The O.C.

At What Price Love?

Author: Alba's Room

A/N: Just wanted to say thanks for the support. This stories timeline is probably going to jump around a bit so watch for A/N's or Setting notes. Hope you like this new chapter. Alba xxox

Summary: Kirsten's not perfect. Far from it. In fact, she's quite normal. Selfish, even. If you tell her she can't have something, she has to have it regardless of the cost. It's the way she's always been.

Setting: This chapter takes us about five years back meaning Seth is about twelve and Ryan hasn't come yet. I'm taking liberties with Josh's storyline but (haven't I already, though) and I'm saying that Seth and Marissa have been best friends since he moved to Newport. Also, Sandy already practices private law.

Disclaimer: I don't own The O.C. or its characters. That honour goes to Josh Schwartz.

Chapter Two: The Devoted Husband

"Mrs. Cohen, how are you?" Sandy's young assistant, Allison, asked as Kirsten walked towards the desk. She took in Kirsten's tear-stained face and grungy apparel and figured something had happened.

"Is Sandy in there?" Kirsten spat, stopping at the desk. Allison tried not to draw attention to the mascara and eyeliner that had pooled under Kirsten's eyes or the mascara that marred her normally impeccably made up face. She made a point not to stare too long at the grey trackpants, the navy and white striped long sleeved top or the olive green sweater coat that was haphazardly tied around Kirsten's tiny waist with the matching sash. She waited for Allison to answer but seeing she was too busy taking her disheveled appearance she snapped again. "Is Sandy in there?"

"Yes, Mrs. Cohen-"

"Alone or by himself?" she asked again.

"He's with a client," Allison answered, glancing away. Kirsten clenched her teeth, her fists, her heart. She let out an angry growl that caused Allison to scoot her chair back a few feet.

"Who's he with?" Kirsten asked, slamming her fists down on the bench. A vase of flowers rattled along with the placard announcing that this was Sandy Cohen's office, that he specialized in divorce and family law and that Allison Martin, who right now was silent even though the phone was ringing, was his secretary. Kirsten found a sign on the wall that listed the names of the partners and their specialties. She read the million names of the million associates listed in alphabetical order followed by the millions of degrees the millions of employees had undertook just to become another one of the millions to fight against the other millions. She read the sign twice and then looked back at Allison who had yet spoken. "Allison, who is my husband with?"

"I really can't say," Allison stuttered. That was enough for Kirsten. He was not with a client.She stormed past Allison's desk and towards her husband's office door. She reached the door and lifted a hand to slam the glass, which was presently blocked by Venetian blinds when something stopped her.

Barging in on him like this was useless. He wouldn't be embarrassed, he wouldn't stop his ways and it would only result in unnecessary and unsettling arguments about trust, commitment and the like. She didn't want to put Seth through it all. Her parents had argued non-stop at times and she had found herself crying herself to sleep. It wasn't the life she wanted for her only son, her only child.

Wordlessly, Kirsten wrapped her arms around her stomach and walked past Allison, out into the pouring rain. If this were a movie or a book, she would have laughed not only at the irony that the downpour matched her emotions but that this was such a typical scene. Of course the devoted wife would reach the conclusion that the husband she thought was as equally devoted husband was having an affair as the rain poured down. Of course, the heartbroken wife would slog through the rain towards her car, not caring that she was sopping wet. Of course the wife would place her hands on the steering wheel and her head on them and would cry as they rain continued to fall. The only thing that Kirsten hadn't seen before was this. The devoted husband hadn't been caught by the devoted, he hadn't been yelled at, they hadn't fought, she hadn't left him. The devoted wife had simply walked out into the rain, hoping that this was all just a bad dream.

Kirsten instinctively knew this wasn't all a bad dream. Something compelled her to sit in her car and watch until her husband exited the building. She didn't have to wait long. her eyes drifted over towards the front door of the office and away from the telegraph pole she had had her eyes clearly set on. She almost literally had to rip her eyes away after willing her heart to forget this incident and pretend nothing was wrong with her marriage and that her husband was devoted. But her heart wouldn't let her stay in comfort. It had to know.

Sandy, dressed in a black suit with an open collared white shirt, exited the building holding a black umbrella above his head in one hand and a briefcase in the other. So far, so good. Kirsten smiled and sighed in relief until a shadow caught her attention. A brunette female in a very fitted, very sexy black skirt suit waved to someone before joining Sandy under his umbrella. The arm holding the briefcase made it's way around her waist briefly before they walked quickly to Sandy's black car.

All the black was making Kirsten feel sick but she saw that it was justified. Of course, her heart was breaking, of course everything should be black. The car, the clothes, the air, the mood. What wasn't black was gold. The line of buttons down the front of the woman's jacket, the tanned skin that flashed underneath the almost thigh high split of the woman's skirt, the gold cuff that held the dark brown ponytail in place. Black and gold. These colours had never had significance to Kirsten before. Even her wedding ring was platinum. But now, they were instilled in her brain just like the sound of her son's voice.

'This doesn't mean they're having an affair,' Kirsten thought to herself. 'Maybe he's just walking her to her car. Maybe they're just friends.'

But she'd seen the way they touched, the way they smiled, the way they were walking. This was no good and gentlemanly deed. Kirsten watched in horror as they walked to the passenger side of Sandy's car. He unlocked the door and opened first the backseat where he threw down his briefcase and then took hers off her and placed it next to it. He then opened the front door and moved sideways, allowing her to stand in between him and the open car door. She said something to him and he leant over and kissed her before she slid effortlessly into what was normally Kirsten's place. He then smiled to himself, swung her door shut and walked around to his side where he hopped in, started the car and peeled away from the office.

Kirsten quickly turned her car on and drove the opposite way. She made it home without crying, she made it inside without crying, she made it through her usual greetings with Seth and Marissa who was sprawled on the couch looking at a comic with Seth while some whiny music played in the background. She walked into the kitchen and poured herself a glass of wine. The phone rang and Kirsten jumped. She let Seth answer it, hoping that Sandy would simply ask him to pass a message onto his mother but not so.

"Mum, Dad wants to talk to you," came her son's voice. Kirsten mentally cursed Sandy and reluctantly picked up the phone. She heard Julie enter the house to collect Marissa and she wanted to get the phone call over before her best friend stuck her head around the corner to hear the day's gossip.

"Hey," Kirsten said, mustering enough courage to sound normal.

"Hey," Sandy said back with just as much feeling. "I was just calling to let you know I'll be home late tonight. I'm stuck at the office doing some work on a joint case with another partner."

"Anyone I know?" Kirsten asked, the question betraying her true feelings.

"I don't think so. Have you met Amanda?" he asked, not even pretending to be wounded that she hadn't pleaded with him to come home.

"Tall, skinny, brown hair?" Kirsten asked, as silent tears fell down her face. That was no client Sandy had been in his office with. That was no client Sandy had left with.

"Yeah, that's the one. When did you two meet?" Sandy asked, not bothering to mask his surprise.

"Some dinner party or other," Kirsten said, fobbing the question off. "Anyway, I better let you get back to work. Have fun and try not to be home too late."

"Ok, honey. I promise," Sandy replied. "Love you."

"Hm-mm. You too," Kirsten said, hanging up the phone. She pressed her wrist to her eyes to stop the flow of tears, allowing only a few stray tears to escape and make their way down her face to splash on her white and blue top. Julie came around the corner and saw Kirsten. She quickly rushed to her side and clutched her hand.

"Kirsten, sweetie, what's wrong?" she asked, her face full of concern.

"It's nothing," Kirsten answered, forcing a smile onto her face. "Just work. Listen, can you do me a favour? Sandy's going to be home late today and things have been so busy, I've hardly had a minute to myself. Would you mind if Seth came over for a few hours?"

"Of course not," Julie readily agreed. "I'm sure Marissa would love the company. Honestly, it never ceases to amaze me how long those two can spend together and not get sick of each other."

Kirsten shrugged and smiled her first real smile. She had been so glad to find that the house she and Sandy had bought was next to her oldest friend and his wife. The two families had intertwined and become so close, it was hard to tell where one ended and the other began. She was really grateful for it at times like this. Julie smiled at Kirsten and left quickly. She could hear Julie talking to Kirsten, she heard Marissa's loud exclamations and Seth's soft ones. She smiled and reciprocated Seth's kiss when he came in to say goodbye but through it all, she was numb.

She was sitting in the kitchen when Jimmy came over. she had drunk nearly a whole bottle of wine and was feeling quite sorry for herself when he rushed in, all concerned.

"I just thought I'd see how you were," he said, his face friendly and open as he let himself in the back door. "How are you?"

"You see," she answered. He came over and gathered her in his arms.

"I see," he said, placing a kiss on her forehead. She let her head rest against his firm chest, comforted by the feelings it brought. She turned her head up to him, the wine finally affecting her. He looked down at her, slightly confused when she craned her neck to kiss him. He didn't back away when she dragged her fingers through his hair, bringing his head down to hers. He didn't back away when she moaned or when she dragged him to the couch or when they fell onto the lounge. He didn't back away when she undid his belt or when she pulled her own pants down. He didn't back away when they made love.

He didn't back away until they'd finished and even then, it was to leave and go back to his wife.

She felt satiated then. If Sandy ever found out, it would kill him. And right now, that was exactly what she wanted. Or so she thought.

In the days to come, Kirsten's body would ache for Jimmy's. They would find ways to touch other, make excuses to be alone. And in those days, she would realize her body was reawakened and what she really wanted was him. It had been a long time coming but now, here it was. Always. Forever. Him.

And the devoted husband too.