Sorry for the long time no update thingy. I don't know if you're going to like this chapter, but yeh. I'm introducing Caleb and Hailey, so that should be exciting… I think this'll be my longest chapter yet, so read and review please!

Chapter….4?

We Meet Le Caleb

"I honestly don't know what's gotten into them!" Kirsten told Hailey as she guided the car to her Newport home. "They've been acting out all sorts! I mean, last night, me and Sandy found them in the bathroom making out with Summer and Marissa. And Ryan was in the bathtub. The bathtub! Honestly, I hope they don't have hangovers, because I doubt that Sandy'll go easy with his voice. I mean, I was never that bad when I was 16…" Kirsten trailed off looking at Hailey's skeptical face. "What?" She said innocently.

"Kirsten, chill. I remember when dad caught you and Jimmy Cooper, both half naked, making out on the roof of that boat he used to use for charity stuff?"

"Hey, I was in grade nine, and…"

"Drunk?"

"Well, that's the only time. I didn't drink other then that!"

"Oh really? Because I seem to recall almost every day in the summer of 1980, you came home drunk, and then one time when you were supposed to be babysitting me, you invited over Jimmy and Kyle, and got Marco to buy you beer, and then when mom and dad came home, you chucked all the bottles out the window? God, you were grounded for like… a month. And then there was that one night the police called at like, 3 in the morning to tell mom to go and pick you up from the station? She was so beyond pissed. But did that stop you from going out and partying? I had to cover for you so many times!" At the end of her little speech, Hailey stuck her tongue out at Kirsten, who was speechless.

"Well… That was just having fun. I never got in trouble for serious stuff." Kirsten glued her eyes to the road; memory's coming back to her.

"Well, there was that one time you called from a Payphone from Portland, and asked me if I could tell dad that you were at a sleepover with Betty. I still think he doesn't know where you went. And then that other time, you and Jimmy stole Dads sailing boat and wanted to sail to like, Neverland or something, but you had to come back home cause you ran out of water and cheese sticks? And then you had detention for a week because you ran around in your bikini when the school sprinklers come on? And in grade six, I remember you and Betty started that protest thingy were you got all the kids to stay outside after the recess bell rang, and sprayed any teacher that came close with super soakers? And then-"Kirsten turned up the volume of the CD in the car as loud as it would go, drowning out Hailey's babble. She'd never really understood how her parents worried, but now she appreciated how mad her parents (her mom especially) got when she did stuff like that.

"So, did Ryan and Seth get in to much trouble?" Hailey said, lowering down the volume as they neared home.

"I don't know… lets find out."

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

When Ryan awoke with a pounding headache, he knew he was going to be in trouble. He lay in bed for a second, wondering how much of the Vodka he'd consumed. A lot, he decided, hoping he wasn't going to throw up. Lifting himself as gently as he could, he rested his back on the foot of Sandy and Kirsten's bed, wondering how the hell he'd gotten out of his shirt and boots. He passed out on the car ride home, and woke up to Sandy gently shaking him awake. Seth had been better off, he barely drank anything. Ryan's head had been pleasantly buzzing as he accepted his moms help to his place on the floor, in the sleeping bag. He lifted his head slightly, thinking it would be a good idea to get something to drink, when the curtains that shaded his parent's room flew up at an alarming rate. The sudden brightness did nothing to help his already pounding head, and Sandy's figure made his head hurt even more.

"Hey kiddo!" Sandy shouted. He saw Ryan cringe. Good, he thought to himself, a hangover. He deserves it. "I'll meet you in the kitchen okay?" He saw Ryan give a half-nod and left to wake up his other son.

Ryan, back in the room, cursed the Californian sun and slowly got out of his sleeping bag, wondering if he could survive the journey to the kitchen.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Seth was sprawled out on his bed, the comforter and pillows intertwining around his body, which sported a tight t-shirt and some Donald Duck boxers. Sandy knocked as loudly as he could on the door, wondering how much Seth had drunk. He walked into the room, which was still dark despite the thin rays of light coming through the blinds.

"SETH!" Sandy shouted. Seth jumped up alarmed. Well, he tried to jump. As soon as he pulled up, his blanket got caught on his back, which somehow threw him off balance, which landed him on the floor. Sandy opened the blinds, the light blinding Seth's eyes, just as it had Ryan's. The room illuminated quickly, throwing shadows all over the items stacked in Seth's room. There was the surf-board with a layer of dust, only so thin because Ryan had to use it two weeks before when his broke. There were the very badly put up Rooney, and Death Cab for Cutie posters, and one Grind poster Ryan had gotten him for his 14th birthday. His iPod was hooked up to his computer, which hadn't been turned on for the past couple weeks, a side-effect of groundization.

Sandy found that Seth was better off then Ryan by far. He repeated his request to Seth, who looked more worried at the lecture then at the distance to the kitchen, like Ryan had.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Sandy entered the kitchen a few minutes later and found a ghastly sight. The back of a plain checkered shirt, complete with olive khaki's. Meaning it could only be Caleb.

"What are you doing here Cally?" Sandy asked, startling Caleb who had been in the process of peeling a banana. Sandy grinned, rubbing in the fact that Caleb had been caught of guard.

"Oh, it's just you, Sanford, I thought it would be someone important," Caleb retaliated, spitting the name out. His severe dislike for Sandy clearly apparent, he glared at Sandy, and then smugly held out a wrinkled brown paper bag. "It's a present, for you," Caleb said.

Sandy gingerly took the bag from Caleb. "Well, it's not a bomb," he said, feeling the bag was almost lightless.

"No, I'm more civilized then that. I would expect that type of thing from you."

"Sure, sure Grandpa," Sandy chuckled, more at the fact of how infuriated Caleb seemed at the use of Grandpa.

"I don't look that old, do I?" He asked, sounding a little self-conscious.

"No, you don't look a day over 80," Sandy teased, though not light-heartedly. He opened the bag and pulled out a pair of thick, bulky tweezers. "Aww, Calbye, you shouldn't have," said Sandy, chucking the tweezers in the garbage where they landed with a soft thump.

"No, I had to. Someone should teach you how to use them. Let's hope they aren't genetic, or my Seth'll die from embarrassment. Although having you, as his father… That's embarrassment enough…:"

"Oh, I forgot how ruthless you are. Now that I think about it, I have a present for you to… wait, no; Kirsten threw it in the fireplace with all the other icons."

"Icons of what?"

"All your blackened hearts."

Caleb was about to retort when they heard a bang, like a heavy thud against the wall. Sandy raised his eyebrows at Caleb. "I'd better check out what that was… I hope Ryan isn't hurt."

Caleb suddenly showed distain. "That boy still here?" he asked savagely.

"Yes, that "boy" is still here. And "that boy" is Seth brother, and mine and Kirsten's son. Now if you don't mind, I'm going to go check to see if everything's alright."

"Not for long," Caleb muttered under breath.

"What was that?" Sandy questioned, hearing a mutter, but not more.

"When's Kirsten coming home? I need to talk to her. Now." Caleb demanded, changing the subject abruptly. Deciding to drop it, Sandy simply said, "I dunno, she went to pick up Hailey." Sandy turned quickly and headed out the kitchen, missing the look of Caleb's face.

Caleb was horrified. 'Why was Hailey coming here? Wasn't she in Mexico or something? She was going to ruin all his plans…Unless that's why she was coming…Could she…know?' Caleb dropped the banana he grabbed just as Sandy came into the kitchen and pulled out one of the document drawers. 'Surely if they kept it, it would be kept here…' Caleb continued and intensified his search for the vital document he knew Sandy and Kirsten wanted to keep secret. But, if he found it, and he had a copy in his office, then he would be rid of something that he really didn't want. Some thing that didn't belong in Newport Beach….

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

"So, Hailey," Kirsten said, as they reached the gated community in which the Cohen house resided. "Why are you visiting?" Kirsten peered into her face. Sandy's two guesses would be, well, that Kirsten's sister had run out of money…or, she'd run out of money. But Hailey had been only gone two years, and last time she heard, their dad had given her enough money that would support her family for at least 5 years.

"Um….Ran out of money," Hailey said, turning her face to window, hiding the word LIE that was written all over her face. She was never good at lying to Kirsten. Sure, she could lie to her dad, mom, anyone really…except Kirsten. Damn the sisterly bond they had, that made Kirsten a mind reader. She really didn't want Kirsten to find out, especially since she knew Kirsten shouldn't be involved. This was between her and her dad. If she could only get IT, then everything would be fine…

"Really?" Kirsten said, not buying it one bit.

"Yeah…." Hailey said, wondering if she turned up the radio would be a dead giveaway that she was lying.

Kirsten could see her sister was uncomfortable, so she decided to drill her later for more information. "So, how's your love life going?" Kirsten asked, detouring around the street she usually took home.

"Um… Good? I dunno. I think the most serious relationship I've still been in is with Jamie Green."

"Which one was that…?" Kirsten asked. Hailey had gone out with so many boys, she'd lost count.

"Short blonde hair, I think you remember his…thing…" the two girls looked at each other, then burst out laughing, remembering the memories of younger years, and the didn't stop laughing until they got to the house.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Sandy started up the stairs, wondering what the hell was going on. Caleb seemed more uptight then usual, and with Seth and Ryan to deal with, he really didn't want to deal with this as well. 'Maybe when Kirsten comes home, she'll know what's up with Cal,' Sandy thought to himself. Seeing the walls intact and whole, Sandy proceeded to the second floor landing, where he stopped and listened. Yes, he could hear it now… What was the voice saying?

"Animal crackers in my…." Came a faint singy-song voice. Like a flea drawn to the light, Sandy followed the animated, falsely high voice.

"soup… apples and bananas loop the loop…" Now, as Sandy stepped closer to the end of the hall, he could hear sounds of someone retching (Ryan he assumed) and the voice getting louder with each bodily grunt. Stepping in time with the silly beat, he rounded the corner and saw an amusing, if disturbing sight.

The doors to the bathroom had been swung open, which is putting it lightly as the door was now hanging of the top hinge only, the bottom astray. Sandy could only imagine it as the loud thud he and Caleb heard in the kitchen. Bent over the toilet, riding his system of all consumed goods, Ryan sat, bum on the floor, arms hugging the bowl, mouth poised ready to strike. Singing, very badly might I add, behind the shower curtain was Seth, going on with his animal cracker song.

Seth popped his head out from behind the curtain, and started shouting encouraging word to Ryan. Sandy could hear things like "Your in some dodo there…" and "Oh, God, I hope Marissa's not planning on kissing you anytime soon," amidst the pounding of water against tub. Seth was in the middle of such a remark when he suddenly registered Sandy, standing just outside the bathroom, drawing in the spectacle.

"Dad…" he whined. "Get him out of here. I'd done showering but he won't leave…"

"Seth… I think he's a bit preoccupied…" Sandy replied, Ryan slowly turning his head up to look at him.

"Nah, I'm fine dad, just a…. little headache…. and stomach ache…"

"Yes, all that and the side-effects of drinking who knows how much." Sandy watched Ryan struggle to get up, grabbing the sink and pitifully pulling himself upwards. "You sure you fine?" Sandy asked, concerned.

"Yeah, Dad, I already said I was fine. What's up?" Ryan replied, finding that if he kept his eyes shut, everything worked out better.

"Well," Sandy said, sympathy suddenly all gone. "Ryan, since you can't move around that much, I would love it if you could make breakfast for all six of us. And Seth, you hurry up and get out so you can go clean the pool before Ryan's done. Then me and your mother are going to talk about what happened at the party last night." Sandy looked at both of them, Ryan with his eyes closed, and Seth with his curls already starting to bounce up, water dripping down his face. "Well, what are you waiting for?"

Seth looked at Ryan who seemed to be in daydream land. Shaking his head, he asked for both of them, "Six?"

"Yeah, you Grandfather and Hailey are stopping by. Well, Hailey might be here for a while, but Caleb appeared out of no-where."

"Caleb's here?" Ryan asked. Opening his eyes enough so he could see Sandy nod his head, Ryan tightened his fist. His Grandpa hated him, and he didn't know why. Caleb always seemed to know the right way to get under his skin, and the last time he showed up, Ryan almost snapped. Screw Caleb and his snide remarks, he didn't need in now. Not when he was already in enough trouble with his parents.

"Well, Ryan, you are my brother, but I really don't want to get out in front of you. Or you dad… No offence."

"No offence taken," Sandy said, as Ryan slowly started walking out. Sandy pulled the door back to the best "original position" he could and left Seth to change in private. Looking at the door, he wondered if he would be able to fix it himself. As if by queue, Seth shouted, "Don't think of fixing the door Dad, let Ryan do it when he's…. feeling better."

Sandy turned and watched Ryan look at the stairs glumly, and then begin to start down them. Following Ryan, he made a quick turn towards his room's bathroom, grabbing some Advil® for Ryan, who heading into the kitchen.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Hailey and Kirsten arrived at the front door, panting and gasping; Hailey's four heavy suitcases piled aimlessly all around them.

"Hailey, what the hell do you have in those?" Kirsten asked, stretching her back out, trying to ease the pain.

"I told you to lift with your legs, not your back Kiki. You never listen to me…" Hailey said, shaking her head.

"Don't call me Kiki," Kirsten snapped. "Besides, I DID lift with my legs. Its whatever's in there's fault. What are in those? Dead bodies?"

"Oh, I certainly hope not Kiki," Caleb said, sneaking up behind Hailey and pulling her into a bear hug. "How's my little Hails doing?" Caleb asked, planting a big kiss on the side of Hailey's cheek.

"Fine father," Hailey said roughly, pushing Caleb off her, stomping into the house.

"I wonder what's up with here…" Kirsten asked to herself.

"Oh, probably just the hormones, you know," Caleb reassured, though now he was certain that Hailey DID know what he was up to, and that was the reason she had come.

"Sure…whatever," Kirsten said. "I'm going to go out back and start up the grill for breakfast. You go on inside dad."

"Why do we need a grill for breakfast?"

"Well, I was thinking of cooking a little something myself and…"

"MOM! NO! NO COOKING!" Kirsten spun around wildly and found a horrified Seth standing in the backyard entrance.

"Why not?" Kirsten pouted.

"Mom, Ryan's got the cooking covered. I think. Unless he hasn't passed out yet. Cause then he could get hair in the food, and that would be pretty gross. Also, he could get really hurt, so I suggest you go and make sure he's okay. Well, if he isn't okay and still conscious, he probably won't tell you he's not okay to give you the illusion that he IS okay, so he won't get into any more trouble then he's already in. And, I think that since it was Ryan's idea, and Ryan had more Vodka then me, and Ryan was in the bathtub, and Ryan's…. I'll be out back cleaning the pool. Love ya," Seth ended quickly when he received a death glare from Kirsten.

"So what's the delinquent been up to?" Caleb asked Kirsten, oblivious that her glare had been transferred from Seth over to him.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Ryan was feeling better and just putting the butter on the frying pan when Hailey entered the kitchen.

"Hey buddy," Hailey said playfully, punching Ryan lightly in the arm.

"Hi Aunt Hailey. I'd hug you and lift you onto the counter, but my head's being a bitch."

Hailey nodded understandingly, while making a drinking motion with her hand, pretending to chug down beer. She hugged Ryan, and plopped herself on the granite counter. Picking up a orange and starting to peel it, Hailey asked, "Was it worth it?"

"Oh yeah," Ryan answered, placing egg after egg onto the buttery pan. "I was in that place, where it's not like, your too drunk, but it's still all fuzzy and great. And then there was Marissa…"

"You two still going out?" Hailey asked.

"Yup, though I'm pretty sure we won't be going on a date anytime soon. I screwed myself over pretty bad."

"Well, if you were half as bad as Kirsten was at your age, I'd feel sorry for Sandy and Kirsten." Hailey leaned over the counter and put the orange peels in the garbage, thoughtfully chewing on her orange.

"Oh really? Mom was a bad girl in her day?"

"Oh yeah, did I tell you about the time her and Jimmy Cooper…"

"I hope your not spreading rumors about me in my youth Hailey," Kirsten scowled, walking in from the front yard.

"No, how can she. My girls were the best behaved girls in Orange County," Caleb announced, walking in behind Kirsten, trying to read Hailey's face.

"He doesn't know half of it," Hailey whispered just loud enough for Ryan to hear. Ryan let a giggle escape, but quickly got over himself when Caleb shot him a look.

"What are you doing here boy?" Caleb asked Ryan.

"Cooking," Ryan answered, deciding to stick to mono and duo-syllables. His grandfather hated him, and Ryan didn't know why. He was barley ever around though, so Ryan was happy enough with that.

"Cooking what? I don't like cilantro, so don't put any of it on my food."

"Now, why would you just go and assume that I was cooking for you? What if I was only cooking for myself and Seth? Or my self and Aunt Hailey?" Ryan asked, abandoning his mono/duo-syllable strategy.

"Ryan." Kirsten said sharply before Caleb had a chance to retort. "Say you're sorry. That isn't any way to talk to your grandfather."

"Sorry," Ryan muttered, returning to his cooking, ignoring the adults.

'Damn that boy,' Caleb thought to himself. 'Oh well, I'll be rid of him soon…'

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

So… That was it, but it was more for plot development, because I actually have an idea! Please drop a review, even if its to say, whohoo.