Childlike Ways
Summary- I've made them a bit childish, lol.
Disclaimer- Er...
A/N- Thanks so much for all the awesome reviews, you guys are amazing! And I'm sorry I haven't updated in a long time, I feel bad, but this is why I don't think this is ony of my favorite chapters, it moves really fast. But I hope you enjoy it anyways.
Summer stuffed another piece of cherry pie in her already full mouth as Marissa, who was sitting next to her, did the same. "So what your saying is--" she took a big gulp, waving the fork in the air, "Is that the more I eat, the faster the baby will come out?"
Marissa shrugged, slipping in a few dry cereals in her hand and eating them up. "I don't know, I'm just hungry." Summer laughed and took a few dishes to the sink, starting to wash them off. "We have a dishwasher you know," Marissa told her, also getting up and putting her dishes in the sink. "I know" Summer started "But I have seriously not moved in like...days, gotta get my ass up to do something."
Marissa nodded understandingly as she sat down on one of the stools. "So where's Caitlin?"
"Work." Marissa answered simply.
"She works?"
"Yeah, it's nothing big, just waitressing."
"Oh." Summer finished wiping the last dish and sat down next to her friend. "So how much longer will she be living with you guys?"
Marissa shrugged. "I wish I knew. But at the rate she's going now, I'd say until the twins are about 18."
"Well than just tell her to get out," Summer deadpanned. "I can't exactly just say get out. I mean, she's my sister." "So?"
"So, if your sister came to live with you, than what would you say?"
"I don't have a sister."
"Well, if you did, and she came to live with you, what would you do?" Now Marissa was getting fed up. Hormones.
"Honestly?" She paused, putting her hands on her belly. "I don't care where this conversation is going. I'm just tired and wanna go to sleep."
Marissa sighed as she walked to the couch, laying down and putting her feet up. Summer followed suit, sitting on the adjoining couch. "So when's Ryan coming back?" she asked.
"I don't know. Next week, 3 months," she replied angrily.
"Oooh," Summer said in a teasing tone. "Trouble in La-la land?"
An eye roll was all she recieved from Marissa as she rubbed her belly. "So you think he's still cheating on you huh?"
"He is not cheating on me!" Marissa defended. "That's yours and Caitlin's sick, twisted theory!" Summer rolled her eyes, now examining her plain fingernails. "Coop, you wanna do my nails? Like the old days?"
Marissa shook her head. "Nah, the fumes will get to me and than I'll be really pissed." "Good point." They sat there for a little while longer, not doing besides closing their eyes and opening them. "You know," Summer started. "Hmm?" She continued, "I really love your backyard." Marissa was confused. "Um, okay? Thanks."
"No, I really do." She looked at it for a while little longer, staring it through the french doors. "Do you think I could just use it?" "Ok? For what?"
"For mine and Seth's reception." "What reception?" Marissa asked, sitting up. "For the wedding." "You had your wedding." Marissa deadpanned, avoiding contact with Summer. Summer noticed and hobbled over to her, stroking her hair in the meantime. "Sweetie," she said softly. "Coop, open your eyes." "Sum, just tell me what you were gonna say." Marissa said dismaslly. "I love you Coop, you know that right? And I love your family." She sighed, she hated admitting things. "But I'm also jealous. I wanted to do something fun or exciting, and I really haven't since...Well, you know." Her voice was cracking with each word. "Sum," Marissa rubbed her forearm. "You know you're my best friend, and...I don't know why you're jealous, sometimes I'm jealous of you, just living happy and carefree, but I love my life, and I wouldn't change it for a thing."
"Same here," Summer whispered. The two best friends hugged each other tightly. "You can use the backyard," Marissa whispered, pulling back. Summer smiled. "Thanks." A honk was heard from outside and Summer started to rummage for her purse. "That's Seth." Marissa nodded and wiped her face free of tears. Seth greeted Marissa with a hug and started to help Summer out of the door. "Call me when Ryan gets home!" Seth called out before dputting the car in rear and driving out. Marissa nodded and shut the door behind her. "I need to call him." Her hands went directly to her 8 month pregnant belly.
--
"Hi Louise, is Ryan there?"
"No ma'am, he's not, I can leave a message if you would like." "No, that's fine, thanks anyways. Bye." She hung up the phone, settling back into the pillows. "Where are you Ryan?" she whispered to herself.
He had gone to Wisconsin again, but was barely ever home. Now he was somewhere in Florida, not calling for the past 2 days. Maybe Summer and Caitlin are right. No! How can you think like that?
She went to sleep, having an emotional battle inside herself.
--
She stirred a little more. "Ryan?" she whispered, turning around, patting the space next to her, expecting to find nothing. But instead found a body. She hit the body and a small squeal was heard. It was familar though. "Ryan?" "No, it's Caitlin, jeez!" she choked out. "Sorry, you were just sweating and thought I'd see what's going on." Caitlin explained. "Oh."
"C'mon, what's going on?" Caitlin persisted.
Marissa's lips trembled as she leaned her head on Caitlin's shoulder. "What if you're right? About Ryan." Caitlin pat her back soothingly. "No, no, we...Summer was just joking, c'mon, go back to sleep, okay? Everything will work out." She ran her hand over the top of her head messily and laid her back on the bed. Marissa nodded, hugging Caitlin even tighter, but was interupted by a cell phone vibration. Caitlin looked quickly at it, sighing sadly. "Who is it?" Marissa sniffed. "No one, just um...Be right back." She started making her way off the bed when Marissa grabbed her arm. "If it's that date you've been talking about since forever," she laughed, "go ahead, I'm a big girl, I can take care of myself."
Caitlin looked skeptical. "Are you sure? Because I can stay with you, if you really want." "Go, have fun, get wasted and have wild sex--"
"Well if you insist," Caitlin giggled, hugging her sister and giving her a last wave before running down the stairs. Marissa sighed and leaned back into the pillows.
--
"Ryan," she repeated, "Ryan?" She felt eyes on her and a warm hand on her hip. "I'm right right here babe, shh," he whispered, stroking the side of her face. "Ryan! Ohmygod!" she exclaimed hoarsely, jumping on top of him. He let out a small whiny noise; after all, her whole body weight was on his. "Oh, I missed you so much," she whispered. Her head lay on his chest and Ryan flipped them over, hovering over her. "I missed you too."
"Where have you been?!"
Ryan laughed. "I told you, out of town." She smiled and briefly gave him a kiss. "Never. Going. Out. Of. Town." She mumbled in his lips. "I'll try not to." She stared at him. "I can't promise anything," he admitted. "Just trust me okay?"
Her eyes avoided his for a while, until finally she made eye contact. "I trust you."
--
"Pick up Ryan, we have no food in this house," she mumbled to herself. "Mr. Gates' office, Louise speaking." The receptionist spoke up. "Louise?"
"Speaking. Who's this?"
"Is Mr. Atwood there?"
"No, he hasn't been here for the past few weeks, who's ask--"
Marissa hung up.
He's gonna get it.
--
"Honey! I'm home!" Ryan teased, walking into the house. He followed with a carry-out bag and his briefcase. "Maris'? You home?" he wondered out loud, going into the kitchen. He set his belongings down and started to look for Marissa. He found her in the living room, looking through a magazine. "Hey, there you are," he grinned, walking over to her. "Hi," she said dully. "What's wrong?" he asked, wondering why she was in a bad mood. She set her magazine down. "I called your office, but you weren't there." She looked at him for any response, just saw a shocked expression. "I uh--"
"Which leaves me wondering as to why my husband is lying to me."
"I'm not lying," he defended. "You're not? Than when you go out of town, who are you really seeing?"
Ryan's eyes bulged. "That's confidential information." "Fine, keep it confidential. And I'll keep my life confidential as well--"
"Marissa," Ryan started to interupt. "No Ryan!" she snapped. "Let me finish. Keep it confidential, ok? It doesn't bother me at all that a husband refuses to tell his wife, who I may add is pregnant, where he is for long periods of time." She glared at him. Ryan avoided her eyes. "Fine." She deadpanned, starting to walk away but Ryan twirled around. "I'll tell if you really want to know." She looked at him intently. "And you're gonna tell me the whole truth?"
"As much as you wanna know, I'll tell you." "Fine than." She started to sit down, Ryan following beside her. They stared at each other for a while, almost in a childlike manner. "Where are you really going when you go out of town?"
"Wisconsin and Florida, like I said." He put it simply. "And what happens in Wisconsin and Florida?" "I meet with bosses." He answered shortly. Marissa's eyebrows furrowed in confusion. "Why bosses?" Ryan sighed and rested his head on the pillows behind him. "Because..." he sighed again, "The firm is going bankrupt and they're thinking about laying some of us off."
Marissa's jaw dropped. "Oh." Ryan nodded. "And you think they'll lay you off?" "Don't wanna take any risks." She gave him a small, comforting smile and crawled onto him slightly, threading her hands in his hair. "Why didn't you tell me before?"
"Because I didn't want to worry you. You have enough to worry with the baby coming and we already have a load with the kids coming back soon...And than there's Caitlin..." "But we would've figured something out," she interupted him. "It doesn't help if you don't tell me these things, it's not confidential, it's marraige." He smiled slightly, opening his legs as Marissa sat in the space between, careful not to crush him with her excess weight. He stroked her arm gently. "So what are we gonna do?"
Ryan looked at her, oblivious to her question. "Are we moving? New state? New house?"
He shrugged. "Glad you have it all planned out," she said dryly. "I will," he explained, "just not now, I'm just glad to be home," he quietly told her. Marissa closed her eyes, making herself a little more comfortable; twisting her body around, Ryan's legs outstreched besides hers and his arms which rested around her. "Did I tell you Summer wants to have her reception in our backyard?"
"Great, because we don't have enough to deal with." "Now c'mon, it'll be fun." "I don't see how setting up, cleaning up, getting dressed up as well as trying to get the twins dressed up is "fun"?"
"You don't think anything's fun," she tilted her head, looking up at him and sticking her tongue out playfully. Ryan remained a straight face and wiggled his eyebrows. "But you know what would be fun?" she asked excitedly, getting off the couch and clasping her hands together. "Actually being able to have sex?"
"Is that all you think about?"
"No, unfortunately I don't have the mind of a 17 year old anymore. But c'mon, what'll be fun?" Marissa rolled her eyes, ignoring his previous comment. "Watching our wedding video."
"Oh no."
"Why not? I love watching that!" she pouted, going over to the entertainment center. "I know that, don't you think I've watched it enough?"
"Than what's the problem if we watch it one more time?" "Because you rewind and pause and zoom repeatedly," Ryan dragged out. "Well too bad you'll have to see it again," she smiled mischeviously, already having the video popped in. Ryan rolled his eyes and rested his hands behind his head as the screen started to disperse into pictures and loud sounds. "At least my Mom was good for one thing at the wedding," she joked, stretching herself out and than sitting down on the floor, next to Ryan's legs. Ryan sighed and watched as Marissa started to mouth the begining words to the video.
A constipated looking Ryan came onscreen and Marissa giggled. She looked up at him and pinched his left cheek. "I think your face kinda ruined the mood," she teased. "Yes, that face is reserved for your beauty," he teased back, gripping her shoulders and continued to listen to Marissa sing along to the wedding march.
--
Marissa had somehow managed back on the couch, her belly on top of Ryan's. She had naturally fallen asleep and Ryan had returned the tape back to where it was supposed to and higher up. Where she couldn't get it. He loved watching that tape, he really did, just not enough to memorize each word that came out of their mouths.
He was watching a game now, or trying to. Marissa's snores were making it slight hard to concentrate. He stroked her arms repeatedly until he felt a certain wetness on his pants. His eyes bulged and lifted Marissa's head out f the crook of his arm. "Ryan? What are you doing?" she asked sleepily, rubbing her eyes. "Marissa, wake up! You're peeing on me!" Ryan exclaimed hurridely. Marissa broke out into hysterics when she felt her stomach, wet. "Ohmygod! I am!" she did a double look at Ryan and than back at her belly. "I'm not peeing! My water broke!" she yelled, gripping on to his shoulder. His eyes bulged even more and he started scattering about the room. Marissa started to hobble towards the closet where her "baby bag", when the baby would be born, was and looked back to see Ryan running a nervous hand through his hair. "Would you please not get so damn excited and hurry your ass up!" she screamed as Ryan ran to her side. "Sorry," he muttered, taking her hand and leading her to the car.
--
"Pick up, pick up," he rambled on and on in his brain.
--
The phone rang and Seth looked evilly at it. "You just had to ring now! Now!" Seth continued when Summer took out the plug. "Oh thank you," Seth whispered as he took off her oversized shirt. "Alone time here I come," he growled.
--
Ryan sighed irrabtly and flipped his phone open again.
--
"Hi--you've reached Jake, leave a message and I'll get back to you. Mom, Dad, don't leave a message, I'll call you again when I can." He laughed and than it beeped.
"Hey Jake, It's Dad," Ryan started, "Um--" he started to pick at his ear nervously, "guess you're not there, but your Mom's having the baby so uh--"
"Dad!" Jake finally picked up and Ryan let out a sigh of relief. "Hey, how are you?" he asked. "Good, you?" he asked breathlessly. "What were you doing?" Ryan asked suspiciously. "Uh, nothing, so um..." he motioned for Kayla to put on her shirt, "what'd you call for? You just called like...yesterday."
Ryan laughed weakly, "Yeah, I know, but your Mom, she's having the baby--"
"Now?!"
"Yeah, I'm calling from the hospital." Jake inched his jeans up and started to put on a loose tee. "You want me to come? 'cuz I can--"
"Nah," Ryan shrug him off, "they just told me to wait out here, and I tried calling Seth, didn't pick up, so just thought I'd tell you. Besides, your Mom does't want you miss out on everything Virginia has to offer." Ryan smiled wrly as he sat down in one of the waiting room chairs. "You ok Dad?" Jake questioned. "Yeah, fine, just a little worried, that's all."
"All right, well listen, call me if anything happens, all right?""Will do." "Later Dad," he hung up, looking at Kayla. "Pack a suitcase, quick," he ordered to his girlfriend as she quickly followed his orders.
--
"If you could just let me see my wife than maybe I wouldn't have anything to yell about!" Ryan shrieked loudly. "Sir, please, I need you to sit back and relax," the nurse sat him down in one of the chairs. "My..."
The nurse cut him off. "Sir, I know, but I'm sure your wife and your baby will be fine, I suggest you stay out here, please, for your sake and the doctor's sake." Ryan sighed helplessly and nodded, agreeing to the nurse's orders. The nurse disappeared behind a stack of papers as Ryan got up once again, leaning his forehead against the teal door, hearing Marissa's screams for the baby to come out and for Ryan to come back in while she gave birth to their baby girl, or baby boy.
A/N- Another fast paced chapter. Or maybe I'm the only one who thinks like this. I happen not to like this chapter too much, reminds me too much of my one parters, but oh well. Ryan's "money troubles" weren't a big issue, and you shall see later on that they come into play more.
