Better Next Year (2/4)
2004
Title: Better Next Year
Fandom: The O.C.
Characters:, Ryan, Cohens+1
Spoilers: up through 4.7 The Chrismukk-huh?
Rating: PG
Disclaimer: I own nothing related to The O.C.. No profit taken.
Description: Four scenes with Ryan, one for each of the four Chrismukkahs he has spent with the Cohens.
Beta: fredsmith518
(Click on the "better next year" tag to see all chapters.)
2004: The Chrismukkah That Almost Wasn’t
Ryan’s second Chrismukkah was pretty good. Well, at least for him it was. Unfortunately, it was pretty traumatic for Lindsay, and Kirsten, and really the whole Cohen/Nichol family, with the revelation of Lindsay being Caleb’s illegitimate daughter.
That Christmas night, Ryan was exhausted. After the big reveal in the kitchen in front of everyone, then going to see Lindsay, then running around following Summer’s orders to try and save Chrismukkah, he just wanted to fall into bed and not get up until New Year’s. Fortunately, Hanukkah was over already (having started early in the month) so he didn’t have to worry about that. Unfortunately, just as he was getting ready for bed, there was a knock on the pool house door.
It was Kirsten. She came in and sat daintily on the chair at the foot of the bed. “Um, how are you doing, Ryan? Everything okay?”
Ryan couldn’t believe she was asking him how he was doing. She was the one who just had gone through a traumatic event. He came over and sat down at the foot of the bed across from her.
“I’m okay. How are you doing? I know today’s been kind of intense.”
Kirsten gave him a wan smile. “Well, I’ve been better, as maybe you could guess. But we’ll get through this.”
Ryan nodded. He knew she would. She was one strong lady.
Kirsten continued, “I just wanted to thank you for everything you did today. For getting me out of the closet.” She looked down, a little embarrassed. “I’m sorry you had to see me like that.”
Ryan gave her a reassuring look. “Don’t worry about it.”
She looked back up at him and said with determination, “Actually, Lindsay’s the one I’m most worried about. This has to be really traumatic for her. But I’m glad that she has you as a friend to help her through it. We’ll work together to make sure she’s okay. Right?” She gave Ryan an encouraging smile.
Ryan smiled back and nodded, “Right.”
Ryan couldn’t help but think that there was no way now that he could tell Kirsten that he and Lindsay were dating. If indeed they still were. Last he heard, Lindsay didn’t want to see him any more, although that was before the big “welcome to the family” party on her front steps, so who knew. He figured he should at least give her some time to digest everything before broaching the subject. Maybe she’d still want a relationship. And it was quite ironic, really, that he hadn’t even wanted to invite Lindsay in the first place, thinking that it was too soon in their relationship to have her over for the holidays. If only he had listened to his inner voice on that one.
Ryan was brought out of his thoughts by Kirsten standing up. He quickly followed suit.
“Well, I’ll leave you alone to get to bed. I’ll bet you’re happy to have Chrismukkah over with for this year, huh? But just think, it’s got to be better next year. I mean, it can’t be any worse.” She leaned over and hugged him. “Merry Christmas, Ryan.”
He hugged her back. “Thanks, Kirsten. You, too.”
After a little smile and a nod, Kirsten headed back to the house.
Once she was gone, Ryan fell back onto the bed and stared at the ceiling. Kirsten saying that Christmas couldn’t get any worse brought to mind all of the much worse ones that he’d had with his family growing up. At least here with the Cohens, nobody got their ass kicked. (Well, except for Caleb who got bitch-slapped by both Kirsten and Julie. Those women sure could pack a wallop.) A bright spot with all the drama this year was that, up until now anyway, it hadn’t given him any time to dwell on Christmases past.
And there was a chance that Kirsten was right. Maybe next year would be better. Ryan figured he’d just have to wait and see.
Title: Better Next Year
Fandom: The O.C.
Characters:, Ryan, Cohens+1
Spoilers: up through 4.7 The Chrismukk-huh?
Rating: PG
Disclaimer: I own nothing related to The O.C.. No profit taken.
Description: Four scenes with Ryan, one for each of the four Chrismukkahs he has spent with the Cohens.
Beta: fredsmith518
(Click on the "better next year" tag to see all chapters.)
2004: The Chrismukkah That Almost Wasn’t
Ryan’s second Chrismukkah was pretty good. Well, at least for him it was. Unfortunately, it was pretty traumatic for Lindsay, and Kirsten, and really the whole Cohen/Nichol family, with the revelation of Lindsay being Caleb’s illegitimate daughter.
That Christmas night, Ryan was exhausted. After the big reveal in the kitchen in front of everyone, then going to see Lindsay, then running around following Summer’s orders to try and save Chrismukkah, he just wanted to fall into bed and not get up until New Year’s. Fortunately, Hanukkah was over already (having started early in the month) so he didn’t have to worry about that. Unfortunately, just as he was getting ready for bed, there was a knock on the pool house door.
It was Kirsten. She came in and sat daintily on the chair at the foot of the bed. “Um, how are you doing, Ryan? Everything okay?”
Ryan couldn’t believe she was asking him how he was doing. She was the one who just had gone through a traumatic event. He came over and sat down at the foot of the bed across from her.
“I’m okay. How are you doing? I know today’s been kind of intense.”
Kirsten gave him a wan smile. “Well, I’ve been better, as maybe you could guess. But we’ll get through this.”
Ryan nodded. He knew she would. She was one strong lady.
Kirsten continued, “I just wanted to thank you for everything you did today. For getting me out of the closet.” She looked down, a little embarrassed. “I’m sorry you had to see me like that.”
Ryan gave her a reassuring look. “Don’t worry about it.”
She looked back up at him and said with determination, “Actually, Lindsay’s the one I’m most worried about. This has to be really traumatic for her. But I’m glad that she has you as a friend to help her through it. We’ll work together to make sure she’s okay. Right?” She gave Ryan an encouraging smile.
Ryan smiled back and nodded, “Right.”
Ryan couldn’t help but think that there was no way now that he could tell Kirsten that he and Lindsay were dating. If indeed they still were. Last he heard, Lindsay didn’t want to see him any more, although that was before the big “welcome to the family” party on her front steps, so who knew. He figured he should at least give her some time to digest everything before broaching the subject. Maybe she’d still want a relationship. And it was quite ironic, really, that he hadn’t even wanted to invite Lindsay in the first place, thinking that it was too soon in their relationship to have her over for the holidays. If only he had listened to his inner voice on that one.
Ryan was brought out of his thoughts by Kirsten standing up. He quickly followed suit.
“Well, I’ll leave you alone to get to bed. I’ll bet you’re happy to have Chrismukkah over with for this year, huh? But just think, it’s got to be better next year. I mean, it can’t be any worse.” She leaned over and hugged him. “Merry Christmas, Ryan.”
He hugged her back. “Thanks, Kirsten. You, too.”
After a little smile and a nod, Kirsten headed back to the house.
Once she was gone, Ryan fell back onto the bed and stared at the ceiling. Kirsten saying that Christmas couldn’t get any worse brought to mind all of the much worse ones that he’d had with his family growing up. At least here with the Cohens, nobody got their ass kicked. (Well, except for Caleb who got bitch-slapped by both Kirsten and Julie. Those women sure could pack a wallop.) A bright spot with all the drama this year was that, up until now anyway, it hadn’t given him any time to dwell on Christmases past.
And there was a chance that Kirsten was right. Maybe next year would be better. Ryan figured he’d just have to wait and see.