Summary: There are a lot of different ways a person can say "I love you." In fact, there are at least 100 ways. This is a collection of one shots featuring all the people in Sharon's life, past and present, and how they love her.
Rating: T
Note: The 100 Ways prompt list can be found on Tumblr or Twitter. Each one shot is a little stand alone story, a snippet of Sharon's life. The idea is to explore how all the people around her love her; her children, her family, her lover, her co-workers. The one shots do not follow a set timeline and are all different.
~()~
Love doesn't ask why
It speaks from the heart
And never explains
Don't you know that
Love doesn't think twice
It can come all at once
Or whisper from a distance
~ Celine Dion; Love Doesn't Ask Why
~()~
1. "Pull over. Let me drive for a while."
The weekend had been long and intense and they had walked more miles in the last three days than they probably had in the whole of the previous month. Sharon could feel muscles in places she'd never even known she had them and she was eternally grateful she had packed sensible shoes. San Francisco had been full of surprises, in more ways than one, and until this weekend, Sharon had never realised just how much there was to see in the city and the surrounding areas. And this weekend was the first time where she finally not only got to see the Golden Gate Bridge but walk on it too.
The sun was starting to set, painting the skies in fiery shades of amber and red, and the traffic on the road seemed to have died down in the last hour or so. According to the navigation, it would take them another three hours before they reached Los Angeles. They were hallway through their journey.
It had been Ricky's suggestion for her and Andy to come down. The offer had been unexpected and it wasn't until they got to San Francisco that Sharon realised Ricky had asked her and Andy to come down because he wanted them to meet his girlfriend. Jennifer was a few years younger than Ricky but had a two year old daughter from a previous relationship. Seeing her son sit with a child on his lap when they first went for lunch had been startling and throughout the weekend, Sharon got to see Ricky in a whole different light.
Sharon's shoulders were sore and she shifted a little behind the wheel, readjusting the position of her hands. She leaned back a little, turned her neck to help ease some of the tension she felt. She reached for the water bottle but when she picked it up she found it was empty. She let out a sigh.
"Sharon, are you alright?" Andy asked.
"I'm fine," Sharon reassured him. "Just thirsty."
"Take mine," Andy said and handed Sharon his bottle. He studied her a little more closely, noticed the way her shoulders seemed tense and her fingers clutched the wheel a little too tightly to be comfortable.
Sharon had insisted on driving back because Andy had driven most of the journey from LA to San Francisco. The idea of the road trip appealed and they had stopped off at a little road side diner for dinner which had turned out to be a beautiful experience as all the food was home cooked and freshly prepared. They'd stopped to admire the view and drink coffee and Sharon, when they started the journey home, wouldn't accept Andy driving the car again.
She wasn't a big fan of driving and only did it when absolutely required. It was useful to get around the city with a car but the busy traffic and people's attitudes made her more reluctant to drive.
Andy looked ahead and saw a familiar looking sign. The SevenEleven gas station was only a few hundred yards away and he put a hand on Sharon's knee drawing her attention. She shot him a sideways glance and he could see the tiredness in her eyes.
"Pull over. Let me drive for a while," Andy said and pointed at the gas station ahead. "We'll get something to drink there, maybe something to eat and I'll drive the rest of the way home."
Accepting that she was tired wasn't Sharon's strong suit but she pulled into the gas station anyway and switched off the engine. She got out of the car and her breath was robbed away by the dry heat. The car's aircon had lulled her into a false sense of security but now that she stood in the early evening air, she was reminded of just how hot it really was.
Andy got out of the car too and held the door to the little shop for Sharon as they walked in. The choice in food and drink was relatively minimal, and the clerk behind the counter looked about as high as a kite, but at least they got to stretch their legs before starting the second half of their journey. Andy picked some potato chips and two bottles of water whilst Sharon studied some of the magazines. He doubted she was really taking in any of the titles.
When he rejoined her, she turned to look at him. "I can't believe it. Ricky, Jennifer and little Alice." There was a hint of wonder in her voice. "He's taken to that little girl like she's his own. I could see it in his eyes."
Andy took Sharon's hand and linked their fingers. "Seems to be a family trait," he said softly. "Giving a new start and new home to those who need it most." His eyes found Sharon's. "Ricky learnt from the best."
Sharon flashed him a tired smile and they walked back to the car together. She gave Andy the keys and got into the passenger side. She waited for him to get in and they shared a look. Andy then leaned in, gently pressed his lips to Sharon's and kissed her. Soft, delicate and chaste⦠the way he knew she preferred it when she was tired. When he pulled back he was rewarded with a smile and he smiled back.
Sharon rested her head against the cool glass of the window as Andy started the engine. The aircon kicked back in, blasting away the dry heat that had clung to their skin and Sharon relaxed, fixing her eyes on the beautiful colours in the sky as she watched the sun disappear behind the horizon.
