I'm so sorry that it's been awhile. It's been about two weeks and I've been very busy.

I hope you enjoy this chapter. R&R!

Chapter 23 – The right thing

Later that afternoon Seth, Sandy and the kids went to the grocery shop while Summer and Kirsten stayed at home. They still hadn't had any time to really catch up on Summer's mother. They'd been busy with the kids and it seemed like Summer avoided the subject a little bit.

"I'm glad that you and your mother finally talked through it, that you're on good terms. I mean I know how it's like to lose a mother and I can't even imagine how it would be if she'd died and we still had things to sort out." Kirsten said as they cleared out the kitchen from the lunch. As Summer didn't reply she continued.

"I know that she hasn't exactly been there for you during a long time but I'm sure it means a lot to her that you've forgiven her." Kirsten dried a plate with a towel and placed it in the cupboard. As she turned around Summer had finished cleaning the island and met Kirsten's eyes.

"I didn't exactly leave on good terms." She said feeling a little guilty. She knew how hard Kirsten had taken her own mother's death.

"Oh." was all Kirsten could say. "I'm sorry. But you did talk to her right?"

"Yeah, I and Seth talked to her and she told us this story and the whole time I wanted to feel sorry for her, but I couldn't. I don't know if she told me the truth and after all she's caused me I don't know if I can forgive her."

"Summer, I know that this is very hard for you, but please try to forgive her or understand her. Don't let her die and think that you hate her because I know that you don't."

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"Seth?" Summer's voice appeared in the hallway.

"In here." Seth called from Casey's room. He was getting him ready for bed, or at least he tried to. Seth had succeeded to put the pyjama bottoms but as Casey refused to lift his arms Seth couldn't put the shirt on. Casey wasn't usually like this; he was most of the time a very easy child, but tonight he was very tired. It was only six o'clock and Sandy and Kirsten had just left.

"Casey, please." Seth tried to lift his son's tiny arms, but knew that by force everything would get a whole lot worse.

"How's it going in here?" Summer entered the room finding the two boys on the floor, Seth on his knees and Casey standing beside.

"This little guy won't let me put on his pyjamas." Seth said and Casey shook his head.

"Why is that Casey?" Summer kneeled down next to him.

"I don't want to go to bed." Whined Casey and yawned.

"But aren't you tired?"

"Yes."

"Let daddy put your shirt on honey. I'll sing for you." Summer suggested.

"Okay." Casey let Seth put the shirt over his head and this time he helped with his arms. You could see that the little boy was very tired and that was to expect after a busy day like today.

"There you go." Seth said as the blue pyjamas with stars were correctly on.

"Will you go down to Ava; she's in the family room." Summer said as she rose along with Seth. She took Casey's small hand into her own.

"Sure. Night Casey, love you."

"I love you too daddy." Seth gave a small wave before he went out of the room.

"So, you must be really tired now huh? You've had a lot of fun today." Summer helped the three year old into his bed and tucked him in. She sat next to him and made herself comfortable.

"Now sing mommy." Casey said and hugged his teddy, 'Billy', close. It was a gift he'd received the day he was born from Seth. Summer started to sing as she stroked the dark curls on Casey's head as he closed his eyes and started to drift off.

Lullaby and good night

In the sky stars are bright

'Round your head

Flowers gay

Set you slumbers till day

Lullaby and good night

In the sky stars are bright

'Round your head

Flowers gay

Set you slumbers till day

Close your eyes

Now and rest

May these hours

Be blessed

Close your eyes

Now and rest

May these hours

Be blessed

Summer had sung this song since he was a little baby and he still loved it. There weren't a lot of songs he could fall asleep to but to this one he always did. Summer had a soft voice, pretty good, but not enough to be a professional singer. She rose and gave Casey a kiss on his cheek before she went out of the room.

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"Do you wanna watch a movie or go to sleep right now Sum?" Seth said as he came down the stairs and into the living room. He had put Ava to bed and now the children were both asleep. Summer sat on the couch playing with a tassel on a pillow.

"Actually..." She started and rose. "I want to open the box." Summer said and reminded Seth about her mother again. She'd acted so normally today that he had almost forgot about the whole thing.

"Oh. Do you want to be alone?" He both wanted her to answer yes and no.

"I thought that you could be with me. I mean if you want to of course."

"Summer, I'll do anything for you. Of course I'll be with you. You know that." He walked closer to her and grabbed her hand.

"I know."

"Good, let's go upstairs." He led her to the stairs and they went to their bedroom.

While in there Summer went to their closet and opened a drawer. Under a bunch of scarf's was the box. She carefully took it into her hands and went back to the bedroom where Seth sat on the bed. He had lit a few candles and the lamps on the bed side tables were on. Summer climbed onto the bed and Seth helped her get comfortable with the pillows. She gave him a thankful smile and took his hand into her own and stroked it.

"You know Seth, earlier today your mother told me how hard it is to lose a parent. I want to open this bow before she dies. I may have lost her years ago but she was alive; I still had a mother technically." Summer scoffed over so that she was closer to Seth, their upper arms tightly pressed together.

"I've never lost somebody close to me. And I don't want to. I don't think I can handle something like that." Summer sounded a bit sad as she spoke.

"Summer, it's hard but if anyone can do it, it's you."

"Me? I can't even go see my mother alone or leave my kids and you. I'm totally depended on people!" Seth now placed an arm round her shoulders, stroking her right one and caressing her collar bone with his fingers.

"Summer, you're the strongest person I know. And you're not depended; you just need other people and we all do."

"Yeah, yeah." Summer said and shrugged, almost pulling away from Seth's touch.

"Summer, look at me." Summer kept looking down on her hands. "Look at me!" Seth turned her face towards him with his hand. "You are strong and you are allowed to want people you love around you, okay? You're not depended just because of that. I need people too; I need you. You're my rock, okay?" Seth gently touched Summer's cheek as she looked him right in his eyes. After a second or two she gave him a smile which he gladly replied. Summer leaned in to Seth's touch as he still had his hand on her cheek, caressing it.

"What would I do without you Cohen?" Summer said but it was more of a rhetorical question; none of them wanted to know the answer ever.

"You want to check that box of yours out now?"

"Yeah, we better." Summer stretched up and placed the box in front of her and Seth. "You ready?"

"If you are." Summer carefully opened it. The lit was quite hard to get off; it seemed to be an old box or it was just very well used. Summer placed the lit beside the box and Seth gave her leg a little squeeze.

To be continued...

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