"Come on, Ollie, cheer up. Zoe will forgive you," Sam mumbled around the wad of fries he'd just shoved in his mouth. "It's not the end of the world."

"It could be!" Oliver exclaimed. "It could be the end of my world!" He picked up his coffee cup only to find it empty. Oliver slammed it back down on the table before throwing his head back with a groan. "Ugh, my coffee is all gone! This just isn't my day."

Sam rubbed his hand down his face in irritation at his best friend's childish behavior. They were patrolling on the night shift tonight and had stopped at this diner to eat before heading to the barn. A lot of the other cops at 15 Division had spoken of the great food. Although Sam hadn't focused much on his food since they walked in. There was a girl behind the counter flipping through a textbook. She was average height, brunette hair pulled back in a ponytail, wearing jeans and a t-shirt with an apron wrapped around her waist better than anyone he'd ever seen. She was pretty, from what he could see at least with her nose stuck in that book and bangs covering her eyes. Sam had tried a number of tactics to get her to turn his way for a better look. He had dropped a handful of silverware on the floor with a sharp clang only to have the nice, middle aged waitress that had been waiting on them bring him a clean set with a smile. Then he tried clearing his throat several times. Well, that only earned him a strange look from Oliver and a lozenge from the lovely elderly woman in the booth behind him. Sam even went as far as 'accidentally' kicking Oliver under the table making him howl in pain. He shrugged and apologized saying that he was just trying to get comfortable in the hard booths. Still nothing. Not even a glance.

Andy heaved a sigh of relief as the diner died down for the evening. Tonight had been busier than most and she spent the whole time running around, pouring coffee, giving and taking plates. She was exhausted. But she had a moment to finally, finally, pull out her homework from under the counter and study. At least that's what Andy thought before she heard that damn bell over the door ring with the entrance of more customers. With a deep calming breath she lifted her head and froze. He was gorgeous, the epitome of tall, dark, and handsome. He was far above 6 feet tall, dark hair, and wearing jeans and a t-shirt better than anyone she'd ever seen. The muscles of his chest and arms strained against his shirt and, while it was only a flicker of a moment, Andy swore that she saw black ink on his left bicep peeking out from under the cuff of his sleeve. Oh Lord, was she in trouble.

"Andy?" Andy turned and saw Martha, an older woman that co-owned the diner with her husband Joey, was standing next to her. "Keep studying, honey, I can take care of them."

Andy smiled in thanks and buried herself back into the thick pages of her textbook. Though after reading the same paragraph at least six times Andy realized there was no way she would be able to focus with him sitting right there, feeling his eyes almost burn a hole through the side of her face. So she shoved her ear buds in and really hoped that the shuffle setting on her iPod served her well.

Sam didn't know why he was so obsessed. Oliver, with pout still in place, had pulled out his phone and was punching buttons. That gave Sam a moment to openly stare at the girl. Her elbow rested on the countertop, one side of her face cradled in her palm which only managed to agitate Sam further. He could see less of her face now than he could before. But the irritation began to dissipate as he noticed she was swaying slightly and there was a soft, sweet humming in the air. What he wouldn't give to know the tune that was floating through her mind right now.

Even though Oliver was in a funk because of his situation with Zoe he didn't miss the odd behavior of his best friend. He'd had to repeat himself more than once tonight because Sam was looking at something over his left shoulder but every time he made a move to follow that line of sight Sam would come back to the present and start talking about something else. Oliver shoved his phone back into his pocket and picked up his coffee cup. Oh right, empty. He started to raise his hand and open his mouth to ask the waitress for another cup but stopped. Sam was staring intensely over Oliver's shoulder again. Quickly, he spun around to look and spotted a girl. She was cute, young, but still cute. So that's what he's been looking at all night.

"Sam? Sammy?" Oliver waved his hand but got no reaction. "Sammy, I'm just gonna finish off your coffee here." If anything would get his attention it would be the prospect someone taking his caffeine.

Sam was still staring off so Oliver reached forward to take his cup. But at the same he reached to take it Sam's hand blindly went in search of it also. Their hands fumbled, knocking the cup over and shattering on the floor, but not before spilling the contents on the table and Sam's lap. Andy's head snapped up.

"Ollie!" Sam roared as he jumped up out of the booth. He hastily wiped at his damp pants and threw an angry, incredulous look at Oliver.

"Oops, sorry, brother," Oliver shrugged.

Sam kneeled down to pick up the pieces of the broken cup when he saw a pair of feet walking toward him.

"I'm so sorry," Sam apologized to the kind woman that had been patiently waiting on them. "Please, let me clean this up."

"It's all right, happens all the time."

Sam looked up because the voice speaking was not the one he'd been hearing all night. This one was sweet, kind of quiet. Andy kept her head down as she gathered the ceramic pieces, afraid that if she looked up at him she'd stop breathing. His hands had stopped moving and he hadn't spoken so slowly Andy lifted her head to find they were much closer than she thought.

"I got it," she breathed.

Sam couldn't move, couldn't speak. He was entranced by this girl. She was beautiful, so much more than pretty like he thought before. The intensity of his stare made Andy's gaze waver. Nobody had ever looked at her the way he was right now and she didn't know what to make of it.

Sam jolted back to reality when he felt something warm brush against his hands. He looked down and realized it was her hands offering to take the shards he had gathered. Sam cupped the back of her hand with the palm of his as he let the pieces fall into her open palm, reasoning that he only did it to keep her from losing any of them not because he really wanted to touch her. Andy unconsciously smiled; it was small but Sam swore it was the damn cutest thing he'd ever seen and soon he was smiling back at her. His smile was closed lipped but Andy couldn't pry her eyes away from those swoon-worthy dimples. The quiet, electric bubble they had lost themselves in was popped when Martha nudged Andy with her foot. Andy looked to see Martha smirking knowingly at her while she handed her the broom and pan. Flushed as a tomato, Andy threw the pieces into the trash can Martha had dragged over and stood up.

Martha had been there, seen Andy grow up. She had gone to high school with Claire and Tommy. At the time they hadn't been close by any means but quickly became like family. Martha and Joey got married and after finding out that having a family of their own wasn't possible they decided to open this diner and share their love with the people of Toronto. In all honesty, they owed Tommy for the success of their small business. He started coming to the diner almost every day after he joined the force, telling his colleagues all about it and soon their Ma and Pop establishment was a hit.

Claire had never really approved of Andy going there with Tommy. In her opinion the burgers were too greasy, the fries too soggy, and the pies too tart. But Andy had loved it. Everyone knew her name and Martha always made her her own special apple flips when she came in. And then Claire left. Tommy had taken it really hard and Andy… well, Andy grew up fast after that. Martha had stepped in as the mother figure in Andy's life for which they were all grateful. Tommy for knowing that Andy had a stable feminine role model, Andy for having someone to count on, and Martha for finally having the daughter she was deprived of.

Martha had watched Andy grow from the braided pigtailed little girl to the beautiful, strong woman she was today. Every birthday since she was 12, her first school dance, her first real date, becoming captain and awarded MVP of her high school basketball team every year, her high school graduation, and now having started college. Martha had had the privilege of seeing it all. It was right in assuming that she knew Andy fairly well. At least, as much as one could know Andy since she always seemed to surprise you.

There had been few boys lucky enough to get somewhat close to her and it was Martha's firm belief that they only got as close as they did because Andy got tired and gave in. Strong and stubborn, that's Andy, but she also hated to disappoint anyone. So she'd say yes to a couple dates and then gradually fade away. Martha wasn't even sure you could really say Andy had ever had a boyfriend. So that's why she had been focusing so intently on her interaction with the dark haired young man in the booth all night.

Andy swept the debris into a neat pile. Sam had already swiped the pan off the counter and bent down to allow her to sweep the pile into it before straightening up and depositing the waste in the trash can.

"Thanks," she smiled at him. Suck it up, Andy. Just introduce yourself! Andy took a deep breath and stuck out her hand. "I'm Andy."

"Sam," he answered and took her hand in his. Small, he thought, almost half the size of mine. Sam jerked the thumb of his opposite hand in Oliver's direction. "That's Oliver."

"Hi," Oliver said a little too brightly for Sam's liking. But he avoided the smirk he knew Oliver was throwing at him.

Andy just smiled shyly while Oliver eyed something pointedly. For what felt like the millionth time tonight her face turned red as she realized that she had yet to let go of Sam's hand. Their arms were just sort of hanging there limp, hands still clasped. Like they were shocked by electricity, they shot apart stuffing hands awkwardly in pockets of jeans and aprons.

Luckily Martha took pity and decided to intervene. She handed Andy a new cup for Sam and the coffee pot. "Why don't you pour them some more coffee, sweetie? And stop acting like a fool," whispering the last part so that only Andy could hear it.

Andy glared at her but Martha just gave her a little swat on the butt, her stern maternal face in place. She knew Martha meant it good naturedly, only meaning to help snap her out of the haze she'd been in all night. And she was right. Andy McNally does not fawn over, become distracted by, or let herself be conquered by anyone. Anyone.

Turning back to the men, Sam having returned to his seat in the booth across from Oliver, she smiled politely, "Sorry about that, guys. More coffee?" Filling the men's cups full, Oliver's face significantly brightened. Like a kid on Christmas morning, brightened. "Wow. You must really like your coffee."

"He's had a bad day."

She only glanced at him from the corner of her eye. He was sipping his coffee and looking at her. Again with those dark, intense eyes. Oliver grumbled under his breath drawing their attention back to him.

"What's going on?"

Oliver sighed. "My wife is mad at me. I may have forgotten our anniversary."

"Ouch," Andy grimaced sympathetically. "So much for 'Happy wife, happy life,' huh? Did you apologize?" Both men looked at her incredulously. Andy rolled her eyes. "How did you apologize?"

"Candy, flowers, promises of a trip or whatever she wanted. She only got angrier."

"Well, that's why. You made it seem like you were trying to buy her forgiveness," Andy explained. Both Sam and Oliver looked confused. She rolled her eyes. "You bought her all these presents when all she really wanted is for you tell her how sincerely sorry you were. You don't look like the type of person to forget something as important as your anniversary because you're uncaring. So whatever it was that preoccupied your mind, you should just tell her about it. Explain why it slipped your mind, tell her how very sorry you are, and assure her that it did not by any means reflect a lack of love for her."

"Will that work?" Oliver asked skeptically.

"She looks like a smart girl. And we all know you don't need any help screwing up, brother. I'm sure her advice can only benefit you."

"Ass," Oliver groaned at Sam's smirking face. "You're an ass."

Andy smiled at their antics as she walked back to set the pot on the warm plate.

Oliver glanced at his watch. "Oh, don't want to be late, brother. We better get going." Oliver slapped done cash to pay for his food. "Andy, nice to meet you, thanks for the advice," he waved at her behind the counter.

"No problem, I'm sure everything will work out," she answered kindly. "You guys have a good night."

Sam lingered, taking his time getting money out of his wallet to pay. "I'll see you at the barn."

Oliver just nodded and smiled as he walked backwards out the door. When Sam turned Andy was wiping down the counter with a towel humming that familiar tune again. There's something about her, he just couldn't help but smile.

"You've been doing that all night," Andy said without looking up.

"What's that?"

"Staring at me."

She looked up at him and smiled. Having finally realized that the way she had acted all evening was completely un-Andy-like, she decided to just go for it. Sam chuckled and rubbed the back of his neck with one hand while he stuffed the other in his pocket.

"Yeah, I guess I have," he admitted. "Sorry about that."

"Don't be."

Both their smiles widened.

"So, if you knew I was looking at you this whole time, why did you keep letting me make a fool of myself trying to get your attention?"

Andy laughed and it was music to Sam's ears. "Because every tactic got better and better. I wanted to see where you'd take it. I'm impressed that you took it as far as you did. I mean, coffee in the lap? That's dedication."

Now it was Sam's turn to laugh. It wasn't half as musical as hers, his sounding sort of rusty like he didn't do it very often. "Oh, I assure you that coffee on my crotch was not a tactic, just Ollie being a thorn in my side. But I'll admit that if I'd know that that was all it would take, I would have done it much earlier."

With head dipped at his words to hide the blush forming on her cheeks, she smiled and wrung the towel in her hands.

"As much as I'd love to stay and talk more with you, I have to get to work."

"Right," Andy nodded. "Maybe I'll see you around sometime."

"Oh, I bet you will. I know where to find you after all," Sam smiled. "So… I guess I'll see you, Andy."

"See you, Sam. Be safe out there," she added.

"You got it," he winked at her.

Sam reluctantly made his way out of the diner and to his truck barely making it to parade on time. Everyone eyed him suspiciously as he skipped passed the coffee station with a smile on his face but he easily ignored them. While they would be grumbling all night about how tired they were and cursing being scheduled on the night shift, his thoughts would be occupied by a certain brunette.

Andy wasn't any better. Martha and Joey watched as she practically danced around the diner sweeping the floors and shutting shades as they locked up for the night. Great night, she thought. Great night.


Hope you all enjoyed this first chapter! I had the sudden inspiration to write about Sam and Andy when they were young. I'm not sure how often the updates will be since I can be a slow writer. But then again I can zip through a chapter like nobody's business, too! Let me know what you think. Good and bad reviews are welcome. I enjoy them actually ;)