Disclaimer: I don't own anything regarding "The O.C." nor am I affiliated with any of the cast and characters used in the story. Anyone or anything that you don't recognize is mine, and anyone and anything else that you do recognize is not mine.
Note: I'm really sorry for not being able to update. I was stumped with projects and midterms, and I really just did not have the time to work on the story. Anyway, here's the new chapter, and thanks for still reading. I'm hoping to get another chapter out in the middle of the week, so look for that around Wednesday or Thursday.
Against All Odds
Chapter 21 – And After All, You're My
Wonderwall
"Ryan, how do I look?"
"If Summer cared only about the way you look, she would probably leave you at the altar."
"Thanks man," Seth said as he pulled off his tie. "You're a great help."
"Would you relax?"
"How can I relax?" Seth said. "In a couple of hours or so, I am going to be marrying Summer Roberts."
"Seth, look at me."
"Ryan…"
"Look at me, or I'll punch some sense into you."
"Okay."
"Breathe."
Seth took a deep breath, and sure enough, he felt a lot calmer.
"It's going to be fine."
"Remember when I first told you about Summer?"
"You were telling me about the Summer Breeze and how you named it after her. I thought you were one of those quiet, romantic types, but afterwards you told me that she didn't know, so then I thought that you were creepy."
"Can you believe it? I'm marrying her. Me."
"I wouldn't have years ago, but you two deserve each other. You make her happy. She makes you happy. It's an equal opportunity relationship."
"If only I could fix this tie…"
"Let me help you with that, and as for your hair, well, you're the master of the Jew-fro, so I won't touch it."
"It does look kind of…"
"Bad?"
"I was thinking more along the lines of unkempt, but whatever."
After three months of preparing for the wedding and everything else in between, their wedding day had finally arrived. Summer still had no matching donor, but she was getting better. Her hair had grown a bit, but it was still too short. Marissa managed to convince her to wear a wig. She had one specifically made to match her hair color and usual hairstyle. As she looked at her reflection in the mirror, it was hard to imagine that she was sick a few months ago.
"You look so pretty," Marissa said all teary-eyed.
"Coop, stop," Summer said. "You're going to make me cry."
"I'm sorry," she replied. "I can't believe you're finally getting married, and to Seth Cohen nonetheless."
"I didn't even know he existed until Ryan showed up, or more specifically, until you started hanging out with Ryan."
"You thought he was so annoying."
"Well, he was annoying, and sometimes he still is," Summer laughed. "He followed me around, and back then, being seen with the likes of Cohen was almost as bad as a fashion faux pas."
"It was definitely a life-altering year for both of us."
"Cohen really got under my skin as much as I hated to admit it. It's a shame how it took Anna being there for me to finally admit it to myself."
"It's kind of romantic. He liked you for so long, and he even named a boat after you. Kind of stalkerish, but cute."
"A lot has certainly changed."
"Only a few more minutes left," Marissa said giddily.
"Don't remind me."
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"Ryan?
"What now Seth?"
"My feet are cold," he said worriedly. "I'm not having cold feet, am I?"
"Seth…"
"Yeah?"
"Put on your shoes."
"Oh."
"Get a grip, man!"
"I'm sorry. I can't help it. I keep thinking that I'm dreaming."
"For the last time, you are not dreaming."
"But how would you know?"
"I can prove it to you," Ryan said as he showed Seth his clenched fist.
"I think I'm awake now."
"I bet Summer is taking this a lot better than you."
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"I think I'm going to throw up."
"Stop it!"
"We're you this nervous when you got married."
"I was too busy keeping it from everyone to be nervous."
"That was very clever," Summer said. "Maybe Cohen and I should elope…"
"Would you please stop it?"
"I don't know why I'm so nervous. I mean, it's only Cohen, right?"
"Right?"
"I'm going to screw this up."
"I bet Seth is taking this a lot better than you."
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Before the ceremony started, Ryan and Marissa met up in the lobby as the guests started taking their seats.
"How did it go?" Ryan asked.
"I think I much would have rather been with Seth."
"I would have rather been with Summer."
"It was that bad, huh?"
"I guess yours didn't go as well either."
"I should have figured that they'd both be total wrecks."
"At least they're both calm now."
"I'm so excited."
"No kidding," Ryan smiled.
"I haven't even attending a Jewish-Christian wedding before."
"Me neither."
"I always thought Summer would have a huge wedding."
"I always thought Seth would never have one," Ryan joked until Marissa elbowed him slightly. "I'm kidding. I admit that it's kind of strange how we had more guests than them."
Summer and Seth opted for a low-key ceremony after a long discussion, with the guest list limited to around fifty close friends and relatives. The ceremony was actually being held at Caleb's mansion since Seth's house was still looking like New York City. As for the whole Jewish-Christian ceremony, Summer decided to incorporate both religions, while Seth was adamant that he would be in charge of the musical selection.
"Go take your place," Marissa told Ryan before kissing his cheek. "I'll see you again in a bit."
"You look nice by the way."
"So do you."
The guests were already seated as Ryan and Seth, along with the Justice of the Peace, Richard Minor. Among the guests were the Nana, Caleb and Julie, Caitlin Cooper, Jimmy, Hailey, and their two sons, Zack, Lindsay, and their three children, Neil Roberts and his wife, a few college roommates and colleagues of Summer and Seth, Seth's secretary Jessica O'Neal, and both Dr. Barry and Dr. Abney.
"Are you feeling better?"
"I was before you asked," Seth told Ryan.
Ryan watched as Marissa walked down the aisle with a smile on her face. He turned to Seth who was obviously waiting for Summer to appear. Ryan was about to say something, but he figured that Seth would not be able to hear him anyway. In that instant, Summer walked in a white fitted sheath with wrapped bodice and tie back. The gown had wide set straps and a godeted skirt.
"Wow…" Seth uttered softly as Summer continued to approach him. Ryan and Marissa looked at each other and just smiled at their friends. Summer was fully aware that Seth's jaw dropped when he saw her, but she kept her composure and kept her grin to a minimum. Once she reached the front of the aisle, Seth took one of her hands.
"Hi."
"Hi."
The ceremony went by rather quickly, at least for both of them. The ceremony included the ecumenical prayer, the drinking of the wine ceremony with a prayer in Hebrew and in English, and the lighting of the unity candle. They opted to have the exchange of vows at the end.
"I guess it's fitting that I go first this time, because from the beginning, it was you who pursued me. On the other hand, I thought you were crazy, and now, I'm crazy in love with you. Why I love you is such a hard question to answer. I love you because you care for me so much like no one else I know. I love the way I feel in your arms, so safe from all the dangers in the world. I love your eyes… so hypnotic and mesmerizing… so beautiful to gaze into, and yet never revealing everything to me. Finally, I have found a place into which I fit perfectly, safely, and securely, with no doubts, no fears, no sadness, and no tears. This place is filled with happiness and laughter, yet it is spacious enough to allow me the freedom to move around, to live my life, and to be myself. This wonderful place, which I never believed really existed, I have found, finally... inside your arms, inside your heart, and inside your love. I can't explain every way that I love you, Cohen, because it's impossible, but I can say this: I love you because you're you."
Seth held Summer's hand as he started to say his vows. As if he wasn't choked up enough from her speech, he had to say his vow, which made controlling his emotions harder.
"Even as I stand before you now, I still can't believe that this is all real. You're Summer Roberts. That's the only way to describe it, and the thought of you meant more to me than anything else. How can I tell people how my heart feels? It's indescribable. How can I explain the way I feel when I see that person? God, Jesus, Moses, it is just amazing, simply amazing that someone could be as lucky as me and find the greatest girl in the entire world. The best woman there is and the sweetest person I know. Thanks for giving me a chance over and over again. I'm going to live my life to be the kind of man that you deserve. Summer, you are my love, my soul mate, my Juliet. I love you with all my heart! No matter what, it will always be you and me forever. I love you."
At this point, not only were the bride and the groom crying, but also all the guests were tearing up. Marissa wiped her eyes, sneaking a peek at Ryan who managed to control his emotions. Summer and Seth said their "I dos" momentarily and then exchanged rings.
"Just as two threads woven in opposite directions will form a most beautiful tapestry, so too can your two lives merged together make a beautiful marriage," the Justice of the Peace began to say. "To make your relationship work will take love. This is the core of your marriage and why you are here today. It will take trust… to know in your hearts that you truly want the best for each other. It will take dedication… to stay open to one another and to learn and grow together. It will take faith… to go forward together without knowing exactly what the future brings. And it will take commitment… to hold true to the journey you both pledge today to share together."
He then asked the guest to say a silent prayer for both Summer and Seth. After a pause, he continued with his speech.
"May the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious unto you. May the Lord lift up his countenance unto to you, and give you peace."
Ryan then placed the bottle, wrapped in a white cloth, at Seth's feet. After Seth broke it, the guests applauded.
"Congratulations, you may kiss your bride!"
Seth was more than happy to comply as he pulled Summer in for a kiss.
"It is my privilege to be the first to present Mr. and Mrs. Seth Cohen."
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The ceremony was followed by a lot of pictures taken between each of the families. It was a bittersweet moment for Seth since his parents obviously could not enjoy the moment with him.
"I know," Summer whispered once the picture taking was done. "I miss them too."
Seth gave her a smile and kissed the top of her head. It was uncanny how she could read his mind. They stood still for a moment, just holding each other, until a familiar tune played.
"It's our song," Summer gushed.
"Mrs. Cohen, may I have this first dance?"
"Yes, you may."
Today is
gonna be the day
That they're gonna give it back to you
By now
you should've somehow
Realized what you gotta do
I don't
believe that anybody
Feels the way I do about you now
Backbeat the
word was on the street
That the fire in your heart is out
And
I'm sure you've heard it all before
But you never really had a
doubt
I don't believe that anybody feels
The way I do about you
now
And all the
roads we have to walk are winding
And all the lights that lead the
way are blinding
There are many things that I would
Like to say
to you
I don't know how
I said
maybe
You're gonna be the one who saves me
And after all
You're
my wonderwall
Today was
gonna be the day
But they'll never throw it back to you
By now
you should've somehow
Realized what you're not to do
I don't
believe that anybody
Feels the way I do
About you now
And all the
roads that lead to you were winding
And all the lights that light
the way are blinding
There are many things that I would like to
say to you
I don't know how
I said
maybe
You're gonna be the one who saves me
You're gonna be
the one who saves me
And after all
You're my wonderwall
You're
my wonderwall
You're my wonderwall
You're my wonderwall
"Was it everything you always wanted?" Seth asked.
"Everything," Summer started before smiling. "And then some."
