A/N: Thanks for your reviews and continued support everybody!

"So, you and Mr Roberts…" Ryan nodded, trying desperately to keep his face impassive "That should be… interesting"

Summer glanced over at Seth and shot him an encouraging smile, before noticing that Marissa's face was growing progressively redder and her eyes were nearly watering from the strain of keeping a straight face. "Coop!" she snapped

"I'm sorry Sum…" Marissa laughed finally, shaking her head and wiping a tear of mirth from her cheek "I just…" she struggled to find the words "…Why?"

"What do you mean 'why'"? Seth rounded on Marissa "It wasn't that bad last time"

"No Sweetie, course it wasn't" Summer consoled him with a quick kiss "Besides…" Summer continued, turning her attention to Marissa again "Cohen's social skills have come on a lot since then…haven't they Cohen?"

Unfortunately, At that moment Seth was exploring the world of possibilities that arose from the jar of straws on the table and had just managed to fit 2 up his nose.

"Cohen?" Summer prompted

"Huh?" Seth turned towards her and she buried her head on the table as she noticed the two fluorescent green straws hanging from his nose.

"Oh God…we're doomed" she muttered quietly.

"What?" Seth protested innocently, just as one straw fell conveniently from his face into his drink and the table erupted with laughter.

The fantastic four had been at their favourite diner on the pier, catching up on each other's lives when Seth mentioned that he was planning to meet Summer's Dad again.

In truth, he was far more nervous about it than he was letting on and Ryan and Marissa's disbelief…followed by raucous laughter, had done little to ease the tension he was experiencing.

He honestly believed what he had told Summer… as a couple, they were ready to do this. He was confident that, whatever happened this time, it wouldn't have any drastically adverse effects on their relationship. They'd come through too much to let something so trivial stand in their way.

But at the same time, he was in no way convinced that he would fare much better with Dr. Roberts. Although he and Summer had overcome Seth's insecurities about not feeling good enough for her, he had a feeling that Summer's Dad would not see it the same way. Not that he blamed him, Summer was his Princess and, by comparison, he was a court Jester… to any outside observer, they seemed entirely mismatched.

Seth was sure that the only way he could convince Dr. Roberts, was to prove that they were good for each other…that they needed each other….and most importantly, that they loved each other.

The brothers were driving home from the pier and Seth had barely said two words since he'd said good bye to Summer. He'd spent the whole journey staring out of the window with a distracted look rooted to his face which occasionally morphed into a frown. This unusual behaviour had not escaped Ryan's notice.

"C'mon then…spit it out" Ryan demanded

"What?" Seth feigned ignorance

Ryan gave him a look "Seth, I know you too well, I know when something is bothering you."

"It's nothing" he protested weakly.

"Seth?" Ryan raised his eyebrow at his brother.

"You'll laugh at me." Seth muttered quietly, fixing his eyes back out of the window.

Ryan smiled "I won't…I promise."

Seth hesitated, he was clearly desperate to tell somebody and Ryan could tell that he would break eventually, it was only a matter of ti…

"Ok…" Seth began quickly, turning to face Ryan in the driver's seat "But before I start I just want you to remember that you asked for this…so when we're still talking about me and my problems in 3 hours time, you can't accuse me of being self obsessed…I'm only following your instructions."

Ryan laughed softly, the way that his brother's mind worked still baffled him "Ok then, I won't complain."

"Well the thing is…"

"It's Summer's Dad isn't it?" Ryan butted in

"How did you know?" Seth's eyes were wide with genuine surprise.

Ryan rolled his eyes, Seth still had no idea how incredibly transparent his emotions were "Wild stab in the dark." He murmured dryly.

"It's just that…I really want him to like me this time. Not because I'm scared of it breaking us up, just because I'm worried how it will effect Summer."

He paused, but Ryan nodded for him to continue.

"I know she says that she's happy as we are and I believe her, but nobody really wants their Dad to hate their boyfriend do they? …It'd be so much easier if he could at least accept me" Seth finished quietly.

"Well, just get Summer to explain what sort of things he appreciates and then try and act like…well…a normal person" Ryan suggested with a smile.

"But that's just it Ryan…" Seth burst in feverishly "I'm totally socially inept when it comes to these things! And it's always worst when I want to make a good impression, because I get nervous, and then I start to ramble and obsess about things like vim and vigour and breadsticks and…"

"Seth!" Ryan interrupted to halt the torrent of words "Stop panicking, we'll work something out. It'll be fine"

Seth frowned but didn't respond immediately.

"I think we may need to have a few practice runs" he mumbled finally.

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