Thank you for all of your kind words and support for the first chapter! Here's the next installment.

I do not own Major Crimes or any of the characters.

Chapter Two: There's No Place Like Home for the Holidays

Sharon had thought of a million reasons why spending Christmas with Andy Flynn and his family was a bad idea, but sitting for eight hours in a car alone with him was not one of them. She was currently regretting the oversight.

The first part of the trip had been fine. Andy filled her in on the horrible case the major crimes squad had just wrapped up involving a victim murdered over a Christmas tree. It had almost derailed his plans, and he and the rest of the squad had been cursing their bad luck when a break finally came. Sharon silently counted her blessings that she was not a member of that squad.

The next part of the trip had also been fine. Andy told her about his brothers - Steve and Tony. Steve was divorced with no kids, and Tony was married to Kathy. They had two adult children who were spending the holiday with their own families. And then there was Andy's Aunt Celia. Apparently, she was quite the character, and Sharon thought she might enjoy meeting the woman. She was also looking forward to his family's legendary (as Andy described it) Christmas Eve party that he had, thankfully, told her about in advance.

The last part of the trip was uncomfortable at best. Sharon could tell that Andy had something on his mind, but thus far, he had stayed silent. She decided to pull out her book and do some reading in order to take her mind off the sudden awkwardness. Why had she agreed to this? She and Andy had known each other for a long time, but never well. Most of their encounters prior to the other day had been testy at best and downright hostile at worst. This whole thing began with a fight over a scarf and now she was traveling to his family's home for Christmas. It was insane!

"There is one more thing I should probably let you know," Andy said suddenly, his voice cutting through her thoughts and filling her with apprehension. He sounded nervous.

"What's that?" She asked hoping to sound casual. She trained her eyes on his profile and watched as he removed his right hand from the steering wheel to rub the back of his neck. She assumed it was a nervous habit, and she was surprised to see it considering he had projected a lot of different things in her presence in the past, but never any sign of being nervous.

"When I told my brothers that you were coming, they might have made... a few... assumptions," he said tentatively. Sharon's brows shot up.

"What sort of assumptions?" She asked carefully. Andy kept his gaze forward.

"About us and why you're coming with me," he started, but her aggravated sigh caused him to change course. "Look, I tried to tell them that we're just co-workers, not even friends, but they didn't believe me," he explained. She shook her head.

"Of course they didn't. It sounds ridiculous. We'll just clarify things when we get there, I guess," she replied resigned to the fact. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Andy rubbing the back of his neck again.

"About that," he started hesitantly. "They were both kinda impressed that I was seeing someone and that you were a captain, so I didn't exactly correct them after a while," he added sheepishly. Moments passed between them before Sharon finally reacted.

"Stop the car," she said coldly. Andy looked at her.

"Now?" He asked surprised.

"Yes, now. Stop the car," she said more firmly. He pulled the car over to the side of the desolate road, and watched as she removed her seatbelt before pushing open her door and climbing out. She was pacing, and Andy knew he had screwed up - royally. He let out a sigh and undid his seatbelt and got out of the car as well.

"Captain, I'm sorry, okay. What was I supposed to say?" He tried as he rounded the front of his car to get to her side.

"I don't know... maybe, the truth!" She spat out. He rolled his eyes.

"Well, yes, obviously, I should have, but things got carried away and now here we are," he replied, trying very hard to keep the annoyance out of his voice. It wasn't even her he was annoyed with, it was himself. Although, her haughty tone wasn't helping.

"No, you're here. I'm going home. Just drop me off at the next gas station and I'll figure out the rest from there," she demanded as she began to go back towards the car.

"And what will I tell my family?" He asked indignantly. She stopped in her tracks, but did not turn around. Shit, that was the wrong thing to say.

"Tell them your perfect captain girlfriend dumped you because you have trouble distinguishing between fact and fiction. Or whatever else you want to tell them. After all, it's your story," she said flippantly before continuing towards the car. He hurried to catch her and lightly grabbed her arm before she could open the door. He tugged her around to face him.

"Okay, admittedly, that was the wrong thing to say," he said sincerely. She pursed her lips and tugged her arm out of his grasp. "But please, Captain, I would like for you to join me," he added. She scoffed.

"Like or need, Lieutenant?" She asked in a huff. Andy couldn't help the spark that traveled through him at seeing the fire in her eyes.

"Like," he assured her calmly. "And if you agree to go along with this crazy story, I'll owe you one," he negotiated. She narrowed her eyes.

"You want me to pretend to be your girlfriend to keep your family off your back?" She asked astonished. He nodded. "You realize how ridiculous this is, right?"

"I do, and that's why I'm willing to do whatever it takes to pay you back," he said. She thought about it for a few moments.

"Whatever it takes?" She asked. He nodded. "How about a year of civility," she offered, and his eyes widened.

"You want me to be nice to you for a year? That's it?" He asked, shock evident.

"Just some basic civility and human decency whenever our paths cross will be fine, Lieutenant," she explained, and when he went to speak, she stopped him. "Before you so eagerly agree to this, you need to think about the implications. Your squad will not take well to it, and then there's your partner," she pointed out. He thought about it for a moment.

"If you're willing to put up with my family and this scam, then I can put up with my squad and my idiot partner," he assured her. She nodded.

"Fine," she agreed. "But there's going to be some ground rules," she said seriously.

"Yeah, kinda figured," he replied before moving away and allowing her to get back into the car.

It was late afternoon when they finally arrived at the home nestled into the streets of the festive little town. There was close to a foot of snow on the ground that added to the holiday ambiance. The house had seen better days, but quaint all the same.

As Sharon got out of the car, she marveled at the character of the older home. She was so enthralled, she failed to properly register her surroundings and started to slip on a thin sheet of ice in the driveway. Andy saw it unfold out of the corner of his eye as he grabbed their bags from the trunk, and hurriedly dropped them to run over just in time to catch her before she fell undignified onto her bottom.

Sharon was expecting the freezing cold of the ice and snow below and not the warm arms that wrapped themselves around her body. She looked up into brown eyes that held worry, and found herself lost in them for a moment. Neither seemed eager to break the contact.

"Thank you, Lieutenant," she finally replied before pulling herself the rest of the way up and stepping out of his grasp.

"You're welcome. But, uh, you're gonna have to start calling me Andy now," he reminded her, and she gave him an awkward smile.

"Right, of course," she said as she brushed off imaginary debris from her long wool coat before looking back up at the house. "This is lovely, by the way... Andy," she said, trying the word on for size.

Just then, the front door opened and Andy's family came pouring out in a whirl of celebration. Sharon found herself engulfed in several hugs as brief introductions were made. Then, they all made their way into the home with Andy taking up the rear loaded down like a pack mule. Once inside, he unceremoniously dropped the bags in the foyer before helping Sharon remove her coat. He allowed his fingers to dance lightly along her sweater, enjoying the soft feel of the cashmere. Sharon felt the subtle touch, but assumed it was all part of the act even if his family had already retired to the living room.

Once Sharon and Andy made their way there as well, she quickly noticed that his family had not so subtly left the small love seat for the two of them. She inwardly scolded herself for going along with this crazy scheme. They both casually took their seats, and the inquisition began.

"So, Sharon, Andy tells us you're a cop, too," his sister-in-law Kathy began.

"Yes, I work in Internal Affairs," she replied kindly. Both of Andy's brothers began to laugh.

"Guess we don't need to ask how you met Andy then," Steve joked. Andy gave an annoyed smile.

"Actually, we met a long time ago. Before I was ever in IA," she explained. That shut them up.

"So you were co-workers for years before you were ever anything more," Kathy mused. Sharon had to inwardly adjust her thought process. The whole idea of this was still so preposterous.

"Yeah, we crossed paths now and then. I always had the biggest crush on her, but I never thought she'd go for a mutt like me," Andy said self deprecatingly. He had hoped to save Sharon from any further uncomfortable lies, but she looked a bit perplexed.

As she watched him, Sharon wondered how Andy could let the lies roll off his tongue so easily. She was struggling to pull this off, and he seemed completely at ease.

"And then we accidentally spent time together outside of work, and things began to change," she added. After all, it was the truth even if the sentiment behind it wasn't what they were portraying.

"It's like after all these years the timing was finally right, and you found each other when you were supposed to," Kathy said longingly. Sharon gave an uncomfortable smile and Andy covered with a friendly laugh.

"Well, I for one am glad my little brother is finally settling down again. It's about damn time you found someone you like enough to introduce us to," Tony said proudly. "You know he tried to act like you two weren't a thing? That's how I knew this was the real deal. Every other woman he's ever dated he's talked up, but the fact that he didn't have to with you, speaks volumes".

"Well, I think we're both used to having to downplay... this... since we work together," Sharon replied a bit awkwardly.

"Right, of course," Kathy agreed. The group soon digressed into small talk and old stories, which Sharon very much enjoyed, but she couldn't help splitting her focus between them and the older woman with the kind eyes sitting quietly in the chair diagonally from her.

She and Aunt Celia had been introduced, but Sharon noticed how quiet the woman had been since their arrival. She seemed to be studying the group and their interactions, especially those between Sharon and Andy. The cop in Sharon admired her obviously keen observation skills, but the woman in her couldn't help but feel a bit uneasy. What exactly was going on in Aunt Celia's head?

"Well, this has been a lovely introduction, but we should start thinking about dinner," Celia said suddenly. Everyone seemed to agree, and Sharon got up and followed the others to the kitchen.

Round one was over, only too many more left to go before she could give up this ruse.

After dinner, everyone enjoyed coffee in snowman mugs in front of the large fireplace in the living room. The house's higher ceilings allowed for a tall Christmas tree and its white lights cast a homey glow. Andy had noticed that Sharon was hiding small shivers that shook her slight frame, so he wordlessly handed her a soft fleece blanket. She turned and gave him a smile in thanks, and he leaned in close to whisper in her ear.

"Been living in Southern California too long, Captain," he teased. She gave him a coy smile.

"No, just forgot how nice it feels to curl up under a blanket in front of the fire," she replied.

"You know what's even better?" He challenged with a mischievous sparkle in his eye.

"Hmmm, I can only imagine," she replied before shooting him a look that was clearly meant as a warning.

"Snuggling under that blanket with someone," he flirted, and she simply smiled as she lifted the blanket and covered him with part of it. They moved slightly closer to each other in a moment of forced intimacy that she hoped looked natural. What was he playing at with that little stunt anyway? They were already sitting next to each other on the small love seat as they had earlier and then at the dinner table after. From across the room, Sharon noticed Aunt Celia once again studying them carefully.

When it was time for bed, everyone headed up the staircase as Andy hauled the bags. Sharon noticed the tasteful garland and other festive decorations that filled the home. It made her think of her own family Christmases in Park City, and she felt a tinge of longing. It didn't last, however, as she reached the end of the hall and found only one bedroom. Everyone said their goodnights and entered their respective rooms. Sharon quickly did the math and realized that she and Andy would be sharing a room. She said a silent prayer for two separate beds before opening the wreath-clad door. Unfortunately, her prayer was not answered.

"Are we supposed to share this?" She asked a bit uneasily once Andy closed the door. He dropped the bags, and turned to face her.

"Um, yeah. There aren't any other bedrooms and they all think we're... well, you know, so this is it," he explained as he rubbed a hand behind his neck uncomfortably. Her eyes widened, and he realized he had left something important out. "But don't worry, I'll take the chair," he added quickly, and Sharon turned toward the old rocking chair in the corner of the room. She felt badly, but there was absolutely no way she was sharing a bed with a man she wasn't in a relationship with. It was bad enough they were sharing Christmas. And, after all, he had gotten them into this mess to begin with, so she nodded reluctantly.

They awkwardly danced around getting ready for bed by taking turns in the adjacent bathroom. Sharon cursed her decision to bring her red silk thin-strapped nightgown with its matching robe. She had thought it festive at the time, but now it was simply skimpy. She pulled the short robe snug and wrapped her arms around her body before exiting the bathroom. She quickly made her way to the bed and climbed under the covers. Once Andy had retired to the bathroom, she slipped the robe off and draped it across the bed before climbing back under the sheets. The bed was cold, and she was underdressed, but it would have to do.

Once Andy was ready for bed, in modest flannel pajama pants and a t-shirt, he attempted to make himself comfortable in the hard rocker with a fuzzy afghan for warmth. It wasn't perfect, but it would have to do. Besides, it wasn't the hard wood of the chair or the scratchy fabric of the blanket that kept him from his slumber. No, that was due to the woman sleeping softly a few feet away and a certain short red nightgown he had caught a glimpse of earlier. He had always secretly admired her long, toned legs, but seeing so much of them had been positively tantalizing.

It was going to be a long night.

TBC