Marissa was perched on one of the pool house chairs, peering out from behind the pool house windows. Ryan sat on the bed, Samantha on his lap, watching Marissa.

Marissa: I think they're here.

Ryan: Okay.

Marissa turned towards Ryan, and hopped off the chair.

Marissa: How is it that you're so calm?

Ryan: You're mom already hates me, so…it can't get much worse.

Marissa: Well, I guess you're right. There was that brief period of time when I was dating DJ, you were like a knight in shining armor then.

Ryan: Yeah, acceptance by comparison…coming from Julie Cooper, I think I'll pass.

Marissa moved to the bed and sat down next to Ryan. She looked down at Samantha and ran a hand through her hair.

Marissa: I just want you to know…whatever happens, whatever she says…

Ryan: Marissa…it's okay.

Marissa: I just…

Ryan cut her off with a kiss, and Marissa felt her body relax.

Ryan: You're just freaking out…

Ryan smiled at Marissa and brought one of his hands up cupping her cheek in his palm.

Ryan: …it's okay.

The rest of the tension drained from Marissa's body as a smile appeared on her face. Suddenly, she looked full of confidence and stood up from the bed.

Marissa: Okay, I'm ready.

Marissa took a deep breath in, held it for a moment, and then let it out slowly. She started for the door and then realized Ryan wasn't behind her. She turned back and found that Ryan hadn't moved.

Marissa: Come on.

Ryan: Yeah…right.

Suddenly the tables had turned and Ryan was the one with the look of concern on his face.

Marissa: I don't know if I'm confident enough about the current situation to comfort you right now…

Ryan laughed slightly, stood up and walked the few steps over to Marissa.

Ryan: Okay, one thing before we go in there.

Marissa: Hmm?

Ryan leaned in towards Marissa and caught her lips with his own.

Ryan: I love you.

Marissa: I love you too.

Ryan smiled and reached around Marissa opening the door for her. They each took one last worried look at each other and exited the pool house heading towards the house.

Ryan and Marissa entered the kitchen without drawing much attention to themselves. Caleb, Julie and Kirsten were sitting in the living room, while Sandy was hovering in the kitchen, trying to make himself look busy with food preparation.

Sandy: Hey guys.

Marissa: Hey.

Ryan: Hey…what are you making?

Sandy: Salmon, rice and Caesar salad.

Marissa: Wow, smells good.

Sandy: Yeah, thanks. So, you're mother seems to be in a good mood today, kind of odd, actually.

Marissa: She is?

Sandy nodded his head and grabbed a potholder off the kitchen counter.

Marissa: That's weird…

Ryan: But it's a good thing…right?

Marissa: I hope so.

Just then, the three of them heard footsteps behind them, and turned to find Caleb, Julie and Kirsten standing next to them. Ryan's eyes shifted from Caleb to Julie, and finally to Kirsten who was eagerly sipping her wine. No words were spoken; Julie just seemed to stare at Samantha who was cradled in Ryan's arms, while Caleb barely seemed to notice. Eventually, Julie's gaze moved up to Ryan and then over to Marissa. Everybody seemed surprised at seeing Julie Cooper-Nichol standing speechless in front of them…of course, it didn't last long.

Julie: What exactly is going on here?

Ryan, who had had his eye on Julie the whole time, shifted his gaze towards Marissa, who uncomfortably stood to his right. Kirsten looked past the teens to Sandy who was still hovering near the stove. The two exchanged a worried look, and finally, Kirsten stepped up.

Kirsten: Julie…dad, this is Samantha. She's Ryan's…

Ryan: She's my daughter.

Julie: Excuse me?

Julie looked shocked while Caleb looked to have stifled a laugh.

Ryan: Julie, she's my daughter.

Julie: You've got to be kidding me.

Kirsten: No, it's true.

Ryan: The baby was mine, and Theresa left her here with me.

Julie: Wow, Ryan…that sounds like a really touching story…

Marissa: (Interrupting) Mom…don't start this.

A look of rage filled Julie's eyes as her head snapped towards Marissa.

Julie: Excuse me, Marissa, but you didn't even tell me about this.

Marissa: Yeah, because I knew you'd act exactly like this!

Julie scoffed and refilled her wine glass.

Julie: You're making a mistake, Marissa.

Julie took a large gulp of her Merlot.

Ryan: This wasn't Marissa's mistake. This was my mistake, and you know what...it wasn't a mistake, not anymore.

Julie shot a death glare at Ryan and then turned her attention back to Marissa.

Marissa: This shouldn't even be about me.

Julie: Of course it's about you. You're my daughter, and you've got your whole life ahead of you!

Marissa: You don't know what you're talking about, mom!

At this point Marissa and Julie were yelling at each other. Ryan cradled Samantha tightly in his arms, often thinking of something to say, but being cut off by either Marissa and Julie and their constant battle with words.

Julie: Oh, really. I know exactly what it's like to raise a child at eighteen years old, and I also know what it's like to give up all your dreams and aspirations to do so.

Marissa: Oh, well I'm glad I finally found out how you really feel!

Julie: Are you really going to do this, Marissa? Are you really going to give up your future to be with him?

Marissa: I'm not giving up anything.

Julie: Yes you are, Marissa! And I'm not going to let you do this.

Marissa: You don't have a choice.

Julie: Like hell I don't!

Marissa: What are you going to make me do, mom? Choose? Is that it? Do you really want me to choose between you and Ryan…because I think we all know what my answer is going to be.

Julie: I'm not going to let you throw your life away, Marissa.

Marissa: You haven't had any say in my life for quite a while.

Julie: Well, I'm still your mother and you will listen to me.

Marissa: No, I won't.

Julie: What happened to NYU, Marissa? What happened to moving to New York in the fall and studying design?

Marissa let out a sigh and dropped her head to the floor, shaking it. She took a deep breath and her voice lowered.

Marissa: I never wanted to study design, you did. You can't relive all the things you missed out on through me, and the only reason I wanted to go to New York was to get as far away from you as possible.

Julie: You're obviously not stable right now…

Ryan: Jul !

Marissa: (Interrupting) Why, because I'm standing up for myself? Because I'm not going to stand here and listen to you try and run my life!

Marissa took a deep breath and looked down at the floor again. She composed herself and then began to speak again.

Marissa: Ryan is the one thing that makes sense to me. He is the one person in the world that I know I can count on; that I know will always be there. So, you want me to choose, mom? I choose Ryan.

Julie angrily set her glass down on the counter.

Julie: I can't believe this. You have no idea how big the mistake you're making is.

Marissa: I don't care, mom. Maybe it is a mistake, but I don't see it that way. Ryan has been there for me from the second he got to Newport, which is more than I can say for you. And I'm going to be there for him, because I want to be. If you can't understand that, then…I don't know what else to tell you.

Julie: I don't think I need to hear anymore.

Julie walked over to the kitchen table and picked up her purse. Kirsten polished off her glass of wine and looked across the room at Sandy. Suddenly, Seth waked into the kitchen. He took a look around the room and raised his arms in the air.

Seth: All right, sorry I'm late…who's ready to eat?

Julie: Come on, Cal. We're going home.

Caleb: But we haven't even eaten yet.

Julie had already made her way halfway through the kitchen. She looked over her shoulder without stopping.

Julie: Cal!

Julie pushed past Seth and exited the kitchen making a beeline for the front door. Caleb looked over at Kirsten then shifted a glance towards Ryan. He let out a sigh, walked over to Kirsten, kissed her on the cheek and exited the kitchen, following Julie out the front door.

Seth: Damn, I miss everything.

Suddenly, a timer rang throughout the kitchen. Sandy's eyebrows perked up as he picked up a potholder and opened the stove pulling out a tray full of perfectly pink salmon.

Sandy: Well, dinner's served.

Kirsten: I'm suddenly not so hungry.

Ryan: Me either…

Ryan looked down at a drowsy Samantha.

Ryan: …I'm going to go put her down.

Marissa: I'll go with you.

Ryan nodded and the two made their way back out the pool house. Kirsten topped off her glass of wine and walked into the living room, putting her feet up on the coffee table and taking sips from her glass. Both Seth and Sandy watched as everybody else in the room made their exit. Seth turned to Sandy and then looked down at the salmon.

Seth: Well, I could eat.

Sandy smiled and pulled two plates out of a cupboard. They both fixed plates for themselves and settled in at the kitchen table. At least somebody got to enjoy dinner that night.