Chapter 12

Seth and Summer had been woken at 5 a.m. as usual by the rhythmic thumping and kicking of their future ultimate fighter. Very early on in Summer's pregnancy, her and Seth had agreed that whatever Summer went through, Seth would as well…as much as was physically possible. So, if she was awake, he was awake, and they were going to continue the 50/50 split after the baby was born. Although, Summer liked to call it the 60/40 arrangement since she actually had to give birth.

This arrangement was made easier as they both worked at home, Seth as a movie critic for the San Francisco Chronicle, and Summer had continued to work for G.E.O.R.G.E, the environmental group she had joined before returning to college.

It was now after 10 and they were sat at their kitchen table. Seth was grumpy and considering taking a nap.

"Cohen! You can only sleep when I sleep. 60/40, remember?"

"Yeah, but what's the point of both of us being miserable?" he grumbled. "I promise to take an extra 3 a.m. feeding for every nap I take in the next twelve weeks."

Summer got up to stand behind Seth, who was still seated, and ran her fingers through his hair.

"Seth, instead of making promises you know you can't keep, why not do something useful, like call Ryan and arrange some quality Seth/Ryan time. I know you're just aching to sit in front of that huge TV of his and play Playstation?" She continued to massage his head.

"Yeah, I would, except, every time I've tried to arrange some Seth/Ryan time lately, he's been too busy or too tired. I really want to give him this kick-ass bachelor party, but he just doesn't seem into it." Seth was rolling his eyes back in his head as his wife rubbed his temples. "I was thinking of the Vegas. I love the Vegas. Ryan loves the Vegas. We do well in the Vegas."

Summer stopped rubbing Seth's head and instead smacked him across it.

"Ow!!!" cried Seth rubbing his wound.

"You are so NOT doing the Vegas, Cohen!" Summer said sternly. "The last time you did the Vegas, you cheated on me, almost lost all your money, and got scammed for $5,000 by a bunch of hookers!! UH UH, not happening!!! Just call Ryan." She finished more softly handing him his cell phone.

"Fine" said Seth knowing he was beaten. Where Summer was concerned, he never won.

He speed dialed Ryan's cell and was surprised that he actually answered.

"Hey" said Seth as was his customary greeting.

"Hey" replied Ryan "I was going to call you."

"Hmmm, you were, huh? 'Cos that would be really cool, ya know, if you decided to call your best friend, never mind, your brother every now and then. Just a thought." Sarcasm oozed from Seth as usual.

Ryan had learned over the years to give as good as he got from Seth.

"Yeah, except you know I don't speak to Trey anymore" replied Ryan quickly, referring to his natural brother who was now doing 25 years to life in jail having been caught by the "three strikes, you're out" law.

"Oooh, oooh that hurts"faked Seth" anywho, THIS brother wants to plan your stag night, but knowing how you feel about surprises, I thought I'd include you in the plans. Any ideas? Naked women are a given, by the way… OW!" Summer had smacked him for the last remark.

"Uh yeah, Seth, I can't think about that right now. I've got some major stuff going on today. Actually, I wanted to tell you about it, that's why I was going to call you." Ryan sounded distracted, Seth thought.

"Dude, we have to get it done soon, but tell me what's happening." Seth wanted this stag night more for him to let loose before the baby was born more than anything, but was really trying NOT to make it about him.

Ryan went into the explanation about how he met Nate, the trip to the apartment, even the argument with Taylor. When he was finished, Seth's response was as expected.

"Wow man, that's very Sandy Cohen of you. So this kid's there with you now?" Seth, like Sandy and Kirsten, knew how Ryan had always wanted to do for someone what had been done for him, but no one expected it to be so soon.

"Yeah, he's here at the office, but he's talking to Kim right now. She's got him sorting and stapling proposal packages, I think."

"Good" said Seth, seriously "because, I want to ask you something, and I want you to answer honestly, ok?"

"Well you know I'm a lousy liar, so fire way" Ryan replied with a smile on his face.

"Do you even WANT to marry Taylor?" Seth blurted.

"What?" Ryan gasped sounding angry.

"Ryan, hear me out" Seth tried to calm "there's been signs."

"Signs?" Ryan rolled his eyes.

"Yes, signs…hear me out. Number one, getting you to agree to anything for the four of us together in the last six months has been impossible. It's been like your avoiding time with Taylor."

"Seth that's…" Ryan started.

"Don't interrupt, just listen, k?"

"Fine" Ryan paced his office with one hand on his hip listening to Seth.

"Number two" Seth continued "you have shown no interest in having a bachelor party/stag night, call it what you will. Guys who WANT to get married WANT their last blast of bachelorhood." Seth paused for effect. "Number three, you go out and bring home a strange kid, announce that he's going to live with you, without even discussing it with Taylor? Don't you think she should have had some say? My dad didn't let you in the house until he'd cleared it with Mom!" he stressed emphatically. "Lastly" he continued "and this is really just an observation…you never say 'I love you' to Taylor. It's always that cheesy 'I love you, Taylor Townsend'." The last part was said in a rather goofy voice. "Man, it sounds so forced and fake to me, imagine what it sounds like to Taylor."

"All right, Seth, that's enough" Ryan raised his voice. "How do you know what I say to Taylor, has she been talking to Summer? And as for the other stuff, well, I have been really busy, so hanging out with you guys and the stag night have just not been possible, and the Nate thing, yeah, I probably should have told Taylor, but she knew I needed to do this." Ryan sounded like he was trying to convince himself.

"Dude, from what you told me of her reaction, she was just learning about this 'Pay it forward' theory now. Meanwhile, anyone who was ever really close to you knew about it and what you called it. Think about that."

Ryan paused for a moment to think about what Seth had said, but quickly moved on to the next issue. "And as for the 'I love you' bullshit, that's between me and Taylor. She knows how I feel." He was really agitated now. "Seth, Nate's here now, I've gotta go" he lied wanting to end the conversation quickly.

"All right, man, just think about what I said, and maybe call me over for Playstation on that movie theatre TV of yours, ok?"

"Yeah, sure" Ryan whispered and closed his phone.