I own nothing of Major Crimes. I only borrow the characters from time to time.

This Is How It Happened

She watched him sleeping on the sofa. The angel throw, a Christmas gift from Emily, was snug around him. He had a soft snore. His breath puffed through his lips in perfect rhythm.

Sharon tilted her head and smiled.

He was restless last night. As luck would have it, Rusty stayed with a friend, allowing him to wonder the condo and take refuge on the sofa. Ever the considerate guest, he kept the television barely audible as not to disturb her.

Sharon took note of the near silent TV and the open book on the coffee table. He surely knew he could wake her if he needed anything…if he needed her. She would have sat on the couch with him. He could have rested his head in her lap while she stroked his forehead and gently combed her fingers through his silver hair. They could have talked about their current case, or the Dodgers, or nothing at all. He should have woke her. Could, would, should, she sighed. How many times did regret give power to those words?

This isn't what she expected. It wasn't what she planned. Like the bloom of a flower emerging from a winter's sleep, it quietly blossomed. She found the fragrance and color it brought to her life exhilarating. It was her chance to write a new ending to a worn out chapter.

When did this happen? Sharon wondered. This, not being him asleep on her sofa, living in her home, but this, her not wanting him to leave, ever.

The sound of Rusty unlocking the door jolted her back into the now. She put her finger to her lips, "shhh."

She sat on the coffee table in front of him as he rustled in between sleep and awake.

Through sleepy eyes and with a crooked grin, Andy whispered, "good morning Sunshine," as he reached for her hand.

Then she knew. This is how it happened.

Before she had a chance to answer he added, "Were you checking to see if I was still breathing?"

"Andy! Heavens no," she said with an impish grin. "I could hear you 'breathing' down the hallway."

He shrugged, "the kid does it all of the time. I'm kind of used to it now."

She gave him a quick kiss and went to pour coffee for the two of them. Rusty was eating a bowl of cereal at the dining room table too engrossed in his laptop to notice them.

Andy took a sip of coffee and rubbed his forehead.

"Are you alright?" she asked. Her green eyes dark with worry.

"Just a little headache," he quickly added, "probably slept wrong."

"You wouldn't lie to me would you?"

"Of course he wouldn't lie, he's a police officer," Rusty chimed in from behind her.

As Andy turned, he winced in pain, "thanks Kid."

Sharon looked between the two of them, as her hand went instinctively to her stomach as if to calm the anxiety rising up inside.

"You look serious," he said as he studied her expression. "Am I wearing out my welcome?"

Sharon sat down next to him and took his hand. "Quite the opposite, there's something I want, no need, to tell you."

"Oh?"

"Andy, I…"

He drew a sharp breath as his eyes tightly closed. He gave her hand a tight squeeze, one that said remember my touch forever. "Sharon, I .." he rasped as slumped against her.

"Andy…" she screamed in a voice she was sure wasn't her own.