For the third time that evening, a knock on the door interrupted the conversation. This time brining the food that was desperately needed. A jostle happened at the door as four credit cards were pulled out to pay for the delivery, each more insistent than the last. Sharon argued she made more than the rest, and it was her home, so she would pay. But Ricky trumped all, with the news of his recent windfall, and while Sharon was looking proudly at her son, he slipped the credit card to the delivery man. "Dinner is on me," he finally announced.

Rusty hung back, not sure what to do. The evening had been an emotional roller coaster, and he wanted nothing more than to hide in his room until it was all over.

"Come, Rusty," Sharon touched his shoulder to get his attention. "Sit down and eat."

"I'm not really hungry, Sharon," he tried to beg off.

Andy looked at him, "What I tell you, Kid? It's going to be uncomfortable until it gets better. This is what family looks like. People who know your stories and want you to know theirs. You got to focus on the person at the center, and in your case that's Sharon, and make sure she's happy. Then before you know it, you'll feel part of what's going on, too."

"It's just... weird."

"Look Kid, I know you've said it before. It was you and your mom, and now it's you and Sharon. But here's the thing... it's never been just you and Sharon. It's been you and Sharon and me and Provenza and the rest of the team. Now it's you and Sharon and Ricky and Emily and everyone else who's part of Sharon's world. You've got to lower your walls and get to know people. It won't always be easy, but it gets better."

"But there's so much hostility. I don't know..."

"You have to see it for what it is, Honey," Sharon tried to sooth him. "People make assumptions based on stereotypes. That can't be helped. I've experienced that all my life. Most people do. But here's the thing, by letting a core group of people know who you really are, you have their support for you as an individual, not that stereotype. And you have to give people time to adjust."

While Andy and Sharon were trying to make Rusty feel better, Nicole and Ricky took the food into the kitchen and put everything in serving bowls. "I'm still having a hard time with this," Ricky said low enough so only she could hear.

"I know... and there's no way for anyone to make you feel better about it. You just have to get to know him. He's more... Oh..." she sighed, trying to find her words. "He's a nerd. I can't put any other word on him. He's so unsure of himself sometimes that it's painful to watch. Everything you thought you knew about kids on the streets, prostituting themselves, looking for an easy mark, stealing, drugs, abuse... None of that applies here. And he was only out there for about six month, if you didn't know. He wasn't out there long."

"How do you know all this? My mom didn't tell me anything because his past is none of my business, end quote. How come they told you?"

"Don't get your feathers ruffled," she said, reaching across from him to put a second order of spring rolls on the plate, "like I said, he babysits my kids from time to time. You think you're the only one who was concerned? I had a lot of questions and I made them answer every one. I might not be the boys' first mother, but I love them like I was. I guess I can relate to Sharon in that way. She was kinda hoping biology wouldn't be an issue for you."

"It's not," he said firmly. "This isn't about my inheritance, which I hope won't come for a very long time, and it's not about this guy sharing my DNA. Mom is a softy, and she doesn't exactly deal with the best people in town. How am I supposed to know he won't do something to her? I'm over a thousand miles away, and I've only talked with him through FaceTime twice. And then she springs this on me? No way!"

"Can you at least give her credit for not being drawn in by a con artist?"

"Maybe... I don't know yet."

"Well, that's progress. Look... just see how it goes." Nicole didn't wait for an answer. She carried two bowls into the dinning area and placed them on the table. "Come sit, everyone."

"Oh Nicole, I could have done that," Sharon apologized, realizing she hadn't seen what happened to the food.

"Don't be silly. You've helped in my kitchen a few times," she waved away the concern. "And speaking of..." Nicole looked from Sharon to Andy, as she helped Ricky place the last plates on the table, "we're doing a barbeque next weekend. Sharon says it's up to you, Dad. Will you come?"

Andy started scratching behind his ear again, "I ah... I dunno, Nic. Can we talk about it first?" He looked over at Sharon, to see if she was really okay with the idea.

"Sure," Nicole's smile dimming, "it's not going to be big, just a going-back-to-school thing. The boys have been wanting you over. You too, Rusty."

"Oh, uh..." Rusty stumbled over his words, "it's whatever Sharon wants, I guess..."

Sharon looked from one person at the table to another. Andy and Rusty had their heads down, Nic was trying to maintain her smile, and Ricky looked puzzled. The dynamic before him was very confusing. "You know the more I think about it, the more I like the idea. Thank you, Nicole, that sounds like a lovely way to spend an afternoon. What can I do to help?"

"Nothing," Nicole's smile brightened, then she turned to Ricky, "And if you're still in town, you can come too."

Rick looked confused, but when he looked at his mother, her eyes were shining and she gave him a slight nod. "Yeah, thanks... I haven't got plans yet, so I might still be here. Thanks for including me."

"You're welcome."

Plates were passed around, showing that the crisis if not over, was at least lulled. Some appetites remained limited however. Rusty didn't seem interested in either food or conversation. Finally he had more than he could take of the unknown.

"So, I guess the adoption isn't going to happen, right?"

Ricky sighed heavily at the end of the table, while Andy rolled his eyes. Only Sharon seemed unaffected by the gestures.

"Rusty, it most certainly in going to happen. You are my family, whether we formalize it this week or next year, you are still my family. And eventually, Ricky and Emily will come around to seeing that. But..." she looked up at Ricky, nailing him in his seat with her glare, before softening to return to Rusty. "But I think Nicole has a point. I never intended to rush this. I wanted to work all of the details out before I told you. Jack took my confidence and told you behind my back. That was never my plan. So, how about this... How about we all look at what this means. And by all I mean you, Ricky and Emily as well as myself. We'll take this one step at a time. Everyone involved is an adult, and I have to treat you all as I would like to be treated in return."

Ricky looked cautious, but it was an improvement from the hostility he'd been demonstrating all evening.

"And the other legal stuff?" Rusty dared to ask. "You said if something happened to me, you wouldn't be able to make decisions for me."

"Power of Attorney, Kid. Easy piece of paper. That stuff can be written up and signed in no time, then put on your file. All that one needs is you giving permission to Sharon, a couple of witnesses, a notation about your mental state at the time, and it's done."

"That doesn't seem so bad," Rusty stabbed at a piece of shrimp on his plate.

Smiling at him, Sharon assured him, "No, it's not hard at all. And the rest... it's just a matter of adjusting, that's all."