Maddie's father Andy picked a tearful Tyler up the next morning. She had reassured her son that she was only going away for one night, and the promise of fried chicken for dinner the next evening cheered him up. Tyler waved to his mother out of the window of his grandfather's car and she waved back. Her bag was already packed for the evening, and as soon as Tyler had gone away for his weekend, she prepared for hers. She only had one dance class that morning and she had her car packed so she could drive straight to Seth's house. As she was getting ready to leave the studio, Sean called her to make sure she was going to tell him everything.

By the time she had locked up, Maddie was so glad to drive to Seth's house. After a 30 minute journey, Maddie drove up the very long drive way and hadn't even switched off the ignition of her car when Seth stood at the door to greet her!

'Nice car! Very "working mother!"' He said as she stepped out.

'Well, when one has a baby, one has to get rid of her 2-people Lexus, bite the bullet and invest in a 4-door Hyundai that looks a bit like a box on wheels.'

'Obviously one of the unwritten joys of having a kid' Seth laughed as they hugged each other. He took her bag and led her into his house and through to the kitchen. 'Would you like a drink?'

'Could I be really awkward, and have a cup of coffee?'

'Sure. Cream, no sugar, right?'

'I can't believe you still remember how I take my coffee.' Maddie smiled as she watched him pour coffee granules into the machine.

'Of course I do!' Seth looked at her and smiled back. He continued to talk to Maddie as he made them coffee; 'I also remember that you kicked that guy Freddie Evers in the nuts when he threatened Sean after he came out of the closet at high school!'

'I think I had a good reason to do that though.'

'To be honest, that was when I decided I liked you so much.'

'When I kicked a guy in the nuts?' Maddie said with a confused look on her face.

'Yeah, I thought it was endearing actually. You really protected your friend and I liked that.'

'You liked me when I kicked a guy in the nuts!' Maddie said again to clarify what Seth was saying.

'Surprisingly yes! Although, it did terrify me ever so slightly.'

'Well that was my aim and no one has threatened him since!'

'I'll drink to that!' Seth said handing Maddie her coffee. They clinked mugs jokily and sipped them quietly for a while. 'So would you like the tour of the house?'

'Sure, why not!'

Seth grabbed the bags and showed Maddie where she would be staying the night. He took her upstairs and guided her to the room she would allegedly be staying in. If the night went the way he wanted, he knew Maddie would not be sleeping in that bed! He then took her to the balcony in his room and let her see the view of the LA skyline. She was amazed at the view and leant on the railings with her arms folded taking it all in. Seth followed her lead and leant in the same way. They talked a little while more only moving when Seth pointed something out.

Eventually they left the balcony and went downstairs to see the rest of the house. They walked through the kitchen, through to the lounge and down the hall to a room filled with DVDs all around the walls and several squashy chairs and sofas facing a giant screen.

'Wow Seth, this is amazing! Look at all these movies!'

Seth didn't have time to respond as his home phone started ringing. He left the room to answer it, leaving Maddie to look at all the DVDs around her. She saw they were labelled according to genre. All the ones she expected to see were there and she worked her way around the room looking at sci-fi movies, musicals, crime, mystery, and Hitchcock (he had his own category of film according to Seth). She laughed out loud when she saw that Star Wars had been categorized as religion; 'typical' she thought to herself. He came back in the room as Maddie had come to a curious genre of film entitled "high school".

'Sorry about that, it was just Rachael telling us to go over at 7.30 tonight.'

Maddie had picked a DVD off the shelf and look closely at it.

'Oh my God!' she exclaimed.

'What have you got?' Seth went over to her.

'You have our version of West Side Story from high school on DVD?'

'Oh yeah, I forgot I had that.' Seth took the film from her and put it in the DVD player.

'I can't believe it! It was on an old fashioned video tape the last time I saw it. And I thought all of those copies had been destroyed!' She sat on the sofa so she was facing the TV straight on. Seth sat next to her.

For the next two hours, they watched the performance that made them a couple. They laughed through it and spoke the dialogue they could remember. When it came to the part when they kissed for the first time, they went completely silent. Seth looked over at Maddie who looked back at time. They didn't need to say anything, but they were both thinking about how wonderful that musical was. When the DVD was finished, Seth switched the TV off.

'You'll have to let me borrow that so I can show it to Sean.'

Seth sighed. 'That was the best part of high school, wasn't it?' He smiled, but remained very serious.

'It really was.' Maddie fidgeted and quickly changed the subject 'What time is it?'

'Oh dear! 6.45! We have to be at Rachael's in 45 minutes!'

'Hell, we had better get ready!'

Maddie and Seth changed in separate rooms. Seth was ready first and waited for Maddie in the hall. He wore black trousers and a matching shirt so he wouldn't clash with whatever fashion choice she had decided on. After waiting in the hall for around 20 minutes, he heard Maddie make her way down stairs.

'Wow' Seth looked at Maddie as she walked down the stairs towards the front door. She was wearing a fitted teal coloured satin dress that stopped just above her knees. She paired it with simple black jewellery, a black blazer and court shoes. The pair of them looked as if their clothing choices were planned. Maddie reached the bottom of the stairs and ran her fingers through her curly hair.

'I haven't had a wow in a while.'

'Can't imagine why! You look stunning.'

'Thanks.' Maddie blushed slightly. 'So shall we go?'

'Yeah. The car is waiting.' He gestured Maddie out and held the door open as she got in. Seth had booked a driver for the night so that they could both drink and socialize. As they travelled to Rachael's home, Seth and Maddie kept talking. They literally couldn't stop talking to each other. Most of the time they didn't know what they were talking about, just as long as they kept listening to each other's voice.

They arrived at Rachael's home and were greeted by Rachael and Spencer. Maddie was introduced to those people she didn't know by Rachael and Seth who made sure she felt welcome.

'There she is! Haven't seen you in years! How have you been kiddo?' Ron hugged Maddie.

'I've been great, thanks. How about you?'

'Can't complain.'

'I was sorry to hear about Perry's passing. That must have been a tough time for you.'

'Yes it was tough. But I remarried recently.' Ron gestured to his wife to come over who shook Maddie's hand. Seth stayed by Maddie's side as she talked to Ron. He noticed his father occasionally glancing up at him as if to say "it's now or never."

After a while, Rachael whisked Maddie away to get a glass of wine and catch up, so Seth was left alone. He stood at the back of the room and watched the two girls laughing and chatting to each other. A few minutes later he was joined by Spencer.

'You'll never know how excited Rachael was when she found Maddie.' Spencer said.

'Really? I never would have guessed the way she bounced into my office last week!'

'Rachael half-filled me in with the story, but between you and me, what went on there?'

Seth took a deep breath. 'Honestly? She was the love of my life. We went out for little over 5 years. We saw each other as much as we could while we were at college and made it work until I got offered a job in L.A. After that, I started becoming more and more ambitious and she hadn't even graduated before she got offered her first Broadway role and slowly we just stopped finding time to meet up and talk. When I got offered the chance to do Family Guy, I took it and basically let Maddie leave. Biggest regret ever.'

'Well fuck Seth! I think you could do with this.' Spencer handed him a glass of Jack Daniels, which Seth gratefully took a drink of. 'That's got to be the first time since I met you that I've seen you so serious.'

'I can't hide behind the jokes and stupid voices forever, can I?'

'What's it like between the two of you now?'

'I don't know. I mean, I know I want to be with her again, but she has a child now and I don't know where that leaves me in her situation.'

'Talk to her then. Tell her that you still love her and-'

'Whoa! I never said the word love!'

'That's what you are implying mate.' Spencer took a mouthful of his drink and grinned at Seth. 'See? You're not even denying it!'

'I'm glad you spotted that and not Rachael. I'd never hear the end of it otherwise.'

'So is it love your feeling then.'

'I feel like we're a cosmopolitan and a glossy magazine away from becoming two women!' Seth commented sarcastically. Spencer continued to stare at Seth, determined to get him to say the words. 'Ok. I admit it. I still love her. But don't you think it's a bit fast for me to be feeling this way?'

'What's too fast?' Rachael had re-joined them.

'Where's Maddie gone?'

'She got a call from her kid and is taking it in the den. Not sure how long she'll be. So what are you two talking about?'

Spencer looked at Seth who gave him an "if you must" look. 'Seth was just admitting he loves Maddie.'

'I KNEW IT!'

'Keep your voice down Rach! I don't want everyone here knowing, I haven't even told Maddie yet.'

'I'm sorry Seth, it's just this is so amazing!'

'Amazing if she feels the same!'

'Why wouldn't she?'

'I don't know it's just-' Seth stopped in his tracks when his father tapped him on the shoulder.

'One of you might want to go and check on Maddie in the den.'

'Is she ok? What's wrong?' Seth sounded concerned.

'I'm not sure but she sounded a bit tearful, so I think one of you should see if she's alright.'

Seth immediately left the room and walked down the hall to a room at the back of the house his family had always referred to as the den. It was a small office like room which had a sofa, a bean bag and housed all of Rachael and Spencer's books. Seth approached the room to find the door had been left ajar and the light from the lamp was glowing out of it. He heard that Maddie was on the phone and sounded like she was reading something, so he waited outside the door and listened.

'Then they clambered up a passageway in the rock after Hagrid's lamp, coming out at last on to a smooth, damp grass right in the shadow of the castle. They walked up a-'**

She had her phone on loudspeaker as Seth kept hearing muffled voices on the phone.

'Ok, Maddie, we're all good this end, he's asleep now.'

'Thank God!'

'Don't be so hard on yourself honey, Tyler is fine. Now, go back and enjoy your party.'

'Ok Dad. Love you.'

'Love you too honey.'

Seth heard a beep as Maddie hung up the phone. He still waited outside the door expecting her to come out, but she didn't. He needed to let Maddie know he was there for her, so gently knocked on the door and let himself in. Maddie jumped off the sofa and quickly wiped her tears away, trying desperately to stop crying.

'Hey what's up?' Seth asked her softly.

'Oh nothing really.' Maddie spoke in stifled sobs. 'Me and Tyler are reading Harry Potter at night so I found Rachael's book on the shelf and just thought I would read to him on the phone. And I'm upset because I feel guilty.'

Seth went over to Maddie who sat back on the sofa. He sat next to her and put his arm around her. 'Why are you feeling guilty?'

'Tyler rang me saying he couldn't sleep and then he started crying because I couldn't get to him and I panicked because I couldn't calm him down.' She put her hand on her forehead and then turned and rested her head on Seth's shoulder who responded by putting both arms around her.

'Don't feel guilty.'

'How can I not? I'm a single mother, Seth. Guilt has become part of my everyday life.' She put her head in her hands.

'You can have a break and still be a good Mom.'

'I know, but I'm trying to be two parents at once and I feel like I'm in over my head.'

'Then let me be there for you. Even if it's just to bring you pizza on a Friday night!'

Maddie laughed briefly. 'Thanks Seth.'

'I mean it.' Seth looked seriously into Maddie in the eyes. 'I am really going to be there for you.'

Maddie smiled and rested her head back on Seth's shoulder and they peacefully sat there like they did in her own house a few nights ago. It was relaxing for both of them as Seth finally thought he was giving Maddie the comfort she needed. He didn't want to let her down like he had before. They were only interrupted when they heard a knock on the door.

'Hey' Rachael poked her head round the door. 'Are you two joining us for dinner now?'

'Sure.'

Seth lead the way as Rachael hugged her friend before following him. As they sat down, Maddie began to relax more. She let her guard down and laughed at all the little anecdotes the Seth's family and friends had to say. Before long, Rachael and Maddie turned to each other and began chatting about motherhood and their kids.

The night turned out to be very enjoyable. The wine ran freely and the food was delicious. By the end of the night, as everyone was leaving slowly, Maddie and Seth stayed for one last drink with Ron, his wife, Rachael and Spencer. Just the six of them.

'Well, I've got to say' Rachael began 'this has been a truly fantastic night.'

'Yes it has; and as a footnote to that' Ron turned to Maddie 'it's wonderful to have your ginger hair gracing this family with its presence again! Cheers!'

They all laughed and raised their glasses. 'I couldn't have put it better myself!' Seth said and looked affectionately at Maddie as he did so.

'Thank you all for the invite.' Maddie said and took a sip of her wine.

'You're welcome sweetie!' Rachael smiled. She was so pleased to have her friend back. 'You know, next time we should get Sean to come along. Does he have a partner?'

'Yes. His name is Lee and he's a lawyer. They married 3 years ago now.'

'That's wonderful! Well why don't we all go out for drinks soon?'

'I would love that! And so would he actually.' Maddie turned to Seth 'he was really happy to see you, you know.'

'We had some good times.' Seth's family looked around at him staring blankly. 'Ok' he continued 'I just heard that in my head the way you must have heard it, and that's not good, is it?'

Everyone laughed and even Seth joined in. Maddie was the last to stop laughing and Seth couldn't help but notice how her laugh completely filled room. It was so happy and carefree. It was in that moment Seth was 100% certain that he would make Maddie his again.

**Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stones quote taken from Chapter 6, page 84 (2000 paperback) No copyright intended.