Fix You
Author's Note: I'm quite happy that things seem to be getting better. For you Roadie fans who've been rooting for them, crying for them, angry with them, and waiting for everything to be right and for their love to prevail. Here's a cute Roadie fluff-centric chapter all for your. Out with the angst, in with the love.
Chapter 18: SurpriseI'm diving off the deep end
You become my best friend
The anniversary party was already well under way.
Seth was beginning to feel slightly nervous and jittery. Even though things were better between him and Marissa now, he knew that this night was of utter importance. Tonight he would tell her that nothing would ever come between them again. He would give her his anniversary present and make a speech in front of all his family and friends.
Everyone was here, and that only made Seth even more nervous about it all.
"Chill Cohen," Luke advised, putting a hand on his shoulder, "It'll be fine. You're the king of this romantic gesture things."
"He's right," Zach nodded, "You couldn't even messed this up if you tried."
"In his Cohen-y ways, I'm sure he could," Summer joined the three men, Anna beside her.
"Thanks Sum, that's real encouraging," Seth sighed, running a hand through his hair.
"It's all set up," Anna mentioned, taking Zach's hand, "Remember…"
"Confidence Cohen," they both chanted at the same time as Anna pulled Zach away, Summer and Luke following close behind. Luke met his fiancé, Summer stood beside Ryan and Cassandra, her husband beside her.
Seth knew he was there to keep up appearances. In truth, they were getting divorced.
Yet another tragic Hollywood ending for the press to print in the papers, not that Summer seemed to care.
Taking a break, Seth moved the stage of the Bait Shop, where he had insisted the party take place. If anywhere was going to take the stuffy Newport-ness out of the party, it would be this place. Alex handed him the microphone, giving him a smile, "Take it away Seth."
Much like his father had many years ago, Seth took the microphone and looked out on the crowd. He father was giving him thumbs up; his mother offered a supportive smile. Marissa stopped talking to Caitlin and looked up, furrowing her brows.
"All right, so you guys are all here for my big seventh anniversary," he paused, "Our big seventh anniversary. As Marissa will tell you, seven is an important number for us. I won't go into detail of the long story because, well, you'd be here all night since I have the tendency to not shut up."
"Cohen!" Summer shouted from the crowd.
"Right, thanks Summer," Seth nodded, "I almost screwed things up, big time. We almost didn't make it to seven and I don't know what I would've done if we hadn't. Marissa, I love you with all of my heart and I'll never love anyone more than you in my entire life." He paused again, "Except you mom."
Marissa smiled, a blush creeping onto her cheeks as Anna nudged her, urging her to go forward onto the stage. She obliged, winding through the crowd and stepping up next to Seth. "I love you too."
"And I thought for a while you'd forgotten that," he continued, "Thought I might love someone more than I love you and that's not true. That could never be true."
"I know," Marissa assured him, "I know that now and I'll never forget."
"Right, so I just wanted to make sure you did know, that you would always remember," he went on again, "I've go two things for you today."
He stopped, going over and picking a small book up before going over to Marissa again. Pausing a second, he looked down at it before handing it to her. Not looking at her anymore. Once again, the kid in Seth was shining through. Even after all these years, it still managed to emerge from time to time.
Marissa looked down at it, just as a screen rolled down behind them. With a flicker of light, an image appeared. Seth's infamous drawings of Cosmo Girl and The Ironist, but now the writing along top was no longer Atomic County, it was something completely different. It was something solely for just the two of them.
The whole crowd cooed at the images while Marissa just smiled and flipped through it.
"Not to mention, for our viewing pleasure only," Seth now revealed the remote control that was behind his back, "The story of the two greatest superheroes of all time, Cosmo Girl and The Ironist! Romance, tragedy, and life in Atomic County after Kid Chino and Little Miss Vixen depart. They fight the biggest, baddest evils of them all and raise a family at the same time…"
"Cohen!" Summer warned once more.
"Right, sorry," clicking the button then, their lives in home videos began to roll with various songs colliding into one, well made video.
Marissa was near tears as her and Seth's marriage, their friendship; their relationship was all thrown onto the screen in front of her. Still frames of famous photos of important moments, everything was there.
"I love you," Marissa whispered, throwing herself into his arms.
I wanna love you
But I don't know if I can
They sat in the kitchen, both sporting robes. The time read 3:33 and yet both seemed wide awake and in good spirits, a pile of pancakes sitting in between them. Seth reached over, plopping a pile of three onto his plate before pouring large amounts of syrup on top. "So, I was thinking you should pack."
"What are you talking about Seth?" Marissa asked after swallowing a bite.
"Well, we're leaving in a couple of days," he mentioned.
"What? We can't leave! What about Allie and Kurt? Our jobs?" she implored, "We're not seventeen anymore Seth, you can't just sweep me off to wherever in attempt to escape Newport."
"Anna's going to watch the kids and take care of your work," he grinned, "And my mom gave me time off. Well, not that she had to since I'm party the boss anyway, and the comic book doesn't have deadlines yet."
Marissa seemed to be getting excited by the idea, "Where're we going?"
"To continue on our road trip," Seth's grin was growing wider by the second, "Figure we can start in Boston this time and work the east coast. Fly down, rent a car."
"You really went all out this year."
"Well, it was our seventh anniversary, and after all the trouble we went through…"
"Seth…" Marissa hesitated again, "Let's keep the whole Coop-Cohen honesty thing. I don't want to lie to you again, keep things from you. Only bad things happen when we do."
"I know," he nodded, "We won't mess this up ever again. I swear. Even in my Cohen-ness I could never hurt you again Marissa."
"Good."
Sliding off her chair, Marissa walked over to him and wrapped her arms around his neck, leaning in for the kiss. Seth slipped his arms around her back, returning it immediately. The two closed their eyes and enjoyed this moment in the dark where no one would disturb them.
After a minute, they broke it off, "Let's go kick some Ninja butt, what do you say?"
"Only if you bring the pancakes."
"You're on."
Grabbing the pancakes, the two headed off to play some video games, and maybe celebrate the first hours of the day making up for the time they weren't talking.
