DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT own anything!
Well, here's the next chapter, it's shorter than the other's. Thanks for the reviews and I tried to incorporate a little bit more S/S into this chapter but I have a hard time writing for them. I love them and am so glad they got a happy ending in the finale but I just can never seem to write for them. R/T and Kandy are my strong points, especially Kandy smut/fluff, or as I call it SMUFF! Well, thanks for all the reviews and I hope y'all enjoy this chapter. Let me know what you think!
"Seth, do you think Frank will try to hurt Julie if she leaves him?" Summer asked as Seth and she sat curled up together in the swing, watching as Sophie blew bubbles.
"What do you mean 'if' she leaves him? Of course she's gonna leave him, I just don't know what he'll do. I mean we all thought he had changed then he goes and hits her. I heard my Mom and Dad talking and it sounds like he was drinking too!" Seth shook his head as he spoke.
"Oh God, I feel so bad for Julie and Kaitlin. Thank God Blake's too young to know what is going on!"
"What about Ryan? He finally thinks he can trust his dad then he goes and does something stupid!"
"You're really worried about Ryan aren't you?" Summer asked sympathetically.
"Yeah, I am. He's been through so much and finally, after putting his past and Marissa's death behind him and movin' on with Taylor, and starting to form some sort of relationship with his Dad it just all kinda blows up in his face. It's terrible. I just don't want him to go Old School Ryan! I've started to enjoy the more relaxed, and yes, even whipped, Ryan Atwood!" Seth let out an exasperated sigh. He felt terribly for his friend and knew that he needed to be there for him, but was not sure how.
"Seth, I don't think Ryan will go back to being all bad ass, he's grown and changed too much for that. Plus, I think Taylor does have him too whipped for him to start punchin' people again!" Summer and Seth shared a slight smile at how their two best friends had become such a married couple. "I love you!" Summer smiled and gently kissed Seth on the lips.
"I love you too!" Seth said and deepened the kiss. Summer wrapped he arms around Seth's neck and pulled him with her as she fell backwards on the swing.
"Ewwww! Get a woom!" Sophie shrieked, pretending to gag.
"Now I know how my parents feel when I do that!" Seth groaned as Summer and he sat back up.
"See Seth, it isn't too fun having someone loomin' over you every time you kiss the woman you love, is it?" Sandy smirked as he walked into the backyard, Kirsten, Ryan, Taylor, Julie, and Blake following him. Seth rolled his eyes and threw his head against the back of the swing. Summer laughed lightly and hit his arm. Seth sat up and pulled her closer to him, wrapping his arms around her protectively.
"Where's Kaitlin?" Julie asked, looking around the backyard.
"She's over there, trying to dig one of Sophie's Barbie's out of the sandbox. Sophie talked her into playing treasure hunt!" Summer said amused.
"She'll never find that Barbie!" Sandy said shaking his head.
"No, but she'll probably find everything else. Sophie hides everything!" Kirsten shook her head, thinking back to all the times she had had to dig through the sand to find jewelry, silverware, and on one occasion the telephone.
"You don't let her bury Captain Oats do you?" Seth asked, worried about his plastic horse.
"No Seth, she hasn't done that yet!" Kirsten said reassuringly. Seth glared at his mother for a moment then turned his attention to Ryan and Taylor who stood watching as Sophie and Blake jumped around the yard, trying to catch the bubbles before they popped.
"Hey man, you ok?" Seth asked Ryan, noticing the distant look in his eyes.
"Yeah, I'm fine. What'd you do with that bag from the mall?" Ryan asked, remembering the stocking he had bought for Taylor.
"Oh, it's in the closet in my room. We'll do that when we open Chrismukkah presents, ok?" Seth asked, knowing that Ryan wanted to give Taylor her stocking as much as he wanted to give Summer hers. Ryan nodded in agreement.
"Kirsten, does Sophie have any costume jewelry she plays with?" Kaitlin yelled over to Kirsten.
"No, why?" Kirsten asked, looking sternly at Sophie.
"Well, there's a pretty expensive looking necklace in here. It has a diamond K on it!" Kaitlin yelled back.
"Oops!" Sophie giggled and took off running through the backyard.
"Sophie Rose, come back here!" Kirsten said as she took off after her young daughter. Sophie continued to giggled as her mother chased her around the yard.
"DADDY!" Sophie screamed as she ran back toward her father. Sandy laughed as Sophie, at top speed came running through the yard, and jumped into his outstretched arms. Sophie continued to giggled as Sandy picked her up and threw her up into the air. "Do again Daddy!" Sophie squealed. Sandy smiled at his little girl and threw her in the air once again. When Sophie landed back in his arms Kirsten was standing there, her hands on her hips, obviously out of breathe from chasing her daughter.
"All right little Miss, I thought I told you not to bury anymore of Mommy's jewelry?" Kirsten asked, forcing herself not to smile at her daughter.
"Sowwy Mommy!" Sophie smiled angelically. Sandy laughed at the way his little girl manipulated Kirsten.
"I just bet you are!" Kirsten laughed and began tickling Sophie. Everyone watched the sweet moment of play between father, mother, and daughter, all too engrossed in the moment to hear the knock on the door or the clicking of heels on the floor as the person walked through the house. The only thing that caught everyone's attention, including Kaitlin who still dug through the sand in search of a Barbie, was the person speaking.
"Ya know, rough playing with your children leads to twenty-five percent of all accidental injuries!" The voice could only belong to one person. Everyone turned to the opened backdoor and was shocked to see Sophie Cohen senior, standing in the doorway, her arms crossed firmly in front of her chest.
"Ma?!" Sandy asked, handing Sophie over to Kirsten and walking to his mother. Kirsten took her daughter, putting her on her hip, and stood there shocked, expecting anyone but her mother-in-law to show up.
"I didn't know The Nana was coming!" Summer whispered to Seth.
"Yeah, I don't think anyone did!" Seth said as he stood up from the swing, waiting to see how things went with his father and Grandmother before he went over to her.
"Hello Sandy dear. Why do you look so shocked? Can't a mother visit her son during Hanukkah?" Sophie asked.
"Of course, I just… you should have called, we would've picked you up from the airport!" Sandy said as he hugged his mother.
"I didn't want to be a bother. I knew Sethala and Ryan would be here and that you'd have other company. I didn't want to keep you from entertaining them!" Sophie said in a very insincere tone.
"Seth, come say hello to your Grandmother. You too Ryan!" Sandy said, waving his arms for his boys to come join him. Seth and Ryan exchanged nervous glances then walked over to the Nana.
"So that's the scary Nana?" Julie whispered to Kirsten as she placed Blake down in the yard.
"That's Sophie Cohen, she could even unnerve my father!" Kirsten said. Julie mouthed 'wow', unaware that anyone could unnerve Caleb Nichol.
"I Sophie Cohen!" Sophie said with her eyebrows furrowed at her mother.
"Yes sweetie, you are Sophie Cohen, but remember, Daddy and I told you that we named you after your Grandmother? Well that's her, you've seen her a couple of times before!" Kirsten knew very well that Sophie would not remember the Nana, seeing her once when she had been three months old then seeing her when she had turned one.
"What's she like? She didn't exactly make it to our wedding, which didn't seem to upset Ryan but I wonder if maybe she'll hate me. I mean, she doesn't look like the most loving person, and from what Ryan says she's always tried to avoid Ca….." Taylor began rambling nervously to Summer.
"Taylor, it's ok! The Nana is nice, just not cuddly like most Grandmas. Sorta like your Mom!" Summer smiled, trying to reassure her friend.
"That's not good Summer, I mean my Mom is a bitch! Are you saying the Nana is a bitch? I mean if she is then I guess that's all right, I mean she isn't anything to me it's just that I really want her to like me since she considers Ryan her Grandson and…."
"Taylor, it's ok, I promise. Trust me, the way Seth talked about her I was really scared but then I met her and she's nice. She can be scary but she's nice, she just doesn't like Kirsten!"
"She doesn't like Kirsten? Why doesn't she like Kirsten? Kirsten is the nicest person I've ever met!" Taylor was appalled that the Nana did not like Kirsten.
"Yeah, I know but I think the Nana thinks she just like her Dad was!" Summer shrugged. Taylor stood there a moment, a look of worry on her face. Even though she had never met Kirsten's father she had heard about him from Ryan, especially how mean he had been to Ryan when Ryan had first arrived in Newport. That was why she did not understand why The Nana would think Kirsten was anything like her father.
"Taylor, Taylor, are you all right?" Ryan asked as he walked back to her and put his arm around her waist.
"Yeah, I'm fine!" Taylor smiled and leaned into Ryan.
"Taylor, I'd like you to meet The Nana, Nana, this is my wife, Taylor!" Ryan said, stepping aside so Sophie and Taylor could get a good look of each other. Taylor stood there frozen, afraid of saying something that might offend the Nana.
"Hello Dear, it's so nice to finally meet you. I'm sorry I couldn't attend your wedding but I had to work!" Sophie smiled.
"That's all right!" Taylor smiled timidly at Sophie, her breathe caught in her throat.
"I like her, she doesn't look as thin as your last girlfriend!" Sophie said to Ryan as she walked away from Taylor and he and over to Seth and Summer. Kirsten walked over to Ryan and placed a reassuring hand on Ryan's back.
"It's all right Ryan, she…." Kirsten began.
"It's ok! She seems to like Taylor and that's all I care about!" Ryan forced a smile and put his arm around his wife's waist.
"Taylor, are you ok?" Kirsten asked, placing her hand on Taylor's arm.
"Yeah, I'm fine I'm just so sorry that she said that Ryan!" Taylor said , wrapping her arms around Ryan.
"It's ok Taylor! I just don't want her attacking you!" Ryan said and kissed Taylor on the cheek. Taylor smiled at Ryan and glanced over at Seth, Summer, and The Nana.
"So, Summer, I hear that you've turned into a tree hugger, I must admit, I'm shocked. I thought you were going to be another Newport air head. Instead you're trying to make the world a better place. I'm proud of you!" Sophie said, a genuine smile on her face.
"Thank you Nana!" Summer smiled, pleased at the compliment.
"And Sethala, I hear that you are doing well in school, I'm glad to hear that!" Sophie smiled. Seth nodded with a goofy smile on his face, always unsure of what to say his grandmother.
"So, where's my Granddaughter, my namesake?" Sophie asked turning around and looking through the yard.
"Ma, Kirsten and Sophie are in the sandbox with Kirsten's good friend Julie, her daughter Kaitlin, and Ryan's little brother Blake!" Sandy said, pointing over to the sandbox were the two women stood watching as the children tried to build a sandcastle. Sophie nodded and headed over to the sandbox, Sandy followed closely behind, not wanting his mother to upset anyone, especially in front of the kids.
"Hello Kirsten!" Sophie's voice sent chills down Kirsten's spine but in proper Newport fashion Kirsten turned around with a large smile plastered across her face.
"Hello Sophie! How was your flight?" Kirsten asked, gently kissing the woman on the cheek.
"Fine! Just because I fly coach doesn't mean that flying is terrible. Unlike you I don't have to sit in first class!" Sophie smiled smugly. Kirsten looked down at the ground and closed her eyes for a moment before looking back at Sophie. Julie could not help but let a slight giggle escape her lips as she continued to face the sandbox, watching as Kaitlin collected what the kids dug up.
"And you must be Julie. Now let me see if I can get this right, your name is Julie Cooper Nichol Cooper Roberts Atwood? Or did I miss a name?" Sophie asked, turning her attention to Julie.
"Crap!" Julie said quietly before she turned to face Sophie.
"Sophie, this is Julie Cooper. She's only been married twice. She's staying with us for a couple of days!" Kirsten said, hoping to spare her friend the same castigations she had to endure. Sophie nodded, staring intently at Julie's bruised eye and cut lip.
"This is my daughter Kaitlin and my son and Ryan's little brother Blake!" Julie said, unable to take Sophie staring at her bruises.
"It's nice to meet you!" Kaitlin smiled as she stood up and shook Sophie's hand.
"Nice to meet you also!" Sophie said as she brushed the sand off her hand that had been left by Kaitlin. "Blake, it's nice to meet you too!" Sophie said to the shy little boy. Blake ignored Sophie and continued to dig in the sand. "Sophie, can you come give your Nana a hug?" Sophie asked the little girl who had been listening intently to everything that had been said. Sophie looked to her mother for reassurance and walked over to The Nana when Kirsten nodded. "How's my namesake? Do you remember your Nana? Probably not since your parents never bring you to visit!" Sophie said as she hugged little girl.
"Mommy, I wanna play!" Sophie said over her grandmother's shoulder.
"All right sweetie, go play. Daddy and I are going to get dinner ready!" Kirsten said smiling at her little girl. Sophie nodded and quickly jumped out of The Nana's arms and ran over to Seth, Summer, Ryan and Taylor who all sat on the swing, discussing the Nana's impromptu visit. "Sandy, Kitchen, Dinner, Now!" Kirsten said as she quickly walked toward the house.
"Kirsten, I know your cooking, let me help you. I wouldn't want all these people to die of food poisoning!" The Nana said as she walked ahead of Kirsten into the house. Kirsten stood there for a moment, trying to control her temper when Sandy came up behind her and placed a calming hand on her back.
"Honey, I'm so sorry, I didn't know she was coming!" Sandy said, his forehead wrinkled in frustration with his mother.
"It's fine, we just need to get dinner. We planned for dinner to start in at seven and it's already six thirty. Let's just go and get dinner ready!" Kirsten said and walked into the house.
"And you thought Grandma Cooper was bad, The Nana is a lot worse!" Kaitlin said to Julie as she picked a watch up out of the sand. Julie nodded in agreement then looked at the pile of stuff that lay beside Kaitlin.
"Kaitlin, what are you doing?" Julie asked, noticing for the first time how much stuff Kaitlin had collected from the sandbox.
"I'm trying to get this stuff out of the sandbox. Sandy and Kirsten are probably missing these things!" Kaitlin said as she pulled a Barbie out by the leg. "Hey Sophie, I found your Barbie!" Kaitlin called as she jumped to her feet and ran across the backyard to where Sophie was sitting in Seth's lap playing with Captain Oats. Julie smiled as she watched her daughter then turned around to Blake who still dug through the sand.
"Oh sweetie, we are going to have one hell of a Chrismukkah!" Julie said to her little boy. Blake looked up at Julie and smiled then went back to digging, unaware of just how truthful his mother's statement was.