Disclaimer: I don't own any of the original characters, plots or concepts of the OC. Everything else is all mine!

A/N: Thankyou everyone for your reviews, I really enjoyed reading the boy/girl poll, and you have decided for me, which is great, cos it takes the pressure of me. So thanks!

I'm really really sorry about the long time between updates. I was at the coast, and left the day I posted and only just got back. I had no internet, or computer for that matter, but I was so determined that I wrote the chapter out by hand, then copied it as soon as I got home.

I apologise if there are any mistakes, I haven't really read over it very well.

Also, I haven't had any time to reply to reviews like I normally do. I know I usually reply before I update, but I've had no time, and I thought people would rather get a new chapter, so here it is. So if I don't get back to you for the last chapter, I really appreciated all the reviews and they made me so so happy, so thankyou so much everyone.

Sorry about the huge author's note, it won't happen again. Enjoy!

CHAPTER 10: BLAST FROM THE PAST

Dr Pacey started gently moving the ultrasound wand around, pausing every so often to take a picture. As tie went on, Summer started getting anxious. In all the TV shows she watched, people found out almost straight away. Why was it taking so long?

Noticing Summer's obvious discomfort, Seth decided to step up and say,

"Dr Pacey, it's taking a while. Is everything OK?"

"Yes, everything's fine, but I'm having a hard time getting a good angle here. Your baby's legs are shut tight and don't seem to be budging."

"What does that mean?"

"I'm not sure I can tell you the sex of the baby, because I just can't get a good look."

"So we don't get to find out if it's a boy or girl?" Summer had really been looking forward to this moment, and it wasn't going according to plan.

"I'm afraid not. Maybe at your next scan in one month the baby will have shifted position enough to tell us more."

"Can't you have a look at their face and see if it's like dainty or manly or something?"

"Sorry Summer, it doesn't quite work that way. Our ultrasound equipment isn't that detailed or accurate, and newborn babies often look quite alike, regardless of their gender."

"So we have to wait?"

"It looks that way. Now I'll schedule you for another appointment in about a month and we'll have to see if we have better luck then."

"Thankyou." Summer and Seth left the doctors office hand in hand and were silent the whole way to the car. When they got inside, Seth didn't start the engine, and Summer made no attempt to hurry him up.

"I can't believe we have to wait a whole month."

"Do you think it's a sign?"

"What?"

"Like, we weren't agreeing on whether to find out the sex of the baby or not. Maybe it's a sign that we weren't supposed to know."

"You're just saying that because you didn't get your way."

"No I'm not. You got me pretty excited before, convincing me we should find out. I was almost as excited as you were. But maybe we're not supposed to. Maybe it's Jesus' or Moses' way of saying we should wait."

"I guess I see where you're coming from. But I really, really want to find out. How about we wait until next month? Then we can make a decision then." Summer wasn't willing to give up her wants quite so easily, and was secretly hoping Seth would cave in by the time the next appointment rolled around.

"But for now, to take your mind off things, we can go home and pack, cos I know how much enjoyment you get from that."

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

The next few hours were spent busily packing and organising things before their flight to Newport later that afternoon. As usual, they had left everything until the last minute, and ended up running late. As was the normal way with everything as of late.

It wasn't really until they had passed security that it dawned on Summer what she was about to do. She was about to go back to her home of 26 years. Granted, she had only been away for a month and a half, but it felt like a lot longer. Maybe it was because now she was a lot bigger, and you can miss somewhere more if there was more of you to miss it with. Not that that made any sense.

Either way, she was looking forward to it. A lot.

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

"There they are! Hurry up Cohen!"

After four and a half hours of sitting down in a very small, uncomfortable chair, the last thing Seth wanted to do was run, but it seemed like Summer was that excited, she might just race away. She was surprisingly very sprightly and wiry for an almost six months pregnant woman. Seth had to almost physically restrain her to slow her down.

'Calm down Summ! They'll still be there in 30 seconds." He slung his arm casually around her waist. "And besides, I don't want you running. We don't want to hurt baby Cohen do we?"

Both Summer and Seth had taken to saying baby Cohen, as if it were his/her title. Maybe that could be its name…

They reached their closest friends, obviously Ryan and Marissa, and the boys watched on as the girls hugged like they hadn't seen each other in years. It had only been six weeks.

"Oh my God Coop! I missed you so much!"

"You've gotten so big Summ! I can't believe you're here!"

As they hugged again, Seth casually strolled over to Ryan, trying hard not to look in any way eager.

"Hey man, how's it going?"

Ryan in return sent a quizzical look over at the girls. No words were needed to know what he was thinking.

"I know, right? They're behaving like we've been stranded for years." Seth was trying to pretend that he too wasn't overjoyed, but he couldn't suppress the wide beaming smile that appeared on his face. He shook Ryan's hand before Ryan spoke his first words of the day.

"Do you think we should hug it out?"

"I don't know, it'd be fitting I guess."

"Seth, I know you want to."

"Come here buddy." His smile still beaming, he quickly hugged Ryan (in a very manly way) before catching up with Summer and Marissa, who were gossiping about everything that had happened in Newport.

As they walked to the car, Seth's arm was wrapped protectively around Summer's shorter shoulders, and Ryan was whispering something in Marissa's ear. It really was just like old times, and if no one knew different, they'd swear it was still 2003. Unlike many friendships, theirs hadn't fizzled out over the years, and they were as strong as ever. The Core Four for all time.

"Cohen, have I told you how much I love Newport?"

"I think just a few times, yeah."

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

As expected, Sandy and Kirsten were ecstatic that one of their two sons was home for the weekend. They had planned meals and a party, not wanting to waste their precious time together. As the six of them ate lunch together, the same thought was running through everyone's heads.

This would be the last time Summer and Seth would ever be in Newport without kids again. Summer was getting close to her third trimester, where she couldn't travel by plane, and Seth was trying to save up his leave. The next time Sandy, Kirsten, Ryan and Marissa would see Summer and Seth, they would have a brand new baby to show off, and their whole relationship would be changed.

They couldn't afford to be selfish and do things just they wanted to do. Every decision would have taken into consideration their baby, and nothing would be about just them anymore.

Never a fan of silence, Seth was happy to speak up.

"So, what's been happening in Newport? I see the Thai food's as good as always."

"Seth, you've been gone for six weeks." Kirsten was marvelling at her son's attempt to start a conversation, probably just to hear the sound of his own voice.

"I know it's only been six weeks, but it feels like more." Turning attention away from Seth, Kirsten focused on Summer.

"Summer, how's everything going? Are you having any back pain or anything?"

"Not back pain yet. But baby Cohen's started kicking and it seems like they won't stop."

"Yeah," Seth piped up again, "It seems like they're going to be a soccer star one day. It's unbelievable." He was smiling over at Summer and she reached out to take his hand.

Kirsten once again marvelled at his son. He had grown so much from the awkward, anti-social sarcastic boy into a loving, attentive husband, who found his greatest joy in looking over at his wife or thinking of his baby.

And it seemed like New York had changed him as well. Maybe not obvious changes but he was just a bit more protective of Summer, and a little bit more attentive. He seemed to not be picking arguments with Summer anymore, but smoothing things down and being a mediator.

It was hard to imagine he had grown just that much.

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

"So, things seem really good between you and Summer."

Ryan and Seth were floating on the infamous blue and white stripy chairs in the Cohen's infinity pool (although they had been replaced more than once.)

It was Summer Seth's last day in Newport, and they had had so much fun.

"Of course they are, why wouldn't they be?"

"You called me up last week in a panic that you pissed her off and didn't know where she was. Remember?"

"Oh yeah. We took care of that ages ago. It's in the past man. That's old news."

Their conversation was interrupted by Summer, walking out of the poolhouse and coming towards them. Seth had promised to take Summer for a walk on the beach, and the time had come.

"Are you ready Cohen?" Summer was wearing a light, billowing yellow dress, which went down to her knees. Her long, wavy hair was left loose and her face was free of make-up. She looked radiant.

"I'm getting up right now." He rushed over to his towel and hastily dried himself. Their plane left at 5, and it was already 2. They didn't have much time left, and Summer really wanted to go for a walk.

They left the house and walked the familiar route to the beach, seeing the Cooper's old house, and where Seth used to keep his boat. Summer was upset and nostalgic, because it was the last time they'd be back in Newport for ages. And Seth was pretty sad too.

They reached the warm, white sand and felt the familiar sensation of grains between their toes. They heard the waves of the turquoise ocean crashing against the rocks, and the seabirds dancing above their heads.

They were walking hand in hand, treasuring these last moments on the beach, before they returned to the chilly winter of New York.

Summer was the first to speak up.

"I didn't realise how much I missed Newport.'

"Me either. I mean, I spent the first half of my life planning ways to escape this stupid town, but now that it's happened…"

"You realised just how much you loved it?"

"Yeah. Newpsies and everything."

"And I love New York Cohen, don't get me wrong."

"But it's no Newport."

"It's no Newport."

Summer let out an involuntary shiver, and Seth wrapped his arms around her.

"Are you cold? Is this helping?"

"Not really. New York's way colder than this."

Seth kissed the top of her head, and they kept walking.

"Do you realise where we're standing?" Seth had suddenly stopped, halting Summer with him.

"A random stretch of beach?"

"This is where you first talked to me. At Holly's beach party."

"I don't remember that."

"I know you don't, but luckily I remember every moment I've spent with you. Anyway, then we came here again the night before Ryan left."

"Oh yeah."

They kept walking, stopping every so often to point out a significant spot.

"And that's where we made up on Valentine's Day."

"And that's where we came after graduation."

"That night was fun."

They eventually came to perhaps the most important stretch of all.

"And this is where we got engaged." Seth was standing in a secluded area of the beach, cut off from everyone else by a weird arrangement of rocks.

"Of course I remember that."

Seth thought back to his proposal. It was pretty cheesy and cliché, complete with champagne and lobster, but it didn't quite turn out as smoothly as he had hoped.

He had brought the champagne with him, and put it down behind where he and Summer were sitting. She leant over to kiss him, and he completely forgot about everything else. When the kiss deepened and he leant backwards, his hand landed on the bottle, and before he knew it, it had smashed, sending champagne everywhere and creating a huge gash on the back of his hand.

Seth grew faint from the blood and Summer had to drive him to the hospital to get 7 stitches. She got blood and champagne all over her top, and had to help Seth to the car because he became such a wuss around blood.

Then, when they were halfway to the hospital, Seth said, "Damn, Summ, this is all going wrong. This was supposed to be perfect, and you'd have a great time and then I was gonna propose, and…shit." When he figured out what he'd just revealed to her, he didn't need to look at her face to tell what was going on. She pulled over the car and said, "What?"

"I was gonna propose, cos Summer Roberts, I want you to marry me." Then deciding he had nothing to lose, went on, "I need you in my life, will you marry me?"

Although it wasn't exactly how he planned it, the night couldn't have turned out any better. She said yes, of course, and they had a great story to tell everyone how it happened. Plus, he had a big scar on the back of his hand that would always remind him of that night.

Seth was suddenly bought back to reality by Summer saying, "I can't believe it happened so long ago."

He leaned over and engulfed her in a hug.

"You know, that ended up being the best night."

"I know what you mean."

He looked at his watch and realised it was time to go. After all, he still needed to be at work the next morning, there were responsibilities.

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

"Bye Coop, bye Chino!" Summer and Seth were once again at the airport, saying their final goodbyes to Ryan and Marissa, who had once again taken them to the airport.

"Bye Summ! I'll miss you so much!"

this was worse than when they first left, because this time they knew it would be a while before seeing each other again. In Newport anyway.

"Come on sweetie, we have to go."

The final boarding call for their plane was a while ago, and he Seth didn't want to miss the flight, no matter how much he wanted to stay in Newport.

"OK, bye everyone!"

Everyone hugged one last time, and they handed their tickets to the attendant.

This was a feeling Summer didn't want to keep having.

Standing in an airport, waving goodbye to all the people and the town she loved.

She wouldn't be back in Newport for ages, and she was really going to miss it.

And maybe next time they visited, along with baby Cohen, it would be even harder to say goodbye to everything once again.

A/N: That whole baby with the legs shut thing might seem really random and strange, but it happened to my friend, and I know other people it's happened to as well, so it's not as random as it sounds.

And don't worry, you will find out the sex in the next couple of days. I'll try really hard to get another chapter up soon.

Please review! It'll just the ammunition I need to get me going.