Andy had noticed the change in her over the past months. Since she'd given Gavin the go-ahead for the divorce she seemed so much more relaxed, more open to showing her affection, her touches lingering, her looks more pronounced. He had never spent the night at her apartment when Rusty was around, they'd never held hands in public (under the conveniently long table cloth of their favourite restaurant downtown didn't count), never hugged or kissed when they weren't alone. He knew she loved him and that was enough. But tonight, after Rusty had said good night and they had cleaned up the last traces of their dinner, she had taken his hand and pulled him towards her room with a little smile.
Once or twice he'd allowed himself to dream … he'd caught himself looking at engagement rings in a jeweller's window only to shake his head at himself. She wasn't even out of the thirty year marriage she'd mostly been unhappy in. Would she want to jump right into another? He felt like he had loved her forever, but their relationship as lovers was actually rather new. And she was his commanding officer. Although that was the smallest of issues for him. He would gladly transfer to another department if that was what it would take. But she would hear none of that.
She wanted him. Both on her team and as her lover. And to his amazement he'd found that she was willing to bend or outright ignore the rules for them to be together and to work together. She was willing to risk a spot on her previously spotless record to be with him. So, on second thoughts, maybe she would say yes. She wasn't one to give affection easily, but once she had made up her mind, her love was unfaltering, stable, constant.
He could hear Rusty's steps in the hallway and when Sharon stirred in her sleep he pulled her closer, inhaling the familiar scent of her hair. Her hand tightened around his and he could feel a smile tugging at his lips.
All was well with the world.