Disclaimer: I don't own The OC or the movie Stepmom to which I owe my inspiration for this story. I do however own any original characters, and the story itself. If you want to use this, or add it to your fan fiction archive/site, please email or IM me so I can have a link. Thank you, and enjoy!
White stars shone triumphantly against the blanket of black sky. A crescent moon illuminated the sky, and it felt as if all was right with the world. Summer Roberts hadn't felt this safe since she was 17 years old, which would have been the last time she was wrapped tightly in the arms of Seth Cohen.
"I love you so much," Summer whispered as she focused her eyes on her boyfriend rather then the night sky.
"I love you too," Seth smiled, planting a passionate kiss on her lips. It had really been to long, and Summer couldn't help but thank those same stars for giving her a second chance. Sure, it had taken 14 years for them to find their way back to each other, but they had, and that was all that mattered. "So what are you thinking about?"
"You," Summer answered, snuggling into his chest, "And how lucky I am to have gotten another chance with you."
"Funny, that's just what I was thinking," Seth laughed, tightening his grip on her, "And I was thinking about how I could never let myself lose you again."
"Promise me we'll always be together?" Summer questioned, looking up into his eyes. Instead of answering her right away, he let go of her, and stood up, pulling Summer up with him. Then, taking her hand, he knelt down.
"I can promise you, but first you have to promise me something," Seth reached into his pocket and pulled out a velvet black box, "Summer Elizabeth Roberts, I've been in love with you since the 3rd grade, and I still can't believe it's taken me this long to finally say these words, but Summer, will you marry me?"
"Oh god, yes, yes I will!" Summer squealed all in one breath, her eyes big as saucers and her heart beating a mile per minute. Seth stood up and carefully pulled the ring out of its box before slipping it onto Summer's small finger. "It's gorgeous."
"Well a gorgeous ring for a gorgeous girl," He grinned, pulling her back to him. They shared another heated kiss that lingered even after they parted.
"I can't believe we're engaged!" Summer laughed, "I love you, Seth Cohen!"
"More than you did before I gave you the expensive ring?" Seth chuckled, tucking a strand of her dark hair behind her ear.
"Maybe just a little," Summer giggled, cherishing the moment that she knew would be the first in a series of perfect experiences.
"Okay girls, we're finished for the day," Madam Douce announced, clasping her hands together as well as her thin lips, "Don't forget to practice, and I'll see you back here next Thursday." Lena let out a deep breath as she rolled her shoulders back a few times and shook out her arms. Every limb felt 10 times as heavy, and it was as if her head was clouded to the breaking point. Just as she began to make her way to the back of the stage to collect her things, Madam called out her name. "Miss Cohen, may I have a word with you?"
"Yes, mam," Lena replied politely, slinging her duffel bag over her shoulder before stepping back towards the center of the stage.
"You used to be one of my best dancers," Madam explained, her brows furrowed, and her lips turned down in disappointment, "What happened?"
"I've just been a little behind on practice lately," Lena shrugged, but did her best to keep her poise, even though her whole body ached.
"I can tell," Madam's eyes flashed with dissatisfaction, "Your Pas de Chat was barely basic. You've really let yourself slip, Miss Cohen. You do understand that a professional career is going to require much more time and energy then your giving as of now."
"I realize that," Lena nodded vigorously, "And I'm working my butt off, I really am."
"Then I advise that you start showing it," Madam responded snidely, "I hope to see you back next Thursday, but don't waste my time if you aren't going to take this seriously." Madam Douce gave Lena a tight-lipped smile that looked more like a grimace then anything, and then turned on her heel and headed in the opposite direction.
"Isn't that wonderful," Lena groaned to herself, as she pulled her Rangers sweatshirt over her head. Everyone had cleared out, and the theater was completely still and silent, just the way Lena preferred it. On a whim, she carefully got into first position, and began the routine she had memorized by heart. She closed her eyes as she broke into a series of pirouettes, imagining what it would feel like to have the hot spotlights warming her skin, and a room full of people entranced by her every move. Most girls in her dance class we're simply terrified by the thought, but not Lena. Then again, if it were an oral report or a presentation she'd be hyperventilating like everyone else. Dancing was just her thing, and she didn't have a comfort zone with it because it never made her uneasy. She knew ballet, knew the steps and how to do them, and when she was performing every muscle in her body was relieved.
"Bravo," Lena's eyes snapped open to the sound of applause. She managed a mock curtsey before she realized who exactly her audience was. Instead of seeing her mother, her eyes caught on a short, beaming brunette. "That was great, Lena."
"What are you doing here?" Lena snapped, collecting her bag once again as she climbed down the stage steps.
"Your mom had a PTA meeting, she asked me to pick you up," Summer explained, picking at a thread on her Chanel clutch, "And from one dancer to another, that's the best version of the nutcracker I've seen done in a Rangers sweatshirt. Hell, it's the best I've seen period."
"Stop sucking up to me," Lena said coldly, "You don't have to be nice to me just because you're dating my dad."
"I'm not sucking up to you," Summer shook her head, "I met what I said, that was perfect."
"Whatever," Lena rolled her eyes, "As it turns out I stink at dancing, my teacher told me so."
"Well, she's nuts," Summer laughed, ad Lena stormed past her, "Maybe you need a new teacher."
"Excuse me?" Lena gasped a little more dramatically then she should have, "Madam Douce is only the best ballet instructor in all of Manhattan! She's on the panel of judges who decide who dances in the Nutcracker on Broadway! I couldn't have a better teacher. So I think I value her opinion over yours!" Lena practically slammed the theater door behind her as she rushed out, her face red with fury.
"What'd I do?" Summer exhaled to herself, slumping down in a theater chair. After a few seconds, Summer pulled out her cell phone, and hit the first number on her speed dial.
"Hello?" A small voice said from the other end, one that Summer hadn't expected, "Livvy speaking."
"Hi Livvy," Summer greeted, and instantly highered her voice, "Is your dad around?"
"Yes," Livvy giggled, "Do you want to talk to him?"
"Yes I do," Summer replied, running a hand through her thick hair.
"Are you sure?" Livvy asked in a singsong voice.
"Yes I'm sure," Summer responded, quickly getting tired of the four-year-old's game.
"Are you sure your sure?" Livvy questioned, trying to sound serious.
"I'm sure times infinity!" Summer stated quickly, having beat Livvy at her own game.
"Okay, I just wanted to check," Livvy informed her, before setting the phone down, "Daddy! Summer's on the phone and she's sure she wants to talk to you times infinity!"
"Hello?" Seth's voice came on the phone right after Livvy's declaration.
"Hi there," Summer laughed, "It's about time."
"Sorry about that," Seth chuckled nervously, "We taught her how to answer to phone in case of telemarketers, but I guess we forgot to teach her the difference between telemarketers and important calls."
"That explains it," Summer smiled, but then remembered her situation, "I've got a code "teenage mood swing" down here. Lena just blew up at me for telling her she was good at dancing."
"Wow, that can't be good," Seth sighed, "Just tell her that I added another week onto her sentence, and if she keeps pushing it, I'm going to get her a house arrest ankle bracelet."
"But then she'll know I called you," Summer whined, "And of course that will make me the bad guy."
"Alright, then just give her the silent treatment," Seth suggested, "Most of the time she can't shut her mouth for longer than 2 seconds, and if she thinks your ignoring her, she'll know why."
"Doesn't shut up?" Summer giggled, "Apple doesn't fall far from the tree, huh?"
"Can you give me the silent treatment while you're at it?" Seth joked, "But I promise things will get better. She just needs time."
"Alright," Summer replied tiredly, "But now I'm thinking we should put off telling the kids about the engagement until this weekend."
"That sounds good," Seth nodded, "Good luck, I'll see you when you get back."
"Thanks," Summer responded, "Love ya." She clicked her phone shut and reluctantly stood up. It was time to deal with Miss Dramatic. Making her way outside, Summer spotted her soon-to-be stepdaughter almost immediately. Curled up on a bus stop bench, Lena had her arms crossed tightly against her chest and was looking more vulnerable then ever.
"Hey," Summer said as she leaned against the stop light pole, "You ready to go?" Lena didn't look up, but kept her eyes glued to her ballet slippers she still hadn't taken off.
"I'd rather take the bus," Lena admitted, drawing in a breath of fresh air, "But I'm guessing that's not going to happen."
"Nope," Summer shook her head, "But you realize the sooner we leave, the sooner you can get home, and away from me."
"Fine," Lena stood up, as Summer pulled her car keys from her pants pocket.
"Good, let's get going then," Summer smiled despite the awkward situation as the two headed for the car. Once they we're situated in the car, Lena's spoke up.
"So you and Dad are getting married, huh?" Lena asked, her head pressed against the cool window as she watched the buildings and people go by.
"What?" Summer turned rapidly, "Where did you hear that?"
"I didn't," Lena shrugged, "But it's hard to miss that shiny rock on your ring finger."
"Oh," Summer's eyes wondered to her engagement ring, and she couldn't help but feel her heart flutter, "Yeah, we we're going to tell you guys tonight, but after that little quarrel we just had, I figured it'd be best to tell you some other time."
"Okay," Lena replied, actually sounding content for once, "I guess I'm cool with it."
"Awesome," Summer responded quietly, but felt like doing some victory dance. Maybe she really had gotten past Lena's outer shell. Maybe things would be simpler from here on out. Maybe the worst was yet to come.
"Mom, we're home!" Devon yelled as soon as he got into the house. Anna emerged from the kitchen, still dressed in her work apparel, and looking exhausted.
"Hey kiddo," Anna smiled, rustling her son's hair, as he gave her a quick hug, "How was school?"
"Fun!" Devon exclaimed, "We got to dissect frogs, and mine was filled with bugs! Want to know what kind?"
"Please, Dev, quit it before I hurl," Lena laughed, hitting him in the arm lightly, "We don't need a play by play of your frogs stomach contents."
"What did you do to the frog?" Livvy questioned, "What's disecching?"
"Dissecting, moron," Devon rolled his eyes, "And it's-"
"Why don't you go get ready for bed, its getting late," Anna interrupted him, knowing Livvy wouldn't be able to cope with the thought of frogs being cut open.
"Fine," Devon groaned and began to stomp up the stairs along with his sisters, "But I shouldn't be punished for my intellectual qualities. This is an outrage to education."
"And no more spending time with your older sister!" Seth shouted at Devon's retreating form as he entered the house.
"I heard that!" Lena yelled from the top of the staircase.
"Hi," Anna ignored her eldest's last comment and smoothed out her skirt self- consciously, "So you don't have to worry about meeting with her counselor anymore."
"What?" Seth inquired, leaning against the doorframe, "Why not?"
"I took her out of therapy," Anna explained, "It wasn't working out."
"And why wasn't it working out?" Seth raised an eyebrow, wondering why Anna hadn't brought it up sooner.
"Lena was just uncomfortable spilling her guts to a stranger," Anna replied, "So I think that as long as she has us to talk to, she'll be fine with out a psychiatrist."
"I hate to say it but I told you so," Seth sighed, but remained serious, "But anyways, we need to talk."
"Now's not a good time, I still need to put Livvy to bed," Anna responded hastily, rubbing at her right temple.
"Well I'll make it quick," Seth said nervously, "The thing is, Summer and I are engaged. Lena already knows, and we're going to tell Devon and Livvy this weekend. I just thought you should know."
"Congratulations," Anna attempted a smile, that she was sure looked forced, "I'm happy for you."
"Thanks," Seth nodded, "I better get going. Say goodnight to the munchkins for me."
"Will do," Anna stated, watching him leave. As soon as he was gone, she slumped against the bottom stair step. "Great, just great." Sure it had been nearly a year since the divorce, but the scars were still fresh for her. And the news of her ex-husbands marriage was just salting the wound. The separation had been mutual, and they ended on a good note, but part of her still couldn't let go. And Summer Roberts? Seriously, he couldn't have picked anyone worse! Clearing her mind, Anna stood up and hurried up the stairs, heading straight for Lena's room.
"What's wrong?" Lena shot up out of her desk chair, rattling the table violently in the process.
"No, everything fine," Anna reassured her, "I just wanted to chat with you. I mean how often to we just get to talk these days?"
"Um, okay," Lena gave her a quizzical look, "Chat away." She turned away as she took out her neat bun, and began to brush out her hair.
"How was ballet?" Anna began, watching as Lena wrestled the tangle out of her wavy locks. Lena flinched at the question, but kept brushing anyways.
"Good, I think I'm getting a little rusty," Lena explained, staring at her complexion in her bureau mirror, "But otherwise it was uneventful."
"Anything your leaving out that you wants to tell me?" Anna coaxed.
"Nope," Lena shook her head as she set down the brush and moved into the bathroom that connected her room with Livvy's.
"I can tell that something's wrong," Anna told her honestly, "I'm your mother, I gave birth to you. I know these things."
"You must have lost your touch," Lena mumbled, her mouth full of toothpaste, "Because I'm perfectly fine. Ballet was wonderful. What else do you want to hear?"
"16 hours of labor," Anna began, "Natural childbirth."
"Okay, I really don't need to hear about that…again," Lena groaned, going back into the bathroom to finish brushing her teeth, "I'm sorry, Mom, but there isn't anything wrong. You should be rejoicing."
"You know you used to be able to tell me everything," Anna sighed, "What happened?"
"Nothing happened," Lena raised her voice in exasperation, "Fine, want to know everything? Today I woke up at 6am. I took a shower. I had Lucky Charms for breakfast. You drove me to school. I had English Lit first hour, and since Quinn broke up with Christine over the weekend, there was this big fall out between Christine and Melanie. Everyone saw Quinn and Melanie making out at Nate's party last week, and that's why Quinn and Christine broke up. So anyways, Christine called Melanie a brainless tramp, and Melanie…"
"Okay, I get it," Anna interrupted her, "You know what I meant." Lena made her way back into the room, and sat back down in her computer chair.
"No, I don't know what you mean," Lena replied, "Give me the topic, and we'll talk to your little heart's content."
"Your Dad's getting married," Anna brought up right away, "To Summer. How does it make you feel?" Lena began to mockingly bang her head against her computer table. After a few minutes she regained eye contact with her mother.
"Your starting to sound like my shrink," Lena laughed, "Or shall I say, my ex-shrink."
"I just want to make sure you have an outlet for your frustrations," Anna explained, "I want you to be able to get your feelings out, and I'm here to listen."
"Wait…my frustrations?" Lena raised and eyebrow, "Who says I'm frustrated?"
"Well, your father is getting remarried," Anna shrugged, "I'm betting you don't feel totally okay with it."
"No, of course I'm not okay with it," Lena agreed, "But it's not my choice. You guys are divorced, and I've come to terms with that as much as I can. There's no point in each of you being alone forever, and if he likes this woman, well, what can I do about it?"
"Wow," Anna gasped, "You really are growing up. That is a very mature thing to say."
"Thanks, I guess," Lena responded, slightly annoyed, "It's shocking that you want to be my best friend, and hear my every thought now that Dad's getting remarried, yet when you guys got separated, you barely listened to me. That was when I really needed you, both of you."
"He walked out on me, Lena," Anna snapped, standing up instantly, "I was having just as tough of a time as you we're."
"What? You guys said the decision was mutual," Lena reminded her, as she stuck both hands firmly at her hips.
"No, he wanted out," Anna explained, trying to regain her cool, "It was his choice, not mine."
"Always playing the victim, aren't you mom?" Lena's eyes burned with anger, "I can't believe you! When will you realize that you're not a freaking martyr!"
"Excuse me!" Anna exclaimed, ready to lose it, "You we're there when he left Lena, you watched him leave!"
"You seem to forget one thing," Lena shot back, her voice shaky and low, "You we're the one that left, not him."
"What in the hell are you talking about?" Anna yelled, not caring who heard her anymore.
"You may not have physically left, but you weren't there otherwise," Lena explained, on the brink of tears, "At least Dad was still there for us! Do you realize that it was you who told him to leave? You just shut yourself in and acted like everything was perfectly normal. Then you sent us all to shrinks just to save yourself from having to talk to us. And we all know that that worked so well!" Anna felt her skin raise at least ten degrees in temperature, and suddenly looking at Lena was unbearable. Without saying another word, Anna turned and left the room without another word. "God, I'm surprised! You're running out on me again! I'm sure Summer will make a better mother then you ever will!" Lena slammed her door, and crumpled to the floor behind it. Giant, warm tears streaked down her face, and every bone in her body was urging her to leave. It wouldn't be that difficult. All she had to do was stand up, open her window, and shimmy down the tree. She had done it a few times, just when she needed to be alone and unconfined. Slowly, she rose to her feet, willing herself to walk across the room to the window. Swiping away the tears, she made her way to the window, and pressed her fingers against the glass as soon as she reached it. It was pitch black out, and a half moon lit up the sky. Just the thought of the cool breeze on her face, and the quiet of night soothed her. Just as she was about to unlock it, a tiny hand slipped around her waist.
"Lena?" Livvy's voice sounded so weak and scratchy, as if she had been crying.
"Oh, do you need to be tucked in?" Lena asked taking in a deep breath as she tried to collect herself, "Let's go."
"No," Livvy shook her head, reaching out her arms. Lena carefully lifted up her little sister, and carried her too her room. It was painted a soft pink, with comic book characters painted on the walls. Lena's room had been nearly the same when she was little, except it was in a much smaller apartment in Brooklyn. They hadn't moved to Jersey until right after Devon was born, so when Livvy came along, a new room had to be done.
"Which story should I read?" Lena asked, laying Livvy down in the tiny bed, which has also once belonged to Lena. "The Adventures of Captain Oats?"
"Yeah," Livvy nodded slowly as she snuggled against her stuffed dog, Barkley.
"Good, because that's my favorite," Lena smiled cheerfully, as she picked up the paper bound book and got into bed next to her little sister. "Once upon a time…" About as soon as Lena had begun to read, Livvy's eyes had closed and her breathing deepened. Lena closed the book, and set it on the nightstand, before laying down herself. As she lay there, waiting for sleep to come, she couldn't help but wonder how things had affected Livvy. She was so little and innocent, there was no way she really understood what was going on. All she knew was that the people around her weren't happy. Lena reached out and stroked Livvy's dark hair, wishing her sister could have had a childhood like she had. Of course it hadn't been easy growing up without any siblings or cousins (since Devon hadn't been born until she was 7) and living in a place without any young neighbors. Basically, she had grown up with her parents as her best friends, and now it was that much harder to see them part. But being Catalina Cohen, she was determined to make the best of it, no matter what.
A/N: Thanks for all the amazing reviews you guys, it really does inspire me! I've been working more at developing a better storyline for this- as in where I'm going with it. I have a few ideas, and I've got a couple parts written already. What I really would like to know is, what do you guys want to see? Anything! You name it! I'm here to please, and I can't do that unless I hear from you guys. SO keep reviewing, and I'll keep writing!
Ciao,
Stephanie
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