Three days. Threeeeeeeeeee days. Three days had past and not even a word had been exchanged between them. He had called, she hadn't answered. It was getting to the point where Ryan was beginning to think maybe he had made a mistake big enough to be the final nail in the coffin of Ryan and Marissa. These were the thoughts racing through his mind on that particularly cloudy day when a knock sounded at his door.

"Marissa?" He mumbled. His hopes soared; maybe they would get a chance to talk about it. He called out "Come in, it's open." And quickly stood.

He couldn't hide the surprise on his face when he saw who was at his door. "Summer?" he inquired. "What are you doing here? Lose Seth?" He tried to joke. Meanwhile his mind was going crazy, he hadn't fought like this with Marissa, Summer showing up, was this like a breakup sign?

"Uh… no, he's actually staying at the school tonight, something about comics, I stopped listening."

"Right… uh, so what are you doing HERE?"

"Look Ryan, I know we don't like… talk but Coop is my best friend. And like… I'm dating Seth so I mean… I hope you don't think I'm prying but…"

"Oh, yeah. Look I don't wanna talk about Marissa and me, if that's what you mean. I just… I screwed up, and I know it but I don't know how to make up for it or how it got so bad."

Summer looked at the hurt Ryan seemed to be feeling, never before had she seen vulnerability coming from him. She hoped with everything she had that Marissa wouldn't hate her for what she was about to do.

"Look, Ryan, I know this is like… totally not up to me. And if Marissa knew, she'd kill me but you guys are both so upset… neither of you will even leave your rooms…"

"Really?" Ryan said, sounding a little too needy and hopeful. "I mean, I just thought that since she was avoiding me…well…"

"No… she isn't. She clearly loves you, you ass. She just… well, look. When Trey left, who helped you get through it the most?"

"Well… Marissa, I guess, we both got through it together or at least I thought we had."

"Shut up. I talk." Summer said with a smile. "You listen. Sure, it was Marissa and why? Think about how she helped you. Was it because she had profound words to say or talked through it, all of your past with you?"

"No. Of course not. It was because she was…" And he stopped. All of a sudden everything that had been happening made sense. He was an idiot. He had to make her understand he knew he was an idiot. He didn't deserve her. "…There." He finished.

"Ryan, she needs you right now and she's too proud to come right out and say, 'I need you now.' And she is too afraid that if she reaches out you won't be there for her. She doesn't need words, all she needs are two words."

"I'm here." He said. Summer glanced at him with a highly confused face.

"Yeah, I know, we're like… talking?"

"No, those are the words I need to say."

"Oh… yeah." Summer said.

"All this time… I have to have a plan."

"Yes, you need something big. But I happen to be able to make miracles happen, if you recall last Chrismukkah…"

"You know what Summer, I think this one needs to be all me. But thanks." He smiled at her. As she turned to leave, he stopped her by saying "I really appreciate this, you don't know how much."

"Well, I'm actually selfish. It's too hard to sleep beside a sobbing lump of sadness three nights in a row. Good luck."

He walked her over to the door and gave her a hug. He was in a good mood, a great mood. He had a solution. Summer at first was surprised and then hugged him back. "Go get her." She smiled, and then left. Ryan turned back towards the poolhouse and started to plot.

"Summer… wait! I might have a plan but I need one favour…"

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Summer, I don't see why I need to be blindfolded!" Marissa said, as Summer drove the car, it was dark and she really didn't feel like being blind. The last time she hadn't been able to see was when… Ryan brought her to the beach and they had slept together that first time. But she wouldn't think of that. Or she'd try not to.

"Look Coop… you have been like, majorly depressed and sooooooomebody had to do something, it was getting to be pretty sad. So, don't complain. Trust me you'll thank me later."

Somehow Summer's words sounded like even she was unsure. Before she had a chance to inquire, Summer started talking again.

"So Coop, I brought you to the one place where I knew you would feel better."

"Sum, it's not like… shopping is it? I mean, I just don't feel like it…plus my mom doesn't really have a place yet so…"

"Nah, it's not. We're almost there I just need to grab something at this store. Promise me you won't take the blindfold off Coop, please? I just want you to feel better okay?"

Marissa sighed. "Fine, I do appreciate it Sum."

Summer got out of the car and Marissa exhaled deeply. At first she had been suspicious of Summer wanting to take her out but even she had to admit she needed to get out of the house. Not talking to Ryan was pretty much killing her. But she could not find it in her to face his complete oblivion of her. If she did again, she might say things that broke them up for good. She had to admit it, getting out was good.

The door to the car opened and Summer got back in. She put the radio on and turned out of the driveway.

"You know Sum, thanks for this… I can't act like we're broken up yet huh? I mean cuz we aren't so…"

She waited to hear Summer's thoughts but none followed. Puzzled, she just sighed and settled into the seat. With her eyes closed, and her mind open, she could almost see Ryan. Images of him flowed through her mind: The wind blowing through his hair, him standing only in shorts, him holding her. She could almost even smell him. She breathed deeper. Wow, she missed him so much I now she was even smelling him.

"I miss him, Sum, I know that I can't ignore it all but I wish somehow it could be behind us." She released a tiny, helpless sob and turned to the driver's seat. "Can we please go home?"

The car stopped. Something was off. Something was happening and Marissa knew something was different.

"Sum…?"

She felt a hand touch her blindfold and take it off. Her mouth fell open in shock.

"RYAN!" She exclaimed. "What are you doing here? Where's Summer?"

"I need to… we need to talk. Please."

She nodded, she knew they did. Glancing up, she realized they were at the Cohen's.

"I know, I know." Ryan said. "Why here right? Like I couldn't think of something better… but we had the pier, the beach, the diner… all these places to go. But I thought… it all started here, it seemed to be the best place for us, tonight."

Marissa smiled a little, she was mad but seeing him fumbled helped a little bit. "It's fine." She said.

She stepped into the dark poolhouse, lit 7 candles in a row, and followed by one unlit candle. Sitting beside it were three packages. Ryan walked over to the cd player and pushed play. Immeditaly James Blunt's raspy voice singing 'You're Beautiful' filled the room.

Marissa and Ryan stared at each other.

My life is brilliant, my love is pure.

I saw an angel, of that I'm sure.

"Look, I know you don't want to talk to me, right now at least. And I'm sorry I practically kidnapped you or heard things you meant to tell Summer but, we needed to talk, I couldn't think of any other way…" A long silence filled the room.

You're beautiful, you're beautiful, you're beautiful it's true

I saw your face,

In a crowded place,

And I don't know what to do,

Cuz I'll never be with you

"This song, reminds me of when I first met you on the driveway and then after, at that fashion thing." He said, glancing away. "I didn't think we'd ever…"

And I don't think that I will see her again

But we shared a moment that will last to the end

"…But there was something about you…"

You're beautiful, you're beautiful, you're beautiful it's true

There must be an angel, with a smile on her face,

When she thought up that I should be with you

But it's time to face the truth,

I will never be with you.

It ended. Marissa stood there. Ryan watched her.

"Look, Ryan, I really appreciate this but I can't just ignore…"

"I don't want you to… I don't expect you to. All I need is for you to give me this night, to show you. Please."

"O- Okay."

He took a deep breath, this was going to be long and hard.

"I know I messed up big. And it wasn't the big things; it was a little thing I overlooked. I know you don't need the extravagant. I thought about taking you to some fancy place and telling you everything I would tell you here. But when it came to it, would it mean as much? We have such a history, I thought this would be best." He took a deep breath. "I don't know what came over me. I guess I felt like a failure for not being able to help you through Trey like you helped me. So I just lashed out. I never once thought about what you needed. It didn't occur to me. I thought; she knows I love her, enough right? But no. And that's what you were trying to tell me. I get it now. I get it all." Marissa started to tear up.

"Marissa, take your time, take all the time. IF you wanna talk about Trey we will, if you wanna sit and cry, go ahead and if you need to call in the middle of the night, do it because I am here for you. I always have been and I always will be. This will not destroy us. Those 7 candles over there were barriers that we overcame. Trey, Oliver, Theresa, Lindsay, Luke, Alex, and DJ. The last candle is for this, I want to light it sometime tonight, if you are ready."

Marissa had long ago started to cry and she just reached out and hugged Ryan. Then she nodded into his chest.

"I want to talk about Trey, just not right now, it would ruin…"

"Tomorrow? Okay. Now," He leaned over and grabbed the packages, and handed her the first one. "Open it." He instructed.

She smiled and did so. "Glue? Does that mean you're rubber?"

"No, it means no matter what, you and I are stuck together." Marissa beamed at him.

He handed her the next one. She opened it, and she nearly started crying again. It was a picture of them on her birthday, she was on his lap and they were grinning at each other uncontrollably. Engraved at the bottom was "Ad infinitum" she looked at Ryan and he said… "Forever, in Latin." Trust Ryan, she thought. Grinning stupidly, she pulled him closer one more time for a lengthy kiss. Ryan pulled them apart finally.

"Wait, one more." He handed her the last present; it was in a really small box, she wasn't sure what to think. I mean of course he thought they were too young to… Well, surely she couldn't say yes if it was, could she? She finally opened it to find a golden bracelet. Her eyes widened, well no it wasn't an engagement ring but it was really expensive looking. Ryan reached over her and flipped it over. On the back, in tiny writing, it said 'I love you.' She smiled and once again the tears flowed uncontrollably. "It's too much," She managed.

"It's not enough, I know."

"Look, I know expecting you to know what I'm feeling is too much but it just wouldn't have meant anything if you did it out of obligation. I just feel so alone and you're like the only person who might understand the situation… I… I've missed you." She said, her lips trembled but he reached an arm around her shoulders and she leaned against him. They didn't need words anymore. They were simply enjoying being in each other's embrace.

Time passed, neither of them seemed to notice. Slowly, Marissa turned up to Ryan's face and kissed him tenderly, intending to show her commitment to him, her utter joy. Ryan's hand cupped her chin. She let herself slip into it, savouring the strength of his body around her as she kissed him. His hands came around her, slipping her shirt above her head and she tugged his shirt off. They fell onto the mattress, limbs entangling and laughing.

Tomorrow, they would face Trey, they would tackle it together. But tonight… tonight they needed not to. They needed to reconnect. They needed each other. And they knew it.

A/N- Like it? Wish they had yet another obstacle to overcome? Or do you think they had suffered enough, as I did. Review it, if you could…