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DISCLAIMER: I do NOT own any of The OC except Marty Jefferson.

9. I love you

Julie had sent her to bed and now she was laying on her bed thinking about what happened. She hold told Sandy the truth only hours ago, but she was still not feeling good about it. Had she done the right thing? And was it okay that her whole family was involved in this? Was it good that Ryan, Seth, Marissa and Summer were taking care of her as if she was a little child? Was it okay that they had to act like adults when she was crying? Didn't she have to be the strong one in the family? She didn't know. Tears began to make their way down her cheeks and she drew up her knees to her chest. Why did this happen to me? And why did I freak out in front of my kids? I should be someone to guide them and not vice versa, but I can't help it. I can't accept it. I can't cope with it without my husband at my side. I just can't. She curled up in her bed and fell asleep by the time sunset set in.

Sandy got out of his car. Today was Sunday. Yesterday had been very long. He and Caleb had talked for hours. They had figured out what to do next. And Caleb had told him what they had already done. They hadn't found Jefferson yet. And there was a lot more to catch up and it had been past midnight when he went to bed. Today he wanted to apologize to Kirsten. Therefore he drove to their house. Surprise took over when he saw the cars of Marissa and Summer. Of course, they had slept here. They belong to our family. He remembered what Caleb had told him. They had become one family in the last two months. And it was not unusual when Summer and Marissa slept over at the Cohen house. It was something new for him, that everyone tried to tie his family closer together. And it was new to him, that Julie and Caleb got along with Ryan. It seemed like everything had changed. He walked to the front door and wanted to unlock the door with his own keys. He stopped and decided to ring the bell.
Julie was busy with making breakfast when Seth and Summer came downstairs. Ryan and Marissa already sat at the table discussing their plans for today. Julie turned around and smiled at Summer and Seth.

"Summer, does your dad agree with you sleeping here every night?" In the last weeks Julie had become much nicer and openhearted to other people.

"Yes, Julie. Oh, what's that for breakfast?" Summer glimpsed to the pan on the counter.

"Pancakes. My specialty."

"Mom, pancakes is the only thing you can cook." Marissa interrupted their conversation.

"Oh, Coop, you're wrong, your mother's a –"

"Cohen, don't say Coop. That's my privilege." Summer started to tickle him.

"Seth, Summer's right. From your mouth it sounds stupid. Oh, and Marissa, honey, you're wrong. Your mother is a perfect cook."

"Thank you, Ryan." Julie's smile spread out. This is our family. Live and colored.

"So, breakfast's ready. I'll go and look if your mother's awake now." She looked at Seth.

"Ryan, you had breakfast half an hour ago. How can you eat already again?" Marissa teased Ryan. Today they wanted to go to the beach. Actually, they wanted to be already gone but Summer couldn't decide what to wear. Somehow those Sunday trips had become a regular routine to them. Just then Kirsten entered the kitchen.

"Hey. Where's Julie? She wanted to wake me up for breakfast."

"Too late, breakfast's over. I don't know, maybe she's upstairs with Summer. But there are some leftovers in the fridge. I hope Ryan didn't eat them too." Marissa gave Ryan a blaming but loving look.

"Well, actually I didn't. It's not that I can't control myself at all." He gave Marissa a kiss.

"You did the right thing. Yesterday, I mean." Ryan didn't know what to do than giving his mother a hug. She had been so strong yesterday. Suddenly the bell rang.

"I'll go." Ryan offered. He vanished to the front door and Kirsten and Marissa sat down at the table. Since they were one family they talked more. They never talked about it but everything else.

"So, what are you guys doing today?"

"Um, we thought of the beach. Getting tanned, you know. But unfortunately we have to wait for Summer. She can't decide what to wear." Marissa laughed while Kirsten ate her breakfast. Cold pancakes with ketchup and cream cheese. Ew. Marissa looked at Kirsten's plate.

"Thank you. I know that's gross." Kirsten began to laugh. She had seen Marissa's disgusted looks.

"Sandy. Hey." Ryan had opened the door.

"Hey. I – I –" Sandy stuttered.

"Come in. She's in the kitchen." Ryan let him in and closed the door. Sandy looked around. Nothing had changed. Everything looked the same. He could hear Kirsten and Marissa laughing. Right then Summer, Seth and Julie came downstairs.

"I can't believe that it took you half an hour to decide that you don't change your outfit." Seth teased Summer with tickling.

"Seth, a girl needs her time to pick the right outfit, it's quite normal. Even if she needs hours to decide to wear the clothes she's already wearing." Julie gave Seth a lecture about girls. Wow, they're one family. One loving family. Sandy stared at the three of them when Ryan gave Seth and Summer a sign to go outside with him.

"Sandy, hi. You wanna talk to Kiki, don't you? She's in the kitchen."

"I know." He took a deep breath and headed for the kitchen. As he appeared in the kitchen door Marissa stood up.

"I better go now." And she rushed outside. Kirsten turned around and saw Sandy. He hesitated with his words but finally he found the right ones. Julie stood behind him and watched the whole scenario. Kirsten and Sandy were both struggling with their thoughts and words, but then Sandy started.

"Kirsten. I – I – I'm so sorry. I should have listened to you in the first place. I – I'm so sorry. I shouldn't have left you. I should have been there for you. It's –" He wanted to finish but Kirsten shut him up.

"It's okay. I – I don't blame you. And you can be here for me now." She came closer with every word. Sandy gave her the familiar hug she had missed most. She was home again.

"I love you." Sandy held his wife with his strong arms. The arms she had missed most. Julie knew that the family was complete now and walked outside. I better leave you two alone. She smiled at this thought.

"I love you, too."