A/N: It's a little too early for a Christmas fic, but this plot bunny didn't want to wait until December, so there you have it.
Thanks to Kadi219 for giving a name to this story.
Andy watched Sharon as she drove through the snowy roads of Park City to her parents' timeshare, where her family was waiting for her arrival. There was a bright smile on her face that was almost as radiant as their surroundings. Seeing her glowing this way made his insides fuzzy and warm. His eyes took in the view of the streets they were driving through. The city was decorated with colorful Christmas lights, the snowy mountains could be seen in the distance, as the sun set over the city. Everything seemed so festive, and for the first time in forever, Andy understood why Sharon liked Christmas so much. It had magic, even if a person was a bit too old to believe in Santa Claus and reindeers.
Christmas was Sharon's favorite holiday, so when he suggested they would spend it together, he didn't expect her to say that she was planning to travel to Park City. He knew that her children would not be able to make it this year. Emily was planning to spend the holiday with her boyfriend and his family while Ricky was travelling in Europe. Andy knew that Sharon was a little sad about the absence of her two older children, and he hoped that she and Rusty could spend the holiday with him. Nicole and Dean took his step-grandkids to Seattle, for a visit at Dean's parents and his son was spending the holiday with his mother. In past years, when Andy had nowhere to be on Christmas Eve, he and Provenza would get together. If Provenza wasn't available, Andy would hit a meeting, or a series of meetings, just to avoid being alone. But this year, he didn't have to. His children may have had other plans, but now that he and Sharon were celebrating six months of relationship, he thought it would be reasonable to spend the holidays together. Only that she had been invited to Park City. It has been three years since she visited her parents and even longer since she visited her sister, so she took their offer. Andy suggested to tag along, hoping to meet her family too and Sharon was quick to accept.
"I actually thought, since your family is away, and Rusty decided to stay in LA, that you may want to join me. I want you to meet my parents and my sister," she said, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
Sharon hummed a Christmas tune as she drove and Andy smiled to himself. He wondered what her family was like. He didn't know much about them, only that her father was a retired businessman and her mother was a retired teacher and that she had one older sister. That was not much to go on, but he didn't mind. Sharon seemed to be confident about him spending the holiday with her and her family and it probably meant that everything was good.
Sharon took a left turn and then drove up a narrow lane and then pulled into the driveway of a big brick house. Andy's eyes raked over it. The bricks were grey and there was a porch in the front. The house was decorated with colorful Christmas light and was surrounded by bald trees. Andy noticed the soft yellow light that emanated from the first floor windows. It was definitely an impressive house from the outside. He knew that if Sharon's parents had a similar taste to hers, it would probably be the same from the inside as well.
"Come on," Sharon said excitedly as she went out of the car. She rounded the vehicle and opened the trunk, taking out their luggage. Andy joined her, tightening his scarf around his neck as a gust of frozen wind spun around them. Sharon locked the car and they carried their luggage down the pathway that led to the front door. She rung the bell and scooted a bit closer to him. Andy has never seen her so euphoric before, even though he was sure that being away from all her children was difficult for her. He assumed that by now she knew that her kids were grown and had their own lives and plans and she must have learned to let them go, even on holidays.
The door was opened by a woman who was unmistakably Sharon's older sister. Andy noticed immediately that Sharon's sister had hazel eyes, while Sharon's were green and her hair was slightly curlier than Sharon's natural waves. She was also a bit taller and maybe a little thinner than Sharon.
"Oh, you brought a friend!" Sharon's sister's voice was slightly high pitched.
"Andy is my boyfriend," Sharon introduced him. "Andy, this is my sister, Gracie."
"Gracie Walker," Sharon's sister reached to shake Andy's hand.
"Andy Flynn," He took her outreached hand. It was hot, or maybe his hands were cold.
"Nice to meet you," she said as Sharon and Andy entered the warmth of the house. Gracie asked a few questions about the flight and ride to Park City and Sharon answered, a smile plastered on her face.
"So where's everyone?" she asked her sister.
"In the kitchen. Mom can run a production line, I swear. She's got everyone busy," Gracie smiled widely and pulled her sister into her arms again. "Oh, I'm so glad to see you, Sharon. You have no idea how much I missed you."
"I missed you too, Gracie," Sharon said as her sister pulled away from her. She took Andy's hand as they walked to the kitchen, to meet the rest of her family. Sharon smiled as she saw her mother bossing her father and her brother in-law around the kitchen. She assumed that it won't be long before she and Andy would join the Christmas dinner taskforce her mother was orchestrating.
"Sharon, you're finally here!" her mother practically jumped into her arms. "You lost weight," she commented as her arms tightened around her daughter's waist. "You need to eat better."
"I only lost a little bit, mom. I eat fine." Sharon replied. Her mother always thought that she was too thin, or didn't eat well enough. Sharon knew that it wasn't about her weight, but just her mother's subtle way to tell her it's been too long since she last saw her. She was right, though. Sharon didn't get to visit her parents and sister often when she was in FID and even less now that she was in Major Crimes. She knew that there was nothing she could do to change this situation, but she still felt guilty about it.
"She looks fine, Maggie," her father smiled and wrapped his arms around his daughter, kissing both of her cheeks warmly. "She's as beautiful as always." He looked at her with shining eyes. She was always closer to her father, and they got along very well. She could always trust him to be the voice of reason when her thoughts were too chaotic.
"Mom, Dad, I want you to meet Andy, my boyfriend," Sharon introduced him. She wished that she had a better word than boyfriend, not only because she sounded juvenile every time she introduced him to anyone, but also because this definition was far from describing what Andy was to her; he was her friend, her lieutenant, her confidant, her lover, her comforter, her naughty half, the man who completed her in so many ways, the person who dominated a big part of her heart, whose gaze made her skin tingle, her heart beat like mad in her chest, and her stomach flutter with excitement. How could she ever find a word to describe all that? But Andy seemed fine with the way she presented him to the people in her life, and she guessed as long as he knew that he was more than a boyfriend, it was fine. She made a mental note to let him know as soon as they were alone. Her parents shook Andy's hand and Sharon could see by her mother's gaze that she was quite surprised. Sharon guessed that she should have mentioned it in one of their calls, but it always seemed better to tell everyone in person. She felt Andy's fingers wrapping around hers and squeezing them. It appeared that her mother's suspicious expression didn't escape his eyes either.
Sharon's brother in-law walked over to them, wiping his hands on a wet towel and drawing Sharon into a tight hug. He was always a bit too touchy-feely, but Sharon liked his sense of humor and his good nature. He was a great husband to her sister and a wonderful father to his kids. He was also a very loving uncle to her own children and he was the one who convinced her that she would be okay on her own, after the first time Jack left her.
"Darren, it's wonderful to see you," she said and he responded in kind. Sharon introduced him to Andy and he shook the other man's hand. Sharon watched his face, but his expression didn't reveal his thoughts.
"So you two work together?" he motioned between them.
"She's my boss," Andy smiled brightly. "The best boss I've ever had." His words made Sharon smile and wrap one arm around his middle.
"Sharon, why don't you and your friend get settled and then come back down here to help us?" her mother said sternly.
"Sure, which room is empty?" Sharon asked.
"The one with the balcony is free," her sister responded and Sharon thanked her quickly before she motioned Andy to follow her out of the room. They went upstairs and even though Andy tried to be chivalrous about carrying her trolley for her, she insisted that she was perfectly capable of doing it herself. Once they reached the second floor, she led him down the hall and turned left, opening the door to one of the rooms and switching the light on as she went in.
"Woah, your family really has a thing for Christmas!" Andy called out as he looked around him. Sharon nodded with a smile that was brighter than the Christmas lights in the room.
"They went a little overboard, but it's wonderful, isn't it?" Sharon asked.
"It's… festive," he replied. As he walked over to the canopy bed and placed his trolley on the edge of one side, noticing the red bedsheets, with a snowflake pattern on them. A string of pinewood was wrapped around the wooden poles of the canopy, decorated with silver snowflake ornaments. A medium size Christmas tree was standing in the corner of the room and Andy noticed it already had a few gifts under it. A small wreath was hanging on the wall and there was a stocking with Sharon's name hanging over the mantle and Andy could tell it was stuffed. Andy also noticed a candle above the mantle. The entire room smelled like pines.
"You don't like it," Sharon said sadly.
"No, no! It's great, Sharon!" Andy said and saw the ends of her lips curving upwards just a bit.
"You hate it," she grinned.
"Sharon, it's lovely. Your family has a great sense of occasion, just like you." He wrapped his arms around her and planted a quick kiss on her lips.
"They do," Sharon smiled.
"Speaking of your family, I don't think I made a great first impression on your mother," he said.
"If it makes you feel any better, my impression of you wasn't so great either when I first met you," Sharon smirked. "And now I love you."
"I love you too, Sweetheart," Andy's pout was replaced by a wide smile.
"The only reason to worry about my mother is if we don't go back downstairs to help with the cooking," Sharon said and grabbed his arm as she walked out of the room.
It was almost midnight when Sharon and Andy came back to their room. Sharon turned on the electric fireplace and rubbed her hands in front of it, trying to warm them up. Watching her, Andy took a seat on the edge of the bed and started removing his shoes. He then noticed a second stocking hanging above the mantle. After putting his shoes down by the bed, he walked over to where Sharon was standing. His lips curved upwards when he saw his name embroidered in red cursive letters on the second stocking. He also noticed that the stocking was already stuffed.
"Merry Christmas, Andy," Sharon said, her eyes sparkling brighter than any Christmas decoration Andy's ever seen.
"I can't believe it. I've got my own Christmas elf," Andy joked and captured her lips. They spread for his tongue and Sharon moaned, the way she always did when she wanted more. He granted her wish and deepened the kiss as his hands slid under her red sweater and started pulling it over her head. Her fingers found the zipper of his knitted cardigan and slid it downwards, pushing the cloth down his shoulders and arms until it fell on the floor with a soft thud. They got rid of the rest of their clothes quickly and headed towards the bed, pulling the covers over them to avoid the cold that was still present in the room.
The creak of a floorboards made them freeze and they looked towards the door, and then at each other.
"I feel like a naughty teenager," Andy grinned. "Doing this while your parents are in the other room." He motioned between their naked bodies.
"I can come really quietly," Sharon teased him. "Can you?" she arched one eyebrow quizzically.
"I can do anything you want, honey," Andy said before he drew her lips between his. Her mouth tasted like cinnamon and ginger and if Andy had to guess, he'd say she secretly munched on some of the gingerbread cookies they made earlier. He smiled against her mouth as they both pleasured each other silently, enjoying watching each other as they struggled not to make much noise as their release came. When they were done, they smiled at each other tiredly and exchanged languid kisses for several minutes. It was then that Sharon remembered her earlier thoughts about Andy's status in her life.
"Andy," her voice was faint, but he heard her. "I don't know how to call you."
"What do you mean?" he asked.
"When I introduce you to people. I say boyfriend and it sounds so stupid, because you're so much more than that to me," she said.
"Nothing you say ever sounds stupid to me, Sharon. And I don't mind it that you refer to me as your boyfriend. It's actually very cute."
"What do you mean, 'cute'?" Sharon inquired. How could a silly word that could never describe Andy's presence in her life be cute?
"Your face becomes flush and you smile like a happy little girl scout who sold all her cookies when you say it," Andy explained.
"A girl scout?" Sharon snorted and buried her face in his bare chest, trying to stifle another snort.
"My happy little girl scout," Andy kissed the crown of her head.
"Is that how you plan to introduce me to your family when I meet them?" Sharon smiled.
"Not a bad idea," Andy grinned, but Sharon could tell he was only half joking. She pressed a kiss to his lips and sighed.
"Do you know how much I love you?" she said, her voice shaking. Andy saw tears forming in her eyes.
"Of course, Sweetheart," Andy replied. "I know, and I love you too, just as much." His arms tightened around her. They laid there silently, listening to each other's breaths until they both peacefully drifted off.
The creak of their bedroom door startled them awake from their slumber. Their muscles tensed in unison and their heartrates sped up as they both straightened in bed and threw frightened gazes towards the person standing in the doorway. Sharon swore internally as she pulled the blanket upwards to cover her naked body. Her eyes were fixed on the person in the doorway and her breath caught in her lungs. Her mother looked at them wordlessly for a long, agonizing moment before turning on her heels and shutting the door behind her.
"Sharon?" she heard Andy's voice and felt his hand on her shoulder. She laid back down, aimlessly staring at the decorated canopy. She's never seen such disappointment and scorn in her mother's eyes in her life.
"Shit," the word escaped her lips before she could filter it. Andy looked at her, surprised to hear the profanity coming out of the purest mouth he's ever kissed.
"I guess that didn't gain me points with your mother," he said.
"Probably not," Sharon sighed. "Dammit, why didn't she knock?" she covered her face with her palms.
"I guess she forgot I was here," Andy said. "Was I even supposed to sleep in here?"
"Of course you were, where else would you sleep?" Sharon asked.
"I don't know, a guest room?" Andy wondered.
"Do you really think I would bring you as my plus one and let you sleep in the guest room?" Sharon asked. "Andy, we are not kids. My mother should have known we slept in the same room. She should have knocked. We've done nothing wrong and you shouldn't feel guilty about it."
"I didn't want to get you in trouble, or for your mother to hate me," Andy said. "Although I guess I'm not the 'bring home to meet your family' kinda guy, huh?"
"Why would you ever say that? Andy, you are a great man, do you hear me? And my mother doesn't hate you. She doesn't accept my divorce from Jack yet."
"If my being here is an issue, I can leave," he offered.
"No way. You are staying. We both are," Sharon said. "Unless… Do you wanna leave?" The last thing she wanted is for Andy to feel uncomfortable.
"Not if you don't want me to. We wanted to spend the holidays together, remember?" he said. His words made her smile and she nodded.
"Thank you, Andy. Just… don't be offended about my family's attitude. This is new to them. I think they've gotten so used to seeing me on my own that the idea of seeing me with someone is foreign to them," Sharon said before capturing his lips. "I am happy being your girl scout, Andy, and when they finally realize it, they'll be happy for me. Just give them time."
"I will," Andy promised.
"Now, we better get dressed and go downstairs to breakfast before someone else walks in on us," Sharon said and pushed herself out of the bed, opening her suitcase and taking some clothes out of it while Andy watched her. Turning around, she threw a fierce gaze at him and he got out of bed as well and started fishing for clothes in his own suitcase. Getting in trouble with Sharon's mother was bad enough. Getting in trouble with Sharon would be worse.
-TBC-
While I'm working on the second chapter, I'd love to know what you think of this story so far, so feel free to leave a review or send me a PM.