lilliluthor - Thanks! The slash may take a while to get here - there will be at least two more chapters in addition to this one before Seth comes home. I'm currently having trouble writing the next one, but will try to have it soon.
melanie39 - This wasn't really supposed to overlap with the stuff that was actually on the show, which is why I didn't do that. I may write a separate one-shot about Ryan deciding to leave as a prequel to this, though.
"When did he leave?" Ryan asks immediately, needing to know if all this is his fault.
"About an hour after you did." Sandy's voice is solid, his eyes steady on the road, but Ryan knows that he's hurting.
"Oh." Ryan doesn't know what to say.
"He left us a note. It didn't say much, just that he was unhappy in Newport without you and that he was leaving. He didn't even say where he was going."
Ryan is silent, absorbing this information.
"He also left a note for Summer. There wasn't one for you, Ryan. I'm sorry. We checked everywhere."
"That's okay," Ryan says, and it is. It's not Sandy's fault. Seth's silence said everything, anyway.
For a long moment, Ryan wonders if this is because Seth's been feeling the way he's felt lately: unhappy around his – supposed – girlfriend, thinking that there must be something more than this. He's been staring at Seth a lot lately. But then he dismisses the thought. Of course Seth's not thinking about him that way. Why would he? They're practically brothers. It's really fucked up that Ryan's thinking about Seth like this; it can't possibly and shouldn't be mutual.
Sandy's speaking again and Ryan forces himself to pay attention. "I'm sorry to do this to you, Ryan. You know I wouldn't if the situation were different. You're free to go as soon as Seth gets home. Actually, you're not a prisoner or anything – you can leave any time you'd like. I think it might be nice if you stayed the summer..."
"Don't worry about it," Ryan says. "I'll stay until Seth gets back." He doesn't add, I wish I never had to go back. I wish there was no baby and I could stay here, home, the one place where I've actually got a future. He doesn't add it because Sandy could still make him stay, and as much as Ryan wants to, as soon as Seth's home, he has to go back, to be there for Theresa and the baby. He doesn't have choices these days, just like one year ago, before he ever came to Newport Beach, when he was just some kid who was destined to have no future. It seems bleak, but there it is. He's right back there. Except it's better this time, because now he knows what it's like to have a real family who loves you and wants what's best for you. Which is why he can't stay. Now that he's had this amazing year, how can he deny his kid that kind of family?
Sandy sighs and they pull into the expansive driveway. Ryan has this creepy sense of déjà vu as he gets out and stares up at the house.
"Well, what are you waiting for, kid?" Sandy's voice is gentle. "Mom will want to see you."
He walks up the steps with purpose, and Ryan follows, thinking only of poor Kirsten. He hopes he'll be able to help, no matter how little a difference he makes.