Seth didn't go straight home that night, even though it was very late. He drove to Rachael's house faster than he probably should to tell her about his night. It was not his intention at first as he did have a lot of work to do the next day, but he drove past the road Rachael lived down and impulsively drove to his sister's house. When he arrived he saw that his father's car was parked outside and when he got out his father was at the window waving him in.

Seth let himself into the house and walked straight into the lounge where a surprised but excited Rachael jumped up and looked at her brother.

'How did it go?'

'Great' Seth grinned 'really great!'

'Well come on, you. Sit down and tell us what happened.'

Seth began telling Rachael, his father Ron and Rachael's husband Spencer what had happened from the time Rachael had left him with Maddie alone in the studio to going to her house and meeting her son. Ron remembered Maddie well and at one point had half expected her to become his daughter in law.

'So when are you going to see her again?' Rachael couldn't hold in how excited she was for her brother.

'I don't know yet. She gave me her number so I was thinking of ringing her tomorrow. Or do you think that sounds a bit desperate?'

'Not at all son! You have to strike while the iron's hot!' Ron looked around at his family 'Do people still say that?'

'Occasionally Dad, but anyway, we need to get Maddie and Seth together.'

'Rach, do you think I'm incapable of arranging my own dates?'

Rachael laughed 'Oh come on Seth, it took me coming with you to her dance studio until you had the confidence to at least speak to her again.'

'Fair point.' Seth looked down at his feet briefly 'question though Rach; why are you so interested in helping me with my love life?'

'Because, you're my brother. And I just want you to be happy. Like me a Spencer are.' Rachael walked over to her husband who immediately put his arm around her and smiled.

'Do you have feelings for Maddie? Or is it too soon to ask after only just meeting her again?'

Seth began to raise his voice in frustration 'Yes. Ok, I have feelings for Maddie. I probably always have deep down, hence why it hasn't worked with anyone else; but whether its love I'm feeling, I can't say yet.'

The house was silent when Seth finished speaking. They were all deep in thought as to how they could get Seth and Maddie together again.

'I have an idea' Rachael said after a few minutes 'When I bumped into her this week, I told her that we would arrange to meet up. Why don't I turn that plan into a little informal dinner party so she can catch up with all of us?'

'That could work!' Seth said enthusiastically.

'Great! Let's call her tomorrow and see if we can get something planned for next Saturday!'

After hastily planning a dinner party, Seth decided to bid his family goodnight. He drove home with a hopeful feeling inside that him and Maddie could be a couple again. He hadn't admitted to his family that he loved Maddie, but the fact he didn't want to wait to see her again made him think that love was definitely where he was heading. That night, for the first time in 14 years Seth didn't worry himself to sleep about work.

People around Seth had noticed a change in his personality. He was a lot more relaxed at work, enjoyed a bit of banter with his colleges again and smiled a lot more. Word was starting to spread that he was talking to his high school sweetheart once more. Alex Borstein and Mila Kunis couldn't stop asking him about her. At any break they had over a table read, the pair would bombard Seth with questions about Maddie. Seth would get a bit fed up of all the questions but it didn't bother either of them; Alex would always ask 'when do we get to meet her?' and Mila would just smile dreamily and comment 'I love a bit of romance!'

Over the next few days, Seth and Maddie had been in touch with each via text message, email and phone conversations. They found it difficult to find a time and place to meet because Maddie had to look after Tyler and run her business, so they had settled with Seth going over to her house; which was perfect in Seth's mind as he could get to know Tyler and then be alone with Maddie when she put her son to bed.

The night he was due to go to Maddie's, Seth made sure he finished work on time to give himself time to get ready and get round. On his way out of work, Mila had called after him 'remember to buy her flowers and tell her how pretty she is!' Seth arrived at Maddie's house on time. He had taken Mila's advice and bought Maddie a bouquet of sunflowers and Tyler a model of Brian Griffin. He rang the doorbell and almost instantly it was answered by Tyler.

'Hi Seth!' Tyler bounced backwards to let Seth in.

'Hey buddy!'

'Hey Mom, Seth's here!'

Maddie came bustling out of the kitchen when she heard Seth and Tyler talking. 'Hi Seth' Seth kissed Maddie on the cheek and hugged her, making Tyler giggle. He handed her the sunflowers he had bought her.

'These are for you Maddie, and I got this for you buddy' he gave Tyler they Brian toy which was well received. He thanked Seth before running straight in the lounge to play with it. Seth followed Maddie into the kitchen.

'Seth, these are beautiful' she said putting them in a vase. 'Thank you, I love them.'

'You're welcome. I assume sunflowers are still your favourites?' Seth smiled at her, secretly hoping he was winning her over.

'Absolutely, I haven't changed a lot in that respect. Would you like some wine?'

'Are you having some?'

'Yes!'

'Even on a school night?' Seth raised an eyebrow at her playfully.

'Yeah. Tyler can hop on the bus tomorrow morning if I feel a bit hungover!'

Seth laughed 'Then get me a glass!'

Maddie poured a couple of glasses of Chardonnay. They clinked glasses and chatted happily in the kitchen. After a while Tyler joined them and Seth proceeded to make Tyler laugh speaking in Roger's voice. Maddie laughed along with them. It made her so happy that she and her ex-boyfriend were getting along, and her son liking Seth made her even happier.

They ate dinner together and Tyler entertained Seth by telling him about his science project. Seth seemed to be genuinely interested in it, and even began helping him with some ideas. As much as Seth liked bonding with Tyler, he was secretly glad when Maddie put him to bed so that he could be alone with Maddie. She came back downstairs and the pair sat on the sofa together; a few centimetres separating them.

'This has been such a great night.'

'You don't miss eating in 5 star hotels or sitting in VIP lounges then?'

'That's only what you see in magazines or on websites Maddie. What with my job, I'm so busy I'm lucky if I get to eat a sandwich when I get home!'

Maddie laughed 'Yeah right!'

'It's true!' Seth looked right into Maddie's eyes 'You don't believe me, do you?'

'I can't imagine you'd lie, but-'

'That's because I won't!' Maddie didn't have time to finish her sentence before Seth cut her off. They both smiled at each other, and for a second Seth thought of kissing her. He nearly leaned in, but the fact that her kid was asleep upstairs stopped him. He needed to see her completely on his own and fast. Out of everyone he had dated in the past, his feelings for Maddie were growing the fastest he had ever known and if he didn't let her know soon, he knew he wouldn't recover very easily.

'Are you busy this Saturday night, Maddie?'

'Why?'

'Well, Rachael is planning an informal dinner party; it will be her, Spencer, my Dad and his wife, a few people we work with and you. You could stay in my spare room too since you live a bit of a distance from us, so what do you say?'

'Oh, I would, but I won't be able to get a babysitter for Tyler. My brothers all live on the other side of the state, Dean and Sean will both be working, so there's no one else who could take him at such short notice.'

'Oh, well why don't I call Rach? She'll be getting Bella a nanny, so you could leave Tyler with her.'

'I don't think so, I don't like leaving Tyler with anyone I don't know.'

'Maddie, I guarantee he will be fine. The nanny Rachael uses is perfectly trustworthy and is qualified.'

'Still, I'm not leaving my kid with someone I don't know. I'm sorry Seth, but the answer has to be no for now.'

'Don't worry Maddie. I should have known you wouldn't want to leave Tyler with someone you weren't comfortable with.'

'I'm sorry Seth, it's just-'

Seth cut Maddie's sentence off again and held one of her hands gently 'Don't feel like you need to explain. You're a good mother Maddie. Besides they'll be other parties and nights out we can go to!'

'So you don't mind?'

'No. I'll just miss having you there, that's all.'

They held hands for a little while longer. Maddie rested her head on Seth's shoulder and they just sat like that. He felt the urge to kiss her again, but was worried that it was too soon. They had, after all, only just reunited.

When Seth left, he hugged Maddie again for a long time, which Maddie did not resist. They held on to each other as if they were not going to see each other for another 14 years. He thought that she must have feelings for him too as she hadn't given him reason to suggest otherwise. Determined to keep his spirits up, he knew that it wasn't Maddie's fault and if she could come to the party, she would. He wondered whether he should call Rachael and put it back a week or two.

As soon as Seth left, she was on the phone to anyone she could think of to see if she could find someone to look after Tyler. She was just about to give up when she decided to make one last call to her parents.

Both would have been surprised if they knew the effort they were going to, to see each other again. Without saying it out loud or to each other, Seth and Maddie had both decided that they wanted to give their relationship another go.

'Right, if you really want to see Maddie again, I suggest you call her and arrange a proper date with her.' Ron had followed his son to work, determined to get him to face up to his real feelings for Maddie again. Many of Seth's colleagues turned their heads listening to the father-son discussion.

'Dad, I think we're getting ahead of ourselves a little, I mean we have only just met again.'

'You can't wait for her to call you, you know. If you want it, make it happen.' Seth raised an eyebrow at his father. 'Don't give me that look! How'd you think I got your mom? When I met her, we made arrangements to see each other immediately because I didn't want her to be with anyone else.'

'That's a compelling argument.'

'I'm just saying! Your sister showed me a picture of Maddie on her website and she is a very attractive woman, even with a kid! And she will meet someone else if you don't take the opportunity to meet up with her. You didn't hesitate when the offer for Family Guy on Fox became an option, did you?'

'I can't believe you're bringing that up!'

'Well it's the truth isn't it? You wanted that and you got it. Is Maddie worth enough to you to you?'

'Yes! Obviously she is!' Seth tone of voiced softened a little and almost sadly said 'clichéd as it sounds dad; she's the one that got away.'

The pair wandered into Seth's office, getting away from all the turning heads and general nosiness from his staff. Seth sat at his desk after Ron had hugged his son triumphantly. After all, he had got Seth to admit he still wanted to be with Maddie.

'Call her. Now!' Ron turned to walk out of Seth's office just as Seth pressed play on his voicemail machine, and the two heard a message from the girl they had been talking about for the last few days. He watched Seth's face light up as he listened:

'Hi, it's me. Listen, I managed to get my parents to watch Tyler for the whole weekend, so if the invitation to the dinner party and spare room is still there, I'd love to come. So give me a call either way and let me know. Ok? Bye…oh it's Maddie by the way!'

'Looks like your luck is beginning to turn!' said Ron sarcastically with a smile!

'Dad, get out of here!' Seth smiled at his Dad while picking up the phone and dialling Maddie's number. His heart raced as her phone rang several times. It was just about to go to her voicemail when someone picked up the phone. They confirmed plans for the weekend immediately.