Again I do not own the O.C if I did Theresa would not exist. Thanks for the reviews they are appreciated.

When they arrived at the Cohen's Dawn told Ryan to stay in the car, she wanted to talk to the Cohen's first. Ryan was scared of what Dawn would say to the Cohen's. He had seen the look in his mother's eye once before when he was younger. Some guy threatened to kill him Ryan didn't even remember why now. When he told his parents his dad blew him off. He didn't think the 6th grade boy would do it. Of course John didn't understand the kids of Chino Middle School always stay true to their threats.

Dawn was scared for her son after all Ryan was only in the 4th grade. That morning Ryan stayed home with his mother while his dad went to work. Dawn left for a couple of hours but when she returned she was wearing different clothes. When she realized Ryan was watching her she softly said "I didn't mean to wake you go back to sleep."

Ryan continued to watch his mother as she burned her bloody clothes and removed the gun from her purse. The next day the boy was found murdered in his room. Ryan never confronted his mother and no one talked about it, but Ryan knew Dawn had protected him the only way she knew how.

Dawn had called first so they wouldn't be surprised of her arrival. She knocked lightly she didn't think banging would be appropriate. She was greeted by Kirsten.

"Hello Dawn. How are you? Where's Ryan?" Kirsten wondered where her son was Dawn had only said that Theresa wasn't pregnant and Ryan needed a place to go. Of course, Kirsten jumped at the chance to bring Ryan home but Dawn volunteered to take him back, Kirsten didn't care who brought him home as long as he was home.

She's straight to the point but I guess she's just worried. "I'm fine. Ryan's in the car. I wanted to talk to you first if that's ok."

"That's fine what would you like to talk about?"

Well duh I want to talk about my son, Ryan, he is still my son even though I'm not still his mother. "Ryan of course" Dawn was polite in her answer.

"Come in please sit down" Kirsten never expected to hear from Dawn but she was glad she did in this situation. "Sandy you remember Dawn, Ryan's mother. She's come to talk about Ryan."

"Hello Dawn. How are you? Where is Ryan by the way?"

Kirsten could tell she was a tired of the question so she answered for her "He's in the car dear. She wants to talk to us first."

Dawn smiled a thank you to Kirsten.

"Well let's get down to business." Kirsten was tired of waiting she wanted Ryan in the house with her not in the car waiting no knowing what to do.

Dawn understood why Kirsten was impatient, she had become Ryan's mom when she left him. "Well as I explained on the phone Theresa's not pregnant and Ryan wants to come home. If that's all right with you two?" Dawn already knew the answer but wanted to make sure he had a place to stay.

"Yes of course we want him home. We were devastated when he left." Kirsten didn't mean to sound anxious but that's how she felt anxious to regain her family and that included Ryan.

"Ok I just wanted to make sure he didn't have to go back to Chino. He deserves the best and that's here with his family."

"He'll always have a place in our family. We love him as he were our own son" Kirsten was excited at least one of her sons were coming home.

Dawn had let go of her son, she still loved him but he had a family that loved him and a new life. She accepted she was no longer part of that new life so she protected him the only way she knew, by letting him go.

Hope you liked it sorry it was short I'm working on making them longer. Please R&R and I'm always up for ideas.