Andrea walked into the barge and she set down some things.  Her dad wasn't back from whatever scavenger hunt he was on.  There was coffee in the pot, but it's been there all day so she made a new one.  Not much had changed since the last time she'd been on the barge.   Most of Tessa's things had been taken to storage and the chest that her father kept his keep sakes in was sittin against the wall open.  Andrea looked inside and found pictures sitting on top.  They were of all of them together for one of Tessa's showings.  Tessa looked beautiful standing next to her father and Richie looked surprisingly handsome.  As she replaced the picture she noticed at the far corner something shiny.  When she picked it up she saw that it was from Darius.  The cup they had shared during their afternoon talks over chess games in the church   The door to the barge opened and Andrea stood up to find her father there with his sword out.  When he saw her he didn't know if he had gone crazy or what.

        "Andrea?  What are you doing here?" he said walking over to her

        "Believe it or not I came to visit."

        Duncan just hugged her like they hadn't seen each other for a century.  Andrea embraced him too; she didn't realize that she missed the smell of his aftershave so much.  They stood there looking each other over before Duncan had to ask the question that Andrea had not come up with an answer to.  Why she was there?
        "Is everything alright?"

        "You want to tell me?" she said picking up his sword

        "That's over and I'm fine.  What brought you here Andrea?"

        "I'm not sure I got Richie's letter and the next thing I know I'm on a plane out of Chicago to get here." said Andrea sitting down on the couch.  Duncan sat down next to her.

        "So you came to see Richie?"

        "I'm not sure what made me leave.  I love my job and everything is going great.  Maybe I miss this place more then I thought."

        "I'm glad that you are here.  I really miss you.  I know that Richie does." he said taking her hand in his, but he noticed that the spark in her eye hadn't been there.  Something definitely happened to make her fly here out of the blue.

        "You know that whatever it is you can talk to me."

        "Dad, I'm not so sure I know that reason.  Right now I'm just glad to be with you."

        Duncan knew that Andrea had trouble and he wanted to just know what it was a fix it, but he had a feeling this wasn't going to be that simple.  Richie had to be part of the reason she flew her, but he sensed something even bigger then that.  Maybe he would call Connor and see if he knew.  Whatever it was he felt good knowing that she came to him for help still.  The phone rang and Duncan answered.  He talked and then he handed the phone to Andrea who looked scared to take it from him.   When she did she walked outside with it.  Duncan almost followed her because the person that called wasn't happy that he had answered the phone. 

        Meanwhile, Richie had driven Nichole home and came back wanting to pick up the phone and call Mac to see what Andrea had come to Paris for.  He'd racked his brain for ever possible solution and what he'd come up with was an immortal or maybe she really just wanted to visit with him.  The look in her eyes though said that something had been on her mind.  It worried him not knowing that she was alright.  She'd been the most important thing in his life this long and the thought of losing her now terrified him.  About an hour later he found himself with his keys in hand walking out the door heading to the barge.

        "Andrea, are you hungry?" Mac said walking above and finding Andrea without her coat just standing there staring at the river.  Duncan took off his coat and wrapped it over Andrea's shoulders.  She turned smiling at him as he wrapped an arm around her shoulder.  They stood there just like that for a few minutes before Andrea said anything.

        "I lied to you about everything being alright, but you probably figured it out by now.  The truth is I'm no happier now then I was five years ago.  The worse part is I just keep telling myself that things are going to get better so I stay.  I told myself there is no reason to look over my shoulder thinking that anyone knew who I was or wanted to hurt me.  I'd finally freed myself from all of that.  I found out though that I can't pretend it's not there hovering over me because it's always going to be there.  Immortals are part of my life and I can't hide the fact that without that I'm just not me.  I love my job, but it's only because it helps keep me from going crazy thinking about what I'm missing here.  I need Richie and you in my life and immortals were never the issue.  The fact of not knowing what is going on if you're off fighting someone or your losing your life is what I miss.  I just don't know what to say to Richie. He was so angry with me when I told him that I was leaving and now that he's found someone that cares for him.  I don't know if I should even be here at all."

        Duncan stood there hearing the words that he'd wanted to hear, but knowing they weren't there.  Andrea wasn't saying that she was coming back and she wasn't saying that she didn't approve of Richie and Nichole.  She hurt for what she'd never had and she hurt for what she might lose at the same time.  Richie had become part of the reason to be here, but he'd been the other half too.  He'd never thought that the life he'd led would make it so hard.

        "I came also because Joe told me that I should get out of town.  There is an immortal that Joe thinks has been after me or something."

        "I'll call him later.  Come on let's go inside and get warm."

        They walked below just as Richie pulled up to the barge.  Duncan felt him and he stopped and told Andrea he'd be down in a minute and for her to go ahead.   Richie got off the bike and walked up to Duncan who told him about what Andrea told him. Richie felt horrible to have Andrea put herself through agony thinking that he was still angry with her and the fact that she thought she'd lose him all together.  Duncan didn't tell him about what she'd said about an immortal following her.  Richie would only worry and never leave her side which might make things difficult for Nichole.  Duncan said that Richie should just go home and talk to Andrea tomorrow when she's had time to get some sleep.

        "Mac is Andrea really alright?"

        "I'm not so sure she is Richie, but I'm going to do my best to help her get through whatever it is she's going through.  The best thing that you can do is to make sure that Nichole really understands what is going to happen now that she's apart of your life.  You didn't leave her alone at your place did you?"

        "No, I took her to her parents place.  I'm supposed to go pick her up for lunch tomorrow.  She said that she really likes Andrea, but thinks that she's a little strange and I told her that Andrea is quite normal compared to me.  I think they are going to get along."

        "I wouldn't say that too soon because I don't think that Andrea is thinking straight right now.  She might not feel the same once she's back to herself."

        "I know, Mac.  I'll see you later."

        "Bye Richie."

        Andrea stood looking from below and she wanted to run out there into Richie's arms but she knew that she couldn't without having to tell him what was going on.  All she had to do was to make sure that he knew that she was happy and everything would be alright.  She knew that what she wanted to happen couldn't for Richie.  Nothing would be the same between them now.