True Love Waits

Author's Note: Here's the first chapter of this story. This is how I plan the story to be: In the beginning, a moment from the present is tied together with a moment from the past. Each chapter will include at least one flashback, probably more, and they will in chronological order tell what happened during the college years. The present story line will probably be a little less significant, but it will be about the year leading up to their wedding. (If it doesn't make sense to you guys now, just read the first chapter, and you'll soon figure out what I mean).

The flashback in this chapter is kinda cheating since it's an exact replica of one of the scenes in the finale, but all the other flashbacks will be moments from Summer's or Seth's life during the five years from when she left for GEORGE up on till their wedding, and it will be everything from fluffy parts, dramatic parts, angst parts- basically: the ups and downs of their relationship.

I hope you guys like this chapter, and that you'll continue reading this story. If you want it to, and review, this story definitely has potential to be rather long since it's quite a few years to cover (no less than five, and there could probably be 25 chapters or more). Please tell me what you think!

Chapter 1: Wait For You

Sometimes, Summer Roberts would think to herself, it was difficult to remember how they had ended up where they were today. Just ten years ago, Summer hadn't even known Seth's name, and he had been a sarcastic and lonely emo-geek, while she had been Ms. Popularity- the shallow rich girl who wore designer clothes from top to toe. At 15, this was not how she would've pictured her life. What that Summer had wanted for the future was to get married to a rich and hot guy, have a big fancy wedding, to always be wearing couture, and possibly have her own fashion line- if she had to work at all, that is.

Yet, here she was at 25, and she was nowhere close to being the person her 15-year old self had expected her to be, but the Summer Roberts that was today, was a Summer Roberts she was very proud of. As the active environmentalist she was, she had spent a year at GEORGE and then gone off to Brown to read environmental law, and now she was really making a name of herself in the business. People would listen to her, they valued her opinion, they thought she was smart- and she loved that she was making a difference. She was also about to become Mrs. Seth Cohen in less than a year, something she would never have thought ten years ago.

At 15, after first just considering him the biggest dork ever, she had somehow started talking to Seth, and in the beginning they had had a love/hate kind of relationship, where he loved her and she disliked his geek ness. But ultimately his charm had gotten to her and she had fallen in love with him, and she hadn't stopped loving him since. They had definitely gone through a lot and they hadn't always been together, but the time they had spent apart had only made their love stronger, and when Seth had finally proposed (again), she had said yes without any hesitation.

"When are you going to be home today?" Seth asked when he was making breakfast for Summer and himself. It was, as most days, bagels and cream cheese with coffee, a habit that had stuck with him since he had moved away from home. Sometimes, he would think that he would get bored from eating bagels all the time, and he would occasionally try a new cereal brand, but he would always return to the bagels, and it was now part of his everyday routine. They definitely had their routines, but it didn't bother them because they really needed them. One of Seth's however was asking Summer when she'd get home.

Summer was constantly fighting for animal and environmental rights for a well-known organization, and her primary job was to try persuade people and politicians how important the issue really was. She was always working overtime and the pay wasn't too good, but she loved what she did and was so passionate about it. All while Seth was working really hard at a local movie magazine, and he was on the verge of receiving the chief-editor position. Since the current editor was starting his own paper in just a few months the position was open, and Seth was said to be the number one speculation of interest to take over the post. They were both so busy with their jobs that they barely had time for each other, but they were always trying to spend every available second together.

"Um, not so late today, I just have a couple of meetings, and then the protest with GEORGE at four, so I'll probably be home around seven", Summer answered.

"Okay. Then I'll wait for you to get home until I eat", Seth nodded.

I'll wait for you…The words repeated in her head, reminding her of the day she had left for GEORGE. It had been one of the saddest days in her life, but it had also been one of the most incredible. Traveling across the country to see it all, and being away from her family, her friends, and most of all, Seth, had been the most difficult things she'd ever done. Still, she had no regrets. That journey had turned out to be a journey of self-discovery and had turned her into the person she was today. Being away from home for so long, Summer had to learned what it was like to really be independent, to get along with people even if you didn't always necessarily want the same things. During that year away, she had blossomed, and she had returned a woman.

She would never forget the day that she left, and the pain was instant as she remembered how difficult it had been to leave Seth.

The past…

It was a day of sorrow, and sadness had defiantly surrounded them as a thick mist when they had drove together in the car to the bus stop where Summer's bus from GEORGE was about to leave. The car trip had been quiet, because none of them had really known what to say. Taylor had tried to strike up some small talk for a while, but since nobody was paying that much attention to what she had to say, she had soon fell silent and she had allowed everyone to get wrapped up in their own thoughts.

For Summer, it was one of the saddest and happiest days of her life. While a big part of her was heartbroken about leaving her home, and most of all, Seth, she also felt excited. She had wanted to work with GEORGE for a long time, ever since they'd come to see her for the first time, and now it was finally about to happen. This was her destiny. Not only had the psychic lady told her, but she felt it too as the car drove up to the sight and as she saw the bus waiting for her there. It seemed the bus was already filling up, and she felt a rush of excitement as she realized that she was about to be on it in just a matter of minutes.

They all stepped out of the car and stood just a few feet away from the bus as they said their good-byes, so that the driver wouldn't leave without Summer. This was it. This was the final time she would see any of them this entire year.

"All right, Roberts", Ryan finally said. Summer gave a little laugh at hearing him call her Roberts, and they gave each other a warm, friendly hug. "I'll see you." Ryan said as they departed. Ryan knew that this was something that Summer needed to do and he supported her all the way, but he also knew that he would really miss her. Summer had really turned into a great friend over the past years, and in some ways, she was the only person who could comprehend what he'd gone through after losing Marissa.

"All right, Atwood", Summer said, imitating the way he'd said her name, and she suddenly realized how much she was going to miss him. GEORGE had already warned her that her year with them would be super busy. She wouldn't have many days off at all, she was expected to work at all the holidays and all through next summer, and they barely even had time to make phone calls depending on where they were in the country. She wouldn't have almost any time to see her family or friends. It was going to be a rough year, and maybe very lonely, but she was prepared for it. This was what she wanted for herself, and she wouldn't have it any other way.

"And thank you very much for Flapjacks", Ryan continued and brought out the tiny little bunny from his hood pocket.

"Aaaaw", Summer said at the sight of the white and black little thing. It was crazy how much she was going to miss her own little bunny, Pancakes. But she couldn't bring it with her on the bus, and since Seth wasn't allowed to have pets in his dorm, she had left the rabbit and her kids with Sandy and Kirsten for now, and they had promised to take good care of all of them. Julie and Kaitlin had also brought two of the baby bunnies back to their home in Newport, feeling it could be good to have animals around when Julie's son got a little older, and since Kaitlin had desperately wanted to lay hands on one of black, fluffy ones.

"I promise I'll raise him right", Ryan said. He had never had a pet before, but Summer had left him good instructions as the sweet crack mother she was.

"Don't forgot to clean his cage", Summer reminded him one last time as she patted the cute little thing, and added just to act on the side of caution: "Which should not be used for cage fights."

"Got it", Ryan nodded.

"Oh my gosh! I'm gonna miss you so much!" Taylor exclaimed all of a sudden and embraced Summer.

"Aww" Summer said as they hugged. It sometimes amazed her how close they'd gotten this past year, but they really had. And hugging her good-bye, Summer knew that she was going to miss all of Taylor's crazy quirks and their talks more than she had realized at first. She had really became a great friend. As they pulled apart, Sum declared: "Well, you can follow up with my political efforts on my blog."

"And you can follow my personal efforts on mine", Taylor replied smiling.

"Eew", Summer joked, giving the entire gang a final memory of the now classic Summer-word. Summer smiled slightly, thinking it was probably for best anyways not to know exactly what Taylor meant, but the girls both laughed a little at this and then hugged again.

"You're the best", Taylor said. "You're the only girlfriend I've ever had. I'll miss you."

"You too", Summer agreed, and she meant it with all her heart. Taylor had become a friend for life, and the girls had vowed to stay in touch. Since Taylor was leaving for France in just a matter of hours, the regular communication would be pretty bad, but they had their blogs, e-mail and postcards, and they had promised to see each other as often as they could.

"All right", Ryan said finally. It was time to let Summer and Seth say their good-byes now. "We'll be in the car." And with those words, Ryan and Taylor walked off to the car, Taylor blowing them one last kiss before she left.

Summer and Seth grasped hands turning to the bus, and both of them sighed barely hearable. They both knew it was coming, and neither of them was quite ready for it. Seth knew he was doing the right thing in letting her go. He remembered all too well what living together after the earthquake had done to their relationship, and Summer didn't deserve that. She needed this. She needed to live this life and do these things or she would be miserable, and therefore he had insisted that she had to go. GEORGE was her destiny too, and he knew that letting her do this was the right thing for both of them. Still, it didn't make it any less difficult.

"I don't know…", Seth sighed suddenly. "Some of these GEORGE guys, they look so…idealistic."

They had let go of each other's hands now, and Summer turned to face him and gave him a reassuring smile. "You've got nothing to worry about." She had met a lot of the guys form GEORGE, and apparently saving animals and nature meant having no time for personal hygiene. She also knew that no matter how hot the guys would've been, there was no one that would ever be able to take Seth's place, she would always love him. No matter what would happen to them during this time, they would find a way back to each other. They always did, because they were meant to be. To assure him of this, she said with a comforting smile: "Just remember, this isn't good-bye. You're my destiny, Cohen."

Seth knew this too. He had known all along, ever since he was ten years old, that this was the girl of his dreams. Now more reassured, he smiled at her. "Go save the world, Summer Roberts," he said, utterly convinced that it was what she was going to do.

Summer nodded and smiled. That's what she hoped to so. Moving closer again, they both leaned in and kissed immensely softly, their lips barely touching each other. They didn't need more than that, because it was a kiss that spoke so much more than words. Their love was much deeper than anything they could've said and no public displays of affection were necessary to prove their love, they had a deeper connection than that. They were each others' soul mate, and no one, not even the people that didn't know them, would ever be able to doubt their immense love after seeing that kiss.

As they departed they just stood and watched each other for a little while. Seth smiled bravely at her, and Summer turned around towards the bus, knowing it was more than time to get on it. Turning around one final time to face him, to remind him of the promise they had since long made, she said: "See you in '08 after the New Hampshire primary."

"Just go," he replied, emphasizing the 'go' part. Not having her leave was making letting he go that much harder, and he had never been a fan of long and painful good-byes anyways.

Summer got ready to get on the bus, but hesitated at the door. Should she give Seth one last kiss and one last hug? Or should she just leave? She dithered at the door for a few seconds, not being able to make a decision, but then she said: "I'm gonna go."

Seth just smiled at this and watched her get on the bus as the driver was finally able to close the door behind her. She walked in the half-empty bus, knowing that there were a lot of people to pick up along the way. She recognized a few faces at the seats, but most were unfamiliar and she could only hope that they were friendly. She would be with them for a whole year after all.

Grabbing a window seat, she placed her bag next to her and looked out the window to see Seth, and she gave him a sad little smile. She hated to leave him, but she knew she had no choice. This was it. This was their good-bye, and even if it wasn't forever, it was perhaps the hardest thing she had ever done in her life. She had promised herself she wouldn't cry, but she still had to fought hard to keep the tears that were burning under her eyelids from rolling down her face. After all, he was the love of her life, and she had never been away from him this long, not even during Portland or the Zach-era.

Seth returned her smile, trying to be brave, and Summer made a sad face at the thought of leaving him. She touched the window with a few of her fingers, pretending to herself that it was Seth's hand on the other side and mimicked a soundless: 'bye'. The smile and wave he gave her, was enough to let her know that it was as difficult for him too. Her point finger still lingered on the glass, she wasn't quite ready to let go just yet, and they gave each other one last smile. They were communicating soundlessly through the glass and they didn't need to put to words what they felt.

And as the bus took off at last, she just prayed to herself that this would be their very last good-bye. She wasn't so sure she that could take another. She looked back a final time where Seth was still standing watching as the bus became smaller and smaller dot, finally disappering in the horizon, and she somehow knew that he would always wait for her.

The present…

After finishing their bagels, Seth had to rush away to get to work on time. It was hard on their relationship that work always came in the way of them spending time together, even if today they would actually get to see each other. Often, one would get home when the other was asleep, so the only time they always shared were the mornings, and they both really valued that time. Luckily, they both knew that their stressful careers were only temporary since they were both still starting off their careers, and they both hoped that it would settle down within a year, so maybe (at least that's what Summer hoped for) they could start a family. But she'd wait if she had to, if that's what Seth wanted. If life had taught her anything it was that true love waits. And she would always wait for him.