Hey all! This is the first OC fic I've written in a long time, I hope you like. This is really a standalone fic that I wrote in one night. I'm just posting in 3 parts to make it easier to read. If you read, please review. As usual, I don't own anything. Oh yeah, there are spoilers aplenty if you haven't seen the finale montage!
Note: We never found out what Julie & Frank named their son. So I named him myself!
Girl Talk
Sophie leapt into Sandy's arms and wrapped her own around his neck. "Bye Daddy."
Sandy hugged her tight. "Bye sweetie. Be a good girl for your brother." He glanced at Seth over his little girls shoulder and flashed him yet another apologetic look. He lowered her to the floor and she picked up her purple travel case and ran into Seth's apartment.
"Summer!" She yelled, as she disappeared into the kitchen.
Sandy turned to his son. "I'm really sorry about this" he said, for probably the twentieth time.
"It's fine Dad, I understand."
"It's only for tonight, I promise. It's just that your Mom has this big business dinner and I really should be there. Julie said she'd look after her, but Joe's ill…"
Seth raised his hand to stop his Dad's rambling. He knew he got it from somewhere. "Again, it's fine. We love having Sophie stay with us."
Sandy smiled again. "Okay then, we'll be back in the morning to pick her up." He paused, then called "By Soph."
"Bye" came the muffled call from the other room. She sounded distracted. Nothing new.
Seth showed his Dad out into the hall and closed the door when he was back inside. They were in Newport for Kaitlin's birthday, and instead of imposing on the Coopers like they did every time they stayed, Summer had insisted on renting a little apartment on the beach for 2 weeks. 'It's a vacation' she'd told him, her arms draped over his shoulders, and her lips too close to his skin to allow him to say no. It was her apple shampoo. It did things to his mind. So he'd agreed.
Actually, he had to admit, it wasn't as bad as he'd thought. Moving out of Newport allowed him to appreciate the good points the town had to offer when he did come home. And he wasn't exactly keen on being stuck in a house with eight other people.
Babysitting his nine year old sister was not exactly what he had in mind for tonight though. He had it all figured out. He'd go out with Ryan, catch up. They'd come back to find Summer and Taylor nicely tipsy on red wine, they'd all hang out for a bit before having the apartment to themselves to… Do stuff.
Seth went weak at the knees thinking about it. But that wasn't going to happen now, his dippy little sister didn't factor into his plans.
As if on cue, she yelled from the kitchen. "Seeeeeeeeeeth!"
He appeared in the doorway. "Yes trouble?"
"Do you wanna bake cookies with us?"
Seth pretended to think for a moment. "I'd rather eat them."
"Sorry" Summer said with a smirk on her face. "You don't get to enjoy the cookies unless you make the cookies." She looked down at Sophie and both girls nodded.
Seth raised an eyebrow. "Enjoy?" Summer shot him a look. "Fine. I'll help."
Summer nodded satisfied. "Go wash your hands Sophie, I'll get the ingredients out."
Sophie climbed off her stool and skipped out of the room, doing a graceful little leap over her case which she'd abandoned in the middle of the floor. Seth turned to his wife.
"Baking cookies. Is that wise? You know what happened last time, and this isn't technically our kitchen."
Summer dried her hands on a towel and walked up to him. "You should thank me for entertaining your little sister. I had plans too you know."
Seth sighed. "I know baby, I'm sorry. I'll make it up to you."
Summer leaned in and kissed him on the lips. "You better."
Sophie came running back into the kitchen the same way she went running out, but with renewed energy. "Can we make chocolate ones Summer?" She stood in front of them with her head on one side, waiting for her brother and sister-in-law to finish.
Seth looked down at his little sister, and the mischievous glint she had in her eyes. He turned to Summer. "Second thoughts, I don't want cookies that much."
He grabbed his coat and headed for the door. "Seth!" Summer yelled after him. "Don't you dare. I know what that look means too…"
But he was gone.
"Change of plan." Ryan opened the Cooper's front door to find Seth standing on the doorstep.
"Yeah, I know, Sandy called."
Seth gave Ryan the same apologetic look his Dad had given him, but quickly realised what he was doing and shook his head. "Yeah man, tomorrow night?"
Ryan shook his head. "We've got dinner reservations tomorrow. And Kaitlin's party." Seth rolled his eyes, not believing he forgot. Ryan shook his head. "What are you doing here anyway?"
"I left the girls baking. Didn't want to put out any more kitchen fires."
"Sophie had that look huh?"
Seth looked down at the floor and nodded. "Yeah."
"What a caring husband you are" Ryan said.
Seth looked quite impressed. "You've really got that sarcasm thing down." He said. Ryan merely nodded.
"Hey Seth" Taylor came down the stairs carrying a pile of towels, with the same cheery grin as ever.
"Hey."
"Listen, if you boys still want to go out tonight I don't mind babysitting."
Seth looked from her to Ryan. "Are you sure?"
Taylor shifted the laundry in her arms. "Of course. It's better than listening to Joseph throw up every 10 minutes."
Seth turned to Ryan. "Baby bro causing problems too?"
Again, Ryan nodded. "My dad had enough, he went to work around lunchtime."
"Kaitlin had enough too, she headed out about 20 minutes ago. It's her birthday tomorrow, I let her off." Taylor pecked Ryan on the cheek. "Better put these towels in" she said, and walked down the hallway.
"Awesome. I'll come back at 7 and we'll head out then."
Ryan paused. "Better make it half past. I'll feel bad leaving Julie before Dad gets home."
Seth nodded. "7:30 it is then. I better get back, see what a mess Summer and Sophie have made of the kitchen I'll have to pay to clean. Hopefully no plaster will need replacing this time."
Ryan smiled. "See ya."
Seth unlocked the apartment front door and the smell of baking cookies filled his nostrils. Baking, not burning. That was a good sign. He put his keys on the table by the front door and flung his jacket on the sofa. In the kitchen, Summer had her hands in the sink doing the dishes.
"Hey."
Seth looked around. "Where's Soph?"
"She got bored" Summer said, rolling her eyes. Seth shook his head, he should have guessed. "She's in the spare room drawing."
"On paper I hope. Not the walls." He paused. "Like last time."
"Yes, I've learnt my lesson. Although I think that was mostly Joe. I now carry around a whole stash of goodies to keep them both out of trouble. It mostly works."
"Oh, it worked fine last time. Did I ever thank you for buying those face paints?"
Summer smirked. "Spiderman one side, love hearts the other. It was a good look."
Seth nodded sarcastically. "Yeah, I'll set the kids on you next time." He kissed her on the side of her head as he walked past her to the fridge for a soda. "I went to the house" he said. There was no point saying 'The Coopers' because currently the Cohens and the Atwoods out numbered the Coopers. And it was the only place in Newport he'd want to go to anyway. Seth could have just said 'out' and she'd know where he'd been. "Taylor said she'll still come over." He paused, turning so Summer and giving her his best puppy dog look. "If me and Ryan can still go out…"
"You're leaving the two of us to babysit?"
Seth nodded, grimacing slightly. "Yeah…"
"Only if you pay for take out."
Seth took his wife in his arms. "You're the best."
"I know."
"Can you get pizza?" They both turned to see Sophie standing behind them. As energetic as she was 99 of the time, she could be stealthy when she wanted. Seth was so proud.
Summer bent down and the little girl ran to her. "Hawaiian right?"
"Uh huh. With garlic bread?" She smiled sweetly, the way she did when she wanted her parents to do something. Being the baby had many advantages. Cool adults baking her cookies for one. She'd stuck around long enough to make sure chocolate chips went into the dough before claiming she had other stuff to do and leaving.
Summer rolled her eyes. "Are you sure? You might not have room for ice cream."
Sophie nodded vehemently. "Oh, I will."
Seth had no doubt. The endless appetite for junk food, another Cohen trait.
Summer was obviously thinking the same thing and looked at Seth, shaking her head. "Ok, but Taylor's coming over, so you have to go to sleep afterwards without making a fuss, so we can have our girls night in."
Sophie had stopped listening after 'Taylor'. "Taylor's coming? Yay!" She turned and bounced out of the room.
Sophie and Taylor got on famously. Probably because Taylor was just as giddy and hyper. They were also both girly girls. Summer was too, to a point. But often got bored with the endless makovers and teen movies. She wasn't totally sure some of them were suitable for a nine year old. But anything for some peace.
"Are you sure you're ok with this?"
Summer smiled. A real smile, no sarcasm at all. "Yes, she's a great kid. Good practice for when it happens to us." She smirked at the look on Seth's face. "Relax" she said, "It's not what you think."
"Good." He said, a little too quickly, then to cover himself, "not that I don't want kids, I just…"
He was babbling again. Summer put a finger to his lips to stop him. "It's ok, I know."
"Soph and Joe are great and everything. But I do enjoy being able to give them back."
"Me too."
"Glad that's sorted" Summer said. "I'm so not ready to share you yet either." She smiled and leaned in for a kiss. When the oven pinged and she pulled away. "Cookies are done."
Seth watched her walk to the counter and pick up the oven mit longingly. He heard a clatter from the living room and felt momentarily guilt for having dirty thoughts with his baby sister next door. "I'll er… I'll take a shower."
Seth walked out of the bedroom rubbing gel through his hair. Summer and Sophie were sitting at the kitchen table with a plate of cookies in front of them. He grabbed one and sat down.
"Hey!" Sophie said, crumbs falling out her mouth. "You didn't make them!"
Seth raised his eyebrows at her. "You're one to talk missy, I know you didn't help until the end." Sophie went quiet and sank down in her chair. Her brother knew her too well. "Don't eat too many, save room for pizza. And I'll want some left when I get home later." Seth winked at Summer.
She gave him a warning look as if to say 'not in front of Sophie' but she had the same glint in her eyes.
"You guys want to kiss and stuff don't you?" Sophie said, swallowing her cookie. She then got up without saying any more and walked out the room.
"Did she just say…?" Seth trailed off, looking at Summer with his mouth open.
"I think she did" Summer replied. "Kirsten's not gonna be happy about us corrupting her little girl."
"We can always blame Kaitlin."
Summer shrugged. "That works."
"Hi trouble" Taylor greeted Sophie and the little girl grinned at her from the sofa. Taylor put her grocery bags on the coffee table and went to look for Summer.
The bedroom door was ajar and Taylor pushed it open. Inside she found Seth struggling to pull a sweater over his head.
"Come here" Summer said, walking over to pull it down. "You're like a child."
Taylor giggled, and Seth's face when he saw her standing there was priceless.
Taylor ignored him. "I left my cab downstairs for you" she said. "Thought you'd appreciate not having to drive."
"Thanks" Seth said, pulling on his shoes. He kissed Summer on the lips, before grabbing his wallet and keys from the nightstand. A moment later, they heard him say goodbye to Sophie and the front door slammed.
"Are you sure you don't mind all this? It was a bit last minute, Kirsten had a dinner or something…"
"I know" Taylor said, "Like I told Seth, looking after a healthy child is far preferable to caring for one who's likely to puke on your shoes without notice."
Summer smiled. "Is Joseph still sick?"
"Yeah" Taylor said. "He's really down too. He was really looking forward to going to the beach for Kaitlin's birthday tomorrow, Julie's not sure they'll be able to now."
Summer sighed. "Kids bounce back quick, he'll be fine."
"So, what's the plan for tonight?" Taylor asked, changing the subject. "I brought wine."
Summer grinned. "Good. Seth left us money for pizza and ice cream."
"Sophie's request?"
"How did you guess?"
"I've been living in a house with her for a week remember."
"We baked cookies." Sophie walked into the room and jumped onto the bed. "Taylor, can you do my makeup again?" Summer rolled her eyes at her random intrusion.
"Sure" Taylor lifted her up, mirroring Summers look but smiling. "Let's see what I brought with me okay?"
