The Affair

A Drake & Josh fan-fic created for the older fan (ages 18 and over)

A short story by Alison Lydon

Lead characters:

Drake Parker & Josh Nichols

Disclaimer: I do not own the characters. No copyright infringement is

intended.

Chapter 1

Afternoon Delight

Summer

It was raining when the young man walked in the house through the back door. He got caught in

the shower and was drying his hair with the white dishtowel that happened to be within reach when

he was startled by the sight of his mother running into the kitchen wearing a robe, and not the

sturdy flannel or chenille kind that mother's should be wearing, but one that was made of pink silk

and too short for the son's liking.

"MOM!"

"Drake! What are you doing home so early? I thought you had band practice?" Audrey was

clearly startled herself.

"We decided to call it an afternoon," his face twisted when he realized his mother was playing

hookey from work to spend all day in bed with Walter. Gross.

"I---"

"There's no need to explain, Mom. I'm going upstairs to shower and change and meet Tabitha for

lunch."

"That's fine. I'll see you later, Drake."

Audrey put her hand on her chest and let out a sigh before going to the refrigerator to get the bottle

of red wine.

"Was that Drake?" asked the middle-aged man in the bed that was not Walter Nichols.

"Yes. He scared me half to death, but he'll be leaving soon." Audrey poured the man with the

auburn hair and hazel eyes a glass of wine before heading back into her side of the bed.

"What time is Megan coming home from her friend's house?"

"She's sleeping over."

He took a sip of the wine and put it on the meteorological magazine that was on the end table.

"Sidney, we shouldn't be doing this." She finished her glass of wine and was ready to pour herself

another.

"Don't you think it's a little too late to be saying this?"

He put his hand under the covers and stroked her leg.

"Walter won't be home for hours." She put her glass on the marble coaster and snuggled under the

covers.

It might have been morally wrong, but it felt right.

6 p.m.

Josh Nichols was confused. Mom said she was going to make macaroni and cheese tonight, but

not only was the best comfort food ever not baking away in the oven Audrey wasn't home.

"Mom was here earlier when I came home after band practice." Drake said taking a Mocha Cola

out of the fridge.

"Why don't you guys order some pizzas?"

Walter handed Josh his credit card.

Audrey didn't have work today and it was unlike her to just leave without calling or leaving a note.

"Dad, do you want pepperoni and sausage?" Josh called out

"Get whatever you boys want." He picked up the evening edition of the San Diego Union-Tribune,

which he didn't have an interest in reading.

Walter Nichols had a bad feeling in the pit of his stomach, but he had no idea what to even think

was the reason behind it.

"Oh, shit!" Audrey was buttoning up her white blouse as she looked at the digital clock in Sid's

bedroom. She was supposed to make her homemade macaroni and cheese tonight; it was one of

Josh's favorites. She swore she only came back with Sidney to help him unpack. Audrey didn't

think they'd wind up in bed again.

"I take it that means you have to go," he grabbed his glasses off the bookshelf.

"I still don't think we should be doing this. I'm married to Walter Nichols."

"But, Audrey, if you truly loved Walter would you be sleeping with me?"

She made sure her clothes weren't on backwards and that she had her purse with her.

"I can't answer that question now, Sidney," she kissed him swiftly on the lips, "I alphabetized all of

your albums for you while you were on the phone with your manager."

"Thanks. Before you go honey, I have to ask you….."

"We've been through this. I'm afraid the answer is no. It will open up a can of worms that no one

needs right now. I know legally, I can't stop you, but I'm hoping you'll see it though my point of

view. I'll see you tomorrow. If we're going to go to lunch we're going to have get take out and eat

it here. It's too risky."

Audrey felt terrible knowing that she was doing this to Walter.

The sweet and goofy weatherman Walter Nichols who never once looked at another woman and

betrayed their marital trust.

Didn't they make a lunch date for tomorrow?

The pain was in her heart. She wasn't a cold woman. No one was going to see it that way.

Especially the kids, she didn't know how they were going to take this news.

7:30 p.m.

"Where were you?" Walter asked Audrey.

Drake and Josh took their two trays of pizza upstairs to watch The Blues Brothers.

"I'm sorry, I didn't call Walter, I had an errand to run."

She kissed him on the cheek.

Damn it if he didn't look different to her.

"We ordered pizza."

"I'm not hungry." She wasn't and not because she and Sidney got some Chinese a few hours ago.

"Where do you want to go to lunch tomorrow, Audrey?"

Damn.

"I'm afraid I have to cancel, Walter. Judy from my office took ill and I have to cover her

workload. Maybe we can go some other time."

"Sure." There was that bad feeling in the pit of his stomach again.

"I think I'm going to take a hot bath," She covered her mouth to stop a yawn, "and go to bed

early."

Something was clearly wrong with his wife and Walter Nichols was determined to find out what it

was.