"The Most Eligible Bachelor"

Summary: Summer and Seth are leading separate lives now, but what happens when Summer's story for a leading magazine forces them together?

Disclaimer: I'd like to stake a claim on Adam Brody's dimples, but really, I don't own any of the O.C. characters or story lines.

Chapter Twenty-Four: The Non-Goodbye

Unable to sleep any longer, Summer rose at 7 the next morning. She dressed in a velour tracksuit, one of the only things she had saved from her high school days, and taking two cups of coffee, went to wake Seth.

"Cohen, get your ass up! You're going to enjoy this day with me," Summer demanded loudly, causing Seth to shoot up from his sleeping position.

"Good morning, Summer," he said groggily, rubbing the sleep from his eyes. "I wish you were a little more sympathetic to the sleeping." He graciously accepted the coffee that she held and propped himself against his head board.

"What do you want to do today?" She said with a hint of suggestion in her tone as she used her free hand to rub Seth's leg.

"I was thinking," Seth began, taking the cups of coffee and setting them on the nightstand, before pulling Summer against his chest, "we could do some of this. And a lot of this," he whispered, bending to kiss her, "And maybe a little of," he unzipped the top of her track suit, "this," he said huskily against her lips, sticking his hand inside of it.

"I think I see where you're going with this," she said back, coyly, positioning herself on top of him, until they lay, kissing like teenagers.

They lay in bed until 10, exploring each other's bodies like it was the first time for the last time. Anxious to get out and enjoy the sunny weather, Summer used her wily sex charms and convinced Seth to take her to lunch on the pier and a walk on the beach.

Though they were both sad on the inside, they did their best to wear the front of a completely happy couple. While out in public, they shared small touches and occasional soft kisses. From the outside, they looked like newlyweds, enjoying their new lives together. On the inside, they were both preparing for the hell of being away from each other for long periods of time.

At around 3:00, they headed back to Seth's penthouse to gather Summer's things. Her flight left at 5:30, and with rush hour traffic, it would take them at least an hour to arrive at the airport.

After a long ride and much debate about the degree of sadness that the music in the car was allowed to portray, Seth and Summer sat at a Starbuck's in LAX, sipping coffee and waiting until the last possible minute for Summer to go to her gate.

"So, you'll call right when you get there, I assume," Seth said, staring at a spot on the table, unwilling to meet Summer's gaze.

"Yep, and I saved your office and home numbers, in case you don't answer your cell," Summer said, giving a sad nod.

Seth reached across the table and grabbed Summer's hands. "There's not anyway that you could stay for a little longer?" he asked, begging her not to go with his tone

"Charley needs me there ASAP to train and be ready to help edit on the next issue," she answered forlornly.

She looked up with a sorrowful gaze and stared until Seth silently agreed to meet her eyes. When their eyes met it felt as though it would be the last time, even though they both knew that it was not the end. "Do you know how much I love you?" Seth asked quietly, moving closer to touch her face.

Summer ripped her eyes away and gave a slow nod. "I love you, too, Cohen."

"No matter what, Summer," he said, voice breaking as a solitaire tear slid down his cheek.

"I know, Seth," she cried, throwing her arms around his neck. The two stayed that way for a long while, until Summer glanced at the clock over Seth's shoulder. She pulled away, straightening her shirt and wiping her eyes. "My plane leaves in ten minutes."

"You have to go," Seth replied, nodding.

Summer stood and picked up her carryon and Blanche's carrier. Seth bent slightly at the waist so that he could look at the dog. "Goodbye, Blanche," he said with a smile, sticking his finger through the cage and scratching her head.

"You know I don't do goodbyes," Summer said teasingly, as she situated herself closer to Seth. A gentle smile bent Summer's lips, and she raised her face to Seth's. "I guess this is it, then."

"Yup," Seth said, carefully positioning his arms around her shoulders, avoiding bumping her luggage. "Have a safe flight," he murmured into her hair.

"I should be saying have a safe drive. Damn LA drivers," she said, attempting to lighten the mood. Seth humored Summer with his patented dimple grin.

"See ya, Cohen," she said over her shoulder as she walked away.

Seth raised his hand in a little wave. "See ya, Summer. Good luck."

A/N So I know it was a short one, but I felt that it really fit the mood I was trying to convey. The next and final chapter will show Summer and Seth in their respective offices and the starts of their new lives. It will leave a nice segway into the next edition which I have decided to entitle "A New Edition." It's kind of fitting for the whole Cosmo/Atomic County deal. I hope you guys have enjoyed it thus far. Thanks for the killer reviews. Peace.