Andy reluctantly moved back into the reception area following the guests out to the front drive, where an old car was waiting to take Nicole and Dean off for their honeymoon. He made his way over to the rest of the wedding party when Nicole spotted him. "Hi Dad."
"Hey Nic! What a beautiful night!" He said giving her a hug.
"Yes, and thank you again for everything." She said giving him a kiss on the cheek.
"You're welcome, you made a beautiful bride. I hope that you and Dean are very happy." He said with a big grin, feeling tears coming to his eyes.
"If we are as remotely happy as you and Sharon are, I think we will be just fine." She said with a wink.
"We're uh, not, uh…we're just friends." He said feeling flustered by Nicole's remarks.
"Mmm, and Dean and I are just friends too Dad." Nicole said turning towards her husband.
Before Andy could respond the wedding coordinator took Nicole and Dean over to the walk way and began talking to them. He shook his head and rub the back of it. He certainly did feel happy when he was with Sharon and she didn't seem to mind his company either, but he wasn't sure if there was anything more to it than that.
The wedding coordinator came back and started passing out sparklers to everyone, asking people to stand and make an arch for the couple to walk beneath. The evening was dark and despite it being summer the air had a chill to it. The sparklers were lit and suddenly there was a beautiful glow hovering over the scene as he watched his daughter, giddy in love practically skip to the car with Dean in tow. She turned to him as she went to climb in and gave a nod in his direction. He nodded back knowing just how much it meant to her that he came, because he felt the same way. Everyone waved goodbye and the sparklers began to burn out, everything slipped back into darkness. As the crowd began to dissipate, many guests walking to their cars Andy headed back inside to find Sharon.
He was struggling to come up with the words to say thank you to her. While he had decided to come before she offered to serve as a "buffer," her presence had ended helping - as it usually did. Everything seemed to go more calmly when she was around him. He thought back to Nicole's words. The more time he spent with her as friends the more he found himself missing her company. He certainly missed her physically, that went without saying. Sexually they had a connection, as a guy he certainly felt that the words "mind-blowing" and "erotic" were most definitely appropriate. But he found the connection had grown beyond that, at least for him he had. Andy was unsure what Sharon thought or felt on the matter, they hadn't really discussed "us" since she had taken Rusty in. They came to the mutual decision to end their physical relationship and that was that.
As Andy came upon the patio where he left Sharon a few minutes earlier, he noticed that she was gone. He immediately felt his heart rate increase, his mind quickly jumping to conclusions. Did she leave? Did someone take her? Did I do something to upset her? He looked over his shoulder scanning the room. He didn't see her handbag or shawl laying around. He walked over to the bathrooms hoping she was there. He waited for a few minutes, before finally asking someone. "Excuse me miss, could you do me a favor? Can you check the stalls and see if there's a woman in there - Sharon?"
"Of course." The staff woman replied. A few minutes later she came back out, "Sorry, the bathroom looks empty."
"No problem. Thank you for checking."
Andy turned back towards the patio and began walking its length hoping to see her sitting on a bench. When he got back to his starting place he looked back out into the darkness of the golf course and sighed deeply wringing his hands. Maybe she had left. She seemed distracted before I went outside. He looked up from his hands and thought he caught a glimpse of someone walking off in the distance. He started towards the movement, his feet picking up the pace as he moved closer and then shouting, "Sharon! Sharon!" as he approached. She turned around just as Andy closed the distance between them.
"Sharon" he said this time more softly, "Are you okay?"
She looked up but couldn't meet his eyes, "Um, er, yes Andy. I uh, just felt like getting some fresh air, taking a little walk."
He took a deep breath "Oh."
The sound of his breathing made her finally look him in the eyes, "I'm sorry if I scared you."
"I didn't know where you were. Not that you have to tell me. I'm not your keeper of course. I just thought maybe, you uh, left or something." He spoke quickly, knowing he was rambling.
She smiled at him, "Why would you think I would leave without you?"
It was his turn to look down at his shoes, "Well uh, I thought maybe I did something to upset you, and that you didn't want me to take you home."
"Andy," Sharon said in a quiet voice but with some pleading for him to look up at her. Andy kept his head down, not wanting to see the hurt in her eyes that he caused.
"Andy" she said again, as she put her hand to his chin asking him to lift up his face and look at her. "I'm not upset with you. Why would I be? Even if I was I would never leave without telling you."
Andy nodded, he knew that was true, she was anything but cruel. "Are you sure I didn't do something to hurt your feelings?"
She met his eyes again, "No, Andy you didn't do anything wrong. Why are you convinced that you did?"
He put his hands in his coat pockets and kicked an imaginary rock at his feet, "Well after we finished dancing and we came out on the patio, you seemed distant. I didn't mean to make you feel uncomfortable out there, I just enjoyed holding…" he stopped himself before finishing that sentence.
Before he could clarify what he meant Sharon jumped in, "Andy you didn't make me feel uncomfortable and I'm sorry if I felt distant afterwards. I guess I was surprised at all the people staring at us, but that had nothing to do with me having danced with you. I just don't like all that attention." She said adding a smile.
He knew that was true, she was anything but a narcissist. She never wanted to be the center of attention. "I'm sorry Sharon."
"Andy it's fine. Please don't worry about it. It was a lovely day and a beautiful wedding. Thank you for letting me tag along."
He looked her in the eyes and felt his stomach do flip flops as he stared at her beautiful green eyes. He reached out for her hand and stroked it with his fingers, "It was beautiful, you're beautiful and thank you for coming and being by my side throughout it all it really helped more than you might ever know." He pulled her hand up to his lips intending to kiss it before he realized what he was doing. He quickly brought his other hand up and cradled her hand trying to avoid making things more awkward. "Um, well the place is closing down. Should we head back? I should probably get you home before Rusty gets worried."
She nodded and whispered "Yes." He kept his hand on hers as they walked up the path.
"Do you have everything?" He asked stopping in front of the hall.
She hesitated to respond and when looked at her he saw the sadness return to her eyes. Without thinking he let go of her hand and reached his hands up to her cheeks, "Sharon." He said softly. His eyes flitting back and forth as he looked at her, trying to read her. "Please tell me what's the matter. I can see it in your eyes."
She let out a small chuckle which caught him off guard, "How do you always do it Andy?"
He looks at her bewildered by the remark, "Do what?"
"Read me like a book. How is it that you notice before anyone else?" She stares at him.
He isn't sure how to respond, he did feel like over the last few years he had gotten to know her better. Especially over the last few months that they had been spending more quality time together, but he certainly didn't think he could read her like a book, yet. "I'm a detective remember?" He said with a large grin, hoping to make her laugh or at least smile.
She grinned, "You know what I mean."
"Actually, I'm not entirely sure what you mean. I think that I've gotten to know you better over the last few months, and maybe that has made it easier for me to tell what you're feeling. But I usually have no idea why you're feeling the way you do. Like now, your eyes turned a slightly different shade of green. They look sad and distant again. But I don't know why. You said it wasn't me, and I hope that's true. I never want you to be sad because of me."
She smiled at him softly, "That's what I mean Andy. No one else seems to know my moods as well as you. You seem to get me."
Sharon looks down again and Andy realizes that he is still touching her face, he moves to let go and give her some space when she reaches her hands up to meet his, "Don't" is all she whispers.
He gives her a puzzled look, but when he sees her eyes he notices they've changed again. He recognizes that color, but finds himself surprised by it. "Sharon," he whispers as he looks at their hands together on his chest and he closes the space between them. He puts his forehead on hers and he hears her let out a small sigh. This close to her he can smell her hair and he finds himself wanting to let his hands wander. He had always found her more intoxicating than any glass of Scotch he had ever consumed. He saw her biting down on her bottom lip as she did on occasion, and had to bite on his own to keep from kissing her. Andy felt his body beginning to get worked up and he knew he was going to have to pull away from her before he lost control. He let his hands drop down to his sides, but felt hers move to his chest and begin to fiddle with his tie. "Andy" she spoke in a quiet voice. He pulled back his forehead and looked at her.
She bit her lip again and Andy felt his body involuntarily respond by moving even closer to her. "I'm sad because I miss you. I look distant because I'm trying to stay in control."
Andy moves his hands up to her shoulders and lightly caresses her bare skin, causing her to let out a small gasp. He looks at her surprised, "Why do you miss me? I'm right here. I've always been right here."
"I know." Is all she says.
He pulls her shawl up as he feels goosebumps on her skin, "What is making you feel like you're out of control? That you feel you have to distance yourself from me. Please tell me what I did so I can fix it."
Sharon looks up at him and shakes her head, "You didn't do anything wrong Andy, quite the opposite in fact. It's my fault and I just need to deal with it."
This time it is Andy's turn to shake his head, "No, Sharon. I disagree. What could possibly be your fault?"
She stood quiet as he continued to rub her arms, her head looking off into the distance, "I told you we had to stop, but that's not what I wanted." She spoke in such a quiet voice Andy barely heard what she said. He wasn't even sure if he had heard her correctly, it sounded like she was saying she wanted things to go back to the way they were. "Sharon," he brought his right hand up to her cheek and gently turned her head back towards him. "Are you saying that you miss being with me?"
Sharon couldn't speak, she nodded her head up and down and Andy could see that she felt ashamed by this and was concerned. "Are you upset because you are feeling like this and don't want to be?"
She took a step back from him, "I, uh, I said we shouldn't be together anymore, so yes I should stop feeling like this. I need to let you go."
Andy took a step forward, "I understand, but that's not what I'm asking. Do you want to let me go?"
Sharon stepped back again, "Well I can't continue living in some fantasy."
"Hmm," he stepped towards her once more, "So you have fantasies about me," he said with a grin. She didn't say anything but he could see it in her eyes. "But Sharon, you still haven't answered the question. Do you want to be with me?"
She went to step back once more but found herself up against the wall, "Yes" she whispered.
Andy moved closer to her, closing the space between knowing she couldn't continue backing up, "Do you want to be with me Sharon?"
Sharon looked up into his eyes and he saw both anxiety but also desire, he knew he had his answer, but he needed her to say it. To admit it to herself, to him, for them. She shook her head, nodding yes.
Andy moved closer still, leaving no gap between them, "I need to hear you say it. Do you want me?" He said it into her ear and placed a very light kiss below her ear lobe.
"Yes" She finally exclaimed, "Yes I want you. I never stopped wanting you. Just with the transfer and Rusty and the team. I just didn't know what to do or how to do it." She spoke loudly as she carried on for a moment.
Andy kept close to her neck as he replied, "I do recall that you do know what to do and know how to do it quite well." He knew that wasn't what she meant, but he couldn't help but lightly teasing her. He needed to break the emotional tension, to let her know it was ok.
"That's not what I meant." She shot back in her Darth voice, but he knew it was a mock-Darth voice. Had it been the real one, he would have immediately stepped back and given her space. Instead he placed another light kiss below her jaw. He felt her tremble beneath him and noticed his body responding to her once again.
"I know you didn't. Sharon, I don't have all the answers, but I want you in more ways than just this one," he gestured between them, "I want to be with you, to share our lives and our bodies together. I never stopped wanting that, only now I know why." Because I'm in love with you…He placed another kiss on her jaw causing her to let out a soft moan, "Andy."
His hips bucked against hers at the sound of his name on her lips in that low gravely tone she used to get when they were together. "Please kiss me," she asked. He wasted no time, not wanting her to change her mind. He kissed her hard and she quickly opened her mouth for him as the kiss deepened. She brushed her teeth along his bottom lip and sucked it causing him to moan. They continued kissing for a few more moments until they heard a door open beside them. The noise caused them to jump back noticing the staff dragging waste bins out of the hall. Andy grabbed Sharon's hand and pulled her away from the wall, "C'mon let's get out of here."
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AN: Well this mini-ditty was only supposed to be two chapters, but wouldn't you know it is going to take at least one more for me to close this one out. I think that means those that wanted more of this story will be pleased. Thanks for the reviews. I might just get the final chapter up in time to give everyone a reprieve from their families this holiday weekend. Forewarning an M rating ;)
