Chapter Three
A/N:- So thanks for everyones reviews, they are appreciated muchly. Just to clarify, this fic is probably going to be all fluff, because lets face it, R/M fans need it after all they have gone through.
Ryan stifled a yawn as the credits rolled across the television screen and Marissa tried and failed to surreptitiously wipe the tears from her eyes. Ryan smiled.
"It was a happy ending Marissa." He said with a frown. He still didn't understand why people cried in movies. Sure some were sad but not worth crying over. Marissa sniffed.
"Just because you're heartless." She said with a trace of a smile as she reached for the remote and switched off the DVD.
"You're just jealous because I have control over my tear ducts." He replied with a grin as Marissa laughed and chucked a cushion at him. Ryan ducked it easily and the cushion soared over his head. A mischievous grin spread across Ryan's face before he slid his arm around Marissa's waist and began to tickle her. She shrieked with laughter and tried to pull away from him as she laughed breathlessly.
"Ryan!" She laughed before freeing herself from his grasp. She blinked the tears of laughter from her eyes and Ryan settled back against the couch.
"What did I tell you about the tear ducts?" He said with a grin and Marissa mock scowled.
"Oh Shutup." She said before collapsing back down onto the couch next to him.
"So what are you doing tomorrow? Do you want to go out or something?" Ryan asked looking across at Marissa.
"Yeah that sounds good…No! Wait, I just remembered I have to babysit tomorrow!" She said apologetically and Ryan sighed.
"Who for?" He asked and Marissa rolled her eyes.
"Taryn Baker, she's out for the night and their usual sitter cancelled so she asked me to babysit Christabel Destiny Baker." Marissa said causing Ryan to snort with laughter.
"Christabel Destiny?" He questioned. Surely no one would actually name their child that?
"I know." Marissa said with a smirk. "But I promised I would so I can't get out of it…Hey, why don't you come?" She asked brightly. Ryan raised an eyebrow uncertainly.
"Me? Babysitting? Newpsies?" He questioned dubiously. Marissa grinned.
"Oh come on it'd be fun! You'd have me to keep you company…"She said with a flirtatious smile. Ryan groaned.
"Fine, if you put it that way but Seth is hearing nothing about this…I'd never hear the end of it." He said darkly.
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Christabel-Destiny Baker was a force to be reckoned with. Well, with Taryn Baker, Newpsie supreme as her mother, she was bound to be. With her blonde hair in pigtails and the latest Marc Jacobs Junior range jeans complete with matching t-shirt, she was the epitome of Newport Spawn. Taryn had asked Julie who in turn had asked Marissa if she could watch Christabel whilst Taryn attended some charity function that she just couldn't miss. Marissa didn't mind watching her and her baby sister, and when Ryan had agreed to go with her it just made it even better.
But that was before they were introduced to Christabel. The moment Ryan and Marissa had walked in Christabel looked them up and down with a disapproving look before promptly sitting down on the huge couch, crossing her arms, not looking best pleased. Ryan looked at Marissa, who sighed, and shook her head. Ryan placed a hand on her lower back.
"So are all you Newpsie girls taught that look at some kind of etiquette school?" Ryan asked quietly in her ear, smiling. "She seems to have got it down." Marissa shoved him away gently, glaring at him as Ryan laughed.
"Come on, be serious." Marissa replied, turning around slightly and looking at him straight in the eye. Ryan stifled back a laugh. Shooting him another look, Marissa walked over to the couch and sat down next to Christabel, who sat with her legs crossed and remote in one hand flicking through the hundreds of kids channels on the 40" widescreen plasma television.
"Hey Christy." Marissa greeted the child sat next to her, trying to make an effort in what was going to be a truly testing evening. Christabel turned to her before replying.
"It's Christabel." She replied shortly, turning back to face Blue's Clues on Nick. "And I don't even know why you're here, I can look after myself and Madison." Marissa nodded, before smiling slightly.
"I'm sure you can." Marissa shrugged her shoulders. "But I guess your Mommy just wanted someone to be here in case anything happens, and plus, would you really want to change Madison's icky diaper?" Christabel's nose crinkled as she heard Marissa's words.
"I guess not." Christabel answered, getting up as she swtiched off the television. "But, I'm bored. And who's that?" Christabel pointed her finger in Ryan's direction, who was shifting nervously from foot to foot in the entryway to the lounge.
"Oh, that's Ryan, my boyfriend." Marissa answered, smiling at Ryan to try and reassure him. "I asked him to tag along, he can be fun when he wants to be." She said playfully laughing, as Ryan came over and sat down next to Marissa and tickling her side lightly after her statement.
"Hey, I resent that." Ryan smiled, leaning in to kiss her cheek softly before taking hold of her hand.
"Ew!" Christabel said, looking at the two of them in disgust, before covering her eyes. "I may only be 7, but I do know how you make babies!" Ryan's smiling face turned to a look of shock as his face flushed red whilst Marissa laughed, Ryan quickly stood up and returned to where he was standing before, looking down at his shoes embarassed which only made Marissa laugh even more. Suddenly, the loud cries of a baby could be heard resounding throughout the house, and Ryan looked at Marissa uncertainly.
"I guess Madison's decided to make herself heard..." Marissa said, unsurely. Christabel laughed.
"Guess is time to change Madison's icky diaper!" Christabel chuckled again wickedly as Marissa laughed.
"She probably just wants feeding or maybe even just picking up." Marissa replied, shrugging her shoulders at Ryan, who was still standing in the corner looking compeltely out of his depth and bewildered, making Marissa smile slightly at his cuteness. "I''ll go, Ry."
Ryan waited until Marissa had left the room to change Madison's diaper before pulling out his cell phone. He dialed Seth's number and waited for him to pick up, throwing furtive glances at the door to check that Marissa wasn't about to come in. Finally Seth picked up the phone.
"Hello?" Seth answered.
"Hey man it's Ryan. Did you get the stuff I asked for?" He asked looking over at the door again.
"Balloons, party poppers, food, torches, fairy lights. I have managed to locate such items." Seth replied causing Ryan to frown.
"Can't you talk like a normal person?" He said with a smirk and he heard Seth sigh.
"Ah yes my friend but what would be the fun in that? Anyway, is that everything or do you need anything else. How did I suddenly become your slave anyway?" Seth asked indignantly causing Ryan to grin.
"Because otherwise I'll have to be forced to tell Kirsten what really happened to the vase." Ryan replied smugly.
"Okay you have me there."
"There is one thing, I was wondering if you could get a hold of some wood for the bonfire?" Ryan asked as he walked over to the door checking through the gap and finding Marissa cooing down at the baby on the changing table and a smile slid across his face.
"Ryan are you serious? Me and heavy lifting?" Seth asked incredulously.
"Look you can get Summer to help." Ryan said.
"Okay and by help you mean do it all because seriously, me, exertion and physical labor do not bode well together." Seth babbled.
"Fine, whatever but just make sure you get it all. It's Marissa's birthday in two days and everything needs to be perfect." Ryan answered. He wanted Marissa to have a really great birthday, she deserved one after everything that had happened this year.
"Okay I'm on the case. I'll talk to you later." Seth said before hanging up. Just as Ryan closed the phone Marissa walked in with Madison in her arms. She greeted him with a smile
"Hey, who was that?" She asked.
"Oh just Seth, rambling." He replied with a smile. It wasn't a lie.
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A/N2:- We know that it is very short and it has been a while, but we have been studying very hard for our end of year exams which are quite important. Anyway we hope you liked this chapted and coming up:- Marissa's birthday and a few surprises along the way!
Hope you enjoyed, please review!
Rachel and Ella!