Disclaimer: I don't own a thing. :(

Notes: There are some really sappy moments in this one, so be prepared. lol

The reviews have been so awesome. Thank you so much for the encouragement and believing in me. I seriously appreciate it.

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One thing that could never be disputed about Summer Roberts was that she knew how to throw a good party. And she didn't just put things together at the last minute, she planned and planned until Ryan thought he was going to have to shake her to get her to stay still.

Summer had spent weeks planning the perfect party for her best friend and brought Ryan along for the ride. He'd helped, but his suggestions didn't always go well with Summer, though she never really criticized them outright, not that he would have minded. Party planning wasn't exactly something he did in Chino. A few kegs and bags of snacks and he was good to go, but this wasn't Chino, this was Newport and in Newport party planning was serious business.

Summer finished tying a banner across the stairs and looked over her shoulder, motioning for Ryan to hand her the tape. "Where's Cohen? I thought he said he was coming with you?"

Ryan smirked listening to Summer try to dance around the subject like she wasn't interested. "He'll be here later," he answered, handing over the scotch tape. "He got held up at home. Oh, and he told me to remind you that you owe him a dance."

Summer laughed, despite herself. "That smart-ass."

"So Seth told me you got the lead in the school play."

"He did?" she asked, keeping her back to him so he couldn't read her expression.

"Yeah. I, uh, didn't know you were into the whole drama club thing."

"I'm not. Not really," she said, climbing off the small step-ladder and grabbing a few balloons.

"Yeah, that's what Marissa said." Ryan looked at her pointedly.

"You told Marissa? Oh well, I guess she was bound to find out sooner or later. It's not a big deal or anything."

Another one of Ryan's trademark soul-searching looks was directed at Summer. She hated those looks, she always feel so exposed. "If it's not a big deal, why did you try to hide it from her?"

Summer taped up one balloon distractedly. "I didn't set out to hide it... I don't know, it's weird. Do you think she's mad that I lied to her?"

"Nah, she thought it was cute."

"Cute? Ew!" Summer shrugged. "I guess there could be worse things to do with my time."

Ryan smiled.

Summer set down the tape and remaining balloons. She faced Ryan and shifted her weight. Her voice was quiet when she spoke. "You know, you make her happy. I mean, really happy."

Ryan's cheeks reddened and his eyes searched the floor.

Summer smiled warmly. "I guess I approve...even if you do come from Chino. 'Cause, like, ew!"

They were silent for a minute. Ryan began to gather the leftover balloons and crate paper when Summer cleared her throat behind him.

"I know we just had a moment there or whatever--and let's hope that doesn't happen again for a long time--but you do know that if you ever hurt her, I'd hunt you down and make sure you could never reproduce, right?"

"I don't doubt it," Ryan replied, a smile playing on his lips that matched Summer's.

"Great, now get out of my house, I still have to get changed and call the caterers and you have to go pick up Marissa and when you come back, don't be wearing that." She pointed to his open button-down shirt and novelty tee. "You have been spending way too much time with Cohen."

Ryan cocked his head to the side and smirked. "I'm not the only one." He made a mad dash to the door and ducked the wad of crate paper Summer flung at his head. He was still chuckling when she slammed the front door behind him.

_________________

Ryan pulled into the Roberts' driveway and cut the engine of the Range Rover. All the lights were on and inside they could see gyrating bodies and balloons and steamers. Ryan let out a long breath and faced Marissa. "Here we are, I guess."

Marissa grabbed Ryan's hand and squeezed. "I think I'm nervous," she confided.

Ryan shook his head, his eyebrows knitting together in confusion. "About what? It's just a birthday party."

"I know," she said simply.

"We could skip it," Ryan suggested. In truth all he wanted was to ditch the party altogether and bring her back to the pool house and make love for the rest of the night, but Summer would kill him if he did that, after all her hard work planning and executing the perfect social event of the year, and as much as they got on each other's nerves, he just couldn't do that to her.

"No we can't," she said, sighing and opening her door. Ryan got out of his side and met her at the hood of the car, taking up her hand again.

He gave her The Look. The one that was utterly adorable and usually got her to do anything he wanted at the time.

Marissa giggled and shook her head. "Don't do that, you know I can't resist The look."

"I know," he smirked. "That's why I'm using it."

"Sorry pal, it's not going to work this time," she berated, playfully.

Ryan nodded and brought her hand to his mouth to lay a gently kiss on her fingertips. "We're not going to stay long, right?"

Marissa shrugged. "It won't kill you."

"Another night spent in Summer's company and I might just hang myself," Ryan mumbled under his breath.

"What was that?" Marissa asked, her lips curving into a smile.

"Nothing," Ryan covered, following her up the steps when she tugged his hand.

"One hour and we'll go," Marissa promised before she kissed his cheek and walked through the front door.

________________

Marissa and Ryan had yet to show up and Summer was having a hard time recognizing all the people in her house. Apparently she'd gone a little overboard with the invites. She searched the crowd for a familiar face and just as she was giving up hope, a familiar face found her.

Seth tapped Summer on the shoulder and she spun around.

"Whoa. Summer, you're looking dazzling as usual." Seth eyes twinkled and he looked at her the way he always did, with a hint of admiration and something else she couldn't quite admit to. No one looked at her the way Seth did and it made her feel uneasy and cherished at the same time. It was just too much.

For a minute, she lost the ability to speak. Why was it that Seth Cohen of all people could do that to her?

"I see you showed up after all," she said, once she'd recovered.

Seth leaned against the stair railing and folded one foot over the other. "Wouldn't miss it. I still have a spot for you on my dance card if you're interested."

Summer tried to hide her smile when he momentarily lost his balance and teetered, grabbing hold of the railing to stay upright. "Don't get your hopes up, Cohen. Besides, who says dance card? What're you eighty?"

Seth tapped his finger on his bottom lip and then pursed both lips together, bringing Summer's attention to them. Her gaze didn't waver as he spoke and she wondered if that had been his intention. "In the grand scheme of things that expression might seem a bit outdated, but if you really think about it it's really rather endearing and instead of mocking me, you should be taking me up on my offer 'cause I just might find someone else to dance with and then where will you be?"

Summer had been barely paying attention, her mind was still on his lips, but she clued in at the last moment and remembered that it was Seth Cohen she was checking out. That piece of reality seemed to give her the snark she needed to strike him down once again. "Probably right here. Relieved."

Seth leaned forward, his lips dangerously close. "Keep telling yourself that, sweet pea, 'cause I know deep down...okay, way deep down," he relented when he met her glacial stare. "In the deep depths of your frozen heart there's a tiny blue flame just a'burnin' for yours truly."

"If that's what you need to tell yourself..." she commented dryly. She was about to spit another insult at him when Marissa came barrelling through the door, Ryan by her side, as always.

"Happy Birthday," she offered, pulling Marissa into a tight hug. Ryan and Seth exchanged a look.

Marissa stepped back from the embrace, still gripping Summer's shoulders and examined the shorter girl. She whistled and made Summer do a little turn. "You look hot, who're you trying to impress?" Marissa teased.

"No one," Summer said, her cheeks flushed. She looked over her shoulder and was relieved to find Seth had moved out of hearing range.

"Ryan, my man. Beer?" Seth chimed in, snagging Ryan around the shoulder and leading him away towards the booze.

Marissa watched Seth lead Ryan away and Summer didn't miss the fondness in her eyes.

Summer bit her lip. "You really love him, don't you?"

Marissa tore her eyes from Ryan's retreated form and smiled, her cheeks reddening. That was all the answer Summer needed.

"It's different than it was with Luke. You're different with him," Summer pointed out, studying her friend closely.

"He makes me feel like I can do anything and the way he looks at me like-"

"You're the most precious thing in the world." Summer finished for her.

Marissa smiled broadly, pulling her hair away from her face, her cheeks red from a mixture of embarrassment and passion. "Yeah, how'd you know?"

"I, uh, I have eyes, Coop," Summer stammered.

Marissa nodded. "We must make you sick, I know you hate mushy stuff."

Summer's back went up. "I don't hate mushy stuff-"

Marissa rolled her eyes. "Oh please, every time Ryan and I are around, you looked like you're being tortured."

"You didn't let me finish. I was going to say I don't hate mushy stuff, I just hate watching the two of you trying to devour each other every chance you get. Really, it disgusting and unhygienic. Ew!"

"Just wait, Sum, one day you'll be eating your words."

Summer didn't bother to come up with some witty response. There was no use trying to argue when Marissa's head was in the clouds over Ryan.

________

Ryan was sitting on the couch bored out of his mind when Marissa plopped herself down in his lap, none too gently. He let out a low rumble of disapproval before he wrapped his arms around her and pulled her against his chest. "You ready to go," he asked, nuzzling her neck.

"Already?" she asked, turning to face him, creating some very intense friction on Ryan's crotch.

Ryan held her shoulders to keep her still. "Are you drunk?"

"No," Marissa giggled. "I've had two drinks. I'm not drunk, but I'm feeling good."

"You do feel good," he joked, running his fingers up her spine just under her shirt. "The Cohens went away this weekend and Seth promised to make himself scarce. I thought maybe-"

Marissa got the hint and leaned down to kiss him on the mouth.

He closed his eyes and brought her closer before he realized they were in a very public area and he didn't exactly feel like sharing such a private moment. "So you want to go?"

Marissa began to nod, but then remembered the plans she'd made earlier that week. Summer's stepmother had left that morning so she was now totally alone. "I can't, Summer's dad is away and-"

Ryan's disappointment showed on his face. Marissa was about to open her mouth to apologise but Summer's voice stopped her. "Coop, go."

"No, Sum." Marissa held Ryan's thigh for leverage as she stood. Neither of them had been aware of Summer's presence or just how much she'd heard and Marissa felt guilty for even considering leaving her alone when she knew what a difficult time Summer had when she had to stay in the house alone.

Summer jutted out her hip and pointed to herself. "I'll take it as a personal offense if you don't get your cute butt out of here and go to the Cohen pool house and make mad monkey love all night long."

Marissa turned helplessly between Ryan, who was all for the idea, and Summer, who looked absolutely terrified even as she made the suggestion. "A-Are you going to be okay?"

Summer folded her arms in front of her and shrugged. "It's just one night. I can stay alone for one night." She grabbed Ryan's arm and hauled him off the couch, then pulled Marissa and him toward the door. "Now, go. Have fun and be safe."

Marissa gave Summer a tight hug and stepped outside. Ryan waited a second and smiled at Summer. "Thanks."

"Remember what I said, Chino," Summer cautioned. "I know people and they'd never find the body."

Ryan tensed and then walked out the door before he caught the slight smile on Summer's face. She closed the door behind them and looked at all the bodies that were still taking up residence in her house. It was going to be a long night.

She passed the table of gifts that Marissa hadn't opened and pulled out the neatly wrapped box she'd spent the morning perfecting, took a long look at it and tossed it back on the pile.

Finding her way to the kitchen, Summer grabbed a bottle of Jack Daniels and took a swing straight from it. It burned as it went down and she lost her breath for a second. She sputtered before she took another long pull and walked away, carrying it with her. Jack would be her friend for the night, he'd helped her out before; they were old pals.


Back at the pool house, Ryan had attempted to recreate some Harlequin moment by lighting candles and dimming the lights. He'd even stolen champagne from the main house and put on some soothing music.

It felt odd and Marissa told him as much. "This is really sweet, Ryan, but it's so not us. Well, maybe it's me, but it's not you." It just wasn't his thing, but it touched her that he was trying so hard.

"Too cheesy?" he asked, scrunching up his nose. "I knew it was going overboard," he admitted, blowing out the candles and flicking off the music, but not bothering to turn up the lights. "Better?" he asked, sitting back down beside her on the bed.

"Much," she said kissing him at the corner of his mouth.

Marissa noticed his shaking hands, the slight dim in his eyes when he made brief eye contact and tried not to let it unnerve her.

He cleared his throat and pulled out a box from under his pillow. "Back in Chino we never really had a lot of money, but birthdays were always a big deal because every year we were just that much closer to eighteen and getting out of the place."

Marissa nodded and turned her attention to the box he was showing at her like it was on fire.

"Here." He handed her the box and looked around the room seemingly uncomfortable. When she opened the lid and pulled out his a pocket watch, he began a tangent that could rival one of Seth's babbles any day. " I almost had to hawk it a few times and it's kind of old and probably not worth that much anyway, but it was my grandpa's; he gave it to me before he died, before everything went really bad with my family; before dad went to jail and mom's drinking got worse... I dunno, it always kinda reminded me of being happy and now... It's kinda stupid and it's not really a good girl gift, but-"

"No, I love it," she assured him quickly, weighing the significance in her palm.

Relief clouded his eyes and then he was pulling her against him, kissing her. His mouth covered hers and it was hot and wet and dizzying.

She hadn't kissed a lot of people, just Luke and him, and they were nothing alike. Where Luke was sloppy and immature and maybe a little too gentle, Ryan kissed her deep, passionately and at times desperately with his lips and teeth and tongue.

The hot friction of his tongue as it caught her skin and swabbed at its softness was almost overpowering. He knew what to do to her body. How to make her skin burn and her hips raise in anticipation. He knew when to go fast and when to go slow, where to touch and for how long.

Easing them down onto the mattress, his hips ground into hers and she let out a low moan that made him chuckle. Her fingers tangled with the cotton of his shirt, lifting it over his head and tossing it to the floor.

His tongue continued to explore skin that was already alive and ultra sensitive.

"Ryan," she whimpered and it sounded like a strangled cry, like not being together would be the end of the world for her.

Ryan sensed this and instead of drawing it out, making her wait, he made love to her in earnest as if she might slip through his fingers and be out of his life for good.

____________________

Seth found the beach soothing. The waves lapped against the sand and the stars littered the sky; it was all very peaceful. He cradled a beer in one hand for no apparent reason except for maybe his lame attempt to fit in. He didn't feel much like socializing and there was only so much Marissa and Ryan he could take for one night, so he took comfort in the sand and the silence.

That was of course, until he heard arguing behind him. Standing he squinted to make out the figures outside by the sliding glass doors. It appeared to be a guy and a girl arguing. When the taller figure grabbed a hold of the smaller one and they seemed to be struggling, Seth paid closer attention.

"No! I told you no!" Seth heard a familiar voice scream and he was throwing down his beer and running toward the house before he could think rationally.

The rush of adrenaline that had him by Summer's side in no time flat was apparently unneeded though as he stood over Trent Jefferson as he moaned in pain. Seth winced at the large goose egg sprouting from where he'd been apparently hit.

Summer threw the empty Jack Daniels bottle on the ground next to the barely conscious teen. "I told you not to touch me," she seethed, her legs giving out on her once the heat of the moment had worn off.

Seth caught her around the waist and pulled her against him. "Summer, what are you doing out here?"

"I needed some air. He-he followed me," she answered against his rib cage, pointing blindly, unable to hold herself up. He got a whiff of her breath and surmised that she was tanked.

"Come on, party's over," he whispered, ushering her inside her own house.

He was surprised to find only a few stray guests left and he wondered, briefly, how long he'd really been outside before he politely asked them to leave. Spotting a few guys from the wrestling team, he cautiously approached them and asked them if they could get rid of Trent from the backyard, when Summer chimed in with a muffled 'please' they agreed and got to it.

"Do you think you can make it up the stairs?" he asked, gently pushing the hair from her face so he could get a good look at the condition she was in.

She looked up at him and it almost broke his heart. Her eyes were glazed with unshed tears. "I think he was going to-I think he wanted to-"

He felt her shudder and felt a pang in his belly. "Shh," he soothed, running his fingers over her back in slow circles. "You're okay. You sure know how to take care of yourself. You're like a superwoman."

Summer rubbed her nose against his shirt and Seth didn't even have the heart to scold her for it. "I just-I don't understand," Summer tried, inarticulately.

"Guys are assholes," Seth said, reflectively.

Summer's head shot up from his shoulder and she laughed. "You're a guy."

"This is true," Seth humoured, forcing her up the stairs one at a time. When she wobbled slightly, he held her tighter and she giggled when he tickled her by accident.

"You're not an asshole though."

Seth nodded, not sure how to respond. He finally settled on a simple,"Thanks."

"You're a dork, but not an asshole," she continued as if he hadn't spoken at all. Summer stopped mid-stair and looked up at Seth. "I'm not always like this."

Seth looked back at her puzzled. "Like what?"

Her head fell back against his shoulder and she sighed audibly. "I don't always drink like this, just... you know, Marissa left with Ryan and my dad...he's not...I don't like to be alone."

"I know," he said quietly and kissed the top of her head.

"You do?" Her head shot up connecting with his chin and he swallowed a few curse words.

Seth adjusted his jaw and shook his head, resuming their slow walk up the stairs. "Come on, let's get you to bed."

Summer snorted very un-lady like. "In your dreams, Cohen."

Seth smirked, thankful they had reached the top landing. "Only you could still put me down when you're three sheets to the wind and about to pass out."

"It's a gift." Summer teetered and grabbed hold of his hand to stop herself from falling. "Uh, the room is spinning."

"Come on, we're almost there. Which one is your room?" he asked scanning the drafty hallway with a row of closed doors.

Summer pointed in the general vicinity at the end of the hall and Seth guided her toward it. He reached for the door handle and propped her up against himself when it wouldn't budge. "It's locked."

"That's 'cause that's daddy's study," she explained breaking into a fit of laughter like it was the funniest thing in the world. "My room is downstairs."

"You're kidding, right?" he asked, incredulously.

Summer seemed to sober, if only for a moment. "Nope. I sleep in what's supposed to be the maid's quarters."

Seth blinked rapidly and studied her. "What? Why?"

Summer shrugged, which was difficult considered how heavily she was leaning against him. "I like it better. It's actually cozy down there."

"Jesus, you're never going to make it back down those stairs. Are all the rooms up here locked?"

"I don't know, I don't come up here."

"Great," Seth said, exhausted.

Summer was starting to slouch and her eyes were drooping with sleep. Seth propped her against the door. "Just stay here and try not to fall," he ordered and began to methodically check all the doors on that floor. With no luck, he turned and caught Summer just before she hit the floor. "They're all locked. That's just weird," he said aloud, more to himself than her.

Summer's eyes were closed and he was fairly certain she'd fallen asleep if her even breathing was any indication. Without further adieu, Seth crouched low to the ground and scooped Summer into a fireman's lift and headed for the stairs. It took a lot of his strength and he wasn't entirely sure he wouldn't drop her, but she couldn't sleep in the hallway for the rest of the night and he couldn't come up with a better solution.

Halfway down the stairs Summer decided to wake up.

"Oh my god! Seth?"

"Shh, go back to sleep," he commanded, straining with her weight, if he had to hold a conversation too, he wasn't sure he would make it to the bottom.

"Put me down!"

"I can't right now, sugar, gotta get off the stairs first," he said, winded.

She grabbed his belt and tried to yank it to get a response, but the only thing that did was cause him to sway. "Seth, put me down!"

"I can't."

She tugged harder on his belt and he moved faster. His face contorted when she switched to his underwear and gave his a gnarly wedgie. "Seth, you have to put me down. Now!"

"Could you, like, not touch my underwear? God, I never thought I'd be saying that to you," he said, chastising himself with a shake of his head.

"Seth," she whined, more screechy than normal.

Seth stepped off the last stair and bent down dropping her ungracefully to the first soft surface he saw, which happened to be a couch. Summer rolled off and bolted. "You're welcome," he called after her and then regretted it when he heard her retching in the bathroom. "Shit."

Seth stepped into the bathroom kneeling next to Summer and carefully pulled her hair away from her face. His other hand rubbed at the small of her back until she was finished throwing up.

When she flushed the toilet, he reached over and handed her a roll of toilet paper. She wiped her mouth, but refused to meet his eyes. Realizing he was still touching her, he pulled his hand back and sat up, leaning over the counter and filling a Dixie cup with water. He handed her the cup and she drank greedily and handed it back. He filled it again, but when he went to hand it back, she doubled over the toilet again and he set it on the sink as he took up his previous position.

He murmured soothing words against her neck and leaned over to flush for her. Her face was white as soap when she finally looked up at him and it struck him hard. "Hey, you okay?"

She was silent for a long time, so he busied himself with finding a washcloth. In the linen cabinet he found a plain white facecloth and ran it under the cool water. He urged her forward and pressed it against her forehead and cheeks before he let it rest against the base of her neck.

"Better?" he asked softly, aware that she still hadn't answered him.

Summer covered her eyes with her forearm and let her head roll back and gently rest against the porcelain tub. "You're the last person I wanted to see me like this."

"Really? I thought the captain of the football team would be more worthy of that honour."

"I'mamess," she answered, slurring slightly.

Seth touched her knee and squeezed. "No, hey, everyone gets a little drunk every now and then. You just seem to do it more than most, unless we count Marissa pre Ryan, 'cause hello she's a little bit of a glutton when it comes to the Vodka," Seth rambled.

Her head popped up and the washcloth fell to the floor. "I'm not drunk!"

Seth rolled his eyes. "No, of course not. I was talking about the other girl puking her brains out."

Summer laughed hard, so hard he was afraid she was going to choke, apparently she wasn't as sobered up as he'd hoped.

"Want some more water?" he offered.

Her nose scrunched up and she frowned. "I'm tired, Cohen. So tired," she mumbled through a yawn.

"Come on," he said, standing and offering her his hand.

"Can't you carry me again?" she complained.

"Sorry, sweetie, but I think I'm going to have to go to the chiropractor as it is."

"Wuss."

"Ah, you really know the way to a man's heart."

"Help me up."

Seth reached under her arms and let her lean on him while she got her footing. They stumbled down the hallway together and found Summer's room, which was just off the kitchen.

Seth turned on the light, but Summer immediately turned it off and headed to her personal bathroom. He sat down on the bottom of her bed and listened to the water running. He heard her puke again, but when he came to her side, she was already spreading toothpaste over her toothbrush and getting ready to brush her teeth.

"Uh, privacy?"

"Uh, no, yeah, sorry," Seth said, backing out of the bathroom.

While she was in the bathroom, he took the time to study her room. There were a few metals from track and basketball on the wall from when they were in middle school and he studied them before he moved on and picked up random bottles of perfume and little trinkets from her dresser and desk. Scanning the room again, one wall caught his eye. There was an entire wall of photos, mostly of people from school; people he'd grown up with but had never even talked to and there were others. Black and whites of flowers and birds and nature. Sepia prints of random people: a man tossing a ball with a child, an older woman trying to prevent the wind from taking her hat, schoolchildren playing hopscotch and various other people, none of which he recognized. It was when he was looking at pictures that Summer came back into the room, looking a little worse for wear.

"You okay?"

"Fine," she answered, crawling onto the bed and arranging herself in a fetal position, clutching her stomach.

"All right," he said, casually. "I'm going to go now. You should take some aspirin so you won't feel as bad tomorrow, at least that's what I've heard."

Summer sat up, looking panicked. "You're leaving?"

Seth scratched his head, his gaze straying to the door. "Well, yeah."

Summer jumped off the bed, much to her stomachs disapproval, if the look on her face was any indication. "You wanted to dance, let's dance now," she said, grabbing his hands and propping them on her hips.

Seth looked at her sceptically. "Oh, now you want to dance? Sorry, that offer expired at midnight." He let his hands drop to his sides and backed away.

"Cohen," she whined, pouting and apparently he wasn't the only one with a knock-out pout.

"As tempting as that is, I really have to go."

Summer lunged for Seth and before he could protest her lips were on his and she was pushing him over to the bed. Her lips were hot and she tasted like mint toothpaste and a little bit like sour alcohol. She let her tongue skim his bottom lip before it delved inside his mouth and touched his own tongue.

Seth broke away breathless and held her away. "You just kissed me," he pointed out as if she hadn't been there.

Summer plopped down on the bed and put her head in her hands. "Oh God, I'm even drunker than I thought."

"I thought you weren't drunk?" he teased.

"You're so not helping, Cohen."

Seth folded his arms and shook his head. "I'm not buying any of this, you know."

Summer kneeled on the bed, a sex-kitten waiting to pounce. "What? Don't you want me? In case you didn't get the memo, I'm one hot piece of ass."

Seth scanned her physique appraisingly. "Believe me, I know it, but really, you don't want to do this. Not with me, and not when you're drunk, so what's going on?"

Summer reached over and grabbed the collar of his polo shirt in both of her hands, forcing him to lean over and grab the pole of her bed for leverage. "But I do! I really do, Cohen. You're just so...mmm," she giggled. "Even with your t-shirts and that god-awful hair," she mussed his hair to emphasize her point, "but god, I do want you."

Seth released her hands and laughed nervously. Those were not words he heard everyday and especially not from Summer of all people. "You're drunk, you don't know what you're saying."

Summer reached her hands under his shirt and began to pull it off. "Take this off."

"Oh, no no no." Seth pulled her hands out from under his shirt and held them over her head so they couldn't touch him. "Let's just keep our hands to ourselves, 'kay? Summer, come on, the truth now, what's really going on?"

Summer's featured darkened, her eyes misted. "Nothing."

"Stop lying. Something is definitely going on. You wouldn't just kiss me and not get all grossed out by it, that just doesn't happen in my reality."

Summer's eyes dropped, her lip trembled slightly. "It's not like I didn't want to kiss you, I just...not in front of all those people, you know?"

Seth didn't know what to say to that. She was talking about Act two and practice the other day.

He watched her gaze slide to his mouth, caught the sharp inhale of breath before her eyes met his again. And holy crap, what was that?

Touching her, he decided, was not a good idea. He let her hands drop and sat down beside her.

He was not going to interpret her actions or overanalyse, he was just going to be a really good friend and ignore the way her hand was rubbing against his thigh because she was drunk and that was the only reason that such actions would be happening. But that didn't mean he couldn't almost feel the kiss, taste it in the air when she moved forward. Oh, he felt it all right, the air was charged with it. He stood up abruptly and she fell forward, face down, onto the bed giggling and rubbing her forehead.

"Cohen, that was so, like, not suave."

"Well, you know, that's good, 'cause I really wasn't going for suave. I'm basically trying to just keep you from doing something you're going to regret. You might not mind hating me in the morning, but I sure as hell do. Now, I think it's best if I just go and you just have a nice little rest in that very big bed." Seth turned to leave but her voice stopped him.

"Don't leave," she whispered. "Please. I-I don't want to be alone."

And if his heart hadn't been breaking for her since he found her drunk, that just did it. Seth turned and swallowed her up in a hug when he saw a tear roll down her cheek. He really couldn't help himself and he knew in the morning Summer was going to kill him for it, but he just couldn't bring himself to care.

"I'll stay then," he soothed, sliding his fingers through her hair.

Seth held her for a good ten minutes before he felt drained and didn't want to stand any longer. When he pulled away she murmured a protest. Seth smirked, even if she was drunk, it still felt good that she didn't mind him touching her.

"Do you have something to sleep in, pajamas or something?"

"Check the top drawer," she answered, sleepily.

Seth crossed the room and opened the first drawer taken aback by all the frilly underwear. "Other drawer, got it," he mentally kicked himself for the some shred of glee that filled him. Pulling out a pair of silky pajamas, he held them up for her approval. "These okay?"

Summer nodded and dropped her head back to the comforter.

Seth tried to shut the door but something kept getting in the way. Shifting things around, he spotted a frame and brought it out into the moonlight coming from the open blinds.

He brought the picture over to Summer and sat down next to her. "Who's this?" he asked, studying the obviously old picture in the pewter frame.

Summer didn't need to look at it to know what it was. "That's my mom," she answered so quiet he barely made it out. "She was my age there." Her fingers brushed his when she took the frame from him and set it on her night table. "She was a dancer," Summer said, her eyes closed, "she was the youngest in her company. They toured Europe. That's how she met my father. He was there on business."

"Yeah?" He looked at the picture on the table, realizing for the first time Summer's mom was in tights and a tutu like women wear in the ballet.

Summer yawned again and stretched out, letting her legs come to rest in Seth's lap. "It ruined her figure when she had me."

Seth frowned, picking up her foot, discarding her sandal and gently massaging her heel.

"People tell me I look like her. She was very beautiful, " she went on, drifting in and out of sleep.

Seth picked up her other foot and gave it the same treatment. "She was," Seth agreed, adding, "but so are you."

"I'm not like her," Summer protested. "She was slender and statuesque and I'm so short and curvy."

Seth laughed softly. "I wouldn't want you any other way, even if you did cause me to throw out my back...of course that could be because I have, like, no muscles," he said, self-deprecating. Seth didn't exactly know all the details about Summer's mom, but he knew that she wasn't in her life anymore and that couldn't be easy on her. As much as Summer tried to act tough, he knew deep down she was as soft and sweet as a marshmallow.

"Seth?" she asked, even as she was being lulled to sleep.

"Hmm?"

"Can you help me put on my pajamas, I don't think I can move."

Seth swallowed hard. "Summer, I don't think... "

She sat up and grabbed the pajamas from him. "Fine," she said, pulling her shirt over her head in one fluid motion.

"What are you doing?" Seth asked, standing, causing her legs to swing over the edge and her to almost fall off the bed. He reached out tentatively to help her sit up.

"Duh, changing," she said, once she'd regained her position.

Seth turned around and allowed her privacy. Despite himself he felt his body react and he willed it to stop.

"What are you doing?" She asked in turn when she caught him adjusting his boxers.

Seth didn't turn around. "Not that it's any of your business, but since you are the one responsible, I'm fixing my underwear. At least I know how girls feel about thongs now."

"Ew!" she said, only half-heartedly and not with nearly enough venom as usual.

"Done?"

Summer examined herself and nodded and of course Seth couldn't see that so he repeated himself. "Yeah," she finally answered.

Seth turned around cautiously and chuckled as he looked her over. Motor skills were not functioning at the right level for Summer and she had done up the buttons all wrong. Seth decided to take mercy on her. Kneeling, he undid the buttons to her shirt and redid each one so they matched the appropriate holes, holding his breath the entire time.

"Thanks," Summer said, her voice unusually tender.

Seth shrugged nonchalantly. "Yeah, no problem."

"You can, you know... sleep in my bed." She didn't look at him as she made that suggestion.

Seth blinked in the darkness and took a deep, cleansing breath. "Uh, actually I think I'm safer in the chair. Really, it's fine."

"I..." she hesitated, "I'd feel safer if... please."

Not the please. Anything but please would have had him sleeping the night in the chair no matter how uncomfortable it would have been and for all the kinks he would surely have in his neck. When Summer said please in that small voice though, that was it. He was done for.

Seth took of his shoes and tossed them at the foot of the bed. Lifting the covers, he moved her legs so they were under the blankets and moved to get in beside her.

"You're sleeping in your jeans?"

Seth shrugged. "I guess."

"Take them off."

Seth's eyebrows shot up. "Excuse me?"

"They can't be comfortable and we're just sleeping."

Seth cleared his throat. "You sure?"

Summer nodded and watched as his hands went to his belt buckle. A sudden wave of self-consciousness flooded him and he turned away and let the jeans drop to the floor, leaving him in blue boxers. He hopped into bed and nearly jolted upright when he felt Summer's weight on his chest. She nuzzled against him and let out a contented sigh.

"Seth?"

Seth's hand wasn't steady when he smoothed her hair away from her face, it trembled more when he cupped her cheek and drew her close. He pressed his lips to her temple and made her eyes blur. "Go to sleep, Summer."

Her voice was unsteady when she spoke. "You're not going to leave, right?"

"No, I'll be here."

"I don't like to be alone," she announced sleepily as if she hadn't confided it before then, which she had, but probably couldn't remember. He hoped that meant she wouldn't remember much of the night tomorrow, it was the only way he wouldn't get his ass kicked.

"I know." His fingers tangled in her hair again and he felt her shiver when he brushed her ear, so he pulled her closer, revelling in the feel of her. "Summer?"

"Hmm?"

He bit his lip and closed his eyes. "Promise you won't hate me in the morning?"

"I won't." She sighed and drifted off to sleep.

______

To be continued....