Here's another fluff sort of chapter. Thank u 2 Kursk who suggested that I had some Summer/Kirsten bonding time. This chapter shows some of that. And thanx again 2 all out there who have reviewed!

Dru

PS. As much as I wish I did,I do not own the OC or it's characters!

Chapter 9

Bonding

"I'll race you to the kitchen!" Seth cried tossing a pillow Ryan's way and zipping out the door before we even heard Kirsten holler up to us to come down and eat.

"Cheater!" Ryan yelled after him. Marissa and I just rolled our eyes and ran after them.

"Whoa, slow down there son," Sandy pat Seth on the shoulder as he ran past him and took a seat at the dinner table. A few seconds later Ryan came into view.

"How is it that we made it here before you did?" Marissa asked.

"I took a short cut, that wasn't so short," he admitted his mistake.

"Don't worry guys. Don't feel to bad for him, Ryan has never beaten me at that game," Seth said, a cocky smile set firmly on his face. I sat down next to him and Marissa sat across from me, next to Ryan. It wasn't until Kirsten set down a steaming plate of mashed potatoes and pasta in front of me did I realize how hungry I was.

"Your lucky you two. This is Kirsten's before-I-go-to-the-grocery-store meal," Sandy said. I smiled, knowing well that Kirsten had only made the instant potatoes. Sandy had cooked the pasta.

"Wait!" Seth cried, pushing his plate a few inches away from him. "Mom made this?" He picked up a string of pasta to examine it.

"I mixed the water into the potatoes smart guy," Kirsten said, rolling pasta onto her fork.

"Oh thank god!" Seth pulled his plate back and jammed a spoonful of potato into his mouth. Marissa and I laughed at Seth's over exaggeration of Kirsten's inability to cook anything edible. Even a small smile tugged at the corners of Ryan's lips. Soon a gentle murmur of conversation rose from the table and I felt completely at ease. I took small bites of potato and sipped at my milk, listening to Kirsten talk about work and Seth trash talk Ryan about beating him at some video game after dinner. It was a family situation that made me feel like I belonged.

"Summer," Marissa gently nudged me with her elbow. "Aren't you hungry?" I looked down at my plate that looked untouched. I had only really picked. I wasn't sure how much food it would take for me to consume to be too much of a shock to my stomach. It wasn't used to holding on to large portions of food. It was obvious that Sandy had noticed too.

"We can put that in the fridge and you can have it when you feel up to eating," he said generously. I smiled, grateful for his concern for me.

"Need any help in the kitchen Mrs. Cohen?" Marissa asked.

"Oh, no thank you Marissa, it's nice of you to offer," Kirsten smiled and began to clear the table.

"Race you to the living room!" Marissa jumped up from the table; Seth was quick to catch on and was able to hop in front of her.

"I can take it from Seth, but I'm not going to take it from you Marissa Cooper!" Ryan grabbed Marissa from behind and hoisted her over his shoulder. Marissa yelped and giggled hysterically as he drug her in to the living room with him. I lagged behind and set my plate on the counter.

"It was really good Mrs. Cohen," I said as politely as I could. I felt awkward holding a full plate out to her and saying the food was good.

"Oh you know it wasn't me honey. It was all Sandy," she nodded to her husband who had ran after Ryan and Seth.

"I didn't know Mr. Cohen played video games," I said.

"Where do you think Seth gets it from?" Kirsten laughed as she rinsed a few plates off under the running sink water.

"It must get pretty crazy around here. With 3 boys and all," I said. I had always wondered what it would be like to spend a week in the crazy Cohen house. Maybe I would get my chance this week.

"Oh you don't even know the beginning of it!" Kirsten said rinsing out a glass. I took it from her to dry.

"Do Ryan and Seth normally get along?" I asked wondering if they were just putting on a show for Marissa and I earlier.

"Half and half," Kirsten admitted. "Usually they get along pretty well." We were quiet for a minute as she flipped the switch for the garbage disposal. When she turned it off she started conversing again.

"What about you Summer? I know for a fact that it's been pretty crazy for your dad after your step mother passed away. I am so sorry he was taking it out on you," Kirsten sympathized, her eyes were sad and it reminded me of Cohen. Seth Cohen anyway. I knew that Sandy had filled his wife in on everything he knew about what my dad had been doing to me. I was also sure that she wished I had come to them sooner.

"Let me guess, he doesn't look like a guy who would abuse his daughter?" everyone would say it. I knew this and I was just trying to prepare.

"Well," Kirsten admitted. "I never really had likes for the guy. He always seemed like someone who was far away. Distant somehow, like his head was always somewhere else."

"He's pretty sick," I said feeling tears brimming in my eyes. 'I shouldn't cry in front of Kirsten,' I thought to myself. 'I've had enough sentimental moments for one day'. But somehow standing here, doing the dishes with her, it felt like I had a mom. I felt like I was connecting with her and it…it scared me. I never even really got a chance to know my real mom. And my step mom wasn't exactly into the whole 'mother daughter' scenario. But Kirsten loved her boys so much. Ryan included, even though she rejected him at first. I wanted that sort of love. It was a different sort of love that Seth couldn't give me. A parent's love.

"It's not an excuse for what he did to you," Kirsten said, a serious tone taking on her voice. A single tear fell from my eye and I tried to wipe it away before Kirsten noticed but it was too late. She already had her arms wrapped around me.

"I don't ever want you to think that any of this was ever your fault Summer," she murmured gently. "He won't hurt you again."

My body felt warmed as we pulled away and I gently rubbed any trace of tears out of my eyes.

"Thank you Mrs. Cohen," I whispered.

"It'll be okay Summer," she said squeezing my shoulder gently.

"Honey! Summer! Get in here! Marissa is kicking Seth's butt at this game!" Sandy's cries met us from the living room.

"She is not!" Seth was quick to deny his fathers claim.

"Oh yes she is," Ryan chuckled. "That's my girl. Get him Marissa."

Kirsten and I laughed.

"Better go see what all the hype is about," she said. "If it's true, I'll never let Seth live it down."

I smiled as Kirsten walked with me into the living room, her hand still on my shoulder. He won't hurt you again. I had heard those words a couple of times before. But until Kirsten said them, I didn't think it could be true. But for some instance in my mind it made sense coming from her. Coming from the mouth of a mother.