Chapter 11

The music from the party was barely audible. The sound of the waves crashing on the beach seemed to take over the background. Two couples sat quietly staring out at the black ocean.

Brooke couldn't believe that Peyton was trying to mess up another relationship for her. The moment that she had asked the question, Brooke knew that Ryan and Summer hadn't been cheating. Ryan wasn't very verbal, but his eyes could tell her anything she needed to know; all she had to do was look.

"I'm sorry that I questioned you tonight." Brooke rasped softly.

Ryan took her hand in his and ran his thumb over her knuckles. "I'm sorry that your friend hurt you."

Brooke turned her deep brown eyes up and stared into those blue orbs that she was falling for. "We were once best friends, but it seems like she just can't stand for me to be happy anymore. I let her mess up my relationship with Lucas, but I'm not letting you go. I never knew that I could feel like this. I guess what I'm trying to say is that I'm crazy about you Ryan. It's really fast, I know, but I can't help how I feel."

Ryan opened his mouth to reply when Brooke stopped him with the tips of her fingers. "No, don't say anything. I didn't tell you that so that you could just repeat it back at me. I just wanted you to know how I felt."

Ryan reached up and tenderly took those fingers in his hand. He kissed them gently before pulling them down and away from his face. "I don't say things I don't mean." He informed her softly. "If I didn't have feelings for you, then I wouldn't say it. I don't know a lot about love. I thought that I loved Marissa, but I was never enough for her. I do know that you make me happy and I don't want to let that go."

"Then don't." Brooke replied in a whisper before reaching up and pulling his lips to hers in a tender, passionate kiss.

From a short distance away, Lucas and Summer sat watching the other couple. Summer leaned back into Lucas' arms and sighed in contentment. "I'm glad that Ryan has finally found someone who treats him right. Marissa may be my best friend, but she was all about the drama. Ryan's had enough drama for several lifetimes."

Lucas tightened his arms around his girl and settled his chin on top of her head. "I'm just glad that Brooke has someone that she can trust. I really hurt her last year, and she didn't deserve that."

"I like to think that you were waiting for me to get here." Summer smiled, but then her tone turned serious; "but if I ever catch you cheating on me, you'll be wishing your heart would give out."

Lucas pulled away and looked down as Summer turned in his arms. "I promise you that I will always remain faithful. I love you Summer, and I couldn't bear to lose you."

"I love you too." Summer told him as her eyes welled with tears. She felt Lucas' finger under her chin as he tilted her head just so and ever-so-gently brushed his lips against her own.

The sound of a ringing cell phone interrupted the tender moment and Ryan pulled away from Brooke so that he could pull it out of his pocket.

"Hello?"

Brooke watched as an array of emotions flittered across Ryan's face before he broke out in a soft smile. "I'll be glad to see you too Sandy. I'll be there."

Ryan ended the call and looked down at the girl in his arms. "Sandy and Seth are coming out to check on me. They wanted to make sure that I'm registered for classes and settled okay before school starts."

Brooke smiled. "I know that you'll be glad to see them."

Ryan nodded. "Yeah, I miss them." He glanced over where Lucas and Summer were heating up the beach. "I doubt that Summer will be greeting Seth with open arms though."

"Don't worry too much. They have to work it out on their own." Brooke stated. "You can't be responsible for everyone's happiness. They have to find their own way."

Ryan nodded and pulled Brooke back into his arms. "How did you get so smart?"

Brooke shrugged saucily. "I was just born that way."

Ryan chuckled before capturing her chin with his thumb and finger. "Lucky me."

"Oh yes, lucky you." Brooke agreed before words became impossible.

The airport wasn't exactly bustling as Ryan stood waiting for his foster father and brother. His face broke into a smile when he recognized their dark wavy hair coming towards him. There was no hesitation as the older man pulled Ryan into his arms.

"I missed you Kid." Sandy whispered into his foster son's ear.

"I'm sorry for just taking off like that." Ryan replied as he returned the hug.

Sandy pulled back, but kept his hands on Ryan's shoulders. "You didn't go fight Trey. You left and kept yourself safe. I'm so proud of you, Ryan, and I'm so sorry that you felt that you couldn't come to me."

"Kirsten needed you. I understood." Ryan absolved him.

"You needed me. Kirsten is the adult. I am so sorry that I wasn't there for you." Sandy's words were urgent.

"I'm okay Sandy, I promise." Ryan consoled.

"Thanks to Summer." Sandy winced.

"She's a good friend." Ryan agreed. "Please don't blame yourself. This all happened because of Trey."

"Well Trey won't be bothering you for a very long time. He broke his probation and the DA added a few more charges. Trey's going to be serving time for quite a while." Sandy informed him. "I've certainly been dropping the ball a lot lately."

"Don't beat yourself up, Sandy. Maybe I was meant to come here. Newport was always a little too…well Newport. I'm happy in Tree Hill. I feel like everything is a lot less intense." Ryan replied.

"I only ever wanted you to be happy." Sandy smiled.

"I am." Ryan said.

"I'm sorry too." Seth spoke up when it looked like his dad and Ryan had settled their issues. "You warned me about Trey, and I had no business telling you about what he did to Marissa."

"You couldn't know, Seth. You were just trying to be a good friend." Ryan's words were met with a shake of Seth's head.

"No man, I was so busy trying to be the brother of the year that I didn't listen. I was kind of jealous of Trey." Seth argued.

"You are a much better brother than Trey has ever been. You had nothing to feel jealous of, Seth." Ryan stated. "Trey has always been bad news; I was just hoping that he'd changed."

"Thanks man." Seth smiled.

Sandy grinned as the two boys bumped fists. "Seth and I have reservations at the hotel near here. Why don't we get our luggage and check in. Then you can tell us all about Tree Hill, North Carolina." He suggested.

Ryan nodded and the three headed out of the terminal.

"Wait, let me get this straight. You've been talking to Summer this whole time and you didn't tell me?" Seth asked.

Ryan winced. He knew that Seth would eventually get around to demanding an explanation. "Yeah, Summer sent some baby clothes to Teresa when I was in Chino. After she left, I called to check on her and we just kept in touch. I didn't tell you because I knew that it would just upset you."

"Well yeah! She's the love of my life!" Seth exclaimed.

Ryan sighed. He hated to do this to Seth, but the guy needed to know. "Seth, Summer is seeing someone."

Seth gave Ryan a devastated look and slouched back on the couch in the hotel suite. "Have you met him?"

Ryan sighed. "Yeah, he's a good guy. He really loves her a lot."

"How long have they been together?" Seth asked morosely.

"Two months," Ryan answered gently.

Seth ran his hands over his hair and then buried his face in them. "I've lost her haven't I?"

"I'm sorry, Seth." Ryan confirmed.

Seth rubbed his face and when he looked up at his foster brother, his eyes were red. "It's not your fault Ryan. I'm the one who decided to leave her. I have no one to blame but myself. I just have to learn how to live with the fact that I had it perfect for a little while."

"You'll meet someone, Seth – and she'll be even more perfect for you than Summer was." Ryan declared sincerely.

Seth glanced over at his brother and raised an eyebrow. "You sound awfully sure of that."

Ryan stared down at his hands for a moment before nodding. "I thought that Marissa was the most amazing girl in the world."

"There's a lot of past tense in that sentence." Seth pointed out.

"Yeah, that's because I've met someone else." Ryan looked up into Seth's face. "And I found out that Marissa was not even close to the girl for me."

Seth smiled and clapped Ryan on the back. "I'm happy for you man. I take it she's here in Tree Hill?"

Ryan grinned sheepishly. "Yeah, in fact she really wants to meet you guys. I've told her about my life before coming here."

Seth's face was a picture of shock. "Wait, you talked?"

Ryan gave him a quick glare.

"Okay, now I really have to meet this magical girl that can even pull words out of Ryan Atwood." Seth teased.

"What's this? Ryan, you're dating someone?" Sandy asked as he walked back into the room. He had been in his bedroom calling Kirsten. It had not been pleasant.

"Yeah, her name's Brooke." Ryan smiled, thinking about his girlfriend. They had become official after the beach party. "Summer introduced us."

"I thought you loved Marissa." Seth stated.

Ryan sighed. "So did I. Then I met Brooke and realized that while Marissa is beautiful, she isn't the girl for me. I need – I need someone in my life who isn't always caught up in some drama. Brooke doesn't reach for a drink every time something isn't perfect in her life. She's tough, and she doesn't expect me to solve all her problems. I can just be myself around Brooke. She doesn't have any expectations built up in her head."

Sandy smiled at his son. "Then I can't wait to meet her."

Seth shook his head. "Wow, you've only been here a little over a week and you already have this whole new life."

"I'm not forgetting about you, man." Ryan assured his brother, knowing that was Seth's problem. "You guys saved my life. There's no telling where I would be or if I'd even be alive if you hadn't stepped in and made me part of your family. I can't ever thank you enough for that. I'm not saying I'll live here forever or anything, but right now I think I need to be here. You guys need to focus on Kirsten and getting her better. You shouldn't be worrying about my baggage."

"Hey, your baggage is our baggage." Sandy cut in. "You're our family too." He took a deep breath. "Having said that, I don't know that I've seen you this relaxed since I've known you. I can tell that Tree Hill has been good for you, and as long as it continues to be so I'm not going to fight you staying here. However, if you start having problems you are to inform me immediately. I won't necessarily make you leave, but I can't help you if I don't know you need help. Do you understand?"

Ryan smiled shyly. "Yeah, I'm sorry that I just took off without calling you."

"I've already forgiven you. Just make sure that nothing like that ever happens again. You matter to us. We love you, Kid." Sandy declared; staring hard into Ryan's eyes.

"I love you guys too." Ryan replied softly with a nod.

"Good!" Sandy slapped his knees before standing up. "Now I don't know about you guys, but I'm starving. Ryan, show us where we can get a decent meal."

Ryan smiled and pulled out his phone. "I'll do better than that. I'll show you where we can get a great meal and you can meet Brooke at the same time."

"Perfect." Sandy grinned.

Brooke breezed into Karen's Café and glanced around before heading for the counter where Lucas and Summer were waiting on their orders. Summer raised an eyebrow at her new friend's excitement.

"What's got you so happy?" Summer asked.

"Ryan is meeting me here with his foster dad and brother. He wants to introduce me to his family." Brooke explained.

"I don't know that I've ever been that excited to meet a boyfriend's family." Summer replied. "Not that I don't love the Skywalker's." She amended glancing at Karen.

Karen just smiled and nodded.

"If Ryan wants me to meet his family then that means this is more than a fling for him." Brooke grinned.

Summer chuckled. "I could have told you this was more than a fling. In fact I don't know that Ryan even does flings anymore. Trust me he's very interested in more than just a one night stand with you."

Brooke shot the other brunette a grateful look. "Thanks Summer, I sometimes need to hear that."

"No problem," Summer shrugged. She suddenly froze. "Wait, did you say that Mr. C and Cohen were on their way here?"

"Yeah," Brooke answered slowly.

"Damn," Summer muttered.

"Maybe this is a good thing. Seth can see that you're with someone else and maybe he can move on." Lucas suggested.

"I hope so, because they're here." Summer muttered looking out the front window.

Lucas wrapped his arm around her shoulders and kissed her temple. "It'll be fine." He watched curiously as Ryan came in the door followed by a dark-haired teenager and an older man with a smile on his face.

Ryan's eyes lit up when he saw Brooke.

"Hey," He said softly as he gave her a quick kiss and hug. He nodded a greeting to Summer and exchanged handshakes with Lucas before turning back to look at the Cohen's.

"Guys, I want you to meet my family. This is my brother Seth and my dad, Sandy Cohen. Sandy, Seth, this is Lucas Scott and Brooke Davis." Ryan performed the introductions, his eyes softening as they looked down on his new girlfriend.

Sandy took a moment to savor Ryan calling him his dad before looking down on his son's girlfriend. She was an absolutely stunning brunette. He smiled when she approached him with her hand out.

"It's a pleasure to meet you Mr. Cohen." She said softly in a slightly rough voice tinged with a hint of southern drawl.

"The pleasure is mine Miss Davis." Sandy replied.

Brooke chuckled and rolled her sparkling eyes. "Oh, please call me Brooke."

"Only if you call me Sandy," The older man grinned. "I hear that I have you to thank for making Tree Hill so appealing. I always knew that Ryan was brilliant."

Ryan blushed but couldn't help the smile on his face when he saw Brooke's eyes light up. She shot him a look that promised a reward later.

Seth glanced at his brother's extremely hot girlfriend and then his eyes drifted over to his ex and her new boyfriend. He couldn't help but notice how beautiful and happy she looked. The guy she was with was certainly built like an athlete. He remembered Ryan saying that he was a basketball player. He wondered if this guy was a brainless as the water polo players at Harbor.

"Hello Seth, how have you been?" Summer asked. As frustrated as she was with him, Summer didn't want to alienate Ryan's brother.

"I'm doing alright, Newport isn't the same without you." Seth replied softly, longing in his eyes.

"Thank you, but I've been very happy here in Tree Hill." She looked pointedly up at Lucas before turning back to her ex. "Seth I would like you to meet Lucas. Lucas, this is Seth Cohen."

Lucas offered his hand. "Nice to meet you, Seth."

Seth shook the other teen's hand; "You too. I hope you know how special she is." He continued nodding at Summer.

Lucas turned his eyes to meet those dark orbs he had fallen so in love with. "Even Lord Byron would find himself at a loss for words if he had ever been blessed with meeting Summer."

Seth sighed; his hopes that the new boyfriend was a Neanderthal that Seth could out-talk just flew out the window. Ryan had tried to warn him that Lucas was different. He took a deep breath and made a decision.

He looked back down at Summer. "I'm happy for you." He told her sincerely.

Summer smiled and gave Seth a quick hug. "Thank you Seth."

Seth turned his attention back to his brother who was looking at him sympathetically. "You said something about food?"

"I hope you guys aren't too disappointed when you have to go back to eating at those slop houses in Newport." Summer chuckled.

"That good huh?" Sandy grinned.

"It's the best pie you've ever eaten." Summer declared.

"Summer, are you bragging again?" An exasperated voice asked from behind the counter.

"I can't help myself, Mrs. Skywalker, your pie is brag-worthy." Summer replied unrepentantly. "This is Sandy and Seth Cohen. They're Ryan's family. Sandy, Seth, this is Karen Roe – Lucas' mother."

Karen shook her head as she gazed fondly at her son's girlfriend. She looked over at her newest customers. "A pleasure to meet you," she greeted. "Ryan is a delightful young man, I'm so glad that he and Lucas have become friends, and he's been wonderful to Brooke – who I consider the daughter I never had."

Sandy smiled, "Thank you, we're very proud of him." He ignored Ryan's blush. "I can't thank you enough for making him feel so welcome."

"It's been no trouble at all. Now I'm assuming you are all hungry – what would you like?"

….

"Oh dear Jesus and Moses!"

"I couldn't have said it better. Ryan, I will expect regular shipments of pie to Newport."

Summer grinned. "Told ya."

TBC…