Fix You

Author's Note: I've keep getting distracted every time I try to write this chapter. Here I am though, ready for it finally. Thanks for all the reviews guys! Appreciate it more than you'll know.

Chapter 8: Still

When you get what you want, but not what you need
When you feel so tired, but you can't sleep

Ryan wanted to leave. Standing there in front of the big white door that led to Seth and Marissa's house with Summer by his side. It hadn't been a good idea, showing up here to see Seth. Showing up here after fourteen years to finally talk to him about Cassandra, about his life. Summer had convinced them and now that they had rang the doorbell they were stranded.

Stuck having to see this through.

Surprisingly, a little five year old girl with blonde hair and big, brown eyes answered the door, standing on the tip of her toes as she held the door open and looked at them with curiosity. Ryan knew right away, this was their daughter. She greeted them both slowly, "Hi."

"Hey sweetie," Summer stooped down slightly, to the girl's level, "Can we talk to your mommy or daddy?"

Ryan tensed. He didn't want to talk to Marissa. Not with all his feelings for her swirling around.

"Mommy and daddy are having superhero alone time," the little girl informed them, "Daddy says everyone needs it, even Superman and Lois Lane. They're not even talking to each other. Only me."

A grin almost spread on Ryan's face. He could see Summer suppressing one as well. This was definitely Seth's daughter all right; there was no doubt in either of their minds. Ryan knew well that Seth had a contagious personality. Years ago it had even rubbed off on him some.

"I'm sure your daddy would talk to us," Summer assured her, "We're old friends."

The five year old seemed to contemplate this for a moment and the nodded, "Okie dokie."

Ryan and Summer shared a look before they followed the little blonde girl out of the entrance and down the hall. Right away, Ryan was hit with a sense of déjà vu as he walked into the house. It reminded him so much of the Cohen house, with a little bit of the neighboring Cooper house and the model home thrown in.

They stopped outside a closed door and Seth's daughter pushed the door open and padded into the room gently. Summer followed close behind and Ryan took up the rear, not anxious at all to get this over with.

"Allison Bean Cohen, do you remember the rules of the office?" Seth asked and Ryan knew he was trying his best to sound fatherly, he could tell though that Seth didn't mind at all. He just continued working on whatever was in front of him.

"You gave her the middle name Bean?" Summer piped in, finally drawing attention to the two of them, "God Cohen, who do you think you are? Kurt Cobain?"

If you never try you'll never know
Just what you're worth

Seth regained his composure quick enough, "Um, maybe you'd prefer if I named her after Paris Hilton?"

Summer glared at him. Ryan just stood silently, arms crossed over his chest. Seth pushed himself back and stood up, walking over to them. He put a hand on his daughter's head, looking down at her, "Allie Bean, why don't you go up to see Kurt and the two of you can plan your world domination?"

"I don't want to," Allie said, looking up at him, "I'm staying here with you and the pretty lady and the silent, brooding man. They remind me of Kid Chino and Little Miss Vixen. Daddy are they superheroes too?"

"Yup and they're here to help mommy and daddy take down the evil of Atomic County," Seth told her, "But it's a secret mission, so we need to talk alone. You're too young to help now, but when you're older you can."

"I'm always too young to do anything cool," Allie sighed, leaving the three of them alone to talk.

"Little Miss Vixen?" Summer raised a brow, "I thought you were done with the whole comic book thing Cohen. Remember the incident of February 2005?"

"Yes, Summer I do, but Zach and I got together again and," He motioned to the poster in back of him, "brought our dreams back to life. One big graphic novel that sold millions amongst comic books fiends."

"Still haven't learned to let go of the past?" Summer wondered.

Seth frowned. He had, in fact learned to get over the past. It was how he had managed to finally open his eyes and realize that there was only one person he truly wanted to be with, Marissa. She had thought he hadn't been in love with her when they got married, but he had been. He had been in love with her then and he was probably more in love with her now.

No matter what feelings still lingered for Summer.

"I'm pretty sure you didn't come here to argue with me," he put in, "I don't think you miss the past too much otherwise you would've called sometime in the past fourteen years."

"Like you called that summer you ran away like a little bitch," Summer stepped forward, angry at him for just brining that up. Seth regretted it too. That would always be a soft spot between the two of them.

"Look, man, she's here for me," Ryan stepped forward at last, "I need to talk to you. About what happened when you were at the mall."

Seth paused, utterly confused now, "What does the mall have to do with you?"

"That girl Kirsten spooked by calling her Cassandra," he said, "That's my daughter."

"Oh," Seth felt awkward suddenly, things finally tying together in his mind. He'd almost forgotten about the girl at the mall with the reappearance of Summer and Ryan, but Ryan's reappearance was completely due to that little encounter.

An encounter he had been set on finding out the secret behind.

It just turned out, that the secret behind it was the reason that right now he felt like his whole life was falling apart. He never thought that such a small, seemingly insignificant encounter would turn into something of such epic proportions.

Then again, this was still Newport.