Disclaimer: I do not own "The OC."

A/N: I apologize for posting this ridiculously later than I originally said I would. Like I said when I posted the last chapter, my life was about to enter a complete whirlwind and as much as I wanted to get this chapter up to you all, I knew there was a strong chance that that wasn't going to be possible and – guess what? – it wasn't. But I was able to find time to write (because what else are you supposed to do when you're stuck on a ship crossing the Atlantic Ocean for 9 days??) and here it is.

Also, as a sort of 'thank you' for everyone's patience with this, I have written two other one-shots that I'll be posting within the next couple of weeks/month. So at least that's good news, right?

Anyway, here's the last chapter of this mini-story. Read, enjoy!, and review please. :)

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If Summer thought waiting for Seth to propose to her was the worst waiting game ever, she was clearly completely and utterly wrong. Waiting to find out news about Seth's plane crash – or to just hear from Seth in general – was far, far worse than anything else she could have imagined.

Her phone had been ringing off the hook, but after taking the first two calls from Kirsten and Sandy and then Natalie, she continually pressed the ignore button on her phone. Many of the following calls were from people who were at the dance studio when Summer passed out earlier, and even a few calls were from other concerned friends who knew Seth had been in Berkeley for the past few weeks but wasn't sure of his return. Summer just didn't want to talk to anyone anymore. Not unless they were Seth.

After a few hours in, and only a handful of announcements stating the seven deaths they had confirmed, Summer fell into a daze. Even when Sandy had called her once again, she barely looked down before deciding she didn't want to talk and pressing ignore. She cried in random bursts and then five minutes later she was still again – like an overflow of emotions came rushing to her and then dried up as fast as they came.

It was nearly ten at night and she had been there for four hours without any food or water in her system. And while Summer felt her stomach gurgle for nutrients she couldn't fathom the idea of getting up from her seat and walking over to the buffet tables set up for the worried families. She felt that if she were to get up, her legs would give way and let her fall on to the ground, never allowing her to get back up. So she sat there silently, patiently, waiting for any sign of Seth.

There were numerous times she thought she had seen him walk through the doors – especially in the last hour. Slowly survivors began entering the banquet hall, searching for their loved ones. But every time she thought she had seen him, and was ready to get up and start running towards him, another person in the hall would race towards the man and she would realize that it wasn't Seth. That it wasn't the one person she needed to see more than anything or anyone else in the entire world.

By midnight, Summer's eyes were growing tired of watching the same large, wooden doors and her ears were strained from listening to all of the incoming announcements. The hotel had offered remaining victims' families a free hotel room but many declined, still eager to hear word on their loved one. Summer had thought seriously about taking up the hotel's offer – there was nothing she could do other than wait and she really did need sleep – but in the end her heart won out, still yearning to just catch a glimpse of Seth walking through the doors.

Summer watched yet another couple embrace as a woman walked through the hall towards her husband. They grasped each other so tightly and the woman's husband couldn't stop kissing her in happiness and joy that she was still alive. Summer's eyes stayed glued to this couple, imagining for a moment it was her and Seth, when suddenly she saw him.

At first she didn't think it was him – it didn't look like him at all from all the images she had been playing out in her mind. His face wore an unwavering look of determination and stubble was apparent, along with a few scrapes and dirt across his forehead and cheeks. His left wrist was bandaged up in white and his shirt was torn in random places. His pants were covered in dirt and, what looked like, soot, all the way down to his feet. He looked like someone else. Summer even thought for a moment that it wasn't him, but then she realized she could never mistake the real Seth for someone else. So she jolted up and as soon as she did, Seth's eyes made contact with hers and his firm look disappeared into a wide smile.

Summer rushed over to him, her legs moving faster than she could ever remember them moving. Seth moved swiftly as well, lifting his arms up, ready to grab her in a hug. Once she reached him, she did just that – and more. She jumped up into his arms, forgetting that his wrist was wrapped up and that he had scrapes and bruises all over him. He grabbed onto her tightly, nuzzling his face into her neck, breathing in her scent. Summer did the same thing to him – but all she could smell was smoke.

"I love you, Summer," Seth whispered into her hair. "More than you could ever know."

"I've never been more scared in my entire life," Summer pulled away so she could see his face. "Never, Seth."

"Me neither," Seth replied quietly, letting Summer back down. "But I'm okay. Just a few scrapes and bruises and a sprained wrist," Seth lifted his left hand to show her.

"Oh my God," Summer grabbed his hand roughly to examine it but then off of his wince, she released her grip. "Sorry."

Seth shrugged it off. "It doesn't hurt that bad."

"Seth," Summer looked him square in the eye, "you were in a plane crash. Do you realize how serious that is? How lucky you are right now? How lucky I am that you're okay?"

He nodded, bringing his hands up to hold her face. "I know, Summer. I can't be thankful enough that you're here with me right now."

Summer smiled humbly. "There's no where else I'd be, Cohen."

Seth bent down to Summer's height, capturing her lips with his. Summer smiled into the kiss – thanking all Above Beings silently for allowing Seth to still be with her – as she continued massaging her lips against his. But questions about the crash swam through her mind at a feverish pace and she pulled away suddenly, as Seth frowned down at her in question.

"What?" Seth asked.

"What happened?" Summer started and before Seth could reply, she was already firing out more questions. "And how did you get that sprain? Do you need to go to the doctor? And why did it take so long for you to get here? Why didn't you at least call? I was worried sick, Seth!" Summer punched him in the stomach.

"Ow woman!" Seth gripped his stomach. "I was just in a plane crash! Think you can lay off the abuse for at least a day?"

Summer enveloped him in a hug. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry," she pulled away, rubbing her forehead. "I'm just so all over the place right now."

"I know," Seth let his good arm drape around Summer's body. "Let's go sit down and talk." Seth guided her into the hall, but then upon noticing the anxiety and chaotic scene, he stopped. "Maybe we should go outside."

"Yeah," Summer replied, "I don't really want to be in here anymore."

Seth and Summer made their way out of the hotel and walked to the well-lit park next door. They sat silently on a bench, before Seth opened his mouth to speak. "That was one of the scariest things in my life, Summer – that plane crash."

Summer laughed ironically. "One of? I would think that would be the scariest thing that has ever happened in your life."

Seth shook his head defiantly. "No. The scariest thing was when it happened – or when we all knew what was happening – and all the people were screaming and crying, I thought of you and Leilah. And how I might never get to see you two again. That was the scariest thing in my life."

"Seth…" Summer leaned into him.

"I mean it," Seth interrupted her. "I don't want to ever think about not being in yours and Leilah's lives. And when the plane dove down that last minute before landing – it's all I could seeing flashing through my mind. You and Leilah. Without me." Seth reached out and wiped the tears that were falling from Summer's eyes. "And I told myself, that if I made it out of that, I would tell you that. And that I wouldn't let you go. Because I know that no matter how hard our relationship has been lately, we can get through it. We always do. I love you, Summer. So please don't try to break up with me because I'm gonna have to fight you on it."

Summer pulled away from Seth, smiling widely. "You think I'd break up with you? After you were just in a plane crash – after you just told me all of that?" Summer laughed. "You're crazy, Seth. I love you."

"Yeah?" Seth's eyes brightened. "You're not just saying that because of the crash?"

Summer shook her head. "I'm saying that because it's exactly what I wanted to tell you earlier today when you called. But I wanted you here with me when I told you it – so, Seth – I love you. I think I've only been unhappy lately because everything I had thought I wanted out of my life wasn't going according to plan – mainly marriage. But I could never not be with you, Seth. You're my best friend and I love you so much and each time I ever try to think about you not being in my life anymore it scares me to death. Today only proved that."

"Good," Seth smiled. "I'm glad to hear it. I mean, not the scaring you to death part, but everything else I'm pretty satisfied with."

"I'm glad," Summer smiled back, letting silence ensue for a few moments as they leaned against one another. But then the questions crept back into her mind and, like last time, she couldn't ignore them. "So what happened, Seth?"

"Well," Seth began, taking a deep breath. "The ride back was pretty smooth. A little turbulence but nothing out of the ordinary. And then as we started descending, there was this thump. At first no one thought anything of it, but then a woman a few rows in front of me starting shouting saying that we were going down too fast. So I tried to look out the window over the person sitting next to me and I saw that we were diving down towards the runway. We could all see it but we knew immediately we weren't supposed to be landing this fast. So people started screaming and crying and then – then, we just… we crashed. Head first into the middle of the runway."

"Oh my God…" Summer muttered.

Seth continued on. "I can't really remember what happened right after that. I think I might have blacked out for a few minutes. I just remember someone tugging at my arm for help. It was someone across the aisle who was stuck under bags that had fell out from the overhead. And as I helped him, I noticed all the people trying to get out and in between them all, I saw flames at the front of the plane. So I rushed even faster to get the man out – and someone else helped – and then I just got myself out of there. As soon as I got out, there were ambulances and firefighters and policemen everywhere. Everyone bombarded me as if I were the only person that was on the plane – asking if I was all right, where I hurt, and from my perspective, what had happened. I kept saying I was okay, that I just needed to call you, but I must have lost my phone during all of that and they wouldn't allow me to use their phones until I answered questions and got myself checked out by a doctor. It took hours, Summer. I promise I would have called earlier if I could have."

"I know you would have," Summer tried to smile for him, but his story was just sending her right back into another daze.

"And I did finally get a chance to call you – around 9:30 – but you didn't answer. And I tried a couple of times after that but finally I just gave up and tried to get out of there as fast as I could. Obviously, two and a half hours isn't fast – but trying to figure out where all the family members were located and with all the extensive questioning as I was leaving from policemen and reports, I just… well, I had a hell of a time getting to the hotel."

Summer had snapped out of her daze at Seth's mention of calling her. "Oh my God… I ignored all of my calls! I mean, after the first few I just couldn't handle it and I put my phone away. Jesus! How stupid was that?! Of course you would have tried to call me!"

"Summer, Summer," Seth tried to calm her down. "I'm here now. And so are you. And we're both fine. We need to focus on that." Seth stared at her intently. "We need to focus on the future now. Not what happened today or what's been happening between us for the past few months. We just need to fix everything. We need to get on the same team again."

Summer sat back on the bench as Seth spoke to her, trying to ease her mind. And suddenly, like a flash, she realized the horrible way this day could have ended. Seth could have been pronounced dead. She would have had to tell her five-year old daughter that she was never going to see her daddy again. She would have had to somehow plan a funeral, all while taking in the fact that she was never going to see the man she loved so desperately for the last twelve years of her life ever again. That she was going to have to raise their daughter alone – watch her grow, date, excel in school, graduate, go to college, marry, and move out, leaving Summer alone until she died herself. And above all that, she would have had to live with the fact that she never got to say goodbye to him, or let him know that she loved him with her entire being and would never love another man half as much as she loved him.

"Hey, Summer?" Seth reached a hand out to Summer's shoulders. "It's all okay, all right? We're gonna be okay."

Summer turned her head, locking eyes with him and immediately falling into hysterical sobs. Seth enveloped her in a tight hug, rocking her back and forth on the bench, whispering comforting words into her ear as he rubbed her back. Summer spent a few minutes soaking Seth's already stained and smoke-filled shirt before pulling away, wiping her face steadfastly. "Let's go get married."

This time it was Seth's turn to sit back on the bench. "Let's what?"

"Get married," Summer stood up abruptly. "Let's go get married. Right now."

"Right now?" Seth pointed to the ground. "Like, this instant?"

"Yes," Summer smiled through her remaining tears. "Let's go drive to Vegas and get married."

"You're serious?" Seth stood up standing inches away from her. "You want us to drive to Vegas right now – at 1am – and get married?" Summer nodded her head. "But what about a wedding? And my parents? Ryan and Taylor? Leilah??"

Summer waved her hands animatedly to the side. "Forget all of that. Let's make this just about us."

"I can't believe you're serious about this," Seth stated, gripping Summer's arm lightly, trying to lead her away. "Maybe we can sleep on it tonight and if it's still what you want in the morning we can do it."

"No!" Summer bellowed, ripping her arm out of Seth's grasp. "No more waiting! We can't just assume tomorrow's gonna come because everything can change in an instant. It almost did today. I almost lost you. And… and… oh my God, I don't know what I would have done if that had happened. But I do know that this crash happened for a reason, Seth. It happened to show us that we shouldn't take each other – and our time together – for granted anymore. I just want to be married to you – for you to be my husband. So please, let's forget everything that says we shouldn't go elope and just do it anyway."

Seth stares at Summer silently for a moment, digesting what she had to say. "Okay."

"Yeah?" Summer grins.

"Yeah," Seth responds, taking Summer's hand in his. "Let's go get married."

Summer squeezed his hand lightly, grinning, and walking out of the park, leading him towards her car. "Yeah… let's go get married."

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During the long trek to Las Vegas, Seth used Summer's phone to call his parents and Summer's friend, Natalie, to talk to Leilah to let them all know he was all right as Summer drove. His parents had been worried sick – much like Summer after learning their son was in a plane crash – but were especially glad to hear from him. Leilah, however, had been fast asleep when Seth called at nearly two in the morning and Natalie had spoken to Seth, telling him how thankful she was that he was okay. She had then asked him when he and Summer wanted her to drop Leilah off at their house but Seth informed her as nicely as possible that he and Summer were hoping to take a mini-vacation and wanted to know if she and Garrett could watch Leilah for the next day or two. Natalie had immediately obliged, saying she knew they needed this time together. Seth thanked her profusely – as did Summer as she shouted into the phone while keeping her eyes on the road – and told her that he would call again later in the morning to talk to Leilah.

By the time they arrived in Las Vegas, almost all decent and non-Elvis/priest impersonators were closed until 9am. So Seth and Summer decided to get a hotel room to shower and take a nap before their big elopement.

When they woke up at three in the afternoon – clearly tired from the last day's events – they immediately looked up the classiest and well-to-do chapel they could find and drove to it. They got an immediate service and within only a half hour, they were married.

Seth Cohen and Summer Roberts – finally after twelve years of dating – were married.

Seth joked that they should have done this earlier if it was that easy and Summer laughed saying that it happened much quicker than she had ever imagined it happening. Regardless, they were amazed that it was real. Summer kept looking down to her platinum ring band for confirmation and smiling over to Seth as she took it in, each and every time.

By dinnertime, they had made it back to their hotel honeymoon suite at Caesar's Palace and were now just ordering room service food that was outrageously priced but, according to Seth, it didn't matter because they saved thousands of dollars by not having a wedding so splurging on food and the hotel honeymoon really didn't matter.

"You know," Seth grinned, plopping down onto the bed next to Summer after ordering all of their room service food, "we have a lot to do this next week."

"What do you mean?" Summer questioned him as they both got under the covers once again.

"Well, there's changing your name for starters. You're a Cohen now. Better get used to it," Seth tilted to his side, letting his lips graze Summer's quickly and ardently. "And there's changing your name and our relationship status on all of our bank accounts, insurances, tax papers and everything of that sort."

"Sounds like fun," Summer muttered sarcastically, slipping further into the bed, laying her head on Seth's chest.

Seth bowed down, beaming above her. "And we'll most definitely have to find some time to go ring shopping."

At this Summer perked up, joyously wrapping her arms around Seth's neck, pulling him down closer to her. "Ohhh… I especially like that part of the to-do list," Summer kissed him. "Am I gonna choose my own or are you gonna do it?"

"Whatever you want."

"I want you to choose."

Seth's smile faltered for a moment. "You know, I didn't actually think you would allow me to choose your engagement ring – well, it's not really an engagement ring because we didn't have an engagement so it's more like a double wedding ring – but still, I didn't think you'd let me choose."

"If we hadn't gotten married today, you would probably be thinking about proposing to me soon, right?" Summer asked Seth, already knowing the answer.

"Of course – in fact, the past two weeks I've been thinking about it a lot."

Summer smiled, continuing on. "Yeah, so you would have chosen the engagement ring then and I know I would have loved it so I figure we should probably try to keep something traditional in this whole wedding/marriage thing we have going on. Plus, I love all the jewelry you get me. I never have any complaints."

Seth pretended to think about it for a moment. "This is true. I do believe I'm always highly rewarded for my continued efforts at finding the perfect jewelry for you."

"You certainly are," Summer kissed him again, smirking. "This time will be no different."

"Great," Seth laughed. "I'll be going out to get that ring tomorrow."

"Can't wait," Summer muttered as their lips collided once again. Just as they were letting things get heated, there was a knock on the door, indicating that their food was there. Seth groaned, getting out of bed and retrieving the food, brining it next to their bed. He then sat right next to Summer, resuming their make-out right where it left off.

"Seth," Summer mumbled, trying to fend of his lips, "Seth, the food's here."

"I know," Seth replied, still kissing her face, "I was the one who got it."

Summer laughed, pushing him off of her. "Come on, it's all so expensive. We can't just waste it." Summer reached over to the food and began grabbing for it as Seth watched her from behind.

Suddenly, without warning, Seth startled Summer. "I want another baby."

Summer dropped her piece of steak onto the ground, ignoring it as she turned back to Seth. "You want another baby?"

Seth shook his head vigilantly. "Yes. I want us to have another baby."

Summer was shocked but she couldn't help the grin from forming on her face. Everything she had been worrying about for the past few months – the fear that Seth was no longer in love with her and didn't want to marry her – was quickly fading into forgotten memories. And Summer had wanted to try for another baby since Leilah was two years old but she was too afraid to mention it to Seth, especially since they had been avoiding the topic of marriage for the past couple of years. "Oh my God," Summer cried, throwing her arms around Seth's neck. "I love you so much."

"Does that mean you want another baby too?" Seth pulled away slightly to catch a glimpse of Summer's face.

Summer merely nodded, trying to keep her smile from breaking out into an all-consuming grin.

"Well, then," Seth beamed back, keeping his arms tightly locked around Summer's body, "mind if we start trying now?"

"Now?" Summer managed to squeak out.

"Why not?" Seth responded.

Summer pushed him down on the bed, kissing him passionately, letting her hands find their familiar way to his curls. As things heated up, Seth turned their bodies so Summer was underneath him and their clothes quickly became discarded while the food was forgotten about. Seth then mumbled into Summer's skin, "Thank you," before beginning to move inside of her.

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After, Summer laid her head on Seth's chest and she questioned him on his statement from earlier. "Why did you thank me earlier?"

Seth glanced down at her, stroking her hair with his good hand lovingly. "For the best day ever – a wife and a baby."

Summer smiled up at him. "There's no guarantee that I'm pregnant, Cohen."

"Ohhh, I did some of my best work there, Summer," Seth told her confidently. "I'm pretty positive you're pregnant."

"Oh, did you?" Summer laughed, sitting up.

"That I did." Seth nodded his head vigorously.

"Well," Summer started, "if that's the case – and I am pregnant – we better order more food because I'm eating for two now and I'm not having cold steak."

Seth shot straight up in bed. "Yeah, I'll get the phone now. Don't want you to start having hormonal rage blackouts."

Summer smiled to herself as she listened to Seth order more food for her, thinking about how lucky she was to have him in her life. She was beyond grateful for Seth, and for Leilah, and for – as Seth presumed – their new baby beginning to grow in Summer's womb. And really? She couldn't ask for anything more than that.

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A/N: Look out for a SS one-shot in a week or so!!!