The O.C
A Life Half Lived
A/N: Ok. So, you guys are awesome. Thanks so much for all the lovely feedback. Some of you bring tears to my eyes. I am going to update this today but you'll have to wait a few more days for the next chapter because I really need to work on 'Intertwined.' You guys must either really like me, or really like O.C fics because I have never had so much feedback in other categories. Happy reading! Genevra xxox
Prix: Noted. I'll keep you forever because you're such a confidence boost.
Liza: Yes, I am going to do all of that in good time. In fact, most of it in this chapter.
Emma: You're an absolute doll. Thank you so much for your comments. I try. : )
Guz: Thanks heaps. I actually worry about overdoing it, so thanks for letting me know I don't. it's a relief.
Obsessed01: I have to admit, that's kind of the point. I always have to leave you wanting more so that means leaving questions unanswered. Tricksy, aren't I?
Skagirl: I'm so glad to hear you hate him too.
SummerBreeze-171: I read it in a book, I have to admit but I thought it sounded like something Seth MIGHT say so I used it, lol.
Ukbabes: You are so cynical, lol. Maybe it can last, maybe it won't.
GeminiPiper: I don't think I've ever made someone dance anxiously before. Make sure you don't strain any muscles. Bad joke, I know. Here is the answer but…
Big thanks to everyone else who has reviewed so far: livingArtemis, nat, FountainsOfCat, ally, Albinofrog88, welcometotheoc, J, nefftys, paige fan, Mrs.AdamBrody, vaughn is hot, Doves30, kursk, dancersar, bens-luver22, Karlie, HP-magic, CurlySue. If there's anyone I've forgotten I am amazingly sorry but thanks!
Disclaimer: I do not own nor am I affiliated with The OC. Sigh. I do however own any characters or scenarios you don't recognize. Yay!
Chapter Three: As One
"Is she going to be ok?" Ryan asked.
Marissa was looking down into her coffee cup. She took a sip and blanched. Kirsten leaned over and took it away from her.
"She's going to be fine," Sandy answered finally.
"The doctor said that she could have the treatment and it wouldn't harm the baby," Marissa said. "But chances for Summer aren't that high."
Ryan blinked and turned away to compose himself. He'd always had a soft spot for Summer. After, she was his wife's best friend and his best friend's wife. He was so protective of her and he really loved her.
"I don't think I want to hear that," Sandy said. He took Marissa's wrist and she flinched. "He didn't say she wouldn't survive. Summer's a fighter. She'll be alright."
Marissa nodded and blinked back the tears. She glanced at Kirsten for strength but Kirsten was standing at the kitchen window, not even bothering to hide her tears. She did, however, turn to Marissa and give her a smile. It was a small smile and a smile through her tears, but it was a smile all the same. Marissa gave up choking back her sobs and she rested her cheek on the cool table and let the tears slide down her cheeks.
"Why is this happening to her?" she cried, sitting up. She let out a wrenching cry that made everyone in the room flinch and move slightly away from her. Even Ryan, her husband, her life. She saw he recovered quicker than the other's and he quickly scooted to her side.
"Hey, babe," he said, knocking their foreheads together lightly. "It's going to be ok. I promise."
"Don't make promises you can't keep," she whispered lightly. She cried silently for a few more minutes, still leaning against Ryan's forehead. He stood up and held her head to his chest for a moment before he leant down and kissed her forehead.
"I'm going to call your Mum to see how Lexi is," he said. "You should talk to her for a minute. You'll feel better."
She nodded slightly and giving Kirsten and Sandy a brave smile, she walked towards the telephone. Sandy stood up and caught her.
"Marissa," he said. And that's all he had to say. Because she understood. They were in this together and they would make it through. As one. Just like always.
"You called your daughter Lexi?" Summer cooed.
"No," Marissa said, tiredly. She had just been in an eight-hour labour and they were talking on the phone. Summer in Boston and Marissa back home in Newport.
"But Seth said…"
"I called her Alexis," Marissa corrected.
Summer was silent.
"Oh, Coop," she said finally.
"It's my little way of showing that you will always be a part of my life," Marissa explained. "Always and forever, Summer Alexis Cohen."
"Coop, that's so sweet," Summer said, a tear springing to her eye. "Thank you."
"You're my best friend in the whole world, you know that right?"
"You're mine too."
"Hey," Marissa said lightly. She was lying alone on the white suede couch in the formal living room when Seth walked slowly down the stairs. He gripped the banner the whole way down afraid that if he let go, he too, like his world, would crash to the ground with lightening speed. His eyes were red and his shirt was crumpled.
"Hey," he said, taking a seat.
"How are you doing?" she asked.
"I just found out my wife is sick," he said, in a biting sarcastic tone. "How do you think I'm doing?"
Marissa didn't even blink when she retorted.
"Seth, don't even try that with me," she spat. "We're family and we are in this together, as one. So don't even bother using that response with me. We're all hurting here. We're all shocked and we're all upset."
"She's not your wife," Seth said. His eyes were involuntarily welling up.
"No," Marissa answered, moving closer to him. "She's not. But she is my best friend and I have known her my entire life. I know everything about her and we have been there together through everything. If you think that by being rude you're going to get rid of us all, you're wrong. If anything, it's going to make us stay for longer."
Seth nodded slightly as he contemplated her words.
"I wasn't rude," he said finally. "I was typical."
"Which is just as bad," Marissa said, rolling her eyes. "And no, you weren't horrible. But you were going to be. I could tell."
"How?"
"Because this family, we are one. I know you better than I know myself and that's why I'm here," she said. "Because I know you need me."
"Where's everybody else?" he asked, when they were in the kitchen knocking up some dinner.
"Home," Marissa answered, as she ladled the noodles onto a plate. "To give you some space."
Seth froze and looked up at her.
"I'm different," Marissa said. "I don't want to give you any space. I don't trust you to have space. You'll set the house on fire or start making Summer read comics."
Seth walked to a kitchen chair and collapsed into it. She couldn't make him laugh. He rested his head on his arms and Marissa could tell by his heaving, shaking shoulders that he was crying. She walked over to him and put her hands on his shoulders. When his crying got worse, she pulled the chair closest to him out and sat in it. "Hey. Come here."
She put her arms around him and his head moved to her chest. She was crying again. Her eyes stung and were swollen, her face was dry and probably cracked. She definitely didn't have mascara on her face anymore. She should be all cried out but nevertheless, she was crying again.
What a sight they made, the two of them sitting there. Marissa in her pale purple jumper and pearls, Seth in his stock t-shirt and button-up shirt combination. Their hair all messy, their faces dirty and their eyes red and swollen. They were the perfect picture of a couple grieving together as one.
"Thank you for coming in to see me on such short notice," the doctor said. His voice was low and calming, but there was an underlying urgency to it.
"It's no problem," Kirsten said, smiling nervously. She took Summer's hand and squeezed it reassuringly. "Do we come in here?"
"Yes. Please come in and take a seat," he said. He led Summer into the room where she absentmindedly took a seat. He stopped Kirsten and shook her hand. "I'm Dr Jenkins."
"Kirsten Cohen," she said. "Summer's mother in-law."
"Her husband doesn't know about this, does he?" Dr. Jenkins asked. Kirsten shook her head.
"With all due respect, my daughter in-law only found out about this yesterday. I'm lucky she even came and told me. In fact, I only found out as a mistake. You're rushing her to make choices yet before she's even had a tiny moment to tell anyone or to start to deal with it."
"With all due respect, she doesn't have much time to deal with it," he said. Kirsten glared at him for a moment but when she saw his expression, she softened. Trying not to cry, she pushed past him into the room and took a seat next to Summer. Summer looked up at her. She looked visibly worried. The Doctor had been adamant that she come down as soon as she could with someone she trusted. She had automatically picked Kirsten.
"I wanted you two to come here today to talk about your treatment options," he said. "If we don't get this now, there could be some complications. You have two choices and I'm afraid, none of them are perfect. You can have Chemo or you can leave the cancer untreated."
"I don't want to do chemo if it's going to hurt my baby," Summer said, finding her voice.
"There have been no reports of Chemo hurting an unborn fetus," Dr. Jenkins replied. "However, out of all the mother's treated for leukemia while pregnant, five out of five relapsed after two years and none of them recovered."
Summer and Kirsten sat in stunned silence.
"Mrs. Cohen," he said, turning to Summer. "I'm not going to lie to you. Your case is rare. Not many pregnant women have been diagnosed with acute leukemia and not many have survived. You're position is not admirable, I understand and I am sorry. You have a difficult choice. You can either abort your baby, if you're worried or you can-"
"Getting rid of this baby is not an option," Kirsten interjected. She was furious but her shell-shocked appearance made her seem calm and easy. She looked at Summer. "Is it?"
Summer shook her head and then, unable to look at Kirsten any longer, glanced back at the doctor before fixing her glance on the poster behind his head. He looked at Kirsten for a second before he continued.
"You can abort the baby and start the Chemo cycle from the beginning or you can keep the baby and we'll try Chemo. There is no guarantee with either of them. But if you want my advice, keep the baby and take the Chemo. At least then you'll have something to live for."