AN: I got a lot of negative reviews for the first chapter, but I don't have any complaints. A lot of people are questioning this as an SS story, and I assure you that it is. I wouldn't write anything but that. I just have a certain vision for this story. So if you like it, great, and if you don't, great.

Disclaimer: Yeah, this is pointless, because if I had anything to do with The O.C., I would not be writing a story about it.

Seth Cohen sat comfortably on Summer's choice of a leather couch; Caden nestled in his lap, reading him his all-time favorite comic, Spider-man. Caden kept pointing at the pictures and asking how he got up in the air, and Seth explained that he had spidery-like features and could shoot stringy stuff from his fingertips.

Confusion spread on Caden's face and he shut the comic book. "Me no like spiders," he cried, snuggling closer to Seth's novelty tee shirt.

Seth smiled and wrapped his arm tighter around his son. "Me either," he replied. "How about we go get some ice cream once mommy leaves with her friend?"

Caden's face brightened twenty shades. "Really? I go get my shoes!"

Caden ran toward the stairs, his curly hair flopping in the air. He looked identical to Seth right down to his toddler converses. There was some debate with the master, meaning Summer, about getting the shoes for him. She didn't want her baby to be a dork.

But they bought them anyways, because when both her boys begged, she broke down.

Summer swished to the side of the staircase as Caden bounced up it hurriedly. She arched her eyebrow, smiling. "I told you to stop scaring him with Spider-man," she teased.

Seth sat back on the couch and picked up his comic book, flipping through the thin pages that were covered with illustrations of Seth's favorite comic character. "One day he'll realize how magical comics really are," he mumbled. "We're just going out for ice cream while you go on your date with David."

Summer set her purse down on the coffee table. "You're in a mood," she acknowledged while plopping down beside him. "No I'm not," he argued, looking over at her.

She gazed at him. He hated when she went on dates. But in all fairness, he dated too, and she hated it just as much. "You don't have to lie. I know you don't like David," she stated, looking at the clock on the wall. "He is so late. I'm going to strangle him with his own polo shirt if he does not show up soon."

Seth sighed and turned to another page. "I sure am happy I'm not David," he muttered softly. Summer leaned her head on Seth's shoulder. "I'd rather just skip this date and go out for ice cream with you and Caden. We haven't spent time together in a long time."

"Well we can't next weekend because Olivia and I have reservations at some new steak house on Prince Street," Seth noted. Summer groaned. "We never have time to do anything as a family. This weeks my date night and next week is yours and the cycle just keeps going. And we have school all week. When are we supposed to do stuff?"

"Um, I don't know, but it's not on my date night. Me and Olivia haven't been on a date in two weeks because you and David just had to have those great concert tickets two weekends in a row," Seth mocked excitement, standing up and walking into the kitchen.

"Well heaven forbid you miss a date with precious Olivia," Summer said under her breath.

Seth backed out of the kitchen doorway. "Did you say something?"

Summer forced a smile and shook her head. Headlights shined through the front windows and Summer leaped from the couch. "Caden, baby, mommy's leaving," she yelled.

Padded footsteps were heard upstairs and finally Caden's tiny body appeared at the top of the staircase. He skipped down them and raced across the living room. "I love you mommy."

Summer leaned down and kissed his forehead. "Have fun with daddy!"

Seth walked out of the kitchen and handed Summer her cell phone. "You left it on the counter," was all he said. Summer's face softened. "Thanks," she said, hugging him. "I'll be home at like, 10."

Seth nodded and held the door open for Summer as she shuffled outside. "Bye sweetie," Summer yelled before getting in the car. Seth leaned down and picked Caden up. "Well, buddy, it's just us tonight," Seth said, walking outside toward the car.

"You think we can have fun without your mommy?" Seth asked. Caden inhaled. "I don't know. Mommy makes it fun!"

Seth rolled his eyes. "We can have tons of fun without mom! She makes it b.o.r.i.n.g."

Caden gasped. "I'm telling on you!"

Seth laughed. "I guess we won't be getting ice cream, then," he played. Caden's eyes widened. "I won't tell I promise!"

Seth pulled in front of the go-cart track that was roughly 3 miles from his and Summer's house. "Well, we'll ride the go-carts first so you don't throw up your ice cream," Seth said, getting out of the car. He unfastened Caden from his car seat and held his hand as they walked into the ticket booth.

After waiting in line, they finally got their turn. Seth strapped Caden into the shotgun seat of the two-seater cart and they sped off. Caden laughed as they sped around the spiral track. "You're right daddy! We don't need mommy to have fun."

Le Club

"This restaurant is really nice," Summer acknowledged, glancing around at her surroundings. Candles mirrored their orange light off of crystal wine glasses and illuminated the thick atmosphere of the room.

Sometimes she wished David would just take her out for burgers, fries, and a milkshake. But that would never happen. He came from an extremely wealthy family, like Summer, and would never go for anything cheap. In fact, David, in college just like Summer, had his own mansion. Summer just had a plain 2 story house on the beach.

That was typical California. Nothing set her apart from common society anymore. She had no complaints though, because whenever she wanted something from her father, he gave it to her. So if she wanted to have her own mansion, she could.

It'd be awfully hard to keep up with a three year old though.

David sipped his iced tea. "Anything for my girl," he replied, sliding his hand across the table and clutching Summer's. She smiled at him.

"So I was thinking we could go to that art gallery opening on 5th Avenue Wednesday. I heard they're supposed to have some really dark pieces."

Summer shook her head. "David, you know my Wednesdays aren't free. We have dinner at Cohen's house on Wednesdays. I'm sorry. Maybe Thursday?"

David sighed and leaned back in his chair. "You can't skip one Wednesday dinner?"

Summer diverted her eyes away from David's. Sometimes he just made it impossible. "I can't, David. Seth's parents don't get to see Caden throughout the week and Wednesdays are the only days that they do."

"And what, Seth and Caden can't go alone?"

Summer shifted uncomfortably. "It's a family dinner. I'm part of the family."

David held his hands up in defeat. "Ok, I'm sorry for wanting to spend time with you during the week rather than every other weekend," he retorted, obviously annoyed.

Summer took a drink of her water. "When we first got together, you promised me that if I wanted to spend time with my family it wouldn't be a problem. If you're starting to go back on what you said then…"

"No, Summer, I'm not going back on my word. I respect your designated family time. We'll go Thursday, ok?"

Summer smiled from across the round table as the waitress placed their plates on the table. "Ok"

Ice Cream Parlor

"That was so cool daddy! We flew right past that one car with the girls in it!" Caden yelped, jumping up and down.

Seth chuckled and held the door open to the parlor. Caden bounced in excitedly and skidded up to the counter. Seth saw the delight in his mini-self and asked, "Wutcha want?"

Caden tapped his finger over his red lips. "Chocolate, two scoops," he decided.

Seth rolled his eyes and slid the money over the counter. "You're too much like your mother."

Caden licked the dripping cone as they ventured back outside. "How about we rent a movie?" Seth asked, grabbing Caden's free hand.

Caden took about two hours picking out a movie, just like Summer always did, and he finally decided on Free Willy.

Back at the house…

Summer pushed the key through the lock and swung the door open, immediately met with the smell of buttery popcorn. She pushed the door shut with her foot and walked into the living room.

"It's about time you got home," Caden whined. Summer smiled. "Why's that?"

Seth nudged Caden in the side. "Let her have it," he said through a totally unbelievable fake cough.

Caden giggled and said "Because we rented a movie and bought popcorn."

Summer looked at Seth and thanked him with her eyes. This was the family time she had been seeking. Her brown hair danced on her back as she walked over to the couch and sat down beside Seth. Caden sprawled his body across their laps and pushed play on the remote.

Summer rested her head on Seth's comfy shoulder. "Thanks Cohen. I really needed this."

Seth smiled and kissed her soft forehead. "Anytime"