A/N: Thanks for the reviews everyone! Well here's the much anticipated 'lunch chapter', and it's extra specially long for the occasion-Hope you like it!

"Ok…" he muttered, eying himself sternly in the mirror "Time to be a man Seth…you can do this …" Fiddling distractedly with his tie, he heaved a heavy sigh and his shoulders drooped "Oh who are you kidding…you're totally screwed"

There was a soft knock on the door and Seth turned to see Summer's slender body edging hesitantly into his room "Hey…Not interrupting anything am I?" she asked with a slight smile playing about on her lips.

"No, no…just me and Oats catching up you know…we like to save ourselves a bit of quality time…"

"Oh…" Summer raised an amused eyebrow and gave a knowing nod as she walked fully into the room, closing the door gently shut behind her.

"What are you doing here anyway?" Seth asked, stooping to place a kiss on her cheek "I though I was going to meet you and your Dad there"

Summer looked away, a little abashed "Yeah well…I was just passing and I thought it would be a good idea to car pool…we do have an environment to think of you know Cohen…" she trailed off

Seth gave a wry smile and tenderly planted a lingering kiss on her lips. He knew it had nothing to do with saving the planet and everything to do with the fact that Summer knew he was feeling pretty petrified. It was her way of showing him that they were in this together. "Thank you…" he whispered, gently ruffling the top of her silky hair.

"Whatever for Cohen?" She asked, her eyes wide with innocence

"Just for being you." He shrugged simply

Moments of silence passed as Seth stared deep into her eyes wondering, as he so often did, what he had done to deserve such an amazing person in his life. Summer grabbed hold of his hand and rested her head against his chest, wrapping her free arm around the body she knew so well. She said nothing, but for Seth her silence said it all. It said that she knew that they were entering an unknown and potentially challenging phase of their relationship…it said that she knew he was scared…that she understood…but most of all, it said that they were going to be ok.

Kissing her briefly on the top of her head, Seth lightly lifted her chin with his finger until her eyes met his again. He nodded, almost imperceptibly and that was it…they were ready. No tactics, no team talk, no last minute checklist of dos and don'ts…just a nod, and a feeling of unshakeable togetherness.

Interlacing his fingers with hers, Seth seized his jacket from a chair and led her quietly from his room.

Seth swallowed hard then took a deep breath as they entered the restaurant and headed for the table where Summer's father was already seated. Sensing his unease Summer squeezed his hand and shot him a reassuring smile.

"Hey Daddy" Summer greeted her father with a somewhat forced smile as he rose to get out of his seat to meet them "Er…this is Coh-…I mean Seth…" she said, gesturing to her boyfriend "But obviously you already know that…because you've met… I…"

"Nice to see you again Dr. Roberts" Seth cut in tentatively, offering his hand across the table.

"Wow…" Summer muttered "Now I'm the rambly one"

Neil shook Seth's outstretched hand and nodded curtly before raising a mildly surprised eyebrow at his firm handshake…it seemed incongruous with the impression he had formed last time.

"Good to see you Seth" he barked as sincerely as he could manage, before sitting himself back down, drawing a menu sharply to him and disappearing behind it.

An awkward tension descended on the table and Summer began to gently but desperately hum an inane tune, if only to break the silence…she hated silence. She knew that there was somebody else at the table who couldn't stand it either…but he remained uncharacteristically quiet.

She shot Seth a questioning look, but he merely returned a tight smile and began to study his menu.

"So Seth…"

He jumped at the abruptness of the address

"…You still into comic books?" Dr Roberts enquired, peering unsmilingly over the rim of his designer glasses.

"Uh Yes Sir…" Seth nodded "Very much so."

"Well I suppose it's always good to have a…hobby" he finished with a small but unmistakable sneer.

"Indeed" Seth nodded again and opened his mouth to speak but seemingly thought better of it.

Summer glanced at her boyfriend with furrowed brow, she was almost positive she had never heard him give anything less than a twelve word answer before. The outline of Seth's jaw clenched visibly shut as she watched him and Summer gave a relieved smile…the real Seth was in there somewhere, and it was clearly taking some effort to keep him under wraps.

"Breadstick?" Her dad's clipped tones broke into Summer's reverie. He was proffering the bread basket and staring pointedly at Seth whose ears noticeably reddened with embarrassment at Dr Roberts' reference to their past encounter.

Summer's father was unable to suppress a satisfied smirk at Seth's discomfort, but it soon vanished as he caught the look his daughter was shooting him. He had often commented that Summer's most expressive feature was her eyes, and she was using them to full effect now. They were brimming with anguish and disappointment at her father's behaviour and he shifted uncomfortably under their penetrative gaze.

"I'll go and get us some drinks" He murmured, throwing his napkin down onto the table and heading off towards the bar.

Seth, whose eyes were still trained firmly on the menu in front of him, felt a soft hand creep slowly over his.

"You Ok Sweetie?" Summer asked gently, twisting her fingers tenderly through his curls "You seem kind of quiet"

Seth's eyes darted sharply around the room, checking that they were out of earshot of her father "I think it's better this way Sum…or safer at least" he turned his body towards her and looked a little sheepish "You know as well as I do, if I start talking…I won't be able stop…I don't want your Dad to think I'm a rambling fool."

"Well you're not exactly the strong, silent type…" Summer smiled, finding his vulnerabilities inexplicably adorable " But I want him to know the real you Cohen." She murmured earnestly "I want him to see the boy I fell in love with…not some bizarre, quiet, censored, parental version."

Seth grinned and kissed her fleetingly on the forehead as a giggle escaped her lips. "Ok…" he conceded "I'll see if I can work the old Cohen charm on him."

Summer rolled her eyes but smiled as she got up out of her chair "I'm just going to the bathroom, I'll be back in a sec" she assured him

"Er…what?" Seth looked genuinely alarmed "Summer…Summer don't leave me" he whispered urgently to her retreating form "Sum what if your Dad gets back…Summer…oh she's leaving…she's really leaving…oh Dear Lord…breathe Seth, breathe."

Seth drummed his fingers nervously on the table until the sight of Dr Roberts' returning figure caught his eye "Oh he's coming…he's coming back…be cool Seth be cool…" he murmured frantically to himself.

Seth's breath caught in his throat as Neil reached the table and paused momentarily before sitting down. Something in his expression reminded Seth of Summer, he'd never noticed any resemblance before, but it seemed as though this revelation was sent to bring him strength. He felt Summer's presence with them as Dr Roberts sat down and eyed him determinedly.

"Listen…it's nothing personal Seth" he began sharply "…but I love my daughter…"

"I guess we have something in common then" Seth replied easily

Neil looked briefly taken aback, he had not expected such a display of backbone, and Seth was not done yet…

"I get it ok, I get that I'm not what you expected…and if we're honest, I'm not who Summer expected she'd end up with either…and yet here we are."

There was a moment of silence as Dr Roberts surveyed the intense boy sitting opposite him. Clearly he had underestimated the substance hidden by the comic book façade.

"You can't help who you fall in love with Sir…and you certainly can't control who your daughter falls in love with" Seth said carefully "…much as you might want to." He added.

A wry smile crept across Neil's lips for the first time that afternoon and he gave a slight nod of assent. Further discussion was curtailed however as Summer arrived back at the table, glancing anxiously at the men in her life, sensing that a fragile truce, or at least a stalemate may have been reached.

"Are you ready to order?" A bored looking Waiter stalked up to their table, clipboard in hand and stared impatiently at the guests, starting with Seth.

"I'll have the steak" Seth said, shutting his menu decisively "Medium rare and no sauce please."

The waiter scribbled carelessly on his pad before turning to Dr Roberts "And you Sir?"

"I'll have the Swordfish…" Summer opened her mouth to add her own choice but her father got there first "And my daughter will have the chicken." He slammed his menu shut and tossed it over to the waiter.

Seth raised his eyebrows, knowing he would never dare order for Summer, for fear of a violent rage blackout and a lengthy lecture on 21st Century feminism. He was about to pass his menu back, when something on it caught his eye.

"Er, Sum are you sure you want the chicken…it's got Picante in the dressing" Seth asked quietly

"So?" Neil snapped automatically "What's wrong with that?"

"Er...Summer hates Picante" Seth explained hesitantly, shooting uncertain glances between his girlfriend and her father.

"This true?" Neil asked sharply

Summer nodded gently before addressing the waiter "I'll have the steak too please"

Dr Roberts sat back in his chair and heaved an uneasy sigh. He should have known that...he should know all about his daughter's life. To some it might just be Picante, but he knew it symbolised more. He watched as Summer and Seth exchanged secret smiles across the table and a pain of loss shot through his heart. His baby was growing up. He wasn't the only man in her life anymore…he didn't know her the best…he couldn't be her everything. He just wasn't sure if he was ready to give her up yet.

A/N: So there we go...hope it was alright, I'd really appreciate any feedback- thanks for reading!