Author's Notes:

Woo, quick update! I was inspired, plus I'm on vacation so I have a lot of time on my hands. Sorry about the lack of details about Berkeley, but I've only been there once, which was over three years ago, and all I remember was that it was really cool, that I ordered a calzone that turned out to be the size of a soccer ball, and being hit on by some guy while I was doing laundry at my friend's place. Now if this story took place in Chicago, I'd be able to offer a lot more details.

Leentje--This one's for you, an actual update that took less than two weeks!

Crashcmb--The family therapy session will likely be in the next chapter or two at the latest. I've got an idea of how it's going to play out but the characters have a tendency to hijack the story and run away with it, so I can't make any promises. ;)

Famous99--Acceptance was one of the very first OC fanfics that I read, and Downward Spiral completely sucked me into the world of OC fan fiction, so I'm very flattered to hear that you're enjoying this. I agree about not magically becoming a kid when you turn 18, since I had that birthday years ago and am still working on the whole being an adult bit.

Cheekymice--Thanks for your flattering words! I'll have to end this eventually, but I've got another story planned, so hopefully people will like that one as well.

Purse-fanatic--This chapter should answer your questions. J

HateToSayIToldYouSo--Glad you thought the therapy scene was realistic. I've studied psychology forever (well, for seven years, which feels like forever) but I haven't actually gotten to the part where I do therapy yet, so a lot of this is guesswork for me. And I seriously wish the writers would bring back Luke. It's not even like Chris Carmack is doing another TV series and would have a conflict. And I have a thing for golden retrievers. I'm normally attracted to dark-haired guys, but with the OC it's all about the Ryan-love and Luke-love. Damn Marissa, getting them both. So not fair.

Jen--Thanks for reviewing. It means a lot that people are reading and enjoying this.

Elzed--Totally agree about Ryan/Kirsten bonding. I love the relationship those two have, and I wish we got to see more of it on the show. And this is, um, two chapters in a row with lighter angst, a record for me!

Coolio02--Thanks for reviewing!

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Ryan's flight was getting in at quarter to five, so Seth skipped the last half of his Greek mythology class in order to take the subway out to the airport to meet him. He was happy and excited to see Ryan, of course, but he was also more than a little nervous. The last time he had seen his brother, things hadn't gone too well between them. There were a number of things unresolved between the two of them, and Seth had no idea how the weekend would play out.

His mom had called on Tuesday night to ask him if he had any plans for the weekend, and if he would be all right with Ryan coming to visit for a couple of days. Seth was a little hurt that Ryan hadn't been the one to call, but in a way it was easier. After all, as he had once told Ryan, Cohens were notorious for avoiding conflict.

"I found a flight where Ryan would get in to Oakland on Friday evening and come home Sunday afternoon," Kirsten had told her son. "Would that work for you?"

"Um," Seth began. "It would, but Ryan does know about this, right? You're not going to hand him his plane ticket on Friday morning and tell him he's spending the weekend with me, are you?"

Kirsten laughed. "Seth, don't you trust me?"

"Ryan and I aren't exactly on the best of terms right now," Seth tried to explain. "And I wouldn't put it past you and Dad to come up with this plan to get us to make up by sending him to Berkeley so we'd have to spend the weekend together."

"Ryan told me about what happened between you last weekend," Kirsten answered. "I know he feels bad about it."

Seth sighed. "How can you tell? He's not talking much? Lots of brooding silences? Cause, mom, that's not much different from normal Ryan behavior."

"I know because he told me," Kirsten replied. "We went out for Mexican after his therapy appointment on Tuesday, and he mentioned that the two of you had an argument Saturday night."

Seth's jaw dropped. "He told you that? Ryan actually talked to you about his feelings?"

"Surprising, huh?" Kirsten chuckled. "Ryan's been more open with your father and me lately. He's trying hard."

"Did he say anything else?" Seth asked slowly, not sure if he really wanted to hear his mother's answer.

"Seth, I really think you and Ryan need to talk," Kirsten urged her son. "I offered to ask you about his visiting this weekend because he was afraid that you were still mad at him, but I think he really wants to talk to you himself. He's just afraid. You know how Ryan is."

"Okay," Seth agreed. "Tell Ryan I'll see him at the airport on Friday."

Ryan wasn't the only scared one, Seth thought as he waited by the security checkpoint, where the passengers from Ryan's flight were due to come out any moment. Part of him hoped that by agreeing to this visit, Ryan would know that he was sorry for what he had said last Saturday and that everything would be normal with them again for the weekend. He knew that if he pretended as if nothing had happened, Ryan would most likely go along with it and they would have an awesome weekend. After all, that was how it usually went when they had a disagreement.

Maybe that was the problem. Maybe that was the reason Ryan hadn't been able to trust them enough.

People were beginning to emerge from the security checkpoint. Seth scanned the crowd for several minutes, looking for Ryan. He was one of the last ones to appear, and Seth wondered if that was because Ryan had been sitting at the back of the plane or because he was nervous about seeing Seth again.

"Hey! Ryan!" he shouted. "Over here!"

Ryan's eyes met Seth's, and he hesitated for a brief moment. Then a big grin spread across his face and he shuffled over to his brother. "Hey. Thanks for coming."

"Of course I came," Seth grinned. "As much as it tore me apart to miss the joys of the Greek gods, my loyalties to my family come first. Although I have to apologize for the fact that we have to take the subway back to Berkeley. Be a pal and mention to the parents that I really need a car, will you?"

Ryan laughed. "You haven't changed at all, have you?"

"Not so much," Seth answered. It felt really good to have Ryan teasing him again. "We're going to have an awesome weekend. Some guys at the dorm know about this party that's going on tomorrow night, and they said they could get us in. And you've got to try this amazing Thai place. We'll go there for dinner tonight, or maybe we could go to the place that has the huge calzones tonight and go for Thai tomorrow, or if you're up for it we could have Thai when we get back to campus and go for calzones a couple hours later…"

"Yeah, you haven't changed much," Ryan agreed. "Except for one thing."

Seth raised an eyebrow in an eerie resemblance to Sandy. "And what is that?"

Ryan looked embarrassed. "Just that you seem happier. You really love Berkeley, don't you?"

"I've been wanting to come back here since I was six," Seth agreed. "Just wait, Ryan, once you've experienced the awesomeness of Berkeley you can never go back to Newport Beach. Plus, the girls are way hotter."

"You'll have to give me the tour, then," Ryan suggested. "After all, I need to start thinking about where I want to go to college if I want to get my applications in for next year."

Seth grinned. "It looks like I have forty-eight hours to sell you on Berkeley."

Xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

After a lengthy discussion, they ended up staying in and ordering Thai. Seth's roommate was away for the weekend; he had a girlfriend in Sacramento, Seth explained, and spent most weekends at her place. But a number of guys stopped by the room to talk to Seth and say hi to Ryan, and Ryan was surprised at how many friends Seth seemed to have. They seemed like good guys, maybe a little on the dorky side, but nice nonetheless.

"I'm telling you, Ry, you'd love Berkeley" Seth insisted. "The girls are gorgeous, the people are way more real than the Newport pod people, and you can get the best pizza on campus delivered to you at four in the morning. It's incredible."

Ryan laughed. "And what about the academics?"

"Come on, Ryan," Seth argued. "It's a great school. Besides, no one goes to college for the classes."

Ryan grinned. "I'll think about it. I really will."

"God, that would be so great if you were here," Seth enthused. "We could get an apartment right near campus, and I bet Mom and Dad would buy us a car if we begged hard enough. It would be good times, Ryan."

"You mean if you begged hard enough," Ryan teased.

"Fair enough," Seth agreed. A silence fell as Ryan returned his attention to his food, attempting to scoop up his noodles with chopsticks with minimal success. "Hey, Ryan? Mom probably told you this already, but I'm sorry about what happened last weekend."

Ryan shook his head. "You shouldn't be sorry. You didn't say anything that wasn't true."

"I didn't have to be a jerk about it," Seth insisted.

"You were right," Ryan argued. "You were right and I needed to hear what y said. I was being selfish and totally unfair to you guys. Coming to Newport was the best thing that ever happened to me. I guess I'm still learning how to depend on other people for a change."

"Just…" Seth sighed. "We don't have to get all mushy here, do we?"

Ryan shook his head. "Not at all."

"Just remember that things would really suck without you," Seth finished. "For all of us."

Ryan knew what Seth was trying to say. "I will," he agreed. "Um, I know you've got school and all, and you've already missed the first week, but my therapist wants to have a family session on Tuesday, and…" He broke off, struggling with his usual reluctance to ask anything from the Cohens, but forced himself to continue. "If you could make it, it would mean a lot."

"I'll be there," Seth promised. "Besides, Tuesdays are my English class. Totally boring. Count me in."

Ryan laughed. "Are there any classes you don't find boring?"

"World history," Seth nodded. "The TA is a goddess."

Ryan snickered and tossed a chunk of beef at him with his chopsticks. Seth retaliated with noodles, and two minutes later they were both wearing more food than they had eaten.

"This is great!" Seth enthused. "We can change and go out for calzones!"

Ryan shook his head, but he couldn't keep from smiling. Same old Seth, he thought. I hope he never changes.