Rating: PG/PG-13

Disclaimer: Although I wish I could claim that the OC belongs to me, I can't--I own nothing.

Author's Note: Well, here's the new story I promised I'd be posting. It was inspired by the song, "Still Fighting It" by Ben Folds, one of my favorite songs of all time. It's a future fic, Seth and Summer are both around 32 years old and I guess you'll figure out the rest. This story is really music based, so each chapter has a song that goes with it. For the first chapter, it's Love Song by The Cure (or by 311). I've already planned out the next chapter, so you'll be finding out why things that happen in this first chapter are happening. Enjoy and give me some feedback on whether I should continue or not.

Still Fighting It

Chapter 1: However far away, I will always love you…

Seth didn't know when his life got so complicated. Well, actually, he did know--it was the first day he laid eyes on Summer Roberts. Knowing Summer had it's moments, but it was never a fairy tale. It had been a thrill ride, with its ups and downs (plenty of downs) for the last 20 odd years of his life. It was strange to think about their timeline together. Summer had lived most of her young life not even knowing he existed, which could have been seen as a blessing because as soon as she found out who he was, his life had never been the same. Every day was something different, sometimes she hated him, sometimes she loved him. They were together, then they were not. She was his girlfriend, his lover, then she became his wife. But that was all about to change now. With a flourish of the pen, everything could change. His life, as he knew it, would be over.

He looked over the stack of papers in front of him. Did he really want to deal with his divorce papers right now? Not really. But he was heading into severe rage blackout territory if he didn't take care of them soon. If there was one thing Summer was not, it was patient. Especially when it came to him.

His manager, Marc, walked through the glass doors to his office and handed him a piece of paper. "What's this?"

"A list of songs for the concert. I'm going to need you guys to make up a set list and give it back to me, so I can get back to the record company and the venue."

"Alright. I'll call Jimmy and take care of it."

"Good. There's a big buzz about the concert, so try to make it good."

Seth rolled his eyes at his friend, "Since when have we not been good?"

"Whatever, do I have to deflate your ego again? This is a homecoming concert, it's really important that you show enthusiasm for the hometown crowd. The DVD sales will go through the roof. You've never played in Orange County before, so it's a special occasion for fans to see how you are in your native environment."

"Yeah, well Newport was never my 'native' environment, and it doesn't feel that special." He pushed the folder with Summer's papers over the desk. Marc glanced at them quickly, trying to feign some sort of interest.

"Did you have your lawyer look at it?"

"Yeah, he gave me my options. Basically, he told me to do what Summer wants. She's not asking for ridiculous alimony or asking for all the custody. She's pretty much asking for nothing, but to be free. That's what sucks."

"I'm sorry. But take it from me, a man who has been married 4 times, you can get over it by getting back on the dating train, so that the nightmare of love can start all over again."

"That's comforting. Look, I gotta go get ready for tonight."

"Ooh, heading out on a date already?"

"Well, kind of, I'm having dinner with Summer." Marc raised his eyebrows, but Seth ignored it. After having his father's eyebrows stare back at him for many years, he was immune to the powers of eyebrows.

"I thought you were getting a divorce, not courting her again."

"We're talking about the papers. I think she expects me to just hand over the papers, but we'll see."

"Good luck with that."

"Thanks. When it comes to Summer, I always need it."

Marc walked out of the office, leaving Seth to himself and his thoughts. He pushed the papers aside. She could be as mad as she wanted to be, but he wasn't going to deal with this now. She couldn't possibly expect to lose him that easily. Especially not after the events of the last 2 months. Not after the events of their whole lives.

And definitely not after seeing his son for the first time in 7 years.

He was a successful musician now with tons of accolades and fans. He had been around the block a few times in this show business life. If there was something Seth had learned from being in the music business, it was that you had to fight to win--be determined to succeed and not let go. And he was not letting go. There was no way he was letting go of what he had fought so hard to obtain in the first place.