TITLE: A Mother's Love

SUMMARY: Andy has asked Nina to marry him. Nina and Sam are living at the Brown house; Sam is in Ephraim's old room and Nina is in the guest room. Andy and Nina have decided to wait until they become man and wife before they give into their passion.

Delia realizes what it means having a new mom in her every day life. She always considered Nina Feeney as a mother figure ever since she arrived in Ever wood four years ago; but that was different because Nina wasn't living in the same house as her and her father. Delia feels guilty for loving Nina as a mother when her own mother; Julia; is dead.

This story is a Nina and Delia story as they both come to realize how fragile their real ship is truly. They discover the road is very rocky at best as Delia learns that it's not betraying her mother for loving Nina as a mother also.\

RATING: K+ for strong language

CATEORGORY: Drama / Tragedy / Spiritual

DISCLAMIER: I don't own EVERWOOD. Never claimed too. So you can not sue me because quite frankly I don't even own the apartment that I'm living in right now. All rights for any EVERWOOD character that was on the show goes to Greg Berlanti and his writing team.

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CHAPTER ONE

TWO NEW MEMBERS OF THE HOUSEHOLD

Delia rubbed her eyes as she walked out of her bedroom. She couldn't believe that yesterday she had her Bar Mitaz. It was empowering. Now she was considered a woman in the Jewish community. Too bad her father didn't see that. But she knew that in time he would; in a long time. But Delia wasn't in to much of a rush to grow up and have to leave her father's house.

Delia eyes came alert as she saw that the guest bedroom was open and she blinked her eyes several times trying to believe what was clearly straight smack in her eyes. She stepped closer to the door holding a bated breath. She just couldn't believe that she was seeing Nina Feeney asleep in the bed in her father's guest room. Delia knew Nina should be in LA with Doctor Jake Hartman now. She was one confused thirteen year old young woman.

Delia walked closer to the bed as she watched Nina's chest rise and fall evenly. She took a seat in the chair that was set up against the head of the bed. She watched as Nina slept peacefully on. She didn't know what to make of this. Should she see if Nina was truly here by touching Nina? But if Delia touched Nina and Nina awaken than Nina would just yell at Delia. Delia knew that Nina didn't like to be touched when she was asleep. She had made that mistake when she first stayed over at Nina's house. Delia never told her father that she accidentally freaked Nina out; and she had a feeling that Nina never told her father; otherwise Delia's father would have yelled at Delia for upsetting Nina. But Delia wanted to know if Nina Feeney was truly here in this room.

Delia sighed and stood to her feet. She just had to take the chance that if this was Nina and not just a dream that Nina would forgive her for touching her. Delia walked carefully and gently over to the bed making sure not to make noise. She didn't want to wake Nina up. With bated breath Delia slowly brought her right arm out towards Nina. When she was a mere inch from actually Nina; Delia's hand stopped and shook. Delia just couldn't do it; what if this was just a dream and once she touched Nina than Nina would just disappear. Delia couldn't take that heart break; not again.

Nina slowly opened her eyes and saw Delia's face. She read correctly the fear she saw in the thirteen year old face. "Hey there." She softly said. She saw that Delia was in a daze. Nina slowly sat up allowing her bare shoulder to touch Delia's shaking hands. Nina pulled Delia to her silk sleeveless nightdress quickly. "It's all right darling. I'm here. There's nothing to be afraid of." She whispered as she stroked Delia's hair over and over again.

"Nina." Delia finally let out the sobs that she had kept bottled up inside her. She wrapped her arms more tightly around the woman and clung to her as she finally allowed her tears to come.

Nina just held Delia as the young girl who was turning into a young woman cried she began to rock back and forth and humming the lull bye that she sang to Sam when he was still a baby. She felt Delia calm down after a few minutes.

Delia pulled back finally and just stared red and puffy eyed at the woman whom she had considered as her second mother from the first time she had gone to Nina's house four years ago. She opened her mouth to speak but a loud sneeze came out instead.

Nina laughed gently as she took the box of Kleenex which was on the table next to the bed and poured out a couple of tissue. She gently put the tissue up against Delia's nose. "Blow." After Delia blew her nose; Nina tossed the used Kleenex into the waste basket that was next to the bed. Nina pulled out another tissue and began to gently wipe Delia's checks and underneath the eyes with it. She tossed the tissue into the waste basket.

"Thanks." Delia said with a smile.

"You are welcome." Nina smiled back.

"What are you doing here? I thought you moved to LA with Jake." Delia frowned at the thought. "Are you still going?" She asked fear laced in her voice.

Nina shook her head and smiled. "No Jake and I broke things off at the airport last night. I'm staying in Ever wood. For good." She grimaced. "Not in my house; seeing how I sold my house. Your father …."

"Live here." Delia said excitedly as she bounced a few times in Nina's lap. She saw the pain that Nina was in with the movement. "Sorry."

Nina laughed. "It's quite all right Delia. Actually what I was going to say was that your father has offered your home to Sam and I. So my question is may Sam and I live here?"

"Yes!" Delia yelped as she excitedly through her arms around Nina and held on for dear life as she tightened her hug into a massive bear hug. "Yes, yes, infinitely yes."

Nina laughed as she held onto Delia as the excited thirteen year old girl hugged the day lights out of her.

"Is this a two person hug or can anyone join?" Andy asked as he grinned into the bedroom at the sight of the woman he loved hugging his daughter.

Delia pulled away from Nina and finally hopped off of her lap and landed next to Nina in the bed. "Dad, Nina's staying. She's not leaving Everwood. Isn't that simply wonderful." She grabbed hold of Nina's hand and held onto to tightly but not to tight so she was hurting Nina.

"Yes it's wonderful. Simply wonderful." Andy said. He didn't walk into the room he just stared into Nina's eyes and read the love that was shining through them. Love that was directed at him. Only at him and no one else had Nina's heart and soul. Andy wished it was the same for her. He knew what he had to do and he had to do it that very day. He couldn't wait any longer.

"Andy?" Nina softly said as she watched the man she loved suddenly grow sad.

Andy shook his head. "Nina; I need you to watch Delia for a few days. I need to fly to New York." He stood to his feet and stuffed his hands deep in his pockets. "Is that ok?"

"Of course Andy." Nina nodded her head. She knew why Andy needed to go to New York at a sudden notice.

"Thank you." Andy stepped from the door. "While I'm gone; Delia; I want you to help Nina and Sam move their stuff. I'll call Ephraim and he will be helping with the heavy furniture." He smiled.

Andy moved away from the doorway and went back to his room where he quickly made flight plans for that afternoon. After he quickly packed his traveling bag he walked from his room and found the guest bedroom empty. He smiled as his nose smelt Nina's cooking.

"Looks like we are finally going to have solid decent meals in this house now." Andy said as he walked into the kitchen and wrapped his arms around Nina's waist and kissed her right neck.

Nina leaned back into Andy's chest as she finally allowed herself to express and show her love for Andy Brown. She now no longer had to quickly move away in fear that Andy would read into her feelings and have to let her gently down.

Sam came running into the room and just stared wide eyed up at his mother in Doctor Brown's arms. "What about Jake!" He demanded.

"Jake is gone sweetheart. He went to LA last night." Nina said not moving from Andy's arms. She knew that this was a shocked and an unexpected turn of events for her son; but she wasn't going to hide her love for Andy Brown from herself or Sam ever again. So her son just had to get used to the fact that his mother was in love with a man that he didn't chose.

"But we were at the airport with Jake." Sam said wrapping her arms across his chest and glared up into his mother's eyes. "Won't we?" He suddenly sounded confused.

Nina moved out of Andy's arms as she walked over and knelt down to be eye level with her son. "It just didn't work out Sam. Jake and I came to realize that we don't love each other and that you and I belong in Everwood."

"But Jake didn't say good bye." Sam lowered his eyes to the floor.

"Oh honey. I'm sorry. We thought it would be best not to wake you." Nina wrapped her arms around her son and pulled him to her. "How about we give Jake a call and you and he can say goodbye."

Sam pulled away and screamed. "IT'S NOT THE SAME! HE JUST LEFT WITHOUT SAYING GOOD BYE TO ME! IT'S ALL YOUR FAULT MOM! YOU MADE JAKE LEAVE ME! JUST LIKE DAD!" He turned and ran from the room and loudly up the stairs.

Nina looked after her son with such stark sadness in her eyes as she heard a door slam shut. She bowed her head.

Delia watched wide eyed as her father walked over to Nina and knelt down and wrapped his arms around her shoulders and pulled her into a hug.

"I should have woken him up. Sam should have said good bye to Jake face to face. Jake would have made Sam see that the breakup was best for everyone." Nina said as tears fell from her eyes.

"You can't change time, Nina. Sam will get over it." Andy softly said in Nina's ear as he stroked her hair repeatedly. "It's going to be ok."

Nina pulled back finally and wiped her eyes with the tips of her fingers. "This is the first time that Sam is using his anger to say that something is my fault. I don't know if I can handle it well."

"I don't have to go to New York. I can stay and help Sam understand the new sudden change in his life." Andy said gently wiping the rest of Nina's tears from her eyes.

Nina shook her head. "No Andy. Go. It's going to be ok. Sam's going to be ok; I'm going to be ok." She stood to her feet.

Andy stood to his feet. "Are you sure."

"Sure I'm sure." Nina said as she stepped away from Andy and back over to the island where breakfeast was still being made. She was relieved to see that nothing had burnt.

Andy sighed as he watched the woman he loved make herself over breakfeast just so she didn't have to have him see how upset she truly was. "I can post pone my trip."

Nina looked up into Andy's eyes. "No." She firmly said. She smiled as her blue eyes danced. "That's the end of it Andy Brown. You are going to New York this afternoon and you will not worry about the home front."

"Ok, ok you win." Andy held out his hands as he went to set the breakfeast table. "You know there is an extra room if Hannah wants to live with us." He said as he looked up from setting down the plate at Delia's spot.

"What about Harold and Rose?" Nina asked. "I mean Hannah is set up at the Abbotts."

"I would much rather have Hannah here with us. I mean Hannah's grandmother had given the care of Hannah over to you. I don't think it's fair to her having Hannah over at another family home while you still tend to live here in Everwood." Andy said.

"It would be cool to have another female living here." Delia put in her two cents worth as she helped Nina carry the breakfeast food over to the table. "But I thought Hannah wanted to live with Doctor and Mrs. Abbott?"

"Let me discuss this with Hannah and see where she wants to live." Nina said as she set the large platter in the center of the table. "I mean Hannah has been moved around a lot since she arrived in Ever wood. I mean I don't want to up root her twice in two days if she doesn't want to move again." She walked out into the hallway and stood at the foot of the stairs. "Sam, time for breakfeast."

"I don't want any!" Sam shouted.

"You need to eat." Nina called up.

"No I don't!" Sam shouted.

Nina sighed and turned back to the kitchen. "I'll just make a plate for him. He'll eat when he is ready." She took her seat at the end of the table across from Andy. "Ill call Hannah over later on and tell her that you would like to offer her a place in your home.'

"Actually, it will be more than a place. I was thinking of turning Ephraim's studio into a garage apartment." Andy said as he dished out some breakfeast. "With Ephraim not moving back anytime soon; he said that he wouldn't be using the studio any longer."

"How much rent are you going to charge?" Delia asked before sticking her fork in her mouth.

"None." Andy said. "I know that Hannah is hoping to get into college here; so she wouldn't have to leave her friends behind. I know that even with finical aid Hannah would be strapped for cash. This way Hannah would have a roof over her head; a family to come home too and she won't have to worry about any nosy college dorms to interrupt her studying." He took a swallow of coffee. He looked over at Nina with a raised eye brows. "What do you think Nina?"

"How long have you been planning this?" Nina asked.

"Since Hannah told me that she sent in her application in." Andy said. "This isn't a sudden move Nin. I want to do this for Hannah."

"That's sweet of you Andy." Nina looked at Andy with love shining through her blue eyes.

"I thought it would make your mind rest easier knowing that Hannah was being taken care of in your stead." Andy said wiping his mouth with his napkin.

Nina didn't say anything. How could she say how she truly felt? After hiding her feelings for this man who was sitting across from her for four years; she just couldn't open her mouth and tell him how much she loved him.

Sam walked into the kitchen and took his place next to his mother across from Delia and next to Andy. He spooned some breakfeast onto his plate and turned and glared at Andy. "Aren't you apposed to be gone by now."

"Samuel David Feeney." Nina said shocked at how rude her son was being.

"Actually, I'm leaving for New York this afternoon." Andy said in reply to Sam's un asked glared. "I'll be gone for a few days so you, and your mom can get settled into the house without me being in your face too much. Hannah also."

"I'm glad Hannah will be living with me again. I like Hannah." Sam said taking a bite and turning away from Andy.

"Sam you are being rude to Andy." Nina said.

"Since when is Doctor Brown … Andy." Sam jerked his chin out.

"Since we first met him." Nina said.

"Why did you send Jake away mom." Sam tearfully asked. "I miss Jake. I want Jake."

"I didn't send Jake away honey. Jake and I knew that we just weren't meant to be." Nina said placing her hand on Sam's hand.

Sam jerked his hand away and stood up and shoved his chair back against the wall. The chair banged the wall hard. "I HATE YOU MOM. YOU SENT JAKE AWAY. JAKE AND I MADE PLANS TOGETHER. IT'S ALL YOUR FAULT. FIRST YOU SENT MY DAD AWAY NOW YOU SENT JAKE AWAY. I HATE YOU." Sam ran for the stairs and up them.

A door slammed shut echoing throughout the house.

"Perhaps I shouldn't go." Andy said looking at Nina's stricken face.

"Go. Andy. Have a good time." Nina stood to her feet and walked from the kitchen without another word. She went out the front door and down the steps of the porch.

Delia looked over at her father with wide eyes.

"I'll call Ephraim to come and watch you two. I don't know when Nina will be back." Andy finally said after a few more moments of silence. He stood to his feet and began to clean the table of the breakfeast table. "I wish I didn't have to leave."

"You need to go to New York dad. Every thing will be fine. Sam will be ok after he talks to Jake on the phone." Delia said as she stood and helped her father clear the table away. "Are you going to marry Nina?"

"If she'll have me." Andy said looking down at his daughter who was growing into a woman every single day. He knew soon she would be eye level with him and that sadden him.

"She will. She loves you. She had always loved you. Even when she was married to Carl." Delia's mouth turned down at the last word. She rolled her eyes as she thought of Carl Feeney; Nina's ex husband who in fact was gay.

"Sam will be fine once he knows that his mom is happy finally in her life. He'll settle in once he realizes that you aren't going to leave him and his life won't have another major upheaval in his life." Delia said. "Sam has had some major stuff happening to him in the past four years and it's a lot to take for a little kid to handle all at once. I'm shocked he hasn't acted the way he is towards Nina much sooner."

"Ephraim round two." Andy quipped.

"You know it. But with Sam it's different." Delia said. "You can't yell and scream at him like you have with Ephraim. That's Nina's job. All you can do is tell her that it will get better once Sam is a grown man." She walked from the kitchen.

"Thanks Delia." Andy called after his teen age daughter who had turned into a woman by the Jewish stranded the previous evening.

END PART ONE