Can't Ignore What the Heart Desires
This story is dedicated to all those Andy/Nina fans out there as I love them and wish there were more stories of this fantastic couple. Can't Ignore What the Heart Desires takes off from the 'All the Lonely People' episode in series four and explores the idea of what if Andy and Nina acted on their feelings that night and how it would have influenced the following episodes. What if Andy and Nina had an affair?
All characters and first bits of dialogue is copyright to WB, but the rest of the plot is my wishful thinking.
Chapter One
"Well, I think we got it all, unless there are lice in your spice rack, in which case you're on your own," said Andy as he walked into the room wiping his hands on a towel.
"What time is it?"
"Late. Delia's probably halfway to Montana in a HAZMAT suit by now."
"I'm so sorry about dinner."
"I'm not. If we're lucky, she'll be so scarred by this experience she'll never cook again. How about you? You okay?"
"No. I washed my hair three times and I still feel like it's crawling."
"Let's have a look."
Slowly, Andy began to caress Nina's hair and in an instant he knew it was futile. He could not deny his feelings any longer, not when the evidence was there in the beating of his heart as it yearned for more. But he was not suffering alone, as at that very moment Nina closed her eyes to absorb the heat emanating from Andy's hands. Her affections for her neighbour had not abated at all. In fact, if anything, they seem to have grown to an intensity which only confused Nina further.
"I'm sorry," Andy whispered as he pulled away.
"No, no, I…"
"No, it was me."
"I'm sorry. I…"
"I'm really sorry. I'm…Anyway, I should go."
"No, wait." She reached out to grab hold of his wrist. "I don't know what I'm saying. What am I doing?"
"I don't know."
"You and I just spent four hours washing every sheet and towel in my house and wrestling my kid into a bathtub and I haven't felt better in months. And the man I live with, who I'm supposedly sharing my life with, isn't in the picture. At least, I can't…I can't find him there."
"You're going through a rough patch, that's all it is."
"I keep telling myself the same thing, making excuses: he's been travelling."
"He has been travelling."
"Right. My ex-husband used to travel a lot too. What is it about me that makes all the men in my life feel the need to hit the road?"
"Not all the men."
"I know. The fact is, is that even when he's here, there's this distance. We live in this house, he's doing his thing and I'm doing mine and we're like this old married couple, except we're not even married."
"Yet."
"But who knows when that will happen? And in the meantime, I know he's supposed to be my go-to guy, you know, the guy that I count on for everything. And he is, except for all the times that he's not."
"It's hard, Nina. Relationships are hard."
"But is it supposed to be this hard? Because, I mean, sometimes, other situations, they just feel a lot easier."
"Do you still love him? Because if you do, that's all that matters. That's what gets you through the hard parts."
"I know. And I do love him, but do you think that it's possible to be in love with two people at the same time?"
Andy's heart leapt into his throat at the admission. Could she be saying what I think she is? "I'm not sure."
"No. Neither am I."
Awkward silence settled in the air between them as they continued to stare into each other's eyes, lost in the moment, but unsure how to escape it. However, there are some situations where no escape can be found, especially when everything is out in the open. The only question that remains is what is one to do with that information?
"Nina…."
"Don't Andy," and she turned her eyes to the floor. "You shouldn't be here."
"But I am and always will be, Nina. I will always be here for you, just like you were for me. That's what friends are for, right?"
"I can't." Her watery eyes shifted back to lock with his, her torment clearly written on her face. "I can't…I don't want your friendship…"
"But I thought…"
"I want more, Andy. I want more of you, but I can't. It wouldn't be fair on Jake and especially not on Sam. He loves him. I couldn't hurt my son. I have to put him first and I do love Jake. I really do, but…"
"But what?"
"He's not you. No one will ever be. You're Andy Brown, the 'Miracle Man', but most importantly, you are the man that I've fallen completely, foolishly, in love with and me loving Jake can't change that fact. I…I don't know what to do."
A gentle smile peeked through his wild beard and ever so slowly he began to lean forward. Inch by inch the moment was drawing nearer and nothing could stop the inevitable. And when their lips touched the flood gates were opened. All that pent up emotion finally leaked out and what started out as a tender caress soon turned into a full blown passion born from denied love.
Nina's hands fiercely clutched at his shirt while Andy's hands snaked their way around her waist to pull her flush against his body. Gradually he lowered her down on the bed, his weight sinking her into the duvet. The feeling of their hearts beating in time with one another was an entirely new experience, but one they wished to repeat time and time again.
It wasn't long before Andy felt a delicate hand slide its way up and under his shirt, gliding against his inflamed skin. No matter what she did, or where she touched, every inch of him was on fire.
"Andy," she whispered against his neck. "I've wanted this for…" but he silenced her with an earth shattering kiss, before pulling away to stare into her eyes while his hands framed her face.
"Now's not the time for talking," and with that they found a much more pleasurable way to occupy their mouths…and their hands, and their legs, their complete selves leaving no skin untouched.