This chapter turned out to have a little more in it than I planned, so I'm breaking it into two parts. The end will be up within the next few days. Sorry for the long wait. I wrote and rewrote this several times, and I think I'm as happy with it as I'm ever going to be. My knowledge of the legal system is rather limited, so I apologize in advance for that. Please review!

"Hey Ryan, I need to talk to you about- oh shit! Sorry!"

Ryan sighed with frustration and leaned his head on Marissa's shoulder as Seth retreated from the pool house. "You'd think he'd learn to knock."

"Or that you would fix that lock."

"Or we could make out under the dock."

Marissa swatted his shoulder and giggled. She lifted up his wife-beater to look at his back and stomach. "Well, clearly you're healing quite well."

"I'm as good as new. Better even." He kissed her teasingly, moving his lips down her neck. "You know, Sandy's going to be visiting Kirsten all weekend."

"Is that so?" Her eyes sparkled as she smiled at him. "What will you do with the house all to yourself?"

"I don't know. It might get really lonely."

She tried to think of some witty response, but all she could think about was the two of them alone for a whole night. She pulled his lips to hers, then slipped her tongue into his mouth and explored it frantically. When he rolled his hips she let out a little squeal of pleasure and pulled him closer. "I'll be here at seven on Saturday night. Okay?"

He nodded. "Oh yeah."

Theresa studied the baby's face as he slept soundly in her arms. Her mother was right; he was looking more and more like his daddy everyday.

On Thanksgiving Day, he'd shown up on her door step after being gone for five months. Five months! And he'd just stood there like nothing had ever happened with another girl by his side. It hurt like hell, but she knew she deserved it.

The summer before Ryan disappeared, they'd started to become more than just friends with benefits. Sometimes he would stay all night, sneaking out just before sunrise. He no longer tried to hide his anger when Eddie would express interest in her. She would always assure him that she didn't like Eddie that way. She was falling in love with Ryan, but she didn't tell him and it was killing her.

One night in July, she'd heard the familiar tapping on her window. She helped him inside and immediately began inspecting him for bruises. "What did he do, Ryan?"

"Nothing. I just…wanted to see you." It was then that she'd decided she could no longer pretend they were just messing around.

When she told him she loved him, Ryan had panicked, muttered something about promising Trey he'd help him with something, and then she hadn't seen him or talked to him in a whole week. She knew it was over, and she was not going to waste another minute waiting for Ryan Atwood. So she had finally agreed to go out with Eddie. Hopefully it would take her mind off things.

She was surprised that she'd had fun with Eddie and as a testament to just how completely over Ryan she was, she'd invited Eddie in. He kissed her as they moved down the hallway, towards her bedroom. She swung the door open to find Ryan staring back at her. He held a single red rose and pain and confusion were etched onto his face, but it soon turned to anger. He'd ripped all the petals out of the rose, scattering them around the room. "Just came by to say that I love you too." He voice was eerily calm.

He stormed out of the house and got on his bike. She called after him, running beside him on the sidewalk until her legs wouldn't move anymore. She knew he'd be at Trey's, so she decided it would be best to give him some time to cool off before she tried to explain. She had apologized to Eddie and told him she couldn't see him again.

The next morning, Ryan's bike was still gone.

The morning after that, she looked out her window and found AJ and another guy loading the furniture into the back of a truck. Still no sign of Ryan.

The next day, the Atwood house was completely deserted, so she'd gone to Trey's house to look for Ryan, but Trey's roommate had told her that Trey had landed himself in jail. For five months she wondered where he was, if he was okay. Seeing him standing there on her porch brought back memories of all the nights she'd spent in his arms, all the nights he'd come to her window, the school dances, the musicals, the Kool-Aid stands. But now, seeing him with Marissa, it was clear that Ryan no longer belonged to her and never would again. She tried to tell herself that she had Eddie, but that was little consolation.

The very next morning, she'd gone to the jail to visit Trey. He was as close to Ryan as she could get now. Over the next few months, they developed a close friendship and her visits became a regular thing. When Trey told her he was going to be released early, she'd eagerly agreed to pick him up and said that he could crash with her for a few days.

They'd gone out to dinner to celebrate his new freedom. She couldn't help but notice the way he looked at her like Ryan did, smelled like Ryan did. One thing led to another and soon they were writhing against each other in the backseat of the car.

She pulled back, realizing that she was doing what Eddie had falsely accused her of only two days before, right after he'd slapped her across the face and punched her in the stomach. Fuck him, she thought, pulling Trey back to her. As he started to peel off her shirt, she closed her eyes, getting lost in the sensation. And then it was Ryan on top of her, kissing her neck, hands cupping her breasts. When she opened her eyes and saw Trey, she felt sick. She felt like she was betraying Ryan. "Stop. Trey, I'm sorry, but I just can't do this."

"What Eddie doesn't know won't hurt him," he replied, pulling her shirt over her head and unhooking her bra.

"No! We just can't do this." He'd tossed her clothes into the front seat, so she crossed her arms over her chest, trying to cover herself.

Trey looked at her, his eyes wild, and she knew he was on something. His hand went up her skirt and his fingers slipped inside her thong. "Like hell we can't. You want this as badly as I do."

She slapped his hand away, clamping her legs together. "No."

"What, is it because of Ryan?" Trey demanded, his voice rising.

She looked down, unable to meet his eyes. "I'm sorry."

"So what has all this been about? Visiting me all the time, letting me stay at your house, that outfit you're wearing…"

"I have to go."

"No way. I've been waiting six months for this. You're going to finish what you started."

She had tired to move away from him but he pinned her down with his body and suddenly, his hands were everywhere. She closed her eyes trying to tell herself it wasn't really happening.

The next morning she'd felt sick, sore, and heartbroken. She missed Ryan more than ever and she was determined to find him and win him back. At the very least, she needed his friendship. She got a catering job in Newport, and she hoped and prayed that she would run into him there.

The baby stirred, opening his eyes. He was an Atwood, just not in the way that she'd let everyone believe.

Next chapter is the last one. For real this time.