Andrea woke up the next morning and she wanted to call Richie, but she knew that calling night not be such a great idea. Instead she decided to talk to her father and spend time with him. That way she didn't have to talk to Richie or Nichole. Trying to decide how she really felt about this whole situation would take sometime. She just hoped they weren't planning on a quick wedding anytime soon.
"Morning Andie how did you sleep?" said Duncan in his bath robe making breakfast and reading the paper.
"Fine thanks." said Andrea walking over to the couch and sitting there.
"Something you want to talk about?"
"No."
"You don't like her do you?" he said not having to turn around to know the answer.
"I don't know her enough not to like her. I'm happy that he found someone but don't you think that he's rushing things?"
"No, he's been with her for what almost nine years that's legally married back in the states."
"I know but he just introduced her to immortal life. You think that she'll run the second that he wants her to commit her life to what she doesn't know?"
"Richie isn't going to propose to her this morning. He didn't tell her that she can't have children yet. I know that didn't matter to Tessa at least if it did she never came out and said anything."
"Dad, Tessa, loved you. Being with you and loving you was what really mattered. Besides having Richie and I around is having two kids around anyways."
"Yeah, but I think that you two were more like four kids for as much trouble as you brought home. You never ceased to amaze me with what you guys would get yourself into," Duncan said with a grin remembering all to well the situations they managed to get in and out of.
"Let's not go down that path right now. I might regret something I do."
"Adam said that he wants you to stop by and talk to him sometime."
"Did he say what?"
"No just said that when you have the time he has the crime, he said just getting an eye roll from her.
They ate breakfast and Andrea got some work done for her dad before Richie even thought of dropping by. She really didn't want to talk to him right then. She knew he'd want to know the reason she was really there and that would lead to problems because then he'd have to help her and not spend time with Nichole and Andrea knew that she owed it to Nichole to talk to her. She was hoping to talk to her after Richie had spoken to her about the entire deal that she was getting herself into. Not the Andrea wanted to scare her away it would be easier to answer questions for her that way and that way then Nichole would know how much Richie really means to her. She wanted to make sure that Nichole had the entire picture before Richie had tried to get her a ring. This might seem selfish to some, but Andrea was only looking out for the well being of her family.
The scary part was that the more Andrea thought about it the more she seemed like Amanda in some ways which scared her because her father would only stand to have one con artist in his life. The last thing any of them needed was for Amanda to make her grand entrance. Andrea didn't need the competition to her father or to Nichole. More immortals always make things harder and Nichole defiantly needed to be kept to the basics for now.
"Hello? Andrea? Mac? Is anyone home? I swear they are either here or you can't find them for days."
"Richie I'm here." said Andrea walking into the room from the back door.
"Where did you go?"
"I went out." said Andrea
"OK that's nice. Listen I was wondering if you wouldn't mind terrible to entertain Nichole til I get back from the track?"
"No. that's not a problem. I'm sure that Nichole and I have lots in common being the two women in your life."
"Just stay out of trouble and Nichole if she starts to make strange sounds or tells you anything strange just hit her over the head with a stick. We have to make sure that we teach her manners."
"Nichole, make yourself at home I'll be right back. Richie, outside," said Andrea following him.
They walked to the top and Richie knew what Andrea was going to say even before she said it. He knew that there was something else going on besides his letter to her about Nichole, but he wanted Andrea to tell him. The last thing he needed was her mad at him. He needed her support if he was going to be able to ask Nichole to marry him. Her insight with these things meant a lot to him.
"Andrea I know that you think that telling her isn't such a great idea, but I do know that I love her. I need you to help me though. I haven't told her about the fact that she can't' have children yet. If she asks I need for you to just stall it till I can get back. I know that we haven't had a chance to talk about what it is that you are going through, but I promise that we will. I just want to make sure that Nichole is going to be alright. Andrea she means the world to me."
"Richie I'm really happy for you and I can say that right now my problems are ant hills compared to what Nichole must be thinking. Don't worry I'll talk to her and answer any questions that she has."
"Thanks Andrea you are the best." said Richie giving her a kiss. They didn't know that Nichole was looking on from below
"Your welcome and Richie I'm happy for you. This is what I've wanted for you for a long time and I'm glad that it's going to come true."
"Well I'll see you guys later."
"Be careful Rich those guys can be ruthless," said Andrea holding his hand
"Thanks I'll keep that in mind."
Andrea went back inside to where Nichole sat on the couch. Andrea felt sorry for her some what. She had no idea how much her life is going to change if she chooses to stay with Richie.
"Nichole, is there anything that you want to talk abut that you aren't sure of? I'm more than happy to answer any questions. I've been living with this my whole life though and there are some things that I still don't understand."
"Well, I do need to know one thing."
"Yes?"
"What's going on between you and Richie? I understand that you two lived together for a while, but I'm curious as to how far that relationship really went? From what Richie says to me is that you two are good friends like siblings."
"Yeah that is about the whole truth. Rich and I have always been there for each other and we will hopefully continue to be apart of each others lives. Richie means the world to me and I want the best for him."
"Well I just want to say that I love Richie with all my heart and if you do anything to mess this up or I find out that you have done anything to change his mind about being with me then you'd better watch your back."
"Nichole, I have no intentions of doing that. I want you and Richie to be happy. I'm more concerned about you then Richie though. You need to make sure that you think about what a life like this involves."
"What do I need to know other than he can't die?"
"Nichole, he won't die but he won't age anymore either. You will grow old and he will always look the same. Did he tell you the one way that he can die?"
Yeah he did, but I mean that only happens if he screws up, but he won't because he's the best there is."
"Please tell me those aren't his exact words." said Andrea
"No, but I know that he's the best. I believe in him."
"Nichole Richie isn't the best there is though. There are immortals that have lived for centuries fighting other immortals. Richie is only good if he stays alive. Immortality isn't some sort of power that makes you better than anyone else. If anything it makes you more aware of the life you live. Richie will do everything he can to protect you, but you have to understand that being with him makes you a target for immortals. Not all immortals are as kind as Mac and Richie. You are now the pawn in this and trust me those who come after him will not care that you love him. They will do whatever it takes to kill him and if they have to they will kill you."
Nichole wasn't grasping the concept of this and Andrea could tell. She could only do so much before she had to call in the experts. She hated to do this, but she needed to make sure the Nichole really understood this is not a joke or some thing that should be taken lightly.
"Nichole, come on I think that we need to go visit someone that can help you a little better then I can."
"Where are we going?"
"Has Richie explained holy ground to you?"
"No he didn't."
"I'll explain it on the way, but we should go," said Andrea feeling that something was going to happen soon and Nichole wasn't ready for this.