Here it is, this chapter's a little slow, but I think I like how it turned out. I'm trying to make this story a little more versatile, because, believe it or not, my first intention with this story wasn't to make it a total Seth and Summer drama. So there's a little more Ryan in this chapter. I hope the next chapter won't take too long, but I'm not quite sure. Everything belongs to Mr. Schwartz and the super fly folks at FOX. Peace and love...

She didn't really want to be here. She didn't need to be here. Jenn was really only there, because she loved her father. She didn't need to know this woman. She had Summer. She didn't need some woman who didn't love her like Summer did. She didn't need some woman's mother either.

But as soon as Ryan had walked into the house, he had had a smile on his face, and he hugged the woman who came to the door so tightly, that Jenn wondered if he ever hugged her Grandma Kirsten that tight. And the woman had looked at Jenn like she was the most beautiful thing in the world. Only her daddy ever looked at her like that. So she would stay for dinner. Just dinner.

"How do you like your dinner, Jennifer?" The woman's eyes were big and dark, not scary dark, just dark. Jenn nodded, not looking up too long.

"It's good, ma'am."

Ryan was leaning against his chair's back, his arm wrapped around the back of his daughter's chair. And he was still smiling. Not big or anything like Summer and Kirsten would make him do when they wanted, but it was still a smile. So Jenn would take it.

But the woman was always looking at her. And she didn't like that. But her dad squeezed her hand every now and then, and that was good. This woman was strange though.

"You know, Jennifer, I knew your father ever since he moved here which was...oh gosh, around six?"

Ryan nodded. "Yeah, six. The year after Fresno."

"That's right. You and that good looking brother of yours were always around my little girl."

"Uncle Trey? Good looking?" Jenn looked to Ryan, but he just laughed.

"Oh he was very good looking, Jennifer. But he would hang out with my son more than Theresa. But your father and her were joined at the hip."

"That's right. We were the outcasts. Trey and Arturo used to always say we would just mess up their super secret plans."

Jenn nodded, leaning against her father in case he started crying like he had the last time he talked about the Cabalas.

"So, um, where's 'Arturo' now?" Jenn swirled her finger in circles on her father's arm, not willing to look up again.

"Well, he got a job in Reno, so he's been there for about five years now." She was old. Looked older than Jenn's Grandma. Kirsten was young and pretty, this woman had creases in her cheeks that folded when she smiled.

"Trey says it's good there." Ryan nodded. "He called a year or two ago. He said they see each other sometimes."

"I'm glad. There was a point when Arturo didn't want to talk to him. Thought he messed up your life, Theresa's life."

"It wasn't his fault."

"What? That she left? He knows that. Arturo had this whole idea that if Trey hadn't gotten taken in, you would've stayed and you and Theresa would've lived happily ever after. He misses his sister is all."

Ryan nodded again, a little stiffer this time. Jenn didn't like that either. "They were best friends since as long as I can remember. They'll always be able to work it out somehow."

"That's what I always thought it would be like with my Theresa. That she would miss you. She missed you so much that year."

"So she leaves to miss him more," Jenn mumbled, shifting against Ryan's chest.

"Jenn..."

"I'm sorry. She's the bad guy here, isn't she? It's not Uncle Trey, it's not the other guy, and it's definitely not you. So it has to be here. I don't think we have to talk about how great she is."

"Jennifer, Theresa may have made some mistakes, but she's not the bad guy here. There is no bad guy." The woman's smile was gone with Ryan's.

"Jenn, watch your mouth. She's your mother."

"She isn't my mother! I'm sorry, she might've been great, and she might've been pretty, but she wasn't ever my mother. I have a mother, and she loves me."

"Jenn, Summer isn't your mother. Summer loves you, and she'll always be there for you, but she isn't your mother. This is always going to be a part of you, and I'm sorry if you're not interested in it."

"I am, but you don't have to pretend you want to be here, Daddy." She let her voice fall back down like Summer had taught her.

"I do want to be here. Jenn, this is, was, home to me. You have to appreciate that somehow."

"Fine. But what does it matter anyway? I'm not going to ever be able to understand this, just like I'm not ever going to get to see this woman you call my mother. Why try to make me think of her then? I don't know her, I don't remember her, and I'm not a part of this family. I know where I belong so you don't have to try and confuse me and say all of that was wrong and this is right."

"Jennifer, your father and I are not trying to convince or confuse you at all. Just the opposite actually. Don't blame Ryan, I asked to see you. I'm sorry if you feel uncomfortable, but I just wanted to see how good my Ryan can raise them."

"Oh." Jenn's voice fell even farther down to a low murmur. "I'm sorry. I bet your daughter was very nice."

"Don't be sorry, Jennifer. Now, would you like to help me with the tea?"

Jenn looked to Ryan and he nodded. She shrugged. "Okay."

Kirsten didn't like the house this quiet. She hadn't had a house empty of kids since, like, ever. Granted, there were Summer and Seth, and she still considered them kids, but they didn't hang around too long. They were always somewhere, enjoying the lack of Ryan, Marissa, Chris, Jenn, everyone. Marissa came over sometimes, just for dinner though, and she always had somewhere to go. So Summer and Seth got to have some real couple time. Kirsten just missed sounds in her house.

She sat in the kitchen in the mornings, reading the paper, saying hi to Seth and Summer on their way out, and then she worked all day. But apparently Summer and Seth had already gone out, because the noises outside seemed to hint at a car pulling in to the driveway. Then, it was definitely followed by giggling of the Summer variety, and Kirsten smiled a little despite herself. The giggles got louder, but suddenly she heard a shriek too.

"Cohen!"

It was followed by a large splash and Kirsten just shook her head, not even bothering to look outside. She was smiling wider though. If this had all happened at 16, 17, any of that, Summer would have been adopted already. After Ryan, Kirsten hadn't really been afraid of welcoming in new people anymore. But Summer had come when she was nineteen and trying desperately to get through college without parents and with a one year old. But she was still Kirsten's daughter. And now that she had her son back, it might be able to become official. And with the way she'd catch Summer looking at him, when Seth was reading the paper or anything, Kirsten knew it couldn't be long. It wouldn't be long. And that's what would be best for them anyways.

But then there was still the tiny voice that told her that if Seth married Summer, Seth wouldn't be able to leave again. Which is a completely ridiculous reason to get married to someone, but still. She'd have the security of knowing her son could not leave. He couldn't.

"Geez, Cohen, I'm freezing." The glass door opened, and a dripping wet Summer ran her hands up and down her shirt plastered arms.

"Yeah? Well, I mean, we can take care of tha-ha...Mom. Hi. Good morning."

Seth dropped a quick kiss on his mother's head and picked up an apple from the fruit basket. He scrunched up his nose and rolled his eyes. "Do we have any...you know what? Never mind. Apples are...good." He emphasized the last word by biting down hard.

Kirsten just rolled her eyes and nodded. She patted Summer's shoulder, saying, "He's your problem now, sweetheart. I have work."

Summer grinned, nodding slowly and seriously. She held Kirsten in a one armed hug as she walked out of the kitchen and to her car.

Seth spun around on his foot, holding both of Summer's hands in each of his.

"We didn't chase her out or anything, right?"

"No, she just misses Ryan. So she works."

"Oh. Well, he'll be back soon."

"She wasn't expecting him to spend the night in Chino."

Seth shrugged. "He's not staying forever."

"Last time he went to Chino it took him two years." Summer shrugged back. "But I don't know. It's Kirsten. She just worries."

"When does Chris' plane land?"

"A few hours. You know Luke's going to spend a few days here too."

Seth nodded. "Yeah. Why?"

Summer's mouth hung open for a second, but she just shrugged. "No reason. So, what are we going to do for...four hours?"

"Four?"

She nodded, moving in closer and leaning her cheek against Seth's chest. He smiled and kissed her forehead, releasing her hands and wrapping his around her back.

"Well, we could probably fit two IMAX movies in there."

"Yeah...IMAX movies. Great idea."

"Migrating birds..." Seth murmured in a singsong way, cocking his head.

Summer giggled, backing him up against the counter and pulling down the curtain.

Ryan stretched his neck, squinting his eyes through the lack of thick, pink curtain Kirsten had picked out for him blocking out the sun. Jenn was sleeping under his arm, so he slid out of the bed as carefully as possible. She had been getting along so well with Ms. Cabala last night, that they had stayed up past eleven laughing and talking. She didn't have to get up just yet.

He was still wearing his jeans and tee shirt, and he could feel the imprints of the jeans' seams on his legs. But the house smelled good. He walked into the kitchen, sitting on the counter next to Ms. Cabala and her pots and pans.

"Hungry?"

"Yeah, what are you making?"

"A real breakfast for my granddaughter. You might have to just find an apple or something." She smiled.

Ryan leaned his head over the pot, causing Ms. Cabala to lightly tap him with her spoon.

"Patience, Mr. Atwood."

Ryan smiled and leaned his back against the cabinets.

"So where's Jennifer?"

"Still sleeping."

"Did she say anything more...about me maybe?"

Ryan nodded. "She thinks you're nice."

"That's all? No 'real' feelings coming out?"

"What do you mean?"

"About me...Theresa..."

"Jenn always has a problem with that. She doesn't understand why she needs to get that Theresa is her mother. She's grown up adopting Summer as that figure and she thinks we should just live and let die."

"But what if she was to come back?"

Ryan hesitated for a second. "Yeah...that's what I was thinking. Um...Ms. Cabala, can I ask you something?"

"Of course, sweetie."

"Have you...I don't mean to offend you, but...have you heard from her? Is that why you...you know, called?"

"Well, I have gotten a phone call from her. A long way back though. I just wanted to meet my granddaughter, Ryan, I promise."

"Okay. No, that's what I thought. I was just...wondering."

"Are you worried, sweetie?"

"About what?"

"Her coming back. I know you are; I can see it."

"I don't know. It would be a good thing. Jenn could meet her mother."

"But you are afraid you might lose your daughter."

Ryan shifted on the counter, nearly whispering when he started talking again. "I already lost Theresa. I don't need...to see her again. That's just...over."

"I understand, honey. She hurt you, and you're afraid she'll hurt your daughter. But I have heard that that boy you were always talking about came back. Seth? And are you worried about him?"

"What do you mean?"

"You're worried about Theresa coming back to break your heart all over again, and Jenn's too. What about this boy?"

"Seth's staying."

"But if you can believe that, couldn't you believe it of Theresa too?"

Ryan stayed on the counter as a girl came up between him and Ms. Cabala.

"That smells so good."

"Good. Are you hungry, Jennifer?"

"Starving. Daddy? Are you going to eat?" Jenn looked up at him, a half smile on her face, and a whole one in her eyes.

Ryan put a smile on his face too, nodding, "Yeah, babe. Why don't we go set the table?"

Jenn grinned and grabbed some forks and spoons from the cabinet, walking towards the table. Jenn really was able to adapt well. Ryan knew that. But she was already walking around this place like she knew it. That was new.