Okay, I know I've been really bad and not updated in forever so please forgive me. I've suffered a huge case of writers block along with having no time so my apologies to all of you faithful reader. I promise I'll update more often so it'd be great if you could leave me some reviews! Thanks! xoxox

I Guess it's Time I Run Far, Far Away

As soon as Neil heard about what Gloria had done, he went through a number of emotions. First it was pure hatred for the despicable woman. He just wanted to get hold of her and…

Secondly it was sorrow, for putting his poor daughter through all this turmoil. He didn't know how she'd coped at first but then he realised that it was all down to Seth, and for that, he'd be ever grateful.

Lastly, it was acceptance. He realised that it was actually a good thing Gloria was gone, and after the stunt she pulled, Neil didn't think she'd show her face again. This was actually a godsend. If this hadn't had happened, the two would have been tangled in a messy divorce for months and she'd be constantly hanging around. She'd gotten away with $100,000 and some jewellery, if she had stuck around, she'd probably gotten millions from the divorce. Neil was an optimist, always look on the bright side. Even though it was hard, he managed to do it. The one thing he was very upset about though, was the Faberge egg that she'd stolen. Neil was planning on giving it to Summer on her 21st birthday as a surprise but that was all ruined.

But with the acceptance, came the strength inside him to move on. He had been told that he could leave the hospital in two weeks and was improving every day. Neil arranged for a team of cleaners to go to the house and make sure it was pristine for when he returned. Summer visited him everyday, she had told him that she was staying at the Cohen's but they had not spoken a word about Gloria since. Neil was going to table that conversation for when he was home.

Summer, however, was slowly but surely returning to her normal life. When living at the Cohen's, it was hard to sulk and be sad because the house was so happy. Sandy constantly made stupid jokes and Kirsten was like Summer's mom. The playful banter between the members of the Cohen family amused Summer but it made her wish she'd had that in her life. But, she put on a smile and enjoyed the time she was there. Sandy and Kirsten had told Seth that he wasn't to share a bed with Summer at night but he always crept to her room and they snuggled together. As she rested her head on his shoulder, Summer knew that this was what she wanted, for the rest of her life. And this was something, she actually thought she'd get.

Two weeks passed quickly and it got into August which meant college was only a month away. Freshman Orientation at Berkley began on September 3rd and the four planned to be down there a couple of days before. Kirsten was a barrel of emotions as she spent her last moth at home with her boys. This also meant Neil would be returning home, meaning Summer would have to leave the Cohen's. She was happy as she'd get to live with her dad, but also quite sad. The Cohen house was such a fun place to live and be a part of. But Summer needed to be with her Dad, if they were going to get over this, they needed to stick together. Summer kept that thought fresh in her mind all the time.

On Wednesday morning, Summer drove down to the hospital to pick her Dad up. When they returned home, they were shocked. The house was immaculate, it even looked better than it had before it was messed up. Summer helped her Dad into the living room, settling him on the couch.

"You want something to drink, eat?" she asked, fluffing his pillows gently.

"Um, an iced-tea would be nice honey, thanks." She nodded and kissed him on the cheek before disappearing into the kitchen, minutes later, she emerged with two large glasses of iced-tea and a small plate of cookies. She sat down opposite him and a heavy silence followed until Neil cleared his throat, it was now or never.

"Summer, we need to talk." She looked down at the floor and swallowed, this was the part she'd been dreading.

"I know."

"We need to decided where we go from here, because when I was in the hospital, I did a lot of thinking…"

Summer nodded and sipped at her drink.

"So we know Gloria is gone, but what she did really hurt me Summer, and I don't know if I can continue to do this…"

"What do you mean…?" Summer asked, she was really listening now.

"My idea was for us to have a… a fresh start. Now before I continue, you don't have to do anything, I'm merely suggesting."

"Suggesting what Dad?"

"We maybe move," Neil said quietly.

"Of course, I mean I love this house but if its too hard to live here that's okay. There are some great houses right by the beach," Summer said with a small smile.

"No honey, I meant move away, away from Newport."

"What?" Summer's voice was only just above a whisper as she took it in.

"Just hear me out. Sooner or later, this business with Gloria will get out and those bored Newpsies will have a field day. Yet again, we'll be the talk of the tow, for the wrong reasons… And while we live here, I don't know if I can get over it, this. Its just too hard…"

Summer sat back in her seat, not believing what she was hearing. Move away from Newport? This place was her home, what about Marissa? What about Seth?

"Where do you want to move to?" Summer asked quietly.

"Um, I was thinking…New York maybe? A few months ago I was offered a job there that I declined but I could easily ask again…" Summer was staring at the floor, biting down on her lip, hard. New York. It might as well have been Mars. Her mind was racing.

New York. Seth. College. My Dad.

Just say no Summer. Just say no! You can't leave!

Wait, you can still go to Berkeley. Just let your dad move alone.

Alone. I can't leave him alone. Not after all this. It would be really unfair. Alone in a new city. Millions of miles away.

New York. New York. New York. NEW YORK!

What should I do?

"Summer?" She was brought back down to earth and stared into her father's eyes. They weren't like they used to be. There was no warmth, no love. They were hollow, empty, old.

"Listen, honey, I'm not forcing you, I promise you. Its just something I thought would be good for us. Move on, together, as a family. If you say no, I'll understand."

"Dad…" Summer's voice cracked as tears threatened her eyes. She leaned forward and took her dad's hand, clasping it tightly in hers.

"I want to see you happy, more than anything. And if the only way that can happen is by moving, then I'll do it. I want us to be happy again, I want our life back. I can't stop you from doing this and I won't. I think we need this, so okay. I'll come with you." Summer's eyes were full of salty tears and they glistened in the light.

"But what about college?" he asked.

"I'll get a transfer, as hard as its going to be to leave this place, I can't let you go Dad." Neil smiled widely and his eye's began to shine, just like they used to.

"Thank you Summer, thank you so much." He pulled his daughter close to him and they held onto each other, the only remains of the Roberts family, but stronger than ever before.

Seth Cohen stood on the darkened beach. He hadn't heard from Summer all day until fifteen minutes ago when she called and asked him to meet her on the beach. He pulled his jacket closer, even though it was summer, the sea breeze at night was fierce.

I wonder why she wants to meet me, here, now. Maybe something's happened, with her dad. Maybe she's not going to college, maybe she's moving! No, that's stupid. Summer would never move away, she'd never leave.

"Cohen." Seth spun around and saw her. Her dark hair being tossed by the cool breeze, her eyes sparkling in the darkness and her smile, even though it was only small, he knew she was happy to be with him. She hugged him briefly and sat down on the sand, gesturing for Seth to do the same.

"So, what's going on?" he asked. She didn't look at him, just stared out at the steely ocean.

How am I going to do this? To tell Seth, my boyfriend, the only person I've ever loved so much it hurts, that I'm leaving. This is the hardest thing I've ever done and ever hope to do.

She glanced across at him.

Oh look at you, your gorgeous eyes that hold so much of your thought. I can tell when you're angry, sad or happy just from your eyes, I know you that well. I can't do this. I can't break your heart, because I know when I tell you, it will.

"Summer? What's going on?" he asked, his voice more concerned and dashed with worry.

"I…I'm leaving," she stammered, her heart slamming furiously against her chest making monster thumps. Seth frowned at her, not understanding what she was saying.

"I'm sorry, did you say you were leaving?"

"Yeah."

"Okay, well I'll see you tomorrow then, but we've barely talked." Seth shrugged and started to get up.

"No Seth, you've got the wrong idea," Seth stopped and sat back down, his gaze boring into Summer's.

"I was talking to my Dad and, he, he's a mess. He knows people will find out about Gloria soon and he doesn't think he could take the talk and gossip, to be honest, I don't think I could…"

Seth patiently listened. He was worried about what Summer was getting at. He was more than worried. He was scared.

"And, he suggested something… something which would help him, us, get back on track. A fresh start, in… New York." Seth stared at Summer who continued to look out to the water.

She couldn't be moving. She wouldn't. She can't. Summer, don't do this, please.

"He said we didn't have to but I knew that if he had to stay here, it'd eat him up, slowly chip away at him and I can't let that happen Seth… so I'm leaving, with him." Silence. A thick, heavy silence. Summer looked at Seth. His face was expressionless.

"Please say something," she whispered. He sat, motionless, then he sprang up, pacing around, his hands waving. He didn't know what to do with himself.

"But what about college?" he asked

"I'm going to get a transfer, to NYU," she answered quietly. He walked back over to her and sat down close to her.

"What about us?" Summer's heart stopped briefly, hearing the hurt in his shaky voice. She didn't answer him.

"You don't have to leave Summer. You can still come to Berkeley and visit your Dad on holidays," Seth said.

"I can't leave him Seth! He just had a heart attack!"

"You don't understand this, you haven't thought it through…"

"Yes I have! You don't understand how hard this is for me!" Summer sprang to her feet. "I have had to sacrifice everything I have built my whole life. How can you say I haven't thought it through? Decisions like this aren't easy!"

"Don't you think I know that? I have made some hard decisions throughout my life too Summer!"

"Hard? You can't even begin to imagine how hard this is for me!"

"You don't have to do this Summer."

"I'm know that, I want to. He's my Dad I can't just leave him! He has no-one except me." Summer glared at Seth and sat down furiously on the sand. Tears streamed down her face, she was surprised there was any left after all the crying she'd done lately.

"Please Summer, please don't do this…." Seth said, kneeling down beside her. She sniffed and turned to face him.

"Remember two years ago, when you left me? I let you go Seth, now you have to let me go." Seth stared at his teary-eyed girlfriend, his own eyes were filling up too.

"I…I…" H e couldn't find the words. There were no words.

"Seth, I'm begging you. So what's your answer?"