The way things are
Chapter five

by M. F. Luder (mfluder@ec-red.com)

Title: The way things are
Author: M. F. Luder
Pairing: Should be Ryan/Seth in the near future. Hints of Ryan/OC
Rating: PG-13
Category: Angst... lots of it. Romance in a while. Sweetness in a couple of months.*shrugs*
Summary: Ryan finds himself in a compromising situation which puts the Cohen Household in a peculiar position. Ryan's friendship with Seth is also on the line. It can either draw strength from this, or break apart completely.
Warnings: MPREG (male pregnancy). Read at your discretion. 
Author's note: It's unbetad, so all mistakes are mine. 

The month goes by quickly, quicker than Ryan had imagined.

He barely even notices that it's already mid March. He still has morning sickness, and Ryan tells himself it's his third month, that it can probably reach his fourth month, and he'll still have it.

It'd be really funny, if it didn't bug the hell out of him.

He feels slightly normal as he takes a shower and changes, but the minute he reaches the kitchen, his stomach complains.

He's tried to stay in the pool house longer, but he has only gotten sick there a couple of times. He doesn't understand why. Maybe it's the kitchen smell.

There is no more coffee in the kitchen, not unless is decaf. Seth isn't happy, and Ryan hates the fact that not even Seth, or Kirsten and Sandy for that matter, can have coffee. The smell, for Ryan, is awful. It's putrid, and it doesn't help his queasy stomach. And decaf tastes like crap, too.

The bagels aren't on the kitchen island anymore. He's seen Sandy hiding a couple in his briefcase, in a paper bag, and he silently thanks him. Bagels smell horrid as well.

He's gotten over eating breakfast in the past month. He doesn't need it, he doesn't even like the idea of it anymore. No more orange juice and bagel for him. He has a bottle of water and packs of crackers. He always has crackers with him these days. He even takes them to school. He's been admonished about eating in the library numerous times already. He doesn't care, it's the only thing that settles his stomach.

Kirsten had been hinting, subtlety, that he should start drinking milk.

After a week of finding mugs with words plastered over them -- for a cup of milk, got milk?, milk anyone?, hey, I'm milk! -- Ryan gave up, and took on the habit of having a mug on the afternoons, the only time Ryan could have something without feeling like crap.

Seth, too, started hiding food in his backpack, probably to have it as breakfast during class. Ryan finds that very sweet of him.

They don't talk much, only the necessary. Ryan gets that. Seth's still a little bit freaked out. Ryan gets it.

Marissa still tries to go out with him, to ask him to a party, or out to eat.

Ryan has refused every time so far. He always has to study, or help Kristen with something, or go to the library, or study, or visit a friend, or study.

He hopes Marissa takes the hint.

He tilts his head, trying to understand Calculus. Math was never his strong suit.

Ryan shakes his head. He knows he can't do this, he knows he's not good at this. He should get a book from the library.

He'd like to go on his bike; he liked the independence of being able to leave at his own choice, but understands the risks.

He stands up from his bed, books all around him, homework to be done, and walks towards the house. Seth gets a coke from the fridge, and eyes Ryan warily.

Ryan allows himself a smile. "I'm fine Seth."

"You sure?" Seth frowns slightly, looking longingly at his coke. He's become aware of Ryan's mood regarding food as of late. "Coz, I can put it back, if you don't like the smell."

Ryan tilts his head, one eyebrow raised. "Coke smells?"

Seth seems to consider it as well. "Yeah, I think." He opens the can, smelling it before taking a sip. It smells like caffeine, and it's a relief, because he hasn't touched good coffee -- not that junk they sell as coffee at school -- for the past month. He misses his coffee. "Like carbon." He frowns. "It has carbon, doesn't it?"

Ryan shrugs. "Dunno." He walks towards the cupboard, getting one bag of crackers. He pauses. Better two.

"I'm pretty sure it has carbon. I remember my chemistry teacher talking about coke and carbon and some other stuff. I think he said that coke has so much carbon, that it could clean drainpipes. I wonder if that's true."

Ryan chuckles in despite of himself. That's the longest conversation he's had with Seth in a month. "Couldn't tell you."

"I'll have to try. I should try."

He smiles. So very Seth. "Yeah, probably." He picks up the Range Rover's keys that are on top of the corner counter, turning around.

"Where you going?"

Ryan looks at Seth over his shoulder. "To the library."

"Hold on. Let me get my jacket."

Ryan shakes his head. "It's okay. I can go alone."

Seth shakes his head, standing up, coke in hand. "No, just let me get my jacket."

"Seth--"

"Mom said--"

Ryan lets out a long sigh. "I know what she said, Seth. You don't need to go with me. I can take care of myself. I'll tell her you went with me, okay?"

"No, no." He trots towards the stairs. "It's okay. Just let me--"

"You don't have to."

Seth turns around, hand on the banister. "I know. I want to go with you. Just a sec."

Ryan sighs, crossing his arms over his chest.

So Kirsten convinced Seth to go with him, no matter what. Great.

Ryan might have believed that, had it been other times. Lately, Seth didn't want to talk with him.

Probably not.

A minute later, Seth comes down the stairs, jacket in hand. "The keys?"

One eyebrow raises. "Huh?"

Seth extends his right hand. "They keys. I need the keys."

"Why?"

Seth rolls his eyes. "Well, dude, I'm driving."

"No, you're not."

"Yes, I am." He's got that tone, the same tone he uses when he talks about the differences on Marvel and DC, like everyone should know that. "You can't drive."

"Oh, really?" Ryan grins at him, sarcastically. "Why?"

"It's your condition. It's saver if I drive."

Ryan blinks. What the hell? "I can drive."

"I didn't say you couldn't."

Ryan feels like groaning. "You just did!"

Seth shakes his head, brown curls moving from side to side. "Dude, not can't can't. I mean can't can't. Get it?"

"No."

Seth shrugs, taking the keys from Ryan's fingers, lose at his own confusion. "I mean," Seth says, opening the door and walking towards the Range Rover. "You can drive, but you can't drive."

"You just contradicted yourself," Ryan says with a mocking tone.

"No, I didn't. You can drive, you know how; but you can't drive, coz, you're... you know."

Seth waves towards Ryan idly, and Ryan rolls his eyes. So, Seth does have a paranoid tendency, and he's back to not making much sense at all.

Seth opens the driver door with a smile, putting the key in ignition.

He waits for Ryan to enter the car, turning around and looking at Ryan.

"What?"

"Seatbelt."

Ryan shakes his head. "I know."

"Just checking, dude."

Ryan reaches back for the seatbelt, pulling it over his chest. He notices how Seth doesn't start the car until Ryan locks it.

Seth nods, the engine roaring, pulling backwards and out of the driveway.

Ryan smiles inwardly, privately.

Apparently, Seth is paranoid. And rather protective.

Ryan likes this Seth better.

Chapter six
The way things are

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