Disclaimer: Fox and Josh Schwartz own The O.C. not me.
"This is it, Sum," Marissa smiled as Summer turned around to face her.
"I can't believe it," Summer gushed.
"Neither can I. It certainly took you long enough."
"Hey not everyone can throw together their dream wedding in just a few months like you did."
"I know. But it took you like ten months. That's almost a year, Sum. Who takes a year?" Marissa laughed as her eyes began to glisten.
"Coop, don't you dare cry. You will make me cry and I look way too damn good for that."
Both girls giggled as their eyes filled with tears.
"Summer," Kirsten called entering the little room.
Summer and Marissa were both hugging and crying a little.
"Girls, you're going to ruin your makeup," Julie cried coming in behind Kirsten.
"Mom! What are you doing back here?" Marissa asked with a sigh.
"I'm checking up on my girls. I'm allowed."
Summer grinned, "Thanks, I'm really lucky-,"
"Don't even start, Summer. You've been Marissa's best friend for practically her whole life. If you aren't one of my girls, I don't know who is."
Summer let out a shaky breath as a few more tears slide down her cheeks.
"Great job, Julie. Make her cry. You're the one worried about makeup," Kirsten teased.
Summer turned to Kirsten with a small smile before launching to hug her. Kirsten began to cry as they hugged.
"I love you," Kirsten whispered. "Thank God, you're finally officiallyjoining the family."
"I love you, too."
"Alright, alright. Touching moments are over. We have a wedding to do. It's time to start this thing," Julie laughed.
"Everything's ready. Everyone's here. We're just waiting for you," Jennifer said entering the room.
"We're ready?" Summer asked nervously.
"Hey, we're ready to get our places," Nicole said, as she entered the room.
"I just told them," Jennifer laughed.
"Oh. Right. Well, we're really ready then," Nicole shrugged.
"All the guys, the preacher, everybody's ready?" Summer asked.
"Sum, calm down. Remember to breathe. Just relax and breathe. Fainting while walking down the aisle probably isn't a good thing," Marissa teased.
"Right, breathe. I can do this."
"We're going to get our seats," Julia said, ushering Kirsten out of the room and taking the other two girls with her to leave Marissa and Summer alone.
Summer let Marissa adjust her veil. They both looked in the mirror at their reflection.
"This looks familiar," Marissa said, smiling softly.
"Yeah, except last time you were in the white dress and I was in the back…and I was shorter than you so you completely took over," Summer giggled.
Marissa rolled her eyes.
They stood in silence for a minute.
"You look so beautiful. Seth is going to have a heart attack or something," Marissa said suddenly.
"Thanks, Coop…ya know, for everything," Summer said as her all got misty again.
"Hey, what are best friends for. You know, I've got your back," Marissa said in almost a hushed whisper to keep her emotions back.
Summer nodded.
"Let's do this," Marissa said, opening the door.
Summer nodded again and followed Marissa to the back of the church.
"This is it," Marissa whispered, echoing the same words Summer told her before her wedding.
Summer grabbed Marissa as she turned to leave. They hugged again.
"I love you, Coop," Summer whispered.
"I love you, too. Now go get married," Marissa smiled and walked to her place.
As the music started, Summer's bridesmaids began walking down the aisle. Nicole was escorted by her new fiancé, Billy. Jennifer walked down with her husband, David. Then finally it was the maid of honor's turn. Marissa walked down the aisle escorted by Jerry. Marissa grinned as she saw Seth fidgeting anxiously at the front of the church. She then smiled at Ryan who smiled back before clapping Seth on the back reassuringly.
Finally the music changed to the wedding march. Summer linked her arm with her father's. Neil smiled down at her daughter and led her through the doors. The breath caught in Seth's chest as soon as he saw her. She was the most beautiful woman he'd ever seen. He felt the tears sting his eyes and couldn't fight the smile that crept upon his face once their eyes locked.Twotears slippeddown Summer's cheeks as she smiled back at Seth.
Neil and Summer stood in front of the altar as the preacher began.
"Dearly beloved, we are gathered today in the presence of God to give thanks for the gift of marriage, and to witness the joining together of Seth and Summer. In various traditions, marriage is a sign of our Creator's intention for wholeness in all creation. Out of the chaos, God brought order. That creative purpose is still at work. The joining together of two persons into one unique, intimate, and creative unity in marriage is therefore not only a symbol but also a demonstration of the well-being, the purpose of human society. And so marriage is truly a celebration of God's good work in creation."
"The uniting of two individuals from two separate families and backgrounds to establish a new family is an important and memorable event. For us, attached as we are to Seth and to Summer by special bonds of love and affection, the uniting of these two people in heart and body and mind, is an occasion of great significance which we can all celebrate."
(AN: I thought that the whole two seperate families and backgrounds was good to have b/c Seth's part Jewish and Summer isn't...just so you know. Back to the story now. Sorry for the interruption.)
The preacher continued, "We have come together from near and far to celebrate these two lives as individuals and to bestow our blessings upon them as they begin a magical journey together as husband and wife. We have come together to witness the creation of a brand new family, and to share in the joy of that moment. Should there be anyone who has cause why this couple should not be united in marriage, they must speak now or forever hold their peace."
Seth and Summer both looked around anxiously to see if anyone would actually speak up, K.C., Beth, Christina, Matt, Lauren, or anyone even Zach or Annafrom high school. The room was silent and both smiled at each other as the preacher continued on.
"Who gives this woman to this man?"
"Her step-mother and I do," Neil replied.
Neil did the one thing Seth never thought would happen, he placed Summer's hands in his own. Neil kissed Summer's cheek quickly and took his seat. Seth and Summer grinned at each other knowing that now there was nothing standing in their way. They were actually getting married and neither could really believe it.
The preacher began his sermon again, "Today we celebrate a day of thanksgiving, gladness, joy and one of life's greatest miracles. The power of love that exists between two people, who love each other so much that they are willing to commit their lives together as one in spirit. Love is a miraculous gift that has been given to us, and a wedding is a celebration of that gift. Marriage is not a casual event, nor is it simply a private affair between two individuals. Marriage is to be entered into responsibly and prayerfully. This marriage brings together this day two individuals, two families, and two communities of faith. It is then, in the midst of a troubled and broken society, a sign of hope. It deserves and needs the support of a wider community. Today is a time for family and friends to share in their commitment to each other by offering Seth and Summer our continued support, love and best wishes in their lives together."
"In their love together, which they publicly express in this ceremony, Seth and Summer demonstrate not only their joy in the present but their commitment to share the future together. We share their joy, and promise to do all we can to help bring to fulfillment a future of peace and justice for them and for all humanity."
"Would you please face each other and join hands," the preacher asked.
Seth and Summer faced each other and smiled. Seth took Summer's shaking hands into his own. They were both shaking slightly and Seth found his palms much more sweaty than he had dreamed they'd be on his wedding day. He offered Summer an apologetic smile. Her eyes filled with unspoken laughter as she gave him a reassuring smile and squeezed his hands lightly. They both exchanged smirks.
"Seth and Summer have chosen to write their own vows and then proceed with the traditional Christian vows," the preacher announced. "Seth," he nodded to Seth and took a small step back.
Seth took a deep breath and began, "A lot of people didn't think we'd make it here…but here we are. You were always the defiant one. When someone said you couldn't be an actress you did it. When someone said you couldn't be president of the student council, you won it. And when someone said that you couldn't possibly be interested in me, you were. It's no secret that I've loved you for a very long time. I was practically your stalker for years, the emo geek who somehow got the girl. You are the most beautiful person I know inside and out. Sure, we fight constantly. But there is no one else I want to fight with for the rest of my life. You make me laugh and you laugh at me. You make me cry but no one else makes me as happy as you do. No one understands the way we work but us. You make my life worth living. I know I've said before that it's not every day you marry your high school sweetheart, but I'm not marrying that person. I'm marrying my…my everything. You're the woman that I've been in love with since before high school, before college, before we separated and found each other again. Ten years ago if someone had told me that I would be marrying Summer Roberts, I wouldn't have been surprised. Even when nobody else knew it, I knew I was supposed to be with you. I could stand here all day and talk about how I knew I loved you or-or when I started loving you or all of the reasons why I love you. But the important thing is that no matter how, when, or why…I love you…because for me, it's always been you…you're undeniable," Seth smirked.
Summer laughed a little as a few tears slipped down her cheeks.
"When I look at you, I see the innocent girl I fell in love with, the girl who hadn't discovered the differences of popularity. I see the still innocent girl who built up a wall to keep out the bad guys and sometimes the good, too. I see the girl who let me in. I see the girl who gave me a second chance, who gave me a million chances. And I see the girl who I want to spend the rest of my life with, have a family with. But, but even as I look at the woman standing in front of me, knowing that she will make a great wife and great mother and a great everything, I still see the innocent little girl standing in front of a scared little boy who, who's not scared about what the future brings, but about what the future won't bring if he can't be with her. Summer Elizabeth Roberts, I love you more than I thought possible. Somehow, I love you even more than I did the day before. You're my one and only."
The preacher cleared his throat before announcing, "And now your vows, Summer."
Summer took a shaky breath trying to contain her emotions just so she could speak. She swallowed hard then began, "I've never been good with words. I've never been able to express the way I feel or as much as I feel…but I do…feel...for you. I spent years thinking that everyone would abandon me. I spent years building that exact wall you were talking about. And then you came along and changed all of that. You went from completely off of my radar to becoming my entire world. The moment I fell in love you with, I didn't even realize it had happened. Being with you just felt natural, it felt right. I had doubts and I got scared. Time after time, I tried to talk myself out of loving you. You knew we were supposed to be together and deep down I knew it too and that scared me. I tried to push you away and I told myself that I would never take you back. But the truth is, it's not about how many chances it takes to get it right, it's knowing that you eventually will, and I couldn't shake that feeling no matter how hard I tried. I couldn't shake you and I still can't. I never want to. You are the one person who always keeps me together. You let me kick you and punch you and verbally abuse you," Summer laughed, "but you also let me love you more than I ever thought possible. You never pushed, you were just there whenever I needed you. I told myself that you weren't always there. But honestly, you were there when it mattered and you're here now and I know you'll be there in the future. My doubts are gone. Without you in my life, nothing is quite as good as it could be or as it should be. I could win a thousand awards and make millions of dollars but none of it would matter, none of it does matter without you. I could spend the rest of my life being poor and living in box for all I care as long as you're in that box with me."
"I'd never let us live in a box," Seth whispered.
Summer laughed.
"You make me laugh and you sometimes make me cry. But you make me, me. I can't express how you've changed me but it's so obvious that you have. It's hard for me to talk about my mom but I think I need to…I never wanted a family. I never wanted to be a mother. I was always scared that it was genetic, that I'd just leave…or torture both of us endlessly," Summer smirked as everyone laughed a little.
"But when I look at you with your curly hair and big goofy grin, I know that, that there's nothing more I want than to have a family with you. And when, and when you look at me like you always do, like I'm the most precious person in the world, I know that there's no way I could ever leave you and there's no way I could ever leave a family that I had with you. It may have taken me longer to figure everything out, but I feel it just as much. I love you just as much. Maybe, maybe I love you even more than that, because you saved me, you changed me, and you loved me. I love you more than life itself and I never want you to doubt that because I'm through with doubting. And I'm sorry that I ever doubted you to begin with because you are the best thing that's ever happened to me. You're the Ross to my Rachel, the Zach to my Kelly, the Clark Kent to my Lois Lane, thePeter Parkerto my Mary Jane Watson…you're The Ironist to my Little Miss Vixen, listen to me, I ramble as much as you do. Most importantly, you're the Seth Cohen to my Summer Roberts. You're my one and only."
"I love you," Seth mouthed.
"I love you," Summer mouthed back.
The preacher stepped back in and started the traditional vows.
"Do you, Seth Ezekiel Cohen, take Summer Elizabeth Roberts, to be your lawfully wedded wife to love, honor, cherish, and protect, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do you part?"
"I do," Seth replied as a tear slipped down his cheek.
"Do you, Summer Elizabeth Roberts, take Seth Ezekiel Cohen, to be your lawfully wedded husband, to love, honor, cherish, and protect, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do you part?"
"I do," Summer replied as the tears began sliding down her cheeks.
"May I have the rings?"
Ryan gave him the rings.
"With these rings you are uniting your hearts in tenderness and devotion. The rings hold the promise to honor each others cultures as we join customs to form a trusting relationship. These rings represent the vow to protect, support, and encourage each other through life's joys and sorrows as you create a loving future. From this day forward your lives will be intertwined forever, blessed in faith, filled with compassion, understanding and love," the preacher announced. "Seth, please repeat after me.
"With this ring, I thee wed."
Seth took the ring and slipped it on Summer's delicate finger, "With this ring," he paused to try to control his emotions. "I thee wed," Seth finished in a whisper.
Summer smiled at him, as they both started to cry.
"Summer, please repeat after me," the preacher said after giving them a moment.
"With this ring, I thee wed."
"With this ring," Summer said softly as she slipped it on Seth's finger. "I thee wed," she finished with a small smile that Seth knew was the kind she reserved only for him.
"Before God and inthe presence of your family and friends as witnesses, Seth and Summer, youhave made solemn vows to each other.You bothhave confirmedthese promises by the joining ofhands and the giving and receiving of rings. Therefore it is my pleasure to proclaimyou husband and wife. Congratulations, you may kiss the bride," the preacher grinned.
Seth and Summer grinned before leaning in and kissing each other sweetlyand full of love. They pulled apart to the applause of their friends and family. Summer giggled and beamed as she wiped the tears from Seth's eyes. He grinned at her and kissed her again before wiping her tears as well.
The preacher stepped up higher on the altar so everyone could see him. "And now it is my honor and pleasure to present to you, Mr. and Mrs. Cohen."
Everyone stood up and clapped as Summer and Seth made their way down the aisle hand in hand. They greeted everyone at the door and were congratulated. After the church was cleared out, they went back inside for pictures.
"I can't believe we're married," Summer grinned from ear to ear.
"You better believe baby," Seth laughed, kissing her again.
"You are so weird," Summer giggled.
"And you just married me."
"What was I thinking?"
Seth was about to reply when the weddingphotographer instructed them to smile.
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After they finished with the wedding photos, Seth and Summer walked outside to be greeted by their friends and family and tons of bird seed. They laughed at they ran through the crowd and avoided paparazzi who were waiting on the street corner. They jumped in their limo to go to the reception.
"What is in your hair?" Summer asked.
"Um," Seth picked out some of the seed, "it would appear to be bird seed."
"Who throws bird seed?"
"Everyone. It was that or bubbles."
"What happened to traditional rice?"
"It makes birds explode or something like that," Seth answered.
"Whatev-," Summer replied rolling her eyes.
"Whatever, Summer. How many times do I have to tell you?"
Summer shook her head and rolled her eyes again.
They grinned at each other as the limo pulled up to the Cohen household, where they were holding the "intimate reception".
"I love you, Mrs. Cohen," Seth smiled.
"I love you, too, Mr. Cohen," Summer replied and kissed him as the limo door opened and Sandy held out his hand to help them out.
"Congratulations," everyone said as Seth and Summer entered the house.
"Welcome to the family," Sandy said, shutting the front door behind them.
Summer grinned at him before walking into the midst of the crowd.
(AN: Thanks for all of the reviews...I can't believe that I've had way more reviews for this sequel than the original of this series considering Acting? had way more chapters lol...I wasn't really sure how to wrap this whole story up but I decided that it was time. I could continue and do the whole planning of the wedding thing but I did a bunch of wedding planning in Acting? and I didn't want things to get too repetitive...so I just skipped ahead to the wedding b/c I really couldn't finish this story without a wedding! So I hope I did the wedding of Seth Cohen and Summer Roberts justice...it was much harder for me to write than Ryan and Marissa's wedding b/c so much more was riding on this one. I hope I didn't flub it up too much haha. I had to whip out the wedding songs again to write this chapter. But once the mood was set and the music was right the words just flowed and I hope they flowed well lol. So I'm going to wrap this story up with an epilogue or something b/c I feel bad to just let it end without ever saying what became of their marriage and their careers...then I plan to do some short stories or something to give my mind a rest before I launch into my Atomic County idea...my brain is about fried after this Acting? series but I sincerely hope that everyone's enjoyed it and will read my new stories and such after this is finished...I can't stop writing if I wanted to haha but I really can't keep going with the same idea for years and years to come lol...thanks for the continued support and as always: Keep on reading!)
