The Chrismukkah Bar Mitz-Vakkah
By Somebody's Angel
…I can be the one to show you
Everything you missed before
Just hold on now, cause I can be the one to give you more
Let you know
Anytime you need love baby I'm on your side (hey)
Just let me be the one I can make it alright (I can make it alright)
Anytime you need love baby you're in my heart
I can make it alright
As Seth swayed to the music, he gazed around the room and thanked Moses that he had been given a do-over Bar Mitzvah. Watching the video of his first one had brought back all the memories, and he had felt the younger Seth's pain as he watched himself watch people dance to the very song he was now listening to.
Summer leaned her head on his arm, and he wondered if she had had fun at Luke's paint ball party, wondered if she had spared a thought for the other thirteen-year-old whose event she had promised to attend. It's all alright now, though, he thought, moving his hand from around her shoulders to stroke her hair, everything always works out in the end.
Relishing the touch of his hand on her head, Summer speculated what would have happened if she had gone to Seth's Bar Mitzvah as she had intended – would they have found the kind of love they had now, or would it have been a childhood fling…would she have ever noticed him as anything more than a friend?
Later she watched Seth and Marissa dance with their respective mothers. The love and approval she saw in Kirsten and Julie's eyes made her feel even sadder, knowing that her own mother's eyes had never reflected anything close to the same emotions for her only daughter. "I just wasn't ready to be a mother, baby. And I know you'll be better off without me. I'll always love you, baby, please remember that." Madeline Roberts' last words to her daughter echoed in Summer's mind, and she was reminded of why she hated the nickname 'baby'.
"The holidays are hard, aren't they?" A voice came from beside her, and Summer knew that he was the only one who could come close to understanding what she was feeling at the moment.
"Yeah." She replied, turning to face Ryan, who was sitting in the chair next to her. "But now we have new people to fill the holes left by those who are gone." She purposely said 'fill the holes' instead of 'replace' because even though her mother had never been a real mother, there was no one who could completely replace Madeline in her heart.
Even as she spoke the words she could feel the walls closing in on her, "Can you do me a favor?" She continued without waiting for his affirmation, knowing that he would do almost anything she asked, "When Seth comes to find me" – As they both knew he would – "tell him I've gone home." Ryan's face was a mask of confusion, so she elaborated, "I just…I can't deal with the crowd at the moment, I need to be alone."
She was gone before Ryan could ask whether 'alone' meant by herself or alone with Seth. He shrugged, figuring that Seth could deal with her when he followed her home, as he would inevitably do, as he always did when she left without telling him.
An hour or two later Summer awoke to the feeling that she was being watched. The damp blue pillow and the itchiness of her eyes told her she had fallen asleep crying. She rubbed them absentmindedly, and the figure she could sense but not see moved towards her. She didn't want to move; for fear that the person in the room would see her and harm her somehow.
A weight on the bed and a hand hovering so close to her back that she could feel the heat emanating from it. The second she felt the touch she was at ease, knowing that it was him.
"Summer?"
She rolled onto her side, and saw Seth sitting next to her, rubbing her back softly. His eyes were red-rimmed, and he looked tired.
"What are you doing here?" She asked him.
"I could ask you the same thing."
"How did you find me?"
He slowly put his arms around her and pulled her into his body, holding her close. He kissed the top of her head and ran his fingers through her hair.
"Cohen?"
"Ryan told me you wanted to be alone, but you weren't at your house. I checked the beach and the pier…nothing." She smiled slightly, amused at how well he knew her, how he knew all the places she felt safe yet could also be alone. "I finally figured out that maybe you'd come here. I was really worried that something had happened to you. When I couldn't find you, I felt sick to my stomach." He squeezed her body a little tighter, kissed her temple lightly, and rested his chin on top of her head.
Summer's heart began to ache, and a few more tears slid down her cheeks. "Cohen. I'm fine. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to worry you."
"I'm just glad you're okay, Summer. Don't apologize."
The two remained quiet for a few more minutes while holding onto each other. Seth worrying what had caused her to run out on a party she had helped plan, only to come to his room and cry herself to sleep. Summer marvelling at how comforting it was to simply lie in his arms, not saying anything – it seemed he always knew how to make her feel better, whether it be a joke or reassuring words or a simple hug.
Finally she spoke, knowing from his squirming that he was about to say something totally trivial just to break the silence, and that if he did the moment would be broken and she would probably never build the courage to say what she was about to say. "I had every intention of going to your first Bar Mitzvah, you know."
Whatever Seth had been expecting her to say, it wasn't that. "What?" His hand unconsciously stopped stroking her back, so she wiggled a little and didn't speak until he started again – the soothing rhythm was helping steel her resolve.
"Although, I admit, I did ask to go to Luke's birthday party, but my dad wouldn't let me go coz I'd already RSVP'd to you. So it would have been just you and me, and I would have been forced to notice you. I wonder what would have happened with us if I had noticed you way back then."
Seth snorted, "I highly doubt we'd be like this. You probably would have either sat with me for the party and then gone back to ignoring me at school, or else become a friend…but at thirteen I think love was a bit too much to hope for."
"Why? You've loved me since you were what? Ten?" Summer retorted, turning in his embrace.
"Well, yeah, but…" Seth couldn't think of a way to explain his reasoning without getting slapped, so he changed the subject. "So what happened?"
She didn't need him to clarify; such was the depth of their connection, "My mom left." She said simply, and Seth didn't need any more explanation than that, pulling her closer and kissing her lightly. She buried her face in his shoulder and cried some more, though she had no idea what she was actually crying about.
Seth didn't speak, even when he felt her tears seep through his shirt, merely tangling his legs with hers and touching his head to hers, trying to give her as much contact – and therefore comfort – as possible.
I look into your eyes, and I feel it coming through
And I can't help but want you more than I want to
So baby take all of your fears, and cast them all on me
'Cause all I ever wanted is just to make you see
That I could be the one to give you
All that you've been searching for
Just hold on to my love, and baby let me give you more
You know, anytime
Anytime you need love baby I'm on your side (on the side)
Just let me be the one I can make it alright (I can make it alright)
Anytime you need love baby you're in my heart
I can make it alright
A few moments later Summer slowly pulled away, wiping her eyes. She smiled brightly at Seth, all thoughts of her mother forgotten. He knew she was okay now, knew that her 'weepy' mood only ever lasted as long as the tears were flowing, and she would be back to snippy, happy Summer the instant they ceased.
"So Cohen, I still need to give you your Chrismukkah present." She pulled away fully, moving to stand on the bed in front of him. This was the first Chrismukkah they would share as a couple, and it was an important moment for them – their relationship had been going strong for almost seven months now, and this holiday was almost as important as their six-month anniversary had been…it was the favorite holiday of both Seth and Summer.
"I hear you like comic books, Cohen." She said saucily, and Seth had a sudden flashback to this time two years ago, when she had spoken those exact words just moments before she and Anna had forced him to choose.
She slowly undid her zipper – behind her back this time, not under her arm, as it had been the first time – to reveal an outfit that was still the subject of many of his fantasies. "Merry Christmas."
He was unable to stop his mouth from falling open, "Oh, my god."
Wonder Summer, as he had taken to calling her in his dreams, lassoed him and he willingly walked towards her as she reeled him in. Just before their lips met he spoke, "I didn't know you kept this."
She only "Mmm"ed against his lips before meeting them in the most passionate kiss either had ever experienced. It was as if he was consuming her. She felt as though all her senses had been heightened to focus on and receive the kiss. Seth responded eagerly, knowing that her sudden mood swings would have increased her emotions ten-fold.
He pressed her gently against the wall while their tongues tangled and she fumbled with his belt. She hooked her legs around his hips as his pants dropped to the floor and he moved his lips to her jaw, both their hands roaming below the waist.
And now there's no way out
And I can't help the way I feel
'Cause baby you're the fire and I'll be waiting right here
You know my love is real, baby
Yeah yeah yeah
Summer was still groggy when her alarm clock went off. She swatted toward the noise with her hand, hoping to hit the snooze button, finally achieving success after several tries – it seemed to be in a different place than usual. She snuggled her pillow closer and tried to savor the last few moments before wakefulness fully overtook her and her alarm went off again. She had almost fallen back asleep when she felt an arm pull her against a warm male body and a pair of lips began peppering her neck. She let out a yelp and almost bolted out of bed before she realized it was Seth.
She turned to face him and he looked at her curiously as she tried to get her heart rate under control. "Dammit, you scared the hell out of me."
Seth looked slightly confused. "I'm sorry?"
She started to laugh. "No, I'm sorry, Cohen. I forgot I was here. You scared me." She reached up and tousled his hair.
He wrinkled his brow. "I worked very hard on my hair, and now you've gone and messed it up."
She giggled. "Honey, I hate to be the one to tell you, but it was already messed up, but you're damn cute."
He grinned leaning towards her. "I'm glad you think so."
She ran her thumb over his lower lip. "I love you."
Seth chuckled with a wide grin on his face as he leaned down to kiss her. He ran his hand down her arm and rested it on her bare hip. "Me too." He whispered against her lips.
The kiss was brief, but intense, and when their lips parted he laid his head on her chest. She ran absent fingers through his hair as they remembered their best Chrismukkah together.
…FLASHBACK…
Both satiated, Summer lowered her legs to the floor and kissed him again. Seth steered her to the bed and picked up his suit jacket from his desk where she had thrown it. It was the only item of clothing that had been fully removed during their tryst, and Seth's hormones were beginning to take control once again as he watched Summer sitting on his bed in that outfit. He extracted a long box from the inside jacket pocket, and turned to face her.
She breathed a sigh of relief when she saw the long box – for a moment there she had been afraid he was about to give her a ring, and she had no idea what she would have said if he had.
He sat next to her and slowly opened the box. The gasp escaped her mouth a millisecond before she covered it with her hands. Seth extracted the jewelry from the blue velvet box and put it on her.
They both stared at the shining platinum for a minute before simultaneously moving to look into one another's eyes. Tears were shimmering in Summer's eyes once again, but Seth recognized them for what they were – happy tears. She kissed him hard, a whispered "thank you" touching his lips an instant before her lips did.
It was a bracelet. A gorgeous platinum charm bracelet. Seth held her hand as he pointed out what the charms meant. A squirrel – somewhat on the skinny side – hung next to a tiny mermaid, while a coiled whip – "Little Miss Vixen," was his only explanation – neighboured a sun charm and a little rectangle that, according to Seth, "represents both your shopping addiction and your spoiled-ness". A silver '4' symbolized their friendship with Ryan and Marissa, whilst a minute stethoscope was to remind her of her father and their close relationship.
"And this," Seth continued, taking a small bag out of another pocket, "this one is for us." The final charm was two interlinked hearts, with S4S engraved on the back.
"Omigod Seth, it's beautiful." Summer finally found her voice, though she was unable to say anything further as she watched him attach the hearts on the link in the very middle of the chain.
"I love it." She said when Seth raised his eyes to hers, "And I really love you." The emotion in her brown depths emphasised her words, "More than I can express, it's like I…I just feel so much for you, and you mean more to me than anyone else, and…you show me in your actions, your words, your expressions, what you feel for me, and I'm sorry I can't always do the same…" She trails off and kisses him softly but intensely.
They lay back on the bed, smiling and holding onto one another and the night and the moment. Staring into eyes identical to their own, they traded soft kisses and caresses, speaking and saying more with the movement of their lips and the tips of their fingers than words would allow them to say. There were no words to describe their feelings. The one word 'love' meant too little for what it was. It meant everything and it was still not enough, didn't communicate even a fraction of the feelings involved.
Eventually their clothes disappeared and they were making love. It was an exact opposite of earlier, against the wall; that had been fast and hard and lustful – driven by Seth's fantasy. This time was slow and sensuous, and Summer could feel how much he loved her in his movements. His lips were always on her skin, whether it was lips, breast or cheek, and with each movement a new endearment stroked her skin moments before his lips did.
Anytime you need love baby I'm on your side, you know
Just let me be the one I can make it alright
(I can make it al, make it al, make it alright)
Anytime you need love baby you're in my heart
I can make it alright, yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah
Anytime you need love baby I'm on your side (I'm on your side)
Just let me be the one
(let me be the one let me be the one let me be the one alright)
Anytime you need love baby you're in my heart (you're in my heart)
I can make it alright
…END FLASHBACK…
"Cohen?" Summer's voice broke the tranquillity, and the expression on Seth's face indicated he was about to comment, but a look from Summer caused the words to dissolve in his mouth – it wasn't as if he'd never disturbed serenity with inane ramblings, and more often than not Summer had a good reason when she did it. "I never gave you the other half of your present."
"Summer, that present was beyond awesome." He began to protest, but she silenced him with a finger over his mouth as she moved off the bed.
"It's not like I've never given you my body before." She said bluntly, and he blinked hard, "The real present is this one." She pulled a gaily-wrapped package out from behind her back and thrust it at him, resuming her seat next to him.
It was only partially unwrapped when he turned into a goldfish. Mouth opening and closing with no words coming out, eyes bugged out at her.
She took the parcel into her lap and finished extracting it from the colorful paper. "You do know what it is, right?" Her voice was uncertain; he hadn't yet shown any indication of like or dislike.
"Are you kidding?" He finally found his voice, and it came back with a vengeance, "Summer…I can't believe you did this. It must have taken you ages to find, there's only a few copies left in circulation, even at Comicon this episode was legend." He raised the comic book off the bed, staring at it in awe, "The original run of Spiderman, episode 17, the first appearance of the Green Goblin." He switched his gaze to his girlfriend, who still looked unsure of herself. "Jay, this is the best present anyone's ever given me, and that includes my 14th birthday, when I got a PS2. I love you. So much." He kissed her firmly, then the two of them lay back on the bed to read the plastic-encased pages of Seth's new comic book.
THE END
So sorry this has taken so long! First my muse, Kelsey, went on a New Year's bender a week late, then he went on holiday. Now he's back and roaring to go, but I'm off to Hamilton Island, and will be unable to get to a computer until I get back. I will be writing though, and will hopefully finish/almost finish the new chapter of Seceding Link.
I'm stepping lightly with the issue of Summer's mother – though I do have my theories, as everyone does, I'm trying to keep this as close to canon as possible, and I'm sure more will be revealed about the first Mrs Roberts in the near future. And as for the comment one reviewer made about the closeness of Summer and Ryan, don't worry, I'll never put them together romantically! I just want to show how their relationship has evolved and grown into an actual friendship, like we've seen with Seth and Marissa on the show (think 2.04).
I don't have any idea about Spiderman or comic books in general; I was inspired by the Coyote Ugly scene where Adam Garcia gets a Phantom comic with the first appearance of the Punisher.
Did you guys like my presents? One of the other reasons this took so long was I couldn't decide what the gifts should be beside the Wonder Woman costume. Finally a friend took pity on me and gave me some ideas.
Song is Anytime by Kelly Clarkson.
Finally, after my longest author's note ever, I ask you to please push that…we authors really need to come up with a universal color for that pretty little review button down there. Purple? Mauve? Blue? Indigo? Whatev, reviews make me write faster, peeps!