hell can't he and that witch he's married to, fucking fall off the planet? He's not going to get away with this! Let's go. He's probably still at his office.

Emily: He hasn't gotten away with anything. It's been taken care of..

Ryan: Yeah, I know most of the trouble has died down but he isn't going to get away with it. You wanna drive me or do I take myself.

Emily: Ryan, I said it has been dealt with.

Ryan: Just what does that mean?

Emily: I went to see him. That was my errand.

Ryan: Without bothering to tell me?

Emily: Yep, without telling you. Caleb Nichol is not getting away with anything... in fact he is going to pay through the nose. But if you go stomping in there and spill all of this for everyone to see it will all be ruined and Marissa will be the big loser.

Ryan glared at her and his voice was cold.

Ryan: Marissa? How will she lose anything?

Emily: She is going to live with her father. Caleb is seeing her tonight to give her the good news.

Ryan looked at her stupidly.

Ryan: She's what?

Emily: She's going home where she can be happy or at least happier.

Ryan: Marissa told you, huh?

Emily: Yeah she did but she knows nothing about any of this and she can't find out about it. No one can. It's our little secret.

Ryan fell silent and looked at Emily.

Ryan: How long have you known?

Emily met his gaze.

Emily: Since the night I got the fax from Leo.

It was obvious to Emily that Ryan was angry with her.

Ryan: Why didn't you tell me?

Emily: I wanted to.. but first I wanted to make sure before opening my mouth.. I thought about taking you today but you had practice.. and in the back of my mind I saw you going ape shit all over Caleb Nichol.. I'm not going to say I'm sorry.

Ryan was silent as he looked out the window.. She started the truck and pulled out of the lot. She didn't mention another reason she was glad Ryan had not been with her. Caleb Nichol was the coldest man she had ever met and he frightened her. She wouldn't put much past that man if someone crossed him. She was the only person he was aware of that knew this secret and she wanted it kept that way.

Nothing broke the stony silence during the drive to the Cohen's. Emily pulled into the drive and Ryan got out without a word and headed to the house.

Emily watched him walk toward the house... "The ball is in your court", she muttered as she put the truck in reverse and drove away.

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Caleb wandered around the common room while he waited for Marissa. Really nice place.. should be for what I'm paying.

A door opened and Marissa appeared. Stiffly she walked across the room.. She stopped in from of him and eyed him coldly.

Marissa: So what did you need to see me about?

Caleb: Do you think we might sit outside?

He motioned toward the exit and stood back to let her pass. Marissa swept by him and led the way out. When they were seated she silently waited for him to begin.

Caleb: Marissa, I owe you a huge apology. When I more or less forced you to live with us, it was with the best intentions. I wanted your mother to be happy and that meant you needed to be with her. I see now that was a monumental blunder and I can't help but feel it contributed to you being here. I want to try and make it up to you.

Marissa eyed him suspiciously. Did he really think she would believe this? Just what was he leading up to?

Caleb: I can understand your hesitance to believe me but I assure you it's true. I feel badly enough about all of this that I am going to suggest you move back in with your father.

Marissa's eyes widened in disbelief.

Marissa: What did you say?

Caleb chuckled

Caleb: You heard me correctly. I want you to move back in with your father. I think you would be much happier.

As quickly as it came to her face the smile slid away.

Marissa: What about our arrangement?

Caleb smiled and reached out covering her hand with his. It took all the restraint she had not to pull her hand away.

Caleb: Marissa, I want to make things better. In addition to you living with your father again I have a business venture that has his name written all over it and I am prepared to offer it to him. I'll be calling him tomorrow. It takes money to raise a beautiful young daughter and this opportunity looks to be very lucrative.

Marissa continued to eye him suspiciously, unable to believe this could all be true.

Caleb: Trust me Marissa. This will just be between you and me, just like our previous arrangement. All you have to do is call your father and arrange to pick up your things... I'll even get your mother out of the house.

Marissa: I feel like I am making a deal with the devil or something.

Caleb laughed heartily.

Caleb: My dear, I'm not as bad as all that... So we have a deal then?

Marissa nodded her head and crossed her fingers. She was moving back home!

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Marissa was sitting at the same table she had earlier shared with Caleb but this time her father sat across from her.

Marissa: Daddy I want to live with you again.

Jimmy stood and swept her into his arms.

Jimmy: That's fantastic, sweetie. I never really understood why you moved out in the first place.

She hugged him tight and a tear slid down her face. She was going home when she left here.

Marissa: I talked to Caleb. He said he would get mother out of the house so that you could get my things. I never want to go into that house again.

Jimmy wanted to question his daughter but decided against it. She would talk about it when she was ready. She was doing so much better... his baby was coming home!