A/N: Short chapter, I know. It was a very emotional and sensitive chapter and I didn't want to make it to long. I really don't think anyone wants to read a 3,000 word chapter about tears. So please review and let me know how you think the story is evolving. Thanks!

Disclaimer: Nothing belongs to me.

"I wanna save you. Let me save you."

Summer's head rested on her knees, her body rocking back and forth. Her brown eyes tried unfalteringly to hold in the tears that so desperately wanted to stain her cheeks. She was a disaster, and she knew that.

A huge part of her really thought –and hoped– that her dad was going to be okay. Only a tiny part of her thought he might not make it, and that tiny part was so hugely correct. And even though she thought he might not make it, she never thought about how it would be if he actually died.

Summer had never imagined losing her dad, and now it was thrust upon her and she had no idea how to react. She actually had no idea how to react to losing someone. Sure, her mom died, but she was so young and helpless then. Death meant heaven, and that had comforted her at such an innocent age. But now, after growing up, Summer questioned heaven and God. Why would anyone want someone to hurt so badly?

The front door opened and Summer lifted her heavy head. Seth was standing in the doorway, looking back at her with love and sympathy and a million other things only she could see in him.

Closing the door, he walked toward her, grabbing her arms and pulling her up. He wrapped his arms around her and Summer leaned into his embrace.

She had no idea what time it was, but she knew it was late, or early, because Sethwas home. Kirsten called him, and he left Chicago, and now he was here, and that comforted Summer more than words could describe.

Seth kissed Summer's forehead, his arms still around her, and said "I'm so sorry."

Summer's lips quivered and her eyes snapped shut as salty tears finally escaped. "It's not fair, Cohen. It's not fair, it's not fair, it's not fair…" she repeated and repeated, finally collapsing into sobs.

"I know, baby. It's not," he whispered into her hair. He could feel her tears seeping through his shirt and he held her tighter, wanting all the pain she felt to somehow jump into his body. He already felt a ton of it, though, because he hated to see her in pain. He hated it more than anything else in the world.

"And I know you won't believe it now, but everything will be okay again," he said, running one of his hands through her hair. Summer pulled away from him, shaking her head. "No it won't," she said. "It is not going to be ok ever again! Who's going to walk me down the aisle when I get married?" she asked, her voice cracking as more tears spilled from her swollen eyes.

"He's not going to be here to see Caden grow up, or to see any other children I may have be born. He's not going to be there when I graduate college," Summer cried, walking up the stairs until she reached the top, where she stopped, her body racked in tears.

"I'll never hear him call me his li-little girl again…" Summer sobbed, resting her body against the wall and slipping down to the floor.

Her body shook as she cried.

Seth sat down beside her, trying to console her, but she just pushed him away. "I wanna know why he had to die! I wanna know WHY he can't be here for me. I WANT TO KNOW WHY MY STEP-MOM IS STILL ALIVE AND HE ISN'T!"

Summer stood up, yelling out her frustrations. Seth was glad that Caden was at his parents' house because he definitely didn't need to see his mommy like this.

Seth stood up, to, and pulled Summer into a hug. She tried to fight him and push him away but he wouldn't allow it, choosing to show off how strong he could actually be. She finally went slack in his arms and continued to cry.

They stood like that for what seemed like hours. Summer had finally stopped crying. Seth pulled back a little, asking her if she wanted to go to bed, and she shook her head yes.

Getting her ready for bed was a task all in itself. He'd left her alone for awhile, but later, when he went to check on her, she was still in her clothes, a bump on the floor. So he helped her change, which was hard because she kept slipping into episodes of tears.

Finally, he tucked her into bed, kissing her forehead lightly. "Let me know if you need anything," he said quietly, starting toward her door. But her tiny, vulnerable voice asked him to please stay, so Seth turned around, crawling into bed with her.

Seth sighed, knowing this probably wasn't the best idea but also knowing that she needed him, so he stayed, wrapping his arms around her fragile body. Their foreheads were touching and he tried to make out her face in the darkness.

He could feel her thick breathing on his face and hear her quiet sniffles. He had no idea what to do to help her. She was falling apart in his arms. Remembering a song played at his grandma Nichols funeral, Seth opened his mouth and softly sang a part of the song he remembered.

Time will ease your pain
Life's about changing, nothing ever stays the same

How can I help you to say goodbye?
It's OK to hurt, and it's OK to cry.
Come, let me hold you and I will try
How can I help you to say goodbye?

She was still crying, even a little harder, and Seth silently punished himself for doing that. She didn't say anything for awhile, and Seth was about to apologize when her wet lips found his. It was the tenderest kiss they'd ever shared.

Seth pulled away when the need for oxygen just couldn't wait any longer, and he kissed her all over her face; her nose, her cheeks, anywhere. Everywhere.

Summer sighed, her heart melting as his lips made sweet, warm contact with her flesh. "Cohen," she breathed, finding his lips again. This kiss was more urgent, more filled with need than the one before. She needed him so bad.

Seth trailed hot kisses down her neck and Summer gripped his curly strands of hair between her fingers. Suddenly, he stalled his lips and dropped his head into the crook of her neck, just breathing. "Don't stop, Cohen. Please…I need you. Please," she begged.

Seth brought his head up, searching her eyes. "David," he reminded her.

"Olivia," she whispered.

Summer bit her lip. "Don't think, okay? And for once, don't talk," she demanded, trying to sound strict but failing. She brought her lips back to his before he could protest and he rolled on top of her, kissing her back with the same amount of intensity she was kissing him with.

Summer couldn't describe how good it felt to be back in his arms again. For the longest time their attraction to one another had been denied, and even though the circumstances leading up to this moment were definitely unfortunate, she was still in his arms, and he was still kissing her, and his hands were still rubbing circles on her hips, and they still fit together like pieces of a broken puzzle.

It was being put back together.

Warm sunlight invaded Summer's room and she snuggled closer to the body beside her, pulling the covers over their heads. She was so weak from the night before. Seth had definitely worn her out, but she was more emotionally drained than anything.

Her eyes burned from tears and her heart ached with misery, and the only thing keeping her from completely falling apart was Seth. He risked his relationship with another woman to be there for her, and he said things to her that gave color to her face.

Nothing would ever be the same for them again. There was no way it could be. He whispered the most loving and tender things to her as he slipped into the depths of her soul, and Summer knew that the night before couldn't be written off as sympathy sex. And she was glad, because David said nice things to her, but never that she was the most beautiful person inside and out, and that he'd love her until the day he died.

Seth's eyes slowly opened and he smiled at Summer when he realized she was awake. It was hot and hard to breathe under the covers and their bodies were sticking together, but even if you paid him he wouldn't move.

Summer mouthed a "hi" to him and Seth did the same, leaning in to kiss her nose. "Are you okay?"

"I'm better," she said. "But it's still hard…and I wouldn't be able to get through this without you."

Seth smiled. "Well, I'm not going anywhere, that's for sure," he assured her. Summer tried to scoot closer to him but it was impossible.

"Thank you so much," she said, placing kiss on his chest.

Seth nodded, kissing the top of her head. "I'd do anything for you."

Summer closed her eyes and fell back asleep in his arms. For now, she could block out the reality that her daddy was dead and she would have to bury him soon, saying good bye to him forever.