Summer stared at her shoulder, fascinated by the contrast of her finally darkened, but still slightly pink arm, and the perfectly white satin arm of the dress. She smoothed her skirt and stared into her reflection, running a hand through her unbrushed hair. She bit her lip and heard a knock at the door.

"Just a second."

"Aunt Summer?"

Summer picked up her skirts and opened the door a slit. Jenn stood on the other side, her arms crossed underneath her chest, and her weight shifted to the side.

"Is something wrong?"

"Can I come in?"

Summer looked down at the thick white dress around her around Jenn to the empty hall, and nodded. She extended the door, making Jenn gasp.

"Wow."

"Really?"

"Yeah. You're so pretty."

Summer ushered Jenn further in and closed the door. She glanced at the mirror again.

"So could you unzip me?" Summer bent down and felt Jenn's warm fingers at the base of her neck. "What's up?"

"My dad's bringing her. To the wedding tomorrow."

"I know."

"He doesn't care what I think at all. I don't want to see her but he's bringing her anyway. I wouldn't go if it wasn't for you and Uncle Seth."

"Well thank you for coming anyways."

"I'm a bridesmaid. I have to."

"And here I was thinking it was because you loved me."

"I do." Jenn kissed Summer cheek as Summer let the dress fall to her ankles. Stepping out of it, she pulled on a pair of sweatpants and a big tee shirt. Jenn tried to look away, but looked at Summer's woman body in between clothes anyway. Once she was dressed, Summer hung up her dress and picked Jenn up, swinging her onto her lap.

"I've met her."

"Did you like her?"

"I didn't know her that well."

"But you didn't like her, because you knew she was ruining my dad's life."

"But she created you, Jennifer. And no matter what you might think, I know she loved you."

"But she left. She left me and she left my dad. How could she leave him? She loved him enough to have a baby with him, and she left anyway."

"Some people have their priorities off, honey."

"I just can't forgive her for something like this."

Jenn turned away from Summer's eyes, leaning her head gently back into the crook of Summer's neck.

"Jenn, did I ever tell you about my mother?"

"You mean Evil Lara?"

"No. My real mother."

Summer felt her shake her head, and wrapped her arms closer around her stomach. "When I was eleven, not that much older than you, she and my dad fought constantly. And I loved her. So much. I didn't like my dad that much, because he was always working and that Christmas he hadn't gotten me the c.d. I wanted. But me and my mother were inseparable. She took me to concerts, and movies, and museums, and these poetry readings in parks past my bedtime. She told me she loved me every single night and would kiss me right in the middle of my forehead, then on my cheeks, then on my mouth twice."

"Just like you do to Chris."

Summer nodded. "Then, one day, she left. I woke up and she wasn't there anymore. My dad came running into my room, and asked me if I had seen her, and then when I told him no, he fell against my closet so hard it broke. Have you ever seen your dad cry, Jenn?"

She nodded.

"What did you think?"

"That he could do anything. But he couldn't. And I didn't want to believe it. I thought he looked like someone else."

"My dad sobbed in front of me. And I didn't know what to do, because I didn't know what was going on. He told me a few hours later, and when I asked him if it was my fault, he didn't say anything. So I thought it was. I thought she hadn't loved me, and I had just held her back, and that maybe my dad chased her away. But you know what?"

Jenn shrugged.

"She made a mistake. She couldn't handle the situation, because it wasn't healthy for her. And it took me six returned letters to realize that she wasn't coming back. And I hated it. Every Christmas I would wait for her by the window, and she never came back. And I was mad. Because she abandoned me. I could understand why she had abandoned my father, because I hated him for over a year. But I would've given anything to have her come back and bring me away with her. I'd write poems about where we'd go and what we'd see. But every letter and postcard I tried to send her was returned. And slowly, I became close with my dad instead."

"How's that supposed to make me feel better, Aunt Summer?"

"Yours came back, Jenny. Your mother came back for you. She isn't going to take you away, but she came back to see you. You didn't even have to do anything to make her realize where she belonged, because I bet she thought about coming back every single day. I bet she wanted to see you most of all. And even if she did put your dad though pain, I bet she thought about him too. And she hoped and hoped that he raised you right."

"I'm not going to love her."

"It's up to you."

Jenn let her head fall to her chest, shivering slightly as Summer's hands came around, tapping unrecognizable rhythms on the backs of her own hands.

Ryan sat cross legged on Seth's bed in his apartment, staring at Seth sleeping on the floor. Ryan had said he had no problem with sleeping on the floor, but Seth said he was getting married, so he may as well get used to it. Ryan's knee was bouncing against the soft fabric of the blanket, his eyes locked on the back of Seth's head.

"Ryan, dude, are you still looking at me?" Seth mumbled.

"Aren't you nervous? At all?" Ryan whispered.

"I am. That you're gay and in my bed." Seth spun around and whispered back.

"But you're getting married. To Summer. How can that not make you nervous?"

"Exactly."

"What do you mean?"

Seth mumbled something into his pillow, and Ryan craned his neck to listen.

"What was that?"

"Like you said. It's Summer. How could that make me nervous? Summer/"

Ryan thought about it for a second and smiled. "This is going to be good."

"Here's to it. Good night." He rolled back over, pulling the sheet higher up over his head.

"Wait, Seth."

He grunted.

"You don't want to talk? I mean, you said you didn't want a bachelor party, so we never really got a chance to... you know?"

"Ryan... do we have to talk now?"

"Why not now?"

"Because I don't want to take wedding photos with bags under my eyes." Seth closed his eyes and rolled back over. He started to breathe deeply, but his eyes snapped back open at a heavy sigh. He glared and turned back around to see Ryan grinning.

"What?"

Ryan rested his head on his hand. "I'm gonna miss this."

"Don't start, dude."

"No, seriously. You're always keeping me up; it's nice to have it the other way around. But how many times are we going to have alone like this? Like the sleepovers and all of that. You guys will move and then you'll have the little lady to take care of."

"Ryan, it's not like we're frat brothers. We have the same blood... well, I mean, we grew up in... uh, legally, I have to still hang out with you. And you're friends with Summer so it's not like she'd kick you out of our life."

"'Our life.' Like, one. Dude."

Seth laughed, rolling back over. "Good night, Ryan."

"Night, Seth."

Marissa opened the door, sticking her head in to see the two girls holding each other on the floor. "What is this, a funeral? Jennifer, do you realize that you are sitting on the almost Mrs. Seth Cohen?"

Jenn smiled as Summer rocked her slightly. Marissa mimicking it as she fell onto her butt across from Summer.

"So, ladies, are we ready to gossip?"

Jenn giggled, rolling off of Summer's lap onto her elbows. Summer tousled her hair slightly and crossed her legs. "Ah yes. Shall we start with Miss Jenn?"

"What?"

"Well, we did it before Riss's wedding, so we decided to make it a tradition. We should get Kirsten in on this too, though."

Marissa opened the door and stuck her head out. "Mrs. Cohen!"

"What is this?" Jenn asked.

"We go around in a circle and ask her questions about boys. In general. First crushes, first dreams. It's a mock bachelorette party."

"But I thought you had a bachelorette party, Aunt Marissa."

"Well, yeah. But we did this the night before my wedding."

Summer jumped up at the knock at the door, smiling at Kirsten in her sweats on the other side. Kirsten smiled back.

"What's going on? Do I get to participate in the wild truth or dare? The most talked about aspect of pre-Mrs. Harren?"

Marissa nodded, moving to scoot over to make room for Kirsten in the circle. Kirsten held up her hand.

"Marissa, you're going to have a baby. I think I can be the one to move."

"Right." Marissa grinned.

"Riss! You're going to have a baby."

Marissa nodded, giggling as she asked, "So who's first?" She grabbed a bottle of wine and seltzer water from the bag behind her.

"Miss Jenn. I happen to remember a certain young gentleman a few months ago." Summer inched closer into the circle. "Any progress made?"

Jenn blushed. "He gave me chocolate. For Halloween. Only me."

The three women cooed in appropriate delight. Jenn just laughed.

"Miss Jenn," Marissa started. "You must describe this young man. I'm seeing... dark hair. Blue eyes."

"Green eyes. And he needs a haircut, but I like it."

Kirsten pulled her hair back into a ponytail. "Miss Jenn, if you were to marry this young man, what would your first born be named?"

Jenn giggled, covering her mouth, and then pausing to think. "Um... Jonathan. Jonathan Jacob Alton. Do I get to ask now?"

"Yes, ma'am. And you get to decide who goes next."

"Miss Summer," Jenn laughed, causing the three ladies to join her. "When did you get your first kiss?"

"Well. I was fourteen, and... he actually lived out of town, just the town over. But I got to see him at these parties at my friend's, who knew everyone. And we met and we talked for more than six months before we got to see each other again. And... I decided I should kiss him. So... I did. Not at the party though. We ditched and actually kissed on the side of the road. Not the most romantic thing, but I used to think it was." Summer shrugged, wrapping her arms around her legs.

"Okay, Sum," Marissa let her arms relax. "What really did happen with Sean at Kathleen's ninth grade graduation party?"

Seth fingered the shiny, pink tie, then looked at Ryan.

"Are you sure about all this?"

"All what?" Ryan buttoned his cufflink and stood next to Seth in the floor length mirror.

"What if we're doing this wrong?"

"Doing what?"

"Do you think she would care if I didn't wear the tie?"

"Seth, why wouldn't you..."

"I just think that maybe this is all wrong. Or maybe it's right. Maybe it's perfect. Maybe I'm just driving myself insane. Why the hell did you have to ask me all those questions last night?"

"Are you getting nervous?"

"No, Ryan, I just thought the wet look was in." Seth wiped his forehead roughly with the back of his hand.

"What about all that stuff how it's Summer?"

"I know. But what if I mess it up?"

"How would you mess it up?"

"Well, I seem to be pretty goddamn talented at it."

"Seth, everything's going to be fine."

Summer spun around from her reflection. "What if everything messes up?"

"Like what?" Marissa placed her veil on top of Summer's dark curls and straightened out the gauze.

"What if he really was just humoring me this whole time?"

"Summer, he loves you."

"But what if it isn't enough? Oh my god, what if he runs?"

"Summer, tell me why would he run?"

"He did it before. Brittany. You don't see them married to this day do you? Oh my god, what if she looked prettier than I do?" Summer spun back around to stare at herself.

"No chance. You're so gorge..."

"He ran away from me once before two. So that's twice. Maybe it's something he does. Maybe it's me. Maybe it's all women. Shit, Marissa, what if he's gay?"

Marissa nodded solemnly. "You're right. I'll go ask him." She turned around but Summer yanked her back.

"You can't ask him that."

"Why not?"

"Because it's ridiculous."

Marissa raised her eyebrows. Summer nodded.

"Right. It's ridiculous. And I look fine. Right?"

"Summer, just do this. If you ask any more questions, you're going to think more, and you guys have thought enough for the rest of your life."

"Life?"

"Yeah. Why?"

"Like one."

Seth lay his steady hand over Summer's. She felt him curl his fingers around hers and she smiled.

"Ryan said you were ready to faint."

"Ryan's overdramatic. Did you see her?"

"Yeah for like a second. She's really pretty."

"She always was. Was she near Jenn?"

"No. They're saving it."

"Oh. That's good, because I think Jenn would be better with everyone..."

"Seth."

"Yeah?"

Summer leaned over and whispered in his ear. "We're married."

"That's the rumor." He smiled into her cheek, kissing it with heavy lips.

She scooted in closer, nestling her forehead into the warmth of his neck. His fingers were stroking hers, gently rubbing each finger individually, then threading their two hands together. Like one.

The whole 'one' thing is a shoutout to the fabulous Miss TallyMcKee who taught the world how to write O.C. fanfiction. Thank you so much for caring so much about this story, because I really do. And I'm sorry this took so long, like... really long. School's being a bitch, and then there's this guy... and he's been taking up a bit of time. And then this other one... but that's a long story. But I really wanted to finish this, because of all the time I have invested into it. Undeniable is still coming for those of y'all wondering. And yes, I lied about this one. This isn't the end. It didn't make sense to wrap everything up due to emotional content. The epilogue is coming...I'll just make it the last chapter here, so keep your eyes open for that. I hope to be tying up all those loose ends that I've left for so long. I'm sorry about the time again, it's just The O.C. is kind of sucking this season. Please leave a little review, because they're why I keep going. Believe me; this would've taken five more years without you guys.