A/N: I know, I know, these little messages are getting over used and annoying, but they are handy. This is just a quick one though, don't worry. Someone asked how long this fic will be. It is twelve chapters long. Without further ado, here's the post, so read, reflect, and relish!

Charlynn

Chapter Three

"Come in, come in," Sandy greeted Ryan and Marissa, his always pleasant and warm face smiling at them earnestly in excitement and anticipation, thrilled to see them. "Happy Holidays!" After giving Ryan a fatherly clap on the back, he moved towards Marissa and enveloped her in a tight, affectionate embrace, taking the bags of presents she was carrying in and nodding for Ryan to follow him with his load. Together, the three of them moved into the living room. "Marissa," he started to tease, an easy chuckle emanating from his smirking lips, "did someone go a little crazy with the present shopping?"

"Hey, don't blame me," she responded holding up her hands in self defense. Although he was right, they had brought with them an absurd about of presents, she was not the culprit. "I've learned an important lesson this Christmas season," Marissa explained moving to Ryan's side and lacing her arm through his. "Never leave my husband alone in a toy store with a credit card."

"I wasn't that bad," Ryan protested unable to keep a grin from flashing on his face.

"You're got to be kidding me," Marissa snickered. Turning back to Sandy, she continued. "I told him to pick something out for the boys, something that they could play with while they're here and take back home with them while I went to another store to pick out gifts for our Moms. When I got back, he had spent so much the manager, personally, offered to carry all of our bags out to the car…even if he had to make several trips."

"Well I ended up having to take a nap while you were in Oshkosh," Ryan countered, leaning down to kiss Marissa's cheek when she went to excuse her own shopping frenzy. "Cal and Nic are definitely going to be annoyed with you, especially if you insist they try everything on that you bought them so you can see them in the clothes."

"Marissa does that to you, too," Sandy sympathized with Ryan, shaking his head dejectedly.

"Oh quit complaining, Sandy," Kirsten dismissed his grievances moving into the room only to be followed closely behind by Julie and Neil. Although they had dated and proceeded to get married during Marissa and Ryan's senior year of high school, they had agreed three years later that they were better off as friends and separated amicably, remaining close. In fact, their split was so friendly even Summer would have lunch with Julie when she came home, and they kept in touch over the phone. "It's not as if I don't model certain things for you when you buy them for me….just as Marissa probably tries things on for Ryan." Ignoring her daughter-in-law's deep blush, she moved towards them, enveloping Ryan and then Marissa in a tight hug. "It's so good to see you two," she finished before pulling away, insisting that Sandy and Neil go with her into the kitchen so Julie could greet her daughter.

"Merry Christmas, Mom," she said brightly, moving in to embrace Julie, but the older woman, instead, took her daughter's hands and held them out so she could get a better look at her outfit.

"Honey, this is gorgeous," Julie complimented. Their relationship had continued to stabilize while Marissa was in college until the point where they could both honestly say that they were good friends who not only loved one another but respected each other as well.

Finally succeeding in pulling her Mom into a hug, Marissa responded, "Thank you, but, really, all the compliments should go to Ryan. It was one of my Christmas presents from him."

Julie was so surprised she laughed good-naturedly. "Ryan," she teased, leaning in to kiss his cheek lightly, "I never imagined you as a fashion aficionado." As she had learned to trust Marissa, she had also learned to see just how much Ryan loved her daughter.

"Well, when the canvas is as beautiful as Marissa is, it's not so hard to shop for her."

Winking at him Julie pressed, "you also did a nice job picking out that ruby ring I see flashing on her finger."

"What," Ryan stuttered, "how did you notice that already?"

"I'm Julie Cooper Nichol Roberts, Ryan," she responded as if the answer was obvious. "It's what I do."

Marissa moved back into Ryan's body, wrapping her left arm around his waist while leaning into his side, her right hand resting gently on his chest, displaying her ring proudly for all to see. She enjoyed nothing more than to listen to her Mom and Ryan banter back and forth; after all, they were the two most important people in her life, but she was not going to be that lucky that afternoon.

Bursting through the front door, their voices a mixture of childish giggles, feminine softness, and masculine humor, the younger Cohen family made their entrance to the holiday celebration, drawing the four parents quickly to their side. Pleasantries were exchanged quickly and boisterously, smiles flashing all around. While Neil went out to their rental car to bring in the presents, Sandy pulled Seth aside to congratulate him, once again, on becoming a Dad for the third time, feeling the need to express his excitement and pride in person as well as over the phone and through email, and Kirsten and Julie cooed and awed over Summer's ever expanding pregnancy bump. Suddenly, there were four forgotten and pushed aside family members feeling on the outside of the merriment. In disbelief, Ryan and Marissa stood back and watched as everyone seemed to ignore the two quiet, shy, little boys who had been brushed aside in favor of baby news, their sad, lonely faces oddly reflecting those of their much older aunt and uncle.

As phrases and words assaulted their ears, 'I just felt the baby kick,' 'you're absolutely glowing, Summer,' 'I think we should break open a box of cigars later, son,' 'have you finished decorating the new nursery yet,' 'cesarean,' 'I saw this adorable Burberry pram online last week,' 'due date,' 'cravings,' 'we should really let you sit down and put your feet up,' 'did you bring your sonogram picture,' 'maternity clothes,' 'what names have you picked out so far,' Ryan and Marissa felt themselves slowly slipping out of the room. Quickly, the joy and light of the holiday celebration was dimming to an almost non-existent level. Green not only stood for Christmas trees and evergreen for Ryan and Marissa that Christmas season but envy as well.

-+-

That evening, the family dinner was well underway, but, unfortunately, it was anything but idyllic. While Sandy, Kirsten, Neil, Julie, Seth, and Summer were enthusiastically enjoying their meal, two ignored boys and one despondent couple merely pushed their food around on their plates, their appetites ruined by the constant talk of the new baby. Rosy smiles graced many a face and some eyes sparkled with exultant holiday spirit, a vast contrast to the painful tears illuminating the four orbs of bright blue and four irises of chocolate brown lamenting the fact that the one topic they wanted to ignore the most was the only one being discussed. However, the worst part was the evening was that those who were happy were completely oblivious to the pain they were putting some of their family members through.

"The only thing that would make today better," Sandy proclaimed thoughtfully, tossing his napkin aside to lean contently back in his seat, "is if another couple would announce that they plan on starting their family soon."

"Oh please, Dad," Seth argued, laughing, "like those two will ever want to have kids." Raising his eyebrows mischievously, he taunted, "it would definitely put a damper on their hobbies….if you get what I'm saying."

"Well, I disagree," Julie stood up for her daughter and son-in-law, "I think they would be wonderful parents." Motioning towards the two solemn boys sitting silently at the table, she pressed. "Cal and Nic could not ask for a better aunt and uncle. Ryan and Marissa are great with them."

Before Ryan and Marissa could respond though, Summer started laughing. "It's easy to be an aunt or an uncle," she dismissed. "You see the kids twice a year, and when you're sick of them or want some alone time, you just ship them back to their parents. There's no commitment, no stress, no real work involved."

Ever the plastic surgeon, Neil offered, "but think of how gorgeous their kids would be. Why, for just that reason alone those two need to have a least one baby."

"And preferably more than that," Kirsten added. "There's nothing better than being able to spoil one's grandchildren. Plus, I'd be able to see your kids," she told Ryan and Marissa, "much more often, because San Diego is so a lot closer than Providence."

Marissa could sense Ryan's discomfort. His hand was tightly gripping her own, as if her touch was the only thing keeping him calm, and she could feel how damp and clammy his skin was. She knew this conversation needed to end quickly, the sooner the better.

"Ryan and I are perfectly happy exactly as we are now," she said with determination and passion. "If we're ever lucky enough to have a child, then we will love it, but, for now, we're enjoying each other, our marriage, and the surprises that life brings us….together."

"As you should," Neil agreed with her. His response earned him a gracious smile from Marissa and a thankful nod from Ryan. However, not everyone was ready to accept her pronouncement and drop the subject.

"That's all well and good," Sandy chuckled, "but you two aren't spring chickens anymore. You're 33 years old. Nature's going to give up on you eventually."

"Plus, honey," Kirsten added attempting to be helpful, "you'll want to have your children when you're young enough to actually enjoy them."

"Ryan and I are in good shape. I don't think that will be a problem," Marissa replied testily.

"Yeah," Summer teased, "because of all the practicing you to do! If I had your sex life…."

"I really don't think this is an appropriate conversation to have in front of your children, Summer," Ryan snapped, his glares flashing dangerously at her, "nor is it any of your business what Marissa and I do in our private lives together."

Returning his angry glance, Summer responded, "well, if I can't comment about your personal life, then you should just keep your parenting advice to yourself. When you have two children one day and another on the way, maybe then I'll listen to your sage childrearing wisdom, but until then…."

"But you want children, I know you do," Julie interrupted. The fact that she was the one attempting to bring peace to the dining room table was enough to shock Summer quiet and draw everyone's attention to the fiery red head. "I remember when you were a little girl," she reminisced, smiling softly at her daughter, "you loved holding Caitlyn, and you were always such a great help to me when she was a baby. Then, when you got older, you were a wonderful babysitter. I'll never forget when I found your diary when you were sixteen, right after you and Ryan started dating…."

"Mom," Marissa exploded, suddenly embarrassed. "I can't believe you read my diary, and you are not going to share what it said!"

"Why not," Julie asked, clearly seeing no reason for discretion. "We're all family. Anyway," she continued, laughing softly at the memory, "at the time I about had a heart attack reading your little confessions, but now I find them amusing." Turning to everyone else and ignoring her daughter's warning glares, she explained. "She wrote about how she dreamed of some day marrying Ryan and how she wanted the two of them to have a big, happy family with as many children as they would be lucky enough to have."

Abruptly, Ryan stood up from the table, startling everyone but Marissa. Tearfully, she watched him walk away, in that moment silently hating every adult member of their family.

"What's up with him," Seth asked Marissa pointedly.

"Umm….," she struggled for a response. "He was getting a call he had to answer, a business one."

Annoyed, Kirsten exploded, "on Christmas?!"

"He, uh, he's in charge of a very important project," Marissa lied quickly, surprising even herself at how convincing she sounded. "The clients are foreign, don't celebrate Christmas, and there is a strict time deadline to work under. He had to take the call."

"Just another reason why you two will never have kids," Summer suggested confidently. "You're both too career oriented." By that point, Marissa was too annoyed and irate to even consider retorting to her sister-in-law's statement. It was a family dinner, after all, not to mention the fact that there were young children present. When Summer just continued talking though, Marissa realized it wouldn't have mattered anyway if she had said something; no one was interested in what she had to say. "There's no point to this conversation though," Summer pressed, smiling triumphantly, "because Ryan and Marissa aren't having a baby, and I am. We found out what we're having," she revealed practically jumping in her chair. "It's a girl! I love my sons," she dismissed casually, "but it will be so nice to have another woman in the house, someone to shop with, take to the spa, share my hobbies. Seth's already determined that she's going to be the best female video game player in the world, putting all the boys to shame."

It's a girl, It's A Girl, IT'S A GIRL! Summer's news caused an explosion of pain to ripple through Marissa. She could still remember her confession to Summer when they were little girls how much she wanted to have a daughter, she could imagine telling Ryan the news that they were going to have a baby girl, she could envision a beautiful, petite blonde haired, blue eyed angel with her Daddy's heart and innocence, and, because of these visions, she could not sit by and listen to another word.

Standing up quickly, she interrupted Summer, Julie, and Kirsten's eager discussion about what designer made the cutest infant clothing, shocking them silent with her actions. Right as she went to walk out of the room without an explanation, her eyes locked with those of her nephews, realizing they were hurting just as much as she and Ryan were. The ache might be different, but it didn't mean the sting wasn't as bad.

Their sorrowful expressions displayed perfectly how upset they were, and it was obvious that, not only did they feel inferior to their unborn sister, but they also felt disregarded and unwanted. How often had they been overlooked in favor of the baby; how often had they been unfairly compared in a negative light to the child they surely felt was replacing them in their parents' hearts? She and Ryan might need to feel each others comfort at that moment, but perhaps the best way to do that was to pretend they were parents for a few hours. As Sandy, Neil, and Seth went off to search for the congratulations cigars Sandy had mentioned early and Kirsten took Summer and Julie into her office to get online for baby clothes, Marissa motioned for Cal and Nic to follow her quietly outside, retreating to the baby free environment of the poolhouse, retreating to Ryan.

-+-

Ryan, Marissa, and their two nephews sat immersed in toys, opened Christmas presents, on the poolhouse floor. Seeing the young children smile and laugh merrily as they played brought happiness to the couple as they watched their brown eyed, curly haired companions lose themselves in their childhood imaginations and dreams. Nothing was more beautiful than a happy child.

"Uncle Ryan," Nic giggled, "you're cheating!"

"I am not," Ryan argued, making Marissa laugh at his immature behavior and the boys gasp out in shock when he stuck his tongue out at his nephews. They were in the middle of a very competitive challenge to see who could create the best building out of the thousands of colorful Legos spread out across the carpet.

"Uh huh," Cal agreed with his younger brother, "because you build houses. Right, Aunt Marissa?"

"He does," she answered, offering the five year old a gentle smile. "Plus, when he bought these for you guys last weekend, he bought himself a big box, too, and I found him playing with them not once, not twice, but three times this week."

Protesting, Ryan retorted, "But you ended up playing with me!"

"True, but I'm not an architect," Marissa pointed out smugly.

"And you also have two team members. It's three against one, and you guys are still complaining! What do you want me to do," Ryan asked, "build with a blindfold over my eyes?"

"Yeah," Nic yelled out excitedly.

Standing up and brushing the stray Legos off of his dress pants, Ryan nodded his head in accordance. "Fine, I can do that," he insisted, "but first," he reached out and grabbed a shrieking Cal in one arm and a giggling Nic in the other, "you two need disciplined."

"For what," they both wanted to know at the same time.

"For siding with your aunt," he answered them chuckling. "Don't you know we men have to stick together?" Before either of them could respond, he playfully tossed them down on the bed and started wrestling with them, their peals of mirth almost deafening.

Quickly, Marissa stood up and made her way towards her overnight bag wanting to get a picture of her husband and nephews playing together, but, as she heard their laughter turn into conspiring whispers, she knew something was up, but she realized the change in mood too late. Before she knew it, Ryan had picked her effortlessly off of the ground and tossed her over his shoulder, demanding to know what she was doing.

"You weren't trying to sneak off and leave us with cleanup duties were you, Marissa Atwood?"

"Put me down, Ryan!"

"Oh, no, I don't think. That's a punishable offence, shirking on clean up duties," he teased her. "I don't know boys, what should we do with her?"

Trying to explain herself, she insisted, "I was just trying to get my camera, honestly."

"Right, of course," Ryan pretended to agree with her, "we believe you." Suddenly, she was gently thrown down onto the bed as Ryan followed quickly after her. "But that doesn't mean you're not going to get in trouble."

"Tickle torture," the boys screamed jumping on their aunt. Before she knew what was happening, Ryan, Cal, and Nic were all mercilessly ticking her, laughing at her giggles and uncontrollable wiggling.

"Ryan, please," she begged, "Ryan, you've got to stop!" Struggling to talk again, she finally added, "I can't breathe."

"Alright, I think she learned her lesson, boys," Ryan instructed. He was sitting by the pillows on his knees above Marissa's head. Looking down to gaze in her eyes, he teased, "just don't let it happen again," but his playful moment soon turned more meaningful as he got lost in her loveliness.

Exhausted, her chest was rising rapidly as she tried to regain control of her breathing, her shining, magnificent eyes of blue reflecting the love and exhilaration he, too, was feeling in that moment. Unable to help himself, he lowered his lips to hers for a sweet and passionate, innocent and compelling, honest and charming embrace that neither of them would ever forget.

"Uncle Ryan," their oldest nephew complained, breaking through their moment, "stop!"

"Kissing is yucky," Nic added, proud of his statement.

"How about this," Marissa bargained. "We'll stop kissing if you two agree to help us pick up all these toys so we can get ready for bed. If you're going home with us tomorrow, we're going to have to be up really early to leave in time."

Neither boy had known they were going to be staying with their Uncle Ryan and Aunt Marissa during their Christmas vacation, so it took nothing else to get them to work quickly and efficiently to clean up the mess the four of them had created. Within a few minutes, everything was packed away, they had retreated to the main house and Seth's old bedroom where the boys were to sleep, and they were both changed into their pajamas. Because Cal was older, he was allowed to stay up later than his little brother, so, while Marissa read Nic a bedtime story, rocking him in the chair Kirsten had put into their temporary room, Ryan took Cal back downstairs to the family room to play video games for half an hour.

"Uncle Ryan," Cal said as they held hands walking up the stairs to tuck him into bed, "I wish we could play with you and Aunt Marissa everyday."

"Me, too, buddy," he agreed sadly with his young nephew, "me, too." Picking him up just to feel him close, he pushed open the bedroom door only to come to a complete halt as soon as he saw Marissa and Nic. The little boy was curled up in his wife arms, his hands clasped tightly around her neck as he slept on her shoulder while Marissa's hands clutched him closely, rubbing soothing, gentle circles into his tiny back. Unable to fight his emotions, an unbidden tear fell quickly from Ryan's eye, splashing onto his shirt. No one would ever know of that emotional release; there was no sign of it left, but Ryan would never forget that moment. Choking a sob back, he stood their in awe of Marissa and the little boy he couldn't help but feel should be their child, wanting, wishing, needing to someday give her that moment again with their own son or daughter.

"I love you," a small, timid voice broke through his thoughts as Cal hugged him tightly and placed a kiss on his cheek. It was exactly what Ryan needed to hear.

Placing the small boy in the bed, he pulled the covers up and tucked him in before replying, "I love you, too. Good night." Walking over to Marissa quietly so as to not startle her, he lowered himself down to his knees, letting his hand softly brush her hair off of her forehead as he spoke softly trying to wake her. "Marissa, baby," he said, but she didn't respond. "Honey," he raised his voice slightly as he tried again, shaking her shoulder delicately in the process.

"Hey," she greeted him with a subtle smile when she opened his eyes, yawning slightly. "Is Cal in bed yet?"

"Yep. Here," he added," taking Nic out of her arms and carrying him over to join his brother. Marissa followed him, leaning down over each boy and placing a kiss on each of their foreheads as she said goodnight.

Walking out of the room together, their arms encircled around each others waists, Marissa whispered softly, "sweet dreams," before shutting the door behind them. They would get to do this for a whole week while the boys stayed with them, tuck them in, take care of them, pretend they were their parents, and she knew Ryan, just like her, could not wait.

-+-

"Ugh, Ryan," Marissa questioned her husband as they walked past the poolhouse after exiting the living room on the premise that they were retiring to go to bed, "did you forget your way?"

Smiling over at her, he responded, "we're not going to sleep yet." Leading her towards the pathway that would take them to the Cohen's private stretch of beach, he explained. "I have a surprise for you. It's not something I would normally do, but I just thought we needed it….you know….after everything." Just as she had taken care of him the night they had found out his sperm count was extremely low five months before, he needed to help her disregard their family dinner, make her forget the knowledge that her childhood best friend was having the daughter she dreamed so much of, and remind her just how much he was in love with her.

"But what about the family, I mean, should we really be doing this?"

"Like they'll even notice," he dismissed, laughing. "Your Mom and Neil have had a little too much eggnog, wine, and champagne to even realize that we're gone, we heard Summer snoring as we walked down the stairs, Sandy is busy playing with that simulated golf game we bought him, Kirsten is still shopping on the computer, and Seth is hiding in the pantry so he can eat all the Christmas cookies. I think we'll be safe."

"Well, in that case," she smiled happily, leaning in to rest her head in the crook of his shoulder, "lead the way."

Together, they ascended the slight hill that took them to the shoreline. Without a word, Ryan helped her sit down in the sand, lowering himself behind her so that she could rest against him. Kissing her hair, her blissfully aromatic hair that smelled of her signature apple shampoo, he started talking softly, explaining whey they were cuddled together on the beach during the final hours of Christmas.

"When I was sitting in the car this morning waiting for you to finish getting ready, I heard the weather forecast. They said that it's supposed to be one of the clearest nights all year, that the view of the stars would be amazing, and I just thought," he stopped, smiling sheepishly, if there had been light she would have been able to see the deep scarlet coloring his ears, "that maybe you'd like to watch for a shooting star, make a wish."

As he waited for a response, she turned around in his arms, sitting in his lap to kiss his jaw tenderly. "You have to be the sweetest," she said between kisses, "most loving, sexy husband in the whole world." Ryan chuckled at her final attribute, bringing her mouth to his and kissing her softly before pulling back to ask her a question.

"So then, I take it you like this idea?"

"Like is not a strong enough word," she admonished him. "I ADORE it. Do you want me to show just how much," she asked as her hands trailed down his chest to his belt buckle.

"That better be a rhetorical question," he teased her, flipping her over to lay down beneath him as she giggled girlishly, "because you know my answer to that proposition is always and will always be the same thing."

Slipping her tongue into his mouth, Marissa sent his senses into overdrive as she slowly, torturously slowly, removed his shirt. There was no need to talk anymore; their hands, lips, bodies could express everything they wanted to say to each other from that point on. As the waves washed against the beach, the occasional spray of salt water tickling the lovers' bare bodies, Ryan and Marissa made love slowly, sensually, soothingly, secretively, serendipitously.

Breaking away from their never ending embrace, Ryan whispered into Marissa's ear, "look up at the sky, baby." Together, their eyes lifted to the endless black abyss of dreams that served as their shelter, their protection, their companion in the otherwise solitary night. There, above them, a shooting star danced across their joined bodies, and, as they reached the culmination of their ardor and passion together, as one, the waves of euphoria and pleasure cascading through every particle of their beings, Ryan and Marissa wished upon a star hoping for a Christmas miracle.