Wow guys

It has been an INSANE amount of time since I last updated this. I am not very happy with this seasons' OC -tear- and needed to get fluff out of me in the worst way! I'm going to try and bring this taleback from the dead and update more often but I can't give ya any promises. Thank you for reading! And since it has been such a long time I'm just going to refresh your memory as far as the kids go. Enjoy!

The Cohens

Helena & Caden-18--Fraternal twins Summer and Seth had when they were 18. Caden is a drug addict that is struggling to get clean while Helena is going to school in San Fransisco, studying to become a lawyer.

Priscilla-14--Caden's drug addiction hit the sensitive teen the hardest. Very close to Helena. Was in a car accident that resulted from a friends drunk sibling that was behind the wheel. Still trying to recover from that.

Christopher-11--The easily influenced skater boy is slowly falling in line behind his older brother, much to the dismay of his parents.

Matthew-5--Mini Seth! Very sweet and very quite. A momma's boy.

Amanada-3--Teh Baby! Summer sufferd from post partum depression after her birth.

The Atwoods

Angelica-14--Ryan and Marissa's first born and only daughter. Replica of her father. Best friends with Priscilla. Mellow and sweet.

Ryan James Atwood Jr.-5--Better known as James. Ryan was skeptical about having him as a junior but is beginning to warm up to it as he gets older. A little rebel.

Ashton & Adrian-2--Babies of the entire crazy clan. Identical twin boys.

Chapter 8

Seth-Ryan Time

Ryan was having trouble falling asleep after his conversation with Caden. His mind was whirring a million miles a minute, his hands growing clammy in their spot clamped on the small of Marissa's back. Caden Cohen. He had once been the light of his family's entire life. He loved playing football. When the kids of the neighborhood played street ball during the summer he was always granted the position of all time quarterback. He shamelessly played dolls with his sisters and saved abandoned animals off the streets.

It was all this that went through Ryan's mind anytime he thought about the first time he had wrestled Caden to the ground during a fight he had gotten into with an older boy. A dealer. Caden was only fifteen. He could still hear the scared teenager's voice in his head, pleading that Ryan wouldn't tell Seth and Summer. But he had. And Caden never confided in him again. Never turned to him for advice and just dug a deeper and deeper grave for himself.

Ryan could tell Marissa was asleep against his chest. Her breathing became even and the tight grip that had been around his waist had loosened a bit. He nuzzled into her forehead and gave her a soft, light kiss on the lips before easing very slowly out of her grasp. He watched as she rolled over, still sound asleep. Ryan threw on his jeans and the shirt he had taken off just a few hours ago, opening the door of the bedroom and closing it with a soft 'click' behind him. He was going to do something he hadn't done in a long time. Probably years. He checked in on Angel and the boys. Everyone was sound asleep except for James who was sitting straight up in bed when Ryan opened his door.

"Son…what's the matter?" Ryan went over to the 5 year olds bed, worried. James gripped on to him tightly.

"I can't sleep daddy," he whispered, his grip tightening as he fisted up the fabric of his fathers shirt. Ryan ran his hand through his sons' hair. He was damp a little with sweat and the pace of his heart was quickening.

"Do you want to come for a ride with Daddy?" Ryan asked tickling his tiny belly, watching as his son contracted in his arms, letting a little giggle escape. Usually Ryan wasn't the one to coo at and coddle his kids. That was Marissa's category. He liked to believe Angel was as smart as she was because he had always talked to her like she was an adult, even when she was a little girl. But seeing James in a rare moment of vulnerability made him cave in and want to be that kind of 'gooey daddy' he usually saw on TLC or ABC Family. And after his little outburst the other day James had made it evident that he was in need of more attention then what he was receiving.

"Yes," James whispered, cuddling under his chin.

"You won't tell momma?"

"No," he picked up his head and gave Ryan a goofy little grin as he lifted him up off the bed. He looked so innocent with his messy head of blonde hair and his little 'Finding Nemo' pajamas. He gently closed James' door and carried him down the stairs and into the garage where he eased him into the seat he used when he sat in the car. James was still under the weight he was supposed to be to be able to sit unassisted in the car. Ryan climbed into the drivers' seat and turned on the ignition watching the car come to life. He pulled out onto the road, happy with the 3 AM absence of traffic.

"Daddy where are we going?" James yawned.

"You'll see," he whispered, knowing James probably wouldn't stay awake long enough to find out anyway. Sure enough only two minutes into the drive the little boy was sound asleep, snoring lightly in the backseat. Ryan smiled and shook his head as he caught sight of him in the rearview mirror. His little boy. Ryan James Atwood Jr. A few minutes later he pulled up into the Cohen's driveway. And Seth was waiting for him.

…15 minutes earlier…

Summer was propped up on her elbow, watching her husband stare up at the ceiling.

"Do you think he called Ryan?" Summer asked quietly, running her fingers through Seth's hair. Caden had always turned to Ryan for help. It was a sort of bond they had. Seth was his dad and for some reason he always feared what he would think. That's where Uncle Ryan came into play.

"He probably just got off the phone with him when he called us," Seth said gently, too preoccupied to enjoy the feeling of Summer's gentle touch.

"You know he's probably on his way," Summer gave him a kiss on his temple. Seth knew she was talking about Ryan. He smirked a bit.

"I better get downstairs."

"I'll be here when you get back babe," she purred near his ear. Goosebumps rose on his skin as he pressed his lip against Summer's, dragging it out as long as he could. "Go," she instructed. Seth closed the door behind him. He peeked in on Priscilla and Helena. Both of them were pretending to be asleep. He knew that as soon as he was back out in the hallway they would be up chattering in a fevered frenzy about Caden. What they didn't know was he was due to be there tomorrow. Seth feared what would happen. He closed the door gently before heading out the front door and a couple of seconds later Ryan pulled up into the driveway.

"Hey man," Ryan said as Seth climbed into the passenger seat of the car.

"What's happening Ry?" he asked softly.

"He said he's trying…he's trying to get better," Ryan said gently. He wasn't sure what to say to Seth to put him at ease. This would continue to eat away at him as long as he still had the memories.

"He's coming tomorrow," Seth said. "I told him to come over."

"It's a big step Seth…I'll be here," Ryan assured him.

"Thanks." The two were quiet. "It's been a while since we engaged in any Seth Ryan time." Ryan laughed.

"Yeah." Seth turned to look at his nephew sleeping in the backseat, innocent and small. It was how he wished he could remember his first born.

"He's conked out."

"Yeah he couldn't sleep," Ryan smiled.

"I'll be up around 9 tomorrow," Seth said.

"I'll be here," Ryan squeezed Seth's shoulder before he climbed back out of the car. "Give Summer a kiss for me."

"I will…night," he gently tapped the hood of the car before turning to head inside. Ryan backed out of the driveway and headed towards home, hoping Marissa was still asleep. Once in the driveway he eased his son out of his car seat and into his protective grasp. He carried him upstairs and deposited him into his bed.

"Night boy," he whispered, giving James a gentle kiss on the bridge of his nose. "I love you." James stirred a bit but didn't wake. Ryan turned back to stare at him at the door.

The little boy would wake up tomorrow, more then likely remembering the encounter as merely a dream.

But Daddy knew better.