I'm sorry it's a short one, it's been a while since I wrote fanfiction. Be kind. :-)

For Patty.

The Third Wheel

The Golden Girls marathon played in the background as Kirsten started to tidy up the mess left over from the evening's entertainment. Sandy had already called her on his way home from the police station. She had been relieved to hear that Ryan was safe although her mind was busy with questions, in particular when it came to Oliver. As much as she trusted Seth and Ryan – to the extent that any mother could trust her 16-year-old sons – Kirsten was worried about this boy's influence. Rock concerts, drugs… Sandy had teased her earlier when she had voiced her concerns, although he had allowed himself to be badgered into speaking to Seth about drugs before he left for the evening. She wasn't happy that she had been proved right.

Besides, it was a mother's prerogative to worry about her children. Kirsten had learnt quickly that Ryan had a habit of getting involved in trouble, something that she was not used to with Seth.

It was, however, something she was used to when it came to Hailey, Kirsten thought as she reached out to collect the scattered Connect 4 pieces that were still on the floor following Hailey's earlier tantrum.

She sighed inwardly, wondering what she was going to do about her younger sister. They had never been close as sisters growing up, except for those few months when their mother had been ill, but Kirsten had always thought that somewhere down the line they would discover that sisterly bond that other people always talked about. Every now and again Kirsten would feel like they were starting to connect but, as Sandy pointed out, this was usually during a shopping trip when Hailey would keep Kirsten's credit card busy. It was never long before another argument broke out between them.

Like tonight. Even a simple evening of games could not be enjoyed without a few spiteful words from Hailey. Kirsten wished that Hailey's comments had not upset her the way they did and she pondered as to why. It felt like she had spent a lot of time in the last year explaining her decision to stay in Newport and work for her father. Just a few months earlier at her father's birthday, she and Sandy had had the same conversation. Kirsten was tired of justifying herself. Was life really that bad here in Newport? She knew that Sandy didn't care for the shallow lifestyle that the Newpsies enjoyed and she knew that Seth had struggled to fit in at school, but things were starting to change and they were happy, weren't they?

The truth was, Kirsten didn't like to think about what life might have been like if they had gone back to Berkeley after her mother's death. Maybe she would have opened that art gallery she used to dream about; maybe she and Sandy would have had more children; maybe – and this was the 'maybe' that Kirsten didn't like to think about – maybe they would have been happier.

But, back in Berkeley there would be no Ryan, she countered in her mind. It was one of many excuses that Kirsten had collected.

Kirsten heard the front door open as Sandy and Ryan arrived home, and she was grateful for the distraction from her thoughts before she too became discontent with her life. She threw the remainder of the Connect 4 pieces into the box and tidied it away with the other games.

"Are you ok?" Kirsten asked Ryan before he or Sandy had chance to speak.

Ryan nodded. "Yeah. I was just in the wrong place at the wrong time. Oliver was the one they were after."

She looked between Sandy and Ryan. "What happened at the police station?"

"Nothing. I managed to persuade them to let Oliver go," Sandy said.

"Is that a good thing or a bad thing?" Kirsten questioned out loud. Sandy shrugged as he sat down onto the sofa, while Ryan dropped his head, unsure how to answer.

"Where's Seth?" Kirsten asked, changing the subject.

"I called him from the car, he's on his way home with the girls," Sandy answered.

Kirsten nodded, satisfied that he would soon be home safe. She turned her attention back to Ryan. "Do you want anything? Something to eat or drink?"

"No, thanks. I think I'm just gonna wait for Seth in the pool house," Ryan said, gesturing towards the back door. "Thanks guys. And I'm sorry, you know, for ruining your evening."

Sandy grunted. Kirsten glared at him as she dismissed Ryan's apology. "You didn't ruin anything."

She watched as he walked out the door towards the pool house.

"Is everything really ok?" Kirsten asked once Ryan was out of earshot.

Sandy nodded. "It is for Ryan."

"And the other boy?" Kirsten questioned. "Oliver?"

Sandy shrugged again. "He's living in a hotel room on his own while his parents are out of town for the month. It's going to take more than keeping me out of trouble with the police to make things ok for him."

"I don't like the idea of the boys spending time with him," Kirsten said, sitting down next to Sandy on the sofa.

"I know, me neither," Sandy agreed. "But I don't think encouraging the boys to walk away from this kid is going to be good for him. If anything, he needs friends around him."

"He needs his parents around him," Kirsten commented. "And I don't want him getting our kids in trouble."

"Do you really want to get involved with this kid?" Sandy challenged. "Look, I understand why you're worried, but I trust our boys. I mean, Ryan knew to call us tonight, didn't he? I don't think Oliver means any harm, I think he's just a very lonely kid. We'll keep an eye on him."

"Ok," Kirsten agreed.

"Ok?"

Kirsten nodded. She may not trust Oliver, but she trusted her husband. She lifted his arm and curled up against his body, resting her head on his chest.

"Alone at last, huh?" she mumbled.

"Hmm. Any sign of Hailey?" Sandy asked.

"Nope," Kirsten sighed. "I think I'm gonna save that conversation until tomorrow."

"I meant what I said. Something's gotta change if she's going to stay here," Sandy said.

"Sandy…"

"I'm serious."

Kirsten moved away from him, running her fingers through her hair. "Look, I know this evening didn't go the way we planned…"

"Yeah, spending the evening listening to my wife reminisce with her ex-boyfriend wasn't exactly what I was hoping for when I wanted some time alone with you," Sandy muttered.

"Hey! I didn't want this either."

Sandy looked away, annoyed; not at Kirsten, but at the way the evening had gone. These were not the 'moments' he had wished for.

"I thought we'd got past all this?" Kirsten said pointedly. "Jimmy's a part of my past; he always will be. But don't the last twenty years we've spent together prove anything to you?"

Sandy grumbled, knowing he was defeated by her arguments. Kirsten nudged him, feigning annoyance. Sandy grabbed her, pulling her in for a kiss. Kirsten relented and smiled through the kiss.

"The evening's not over, you know," she grinned. "Have you got time for a few more moments?"