The Next Two Years To Come

It has been a year and a half and Marissa was still in a coma. It was hard for everyone but they knew that she wouldn't want them to sit around and do nothing with themselves. Ryan had done his first year at Berkley studying an Advanced Diploma in Architectual Technology. He found it hard to make friends as he was always studying and then every weekend he would rush home to Newport to spend the weekend with Marissa. He did make one good friend though...in his room mate Adam. Adam came from a run down town similar to Chino. His dad was in prison and his mom abondoned him when he was small. His only brother overdosed and was killed so all he had left was trying to make something himself. Like Ryan he wanted to be someone and do something good with his life and so Adam was in his second year of college. Studying Medical Science. After Ryan's first year he was offered an internship at an Architectual company in Newport but Adam and Ryan regualrly kept in contact and Adam would often come to Newport to visit.

Summer also went away to college. She was in her second, and final, year of her Advanced Diploma in Fashion Design. It had been hard at first and when Seth decided to stay in Newport and open his own Comic Store, along the Newport Plaza, Summer almost didn't go to Brown. She was afraid that their relationship wouldnt work and that Seth would leave her. She made excuses saying she wasnt ready and Marissa needed her. But she told Seth the truth after much agony and run-around. He tried to convince her by talkin to her saying she could come home every weekend and he could visit when he could take some time off and that he would never leave her but it wasnt enough and she continued to worry and make excuses so she didn't have to go. Seth knew she had to go. He knew she would regret it if she didn't so he came up with "...A master of a plan...like a master of a master of a game plan" Seth had told Ryan. Seth had been saving up for it for a while but was going to wait til after college but he knew the time was now. He took Summer to his comic Store. He had gotten Ryan to set up a special "dinner for two" in one of the private back rooms. "Seth what the hell are we doing at your comic book store? I thought you said we were going to dinner" "Yes we are my little schnookums but A it's not comic books, they're comic novels and B I just had to come pick something up" "Well I'll wait outside for you then" Seth started panicking. This wasn't going to plan. How could he make her go with him without spoiling the surprise? "Ahh no I need you to ahhh " Think Seth ...Think Summer looked at him waiting to continue "To umm hold open this door. The lock doesn't work and if you don't hold it open then I'll get looked in ...and you know how closterphobic I am..." "You're not closterphobic" Summer said. Geez he's being more weird than usual. what's gotten into him...But her thoughts were cut off as she opened the door to see the single table in the middle of the emprty room with a solitairy rose in a vase in the middle of the table. There was a net of fairy lights covering the top half of the walls and it looked amazing. "It's beautiful Cohen...You couldn't have possibly come up with all this on your own" Summer mocked. "I DID actually. I'm not just a pretty face Summer" "haha what pretty face?" Summer joked "But its amazing. Thank-you" "Well let's eat before our dinner gets cold"

They sat down and ate their food with talking and joking like they always did. After they had finished eating Seth put their stuff in a basket to take home but grabbed something else out of the basket and put it in his pocket. He sat back down across from Summer and started to get serious. "Now Summer I want you to go to Brown. I know it's been your dream to be a fashion designer ever since you were small..." "How did you kn..." "And" Seth continued " I know if you don't go you are going to regret it and probably end up hating me..." But I don't want t..."Summer tried but Seth continued " But before I make you go...yes make you...there's something i wanted to ask..." Seth bent down on one knee in front of Summer. No way ...he isnt ...he can't be...he wouldn't ...would he... Summers thoughts were all over the place. " Summer Roberts I love you. I have for a very vvvery long time and I know you don't want to leave coz of me. And i know your worried taht i would leave you and move on with someone else but Summ I'm never going to leave you. I love you and if you'll have me...I want to be your spiderman forever...sooo ...would you do the honour of becoming my wife Summer Roberts?" Seth pulled out the ring and slipped it onto her finger. It was a gold ring with a large ruby in the centre and 4 white diamonds on either side. Summer was still in shock. How could he be sooo sweet and yet such a dork at the same time? She smiled and then looked at his face. He looked like a scared little boy who was about to be told he couldn't go to the theme park or something. The she realised she hadn't given him an answer yet. "Oh my god! Yes Cohen. Yes, yes yes. You don't know how long I have wanted this. Of course I will marry you!" Summer blurted out with just one breath. Seths frown turned into a huge smile but then turned serious again "There's just one condition!?" Seth looked intently at her. Summer was taken a little aback. "Conditions?" Summer asked confused "Yeah you have to promise me you will go to Brown and finish your course. Otherwise no wedding for you" "Okay okay I'll go. But don't think just coz I'm that far away that you are getting out of all the wedding plans and talks. I'm coming home every weekend and making all the arrangements. But i have one condition also..." "Oh and whats that my sugar lump?" Seth quired "We are NOT having this wedding til Marissa is awake and well enough to be my maid of honour" Summer said strongly. She knew since they were kids that Riss was gonna be her maid of honour and just coz she was in a coma now wasn't going to stop her dreams. Seth looked at her as if to say well duh. "Well then you've got a deal!" Seth finished.

After that Seth stayed at his comic store, which turned out to VERY popular and as a bonus was making Seth quite rich. Summer DID end up going to Brown and returned every weekend she could as she had promised Seth. The wedding was half planned already and everyone was busy planning more and more things as Summers course was finishing up. They were excited and really looking forward to it but it was all too bitter sweet as nothing could go ahead til Marissa woke up.

Sandy and Kirsten found out that Kirsten was pregnant and had little Sophie Rose Cohen 2 months prematurely. The stress of Marissa not waking up, everyones emotions about that and the fact that Ryan had been brooding ever since the accident was what had made Kirsten stressed and brought on the premature birth. Sophie Cohen was born 4 months after that horrible night of the crash (Kirsten was already 2 months pregnant when the crash happened). The little girl was a great blessing for them all. After Seth moved out, into his and Summer's new apartment, and Ryan went to college the nest would have been empty but now they had their hands full with Sophie and they were busy all the time which was really good. But if they ever needed a break they would call Seth and con him into looking after his baby sister or con Ryan when he had moved back into the pool house, when he had accepted his internship, or Summer when she ws home for the weekend or the holiays. "It's good practice for when you guys are going to have kids" They would say. Ryan and Summer were happy to look after her ,...and get the practice. Ryan was a natural when it came to looking after her and Sophie never had a problem with Summer. Where as Seth was very awkward with here at first but the more he looked after her the more he grew to like her and like looking after her. Now it had just become a natural thing for all of them.

Neil also proposed to Julie and as much as they wanted to wait for Marissa to wake up they just couldn't ait any longer ...and secretly Neil was hoping it would make Julie happy...for a little while at least, as the longer her daughter was in the coma the more and more she would become upset and start losing hope. It was a beautiful wedding, as al Newport weddings are. This time they kept it small with just close friends and collegues attending. Julie didn't want too far away from Marissa so they went to Los Angeles for their honeymoon. They had a huge penthouse for the weekend. It was a great weekend. Neil paid for Julie to have the whole day to have at the spa. She had a luxurious massage and was pampared from head to toe. They sunbaked by the pool and went shopping, buying gifts for baby Soph and Marissa for when she woke up and for everyone else too! It was good and seemed to be just what Julie needed. They returned much happier and had gained some more hope and were ready for another round of the waiting game of Marissa waking up.

Kaitlin had gone about her normal life. Going to school, hanging out with the Ward boys and partying. Stealing the spotlight and having a blast...But little did anyone know how she really was feeling. Kaitlin would never admit it but she was scared her sister might not wake up. She hated to admit it but she DID need Marissa. She'd go visit her nearly every night when she was sure no-one was going to be there...well except Ryan. She had grown to like Ryan and had realised just how strong his feelings were for her big sister. Sometimes they would just it in each others company looking over Marissa and staying in their own thoughts. But most of the time they would tell each other stories about Marissa. Kaitlin grew to like Ryan and felt comfortable talking to him about all of her feelings and everything about Marissa. She wouldn't with anyone else but him. Now I know why you are so in love with him sis haha he's a really cool guy. Sometimes Ryan would be asleep so she would just talk to Marissa as if he wasnt there...telling her what's been happening and how she was feeling and asking her to wake up soon. It was hard on Kaitlin. She always felt like she had to be the one that kept it all together and be strong for her mom. But really she was just as scared and upset as they all were. Sometimes when no-one was around she'd go to Marissa and just cry and cry. It was her only escape...where she could really show her emotions and plead with her sister to wake up. But she got sed to it all being that way. "Life goes on" She would always say and then continue with her "normal" life.

Jimmy had wondered why Marissa had not showed and thought maybe she had changed her mind about coming to work with him. But as he had to leave that night he had npo choice but to leave town without her. He had tried calling but his phone wouldn't work while off shore and the only chance he had to check his emails was 2 months after the accident. But as soon as he got it he was on the next flight to Orange County. Once he found out all the details about the accident and her condition from Julie, Jimmy raced over to the Hospital and spent the night talking to Marissa. "Hey kiddo. Really got yourself in a mess this time hey? I'm sorry it took me so long to get here. I just thought you had decided to stay and we had to be gone that arvo. Damn phones and internet weren't working offshore but I'm here now baby" Jimmy explained to his daughter laying there so still and pale. He cried the next morning when he got back to the Mermaid Inn where he was staying. He stayed in Newport for the next week until his ship came in then he had to get back to work or he'd lose his job. But he visited Marissa every single day and spent some time reminising the good times with Julie. They all had dinner at the Cohen's twice that week and talked about everything from Marissa to what the kids where up to to what Jimmy was up to. Jimmy congratulated Sandy and Kirsten on the pregnancy and they had a good time. As bitter sweet as it was. It was good that they were all together and having a nice dinner together again they all agreed it was just sad at the same time coz Marissa couldn't be there and her being in the coma was the reason they were all gathered together right now. "Bitter sweet...just like everything lately" They all said.

After that week things returned back to the way they had been. And had stayed that way for the rest of the year. At the beginning of the next year, 3 years after the accident, the only major changes were Ryan finishing his interniship and deciding to start his own company. He got a loan and used most of his savings to start "Atwood Architectual Co." Summer and Seth finished all the wedding plans. And Sophie had started all her first milestones. Took her first steps, first teeth, first held her own spoon and her first words "Dada" "mmmom" "Sef". Everyone thought it was so cute how she said Seth's name but he would fight with his little sibling "How many times I gotta tell ya squirt...it's Seth...Setttthhhh" "Sef" Sophie would reply back. "Ahhh you betta say it properly when your older little sis otherwise I gonna torture you with comics and graphic novels and trust me Newport people can't handle geeks ...alright!?" "Buh" Everyone laughed. What a bizzare sibling pair they were. But tht was just Seth anyway. "Geez Cohen. You better not rub off your dorkness on her. I intend on making her the little diva like all the other Newport girls!" Summer threatened. After that everything was pretty "normal" again and everyone went about there business and found time throughout their busy schedules to see Marissa whenever possible. No-one was giving up hope, even if the doctors were...

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A/N: Reveiws please guys!!!!