The last scene opens with Jimmy sitting in the back yard of his parent's house by the pool. Relaxing in a lounge chair, a beer in hand that he is not drinking, he is apparently lost in thought and staring off into space. Walking out to see him, Sherry spots him before he does her, and, confused, she watches him for a moment trying to figure out what he is doing. Finally, after waiting for him to recognize her presence and not being successful, she clears her throat and moves over to sit in the chair beside him.

Sherry: Your Dad thought I'd be able to find you out here, said you've been spending a lot of your free time out here.

Jimmy: (His tone is depressed yet reflective at the same time.) So I have.

Sherry: Doing what?

Jimmy: (He does not answer at first but takes a deep, bracing breath before he speaks, the whole time his eyes on the setting sun and the horizon and not his guest's face.) Do you know that it was right here where he first made his move on her? (Sherry looks at him confused, but Jimmy does not give her a chance to ask any questions as he continues to talk in his quiet voice.) He posed as our pool boy, and she never saw him coming. From there, he never looked back.

Sherry: (She realizes what he is talking about.) Is this what you do the whole time you're back here, brood over what happened to Caitlyn?

Jimmy: What…. (He laughs.) no. It was hot and I was contemplating taking a swim in the pool until I started thinking about how long it had been since the pool was cleaned. One thing led to another, and before I knew it, I was trapped in this train of thought.

Sherry: Sounds healthy….. (Jimmy snorts in agreement, rolls his eyes, and takes a sip from his beer.) So what did you come out here to think about in the first place?

Jimmy: Me.

Sherry: Big surprise there! Hasn't thinking about yourself caused enough damage, Jimmy?

Jimmy: No…wait, that's not what I meant.

Sherry: So you weren't thinking about yourself?

Jimmy: No, I was, but in connection to my kids…..to Caitlyn. (Sherry just motions for him to continue.) I don't know…I guess I've been thinking a lot about what you said, about maybe getting my own place.

Sherry: I think that's a great idea, and I have the perfect place in mind.

Jimmy: (He's surprised.) You do?

Sherry: My place.

Jimmy: You want me to move in with you? Wouldn't that be a little awkward, especially now that rumor has it you've got a steady boyfriend?

Sherry: Jimmy, we might be friends, but there is no way I'd ever share an apartment with you. I won't be there; I'm moving.

Jimmy: Did you find a better place, perhaps closer to the hospital?

Sherry: Jimmy, shut up and listen to me. I'm moving out of Newport to San Francisco.

Jimmy: But what about your job, your friends? I mean, you're just starting to form a little support system here, what with the Cohens and their kids and me.

Sherry: I never planned on staying here past the trial… (She goes to continue, but he interrupts her.)

Jimmy: Congratulations on that by the way.

Sherry: Thank…I guess, but anyway, I don't like Newport. I was here too long before, and look what kind of mess I got myself into. Plus, Zach and I, we're doing pretty good together, and I want to see if anything can come of it. I already have a job lined up, I'm going to be moving into Zach's apartment with him, and since I'll be splitting the rent with someone in a less expensive market, I'll be able to stock some money away for a rainy day. I don't see any drawbacks.

Jimmy: You're really sure about this?

Sherry: (Rolling her eyes and pushing him away playfully, she laughs.) I'm positive. Now about my apartment…..

Jimmy: It's two bedrooms, right?

Sherry: Yep, so Caitlyn would have her own room when she comes to visit.

Jimmy: And no one else has put any offers on it?

Sherry: I told the realtor that I had a friend who was interested, so I'd save her the hassle of putting it on the market and check with him first.

Jimmy: Confident, much? (He snickers at her forwardness.)

Sherry: I just knew that you'd see the smart logic behind my extremely astute plan.

Jimmy: I'm not touching that one.

Sherry: And people say your dumb; I don't get it!

Jimmy: (He plays along enjoying the friendly banter. It is something he doesn't get that often.) Hey, don't let my Mom hear you say that about her baby boy.

Sherry: Speaking of your Mom, where is she? I thought we could team up to work together on this project I like to call 'get Jimmy Cooper to grow up'?

Jimmy: She's in Pennsylvania visiting Caitlyn. She'll be back later tonight. Her plane comes in at 8:00.

Sherry: Maybe I'll see here there.

Jimmy: (He sits up surprised his previous nonchalance gone.) What, you mean you're leaving tonight?

Sherry: My plane leaves at 8:30. It'll make for a late night for Zach and I when we finally get home, but I wanted to be up there as soon as I could.

Jimmy: Do you want me to drive you to the airport? After everything you've done for me, it's the least I could do for you.

Sherry: (She stands up and slings her purse over her shoulder.) No, that's okay, but thanks anyway. Newport might not have been my favorite town, but there were a few places I'll miss and I want to go and see them one last time before I go. (Jimmy stands up with her and gives her a friendly hug.)

Jimmy: Just because you're moving doesn't mean you won't be back at all. You'll see all those places again.

Sherry: What do you mean?

Jimmy: We'll get you back here for something. Zach comes back, doesn't he, so he'll just have to bring you along. Besides, there will be countless Newpsie parties for you to attend if you want to, Sandy and Kirsten's big 25th wedding anniversary party this upcoming January, and, don't forget about the event of the century, Seth and Summer's wedding.

Sherry: You're daughter, Marissa, will be getting married eventually, too, you know, and stranger things have happened, but you could find yourself a better half as well.

Jimmy: I think I'd rather eat glass, but hey that'd be pretty much like my first marriage, pure torture. (Sherry laughs again and then starts moving towards the door that leads back into the house, motioning for Jimmy to sit back down.)

Sherry: I'll show myself out; you just sit there and think of color swatches for that new apartment of yours. (With one last wave, she leaves him alone, smiling after her several moments after she has left. The camera leaves the Cooper residence and goes to Ryan and Marissa arriving back at their apartment. Neither speaks as Ryan lets them in, and as they wander into their bedroom, they drop their bags before looking in the other rooms to see if anyone else is at home. The apartment is empty. Coming back together and standing in front of the other, the tension between them is palpable, and it is obvious that they are nervous and unsure of how to act around each other. They have never been this uncomfortable with each other even when they first met. Ryan scuffs his feet along the floor and stares at them while Marissa wrings her hands and watches the wall behind Ryan's face as she speaks.)

Ryan: So….

Marissa: Seth and Summer aren't here.

Ryan: And it looks like Hayley went back to Newport. At least we'll have our bed back. (He tries to lighten the mood, but as he looks up at her, he realizes that the comment about the bed was the wrong one as she winces. Their problems revolved around that piece of furniture, why exactly she still wouldn't tell him.)

Marissa: Right….well I'm going to go and cook some dinner. Do you want anything…..

Ryan: (He moves a step closer to her and sees that she visibly begins to fidget with anxiety. Seeing this, he stops dead in his tracks and drops the hands he was going to try and take hers with.) Whatever you want will be fine. I guess I'll…..unpack. (She nodded her head to show him that she agreed with what he was going to do and left him there standing there and watching her as she silently, dejectedly made her way back to the kitchen without another word shared between them. Once she disappears, he turns back around and goes back in their bedroom to unpack their suitcase. Taking their clothes out that are dirty first, which were packed in a separate, plastic bag, he takes them and puts them in the hamper. Moving back, he removes the clean clothes they did not wear on the trip and puts them back in their respective drawers. Opening one of Marissa's drawers to put a clean pair of pajamas away, he looks inside and sees a pamphlet for birth control. Immediately dropping the clothes, he picks up the pamphlet and walks out of their room slowly towards the kitchen. When he reaches it, the door is closed. He pushes it open and just watches Marissa as she cooks. Unlike normal, she is not enjoying what she is doing. Cooking looks like a chore for her. Noticing her face, he sees that she is attempting, rather unsuccessfully, to hold back the tears. Sniffling, she wipes her nose with her sleeve before she gives up and throws the knife that she was using to cut the vegetables across the counter. Running her hands through her hair, frustrated, she turns her back to Ryan as she tries to regain her composure, and she is still unaware that he is watching her. Startling her, he says her name, but unlike normal, his voice is not loving and kind but angry and hurt.)

Ryan: Marissa, we need to talk, now! (Without waiting for her to say anything, he tosses the birth control pamphlet down on the counter and walks out, letting the door swing shut and bang loudly. She turns around to see his back fade away from her sight, but jumps when she hears the door shut. Noticing the pamphlet, she picks it up and that is her undoing as she can no longer even attempt to stop the tears from flowing. Following him out of the door, she, this time, lets it close softly. First she looks in the living room for him, but he is not there, and knowing that he has to be in their room then, she takes a deep breath and walks in. He is sitting on the bed, his back to her, shoulders slumped and obviously upset. With a soft, timid voice, she breaks the silence.)

Marissa: I wasn't going to use it. The idea of it still scares me, but in a weaker moment of self-doubt I grabbed one from the doctor's office.

Ryan: Why were you at the doctor's office? I thought you said you weren't sick? (Although his voice still has an edge to it, she can tell that he is worried. Hesitating before she moves, she sits down beside him and picks up his hand. At first he seems to fight her until he looks up in her eyes and notices that she needs the physical closeness to talk, a thought that boosts his spirits.)

Marissa: I'm not sick, Ryan. I promised you and I wouldn't lie about something so serious or break a promise to you.

Ryan: Then why are you going to the doctors…..oh my god, are you? (Suddenly, the strange moods, the lack of interest or at least strange reaction to sex, and her possible interest in birth control make sense…or so he thought. As soon as he sees her face though as it contorts into more pain, he knows that she is not pregnant.) You're not, are you?

Marissa: No. I didn't even think I was, but Hayley kept insisting, and finally to shut her up, I made an appointment.

Ryan: (His voice betrays his confusion.) What does Hayley have to do with this? Why did she think you were pregnant?

Marissa: Well, do you remember how emotional I was around the time they finally caught your Dad?

Ryan: Yes, but you were under a lot of stress. I would have been worried about you if you wouldn't have been a little emotional.

Marissa: That's what I thought, too. Then she noticed that I had cravings for certain foods….

Ryan: (At this he laughs, surprising Marissa at first but then making her smile at him.) Marissa, please, you always have cravings for food. That is one thing I won't have to get used to someday when you do become pregnant. For instance, I bet there is something you're craving right now; am I right?

Marissa: (She now fully laughs.) Yeah, you're right. (His eyes egg her on to tell him what it is.) Rosemary herb Triscuits.

Ryan: See. If you would have come to me, I would have been able to tell you that Hayley had no idea what she was talking about. No one knows you….or your body (He lets his eyes fall off of her face for a moment before meeting her gaze again, his attention making her blush pleasantly.) better than I do.

Marissa: There's more to this though than me being upset about not being pregnant. (Ryan looks at her strangely after her last statement.) After Hayley started nagging me about it, I knew it was a long shot, but I liked the idea and I started to hope…..and that's why I didn't tell you. I knew you'd be disappointed if I wasn't, and with everything that has happened, you didn't need that on top of everything else.

Ryan: Like you needed to go through that alone? I don't care if you think you're saving me from feeling worse, I'd rather be able to help you through something than be spared my feelings. Trust me, it was harder to sit back and watch you upset than it would have been to hold your hand through this. (She looks up and smiles at him, moving her body into the crook of his arm so that he can hold her. When he feels her against him, he can sense how tense she is.) This other part is worse isn't it?

Marissa: Do not panic. I'm not sick, but when I was there, she went ahead and did my annual exam. I guess my blood pressure was through the roof and my heart rate was elevated too high for her taste, and she inquired as to why I would be stressed.

Ryan: (His tone sounds guilty.) My family….

Marissa: (Turning around so that her face was towards his, she lets go of his hand and holds onto his face, resting her forehead against his and looking intently into his eyes.) Listen to me, what they did was not your fault, and if you blame yourself and get upset about it, it's just going to make me even more stressed out.

Ryan: You're playing dirty.

Marissa: Whatever I have to do to make you relax and not beat yourself up about this, I'll do, dirty tactics or not. (Sighing, he closes his eyes for a moment and then opens them back up. Kissing her softly on the lips briefly, he pulls back to continue the conversation.)

Ryan: So what do we do now? What does the doctor recommend?

Marissa: She does not want me to even try to get pregnant until after my stats go back to normal, and with the trial coming up eventually…..

Ryan: You can't stop thinking about either, huh?

Marissa: We're so alike sometimes it's scary do you know that? (He laughs softly at her very true statement.) I just keep thinking that what if they get off on some technicality, what if the cops did something wrong when they arrested them or what if someone looses some of the evidence. Stranger things have happened.

Ryan: Marissa, you need to quit worrying about this.

Marissa: Easier said than done….

Ryan: I know, I know, (Lying down on their bed, he takes her with him, holding her in his arms and softly, gently playing with her hair in an attempt to sooth her.) but just remember that I don't care what I have to do, you will be safe and our children will be safe to. We can move, change our names, our identities, run off together where no can find us, anything as long as nothing happens to you, but that's not going to happen. They're going to be convicted.

Marissa: I hope you're right, but if not, you know that I'll go anywhere with you? (Hearing her say those words, he has to release some of his emotion, so he leans down and tips her chin up to him to that her lips meet his. Their kiss is not overly passionate just tender, sweet, loving. After a moment, they pull back as she settles back into his arms.) I'm supposed to go in for monthly check-ups so that the doctor can monitor me. Once everything is closer to a normal range, we'll get the green light to start our family.

Ryan: And until then, we'll just continue using condoms. I didn't realize fully in Las Vegas what you were saying when you said no. I thought you didn't want to be with me….

Marissa: So that's why you were so distant?

Ryan: Yeah. Why were you?

Marissa: I thought you were mad about me needing to still use condoms.

Ryan: (He laughs.) I'm not even sure I can be mad at you at this point.

Marissa: (Laughing, she sits up and playfully shoves him.) Oh, listen to you! Ten minutes ago, you practically bit my head off when you found that birth control pamphlet. I think we'll have to check the door to the kitchen to make sure it's still properly on its hinges.

Ryan: (He gives her a questioning look.) I wasn't that bad!

Marissa: Oh yeah, well let me go and demonstrate. (Moving to get up off of the bed, he stops her and pulls her back to him.)

Ryan: Where do you think you're going?

Marissa: To reenact you door slam and then to finish dinner.

Ryan: I'm not hungry; I'd rather stay here. I've missed you these past few weeks. You've been here physically but emotionally…..

Marissa: I've been distant, yeah, I know. That was for my own self-protection.

Ryan: It ends tonight. (His voice is suggestive.) We're going to stay in this room and (Unable to help it, Marissa yawns loudly.) and you're going to rest, no thinking, no worrying, no talking, just rest and hopefully you'll fall asleep early.

Marissa: But, Ryan….

Ryan: No buts. I don't care what type of charms you try to pull, you're not getting your way. This is one battle I'm going to win.

Marissa: (She moves from the crook of his arm and slides her body on top of his letting her hands find his waistband of his pants and her lips find his Adam's Apple.) I'm sure I can persuade you to think differently. (Before she can do anything else, he flips them over and gently holds her arms down.)

Ryan: Not tonight; tonight you're going to sleep. Now you can either quit trying to seduce me and I'll stay in here with you or I'll go out into the living room and spend my evening by myself.

Marissa: (Rolling her eyes and playfully pushing him off of her, she settles back down into his arms.) Like that was even a choice. (Laughing, he kisses her forehead and goes back to smoothing her hair as her eyes already begin to flutter shut. The camera leaves them and goes to Seth and Branning who are shopping for CD's. As they go through the racks, they discuss the various issues Seth has on his mind.)

Seth: So, dude, what happened Friday night? We left at 7:00, you and Hayley were awake and slightly bitchy; we come home at midnight and you two are passed out on Ryan and Marissa's bed, completely dressed and dead to the world.

Branning: (He silently laughs and avoids looking Seth in the eye, pretending to be interested in a CD.) What can I say, we were tired. We worked our little minds to exhaustion for you.

Seth: (Not recognizing the sarcasm behind the answer, he continues.) That makes sense, but what happened to all our food? Did you two hold a party for the apartment building or something, because not even I could have gobbled up all the food that apparently was consumed?

Branning: Uh…yeah, the food….Hayley's medicine made her hungry. (Avoiding Seth's gaze again, he snickers at the irony of that statement for what caused her hunger could have been used for medicinal purposes.)

Seth: Whatever the reason, lucky you gets to go grocery shopping with me this evening before I drop you off and head back to Newport for the week. If Marissa catches her kitchen that void of food, she'll be after me faster than you on a pop star! (Rolling his eyes, Branning just decides to change the conversation.)

Branning: So, where's Summer?

Seth: Oh, I don't know. She said something about her Dad being out of town and needing to check on the house. (Seth shrugs his shoulders and goes back to perusing, bored with the topic switch away from him.)

Branning: But couldn't she have waited a few more hours until you went home, too?

Seth: Yeah, I don't know. I didn't really think about it. She took Hayley home, too, maybe that's why she went early. (Although Branning still wanted to protest more, he knew it was pointless and that Seth was totally oblivious to anything that was not staring him directly in the face.) So Dude, back to this brainstorming session you did with the aunt, what did you two come up with?

Branning: (He hesitates when he speaks.) Yeah….um…..I guess we're still working on it.

Seth: That's cool. Just make sure it's totally awesome, that Summer will like it and be surprised, and that she'll believe that I came up with it.

Branning: That's all, huh?

Seth: Yeah, nothing you two geniuses can't handle. (He pats him on the back in an attempted manly way.) I have faith in you.

Branning: Thanks, Seth, you have no idea how little that means to me. (Following after his selfish friend who had moved on to the next row, Branning changes the subject once again.) Have you at least figured out what you're getting her for her birthday?

Seth: I thought I'd leave that up to you, too, buddy.

Branning: Whoa, I don't think so. (He moves so that he is standing in front of Seth.) She's not my girlfriend….

Seth: Yeah because you don't do girls, literally and metaphorically speaking.

Branning: You have to come up with the gift, Seth, on your own for once. You're not harassing Hayley about this either.

Seth: What's this? You spend one night eating in bed with my Aunt and suddenly you're protecting her from the likes of her favorite nephew?

Branning: About that, she told me she prefers Ryan. He's not as demanding!

Seth: (He rolls his eyes.) That's because he's got the less complicated, easier to please girlfriend. He'd be annoying Hayley for advice, too, if he dated someone as high maintenance as Summer.

Branning: Yeah, I'd avoid putting that in her card.

Seth: Good point.

Branning: So…..?

Seth: So what?

Branning: The gift?

Seth: Oh, I don't know. I used the traditional jewelry one last time.

Branning: You really don't know women, do you?

Seth: What do you mean?

Branning: Women can never have too much jewelry. Stick with that and Summer will be happy.

Seth: Really, every time?

Branning: Just put some thought into the pieces and, with Summer especially, you should be good to go.

Seth: Alright then, I'll meet you one night after you get off of work this week and we'll go shopping!

Branning: (Seth walks away, but Branning chases after him.) Seth that's not what I meant….

Seth: (He's totally ignoring him.) I wonder if she'd like a new mix CD, perhaps this time with songs that remind me of us instead of just her? (With that, Seth walks out of the store, the CD's forgotten, and Branning just follows perplexed as to how he keeps getting himself into these situations with Seth. As the camera pulls away from Seth, Straylight Run's "The Perfect Ending" begins to play and it shows Hayley playing with Zoe in Newport at the Cohen's house. They are the only two at home, playing out by the pool. Hayley is teasing her, picking her up, tossing her over her shoulder, and tickling her out on the patio by the pool. Stumbling and shaking off her dizziness, she puts Zoe down before trying to settle her swaying body. She stops laughing with Zoe who picks up on the change in the atmosphere quickly and becomes frightened for her aunt. Although she starts to cry, Hayley cannot move to go and help her as her eyes roll back in her head and she looses consciousness, falling hard to the cement of the patio. Zoe rushes over to her and shakes her, sobbing the entire time and calling out her name, but Hayley does not wake. Frightened, Zoe runs into the house and picks up a phone, dialing the numbers her parents have drilled into her head, 911. As she cries on the phone, the camera leaves them and goes to Summer who is, although all alone in her father's home, sneaking around it quietly. Moving into his office, she first rummages through his filing cabinet, looking for anything that might catch her eye or sound as if it will help her with her mission. Finding nothing, she moves to his desk. Searching the unlocked drawers before she pulls out his key set he left for her since he was out of town, she doesn't find anything and has to resort to going through his personal, locked papers. Finally, she finds something that obviously interests here. Moving away from the desk, she makes copies of it, hides them in her purse, and then replaces the original papers in the locked drawer, resealing it and checking to make sure that she left everything the same as it had been before, even going so far as to reload his copy machine with the exact amount of paper she used. Satisfied that he would never suspect anything, she closes the door and sneaks her way out of the house, never looking back. Walking to her car, she has a smug smile on her face as she makes sure that her purse is securely on her arm. The camera fades as she drives away from the house.)

End of Episode #19