Wherever

Author's Note: Result of boredom. Some ideas for the Season 2 opener. I've tried to keep everyone in character but I'm sorry if some of it seems OOC, it is a very unlikely storyline, of course. Please read and review if you want.

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Part 1 - The wanderer returns

Tying his boat up to the pier, Seth takes one last look at his yacht.

"Well pal, we've been through a lot, you and me. Now we have to go our separate ways for a while."

"You know, they say it's the first sign of madness, talking to yourself."

Seth turns around at the familiar voice.

"Dad! What are you doing here?" Seth says, surprised to see his father standing before him.

"Well, I got a call from Chris who said you had called in to say that you would be needing a space for your yacht today, so I put two and two together and guessed you were showing your face again." Sandy says, smiling.

"Yeah, I'm sorry I never called you Dad, I wanted to surprise you. It's good to see you Dad!" Seth says, before hugging his father.

"Good to see you too son, have you been working out?"

"Dad, I've been pulling ropes and turning wheels for 4 months, that's like going to the gym about three hundred times!" Seth says, admiring his newly acquired muscles.

Sandy picks up Seth's bags from the deck of his yacht and signals for Seth to come with him.

"Come on, it's time you came home Son. Captain Oat's is on the verge of suicide, he's missed you too much. "

"Just Captain Oats, huh?" Seth laughs.

"Well, I could name a few others too."

"So, how has the other's been since I left?" Seth asks, nervously.

"Well, If you're talking about Summer then…"

"That bad, huh? I guess my letter didn't go down as well as I hoped it would. "

"No, it's not that. A lot's happened since you left Seth." Says Sandy, looking down.

"What?"

"Let's not get into that right now, let's just get home. You can surprise your mom. I didn't tell her where I was going. " Sandy says, swiftly changing the subject while opening his car doors.

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Kirsten places the wine bottle back on the counter after pouring a glass out for herself and her sister Hailey.

"So, what's the big news?" Kirsten says, worrying. She never knows what's around the corner when it comes to her sister.

"Well, I'm moving out." Hailey announces, straight to the point.

"Jimmy asked me to move in with him and Caitlin."

"And you said yes?"  Kirsten asks, surprised.

"Of course I did. We've kind of been dating for about 5 months now, I just think we're ready for the next step." Hailey says, slightly embarrassed. The man she is beginning to love is her sister's ex-boyfriend after all.

 "Well, as long as you're happy, I'm really happy for you. " Kirsten says, smiling.

"I am happy. And I just wanted to say that I'm really grateful, to you and Sandy for putting up with me. "

"Woah, you really have changed, you know? I think that.." Kirsten is interrupted by the sound of the front door opening. 

"That must be Sandy. Wait until I tell him the good news. Not that we want rid of you, of course." Kirsten says while walking out of the kitchen and into the hall.

Seth places his bags of the floor and begins to walk towards the kitchen. Before he gets there, he meets Kirsten who doesn't notice him at first.

"Sandy, you'll never guess what Hailey's just told me. It's...Seth!"

Kirsten throws herself into her son's arms.

"Easy mom, you almost knocked me to the ground." Seth laughs.

Kirsten smiles, she has her son back. Or at least, one of her son's.

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Summer sighs as she reads the note again.

Dear Summer,

There's no easy way to say this. I'm leaving for the summer. I've decided to sail to Tahiti. It's something I've always want to do, and I think it will give me time to get my head straight. I want you to know that this is nothing to do with you and me. I really like what we have together, and I hope you can forgive me and that we can sort things out when I return. Keep Safe.

Love Seth.

P.S – Look after Captain Oats for me. Maybe Princess Sparkle can keep him company.

Summer folds the note up once again and puts it in the cabinet next to her bed.

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Opening the door to his room, Seth looks around and smiles. It's exactly how he left it. Except for one thing. Walking over to the cabinet beside his bed, he picks up the item.

"Hey, Princess Sparkle. So, you and Captain Oats finally hooked up then?"

After a knock on the door, Seth puts down the pony and sits down on the bed.

"Can I come in?" Hailey asks.

"Sure. Hey." Says Seth, giving his aunt a hug. 

"How does it feel to be back home?" Hailey asks, sitting down on the bed.

"Strange. I still kind of feel like I'm moving, you know? Like I'm still sailing and constantly moving from side to side."

"It'll pass." Hailey says laughing. "So, have your folks told you all the gossip yet?"

"No, did I miss anything exciting?" Seth says, excitedly. 

"You could say that. Where do I start? Oh, Julie Cooper's fairytale family didn't last long."

"They split up?" Seth says, not surprised.

"No, they're still together in their mansion. Just, on their own." Hailey replies, rolling her eyes. "Catlin decided she wanted to live with her dad after she poured a glass of coke all over her step-dad's desk and he took away her horse. Poor thing, I know how she feels."

"And Marissa?" Seth asks.

"She kind of umm.. got sent away." Hailey says, awkwardly.

"Sent away where?"

"To rehab." Hailey states.

"Rehab?"

"Yeah, rehab. Julie booked her in after she got through five bottles of vodka in three days. "

"Ok, so nothing's really changed when it comes to Marissa then. I bet that was hard on Summer though. I was kind of depending on Marissa to be there to keep her company while I was away." Seth says, worrying about what his girlfriend got up to without him all summer.

"Seth, there's something you should know. While you were away, something else happened. Something big."

"What?" Seth asks, guessing it was something else to do with Marissa.

"There was an accident. A fire, at Summer's house." Hailey states, looking at Seth. "Don't worry, Summer's fine."

"Ok, so it's not that big then?" Seth says, looking for reassurance.

"No, Seth. Summer was trapped inside, and her dad saved her. He managed to help her to climb out the window but he never made it himself. He's dead Seth."

"Oh my god." Seth says jumping up. "I have to go and see Summer, where is she?"

"She's living with her mom now. Her step-mom threw her out of the house only days after her father died. The bitch somehow managed to inherit the house and most of the insurance money from her husband's estate." Hailey says, shaking her head. She still can't believe how cruel that woman was to the poor girl.

"I can't believe this. I should have been there for her. She's been through hell and I should have been here." Seth says, disgusted with himself. "I have to go and see her."

Seth grabs Princess Sparkle from his cabinet before running out the room, heading of to see his girlfriend.

To be continued….