Title: Apples and Trees
Description: Ryan is in danger of following in his brother's footsteps.
Disclaimer: I own nothing related to The O.C.. Not for profit.
Author's Notes: By popular demand, an epilogue wherein Ryan returns to Newport the following summer.
Epilogue
Ryan got off the bus from Las Vegas and as he requested, Seth was there to pick him up. Ryan broke out into a big grin to match Seth's when they saw each other.
"Hey."
"Hey."
Ryan and Seth clasped hands and gave each other a one-armed hug.
"Hey, man, you're looking good."
"You, too. Better than when I last saw you." Ryan teased.
"Ha, ha, very funny."
The last time Ryan saw Seth was when he and Marissa came to Vegas for the weekend for Ryan's 18th birthday in March. Seth had had the sensitivity to vacate Ryan's place for the night so that he and Marissa could have some time alone. Unfortunately, Seth spent the night out doing god-knew-what and had come back somewhat worse for the wear, including somewhat drunk.
Unfortunately, Seth and Marissa had to fly out that day. Ryan had been amused but sympathetic when Seth had called the next day to report that his parents were none too pleased at his state when he arrived back at home, forbidding him from ever going to Las Vegas again. And they even tried to ground him, even though he was over 18.
Ryan grabbed his duffle bag, and the two of them headed off to the Range Rover and headed home.
"My parents are going to be so happy to see you."
"Do they still think I'm coming back next week?"
"Yup." Seth smiled. "See, I told you I could keep a secret."
"Good job, Seth. Especially since I just told you yesterday that I was coming back early."
"You are so funny today, I can't stand it."
Ryan just smiled back.
"So, Marissa, right? She's asked you to come home early?"
"Yup. She called. She and Summer are leaving earlier than they had previously planned, so they can look for an apartment. They didn't get a room in the dorms."
Seth shook his head. "I still can't believe that situation."
Ryan shook his head also. "You and me both."
Ryan had kept in touch with Marissa while he was in Vegas, and she had kept him apprised of all the surprising events. Apparently, Summer's father and step-mother had had a falling out during the holidays and quickly thereafter got divorced. Enter Julie Cooper. The way Marissa told it, she saw an opening and went in for the kill, taking advantage of the fact that her daughter was living in Neil's house. They were married in June. So now Summer and Marissa were really sisters, step-sisters. And Marissa's new step-dad was paying to send her to college. She and Summer were both going to USC.
"Actually this is good, you coming home early. This way we get more time before I leave for Berkeley."
"Don't expect to see me much this week. I'm spending time with Marissa. You still going week after next?"
"Yup."
Ryan stared out the passenger side window and watched the houses going by. It was going to be weird living at the Cohens without Seth this year. At least Marissa was just going to be at USC so he could still see her on a regular basis.
"Ryan? You okay?"
Ryan turned back to look at Seth. "Yeah. It's just weird to be back."
"I know. Must be weird going back to school, being a kid again, after being on your own and supporting yourself for eight months. But I guess you've had practice at that –"
Ryan nodded. Yeah, he had to do pretty much the same thing after coming back to Newport after spending the summer with Theresa in Chino. But it was also a little different.
"Yeah, true. But you know, if I learned anything working construction all this time, it's that I do want to finish school and go to college. I don't want to do that work my whole life. I worked with guys there that were smart, could have worked much better jobs, but were stuck there because they didn't have the education."
Seth smiled. "My parents are going to be happy to hear you say that."
Ryan smiled back. "Yeah, I figured."
When Ryan and Seth walked in the front door of Casa de Cohen, Seth gestured to Ryan to keep quiet, then called out,
"Mom? Dad?"
Sandy called back, "In here."
Seth turned to Ryan and gave him a smirk. Sandy and Kirsten were going to be very surprised, and hopefully very happy, to see him. Ryan left his duffle bag in the foyer and followed Seth down the hall to the family room. Ryan could see Sandy and Kirsten in there sitting on the couch and watching TV. Seth and Ryan both stopped just inside the doorway and waited to be noticed.
After a moment, Kirsten turned to Seth, "Honey, what do you want for dinner?"
Then she froze, mouth open. Ryan smiled at her. She shrieked and jumped up, rushing over to Ryan and giving him a big hug. After a moment she took her arms from around him and held him at arm's length, looking him over.
"You look great, Ryan. I can't believe how much you've grown."
Ryan cocked an eyebrow at her. As far as he could tell, he hadn't grown an inch in years.
Kirsten laughed. "You know what I mean. You look so much older. You're a man, now."
"Honey, he is 18. Of course he's grown up."
Ryan looked over at Sandy, who had turned off the TV and was now standing in front of the couch. After Kirsten let him go, Sandy reached over and shook his hand.
"Good to have you back, kid." Sandy laughed. "I guess I can't call you 'kid' any more. How about 'young man'?"
Ryan gave him a look like I don't think so.
Sandy laughed, again. "You're right. I'm going to have to give that some more thought."
Kirsten asked, "So, then, Ryan. What do you want for dinner? Whatever you want. It's your welcome-home dinner."
Ryan hesitantly replied, "Um, actually, I told Marissa I'd have dinner with her –"
Kirsten quickly said, "That's fine. We'll just do it tomorrow."
Ryan smiled at her. "That would be great."
Sandy told Ryan, "We can discuss everything tomorrow. We don't need to get you enrolled at Newport Union until next week –"
"Um, actually, Sandy. I can do that by myself. Since I'm 18, I won't need a parental signature."
"Oh, right."
Ryan nodded, a little bit uncomfortable. He started shuffling towards the foyer. "Um, I'm just going to grab my stuff..."
Sandy nodded. "Go ahead, Ryan, and get yourself settled back in in the pool house. And have fun with Marissa."
Ryan smiled at him. "Thanks. And it's good to be home."
Really The End.