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Someone Like You	By : stranger88 Category: Celebrities - Misc > Crossovers Views: 1940 -:- Recommendations : 1 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: This is a work of fiction. I do not own the members of the band PVRIS/Paramore, I do not know them, and I do not profit from these writings.

Chapter List
- 6
- 7
- 8
Chapter 7: Game Day Part 1: Baseball and A Talk

"She went all out didn't she?" Brittany said with a smile looking at Andy sitting down with her little sister Julia in her lap. Her other siblings were close to her because she was explaining how the game of baseball was played.
Andy was able to get them a private box for the game. She even had it catered. But it seemed the only ones that were really into the baseball game were Andy and Addy. Addy had Andy's little brother in his lap. It was only the bottom of the fourth inning and the kids looked just amazed at what was going on.
"I love how she told us not to wear red and white today." Brandon said with a smile putting his arm around Brittany.
"It's her game superstition thing. Can't wear her favorite team's colors on game day or they lose." Ethan said sitting next to her.
"How did your dinner go with her? I meant to ask but, we all got busy with the kids." Brandon asked.
"She broke down. Like really broke down. We comforted her. Told her she wasn't alone. It was like she finally let go of something. I don't know what it was, but she let it go. After she calmed down we ate dinner and told embarrassing stories about her." Shey said with a laugh at the end.
"I'm actually surprised she's being really calm with the game." Kayla said turning her chair around to look at them.
"Well she does have the little ones around. I'm sure when they get bored and leave her she's gonna start shouting. Happens with dad too. When the kids sit down and watch sports with him, he's calm. But as soon as they leave he starts shouting." Wendy explained.
"When's the football game?" Lynn asked turning her chair around.
"Day after tomorrow." Ethan said getting up to refill his plate with food.
"On that day no red and black." Wendy said with a shake of her head.
"Well it's a good thing we brought stuff for the little ones to do. My dad and Veronica offered to watch them, but Andy wanted them to have this experience." Kayla said turning her chair around.
"Okay, so that was a double play. The guy at second base caught the ball and stepped on the base. Then quickly threw it to the guy on first base. So now there's two outs and the pitcher for the Braves has to try and strike the batter out, then they go up to bat again." Andy explained to them.
"Can we go play with our toys now?" J.R. asked from Addy's lap. The cousins smiled at each other. They knew they were gonna get bored soon, but they were actually surprised they lasted this long.
"Yeah, go ahead." She smiled and Julia got of her lap and the six children went over to the corner that was set up for them. Andy and Addy watched them for a moment then, turned their attention back to the game.
"We're gonna choke next month. We always do in the playoffs." Andy said with a sigh leaning back in her chair.
"I don't know cuzo, we're doing pretty well this year."
Andy shrugged, "We'll see, the last few years we've haven't made it past the first playoff game."
He put his arm around his cousin and smiled, "I'm glad we're finally seeing our Braves together."
She smiled, "Me too buddy, me too."
They turned their attention back to the game and continued to watch. The others were chatting away not paying attention.
"You know back home I'll go to baseball games and watch, but I'm not all serious about it like those two are." Justin said smiling.
"How come there's no alcohol? I was hoping to have a beer." Ethan came back and sat down.
"Andy mentioned she didn't want the kids to see us all drinking alcohol then one of us drive." Lynn said.
"Makes sense. Don't wanna give them the wrong impression. Setting a good example." Hayley said.
"So Wendy I thought you were going to plan Andy's birthday. But it seems your mom and Andy have been planning this for a while." Alex said and now everyone's attention was on her.
She and Lynn shared a quick look but she just shrugged, "I honestly didn't find out until before mom and dad's anniversary party."
"OH COME ON THAT WAS A BALL!" Andy yelled and they all turned to her seeing her and Addy stand up.
"ARE YOU BLIND UMP?! THAT WAS OUTSIDE!" Addy yelled.
"Told ya." Wendy said with a smile and they all laughed. The two cousins sat back down shaking their heads.
"Better ask if they want anything. Knowing them they're not gonna get up until the seventh inning stretch." Kayla stood up and walked over to them. She asked if they wanted anything, they both said they could us something to drink.
Kayla put a hand on each of their shoulders and told them she would be right back. She heard Andy say no soda and she called back saying that she knows.
"I don't get it. Andy doesn't drink soda, but she has a Jack and Coke every once and awhile." Justin said with a confused look.
"I think it's because it adds a little taste to the whiskey. When she has a REALLY rough day she'll have Jack on the rocks, or take shots of it." Ethan explained to them.
Kayla gave her brother and cousin their drinks and they thanked her. She walked back over to her seat and sat down, "I didn't tell you guys this but my mom actually said that she can come and pick up the kids so we can all have a night out."
"But there's six of them. Is she gonna be okay?" Brittany asked.
"Maybe we can run it by Andy when she's not enthralled in the game." Shey said and they agreed.
"GO! GO! GO! GO! HOME RUN! YES BABY! THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT!" Andy yelled standing up and she gave Addy a high five. "Up by two! I'll take it!"
"Thought he almost had it, but it went over! WOO!" Addy said and they both sat back down.
"GUYS! Andy's on the screen!" Alex said pointing at the TV.
They listened to one of the sportscasters, "And there's Andrea Hill in the box enjoying that Braves home run. Lifelong Braves fan. Dad's from Georgia and she fell in love with the game. World renowned photographer, rumor has it she's going to be opening up a couple of galleries soon. Can't wait to check those out. She also has a new single coming out in a few weeks. So for those of you that enjoy her music don't forget to check it out."
The screen cut back to the game but they had one more comment about Andy, "Jim, she's also going to be shooting the music video for that right here in Atlanta. Curveball just on the outside ball two."
Everyone but Addy and Andy looked at each other with confused looks.
"What does he mean music video?" Wendy asked. Just then the door opened and they all turned around to see Serenity with a big smile on her face.
"Hey guys! I was in town and I thought I would join the fun!" She said walking in. They all stood up and greeted her. Wendy introduced her to Brandon, Kayla, Brittany and pointed out Addy sitting next to Andy at the front. They exchanged greetings and they waited for her to explain to why she was there.
"Oh, I'm not here to take her away I promise. But I do have to at the end of the week. Anyway, I know how she gets with sports, trust me. Like I said I just wanted to join the fun. She told me about today a few days ago. I have some time off and I wanted to get to know her friends and family a little more." She explained and watched as they each let out a sigh of relief.
Wendy showed her around a bit and then she sat next to Lynn. They smiled at each other and she gave her hand a small squeeze, "So this is baseball huh?"
"Yeah, Andy's really into it. I could never bring myself to get into it as she does. Hey, so the guys that are commentating the game said that she's shooting a music video here. Is that true?"
Serenity nodded, "Oh, yeah! Shot! She was going to surprise you all with it. She mentioned she wanted all of you and her new siblings in the video."
"Wait what?" Shey asked.
Serenity turned around and nodded, "Yeah, the shot is gonna happen day after the football game. I suggested you all being at the shoot. Then she called me saying she wanted all of you and her young siblings in the video."
"What's the song called?" Alex asked.
"Um, 'One Love' I think. There original concept was her with a band in the background and just having images projected on her, but she turned it down."
"Who's going to direct it?" Justin asked.
Serenity turned to Andy and smiled, "Andy is going to be making her director debut with this music video." She turned back to them, "You know, she's helped me a lot this past year. She got me to see who I can truly be. She saw that I was hiding my potential and she told me not to be afraid. There was this promotion and I was going up against this guy. We were both in the running. I just kept thinking to myself that I wasn't good enough. I was stressing out about it." She smiled and shook her head.
"We were out to dinner the night before the interviews and she saw how stressed I was. She took my hand told me to not only to be myself, but also to go into my boss's office with the confidence she knew I had. Just lay everything out on the table and prove to him that I can do it. The next day, I went into his office and I came out with the promotion. Turned out the other guy was so nervous he was stumbling over his words and made a joke about women. My boss has four daughters and he didn't like it. She left an impression not only on me but also on the agency."
They all nodded in agreement. Lynn was about to say something but Andy and Addy stood up again yelling again.
"Seriously it's just baseball." Ethan said and that's when Andy and Addy turned around and looked at him. If looks could kill he would be dead ten times over. He raised his hands up, "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry, please don't hurt me." He really thought they were going to hurt him.
The two turned back to the game and sat down. Everyone else looked at him and Wendy hit his arm, "You know better!"
"I know I'm sorry! I just wasn't thinking!"
"Wendy?" Roger came up to her with a sad look.
She turned and smiled at her little brother, "What's up buddy?"
"Why does Andrea keep yelling? Is she mad at us?"
Wendy smiled and picked him up putting him in her lap, "Oh sweetie no she's not mad at you guys. You know how dad yells at the TV sometimes back at home?"
He nodded leaning into Wendy's embrace.
"It's kind of like that. They both just get really excited or really mad when they watch a sports games. She loves you, all of you. She's not mad at any of you. Okay?" Her little brother nodded.
"Okay, she just scared us."
"Can I tell you a secret?"
"Yeah." He said playing with the zipper of her sweater.
"Sometimes when Daddy, and Andrea yell at the TV I get scared too."
He sat up and looked at her, "Really?"
"Mmmhmm. But I know that it's not me they're mad at. It's what's on the TV. When you're a little older and you learn about sports, you'll understand some more."
"Can I go sit with her?"
"Of course! I'm sure she would love that." She took him off her lap and he ran up to Andy. She watched as her big sister smiled and put Roger in her lap. She could hear Andy talking to him about the game. This time he was asking questions, no doubt trying to understand why Andy loved it so much.
"He's so precious." Serenity said with a smile watching Andy with Roger.
"Andy was such a big help with them when we brought them over. They were so scared of being in a new place, but she made sure they were comfortable. They wouldn't talk to us for about two weeks. Only to mom and dad." Wendy told them.
"But one day Andy started to take pictures with her camera and Rose came up to her. Andy smiled when Rose pointed to her camera. She put the strap around Rose's neck and helped hold it and Rose just started taking pictures. It wasn't long until they others came over to them and they each took turns taking pictures. The next morning Andy gave each of them a toy camera. Then, they started to warm up to me not too soon after.
"We took it step by step and she started to teach them English, and she learned Tagalog. I knew she was always good with kids, but it wasn't until I saw her and Rose that she was great with them. She's gonna be an amazing mom one day. I can't wait to see her raise kids."
Wendy finished and Hayley took her hand in hers and gave it a gentle squeeze, "She told me she wanted to name her first daughter Crystal Aurelia after your grandmothers. Her first son Zane Jesus, but Jesus-"
"Spelled like Jesus, but sounds like 'Jessie.'" Lynn finished with a smile, "After her grandfathers."
"It's a Southern thing. Try to keep the family names in every generation." Brittany said with a nod.
"What inning is it?" Alex asked looking up at the TV.
"Bottom of the sixth." Justin said now he was getting into the game. He ended up moving from his original seat and sat next to Addy. Roger went back to playing with Trevor and his brothers, and sisters.
"How much longer?" Ethan asked quietly.
"About another hour or so." Kayla said getting up from her seat going back over to Andy and Addy asking them if they wanted anything to eat. Addy asked if she could just fill up their plates with anything that could fit. She smiled and shook her head telling them she would be right back.
"I think the football game is going to be more exciting." Hayley said joining Kayla at the mini buffet.
"I never would have guessed that my cousin would be friends with the lead singer of Paramore. I'm still blown away by it."
Hayley smiled and gave Kayla a small side hug, "Well I never would have guessed that Andy had such an amazing family." She helped Kayla bring Andy and Addy the now full plates of food. Without even looking at them they thanked them. They returned to their seats and jumped back into the conversation.
"Okay, wait isn't your Uncle named Zane and don't you have a cousin named Crystal? Wouldn't that be confusing?" Alex asked looking between Kayla, Wendy, and Brittany. The three nodded.
"True, but like Brittany said keep the names in every generation. Our grandfather's name is Zane. Crystal was named after our grandma and she's Uncle Andrew's oldest daughter." Wendy explained.
"What happened to your Uncle Andrew? Wasn't Andy kind of named after him?" Alex asked. Kayla and Wendy looked at each other. After a few minutes Kayla spoke up.
"That's a conversation that we'll have to have when we're back at the house. It's a sensitive subject for us. Especially now that the anniversary is coming up."
"Speaking of which I think Uncle Chris is going to have a bonfire that night. Meaning shots of Jim Bean." Wendy said.
"CALL IT! CALL IT! CALL IT! GOT IT! WOO! LET'S GO!" Addy and Andy said at the exact same time and gave each other a high five.
"Serenity are you going to be with us for the football game too?" Brittany asked.
"Yeah, I think so."
"Have you seen Andy watch football yet?" Ethan asked and Serenity shook her head.
"Oh boy you're in for a treat. I don't think she's gonna be sitting down the entire time." Shey said with a chuckle.
"Is she that bad?"
"Well, if you think she's yelling now, wait until the football game. But don't EVER be in the room when she watches soccer. That's when she's the WORST!" Ethan said and everyone agreed.
"Kayla I'm half tempted for your mom to take the kids for the night so we all could get a drink. I know I'm gonna need it. Even though I'm not really watching the game. Andy and Addy are kinda stressing me out and I don't know why." Brittany said and Brandon smiled giving her a kiss on her forehead.
"Okay dude, seventh inning stretch, bathroom break." Andy said. She and Addy both stood up and left the room to use the bathroom.
"Do you think we should let the kids stay with your dad and Veronica during the football game?" Ethan asked.
"Well, since Serenity said that Andy wants us in the music video I think we should just stay in Atlanta that night." Kayla said.
"Knowing Andy I think she already had that planned out and is gonna tell us tonight." Brandon said.
"Why don't we all just go back tonight, pack up, come back, find a hotel, and just stay until the music video is over?" Alex asked.
"Again, knowing Andy she might have thought of that, just didn't tell us." Brandon told them as Andy and Addy rushed in. Addy went back to his seat but Andy stopped on the steps.
"Hey y'all when we go back tonight, pack a bag for a couple of days I have a surprise for all of you after the football game. I booked an entire floor at the Hilton." She said with a smile and went back to her seat.
"See what did I tell you." Brandon said with a smug look on his face. Brittany shook her head and tossed a fry at him.
"Andy what's the surprise?" Shey asked winking at everyone.
"I'll explain on the way back home. Now shhhh! We're up to bat!" She said waving her hand at them.
"Well excuse me." Shey said jokingly and everyone laughed.
"Serenity, Andy never told us how you discovered her." Ethan said.
She turned to him and smiled, "It's kind of a short story actually. I was looking through social media profiles and I came across hers. I fell in love with her sunset pictures. I dug a little deeper and found pictures from the PVRIS tours. I found some videos of her covering songs and even ones of her in a bar singing. The one that really got me was when she did the song for her cousin Daniel. I knew she had a talent. So I reached out."
She paused for a moment to look at her cell phone and then looked back at everyone, "She didn't return any of my calls. I just kept calling her until she finally answered. I explained to her who I was and what I do, she started laughing. She still didn't believe. I then told her that I would hop on the next plane to meet her. She gave me a time and location. I booked my flight and went to where she wanted me to be. She showed up not believing I was there. We talked and told her I had to present her work to my boss and we'll go from there.
"I flew back and after presenting Andy's portfolio he told me to get her as soon as possible. I called her and she came to meet with me and my boss. We had dinner, the next day gave her a contract. Which she read and it took her about three hours because she wanted to be sure. She signed it and now we're here."
"How were you able to get her paid vacation?" Wendy asked.
"That was easy. I explained to my boss how hard Andy was working and how tired she was. He agreed. I was the one that suggested she take a paid vacation because she hasn't seen her family and friends. My boss is a family man so he understood. He told me that he's sighed a lot of people to his agency and she's one of the hardest working people he's seen. He said that she can come back whenever she wants. He wouldn't hold it against her. Again, here we are."
"I wanna meet your boss." Ethan said with a smile.
"Where are you staying tonight?" Hayley asked.
"The Hilton. Just right up the road."
"How about you come back with us and stay with us tonight? Just hang out." Lynn suggested. "I'm sure we have some spare clothes for you. Between all of us."
"Are you sure?"
They all nodded and Kayla was about to say something when Andy and Addy jumped up, "GRAND SLAM!! THAT'S GAME! WE WIN!" Andy yelled picking up Addy who was also cheering.
"THANK GOD!" Ethan said leaning back in his chair. This time Andy and Addy didn't look at him because the two of them were dancing and cheering because the Braves won.
*********************************************************************
Andy opened the door to her house as the kids rushed in behind her and went straight up the stairs. "Get washed up for dinner!" She called to them. Wendy, and Lynn went up the stairs to help them and everyone else came into the house. Minus Ethan, Alex and Addy. They went to go and pick up the food for dinner. Andy placed an order from one of her favorite local places. She apologized to them for placing a huge order, but they understood saying that she was one of their favorite regulars.
She was in the back yard now setting up an extra table for the kids. Serenity walked out and smiled, "Some game huh?" She asked.
Andy chuckled and looked up at her, "You weren't really watching. I know everyone wasn't really watching. Y'all know how I get with sports."
Hayley came out and started to help Andy with the chairs. She looked at Serenity, "Hey, earlier you said you had to take Andy away at the end of the week. Why?"
"Oh, we have to go to Seattle and Roswell. She just has to take a look at the locations and make the final decisions." Serenity explained.
"Are you going to tell everyone?" Hayley asked Andy.
"Yeah, at dinner. I'm only gonna be gone for about a week maybe. Couple of days in Seattle, couple of days in Roswell. Should be back by the weekend."
"Are you gonna take anyone with you?"
Andy shook her head setting up the last chair, "No, I'll be too focused on what I want done. I don't want that other person to feel that I'm neglecting them. Okay enough about me. I thought you would be heading back to Nashville. I'm sure Alfie misses you."
"Chad's enjoying his time with him. I'll see him soon. Figured I'd spend some time getting to know what your other life is like." Hayley said with a smile as the kids rushed out of the house.
"Don't get dirty you just washed your hands!" Wendy said coming out of the house carrying plates. Kayla right behind her with napkins, and silverware. Justin followed with cups and a pitcher of juice. Lynn came out with pitchers of sweet tea and water. They all started to set up the table when Ethan walked out onto the deck.
"Dinner is here!" He said with a smile. Brandon, Alex, Addy, and Shey walked out each carrying a dish.
"Wow, that was fast." Andy said with a smile. Wendy called to the kids and they all came running up to the deck. She, Wendy, and Shey started to help them fill up their plates of what they wanted. Lynn was filling up their cups with what they wanted to drink. When they got settled, it was their turn.
They all sat down and started to pass around dishes and filling up their cups. "Is there ever going to be a day when I'm not at the head of the table?" Andy asked jokingly.
"I think it suits you, since you are the oldest out of us." Ethan said giving her a wink.
"Actually as of right now Serenity is the oldest." Andy said looking at her agent.
"Thanks for showing my age there Andy." She said and everyone chuckled.
"Hey so Serenity said she has to steal you away at the end of the week. Why?" Shey asked taking a bite of her food.
"Gotta head to Seattle and Roswell. I shouldn't be gone too long. I'll be back by the weekend. I just have to make the final decision on the buildings that I picked out. See them in person and then once everything is finalized, get it up and running." She explained.
"We knew about Seattle. We saw your interview. But when did Roswell come into the picture?" Justin asked.
"Well, Andy kept going on and on about a show, and how she's been so interested in the 1947 crash. I pitched it to my boss and he didn't even question it. He told me to go ahead and start looking for a place." Serenity explained.
"Feels like you're still not here though. Like, you're here, but you're not." Alex said.
"What do you mean?" Andy asked.
"You've been attached to your phone since Brian and Andy's wedding. Like everything else is more important than us. This is the most we've seen you OFF your phone." He said.
"Tell us how you really feel then Alex." Andy said looking at him intensely.
"At least this time you're telling us you're leaving instead of up and leaving again." He scoffed.
"Wendy can you take the kids inside?" Andy asked.
Hayley, "I'll do it. Shey, Serenity can you help me?" She asked looking at them. The two nodded and got up. They helped the kids with their plates and cups and walked into the house. Once they were inside Alex took a deep breath.
"What's been on your mind Alex?" Andy asked him.
"You left us! You just left. Only letters with little explanation. We were worried sick! We didn't know if you had your medicine. How your heart was. Your nightmares. You barely kept in touch. We only knew you were okay by your social media. Other than that we were worried. You weren't there when we wanted you to be. You weren't there when we needed you to be. You just took off.
We still don't know what's going on with you and Lynn. In all of your interviews you keep saying you're with someone but not saying who. You went around introducing her as your wife. Also the fact that you two were gone for SIX MONTHS! Not telling us where you were!"
Ethan put his hand over his boyfriend's hand. He had no idea he felt like this.
"You come back and the both of you barely acknowledge one another. The party happens and it's like nothing happened the past year. We all want to know is what's going on with you two and you won't tell us. You keep saying that you will. We've waited long enough, we want to know. Right here right now!" He took in a deep breath and let it out.
"I'm sorry, but we all just want to know what happened after our camp out."
Andy leaned back in her chair. She looked at everyone looking back at her waiting for an answer. She knew what she wanted to say. She quickly looked at Lynn and she shook her head. That was the answer she needed. Lynn wanted to keep the secrets until they were in Virginia. Andy stood up and took in a deep breath. She had to do some explaining without giving anything away.
"I know I owe every one of you an explanation for leaving. Instead of me talking to you all one at a time, I'll just tell you all at once." She cleared her throat and sighed.
"Leaving all of you was the hardest decision I've ever had to make. I didn't know what to do. I had an opportunity to live out my dream that PVRIS started for me. Every single interview I had, I made sure I would get the questions in advance and call Melissa. She would help me prepare. All the times they asked where I got started I tell them it was going on tour with PVRIS. Every single time, because it's true. I would not be here today if it wasn't for PVRIS." She took a sip of her drink and continued.
"I spent that night going over everything in my head. I didn't want to leave you, but I didn't want to stay either. I guess part of me wanted to know how everyone would be without me. I wrote the letters, I made the phone calls, I packed, and I left. But it wasn't easy. I ended up in the hospital a few times. My nightmares got worse. There were times I didn't eat because I would forget to refill my stomach medicine. I took a fall and my knee popped. I still have yet to go to physical therapy per orders of my doctor.
"There was one night Hayley and Zac, took an hour to wake me up. The nightmares were the same. I couldn't save you. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't save any of you. I wasn't sleeping. My mediations weren't helping anymore. I'm came so close to taking sleeping pills. But I decided not to. So I threw myself into the tours, into the work. Every single photograph I took I had each of you in mind. Just hoping I would see one of you looking back at me. I would see strangers walking down the streets thinking they were one of you."
Andy rubbed her eyes trying to fight the tears that she was holding back.
"Brian and Angel's wedding was my escape. I had already planned to take some time off for a few weeks, then go back to work right after Halloween. But that all changed when Serenity said I was on vacation until further notice. I'm trying to make up the time I lost with you all. I was so alone. I saw you all moving on and it made me smile. It made me think you didn't need me anymore." She paused, holding back a sob that was trying to come out.
"That video game night the guys put together was one of the best nights I had in a while. The dinner that the girls put together was another one of the best nights I had in awhile. I love each and every one of you. I care about each and every one of you." At this point the tears that she was holding back finally started to fall freely down her cheeks.
"I'm so sorry I left. I'm sorry sorry I wasn't there. I'm so sorry didn't tell you where I was. I'm so sorry for not being able to stay in touch. I'm so sorry for breaking promises. I'm so sorry for making you all think I didn't care. I'm so sorry for making you all think I didn't love you. I'm so sorry for everything." She didn't say another word and rushed into the house.
"What the fuck Alex?! She was happy again! The fuck did you have to do that?!" Justin said looking at him.
"I'm sorry, but I couldn't hold it in anymore! Lynn! Please tell us what's going on! I can't take anymore! Or at least give me a hint."
"Andy's moving to Boston. There's your hint Alex." Lynn threw her napkin on the table and stood up. She rushed into the house away from everyone.
"God damn it! We were having a good time Alex!" Justin said standing up and walking into the house.
"Alex, I get where you're coming from, I do, we all felt the same way you do right now, but we let it go because she's back. Give her time to cool down. We have to pack for tomorrow night and then we have the football game. In a few hours maybe you can talk to her again calmly and put everything out on the table." Wendy said as she started to clear away the table. Addy, and Kayla started to help her.
Alex sighed and sat back in his chair wiping a tear from his eye. Ethan looked at him and kissed the back of his hand, "Where did all of this come from? I didn't think her leaving that this kind of effect on you."
"I didn't know either. I honestly don't know what came over me." He surprised himself with his outburst. He felt a squeeze on his shoulder and looked seeing Brittany smiling at him with kind eyes.
"I was upset too, but I let it go because she came back. She always comes back." She told him and started to help with clearing the table as well.
"Since I've moved here almost three years ago, I've seen Andy maybe three times. I knew she was busy, but I knew she was always safe. Her being here now makes up for all the time she was gone. We all love having her in our lives. But here's the thing, since she's met you all she's been able to finally live her own life. Not the one she was stuck in. Keep that in mind next time you think she abandoned you." Brandon told Alex then stood up from his seat. He cleared his plate and started to help the others.
"I honestly had no idea I was angry at her. I don't know what came over me. I need to tell her I'm sorry." Alex started to stand but Ethan stopped him.
"Give her couple of hours love. Let her get her thoughts together. You do the same. She apologized for everything. Not that we needed an apology, but that's just who she is. Let's let everyone cool down and we'll talk. How does that sound?" Ethan looked at his boyfriend and gave him a smile.
"I knew I fell in love with you for a reason." They leaned in and gave each other a soft kiss.
Alex really didn't know himself that he was feeling like this. He hoped he and Andy could patch things up before the morning.
*****************************************************************************
"Oh fuck you!" Andy said at the TV screen. It was close to two in the morning and she couldn't sleep.
After Alex's outburst she left the house to take a walk to clear her head. She just needed a breath. She had a feeling that everyone was feeling the way Alex was. She just didn't know it was this bad. She really didn't know she meant that much to him, let alone everyone else.
She walked so far she didn't realize she was at the park at the end of her street. She sat down on the bench and started to twirl her ring on her left ring finger. Then she switched twirling her ring on her middle finger. She sighed and sat back on the bench. She looked up at the stars and took hold of her cross. She closed her eyes and began to talk quietly.
"Did I do the right thing by leaving? Was I being selfish? I was thinking about the others when I left. I missed them every day. I'm so tired Lord, I'm so tired. I don't know what to do anymore. What they said about me putting everyone first, is that true? Do I really do that? Did I put myself first this past year? For the first time, I made a decision at split second. But I'm starting to think it wasn't the right one." She opened her eyes and leaned forward.
She kissed her cross and tucked it back in her shirt. She rubbed her face in her hands and rested her elbows on her knees. She was looking at the ground when she heard the swings move. She looked up and saw a woman about her thirties swinging slowly looking at her with a smile.
"Would you like to join me?" She asked nodding towards the swing next to her. For some reason Andy trusted her. She stood up and walked over to the swing and sat down next to her. As she sat in the swing she slowly started to sway.
"Everything okay?" The woman asked and Andy looked at her not sure if she could tell her.
"I kind of heard you talking to yourself. You seem a little tense."
"Oh, um, I was just wondering if I made the right decision about a year ago or so. I kinda left my friends and family for an opportunity. It was a chance I couldn't pass up. I'm starting to think it was the wrong decision." Andy confessed looking down at her shoes.
"I take it you coming back, your friends and family were hurt yet happy for you?"
"You could say that. I finally got all this time off to make it up to them, but they seem to think I abandoned them. When I didn't. I kept in touch, mostly, but they feel like it wasn't enough. I have some health problems. My heart, my knee, I also have stomach problems. Some mental stuff too. But I always put all that aside and put on this happy face and just wake up every day telling myself it's going to be a good day no matter what." She gave the woman a small smile. She couldn't help but think the woman looked familiar, yet she couldn't place her.
"But you put yourself first."
"Yeah, but was I being selfish about it?"
"Sometimes we have to be. We need time for ourselves to figure out what we want. Sure we miss out on a lot, but we also have to do what makes us happy. Sometimes leaving the people we love for a while."
"Leaving did take its toll on me though. Everyone said I looked drained, I'm a workaholic. I have to constantly keep doing something to keep my mind busy. I have these nightmares where I see my friends getting hurt and I can't save them. So sleeping doesn't really help either. I guess you can say I don't know how to relax."
"Well there's your problem."
"What do you mean?" Andy asked looking at her.
"Even though you think you were being selfish, you still have everyone's well being in mind. Your nightmares are because you were worried about your friends. Wondering if they're safe. You work a lot because you want to keep your mind off of them being in danger. You don't know how to relax because you feel like if you constantly keep doing something you won't have to think about them being hurt."
Andy shook her head, "I just want them to be happy."
"But what about you? Have you found your happiness? Not with the people you love, but with YOU?"
"I don't know. I found love again, I started to actually live my life. But I feel like I'm not enough. But then the other day, my guy friends put a gamer night for me. Then, my girlfriends put a dinner party for me. They all told me just how much I mean to them. I really didn't think I meant that much to them. I'm surrounded by everyone I care about, I love. But I still feel so alone. I don't know why."
"Have you lost people close to you recently?"
Andy nodded, "Most recently my step cousin Daniel. But what hit me the hardest was when I lost my grandma. I grew up seeing almost every summer. Besides when my dad got stationed in Okinawa. I miss her every day, and I wish I could just talk to her and ask her if what I did was the right thing."
The woman smiled and stopped swaying on the swing and looked at her, "I'm sure she was an amazing woman."
Andy smiled, "She was. She taught me a lot growing up. She had four boys and she spoiled her granddaughters like no tomorrow. Every Christmas she would send us her fudge and we would make it last until at least the end of January. She never missed a birthday, and she was always smiling. She was the best person I knew." Andy wiped her tears away and cleared her throat.
"I'm sorry to dump my life problems on you."
The woman waved her off, "It's all right. Sometimes we just need a stranger to talk to."
"Is everything okay with you?" Andy asked looking at her.
The woman chuckled, "I can see why your friends love you. Even though you're going through your own demons, you put them aside and make sure they're okay. Try and break that habit. When someone asks you how you're doing open up. They'll understand, you let everyone talk about their problems to you. But you don't talk about your problems with them. Maybe try that, open up to them more. Not just because they're angry, but because they also care and love you. You came into their lives for a reason. Just like they came into yours. Let them take the lead this time."
"I don't know how to do that." Andy said truthfully.
"How about you start with the one that was hurt the most?"
"I don't know how to do that either."
The woman shrugged, "Just talk to each other. Don't talk AT each other."
Andy chuckled, "My best friend told me that when I was having a really bad fight with my girlfriend at the time. It was the longest four days of my life. But we were able to get out everything we were scared of and we made a decision about our future."
"Well, I can tell you that your future looks bright with her, seeing as you're wearing a wedding band."
Andy nodded, "I'm scared about it though. Sometimes I feel like we rushed it."
"But you followed your heart, and it feels right doesn't it?"
Andy smiled, "Yes ma'am it does. I told myself I wouldn't rush into things after my last relationship before her, but everything just fell right into place."
The woman smiled and stood up, "It's getting late and I'm sure your friends are worried about you. Now come on give us a hug."
Andy smiled and stood up from the swing and went into the woman's awaiting arms. When she did the woman hugged her tightly and sighed, "Remember it's okay to open up. Don't be afraid," she whispered.
She let go of Andy and before she could thank her she started to walk away. She watched her for a moment and started to leave the park herself.
"One more thing," the woman called and Andy stopped looking at her.
"Your grandma is proud of you, and she loves you. She's watching over you always." She winked at Andy and started to walk away again leaving Andy confused.
She looked down at the ground for a moment then looked up not seeing her anymore. She looked around trying to see if she could see her but she was nowhere to be found.
"Couldn't be.....Could it?" She asked herself. She shook her head and started to make her way back to her house. Ready to face whatever was to come her way.

Now here she was playing a video game. The talk she had with the stranger kept her up. She just couldn't help but think she knew the woman from somewhere. The way she opened up to her was as if she knew who she was. She needed a distraction so she popped in Assassin's Creed II and started to play. Everyone was asleep when she got back. She still gave up her room so she was on the couch.
She sat back on the couch sighing with relief finally beating the mission. She grabbed her vape and took in a huge breath and let it out. She let the story play out and then sat forward ready to take on the next mission. She was so into her game she didn't hear Alex come down the stairs.
He smiled when he saw her playing the video game. He was hoping she was awake since she wasn't in the house when he came back inside. Everyone kept telling him that she was back and that what he said was true, but those feelings were to be put away. He walked further in and sat down in the armchair watching the TV.
"How far are you?" He asked.
"About halfway. I fucking hate the stealth missions. I'd rather just go and kill the bad guy. That's why I like the first one so much. I don't have to do all this stealth bullshit." She said with a shake of her head.
They sat in silence until Andy was able to finally beat the mission after failing a few times. She paused the game and looked at Alex.
"I'm sorry for leaving Alex. I honestly didn't know I was causing so much hurt." She said looking at him.
He sat up and rested his elbows on his knees, "I'm sorry for my outburst. I have no idea where it came from. But I didn't take into consideration what you were feeling. You were away from all of us. I forgot about being away from family and friends. How hard it was. I guess I was just upset more for Ethan. He puts on a good face, but I know he was missing you something awful."
Andy nodded, "I know. Part of me felt like I made the wrong choice. Leaving all of you. But I just felt like if I didn't take it then I would have missed out on something big. I had a split decision to make and it was really hard. But I wanted to explore more. I wanted to see what kind of life was out there. I don't know, I guess I just wanted to see how y'all got on without me."
"How could you think that? Why would you think we would move on without you? Andy you've touched all of our lives in some way. All we ask is that you tell us about your life. You keep asking us how we are when all we want to know is how you are. You don't really open up to us. You do but you don't."
Andy sat back on the couch and sighed, "I just don't want to burden anyone with what I go through. I can't help but still feel alone in a lot of things. I don't know why that is. I feel like I'm just not enough, or not doing enough."
Alex got up and kneeled in front of Andy. He took her hands in his and looked at her, "Andy you ARE enough! You are more than enough. You've done so much for us. You have to let us to things for you. So stop trying to make us happy, let us try and make you happy."
"I just don't know how." Andy said softly. Alex stood up and sat next to her. He put his arm around her and pulled her in close.
"When you come back from your trip with Serenity let us handle things. Don't check in, just let us take care of things. So when you get back I don't want you lifting a finger to do anything. Unless Lynn and I try to cook. Then, you can lift a finger. I'll talk to everyone later and I'm sure they'll agree. You said you had to go to physical therapy for your knee. So when you get back call you doctor, see if she can find you somewhere to go here and you go."
"Might have to force me to sit and do nothing. Can I at least workout?"
Alex and Andy chuckled, "Okay, you can workout, but let us help with the kids and the house. The next time I wanna see you running around is getting your party ready."
"Deal. I'll do my best."
"Good," He kissed her temple, "Now, let's see if we can beat this game tonight." He picked up the controller and unpaused the game. Andy smiled and started to watch him. Addy came down the stairs rubbing his eyes.
"Oh sweet! Are we doing another one?" He asked rushing up to them and sitting down in the arm chair.
Andy chuckled, "I couldn't sleep, so I started to play. But we do have to be quiet. Everyone's asleep."
"Not everyone." The three turned and saw Ethan, and Justin walking towards them.
"I'll see if we have some snacks." Justin said walking into the kitchen.
"We have a lot of leftovers from dinner. Since it was cut kind of short. I'll go help Justin." Ethan smiled and walked into the kitchen.
Just then the door opened and in walked Brandon. Andy looked at him confused and he smiled.
"What are you doing here? I thought you left with Brittany and Trevor." Addy said looking at him.
"I couldn't sleep, and something told me to come here. I don't know why." He took off his hoodie and shoes. He closed the door and walked into the living room. He cut through and sat on the floor in front of the couch.
"Okay, guys, listen, we have to be quiet. The girls and the kids are sleeping. So let's try to keep the cheering and yelling down." Alex said pausing the game.
"The last thing we need is for them to wake up grumpy." Andy said.
"So what happens if we fall asleep and they see us down here?" Addy asked.
"Well I figured we clean up the mess. I mean, we created it so we clean it." Andy told them.
"WE'LL clean, YOU sleep. If I have to I'll carry you to your room so you can have some sleep." Alex said looking at her. Ethan and Justin came back into the living room, with plates of food, and drinks for everyone.
Before Alex unpaused the game he looked at them, "Okay guys here's the deal. Andy is NOT allowed to clean anything. If she falls asleep let her sleep. If we all fall asleep, we'll wake up and WE will clean. I have a feeling the girls are gonna come down and see the mess. We don't want them yelling at us. We won't wake up Andy. She needs to get some rest AND we will carry her to her room when it becomes free. Deal."
"Couldn't have said it better myself. Andrea, you are now on relax duty. We won't take no for an answer." Ethan said giving his best friend a wink.
Andy put her hands up, "Okay, okay. But don't come to me when the girls yell at you."
"Oh don't worry, I'm sure they'll agree with you needed some rest." Addy said with a smile.
"Guys! Keep it down! The kids are trying to sleep!"
They heard from the stairs and turned around. There stood Wendy with a tired look but glaring at them.
"Shit, sorry, hey we'll clean up the mess don't worry." Alex said with a soft smile.
"You damn right you are. Cause we ain't cleaning up shit." She said and went back up the stairs.
They all turned back to the TV and laughed quietly. Alex unpaused the game and they all started to watch him play. The night may have started out rough, but it was ending on a good note.
*********************************************************************
Andy woke up to her phone ringing. She slowly opened her eyes looking around. At first she didn't know where she was. The last thing she remembered was Justin trying to beat the game, after that everything went black. Now she was waking up in her room. She rubbed her eyes and threw the blanket off of her. She swung her legs to the side of the bed and sat up.
She reached for her phone and didn't recognize the number. She declined it and rubbed her face in her hands and looked at her watch. Her eyes widened when it read three in the afternoon.
"Was I really that tired?" She asked herself. She ran her fingers through her hair and then stood up. She tried to take a step with her left foot but she felt a shooting pain come from her knee.
"SHIT!" She yelled and she sat back down on the bed. "Come on, not again." She told herself. She let out a breath and started to slowly try to extend her leg. "Aggrrhh!" She grabbed her knee to slowly bring it back, but the pain was too much.
"GOD DAMN IT!" She grabbed the alarm clock and threw it against the dresser breaking it.
"Okay, just breathe through it. Just breathe. It's happened before. Just gotta wake it up. Come on." She told herself and she tried to stretch out her leg again. But quickly stopped and let out another anguish cry. She grabbed her knee and slowly try to bend it again.
"Come on, please, just please." She said trying to straighten it out again. This time she couldn't get her leg to move. "I can't go back. I can't. Okay, okay, okay. Come on let's try to stand again."
She reached for the nightstand using it as her crutch. She leaned on it and stood up. "Just one step, just one." She took in a deep breath and tried to take a step only to fall to the floor hard.
"FUCK!" She cried hitting the floor with her fists a few times before grabbing her knee.
Her door burst open, "Andy?! Andy! What's wrong?!" Shey said rushing over to her. Shey looked over her friend seeing her grabbing her knee.
She gently put her hands on her shoulder, "Andy what's wrong?"
"My knee!" Andy sobbed, "It's my knee. I can't-" she rolled over more to her side.
"Oh my God! What happened?!" Wendy asked rushing up to her sister.
"I don't know she just said her knee." Shey said.
"Andrea, look at me, what's wrong?" Wendy asked touching her sister's cheek.
"My knee, something's wrong." Andy said through her tears.
"Go get Alex and Justin. We have to her to the hospital. Tell Ethan to call her doctor. GO!"
"Okay, okay," Shey got up and rushed out of the room.
"Everything's going to be okay. Just hold on. We'll get you to the hospital."
"I can't go back under, I can't."
"I know, I know. Shhh, calm down. Everything's gonna be okay."
Alex and Justin rushed into Andy's room seeing her on the floor. Wendy looked up at them, "We have to get her to the hospital! She says it's her knee."
Justin and Alex nodded. They got on either side of Andy and helped her up. She let out a painful groan and they put an arm around each of them, "We got you. Just lean on us. We can take it." Justin said
"We'll take it slow. Wendy get her truck ready." Alex told Wendy and she ran out of the room.
The three started to slowly walk out of her room, "We can carry you down the stairs. Okay?" Alex said and Andy just nodded.
"What's going on?" Brittany asked coming out of the kitchen. Ethan was on the phone with Andy's doctor as Wendy rushed out of the house to get Andy's truck ready. When Ethan got off the phone, Wendy came back into the house.
"What did her doctor say?" She asked Ethan.
"She said when Andy gets there have them take an MRI. She thinks it might have something to do with when she took that fall a few months ago. When Andy went to the hospital they told her it was just an MCL sprain. Dr. Samson thinks it may have gotten worse."
They looked at the stairs and saw Justin and Alex carrying Andy down the stairs. Ethan rushed up to help them. Wendy rushed back out the door to open the passenger side.
"Oh my God! What happened?!" Brittany asked watching them carry Andy down the stairs.
"Brittany, we'll explain everything, but right now Andy needs a doctor." Ethan said. They reached the bottom of the stairs and continued to carry Andy to the truck.
"Wendy and I are going to go with her. Brittany call Chris and tell him to meet us there. Kevin and Susan are away, since he's her Uncle he's the next best thing." Ethan said to her and she nodded. She rushed to the backyard calling for Brandon.
They finally got her to the truck and got her as comfortable as they could. Ethan hopped into the driver's seat and Wendy got behind the front passenger side. "We'll call you as soon as we know something." Wendy told them as they closed the door.
Alex and Justin nodded. The two watch the truck speed off just as Lynn and Hayley came rushing out.
"Shey told us what happened. Is she okay?" Lynn said looking at Alex and Justin.
"We don't know. Shey said she thought she heard something from upstairs. She went up and the next we knew she told us to go up there because Andy fell. It's something with her knee." Justin explained.
"Oh no. I knew she was pushing it too hard. I told her not to." Hayley said putting a hand over her mouth.
"What are you talking about?" Lynn asked.
"Come on, let's go back inside, I'll explain everything." She took Lynn's hand and they all went back into the house.
"Shey just told us. Is she okay?" Addy asked rushing up to them.
"They're on their way to the hospital, Wendy said she would call." Alex said sitting on the couch sighing.
"Let's go to the deck so we can watch the kids." Justin suggested and they all nodded. Alex stood up and followed everyone.
Once they were all settled around the pool to keep an eye on the kids Hayley stood up.
"Okay, so Andy when fell, she went to the hospital and they said it was a sprain. That's when her doctor suggested physical therapy." Hayley started to say.
"How did she fall?" Lynn asked.
Hayley sighed and continued, "We were eating lunch somewhere. Some take out and Zac accidently knocked hers out of her hand. He felt really bad and rushed off to get her more. Well she grabbed a broom and swept it up. She threw it away, and she was talking to me not paying attention and she slipped on it and her knee bent back. We rushed her to the hospital and they took an MRI. The results said nothing was torn. But she had an MCL sprain. She called her doctor, and she suggested physical therapy and to take it easy for a few weeks.
But we all know Andy wouldn't do that. So she started to do exercises here and there. I thought she was better. She still has a limp, but I think the pain came back because she was pushing herself a little too hard. Plus, she hasn't been wearing her brace the last few months. It was always worse for her when she would wake up. That's when the pain was the worst."
She sat down next to Lynn and took her and in hers, "She's going to be okay, she's tough. This isn't going to set her back. Even if she's on crutches she's not gonna stop."
"Maybe this is a sign." Alex said and everyone looked at him.
"What do you mean?" Kayla asked.
"Well last night her and I had a heart to heart. I told her that when she comes back she's not to do anything. Her job was to just relax and let us take care of everything. Maybe this is a sign for that." He explained.
Serenity nodded, "I think so too. I'll take care of the galleries and I'll have Erika with me. Andy won't have to worry about the details. I'll leave right after the video shoot."
"Guess now we just play the waiting game." Addy said and they all nodded.
Brittany nodded and stood up, "Okay, so how about we make Andy comfortable. I'll start making one of her favorite meals. Alex, Brandon, you two go to the store and get Andy's favorite snacks. Also can you two try to find a pull out couch? Or air mattress, just something to fit more people on. I'm sure the kids are gonna wanna sit with her. Get movies too. Addy, Kayla, and Shey, you can watch the kids. Justin and Serenity, hit the bookstore. I'll give you a list of Andy's favorite authors, oh and the comic book store as well. Lynn and Hayley you can help in the kitchen."
Everyone smiled at her liking her plan.
"Let's take care of Andy. She's always taking care of us, now it's our turn. Okay let's get to work." She smiled and everyone broke off.
It was finally time for Andy to relax and to just do nothing for once.
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