A/N: It's been awhile decided to update... Please comments are definitely needed so I know whether to keep going with this. To those of you who have been commenting and reviewing thanks you guys are great.
Sunday Morning
Ryan jumped out of his truck and headed towards the diner. He was meeting Marissa for breakfast as planned. Ryan opened the door and looked around and spotted her sitting by the back booth. Marissa looked up upon seeing him.
"Hey" he said smiling walking towards her. "Hey" she said. "Sorry I had you waiting" Ryan said sitting across from her. "No its okay I've only been here a few minutes" she said. "Right" he said.
"Hey what can I get you guys?" the waitress said coming over. Marissa looked at him and he smiled. "Two short stacks and coffee please" Ryan said. "Okay coming right up" She said walking away. "Thanks" Ryan said. "I'm impresses that you remember" Marissa told him.
"Yeah well we did eat here a lot during High School" He pointed out. Marissa laughed. "Yeah we practically lived here" She added which made Ryan smile. "So where's Danny?" Marissa asked. "At Seth's he wanted to spend the night last night. He hasn't spent much time with Summer in awhile so she asked of it was alright if Danny could stay so they could stay up and watch movies Ryan told her.
"Must be nice for him to always have family around" She said. "Yeah he does love the Cohen's and Seth and Summer" he said. "Well who could not like Seth Cohen? It must be in the Atwood DNA to befriend him" she said.
"Tell me about it. But you know in all fairness Seth has been helping me out a lot lately especially when it comes to Danny. He calls during the week he drives into Chino at least once sometimes twice a week. It helps for Danny too because he's not really like the other kids there" Ryan explained. "More like the outsider? Well I guess we all can sympathize with that She added.
"Yeah plus Seth really has him into comics and of course play station He said. She smiled. "So I know I said this already but I am really sorry about Theresa" Marissa said looking at him. Ryan nodded. "Thanks" he said looking back at her. "It can't be easy raising him all by yourself" she said assuming.
"Yeah but you know I don't always do it alone we got Maria there during the week, The Cohen's on the weekends when we come into New Port. Danny's got a lot of people who love him" Ryan told her.
"Well he is a pretty amazing kid" Marissa said. "Yeah well you might just be his favorite person right now. At dinner last night he talked Summer's ear off about how he met you and how you played arcade games with him" He said laughing right along with her.
"Aw well I'm just glad he had fun" She added. "He definitely did" Ryan said. "Here you go" the waitress said coming over with their order. "Thanks" they said. "So you guys go back today? She asked.
"Yeah this afternoon we drive back start another week and them come back to New Port every other weekend but lately Danny's been finding more and more excuses to come up here every weekend but you know I don't really mind" He added.
"Just as long as he's happy" She added. "Exactly" he said looking back at her. "So how is it being back in Chino?" Marissa asked him. He shrugged. "You know it's different and it's sort of been kind of a challenge I guess" Ryan said.
"I mean it's honestly not as bad as it was when I was growing up. We live in a pretty decent house, got a decent job at the construction site" he explained. Marissa nodded.
"It still must be quite an adjustment" She assumed. "Yeah it is the neighborhood is not exactly the greatest but it never really was" Ryan said. She nodded.
"So how does Danny like it? "Marissa asked him. "Well he doesn't so much I guess he gets kind of bored probably more now that he's still out of school there's nothing to really keep him busy" he said. "Which probably keeps you busy enough for the both of you She said with a laugh.
"Well I try" Ryan said. She nodded. "Well I guess we should probably eat before it gets cold" Marissa said. "Right" he said. They finished a while later and left the diner and just started walking down the pier. "So you're an architect?" Marissa said.
"Yeah you know finished Berkeley got a job in the area held it for awhile" he told her. "That's good that's really good Ryan" She said. "So it looks like your doing good for yourself too I mean design team for the New Port group" he added. She laughed.
"Well it's not exactly building house it's just designing the interior of the home furniture, paint wise, setting the model homes up so potential clients can look at them" Marissa said. "So I guess you went to college after all" he assumed.
"Yeah after going to Hawaii I thought about it started a semester later and graduated" She said. "That's great I always knew that you're meant for big things" Ryan said. She looked at him sadly. "So were you" she told him. "I'm not sure about that as evidence to everything that's happened in my life" he said.
"That's not exactly true I mean yeah things have happened to you but you've always managed to piece your life back together you'll find your way back this time too" She said. "You assuming I'm lost?" he asked. "No I just he interrupted
"Because you wouldn't be the first person to tell me that. In fact I this conversation with Summer last night" he said. "And what did she say?" Marissa asked listening. "She seems to think I'm avoiding the reality of it all. Throwing myself into taking care of Danny so I don't have to think about it" Ryan admitted.
"You mean Theresa" she said. "Yeah" he said. "Well are you?" she said. "I guess maybe I don't know its just when she died it was a like a reaction and now that I've started it its she interrupted "hard for you to stop" she said. "Yeah" Ryan said.
"Well I'm not judging I think you're doing one of hell of a job with Danny and Theresa would say the same" Marissa said. "Thanks" Ryan said looking at her. "Your welcome" She said with a smile. Ryan checked his watch.
"Well I should really get back get Danny grab our stuff from the house" he said. "Yeah hold on a minute" she said going through her purse and pulling out a piece of paper.
"I know you're not usually into the whole getting help from others but just in case you know if you ever want to talk or whatever. Here's my number" Marissa said handing it to him. He accepted. "Thanks. I'll see you again we come out here enough" Ryan said.
She giggled. "Okay" Marissa said. "Alright I'll Talk to you soon" he said "See ya" She said watching him walk away.
Meanwhile back at Seth and Summer's She was trying to get Danny ready in time Ryan had called a little while ago letting her know he'd be over to pick him up. "You got your stuff kiddo" Summer asked Danny. "Yeah it's all by the front door" he added.
The door bell rang and Summer went to answer. Ryan came in. "Hey kiddo you ready to hit the road?" He said ruffling Danny's hair. "Yeah" he said. "Hey look what I gotcha" Ryan said handing him batteries. Danny smiled excited.
"So you could play your video games on the way home" Ryan said. "Cool thanks dad. I'm going to grab my game and put them in" he said running off. Summer smiled. Ryan looked at her. "Come on Roberts I know you want to ask me. You might as well get it over with" he said with a smile.
"So how'd it go?" She said excited. "It was alright it was nice getting to spend time with her catching up" Ryan said. "Okay Seriously Atwood I know your not a girl but you need to seriously work on your description skills" Summer said poking fun at him.
"What I'm sorry I don't know what else you want me to say" he said. "Well are you guys going to hang out again?" She asked. "We left it open" Ryan said. "Good because you know you and Marissa should be friends I mean you've known each other long enough" She said. Ryan smiled.
"Right I get it Sum and I am glad we ran into each other the other day its been a long time" he said. She smiled.
"Oh by the way you know I don't know how you'd feel about this but there's this comic book convention that there setting up for next week it's actually right in New Port and Seth has to be there all week we thought it might be fun if Danny maybe stayed a few days during the week" Summer said waiting for his reaction.
"Sure you know Schools not for another week after that. I'll talk to Maria let her know he'll be staying with you guys for the week" Ryan said. "A whole week gosh Chino your being generous" Summer said getting excited to have her nephew be staying with her.
"Well I knew to you a few days really means a week and you know besides I'll be in over the weekend after that week so it's not a problem" he explained. "Great" she said. He nodded. "So I'll drop him to you guys on Sunday" Ryan said.
"Oh so I guess you have another reason to spend this coming weekend in New Port then. What do you know" Summer said smiling. He laughed. "Sometimes you are so obvious Roberts" Ryan said. She laughed. "Well can I help it that I like seeing you" Summer said.
"No but you know where not that far away Chino's only an hour from here" He said. "I'm sorry Atwood but its just me and Chino Ewww…. Never gonna happen" She said. Ryan laughed.
"Plus you know I think Seth makes up for the both of us" Summer added. "Yeah" he said. "So I'll see you next week" Summer said hugging him. "Yep and tell Seth I'll call him" Ryan said. "I'll do that come on I'll walk you guys out" She said.
"Okay buddy you be good" Summer said helping Danny into the car. "Bye Aunt summer" he said. "See you next week" she said smiling closing the door and walking over to the passenger side seat and leaning into the open window.
"You take care alright" She told Ryan. "Don't worry about me mom" He teased. "Hey I can't help it" Summer said. "Let us know you got home okay" She added. "I promise" He told her.
"And Roberts thanks" he said. "Don't thank me it's all in days work. See you soon Chino" Summer said walking away from the car.
Ryan pulled away and they went back to the Cohen's he grabbed their stuff while Kirsten spent some time saying goodbye to Danny by the car. "Okay all set" Ryan said throwing the stuff in the back.
"Drive safe" Kirsten said. "We'll be back" Ryan added. "Next weekend?" Danny asked. "Yeah I'm supposed to be dropping you off for the comic book convention on Sunday anyways so might as well" Ryan said.
Kirsten smiled and hugged Ryan goodbye after having kissed and hugged Danny goodbye. "Tell Sandy we'll see him soon" Ryan added walking around to the driver's side.
"Seat belt" both Kirsten and Ryan immediately said which made them both laugh. "Take care Kirsten" Ryan said.
"Say hello to Maria" She said. "Will do" he said smiling.
"Bye boys" She said watching Ryan drive down the drive way and then it was back to chino well until the weekend that is.