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Oh my god my computer was down. I'm so sorry it took so long but I couldn't help it!

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"Kirsten?" Ryan asked sitting down beside her in the waiting room.

"Yes Ryan?" Kirsten asked surprised that he was talking to her let alone seeking her out.

"I want to talk to you." Ryan explained.

"Okay sweetie." Kirsten agreed.

Back when Ryan had first moved here he would have flinched when she called him sweetie but he was used to it now.

"I wanted to say that I'm sorry." Ryan said.

"For what?"

"For yelling at you like that. You couldn't have known why I was so upset."

"But Ryan I should have and I'm sorry for pressuring you like that."

"No Kirsten you didn't pressure me I should have been open with you from the beginning."

"Ryan I can't make you talk to me I..."

"No Kirsten don't I don't want a speech that you would have gave me so long ago when Sandy first brought me to your house."

"That's not what I'm trying to do."

"Wait let me finish." Ryan paused taking a breath, "I've spent the last 21 years loving you and Sandy like parents."

At this statement Kirsten let out a sigh preparing for a cascade of tears by the time Ryan was finished.

"During the beginning I was scared to love you but when you helped Marrissa and I move and get on with our lives outside of Newport."

"I enjoyed helping you." Kirsten interrupted.

"Let me finish."

"Sorry."

"When we came back you helped everyone forgive us."

"I shouldn't have had to help them forgive you."

"I know but they were stubborn and you did." Ryan said taking another breath and slowly letting it out.

"Are you okay?"

"I'm fine."

"Okay."

"For the years after we got back from Chicago you have still loved me like a son."

"You are my son."

"And I have loved you like a mother and Sandy like a father. But I think you think I'm holding back and if you want to know something about my past that will make you realize I love you then just ask me."

"What?"

"Is their anything you want to know about me and my past that you think I've held back?" Ryan asked again.

(IN THE WAITING ROOM, KIRSTEN'S POV)

Kirsten was shocked Ryan had just asked her a question she never would have though he would ask. But he didn't ask it the way she wanted him to. If she asked a question now he would think that she thought he was holding back. But there were many questions Kirsten wanted to ask. The top question on her list was why he came back from Chino or Chicago. This wasn't his home and she was never sure if he ever thought of it as home so why did he come back here? Those days when he called and said 'I'm coming back to Newport' she was thrilled. But he didn't call it home so why did he come back? Why did he come here?

"Ryan I don't think you're holding anything back..." I started.

"But you do have a question?" Ryan asked.

"Yes."

"Well than ask it maybe I'll answer."

"I really have always wanted to know this ever since you came back from Chino, and again when you came back from Chicago."

"What?"

"Why did you come back?"

"What?"

"When you were coming back from Chino you called and said 'I'm coming back to Newport'."

"Okay?"

"You never called it home and yet you still came back."

"I came back because I missed Seth, I missed you and Sandy, and Marrissa heck even Summer."

"That's why you came back?"

"That and the fact that this is home."

"Why did you never call it that?"

"Because I wasn't sure how long it would be my home when I came back from Chino."

"It will always be your home, even if you leave it will be a home you can always come back too."

"Thank you Kirsten that means a lot to me."

"It means a lot to me that you accept it." I said and leaned over to hug him.

"I always will." Ryan promised.

"I have one more question."

"Shoot."

"You've never been one to sit and ask to talk what happened?"

"I realized that I should talk."

"But why? Why now?"

"Because after I yelled at you I realized I did need to talk to someone about my fears."

"Do you want to talk to me?"

"Yes, I do."

"Than talk."

"What fear do you want to know?"

"Your worst fear."

"My worst fear is losing my family."

"Which one?"

"My only one." Ryan said looking at me pointedly.

"Thank you Ryan."

"For what?"

"For letting me take care of you."

"But I don't."

"Than for letting me try."

"Anytime Kirsten anytime." Ryan said smiling.

I knew right than that we were both scared for losing Sandy. But also knew we were both happy too. Happy because we finally knew the entire truth about our relationship.

"Kirsten? Ryan? Seth?" Summer called rushing into the waiting room.

"Over here Summer." I called turning at the sound of my name.

"Oh Kirsten, Chino is Sandy okay?" Summer asked hurriedly.

"We don't know yet." Ryan said before I could get in an answer.

"Oh." Summer said sitting down breathing heavily.

"How long has it been?" Summer asked.

"A long time and I'm getting worried." I said.

"Worried when there's nothing to be worried about." Ryan said putting a comforting arm around my shoulders and squeezing.

"Thanks Ryan." I said.

"Kirsten?" Ryan asked.

"What sweetie?"

"Don't say thank you every time."

"Okay Ryan." I agreed leaning back against the chair.

"What did I miss?" Seth asked coming back.

"I don't know but apparently I missed something too." Summer said pointing at Ryan and me.

Ryan and I both laughed.

"What's so funny?" Seth asked.

"You both just act like you used too in high school." Ryan said.

"We do not." They both said at the same time and Ryan and I laughed again.

(OUTSIDE THE WAITING ROOM, MARRISSA'S POV)

Quickly getting out of her car Marrissa started on her way towards the hospital. She had to park a ways away because the parking lot was full so she had a bit of a walk. You'd think that in Newport they could have valet parking but apparently not. Marrissa was worried about what it would do to Ryan if Sandy wasn't okay. He would definitely fall apart, and Kirsten and Seth would probably be even more upset. Marrissa would be upset too, but it definitely wouldn't affect her as much as anyone else. Reaching the doors Marrissa pulled one open and walked in. She saw everyone laughing and joking about and figured the mood was light so she indirectly would ask about Sandy.

"Hey guys." I said when I approached them.

"Hi Marrissa." Kirsten said at the same time Summer said "Hey Coop."

"Hi sweetie." Ryan said. Pulling me into a hug.

"How's Sandy?" I asked casually.

"We aren't sure." Ryan said looking at Kirsten to see if she was okay.

"Oh, well I'm sure he's fine." I comforted sitting down beside Ryan. He slipped his arm around me and I sunk my body into his.

"Me too." Summer said.

"What were you guys laughing about?" I asked remembering them laughing when I walked in.

"We were just talking about how Seth and Summer are the same as they were in high school." Kirsten said perking up a bit at the change of topic.

"There's one difference." I pointed out.

"What?" Ryan and Kirsten asked at the same time.

"They were both to lazy to work back then." I said laughing.

"That's true." Said Ryan laughing.

"There's one more thing." Kirsten said looking intently at Seth.

"What?" Asked Seth uncomfortable under her gaze.

"You were cuter back then." Kirsten said.

"Ya what happened?" Ryan asked.

"Ha, ha." Seth said.

"I actually think they're right." Summer said studying Seth.

"This is really funny guys," Seth said sarcastically.

"I don't think they're joking." I pointed out looking at their serious faces.

"Oh we aren't" Ryan said seriously.

"Yes we are." Said Kirsten laughing.

"Mom why did you have to ruin the joke?" Ryan asked playfully slapping her arm.

That's only the second time I've ever heard Ryan call Kirsten mom.

I noticed that Kirsten paused before answering.

"Seth was getting upset." Kirsten said.

"No I wasn't." Seth defended.

"Cohen?" Summer asked.

"What?' Seth asked back.

"You are so full of crap." Summer said laughing.

"Thanks Summer I appreciate that." Seth said sarcastically.

"Excuse me. Are you the family of Sanford Cohen?" The doctor asked approaching them.

"Yes we are." Kirsten answered standing.

"All of you?"

"Yes." Ryan agreed standing as well.

"Okay, I have some news."

"Good or bad?" Seth asked quickly.

"It's..." The doctor sated after a brief pause.

A/N

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