We are officially a couple now. The day Sharon's divorce became final, I took her out to dinner to a secluded restaurant in the mountains. It was quite a drive, but it was worth it just for the views. When she got out of the car, I offered her my arm and started walking towards the restaurant. Just before we got in, I stopped.
"There's something I've been meaning to ask you for a while, Sharon, and now I finally can."
My heart was beating a little faster because there would be no turning back after that question.
"Why finally? Oh, and of course you can ask me. You can ask me anything, Andy, you know that."
"Finally as in now that you're finally divorced," I turned to look at her and she encouraged me to go on with a small nod of her head and an expectant little smile.
"I'd very much like it if tonight could be a date."
The smile was spreading across her face and became wider and wider until she started giggling, hiding her face with her free hand.
"I'd like that very much. Gosh, Andy, I thought you would never ask!"
"I couldn't date you while you were still married to Jack."
"That was your reason?" she asked incredulously.
"Yeah." Because it had been. It just hadn't felt right and when I had finally worked up the nerve to ask her anyway, she told me she was planning to file for divorce so I had decided to wait.
"That's why you haven't … you know, you haven't even tried to kiss me?"
I hadn't. I had wanted to, of course I had wanted to! We've been kissing on the cheek for a few months, but no, never anything more. When we are alone, we hold hands and sometimes we hold each other. Once she has fallen asleep in my arms after a particularly long and gruelling case and I watched her for most of the night marvelling at the beautiful woman in my arms.
"Yeah," I confirmed quietly.
"Oh." Sharon looked at me more closely. "You're full of surprises, Andy! I wouldn't have thought me still being married would be so important to you."
Then she moved right into my personal space, put both hands on the lapels of my jacket and raised herself up on her toes, "So, this is officially our first date. Can a girl get a kiss on her first date?"
She got a lot more than just one kiss that night.
/
"You seem different tonight, Sharon. Want to talk about it?" I asked Sharon after she had spent the evening gazing at me lovingly with a soft smile on her lips. It seemed like she was dreaming and her thoughts were far away. When she noticed I was watching her, she shook her head and the most adorable blush crept up her cheeks.
"Nothing to talk about, Andy."
"You're obviously thinking of something."
She laughed self-consciously and shook her head. "It's ridiculous. I don't even know why…" she broke off mid-sentence and took another sip of her wine.
"What is ridiculous?"
"Well," Sharon took a deep breath and put the wineglass back on the table. "I'm still thinking about our last case, how hard some people try to have a family and how lucky I am to have my three children."
"They are lucky to have you as their mum." Rusty in particular. Where would he be today without Sharon?
"What else were you thinking about? Because that's certainly not ridiculous, Louie and I talked about it just last night. The lengths some people are willing to go to just to have a child."
"Well, we already are parents, Andy. With Emily, I got pregnant without even intending to, so it's not a question I've ever had to ask myself."
"Yeah, can't judge someone if you've never been in their shoes. But go on, Sharon, what else were you thinking about?"
"You were so good with the little boy."
I smiled when I remembered that afternoon. I had enjoyed the time with the little one and just for the record, I am good with babies. It's the only time in my children's lives that I was there for them. I was such a proud father and I carried both Nicole and Jonathan around as much as Joanne would let me.
"I loved seeing you with him, Andy. I like that side of you."
Her face had taken on an almost wistful expression and before continuing, she took yet another deep breath. "Andy, I know this is going to sound really strange and out of the blue. Are you sure you want to know what I'm thinking?"
"Of course I do."
"It's not exactly a well-thought out idea and it's entirely unrealistic, it's more of a feeling and I don't want you to … I don't want you to feel uncomfortable."
"Try me, Sharon. Share your idea and maybe we can talk about it, consider it together?"
"The thing is, it concerns you as well, Andy. "
"Then who better to share it with than me."
"I just…I don't want you to feel uncomfortable."
A sudden pang of insecurity shot through me. "Are you reconsidering our relationship?"
"What? Oh no, not at all, Andy. Not at all. I am right where I want to be with you, Andy. No, this is … oh well."
"Then go ahead. I'm here to listen."
Sharon ran her hands through her hair and laughed, moving a little closer to me and resting her head against my shoulder.
"I know our relationship is still so new and we are not exactly young anymore, but if I was ten years younger, well even five years, I would really like to have a child with you. I would really like to have a family with you, Andy. "
"Yeah?" Not exactly an eloquent answer, but enough to encourage her to go on.
"I saw you with that baby and for a second I had this thought that it could be our child and I tried to push it away but once it was there – it's just been going around in my head. I know it's completely unrealistic and it's probably the very last thing on your mind and it's ridiculous and … I'm sorry, Andy. I shouldn't have said anything."
I know I should have stopped her sooner but rambling Sharon was such a rare occasion and I was quite mesmerised by the sight. That, and I was still wrapping my mind around what I had just heard and was trying to understand the heady excitement and pure happiness I suddenly felt. Sharon was talking about having a child together!
"Is it?" I asked and the moment the words were out I knew I should have been more clear.
Sharon was irritated. "Is it what?"
"Is it completely unrealistic for us to have a child together?" I explained.
"Andy? You're not telling me … are you serious?" Her irritation had turned into surprise.
"Tell me. If we wanted to, could we have a child together?" Suddenly, I had to know.
"Well, I haven't gone through menopause yet. So I guess with a lot of luck we might be able to conceive."
"Let's try then."
"But it's crazy. We're old enough to be grandparents."
"And yet young enough to be parents. "
Sharon laughed.
"Andy, what are you doing? I was expecting you to tell me to look forward to our grandchildren and enjoy the time with Rusty. Are you seriously considering this? It would take a minor miracle for me to even get pregnant at my age."
"I like miracles."
She laughed again and shook her head, but I could tell from the sparkle in her eyes just how excited she was. It was so cute to see, her whole face lit up and she started fiddling with her hands so I took them both in mine and leaned in to kiss her.
"You do realise how crazy that idea is?" she whispered between two kisses and I let go of her hands and pulled her fully into my lap.
"I like crazy."
Author's note: I did not set out to write another babyfic, but my muse is obviously still caught up in babyfic territory. I hope you enjoyed this anyway! Let me know what you think - I'd love to hear from you :-)