DISCLAIMER – Nothing. Zilch. Nil. Nada. Zero. You get the picture.

"Theresa?" Ryan rolled over to look at her. Her eyes were closed and her breathing was heavy. He mouth was open, and from where he lay, her breath reeked of alcohol. She said nothing to his words.

"Theresa?" he tried again. "THERESA!"

This time she moved. She closed her mouth and opened her eyes slightly.

"Ryyan…" she said. Her speech was slurred. "Whaddya waaant?"

"Where have you been?" he demanded. "You were out until 2.00 last night! You probably woke up Chrissie…" He thought of Chrissie and lowered his voice. He didn't want her to hear mummy and daddy fighting.

"Oh Ryan," she said, laughing. It was a horrible, drunken laugh. "I was just having a bit of fuun! God knows you don't like fun…"

"I don't want FUN Theresa!" Ryan told her. "I just want to look after my daughter! That's all."

At his words, Theresa immediately felt bad. Chrissie wasn't even his daughter…But she was the only reason he stayed.

She didn't reply, and he just looked at her in disgust. "I'm having a shower," he said, and got out of bed.

Theresa sighed. Damn him, she thought, and fell asleep again.

Ryan stripped his clothes off and stepped into the shower. The hot water scorched his skin, and he winced, but did nothing. He was used to the pain. As the water droplets cascaded down his body, he closed his eyes and thought about his life…and what he had become.

Seven years on, Ryan Atwood was a successful lawyer, a public defendant…Just like Sandy. His baby was a beautiful girl named Chrissie. She was the only reason that his marriage to Theresa would hold up…But if it kept going like it was, Theresa heading dangerously downhill…He wasn't sure that even the love of an innocent girl could keep them together.

Theresa had been going out and getting drunk every night, returning home in the early hours of morning. Probably fucking some guys she didn't even know, thought Ryan bitterly. But he was beyond caring for her. All her cared for was Chrissie.

He got out of the shower and dried himself, wrapping a towel around his waist. As he entered the bedroom, he saw Theresa had fallen asleep again, her mouth open and snoring nosily.

"Jesus Christ!" he exclaimed. He had an important meeting to go to today…and Chrissie had to go to school. He put on his best work suit and ran to Chrissies room.

He softly opened the door in case she was still asleep, but instead he found her, wide-awake, sitting cross-legged on her bed.

"Morning sweetie," he said.

"Daddy," she started, her eyes looking wistfully at him. "Where you and mummy fighting?"

Ryan's heart sunk. She had heard them. He sighed and sat down next to his daughter.

"You know even grown-ups fight sometimes sweetie," he said, pushing a strand of her dark hair behind her ears. "Mummy and daddy just have a few problems."

"Are you getting a divorce?" The young girl looked into Ryan's eyes, her lips quivering.

Ryan bit his tongue. What could he tell her? No, no, of course not baby, your mummy and I love each other? That was a lie. And as much as it would have made Chrissie feel better, he couldn't lie to her. So he told her the most truthful thing he knew…

"I don't know sweetie,"

Chrissie nodded, her dark, wide eyes sad. Her mummy and daddy had fights a lot. They would probably get a divorce.

Ryan smoothed Chrissie's hair. "You have to get ready now baby,"

"But it's early…" started Chrissie. "Mummy's taking me to school later,"

Ryan shook his head. 'I'm taking you to school today."

As Chrissie was about to step out of the car, she looked at Ryan and said:

"Will mummy pick me up today?"

Ryan nodded. "I'll make sure she does. I'm going to be gone for a few days, you know that right?"

Chrissie nodded. "I'll take care of mummy,"

She said it with a proud voice, but it made Ryan's heart hurt. Why should this poor little seven year old girl have to take care of her own mother? It should be the other way round.

But he nodded and kissed her forehead. "Thank you," he said.

She kissed his smooth cheek. "Bye, bye daddy. I love you,"

He looked at her. "I love you too sweetie."

She hopped out of the car and waved to him. As he drove away, he took his hand of the wheel in a small wave. She looked so young and small, but she had the heart and soul of an adult. It's what happened when you grew up in Chino, with a mother like Theresa. She was a survivor.

Sometimes Ryan wondered why she looked nothing like him. Dark eyes and dark hair, nothing about her bore any resemblance to him. Ryan shrugged. He guessed she just looked like her mother.

Ryan turned his gaze to the road ahead. He had a very important business meeting that afternoon…

At Newport.