Seth Macfarlane had everything he wanted in his life. A great job, wonderful friends, a good social life and an overall comfortable lifestyle; but everyone he knew and even people who didn't know him, could tell something was missing in his life. Seth had never admitted it to himself but he knew he had a gap aching for something in his heart. He had watched his friends and family fall in love and marry, and he had just gone from unsuccessful relationship to unsuccessful relationship. At 38 years old he had become sceptical that "the one" existed, and was actually beginning to worry that his time had passed for love. Or even if he could slow his work down and find time for a relationship.

But Seth barely had time to think about relationships when it came down to it. Instead, he would go about his everyday life repressing these thoughts and would carry on doing what he did best – being a career man. The one thing you need to know about high powered career men though, it that they too needed a rest. And Seth definitely needed a rest. The days that he most wanted to stay at home were always the days when he was called to the Fox Headquarters for meeting with the founders, and he feared this meeting would be no exception.

As he always did, he took the elevator up to the top floor trying to avoid awkward eye contact with the people who worked there. Occasionally he would have the elevator to himself, but today it was crammed with people. Luckily, his iPod was providing a distraction from the people who kept whispering near him. The meeting was as typical as it always was with the bosses telling him what he could and couldn't broadcast for an hour. On the way out he was less that excited about going back to the 'Family Guy' studio and was just looking forward to getting home and just chilling out. He stepped out into the reception where the sun stung his eyes through the glass windows and all of a sudden he saw a girl he thought he remembered.

Seth nearly ran out of the building, determined to catch up with this woman, and started calling 'Maddie….Maddie' after her. She still didn't turn around so he sped up and grabbed her shoulder. The woman gasped as he realised this wasn't Maddie.

'I'm sorry. You look like someone I used to know' he said.

'It's ok. Us ginger women tend to look the same' she half laughed, half sighed.

The woman walked away, but Seth stayed rooted to the ground, watching her go. All the memories of Maddie came flooding back to him. His high school love who he hadn't seen for 14 years had entered his mind and for the first time since their break up, he couldn't stop thinking about her. He thought of her all the way back to the studio and by the time he got back to his office; he was struggling to concentrate on his work.

As he sat there, trying to keep his mind on work, he began to remember Maddie and the course of their 5 year relationship. Their feelings started when they were in their senior year at high school. They had both been given the parts of Tony and Maria in West Side Story, and had to kiss briefly on stage for their audience. Their first real kiss was at the after party. When their shows were over, their relationship had just started. Seth also remembered how supportive they had been for each other and the excitement they felt knowing that even though they would be going to different states to study, they would still be close to each other. Seth thought of how he submitted his application to the Rhode Island School of Design and hers to the Juilliard Theatre School in New York and how they planned to see each other at least once a month. And how it worked for them.

But, what Seth remembered the most was the day he told her about his job offer in LA and how he was going to move there. Even though neither knew it, or could admit it, at the time, this would be the beginning of the end. Seth had gone over their break up what seemed like thousands of times in his head and every time, he had convinced himself that it was for the best. Once again he thought of that final conversation. He saw it so clearly, it could have happened only a few days ago for all he knew.

'Seth, I came to LA because we need to talk about a few things. Now are you going to put down that pencil for just a few minutes?'

'I have just got the green light for my own animated TV series on a national network, I can't just stop.'

'Yeah I get that Seth, but I took a flight from New York to talk to you now so please will you stop drawing and talk to me.'

Seth did what she asked and then looked at her. At first with annoyance, but when he saw her tears, it turned to concern. She began biting her thumb nail. She always did that when she was nervous.

'I'm sorry, but Maddie, this is a huge chance for me.'

'I know it is and' she paused 'oh God, I can't believe I'm about to say this. She sighed deeply and put a hand on her forehead. 'We can't go on like this anymore. We're living on other sides of the country so there is no way this can work for us anymore.'

'Then move here with me!' he cried desperately 'there are theatres here. You can be a star in LA, New York isn't your only option, and then we'll still be together.'

'No! I'm going to be on Broadway, Seth, I've have a job out in New York now so we can't make this work. We moved out of Connecticut to find our homes. It's not our fault we've found them hundreds and hundreds of miles apart.'

Maddie couldn't fight the tears anymore. Seth wiped them away for her as his started. 'Please don't leave, Maddie. I love you.'

'I love you too. But we can't stay together anymore. It's too painful.'

'I can't believe this is how we're ending 5 years.'

Maddie and Seth kissed one last time and embraced each other. She didn't even care that mascara was running from her face to his shirt. 'You're going to be amazing at this Seth. The show is going to be the making of you and your life.'

'Tell me that at our high school reunion 20 years from now.'

Maddie turned to walk out of the door but as she did, she turned to him again. 'I love you.'

'You already said that Maddie.'

'I know. I'm just making sure you heard.' She turned again and shot out of the door before Seth had the chance to say he loved her again. The last thing Seth saw was her long ginger hair sweeping after her. He sat back at his desk motionless, just letting her go, even though he could have run after her to stop her getting on the plane to New York. Instead he let out a sigh, lit a cigarette and reached for a glass of whisky. He promised himself right then, he would not let this opportunity slip through his fingers. Now Maddie had left, he had to make Family Guy a success. He then got back to work. He hadn't stopped for 14 years.

Snapping back from his daydream about his break up with Maddie, he was greeted by his sister Rachael who came bouncing in his office.

'Hey there older brother! So, I just finished recording "bartender", "woman 1" and "old lady" for Family Guy, so just thought I would say bye before I head home.'

'Ok Rach. See you tomorrow.'

'You ok? You look distracted.'

'Fine. Just thinking.'

'Must be serious' she said taking a seat opposite her brother. 'What's up?'

Seth sighed and lent back in his chair 'ok, today I was leaving the meeting and I saw a woman with ginger hair, and for a minute I thought it might be Maddie.'

'Oh my God! Was it her?'

'No, it wasn't. But for the first time in a while I thought about her and, this might sound crazy, but I felt like I missed her like I did when she left all those years ago.'

Rachael looked at her brother. 'So are you going to look for her?'

'I don't know. I want too, but she's probably moved on with someone and to be honest I don't think I could handle it. I mean she was my first love after all.'

'Yes, but face it, she's also the only woman you've ever really loved. Besides, she might not have moved on and you two could be happy together!' Seth shuffled in his seat a little but continued to listen to his sister. 'Come on Seth, how often does this happen to you?'

Seth thought about it for a few seconds before sighing. 'You're right. Of course you're right.'

'Tell you what, I used to know her friend Sean, remember him? The gay one?' Seth nodded. 'Well they were inseparable so I bet if anyone knows where she is, what she's doing etc. it will be him. Hell, he used to be closer to her than her twin for crying out loud!'

'So, is that a "my little sister is going to help me" speech?'

'Uh yeah' Rachael nodded enthusiastically with a cheeky grin.

'Ok' he hugged his sister 'but do it quick. I don't want this prolonged. If it gets fucked up I want the humiliation over with as quickly as possible!'

Rachael raised an eyebrow 'Do my ear deceive me? The confident and fearless joker Seth Macfarlane scared of humiliation? Now I've seen it all!'

As his sister left the room, he thought to himself that maybe he could have it all in the end. But, despite him laughing off Rachael's comment, he really was scared that he'd find Maddie happy.