Lindsay and Ryan sat on the bed in the pool house, both trying to forget about all the chaos that surrounded their relationship. "Why does this have to be so complicated?" Lindsay sighed with frustration.

His hand came up to her face and brushed her hair aside. "Maybe," Ryan started, leaning close to her and gently placing a kiss on her neck, "It doesn't."

She thought for a moment as Ryan continued kissing her neck and her face. "You're right. I mean, it might be a little weird for Caleb and Kirsten, but-"

"Who cares about Caleb?" Ryan interjected, pulling back just long enough to get the words out.

"Exactly, and Kirsten-"

"She'll understand."

"Right." He stopped kissing her and sat up to face her. She stared into his eyes for several moments, and decided they were the most beautiful eyes she'd ever seen. She kissed him, slowly at first, but with building passion. His hand went behind her head, pulling her even closer to him, but his body was craving more contact. He pulled her down on the bed beside him, draping one leg over her so he was partially on top of her.

The feel of his hard body pressing into her was heavenly. He fought the urge to act out one of the Lindsay Fantasies he'd been entertaining since he spilled his cold beverage on her white shirt. Her tongue brushed over his lower lip and he opened his mouth, coaxing her deeper into the kiss. She shifted so that she was on top of him. His hands moved up and down her back, sending tingles throughout her entire body. She softly whimpered into his mouth when his hands gripped her ass, trying to pull her even closer. He flipped her onto her back and skillfully moved his body and his lips against hers. She leaned into him and his lips came away from hers to send jolts of pleasure through her body by kissing the pulse point on her neck. "Ryan," she whispered, hardly able to speak.

"Mmm?" he asked, not moving his lips from her skin.

Her hands ran through his hair, guiding his head a little lower. "Someone could walk in here…"

He groaned into her mouth as he tried to shake off his conflicting feelings. Part of him said, Who cares? This feels too good to be wrong, while his logic told him that if he didn't stop things could get out of control and someone may come looking for him. He quickly pulled back. "You're right. We can't do this here, now. Let's go rejoin the party."

She looked at Ryan's messed up hair and rumpled clothes and giggled. "Maybe we should straighten up first. Your hair…" She ran her fingers through it, pressing it flat and straightening it out. He watched her carefully as she did this, reveling in the simple pleasure of it that he didn't really understand. "There. Do you have a comb or a brush I could borrow?"

"Yeah." He jogged to the bathroom and returned with a brush in his hand. She quickly ran it through her hair, ridding it of its ravished look.

With one last kiss, they headed out to face the rest of their crazy family.

"Summer, we need to talk."

"Sure Zach, what's up?"

"Could we maybe go somewhere a little more private?"

"Pool house?"

"Do you think it's empty?"

"Ryan and Lindsay just came back from there, so I'm sure it is."

He followed her into the pool house, and when the door clicked shut, Zach panicked. He really didn't want to do this, but he knew it was the right thing to do. "Summer, you know I really like you." Her big brown eyes looked at him with question as she nodded. "But I think we should just be friends."

"Why? Zach, what's going on?" She touched his arm gently and he backed away, not wanting to look her in the eye.

"You're in love with Cohen," he stated gently. She tried to protest, but he stopped her. "It's okay. I understand, and I'm not angry about it. I know you didn't plan or want to fall in love with him again. But plans change and sometimes, no matter how hard you fight it, you can't stop yourself from falling in love. I know you like me, but you'll never love me because you're in love with Cohen. I want us to make a clean break now so we can be friends, because I think you're an amazing girl."

Summer looked away from him, realizing that it wasn't fair to Zach for her to be in a relationship with him when her heart belonged to someone else. Even if she didn't want her heart to belong to that someone else. He was right. "I'd really like it if we could be friends too," she relented, tears welling up in her eyes.

Zach held his arms out to her, and she quickly embraced him, amazed at how great he'd been to her.

"Thanks," she squeaked.

"No problem. I'm always here for you, okay?" She smiled up at him through tear filled eyes and nodded. "But give me a few weeks before talking to me about your Cohen problems, okay?"

She pulled back from their embrace and laughed softly. "Okay."

"Alex, where have you been?"

"Just mingling."

Seth politely waved at Marissa then pulled Alex off to the side. "Okay, because it kind of seems like you're avoiding me."

"Please, you've been talking to Summer half the night," she guessed, figuring it was more likely than not. Truthfully, she and Marissa had really hit it off and she wanted to get to know her. Marissa understood things that Seth couldn't, and when Alex looked at her, she saw herself a few years ago: defiant, lost, confused, and alone. She knew she couldn't tell Seth all of that. He didn't even know that she'd been with a girl before.

Seth was beginning to get angry. "Actually, Alex, I haven't. No more than I've been talking to Zach, Anna, Ryan, and Lindsay. She's my friend. But you're my girlfriend and I've hardly seen you tonight."

"Whoa, wait a minute. Girlfriend?" Alex was suddenly paying attention and she looked like a deer caught in headlights.

Seth felt like he'd just received a swift blow to the gut. "Well yeah, I thought-"

"Look Seth," she stopped him before he could make things worse. "I like you and you're a really nice guy, but-"

"Okay, could you please stop calling me nice?" The word was beginning to have the same effect as nails on a chalk board.

Alex sighed. "I think we should just be friends."

Seth just stared at her for a moment. "Okay," he replied, and after flashing her the best fake smile he could, he turned and walked away.

Luke, Marissa, Zach, Summer, Ryan, and Lindsay were gathered near the entry way talking about their college applications when DJ came in. He immediately went to Marissa. "I brought a friend with me. I hope that's okay. He's had a bad year and his parents are out of town, and basically he doesn't have anyone."

Marissa looked to Ryan, who nodded. "Sure."

The boy appeared in the doorway with a bright smile on his face. Marissa stepped back away from DJ, and moved to huddle beside Luke. Luke and Ryan were suddenly filled with rage. Instinctively, Ryan stepped in front of Lindsay and she held his arm in restraint. Judging by the look on his face and the tension she felt in his body, it seemed like he was ready to attack at any second. She'd never seen him look like that before and it was scaring her. Summer moved closer to Zach, but maintained her 'don't mess with me' attitude. Zach, Lindsay and DJ were confused but quite worried by the situation, as they waited for someone to say something.

Marissa clung to Luke, but turned to speak to DJ. "How do you know him?" Alex had just entered the room and was watching the whole scene with confusion.

"You guys all know him?" DJ asked. Marissa nodded coldly. "He's my half brother. Mr. Trask had a relationship with my mom bore he married Mrs. Trask."

Marissa looked doubtful. "And when did you guys figure this out?"

"It was pretty early this summer, not long after I started working for the Nichols."

Oliver smirked taking a few steps toward Marissa. "My dad didn't tell me he had another son until last May."

Alex didn't know whether to be scared or laugh. "Illegitimate half siblings seem to be pretty common around here."

Ryan grabbed Alex's arm and pulled her to him, then whispered to her and Lindsay, "Get out of here, and tell Sandy or Jimmy that Oliver's here."

Zach started to lead Summer away from the room as well. "I can't leave Coop right now, but it might be for the best if you got out of here." Zach refused and remained beside Summer.

Oliver looked at Marissa and smiled genuinely. "I haven't seen you in so long." He walked towards her but Luke stepped between them.

Marissa's head was telling her to run, but that was overruled by the compassion she felt. "Luke, it's okay." She stepped out from behind him and forced herself to return Oliver's hug, cringing as she did so.

"So Marissa, it looks like we'll be spending New Years Eve together again!" he exclaimed excitedly. He showed no signs of remembering what had happened nearly a year ago in the penthouse. He looked towards Ryan like he hadn't noticed he was there before. "Ryan! Long time, no see buddy!" He held out his hand, but Ryan only glared at him. "Okay, social skills still need some improvement I see. Come on Marissa, we've got lots to catch up on." He threw his arm around her shoulders and began pulling her away from the group.

She panicked. "Oliver, stop!" She twisted herself out of his grasp.

Oliver looked at her as if he didn't understand why she'd done that. Maybe he really didn't. "Marissa, I thought you said we'd always be friends."

His words brought back the horrific night and she cried softly. Not knowing what else to do, she turned and walked away as quickly as she could, but he tried to stop her.

"Marissa-"

She ran out to the pool house, which she'd always considered a refuge. Suddenly Luke and Ryan were standing in front of Oliver. Lindsay and Alex returned with Jimmy who looked horrified at this boy's presence. "What are you doing here?" he demanded.

"I just wanted to come see everyone. You know, apologize for what happened and show them that I'm better now."

Jimmy and Luke's expressions softened a little bit as they considered this, but Ryan saw the familiar gleam in his eyes. "Get out. Now."

"Ryan, what's your problem? I just want to talk to her."

"Clearly she doesn't want to hear anything you have to say. Get. Out."

Oliver sighed and spoke to Ryan as if her were a disobedient child. "Why do you keep trying to fight me?"

Ryan was desperately trying to hold onto his temper. He didn't want to do anything that might take him away from the Cohens, but he'd dreamed of beating Oliver senseless so many times. Sandy entered the room, his eyes landing first on a seething Ryan and then on the source of his anger. "Get the hell out of my house."

"Mr. Cohen, I just-"

"Get out now, or I'll call the cops."

Finally giving up, Oliver walked out the front door and DJ followed him wondering what had happened. "Okay, I've got a few questions for you." Oliver ignored him and looked back and saw Marissa's silhouette in the pool house.

"Later. I have to talk to her."

"You're not going anywhere near her."

Oliver laughed and pulled his gun from inside his jacket. "And just how do you plan to stop me?"

"Let's just talk about this. We're brothers, we're here for each other."

Oliver looked down and laughed bitterly. He almost confessed that they really weren't brothers and that he'd just made that up to get to Marissa. But instead of saying anything, he walked away, keeping the gun pointed towards DJ. Resigning the fact that he was powerless, DJ pulled away in his truck. His mild obsession with Marissa was extinguished by the fear of his brother. He didn't have any idea what would happen, but he knew that if he wasn't there, it couldn't be his fault.