Title : Shiny Happy People

Author : Helen C.

Rating : G

Summary : Some glimpses into the Cohens+1 lives after (or during, depending on how you want to look at it) the finale.

Disclaimer : The characters and the universe were created and are owned by Josh Schwartz. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.

AN. Many thanks to joey51 for beta'ing this and to fredsmith518, who totally inspired me to write this fic.

2008

"Seth called yesterday," Ryan said, glaring at his slice of pizza as if it was responsible for the situation.

Sandy grimaced, thinking, Uh oh... His son had decided that Ryan needed an intervention so he'd "get back on the market," after his recent (and rather messy) break-up with Taylor. Long distance relationships were hard to maintain, and Sandy suspected it must have been even harder with someone like Ryan—visual clues were so often necessary to hear everything Ryan was saying... or failing to say.

"What did he want?" he asked, hoping that Seth had had a modicum of tact.

"Same as usual. Wanted to know when I was going to meet a nice girl and settle down." He met Sandy's gaze, adding, "And yes, he used those exact words."

Sandy tried not to laugh at Seth's particular brand of bluntness. College hadn't changed that side of him yet.

"He sounds like..." Ryan trailed off, his cheeks growing pink, and poked at a bit of tomato with his fork.

"Like a father?" Sandy gave up the fight and laughed. "Well, we both know that deep inside Seth lives the heart and soul of an eighty year old."

He cheered inwardly when Ryan grinned, either because he remembered Miami or Seth and Summer's "old married couple" routine.

It had been too long since Sandy had last seen Ryan laugh. He and Taylor had tried really hard to make things work, but eventually, the girl had admitted that she had met someone else and that this long distance relationship wasn't enough for her anymore. Ryan had been down ever since, no matter how much he tried to hide it.

Sandy had thought for some time that Taylor was Ryan's rebound relationship after Marissa, and he had been glad when things had turned more serious between them. Taylor, for all her nuttiness, was very down-to-earth and reliable. She was probably just what Ryan needed.

Now, for Ryan's sake, he almost wished it had never become serious.

"Will you be mad if I punch him to make him shut up?" Ryan asked. Sandy studied him, startled, but as often, it was impossible to tell whether Ryan was joking or not. "Thanksgiving is almost there, and you know how Seth can be during family holidays."

Ten-year-old on a sugar high would be close to it, Sandy thought. "I hear Summer will come along for Thanksgiving, as well," he offered. "She'll reign Seth in."

Ryan snorted. "I hope so. The last thing I want is to listen to Seth's advice on relationships."

"It won't be so bad," Sandy said, vowing to make sure it wasn't bad at all. He didn't want Ryan to dread coming home for Thanksgiving, even if it was for such a harmless reason as Seth's well-meaning nudging.

"Yeah. If worse comes to worst, I'll just have to ask Summer to kick his ass."

Sandy waved a finger at him. "Now, there's a plan," he said, teasingly. "That girl sure has an arm on her."

Ryan fingered his hair reflexively, nodding.

College seemed to be treating him well, so far, Sandy thought. He looked tired, but since midterms were fast approaching, that was only to be expected. Other than that, Ryan was growing a lot more open and comfortable with the Cohens. It was almost as if, now that they had stuck with him through the worst, he finally believed that no one was going to abandon him or dismiss him again, that they would, indeed, always be there for him.

About damn time. For a while, when Ryan left after Marissa's death, Sandy had really wondered if they had lost him for good, if this was the point where it all ended. But Ryan had fought his way back, with their help, and Sandy prayed that the rest of the road would be easier on him than the beginning.

"And you know Kirsten always keeps a stash of duct tape ready, just in case," Sandy added. Not that she'd ever use it on Seth. Probably.

"Okay, then," Ryan said, checking his watch. "As long as the women keep Seth on the short leash, so I don't have to kick his ass..."

Well, at least Sandy had managed to cheer him up a little, and hopefully, they would get through Thanksgiving without any blood being shed—always a plus in his book.

TBC