Andy smiled as her phone buzzed in her pocket. She smiled at the customers, tucked a pencil behind an ear and went to give the order to his cook. Today, Howard had asked her to fill-in for Felicity as she had some urgent business to attend to. Andy knew that was just an excuse for her to hang out with Ben, but agreed to cover for her.

She leaned against a column where she wouldn't be seen and pulled out her phone to read Leo's message.

There was once a girl, red and freckled,

Who didn't want to be shackled,

But she met her match, with the world's greatest catch,

And now she is all happy and tickled!

Andy giggled at Leo's nonsensical poem. She had told him that she would think about moving in with him, but instead of giving her time and space to think, he was putting out his case, a bit too strongly, in typical Leo style. First to arrive had been the long-stemmed roses, then the daisies and chrysanthemums and today were the orchids. Mr. Lloyd, the only florist in town, was having a booming business thanks to Leo's histrionics. Now, it was the turn of these corny and funny poems. Each one made her laugh out loud. Well, yes, Leo was over the top cocky, but he did make her feel so good!

She quickly put her phone back in and moved to serve the customers. A gentleman in the back had wheeled himself in with a wheelchair and a lady attendant. Stephy, another waitress was serving them, but she came up to Andy.

"That old guy's asking for you. A good tipper, too!" She pocketed a twenty.

Andy was puzzled. She walked towards the table but they moved out the door. The lady signaled her to follow. Intrigued, Andy went to the parked van. It was daylight, so she sincerely doubted that the attendant and the old man in the wheelchair were planning a kidnapping. She pasted a smile and approached the lady. "Hi, I'm Andy, may I help you?"

The lady didn't respond, but the old man stared at her with wizened eyes. He looked familiar, but Andy couldn't place him. 

"So, you're the girl dating my son?"

"Excuse me?" Andy stared from the wrinkled old man to the lady. The lady looked away, not bothering to correct the old man's delusions. "I think you have me confused with someone else."

"Not at all, dear girl." His grey hand reached out for a handshake. "I'm Robin Sherman, Leo's father."

-----

Leo was excited. He had decided to surprise Andy and he was going to take her out on a date today. Today was the day, she would agree to move in with him, he was sure of it. 

He whistled a tune as he pulled out a small box from his jacket. Were they moving a bit fast? Maybe. But he really did need to be back in LA and there was no way in hell that he was leaving Andy behind. The girl was a human-magnet to losers and psychos. Staying with him would keep her out of trouble, so really it was more of a practical solution than anything else. She would probably thank him for suggesting it. Ok, she wouldn't, but she clearly should.

"Hi Mary!" Leo greeted Mary cheerily. She was, as expected, glued to her window seat. She gave him a blank look then furrowed her brow. The lights were on but no one was home. Leo sighed and went in search of Andy, after rubbing Washington's ears. The big dog lugged behind him.

Andy was just coming out of the washroom, Leo grabbed her from behind. She shrieked, "Let me go, Leo!"

"You shouldn't have given me the keys, sweetheart," he said.

"You're the one who changed the locks and kept one set of keys!" Andy mumbled. Leo laughed and turned her around.

Something was wrong. Andy was pale and withdrawn, her green eyes swollen. "Are you ok, sweetheart?"

"Yeah, of course," she said with false cheer. Sighing, Leo collected her into his arms. Women did that sometimes, get upset for no reason. The only thing guys could do in such instances was get them ice-cream.

He didn't have ice-cream, but Leo tried his best to cheer her up. He snuggled with her on her bed, wincing as he realized that she would probably not want to come out with him tonight. Mary sometimes creeped him out, so he rather liked to get Andy to his place rather than spend the night at hers.

He took the box out of his pocket, girls usually cheered up at jewelry. But Andy's eyes turned round as she eyed the box. 

"What is that?" 

Oh hell, did she think he was proposing?

"Relax, don't look so shocked. It's for you, open it."

If she found the diamond hoops she had found for her as exquisite as the saleswoman had claimed she would, she didn't let it show it on her face. She closed the box and handed it over to him. "I can't accept these, Leo."

"Yes, you will. I accepted your gift, didn't I?"

She bit her lower lip, "Is this part of your ploy to woo me?"

"Of course!" He put the box in her hands and covered it with his. "Take it Andy, please?"

She nodded and placed the box in the drawer of her side table. Leo was relieved. If a girl took gifts from you, she was generally not mad at you.

"So, are you going to tell me what's wrong?" Leo said in a soothing voice after Andy seemed much calmer. 

Andy bit her lip. "I met someone today." She looked up at him with a slightly guilty look on her face. "Robin."

Leo cursed and got up. "Where?"

"He'd come to the restaurant."

He ran his fingers through his hair. "Really? Tenacious little bastard!"

"I-I'm so sorry, Leo. He told me about your mother's affair and how you didn't know about your real dad until you were much older. He told me everything-, God, that must've been awful! I  am so sorry!"

Leo's jaw clenched. He hadn't wanted Andy to find out like this, possibly never. "Andy, please, I don't want to talk about it. And please keep your god-damned pity away from me!"

"Oh, of course, I'm sorry!" He shot her a warning glance. "I-I mean, it's not my place, but you should hear him out."

"Stay out of it, Andy. It's my personal business." Silence met his outburst. He turned with a frown, Andy was sitting on her bed, subdued.

"Look, it's fine with you to go around playing Robin Hood and gathering strays, but it's another thing to tell me how I should run my life. Frankly, this matter doesn't concern you. If my mom had stopped whoring behind my father's back, we wouldn't be having this conversation. You know, they used to call my mom 'Nightingale' because she sang beautifully. She should've been called a 'Cuckoo' because she liked to leave her bastards for others to raise."

Andy didn't say much, but he felt like punching someone. In a calm voice, she said, "Look, I understand that you're upset, maybe we should just call it a night."

"Yeah, I'll see you." Hurt, embarassed and angry, Leo stormed out.

----

A/N: Please vote/comment if you like. There maybe some unanswered questions that will be answered later.

Ciao,

S.