Chapter 2: Comeback

After an hour of light chat and pizza, Edward left. Leaving Andrea feeling better. At least, she's not leading on anymore guys.

Not for now, she thinks.

She gathered the empty glasses and coaster from her coffee table and made her way to the kitchen to clean up. She was about to go on an afternoon nap when her doorbell rang.

She made a beeline to her door, quickly checking a monitor that shows her visitor. She lit up at the sight and quickly went to the door.

"Lance!" she threw her arms around him, taking him by surprise.

"Oh, hey there, sweet child, miss me?" Lance asked as he reciprocated her hug quite awkwardly considering the fact that he is holding a bag of souvenirs just for her and a box of Krispy Kreme doughnuts, her favorite.

She let go and pouted, "I'm twenty, Lance,"

"But not yet twenty-one, so you are still my little bunny," he said as he put an arm around her shoulders and led themselves inside. He felt her roll her eyes as they walk.

They reached the living room before Andrea throw herself again towards Lance, now without his load of baggage.

"I miss you so much," she said as she kissed his cheek with a loud smoochy sound.

"I miss you, too, Andrea," he said as he too did a loud smooch on her cheek.

She grinned and looked past him, "Oooh, souvenirs," she said, hopping like a child as she darted towards it, "all for me?" she asked him.

"Of course," he said as he followed her slump down the carpeted floor.

He looked at her as she raked through the scarves from Milan, three perfume, make-up, handbag, a pair of heels and boots and last but not the least, photographs of Italy.

"I should have just come with you," she said, frowning a little.

Lance scooted closer and put an arm around her, "You got classes,"

"Oh. Right." she said with a smile. As much as she would like to travel, she is still studying. It'll have to wait.

He watched as her eyes sparkle with delight as she found the box full of Krispy Kreme. She yelped like a child and kissed him again on the cheeks, "I love you, Uncle Lance," she said as she digged in.

"I love you, too, kiddo. And quit with the uncle," he said, faking a scowl.

She looked at him, flashing a perfect set of teeth, "If you quit on calling me all those silly names, Uncle," she said, sticking out her tongue like a five-year-old.

"Whoa! Heck no," he said, declining her appeal.

"Then, I'm afraid your stuck with Uncle,"

"I can live with that,"

"I can live with those silly names, too,"

"Oka, then," he flashed her a mischievous smile which she returned with one equally so.

"Does mom and dad know you're back?" she asked, as the light argument subsided.

"Nah, I came here as soon as I got settled," he answered.

Andrea nodded, "Wow, you came for me first?" she said, putting her free hand on her chest showing that she was touched.

"Yeah, of course, you are my favorite person, you know that." he said as he messed up her brownish blonde hair with the arm that he had around her.

She scrunched up her face and felt her heart race, she always felt that quicker thrums whenever he said those sweet things and though it might seem like a symptom for heart failure, she does not want it gone. She liked the feeling.

"You scrunched up my hair again," she pouted and ducked away from him to smooth her hair.

He laughed, the melodious baritone laugh she loves and misses so much, "Well, I'm just showing my love, kiddo,"

"Wow, I feel so loved," she said, sarcastically, and stood up and gathered the box of Krispy Kreme (now holding the remaining four doughnuts) and made her way to the kitchen.

Lance followed her and sat down at one of the stools by the breakfast bar. He examined the young woman the girl he knew ever since her birth had come to be.

Andrea Owen had been a very constant part of his life ever since he first saw her wrapped in a pink towel. Over the years hey had grown rather fond of each other, sharing stories and secrets only the two of them knew. She had told him everything that she can't tell her parents like her first kiss which as she described it is perfect in every where you look for it had happened in the park in their neighborhood in Beverly Hills, in front of the swing set, one fine Sunday, but she said the scene is bad, she described the kiss of the guy she had a crush on, Dave Russells, as sloppy and wet; and her first boyfriend, who she happened to go out with while he was away for a business trip for a month in China, who had been ten years older than she was (she was fifteen by that time).

Lance returned the favor by telling her everything that is like what she had told him, of course leaving some things she does not wan to hear about. She had treated him as a second dad, an older brother (for she was the only child of Simon and Pamela) and a best friend, and he treated her as a daughter, younger sister and best friend (alongside her father).

He watched her gracefully move around her kitchen showing off the womanly assets, that guys of different age would very much love to see, with only a gray tank top and a denim short. He suddenly realized that she is in fact a very independent woman as she had claimed to be ever since she left her home for college at the prime age of sixteen.

"Uncle Lance," he heard her say in a sing song manner, dragging him off his trance He focused his eyes and noticed two green orbs six inches away from his face. Andrea's eyes.

"Yeah?" he asked her.

"Would you like something to drink, Uncle?" she asked

"No, I'm good, and will you just please quit on the uncle thing, for goodness's sake I feel uncomfortable with that," he asked her, annoyed.

She smiled, "As long as you stop calling me kiddo, Uncle," she bargained.

"Okay, deal." he said.

"Good," she smiled wider, the very smile that he found contagious and within a split second he found himself smiling back.

She rounded the bar and sat on the stool beside Lance, "Now, tell me about Italy,"