AN: This is based on a marvelous post created by tearsandbrightness (previously fuckyeahmyqueen).


He didn't know what to expect when he pulled up outside the ballet studio, his grandsons chattering eagerly in the backseat. He parked his car and climbed out, the boys quickly following him as he adjusted his suit jacket.

"Where's the entrance?" He looked at the simple, one story brick building with no obvious entrance. A few windows lined the walls below a white sign bearing the words, "O'Dwyer Dance Co."

"It's on the side," his eldest grandson, Tommy, told him as he led his brother toward the building.

Andy rolled his eyes and locked the car before he followed after them, their bags slung over his shoulder. They found the entrance and the boys took off inside, leaving Andy to hurry along after them. A few mothers shot him curious glances as they finally reached what looked like a locked room, filled with girls of various ages. He cleared his throat and handed the boys their bags, biting down on the toothpick in his mouth a little harder than he meant to.

"So, uh... Where does your mom usually wait?" He asked them, removing the toothpick briefly to speak.

"There's a room on the other side of the studio. Just follow the other moms and they'll show you where it is," Tommy said, shrugging as he dug through his bag for his dance clothes.

"Oh-kay," he responded, glancing at the closest mom out of the corner of his eye. She was staring shamelessly and didn't look away. "Are you guys good?"

"Yeah. See you after, Grandpa Andy." His younger grandson, Harry, smiled up at him. "We need to hurry and change."

He nodded and watched the boys hurry off through a doorway. He awkwardly cleared his throat again, eyes scanning for a doorway that could possibly lead him to the room Tommy mentioned. The girls and their mothers continued talking quietly, but several still glanced his way.

"You must be Nicole's father," the woman close to him finally said.

He looked up and nodded. "Uh, yeah. She's out of town this week so I've got the boys."

"How wonderful. They're marvelous kids and great dancers." She paused and smiled widely. "Honestly, I think they're some of Sharon's favorites. Not that she'll admit that, of course."

"Sharon?" He fiddled with his toothpick between his fingers, deciding it was probably time to toss that one out.

"The ballet teacher. You'll see her. If you want to sit down, just go through that door and make a right. You'll know if you're in the right place or not." As she spoke, she continued braiding a girl's hair back, the girl wiggling excitedly.

"Right. Thanks." He nodded and glanced at the boys' bags.

"Just leave them there. This room's always a mess." The woman laughed and he nodded again before he followed her instructions.

He found himself in a decent sized room filled with uncomfortable looking chairs. A large window faced an almost empty ballet studio with light wood floors, white and red walls, and occupied by only one woman. She stood off to the side, opposite the door, with her arms crossed. She wore a simple tan jacket over a black tank top and black, fitting pants. She was attractive and he couldn't pinpoint her age. As her students started to file into the room, he was awestruck by how gracefully she moved.

Mothers soon filled the room he was in, talking eagerly. He gathered they had all known each other for a while and he could easily see Nicole fitting in among them. As the only male in the room-and considerably taller than anyone else-he couldn't help but stand out. He was all too eager when the hour long session finally ended and he could leave.

He was the first out of the room and the kids were already changing by the time he reached them; Tommy and Harry weren't there and a girl told him they were still with Miss Sharon. He let out a breath and leaned against the wall to wait. A part of him regretted agreeing to take the boys to ballet because he had never felt so out of his element, but he wanted to spend time with his grandsons too.

The door opened and the boys finally walked in, their ballet teacher following them into the room. She smiled and ruffled Tommy's hair as the boys led the way over to where Andy stood.

"Did you see me, Grandpa Andy! I landed over the... the..." Harry stumbled over a phrase that meant absolutely nothing to Andy, but their teacher smiled proudly.

"You both did great today," she told them, her arms crossing lightly over her chest. A girl tugged on her sleeve and she turned to smile at her.

"Yeah, I saw." Andy smiled at his grandsons and helped them pile their things back into their bags. "Are you getting hungry?"

"Pizza! Pizza!" Harry cheered and Andy nodded.

"Pizza it is, buddy." He stuffed his hands in his pockets while the boys dropped to the ground to tie their shoes.

"Help, please?" Harry asked.

Andy started to kneel to help, but their teacher beat him to it. When Harry's shoes were securely tied, she smiled up at the boy and Andy noticed just how green her eyes were behind her glasses.

"I'm sorry, I don't believe we've met." She wiped her hands off on her legs once she stood before she offered it to him, the smile directed at him this time.

"Uh, no. I'm Nicole's father, Andy Flynn." He took her hand and shook it gently, momentarily distracted by how beautiful she was up close. "She's out of town so I have the boys for the week."

"Sharon Raydor. It's a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Flynn." She dropped her hand and he shook his head.

"Andy, please. And the pleasure is mine." He returned his hand to his pocket, fingers absently stroking along his keys.

"You have two talented grandsons there, Andy. They've come far in the time I've been teaching them and I know they're going to get better from here." She nodded at the boys and they beamed happily. "As long as they keep working hard and practicing, that is." She gave them a pointed look and the boys shifted back a few steps.

"We practiced, Miss Sharon!" Harry immediately defended and she laughed.

"I know, Harry. Keep doing what you're doing and you'll be fine. Remember, we have a competition next week, so you two need to be working on your solo."

"Yes, Miss Sharon," they both said and Andy was surprised by how well behaved they were around the woman.

His grandsons weren't badly behaved, but they were still young boys and he had never seen them act like this before.

They each handed their bags to him and he slung them over his shoulder, wondering how the bags could be heavier than when he had carried them in. He decided he didn't want to know and probably wouldn't understand.

"Miss Sharon, come have pizza with us!" Tommy looked at Andy and then back to his teacher; Andy couldn't help but let out a surprised huff.

"Oh, I'd hate to impose. And I'm sure you should ask your grandpa first." He couldn't tell if her face was flushed because her hair had fallen to cover the side he could see while she looked at the boys.

"But you come with Mommy and us sometimes," Harry added.

Nicole definitely hadn't mentioned that, Andy thought. "It's no problem. We'd love to have you," he found himself saying to her.

She looked up at him with an eyebrow slightly raised above her glasses. "No, I'd hate to intrude on your time with your grandchildren. Thank you for the invitation, though."

"Please, Miss Sharon." Harry's lower lip stuck out a little as he looked up at the two adults.

Andy couldn't help but sigh quietly. His boys may not be biologically related to him and his daughter, but damn were they just as stubborn. "Really, it's not problem. It sounds like they'd love to have you." He had no idea what he would talk to this woman about for an hour, but he didn't want to be rude after the boys had extended the invitation. Though he would mention that to them later.

"Oh, well. If you insist." She smiled a little and the boys cheered happily. "Let me just grab my things. I'll meet you boys out front?"

"Yes!" Tommy grinned and started for the door, his brother training after him. Andy paused a moment to smile at Sharon before he followed them out the door.