A/N: Thanks for reviewing everybody! I know you were hoping for a reunion in the last chapter but I figured you wouldn't mind waiting a teeny, tiny bit longer...

Summer heaved several ragged breaths to calm the emotions that were raging with such ferocity that her whole body shook. Inexplicably; perhaps it was the pain in Seth's voice message, or the alienation she felt at Jen's, it hit Summer at that moment just how close Seth and her had come to throwing all away…again.

Shaking her head in disbelief and wiping the tears from her flushed cheeks Summer reached for her phone, determined to make Seth see that she was ready to fight for them this time…at any cost.

Punching in the familiar speed dial code Summer gripped her phone up to her ear and waited for it to connect. Her heat beat faster and faster as the ringing tone resounded in her head; the consistent beeps in stark contrast to her erratic breathing. Pick up…please pick up…she pleaded silently.

Back at the Cohen's, Seth, Ryan and Sandy started and their conversation ceased abruptly as Seth's ringtone sounded from the kitchen. Scrambling up from his seat, Seth dashed to the table and grabbed hold of his phone, glancing briefly at the caller ID as he did so.

Looking up, his eyes met his Dad's across the room and Sandy shot him a reassuring smile. Lifting the phone to his ear, Seth walked out to the pool for some privacy. Knowing just how big an impact this one phone call could have on his foreseeable happiness, he prayed that he wouldn't screw it up this time.

"Hey..." he began tentatively

The sound of Seth's voice caused Summer's breath to catch in her throat and her resolve to weaken again.

"Cohen…" she whispered

There was a period of silence as only muffled sobs could be heard coming from one end of the phone and panic rose through Seth's body.

"Sum, what is it? Are you ok?" his voice was tender but he couldn't disguise the urgency that had crept in as his mind went into overdrive.

Summer gave a gentle sniffle and took a deep breath, trying to regain the power of speech through her tears.

"Baby, please don't cry…" Seth pleaded "I'm so sorry…"

"I did it Cohen…" she interrupted softly "I did what you wanted. But you can't make me live like this…" her voice gathered strength as her tension spilled out "It's not me Cohen…please don't do this…"

"Sum, slow down where are you? Let me come and get you."

Seth was unnerved by Summer's ramblings; it was totally out of character for her to lose control like this.

"I'm at Jen's…where you think I belong" she added bitterly

A fleeting gasp of pain surged through Seth's heart at the anger in Summer's voice, but he couldn't stop himself, even if he didn't want to hear it…he had to know.

"And?" he prompted quietly

"It's my past Cohen…" she sighed "And as much as I want to go back and change it, I can't…but it's not who I am now, I've changed…it's not my life…" Summer's words surged out desperately.

"Shhhh…" Seth tried to soothe her "It's ok you don't have to do this…"

"But you're the difference…" Summer cut in passionately "You changed me Cohen…And if I were to lose you, I might end up back there…but I couldn't cope Cohen…I can't do it…I won't." She finally paused to take her breath but her voice came back even more insistent than before "So I'm not going to let you do this ok?...I love you, I need you, and I'm going to fight for us this time." Summer broke off, her voice shaking with despair and there was a deathly silence…she could have sworn her heart stopped beating for a second.

"I love you Summer." Seth murmured simply "And I'm not going to leave you…ever." He added in a gently.

An elated smile spread slowly over Summer's tear stained face. "You promise?"

"I promise." He whispered earnestly "No more screw ups, no more letting other people come between us…just you and me Sum. It's how it's meant to be."

A triumphant sense of relief flooded Summer's exhausted body and she lay back against the wall savouring the peace and the feeling of contentment. "I just want to hold you right now Cohen…"

"I know sweetie, I'm coming it's fine. You sit tight and I'll be there as soon as I can."

"Thanks. I love you."

Seth just smiled into the phone and quickly hung up; the sooner he was with her, the sooner he could show her in person how much he loved her.

Pulling herself up from the floor, Summer rubbed the final tears from her eyes and prepared to face the people downstairs again, safe in the knowledge that her Knight in shining armour would soon be there to rescue her from this hell. Ok well maybe not Knight…more like geek in shining armour…but he was her geek, and she loved him…that was all that mattered.

Taking a deep breath and adjusting her hair, Summer quietly opened the door into the bedroom, but was taken aback to find that she wasn't alone…

A/N: Tee hee...mini cliffhanger! Thanks for reading, please review :) (Hope you enjoyed their little chat by the way!)