Disclaimer: I own nothing. Also, Memorex Suites is completely made up. I was just trying to think of a name and I glanced at my blank CDs and that was the brand name. Don't own that either.

Thanks for all the reviews! I apologize for taking so long to update. caesaraugusta-you didn't scare me off. I've just been away. I appreciate the comment, and I'm glad you're enjoying the stories. So I'm going to go ahead and post the next two chapters, separately. Just to warn you, it sucks. Trust me, I know. I just need them done and over with so I can get to the where I explain everything. I feel I've dragged it out too long as it is. So here they are! I've read it over, but it's late so I might have missed a few mistakes.

"Alex, go take your break!"

The brunette finished the drink she was working on and gave it to the customer before facing her friend. "Max-"

"Don't 'Max' me," the bartender interrupted. "You were supposed to take your break over an hour ago."

"We were busy-"

"And now we're not. Well, not as busy." Max went over and slightly dragged Alex with him as he headed for the back door. He grabbed a mug on his way out.

"Max, I leave in like an hour," protested Alex.

"Well, this break will help pass the time," Max said as he held the back door open for Alex. She didn't move. "Look, I'm not going to let you help out anymore if you don't go out this door. I've already got your coffee for you. In fact, I should be sending you home since you came in last Sunday."

"You wouldn't dare," challenged Alex teasingly. "You love me too much."

"I love your kids more," countered Max.

Alex let out a dramatic sigh. She knew her friend wouldn't make good on his threats, but she gave in anyway. She met the blonde bartender back in college. She was pre-med and he was a business major. She hadn't bartend in a while and she missed it. When Max told her that his dad owned a bar, she all but made him hire her. She worked as much as she could. When her course load increased, she had to cut back some, but she never gave it up completely. Even now, with her own career in place, she still made time for it.

"Fine." Alex took her coffee and went outside. Before Max had a chance to close the door, Alex turned around. "But I'm not taking a full break. Just enough time to drink my coffee."

"Always gotta have the last word huh?" questioned Max.

"Yep." Max shook his head and closed the door. Alex began drinking her coffee as she made her way to her car. While she was doing so, she heard a voice.

"It's about damn time!" Alex chocked on her coffee at the sound of the voice. "Oh shit! You okay Al?"

It took the brunette a minute to stop coughing. When she did, she finally saw the voice's owner. "Seth? Is that you?"

"One and only," replied Seth.

Alex stood there looking at Seth. She couldn't believe her eyes. Then, her reaction finally kicked in. "Oh my gosh!" she said as she took him in for a hug, dropping her coffee. "I can't believe it's you Seth. How have you been? What are you doing in LA? What are you doing here?"

"Whoa there," Seth said laughing lightly as he returned the hug. "Slow down with the questions."

Alex chuckled. "Sorry, this is just so unexpected."

"A good unexpected right?"

"A great unexpected," confirmed Alex. "Come on. Come join me on my car's hood." The two went and sat on top of Alex's car. "So...what are you doing here?"

"I'm helping out a friend," Seth replied vaguely. Before Alex could say anything, Seth attacked her with a question. "So could you have taken any longer to take a break? Who do you think you are, royalty or something?"

Alex rolled her eyes at Seth's comments. "We're kind of busy. I guess the packed parking lot didn't give that away. Wait-how long have you been here?"

"A couple of hours."

"Why didn't you come inside?"

"Like you said, it's packed. Claustrophobia does not look good on me. Besides, I wanted to take in the air. I seem to be lacking it lately. I like air."

Alex gave him a confused look. "You like air?"

"Yep."

"You want to take in LA air?" Seth nodded and sucked in a huge breath to illustrate his point. "Okay. Whatever you say, Seth. You should've at least told me you were here. I would've taken my break earlier." Alex paused as a thought came into mind. "How did you know I worked here?"

"I didn't. I was in here earlier with that friend I was telling you about. I saw you, but my friend was with me so I figured I'd come back later." A sadden look crossed over Seth's face.

"Hey, what's wrong?"

"Imagine how much my heart was breaking when I realized you're a brunette now. I didn't even recognize you at first. Why Alex? Why?" Seth started sobbing playfully.

Alex gave her friend a playful push. "And I thought something was really wrong."

"Who says it isn't? One of the perks of being your friend was being able to say that I know a hot blonde. A hot blonde bartender. Add the fact that you are also my ex, and I was the man. Now, you're a brunette. How could you, Al? What did the blonde ever do to you?"

"Oh come on, I don't look that bad. I happen to think being a brunette suits me." Alex lifted her chin in smug defiance.

"I didn't say it looked bad," corrected Seth. "A hot blonde just sounds sexier."

"Don't let my son hear you say that."

"Son?" Seth lifted his eyebrow, feigning surprise.

"Mm-hmm."

Seth waited for Alex to elaborate, but she didn't. "So you're married? Engaged?"

"No to both."

"So...?"

"I'll explain later. You know, as I recall, you were quite in love with a certain brunette back then," teases Alex.

A genuine sadness washed over Seth. "A lot has changed since then."

Alex noticed the change in her friend's demeanor. "You and Summer aren't together?" Seth shook his head. "Wow. I always figured you guys would be married with kids by now."

"Me too," Seth said quietly.

Alex put an arm around Seth and gave him a gentle squeeze. "I'm sorry, Seth."

Seth shrugged his shoulders. "What's done is done. Actually, the friend I'm here with happens to be a special friend of mines." It wasn't a complete lie. He did consider Marissa and her friendship to be quite special.

"Really?"

"Yep. In fact, you should meet her. We can do lunch tomorrow." Seth looked at his watch. "Well, technically it's today. You can bring your son."

"Sons," corrected Alex. "That sounds good. How long are you in LA for?"

"Just the weekend."

"Well, then we will definitely have lunch tomorrow. Where are you staying?"

"Memorex Suites."

Alex let out a whistle. "Fancy. Then again, you are from Newport."

"Coincidence, I assure you."

"Uh-huh," replied Alex sarcastically. "Forgive me if I don't believe you. I tell you what. I have to get back to work, but let me give you my number." Alex jotted her number on Seth's hand. "We'll pick you up around noon. Maybe sight see a little. Do a little shopping...give me a chance to feel out this special lady of yours...Sound good?"

"Yep. You want my number too?"

"Yeah, that might prove useful." Seth wrote down his number on her hand as well. "Great. I'll call if we're running late, which we probably will be." Alex hopped off her hood, followed by Seth. "I really gotta go now. I'll see you tomorrow okay?" Seth nodded. Alex gave him a hug and a peck on his cheek. "It really is great seeing you." Alex gave him one more hug before she quickly made her way back to work.

Seth watched as Alex left. Seeing Alex again made him realized just how much he had missed her. So many things went wrong when Alex left. He didn't expect her reemergence to fix things. It wasn't her responsibility, but he hoped it would. Even if everything stayed the same, he'd at least have Alex's friendship again. He now hopes more than ever that things would be okay between her and Marissa. He also hopes that Marissa doesn't kill him when he tells her of their lunch plans.

--

"You did what?!"

Seth cringed at the sound of Marissa's shrieking voice. "Oh you know, I...uh...invited Alex for lunch...?" Seth gave the lanky girl the best hopeful smile he could muster.

"Why would you do that, Seth? I can't believe you did that! What were you thinking?!" It wasn't that Marissa was mad. She was just caught off guard. Deep down she was actually grateful towards Seth. He was able to do what she apparently couldn't. He initiated contact. He talked to her. He was with her, in her presence, not in a car just watching.

Seth knew the girl's reaction was just a result of being scared so he didn't take it personally. Besides, he did do it pretty sneakily. He'd be lying to himself if that thought didn't make him the tiniest bit proud. Well, maybe a lot proud.

"It's going to be okay, Marissa."

Seth's reassuring words were wasted on Marissa. "It's not going to be okay. She agreed to see you, not me. Once she sees me, she'll bolt. She'll run out that door. No, first she'll tell me how much she hates me, then she'll run out the door." Marissa felt her breath quickening, and she started pacing the room. "Oh shit, she's coming here. Here! She's gonna come...we're gonna...and her kids..."

Not wanting to have Marissa go through another panic attack, Seth quickly made his way towards her. He took the brunette into a hug and started rubbing her back as he tried to soothe her. "Hey now, it's going to be okay. Take some deep breaths." Seth waited for Marissa to do so before he continued. "Alex realizing that she's meeting you is definitely going to be something, but you know-it could be a good something. She's a mom now. You of all people should know that even a tiny little baby can be quite life altering. Will brought about a change in you, a good change. Who's to say that Alex's kids haven't done the same for her? She may still have some ill feelings towards you, but perhaps they've lessened a bit. I'm sure her sons keep her busy. She doesn't have time holding onto grudges. At least, I hope not."

"Me too," Marissa added quietly as she took in one final deep breath.

Seth pulled back just enough so that he could see Marissa. "I know that it was probably inconsiderate of me to go and see Alex and just invite her along without letting you know. I just..." Seth ran a hand through his hair as his gaze dropped. "Like I said, I wanted to respect your feelings and everything you're going through at the moment. But it's like you said, she was my friend too, and I couldn't..."

"You don't have to explain yourself," assured Marissa. "You had every right to what you did. I'm sorry I freaked out on you. Forgive me?"

Seth met the brunette's eyes with a smile and nodded. "So we have a few hours to kill. Anything I can do to help relieve you of any stress?"

Marissa chuckled. "I wish. However, I do need to call Ryan Check up on Will."

"Want some privacy?"

"If you don't mind." Seth shook his head and let go of Marissa. As he turned around he felt her hand on his arm. "Don't stray too far, okay?"

"I won't," replied Seth. "Oh, don't forget to call Summer. She'll kill you if you leave her out of the loop. Can't have that happen, especially now." Marissa silently agreed.