Again this was something I wrote up some time ago, but I added and removed some things to make it current. This is also a bit different from what I usually do. Since Emily's appearance happens tomorrow, I thought this may be the last time I would have a chance to share. Please let me know what you think.

I guess we can say it is my holiday gift to all of you.

Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas!

Andy watched as his daughter and grandchildren crossed the security line at the airport, waiving as they turned around. They smiled and waved back, Nicole was on her way to spend her Christmas with her husband who was away on a business trip for the holidays. It meant his son wouldn't be coming down and he would have another Christmas alone. He scratched the back of his neck as he saw the last glimpses of them, it seemed as if he would never get his perfect Christmas.

Then he heard the familiar voice and looked around spotting the woman, but it was definitely not Sharon Raydor.

He looked away but then curiosity got the best of him. She had a similar hairstyle, the outfit was a dead ringer to one of those jeans and t-shirt afternoons he and Sharon had together at the movies. She looked up from her phone and Andy smiled walking over to her.

"Emily." The young woman's head popped up and he suddenly felt like a damn fool when she looked extremely confused. Of course she wouldn't recognize him, with all the years that had passed. When he was about to apologize a smile suddenly grazed her face.

"Andy?" She questioned softly, he nodded

"Wow, you're all grown up." Andy added quickly.

"Hmm," and there was the familiar hum he heard from her mother. "So I've been told." He smiled.

"Your mom didn't mention you were visiting."

"It's a surprise." She threw up her arms at her sides. Andy's smile brightened, it would be a great surprise indeed. Sharon had been stressed lately, anxious and he knew this would be a great distraction. "Are you coming or going?" She looked around him for luggage and he pointed to the security gate.

"Staying, just came to drop off my daughter."

"I see." They younger woman looked behind her toward the carousel. "I need to get my luggage, um." She smiled feeling awkward for a moment about just leaving.

"I'll come." He shrugged, her smile widened and he took it as a welcoming invitation. She lead the way as he took the small bag from her, she smiled up at him in surprise.

"Thank you but I may need help with the larger one." Andy chuckled. They small talked about her dancing and how she had time off before they reach the carousel. She pointed out the large red bag matching the smaller one he is carrying. "Thanks." She beamed a bright smile at him as he successfully hoisted it out from under another bag. "So is everyone off, does Mom and her team have a case?"

"Actually, yes." Emily sighed a little as Andy took both bags and walked with her. "Your Mom should be," he flipped his wrist and looked at his watch, "just arriving to the murder room." Emily smiled at him squinting in curiosity.

He knew her arrival time exactly?

"Oh, was that rude?" He looked up at her confused. "I mean I don't know the proper protocol after all these years, I should know this, you're not Mom's team." She hesitated. "You are a team." Andy grinned.

Yes, definitely Sharon Raydor's daughter. Her hands flailing softly, speaking extremely fast when nervous.

"No we are her team, don't worry." She smiled relieved.

"So I won't see her till much later." She pursed her lips, contemplating as they continued strolling.

"Where to? You have a rental?" He looked at her carefully.

"No, I'm here for a few days. Taxi." She pointed towards the sign in the distance. "But I can lug from here." She reached for her bag but he shook his head.

"No, if you don't mind driving with me. I'll take you." Her smile was still bright but also hesitant of wasting his time.

"We take taxis in New York all the time, it's not a big deal." She grabbed hold of her bags this time.

"It's not New York." Andy stopped her. She smiled letting him take the luggage again and puts her palms together giving him a small bow with her head. He smiled remembering seeing Sharon do that many times. It surprised him how comfortable it was to talk to her, they both found themselves laughing on their small walk. He refused to let her load her suitcase which was only one of the few surprises. The second was when he walked around the car and opened the car door for her. She couldn't remember the last person that did that for her. "You need to make any other stops before heading home?"

"No," she chuckled softly. "But thank you, this is sweet of you." He shrugged a shoulder.

"Anything to stay on good terms with your Mom." He pulled out of his parking space.

"Oh is that what this is?" She teased, Andy blushed and Emily examined him for a second.

There was something definitely charming about the man, different than she remembered him from years ago. No longer arrogant, maybe kinder?

"It's been awhile since you've been home." He tried to change the topic, when he noticed her as she watched him carefully.

"Yes, it seems Ricky was down here and well," she suddenly went silent and he looked over at her.

"Your Mom told me. He had Rusty feel a bit uncomfortable, I think things mended before he left." Andy encouraged her.

"I wasn't sure how much she shared." She voiced apologetically.

"Just her deepest secrets." Andy teased.

Emily laughed whole heartedly, humming. "Is that so?" She giggled now.

It was fascinating the similarities between both women, even her laugh was similar to her mothers.

Andy only grinned before responding.

"You know Rusty he's become part of the team, we all kind of play a role in his life." She was tempted to ask what role he played but decided against it.

He was definitely outspoken, friendly, but she could also see he was reserved. There was something she really liked about him. She couldn't quite figure it out.

"Yes, I thought it was time to come home, give Mom some support, officially meet my little brother and have all her children together."

"Your Mom will certainly love that. And he's a wonderful kid, I think you'll like him." She looked forward at the road, pensive for a few minutes.

Mom. Not once had he used her rank or her name.

"Mom and you have become good friends?" Andy glanced over at her. "She mentioned she went to Nicole's wedding and the Nutcracker." He tapped his thumbs on the steering wheel.

He screwed this up with one daughter, he wasn't about to make another mistake.

"Yes, she is helping me mend things with my children." He wouldn't go into detail and she had expected that but she had a feeling there was something else there.

"She might of mentioned other things." Emily pushed the truth, the truth was that she only really knew about the Nutcracker and the wedding. Ricky had hinted at a possible man in their Mom's life. Was it Andy?

He said something about more feminine dresses, her hair looking different and she smelled weird. It made her laugh how he turned twelve at the thought of his mother being in a relationship. She had asked if he meant that the dresses are brighter and shorter, her hair curled and she wore perfume? Ricky had replied with a simple, yes.

At first she panicked, it was the way her Mom behaved twelve, fifteen years ago when Jack appeared from nowhere and she could see in her Mother's eyes a glimmer of hope only to be disappointed time after time.

She called her father and he had seemed genuinely surprised, when he had bad mouthed their mother talking about divorce and a case she had hung up and sighed in relief. Sharon Raydor was definitely not trying to seduce Jack.

The car went silent again and he cleared his throat.

"She did?" His voice was slightly optimistic and she suddenly hated herself for playing with his feelings.

"Well some of it was Mom, you just told me there was other stuff." She smiled apologetically at him, he turned red.

He wasn't about to confuse things with another daughter.

"She's helping me get on good terms with my children, they really like her and see her as a positive person in my life, she's a good friend." He said quickly, knowing there was something else with the tone of voice she was using.

"Like when all of you were younger, Dad, Mom, your wife?" The question surprised him.

"Ex-wife and yes, but no. I was more on good terms with your father." He hated to admit it but he wasn't going to lie either, he had learned that lesson.

Alcohol buddies twenty five years ago and he hated thinking about it.

Even if Sharon and his work relationship had gone back to normal after their clarification to Nicole their relationship outside of work had gone cold. She had avoided dinners and other invitations, he had started to miss her.

Miss her company, her laughter, the way her fingers softly curled around his arm, the smell of her perfume and overall his friend.

"And how's that going?" Emily pushed quickly but he had momentarily forgotten what they were speaking about. "I mean the relationship with Jack?"

"You know one thing hasn't changed. You ask too many questions." Andy adds with a nervous chuckle. Emily smiles. "How is New York?"

"Smooth." She teased, he was nervous and she would take advantage of that. "It's great, I miss Mom of course but I love the city and my life. I'm curious though how did you know it was me at the airport?" He took a deep breath.

Yes, definitely Sharon Raydor's daughter. She was an interrogator.

"You're the splitting image of your mother, she hasn't changed much but she looked just like you when she was your age." She hummed, looking at his profile carefully.

His eyes crinkled at the edges, his lips curved up and he gripped the steering wheel a little tighter whenever her mother came up.

"You think Mom would mind me surprising her at the office?" She wanted to see her mother, but also see Andy around her mother.

Andy quickly switched lanes.

"She'll hate me if I don't take you." Emily smiled.

He pulls up into the parking spot and hurries off the car, opening her door. "We can unload bags later." She nodded in agreement. "Can ask a favor of you?"

"Yeah of course." How couldn't she after he had saved her from a long boring cab drive home? "Come see me before you leave." She smiled as they stepped into the murder room.

The team looked up and they all smiled, those who had never met the girl knew instantly who she was just by the similarities. Andy rubbed her upper back softly. She looked at him and smiled as he walked to his desk. They all turned and watched as Sharon Raydor talked to Tao over his monitor screen. Emily put her finger over her lips asking them to remain silent. She walked carefully towards Sharon, tapping her shoulder.

"Excuse me, I'm looking for my…"

"Em!" Sharon squealed hugging her tightly. The entire team beamed as she stepped back and examined her daughter. "You're too thin."

"You always say that." Emily hugged her again and tighter this time. "I'm sorry to intrude." Emily said more to Mike than to her Mom.

"Not at all." He waved her off immediately.

"Oh honey this is Lieutenant Tao," she shook his hand and then Sharon scanned the room, "Detective Sánchez, you've met Lieutenant Provenza and that is Detective Sykes and you remember Andy and Buzz isn't here but you can meet him later." Sharon's smile was permanent.

"Yes, hello everyone." They all look from one woman to the other. It wasn't only physical but the way they carried themselves, the movement of their hands, the soft expressions. It was almost impossible to look away from. "Is Ricky or Rusty around?" Emily asked hopeful.

"They were still sleeping when I came here." Emily smiled at her Mom.

"Of course Ricky is. Well it seems I should have gone home." She frowned apologetically.

"No, this is a wonderful surprise." Sharon stroked her arm. "Wait in my office." Emily nodded hugging her Mom once more and smiling at Andy as he looked up at her before she disappeared into the office.

"Captain this is basics, I can take care of it and let you know what I find." Tao offered with an encouraging smile.

They could all see her joy and excitement. He wouldn't have her wait any longer.

"Thank you Lieutenant." She hurried to her office, the chatter quickly started before the door was shut closed.

Emily smiled at Andy as he eyed Sharon from his desk, he quickly got to work when the look from Sharon wasn't as soft.

Yes, there was definitely something.

"I'm so happy you're here." Sharon sat beside her daughter. "I've missed you. How was the flight?" She squeezed her knee.

"Like always delayed but I had an interesting ride over here." She grinned.

"Yeah?" Sharon smiled at her.

"Yeah. A very handsome man," Sharon looked at her and squinted. "He seemed to know quite a bit about you." She smiled taking her mother's hand into hers.

"Me?" Sharon frowned, then looked at her confused.

"Hmm, he's very funny and sweet." Sharon leaned forward in her chair. "Said I look a lot like you when you were my age."

"Em?" Sharon shook her head.

"Hmm, he's also divorced, so no problem there, you know the grandchildren may be a problem." Sharon's eyes light up, but she looked at her hand. Emily smiled.

Yes, there was definitely, something going on.

"Lieutenant Flynn?" Sharon looked up again.

"Yeah Andy." Emily chuckled.

Sharon lifted a finger to her lips trying to silence her, looking through the opened blinds, seeing the back of Andy's head, making Emily only laugh louder.

"How did Lieutenant Flynn end up driving you home?" She whispered.

"Well Andy, was dropping off his daughter, he spotted me out by my voice. He said he thought it was you than he offered me a ride." She grinned the entire time, making Sharon slightly nervous.

"I'll have to thank him." Her mother voice is short.

"Mom, is he? Are you two?" She exhaled a long breath and sat back seeing her mother glare at her. "Is there something you'd like to share with me?" They younger woman was not intimidated by the deathly glares anymore, her arms crossed in front of her and she smirked.

"Emily, I don't know what you two talked about but either way this is not appropriate conversation for the office."

"Appropriate?" Emily huffs. "I.." Sharon stands behind her desk and holds out her keys.

"Can you make it home alone?" That caught her off guard.

"Are you kicking me out?" She chuckled.

"No, of course not." Sharon sighed, glancing out towards the murder room to see Andy gone from his desk. "I'll just be really busy around here."

"I don't mind." Her daughter grinned, crossing her legs and getting comfortable.

"Em?" Sharon took her daughters hand and dropped the keys in her hand.

"Alright I'm going home." She giggled, taking the car keys. "Call me when you need a ride home." She hugged her mother and kissed her cheek. "Love you."

"Me too, don't go interrogating Rusty." Emily saluted her mom before she left the office.

Sharon watched as her daughter went up to Andy, conversing quietly and smiling. He followed her out of the murder room as her daughter waved goodbye to the team.

Andy loaded Emily's bags in the trunk of Sharon's car, looking at the Lieutenant when he handed her a small wrapped gift.

"What is this?" She smiled.

"The favor I asked for."

"Oh." She smiled.

"It's for your Mom. She would never accept it without wanting to give me something herself. If you could hide it under the tree with her other gifts. Rusty and her tell each other everything and I want her to enjoy it not…" Andy hesitated.

"Over analyze it." She looked at him carefully.

Andy sighed.

"Yes." He finally met her eyes.

"I will make sure she has no idea till Christmas morning." Emily promised.

"Thank you. It was great seeing you Emily."

"Well it's the best drive I've ever had from the airport." She stepped closer to him and hugged him softly and stepped back. "Thank you." He looked at the gift in her hands. "You sure you don't want to give it to her yourself?" She held it out for him.

He would, to see her face, what she thought of it but he also knew he had crossed a line and even though her having the gift was important she needed space. Giving her a gift at work would not be appropriate.

"It's better this way." He smiled.

She understood it now. Yes he was less arrogant, he was sweet and kinder but the way he spoke about her Mom. There was tenderness and pain in his voice.

Andy Flynn was in love with her Mom. It tugged at her heart, she had no idea what had happened between them but he was letting Sharon go. She hugged him once more, whispering a soft thank you.

Andy smiled opening the car door for her and closed it softly, letting her drive before he made his way back up to the murder room.

It would definitely be a lonely Christmas.