Notes: Thanks for the reviews for the last chapter, glad people enjoyed the smutty break ;)
"Do you two have everything that you need for the next week?" Sharon asks the kids as Andy lugs their suitcases down the stairs, "We're bringing the rest of your things when we come to pick you up."
"I think so," Ricky says, pulling his Dodgers hat on after he finishes tying his shoes. Sharon rolls her eyes and looks at her husband.
"You know he'll end up coming home in a Yankee's hat if he goes out there in that?"
"Then we'll send him back in a Dodgers t-shirt," Andy says with a grin, knuckling Ricky's head before carrying the suitcases out to the car, "Stringbean probably needs a new one."
"I don't like the Yankees," Ricky protests as Sharon herds the kids out to the car, locking the door behind herself.
"I know you don't honey," Sharon soothes him, "It's a thing between Daddy and Grandpa."
"When are you coming to pick us up?" Emily asks as she pulls the back door open.
"Next weekend," Andy answers as he puts the suitcases in the trunk.
"We are leaving here Friday after work and flying to Hartford, picking you up at the airport, and flying to Dublin," Sharon explains.
"What time will it be when we get there?" Ricky asks.
"About lunch time."
"Do they have cartoons there?"
"Yes they have cartoons, though I don't think we'll be spending enough time at the hotel for that to matter," Sharon smiles as she climbs into the passenger seat and buckles up as Andy gets in the driver seat.
"And where all are we going?" Emily asks, leaning forward as Andy turns the car on and starts to drive them towards the airport.
"We are spending three days in Dublin, two days in London, two days in Paris, and a week in Italy," Andy reminds his daughter, looking in the rearview mirror at her. Sharon smiles and reaches over, squeezing his free hand softly as they make their way to the airport. Emily and Ricky were spending their first week of the summer with her parents before they picked them up in Hartford on the way to Europe with Nicole and Charlie.
They hadn't expended as much vacation as they had thought the year before and had a tidy sum that needed to be used up. After a brief discussion after the holidays and some conversations with a travel agent they had decided to take the kids all to Europe over the summer. The trip was branded as everyones birthday present for the year, though they had assured the kids that they could still have parties, but just wouldn't be receiving a large gift from their parents.
Andy pulls the car into the short term parking lot at LAX and finds a spot before turning the engine off and getting out. Sharon gets out and waits for the kids to clamor out of the back seat before taking their hands as they make their way inside. They head to the check-in counter, getting the kids' tickets and checking their bags before heading to the small cafe they were supposed to be meeting her mother at for lunch before she took her flight back with the kids.
Mary stands from a table she'd secured in the corner and waves to the group as she sees them arrive. Sharon lets the kids free from her grip, following behind them at a more sedate pace with Andy. Once the approach the table she gives her mom a hug and kisses her on the cheek. Andy does the same before pulling Sharon's chair out for her.
"Thank you," Sharon offers him a small smile before sinking into her seat and shuffling into the table. Andy takes a seat next to her before picking up his menu. After lunch with Mary and helping her get the kids onto the plane the two of them headed home for the remainder of the afternoon and evening. Sharon had put a roast on before they left to be ready by dinner and Andy had picked up a selection of movies from the video store. Nicole and Charlie were spending their weekend with Vicky so they had the house to themselves, something that rarely occurred no matter how old the kids were getting.
"Dinner is going to be another couple hours," Sharon says as she checks the oven before tossing the dishtowel in her hands on the counter, "I was thinking about enjoying a bath."
"Oh were you now?" Andy says, arching his eyebrow as he wraps his arms around her waist. The smells coming from the oven were heavenly. It was rare she went so all out for dinner, most of the larger more complicated meals left to him to cook.
"Mmhm," Sharon nods as she tips her head back to look up at Andy. She presses a soft kiss to his chin as her own arms wrap around his form, "Would you care to join me?"
"It does sound tempting," Andy smiles.
"Come on," Sharon says, stepping back and taking his hand, pulling him down the hall to their room. She sits on the edge of the tub and turns the water on before testing it against her hand as it warms. Once it hits the right temperature she drops the plug and lets the tub begin to fill, reaching for her favorite bubble bath scent. She rinses out a cap-full into the water and screws it back onto the container before standing and starting to shed her clothes. Everything gets deposited into the appropriate hampers before she grabs a clip off of the counter and clips her curls out of her face.
Andy sheds his clothes, leaving them on the floor before climbing into the water. He hisses at the heat and reaches forward to turn the water off. Sharon offers him an unamused look as she glances between him and the clothes before picking them up herself and putting them in their proper places. She sticks a toe into the water, slowly lowering herself down before settling between Andy's legs. The waterline was only a little below the brim of the tub and the bubbles were letting out a soft and sultry scent of jasmine into the room.
"Oh this is what heaven feels like," Sharon murmurs.
"Feels pretty good from where I'm sitting," Andy replies as his arms wrap around her and he settles back against the tub. The two of them soak in silence for a few moments before Andy speaks again, "So what is the plan for the week?"
"You have me the rest of the weekend, I'm working a little extra tomorrow and Tuesday, but I'll be home for dinner. Wednesday, I am meeting Andrea and Gavin after work to get my nails done. Thursday, you have your meeting and I will be packing and Friday, Vicky is dropping off Charlie and Nicole at work and we leave to go get the kids. And then we have two whole weeks of vacation," Sharon says with a wistful sigh, "Two weeks of sleeping in, family time, carbs and dessert…no cases."
"No cases sounds nice," Andy replies as he drops his head back, closing his eyes. It seemed to him like his cases were only getting worse, harder to finish, making him believe less and less in humanity. To say he needed a break was an understatement, "Let's go out tomorrow if I don't get a call."
"Go out?"
"For dinner, like one of those date things we used to go on," Andy grins.
"Ah," Sharon laughs as she nods, "Sure that sounds great. Sushi and a movie?"
"Oh I guess," Andy grins, rolling his eyes under his eyelids.
"I could literally feel that eye roll," Sharon comments.
"I'm sure you could," Andy laughs, "You always want sushi."
"I do," Sharon grins as she burrows her head in Andy's shoulder, "It's so yummy."
"Sure, raw fish, yummy."
"You never get actual sushi anyway. Besides you usually get to pick the movie when I get sushi."
"That you are right about," Andy agrees. He presses his lips to the back of her shoulder and sighs softly as he holds her close, "I love you."
"I love you too," Sharon murmurs as she turns her head and presses a soft kiss to his temple, squeezing his arms around her. The two continue to soak until the water runs tepid, causing goosebumps on Sharon's skin. Andy uses his toes to pull the plug before helping her up. He grabs both of them towels, wrapping his around his waist before wrapping the other around Sharon and pressing a kiss to her lips. She smiles and winks softly at him before heading into the bedroom to finish drying off and change into comfortable clothes.
Sharon makes her way to the kitchen, beginning on finishing up dinner for them. She hears Andy walk into the living room and turn the tv on, flipping over to the Dodgers game as he sinks onto the couch. A soft smile spreads across her lips as she moves around the kitchen, listening to him yell at the tv as she sets the table for the two of them before pulling the roast out of the oven. After plating both of their dinners she opens her mouth to call him in for dinner, snapping it shut when the phone rings.
"I've got it," Andy calls out, grabbing the handset in the living room. Sharon steps through to the other room and leans in the doorway as he talks on the phone, watching as his brow furrows and his shoulder's hunch before he tosses the receiver down into the cradle with a heavy thud.
"Work?"
"Yeah," Andy sighs, rubbing his hands over his face, "I gotta go. I'm sorry."
"It's okay," Sharon assures him, stepping forward to place a hand on his chest and rub gently, "Go get changed, I'll box up your dinner."
"Thank you," Andy murmurs and presses a kiss to her head before heading back down the hall. He comes out a few minutes later dressed in his usual suit, clipping his gun and handcuffs onto his belt. He puts his badge on as he steps into the kitchen. Sharon holds out a lunch bag and a thermos to him with a soft smile on her lips. He takes the two items with a grateful look, leaning down to press a kiss to her mouth and wrap his free arm around her for a moment.
"Call me when you have a moment?"
"I will," Andy nods. Sharon reaches up and strokes his cheek, giving him a small tap.
"Be safe."
"I will."
"I love you," She reminds.
"I love you too."
"Get out of here," Sharon says, shoving him towards the door. Andy laughs softly and looks back at her, offering a wink before heading out to his car. She sighs and shakes her head after the door clicks shut. She makes herself a cup of tea and grabs her plate off the table before heading into the living room and collapsing onto the couch. She gives Lily a look as the dog ventures over from her bed, "Looks like it's just you and me."
[TBC]
