A/N Thanks guys for your amazing reviews, especially Kari! That was the best review I have ever had! And the longest too! Thanks and this extra long part is dedicated to you! Please review

Marissa wrapped her arms around herself tightly and shivered as goosebumps prickled across her skin whilst a gentle breeze whipped around the lone willow that stood outside the apartment block. She watched as the chauffer packed the last suitcase into the large boot of the limo and Jake slipped the driver a twenty before turning back and shooting a warm smile at Marissa who forced a weak one back. She couldn't stop thinking about Ryan ever since she had come face to face with him again, there was so much about him that she didn't know anymore. Four years ago she had known nearly everything about him and they told each other everything, now she didn't even know where he worked or whether his favourite film was Shawshank redemption or whether his favourite food was still Ben & Jerry's Cookie Dough ice cream. Jake drew closer and put his arm around Marissa's frail form and she relaxed into his embrace trying to clear her head of Ryan. There was no point thinking like this anymore, she had ruined all her chances of being with him, she just had to accept that she couldn't be close to him anymore.

"Hey babe…I guess I'm off now then." He said pulling her tighter to him and kissing the top of her head gently. She smiled slightly and nuzzled her head closer to his chest.

"Do you have to go?" She asked softly, pouting slightly as she turned to head to look up at him. He smiled and kissed her lips gently

"Sorry honey I've got a contract, I'll ring you when I land and maybe I'll fly you over soon?" He said picking up his bag and turning so he was standing in front of Marissa. She nodded silently casting her eyes down to the ground and fixing her gaze on the row of tulips growing along the side of the grass. She smiled slightly, her favourite flowers…only Ryan knew that. She sighed and mentally kicked herself, she had to stop thinking about him.

"Call me as soon as you land okay?" She said leaning in closer, Jake nodded and smiled slightly as he slipped his hands around her slim waist and pressed his body closer to hers. He leant in and kissed her softly before pulling away slowly.

"I'll miss you." He said backing away slightly towards the car. Marissa blew him a kiss as he got into the car waving through the open window. The engine roared into life and the car backed slowly out of the drive as the sun set in the distance casting the small garden into golden sunlight. Marissa sighed and watched the car disappear slowly into the distance before turning and walking back into her apartment. Three months alone…just great.

Ryan watched his daughter drift off to sleep, her golden blonde hair was fanned out on the pillow around her and he stroked her forehead gently and sighed. It was probably only a 24 hour bug but he couldn't help worrying. He loved her so much and he was so protective over her. He watched her sleep peacefully her small frame curled into a foetal position as she sucked on her thumb and breathed in and out deeply. If something happened to her he didn't know what he would do, when she was sick it was the worst feeling of his life. Knowing that he might lose her, even though she had only been a few days/weeks old he still loved her more than he had loved anyone and he knew that if he had to, he would die for her. He watched her sleep peacefully for a few more seconds before letting out a long sigh and resting his head in his hands. He was exhausted. He still couldn't believe that after all these years he still felt that same thing whenever he saw Marissa Cooper. That slight tingle and numbness…that didn't mean he still loved her did it? He couldn't still love her…well he would always LOVE her but was he IN love with her? He couldn't be, he can't. Why had he defended her when everything Seth had said was right? Force of habit maybe…or maybe it was something more. He frowned slightly, he didn't want to love her. He didn't want to still feel that tingle everytime he saw her, he didn't want to still have feelings for her…It hurts too much.

He looked up as someone knocked softly on the door and got slowly to his feet making sure not to wake Ellie. He pulled open the door wearily to find Seth standing in the doorway shifting from foot to foot awkwardly.

"Hey man." He whispered. Ryan smiled slightly he knew what was coming. He moved forward and took one last look at Ellie before shutting the door silently behind him.

"Hey, look if you're going to apologise about earlier it really doesn't matter…I know why you said what you said and personally I don't blame you…I would have done the same for you." He said quickly before Seth got a chance to jump in and start babbling some inane attempt at an apology. Seth swallowed and smiled.

"Thanks…I just really want to ask you something and this is probably going to be one of those questions when you just give me 'the look' and send me on my way without even saying a word but…Why did you invite Marissa to stay?" He asked looking Ryan in the eyes and slipping his hands into his pockets as they walked slowly down the hallway together. Ryan sighed deeply and looked down at his shoes not knowing exactly how to answer the question but knowing he could at least be honest with Seth. He was so confused right now…about everything.

"I…I guess I don't really know. I just saw her face and the words just kinda came out and I didn't even think about what I was saying and before I knew it I had asked her to stay and she had said yes…I don't even know why I did it…" He stammered looking across at Seth who was smiling knowingly.

"Aaah yes, the Seth Cohen classic. Not thinking before you speak, happens to me all the time. The words just pop out and I don't even remember thinking about what to say…"

A smile curled at the corner of Ryan's mouth as he remembered all the times Seth's mouth had got him into trouble.

"Great you must be rubbing off on me…" Ryan mumbled just loud enough for Seth to hear.

"I know isn't it great?...One more question and I KNOW you're not gonna like this one." He paused before looking across at Ryan who was watching his feet as he moved one in front of the other slowly.

"Do you still love her?" He asked quietly watching his brother carefully. Ryan swallowed and stopped walking as they reached the stairs. He leant over the banisters as he looked across the marble floors and expensive furniture sighing as he did so. His mind was buzzing with different thoughts as he really tried to answer the question…

"I…I don't know, I think I'll probably always love her but…I don't think I'll be able to be In love with her again, not after everything that's happened. Sometimes I just wish that none of this ever happened and that everything was how it was but…other times, I guess I just want all this to go away and for it just to be me and Ellie and not have to worry over Marissa or Emma…" He said looking out of the window and watching the sun setting against the towering silhouettes of the skyscrapers and buildings which stuck out against the orange and gold skyline. Seth nodded and let out a small sigh.

"Yeah, lady drama is stressful…I think Summer is either going to make me go bald or make me have a heart attack…maybe both?" He said. Ryan grinned, he could always rely on Seth to make him smile.

"Trust me Seth, you may have a heart attack but you're never losing that mop." He said ruffling Seth's wild curls roughly. Seth drew away with a hiss looking outraged.

"What did I tell you? Don't touch the Jew-Fro!" He said indignantly but smiling nonetheless.

Marissa stepped out of the lift with a daze her drooping eyelids threatening to close as she dragged herself along the hallway towards her apartment, the last shoot had exhausted her. She had spent almost 2 hours sitting under a make-shift waterfall modelling the latest swimwear by Dior. She never wanted to see water ever again. She reached for he keys as she looked up at the ridiculously expensive mahogany doors and stuffed her key into the lock turning it roughly. She gasped as she felt cold water rush around her feet and screamed as she looked at the apartment in front of her. Cloudy brown water rippled around the apartment as the wallpaper flaked away and various papers and magazines floated gently on the surface. She screamed and dropped her bags…Great…Just great.
Summer chucked her dirty make-up wipe into the bin with a sigh and took a quick glance in the mirror checking her reflection before heading out of her dressing room with her bags and her phone clutched in her hands. She nodded goodbye to several crew members who were hanging around holding coffees and talking. She jumped slightly as her phone rang, she set her bags down and flicked open the small sleek cell.

"Hello Summer Roberts speaking." She said trying to sound cheerful. She could hear sniffing and sobs

"It's Marissa…I need your help." Marissa choked through her tears. Summer swallowed her hands shaking slightly…what had happened

"Coop, what's wrong?"

"My…My apartment's flooded and I have nowhere to go…I would go to a hotel but the press are always there and I kinda have a problem with them since…you know. Please could I just stay at yours for tonight?" She asked trying to control her shaking voice. Why did stuff like this always happen to her? The only two people she could stay with were in London doing a shoot and Jake was in Paris…Summer hesitated, she knew it wasn't her house but she sounded so desperate and Ryan would probably say yes wouldn't he? He wouldn't just leave her with nowhere to go…She couldn't let her friend down and afterall…it was only for one night.

"Okay, get your stuff and I'll pick you up…"

Summer flicked open her cell for the second time that night and dialled in home praying that Seth would pick up so he could be the one to break the news to Ryan that Marissa would be staying the night. She sighed as she turned the corner into the private road where Marissa's vast, grand apartment block stood. The ringing sounded a few times before a small click told her someone had picked up the phone.

"Hello?" Seth said groggily scratching his head slightly and sighing. Summer almost let out a loud sigh of relief as she heard Seth answer the phone. She could dump the responsibility of informing Ryan his ex-girlfriend and love of his life would be staying under the same roof for the night on Seth and not have to worry about Chino blowing up in her face about it.

"Hey Seth it's me…I um have something to tell you but you have to promise you wont get mad…" She said carefully pulling up a few metres away from Marissa's apartment block and shutting off the engine.

Seth sighed slightly, he didn't like where this conversation was going. Conversations that started like this never ended happily.

"Summer you can't make me promise not to get mad because I don't know what it is yet, you might have done something really terrible like cheated on me or killed someone in a rage blackout or stolen a celebrities baby and sold it's organs on the black market or worst of all…sold my comic books collection…" He babbled mindlessly, Summer sighed deeply cutting off his inane chatter quickly.

"Cohen! Shut up for like one second, I haven't cheated on anyone, I might kill you in a minute and I haven't stolen anyone's baby or sold organs and I haven't sold your comic book collection now listen! I need you to help me out…Marissa's kinda in a bit of trouble, her apartment's flooded and she has nowhere to go so I kinda might have sorta invited her to stay with us…maybe." She said weakly starting to babble like Seth…oh god he was rubbing off on her, she thought vaguely as she listened to the silence that echoed from the receiver.

"Summer…you…you invited her to stay?" Seth spluttered down the phone line hardly believing what he was hearing. He swallowed and took a shaky breath.

"I'm glad I didn't promise not to get mad, what am I supposed to tell Ryan huh? Did you even think of him? Why can't she just go and stay in a hotel? God knows she's got enough money." Seth said impatiently pacing the hallway almost wearing a hole in the floor. Summer sighed slightly and tucked her hair back behind her ears.

"Of course I thought of Ryan that's why I'm ringing, I need you to ask him about it make sure he's okay with it. The reason she doesn't want to stay in a hotel is because of all the press attention around hotels and she still has a problem about being in hotels by herself because of the whole Oliver thing…" Summer said squinting through the dim light hoping to catch sight of Marissa as she waited for Seth's reply. He frowned slightly and glanced across at Ryan who was dozing slightly in front of the TV and he sighed miserably. Would Ryan be okay with just one night? But Seth didn't want her here either, not after what she had done.

"Yeah but can't she stay at a friends or something?" He asked desperately knowing he wasn't going to win against Summer. How was Ryan going to react? It was his house afterall…

" She called her friends most of them are in London doing a new shoot that she turned down. She has nowhere Seth, please just ask Ryan…Please Seth or I wont bring you back any pudding and I'll make you watch my show…" She added warningly with a small smile knowing that Seth was caving in. Seth sighed deeply and looked across at his friend, he knew Ryan wasn't going to be happy but Ryan was more forgiving that two women…

"Fine I'll do it but just one night and she stays out of my way or I might say what I really think of her…and please don't ever make me watch your show again…" He said quietly, grinning slightly. Summer smiled satisfied with her effective manipulation, men were so easy to get around.

"Thanks sweetie, I'll bring you back some tapioca" She said smiling sweetly as Seth sighed.

"Fine then…I'll see you later, love you." He said resignedly whilst thinking how he was going to explain to Ryan…maybe he would be okay with it? This really wasn't fair…

"Love you too." She said before hanging up the phone leaving Seth with the dial tone. He set the phone down with a sigh and turned around to where Ryan was sitting now awake and staring at the TV blankly. He drew his gaze up to where Seth was standing awkwardly with his hands in his pockets and shifting on the balls of his feet back and forth.

"What did Summer want?" He asked yawning and shifting in his chair. Seth drew closer and flopped down onto the soft couch next to Ryan with an exhausted sigh.

"Um…she wanted me to ask you something, something that I don't think you'll like." He started nervously trailing off as Ryan drew his attention to him, trying to read his expression.

"Just ask me Seth." He said tiredly wanting him to just get it over with so he could go to bed, he didn't care that it was only about nine he was exhausted from last night up with Ellie. Seth swallowed and looked down at his hands nervously before fixing his gaze back on Ryan deciding it would just be better to get it over and done with before he started babbling uncontrollably.

"Well there's a problem…Marissa's apartment flooded and she has nowhere to go because her boyfriend is in Paris and her friends are in London at the moment and she doesn't like hotels because of the press and that whole mess with Oliver so basically Summer wants to know if she can stay but only for the night…" He said quickly his face turning red slightly before he gulped down a large breath of air. He waited, watching Ryan carefully as he looked down at his hands and waited for an answer…or for him to say anything.

Ryan felt his heart hammering in his chest and he swallowed hard his mind buzzing. Marissa staying? Oh god that would be so awkward, he couldn't let her spend the night here could he? He couldn't turn her away though, how would that make him seem? He had the room, but could he handle her sleeping in the next room? It was awkward enough with her just being around him earlier but staying the night…He was confused enough already. He didn't know how to feel about her right now, should he still be in love with her or should he still be mad? He breathed in deeply…maybe just for one night, it couldn't be that bad could it? Oh why was everything suddenly getting so complicated again? He couldn't handle all these questions…He sighed deeply and looked up at Seth who was watching him carefully

"Just for one night?" He asked quietly his voice hoarse. Seth nodded knowing this wasn't a good idea, this was going to be a horrible weekend.

"Tell Summer it's ok…I'm going to bed." He mumbled miserably before trudging out of the room. Seth watched him leave sadly…he was worried about him. Marissa being around couldn't be good for him, bringing back memories when he had practically only just got over Emma leaving. Why did things like this always have to happen to Ryan?

Ryan collapsed onto his large double bed with a loud sigh and shut his heavy eyes letting the darkness envelop him. This was so hard for him right now…he couldn't handle all this stuff resurfacing, his feelings for Marissa, the memories, and the pain. Images raced through his mind, his and Marissa's first meeting, first kiss, New years eve, the Ferris wheel, the proposal every kiss embrace and I love you…every argument, every shouting match, the Christmas party where she had gotten drunk again, the Oliver thing, finding her in bed with that guy…telling her to leave…He blinked back the tears that burnt in the back of his eyes and drew a shaky breath, what was it about her that always made him feel like this. Why couldn't he just forget her?

Because he loved her

Marissa stood in the driveway her arms wrapped around herself tightly trying to shut out the chilling breeze that played across her bare skin. She glanced at her watch again and sighed…maybe Summer wasn't coming, maybe Ryan had said no and she would just be left out here and made to stay in a hotel where she would be hounded by the press and left with her own fears. Suddenly the glare of headlights filled the dim driveway illuminating everything around her, she looked up hopefully and squinted through the bright lights to see Summer sitting behind the wheel and smiling slightly. She had come…Ryan had said yes. She picked up her bag and hurried over to the sleek black range rover and pulled open the passenger door. Summer smiled warmly at her.

"Hey Coop."

Marissa returned the smile and placed her bag at her feet. She couldn't believe she was actually going to be staying over at Ryan's…this was so surreal but secretly she was pleased to be seeing him again even though she knew nothing would ever happen between them again after what happened last time.

"Thanks so much Summer, you're a life saver."

After a few minutes in the car in which the two girls discussed fashion shoots and gossip columns in the magazines they had arrived at the huge beautiful house that was Ryan's home. They got out of the car and Marissa gazed up at the house for the second time that day in awe, she pulled her bag out and slung it over her shoulder her heart was pounding and her blood rushing in her ears as they drew closer to the house. She felt an odd sense of trepidation as they drew closer, what would she say to him? Thanks would be a start she thought vaguely, why was he actually letting her stay? If she was in his situation she wouldn't, she would never want to talk to him again. But that was why they were different, Ryan was used to always having to forgive people for letting him down and now she was just another name on the long list. She would make it up to him somehow, but once again he was the one bailing her out. The jangling of Summer's keys in the door pulled her from her thoughts and back down to reality. The large mahogany doors swung open revealing the large brightly lit marble hallway, she surveyed her surroundings whilst Summer hurried off into another room calling for Seth and Ryan. Just hearing his name again makes her heart skip a beat. She heard voices coming from the other room and started to hum softly not wanting to know what they were saying about her, especially if it was coming from Seth. She understood exactly why he was so angry at her and actually she preferred him being angry, it was much better than what Ryan was…disappointed, which hurt so much more. Seth and Summer appeared in the doorway. Seth was scowling slightly and Summer was smiling.

"Right so Coop you'll be staying in one of the guestrooms, take your pick there's about five." She said, Marissa forced a weak smile as Seth just stared at her in contempt.

"Um okay, they're at the top of the stairs right?" She asked uncertainly, Summer nodded.

"I'll be up in a minute I just need to have a word with Seth quickly."

Marissa nodded and made her way up the stairs her legs shaking as she gripped onto the banister, the large hall spread out before her the familiar doors lining each wall. Which one was Ryan's again? She didn't want to walk in there again especially as he was probably in it at the moment. The hallway was dimly lit but light spilled through an open door towards the end of the corridor, she stood there for a second staring. She could hear voices coming through and she paused to listen. It was Ryan…

"Look I promise there aren't any monsters under your bed no matter what Uncle Seth says okay?" He said softly looking down as his daughter pulled her pink duvet up to her chin her big blue eyes staring up at her dad.

"But on Monsters Inc…the monsters come out of the closet" She said pointing towards the cupboard on the other side of the room. Ryan sighed slightly and smiled brushing a blonde strand of hair from Ellie's eyes.

"They wont and if they decide to come out then…I'll chase them away okay? Now if you go to sleep then maybenext weekNana and Granddad will come visit?" He said smiling as her eyes lit up and she smiled

"Really? Will they bring me presents?...I'll go sleepy now daddy, but make sure you chase the monsters away 'kay?" She said sleepily let out a small yawn. Ryan kissed her forehead softly and stood up

"I will…goodnight."

"Night night…" She whispered sleepily her eyelids drooping shut.

He smiled and closed the door halfway and stepping out into the hallway with a yawn, he crossed to his room when something caught his eye. Standing in the hallway was Marissa Cooper, clutching a bag and blushing slightly.

"Um…Hi." She mumbled awkwardly. Ryan stood still and stared at her for a few seconds taking in her appearance, her long flowing blonde hair, her tanned smooth skin, her sparkling blue eyes…

"Hi." He managed breathlessly, she shifted on the spot looking at him the silence was deafening. Her heart was hammering painfully fast as she tried to get the words out which had now somehow become lodged in her throat.

"You want to know where you're staying…" He said answering the question she hadn't even got round to asking, she nodded weakly not trusting herself to try and speak again.

"It's that room right there." He said pointing to a room to her left, she smiled faintly

"Thanks…for letting me stay and everything, I really appreciate it." She stammered picking up her bag, he nodded and returned a half smile his heart pounding.

"S'ok…Ellie what are you doing out of bed?" He asked finally noticing his daughter tottering over to him her arms outstretched. He picked her up easily, resting her on his hip. Marissa watched in silence as the small girl buried her head into his chest sucking her thumb. So this was Ellie…she thought in stunned silence.

"I couldn't sleep…who's that." She said pointing at Marissa who smiled. Ryan looked across at Marissa quickly before looking back at Ellie.

"That's a friend of Auntie Summer…her name's Marissa." He said.

Marissa felt a stab of hurt and tried desperately to keep her face neutral not wanting to show him how disappointed she was…Summer's friend, not his…Summer's. What did she expect? She smiled weakly at Ryan blinking back tears

"Nice to meet you Ellie…It's a bit late for you to be up isn't it?" She said softly and smiling. Ellie shook her head and nuzzled closer into Ryan's chest who was still staring at Marissa.

"Yes it is…remember what I said, bed or you wont get to see Nana and Granddad okay?" He said shifting Ellie higher in his arms.

"Ok daddy, I'll try…night Mawissa…you're real pretty. Night." She said yawning, Ryan nodded to Marissa and walked back into Ellie's room leaving Marissa standing alone again. She sighed and opened her bedroom door and walked in, closing the door behind her.

Summer sat on the end of the bath tapping her feet against the tiled floor nervously, her stomach churned and she sighed deeply closing her eyes and trying to steady her shaking frame. She couldn't believe this…was she ready? She glanced at her watch and felt her heart skip a bit…time was up. Time to find out the truth…oh god this was horrible, she couldn't stand not knowing. She glanced over to the sink where the small white stick lay and got to her feet shakily. She drew nearer and picked it up, her hands trembling violently. This was it…

She looked down at the little window and felt the wind get knocked out of her…Her heart stopped and she felt sick

Positive

She was pregnant.

A/N Hope you enjoyed that, please review and tell me what you think and I will update

Next Time: Marissa and Ryan have a confrontation over the past and Summer tells Ryan her news...