I don't own Rookie Blue, though I sometimes wish I did...then Sam would stop acting like a tool!

Ok, so McSwarek shippers, please don't kill me. I wasn't on the McCollins ship until last episode, when my dear friend, Neeshta, with whom I discuss my current RB obsession at work (you know, instead of working!), convinced me to give it a chance. I ultimately think that Sam will get his shit together and get back on track with Andy, but in the meantime, why not enjoy some Collins lovin'? Give it a chance like I did please.

If you don't like McCollins, do me a favour and skip this story.

Oh, and by the way, this story was inspired by a few things. First, my buddy, Neeshta. Second, my love of The Princess Bride, and third, Speak Now by Taylor Swift. I tell you because it'll give you an indication as to where my head was when I had this crazy idea for a story...

And if you are a McSwarek shipper, I suggest that you read my other RB story, "Too Close to Home".

Enjoy!

Cheers came from the rookie's table as Gail hugged Nick tightly, a happy grin on her face. Nick's smile wasn't as bright as he hugged his girlfriend, but only Andy noticed it. She watched as her friends gathered around the couple and spoke excitedly to them. It didn't take a genius to figure out what had just happened; Nick had finally committed and had asked Gail to move in with him.

Andy took a few steps towards the group and patted her best friend on the back—because that was what they had become over the last six months, she and Nick; the best of friends.

"So she said yes, huh?"

Nick glanced at Gail, who was chatting with Traci and Dov, and nodded with a small smile.

"Yup," Nick replied. "She's moving in at the end of the week."

"Wow, that's quick," Andy said, trying not to sound horrified at the thought of Gail living under the same roof as Nick.

"Yeah, she just needs to pack up her stuff from her parents' place. It'll be fun," he said. Andy couldn't help but feel like his words were meant to placate himself rather than explain.

"Yeah," Andy said, "Definitely." She looked around the bar, seeing her colleagues and friends having a great time with their boyfriends and girlfriends, drinking away their worries and trying to forget the day they had, and she suddenly didn't feel like sharing in the festivities any longer. She rolled her shoulders dramatically and sighed. "I'm going to head out. It's been a long day. Congratulations, Nick," she said, hugging him tightly. She walked off, leaving Nick to watch her exit the bar confusedly.

What just happened? Nick thought as he watched her leave. He felt a tug on his hand and looked at his side to see Gail smiling up at him.

"You ok?"

"Yeah, yeah, I'm good. Just a bit worried about Andy."

Gail scoffed. "She's a big girl, Nick. She can take care of herself."

"I'm sure she can." He smiled at Gail and pulled her in for a hug, McNally forgotten for the time being as his girlfriend wrapped her arms around him tightly in an action not-so-characteristic of Gail. "So, roomie, do you need help packing?"

In the cab ride home, Andy thought back to the scene before her eyes: Nick and Gail celebrating. She couldn't help the strange feeling that had crept into her gut when she had seen them together, thrilled to be moving in together, to be taking such a big step. She was confused by her initial reaction to the scene. She had seen them hug before, and even kiss before. Why was tonight so different? Why did seeing them together make her stomach lurch? Why did the thought of Nick and Gail living together suddenly repulse her?

The taxi sped along Queen Street toward her condo, making the street lights seem to fly by in the darkness. Andy stared out the window, trying to make sense of her feelings about Nick and Gail.

It wasn't as if she hated Gail.. In their group of rookies at 15, she had started off being the cop to watch out for, but over the years, that bitchy façade had melted away, at least enough for her and the other cops to see her good qualities. She had become a friend, not an enemy. They had been partnered on numerous occasions and had been great together, watching each other's backs and kicking ass in the process.

Sure, she wasn't the nicest person to Nick, or to anyone, to be honest, but it was Nick's decision to be with her or not. He took the abuse she dished out, and went back for more every time. Andy had asked him many times while they were undercover what he saw in Gail. He had replied with variations of 'she's tough, smart, and has a sense of humour in there somewhere'. Andy didn't presume to understand his attraction to Gail; the heart wanted what it wanted, and there was little anyone could do to prevent it, even though what the heart wanted sometimes wasn't the best choice. She just wished that Nick could understand that he deserved more for himself. His heart was too pure to have it trampled on by the likes of Gail.

After many a sleepless night in the undercover apartment she and Nick shared for six months, she had learned from Nick that his and Gail's relationship was never what one could call perfect. Gail was always mad at him for some reason or another, never completely satisfied with anything he did or said, but nevertheless, he was constantly trying to win her over. It worked fifty percent of the time; the other fifty percent of the time was spent trying to once again make up for something he had done.

When the taxi pulled up to her condo building, Andy paid him and went in, forgetting her train of thought momentarily as she reached the elevator and stepped inside.

Minutes later, as she toed her runners off, dropped her duffle bag on the ground next to them, and let her mind return to its previous musings about Nick and Gail as she walked over to the kitchen to grab a drink.

Not that Andy wanted to break up two people in love, but she felt like he deserved someone better, someone more kind and compassionate, someone less interested in their job and more interested in him, someone willing to do anything for him. Mainly, he needed someone to love him.

She flipped open the door to her refrigerator and peered inside, grabbing the carton of Five Alive juice and pouring herself a glass.

Taking a large gulp of the juice, she reminded herself that while Gail may have loved Nick, Andy felt that her brand of love simply wasn't enough for someone as sweet and honest as him.

He deserved way more than that.

He deserved…her.

She gasped audibly, effectively choking on the juice slipping down her throat. Her aversion to the two of them together had nothing to do with the fact that Gail was cold as ice most of the time—Andy was falling for Nick. Hard.

The weight of her abrupt realization made her drop down into one of her chairs and stare at a non-descript spot on the wall. She placed the juice on the table in front of her, allowing her mind to bring her to wonderful, dreamy places with Nick holding her hand the whole way.

She thought of the undercover apartment, and how many times she had unnecessarily put all of herself into her 'fake' kisses with him, for the benefit of the operation, though the effort was ultimately wasted on the perps they were trying to impress. Looking back now, she knew that there was more to those kisses than she let herself believe at the time. She had enjoyed those kisses a bit too much, she had let the touches linger a bit longer than necessary. She had dwelled too much on the feeling of his hands resting on her hips as he kissed her.

Despite still harbouring some feelings for Sam, they were nearly gone, whereas these newly discovered feelings for Nick were fresh, strong, and growing stronger by the day.

Shit. I'm screwed.

Nick asking Gail to move in with him tonight definitely complicated things.

A/N: What did you think? The chapters that follow will be considerably longer. This was just a teaser to see if there are anyone who wants to read more from these two...