Author's notes:

I wanted to put Caleb into this chapter, but it got too long and wouldn't have worked. Next chapter. Promise.

This chapter goes out to Trinity is God, because she's awesome, and because today's her birthday! Happy 21st!

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As it turned out, being home again wasn't what she expected it to be. Things seemed a little off between her parents--her father was working far more than usual, which, for Caleb Nichol, meant that he was never home. Kirsten had seen him a grand total of twice since she'd come back from Berkeley, and when she'd suggested coming in to work with him one day, he'd brushed her off with an explanation that the group was negotiating an important deal and she would have much more fun shopping with her girlfriends. Her mother claimed to not be feeling well, and spent most of the day resting in her room. Kirsten had spent most of her vacation playing with her little sister, and while she loved Hailey and enjoyed spending time with her, she was thrilled when the twenty-seventh finally came and she went to pick up Sandy at the airport.

When she got to the airport, she found that Sandy's flight had gotten in fifteen minutes early. A quick trip to his gate proved fruitless, so she checked the baggage claim and found him sitting forlornly against the wall with his battered suitcase next to him.

"Hey there, stranger," she greeted him. "I don't think I've seen you around here before."

Sandy's face split into a wide grin and he sprang to his feet, wrapping her in a tight embrace. "I can't begin to describe how glad I am to see you."

"I should go home more often," Kirsten laughed. "It's nice to know I'm missed."

"Well, the apartment doesn't clean itself," Sandy teased. "Although when you're gone, I can try on your underwear without fear of interruption."

"Sandy!" she scolded him, smacking his arm. "I hope our child doesn't inherit its father's ability to say the worst possible things in public."

Sandy shook his head. "I'm afraid our child's doomed. The Cohens are well known for their ability to make fools out of themselves."

"Somehow I'm not surprised," Kirsten commented.

Sandy grabbed his suitcase and followed Kirsten out of the terminal. He couldn't help being a little surprised at the car she led him to; a bright red convertible that was obviously new and obviously expensive. He knew that her family had money, but she'd always seemed so down to earth and completely unlike what he'd always believed rich kids to be. Kirsten Nichol's family was obviously very well off, and he had a feeling that they wouldn't be too thrilled that their oldest daughter was going to marry a poor law student.

The drive to Newport was pleasant enough--the weather was beautiful and it was wonderful to be with Kirsten again after a week apart. The closer they got to the ocean, the bigger the houses got, and Sandy's sense of unease began to return. If this was what Kirsten had grown up with, what could he possibly have to offer her?

"So I was thinking," Kirsten turned to him with a grin. "Dinner's not till seven, so we could stop by the house to drop off your suitcase, and head to the beach from there. Have a little fun before entering the lions den."

Sandy's eyes lit up. "How's the surfing here?"

"You've got to be kidding," Kirsten complained. "You like that ridiculous sport?"

"Love it ," Sandy grinned. "My freshman roommate got me hooked. Took me home to San Diego for spring break and by the time the week was over I was addicted. There's not much surfing in Berkeley."

"I suppose out of possible addictions, surfing isn't the worst," Kirsten conceded. "And from what I've heard, Newport's supposed to be a great place for it."

"I wasn't so sure I'd like Orange County," Sandy admitted. "But it has surfing, so I suppose it can't be all bad. Oh, and it has you too."

Kirsten rolled her eyes. "Very funny."

"I am, aren't I?" Sandy agreed cheerfully. His spirits lifted. This might not be a bad week after all.

The house was empty when they stopped by to drop off Sandy's things. It wasn't as big as some of the other ones in the neighborhood, although Sandy's entire apartment could have fitted into the living room. Kirsten's father was at work, she explained to him, and her sister was at gymnastics practice, and her mother had probably gone out with some friends. He would meet them all later tonight.

She showed him to the guest room, which was right across the hall from hers. "My dad works late and my mom sleeps like the dead," Kirsten added with a sly glance at Sandy, slipping her hands into the back pockets of his jeans and drawing him to her. "Or we've got the house to ourselves right now, if you'd rather not wait."

He didn't want to wait. Not at all. But he also didn't want Kirsten's parents to come home and have their first impression be of his mauling their daughter. Then again, they would hate him soon enough, anyhow.

"You're sure we have time?" he asked.

Kirsten kissed him. "I'm sure."

That was good enough for him.

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They got to the beach a little before five. Sandy headed right for the waves with the surfboard Kirsten had found earlier in the garage. She thought it might have been Jimmy's, but didn't mention that to Sandy. No sense in bringing it up, and anyhow, she and Jimmy had been over for months now, since before she'd even met Sandy. Jimmy was the past, Sandy was now.

Kirsten walked out onto the pier, watching from the rail as Sandy paddled toward the waves, occasionally riding one in to shore, but more often than not slipping off the board and plunging into the Pacific. He was laughing, though, and clearly having a wonderful time. She'd never been that interested in water sports, but Sandy made surfing look like fun. Maybe she would ask him to give her lessons after the baby was born.

Down in the water, Sandy was caught off-balance by a wave and toppled into the ocean. She laughed to herself.

"Kirsten?" She hadn't heard that voice in months, but recognized it immediately.

She slowly turned around. "Hello, Jimmy."

He looked good. His skin was tanned and the polo shirt he was wearing brought out the blue in his eyes. Jimmy's hands were jammed into his pockets, a sure sign that he was nervous. Kirsten was surprised to feel a lump form in her throat.

Jimmy gave her a nervous smile. "It's good to see you. How have you been?"

She was relieved to hear that her voice remained steady. "Pretty good, actually. How about you?"

"The same, I guess," Jimmy answered. "Busy, but not bad. At least finals are over."

"You're still in school?" she asked, slightly surprised. She'd thought he might have dropped out for awhile to go to work.

"My dad insisted," Jimmy shrugged. "He bought a house for Julie and me, and I'm going to work for him during the summers and join his business after I graduate."

She smiled, surprised at how painful it was. "That's great, Jimmy."

"How about you?" he asked. "How's Berkeley?"

She looked off to her left, just in time to see Sandy ride a wave all the way in to shore. He picked up his board, then looked up to see her on the pier, giving her a wave and a broad smile.

She waved back, and turned to Jimmy again. This time, her smile was much less painful. "Berkeley's great."

"So, um, are you seeing anyone?" Jimmy asked, looking as if he didn't know if he wanted to hear the answer.

"Actually, I'm engaged." Kirsten felt a mean stab of gladness at the hurt expression in Jimmy's eyes. "He's the surfer with the yellow board. His name's Sandy."

"Isn't it a little soon for you to be engaged?" Jimmy asked. "You haven't known each other that long."

Kirsten looked at him coolly. "I don't see how that's any concern of yours."

Jimmy had the presence of mind to look ashamed. "It just seems a little surprising, that's all. I've never known you to be impulsive. But if you're happy, then I'm happy for you."

Kirsten softened a little. "Thank you, Jimmy. I appreciate it."

"So when's the big day?" Jimmy asked, still not looking too happy at the idea.

Kirsten looked out at Sandy again. "We haven't picked a date yet, but soon. Probably sometime next month."

"Wow, soon," Jimmy commented. "You're not pregnant, are you?" He was joking, but Kirsten didn't realize it until her expression gave her away. Jimmy's eyes widened in shock. "You're pregnant?"

"Quiet!" Kirsten hissed. "I haven't told anyone in Newport yet. Sandy and I are going to tell my parents in a couple of days, and they're going to be upset enough as it is. I don't want them to hear it from anyone else."

Jimmy winced. "I can tell you, it's not a very pleasant conversation to have with your parents. But dreading it is worse, so I'd get it over with as soon as possible if I were you."

"It's ironic, isn't it?" Kirsten sighed. "You giving me advice on this subject."

"It is," Jimmy agreed. "Just think, if it had happened any sooner, we'd be the ones getting married."

Kirsten winced. "That's not funny, Jimmy."

"Sorry," he apologized. "And I'm sorry for everything that happened between us. I never wanted anything like that to happen."

"I know." She touched his cheek. "I should go drag Sandy off his surfboard or we won't get home in time for dinner."

Jimmy nodded. "Maybe we could all get together while you're here," he offered. "You and Sandy, me and Julie…I'd really like us to be friends, Kirsten."

"Maybe," she agreed. The last thing she wanted to do was have an outing with Jimmy and the girl he'd cheated on her with, but she'd have Sandy with her, and she didn't really want to hate Jimmy for the rest of her life. "I'll talk to Sandy about it."

"I hope he realizes how lucky he is," Jimmy remarked, a little wistfully.

Kirsten swallowed. "I've got to go."

She turned and walked away, a little too late to avoid seeing the expression on Jimmy's face, the one that clearly said he was still in love with her.