Announcements and Celebrations

My take on the "Sense of Occasion" prompt. A couple of announcements from family members are cause for celebrating and begin to shift Sharon and Andy's relationship. Will be multiple chapters.

Sharon looked up from her paperwork when she heard a knock on her office door. She smiled when she saw Andy through the window and she motioned for him to come in. She glanced down at her watch wondering if it was time to go already but no it was too early to leave even for a Friday.

"Hi" she said as he came in and closed the door.

"So, Nicole wants to know if we want to come to dinner tomorrow night." Andy said nervously rubbing his hands together and smiling too big the way he did when he didn't want to tell her something.

"OK, we don't have any other plans and we haven't seen her and Dean and the boys in a while that sounds nice. So why do I get the feeling you aren't telling me something?" She asked raising an eyebrow at him.

Andy took a deep breath and sat down in one of her chairs before continuing, "Just remember that you are crazy about me and we have a really good thing going here."

"Andy, please what could be so bad?" She asked rolling her eyes at him

"It's not going to just be us." He said nervously.

"Oh are they having a dinner party? That could be fun, are we supposed to bring something?" Sharon asked her sense of occasion kicking in.

"No, Sweetheart it's not like that." He said shaking his head.

Sharon looked at him in confusion. He never called her Sweetheart at work so whatever it was trying to set her up for it.

"Michelle is going to be there." He said quickly before starting again, " I can tell Nicole we can't make it that we caught a case, or you're sick, or..:"

"Andy, stop." Sharon said coming around to the front of the desk and sitting in front of him, "I am not afraid to have dinner with your ex-wife. We have been dating for almost six months and we were friends long before that. We can handle this. It will be fine." She told him leaning in enough to rub his arm with her hand. He smiled at her and took advantage of how close she was to run a hand up her calf slightly and smile at her.

"You are the greatest, you know that right?" He asked her with a smile.

"So I have heard. Now do you suppose you might get back to work so we can get out of here eventually?' She said as she stood and walked back around her desk.

"Yes, Captain." He said with a grin and mock salute as he walked out.

Sharon just shook her head as he walked away that man was incorrigible and irresistible all at the same time.

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The next evening Sharon was in her room still trying to decide what to wear to dinner when she heard Andy come in and talk to Rusty. He knocked quickly before coming in to find her standing in her bra and panties with several outfits on the bed.

"Well, that looks good to me if you are trying to decide" He said looking her up and down.

"I really don't know what to wear. Work clothes seem too impersonal, a dress maybe?" she said motioning to the clothes on her bed.

"Jeans, and that new top you bought when you went shopping with Andrea last week the purple one, with your boots." He told her.

"Jeans, you don't think that's too casual?" She asked.

"No, because you know you are going to end up on the floor playing with the boys like you always do." He reminder her then he smiled as he came closer and ran a hand down her bare side, "Plus you look amazing in jeans and I will remember what you have on underneath." He leaned in a kissed her moving his hand around to her backside and pulling her closer deepening the kiss. Sharon moaned slightly before pushing him away.

"Fine, but if you keep that up we are going to be late." She half-heartedly admonished .

"I'm OK with that." He said as he began to kiss her neck.

"Well, I'm not." She laughed as she pushed him, "Go wait out in the living room. I will be ready in 10 minutes."

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Sure enough an hour later Sharon and Andy were lying in the floor playing Legos with the boys as while Nicole and Dean finished getting dinner ready. They had been there for half an hour when the doorbell rang, "Nichole do you want me to get it?" Sharon asked.

"If you don't mind Sharon, Mom and Paul are late as usual." Nicole said shaking her head in frustration.

"Of course, I don't mind. Connor do you want to come open the door for your Grandparents with me?" Sharon asked the older boy.

"Oh, they aren't out grandparents. Michelle just says to call them Michelle and Paul since they aren't really our grandparents." He said matter of factly.

Sharon stared at him in disbelief for a second. She knew how much Andy loved that they called him Grandpa. Then just smiled at him, "Well let's go welcome Michelle and Paul" she said taking his hand.

Connor opened the door, "Hi, Mom and Dad are cooking dinner. I'm going back to play with Grandpa are you coming Sharon?" he asked turning to leave.

"I will be back in a minute Connor. Hi Michelle, Paul, it's nice to see you again." Sharon said warmly.

"Wow, so Andy has managed to not run you off yet or should I say run off on you?" Michelle greeted her.

"Don't start Michelle." Sharon heard Andy's voice from behind her and felt his hand on her shoulder.

"Oh stop Andrew, everyone knows you two aren't really dating" She replied pushing past them into the house leaving Sharon speechless and Andy fuming and Paul trailing behind her.

"Darling, I'm sorry we are late, but you know how terrible traffic is." Michelle said coming into the kitchen.

"Yes, Mom, that's why people usually leave early for places. Boys go wash your hands for dinner." She called into the living room.

"The boys are eating with us?" Michelle obviously surprised.

"Yes, Mom, that's generally what we do as a family." Nicole said her frustration growing.

Sharon could sense her frustration, "Nicole it all looks wonderful. How can I help?"

"If you don't mind making sure the boys actually wash up that would be great Sharon, thank you."

Throughout dinner Michelle dominated the conversation with stories of all of her and Paul's trips and country club goings on. Making sure everyone knew how much money they had. Paul was just as obnoxious as she was talking about his business deals and people he knew. Sharon was pretty sure she could feel Andy's blood pressure rising next to her as she gently patted his knee beneath the table.

"Of Course Sharon, you're ex-husband is a lawyer right? I bet you got all kinds of money from him. He probably does a lot better than Andy right?" Michelle asked just before dessert.

"Mother!" Nicole yelled.

"Its fine Nicole, yes my ex-husband is a lawyer but no, I don't have any of his money because he has gambled or drank all of it away. So no, he does not do a lot better than Andy." Sharon stated matter of factly, "Andy, why don't we start the dishes and let Michelle and Paul spend some time with the boys. I am sure they want some time to be grandparents." She added with a smile.

"Wait, Sharon before you do, the boys want to tell you all something." Dean spoke up. "Connor, Mitchell…"

"We are going to have a baby!" They yelled jumping up and down. "I am going to be a big brother!" the younger one added proudly.

Michelle jumped out of her chair, "Oh Darling, that is the best news ever! I am finally going to be a grandmother."

"You already are Mother" Nichole said with tears in her eyes looking at the boys who Andy and Sharon were hugging with excitement.

"Yes, but this one will really be yours" Michelle explained.

"I already have two that really are mine and I think it's time you and Paul leave." Nicole said trying not to cry.

'Darling don't be this way." Michelle said

"She asked you to leave Michelle. This is a special day for this family and you need to go." Andy said coming up and putting his arm around his daughter.

"Oh don't you just love this Andy, having her on your side for a change. Come on Paul, we clearly aren't needed here." Michelle said gathering her things and walking to the door, "Call me when you aren't so emotional Nicole." She added before leaving.

Andy hugged his daughter, "I'm sorry she acted that way Honey but I am so happy for all of you."

"Thanks Dad for everything." Nicole told him.

Sharon and Dean finished the dishes while Nicole sat down and Andy go the boys settled in bed. Sharon smiled as she came around the corner to find Andy sitting on the edge of one of the boy's beds reading to them, "Goodnight boys" she whispered. Andy smiled as he closed the book and turned to leave Connor said, "Goodnight Sharon, goodnight Grandpa, I love you." Sharon smiled and before she could speak Andy said, "Good night Buddy we love you too." There was something about the way Andy said we in that warmed Sharon and she felt like tonight was another one of those turning points in their relationship.

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When they got back to her place Andy was sitting quietly on her bed when she walked into the room, "What are you thinking about Gradpa?" She asked with a smile.

"Promise you won't freak out?" He asked?

"For the last time I don't freak out." She protested.

"I was thinking about how you would make those boys and this baby a damn good grandmother." He said looking straight in her eyes, "Does that freak you out?" he asked.

Sharon took his hands and sat down on the bed next to him looking right back at him, "Not at all" she answered him.

Andy kissed her, "Good" then he smiled; "Now I'm thinking about what you have on under those jeans and that top." He said as he pulled her closer into a heated kiss.

TBC