Title: In Every Sunflower

Author: Erica

Disclaimer: Not mine.

Rating: PG-13

A/N: This chapter is a flashback. Again, like I said, they will be in no particular order so just keep that in mind. Basically, whenever I get bored, I add one.

Also, a reviewer has kindly reminded me that I gave no credit to Bell X1 for the title. Eek! My sincerest apologies for that; I thought I had mentioned them somewhere but I guess not. So, yes, title is from a Bell X1 song.

And, I changed my username yet again. Um, obviously. It would have started to bother me, I know it would have so, alas, the initial system has been applied.

"Never cast as the romantic lead but somehow on our feet…" –The New Amsterdams

Somewhere in the back of his mind, Seth had a feeling that he was supposed to be nervous about this. But, for whatever reason, he wasn't. After months and months of planning and even more months of Summer chatting his ear off with endless conversation of table linens and flowers, he was ready.

He was considerably less ready when Marissa appeared at the back of the church and practically cantered down the aisle. The organist picked up the tempo of the music to match Marissa's pace but she paid no heed as she continued down the aisle. Seth was certain this wasn't how she had done it in rehearsal.

"Seth," she hissed as she reached him. "It's Summer," she said.

"What?" he asked hurriedly. "What's wrong with her?"

"She's freaking out. She won't leave the room."

Seth stopped for a minute. Then, cautiously he asked, "Does she…does she not want to do this?"

Marissa shook her head. "No," she said immediately. "She's just nervous. She—"

Seth didn't hear the rest of what Marissa said because he was already gone down the aisle and into the back hallways of the church. He knocked twice on the door of the room he knew Summer was in before walking in.

"Summer?" he said.

"Cohen?" Summer said, looking up from her seat in the corner.

He hurried over to her and squatted down in front of her. "Are you okay?" he asked.

"I'm sorry," she said. Then, after a beat, "I'm scared, Seth."

"I know," he said, nodding. "I'm scared too."

"It's just that…this the rest of my life, you know? And, I'm not saying I don't want to spend it with you, cause I do, but it's just…"

"I know," Seth said again.

"I want to do this." She reached out and touched his hand. "You know that, right?"

Seth smiled. "Of course."

Summer leaned down and kissed him. "I'm sorry," she said again. "I'm okay."

"Hey, no worries," Seth said, standing up. Summer followed suit and he placed a kiss on her forehead. "Is your dad going to come get you?"

She nodded. "Yeah, he should be here any minute. And you," Summer said, shoving him, "need to get out! It's bad luck to see me in my dress before the wedding!"

"Okay, okay," Seth said, laughing. "Watch the tux."

"I'll be out in a minute," Summer said, smiling as Seth headed for the door. "I love you!"

"I love you too," he called over his shoulder as he shut the door, just in time to pass Dr. Roberts in the hallway.

"That's bad luck," Neil pointed out, jokingly.

Seth grinned and glanced over his shoulder. "That's what she said."

"She's okay?"

"Yeah." Seth nodded. "She's fine."

Then, Dr. Roberts got serious. "Now, Seth, I know we didn't really get off on the right foot way back when—"

Seth cut him off. "Water under the bridge, Dr. Roberts."

He smiled. "You make her happy," he commented. "It's good to see her happy."

Seth smiled and ducked his head. "That's my goal."

"I'll see you later," he said, as he started to walk away. He stopped and turned around. "And, for god sakes Seth, would you call me Neil?" he added.

"Will do, Dr. Ro—Neil."

---

Seth pulled Summer closer to him as they moved together on the dance floor. What they were doing could hardly be classified as dancing, in the sense that they were barely moving, but it didn't matter to them. Seth had no idea what song was playing, but he also found that he didn't really care.

"Cohen," Summer said and her voice was muffled seeing as her face was pressed against his chest.

"Yeah?"

Summer paused, as if she weren't exactly sure as to what she wanted to say next. "I want to get out of here," she said, lifting her face and looking past his shoulder at the almost empty dance floor.

Seth smiled. "Me too."

If Seth had his way, they'd be at the hotel right now, doing things that definitely were not appropriate to do on the dance floor.

"I hate tuxes," Seth commented childishly as he tugged at his collar.

"But, sweetie, you look so cute!" Summer reassured him jokingly.

Seth grinned and the song ended and he took Summer's hand, leading her off of the dance floor because he had gotten bored with the rocking motion they were attempting to pass off as dancing. They found Sandy and Kirsten, seated comfortably at a table, talking with Neil.

"Hey, you two," Kirsten greeted as they approached.

"It's getting late," Sandy said. "Aren't you guys worn out yet?"

Summer smiled. "A little," she answered.

"Why don't you head to the hotel?" Kirsten suggested. "We'll handle everything here."

Seth glanced at the last few people lingering around. Several of his cousins were finishing off martinis at the bar and his uncle appeared to be raiding the empty tables for spare dinner rolls while his aunt waited impatiently at the door.

"Are you sure that's okay?" Seth asked.

"Of course," Neil assured. "Get out of here."

Summer smiled again and leaned down to kiss her father on the cheek. Seth shook Dr. Roberts' hand as Summer hugged Sandy goodbye.

"Thanks," Seth said, giving his father a hug and manly pat on the back.

"We'll see you when you get back," Kirsten said, squeezing Summer's hand.

---

"Watch my head! Watch my head!" Summer yelled right before Seth could smack it into the doorframe.

"I got it," he said, even though he really didn't. He was struggling quite a bit for trying to do something as simple as carry Summer through the door of their hotel.

He angled himself so that they could both make it through the door safely. He then carried Summer over to the bed and dropped her unceremoniously onto it.

"There," he said.

"God, Cohen," Summer said, sitting up. "That was like the most unromantic carrying of a wife over a threshold ever."

"You wanna do it again?" he asked.

"Yes," she said, crossing her arms over her chest. "But when we get home. You can carry me into the apartment."

"Excellent," Seth said sarcastically as he sat down, leaning against the headboard. He opened his arms to her and she scooted in close to him, pushing the fluffy white confection of a dress over so that she could fit better with him.

Seth took her hand and laced their fingers together as Summer picked them up, close to her face, inspecting them. She turned their hands and eyed her wedding ring.

"We're married," she breathed. "For real."

Seth smiled at her. "That's usually what that big ceremony means."

"Shut up," she said, smacking his chest. She stared at him for a while before continuing. "Me and you," she went on, lifting her head up and looking at him. "Forever. Do you realize what this means?"

Seth nodded. "It means you get to boss me around for the rest of my life."

She looked at him pointedly. "It means more than that."

"It means…" Seth said, "that we can have sex every day for the rest of our lives."

"And…" she responded.

"And it means…" Seth continued, "that I get to wake up every morning with you."

Summer nodded and smiled, neglecting to point out that he's waken up every morning with her since they graduated college. "And?"

"It means…" Seth said, sitting up on his knees and tackling her as his fingers tickled her waist. He had given up on figuring out what it meant.

Summer laughed. "You're tickling me!" she screeched.

"That is the point," Seth said, taking her wrists and holding them above her head as he continued to tickle her with the other hand.

"Stop!" she giggled out. "Seriously! I'm gonna kick your ass, Seth Cohen!"

"My pleasure."

"Se-ETH," she said, breaking his name into two syllables. "Cut it out. You're going to ruin my dress."

Seth let go of her wrists and she sat up, smoothing out the white dress she had spent hours meticulously going over to make sure it was just right.

"Why don't you just take it off?" Seth offered, wiggling his eyebrows suggestively as he sat back against the headboard again.

"Wouldn't you like that," Summer said, moving into her spot beside him.

"Oh, indeed I would."

After a moment, Summer said, "I can't believe we're really married."

"I know," Seth agreed.

"This is so cool!"

"Very cool."

Summer leaned up and kissed him. "Come on," she said, as she sat forward on her knees and put her back to him.

"What?" Seth asked, confused.

Summer pulled her hair off the back of her neck and looked over her shoulder at him, rolling her eyes. "Unzip me, Cohen."

Seth grinned as he willingly complied.

TBC…