Okay…I don't own anything that has anything to do with the OC…that said…this story takes place after Ryan leaves for Chino, and spans throughout their summer vacation. RM…but everybody is included at one point or another. COMPLETE…and has been posted on OC message boards. Enjoy and let me know what you think…

Night has fallen over Newport Beach and the camera pans a view of Caleb and Julie's castle, camera slowly zooms in on Marissa's balcony where the French doors are open. The castle looks dead, no lights on anywhere, and we see a shot of Marissa asleep in bed. Her room is filled with still packed boxes, nothing is put away, it seems as though nothing in Marissa Cooper's life is in order.

Suddenly, the door to Marissa's room opens, and a figure slowly and quietly moves into the room. The figure walks over to Marissa's bed, sits down next to her and runs a hand through her hair. Without pause, the figure leans down and softly kisses Marissa's lips. Marissa is awoken by the kiss but doesn't open her eyes.

Marissa: (Eyes still closed and in a whisper) Ryan.

Marissa opens her eyes and sees the man she loves hovering over her with a smile on his face.

Marissa: Ryan!

Marissa shot up and wrapped her arms around Ryan. Ryan wrapped his arms around her waist and held her close.

Ryan: (Whispering) I missed you.

Marissa: I missed you too…I can't believe you're here.

Ryan: I had to see you.

A tear ran down Marissa's cheek as she looked deeply into Ryan's eyes. Marissa leaned in and kissed Ryan; Ryan both welcomed and returned her kisses and Marissa pulled him down on the bed. Ryan was laying on top of Marissa kissing her, both of them oblivious to the rest of the world. Ryan kissed Marissa's neck and whispered in her ear.

Ryan: (Whispering) I'll always love you.

Suddenly Marissa opened her eyes and shot up out of bed, her eyes desperately searching the room for something that could tell her that Ryan had been there…but he hadn't. She was dreaming.

Marissa is sitting up in bed, still searching the room with her eyes. She would do anything to make that dream a reality. Marissa looked over at her nightstand, the clock read 12:05am.

Marissa: I have to see him.

Marissa got out of bed and quickly got dressed. She grabbed her purse, cell phone and car keys and made her way out of her room, down the stairs and quietly slipped out the front door. Marissa got into her Jeep and tore down the road towards the highway headed for Chino. There were a million things running through Marissa's head as she drove to Chino. What would she say to him? Would he be home? Would he be happy to see her? Would he be with Theresa? Marissa shifted her last thought to the back of her brain, determined to see him, if only for a second.

Before Marissa knew it she was pulling into Theresa's driveway. There wasn't any traffic on the road and she had gotten there a lot quicker than she had anticipated. She turned her car off and sat in the drivers seat trying to muster up the nerve to go see him. After about five minutes, she stepped out of the car and looked at the house. The house was dead, no lights on anywhere, and no movement from inside. Marissa hoped that Ryan would be staying in Arturo's room in the backhouse, she didn't want to wake everybody up, in fact she didn't want Theresa to know she was there, but she had to see Ryan. Marissa made her way over to the back gate of the house and was happy to see it was unlocked. She slowly opened the gate and saw the lights were on in the backhouse. Her heart jumped as she realized that Ryan was in there. All of a sudden she was having second thoughts. Her brain was scrambling trying to come up with answers. It had been three weeks since Ryan left Newport, and he hadn't contacted Marissa once. Maybe he really didn't want to see her? Maybe he wanted nothing to do with her? Maybe there was a reason why he didn't say goodbye? Maybe he never really did love her? Marissa suddenly lost her courage and turned to go back to her car. She got back in her car and turned it on, only to turn it off again.

Marissa: What am I doing?

Marissa got out of her car again and walked back over to the gate. She opened the gate quietly and walked straight over to the back house. She stood outside the door wondering if she should knock or just walk in. She finally got up the nerve to knock on the door.

Ryan was sitting inside the backhouse on the foot of the bed with his head in his hands. He had tried to fall asleep, but ever since he'd got back to Chino, he hadn't been sleeping well. There were a million things running through his head, but mostly his brain was filled with two things, the possibility that the baby in Theresa's stomach was his, and the possibility that he may never see Marissa again. Suddenly there were two quiet knocks at the door. Ryan lifted his head and looked over at the door, he was sure that both Theresa and her mother were in the house already asleep, he had a thought that raced through his head that it might be Eddie, coming to kick the crap out of him at 1:00am for coming back to Chino with Theresa. Ryan sat still, staring at the door when there were two more knocks at the door. Finally, Ryan got up and opened the door. His eyes widened as he saw Marissa standing there looking up at him.

Ryan: (Shocked) What are – Hi.

Marissa: Can I come in?