The relocation

After they returned home, Ryan and Marissa both tried to help settle Emily. She was still shaken up and they couldn't really blame her. After all, it had shaken up Marissa and she was an adult who should have been used to all the attention by now. But she hadn't expected anything like that.

Ryan asked Emily to model her new clothes, anything to distract her from what had happened. Fortunately, they had been returned to them by one of the security guards after Marissa had dropped them. Emily looked adorable. Marissa had brushed her blonde curls until they shone and had twirled them up on top of her head and Emily felt very grown up. She strutted her stuff like a pro. And Ryan couldn't help but laugh at her antics.

Marissa watched from the side as Emily worked her magic on Ryan. Marissa had fallen for the little girl when she had first met her in San Francisco, so she knew just how easy it was. And from the looks of things, Ryan had fallen for her too, hook, line and sinker. She watched the two of them, as Ryan grabbed Emily and started to tickle her. She could be Ryan's daughter from the colour of her hair; although her brown eyes didn't quite fit. Marissa held her hand to her stomach. Was it possible that there was a little blue eyed blonde growing inside her right now? She smiled at the thought. With all the commotion today she hadn't gotten a chance to talk to Summer about getting a test for her but she would do it soon.

Seth and Summer were coming for the usual Wednesday night dinner and to meet Emily so she would find the opportunity then.

---

Dinner went well. It was the first time since Seth and Summer had gotten engaged, that Ryan and Marissa had managed to have a meal with them where anything other than 'The Wedding' was discussed. All the attention seemed to be focused on Emily. She had a way of making that happen. Summer had brought along the clothes that she had purchased for Emily, so of course another modelling show was in order. Emily couldn't help but laugh at Seth. She'd never met anyone quite like him. Even when he wasn't trying to be funny she would laugh at him. Which Seth didn't understand at all but no one else thought too unusual.

Emily liked her new friends and when it was time for bed she even decided that she wanted Summer to read her bedtime story. Summer was honoured; especially since it seemed to tick Seth off that he wasn't the chosen one and she quickly made her way in to Emily's room, book in hand.

Marissa and Ryan were cleaning up in the kitchen together and Seth was being Seth and just watching. Usually, even the thought of cleaning up would have had him leave to go home but since he had to wait for Summer he decided to stand there and tease both Ryan and Marissa about their new 'family'. It seemed that this situation had opened up a whole new topic of jokes for him and he went on and on about how they were going to have to change their bedroom behaviour now that they had a small child under their roof. A few of his jokes were a little too close to home after the events of the morning and neither Ryan nor Marissa thought them funny at all. Maybe after they'd gotten rid of their guests and managed some 'alone' time then they might be able to see the humour in them but not right now. Marissa decided that there was no way that she could ask Summer to get the home pregnancy test for her. If Seth found out, then things would be unbearable. She decided to wait until they went to Newport on the weekend and she would ask Kirsten for her help. At least she would be able to count on Kirsten to be discrete.

---

Once Emily was asleep, Ryan and Marissa couldn't get rid of their friends fast enough. They wanted … no … needed … some 'alone' time together. Ever since Emily's 'interruption' that morning, they'd been just waiting for the opportunity to get back to finishing what they'd started. They almost pushed Seth and Summer out the door as soon as they could. Once Ryan closed the door behind them he turned to Marissa; the sense of anticipation in the room electric. "So" a sensual smile made its way across his face. "... It's been a while." He said. "Since we were …"

"… Alone." Marissa finished for him and smiled; transported back to their conversation in Sandy's car after they had saved Trey from the drug charge. It had been the start of them getting back together again.

Ryan grinned … so she did remember. "Yeah. Without … you know … something ..."

"Or someone." She added.

"I guess we can do whatever we want." Ryan finished.

"Well what do you want to do?" Marissa asked.

Ryan smiled and stared deeply into her eyes, the lust evident and then silently took her hand and gently led her to their bedroom. Stopping to lock the door and set the room monitor, he turned back to her and slowly undressed her; stopping after the removal of each garment to kiss the newly exposed skin. When she was completely naked, Marissa returned the favour. They touched, stroked and kissed one another; trying to make up for the hurried attempt of the morning that had left them both so unfulfilled.

Moving on to the bed, they continued their exploration of each others bodies until neither could take much more. Marissa moved underneath Ryan and pulled him on top of her, spreading her legs as she waited for him to take her silent invitation.

Ryan looked in to her eyes, seeing his own need and want mirrored there and he positioned himself and thrust deeply in to her. Marissa hooked her legs around him wanting to keep him deep within her and then he started to move as their lust threatened to overcome them. Ryan moved faster and faster as Marissa writhed beneath him feeling the climax they both yearned for, getting closer and closer and then …

A scream came over the intercom.

"Oh god no." Marissa said as Ryan immediately withdrew.

He was panting quickly but trying to pull on boxers as he tried to focus his eyes that were completely dazed with passion. "I know" he said. Trying to will away his erection as he buried his head in his hands.

"It's desperate." Marissa added as she grabbed Ryan's shirt, trying to put it on with fumbling hands as she made her way towards Emily's room. Her legs were barely cooperating as her mind told them to move one foot in front of the other; the undenied want inside her causing a physical ache.

A few moments later, as soon as Ryan felt he could possibly function close to normally, he followed behind.

---

It turned out that Emily had been having a nightmare about the events of the day and try as they might nothing seemed to be able to settle her. As it got later and later, Ryan and Marissa finally gave in and allowed her to come and sleep with them again. At least they would be able to get some sleep tonight.

They obviously weren't going to be 'getting' anything else ….

---

Unfortunately, Emily awoke first the next morning so there was no chance for any 'alone time' at all. Ryan looked over at Marissa, lying with her hair fanned out across the pillow and the frustration he felt was like bile in his mouth. He was so near to her…. and yet so far from what he wanted. They both wanted one another but there didn't seem to be any chance of them being able to pull it off in the near future. Ryan thought the only chance he would have of pulling anything off was himself in the shower while getting ready for work and he probably would. The last time he had thought about doing that, was the first night that he and Marissa had gone out and they had ended up at Newport because the paparazzi were after them. Since then there had been no need. Marissa had satisfied his every desire. Until now. Now he was just bruised and battered from two small feet that seemed to like to use his private parts for soccer practice. He slid out of bed as Emily bounced up and down. Her distress of the previous evening seemingly lost completely.

Ryan put on a pot of coffee and slipped a bagel into the toaster and turned on the television to watch the news as Marissa made her way in to the kitchen. She moved into his arms as he asked. "Where's Emily?"

"Just gone to put Rupert back in her room. She thought he still looked tired so she was going to put him back to bed." Marissa replied as she turned to look at the television screen. The vision of the small blonde head, capturing her interest. "Ryan look."

Ryan was happy looking at Marissa but he followed her gaze and watched as vision of Marissa and Emily being accosted by the press appeared on the screen. He picked up the remote and turned up the volume.

"The identity of the small child is still unknown. As reported earlier, Ryan Atwood and Marissa Cooper spent the last couple of days visiting The Bay Area Hospital in San Francisco. It is known to be a leading hospital in the treatment of infertility problems and even though they have only been together for a short time, it had been speculated that perhaps one of the couple may have problems in that area and was seeking assistance before they went further with their relationship. But with the arrival of this small child on the scene, the questions have grown. It has been suggested that they had no success and have decided to adopt. Or since it is now known that they were high school sweethearts, perhaps she is their child from an earlier liaison who was adopted out. Whatever the reason, we will continue to try to find out for you …" Ryan picked up the remote and turned off the TV.

"Why won't they just leave us alone?" Marissa asked. "It doesn't sound like they are about to give up."

Ryan shook his head and then moved towards his study. "I'll be back in a minute. I've just got to make a couple of calls."

Marissa watched his retreating form and was about to follow but stopped as Emily waltzed into the kitchen bright as a button. Marissa couldn't help but feel a little jealous as it was obvious that at least some one had had a good night's sleep curled up with Ryan … pity it wasn't her.

---

Ryan emerged from his study a short time later to find Emily sitting at the bench eating Cheerio's and watching cartoons. Marissa was unstacking the dishwasher from last night.

"Okay. So I have a plan to run by you." Ryan said.

Marissa looked up, surprised. "A plan? A plan for what?" she asked.

"Well. I can't take anymore time off work just right now. I'm holding up all sorts of projects because I haven't been around to give final approvals. But … I'm not prepared to take the risk of something like yesterday happening again. So … if it's okay with you … I've just employed Keith as your personal security guard. Well yours and Emily's." Ryan looked at the confused look on Marissa face. "And before you say no, I had already been thinking about it before this happened. I spoke with him about it before we left San Francisco and he asked if he could have until the end of the week to think about it. But after yesterday's events, I just rang him and told him I needed an answer. Turns out he had seen the report too and was about to call me."

"And." Marissa urged him to continue.

"He said he'd love to. But … then comes the next problem … He can't get down here until next Monday. He has spoken to the hospital and the earliest they can let him go is Friday. Then he'll pack up on Saturday and drive down Sunday."

"Well that's okay, you'll be around on the weekend. Won't you?" Marissa asked.

"Yeah. But I think you should go down to Newport with Emily. At least there you are in a gated community and I've spoken to Sandy, and he and Kirsten will be able to help you when I'm not around. They are looking forward to meeting Emily any how."

"But why couldn't we just stay here?" Marissa asked.

"What. Locked up in the tower like the princess in a fairytale? That's not a healthy environment for a child ... or for a possible mum to be." He added, smiling as he did. "Emily needs to be able to go outside and play in the sunshine and fresh air. You can't do that here but you can at Newport. You can visit the playground at the park … go for walks on the private beach …. " Ryan suggested.

"But what about you?" Marissa asked.

"I'll just drive down tonight. Sure it takes a bit longer but the trip will be worth it to see my two favourite girls." He moved closer and whispered in Marissa's ear. "Who knows? Maybe my three favourite girls." He added as he ran his fingers lightly over her stomach.

Marissa couldn't help but smile as she placed her hand over the top of his, holding it still on her stomach. "When do you expect this all to happen?" Marissa asked.

"Well since I don't have a car because Steve drove mine back to work yesterday when I came home with you. I was sort of hoping that you might give me a lift to work and you could just continue on down then. I've already rung Rosa and asked her to get in some supplies."

Marissa smiled. "You really are a man of action once you decide on something. Aren't you?" she said.

"A man of action who's not seeing much action, unfortunately." Ryan replied.

Marissa kissed him. "Tonight. I'll have her so tired out from the beach and the fresh air, she'll sleep like a log."

"Can't wait." Ryan replied kissing her deeply but then reluctantly pulling back. "But come on. We'd better get moving before I forget there's a small child here and try to take you in the kitchen again. Don't think for a minute that I have forgotten that we have unfinished business here in this room."

"I wouldn't let you." Marissa replied. "Are you sure we need to go to the trouble of having a guard all of our own?"

"I think it's for the best. And Keith is great. He's more like a friend. He won't be over bearing or super authoritive. He's used to being around children having worked a lot in the children's ward. That's why I thought he would be a good choice. I could have used Steve or one of the other guys from the office but they aren't used to kids."

"Okay. Much as I rather not, I guess after yesterday it does make sense. Give me 15 minutes to pack our things and we'll drop you at work on the way."

R/R Thanks.