A/N: Thanks to those who reviewed. Please feel free to keep reviewing. Hope everyone had a nice holdiay and now lets get to the story...
By the time he returned to the kitchen he found Kirsten. "Hey Kirsten" Ryan said.
She put down the coffee pot. "Ryan your home" She said giving him a hug.
"Yeah I got in last night I didn't want to wake anyone" Ryan said. "Except for apparently Marissa" Seth said coming into the kitchen slyly.
Ryan glared at him. "Seth let's go and leave Ryan alone" Summer yelled in from the living room.
"Well were off Summer needs to be chauffered she has some errands to do. I will see you later man. Bye mom" Seth said.
"Bye" They said. Kirsten went back to pouring coffee. "So how's Sandy this morning?" Ryan asked. "He's okay you know he has another treatment today so we'll see how that goes" She said.
"Okay well I could take you what time?" Ryan said. "No that's not necessary Seth agreed to do it but before that I was wondering if you'd meet me at the New Port group this morning, get a feel around for the place. This way if I have to be home I know I'm leaving it in capable hands" Kirsten said.
"Sure I'll be there" Ryan said. "Great so I'll meet you say ten. I got to get out of here. Do you mind bringing this to Sandy?" She said pointing towards the coffee.
"No problem" He said. "Great he's in the office I'll see you later Sweetie" She said kissing his cheek and leaving.
He grabbed the coffee and headed to see Sandy. He knocked and stuck his head in slightly before entering.
"Hey Kirsten thought you'd might want this" Ryan said passing him some coffee. "Well she was right so I didn't know you were back" He said with a smile.
"I just got in last night" Ryan said. "How was the flight?" Sandy said.
"It was the usual I sort of hate heights so" Ryan said. "Right of course" He said. "So how's the house been since I left?" Ryan said.
"Well Kirsten has been so busy being here and then running off to work. I'm sure she's glad your back as am I" He said.
"Your telling me. She actually has me going to the office in a little while" Ryan said. "Seth has been his usual self things with Summer have been better apparently" Sandy said. "Well he's happy that's all you can ask for Right" He said.
"Well how about you?" Sandy said. "I'm working on it" Ryan said. "Good" He said. "So how's things been going with you?" Ryan said.
"Well you know Seth covered for some meetings. I'm finally getting him to work with me and everything else is fine" He said. Ryan nodded.
"You talk to Marissa yet?" He said. "Last night actually" Ryan said. "And?" He said. "And we're working on it" Ryan said with a smile.
"Great you kids have wasted enough time already" He said. "Alright well I should get out of here before Kirsten has my head if I'm late" Ryan said. "Yeah go on ahead I'll just see you later" Sandy said.
"Okay well Seth and Summer will be back soon" Ryan said. "I'm fine" Sandy said. "See ya later Sandy" He said. "See ya kid" He said going back to his work.
That morning as promised Ryan stepped off the elevator and walked towards the New Port group offices.
He waved hello to Lila and made his way back to Kirsten's office but when he meant to make the turn he bumped into someone head on.
The woman's purse dropped to the floor. "I'm so sorry I didn't see you coming" Ryan said helping her.
She looked up noticing the voice. "So first you spill a drink on me and now you practically knock me to the floor when did you get to be so clumsy? I thought it was only me" Marissa said with a smile. He smiled back.
"Well you usually are but you know these days I haven't being paying attention to what's right in front of me" Ryan explained helping her up. She smiled. "Obviously" She said with a laugh.
"You just coming from seeing your mom?" He asked. "Yeah we had breakfast so I could get her off my back for a week, or so depending on how long I can dodge her" Marissa said.
He laughed. "You came to speak with Kirsten?" She said. "Yeah actually she wanted to show me around get a feel of the place" Ryan explained. "Good" She said.
"Yeah I guess" Ryan said with a smile. "Sweet heart your still here" Julie said running into them in the hall with files in her hand. She turned towards her. "Yes mom I'm still here" She said. Julie smiled.
"Ryan lovely to see you" She said. "Hi Mrs. Cooper/Nichol. So how are you?" He said. Marissa was shocked that Ryan was striking up a conversation with her mother of all people and he didn't seem to want to run away.
"I'm doing just fine Kirsten filled me in and told me that you'll be working for the New Port group and I can't tell you how happy I am about that really" Julie said.
"You are?" Marissa said shocked. "Well of course Marissa. Ryan is a very talented architect sweetie and he'll do wonders to the company" She said.
"He will?" Marissa said wondering what was up with her mom. Julie looked at her strangely. "Of course" Julie said. "Thanks Mrs. Cooper/Nichol that means a lot" He said looking at Julie.
"Please call me Julie after all we will be working together, and I see you and Marissa are getting along. Does that mean we can bet on a reunion for you two?" Julie said smiling.
"Mom" Marissa said in a warning tone. "Marissa I care about you of course I would want to know if something was going on in your life" She said. "I know but" Marissa said pausing.
"We're working it out" He added with a smile. Marissa looked at him with a smile. "Wonderful now I'll get out of your way since you're obviously busy and promise me I will see you again sometime this week" She said to Marissa. Marissa sighed.
"Of course you will mom" She said. "Fantastic maybe you could bring Ryan. I'll call you soon sweetheart, and Ryan I'll be seeing you" Julie said walking off. He nodded. She sighed again.
"So, so much for dodging your mom huh?" He said. She playfully hit him. He laughed. "Keep laughing and I'm taking you with me next time" She said.
"I don't know you know I'm pretty busy this week" He said kidding. "And you wouldn't clear your schedule if I asked you too?" Marissa asked him.
"Well it's definitely possible but not to go to the Nichol mansion" He said. "Ryan you're working for Caleb you've managed to somehow change her opinion of you. Don't you think it's time you've gotten over Caleb and what he thinks about you?" She said.
"Well your mom was different I had to get her to like me" He said. "And why is that?" She said.
"Because I mean would you want to hear it everyday for the rest of our lives that you should have married someone like Luke Ward" He said without thinking. Marissa looked at him.
"I mean not that I or that I just… he paused falling over his words. "See that's more like the Ryan I know" She said teasing him.
"The one who stumbles on his words and basically feels like an idiot when he does. You like that about me huh?" Ryan said. She laughed.
"Besides as much as Luke and I have a past there's just no future. I mean as friends of course but it doesn't go further then that" She said.
"What made you change your mind?" He said curious.
Truth was he knew what Marissa and Luke had was years ago it ended way before Luke had even moved to Portland but he knew they still kept in touch.
Luke had even been back in town a few times and had gotten together with Ryan catching up with each other. "I met you" She said with a smile. "Right" He said.
"Ryan you're here. Oh hello Marissa" Kirsten said coming to meet them. She smiled. "Hi Kirsten Well I have to get back. I have a photo session so I guess I'll see you later" She said. "Yeah" He said. "Okay bye Kirsten" Marissa said walking off.
Ryan smiled watching her go. Kirsten smiled. "So I take it you two are?" She said waiting for him to finish the sentence. "Are trying to work it out see if sticks this time" He said. "Good" Kirsten said.
"So let's get to work" He said. He followed Kirsten into her office.
Ryan had been there all afternoon he picked up quickly which made it easier for Kirsten to get things done. Kirsten's phone rang.
She picked up while Ryan was sorting through some files. "New Port Group" She said. "Hey mom" Seth said. "Hello Seth" She said.
"So dad's appointment is in a half hour I thought I'd pick you up in ten minutes" Seth said. "Right I almost forgot" She said not knowing what she was going to do because there was a meeting later and other things to be done.
Ryan looked up. She hated doing this but she figured she had to ask. "If you can't get out of work its fine I could ask Summer to take us and I could stay with dad" Seth said.
"No Sweetie I'll be there I just have to get a few things straightened out first okay" Kirsten said. "Alright see you in a few minutes" He said.
He hung up. "Sandy's appointment" Ryan said looking at her. She nodded. "Yeah there's just so much to still be done and I forgot about the meeting with josh barker a potential client" She said. "What times the meeting?" He said.
"Five" She said. "Well so go I could cover. Everything's already mapped out so I can't fall on my face and its not like I've never held interviews before" Ryan said.
"Are you sure? I mean I know you and Marissa have a date later" She said. "No its fine trust me It'll all go fine it's important for you to be with Sandy" He said.
"Ryan you don't how much you're saving me here" Kirsten said. He smiled. "However I can help" He said.
She hugged him and kissed him on the cheek. "You already are" She said with a smile. "You better get your stuff together Seth will be here soon" He said.
"Right" She said going off to settle a few things. Ryan went to prepare for the meeting.
It was a six thirty and Marissa was putting the finishing touches to her look at Summers. She turned to Summer. "So?" She said.
"Coop you look so beautiful" She said. She smiled turning to the mirror. "You think he'll like it?" Marissa asked. "I think he'll love it" Summer said. "I'm gonna go make a call check up on Cohen see if there back from the hospital yet" Summer said leaving Marissa alone.
Mean while back at the New Port group things had become swamped and he had just taken a break from the meeting and realized it was six thirty.
He would never make it. He knew what he had to do. He reached for the phone and dialed her number.
Marissa was straightening her outfit when her cell went off. She grabbed it and smiled when she saw it was Ryan.
She picked up. "Hi" She said. "Marissa look I'm afraid I'm not going to make it tonight" He said. She smiled sadly.
"What's up?" She said knowing it wasn't like Ryan to bail. "It's just I had to stay behind at the New Port group and cover for Kirsten with this meeting. Which started late and it isn't exactly over we just took a break but anyway it'll be awhile and Kirsten's with Sandy" He said.
"Okay" Marissa said. "I'm really sorry about this" He said. "No please don't apologize Ryan these things happen sometimes. I'll just call you tomorrow "She said.
"He was worried he let her down. "Maybe would could reschedule?" He asked. "Sure I'd like that. Don't work to hard" she said.
"Okay Bye" He said. "Bye" She said hanging up. She looked at Marissa's expression. "Coop?" She said.
"Ryan's not coming" Marissa said. "Oh no why?" Summer said. "There's a lot to do at the New Port group and he's still in a meeting so he told me he couldn't make it" she said.
"He's probably filling in for Kirsten" Summer said understanding. "Yeah I know anyway you know we could do it another time" Marissa said.
"Well do you wanna hang out Seth won't be back for awhile" She said. "No I think I'm just gonna go home. I have a few things to do anyhow" Marissa said.
"I'm sorry Marissa" Summer said. "It's really okay Sum I'm just gonna call him tomorrow and I guess I'll call you later" Marissa said. "Sure bye Coop" Summer said. "Bye" She said leaving.
Summer was bummed for her friend but what could she do.
It was around eleven thirty when Ryan arrived home. He opened the door and the house was silent so he quietly went to the pool house.
He went up the step all the while loosening his tie so it hung loose around his neck.
He flipped the light on and looked up to see Marissa who had long since changed out of her dress and opted for jeans and a simple top.
He smiled at the sight of her. "Hey what are you doing here?" He said taking his jacket off. "I figured now was as a good a time as any to reschedule" She said. He laughed.
"So you've just been waiting for me to come home?" He asked. "Well I called a few times and then I figured I'd come over and wait" she said.
"I'm sorry I know how much it must have sucked for me to bail tonight" He said sitting next to her. She looked at him. "You didn't bail exactly and it's still tonight it's just a few hours later then are supposed date" She said with a smile.
"Its eleven thirty there's not much open Marissa" he said smiling at her. "But the pool house is open or at least it seemed to be" she said. He smiled.
"How would you call that a date?" He asked. "Well throw in a pizza and a movie and the date is complete" She said. He looked at her.
"Besides we never did the date thing before why start now?" Marissa said convincing him. He looked at her.
Ryan leaned in to kiss her and she fell back on the bed. "You want to order that pizza?" She said. He smiled. "Suddenly not so hungry" He said. She laughed and broke into a smile.
He kissed her again and she pulled herself from under him so that she was over him and kissed him. "Best date ever" She said.
He smiled. "You're not that hard to please" He said and they made out because really that was all they ever really wanted who needed the actual date anyway.