Disclaimer: I do not own anything to do with the O.C.

Chapter Ten

The condo was sparsely yet tastefully furnished. Downstairs was the kitchen, living room, dining room, a spare bedroom and a bathroom. Throughout the living room were framed photographs, mainly of the Atwood twins. Summer frowned when she realised she wasn't in any of them and quietly made her way upstairs.

There was a hallway with four doors leading off it. The first door was a large bathroom, the second another spare bedroom. Summer pushed open the third door and found an office. Again, photos were littered around the room. She spotted one of Ryan, Marissa and Seth at graduation. Smiling sadly, Summer made her way back into the hallway.

The final door led to Seth's bedroom. Surprisingly, the walls were bare, no posters hung on them. Summer broke into a grin when she spotted a photo on his bedside table. It was taken of the two of them at Caleb's Man of the Year celebration. They looked so happy, despite Seth later becoming upset about Anna leaving. Summer picked it up, staring into what used to be.

"A lot's changed since then, huh?"

Summer gasped, dropping the frame and spinning around. Seth was leaning against the doorframe, smiling sadly at her. Not making eye contact with him she made her way toward the door.

"Sorry, I was just looking," she mumbled.

"Hey," Seth said softly, reaching out and grabbing her arm.

Chills coursed through Summer's entire body. She slowly raised her eyes to his. They stared at each other intensely, as if re-examining each other's every detail so as never to forget.

"I'm so sorry for leaving," Seth whispered, rubbing his hand up her arm. "I've never forgiven myself for it. I threw everything away, I threw you away."

Summer didn't reply, her eyes welling with tears.

"I was so mad at you, Summer. Sure, I wanted to get to know Noah, he is my son after all, but I was still so mad at you for keeping him from me. But now, spending time with you, just being around you, it's all gone out the window."

Before Summer could respond she felt Seth's lips on her own. Her stomach, which had been flip flopping since Seth had arrived at the door, exploded as ten years of desire went into their kiss. Summer was surprised at how quickly she remembered every inch of Seth's mouth. She laced her hands up around his neck as he pulled her closer, their bodies a perfect fit against each other.

"Mom? Seth?"

Summer shoved Seth away from her, stricken by the sound of Noah's voice downstairs.

"We can't do this, Seth."

"Summer, come on. Why not?"

"I'm sorry, we can't. I have Noah now, I can't… I just can't do it, I'm sorry."

Without another word, Summer made her way downstairs toward Noah's voice. He was sitting on the sofa, the television remote poised in his hand.

"I picked War of the Worlds," he told her, smiling widely. "I haven't seen it in ages."

"Sounds good, sweetie," Summer replied, smiling back at him and taking a seat next to him.

Noah leant into her, resting his head on her chest. Instinctively her hands splayed through his curls, just as they had done when he was a baby.

A few minutes into the movie, Seth joined them, a bowl of popcorn in his hand. He didn't look at Summer, taking a seat on the other side of Noah, staring at the TV.

There they sat, Noah in between his parents, enjoying a movie. Despite Summer's joy at the situation, she couldn't help but wish she were back upstairs, Seth's lips on her own.