Disclaimer: I don't own the O.C. Sure had you fooled, right?

A/N: Sorry for the long delay. Next chapter should be up fairly soon. As always, thanks for reviewing and please continue to do so! Enjoy!

"See you tomorrow, kiddo." Brianna smiled as Sandy kissed her on the cheek.

"See you, Grandpa."

Brianna hugged Kirsten, who blinked furiously but could not keep the tears out of her eyes. "I'm sorry…I can't believe I have a granddaughter who's getting married. Tomorrow!"

"I can't believe I have a great-granddaughter who's getting married tomorrow, Kiki." Caleb slid in between Kirsten and Brianna and hugged his great-granddaughter.

Never having successfully rid herself of the nickname, Kirsten sighed. "Oh, Dad."

"See you tomorrow, Bri." Seth hugged his daughter, who hugged back stiffly. He walked outside.

Brianna turned to her mom. "I don't want him to walk me down the aisle, Mom."

"What?"

"Luke's more of a father to me than Seth's ever been."

"Brianna Rose!" Summer scolded, "Seth is your father, whether you like it or not."

Seth, having forgotten his suit jacket, walked back inside the club.

"He might be my father but it's my wedding and I don't want him in it!" Seth heard Brianna shriek as he made his way back to the room the rehearsal dinner had been held in. She caught his eye and grew quiet. "Dad…"

"You know what?" Seth took a gulp of air. "You're right. I don't deserve to walk you down the aisle. Luke does. And it's your wedding – so, do what you want."

As much as Seth knew the reality in his daughter's words, they still hurt like a hundred bee stings. He was her father, for God's sake. And while Luke had been around to watch Brianna grow up, and was a father figure, per se, Seth was her biological father. And it hurt to see his daughter reject him like that.

Seth grabbed his jacket from the chair he'd left it on and walked back past Brianna and Summer, a forlorn look on his face.

"Seth, wait!" Summer called out to him, but he continued walking without a backwards glance.

"Dad…" Brianna cried, "I want…I didn't mean it like that." With this Seth turned around and stared at his daughter, an exact replica of her mother at that age.

"I want you to be happy," he stated, "And I know you want Luke to walk you down the aisle. Why don't I just skip the wedding altogether? I'm sure neither you nor your mother would give a damn."

Seth's eyes were wet and darkened to a brown-black. His mouth was curved in what seemed to be a permanent frown. Locking eyes with Summer first, then Brianna, Seth was filled with remorse as he reminisced his early days, those happy golden years. When he and Summer had been together; trusting one another and never believing for a second that what they had would one day crumble to the ground.

He continued on his way out of the club. The valet had Seth's car waiting, and he climbed into it and drove away.

Summer wanted so badly to run after her ex-husband, to let him know that she disapproved of her daughter's words, that she wanted him at the wedding and Brianna was just being snotty. Fighting the urge to chase Seth, Summer embraced Brianna, who had tears welling up in her big brown eyes.

"I didn't mean it…Mom, do something! I don't want Daddy to be mad – tell him that I love him…I just…he's never been there for me…but I want him now…" Brianna could barely form a complete sentence, what with the bawling and all.

"Don't worry, sweetie," Summer consoled her, "I'll fix everything. It's not your fault – I'd be so happy if Luke was the one walking you down the aisle…but it's not right. Seth is your father and we need to accept that."

"I know…but Mom, did you see the look on his face? He was, like, heartbroken. I don't think I've ever seen a man look that miserable before."

Yes. Summer had seen that look. She'd seen it oh-so-many years ago – the night she'd thrown Seth out of the house. The night…it wasn't worth bringing up. Old feelings had already arisen from the bottom of Summer's heart, and she didn't want to call upon the awful memories to make an appearance as well.

"Is everything okay?" Brandon had come up behind the Cohen ladies and kissed Brianna's neck. "Why are you crying?"

Summer looked pointedly at Brandon as a fresh wave of tears washed over Brianna. "She's fine." Brandon stared curiously at Summer but nodded his head and shut his mouth. Summer sighed. Brianna was going to be so happy with Brandon. If only she'd made it work with Seth…then she could be happy too…but she'd be happy with Lucas, right?

As if on cue, Lucas walked over to Summer, Brandon, and Brianna. Seeing Brianna bawling, he said, "I'm going to head back to my place, Summer. I'll be over at eleven tomorrow."

Summer kissed her fiancé on the cheek. "I love you," she whispered to him, wondering why the words suddenly turned to dust in her mouth. He ruffled her dark hair affectionately and walked away.

"Love you more," he called over his shoulder. Summer remained silent. It was probably true. In the next moment Summer pinched herself. She didn't know what had gotten into her lately; she was constantly second-guessing her relationship with Luke, and her love for him as well. But there shouldn't have been any doubts in her mind – there was nobody else who could possibly belong to her heart…

Seth drove along the highway, not sure where he was going and not caring where the road took him. He'd blown it. All those years of avoiding Summer and his daughter – his precious flesh – had paid off…but not in a good way. Brianna hated him, considered some other man to be her father. And Summer – surely she agreed with Brianna, whether or not she said the words out loud. How could she not? She'd made it pretty clear that she despised Seth, especially after what he'd done…

Okay. It was over. She'd enticed him and Seth had tried to resist. Really, he did. And then, when he'd tried to come clean about the whole thing, what had Summer done? She'd thrown him out, threatened to kill him (although he knew she probably wouldn't go that far). Seth wasn't so sure that maiming was out of the question in Summer's mind, though.

Seth's cell phone rang, saving him from his ever-present conscience. There wasn't a day when he didn't think about that night, didn't wish that he could go back and change things.

"Hello?"

"Seth…" it was Summer. Shit. She always chose the worst moments in which to call him. And bug him. This weekend was turning into a disaster.

Maybe everyone would be happier if Seth didn't go to Brianna's wedding. He'd change his flight to an earlier one, preferably tomorrow morning, and would be out of everyone's way within a few hours.

"You know what, Summer? Tell Brianna I'm sorry but I won't be able to make it to the wedding. I know I won't be missed, anyways." Seth gave a passing car the finger as the driver honked the horn furiously.

"Seth…she feels terrible. I feel terrible." Summer took a deep breath and inhaled cigarette smoke. Those damned valets were always sneaking cigarettes. She coughed and glared at the nearest country club employee.

"Why the hell do you feel terrible? Because you didn't have the chance to say it yourself? I know I've fucked up my relationship with Brianna, and you, believe me, I know it. I guess I'm just paying for my mistake."

Summer didn't want to say the next words. She really didn't, but they buzzed about in her mouth like bees and she was afraid they'd sting her if she didn't release them. Because with the words she'd be releasing a plethora of buried emotions, ones she was positive would complicate things.

"I feel terrible because I still care about you, Seth. And Cohen? I think you've paid for your mistake at least ten times over. But I guess you don't want to hear this…I just thought…okay, have a safe trip home. I'll tell Brianna you're not coming. Goodbye, Seth." Her voice shook and she hung up the phone, surprised to find tears on her face. Had she really had the guts to say all of that to Seth?

Were the words true? There was no doubt in Summer's mind now that she still cared about Seth. And obviously she cared about him a lot. It just perplexed her, how Seth could come flying into her life after two decades of too few visits and change her mind. Just like that.

There was another problem at hand – Lucas. Summer loved Luke, but she there had always been something about him she didn't like. And now she knew. He wasn't Seth, her ex-husband. And while it all made absolutely no sense in Summer's mind, because, after all, she'd already tried being married to Seth and it hadn't worked, she knew that she'd probably never stopped loving Seth.

Forgiving him…that was another story.

Summer needed to talk to someone. Someone who knew both her and Seth very well but could offer unbiased advice.

Enter Ryan Atwood. He was number three on Summer's speed dial. She listened to the ring, interspersed by buzzing, and knew that he was on the other line. Finally he picked up.

"Hello?"

"Ryan, it's Summer."

"Hey…uh, can I call you back? I'm on the other line."

"With who? You have no friends but me…" and Cohen…Summer thought bitterly.

"Very funny. Listen, I'll call you back later."

"Fine." As soon as she hung up the phone she said, "Sneaky bastard." But she wasn't talking about Ryan.

"Seth? I'm back," Ryan said after hanging up with Summer.

"Who was that? On the other line, I mean," Seth demanded to know. "You have no friends but me…" And Summer. Damn. They had had exactly the same idea. "Nevermind. So, let's get back to the matter at hand."

Summer waited patiently for two minutes before dialing Ryan's number again.

"Hold on, Seth." Ryan put Seth on hold. "Yes, Summer?"

"Are you finished?"

"Do you think I am?"

"Call me back before ten-thirty, Ryan." Summer hung up. Damn that Cohen. Why did he have to go stealing her ideas after all these years? Still, it warmed her heart a few degrees to know that Seth was probably pouring his heart out to Ryan, just as she would soon do.