Okay. I'm back. And I'm going to use a bit of this space to extend a personal message to Princess Oats. Wow, you are totally fantastic and I'm LOVING both of your stories right now. Sadly, I am having the same review problem that you mentioned and I was not allowed to let you know this for either of your most recent updates. So I'm doing it here. You kick ass and PLEASE update soon because you are ridiculously awesome. ;) Also? Thanks for yet another lovely review. I appreciate your taking the time, especially because I totally look like a...deadbeat reviewer now. But I promise it was only because of technical difficulties.

A couple more acknowledgements for the longer reviews...

Brenda Osler: I don't really know why I chose to do what I did in the last chapter. I mean, I will be perfectly honest and share with you that babies kind of weird me out a little bit sometimes. Especially that baby in the new Quizno's commercial? The one that talks? But aside from him...and other talking babies...I find babies to be delightful creatures. So why did I chose to abandon the new Cohen? That's a very good question. Part of me is regretting it. But I suppose that they teach you to be confident with the choices you make when you're writing...? Oh, well. I just don't know. But I'll try to redeem myself for you. ;) Thanks for another killer review, you're awesome! ;)

Dulcey: Whoa. I am totally up for becoming your partner in crime. Name the time and the place and I'll be there with a net. (Because I'm not at all creepy or anything...)

Rachel: I'm so sorry about your siblings—that's awful.:( I'm glad you're liking the story and I hope you had a happy new year, as well!

kirsten cohen: Wow, words cannot express how flattered I am that you like this story! I looove all of your stories and you are totally awesome—so it was very, very cool to hear that you like this. Thanks so much! ;)

Alexandra Bruderlin: That was quite a review and I am ridiculously flattered. Your first non-flame review? That's very, very kind of you. ;) Thanks for the suggestions, also—I tried to make this chapter a little longer than I've been making the others. Let me know your thoughts. Again, thanks so much! I'm honored! ;)

Okay. And that about does it. Thanks for the reviews, guys, you are fantastic. And I realize that it's lame to put this song in for the latest chapter for 2 reasons:

a.) because it was played on "The O.C." awhile back

b.) because new U2 is basically a huge joke and no, Bono, you are NOT Spanish

But still. I am a fan of this song. Even though it is apparently about Bono and his dad. Who knew that Bono even had a dad? I believe it was...Time? Some fairly serious publication, whatever—that proposed the theory that Bono is, in fact, God. To that I say HA. And, again, BONO, YOU ARE NOT SPANISH. Or God. Regardless. I like this song and I liked it when they played it on the show and the title fits. So there ya go.

Please review some more! You're awesome! ;)

xoxo

Chapter 19: Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own

She strolled into the kitchen the following Monday and went straight for a cup of coffee, ignoring the stunned looks she was getting from both Sandy and Ryan.

"Morning," she said brightly, reaching over Ryan's shoulder for the business section. "You need a ride to school today, sweetie?"

"I...uh...Kirsten, you..." Kirsten's face remained remarkably blank and Ryan turned to Sandy for backup.

"Honey, what are you doing?" Sandy asked plainly.

"What do you mean?" She took a disinterested glance at the newspaper in her hand.

"You aren't going to work, are you?" Ryan asked.

"Of course I am. It's Monday, isn't it?"

"That's...kind of the point, hon. It's only Monday."

"I have a meeting," Kirsten said simply.

"I'm sure your father can handle it," Sandy suggested.

"No. I mean, he could, but I'll have better luck. As sexist as it sounds, this client will be much more easily swayed by a woman. And though I don't like to be viewed by colleagues as a sexual object, we really need this guy." She spoke distractedly, scanning over an article. "So are you going to need a ride or not, Ryan?"

"I'll take a ride," Sandy spoke up. He nodded at his keys on the counter. "Take the BMW, Ryan." Ryan nodded, taking the hint, and jumped up.

"Thanks. I'll see you guys tonight. Uh...good luck with your meeting, Kirsten."

"Thank you, sweetie." She waited until Ryan left, then turned to Sandy, placing a hand on her hip. "Your office is in the complete opposite direction!"

"You aren't going to work," Sandy said firmly.

"Of course I am! Granted, now I'm going to be late. Why did you give Ryan your car? I told you I have a meeting and I need to—"

"Kirsten. You are not going to work."

"Sandy. Yes, I am," she replied, exasperatedly mocking him.

"Hey, why don't I..." He considered his plan, then took her hands. "I'll call in sick! We both can, though I doubt you even need to make a phone call, and we'll be unbelievably lazy and watch...Jeopardy! And lay out by the pool! Huh? It sounds good to me." She smiled at him.

"It sounds good to me too, honey, but I have a meeting."

"Please don't do this, Kirsten. Please don't throw yourself back into your career so fast. Just give it time. There are repercussions with things like this. Emotional backlash. You need to take care of yourself."

"I am," she assured, touching his face along his jaw line. "I appreciate the concern, but I'm fine. I've dealt with it. I'm taking care of myself. I promise."

"Kirsten..."

"I promise," she said, busying herself with rifling through her briefcase. "I'm going to be late. We should go."

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As soon as Kirsten pulled away from the lobby of the firm, Sandy pulled out his cell phone.

"Sandman! This is an early call!" Caleb's voice was more pleasant than normal; Sandy assumed that his tiny heart was attempting to manufacture compassion.

"I need a favor that you're not gonna like and Kirsten's gonna hate."

"I don't like the sound of that."

"She's on her way to work, Cal."

"So soon? She should be resting?"

"I agree...which is why I need you to send her home."

"I can't send her home, Sandy. Technically, I'm her boss, but...you know Kiki."

"I do know Kiki," Sandy said, unable to contain slight mockery. "And I know that she needs to be come right now. Away from the Newport Group."

"Look, Sandy, I don't even—"

"She'll break down. Emotionally, she can't handle this. First Seth, now...this. It won't end well unless she takes some time off. I hate calling you, Cal, for more reasons that one, but I'm really worried. She's my whole world, and I know she's yours, too. I need you to do this for her."

"And for you?" Caleb's voice was taunting and Sandy sighed.

"Yes, Caleb, for me too." There was a pause, then Caleb cleared his throat.

"I'll call her right now."

"I owe you," Sandy said gratefully.

"Naah," Caleb said. "Actually...you do, because if there's one thing I hate it's upsetting Kiki...but I'm going to ask in return..."

"What?" Sandy said wearily.

"Be there when she gets home."

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He called a cab and managed to beat her home. He was sitting on the couch waiting when she came in.

"Hey, honey!"

"You called my father," she said incredulously, slamming the front door behind her. "You went behind my back and conspired with my father to keep me home from work? This is unbelievable, Sandy. I'm not a child."

"Sweetheart, you're very vulnerable right now. You don't need to be taking on a bunch of suits, you need to be—"

"I need to be doing what I feel like doing. I feel like working, Sandy. I feel like going to my meeting and doing my job. I don't feel like sitting around the house thinking about how much life sucks for me right now. And thanks to you that's all I'll be doing for the next week."

"Kirsten..."

"I told you that I was fine. I'm an adult, Sandy. Evidently I'm the only person who's aware of that." She started up the stairs and he rose to follow her but she held up a hand to stop him. "No, Sandy. You're supposed to support me. You're supposed to understand me. You're supposed to respect me. You haven't done any of that. I really don't want to be around you right now." He staggered slightly as he watched her enter their bedroom and close the door, feeling like he'd been punched. Kirsten very rarely got seriously angry with him. Little arguments about charity events or family issues were frequent, but 'I really don't want to be around you' was not. He dejectedly sank back into the couch just as his cell phone rang.

"Sandy Cohen."

"She's mad, Sanford," Caleb informed. Sandy sighed.

"Yeah, I got that."

He attempted to visit her awhile later but she denied his knock coldly. He retreated to the Playstation and took out some of his stress playing one of Ryan's games that appeared to revolve around elves. He became so immersed in his game that he didn't notice her watching him from the doorway awhile later.

"Am I interrupting something?" she asked, and he jumped.

"No! Absolutely not!" She gingerly entered the room and, to Sandy's disappointment, took a seat across the room, farther away from him that he would have liked.

"I just...I wanted to apologize for how I acted. You were concerned. And while I still don't appreciate the unholy alliance you formed with my father in order to conspire behind my back, I know that you did it because you're worried about me."

"I'm sorry, honey. I just don't want to see you get hurt any more than you already are."

"Okay," she whispered.

"How are you feeling?" She shrugged weakly.

"Sort of sad?"

"Me too, hon." He patted the seat next to him and she smiled slightly, moving over to him. He gently put an arm around her. "Remember all that about this being a test?"

"Worst test ever."

"We'll get through this, honey, I promise you."

"It's not fair."

"Agreed."

"I feel like we should be immune to some of this. God, this is Newport Beach. We live with..."

"The genetically and cosmetically perfected percentage of the human race?"

"With less sarcasm and a little elaboration to make me sound less shallow? Yes. This town...is externally flawless—"

"Save a few nose jobs gone horribly, horribly wrong," Sandy cut in, smiling. Kirsten rolled her eyes and continued.

"I just feel like if everyone else can pretend to be perfect, we should be able to, too."

"Oh, honey, the moment I met you I fell in love with how real you are. You take everything that gets thrown at you and you deal with it. Even in a community chock-full of Julie Coopers. You take it all in stride."

"Do I? Is that why I'm going to be sitting around the house for the next week? God, my dad wouldn't even let me bring any files with so I could work from home"

"Taking it in stride doesn't mean working to distract yourself. You've been working yourself like crazy, sweetheart. You could use a break."

"I don't take breaks," she said resolutely, shaking her head. "I don't know how."

"Think of something fun. Something you've been wanting to do but haven't had the time to."

"There's a bunch of mail to go through," she mused. "And all of those files in the attic that my mom left for me? Remember? With the records from—"

"Kirsten, come on. I said fun. What if I took some vacation days and we went to...San Francisco? Get in some surfing lessons, hang out, sightsee. You love the sightsee, yes?"

"Not happening."

"The surfing or the sightseeing?"

"Both. What about Ryan?"

"He could come with! He's barely been anywhere!"

"Sandy, no. I can't stomach that kind of spontaneity. Maybe over winter break? We'll pre-plan and take Ryan somewhere nice."

"Live a little, sweetheart!"

"He has school. You know how it was when Seth was out sick for...a half day, even. The makeup work is ridiculous."

"You and me, then. We'll give Ryan a little alone time. House to himself."

"No."

"What if I promise...to plan everything thoroughly? And I get it all set and handle everything and make sure that Ryan is incredibly safe at home alone?" She looked at him skeptically and opened her mouth, but he held up a hand. "I promise, honey. I promise you'll really like where I want to take you."

"I don't know, Sandy..." He took her head in his hands.

"Do you trust me?"

"Of course I do. I just—"

"I promise you'll be happy." She paused, then sighed, fighting off a smile.

"Okay. But no surfing."