Hello all! This has been like the worst week ever school wise. I had three exams, two quizzes, and a seven page paper due. Ahh. So in order to keep my sanity, I finished this chapter. I've decided to drop out of college and become a bum. I even have a box picked out and everything. Yeah, it was that bad of a week. But it's almost over! So that's something at least, right? Right. The week wasn't a total loss, though, my best friend, who goes to school far, far away, sent me a card and a "Don't worry you don't suck at life" (her words exactly) care package! She's the best. And so are you guys! Thanks for reviewing.

HateToSayIToldYouSo: A four year old who wears makeup? That's awesome! And I'm a blunt object? Um...thanks? I think? And mmm, minty drinks at Starbucks. Right now they have caramel apple cider, and I drank it and just about died and went to heaven.

Storymom: Daddy-O and Locked-up-to-dry-out Mama made me laugh. Out loud. And my roomate gave me a really strange look.

Disclaimer: the characters are not mine.

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The phone rang and Seth looked up from where he was wiping down the counter, and Ryan glanced up from where he was vacuuming and they both dove for it. Ryan got there first.

"Hello? Hi. We're just cleaning like you asked....yes, even Seth is cleaning. You're right. It is an amazing sight. We should document it. I didn't know that he knew how to work the dishwasher either," Ryan smirked at Seth who rolled his eyes.

"Just because I don't like doing chores doesn't mean I can't," Seth retorted. "Give me some credit."

"So how far?" Ryan asked ignoring Seth completely. "Okay. We'll see you in a few minutes." Summer came from the upstairs wielding a duster.

"Rosa made their bed with the sheets that Kirsten likes, and I dusted," Summer said proudly. "I've never dusted before."

"We're all very proud," Seth answered kissing his girlfriend. "So what's their ETA?"

"Sandy said that they were about five minutes away," Ryan answered placing the phone back in its cradle. It had been Seth's idea to clean the entire house for his mother's arrival. Ryan figured it was because Seth felt helpless and wanted to do something for his mom, even if it was something as pointless as dusting the bookshelves. Seth hated when things were out of his control, and this was one way that little things could be under his control. Ryan figured he got that from his father. This overwhelming need to control everything. Then again, he could have gotten it from Kirsten too. She seemed to like having things go her way.

They heard a car door close, and Ryan put away the vacuum quickly, and Seth hurriedly placed the washcloth in the sink and Marissa came in from where she was dusting the pool house (which Ryan found really unnecessary. Kirsten never went into the pool house, but when he pointed this out, Marissa had argued that they should have everything perfect for Kirsten, and Ryan just gave up). The four headed into the front hall, and opened the door and watched as Sandy hopped out of the car and then headed back over to the passenger side where he gingerly helped his wife out.

"Aw, look how gentle he's being with her," Summer said sighing.

"Girls," Seth muttered. Sandy placed a hand on Kirsten's back and with the other hand closed the car door and then slowly led her to the front door. Her hand was clutching her side, and they could tell that she was still in a great amount of pain. A familiar feeling of guilt crept up on Ryan, and he shook it away.

"Hey guys," Kirsten said when she noticed the four kids standing in the doorway looking at her expectantly.

"Do you need anything Mrs. Cohen?" Marissa asked immediately.

"Tea Mom? Water? Anything?" Seth asked.

"How about a book?" Summer suggested. "Or your laptop?" Kirsten looked at Sandy, and he jumped in and saved her.

"Why don't we let her get upstairs and into bed and then you guys can get her what she needs?" Sandy suggested.

"Thanks guys," Kirsten added as an afterthought as Sandy led her to the stairs. "Can we just stop for a second?" They heard her ask Sandy. Kirsten closed her eyes and then took a deep breath. Sandy didn't waste a second. He instead scooped her into his arms carefully and continued the rest of the way to their bedroom holding her in his arms.

"Oh my God," Marissa breathed as soon as they had left the room. "I want someone to love me like that."

"I know!" Summer squealed and Seth shared a pained look with Ryan. "Seriously, he loves her so much!"

"Ew. They're my parents," Seth reminded them.

"They're adorable," Summer argued back. "And come on, they're still people. They still have sex and cry and were once our age too."

"They are not people! They were not our age once! And they Do. Not. Have. Sex.," Seth said appalled. Marissa giggled and she glanced at Ryan who was just shaking his head.

"Let's go and see if she needs anything," he suggested and they all trooped up to Sandy and Kirsten's bedroom.

Kirsten was settled back into the pillows, and Ryan was pleased to note that she looked better. Whether it was that she was really getting better, or that she was just happy to be home, he wasn't sure, but still, she looked better.

"Need anything?" He asked.

"Some water maybe?" Kirsten asked.

"On it," Seth said hurrying away.

"And oh! My book that is sitting on the living room table," she added biting her lip.

"All me," Summer said scooting by Ryan. Sandy bit his tongue to keep from laughing.

"Could you also grab my laptop?" Kirsten asked.

"I'll get it," Marissa told Ryan and hurried away leaving Ryan alone with Kirsten and Sandy.

"Hey kid, we wanted to talk to you anyway," Sandy said. "I don't know if you know this, but your Dad's funeral is on Friday. We were just wondering if you wanted to go....or..."

"I want to go," Ryan said almost immediately. "But you guys don't have to. Especially you Kirsten. Don't worry about it."

"No," Kirsten said. "We're going. I want to go, Ryan."

"Okay," Ryan said finally and bit his lip. "Thank you."

"It's not a problem sweetie," Kirsten said. Sandy walked over and clapped a hand on Ryan's back.

"We're all here for you." At this moment, Seth came running in with his mother's water and in his hurry to hand it to her, spilled some on her instead.

"Oh God, Mom, I am so sorry. Let me get that for you!"

"Seth, really it's okay," Kirsten said laughing a little. Summer was next, she held out Kirsten's book for her, which Kirsten took and thanked her. And Marissa came in with the laptop which Seth insisted on hooking up for her. Kirsten just looked helplessly at Sandy through all of this, and Sandy grinned back at her and shrugged.

It was good to have her home, he thought to himself. Maybe things would be better now that she was home. Maybe things could be normal.

Just maybe.

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Sandy woke up in the middle of the night to the sound of Kirsten crying. He had been holding her in his arms, but when he woke up, she was curled on the other side of the bed sobbing her heart out.

"Honey? What's the matter?" He asked sitting up. Kirsten rolled around and faced him.

"I don't know," she sobbed into his chest as he pulled her near him. "I just...I can't....how can I look at my father again knowing what he did?"

"Honey, he claims that he didn't," Sandy whispered. He knew he shouldn't have told her the truth. He knew that she couldn't handle it. Why hadn't he listened to that little voice inside that told him that telling her would only hurt her? He felt like such an idiot. And his heart broke to hear her cry.

"So I just pretend that I don't know that he did?" Kirsten asked.

"Yes." He kissed her the top of her head. "I think that's what you need to do."

"I don't know if I can."

"You need to try," Sandy said. "As much as I would love to, we can't cut your father out of our lives. It pains me to admit it, but he loves you, and Seth. And you work for him, with him. If you can't pretend that he didn't do it, then at least try to forgive him, or at least live with the knowledge that this is what he has done." Sandy ran a soothing hand down her back.

"And Ryan doesn't know?" Kirsten was calming down, and for that Sandy was thankful.

"No," Sandy said firmly. "Ryan doesn't know. And he won't know. Ever." Kirsten nodded and Sandy eased them both into a laying position.

"I'm sorry," Kirsten said after a few minutes of silence. "I just...it's....hard."

"It's a lot for anyone to handle," Sandy said. "I don't blame you for reacting the way that you did."

"I'm going to try," Kirsten said. "To move on. To get over this. I'm going to try to forgive him like you said." Sandy dropped another kiss on the top of her head.

"I know. And it will be hard, but we're going to be okay. All of us. We're all going to be okay."

"Yeah," Kirsten said as she shut her eyes. "We're going to be okay."

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Friday morning, everyone was dressed in black and standing around the kitchen waiting for Kirsten. She was, of course, the last one to be ready.

"What is taking her so long?" Seth whined.

"I told you, it's a mystery to me what goes on in that bathroom," Sandy said shrugging. "However, you know she's still in pain. Leave her alone."

"But..."

"Seth, not a word."

"Fine," Seth said huffily. It was true. Kirsten was still moving a little slower because she still hadn't fully recovered. She appeared in the kitchen and smiled at her boys.

"Ready to go?" She asked.

"Yes," Seth said exasperated.

"Seth," Sandy said in a warning tone.

"Did I miss something?" Kirsten asked looking from her husband to her son.

"Not a thing," Ryan said starting towards the door. He hooked his arm in Kirsten's and they made their way to the driveway. Sandy and Seth followed behind, and Sandy took the opportunity to smack his son in the back of his head. Ryan helped Kirsten into the car and then jumped into the backseat.

The ride to the cemetery was mostly silent, except for the random comment thrown in by either Seth or Sandy. They pulled up and Kirsten's face lost all of it's color when she saw Dawn standing near the grave. Somehow she had forgotten that Dawn would be there. She didn't know why she didn't think of it before. Dave had been her husband.

"It's okay," Sandy said soothingly as he took her hand. "She's not allowed to come anywhere near you."

"What about Ryan?" Kirsten asked.

"She's going to stay away from him too," Sandy assured her. The four made their way to the grave and Dawn glanced up when they came forward.

"Ry," she said and started towards him.

"Hi," he said quietly and took a step backwards. Dawn stopped and bit her lip.

"Aren't you going to come say hello to me?" She asked softly. Ryan didn't answer and Sandy motioned for the priest to start the ceremony, placing one arm around Kirsten's waist, and the other on Ryan's shoulders in an attempt to keep them both calm. Dawn huffily moved away from the Cohens and to the other side of the casket.

At the end when Dawn walked away, Ryan turned to face Sandy.

"Can I just...be alone for a minute?"

"Sure," Sandy told him and then took Kirsten's hand again and led her and Seth away.

"So I was thinking we could stop for something to eat on the way home. Maybe the Crab Shack?" Seth suggested.

"Seth, do you ever think about anything other than food?" Kirsten asked exasperated.

"Yes."

"Besides comics too," she added.

"Yes." Sandy rolled his eyes and then watched as Ryan walked towards them slowly.

"You okay kid?" Sandy asked when Ryan reached them.

"Yeah. I'm okay. So how about we go get something to eat?"

"See!" Seth said smugly. "Someone else was thinking about food too. I knew I liked you for a reason, Ryan." The two of them walked ahead of Kirsten and Sandy and Kirsten shook her head and smiled slightly.

"Hey, you okay?" Sandy asked. Kirsten shrugged.

"Yeah, I mean....I will be. We're all going to be I think." Sandy smiled and gave her a kiss on the cheek.

"I would have to agree," he said as they walked to the car. "We're going to be just fine."

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So I was thinking maybe one more chapter, to wrap things up, but only if you guys want one more chapter. Let me know. Reviews are a necessity of life. Like breathing. And chocolate.