In the early hours of the morning, Georgia was sitting in the kitchen listening to her pink i-pod while eating cereal while trying to read newspaper. But it was kinda all different issues and legal rights and everything. She was a little puzzled.

Sandy comes in but Georgia didn't realise and when he taps her shoulder, she jumps up and around holding up her spoon defensively. Sandy laughs and when she sees it's him, she drops her arm, taking headphones out of her ears and switching off her i-pod as she spoke.

"Sorry, it's a reflex. If you'd ever been to Niddrie, you'd understand."

Sandy smirked. "I'm sure I would." Understanding it was a rough area. Like chino perhaps. "You up for some surfing?"

Georgia hesitated, guessing she would not be that good at it. "Uh no thanks."

"Oh come on!" Sandy begged "They don't have surfing in Scotland?"

"Well on an off day in the Summer we get 25 degrees, the rest of the year the highest is 10 and the water is negative that."

"Then I'll teach you." Sandy insisted. "Come on!" He pleaded. "No other Cohen surfs; Kirsten hates the fish and Seth and Ryan are just too lazy. You you actually wake up early."

Georgia sighed. "I'll come with you but I'm no surfing. You can give me a lesson tomorrow."

Sandy grinned. "Great!" He said leading her out the kitchen.

"As long as it doesn't cost me anything." Georgia implemented.

"Nonsense, I can lend you a board."

"I meant an arm or a leg."

--- --- -- ---

After Georgia watched Sandy surf Kirsten drove them both to work in her car. Georgia was looking out the open window onto the beach all the different buildings that went by. "So what do you do exactly?"

"I'm the CFO of the Newport Group. It's real estate development. We built the mall, the Pacific Auditorium, baseball stadium, McMansions, large housing estates stuff like that."

"You built the mall!" 'mall' she thought to herself, sounds strange to say. "I was so born into the right family."

"I'm in charge of residential development and the finance department. I deal with the contractors, architects, planning and zoning commission..."

Georgia smirked, impressed. "Cool…Can I ask you something?"

"Anything." Kirsten said concentrating on the road.

"When you took Ryan in, was it easy for you?"

"Honestly? Not at first…I just didn't know if I could trust him. But it was coming from a good place cos I just wanted to protect my family. But I got passed that mistrust: I saw he was a good kid."

Georgia nodded. "You find it hard taking me in?"

Kirsten shook her head. "I don't know if it's because you're a girl or because you were once part of me but no…" Kirsten suspected it was the latter. "IS that what I'm doing? Taking you into my family?" She knew she was but it was nice to have Georgia say it. "That's what I hear."

As they entered the reception they bumped into Julie. "Kiki!" Julie called out, grabbing their attention. "And you must be Georgia" She smiled and offered her hand. "Nice to finally meet you after 14 years. I'm Julie Cooper-Nichol."

"I know, I saw you at the party last night." Julie remembered that a watch had been delivered and was sitting in her office. Kirsten excused herself as she went to retrieve it, leaving Julie and Georgia alone.

Georgia frowned. "Nichol? Isn't that Kirsten's maiden name?"

"Yes. I married her father." Julie said smiling with no shame.

Georgia frowned a little disturbed. "Doesn't that make you-"

"-Her stepmother, yes."

Georgia smiled a little awkwardly. "You certainly live very different lives in the OC. It's highly unusual." The two slowly walk into the direction of Kirsten's office. "So how do you know Kirsten? Except for that few and far between joining in matrimony."

Julie sighed. "Well lets see; We we're neighbours. Our kids go to the same school. Our kids date. My ex husband-whom I'm currently seeing- used to date her is still in love with her like Tom loves Katie. I married her father. I became her stepmother and her boss and now…I guess we're best friends."

Georgia glared in shock. "Yes…highly unusual."

Julie nodded. "I admire her though. She's got a scary serving of intelligence." AS they reached Kirsten's office Julie took off and Kirsten invited Georgia in. "So this is where it all happens. Nice office." Kirsten started to ponder around the desk with files and reports. "Thanks."

Georgia watched her for a moment; AS she looked through a few reports on her desk, turned on her computer and signed some contracts Georgia noticed every part of her life seemed to be in order, organised. But no one's perfect, right?

"You know all I've heard in the last 24 hours is people praise you." Kirsten looked up and smiled. "It's glad to know I'm appreciated."

"No offence, but you can't be that perfect. You gotta have one scaffy part of your life. Flaws. A hidden dark past perhaps?"

Kristen laughs. "I have many flaws."

"You wanna list em for me?"

"You wanna list yours?" Kirsten shot back, joking.

Georgia acted innocently. "I'm a complicated girl- I still muck about- but I don't have anything to hide."

Kirsten looked at her raising her eyebrows. She sighed. "My main flaw? First two months of this summer…" Kirsten for a moment thought she shouldn't tell her but she would probably find out anyway. From Julie if not from the Newpsies. She would rather Georgia heard it from her. "I was in rehab." She paused. "Alcoholic."

Georgia looked at her in disbelief. Kristen did not look like the kind of person to be an alcoholic. She was healthy, happy; she had a great family, what seemed like a great job, she was pretty, in a happy marriage. What would drive her over the edge? "you were?"

Kirsten nodded. "The boys ran away last summer, Sandy and I hit some bumps. His fugitive ex girlfriend came along" She said rather bitterly. "Made things worse. Our marriage was starting to fall apart-"

Georgia laughed not believing her. "-Aye right! You and Sandy are so in love! I've been here less than a day and I can see that. And I'm from Edinburgh; all I see is chavs dressed in cheap Burberry and trackies."

"Sorry I'm not hip enough to know these words; chav?"

"Basically a NED" Georgia said casually.

"Did I mention I'm not hip?"

"Non –Educated-Delinquent." Kirsten thought to herself that with her slang and code words Georgia could easily get on with Seth.

"I can't believe you and Sandy were in a rut."

Kirsten rolled her eyes. "And then some."

Georgia didn't know what she meant "What?" She ignored it though. "How long have you been married?"

Kirsten smiled proudly. "21 years in February."

Georgia laughed "Cheesy peeps man! You married young!"

Kirsten nodded. "Yeah I was 19"

Georgia's jaw dropped. "Cheesy peeps! And it took you that long to have troubles?" Georgia joked. "And only that? A returning ex?"

Just as Kirsten was about to speak Claire knocked on the door. "These were delivered for you." Georgia took a pack of photos from Claire and she left Kirsten's office. Georgia looks through them carefully. They were taken at the wine tasting in Featherbrooke. Kirsten assumed Carter must have sent them to her. She came across a very nice photo of Kirsten and Carter together. She holds it up in front of Kirsten. "Who's this?"

"Carter."

"He's tidy." Kristen laughed. Georgia thought he was pretty good looking for an old guy.

Georgia started to look through photos again. "That was at a wine tasting in Santa Barbara. We were doing a review for our magazine back in May."

Georgia came across another photo of Kirsten and Carter together and looked at it closely.

"You fancied him." Georgia insisted.

"What?" Kirsten said shocked. She would never have called it that.

"You were definatly close to this Carter guy."

"How would you be able to tell that?" Not letting off that perhaps she had.

"Your eyes." Georgia started, sounding very intelligent. "Usually when people get a photo taken they have a fake smile, which doesn't produce lines in the corner of your eyes but here…these are definatly happy lines. A genuine smile."

Kirsten looked at her sternly after a moment. "Nothing happened between Carter and I." Georgia watched her avoid eye contact and walk behind her desk, logging on to her computer. "Does he still work here?"

"No he left. He got another job opening." Kirsten said fiddling with her computer.

"Is that the only reason he left?" Kirsten stopped typing, she looked down then up at Georgia but quickly looked back at the computer. Georgia was quick to pick up signals but could tell Kristen didn't want to talk any on that subject. "So I hear Jimmy Cooper is still in love with you."

Kirsten was fed up and slammed her hands on the desk but playfully as she smiled at Georgia. "Alright, alright." Georgia backed off smiling. "I won't push."

"Neither Sandy or I had an affair if that's what you're getting to."

Georgia smiled honestly. "I believe you."

Two minutes with Julie Cooper and the kid finds out every bit of gossip luring the OC.

Kirsten thought.

-----

"Yes mum, I'm wearing plenty of sun cream…No mum, I'm not taking drugs…mother! I'm fourteen."

"Well what I'm I supposed to expect? People get raped and pregnant all the time on The Valley." Helen laughed. She was happy that Georgia sounded happy in Orange County. She missed her dearly and it had only just been a full day. It was a Friday and on a Saturday they used to go shopping together in the morning. Even if they didn't buy anything they enjoyed themselves. Helen felt weird not having anything to do the next day.

"So what are you up to?" Helen asked.

"Well right now I'm on the phone in Kirsten's office" Georgia was having a nosy look around while Kirsten had gone out to get something photocopied.

"She took you to work?" Mum asked disapprovingly.

"I asked her to. Mum, don't worry everyone here is so nice. A little crazy but nice."

"So how was this award party magazine partying thing last night?"

"It was good, I guess. Loads of people kept coming up to me. It was kind of overwhelming. At least I'm not going to be unpopular." Helen smirked. "I did enjoy myself. Kirsten took me shopping and we had great fun trying on loads of designer dresses and we got loads of jewellery and we're going for a spa day in a week I believe."

"So you have a lot planned out then?"

"I think so. Sandy's going to teach me how to surf tomorrow morning." Georgia grinned; the idea had grown on her.

"Well rather you than me." Helen smirked so did Georgia. They both knew se couldn't swim. Helen couldn't hold in her worry anymore. "Are you sure you want to stay?"

"Yes, mum, I'm sure." Georgia said strongly. "I'm enjoying myself and I really want to get to know them. I've met Ryan and Seth; they're cool and it's really cool having brothers. And Sandy and Kirsten are so good to me I just…I don't want you to think I don't want to be with you but I just…"

"Need to be there for a while." Georgia sighed "Don't worry about me sweetiepie. I'm just missing you."

"I miss you too. And to put your mind at ease; no sex, no drugs, no booze and I'll be in bed by 12."

"10"

"1130"

"1030"

"11!"

"Done" Helen laughed agreeing with her. "Ok Georgia I have to go and have a shower and get some sleep. Its 10 o'clock here you know."

Georgia smiled. "Yes I do and it's only 3 here" Kirsten came in the office mouthing to her that they could go home now. Georgia nodded. "Mum I have to go too."

"Miss you."

"Miss you too."

"Love you."

"You too. Bye mum. Mwa." She hung up the phone. "I wasn't trying to hurry you along." Kirsten said guilty. "No it's ok. She had to go anyway."

"Well I'm going to go get some food. Do you want to come?"

"Uh no actually. Can I just go back to the house? I need to finish unpacking and stuff." Kirsten smiled. "Of course you can. I'll drop you off on my way. The boys should be home soon anyway."

---

"I'm actually doing some work the school was nice enough to provide me with for the next 2 months" Georgia said sarcastically into the speakerphone. She was in the home office. It was a dark shade of green partly bordered with Sandy's law books. It felt very warm and homely.

"Ha ha!" her friends yelled down the phone. They were at their annual weekend sleepover; Steph, Rach, Bryony and Amy we're all there talking to her.

"We are sitting with a bowls of salted" Rachael started

-"AND sweet" Amy added.

"And sweet popcorn watching 'Hide and Seek'" Rachael said munching.

"Aw! You know I wanted to watch that! You guys suck bum!"

They laughed at Georgia's whining. "Well we can hold the phone up to the TV if you want." Steph suggested laughing.

"Whatever. I'm just doing this work now so I have nothing to do at Christmas." Georgia said boastfully.

Bryony paused. "Christmas? Are you staying there for Christmas?" The girls all fell silent.

Georgia hesitated. "I don't know. Nothing's been decided yet. I'm just going to take the days as they come." The girls sighed sadly. "You'll never guess what; Seth's girlfriend has met the cast of the Valley! Grady Bridges even asked her out!"

"O wow!" They all screamed.

"Who's Seth?" Steph asked.

"My brother."

"You have a brother?" Amy shrieked.

"I have 2 brothers."

"You have 2 brothers?" Rachael screeched.

"Yes. Seth and Ryan."

"Seth AND Ryan.?" Steph asked.

"Yes! But Ryan's adopted."

"So one of your brothers is your brother but one of your brothers isn't your brother?" Bryony asked rambling. Georgia paused for moment thinking. "Yes." She said uncertainly.

"Ok guys, I gotta go. My tea is ready in 5. "They all aww-ed. "I'll talk to you later. Tell Mark's mum congrats and I miss you guys."

"Miss you too!" they all screamed.

"Is Marilyn Monroe dead?" Amy asked being 100 serious. Everyone burst out laughing. Georgia shook her head and hung up, walking out into the kitchen.

---

"So you're mad at Summer for not being mad at you?" Ryan asked. Yet again puzzled by another Summer calamity. Although, it seemed to be on the subject.

"Yes!" Seth answered pacing.

"You're crazy" Ryan said.

"As crazy as crazy gets." Georgia joked walking into the kitchen.

Seth ignored her gag "She should be angry! I broke her arm! Surely that deserves a little rage blackout. Small. Tiny. Wee."

Georgia looked at Seth. "You know what your problem is?" She walked passed Ryan to get herself a glass. "You need a problem." "What?" Seth asked.

Ryan clicked his fingers. "She's right! You're addicted to the drama."

"Exactly." Georgia confirmed, filling up her glass with water.

"Ok you are new. You don't get a say in the plan." Seth said ignoring her.

"Ryan what's the plan?" Ryan asked very unenthusiastically.

"I don't know" He said. He turned to Ryan. "What do you know about revenge sex?"

"Quite a bit actually." Sandy said as he walked into the kitchen with Kirsten close behind.

"Really?" Kirsten said grinning, turning Sandy to face him. "Well maybe I'll have to take my own revenge." She said suggestively and kissed him.

Seth turned to Ryan. "Remind me why we don't talk in the poolhouse anymore."

Sandy and Kristen broke apart. Kirsten started to serve up dinner onto everyone's plates along the counter. "You need help with something?" Sandy asked Seth.

"You wanna help me? Take a gun and shoot me in the eye."

"Aww. No. I think its sweet." Georgia said smiling innocently.

"Can't do Seth, I'm waiting to receive my punishment later." Sandy winked while Kirsten blushed.

Georgia raised her eyebrows, cringing slightly. "But it can go too far."

Sandy picked up 2 plates and helped Kirsten take them over to the table. "What can I say? I'm living my youth late." He joked. "I enjoy the innocence of a great make out." He smiled and kissed Kirsten, who was blushing red as a beetroot, on the cheek.

She glared at him. "Let's just eat"

The kids went over to the table and as they sat down Georgia looked at the swordfish curiously.

"This is cool. I've never had swordfish before."

"You haven't?" Ryan asked.

"There are not a lot of them swimming in the North Sea."

"Just so you know, we don't eat like this every night." Seth said. Ryan smiled, remembering his first night with The Cohens.

Kirsten rolled her eyes. Here we go again. "That's not true." She said serving up salad. "We eat together."

"We eat takeaway together." Seth corrected her.

"But I wouldn't worry cos Sandy cooked." Ryan said and Kirsten glared at him while she put salad in his bowl. "My cooking is not that bad."

"She's right; her gourmet specialty is dialling the number for the Thai Place."

Georgia laughed, smiling as she watched the family joke with each other. "I don't eat a lot of takeaways." She said. Sandy came over and sat down at the top of the table. Kirsten sat to his left with Ryan by her side and Georgia sat on his right with Seth by her side.

"Well welcome to the Cohens. We eat alotta Thai, the wife can't cook but she makes up in the bedroom." Sandy grinned but all the kids cringed. Kirsten slapped his arm giving him a 'shut up!' look. Kirsten didn't think Sandy could have embarrassed her any more tonight.

"I think…I just choked…on my own tongue." Seth squirmed.

Georgia was shocked by how far Sandy would take jokes. Especially naked jokes. She smiled though. "Shoosh, hmm?" She put some salad in her mouth. "I'll make sure to knock."

AS everyone started to eat Ryan asked her "You still think it's sweet?" ------------------------------I know this is a long chapter but I'm trying to get stuff in and i thought i'd have to add something from scotland and what not.