Because It Works Chapter 15: Heaven, an o.c. fanfic

Disclaimer: Okay, let's get this straight. It hasn't belonged to me in the past 14 chapters. What makes you think it belongs to me in the 15?

"Baby you're all that I want
When you're lyin' here in my arms
I'm findin' it hard to believe
We're in heaven"
--Heaven (D.J. Sammy)

The old Summer Roberts would never have done something like the new Summer Roberts had just done. Sure, the high school version of Summer was spunky, vivacious, blunt and outgoing. But she was never one to stand up for herself. When something bad happened, she curled up in a ball and shunned the outside world.

The new, adult Summer Roberts was everything the high school Summer Roberts was, except she did stand up for herself. Caden's birth and experiencing motherhood played a huge factor in that new personality trait.

Right after she had stopped the wedding, she had had the sickest feeling in her stomach, because the whole reason she was marrying David was because she wanted Caden to have a strong family. But she'd chosen the selfish thing. Now, though, as Summer was riding in the limo to the airport, she realized that it wasn't selfish, because Caden didn't need just any old guy to give him a strong family.

It had to be Seth Cohen, which was why she was in a limo heading straight for the airport. Summer looked around the limo. There were roses and things on the seats. She laughed. It was supposed to be taking her on her honeymoon.

In a way, it kind of was.

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The car hadn't even come to a complete stop, but that didn't stop Summer from flinging the door open and jumping out, clutching her white satin dress in one hand as she ran through people and into the airport.

Summer ran to Information and, heaving from blood rush and lack of oxygen, asked the woman at the table, "Has the plane to Miami left yet?"

The woman smiled and typed something into her computer. "It took off 5 minutes ago," she said, turning back to Summer.

Summer's shoulders sank and her heart slowed down. Left, as in gone? This was not supposed to happen like this. She was supposed to make it to the airport just in time to see him heading through the gate. Kind of like Ross and Rachel, only Seth would stay as soon as he saw her. Not get on the plane anyways.

And he was supposed to pick her up and plant kisses all over her face.

But this folding out of events was all wrong.

"Ma'am?"

Summer returned from her zone out and looked sadly at the receptionist. "When is the next flight to Miami?"

"It's in two days," she answered.

Summer nodded and turned around, walking back out of the airport. Why did life have to be so disappointing? If only it could be like the movies.

She slid back into the limo and asked the limo driver to take her back to the church. She threw her head back on the leather seat as a tear rolled down her cheek.

Exactly why she was crying Summer didn't know. Maybe it was from pure emotional exhaustion. Maybe it was the fact that at this exact moment, Seth thought Summer was married to David. Or maybe, just maybe, it was that she was carrying Seth's baby and he had no idea.

She swiped the tears away, disgusted with herself. How could she be so selfish? Seth's grandmother was in the hospital dying and she was thinking about herself.

Summer pulled her compact out of her purse and laughed at herself. Black mascara streaked her face. She ran a finger over the black line and got it off best she could. Why hadn't she worn waterproof mascara like most brides did on their wedding day? Maybe it's because she knew she wouldn't cry. This wasn't a special day for her. She didn't love the man she had readily agreed to marry.

Clicking the compact closed, she sighed.

Her life was a lot like the mascara: a mess.

The reception was on the beach outside behind the church, and Summer walked toward the white tent.

Soft jazz music encircled the cool night air and the smell of salmon and roasted baby carrots engulfed her as she entered the large white tent. She gasped at how beautiful everything was.

Dark red drapery hung loosely, rose petals and floating candles served as centerpieces, and white lights made the dim tent glow. It was lovely. Gretchen, her wedding planner, had done a wonderful job.

She received a few smiles from guests, some telling her how beautiful she looked, and then congratulating her on the baby. She just smiled and thanked them, wondering why she had even come to the reception, wanting nothing more than to get her son, take him home, and watch Disney movies all night.

She avoided David's family members, surprised they had even come. Summer walked over to the large cake, her stomach grumbling at the sight.

"Summer!"

Summer's face lit up at the sound of the familiar voice. She turned to the blonde haired girl behind her, pulling her into a tight hug. "Katie!"

Summer stepped back from her, looking her over. She hadn't seen Katie since the day she left New York back in high school. They had been best friends, bonding mostly because they were both pregnant, but also because Katie was a native of New York City. Katie had been her savior, rescuing her from gang-member thugs that still hit on her despite her swelling tummy. Summer would have died without her.

Summer's smile was ear to ear. "Oh my gosh, I haven't seen you since…like 3 years ago! How's Benjamin? You should see Caden. He's getting so big!"

Katie laughed. "I know! It's been so long! Ben is great. I saw Caden already. He and Ben are playing right now."

Summer's hand went up to her forehead. "This has been the craziest day ever."

Katie nodded. "I loved your performance at the ceremony."

Summer half laughed. "Last minute change of plans, I guess," she said, smiling.

"Where did you go after that?" Katie asked.

Summer looked around the tent at all the people. Some were sitting, eating, and some were dancing to the live band. "The airport," she responded, taking a glass of water from one of the trays a caterer was walking around with.

"Seth had to go to Miami to see his grandmother. I tried to catch him before he left, but the plane had already taken off."

Katie looked sympathetically at her friend. "I'm sorry," she said.

Summer nodded. The room felt thick and hot all of a sudden, and Summer excused herself. "I really need some air," she said. She moved quickly through the tent, hoping to avoid anyone talking to her, and she succeeded.

She walked far out into the night, the lights from her reception glowing off in the distance. She could still hear the music, playing a more upbeat song now, and she wished she could feel as upbeat as the song sounded.

Her hair blew in the wind and she folded her arms as shivers went down her spine. Plopping down in the sand, not even caring about her wedding gown, she looked out at the ocean.

Moments later, a jacket was wrapped around her shoulders and Summer jumped a little. Looking up, she saw the one person she wanted to see.

"Cohen?" she whispered as he sank down beside her. "What are you doing here?"

"I heard my mom talking to my dad…and she said you were pregnant. She thought it was with…she thought it was with David. But I think I knew better."

Summer didn't know what kind of facial expression to have. Was he upset, angry, annoyed, all of the above?

But then his face broke out into a smile, and his curly hair was being swept up in the wind, and she could feel his warm breath on her face.

"So are you married?" he asked, his voice hushed, and she knew that he already knew the answer.

Summer shook her head, her eyes closing as his lips grew closer to hers. And finally, she felt his lips brushing across hers. It was so short and so filled with emotions that Summer felt like crying.

When they pulled apart, she laid her head on his shoulder, his arm instantly wrapping around her body.

"I love you, Sum."

"What about Olivia?"

He laughed. "You've got to be kidding me. She was never anything."

Summer smiled. "Neither was David."

"You just agreed to marry him," Seth joked, earning an elbow in his ribs. "God, woman, I just passed up Miami to get abused?"

She smiled again. It was silent a little longer, both of them reflecting on everything. She felt his lips on the top of her head, and she turned so that she was facing him.

"I love you too, Cohen."

He smiled, bringing their lips back together.

After pulling apart from each other, Summer lay down on the grainy sand and looked up at the sky. Seth did too, lacing their fingers together. "Remember when we used to come out here back in high school?"

Seth smiled at the memory and nodded. "We had our special place."

Summer turned on her side to look at him. "You told me you wanted to marry me there."

They stared at each other as the memory came back to the both of them, lifting them into a time-machine and zipping them off into senior year.

Seth just took in her beauty. She looked so peaceful, lying in the sand, her eyes closed. He turned his vision back to the sky but it didn't seem as beautiful as the woman lying next to him.

"I've never seen anything more beautiful," she said, finally opening her eyes. Seth looked at her strangely. "You've never seen anything more beautiful than the inside of your eyelids?"

Summer rolled her eyes and playfully smacked his chest. "I meant the stars dumbass."

"I have seen something more beautiful," he replied, turning his gaze on her.

"What?"

"You," he responded.

Summer rolled her eyes. "What a line," she said, giggling.

"One day we're going to get married at this very same place," he said.

"You're so cheesy. Are you pre-proposing to me?" she asked through her smiling mouth.

"Maybe," he said, smiling back at her.

"Well I accept," she said, laughing at how incredibly mushy they were acting.

Seth stood up and walked toward the lapping water just a few feet away. "What are you doing?" she asked, sitting up. He walked back up to her and lay back down. Holding his hand out, he handed her a small seashell. "Think of it as an engagement ring."

Summer bit her lower lip. She felt like crying. She took the shell and admired it. It had little swirls of purple in it.

She rolled over so that she was on her stomach and rested her head on his chest. She listened to his heartbeat. Closing her eyes, she pictured her and Seth raising a family together, getting married, and spending their lives with each other. Nothing had ever made her feel happier.

Summer turned onto her stomach, propping herself up on her elbows. "We still engaged, Cohen? Cuz I've gotta say, you've kind of been leading me on."

Seth laughed. "Depends."

"On?"

Seth rolled his eyes. "Duh; it depends on whether or not you still have the seashell."

She smiled. "And if I don't?"

"We might just have to re-create that night, then."

Seth jumped up and held his hand out to Summer. She took it gladly, dusting off her gown. "Shall we?"

They both took off running, Summer giggling and clutching her dress as they ran to the one place that was theirs.

It was a ways off, but when they finally reached it, Summer grinned. So many things had happened here.

Just then, huge rain drops landed on her, a few at first, but then they just poured down. Her eyes flew open. There weren't even any clouds in the sky. Seth grabbed her arm and started to run but she stalled.

She turned her head upright to the rain and let it fall on her face. "You ever danced in the rain, Cohen?" she asked him, looking down long enough to meet his gaze.

"Nope," he answered.

She paused. "Will you dance with me?"

He smiled. What had he ever done to deserve her? Walking towards her, he wrapped his arms around her waist and she rested her head against him. The only music was the sound of the raindrops hitting the ocean. They were getting soaked, but they didn't care.

"Ya know," Seth said. "Whoever said sunshine brings happiness has never danced in the rain," he said, kissing the top of her drenched hair.

"Do you want to be totally cheesy and dance?" Seth asked, and Summer nodded.

"We have no music, though. Of course, that's never stopped us before," she recalled.

They finally reached their spot and they both stopped and stared out at the ocean. It looked the same as it did that night so long ago; vast, blue, and beautiful. It made Summer feel so insignificant and small.

Seth's voice cracked but he continued to talk. "Do you want to dance?"

Summer smiled. Seth could always make her heart melt. "We don't have any music," she said.

Seth shook his head. "I'll sing for you."

Summer laughed quietly. She wrapped her arms around Seth's and leaned her head into the crook in his neck.

"Cuz I ain't no holla back girl," Seth sang, using a high-pitched voice.

Summer lurched back, doubling over in laughter. "Never again Cohen!" she warned playfully.

She took her previous position, breathing in his cologne. His voice sounded low and quiet and it made her knees so weak.

"So Mr. Cohen," Summer began. "What ever will you sing me tonight?"

Seth closed his eyes to think. He opened them soon after, having figured it out. "I'm not gonna tell you how I know this song," he said, groaning at how incredibly cheesy he was, but also so amazed at himself. He was so in love with her that he was dancing with her on the beach, singing softly into her ear.

Oh - thinkin' about our younger years
There was only you and me
We were young and wild and free

Now nothin' can take you away from me
We've been down that road before
But that's over now
You keep me comin' back for more
Baby you're all that I want
When you're lyin' here in my arms
I'm findin' it hard to believe
We're in heaven

And love is all that I need
And I found it there in your heart
It isn't too hard to see
We're in heaven

Oh - once in your life you find someone
Who will turn your world around
Bring you up when you're feelin' down

Ya - nothin' could change what you mean to me
Oh there's lots that I could say
But just hold me now
Cause our love will light the way

I've bin waitin' for so long
For somethin' to arrive
For love to come along

Now our dreams are comin' true
Through the good times and the bad
Ya - I'll be standin' there by you

A small tear slipped out of Summer's eye. She couldn't believe any of this. She and Seth had first started dating her sophomore year in high school, continued until their second year of college, and now, in spite of everything, they were together again, dancing on the beach like they were the only two beings left on the surface of the earth.

It sure felt like they were.

She felt Seth's soft lips kiss her neck lightly and she sighed. "I love you," he said, now placing a kiss on her nose.

She smiled. "I wanna get married."

Seth laughed. "You almost did."

Summer shoved him a little, playfully of course. "I'm serious. I want to marry you."

"Sum, I already beat you to the punch. I told you like, three years ago that I want to marry you."

Summer shook her head. "Oh my God, do I have to spell it out for you? I'm asking you."

Seth stopped swaying and pulled back a little, looking at her. "Are you serious?"

Summer nodded, her face starting to hurt from smiling so much. "We have been though so much together, and we stray off and date other people. And yeah, a lot of people do that. But we always get drawn back to each other. That's special. And we have a child together, and another one is coming, and I love you so much. I want to be with you now, and tomorrow, and next year. And every day that comes after that."

Summer just stared at Seth, and he just stared at her, minutes passing without him saying anything.

"Summer, do you realize how crazy you sound right now? You're standing here in a wedding dress. Are you sure you're not all caught up in the moment or anything?"

"Cohen," she whispered. "I know what I'm doing. Will you marry me?"

Seth smiled. "I always thought I would be asking you this."

Summer rolled her eyes. "Yeah well you don't always get everything you want."

"I do," he said, his face turning serious. "Seriously, you're asking me to marry you?"

Summer nodded again, biting her lip nervously.

"Of course I will."

Summer's face brightened in a smile again, and she jumped back into his arms. She hugged him tightly as he swept light kisses on her shoulders.

"We're engaged!"

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A lot of people had left the reception already. Summer and Seth entered the tent hand-in-hand, receiving smiles from all their friends and family. It looked as if David's guests had cleared out and for that, Summer was glad.

She could so not deal with hateful glares right now.

She was in bliss. She hadn't been this happy since high school.

Caden's eyes lit up when he saw his mommy and daddy. He ran over to them, extending his arms for one of them to pick him up. Seth did, scooping his little boy into his arms.

Seth wrapped his other arm around Summer's waist, and she laughed. Smiling, she brushed some curls away from Caden's forehead, and then away from Seth's.

Seth pulled Summer closer to him as they bombarded their son with hugs, kisses, and laughter.

Life had taken them both on a rocky road the past few months. But from everything they had been through, they had both concluded two things: being apart was disastrous, and being together worked. They worked.

It works.

A/N: Wow! I really do not know how to thank all of you guys for reading! It's been awesome. All of your reviews, comments, suggestions (heck, just your view!) have meant so much. It really keeps me writing these chapters. I'm definitely going to make this story a trilogy.

Sorry for not having this chapter up sooner! It's been a few weeks since I updated last. A lot has been going on, though, and for awhile the website wasn't letting me log in. As soon as it started working again, I sent the chapter to my beta to be "made better" --lol.

THANK YOU again. Seriously,THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!

...till' next time.

-Autumn-