Author's Note: Hey guys! Thanks so much for all the reviews! I know the last chapter was really short, so I am trying to make this one a bit longer. I hope you like it! Oh yeah…I don't really feel like writing about Sandy or Kirsten, or any adults for that matter…so if you have noticed the lack of them in this story, that is why. Hope you don't mind.

Disclaimer: It's all mine! Mine! Mine! Mine! Not really. It's all Josh's. Or at least I think it is.

As the days go by, I am asking why did you leave
You left me alone and then you walked out on me
Thinking of days, thinking of ways, thinking of things that I should say
I wanna be with you and that's the only way -All American Rejects, Don't Leave Me

"God Cohen! I cannot believe you!" Summer yelled hitting Seth across the arm.

"Owe!"

"You went to Chino without me! You could have been killed! There's like druggies and rapists and, and…"

"And you would stop them from getting me how?" Seth asked, smiling. At least Summer cared.

She hit him on the arm again. He rubbed it. "Still…what if something had happened to you?" She asked, calming down.

"I'm fine. Well, I mean, I'm not fine but…I'm fine."

"Yeah. I'm sorry that he wouldn't come home." Summer said.

"Are you going to tell Marissa?" Seth asked.

"I don't know if I should. I mean, if she knew that he was staying there after the baby died and everything…" She trailed off. "She'd think that he never really did love her at all."

"But he does."

"Yeah, but still…you know?"

"Yeah. Plus, if we told her that he was staying in Chino because he though he only messed stuff up here…there's no telling what she'd do."

Summer laid her head down next to Seth's on the pillow. They were in his room. He put his arm around her. And sighed. He really did miss Ryan.

"What's it gonna be like when school starts?" Seth wondered out loud.

"What do you mean?" Summer asked.

"Who's going to protect me from the demon water polo players?"

Summer leaned in and kissed Seth.

"I think, that for once, this doesn't need to be just about you." She replied after pulling away.

Seth nodded, understanding. Ryan's whole life would fail if he stayed in Chino. And even though, he wasn't looking forward to piss being in his shoes…he wanted Ryan home because he knew that was where Ryan needed to be. Home.

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Theresa's car pulled away, and she waved goodbye. It wasn't a 'I'll see you tomorrow' kind of goodbye, it was a 'forever' kind. The kind that you tell your best friend when you're moving and you know for a fact that you'll never see them again.

Ryan half smiled, and waved. Bye.

He turned around to see the Cohen's house and driveway.

He hoped it wasn't too late to return to the family.

He didn't even know how to approach the house. Sure, he lived there at one time. But things were different now.

Sighing, Ryan decided that it was time. Time to face the Cohens, Seth, and eventually, Marissa.

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"So, now that you're back buddy, what shall we do?" Seth asked happily as he was laying on Ryan's bed.

Ryan smiled. "I don't know. What do you guys do around here?"

Seth's eyes twinkled a little. "We could go sailing…but I think that if Summer found out that I got on that boat again…she'd kill me. Or never talk to me again…and I don't know which is worse."

"Yeah. Probably. And, the not talking to you thing? That's probably worse, considering…"

"Yeah." Seth smiled. "Almost done?" He asked.

Ryan was putting away all his stuff, in his pool house.

"Yeah. I think I am." Ryan said as he sat down in his chair. "It's nice. Being back."

"I'm glad you think so."

Ryan half smiled.

"I told Summer not to say anything…" Seth replied, knowing who Ryan was thinking about. "I figured you'd want to tell her."

"I don't really know how." Ryan replied honestly. He didn't want Marissa to think he thought that he could just run away and come back and expect her to wait for him. Even if he was wishing she had done just that. "Why don't you let Summer tell her?" Ryan asked.

"No way buddy. That's not fair. I mean, sure, Marissa is the one who told Summer I was back, but that just led to a yelling phone call. The yelling on Summer's part." Seth remembered.

"Yeah. You told me." Ryan sighed and got up out of the chair.

"Where are you going?" Seth asked, curious if Ryan was going to see Marissa.

"Um…I thought you wanted to do something?" Ryan asked.

"Yeah, I do. Can we call Summer. It's hard not seeing her everyday, you know?"

Ryan shook his head. He understood. It was hard not seeing the person you love the most everyday. It was actually fucking difficult.

"You know what? How about we rain check this one?" Ryan asked.

Seth shrugged. "Alright. It's not like you're going anywhere."

"Yeah." Ryan smiled. "Thanks Seth. I'm just going to walk around or something…"

"Uh huh." Seth said. Ryan turned to leave, and Seth called out to him. "Ryan…"

Ryan turned around and raised his eyebrows.

"Good luck."

"Thanks."

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Seth called Summer over a little while later. They were in the living room, watching some Lifetime movie.

"I don't get this movie. It's stupid Summer. They're digging for they're brother? Son? Uncle? Which one?" Seth asked, he hadn't stopped talking since the movie started.

"Cohen! Stop. Look…that old guy? Right there? He's looking for his son. His son was lost in the Vietnam War. It's not that hard to understand." Summer rolled her eyes.

"Then what does the Patrick guy have to do with any of this?" Seth asked.

"Ugh! He's that guy's son…who is the brother of the guy they're digging for. He doesn't have like a super huge purpose, but this is a good movie, if you'd just watch it…" Summer said, getting annoyed.

Seth sighed. "Okay." And he leaned back against the couch. Lifetime. Full of drama filled movies that have some special message in the end. He'd rather be playing PlayStation. Or playing doctor with Summer.

AN: (Anyone know what movie they're watching? I'll give you a hint…one of the main characters on The OC plays in it. And it did premier on Lifetime…. This part will seem funnier (I hope) if you know what I'm talking about.)

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Ryan walked across the sandy beach. He wanted to go see Marissa. But he was scared. Ryan Atwood. Scared. Of Marissa Cooper.

It was the truth though. His mind was filled with blanks when it came to her.

Was she mad at him?

The last time they had talked, she didn't act mad, just upset.

He didn't think she was mad at him. It's not like he had a choice…well he did. But he had to do the right thing. He didn't just get on a boat and leave everyone behind…He went back to Chino, to take care of a kid that could possibly or possibly not be his.

Only in his life, things were this twisted.

Coming up to the old lifeguard tower, he heard a noise coming from inside.

Curiosity kills.

He walked up it…this was where he told Marissa, Seth, and Summer that he was going back. This is where his life got turned around and twisted. This is where Ryan Atwood ended.

The door of the tower opened. And Ryan looked up as she stepped out.

He stood frozen.

So did she.

It seemed like hours, but he knew it had only been a few seconds before she spoke.

"Ryan? What are you doing here?" Marissa practically choked with shock. Was he back?

"I…um…I, I'm back." Ryan fumbled with his words. He hadn't prepared this. He always had to prepare what he was going to say, or he turned into a babbling idiot.

"Your back?" Marissa asked, tears in her eyes.

"Yeah." Ryan half smiled. "I am."

"That's….that's…wow."

Ryan stood, looking at her. Was she drunk? Her hair was a mess, and her make-up was a little bit smeared. He stopped smiling.

A second later, a guy came out of the same door that Marissa had. He started to wrap his arms around her before he saw Ryan, standing awkwardly, staring at him and Marissa.

"Who's this?" The guy asked angrily, going into overprotective ass mode.

"Um…" Now it was Marissa's turn to fumble with her words. "DJ…this is Ryan."

Yeah. This was definitely where Ryan Atwood's life ended.

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Author's Note: A little bit of a cliffhanger there. Ugh! I hate having to write about DJ and Marissa…but I had to do it. I just had to. I just have to remember that I'm the one controlling the words…and it will get better. Yes, it will get better. I hate DJ too…by the way.

Hope you enjoyed. Was it longer? I didn't really notice. I'm not good with long chapters really. But I hope that you liked it anyways.

You guys Rock! Jamie (or J)

Review!