A/N: Alright peoples, since I've gotten so many wonderful reviews for my other story "His End has Come", I've been inspired to write another fic, so thank you guys so much! This one also surrounds Ryan, although I can promise he won't die in this one. This ones been floating in my head for some time now, and I've finally decided to put it on. TJ does not happen in this story. It starts about a week before school starts.

BTW I want to thank Amanda and Shero, you two are the best two authors I've ever met. You guys are so awesome to me. Thanks for the encouragement. For those of you who haven't read any of Amanda's work you totally should. Author name is 'cheekymice'.

Summary: What if Dawn hadn't gotten drunk on Casino Night? Will it last? Guess you'll have to see! Please read and review! Thanks!

Disclaimer: I own nothing related to the O.C. All of that belongs to Josh Schwartz and Co. I only use the characters and setting.

Another New Beginning

It was nearing the end of summer. Dawn had herself a waitressing job at a small restaurant in Newport. The job paid quite well. It seemed that when sober, Dawn could be a pretty good mother and worker. Her and Ryan had been staying with the Cohens until she had enough money to rent a small, two-bedroom house near the pier.

It was very nice compared to the other places they had stayed in, in Ryan's lifetime. It was white with navy blue trim and very well kept up. The front faced the ocean. It was a good place to start over.

Ryan and Seth had, of course, become very good friends. Always hangin' out at Casa Cohen, or the beach. Ryan was beginning to finally feel happy about his mom. He didn't worry so much about coming home and finding his mom drunk or stoned. The kid was finally beginning to loosen up. But of course, he was still quiet and reserved, just more relaxed, always content to listen to Seth ramble on about Summer. However, he was happy that he didn't have to listen to it quite so much now that Dawn had gotten an apartment. Also, to help his mother out, Ryan got a job at the Crab Shack.

School would be starting soon. The Cohens offered to pay for Ryan to go to Harbor. Dawn reluctantly agreed, promising she would pay them back when she had enough money. She wanted the best education for Ryan. He had already taken the exams and passed with flying colors.

Ryan had just gotten off work, riding his bike home, considering the Crab Shack wasn't too far from home. It was about five-o-clock.

'Mom should be home by now. Probably making dinner.' He thought to himself.

By the time he had pulled his bike into the driveway he could smell the smoke from the grill out back. Ryan walked through the front door and put his uniform stuff down beside the door. He walked through the living room and into the kitchen, where on the counter were two plates stacked on top of each other with the silverware resting atop the plates.

Ryan continued through the kitchen out the back door, to where his mother was standing over the grill, putting some steaks on.

"Hey, Mom. I'm home."

"Oh, Ryan! There you are. I was just starting dinner. Could you go set the table please? It won't take long for the steaks to be ready. Can you also put the green beans and potatoes in the microwave too, sweetie?"

"Sure Mom." So, he went back into the kitchen and did as he was told. By the time the vegetables and baked potatoes were done so were the steaks. Dawn was bringing them on a platter and set them on the stove. She began preparing their plates.

"Hey Mom?"

"Watcha need kiddo?"

"I was wondering if I couldn't go hang out with Seth after dinner? He came by during work, wanting me to come with him to buy some comic books with him."

"That's fine. I've got plans anyway. Just be home by ten okay?"

"'Kay, but, you have plans? With who?"

Giving him a playful glare, smiling, "What makes you automatically think it's with someone?"

Returning the glare with a playful 'Don't-Give-Me-That' look of his own.

"Oh all right! You're right. Well, last week at work, a man came in. I was his waitress, and we kinda hit it off. I mean it's nothing serious, but we made a date. He's really nice, Ry. But I promise, no drinkin'."

Ryan sighed, "Okay Mom, I'll give him a chance."

"Really Ry! Thanks so much kiddo!" Dawn grabbed Ryan and pulled him in for a hug. At first Ryan stiffened up, but then gradually relaxed.

So they sat down and ate a pretty quiet dinner. At about six, they were done and cleaned up. Ryan was getting ready to head over to Casa Cohen. He had already called Seth and told him he was coming over. So of course, Seth was thrilled.

"Okay Ry, have a good time. Don't forget, not before ten!"

"Yes, Mom I will. Not before ten, got it. See ya later!"

"Bye sweetie!" Dawn said, waving goodbye to Ryan as he rode off on his bike.

About five minutes later an expensive looking car pulled into Dawn's driveway. A man of mid thirties stepped out with a paper bag in hand. He was casually dressed in khaki colored slacks with a white polo shirt. The man was fairly handsome with light brown hair and green eyes.

He walked up to the door and knocked. After a few seconds the door opened and Dawn appeared. She had a very light layer of make-up and a revealing tank top and a sexy mid-thigh black skirt. Age hadn't betrayed her yet.

"Hi John. Good to see you again."

"Hey Dawn. I hope you don't mind, I brought a little gift." He said lifting the bag. It slipped off revealing a bottle of Jack Daniels.

"Oh, um, uh, yeah that's fine." Dawn said awkwardly.

"Are you okay?"

"Yeah I'm fine, come on in." Dawn said, putting on her best smile.

'A little won't hurt . . . . . will it?'

Casa Cohen

Ryan arrived shortly after he called Seth. He set his bike down near the garage and walked up to the front door and rang the bell. Seth soon answered.

"Hey dude! Ready to hit the pier?"

"Yeah, let's go."

They decided to walk considering it wasn't very late and the weather was pretty nice, now that the sun was going down. It didn't take them long to get there.

"So where you wanna go first? Comic book store or go get some ice cream?"

"I'm still pretty full from dinner so let's hit the store first."

"Alrighty then, let us please them with our almighty dollar shall we?"

Ryan just grinned as they set off towards the store as Seth rambled on about which comic book he was going to get.

It took them an hour because Seth couldn't choose between two comics he had been wanting lately. Finally, aggravated, Ryan just put them both behind his back and made Seth choose either left or right. Soon after they were headed towards the ice cream shop, arguing over whether chocolate or vanilla was a better flavor.

Finally, after getting the ice cream the headed towards the beach to eat their ice cream and check out the babes. They were having a good time when they saw Summer and Marissa walking towards them.

"Hey guys." Marissa said.

"Hey." They said back in unison.

"So do you guys wanna go do something?"

"Like what Summer? This is Newport. Nothing to do except get tans or get beat up by water polo players."

"Shut it Cohen. We could see a movie? What do you think Coop? Chino?"

'That's fine with me, Sum"

"I don't care, just pass time I guess."

"Hey man, you're supposed to be on my side."

"Yeah, but we don't have anything better to do and I don't like rage blackouts."

"Good point, let's go."

They got up and dusted themselves off. They went back towards Summer's car and got in. They all decided on some shark movie that didn't really interest any of them but they didn't care. No one else was in the theatre, so they sat there talking about school coming up and stuff like that.

"Another year at Harbor, this ought to be fun, nothing but jocks and bitchy little cheerleaders. Except of course you, Summer, and Marissa and now you Ryan. Congrats on getting sucked into the world of Harbor."

"I look forward to it."

"So how did your Mom afford to get you into Harbor?"

"Uh she didn't, the Cohens did." Ryan said, looking down to his feet, slightly embarrassed.

"Oh. That was really nice of them."

"Yeah."

By the end of the movie it was nine thirty. They went back to Summer's car where she took Seth and Ryan back to the Cohens.

"Okay, we'll see you guys in school next Monday. Later Cohen, Chino."

"Bye Ryan, bye Seth."

"See ya."

"Bye."

They girls drove off towards Summer's house. Seth and Ryan walked inside so that Ryan could say hi to the 'rents as Seth so lovingly calls them. They were in the living room watching some old movie, snuggled together. As soon as they heard the door open they scooted apart to avoid another one of Seth's tirades.

Hey Mom, hey Dad. Glad to see that you're both following the rule of 'No affection towards each other when your son is around.' Thank you both for not torturing my eyes tonight. Very much appreciated."

"Hey Sandy, Kirsten."

Ignoring Seth's comment, "Ryan, good to see you kid."

"Ryan! I'm glad you're here. Thanks for coming to see us!"

"No problem, anytime."

"How are things going with your mom?"

"Great, she's still at her job and she's held true to her promise so far. This is the longest time she's ever gone without a drink, so pretty good I guess."

"That's awesome. I'm glad to see she's getting her life back together, and to see you happy."

"Yeah that's great kid. I'm glad."

"Thanks. Well, I just wanted to say 'hi' cuz' I probably need to head home soon anyway, so I'll see you guys later."

"Okay, bye Ryan."

"See ya kid."

"Bye dude."

Ryan turned and went out the front door to get his bike and head home. It didn't take long to get home, just about fifteen minutes. When he pulled into the drive an unfamiliar car was there. As soon as he put down his bike something in the pit of his stomach told him something wasn't right. He walked up the small sidewalk towards the front door, all the while the knot in his stomach getting bigger. He opened the front door cautiously. When the door was opened completely he saw it. There she was. His mother, with a bottle of Jack Daniels in her hand. The bottle was already half empty. But at least she seemed happy. Giggling like a schoolgirl. A man was there with her, she was sitting on his lap, the both of them laughing hysterically at something from the TV. They were obviously drunk.

"Mom?"

A/N: That seemed like a good place to end it for a first chapter. I know it's a cliffy, but if you guys review I'll update sooner. Thanks so much for reading. Now, you see that little button on the bottom left there? Yeah that's it, you know what to do.