Last chapter I forgot to thank Sister Rose for taking a look and basically reassuring me that it was okay. So a belated Thanks Sister Rose. Thanks for all the wonderful reviews. I'm glad some of you liked the "bird scene." I wasn't sure about that one - but was compelled to put it in. Let's just say there was some real life to it.

As usual, I don't own any part of the OC. Otherwise, I'd be lots richer. Oh and my usual legal disclaimer. Despite my cousin in law school, I really have very little understanding of the law and how it works. Keep reviewing folks, it keeps me going.

Seth entered the kitchen dressed in a button down shirt and slacks. His curly hair, which he had let go wild, was combed neatly and gelled down. It was the first time Ryan had seen him dressed all summer. Sandy couldn't even convince Seth to wear anything but jeans and a ragged t-shirt to the office, much to his chagrin. But Sandy had decided it wasn't a battle worth fighting.

"Why the get up?" Ryan asked.

Even though he wasn't as primped as Seth, Ryan was obviously dressed for more than a day at the Newport Group. The tie, which he had abandoned after the first day of work, was back. His hair was neatly combed to the side. His wrist cuff was nowhere to be seen.

"Looks like we'll both be going to the courthouse today. Dad pulled some string and pushed up my court date."

So this was about Seth's trespassing citation.

"Summer's coming too?"

Seth nodded. "But she just told her dad all about it and he's so royally pissed he won't allow her to talk to me."

"That sucks."

Seth slid into the stool next to Ryan and grabbed the cereal box out of his hand. "It does. I mean, it's not like I meant to get her into legal trouble."

"So this is going to be a family event?" Ryan asked, changing the topic from Summer. Ryan knew there was no answer. Mr. Roberts would eventually cool down, or Summer would start seeing Seth despite her father's wishes. If they could get past Seth's leaving and Summer's not going to join him, then they could get past this.

"Yup. You meet with your probation officer and I explain why I was trespassing at the docks."

Ryan grabbed the box back from Seth and stuck his hand inside.

"We can afford bowls, Ryan."

His face flushed red and he pulled his hand out of the box. He took the bowl Kirsten handed him and sheepishly poured his cereal.

"You boys look handsome," Kirsten observed.

"Are you coming too?" Seth asked.

She shook her head. "I have an important meeting with Grandpa's lawyers. But your dad will be there. Sandy will make sure you're both taken care of."

"I have to tell my PO that I got Theresa pregnant."

Kirsten nodded. She knew that Ryan had agreed he wouldn't raise the baby on his own, but he still hadn't decided if he would give his child to her and Sandy. For the most part, she was tiptoeing around Ryan, working hard not to prod him into making a decision he wasn't ready to make. She didn't want to send him over the edge.

"It won't affect your probation? Will it?" asked Seth.

Ryan shrugged. But Kirsten jumped in. "Of course not. There's no law that says you can't have sex, even if you are underage." She didn't miss Ryan's face turning tomato red all over again. "Your PO will just question how you plan to proceed and even if you don't have all the answers, you have some solid options to present."

Ryan pushed away his bowl and told Seth and Kirsten he would be back in a minute. He went out to the pool house where he had stashed a few packs of cigarettes. He found one of the packs, pulled out a smoke, walked to the side of the pool house and lit up. He didn't care if Sandy or Kirsten caught him, because he desperately needed the nicotine to steady his nerves. Lately, he had taken to using all his breaks at work to smoke. He knew Kyle smelled the smoke on him, but he wasn't the type to go squealing on the boss's kid. And by the time he met up with Kirsten, whether it was for lunch or at the end of the day, Ryan made sure the nicotine odor was long gone.

He leaned the sole of his sneakers on the pool house wall and leaned his head back. He closed his eyes, inhaling deeply and keeping the smoke in his lungs for a count of five.

"I spoke to Dr. Tally, my mother's oncologist, last night. He said the chemo was working, but that she was at risk for infection."

Ryan sighed at the sound of Sandy's voice. He stubbed out the cigarette against the wall and handed the smoke to his guardian.

"Where are all the rest of them hidden?"

Ryan waved his arm, indicating around, but he didn't say anything.

"I want every pack on my desk by the end of the day. And after we finish at the court house I'm stopping at a pharmacy to buy you a nicotine patch."

"Is that really necessary?"

"Obviously. You know, you won't be able to smoke if there's a baby in the house. You might as well start quitting now."

"Who said there was going to be a new baby in the house?" Ryan regretted his tone instantly even more than his words. "I'm sorry."

"Apology accepted."

He could tell from Sandy's words that Ryan had crossed a line. "I'm glad the chemo is working on your mom."

"Me too."

Seth stuck his head out the back door and called out to them. "We're going to be late."

Sandy dug into his pocket and pulled out his car keys. He tossed it to Seth and told him to start the car. They would meet him there in a minute. "I want you to get to know my mother. Smoking is why you didn't get the chance to know her already. You're young. Quit while you're ahead. When my mom started smoking, people weren't aware of the dangers like they are today."

"It helps me."

"Well, we'll find other things to help you." Sandy swung his arm around Ryan's shoulder. "Come on, kid, let's get going. And I'm serious, every one of those packs better be on my desk by the end of the day. If I catch you smoking again…" Sandy let his voice ominously trail off, hoping Ryan got the message. He had been about to joke that he would tan his hide, something he often threatened Seth with, even though he didn't mean it, but knew it wouldn't be appropriate with Ryan's history. It was one more way that he couldn't treat his boys the same.

Ryan finished with his PO and went to wait for Seth outside of the courtroom. He wasn't sure what to expect from Mr. Rodriguez, but he definitely hadn't expected the kind and encouraging words that his PO had offered. Leaving the meeting, Ryan felt confident in his ability to decide the best thing for him and his baby.

He arrived at the correct room just as Summer was coming out with her father at her heels, and Seth was going in. They stopped briefly, their fingertips touching, before Mr. Roberts nudged Summer and Sandy prodded Seth forward. Ryan slipped into the room, and watched as the judge began to interrogate Seth.

"The fact that the gate was locked didn't indicate that you didn't belong there?"

Seth looked down at his hands. "I- I guess I wasn't thinking very clearly." He swallowed hard so that his Adams Apple bulged. "My boat is docked there. I couldn't imagine why I wouldn't be allowed there. I always had full access to the boat in the other place it was docked."

"Do you always make it a habit of climbing over fences?"

Seth shook his head. "No sir. I'm too much of a klutz."

The judge chuckled, but even so Sandy pinched Seth's side. "Don't sound irreverent," Sandy muttered from the side of his mouth.

Seth lowered his gaze. Ryan was enjoying seeing Seth squirm. It wasn't him for a change.

The judge was shuffling his paper. "You have good grades. You don't have a record. And your girlfriend pleaded your case well. I'm inclined to dismiss the ticket and let you off with a warning. But let me see you in my courtroom again and you will feel my full wrath, young man."

"Thank you, sir. I promise you'll never see me again."

"Good." He banged his gavel and called for the next case.

Sandy swung his hand around Seth's shoulder and smiled broadly. Ryan followed them out and heard Sandy say, "Get into anymore trouble like that and you'll first feel the full wrath of your mother and me."

"I got it. Don't worry. I won't cross you. Besides, I'm still under house arrest for like the next ten years."

Sandy noticed Ryan. "How was your meeting?"

"Good. Mr. Rodriguez was cool about the whole pregnancy thing."

"I'm glad. I didn't think it would be a big deal." They stepped out onto the courthouse steps and Sandy breathed in deeply. "I always feel so claustrophobic inside that place. Come on. Ryan we're going to the pharmacy and then we'll drop you off at the Newport Group before Seth and I head to the office."

"Um, I told Kyle I wouldn't be in today. I need to meet with Theresa."

"Does Kirsten know? Because she gave me the impression that she expected to see you there today."

Sheepishly, Ryan shook his head.

"So call her." Sandy indicated to Ryan's new phone. Kirsten had picked it for him the week before. It had come with a whole list of rules and Sandy could tell Ryan would have rather been without it. But Sandy knew that a phone was a good as way as any to keep tabs on the boys. Seth had one and it only made sense that Ryan should have one too. As close as they were, they weren't glued to each other's sides. Ryan had tried to refuse, but he and Kirsten had insisted.

Ryan pulled out his phone and dialed Kirsten. He told Kirsten that he wouldn't be in and apologized for not telling her in advance, but assured her that he had told Kyle. He filled her in about his meeting with Mr. Rodriguez, turning away from Sandy and Seth, hoping for a little privacy. Sandy must have not told Kirsten about his cigarettes, because she didn't sound angry and Ryan took that as a good sign.

"I'll see you at home," Ryan said an hour later, a nicotine patch firmly placed on his upper arm. Sandy wouldn't leave him until they had read the instructions and Ryan had started the regiment. He waved and walked into the Dunkin Donuts, where he had told Theresa to meet him.

She came twenty minutes later, looking flushed.

"You okay? Here. Take a sip of my water."

"I'm okay. I think this is my new look. I just need to sit. My feet are starting to swell."

"What did the doctor say?"

Theresa shrugged. "Nothing. I don't go for another week. And you'll be there, so you can hear for yourself." She settled into the chair and asked Ryan to order her a decaf latte with skim milk. "Two Splendas," she added.

"That's not good for the baby."

"My doctor told me I can use Splenda. It's not the same as nutra sweet. If they don't have Splenda, you can make it two sugars."

Ryan pursed his lips, but Theresa could see he would do what she asked. He came back five minutes later with two steaming cups and two donuts.

"Thanks." She picked up the latte and sipped. "So why did you want to meet?"

"I don't get it," he jumped right in. "The Cohens offered to adopt the baby and you didn't even blink. You said yes right away. Why?"

"Why not? I told you, I'm determined to give up this baby. The Cohens already proved themselves. They take great care of you. They're good parents. They're not abusive. They have wealth and power. They're well respected. What more could you ask in adoptive parents?"

"But you won't be able to make a clean cut from them."

"Why not?"

"Because when you see me, you'll see the baby. Won't that be weird from you?"

"Who said we're going to see each other?" She asked vehemently. "As soon as I have this baby I'm moving to Atlanta. As far as I'm concerned, we never have to see each other again."

Ryan's mouth dropped open. He felt like the breath had been knocked out of him. He loved Theresa. Maybe not like he should love a girl, but she was his first friend and his best friend from childhood. They shared a past. And he had always assumed they would share a future. He didn't understand why she was acting like this.

"What the hell did I do to you?" He leaned forward, whispering loudly, hoping their heated conversation would attract any undesired attention.

"Besides knock me up?" she asked loudly.

"Sshh."

"Why?" She didn't lower her voice.

"What the hell happened?"

"Nothing happened. I just wish you'd make up your damn mind instead of leaving me hanging. There are only a few more months and if you don't want Sandy and Kirsten to adopt the baby then we have to look for other adoptive parents. It's not going to happen over night."

"It's been two weeks! What the hell do you want from me?"

"I want you to just stop brooding and to stop thinking and just decide, dammit. It's not brain surgery. You already told me that you've decided not to try and raise this kid on your own." By now, it wasn't only Theresa's cheeks that were red, but her neck and ears and the rest of her face. The red patches were splotchy all over her face and Ryan could tell that she was way beyond angry.

He looked around frantically, trying to figure out how to calm her down, because by now her blood pressure must be sky high and that was probably bad for the baby. It was probably bad for Theresa too.

"I can't rush it. These are life decisions. I'm about to make. And I'm trying to think of what's best for this baby, not just for me. I mean, if I'm thinking about me, then I say great let Sandy and Kirsten raise this kid, because then I can be part of its life. But the truth always comes out and how screwed up will this kid be, when he discovers big brother Ryan is really Dad? You make it sound so easy," he rushed on breathlessly. "It's as if you washed your hands of all this and now you just want to get it out of your way."

"I do. Sometimes I wish I had just gotten the abortion."

"Well sometimes I wish it too," he spat out, but immediately regretted his words.

She threw her crumpled napkin on the table and got up. "Find your own way home. I'm going. When you finally make up your mind, call me." She left the unsaid words hanging in the air, don't call me until then.

Ryan sat back in his chair, watching as Theresa stalked out of the donut shop, leaving him alone to try and figure out what just happened. They were fighting and he wasn't sure why.

His phone buzzed and he saw that it was Seth on the caller ID.

"Hey."

"Hey. You still with Theresa?"

"No. She left."

"So you can talk?"

"Yeah," Ryan sighed.

"Good. Because Dad was totally hyperventilating on the way to the office. He wanted to know what you two were talking about. If everything was okay."

Ryan leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table and holding his new phone close to his ear. With his free hand, he picked at the donut sitting in front of him, shredding the thing into pieces, and basically mutilating the crème filled donut. He just wasn't hungry.

"I just wanted to talk to Theresa. It was no big deal. But we got into a fight."

"About what?"

"I don't know. In the meanwhile, Theresa left in a huff and now I don't have a way to get home."

"I'll pick you up."

"No. You'll have to ask your dad for the car keys and that's going to start a whole interrogation. Let's just leave it."

"You sure?"

"Yeah. I'll take a cab. I have enough cash on me. I better go and get all the cigarettes out of the pool house, before Sandy does a search of his own."

Seth chuckled. "I was wondering. But every time I opened my mouth to ask, Dad gave me this death glare." Seth waited for Ryan to say something, but when he didn't, Seth continued, "Listen, if you want to talk and figure things out, I know Dad will let me leave early."

Ryan waited a beat. His first instinct was to tell Seth no, but then he realized that maybe Seth could help him figure things out.

"Yeah. I'd like that."

"Great. Then I'll see you at home."