Here's Chapter 9 - enjoy all, and thanks to my reviewers
Ryan raced straight over to the Cohen's help., he needed legal and parental advice, and there is only one man in the world that he would trust with it. Ryan let himself in, never needing a key for his old home.
"Hello? Anybody home"
"Ryan?" He could hear Sandy call from his office,
"Yeh its me."
"Il be down in a second, let me just finish this letter, and I will-"
"No need, I'll come to you" Ryan walked through his old home to Sandy's office, to see Sandy concentrating hard something
"Yeh everything's fine, Sometimes I wonder why I'm back at the PD's office, there is always so much work, and it isn't bad botox jobs believe me" Sandy said, taking a break and smiling at his son, while Ryan peered over the table to look at the folder Sandy was writing in.
"A kid, lives in foster care, 13, and has been caught shoplifting 7 times." Sandy said shaking his head, and removing his glasses.
"So what can I do you for?" Ryan looked up and relaxed into the leather chair opposite Sandy and took a deep breath, he needed to get everything that was on his chest off, and telling Seth would result in Seth getting a dead arm and he couldn't exactly tell Sarah or Courtney, and there was one person that would always give him the best advice.
"Ryan are you ok" Sandy asked him again, all lawyer talk was vanished, now his only tone was a concerned parent.
"Well, no." Ryan said hanging his head down, he took another deep breath and prepared to tell his story.
"Is it the company, if the work in the LA group is too much Kirsten can always downsize it. Is it money, because you know that you would even have to ask, and if Ottilie gets too much, well I am always around-"
"No its none of those things, well actually it has a lot to do with Ottilie, but that's besides the point."
"Right, well I can possibly help you if you don't tell me what's wrong, so?"
"Well as you have probably heard, Marissa is back" Ryan said solemnly.
"I had heard, I was going to talk to you about that actually,"
"There's no need, because what I am about to say, covers it all believe me, basically I went to this new club on Friday, and she was there, with her new boyfriend or whatever, and she is doing an exclusive interview with Courtney , anyway when we were at this club, Courtney had mentioned to Marissa and her fiancé that I have a daughter. Because lets face it, Courtney isn't exactly a shy girl when it comes to airing dirty laundry." Ryan deadpanned as Sandy laughed a little.
"Right, then what happened." Sandy urged him to continue
"Well this idiot fiancé was like, 'I bet you have to pay the Mom' and stuff, and I really didn't want to be out, and it was pretty weird seeing her there again, so I basically said that she was dead, which meant she ran off crying to the bathroom, and then I felt bad, but in my defence it had been like she died, and that is what we told Ottilie anyway, well then something happened with Courtney that isn't relevant to this situation, and I was outside, and so was she and we kissed" Ryan could see Sandy's eyes widen in surprise, not expecting him to come out and say it, and it surprised Ryan, he was never very 'sharey' and here he was, baring his soul story to Sandy.
"I realised how much I had missed her Sandy, its like, she had been gone so long, and if things would have been different I would of taken her back in a second. Anyway, I went home, then yesterday morning, I woke up, possibly with a sore head, and came to Newport, well I took Otty out to the diner for breakfast, and she had found a picture of me and Marissa when she was staying with Julie the night before and ad asked me point blanc if that was her Mom, and I told her yes, I thought I couldn't lie anymore to her, so I told her everything, all about how we met, and adapted the story so she would understand, telling her how I always loved Marissa and that we were happy, the thing is, I couldn't sit there and tell her that Marissa had shot my brother or that I had got another girl pregnant, I wanted her to have a perfect picture in her mind, like I always knew my Mom and Dad had gotten together because my Mom was pregnant with Trey, but I wanted her to have a story like Seth and I do, with you and Kirsten meeting in Berkeley and falling in love" Sandy smiled at him appreciatively and let him carry on, never having seen Ryan like this before.
"Well anyway, I didn't know that Marissa was in the booth next to us, and listening to everything we were saying, otherwise I wouldn't of said it, and then later on the beach, Summer accidentally told Ottilie that her Mom lived in New York, so I rang Marissa last night, and it turns out that Marissa had stayed in Newport last night, so I went to see her and now she wants to see Ottilie, and Otty wants to see her, this morning Ottilie was out with Summer when they bumped into Marissa, and Ottilie refused to come home and is now with Summer and Marissa, and what I need to know now is, where I stand, legally. Because, if Marissa did want anything, who would get what?" Ryan looked up at Sandy helplessly, and Sandy could tell how worried he was over the subject. Although Sandy highly doubted the fact that Marissa would want her child back, it hadn't been him that had seen her talk so highly of it last night, where as Ryan thought he should be worried, that he should definitely be worried.
"You don't seriously think that she would want Ottilie back do you?" Sandy asked him incredulously.
"Yeh I do, otherwise I wouldn't be so worried, she seemed pretty determined"
"Well you never actually arranged an agreement before, but however she did leave Ottilie in your care, and never made any contact, that would give you the upper hand. So she would have to conferrer with you before anything happened, also it would be on your terms, if however she chooses to fight you on this well….that could change things a bit."
"What do you mean change things?" Ryan asked quickly
"Well what I mean is….The law on these sorts of things have been, that the child should stay with the Mom, so that would be the only thing favouring her, although you could fight that she was sick before, but she is also in a stable relationship, so that might spite you as well" Sandy looked incredibly guilty telling Ryan all of these things, Ryan took a brooding moment to contemplate the actions before him. Whatever happened Marissa would get what she wanted, but there was no way that he was going to let someone take his daughter away from him, not after everything they had been through.
"Thanks Sandy, look I need to go but I will call you later." Ryan rushed out of his office
"Kid, if you need anything else, I'm here" He heard before he slammed the door, Ryan sat in his car for a good five minutes before starting it up. Upon the radio, he heard a story about Marissa being blared through and decided to turn it over, as if he needed anything else on his mind? His one and only concern right now was that Ottilie could be taken from him, and there was no was he was going to let that happen.
Ottilie held Marissa's hand tightly as she swung it as they walked, they had decided to go to Fashion Island, Ottilie had been the one who suggested shopping, it was her second favourite pass time next to Dancing, and her it was something that Mom's and Daughters did in the movies, and that's all she wanted, a Mom, to do 'Mom-like' things with. She hadn't even been worried the whole day, in her eyes it had been fantastic, they had had ice cream, and shopped, and her Mom even bought her a new Ballet Bag and Juicy Sweat suit, not that she needed anything, but being an only child, you learn never to refuse a gift, and her Mom, she was just the coolest, it did confuse her why so many people were following them and asking her Mom too sign a bit of paper or have their picture done, but she wasn't about to let that bother her, the first time she had met her real Mom in her whole life (that she remembered anyway) she was going to enjoy it.
"So Otty shall we make a move home soon?" Summer asked her, Ottilie had noticed that she had been holding her belly a lot today. 'Maybe she was scared that the baby was going to fall out' Ottilie thought. Ottilie tightened the grip on Marissa hand, not wanting to leave her so soon.
"No" She said stubbornly
"We have hardly done anything, I would like to go to the movies now" Ottilie said smiling at her Auntie Summer, Marissa bent down and picked Ottilie up and placed her on her hip, hugging her close making Ottilie grin.
"Well if you want to go to the movies, then that's where we will go. There's one round the corner isn't there Sum" Marissa cursed herself on her old habit. Summer had been off with her the whole day, mumbling things behind her and Ottilie and ignoring her.
"Summer, and Yeh, but I told Ryan that we would have her back, its already 5:30, we really should be heading home by now, Ryan was going to take her out for dinner" Summer smiled at her niece, hoping to convince her, whilst Ottilie put her 'Atwood' look on her face, and clung closer to Marissa, Summer sighed, it had been quite a day, her ex best friend had come back, and she had a huge craving for waffles with peanut butter and ketchup, and she didn't need Ottilie playing her up as well.
"You don't understand Auntie Sum," Ottilie whined
"What if she doesn't come back again" she whispered more quietly, tears sprung to both Summer and Marissa's eyes , and Marissa bent down to her level.
"O sweetie, please don't talk like that" Marissa hugged her into her chest and looked at Summer for help.
"But….I don't….want…..you to go again.." Ottilie wept, she felt Marissa started to stroke her hair, passers by turned their heads, wondering why Marissa Cooper was consoling a weeping child but that didn't matter.
"I won't go sweetie, I promise" Summer glared at her, how dare she give the girl false hope, Summer felt like jumping in when she spoke again
"Its just that I promised your Dad, that I would take you home," Marissa kissed her forehead and Ottilie moved to see her face.
"How about I drive you back to LA, and then I will walk you straight to your door, and ask your Dad if I can see you again tomorrow? Huh, now please dry those eyes." Marissa lifted her up again and ignored the glares form Summer.
"She doesn't have her chair she needs Marissa, kids can't get in the car without a chair if there under 5 foot", seeing as you're a mother you should know that" Summer hissed at her, exaggerating the 'mother' part. Whilst Marissa carried Ottilie, who staring blankly over Marissa's shoulder.
"Well fine, but I will go buy one now, and Summer, remember who's daughter she really is" Marissa said sending her a glare. She was unsure where the maternal instinct had reappeared from but all she knew was that it was here to stay. Summer raised her eyebrows, not believing what Marissa was saying, go 3 days ago, the woman was a model walking in a show, now she was a determined Mom, slightly unrealistic.
Marissa carried Ottilie who was asleep to the apartment block. It had been a great day in her eyes, although things had been beyond awkward with Summer, and there was no conversation except for directions about how to get to their apartment block. Marissa had tried to make conversation, but every time she did Summer would ignore her, so she thought it would be best just to leave it, she wasn't back for Summer, to start with she wasn't even back for Ottilie, but she wouldn't change anything that had happened so far.
"I can take her from here," Summer whispered as they reached the doors, Ottilie began to stir slightly and Summer stretched out her arms.
"Nooooo" She heard Ottilie grumble and snuggle more into Marissa's shoulder as Summer used her key to get them into the building
"I may as well take her the rest of the way, shouldn't you be going home now?" Marissa asked her, as she followed them into the vestibule.
"Actually I live here" Summer said to her
"What can't be away from my daughter for more than five seconds" Marissa threw back, Summer looked at her in shock.
"No you anorexic skank, its because Seth and I moved to help Ryan, you wouldn't know but, its hard looking after a baby by yourself and going to school and working at a part time job, we moved over here a month after you left, so keep your opinions to yourself" Summer smiled smugly, having shut her up. They both stepped out onto the penthouse floor and Summer let them in using her key.
"Hello, anyone home?" Summer said in the apartment, Marissa took in her surroundings. It was modern and homely, she loved that Ryan could do so well for himself, but when she realised this was probably the place they were planning to move into guilt washed over her again.
"Yeah, I'm here," Ryan jogged from the back room in a wife beater and sweats, Marissa smiled at him, obviously happy to see I'm in such a state of little dress but unfortunately it wasn't reciprocated .
"Here give her to me" Marissa grudgingly gave over their daughter as she stirred more and opened her eyes, straight away she wriggled and cried, trying to get away from Ryan's grip. Marissa had to had to hand it to him, he looked as if he knew what he was doing completely, he looked like an amazing father, ready to handle any situation and not have to hesitate like Marissa did through the day.
"No Daddy" Ottilie complained against him
"No I don't want you" Ottilie moaned, Ryan seemed natural in those situations, he didn't panic at anything he did and didn't hesitate in placing her down and talking to her, never would she had thought that at 23 Ryan Atwood would be a perfectly able Father.
"I'm going to go now" Summer said quietly and headed for the door,
"Hey Summer, thanks" Ryan said appreciatively, although Summer didn't even wait for Marissa to say anything, it would take a lot to repair that relationship.
"Ottilie, go and get ready for bed I will be there to tuck you in in a second" Ryan looked down at her but she didn't go towards her pink painted bedroom, instead she moved over to where Marissa standing, and grabbed her hand. Staring up at her Mother.
"Ottilie, I wont tell you again" Ryan said sternly, Ottilie instead shook her head, and Marissa sensed she would have to intervene.
"Why don't you do as your Dad tells you sweetie?" Marissa said to her softly
"No, I don't want to, I don't want to stay here with Daddy anymore. I want to come with you!!" Ottilie said stubbornly
"Ottilie Atwood, you go to your bedroom this minute" Ryan said to her, trying not to feel heartbroken by his daughter.
"You promise I can see you again tomorrow?" Ottilie asked with teary eyes, looking up to Marissa. Marissa looked sideways at Ryan and he rolled his eyes and laughed ironically
"Sure sweetie" Marissa kissed the temple of her head and Ottilie wandered slowly back to her bedroom sniffling, both of her parents wanted to sweep in and be the hero, but they couldn't spend the rest of their time acting off against one another, it wasn't fair. When she was safely in her bedroom, Ryan turned to Marissa and sighed
"Thanks for that Marissa, now then in the morning, and most likely for the rest of the day I will get the tears, you can't just promise kids things you don't mean, its not fair to them!" Ryan said, sounding fed up.
"I'm not making empty promises Ry, I will come and pick her up again in the morning, I know what my rights are" Marissa said confidentially whilst Ryan laughed sardonically,
"Be that way, take me to court on it, but I wouldn't want to be someone of your name famously having lost a custody battle." Ryan spat venomously
"Ryan what about last night? Did that not mean anything to you?" Marissa asked him, wiping a quick tear that had made its descent down her structured cheek bones. Ryan looked away, when a voice piped up from the room he had appeared out of.
"Is everything ok?" Marissa started wide eyed at the girl from the club on Friday, She was the one saying the odds to Marissa about not being a good enough mother, Marissa looked at the girl was protective of Ryan, wrapped in nothing but a sheet, her hair all tousled.
"Oh my god" Marissa said embarrassedly, it was obvious what had been going on before they arrived hom, he had to pick the one person in the whole world, who made her feel even worse about being a shitty mother to sleep with.
"Yeh, S, this is nearly finished I will be back in a minute" Marissa looked on embarrassed more than anything, even though she was engaged, she kind of hoped that last night between her and Ryan meant something.
"Hi Melissa" Sarah said sarcastically to Marissa, although Marissa, trained in the way of being a bitchy model, made it easy to look un-phased by someone who was obviously trying so hard to piss you off.
"I will be waiting for you Ry" She turned around and left Marissa and Ryan in silence once again.
"As I said, I will come and pick her up tomorrow morning." Marissa said blankly, and she thought Ryan looked slightly apologetic.
"It won't be as easy as that Marissa" Ryan said angry
"I see no problem, she loved being around me today, and I think her opinions count for something, don't you?" Marissa questioned him,
"If that's the way its going to be between us, you can't let her compare us between each other Marissa, you just can't"
"Ryan you can take me to court, I don't care,. I will fight my case, she's my daughter, and I am going to get what is deserved Ryan, you cant have me around when it suits you, I have only just got her back, and don't you think for a second that I will let her go again" With one last angst covered look, she headed for the exit and slammed the door, leaving Ryan speechless and saddened. Was he about to lose his daughter to the love of his life. He walked to his daughters room, to see her all curled up in her bed, sniffling loudly, facing away from him. He tentatively walked over to her and placed a hand on her shoulder, and bent to kiss her forehead, hoping to subside some of her tears.
"Hey Baby, please stop crying" Ryan asked her, stroking her cheek, trying to calm her.
"Leave me alone," Ottilie said stubbornly,
"Ottilie, I don't think that is anyway to speak to Daddy is it?"
"I don't care, I hate you, You kept Mommy from me, and now she has to go away, its all your fault!!" Ryan stood there dumbstruck, feeling like he had let his daughter down royally. He didn't know what to say, without getting upset with her, so instead he turned off light, and once again kissed her forehead, that had been their routine for years, and just because Marissa was back, didn't mean Ryan was going to let her mess up the routine, mess up their lives they had together, take away the one thing that meant the absolute world to him, she couldn't, he wouldn't let her.
Hope you liked the little twist ;)
Let me know, Thanks xoxo