Title: The Next Step

Author: Charmed-Sparkle

Disclaimer: I don't own The OC or anything else related to it (But I wish I owned Adam Brody!)

Summary: Summer and Seth have been out of high school for six years, and are living together in NYC. When Seth proposes, how will their lives change? SS, lots of fluff.

A/N: Whoever watched this Thursday, (April 6) I know we could all use some fluff! So to get your mind off things, here's the 5th chapter. Review!

Chapter 5: Money and Perfection

Seth's perfect day was, for the most part, over. They ordered breakfast, got dressed, and (after one minor bedroom delay,) left to go shopping. Summer, still happy from her engagement, hadn't bought too much and Seth, also happy, didn't complain once about carrying it. Then they ate lunch at their favorite booth in The Crab Shack, and went to the beach. Now, it was getting late and Summer kept saying how hungry she was.

"Let's go get dressed, and then we can get dinner, it should be ready by 7:30," Seth told her, trying to sound casual.

"What should be ready at 7:30? Do we have reservations?"

"Something like that."

Truthfully, Summer was worried. Not about the actual engagement, she'd actually been hoping for that. It was hard to believe, Summer Roberts, the girl who was afraid of serious relationships and even more so of public ones, was thrilled beyond words to be engaged (to Seth Cohen no less) and couldn't stop smiling when she saw someone look at her ring. When she first found the ring, her initial reaction was sheer shock. Ever since they had graduated college, she had the future at the back of her mind. Not the next day future, but in ten years, where did she see herself? Usually, she didn't like to think about that, but sometimes, when it was late at night, and she could feel Seth's chest rise and fall beneath her, the future slipped into her head. Most things were cloudy, but she always pictured Seth there. That's why as soon as she regained her composure, she felt joy swell inside of her. That was when Seth had run into the room, and just seeing him made it all seem so real, so it took until he opened the ring box to respond. So no, for once Summer wasn't worried about the intensity of her relationship. She was actually worried about money.

Summer was no moron; she knew that Seth had spent a lot more than he was able to. They were doing pretty good financially and Summer had her trust fund, but they couldn't afford first-class plane tickets, a Newport hotel Suite, and the rock on her finger. The trust funds didn't even matter, because Seth was going to get in his in installments each year starting from when he was twenty-five next year. They didn't even know you were allowed to do that. So when Summer was set to get her trust fund, they'd sat down and talked about it.

Flashback:

"Listen, Sum, I know you're looking forward to getting your trust fund, but, I don't want to be dependent on your dad. We moved in together last year, and I always loved that we created our own life together. The only people we're dependent on are each other. I think that maybe you should set aside for…the future, and emergencies. Just think about it." That was really the only time they had said the F word. So Summer thought about it-for about two minutes.

"Ok, sounds good," she responded simply.

"Really?" He had on one of his trademark ear to ear smiles, and Summer couldn't help but kiss him.

"Really," she said minutes later, pulling back for air.

End Flashback

"Seth, look, I don't want you spending a lot of money okay? Everything about this trip has been perfect; you don't have to do anything else." She gave him a genuine smile and a quick peck on the cheek as they entered the car.

"Don't worry, and besides, everything is already paid for. I was planning on proposing tonight at the dinner, but uh, that's already taken care of," he glanced at Summer when he said this, and she just blushed, smiled, and rubbed her ring finger. Seth noticed, and took her left hand in his, fiddling with the ring.

"So you like it huh?"

"YES!" she squealed, "it's gorgeous, and perfect for me, I mean how did you remember that princess cut is my favorite? And that engraving is the sweetest thing you could fit on a ring. And you knew that pink is my favorite color, so you put it in. It's perfect, Cohen."

Then she was reminded again of everything, and luckily they were at a red light so she could lean across the console and kiss him full force. But Summer got a little into it, and before they knew it; cars were honking from all directions.

"Well, I'm glad you liked it," Seth whispered into her ear before leaning back into his seat, looking quite pleased with himself. For the rest of the ride, Summer tried to guess what they were doing for dinner, but she never came close.

SCSRSCSRSCSRSCSRSCSRSCSRSCSRSCSRSCSRSCSRSCSRSCSRSCSRSCSRSC

"Cohen! Come on, just tell me where we're going, this blindfold's screwing up my hair," Summer was complaining, but was actually very curious.

"Here's a hint: your favorite restaurant in California."
"Really? But it's all the way in LA, and it's too expensive," Summer tried to hide it, but was visibly excited now.

"Actually, we're here, but don't take off the blindfold yet." Summer sighed and waited for Seth to guide her out of the car.

"Okay, I'm gonna help you walk, just trust me." Then Seth took her shoulders and helped her walk down the pier. Once they reached near where the Summer Breeze was docked, Seth stopped.

"Okay, ready?" Summer nodded and Seth took off the blindfold. Summer gasped and her hand flew to her mouth. In front of her was a round table, set for two, with candles and rose petals on the linen.

"What do you think?" Seth cautiously looked up from where he was staring at the ground.

"It's-I-well-how did you do this?" she couldn't even speak correctly.

"I made a few phone calls."

"It's amazing, I mean, wow, just-" Before she could finish Seth interrupted her.

"Beautiful," but he was staring straight at her. She blushed, and snuggled into his arm.

"Thank you," she whispered quietly into his chest.

"Anything for you, now come on let's eat." Summer looked up and Seth could see there were a few tears on her cheeks.

"Now, I know you always have trouble deciding between your favorite entrees, so I got both. I also got a piece of cheesecake and one of their amazing brownies," Seth tried to lighten the mood, and luckily it worked.

"That's the best stuff there, oh my god, come on," now she was dragging him to the chairs.

They both filled their plates with the entrees, and ate a lot for a few minutes before they started talking.

"So, we haven't really talked about the wedding," Summer started.

"Yeah, but everything is up to you, I know you've probably got a lot of ideas."

"Yeah," she smiled, "and sorry to bring this up again, but how are we paying for it?"

"Well, I'm sure my parents will want to help once we tell them, and I'll be getting the first part of my trust fund soon, and we have yours," he mumbled the last part, "but you don't have to use it."

"Actually, um, when we first talked about it, this is kind of what I had in mind as far as what to use it for. That's really what I want, so let's use all three okay?"

"Sure," Seth grinned, "now where would you like to have it?"

"Um, I was thinking, New York is our home now, and I love it more than anything, and our life is there, but I would like to have a Newport wedding. It's so beautiful, and we don't have to worry about weather, it will be like closing one part of our lives. Unless you had your heart set on New York."

"Newport sounds great," surprisingly, Seth actually liked the idea.

"How are we gonna tell your parents? Ryan? Marissa? Oh my god, my dad!" Summer's eyes widened.

"Right, well I was thinking we could tell my parents and Ryan tomorrow, separately of course, with Ryan first. It's up to you when to tell Marissa, and your dad should know."

"What do you mean my dad should know?"

"Three days before we left, I called your dad to get his blessing, and I did."

"HOW?"

Flashback:

"Neil Roberts' office how may I help you?"

"Uh, can I speak to Dr. Roberts?"

"May I ask who's speaking?"

"This is Seth, Seth Cohen, his daughter's boyfriend."

"Let me see if he's in." Seth hoped Dr. Roberts would talk to him, Summer should be home soon and he didn't have a lot of time.

"Hello?" Neil had answered the phone.

"Dr. Roberts? Hi, it's Seth." There was a short pause.

"Hello, how are you, how's Summer, is everything okay?"

"Actually everything's great, there's just something I wanted to talk to you about."

"What is it Seth?"

"Well, you're going to be out of town, but Summer and I are going to be visiting from Thursday to Sunday, and on Friday, I would like to ask her to marry me-with your blessing."

"Oh," Seth couldn't recognize his tone.

"As you know, we've been dating steadily for over six years, and living together for two, and I think it is time to get married. I love her very much, and I know she loves me too, and I can take care of her."

"I may not like you too much, but Summer is happy with you, and I guess we can get along better. I think it is very honorable that you are even asking me, so, I give you my blessing."

End Flashback

"I can't believe you did that," Summer said, "that is the sweetest thing I've ever heard."

"I just wanted to make sure that nothing would get in the way."

"Nothing can get in the way, now come on, and get out that cheesecake." Seth happily obliged and they ate most of the slice he had gotten.

"I have an idea for the brownie, come on, let's go eat it on the beach."

"Okay," Summer stood up and took Seth's free hand heading for the beach. They spent the rest of the night just sitting on the beach, Summer sitting with her back against Seth's chest, staring out to the ocean, feeding each other their chocolate dessert. Each only said one thing.

Summer leaned back, sighing happily, "thank you." Seth knew exactly what she meant.

"No, thank you," and she knew what he did.

A/N: I just wanted to say that I'm going to be in Florida from the 12th to 17th, and I'm not sure if I'm bringing my computer, so I'll try to update before than, but if I don't I will definitely write on vacation, so look for an update sometime soon, then in about a week and a half. REVIEWS ARE STILL AWESOME!