Family advice
Prompted by 'aphass' and set soon after episode 7574, this is a one-shot based around Andrew finding out about David and Leo.
Andrew and Tash had just sat down at the table to eat when Andrew's mobile started ringing.
Tash sighed, "Seriously? We can't eat a single meal without our phones being involved?"
Andrew scoffed, "That's a bit rich, coming from you"
Tash shrugged, knowing that she was the one usually texting during mealtimes, "Well, now I get how annoying it can be"
Andrew smirked, but his expression changed to one of confusion as he saw the caller ID.
"Who is it?" Tash asked, glancing at his phone
"My old man" Andrew replied as he answered the phone, "Hey dad, what's up?"
"Hi Andrew" Paul began hesitantly, "How are things?"
"Things are good, why?" Andrew asked suspiciously. It wasn't like Paul to sound so uncomfortable, or to make small talk, or to call him first thing in the morning (in Australia).
"Look, there's something I need to tell you" Paul sighed, "And it might come as a shock"
"Well, I'm sitting down" Andrew told him
"Because we're trying to eat dinner" Tash added quietly in annoyance
Andrew smirked at her, "So what do you want to tell me?" he asked his father
"Well, it turns out that you have a couple of new brothers" Paul revealed awkwardly
Andrew froze, "Say that again"
"I had a one-night-stand with Scott's ex-girlfriend, Kim Taylor, back in 1985" Paul explained, "She got pregnant with twin boys, David and Leo, and they came to Erinsborough about six months ago to track me down"
"Hang on, you've known about this for six months?" Andrew questioned in confusion
"No, I only found out a couple of days ago" Paul answered quickly, "David and Leo were told that their dad was someone else, and we've only just found out the truth"
"Right" Andrew breathed in a daze, "And how's everyone taking the news?"
"We're all still in shock" Paul admitted, "Leo and Amy aren't taking it well, they'd actually started dating before they found out that they were related"
"Wow, that's rough" Andrew murmured
"Yeah" Paul agreed, "Anyway, I thought that now's the time to tell everyone what's going on"
"Who else have you told?" Andrew asked
"No-one, you're the first" Paul replied, "Next, I'm going to tell Elle, then Scott – which I'm not looking forward to – then Lucy"
"I'm sure Scott will be fine" Andrew assured him quietly, "You said Kim was his ex, and it was over thirty years ago, you've both moved on so it shouldn't be a problem now"
"I hope you're right" Paul muttered, "Are you ok with all of this?"
"Well, it's not my thing to be 'ok' with, is it?" Andrew retorted uneasily, "You're the one who has to deal with long-lost children, and I don't know if I'm ever going to meet these guys, so it doesn't really matter to me"
"Of course it matters, you've got two new half-brothers" Paul pointed out
"I already had two half-brothers, and half-sisters, and it's not affected me all that much" Andrew reminded him, "If anything, I should be expecting phone calls like this more often"
"There's no need to be like that" Paul chided, "You have a right to know about your family"
"Fine, so tell me about them" Andrew insisted
Paul hesitated, "Well, I don't really know much about them" he replied uncomfortably
"Then why don't you get to know them? Learn from what happened with me, and make the effort" Andrew hissed
"Ok, I can hear that you're angry-" Paul sighed
"Wow, what gave that away?" Andrew asked sarcastically, "Look, just focus on David and Leo, be the dad that they deserve, but don't expect me to be sending them greetings cards any time soon"
"I'm sorry" Paul apologised
"Bye, dad" Andrew snapped before hanging up
Tash looked shocked, "Hang on, you've got more brothers?"
Andrew nodded grimly, "David and Leo, like I'm ever going to need to know who they are"
"Well, they are your family" Tash pointed out
"You know what? You're an only child, your dad didn't knock up seemingly every woman in town and you don't have half-siblings popping up all over the place" Andrew snarled angrily, "So don't act like you know everything, alright?"
Tash watched after her boyfriend as he stormed out of the room. Nervously, she picked up her mobile and texted Chris, requesting his help for when Andrew finally calmed down.
xxx
Andrew woke up the following morning feeling regretful about snapping at his girlfriend the night before. He knew that Tash wouldn't be in a forgiving mood: after being together for over four years, he knew her pretty well. In fact, she was nowhere to be seen within their home so he sent her a text apologising for his behaviour the night before and offering to cook dinner for them later. Just as he had sent the text, there was a knock at the front door and Andrew chuckled at the coincidence as he wandered over to it.
"Wow, you have good timing" Andrew began as he opened the door to his girlfriend
"Tell me about it" Chris replied as he held up a paper bag, "I brought brekkie"
Andrew looked confused as his friend entered, "Oh, sorry mate, I thought you were Tash"
"Yeah, a lot of people make that mistake" Chris joked
"What are you doing here?" Andrew asked
"Your girlfriend told me what was going on" Chris answered, "She asked me to come around and talk to you this morning, so she's given us some space"
Andrew sighed as he sat down on the couch, "I was horrible to her" he admitted, "I wouldn't blame her if she never came back"
"Of course she'll come back, she loves you" Chris pointed out as he sat down next to him, "She's really not as upset as you think she is"
"Really?" Andrew asked hopefully
Chris nodded, "Plus, all of her shoes are here, so she'd have to come back eventually"
Andrew rolled his eyes, "Ha, you're hilarious" he drawled sarcastically and hit Chris with a cushion, "Can you stop making jokes and start making breakfast?"
"Excuse me?" Chris questioned in fake-outrage, "I'm not some housewife, you know"
"No, but you're probably as hungry as I am, and you did bring the food" Andrew pointed out
"Very true" Chris replied as he stood up, "How about I get the breakfast ready, and you sort out the drinks?"
Andrew let out a deep breath, "Fine" he murmured as he followed Chris to the kitchen.
"And, just so you know" Chris began as he unwrapped the bagels, "Lucy told me about David and Leo after Paul called her last night"
"Yeah, he mentioned that he was going to call her after me, Elle and uncle Scott" Andrew recalled as he boiled the kettle
Chris popped the bagels in the toaster before turning to face Andrew, "So how are you feeling about it all?"
Andrew hesitated, "Frustrated" he decided on, "Dad spent years not really caring about me, and you know what things were like between us"
Chris nodded as he removed the bagels from the toaster, remembering the volatile relationship between Andrew and Paul.
"It was similar with him and Amy, but they've bonded over the last couple of years" Andrew continued as he spooned the coffee granules into the mugs, "Now he's found out he's got more sons, he's eager to make up for lost time with them, and I guess I'm jealous that he didn't seem to want to do that with me"
Chris considered this, "That's understandable" he replied as he spread the cream cheese on the bagels, "Look, I'm not going to speak for Paul, but maybe he wants to make up for what he was like with you by making the effort with David and Leo"
"Maybe" Andrew muttered as he poured the water into the mugs, "It still sucks though"
Chris smiled slightly as he handed a plate to his friend, "I'm not going to pretend that I know what your situation's like" he began, "But I think that if you want to maintain some kind of relationship with your dad, then being cold and tense towards him on the phone might not have been the best idea"
Andrew nodded, "I know" he breathed, "I was just surprised by the news that I have two new half-brothers, especially so soon after finding out that dad was reconnecting with one of my half-sister's, it's barely been two years since Amy came back into his life"
"So, are you saying that you feel pushed out?" Chris asked
"Kind of" Andrew shrugged, "But I left Erinsborough because I needed to get away from dad, he was trying to turn me into something that I'm not, and now he's become the dad that I needed him to be back then"
"I know that all you wanted was for Paul to be proud of you" Chris recalled, "But who's to say that he isn't? He's kept in regular contact with you over the years, even when you haven't wanted him to, that says a lot"
"I guess" Andrew murmured, "But is it bad that I'm not proud of him? I mean, he slept with his brother's girlfriend, that's just not right"
Chris laughed, "I see what you mean" he agreed, "But nobody's perfect, especially not Paul Robinson"
"I guess I was wrong to expect better of him then" Andrew grumbled
"No, not at all" Chris assured him determinedly, "But this was over thirty years ago, and he has changed a lot since then"
Andrew shrugged, "Well, this change apparently only happened last week"
Chris smirked, "You know that's not true" he argued, "He's always tried his best, but maybe he just didn't know what he was supposed to do"
"I thought you weren't going to speak for him" Andrew remarked
"Well, I'm damned if I do and damned if I don't, aren't I?" Chris muttered, "Paul and I have had a bit of a love-hate relationship over the years, but he is my daughter's uncle"
"And I'm her cousin" Andrew pointed out
Chris sighed, "I'm not taking sides, or using Anne to make a point" he assured him firmly
Andrew held his gaze, "Yeah, I know, sorry" he whispered, "I get the point you're trying to make, but I'm going to need some time to deal with all of this"
"Yeah, I get that" Chris reassured him, "Just don't take too long, and try not to push people away, ok?"
Andrew nodded, "Ok, I'll try"
"Good, then I think my work here is done" Chris replied as he finished his bagel and put his plate in the sink
"How much do I owe you for this therapy session?" Andrew quipped
"How about lunch?" Chris asked with a sly grin
Andrew pointed at the door, "Get out" he commanded flatly
"Fine" Chris huffed as he left the kitchen, "This is the thanks I get for helping you see sense"
"Well, you've been doing that on and off for years, so why should now be any different?" Andrew pointed out
"Because we're family" Chris argued before mulling this over, "Kind of"
Andrew laughed as Chris headed towards the door, "Look, I'll make it up to Tash for snapping at her, and I'll call dad to make peace with him, are you happy?"
"I will be once you do it" Chris retorted
"Well, you'll probably know about it before I can tell you, you know how much Tash and Lucy like to gossip" Andrew pointed out
"Yeah, I know, that's why we all get along so well" Chris scoffed, "Anyway, I'll leave you to your grovelling"
Andrew pulled a face as Chris left. As he closed the door behind him, Andrew sighed. Chris was right: he had a lot of grovelling to do.
Thanks for reading, and thanks 'aphass' for the request. I quite enjoyed writing that little sequel to the last chapter, and I hope you enjoyed reading it. I've got a couple of one-shots in progress, but, if anyone has any ideas, then please let me know. In the meantime, reviews are always welcome!