Love conquers all...

[Andy] *putting the tray into the fridge and getting ready to settle in and wait for Joey he jumps at the loud POP in his living room* Jesus Joey. One of these days you're going to give me a heart attack. *walking over and hugging her* How was the rest of your evening?
[Joey]*smiling at him* Sorry, didn't mean to startle you. I promised I'd be back.  I had a good evening. I went and saw Nate play, they won of course. *stepping back and looking at Andy* I took Evan with me.
[Andy] *smiling at her as well as he can* That's good, did you two enjoy yourselves? *taking her hand and walking her to the kitchen*
[Joey]We did. So you aren't going to yell at me? Or ask a million questions? *stopping and making him stop for a second, looking at him trying to brace herself for anything he may say*
[Andy] Joey, *moving her hair behind her ear* I'm not going to yell at you. The only thing that's important to me is that you had a good time, and made it home safely. You're not my posession, you're my girlfriend. You have every right to have friends, even if I don't like the fact that he's your ex. You've got such a beautiful heart, I can't ask you to stop being friends with him. just because I don't like him. That would be unreasonable, and very unkind to you.
[Joey]*smiling and hugging him tight against her, looking up at him and whispering* We didn't do anything you wouldn't approve of. No kissing or anything. But, at the same time I had so much fun with him. I miss him being in my life. *standing on her tippy toes and resting her forehead on his, looking into his eyes before moving in for a kiss*
[Andy] *leaning down he gives her a long and intense, closed mouth kiss. Pulling away he kisses her forehead and then opens the fridge and pulls out the tray he had put in as she was arriving* I'm pleased you had fun. Perhaps when I learn to be a little more civil, I can join you two. *smiling at her* I made you a treat. *he grins as she looks at the four strawberry shortcakes , one on each corner of a foil covered tray. Pink whipped cream tops each of the cakes, and is piped into the center area of the tray with the words, "Joey, I don't love you. Yet. ~A"*
[Joey]*looking at the tray and then at him* You did that? It's beautiful. *reading the words he wrote and then looking back at him* I am not scared of you loving me, I am scared of you hurting me. All I know of love is that is ends and leaves you broken and hurt. *taking her finger and rubbing the word don't and licking her finger then smiling at what she did*
[Andy] *taking the tray, along with forks and two large glasses of milk into the living room and sitting next to her on the couch* I know why you're afraid of me hurting you. I can't lie to you and say I promise it will never happen. But I can promise that I hope it doesn't. There's something about you that's stuck in my mind. I know you think that my past makes me ... I don't know, scary or something. But I assure you, as far as I'm concerned you're the first girl I've ever even looked at.
[Joey] But I am not the first girl you were with. And I guess I have no room to talk, since you are not the first guy I dated. Its just when I am with you I feel like I have to be a different version of myself. Not enough that it changes who I am, but enough that makes me sad that I can't be the immature kid I am. *looking at him and frowning* Not that its a bad thing, but I feel like I am two Joey's and I just want to be one Joey, all the time.
[Andy] I love that you're an "immature kid". Please don't go being someone else when you're with me. I want you to be who you are, I like who you are. I want you to be silly and fun. *making a pouty face at her* I want to be the guy you want to have food fights with. You've met me, I'm not mature in the slightest.
[Joey] Food fights are fun, I want that too. But, I don't look at you as an immature person. I look at you as a man. You are experienced and stuff. Andy, I still freak out when you aren't wearing a shirt. That should say something about our levels of maturity. *pouting* I don't know what is wrong with me, but I guess I am happy that you like me. Even the weird parts.
[Andy] There is nothing wrong with you. *hugging her and taking a forkful of the shortcake and feeding it to her* You can look at me as a "man" all you like. But I'm still a little boy when it comes to some things, and if I have my way I'll always be. Also, to me, you're not just the girl I like, you're a strong and beautiful woman. You hold your family together, and you're strong when nobody else can be. I've seen that in you, and I wish you could recognize it. I think it's adorable that you get all red when I don't have my shirt on, but I respect it. *tugging on the hem of his shirt* That's why I'm wearing one now.
[Joey] *enjoying the shortcake as he talks and smiling when he finishes* That is so amazing. You must eat some too. *watching him and waiting for him to take a bite, grinning as he does, rubbing his chest* One day I will be able to handle you not wearing a shirt, but for right now it just makes me all flustered. Thank you for thinking of me with little things like that. *taking another bite of the shortcake and smiling as she licks the fork* I guess we have to take our relationship a step at a time. Eventually we will figure it out. *looking down and whispering* Just so you know, I am going to be friends with Evan. I know you don't like him, you don't have to. Just respect me enough to let him be in my life.
[Andy] Go for it. Honestly, I told you, I can't change your heart, and I wouldn't if I could. You're a sweet and loving person and I'm not going to ask you to give up friends for me. I've got lots of friends too, and while I'm sure you wouldn't be thrilled with most of them, the only thing you've ever asked of me is that I respect you and not flirt with other girls in front of you. That's not too much to ask for. *eating another bite and trying not to be completely transfixed by her playing with her fork in her mouth.* I want you to know something though, and I want you to not freak out when I say it. Can you try?
[Joey] *looking at him and smiling* See that is a start, respect for each other is a big step in the relationship process. *setting her fork down and turning to face him better* I can't promise anything, other then letting you say what you need to. The freaking out, I can't really control. *looking at him a little nervous, but curious to see what is on his mind*
[Andy] *sits watching her for a moment, trying to figure out how to verbalize what he wants to say* I think you're incredibly sexy. *chuckling when she blushes and looks away* Especially that. I think your innocence is just as attractive as other things about you. I'm not going to try to get you to have sex any time soon. But I would like to help you embrace your sexuality. It's there, just bubbling under the surface. I see it in the way you look at me sometimes, and the way you lick your fork, knowing I'm watching you. It's in the things you say and the way you touch me. It's nothing to be ashamed of, and there's a whole lot we can do without ever having sex. I won't push you, and you get to lead the way. But if you want to open those doors, I want to be the man to help you walk through them.
[Joey] *looking away for a minute and then looking at him, confident* When I am ready to lead the way, you will know. I know that right now I want nothing to do with any of it. But, I like that you are patient enough to wait. If it ever gets to be too much, please tell me before you go have your needs met by some piece of trash. I can't imagine what its like to have it all the time for so long then just stop. I am probably selfish, and that is okay too. You knew how I felt before you ever got involved with me. *playing with her hair and watching his face*
[Andy] *blushing a bit* I'm perfectly capable of meeting my own needs, I don't have to go find anyone else, trash or otherwise. You're not selfish, you know what you want and you're not afraid to voice that. There's that strong woman I was talking about. I might get a little worked up when we're kissing. I'm sorry for that, I can't help it, you make me *pausing, thinking while taking another bite of shortcake* happy. I think that's a good word there. I don't want you to run away every time either, but I also don't want to scare you. If I go too far, make a movement you don't like, or touch you in a way you don't think is appropriate. Please tell me, I'll never be mad.
[Joey] I will tell you. You know I am vocal on pretty much everything. *winking at him* I know boys can take care of their needs, but I know that isn't what you are used to. *turning several shades of red* So, this shortcake, it's pretty good. But I am full. I had some ice cream in Cali. *handing him her fork and watching him set the tray down* I am going to go upstairs and change into my pj's I am sleeping down here tonight, since I offered up my flat to the broken heart club.
[Andy] You don't have to go up there, you can wear a pair of my pajama pants and one of my shirts if you like. Or I'm sure Lizzy wouldn't mind if you wore a set of her pajamas, they're in her top drawer. *at her look he smiles* She asked me to bring her some when she went to the hospital with appendecitis.
[Joey]*nodding* Just grab me a shirt and some pants or something. I don't mind wearing your stuff. I think I would look cute in it. *smiling at him as he gets up and goes into his room, coming out with clothes for her to change into* They smell like you. I will be right back. *kissing him softly before walking into the bathroom to change*
[Andy] *watching her walk away he smiles* Well, it's a step. *taking his finger he wipes the "yet" off of the board and sucks it off of his finger, looking at the result. "Joey, I love you. ~A". He smiles widely and carries the tray back into the kitchen, humming a soft song* Yeah, it's a step.
[Joey]*getting undressed and washing up, thankful that Andy kept his bathroom stocked up, she grabbed a new toothbrush and brushed her teeth. putting on his clothes and smiling as she folds up the pants and folds the shirt under its self so that it isn't so long on her. with a sigh she grabs her clothes and walks out to the living room* See I told you I'd look cute in your clothes. *setting her clothes down by the door and skipping back to the couch, sitting with Andy* Sorry it took me so long. I was making some adjustments to my wardrobe here. *giggling as she leans into him*
[Andy] *kissing her gently* You look adorable. If you want you can take those with you. So you can think of me at night. *clearing his throat* Not that you do, or whatever. Yeah, um ... *holding her close, but not super tight in case she wants to move away* I'm just saying, I like to think of you sometimes. *closing his eyes and calling himself a moron several times in his head, knowing that if his sister was there she'd be laughing her ass off at him* Do you want to watch a movie then?
[Joey]*turning to face him, kissing him and breaking into laughter during their kiss* You know, you are too cute for your own good sometimes. *climbing onto his lap and taking his face in her hands, slowly kissing him. holding his head as she pulls away* I would love to borrow your pj's so I can wear them at night. Thank you. *hugging him then turning to sit in his lap, the back of her head resting against his shoulder* So what movie is in the dvd player? Cause I am comfy, and I don't really want to get up.
[Andy] *grabbing the remote and moving to get up* Yeah, you don't want to watch that. I'll just put in one of the Disney movies we have. We just got Pocahantas.
[Joey]*trying to get the remote from him and laughing when he moves it away* Come on Andy, I don't care that you watch chick flicks. Just let me have it. *kissing him and grabbing the remote when he is sidetracked, he pulls it away but she presses buttons as he does. seeing the movie come on she laughs* Ha! I won. *seeing the screen flip on to naked people she jumps up* Turn it off, please, turn it off! *falling to the floor in a ball crying so hard she can barely breath* No, please no! Turn it off!
[Andy] *jumping up and unplugging the power cord to the entertainment center, causing it all to go blank and silent except for the sound of Joey's tears. He sits on the floor near her, but without touching her* I'm sorry. Oh sweetie I'm so sorry. I didn't mean for you to see that. It's ok, it's off now. What's wrong?
[Joey]*opening her eyes and seeing Andy looking at her, the tv completely black, the house so quiet she can hear herself breathe* Sorry. *calming herself down enough so that she can sit up, speaking to no one* I was to little to stop it. I was just a little kid. *looking at Andy's confused look she curled into herself* When I was little I had a babysitter. She was walking me home from school one day and this guy grabbed us and threw us in his van. He stripped us and he forced her to have sex with him and his friend. He turned to me, I remeber his face and his junk coming near me. I freaked out and screamed as loud as I could. They pulled away and threatned me. But I just kept screaming. I scrambled to get my shirt on and grabbed my shorts while they were discussing who was going to get me first. My babysitter waited til we stopped at a red light, she opened the door and pushed me out of the van. *looking at him with the sadest expression* They killed her. I heard my parents talking about how they owe her for protecting me. *looking down* That is why I am terrified of sex, and why I hate the man you were. *playing with the cuff of her pants, still breathing hard* I could've been raped and killed that day.
[Andy] *watching her, wanting to go and hug her but knowing that this isn't the right time, not wanting to send her into another panic attack* I don't ... *clearing his head* evil fucking bastards. You were just a little girl. I can't believe. someone could ... *standing up and pacing the room again, picking up a throw cushion and chucking it at the wall* Fuck! *as she curls tighter into herself he stops and sits in front of her again* I'm sorry Blondie, I didn't mean to scare you. I'm just so mad at them. Don't be scared, I won't ever make you do anything, anything at all, ever if you don't want. Nothing. God I'm such an asshole, I'm so sorry. I'm sorry for you going through that, and for you seeing that on the tv just now, and for scaring you, and for the guy I was. If I could turn back time and just not be that guy. If I had known you were coming along, I would have waited for you. I'm so sorry.
[Joey]*shaking her head and playing with the water drops her tears are making on the floor* You didn't know, trust me it's not something I tell anyone. But, you needed to know why I just freaked out like that. *pushing herself closer to him and laying her head on his leg* You didn't know I was going to come along, so don't be sorry. Now you know why Nate hates you. It's not you as much as its your past. *calming down as she lays there, him playing with her hair* Can you please hide those movies, I don't need you to get rid of them because they are yours. But, I don't like them at all.
[Andy] Of course. That's never going to happen here again. *rubbing her hair and relaxing as she calms down* I'll cut Nate some slack. He's just protecting you, and now I know why. I want you to be as comfortable in my home as you are in your own. *thinking of a way to distract her a little* Hey can you do me a favor Blondie? *when she looks up at him, her big blue eyes still shimmering* Go through the cupboard in the loo. Keep anything in there that you think you'll use, put the rest in a box for Lizzy to do the same? I'll take the rest to the hospital for the nurses.
[Joey]*nodding and smiling* I gave myself a toothbrush in there. The rest is pretty much attached to the man you were. So can we just donate it all to them? *sitting up and looking at him* There is no reason to hold onto it, you aren't that guy anymore. Why not give it to the ladies who deserve to feel appreciated for all they do. *curling up in his lap and letting him hold her tight*
[Andy] We can, I just didn't want to waste anything you might like. *leaning down and smelling her hair as he rocks her in his lap* Hey Joe, I was wrong about something.
[Joey]*smiling* It's not wasting, it is for a good cause. If I need something I will buy it. It will be mine and not attached to your past. *looking up at him and putting her finger on her lips* You don't have to say it. I know you do. *leaning in to kiss him softly*
[Andy] *looking around and finding a remote for the radio on the other side of the room, he turns it on and soft classical music starts playing. He holds her there on the floor and rocks her until she falls asleep, curled in his lap, her head on his shoulder, He puts her on the couch and covers her with blankets and then makes a bed on the floor beside her as he had in the past. Watching her sleep he smiles at her* I love you. A whole lot.