The next morning Ryan awoke early and made his way into the kitchen, hoping to find Seth and Samantha seated in the kitchen. They weren't there. Nobody was there. He put on a pot of coffee and walked to the front door, stepping outside and picking up the newspaper. He walked back into the kitchen, plopping it down on the counter and made his way to the coffee pot. The pot wasn't finished, but there was enough for a mug full. Ryan poured the contents into his cup, allowing a few drops of coffee to fall onto the burner and sizzle.

Seth's eyes fluttered open and he let out a groan, propping himself up. He was lying on the floor, clothes on, hair standing up straight. He let out a large yawn and rubbed his eyes with his right hand.

Seth: (Mumbling) Mmm…passed out…

Seth dropped his arms back to the floor and looked to his left at an empty playpen. He stared at it for a few seconds, letting everything register in his brain. Suddenly he popped up, his eyes bulging out of their sockets.

Seth: Baby…

Seth stood up quickly and looked frantically around the room.

Seth: Baby…where is the baby…

He took a few frantic steps, and then jumped slightly, standing on one foot and looking down at the floor around him to make sure he didn't step on her. All seemed clear, she was nowhere in sight…not that that was necessarily a good thing.

Seth: Oh my God…oh my God…

Seth fell to floor looking under the bed.

Seth: …Samantha?

No sight of her. He stood up again, a look of panic and worry etched into his face.

Seth: Come out, come out, where ever you are…

Seth walked through the room, his eyes darting quickly from side to side.

Seth: …Sam? …Samantha!

Seth walked over to his closet door and opened it quickly. He looked down at the closet floor…no baby.

Seth: …how would she get into the closet, Seth? Oh my God…Ryan is going to kill me. Worse, he's going to castrate me…and then cut off all my fingers and toes…and then he's going to kill me…

Seth was beyond panic at this point he stood in the middle of his bedroom.

Seth: Okay…calm down, Seth. Look at you…you've resorted to talking to yourself. Just think now…if I was a baby…where would I be?

Seth looked around the room again. He reached into the playpen, tossing a few of the blankets aside, just in case. No luck. No Samantha. Suddenly Seth was lost in thought. The possibility that either his mom or dad came into his room, or even Ryan, and took Samantha was highly feasible. Almost instantaneously, Seth moved through the room and walked out of his bedroom door, leaving it standing open. He took a few steps out and saw Ryan, trudging up the stairs, his head down, and a mug of coffee in his hand. Seth turned on his heels, and jumped back into his room closing the door behind him. He stood in front of his door, his eyes darting left and right.

Seth: He's going to kill me…he's going to kill me…

Seth listened as Ryan's footsteps grew closer to his door. Seth turned his head to his left and leaped through the bathroom door, quickly closing the door behind him and locking it. He leaned against the door silently cursing himself and banging his head against the wall. Seth turned, his eyes closed, and slid down the door so he was sitting on the bathroom floor.

Seth: …it's been a good eighteen years. I never finished my novel, but…

Suddenly Seth heard the sound of a small giggle. His eyes shot open and there sat Samantha, curled up in one of Seth's large bath towels that lay in a heap on the floor.

Seth: Sam!

Seth lunged for her, sliding on his stomach on the cool bathroom floor tile. Samantha giggled and raised her arms towards Seth.

Seth: You scared me…I thought I lost you.

Samantha smiled again, and waved her arms around in the air. Seth propped himself up standing on his knees and reached out picking Samantha up.

Seth: You think it's funny, huh?

Samantha reached her hand up putting it on Seth's face and covering his nose. Seth laughed and turned towards the door, opening it and stepping out.

Ryan: There you are.

Seth: Uh…yeah, man. Right here, good as new…safe and sound.

Ryan: What happened?

Seth: Nothing.

Ryan eyed Seth and looked at Samantha who was still grinning.

Seth: Don't worry, Ryan. Sam and I had a great time. I mean, I finally found somebody who'll listen to everything I have to say…and she never interrupts…what could be more perfect?

Ryan: Sam?

Seth: She needs a nickname…it's kinda the obvious choice.

Ryan: Why does she need a nickname?

Seth: Everybody's got a nickname…besides Sam is better, it's blunt…to the point.

Ryan eyed Seth and set his coffee mug down reaching out for Samantha. Samantha smiled at Ryan and waved her arms out in the air for Ryan to take her.

Ryan: Sam, huh?

Seth: Yeah, man. It's perfect…one syllable. Like, Seth…

Seth clapped his hands once, like you do in grade school, when you're dissecting words.

Seth: …Sam…Ryan…

Seth clapped his hands once for each of their names and stood proudly in front of Ryan.

Seth: …straight forward…direct.

Ryan: My name has two syllables.

Ryan patted his free hand against his leg, to emphasize.

Ryan: Ry-an.

Seth: You know what man, I'm trying to prove a point here…

Ryan squinted his eyes and looked at Seth suspiciously.

Ryan: Did you sleep?

Seth: Not really.

Ryan: Did she?

Seth: Yeah.

Ryan: Good. Did you get finished?

Seth: Almost.

Ryan nodded and picked his coffee cup up again.

Ryan: I'm going to go feed her and get ready…

Ryan looked Seth up and down.

Ryan: …do us all a favor, man. Take a shower.

Seth smiled nervously and almost guiltily. Ryan walked past him and out the door, back down the stairs towards the kitchen. He moved his head towards Samantha's and then looked down at her quizzically.

Ryan: You smell like shampoo…

Samantha looked up at him and giggled innocently.

Ryan: …why do you smell like shampoo?

Ryan shook his head and set Samantha down in her high seat, propped up next to the kitchen table. He crossed to the stove and put on a pot of water. He stood back, leaning against the counter, sipping his coffee and waiting for the water to boil.

Ryan: Well, at least she's still in one piece.