DISCLAIMER: Only the plot and Isabel!

Chapter Seventeen: A Beautiful Ending

"I will not get involved in this," snapped Teresa's mother, "I'm too old."

"She is your granddaughter!" cried Ryan with Sandy as they followed her around the garden, "Look at it this way. If Isabel was removed from Teresa's care – permanently – you won't have Teresa dumping her on your doorstep whenever she needs more drugs."

Teresa's mother stopped walking and turned back to Ryan, this time looking at him with a softened face, "I love my granddaughter. But I can't care for her Ryan. I have cancer… the doctor's say I have half a year left in me. But with Teresa and her issues, ah, I'll be lucky to live three months. Isabel is a smart child, like you. She deserves love."

"I can give her that," said Ryan honestly, "My girlfriend, Summer, her and Bel have a strong bond. Bel calls Summer, Mum and Summer loves Bel with all her heart. So do I."

The woman smiled at Ryan and patted him on the cheek, "You are a smart and wonderful man Ryan. I'll do it… but I still want to see my granddaughter."

"You will. I would never cut you from her life."

She smiled and with Ryan and Sandy walked into the house to make the call that would hopefully bring Isabel back home, where she belonged.

OC

Summer signed the bottom of the article for clearance to be in the first edition of her magazine and moved onto the second one. Every few seconds her eyes would draw up to the photo of her, Ryan and Isabel at the beach just two months ago. As she read the article about a man who survived a shark attack, Marissa walked in beaming.

"Summer!" she cried, "I'm pregnant!"

"Wow, Marissa," said Summer softly, "That's great."

Marissa frowned and walked over to Summer's desk. She sat down and looked at Summer expectantly.

"That wasn't the reaction I was hoping for you know," said Marissa.

"Teresa came back last night. She took Isabel and because Ryan isn't on the birth certificate… he couldn't stop her."

"Oh no! That's awful!" cried Marissa leaning over the table and taking Summer's hand into hers.

"Ryan and Sandy are doing something about it today… but you should have seen her Marissa. She didn't want to go."

Marissa looked at Summer sympathetically and squeezed her hand, "They'll get her back Sum, just wait and see, okay?"

Summer nodded and ran the finger of her free hand over the photo of her, Ryan and Isabel. Marissa let her hand go and left the office to go call Seth. Summer sighed and turned back to the article knowing she had to focus on her work.

OC

Isabel looked around in mazement as the Child Welfare workers walked through the house taking down notes, picking up empty alcohol bottles and empty syringes. Teresa screamed and yelled at them to get out, but when her mother arrived looking guilty she turned on her.

"She is my daughter!" screamed Teresa stepping towards her to slap her, but Ryan ran in and kept Teresa away, "You did this! You put her up to it!"

"I did it myself," replied her mother, "That little girl deserves a better life then this one!"

"Who are you?" asked a Welfare worker walking over to Ryan.

"Isabel's father," replied Ryan shaking the woman's hand, "But I'm not on the birth certificate."

She nodded, looking from a scared Isabel to Ryan and seeing the resemblance, "We will need a DNA test to prove it. But with the evidence we have found this home is not fit for a child, and you are not a fit mother."

Teresa turned to the worker to protest but just gaped at her. A another woman walked in and escorted Isabel out of the house.

"Isabel is no longer in your care. You are not allowed anywhere near her," said the worker, "If you do, you will be arrested."

Teresa just nodded and stormed off to her room, slamming the door shut. Ryan walked out of the house as Isabel' grandmother answered questions. Isabel was sitting in a car looking around cared.

"Dad!" she cried when Ryan walked towards her. She scrambled out of the car and Ryan embraced her in a hug.

"Hey Bel," he said hugging her, "You will be home soon, okay?"

"Can I come home now?"

"Soon. I promise. They need to do some tests to prove I am your Dad. When they do I will get full custody and you never have to return back here, okay?"

Isabel nodded and hugged Ryan again, "I love you Daddy."

"I love you too sweetie."

OC

"Tomorrow," confirmed Ryan as he told Summer about the test, "But to results won't be back for two weeks. So I was thinking we could get the house set up."

Earlier that afternoon, after Summer finished work and Ryan returned from dealing with Child Welfare they had taken a walk through the house and saw the pictures didn't lie. They had laid down a deposit of five hundred thousand and were told to move in when ready. Summer's furniture was still in storage, so buying furniture wasn't a big issue yet.

"Well I don't have to go into work tomorrow," said Summer, "We could begin moving in and fix up Bel's room. She loves the colour pink and pale purple."

Ryan nodded and pulled Summer close to him, kissing her on the forehead, "We will get her back Sum. I know we will."

Summer nodded and rested her head on Ryan's chest and closed her eyes, "I love you Ryan."

"I love you too."

OC

"Careful Cohen!" cried Summer as he carried in a box full of her plates, "Into the kitchen, obviously."

Seth nodded and walked past quickly using little steps to get the box into the kitchen. Sandy and Ryan walked in carrying one of Summer's lounges and walked into the lounge room. With a smile, Summer looked around the house, full of furniture and boxes.

"I have to go," said Ryan collecting his car keys and wallet, "The DNA test."

"Okay. If you see Bel tell I love her," said Summer kissing Ryan goodbye before heading up stairs to unpack their bedroom.

She entered the room and unzipped the suitcase of clothes. As she was hanging them, she could hear everyone down stair's talking and bringing in furniture. Summer hang her black skirt into her walk in wardrobe as Kirsten walked in carrying some shop magazine's.

"These have furniture in them… and some other ones," said Kirsten.

"Oh," said Summer taking one and flicking through it, "Oh look!"

Summer pointed to a white king single wooden framed bed with purple edging and knobs. It came with a plain purple quilt and pillow cases. There was also a bedside table, dressing table and desk.

"It's only $5,400 for the lot," said Summer, "That's pretty good. I might go and order it."

"Summer," said Kirsten placing a hand on her shoulder, "You don't know if Isabel is Ryan's daughter."

"Kirsten, she looks like Ryan in the face. How can she not be?"

"I know, but these things happen."

"Even if she isn't Ryan's daughter I still class her as my daughter and I will become her foster parent legally."

With that Summer stood pulled out her phone and rang the company to order in the furniture. The rest of the day was full of unpacking and setting up the furniture. Summer also ordered in more, such as: a new lounge suite, television, stereo, beds for the spare rooms, dinner table set, pool side furniture and ornaments. Most of it would be delivered the next day or within the week. When Ryan returned he looked a little grim.

"Two to four weeks before we find out if she is our daughter. The welfare are having the parental rights removed from Teresa. They x rayed her body and found signs of abuse from over the years."

Summer shook her head and hugged Ryan, "We will get her back. That we can be sure of."

OC

The weeks past and Summer and Ryan focused on fixing the house up and work. The days were quiet without Isabel's voice or laughter. She had become such a huge part of their life that they seemed lost without her. At work Summer would try her hardest of ignore the photo, at times sticking it in her draw, just so she would end was sitting and staring at it for hours on end.

At home Summer would cook dinner with Ryan, then they would watch television, every now and then seeing Summer's add for her magazine.

The weekends were hardest because their was no work to focus on.

Summer woke up and rolled to her side, snuggling closer to Ryan's warm body. He stirred and woke up slowly. Summer kissed him gently on the cheek and Ryan smiled.

"Morning," he mumbled, slipping his arm around her and drawing her closer.

"Morning," replied Summer before kissing him again, "Any plans for today?"

"Not really. You?"

"None. Just paying the gardener."

Ryan nodded and Summer met his lips with a deep kiss. Ryan deepened the kiss and pulled her closer. His hand slid up her nightgown, circling his thumb around her ribcage area. Summer moved herself on top of Ryan before pulling her nightgown off…

OC

With a laugh Summer avoided Ryan's tickling hand as she stirred the scrambled eggs. He grinned and kissed her on the cheek before turning the bacon over. As Summer kissed him the house phone rang. Ryan pulled away from Summer reluctantly and answered the phone on the other side of the kitchen.

"Hello, Ryan Atwood," answered Ryan grinning at Summer, who was dancing on the spot humming.

"Ryan it's Sandy."

"Oh, hey Sandy. What's up?"

"I just got a call from the Child Welfare department. The DNA results are in. They want you to come in today."

"Okay. Did they say anything to give any news… on what the results could be?"

"None at all."

"Okay," nodded Ryan with a sigh, "Well I go in around ten. Summer and I are having some breakfast."

"Alright. Well I'll meet you there at… 10:30?"

"Sounds good. Thanks for calling Sandy."

"No problem. Bye."

"See ya."

Ryan hung the phone up and looked at Summer, who was dishing up the breakfast.

"The results are in," he said.

"Oh… and?"

"I have to go in to find out. I want you to come as well. We might be bringing Bel home today."

"Is that possible?"

"Well when I had the test done the woman said if it comes back positive she said Bel is legally allowed to come back with me. Beside's Teresa has lost her parental rights for five years."

"Until Bel is 15."

Ryan nodded.

They sat down and ate breakfast. When Ryan finished he hurried off to have a shower and get ready. Summer cleaned up and walked over to the calendar to cross of the dates. These past few weeks she had rarely paid attention to the dates due to everything going on. She ran her finger along the dates calculating things in her head.

"I'm late," she whispered, "Three and a half weeks late."

Summer ran up to the bedroom. She could hear Ryan showering and quickly changed into pink tracksuit pants, a white top and slipped on her white flip flop shoes. She pulled her hair into a ponytail and left a note for Ryan saying: Gone to the chemist. Be back soon.

OC

Summer strolled through the chemist and made her way to the pregnancy tests area. She scanned through them and found a five minute one. She purchased it and drove back home where Ryan was waiting for her. When she walked in he ran out from the kitchen.

"Why did you go to the chemist?" he asked worriedly.

Summer looked at him and pulled out the pregnancy test. Ryan's mouth fell open at the sight of it. He looked at Summer with raised eyebrows.

"Three and a half weeks late," she said softly before heading up to the bathroom. She locked the door behind her but could hear Ryan pacing outside.

She followed the instructions and waited impatiently for the test to reveal the answer. Finally five minutes passed and Summer looked at the test. She grabbed the packet and read the result meaning.

"Positive," whispered Summer, "Maybe it's wrong."

She found the information scanned it until she read this test is proven to be 99.8 percent correct. It would still be best to see your Doctor. She walked over to the bathroom door and unlocked it. Ryan stopped pacing and looked at her, his face a little pale.

"It's positive," said Summer, "I could be pregnant."

Ryan's mouth fell open again before he laughed a little before hugging Summer. Feeling relieved that he was okay with it, Summer giggled and hugged him back.

"Out own little bundle of joy!" cried Summer happily pulling away, "I'll see the doctor on Monday. For now I have to get properly dressed."

OC

Summer, Ryan, Sandy and Kirsten all sat in the waiting room as the worker went to collect the results. Summer kept looking at her stomach wondering how on earth something could be forming inside of her. They had told Sandy and Kirsten and both were ecstatic. Summer slipped her hand into Ryan's and gave it a tight squeeze.

"Alright, sorry about that," said the woman who had taken the swab test from Ryan, "Ryan Atwood… you are indeed the father of Isabel."

Summer screamed out happily and hugged Ryan tightly as Sandy patted him on the back.

"When can we get her?" asked Ryan, with Summer still hugging him, "I want to take her home."

"She is being brought here now. It won't be long."

"This is brilliant," cried Summer pulling away, "Bel is coming home… I'm pregnant… it's all going perfect for a change."

Everyone smiled and suddenly a happy cry broke out. They all turned around and suddenly Isabel was hugging Ryan around the waist.

"I'm coming home!" she cried excitedly.

Ryan nodded and hugged here back, "And you know what?"

"What?" asked Isabel with a grin.

"You are going to be a big sister. Mum is pregnant."

Isabel's mouth fell open and she looked at Summer excitedly, "Really?"

Summer nodded and Isabel hugged her happily. Ryan stood and put an arm around Summer smiling. Despite all the years ups and downs things were finally turning out right. All of life's disaster's were turning out beautifully and Summer couldn't ask for anything more.

The End

A/N: Well there you go! A happy ending to a dramatic fiction. I really hope you enjoyed reading it and maybe one day I will write a new OC fic. Anyway thanks for all your reviews! You all rock!

Bye for now!

Love yas!

Love Coz!