A/N: Keep those reviews coming! And as always thanks to all the reviewers! I really appreciate you guys reading this!

Apologies all around

He parked and got out heading for the life guard stand. He saw her silhouette from the distance. He still knew her after all these years. He went up the ramp. She stayed silent her tear stained cheeks were evidence that she had been crying. She wouldn't look his way. He slowly sat beside her. "What Theresa wasn't interested in you playing the hero?" She said trying to be smug.

"I'm sorry" he said softly sounding like he truly meant it. She looked at him. She shrugged it off feeling bad about yelling at him. "I guess it's understandable why you would think I was drinking again" she said suddenly feeling her anger disappear. After all she could never stay mad at him for long no matter what he did.

"I didn't mean to upset you" he said sadly. She nodded. "It's just there was this look in your eyes, this sadness that you always used to carry with you. And I guess I assumed the worst" He said trying to make her understand why he thought that she had been drinking.

"Ryan I'm not that Marissa anymore. You know I don't drink away problems expecting them to be gone the next morning. I know better that they won't be" She said looking at him. He listened intently.

"I had one drink of champagne and that was it. Actually it was really only to be social. Taryn had given it to me and I thought it was rude if I didn't take it" She said making him understand that she hadn't wanted it to begin with. He nodded.

"So why the sadness?" he said feeling there was something more she wasn't saying. She stared at him. "I dunno" she shrugged.

"I guess I see how happy Seth and Summer are and it makes me a little envious of what they have. Something that I don't have. I guess that's where the sadness is coming from. It just seems like their happy not that I'm not happy it's just they get the whole package" She said.

He nodded understanding exactly how she felt. "Sometimes I feel like I've missed out on some much with you guys but another part of me knows I left for the best. I needed to find myself on my own without you guys" She said sadly.

"You know just because you were gone doesn't mean you suddenly disappeared from our lives. I mean I always find myself thinking about you" he said staring into her eyes. She stared at him not believing what he just said. "You do?" she said surprised.

"Yeah I wonder how you are? What's been going on since we last saw each other? I wonder if you're happy" he said. She nodded. "So why didn't you just pick up the phone to find all that stuff out?" she said needing to hear an answer.

"The same reason you didn't I guess. Because as much as I wanted my questions answered I knew you branching out on your own was important and it was just best if I didn't try to contact you. I mean you said so yourself I'm always trying to save you and I had to learn to stop" he said making her realize that although it was hard for him he had to let her go.

She suddenly felt guilty for what she had said. Truth is if it wasn't for Ryan always helping her she didn't know if she would be where she was today. "I'm sorry I didn't mean it like that. I just got angry. I know you only did what you did because you care. I mean those times you where there for me Ryan they meant a lot and they always will" she said trying to make him understand.

"I know they did" he said looking at her. "To be honest it was hard being that far away from you but I knew it was something that I had to do in order to figure myself out. Although unfortunately I couldn't physically take you with me you always were with me" She said.

He smiled and took his jacket off wrapping it around her. "Thanks for saving me again" she said joking. "Well I know you get cold so" he said. She giggled and then leaned into him. "I really missed you Ryan" she confessed. "I missed you too" he said wrapping his arm around her shoulder as she leaned into him closer and they just stayed like that for awhile not really saying anything more.

The next morning Marissa came down in her robe to see Seth and Summer sitting at the kitchen table. "Morning" She said. "Hey Coop" she said. Marissa poured herself a cup of coffee. "So you got in pretty late" Summer said. Seth looked at her.

"Yeah sorry I was with Ryan" Marissa said shooting her an apologetic smile. "So that's where he disappeared too" Seth said interrupting. Summer glared at him.

"Right sorry speaking of I got to get to work see ya later" he said quickly kissing her cheek and leaving. "Love you Cohen. So last night you kind of left the party. What happened?" Summer said. "Yeah I'm sorry Ryan saw me with champagne I guess he assumed the worst" she said.

Summer nodded understanding knowing full well that alcohol plus Marissa is like a deadly combination. "So we had a fight and I basically told him that he didn't have to save me and never did so then I left. And he came after me and apologized. It was just a misunderstanding" Marissa said. "But you seemed sad" Summer said.

"I kind of was I just looked at you and Seth and I thought when am I going to get that. When am I going to find that person for me or have I found him already but maybe he's already moved on" Marissa said not really having an answer for herself. "He hasn't Coop" Summer said looking at her sadly.

She looked at Summer. "Even if he hasn't I'm not sure if it's supposed to be this way. I mean obviously things are the way they are for a reason. Why rattle with it when it's working. I'll be okay I just I'm happy for guys and of course I missed you all" Marissa said. Summer hugged her.

"Well we've all really missed you. You ever think of coming back?" Summer said. "Sometimes but you know I've lived in Hawaii for a long time my life's there" Marissa said trying to convince herself that was she wanted. Truth is as soon as she saw Ryan again she wasn't so sure Hawaii was what she wanted.

"Well your life used to be here" Summer pointed out. "I know but I have to find a job" Marissa said. "I hear the New Port group is hiring in the design department" Summer said wanting nothing more then to have best friend back.

"And I need to find a place to live" Marissa said. "Well I know an architect that knows some people who could easily find you a place" she said with a smile. Marissa smiled. "I don't know I mean if I did stay I'm not sure if I would go back to the person I was and I've come too far to bargain with that" Marissa said trying to convince Summer.

Summer nodded understanding. "But that doesn't mean I'll miss you any less when I go" Marissa said. "Well I'll promise to visit more if you promise" Summer said. "Of course" Marissa said with a smile.

"Best friends forever" Summer said.

"Forever" Marissa said grabbing Summer's hand.

They smiled continuing to talk until Summer excused herself to go to work.