Disclaimer: Dude, I own NOTHING related to the OC but rights to Adam Brody, Rachel Bilson, Peter and Kelly…I wish. (A girl can dream!)

A/N: Reviewers: Thanks, People reading: please review! I'm glad that this story took a turn for the better and that the reviews all rocked! I heart you guysss…

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Kirsten walked into her office at the Newport Group and looked around for the files she was supposed to work on. She was back to work whenever she didn't have chemo and when she felt good enough. She liked being at work. It was a good distraction to the pain that she was in. She could tell at the office that she was constantly under the watchful eye of her co-workers. Julie paraded into the room, energetic as usual.

"Kiks," she began, Kirsten turning around slowly to see what she wanted, "Since tomorrow you have to…go back in…I was thinking that you, me, lunch, the Crab Shack." Kirsten looked into Julie's pleading eyes. She sighed.

"Sure Julie, you drive," Kirsten gave her a fake smile and sat down in her big leather chair. Julie walked behind her and looked at the computer screen.

"You use AIM Kiks?" she grinned, "I do too! Can I add my screen-name?"

"Go ahead," Kirsten sighed, leaning back in the chair. Julie typed in "NewpsieMILF."

"Does Marissa know about that screen-name?" Kirsten asked her, laughing.

"Oh God no, but I had to have a better one than Taryn. Her screen-name is UltimatumWnnr," Julie explained.

"Oh…" Kirsten sounded somewhat surprised. Suddenly an IM popped up.

Iluvcomicsnsummr: Hi mom.

KirstenC93: Seth. Why aren't you in school?

"I've gotta go Julie, I have to talk to Seth, see you for lunch!" Kirsten waved.

"Bye Kiks!" Julie scurried into her office.

NewpsieMILF: Don't you think this screen-name is soooo better than Taryn's?

KirstenC93: I"LL SEE YOU AT LUNCH!

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Kirsten stood outside of Julie's office and waited for her to get something. God knows what she needed to get to go out to lunch. Kirsten clutched the table beside her to stabilize herself. Being a slow, pitied, always-sick mother was NOT fun.

"Ready?" she hadn't noticed Julie come out of her office, cheerful and ready to roll.

"Sounds great," she gave Julie a fake-smile and slowly followed her out the door into her shiny Lexus convertible. As she climbed in she accidentally hit the stereo button. Suddenly the Beatles filled the Lexus. Julie quickly blushed.

I'd like to be under the sea
In an octopus' garden in the shade
He'd let us in, knows where we've been
In his octopus' garden in the shade

"Julie! I didn't know you were a Beatle-holic!" Kirsten smiled, suddenly it seemed as though all her pain was gone, she was happy. She started singing along. The blushing subsided and Julie joined her.

"I'd ask my friends to come and see, An octopus' garden with me, I'd like to be under the sea, In an octopus' garden in the shade…" the two sang while pulling out of the Newport Group parking lot.

"Oooh is 'Let It Be' on this CD?" Kirsten asked Julie. Julie just laughed.

"I never knew that you were a Beatle-holic either!" Julie flipped through the CD until she found the song that Kirsten wanted.

When I find myself in times of trouble
Mother mary comes to me
Speaking words of wisdom, let it be.
And in my hour of darkness
She is standing right in front of me
Speaking words of wisdom, let it be.
Let it be, let it be.
Whisper words of wisdom, let it be.

"What's so special about this song?" Julie questioned, turning the volume up slightly.

"It's just something that I listen to when I'm having troubles and stuff," Kirsten shrugged and hummed the tune.

And when the broken hearted people
Living in the world agree,
There will be an answer, let it be.
For though they may be parted there is
Still a chance that they will see
There will be an answer, let it be.
Let it be, let it be. yeah
There will be an answer, let it be.

"So you think that it has the answers to all of your problems? This one measly song? Not following your train of thought," Julie did some of her hand motions and used her ditzy voice, making Kirsten laugh.

"I guess you could put it that way, listen to the next part," Kirsten looked at Julie.

And when the night is cloudy,
There is still a light that shines on me,
Shine on until tomorrow, let it be.
I wake up to the sound of music
Mother mary comes to me
Speaking words of wisdom, let it be.
Let it be, let it be.
There will be an answer, let it be.
Let it be, let it be,
Whisper words of wisdom, let it be.

"Does 'Mother Mary' wake you up?" Julie asked pensively.

"No but I mean the song provides some kind of sanity," Kirsten looked at her.

"Oooh," Julie looked as though she had just found all the answers she needed, "I get it. Turn it on something for not so smart people…oooh turn it to Rocky Racoon!" Kirsten just laughed and flipped the song to "Love Me Do."

"Or not," Julie smiled, "By the way, are you feeling OK? You seem to be doing good."

"I am in some pain today, but I mean, you can't dwell on the pain!" Kirsten explained to Julie.

"I still don't follow. Kiks, you are like, way too smart for your own good," Julie warned her, continuing driving, "and brave."

"Umm, is that an insult or a compliment?" she rhetorically asked. Julie just laughed.

"Oh my God!" Julie suddenly cried, "You have to come to the party tonight!" Julie had completely forgotten that the "1st Annual Kirsten Cohen Honorary Leukemia Benefit" was that night.

"What is the party for again? I have chemo tomorrow and I have to get some form of sleep!" Kirsten told her.

"Nothing special, but you like, have to come," Julie told her, "It is going to be soooo much fun!"

"Julie, sometimes you are a little crazier than I even know what to do with," Kirsten leaned back in the seat and continued listening to the Beatles.

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Kirsten had gotten a gorgeous new Tadashi Tiered Turquoise dress, a Kate Spade clutch bag, and a new pair of Manolos. She had been good with her meds that day and felt OK.

"We don't have to stay long, do we?" she asked tiredly, grabbing the bag and slipping on the shoes.

"We'll stay for a little while," he informed her. He knew what the party was and he knew that it would brighten Kirsten's day, "The boys and girls are waiting downstairs."

Marissa was wearing a gorgeous colorful Y Yigal dress and Summer was in a pink, strapless ABS dress.

"You guys look beautiful!" Kirsten chirped, walking into the living room.

"Oh my God! You got the Tadashi dress before me? I thought those Manolo's had to be pre-ordered. I had fashion trauma! I realized the Marc Jacobs dress…" Summer began as Kirsten was laughing.

"Yes I got the Tadashi dress, Julie thought it was 'beautifully stunning' on me," Kirsten smiled as she mocked Julie.

"We can't be late!" Sandy came gallivanting into the room, "Hurry, our chariot awaits!"

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Kirsten mingled amongst the crowd, receiving various oh-poor-darlings and i-hope-you-feel-betters. She watched as Julie walked onto the porch where she always made her announcements.

"May I have everyone's attention?" Julie said into the microphone. Everyone stopped and looked up at her.

"Most of you know the reason that you are here tonight," she began, "But some of you do not. I would like to welcome you to the 1st Annual Kirsten Cohen Honorary Leukemia Benefit." Kirsten looked shocked. She glanced up at Julie.

"Will Kirsten please join me?" she said again. Kirsten looked at Sandy. He led her up towards Julie by the elbow. Polite claps filled the air as she walked up the stairs. She gave Julie a look and stood next to her. She was glad she wore a good looking dress.

"We would like to present this check to Robert LaGorga, the chief oncologist in Newport," she handed him a check with A LOT of zeros on it. He held up his glass, "A toast, to Kirsten, and thank you to those of you generous enough to donate to this cause." Kirsten looked down and saw Seth, Ryan, Marissa, and Summer clapping furiously. They were so happy for her.

"Do you have anything to say Kiks?" she asked. Kirsten gave her a look that said 'don't use that in public.' She looked down to see her dad smiling back up at her.

"All I have to say is thanks to all of you and thanks to my family. This is so nice! Thanks for making me feel…happy!" She looked over at Julie and exchanged a hug as Sandy led her back down the stairs. She was absolutely glowing. She reached up and kissed Sandy on the cheek.

"Thank you," she told him, kissing him again.

"Not my idea," he told her, sweeping her onto the dance floor, she gave him a look of protest, "We'll be gentle, just back and forth." Kirsten put her arms around Sandy's neck. Nothing else mattered around her. She didn't think about the fact she had cancer. She didn't think about the fact she was dying and all the looks she was given were pitiful. She just cared that she got one last dance.

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A/N: Are you proud? I updated before backpacking! I may again, this is the easiest story and the most fun story for me to write. Why? Well it's Kirsten-centric.

LJ USERS: please friend me: my lj name is fldhckygoali35! I would love that. Just comment on my most recent entry. Thanks guys!