A/N: Ok, this is a super long chapter. It's taken me over a week to get it where I'm semi-happy with it. Hope you like. R/R as always.

Thanks to Yarrie, Rosaa, J7chick18 and Chrismukkah112 for their continued reviews, and thanks to everyone else who's left comments. The reviews keep me going.

Chapter 24

"Honey!!! We're going to be late." Sandy called to Kirsten.

"I'm coming, just give me a second." Kirsten replied from the bathroom.

Sandy turned to Nate. "Are sure you'll be ok? I know this isn't how you envisioned your first couple of days with Ryan. We just need to get this out of the way and then he can really focus on you."

"I'll be fine" replied Nate reassuringly. "I'm glad you told me what's going on though, and I want to help Ryan like he's helping me. I think it's kind of cool that Ryan and Ms. Hooper know each other. I mean, Marissa, I guess." He'd had a wonderful day with Kirsten and couldn't believe all the new clothes and shoes she'd bought him. She'd also bought him an iPod, but told him not to tell Sandy. He really appreciated how lucky he was to have been brought into this family.

Sandy patted Nate on the back and looked toward the bathroom. "It is a mystery to me what women do in there! HONEY!!! THE WICKED WITCH OF THE WEST IS CALLING!"

Kirsten appeared from the bathroom. "Sandy, be nice. We don't know Julie's side of the story yet."

Kirsten walked out the front door and turned to look at Sandy. "Sorry, I was just talking to Sophie while I was getting ready. She's excited to be staying at Tiffany's house tonight. Well, are you coming? We're going to be late, you know." She winked at Nate and walked to the car. Sandy rolled his eyes as he followed her out the door.

On the drive over to Ryan's, Sandy and Kirsten spent the most of their time in comfortable silence. Nate sat in his own world listening to the iPod Kirsten had bought him that day. As they turned onto Ryan's street, Kirsten turned to Sandy with a concerned look.

"Sandy, are we doing the right thing?" She asked earnestly.

"Is doing what the right thing, honey?"

"I mean ambushing Julie like this. I mean, why didn't we just pull her aside and say 'what the hell were you thinking' instead of going through this elaborate charade? It's just I worry about Ryan."

"You always worry about Ryan, honey. He's a big boy now." Sandy smiled as they pulled up at Ryan's house.

"Well, I know, but the whole Taylor break up is still so fresh, and taking on Nate, and now Marissa. I mean we both know that their history is not the most calming of relationships. I worry about them pretending to be a couple, and the feelings getting all mixed up and he'll end up with a broken heart again. It took him six months to get over her death, if he ever really did get over it. Now, she's alive again, if things go wrong, we may lose him forever." They were now on Ryan's doorstep. Nate took the iPod out of his ears.

"Honey, I love you for being the worrying mom that you are, but seeing them working together today, I think they're going to be ok." Sandy reached for the doorbell.

Ryan and Marissa opened the door together. "Hey" they said together. "Uh, we're just practicing being the perfect couple" added Marissa.

"So we'll be observing you two closely" chimed in Ryan. "C'mon in." Ryan hugged Kirsten and shook Sandy's hand. Nate waved at Marissa.

"Hi, Ms. Hooper" he said innocently.

"Hi Nate" she answered "but it's Marissa now, ok? I know this is confusing for you."

Nate walked a little uncomfortably to the kitchen. He was glad to be included in this family gathering, but it still felt strange since he hardly knew anyone. Kirsten then hugged Marissa, followed by Sandy.

"Valentines" said Marissa as she broke with Sandy's embrace.

"Valentines?" Sandy and Kirsten questioned together.

"Yep, Valentines." Marissa was smiling broadly.

Ryan came to Marissa's side quickly. "Another one?" he said stroking her hair.

Marissa bit her lip, nodded and smiled shyly. "Uh huh, I saw Sandy at a Valentines Party, there was red and hearts everywhere. He was talking to me, and I was crying."

"You're remembering?" asked Sandy.

"Little bits here and there as I come in contact with people. I guess my dream last night opened something up in my brain. I don't know why it didn't happen earlier with you Sandy, but it really started when Summer and Seth arrived. I hugged her and saw purple, and when I ki…, uh when Ryan, I mean…it's been happening fairly frequently over the last couple of hours. The four of us have spent a good part of the afternoon talking about old times, and as they talked I would see flash images and describe the scene. I've been able to do it almost every time." She was so pleased with herself and Ryan was so pleased for her that he pulled her head to his and kissed her forehead.

Sandy and Kirsten exchanged glances, hers saying 'you better talk to him' and his saying 'calm down, honey, I will'. As the gathering in the hallway broke, Sandy put his arm around Ryan and guided him away from where the girls were going.

"So, you guys all set for this tonight? It won't be too tough on you pretending to be a happily together couple with a whole life behind you?" Sandy was fishing, there was no question that a change had occurred between Ryan and Marissa since he'd left them earlier in the day.

"Yeah, we're all set, and with her remembering some things, it'll be even better."

"Ryan, just be careful with this, please. Playing with Marissa's mind and memories to get to the truth is one thing, but you guys are playing with each others' hearts when you don't really know each other. Too far, too fast, could be devastating to both of you on a number of levels, and you've got Nate to think about now. Maybe this should be left to a professional." Sandy finished with his trademark 'level with me, 'cos you can't fool me' look.

"Sandy, we're good, I promise. Yes, we have been…um, reconnecting, I guess you would say, but we just want to pull this off to show Julie is all. How is Nate anyway?" he asked quickly changing the subject. "I feel terrible, I was supposed to spend the day with him and get his school organized, and I've hardly spoken to him. I'll go talk to him in sec to catch up on today."

"Ah Ryan, he's fine. He's a good kid, just like you were, at least on the inside anyway" he joked. "I don't think Nate will cause you half the grief that you did us in the first months you were with us. For a start, he doesn't strike me as the punching type." They both laughed and headed to the kitchen where everyone else had gathered around the food that the four had finished preparing together while they had reminisced about the past.

Ryan had still been adamant at not providing full detail in their stories. They had talked about kick-off carnivals, and the various Newport parties that they had been to during high school. After their argument on the driveway, Ryan had told Marissa how they met, and how they had almost replayed the scene that afternoon. He also filled her in on their first kiss on the Ferris wheel, and their first date at the party on Caleb's boat. They had talked more about the other people they had known, and Seth and Summer had provided their perspective on Ryan and Marissa's relationship.

As they had talked, Marissa had continued to have images flash in her head that corresponded with what they were talking about. Ryan had been the one to make sure that Marissa was filling in the blanks herself. He knew that Julie had filled in all the blanks for her after the accident and created an imaginary past. He wanted to make sure Marissa remembered everything on her own terms with her own memories.

Once everyone gathered in the kitchen, Ryan asked them if he could say a few words. Not normally one for being vocal or stringing too many words together at once, he was nervous, but wanted the evening to work for Marissa more than anything.

"I want to thank everyone for doing this. I know it's weird and the strangest of circumstances, especially for you, Nate" he pointed to the boy and smiled "but we are here to help an old friend who we lost a long time ago. No one is happier than me that we found her again." Marissa smiled shyly through her bangs. "We know that Julie was probably doing what she felt was best for Marissa at the time, but we also know that Julie wouldn't admit to anything unless she was backed into it….SO…the plan is to pretend that Marissa was never gone from our lives, that all is as it should have been. Marissa and I are happily living together…Seth if you mention anything about a wedding, or make any sex jokes, I will kill you…and this is a celebration to welcome Nate to our family, which by the way is genuine. I couldn't be happier to have the people closest to me here to welcome Nate, despite the odd circumstances. I…" he put his arm around Marissa "we hope this will prompt Julie to come clean about what happened eight years ago, and in the process, help Marissa remember…more than she already has today. Thanks everyone for doing this."

"Wow, somebody get that man a drink…and a dictionary" Seth blurted out while applauding Ryan's speech. "Seriously dude, you need to quench your thirst and stock up on words, you must be running way low. You just said more words than I've heard you say total in the twelve years I've known you. OW" Summer punched him in the arm, and everyone else burst into laughter.

"Seth never lets the Cohens down with his uncanny ability to make a joke out of the most inappropriate situation." Sandy explained to Nate.

The jocularity was interrupted by the doorbell and the room fell silent. Marissa became visibly nervous which did not go unnoticed by Ryan. He took her hand and kissed it.

"You'll be fine, game face on, babe" he whispered to her. "Sandy, could you get the door? I think Marissa and I should be together when Julie comes in."

"Sure, sure" Sandy said as he moved to the door

"Ok, everyone, just chat about anything and try to act as natural as possible." Ryan pleaded with the gathering.

Summer was the first to break the ice and just in time. "Oh my god, Coop, you have got come shopping with me. This baby does not have nearly enough stuff yet, but there's nowhere around here as good as South Coast Plaza." Summer was trying to throw references to the past in to help Marissa remember.

Sandy walked in with Julie behind him who froze in the doorway to the kitchen at the sight she saw before her.

"Sure, Sum" Marissa said using Summer's old nickname. Ryan, Seth and Summer exchange rapid glances as none of them had mentioned this in their talk this afternoon. "I'll just take Ryan's credit card and spoil the child rotten." She laughed wrapping her arms around Ryan's waist and snuggling in tight. "Oh, hi, Mom" she added as a second thought as she let go of Ryan and walked to Julie to kiss her on the cheek. As she backed away, her and Julie's eyes met and in that second Marissa had a cascade of memory flashes hit her, as the blanks started to fill in. It was as if looking at Julie for the first time as her mother had opened the floodgates.

Suddenly, all the conversations she had had with Ryan, Seth and Summer made sense, There was a movie playing in her mind. Her life was literally flashing before her eyes.

A series of snapshots of herself from a little girl to a teenager flashed through her mind.

The memories were flooding in too much for her brain to cope with.

"Marissa? Marissa, are you ok?" Ryan could see her growing paler by the second.

She was floating in a world of darkness with mini movies floating around her.

A driveway. "Who are you?" she said. "Whoever you want me to be" he said.

A nightclub. A tall blonde guy kissing a short blonde girl. Luke and Holly.

Pills. Tequilla. Darkness. His strong arms around her.

A ferris wheel. "I want to make this work, no matter what" he said "if we ever get down from here we can talk about it."

"Who knows when that will be" she said

"Please don't say that"

"You need something to take your mind off it"

His lips were warm and soft, his tongue so talented in her mouth.

A boat. Another party. Julie. Caleb?

"I think I'm ready for our first date" she said

"I think we're way past that now" he said leaning in to kiss her,

Poolhouse. "Best date ever" she said.

"I love you" she said

"Thank you" he said

music

Nothing can compare to when you roll the dice and swear your loves for me.

Confetti. Celebrating. There he is.

They were spinning and kissing. It felt like there was nobody else in the room.

"I love you" he said

"Thank you" she said

Flashes and flashes. Summer. Julie. Ryan. Dad. Alex. Happy. Sad. Excited. Depressed.

Poolhouse. Dancing.

Music

Forever young, I want to be forever young.

Do you really want to live forever?

The beach. Tiki hut.

"We've done a lot, but not this" he said

They fall to the ground bodies entangled.

Tears. "It's hard to believe after all we've been through there's nothing left to say"

Smells. Smoke. Beer. Sweat.

Trailer. Raw. Volchok.

Model home. Swimming pool. Laughter. Sadness.

She was a passenger in a large vehicle , there was a boy driving with no face. Wait. A face. Ryan.

Lights flashing behind them. They were being chased. The car was bumped and bumped again , and again.

Scared, screaming. "Ryan, look out!!"

Upside down. Gasoline. Heat.

"I'm gonna get help" he said

"No, stay, don't leave" she said

"Marissa, Marissa, MARISSA, no, no," he said

Darkness.

Ryan had rushed to Marissa as he saw her fainting and managed to catch her before she hit the ground. Julie stood stoic and emotionless as if in a state of shock staring at Marissa's motionless body.

"Oh my god" she said, snapping out of her trance. "What is going on here? Where did you find Marissa?" It seemed in a split second, she had pulled the façade down and was going to pretend that she didn't know Marissa was alive. She rushed to her side where Ryan was cradling her on the floor. "Marissa? Marissa, honey? Where have you been? Are you ok? Wake up, sweetie, please. I can't lose you again." The voice was crying, but there were no tears.

"Julie, you are some piece of work" it was Sandy confronting her "and that's worthy of an Oscar." He shook his head in disgust.

"Um, Nate, Seth, Summer, I suggest we go out on the patio and eat some of this food, while things are settled in here." Kirsten shooed them all outside with her arms open like she was herding cattle.

Ryan held Marissa stroking her face. "Wake up, Marissa. Come back to me" he whispered.

"What are you talking about Sandy?" Julie asked innocently. "I can't believe my daughter is here, I'm in shock, I think I need a drink."

"There'll be no drinking until you explain yourself." He replied condescendingly.

"What is there to explain? I need to see if she's all right. I'm just so overwhelmed." She looked up at Sandy and back to Marissa then covered her face with her hands as if to say 'I can't handle this, somebody help me'.

"Right, 'cos it's all about you, isn't it Julie." Ryan had joined the conversation and was ready to face Julie head on. Marissa started to wake and stir in Ryan's arms.

"She's waking up" y, she just fainted. I guess it's kind of stressful seeing your mother walk-in when you've thought she was your AUNT for the last eight years."

"Ryan, I'm sure I don't…I mean, I'm just as surprised as you that Marissa is alive." Ryan knew Julie would do this if they confronted her directly and he was disappointed that their plan hadn't really got off the ground.

"JULIE!!! CUT THE CRAP!!! WE KNOW EVERYTHING!" he screamed. "The only thing we don't know is why." He added more calmly.

"I'm going to join the others and leave you three to chat" offered Sandy and walked out to the patio.

"Start talking." Ryan said bitterly when Sandy had left.

"Yeah, Mom, start talking" Marissa had come to and was laying in Ryan's arms listening to the whole conversation. She tried to sit up.

"Marissa, you need to lie down." Ryan urged "I'm sorry we put you through this"

"No, I'm fine. It just all hit me at once. I remember. It was like I dreamed the lost years, it was overwhelming, but I remember, and I remember you." She kissed him softly on the lips.

"Oh great" Julie spoke with total disgust in her voice. "This is what I didn't want. This is why I did it. Your life had become so full of drama and angst and problems, I saw the opportunity to free you from all that. We hadn't had the greatest relationship as mother and daughter and I thought if I could reinvent our relationship and take all your problems away, I would." She looked at Ryan as if to insinuate he represented all of Marissa's problems in the past.

"And in the process, you still abandoned me and left me with Aunt Cindy. There's a model parent. What part of both of you abandoning me three years ago did you think was healthy for me? Or made you a better mother? What part of not knowing I had a sister or a little brother, ANY kind of family did you think was good for me?" Marissa was yelling and crying at the same time. Ryan still had his arm around her and squeezed to comfort her as she buried her head in his shoulder.

"Julie, I think you should go" Ryan said rubbing Marissa's back in comfort.

"I think we should talk" Julie said firmly. "I want to explain. I need to explain."

"Marissa? Honey? Can we talk? Please?" Julie was begging and now crying genuine tears. Marissa shook her head and turned away unable to form any words.

She turned to Ryan. "Ryan you can't do this. You can't take my daughter from me twice." Julie spat the words at him.

"You did that all by yourself, Julie. Now get out. IF Marissa wants to talk to you, we'll call." Julie turned and left, slamming the front door behind her.

"Glad to see the plan worked so well" it was Seth poking his head in the patio doors once he heard it was quiet.

"Cohen, you really need to brush up on your diplomacy and tact." Summer chastised her husband as she walked to Marissa who Ryan was helping her up.

Sandy, Kirsten and Nate followed. When Ryan saw Nate, he felt a sense of responsibility come over him. He turned to Marissa who was now standing next to Summer who had a comforting arm around her.

"You ok?" he whispered holding her face in his cupped hands.

"Yeah, I just need to sleep. I'm so tired I feel like I haven't slept for years."

"Ok, Summer, can Marissa stay with you tonight? I think I need to spend some time with Nate without any…" he chuckled "drama. I'll come and pick you up tomorrow", he said turning to Marissa. "Rest tonight and try to get some sleep. I lo….look forward to you remembering more." He had almost said those three little words, without even thinking about it. 'Way too soon' he thought.

"Sure she can. We'll have a sleepover like old times, Coop! Atwood, you just have to try and take on one save-someone-from-themselves project at a time. Less complications. C'mon Cohen, we're leaving! Coop, we'll wait for you in the car."

Marissa nodded as Seth was dragged out the door bewildered. "Can I at least take the quesadillas? I did help make them…and I'd hate to see good food go to waste. There are starving children in Africa, ya know."

"Then we'll send them the quesadillas" Summer could be heard saying as they walked out the door.

Ryan brought Marissa into a hug and squeezed her tight. He kissed her gently on the lips. "It didn't go quite as we planned, but we achieved the intended result." He laughed uncomfortably.

"Yeah, I guess we did. I'm gonna go. I think it's best I stay at Summer's tonight anyway. Less distractions." She smiled seductively and left to catch up with Seth and Summer.

Ryan stood alone in the kitchen for a moment looking toward the front door where Marissa had just left, wanting nothing more than to run after her and hold her.

"Hey, everything all right" Sandy's voice had made Ryan jump.

"Yeah, Marissa's gone with Seth and Summer. I think she just needs to rest, and I need to spend some time with Nate. It's been a pretty crazy couple of days." Ryan ran a hand through his sandy-blonde hair.

"Did I hear my name?" Nate came in from the back yard, followed by Kirsten.

"We'll leave you two alone" said Kirsten. "I know you'll call if you need anything."

"Yeah" said Ryan, kissing her cheek. "Thanks for today, Kirsten. I owe you."

"I'll tell you how much when the credit card bill comes" chuckled Sandy.

"Night guys." Ryan waved as they walked out the door.

"Yeah, thanks Mrs. C." said Nate as the door closed.

"Ok" Ryan turned to Nate "I think it's time we logged some quality Nate/Ryan time, but you can't tell Seth, he's very insecure that way" he laughed.

"Yeah, I can kinda see that. Could we play Playstation? I feel the need to practice my saber, and maybe you could tell me more about you and Chino, and about you and Ms. Hoo. Marissa."

"Sure we can" replied Ryan, "first lets grab a bowl of chili and some cold quesadillas. Our dinner never got off the ground and I'm starving."

Ryan and Nate spent the rest of the evening playing, talking and getting to know each other more. Despite the crazy events of the evening, both felt a sense of calm with each other, and for a brief time that evening, they were just two guys hanging out. Both tried to savor the experience that evening as they knew there would be more turmoil to come.