Ryan and Luke watched in the next few weeks as their significant others went through every stage of possible emotion. Summer yelled at Ryan for taking his shoes off on the porch, she said that the house was his and he should be able to track mud in if he wanted to and it was an insult that he couldn't wear his own shoes in the house. Gaby burst into tears at a convenience store counter because one of the miniature teddy bear keychains on the counter 'looked sad'. Luke had bought her the keychain just to get her to leave. They were both sick in the mornings and to the boys' surprise, they were insatiable in the evenings, the hormonal imbalance driving both girls into a sort of sexual frenzy.
Making things worse was that Luke had already committed to touring the west coast in a series of small club gigs and was gone for days at a time. Ryan was knee-deep in the McCoy deal, not getting home until late at night most nights and leaving before dawn. Summer and Gaby both swore they understood but as time passed, they both started to feel abandoned. With Luke out of town, Gaby was relying on Ryan more and more and Summer started to resent that most of the sparse time she had with Ryan was spent with Gaby and Seth.
Summer was thirteen weeks along and Gaby was twelve. Seth had tried to take up his friends' slack by spending a lot of his time with the girls. They grilled him for information about Derrek's mother's pregnancy and dragged him along to maternity stores.
Ryan managed to come to Summer's office every day for lunch and he'd wake her every night when he got home but she got tired of not seeing him more. She went to his office one afternoon.
Ryan was at his desk with Caleb and Kirsten sitting across from him. They were both arguing about something and Ryan was staring at a series of spreadsheets on his desk. She hadn't noticed how tired he looked but he seemed to radiate weariness.
"Hey, Summer," Ryan said, spotting her by the door. He got up and walked over, giving her a gentle hug as Kirsten and Caleb continued to argue quietly.
"What's going on?"
"Meeting. There are…some issues," Ryan said.
"You look tired," Summer said, kissing him.
"Yeah. But I told them that I'm absolutely not working this weekend. What are you doing here? Are you all right?"
"I just wanted to see you. I never see you. I miss you," She admitted.
"I noticed that last night," He smiled, kissing her again.
"I don't mean sex…but that's a good idea, I mean…when are you going to be able to see me more? I'm swelling up, Ryan," She said, rubbing her tummy.
"I know…"
"Ryan? What about…oh, hello, Summer," Kirsten gave her an apologetic smile.
Summer gave her a wave and returned her attention to Ryan. "I'll leave you to work."
"Tell you what, I'll try and come home early tonight and make dinner," Ryan said. He lowered his voice. "And we'll turn on the lamp so we won't be disturbed, okay?"
"Really? I'll see you before midnight?" Summer asked.
"Promise. It's a plan?" Ryan asked.
"Plan. Good luck with…the issues," Summer smiled, kissing him. She felt better as she walked out.
---- - ----- - -- ---- - ----- - -- ---- - ----- - -- ---- - ----- - -- ---- - ----- - -- ---- - ----- - -- ---- - ----- - -- ---
Ryan was home early but Summer was still at the office.
As he cooked, he had his headset on, talking to the developers for the tenth time today.
"Dude…" Seth rushed into the room with Derrek in his arms. Ryan hung up his phone and turned, sensing his urgency. "I really, I'm really freaking out, I can't have Derry at my house right now, she's there and she'll try to take him and I won't let her take him...I have to…"
"Seth. Stop." Ryan took Derrek from Seth gently and looked at him. "You okay?"
"Daddy woke me up from my nap. He's babbling," Derrek said, unaffected by his father's panic and drowsy with sleep.
"Why don't you go finish your nap in the bedroom?" Ryan asked, putting Derrek down.
"Thanks, Uncle Ryan. I was having the best dream…" He yawned, walking out.
"Seth." Ryan turned to him.
"I won't let her take him, I'll run away, I'll sue, I'll fucking…" Seth started again.
"Seth."
"Viv's here."
"Viv?" Ryan asked. Viv was Derrek's mother. "Where?"
"On my porch. She knocked, I came out…I told her to wait and then I grabbed Derry and we came through the back…"
Ryan took Seth by the shoulders and steadied him. "She can't have Derrek. You have full custody. Sandy filed all the paperwork years ago. Take a deep breath." Seth obeyed but was still visibly upset.
"What did she say, Seth?"
"That she was sorry. She's in town for a few days. Wanted to see how I was," Seth said.
"Anything about Derry?"
"No…but she was staring at his bike…she wouldn't stop looking at it…"
"Is she still there?"
"I…I can't, dude," Seth said, paling suddenly.
"Okay, man, sit down…" Ryan lowered Seth to a seat and turned off the stove before pulling up a chair close to him.
"Viv's here. Viv." Seth was stunned.
Ryan didn't know what to say. Seth loved Viv, that had never been a secret. It had taken him a long time to get over her, he'd only seriously started dating again a year ago. He'd been convinced that she'd come back but when Derrek turned two, he'd surprised everyone by asking Sandy to help him file the papers to assure that no one, not even Viv, could take Derrek from him without a lengthy court battle.
Summer walked in, dropping her briefcase by the door. "I thought you were making dinner…hey, Cohen. There's a chick on your porch." She sensed the tension suddenly. "What is it?"
"Will you come with me?" Seth asked Ryan.
"Yeah. Let's go, Summer, can you take care of Derry? He's taking a nap in his room…" Ryan said, taking Seth by the arm and pulling him to his feet.
"What is it?"
"Viv's on Seth's porch," Ryan stated.
"What? Viv? Oh god…" Summer whispered, realization on her face.
"You ready for this?" Ryan asked Seth.
"No. Just…we have to talk to her, don't we? I mean, do you think she'll go away eventually?" Seth asked.
"Go. Cohen, you have to. She won't go away," Summer said.
Seth sighed but nodded. Ryan put a hand on his back and he nodded again, walking out with Ryan right behind him.
They went across the backyard into the back door and walked through the house. Seth stopped cold by the front door.
"Are you going to let her in?"
"I…I think so," Seth said. "But not in the living room, there're pictures of Derry everywhere…"
"Okay, man, we'll take her into the study. I'll bring her in, why don't you go sit down?" Ryan said.
"Okay. I'll…I need a minute to pull myself together…thanks, man…" Seth turned and walked into the small study by the den.
Ryan took a deep breath. He didn't know how this was going to work. Viv had been perfect for Seth, they seemed really happy and he knew that Seth had no idea that she would leave him without a word. But after the baby was born, Viv changed. She cried, she wouldn't talk to anyone and she wouldn't hold her own child. She'd left when Derrek was a month old.
Ryan opened the door.
"Seth…oh. Ryan. Is Seth…"
"Come in, Viv. I'll take you to him," He said.
Viv was a tall woman, thin and sculpted. She had long brown hair now, curled and styled and she was dressed professionally in a skirt and blouse. She looked good. Much better than the mass of nerves from four years earlier.
"How are you?" Viv asked.
"Fine." Ryan guided her into the house and towards the study.
"Is…is he here?"
"Seth's in here," Ryan said, not wanting to interpret her question.
Viv obediently went into the study and Ryan followed her. Seth was seated and more composed at the small computer desk.
"Seth…I'm sorry for just showing up like this…"
"You should be sorry for leaving," Seth replied.
Ryan turned to step out but Seth gave him a look and he knew to stay by the door.
"I know…I am…"
"You are." Seth stated. His shock was transforming to bitterness quickly.
"I'm so sorry, Seth, I don't know what happened, I just couldn't do it…"
"So why are you here? You walked out of this life. You left me, you left your son…"
Viv wouldn't raise her head, she simply listened.
"No calls, nothing. Not even a fucking note. You think I wouldn't care? Did you think I wouldn't worry about you, wonder what the fuck happened?" Seth asked.
"I…I couldn't be here then." She looked up at him. "But I'm here now."
Seth glanced up at Ryan, clearly not knowing what to do.
"Viv. What do you mean by that?" Ryan asked. She jumped, startled that he was still in the room.
"I mean…I'm back. I'm coming back. I…I lost it for a while, I ended up going into therapy and…and I'm okay now. I want…I want to be a part of your life. And his life…"
"You can't even say his name…you haven't seen him in years, you don't even know him, you don't even know me anymore…" Seth stammered. Ryan pulled out his cell phone and text messaged Sandy to come immediately. He knew that this had the possibility of getting out of control.
"I want to be in your life. I want to be in my child's life. I know…I know that it's asking a lot and I have no right…"
"Exactly. You have no right to see Derrek. You left him with me…"
"What did you tell him about me?" Viv whispered, tears running down her face.
"I told him the truth. That his mom loved him very much but she wasn't strong enough to stay. He understands. I don't lie to him…"
Ryan's phone vibrated and the words read that Sandy was already on the way. Summer had thought ahead.
"You…you told him I left him?"
"What was I supposed to tell him? That you were dead? That you didn't love him? Hell, if you'd cared enough to leave a note, I would've read it to him. Maybe one of us would understand…" Seth snapped.
"Seth…can we just talk about this…"
Seth glanced up at Ryan for advice as there was a knock on the door.
"I'll get it," Ryan said, knowing it would be Sandy.
"Wait. I'll get it. You stay here, I need a minute…to process this," Seth said, standing up and hurrying out of the room.
"Ryan…he's really upset…" Viv said.
"What were you expecting?" Ryan asked.
"I'm not here to make trouble…I just want to see my son, see Seth…I…I made a mistake…"
"You made a mistake four yearsago," Ryan replied.
Sandy walked in and nodded to Ryan to leave. Ryan read his face and closed the door as he left Viv with him.
Ryan found Seth standing by the door, pale and shaking. He put his arm around him. "You okay?"
"No, dude, I am so not okay right now…"
"Come on, we'll step outside a minute…Get some air…" Ryan said, leading Seth into the backyard.
"Can we go in for a minute? I think I need a drink…"
"We'll see what we can find," Ryan said.
Summer was pacing in the kitchen, talking to Gaby on the phone when they walked in. She immediately told her goodbye and walked over, embracing Seth. "What happened?"
"Dad's with her…I couldn't…I don't know what to say…she says she wants to see him, to see me, that she's coming back…like we can pick up where we left off or something? This is just…"
"You want me to kick her ass?" Summer offered.
Seth smiled slightly. "Yeah…"
Summer turned to leave but he stopped her.
"I wasn't serious."
"She can't just jerk you around, Cohen. She's a bitch." Summer looked at him. "Don't let her get to you. I know how much she hurt you before."
"What am I supposed to do?" Seth turned to Ryan.
"Chill. You have to chill. You can't let Derry see that you're upset," Ryan said.
"God…I never wanted this to happen…this just totally sucks…" Seth said, sitting down again.
"What do you want to do, Seth?" Ryan asked.
"I…will you go see what's going on over there? I…I don't want to see her…"
"Of course, man. I'll be right back…" Ryan gave Summer a concerned look and left immediately to return to Seth's house.
He walked in and heard Sandy's 'lawyer tone' through the closed door. He decided to wait until he came out and not interrupt. Shortly after he arrived, Viv stepped out with Sandy behind her.
"We'll meet later on this week. It'd be in your best interest to keep your distance," Sandy said.
"I'll…I'll give my lawyer your card," Viv said, her eyes red-rimmed. She didn't meet Ryan's gaze as she walked out.
Sandy waited until she was in her car before closing the door. "When the hell did she get here?"
"Probably about ten minutes before I texted you…"
"Summer must've called me as soon as you walked out," Sandy replied. "Viv wants visitation…"
"Seth's flipping out…"
"Derrek's at your place?" Sandy asked.
"In his room. He wasn't fazed, he didn't see her and Seth wasn't really forming coherent sentences when he brought him over," Ryan said.
"But he knows that she wants to see Derrek. She seems to think she can make it up to Seth. She wants to be a mother to Derrek and a wife to Seth."
"Damn. You think she means it?"
"I don't care if she means it," Sandy admitted. "She's hurt Seth and Derry enough. She shouldn't be near them."
"Let's go talk to Seth. Maybe you can calm him down," Ryan said.
Sandy followed Ryan across the backyard to his house. Sandy immediately went to Seth and pulled him into a hug.
"Dad…"
"We'll take care of it, Seth. She won't take Derry from you…"
"You promise?"
"Yes. I promise. The only way she'll be able to see him is if you approve. I told her to get her lawyer to call me and that she shouldn't come back without him. She's not allowed to see him, Seth. Not unless you agree."
"You think I should agree?" Seth asked.
Sandy hesitated. "I think you should do what you think is right for you and your child."
"I…I need some time to think…" Seth said.
"Come on, Seth. Let's go down to the pier, okay? Get some air…" Ryan said.
"Air…yeah…that'd be nice," Seth nodded.
"I'll be back…" Ryan kissed Summer on the cheek and put his hand on Seth's back, urging him from the kitchen toward the cars.
---- - ----- - -- ---- - ----- - -- ---- - ----- - -- ---- - ----- - -- ---- - ----- - -- ---- - ----- - -- ---- - ----- - -- ---
Ryan brought Seth home around eight and he collected Derrek and went to talk to his father. They hadn't talked while they were gone, Ryan had just walked back and forth up and down the pier with Seth until he'd stopped muttering to himself. Seth had turned, gave him a hug and asked to go home.
"Summer?" Ryan found her sitting in the living room eating from a tub of ice cream. "Hey…"
"Hey. So today was pretty dramatic," Summer said.
"Yeah. I'm sorry about dinner…"
"You had to take care of Seth. I understand," She replied as he sat down beside her. "We'll have to take a rain check. What about tomorrow?"
"I have to take Gaby to her doctor's appointment tomorrow…"
"Seth can't take her? I mean, she can't go by herself?" Summer asked.
"Luke's still out of town. She wants me to take her…she's worried…" Ryan started.
"I'm worried, too. I'm worried about us…" Summer whispered.
"Well, I have the weekend off. We'll turn on the lamp and spend the weekend together. How about that?" Ryan asked, kissing her neck.
"I guess that'll help…a little…" She smiled, responding to his kisses.
"A little?"
"Yeah…a little…" She grinned.
---- - ----- - -- ---- - ----- - -- ---- - ----- - -- ---- - ----- - -- ---- - ----- - -- ---- - ----- - -- ---- - ----- - -- ---
"Come in with me?" Gaby asked, standing up as the nurse called her name.
"You sure?" Ryan asked.
"Yeah."
He took her hand and they followed the nurse into an examining room.
The doctor came in a few minutes after he'd helped her onto the table.
"Gaby. Nice to see you. Let's see how the baby's coming along. Have you been taking the medicine?"
"Yes, doctor. I'm off the antidepressants but I've been taking the ones you prescribed," Gaby replied.
"Good. Hopefully we can get you through this pregnancy without any more complications," She smiled.
Ryan gave Gaby a worried glance and took her hand. She squeezed it gratefully.
"I'm going to feel your stomach, okay? To make sure your uterus is in the right position…" The doctor gently probed her rounded stomach. Gaby had her eyes closed tightly and Ryan brushed the hair out of her face and she relaxed slightly.
"You're okay, Gaby." Ryan whispered.
"Well, it's still too soon to tell, but I think from the position of your uterus…you might be having twins. We'd suspected it last week when we heard the heartbeat but…I think it's a pretty good guess."
"Twins?" Gaby whispered.
"Yes. It's going to complicate things a bit, but I have no doubt that you'll get through it. We'll just have to monitor you very closely," She smiled.
"Twins…" Gaby repeated. She looked to Ryan.
"Luke's going to be thrilled…" He said. "Aren't you?"
"I…What if it's too much? What if my body can't handle it?" Gaby asked him before looking to the doctor.
"Gaby, we're watching you very closely. There's no reason for you not to be able to carry these babies to term if you take care of yourself," The doctor added.
"It's going to be fine, Gaby. You can do this…" Ryan said, squeezing her hand.
"I can do this…it's a little late to be turning back now, right?" Gaby admitted, giving him a smile.
The doctor seemed relieved that Ryan was able to calm her down. She took advantage of Gaby's attention and started to lecture her about her dietary habits. Ryan held her hand tightly the whole time.
