I found this and thought it fitted so well as Sandy and Kirsten's POVs, don't you agree?

If I had my child to raise all over again,
I'd build self-esteem first, and the house later.
I'd finger-paint more, and point the finger less.
I would do less correcting and more connecting.
I'd take my eyes off my watch, and watch with my eyes.
I'd take more hikes and fly more kites.
I'd stop playing serious, and seriously play.
I would run through more fields and gaze at more stars.
I'd do more hugging and less tugging.
Diane Loomans, from "If I Had My Child To Raise Over Again"

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Hot! Hot! Sandy thought as he peeled the seal off the just delivered Thai. Georgia and Kirsten came carrying many bags in their hands- they had obviously been shopping hard.

"Ah! You are just in time! Dinner has just arrived."

"Great." Kirsten said smiling as Sandy kissed her cheek. Georgia went and dumped her bags in the family room and Ryan took Kirsten's bags and followed her out. "So did you have fun?" Sandy asked already guessing they had judging by the large grins smeared on their faces.

"They best day ever!" Georgia yelled through from the hall.

"And mum actually blew a day off work." Seth grinned cheekily nodding.

Kirsten pouted. "I'm not always stern."

"Shalom Father, do you agree with Mrs predisposed dogbody here?" Seth asked sarcastically.

"No I don't." Sandy answered grinning as he grabbed for some glasses out the cupboard. "Your mother can be quite flexible."

"Uh TMI." Georgia groaned as she walked back into the room. Kirsten loved taking time off to spend it with Georgia. Kirsten had a lifetime to work, but Georgia would only be young once.

"Can I help?" Ryan asked politely and Kirsten handed him the cutlery to set the table. "So what did you get up to today then?" Sandy asked.

"Oh we went shopping," Georgia said, ripping off another lid from a carton, "and then we drove to Berkeley."

"You never did!" Sandy sulked disappointed. "I would've loved to come!"

Kirsten felt guilty. They used to go up to Berkeley every now and again; for lunch and stuff…She knew she probably should've called him but…he was working, and it was kind of a girly day. "We were going to call you."

Georgia was grinning and jumping and very hyper. "We went to your college and I saw your old house and we ate at that cafe-"

"Strada!"

"Yes." Kirsten smiled. They used to go there back in college; it was a cute little diner. She was surprised it was actually still there. "Georgia pretty much knows every part of my life now." She continued smiling.

Georgia starting scooping up food onto her plate. "Sandy, aww!" Georgia beamed "I loved the story about how you proposed!" She giggled. "Rocked my socks!"

Sandy pulled Kirsten into his side by her shoulder. "It's gotta be mine too." Kirsten licked the sauce off her fingers smiling as Sandy kissed her cheek.

"Come on." Seth said. "Lets eat." As he headed for the table, Ryan brought over everyone's plates to the table, being the helpful son he was. "Oh mum, do we have any Branberry juice?" Seth asked. "We have it at school. Its water, flavoured water with Branberry juice added. Sweet." Everyone paused and glared at him.

Georgia frowned. "Whatever turns you on Seth." She said walking by him with her plate.

"No Seth we don't." Kirsten answered him, walking over to table with Georgia's drink. She stood behind her and placed the glass on the table in front of Georgia. "Here's your coke sweetie."

"Thanks mum."

There was a silence in the room. Sandy, Seth and Ryan looked at each other, then at Georgia. After a moment, Georgia realised what she just did. She looked up at Kirsten, speechless. Kirsten smiled. "What did you just call me?" Georgia stared at Kirsten not knowing what to think, do or say. She broke her only rule she made up for herself when coming out here; 'don't let Mrs Cohen replace mum'. She ran away from Kirsten, rushing past Sandy. "Oh Georgia." Kirsten sighed.

Ryan walked around Kirsten, touching her arm. "I'll go."

Kirsten sadly watched Georgia walk away. Before she married Sandy she had a few theories about bringing up children; now she had a few children, and no theories.

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Ryan walked into Georgia's room. The first thing Ryan noticed was that she wasn't crying. She was sat on her bed holding her knees close to her chest. She didn't stir when Ryan walked in, Ryan didn't think she even knew he was there.

"Hey."

"…….I didn't mean to call Kirsten mum."

"You sure? Cos you wouldn't have done it if you weren't ready." God. Ryan sounded like his sex ed teacher.

Georgia thought a lot about what Ryan was saying. Everything seemed so…stuck in reverse. She knew Ryan had never called Kirsten mum, and he had been there over 2 years but she had only been there 6 weeks and she had. How did that seem right? Shouldn't he be calling her mum? "I…" Georgia stammered. "Don't know if you're right."

"Well is it so crazy?" Georgia looked up at Ryan finally. She thought maybe he wished he had called or did call Kirsten mum. He had every reason to. So what was holding him back? What was so crazy that stopped him?

"Even if I did mean it…I didn't think I would be saying it this soon- If ever." Georgia said, thinking about the rules.

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"I hate her Coop! I hate her!"

"Summer calm down." Marissa sighed, sitting on the edge of her bed watching Summer pace around frantically and ramble on about Georgia.

"She is so annoying! Ever since she got her Seth just wants to hang with her. He never has time for me anymore! In the last six weeks, I think I've only seen Seth a few times. And those rates are decreasing!"

Marissa rolled her eyes. "She's not that bad. Georgia's fun and she doesn't even realise how you're feeling. Neither is Seth. You should talk to him."

"Uh! When! Coop, I never see him anymore! All he wants to do is be with his pain in the ass sister" Marissa tried to warn Summer. "Summer…" But she continued. "I hate her. She drives me mad!"

"Summer…"

"And since when has Seth been so obsessed with his guitar? If he loves the guitar so damn much, why doesn't he just marry it?"

"Well I would but I'm afraid of how our kids would turn out like."

Summer turned around wide eyed. She found Seth standing behind him with a hateful look on his face. "Nice Summer." He said to her bitterly before storming out. Summer turned round to Marissa looking puzzled, Marissa indicated for her to go and she ran out, shoving past Ryan in the hallway. "Cohen!" She called out. Ryan raised his eyebrows at Marissa and made and 'eshk' face. Marissa rolled her eyes and shrugged.

"Cohen!" Summer yelled, running down the driveway after him. "Wait!" Seth stopped and turned around, giving her an icy look. "I'm sorry."

"Is that meant to make everything ok?"

"I didn't even mean it! I like Georgia!"

"You don't convince me." Seth said spitefully, opening the car door. "No Cohen! I only said it because I'm mad at you. Not Georgia really…"

"Well what did I do?"

"You haven't done anything Cohen, that's the problem. I hardly see you anymore. I hardly feel like I have a boyfriend."

"What so you want me to ignore my sister so you can feel like you have a boyfriend?"

"I am not asking you to completely bunk off your sister I just want you to acknowledge me!" Summer was starting to get upset and Seth realised she was right. He shut they car door sighing. He walked over to her and embraced her in a hug. "Ok, I'm sorry" He said. "I promise I'll make time for us from here on out. Lots of time."

Summer looked up at him and nodded, half smiling.

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"Everything was going so well." Kirsten whined, helping Sandy load the dishwasher after dinner. "We spent the whole day together and we've really gotten to know each other but she's been ignoring me since dinner."

"I'm sure she's just surprised by what she said." Sandy reassured her. "It was a big step for her and she didn't even realise she took it."
"It meant so much to me Sandy, I just wonder if she meant it." She looked sad. Sandy stroked her arm. "Oh honey…" She looked up at him. "She meant it. Trust me; she'll be saying 'I love you' in no time."

Kirsten smiled and raised her eyebrows. "You think so?"

Sandy grinned. "I know so. From experience. I love you more everyday." He put his hands on her waist and she beamed. "I love you too." She said in a cute-sy voice.

"So what have you and Georgia been up to?" he asked.

"Oh!" Kirsten flinched. "I was actually supposed to help her with some Spanish homework tonight."

Sandy pulled Kirsten closer to him. "Well I'm no expert at Spanish but I do hear that kissing is the language of love." Kirsten slid her arms up to Sandy's shoulders. "Mmm. Care to indulge in a little conversation?" They bumped noses before kissing passionately. They moaned in pleasure as Kirsten wrapped her arms around Sandy's neck pulling him into her; intensifying the kiss…

Unbeknownst to them, Georgia came down from her room to get a drink. Without realising Sandy and Kirsten were in the kitchen she walked in on them. She stopped and closed her eyes when she saw them.

Kirsten saw her daughter and reluctantly pulled herself away from Sandy who tried to follow her. Kirsten moaned trying to get away, not wanting to be seen 'with' him in front of their daughter.

Georgia looked at them. "Uh…I'll just dehydrate." But Kirsten stopped her from leaving. "What would you like?" She asked.

Georgia half smiled. "Orange juice is fine." Kirsten moved around the kitchen, getting it for her. Sandy picked up his beer. "We were just about to watch a movie."

I could tell Georgia thought. "Wanna join us?"

Georgia looked at him. She nodded. "Yeah, ok. What you watching?"

"Notting Hill. Thought you might like it. Close to home." He grinned. I'm from Edinburgh, SCOTLAND not England! "That's nice." Georgia smiled sweetly. "Thanks."

Georgia sat herself down on the couch as Sandy put the DVD in the player and Kirsten brought in her orange juice. Sandy sat down beside Georgia, passing her the remote. "Ready?"

"Wait! Wait!" Kirsten said as she clambered over and sat sideways on Sandy's lap. She sighed. "Ok!" Georgia started the film. She knew how to work the electronical goods in this house more than Sandy or Kirsten. It really felt like her house. "Have you seen this before?" She asked.

"Only half way, I-Sandy," Kirsten interrupted herself, shifting. "Honey, can you move your belt?"

"Honey," Sandy said. "I'm not wearing a belt."

Georgia burst out laughing! "Your belt!" She clapped her hands as she rolled about on the couch laughing. Kirsten blushed bright red but Sandy grinned, giggling. He was surprised Georgia wasn't horrified by this. Sure he was embarrassed like hell but this entertained him more. "That-is-quality!" Georgia screamed through hysterics.

She couldn't stop giggling. "Does your penis have an off switch?" She asked.

"Georgia!" Kirsten shouted at her shocked.

Sandy grinned devilishly and raised his eyebrow. "You want Kirsten to check?"

"Sandy!" Kirsten screamed turning to him. He wasn't helping but Kirsten couldn't help but smile.

After a moment everyone had cooled down and Kirsten gave Sandy a sympathetic smile. "Why don't you get us some ice cream?" She asked. Sandy nodded and slid Kirsten off his lap as he stood up.

Georgia tried to hold back but she had to let it out. As Sandy passed she told him "No strawberries." Sandy grinned and winked back at her.

Georgia's head followed into Kirsten's direction. She looked at her and smiled. She felt like she had been there her whole life. Even though Georgia wasn't Kirsten's until she was grown, she knew Kirsten still loved her the same. Grown doesn't mean anything to a mother. A child is a child. They get bigger, older, but grown? What's that suppose to mean? In Kirsten's heart it didn't mean a thing.

The unusual thing was she hadn't been there forever. She felt the Cohens were a great gift of family life; that is to be intimately acquainted with these people she might never have introduce herself to, had fate not done it for her.

As Georgia looked at Kirsten she saw her eyes looking back at her. Kirsten had a slender, small body, but a large heart - a heart so large that everybody's joys found welcome in it, and hospitable accommodation. Maybe Georgia would permanently rent out a room. Georgia smiled.

"What?" Kirsten frowned slightly seeing her daughter stare at her. She could tell she was full of thoughts and she wondered what she was thinking.

She paused. "You suit it."

"What?" Kirsten asked.

"Mum."

Kirsten smiled softly. "You mean that?" She questioned.

Georgia waited, counterfeit considering. "Thinking I might." Georgia had no idea how much that meant to Kirsten. She didn't want to do something she would regret but Kirsten had to show consideration for her daughter.

"Sweetie I know things are happening so fast and I don't want you to do something you'll regret because I don't want to lose you again."

Georgia looked at her and smiled reassuringly. She then cuddled into Kirsten, resting her head on her stomach and lying down at her side. "You don't have to worry about that." Georgia said softly, promising her mum.

Each day of a parents' life they make deposits in the memory banks of their children and this would be securely locked in Kirsten's forever.

Kirsten stroked Georgia's arm, smiling widely, her eyes getting teary. She looked up and saw Sandy leaning against the doorway to the kitchen. He had been watching the whole time. He smiled at Kirsten, nodding and raising his eyebrows. This is just how he pictured what would happen when Georgia came.

It's not only children who grow. Parents do too. As much as they watch to see what their children do with their lives, their children are watching them to see what they do with theirs. Sandy couldn't tell his children to reach for the sun. All he could do is reach for it himself.

Two hours later, Notting Hill had nearly finished. Georgia had fallen asleep curled up against Kirsten who was also asleep, lying on Sandy's chest. Sandy was the only one awake. Seth and Ryan snuck in the door. They closed the door quietly and tiptoed through the hallway but Sandy hears them.

"And what time do you call this?" He said back to them. "It's a school night."

Seth whispered to Ryan. "You think he saw us?" Ryan walked in front of the couch in

Sandy's sight and apologised. Seth followed. "Just go to bed." Sandy said quietly.

"Aww Ryan wook at them all cudduwed up." Seth mocked in a baby voice. "Can we join too?"

"Shh!" Sandy hushed him. "You'll wake them up." Sandy just wanted them to stay how they were, forever. Kirsten stirred, moaning as she slowly woke up. "Bravo Seth." Ryan said sarcastically.

Kirsten was so tired she didn't even open her eyes. "Sandy…I have no blood in my legs." She mumbled. For two hours Georgia had been slowly cutting off the circulation between her stomach and legs. Sandy smirked and turned to Ryan. "Would ya mind kid?" He asked, knowing he couldn't get up himself. Ryan softly nudged Georgia off Kirsten, lifting her up enough so Kirsten could slid her legs free from under her.

"You didn't you ask me!" Seth asked offended.

"Son, I love you, but you have arms like Jello." Seth turned to Ryan and shrugged, not disagreeing.

Kirsten moaned and hid her face into Sandy's chest. "Come on baby, " Sandy said "It's time you went to bed."

"Mmm no." She said.

"Yes." Sandy said.

"No." She refused weakly again. Sandy smirked. "Yes." He scooped her up in his arms as he stood up. Kirsten shook her head turning into Sandy's chest in his arms. "No…"

"See ya in the morning." Ryan said lightly punching Seth's shoulder. Seth looked at Georgia sleeping, smiled and then went up to his room.

Sandy went into his bedroom carrying Kirsten. He laid her down gently on the bed. "I'll be right back." Sandy whispered in his sleepy wife's ear.

"Mmm nooooo." Kirsten whined limply grabbing his shirt. "Don't leave." She just wanted to fall asleep in Sandy's arms. "I've got to put Georgia to bed." He told her softly, wanting the same as she.

Kirsten looked up at him, her eyes very heavy. "Don't be long." She said quietly. Sandy kissed her forehead. "I'm roadrunner baby."

Sandy sighed happily. "Come on" He scooped Georgia up but she did not wake. "Time for bed kiddo."

He dropped Georgia on her bed carefully resting her head on her pillow. She turned on her side and curled up. Sandy smiled and pulled the covers over her. He leaned over and kissed her forehead then tucking the hair off her face. Sandy thought he should always kiss his children goodnight - even if they're already asleep. "Night sweetie. I love you."

He walked out, closing the door behind him. After he did, Georgia opened her eyes. "Love you too, dad."

Back in Sandy and Kirsten's room, Sandy came in and took off his jeans as he climbed into bed with Kirsten. He wrapped his arm around her waist, who was facing away from him. She placed her arm over his then locked her fingers in his. She brought her hand up to her lips and kissed him adoringly. Sandy nuzzled his face into her neck, muffling through her hair. He placed soft, loving kisses on her shoulder. Kirsten caressed Sandy's hand with her thumb as they lay in the comfort of each other. "I love you." Kirsten said.

"I love you too." Sandy gripped her tighter.

It killed Kirsten to see that Georgia had already grown up. But it would kill her quicker if she didn't.

This is dedicated to my best friend who, bless him, the belt-boner thing actually happened to. Thank you Mark and Jade for the inspiration. Or rather just Jade for inspiring Mark lol.

Anyway, if some of you recognised the whole 'kissinglanguage of love' thing from a kandy fic b4, I wrote it into my own smut fic. I actually wrote it for this fic first but hadn't planned on posting. Just thought it was really cute.

I do not own Notting Hill or The Strada (café in Berkeley)

Thank you 2 sharkie2008, kursk, Cynthia B, Dogsbody, Panz, Jen, Jesse and brodyfan1 for your latest reviews and taking the time to write them.