Fix You
Author's Note: I look back in wonder at how well received this story has been. I never thought I'd get such an outstanding reaction to a Roadie story. I set out to write this to clear a plot bunny in my head, and you guys kept me writing with all your wonderful reviews. Don't worry, this isn't the end yet, but I'd like to thank all of you for your inspirational comments, they mean the world to me. Everyone here has given me some sort of fantastic idea with your little comments and thoughts on where this was going. My fellow Roadie fiends from Fanbolt, you guys have been by far the most inspiring with our discussions.
Chapter 9: Stolen
When you try your best, but you don't succeed
When you get what you want, but not what you need
They spent a great deal of time in Seth's office once he invited them to remain comfortable and talked. Ryan told Seth of his life, of Cassandra and how she would want to know who he was, who Kirsten was, how he couldn't hide the part of his life from her anymore, not when she was becoming more and more curious. Summer sat and listened, a beacon of support for Ryan because she was the only one who really knew both sides of Ryan Atwood, as strange as it was for the both of them.
Summer regarded her ex-boyfriend quietly throughout the entire time. Right away, she could tell that he was still the same Seth Cohen deep down though he had matured much over the past fourteen years. The first thing she noticed was that he was, in fact, less self-absorbed than he had been at seventeen. She figured that parenthood and having to look after Marissa probably were the reasons behind that. He had so much responsibility now.
This was not the boy she had loved, but it was definitely the man she could've loved if she'd been given the chance.
A man she saw herself falling in love with all over again as she watched his little quirks, his small tics, heard his voice and caught his eye every now and then.
She couldn't have him though, even if she might want him because he belonged to someone else now. Summer knew that she no longer held his heart, she could tell by the way he had acted the night at the party, in the way he'd looked at his little girl, who was almost the spitting image of her mother. Someone else had stolen Seth's heart.
Marissa Cooper was now the light in his life.
Summer couldn't help but envy her former best friend. From what she could tell sitting here in Seth's office, from watching the two of them at the party, from what she'd overheard, Seth was the doting husband. He had turned out much like his father had. Although he did work long hours from time to time helping Kirsten out, he always tried to make it home early and spend time with his family.
Seth Cohen would never be accused of cheating on his wife.
Unlike Summer's own husband. Even though she loved him, even though she wanted to trust him, sometimes she suspected the tabloids were right. Maybe he was shacking up with his newest, hottest co-star. After all, when Summer had first met him, she had been his hot co-star. It was the typical Hollywood story, and she wouldn't be surprised at all if it had the typical Hollywood ending.
"Cohen? Where's your bathroom?" Summer asked, standing up.
Seth looked over at her again, thinking a second, "Down the hall, to the right."
Nodding, Summer left the room and wandered down the hall, following Seth's instructions. Out of the corner of her eyes, she saw a flurry of motion and a stream of golden hair run into another room. Pausing a second, Summer turned and followed the movement. Allie sat outside a closed door with a box of cookies and her ear pressed up against it.
Summer cleared her throat, and when Allie noticed her, her eyes widened and she stood up straight and tall, cheeks turning a bright red. "I wasn't spying."
"Spying on who?" Summer raised a brow.
"You, Daddy and Kid Chino," Allie said quietly, looking down at her shoes.
"There's two doors to the office?" she furrowed her brows, she hadn't noticed the second door, but maybe it was because she was too wrapped up in the rest of the room and Seth to notice. Allie nodded though and Summer smiled. Again, such a Cohen thing to do, spy on the parents and strangers who are trying to keep something from you.
"I won't tell," Summer assured the girl, then she asked, "Where's your mom anyway?"
"Upstairs," the young girl said, approaching Summer, "Auntie Anna came over 'cause she said mommy wasn't calling no one, so they all wanted her to come make sure mommy and daddy were okay. Don't know why though. No one will tell me anything, even though I'm gonna be six on Saturday."
Summer froze, "Anna?"
Lights will guide you home
And ignite your bones
Marissa hugged her knees and stared straight ahead of her.
Anna had shown up no more than ten minutes after the doorbell had rang for the first time and marched into the room to take Marissa's Newport Ice Tea away from her. Promptly, the pixie haired blonde, who had gone through so many styles since Marissa had first met her,had handed her a glass of water and sat down in the couch across from her.
"What's up Marissa?" she asked, "You haven't picked up a drink sinceBeanie was born, why start now?"
"Just leave me alone," Marissa pleaded, "Just…go talk to Seth."
"Seth's…busy," Anna put in, biting her lip, "He's got some guests according to Beanie."
Only Anna ever called Allie Beanie. It was her special nickname for her, just like how Seth and Marissa always called her Allie Bean, although that was mostly Seth's fault. Anna was Allie's godmother and one of Marissa and Seth's closest friends. She had reappeared in their lives when they had been on their road trip ever so briefly, and had reconnected with them in the fall when they went off to college.
She was the closest thing to a best friend Marissa had, aside from Seth.
Marissa trusted her, but not like she trusted Seth. The only person she could ever trust the way she did Seth was Seth. No one else could ever understand her the way he did, not after that summer they had spent together, not after everything they had been through. He was the only one who really knew her.
"Guests?" Marissa frowned, who could Seth be talking to that would have Anna holding back.
"Yeah, um, some old friends showed up," Anna shrugged, trying to make as if it was nothing, "Beanie says their names are Kid Chino and Little Miss Vixen."
Marissa leaned over, reaching for a hidden bottle of vodka.
Anna frowned, "Come on Cooper, you now you don't have to be drinking. Seth loves you. Nothing in the world could change that."
"He loved her," Marissa stared at the bottle in her hands, "Seth was so devoted to her. I mean, he named his boat after her. If she hadn't left, he never…we never…And Ryan. I'll always…"
"You'll always love him," Anna finished, "You know, Ryan's always been Ferris wheel kisses and sneaking out late at night. Seth's everything else. He's your future, your past, he loves you Marissa."
Marissa looked at her friends with a small smile; it was the most reassuring thing she's heard in days. It gave her some hope that maybe all was not lost. Anna was right, she knew she was right because if anyone knew Seth and Marissa better than the two of them it was Anna. She had been there from the beginning, had seen how they had evolved into what they were today.
The moment was interrupted though, and Marissa lost track of what little hope she'd just regained when none other than Summer Roberts burst into the room.
"Anna!"
"Summer?"
