A/N: Please reveiw. Please please please with a cherry on top. Thanx. And as always ...Enjoy oP
The Surprise!
It was friday night again and Ryan had been off work for 2 weeks and they were still enjoying every possible minute being together. But Ryan had been out all afternoon and said he just had to clear something up at work...though she got a little suspicious when he took a bag with some clothes with him. She didn't know what sort of clothes they were. all she saw was dark fabric from between the opened zipper. "I'll just go clear this up and I'll be back soon" He told her as he kissed her goodbye sweetly. Marissa spent the day in the poolhouse just lying around and watching movies and tv while napping every so often. Not that she would tell any one but she had had a huge headache all morning and nly now Ryan left could she take a few aspirin and lye down without him worrying.
She had only woken up and turned the tv back on 5 minutes before Ryan called her. "Hello?" She answered. "Hey babe. You're Mom asked us over for dinner at her house tonight at 6pm... but I'm not going to make it so I'm just gunna meet you there alright!?" "Ummm okayyy" Marissa replied hesitantly. Why hadn't her mother called her and invited her herself. She knew her and Ryan got on well now but to talk to him instead of her. And why wouldn't Ryan be there in time? He had been at work since 3.30pm...surely he still couldn't be at work!? "Well I gutta go but I'll see you there. Bye" Marissa just managed to get "bye" in before he hung up the phone. Something strange is gong on she thought. But shook that thought from her mind. Surely there was a good reason for his strange behaviour.
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Marissa arrived at her Mother's house at 10 to 6pm. Her mother greeted her with a huge smile on her face. "Hi mommm" She said thinking what is going ON! "Marissa darling how are you?" Julie asked happily. "Umm yeah good" She said. This was realy unusual behaviour from the people she loved most. But she had NO idea what was going on. "Ummm come in. Kaitlyn and I did a few things to your room just go up and see what's up there" She told Marissa. "Umm okay..." Marissa said beginning to walk towards her room with her Mom in tow.
When she opened the door there was rose petals fluttered all over the floor and the bed. Also on the bed was an envelope. "What's this?" She looked at her Mother with a frown. "I don't know open it and find out!" She exclaimed. Marissa frowned again but did as her Mother said. The letter was from Ryan. Marissa, Sorry for all the running around but I needed time to organise this. i'm not going to tell you where your going or what we will be doing but you have to trust me. So now put the blindfold on and let Julie guide you to me. I will see you soon. - Ryan.
Marissa looked down and saw the blindfold she had missed seeing when she picked up the envelope. "It's Ryan. He says I have to put this on and let you take me somewhere!?" Marissa said a little confused. "I know" Julie replied simply. "But where are we going? What's this all about?" Marissa asked. But Julie ignored her and bean putting the blindfold on. "Mom what's going on?" She asked again. "You'll know when we get there" She replied mysteriously. Then she proceeded to guide Marissa down the stairs carefully and then to the front door. "Just sit here a minute I forgot my keys" She replied as she directed and helped Marissa blindly sit down in the chair in their foyer. Julie ran into the kitchen and grabbed her keys off the bench and her cell. Kaitlyn stood at the kitchen doorway. "Can I start moving into her room now?" She asked. "Well I already packed her clothes into boxes in her cupboard so if you move them in the hallway and carefully pack everything else into boxes and label and put them in the hallway too then you can start moving into her room yes" She whispered. "And Ryan will be here in 10 minutes to move her boxes so hurry up okay sweetie. And thank-you" She finished. As soon as her Mom had started walking back to Marissa, Kaitlyn started grumbling. "Great. The princess gets a fiancee, a new mansion and the life she's always wanted and all I get is to pack for her. Just great" She mumbled as she climbed the stairs.
"Okay Marissa let's get going?" Julie replied as she came back into the foyer and helped her stand up again, then down the stairs and into her car. Julie drove all around Newport. From one end to the other and everywhere in between, while an unsuspecting Marissa waited worried, confused and anxious. "Are we almost there? I'm starting to get really nervous okay Mom!" Marissa said slightly demanding but trying to keep calm. "Almost honey" Was Julie's reply.
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"Quick Kaitlyn. Your Mom can't keep driving around forever. Marissa's gonna start getting panicky" Ryan said. "Okay okay, Last box. Only thing left is her old draws and stuff and I'm sure you've already bought all that for your guys mansion anyway" Ryan could see this was a little hard on Kaitlyn and that it looked like all the attention was on Marissa at the moment...well it was...but how many times do you get to propose to the person you love so much. You have to do it right. But still Ryan felt bad for Kaitlyn. He looked her in the eyes. "Thanks Kaitlyn. I promise when it's your turn I'll make sure we do the same for you okay!? You've been really helpful and I appreciate it. I owe ya one" "Yeah a big one. Now get outta here before she breaksdown or has a panick attack or something" Kaitlyn laughed. She loved her sister more than anything, especially after the accident, and Ryan was the big brother she always wanted and knew that her and Ryan were perfect for eachother. But she knew that one day they would make it up to her.
So Ryan sped over to his mansion and placed all Marissa's boxed belongings in his foyer and took off again. When he reached his final destination he rang Julie. "I'm ready" He puffed. Julie hide a squeel and then said okay we'll be there in a minute. See you soon" And she hung up. Mariss had heard the conversation. "Who was that? Was that Ryan? We'll be where n a minute?" She rushed out nervously. "Just be patient sweetie and you'll find out" So Marissa relaxed somewhat in her seat and piped down.
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Two minutes later they were there. Julie helped Marissa out of the car and walked her to a door. Marissa overheard her mother reply thank-you to someone then a small gush of air flew past her...like a door opening she thought. Where the hell am I? "Who was that?" She asked Julie. "Just someone" She replied. They walked a bit further and Marissa felt warmth wash over her...though more the front of her. She frowned. She hated not knoing what was happening and all these weird things happening. "Okay are you right to stand on your own for a short while sweetie?" Julie asked kindly. "Ummm yeah" Marissa frowned again unsure of anything. "Okay well just stand here, Don't move. Okay!?" "Ahhh Okay" Marissa didn't know whatelse to stay so she did as she was told. She felt her Mothers presence leave her and then shortly after came back. But she was standing behind her. "Mom?" She asked unsure of herself. Then she felt arms wrap around her stomache. "Guess again?" Came a low male voice. "Ryan? What's going on?" She said tensing up then relaxing a tiny bit as he hugged her a little tighter. "Relax he said as he turned her to her right and took of the blindfold.
Marissa's mouth dropped. "Are we...?" Ryan laughed. "Yes at your favourite restaurant in the whole world...The Arches" He told her. "And is it...?" She gawped "Yes it's just us. No-one else in the whole restaurant except for the chef's and waiters...Oh and you're Mom just left" He added. "But what..?" "You've been in a coma for 3 whole years and each year my heart yearned more and more for you to wake up..." He looked down. "The doctors would talk about turning off your life support...but i would NEVER let them. I knew you would wake up, you had to, I needed you...I still do. And each year, each week, each DAY i would wait for you to wake up. Wondering if it would be that day. Even though you were in a coma, I grew more and more in love with you and knew I could never make it wihout you. And now its been a month since I got to take you home and away from that hospital and its been a week since you have stopped using pain killers and cream and stopped having trouble and I just wanted to celebrate that" He said looking up blushing shyly. Marissa let a tear escape. He was so sweet and caring. "Sooo...I bought you to your favourite restaurant and wanted to spoil you" As well as 2 other very big things. "Oh Ryan" Was all Marissa could say and she leaned over and kissed him.
They talked for ages after that about everything and anything. The waiter came out and poured some wine, went back inside and came back out to take their orders. They had the most delicious meal that had had in almost 4 years and talked more over their dinners. Marissa kissing him every once and a while to say thank-you and show him how much all of this meant to her. After a very chocolatey and strawberry dessert they talked a little more. Eventually the discussion got to that romantic reminising stage again...exactly what Ryan was waiting for. He had been playing with something in his pocket, waiting all night for this moment and now he was as nervous as fuck...But he knew he just had to get it all out, make her see how much he couldn't live without her. "You know when I pulled you from that car that night you looked so fragile. You were bleeding everywhere and it broke my heart to see what had happened to you and for me to be okay. When I layed you down at first and you said all that stuff and you fainted...I thought you had died and it ripped my heart out. I thought I'd lost you...and it was my fault. But I felt a weak pulse and no matter what you said I wasn't going to give up so I ran you to that hospital. And you know the whole time I hated myself, I felt it was my fault..." "But it..." Marissa interupted. Ryan but a hand up to stop her. "I...I know. I realized it was Volchok's fault and he was drunk and angry but I still could have stopped. But none of that mattered. What happened happened and all I could worry about was for you to wake up. I cried when I looked at you. You had big cuts and bruises all over you and casts and everything and you looked so white and fragile. I hated seeing you like that and promised that when you woke up that I would never hurt you again and I would never let you go. When you finally woke up I cried. It had been so long and I was beginning to wonder if you would wake up and it was the happiest day of my life. To have you back in my world and know you would be okay eventually. I just...I've never felt more happier or more releaved in my whole entire life. And when I took you back to the lifeguard stand and could hold you in my arms when I picked you up from the hospital...I can't tell you how good that felt.
And when you told me your all clear and everything was okay again. I knew I couldn't go on without you in my life. I want and need you to be a part of my life and everything I do. I can't ever let you go because Riss you me the world to me. Ever since I met you on the driveway on my first night in Newport I knew I loved you. I knew I would always love you and I have. We've been through everything together and I was never happy unless I was with you. You're the reason I went to college, the reason I started my business and became successful, the reason I get up in the morning. You're my whole world and I could never live without you" He looked into Marissa's eyes. They were teary and she was hanging onto every word. "I can't live without you. I love you sooo much and I need you. And I want us to be together always and have children with you. And if we can't then it doesn't matter. I'm lucky just to have met you and to have you. And now that we have this second chance I don't want to screw it up sooo..." He got down on one knee but Marissa didn't quite notice at first. He pulled out the velvet case. "Marissa Cooper will you do me the biggest honour of becoming my wife?" He blushed shyly but relaxed now that he had got it all out. All of this had been going through his head for sooo long and he was so glad he could get it all out and had finally been able to ask her to marry him.
Marissa gasped at first. Tears gushing out but a huge smile was on her face. "YES!...yes, yes, yes. Of course. I love you sooo much Ryan. Of course I will. I...I don't know what to say" She rushed. "Yes was enough" Ryan said sweetly as he placed the ring on her finger. She leant down and kissed him passionately. When they came up for air Ryan sat back on his chair (his knee was killing him) and Marissa looked at her simple but very elegant ring. "You like it?" Ryan asked unsure if himself. Marissa got up and sat on his lap and kissed him quickly then held her hand back and looked at it from afar. "Are you kidding me? Did you pick it?" She asked "Yeah. I hope it fits okay. I tried to get the right size by putting somethign around your finger ages ago. But you like it?" He asked again still not sure if he had picked the perfect one for his perfect girl. "I freaking LOVE it" She said then kissed him even more passionately than before. "You couldn't have choosen any better Ry. I love you. I'm so lucky to have you" She finished. "I'm even more luckier to have you" Ryan replied puching a bit of hair out of her eyes and looking intensly into them. He kissed her again before saying..."But there's one more thing..." Marissa frowned at him. "How could there be anything else? This is amazing enough?" Ryan smiled at her. "Well there is...but you have to put your blindfold back on okay!?" Ryan implied. "As long as we don't go around and around and around like you made my mother do" she laughed. "I promise. But it might take 5 minutes or so okay!?" Marissa looked into his eyes. "Okay. I trust you Ry"
So Ryan put the blindfold back on and made sure she couldn't peek out of it and they left the restaurant. He guided her to the car and opened the door for her and gently helped her into her seat. He buckled her up and closed her door. Then he jumped into his side and they took off. About 5 minutes later they had stopped. "Are we here?" Marissa asked excitedly. "We are" Ryan replied as he helped her out the car. "Where are we?" She whined happily. "You'll see in a minute" He replied as he untied the knot in her blindfold. "Okay keep your eyes closed okay!? No peeking alright!?" He said as he quickly dropped the blindfold and covered her eyes with his hands. They walked down about 3 metres and then Ryan turned her around. "On the count of 3 open your eyes" Marissa got butterflies in her stomache from all the nerves and excitment. "One...Two...Three" He dropped her hands and at the same time she opened her eyes. They were standing in front of a very large mansion and Ryan's car was in the driveway. "Where...?" Then she realised. "Is this...the mansion you burnt down?" "Ryan smiled "Yep. Though they extended it, made it bigger and better" He grinned largely. Marissa looked from him to the mansion. "But why are we here? I don't get it" He grinned widely again. "Who's house do you think this is?" Marissa then clicked. "Noooo...This is YOUR house!?" Her jaw dropped again. "But it's not MY house...it's OUR house" He said as he handed her the keys. "OUR?" she repeated "Yep" Ryan nodded. She walked up to the mansion dragging Ryan's hand in hers behind her. He laughed. She looked like a teenager when they get their new car, running towards it keys tightly in her hand. She unlocked it and pushed open the door. There sat 6 boxes marked MARISSA'S STUFF. "That's all your stuff from your old room at your Mom's house" "But...But that was there when I went there before" She exclaimed frowning "I didn't know what you wanted from there and I didn't have time so your Mom and Kaitlyn (well mainly Kaitlyn) packed it all up and I ran it over hear while your Mom distracted you for a bit. But all your furniture stayed there since we have all our own already here" "Already here?" Marissa frowned "Yer. It's all set up ready to go...Well except what's in these boxes" Ryan replied simply. "But...How long have you had this place for?" She asked curiously as she turned around on the spot taking it all in. "I bought it the first year of my business. And it's been ready since then" "Then...Why have you been sleeping in the poolhouse?" Marissa asked half confused half amused. "Because I wanted to wait til I asked you to marry me" He said simply. "But I wasn't even anywhere near being out of my coma back then" She said confused. "I know...But I knew you were going to wake up. It was just going to take time. And that's how long I'e been planning this" He smile brightly. Marissa jumped into his arms and around his waist and kissed him hard. When she came up for air she breathed out "I...love...you...SOOO...much!!!!" "Good coz I love you too" he replied blushing.
He let her back down and he showed her all the rooms on the bottom floor first. The kitchen, the dining room, the pool and poolhouse ("I had to have one. To remind me of home" He said referring to the Cohen's house). Then the lounge room with the big surround sound system and plasma TV and some game console and games Seth had bought for Ryan for them to play. And there was a rack for all the DVDs and CDs Ryan had now gotten. Everything so far looked so home-like and friendly and Marissa could easily see herself living happily here. Then he took her upstairs. When they reached the top of the marble staircase he stood behind her. He gently shoved her to the very end room. This was the master bedroom. Their bed was huge and they had a TV at the base of their bed. Then he showed her the large unsuite bathroom. It had a jecoozie bath, a large shower which looked all very modern and clean. The toilet has elegant silver engravings on it. It was amazing and Marissa couldn't help but gawk at it all. This was THEIR room, THEIR house. She couldn't believe how lucky she was. Then he took her to a room that was right down at the end of the hallway on the right hand side. "Now this is going to be Summer and Seth's or Kaitlyn's room if they ever wanna stay over. Then the one across from that.." He said gently pushing her to the door way on the other side of the hall "Is going to be Kirsten or Sandy's or your Mom's room if they ever wanna stay over or anything" He moved her into the middle of the hallway and moved closer to their room again. First the one on the right. "Now this..." He pushed her into the room gently. It was a creme room but it had a strip of wall paper going around the room of a little jungle theme with cute lions and tigers and giraffees and monkeys and thing. It also had a crib and a nursery rocking chair and a couple of little kids books and a large change table. "This is my favourite room" Ryan whispered in her ear as he wrapped his arms around her stomache and moved in, hugging her tightly so his chin was resting on her shoulder. "Whe you're ready this is going to be our little girl or boys room he said moving his hand around her belly a little. But only when you're ready" He whispered sweetly. But his sweet smile fell when he felt Marissa shake and heard her wimper a cry.
He turned her around quickly. "What...What's wrong?" He asked really concerned and trying to look into her eyes. She finally looked up, though it was hard for her to do. "Ryan. I...I still might not be able to have...have children" She broke down into heavy sobs and her tears fell hard. Ryan pulled her in and hugged her tightly. "Hey, hey. Don't think like that. We have to be positive. We WILL have our own kids alright!?" Marissa's sobs subsided a little. "I want..." sniffle "So much to have...have kids with you Ryan. But the doctor said we ...we might not be able to" "Riss we ARE going to have our own. They'lll have you gorgeuos blonde hair and amazing body and a beautiful smile just like you. I promise you we will. Just stay positive" Ryan pleaded. He wiped away her tears with his thumb and made her look into his eyes and smiled. Marissa laughed "I think they'll be more like you. Sandy blonde hair, the brightest blue eyes anyone's ever seen...and if it's a boy...he'll be big and brave and protective just like his daddy and he'l be batting off all the girls" Marissa sniffed and giggled at her comment. "Either way they'll be little pieces of both of us and they'll be loved and always cared for. They'll be OURS" Ryan finished and kissed Marissa sweetly on the lips.
"Now the only question is...where do you wanna sleep tonight? The poolhouse or OUR house?" Ryan asked as he hugged her tightly. "OUR house sounds perfect...besides we have to christen it" She said cheekily. "But..." Her face turned serious "It's still early...Can we get everyone together and let them know that I'm going to be Mrs Atwood and that we're moving into OUR house. God I can't say that enough. OUR house" She smiled hugely. "Well that was my plan anyway. I've organised for everyone to met us at the Cohen's on the back patio at 9pm for the good news...and I told your Mom to not breathe a word...not even to mention anything about it, act like she knows nothing, not even smile and act as nervous and curious as anyone else so we can tell them...together" He told her. "God you've just thought of everything haven't you?" Marissa asked surprised. "Yep. Anyway it's almost 9pm so we better hurry" He told her. "Well let me just fix up my make-up and then we can go" She replied and went into their bathroom. It felt so surreal. She was using THEIR bathroom. They would be sleeping there tonight and she was Ryan's fiancee...finally. She'd been waiting for this moment for as long as she can remember. Mrs Atwood, Mrs Atwood. She liked the sound of it.
She walked downstairs and found Ryan waiting patiently on the lounge chair. He stood up when he heard her walking in the room. "You look...wow" Ryan gazed at her. "I only fixed my make-up Ry" "I know but you're blushing and your smile is...gorgeous" He gazed. Marissa blushed even more. She pecked him on his cheek and they locked up and headed for the Cohen's.
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