Andy sticks his key into the lock and turns, pushing his way into the apartment, smiling when he sees Sharon's things already discarded at the entry table and her heels kicked aside for her Uggs. He carries their dinner into the kitchen, looking up as Sharon comes out into the living room, the phone wedged between her shoulder and ear as she cleans her glasses. She smiles at him and mouths a 'thank you' as he unpacks everything, getting them plates out.
"Alright Mom, I've gotta go...I'll let you know soon...I love you too, tell Daddy I love him...bye," Sharon pulls the phone away from her ear and hangs up before putting her glasses back on. She leans up and presses a kiss to Andy's cheek, dropping the phone onto the counter, "Thank you for picking up dinner."
"My pleasure. How's your mom?"
"Oh just fine," Sharon says as she grabs a plate and starts to fill her plate, "She said her and Dad gave the time share away to a charity auction, so she was wondering if we wanted to come to Connecticut for Christmas. I told her I would talk to you and see what our plans were."
"I don't know that I have any," Andy says as he makes his own plate before sitting down at the table. Sharon pours herself a glass of wine and gets Andy a bottle of soda water before sitting down across from him, "Nicole told me yesterday her and Dean are taking the boys to his family's for the week, somewhere up north, Sacramento I think...so I'm free as a bird."
"Would you want to go?" Sharon asks as she twirls pasta around her fork, watching Andy, "Emily will be there and I'm sure Ricky will probably make the trip. We could probably make a vacation out of it...spend a couple days in New York before we drive up to Hartford?"
"Sure," Andy nods with a smile, "I think that sounds like fun. I mean provided we can both get the time off."
"Well, lucky for you I have an in with the boss," Sharon grins. Andy laughs as he takes a drink of his water, shaking his head, "I'll talk to Taylor tomorrow and see what we can swing. I know we're supposed to have priority for getting that week off because of the last couple years."
"You know this is a pretty big move...not only letting me meet your parents but inviting me home for Christmas," Andy teases.
"Well, I figure I should probably introduce them to the man I'm living in sin with," Sharon grins before reaching over to steal one of Andy's tortellini.
"So you admit we're living together."
"I had to flip through quite a few of your dress shirts this morning to find one of my own," Sharon comments, spooning more of her own pasta into her mouth, "Though you were inconspicuously absent from bed."
"I was exhausted after dinner at Nicole's..."
"You don't have to apologize," Sharon says, setting her fork down, "But maybe we could start looking at places?"
"Of course, are you sure?"
"Yeah," Sharon nods with a smile, "I'd like to...I want you here all the time."
"I'd like that," Andy smiles back.
Sharon thanks Andy as he sets a to-go container on her desk before taking a seat across from her with his own. She takes her glasses off and rubs her eyes, setting them down on her desk.
"I thought everyone was going out for lunch?"
"They did, I thought we could take advantage of the time alone," Andy smiles. Sharon smiles back and closes the folder she'd had open in front of her before opening her to-go container to see what he'd gotten her for lunch. Her heart melts slightly when she sees her favorite salad from the deli across the street inside.
"This looks great, thank you."
"Think we might get out of here at a reasonable time tonight?" Andy asks as they start to eat.
"I think so," Sharon replies as she picks up a fork, "If we don't get called out."
"Maybe we could pick up a movie on the way home?"
"Sure, you mind picking it up? I can make sure dinner's taken care of."
"Not at all," Andy smiles.
"I talked to Taylor earlier this morning after the budget meeting," Sharon says as picks her way through the salad he'd brought her, stabbing her fork into a crouton, "Major Crimes is supposed to have the two weeks off for the holiday this year, Robbery Homicide is supposed to take any calls. But he said that he would accept a formal vacation request to guarantee us some of the time off. So I was looking at the calendar and thought that if we left on the 21st and flew to New York, we could catch one of Emily's performances and then drive with her to Hartford on the 23rd."
"I think that sounds great, I'd love to see Emily dance. The boys will be jealous."
"Her tour schedule is coming out soon, maybe we can arrange to take them to one of her shows if she's in LA or close," Sharon suggests, resting her chin on her hand, "They'd probably like that."
"I think they would love it," Andy smiles, "Speaking of I need help picking something out for Christmas for the two of them. I wanted to send a couple things with to Sacramento."
"We can go this weekend? Do some Christmas shopping in general?"
"Sure," Andy nods, "It's a date."
Sharon smiles at him and flips her hair over her shoulder as she takes the last couple bites of her salad, offering the left over tomatoes to Andy.
"You know you could just order mine without tomatoes and add them to yours."
"But then you wouldn't be sharing with me," Andy smiles as he spears one of the tomatoes before popping it in his mouth. Sharon laughs and shakes her head, watching him finish her leftovers. Andy closes both of the containers once he's done and Sharon grabs them, depositing them into her trash. He stands up and dusts his hands off on his pants, "What kind of movie?"
"You pick," Sharon smiles, picking her glasses back up and slipping them onto her face, "Thank you for lunch."
"No problem," Andy winks before heading out of her office just as the team starts filing back into the Murder Room.
Sharon nudges the oven door closed with her knee as she hears the front door open and close.
"In the kitchen!" Andy takes his jacket off and hangs it on the coat rack before taking his gun and badge off his belt and heading into the kitchen. He smiles at Sharon and sets a bag from the video store down on the counter.
"Smells good, what did you make?"
"Salmon, asparagus, and a salad," Sharon says as she wipes her hands off on her apron with a smile, "What did you pick up at the movie store?"
"Scary movie and a drama," Andy says as he wraps his arms around her waist, pressing a soft kiss to her lips, "You'll just have to wait to see what exactly after dinner."
"Okay," Sharon says narrowing her eyes as she draws the word out, "You want to grab plates and silverware please?"
Andy nods and washes his hands before grabbing the things to set the table. He puts together their place settings before getting them both drinks.
"Where's Rusty?"
"With Gus," Sharon answers as she brings the baking dish over along with a bowl of salad, "They were having dinner and then going to a movie I think."
"They seem to be getting along together well," Andy comments as he serves them both out dinner.
"They do," Sharon smiles, taking her seat across from him, "I'm glad...Rusty needs someone like that."
"He does," Andy nods. The two talk quietly over dinner and Andy offers to clean up the dishes as Sharon gets their movie set up. He gets the dishwasher loaded and started before moving into the living room to meet Sharon. He smiles when he sees that she had put the scary movie in and dragged out a blanket for them to share.
"You're going to have to put up with me jumping."
"I can live with that," Andy comments as he sinks down onto the couch, putting his feet up on the coffee table. Sharon settles into his side and drapes the blanket over them before starting the movie. She leans up and presses a quick kiss to his lips during the intros.
"I love you."
"I love you too," Andy smiles, pressing a kiss to her head as she lays it on his shoulder before turning his attention to the tv.
By the end of the movie they were no longer paying attention, too wrapped up in each other to notice the credits were rolling. Sharon groans as Andy kisses her hungrily, his hips settled between hers, forcing her skirt to bunch up. She pulls back as a bright blue light washes over them as the credits finish and the last final ads run. She bites her lip as Andy looks at her with dark eyes, running her fingers through his mussed up hair.
"We should probably head to bed."
"Shar," Andy groans, dropping his head to her chest, "You're killing me here."
"I know...I'm sorry," Sharon whispers, stroking the back of his head. Andy rolls himself off the couch, taking care not to crush her. He holds a hand out to her after turning the tv off. Sharon takes his hand and pulls herself up, shoving her skirt down a little bit before pulling him down the hallway to her bedroom. Andy presses a kiss to her neck as he follows her into the room before stepping back.
"Mind if I shower real quick?"
"Not at all," Sharon smiles, "I washed your sweats. They're in the top drawer."
"Thanks," Andy smiles, kissing her and holding her close for a moment before letting go and heading into the bathroom. Sharon sighs and unzips her skirt, letting it pool at her feet before she leans down to pick it up. She swallows as she notices how wrinkled it is before putting it in her bin for the dry cleaners along with her blouse. She tosses her bra and underwear in the regular laundry before tugging on a purple silk nightgown. She listens to the shower run for a moment before pulling a brush through her hair and taking her glasses off. She sits on the end of the bed and waits for Andy to come out of the bathroom.
Andy comes out a few minutes later, rubbing a towel over his head and dropping his clothes into the laundry. He tosses the towel aside as well and smiles at Sharon when he sees her sitting on the end of the bed. She holds her hands out to him, beckoning him closer. Andy stands between her legs and smiles as she wraps her arms around his waist, resting her cheek against his stomach. She holds him close for a moment before tipping her head to look up at him and speak.
"You know I want you, right?"
"I know," Andy nods, running his fingers through her hair. He groans as he squats down in front of her, pressing a soft kiss to her lips. Sharon smiles at him and kisses his nose before pulling him into bed with her. She settles on her side and sighs happily as he settles against her back before reaching over her to turn the light off, "Night, darling."
"Night."
[TBC]