I know... It's been a while. I aplogize for the wait :( This wasn't my favorite chapter. It's kind of a transitional piece for me so I can get more into the plot I had planned out for this story. Again, thank you for all the reviews! Do you think you guys can help me get to 200? I hope we can do it! Thank you all for being so loyal to the story and faithful to me as you waited for this chapter. And a special thanks to Anu for the kind correspondence that you've been keeping up with me!

On an angsty note, how about that season finale, huh? I'm totally mourning McSwarek, guys! And poor Gail! Nick ditched her for a second time with no notice. Grr...

Enjoy this one guys! Let me know your thoughts. Love you all!

"Why not?" Andy demanded.

Sam shook his head and sighed, "Just not today, Andy. One day, I promise, just not today."

"Why not?" she growled.

Sam ran a hand down his face as he sighed again. "Why is it so important that you get to see my apartment today?"

"You've been in my house, my room, a million times. We've been together almost two months and I still don't even know which part of the city you live in. What's the big deal?"

They were sitting in Sam's truck in front of the house, having just picked Andy up after his shift for an evening out. As soon as she got in she started questioning him about seeing his apartment. He was a little surprised that she hadn't ever brought it up earlier actually.

"Sam?" Andy brought him back.

"I thought you wanted to go out tonight. Why would you want to go in my apartment when we could go out?" Andy gave Sam an annoyed look. "Fine, I just… I don't want you to feel uncomfortable, okay?"

"What do you mean?" Andy asked confused. "Why would I feel uncomfortable?"

"The house is your turf, you call the shots, but this is my apartment. I don't want you to think that us being alone there holds any kind of expectation, that I'm pressuring you."

A small smile appeared on Andy's face as she watched Sam fluster over his answer. He was gripping the steering wheel tightly and fidgeting in his seat. His eyes looked out the windshield and out his window but never over at her.

"There's no expectation on my part, Sam," Andy soothed. "And I've never felt pressure from you. We've not reached that phase of our relationship yet, I don't think, so we'll cross that bridge when we come to it."

Sam looked over at her from the corner of his eye. She was sitting sideways in his passenger's seat so she could face him, adorable smile on her face that held more amusement than Sam would have liked. She leaned over the console and blew a raspberry against his cheek, successfully eliciting a small chuckle from Sam.

"Please?" Andy pleaded. "You owe me."

"How?" Sam scoffed.

"You left me for four whole days to spend Thanksgiving with Sarah and her boyfriend."

"And I talked to you on phone more than I talked to my own sister!" Sam defended himself.

Andy shook her head as she tried to guilt him into obliging her, "I'm just saying… You missed out on our first major holiday together, leaving me all alone with my dad."

Sam sighed for the millionth time since Andy got in the truck and started the engine. "Put your seatbelt on," he groaned, knowing that he could deny her nothing.

Andy squealed happily as she clicked her seatbelt into place. "Hey," she called his attention back to her. Sam looked over at her briefly to let her know he was listening. "We just survived our first fight."

"More like barely survived our first guilt trip," Sam grumbled under his breath but Andy still heard him, smacking her hand against his chest.

Sam smiled and grabbed her hand, weaving their fingers together and letting them rest on Andy's lap. They fell into a comfortable silence as Sam drove across town. They passed the barn and the community college where Andy had her classes, stopping outside a brick building in the heart of downtown Toronto. It was old, the paint on the windowpanes chipping and the bricks were an array of colors from all the times they had painted the building. It was four stories high with the fire escapes running down the front of the building above the front door. This place was beautiful.

"You've been holding out on me," Andy accused.

They got out the truck, their hands automatically glued together. Sam unlocked the door and held it open for Andy to walk through. She'd expected to see a hallway lined with doors or maybe an elevator but that was not the case. There was only one door on the left that Sam pointed out as the apartment where the landlord and his wife lived while the rest of the first floor was completely open. Andy could see all the way to ceiling of the top floor of the building. Straight ahead was a worn, oak staircase that zigzagged up to the various floors, landings circling the perimeter of the building. You could lean over the railing around the landings and see right into the lobby. There was a beautiful old fireplace with couches, comfy chairs, and coffee tables.

"This used to be an old hotel," Sam explained. "Mr. Brennan and his wife renovated it. They don't have much family around since their kids are grown with their own children so they really enjoy it when tenants spend time down here with them. It's a pretty cozy place."

This place was beyond cozy. Andy could see a plate of cookies on the coffee table across the room! The door on their left opened and a beautiful woman stepped out. She was older, probably in her late 60's, with white hair that was elegantly pinned back.

"Oh, hello Sam," the woman smiled. "Who is this stunning young woman on your arm?"

"Mrs. Brennan, this is my girlfriend, Andy. Andy, this is Mrs. Brennan," Sam introduced them.

Mrs. Brennan shook Andy's hand with gentle pressure and smiled, "So you're Andy? It's such a pleasure to meet you. Sam has told me all about you."

"Good things, I hope," Andy smiled back at her.

"From what I hear, there's nothing bad to be said."

Sam's cheeks blushed slightly as Andy looked at him with raised brows. He shrugged and smiled sheepishly as the two women shook their heads. Wrapping his arm around her waist and pulling her toward the stairs, they bid Mrs. Brennan good evening.

"This place is amazing," Andy breathed as they hit the landing of the third floor. She looked over the railing while Sam continued to tug her toward his apartment. Mrs. Brennan was greeting another person as they walked through the front door. "Why would you want to hang out at my house when we could have been hanging out here?"

Sam jiggled his key in the door as he spoke, "I like your house."

"Yeah but my dad doesn't live in your apartment."

"True," Sam realized, opening the door a little. "Maybe we should have done this earlier. Anyway, ready for the grand tour?"

The door opened fully and Sam ushered her inside. He helped Andy out of her jacket while she looked around. It wasn't very big; just a large living area with a cutout where the kitchen was and a door that must be his bedroom. The furniture was worn, the wood floors were a little scraped up, and the only source of heat was coming out of a wood burning stove that sat by the wall of windows across the room. It was warm, cozy feeling. Maybe it wasn't the most modern or fashionable apartment but that didn't really matter to Andy. She felt comfortable here because it was lived in. It was somewhat rustic and manly just like her Sam.

Sam sat down in his chair as Andy walked around the room. The chair seemed a little out of place to Andy; not that anything really 'matched' though in the first place. It was a gross green color, kind of '70s structured with a scratchy carpet material that upholstered it. Sam knew it wasn't the most attractive piece of furniture but it held some of the few happy memories from his childhood. On boring days when it was raining or too cold to go outside he and Sarah would wedge themselves into the chair while she read aloud from one of her books. She always chose a mystery or a good adventure story that she knew Sam would like. After the attack she didn't do it anymore. Sam being as young as he was would try and hand her a book, invite her to come read with him, but Sarah would just put the book down and walk away. Soon, they were both a little too big to fit in the chair but Sam tried anyway. His sister was in the chair one day, looking out the window, when he plopped himself into the chair with her. He didn't like to read like she did so he would just sit and tell her about his day, what funny things his classmates did to make the teacher angry or what game he was looking forward to watching on TV that night. It wasn't much but it helped them rebuild their relationship.

"Can I go in here?"

Sam looked over to see Andy's hand on the doorknob to his bedroom. "Yeah, you don't have to ask."

"I know but some people appreciate their privacy. Not everyone just climbs people's balconies all willy nilly," she teased and disappeared into his room.

His bed was large with a dark, down comforter on top and a couple fluffy pillows. The sliding door to his closet was cracked open. She pushed it open a little further and was surprised to find all his clothes neatly hung and his shoes in rows. She didn't expect him to be so organized. The bathroom was not spectacular, just a sink with the mirror hanging above, a toilet and a bathtub. When Andy made her way back out to the living area Sam was still in his chair, now flipping through his mail on the coffee table.

"So what do you think?" Sam asked without looking up.

"Ehh," Andy shrugged even though he didn't see it, "It's okay, I guess." Sam lifted his head with eyebrows raised. "I like it. You were right though."

"Huh?" he asked confused.

"This place really just… makes me want to take my clothes off," she mocked him. The expression on his face made her laugh.

"Shut up," he grumbled and returned to the mail.

"Oh, come on!" Andy laughed. "You can't deny it. This is a bonafide bachelor pad."

She had walked closer to him as she spoke, narrowly jumping away from his wild, snatching hands as he reached for her. They chased each other around, dodging chairs and coffee tables and making laps from the kitchen to his bedroom. Her laughter echoed around the apartment, the walls trying to absorb the sound as it brightened the whole room. Andy's beautiful spirit had permeated every aspect of his life and the sudden sunshine breaking through the curtain of dark grey clouds seemed to show it. Why the hell didn't we do this earlier? he wondered.

It was a couple days later and Andy had told Sam that she would make up for them skipping out on their night out. With finals just two days away, she was feeling a little overwhelmed and nothing sounded better than a night with him. She waved at Mr. and Mrs. Brennan sitting on one of the couches in the lobby when she came into the building. Mrs. Brennan had certainly gotten into the approaching Christmas spirit, decorating the lobby in garland, red ribbons, and a beautiful tree. The whole building smelled of pine and spice and the windows were frosted. It put an extra spring in Andy's step. Andy flung Sam's apartment door open, not bothering to knock.

"Okay, babe," she said as she shrugged out of her coat and laid it over the back of one of the chairs sitting at the small table near the kitchen. "We are going out tonight! So get ready, get sexy, and… you are not Sam."

The man leaning against the wall by the kitchen with a beer in his hand, the man Andy automatically assumed was Sam, watched her with a creepy smile on his face. He was slim and average height. There was scruff on his face, dark hair and eyes with olive complexion. His clothes were all dark too with a black leather jacket. If Andy didn't know any better, she would have thought this guy was Sam's brother.

"Who are you?" Andy demanded, taking an unconscious step back toward the door. "Where's Sam?"

"I'm Don, Donovan Boyd," he stepped toward her. "Sam's just getting cleaned up. Who might you be?"

"I'm Andy," she answered. The sound of the shower cutting off got her attention and she tried to slyly make her way to the bedroom door. "I'm Sam's girlfriend."

Boyd's eyes grazed over her, head to toe, then smiled and cocked his head to the side. "He said you were beautiful but I mean, man…" Andy chuckled uncomfortably as she skirted around the perimeter of the room. Her back ran into Sam's recliner, stumbling over the arm and landing on her butt sideways in the chair. "You okay there?"

"Yeah, yes," she rambled. "I'm totally fine. So, you guys have plans tonight or something?"

"Meeting Barber and Shaw at the Penny. You're welcome to join us."

Thankfully Sam walked out of his room at that moment with jacket in hand. "Hey, sweetheart," he greeted Andy and came over to her. He leaned down and kissed her cheek. "I see you met Don."

"Yep," Andy smiled awkwardly. "Um, I think I'll just get going. You two have plans and I really need to study, so..."

Andy tried to pull her arm out of Sam's grasp as he tried to stop her from leaving but he wouldn't let go. "Wait, Andy, don't leave. Aren't we going out tonight? Oliver and Jerry are at the Penny and Jerry said he was bringing some girl he's been dating. I thought you could invite Gail to come, too. It's just… I haven't spent much time with the guys recently and they haven't really had the chance to get to know you like I want them to."

Andy knew he was right. She had been selfish in keeping him all to herself since they got together and Gail was none too happy that she'd been moved to the backburner also.

"Okay," she smiled. "I'll call Gail."

Sam smiled at her in thanks and then helped her in putting her coat back on. Don put his half empty beer on the breakfast bar, mumbling that he'd meet them at the Penny as he went to door. Sam turned away to grab his own coat when Don winked at Andy, creepy smiled once again plastered on his face. Andy frowned, her hands stilling on her scarf that she was winding around her neck.

"You okay?" Sam touched her arm.

"Huh? Oh, yeah, I'm fine. So how do you know that guy?" Andy tucked the ends of her scarf into her coat and Sam took her hand.

"We went through academy together. He's over at 27 division, just finished his rookie year with the D's." Andy stuffed her hands in her coat pockets while Sam locked his apartment door. "Are you sure you're okay? You look a little upset."

"Yeah, I just… He kept looking at me weird," she shrugged.

"Guess he appreciates beautiful things," Sam smirked and wrapped his arm around her shoulders.

Andy called Gail from the truck and asked her about meeting them at the Penny. They took the screeching sound on the other end of the phone as a yes. Sam cranked up the heat in the cab while Andy scanned the radio for the station she wanted. Only a week or two into their relationship, Andy had already reprogrammed the presets on his radio, ranging from the pop station that Sam absolutely hated to NPR because she knew Sam enjoyed 'Car Talk' and she liked when it played classical music.

It was quiet in the cab of the truck, music a soft humming in the background and their hands lying together on the armrest. Andy reached over and placed her other hand on top of Sam's. He looked over at her, her head resting back against the headrest as she looked out the front windshield. Both of her hands gripped his a little tighter as she sighed in content. Sam could feel the cool metal of her ring against his hand. She hadn't taken it off since he gave it to her even though the cheapness of it had the tendency to turn her finger green where the band rested. He assured her that his feelings would not be hurt in any way if she decided not to wear it but she was adamant that she loved it. 'You'll never see it off my finger,' she had told him.

Sam pulled into the back lot of the Penny noticing that Jerry and Oliver's cars were already there. Gail's SUV was parked there as well. The music was loud as they walked in through the swinging door, people laughing and drinking. Andy saw Gail sitting at a table with another girl that she didn't recognize since the girl's back was facing her. Sam towed her over to the bar where Oliver and Jerry were ordering drinks. Don was playing pool with a group guys, chugging from his beer bottle. Andy hadn't even gotten the chance to take her coat off when Sam started tugging her toward the bar.

"Hey, guys," Sam slapped Oliver on the back. "We're here."

"Sammy," Oliver greeted happily before looking over at Andy, leaning in to peck her cheek. "Good to see you, Andy."

"Good to see you too, Ollie," Andy smiled.

"Andy Dandy," Jerry bellowed, the alcohol he consumed already starting to affect his behavior. "Isn't it a past your curfew? It is a school night after all."

She let them bartender place a neon wristband on her, signifying she was underage. "Shove it, Jerry," she grumbled and punched his arm when the man finished putting on the bracelet.

He let out a less than manly screech and clutched his arm. "How can you be so tiny and pack such a punch?"

Andy made a face at him and turned to sit at the table with Gail. When she turned and saw the woman sitting with her best friend, her face turned to one of shock. "Traci?"

"Andy!"

The women embraced, laughing at this happy surprise. "Gosh, I haven't seen you in forever," Andy gushed.

"I think the last time I saw you your hair was still purple," Traci chuckled.

Andy's face scrunched as she recalled the memory. "Don't remind me," she groaned. "What are you doing here?" Traci inclined her head toward the bar, Andy looking over her shoulder to see Jerry laughing boisterously as something Sam said. "No way, you and Jerry? How did that happen?"

"I'm still trying to figure that out myself."

"Hey, if you two are done ignoring me, maybe my best friend would like to spare me a moment?" Gail cut in. Andy smiled and hugged her. "I've missed you. Your hot boyfriend is a total Andy hog."

"I'm sorry," Andy apologized, "but like you said, he's really hot."

Gail laughed, shoving Andy away from her and into the seat next to hers. Sam came over and set a soda in front of Andy before pulling the other chair right next to her, his arm slung around the back of hers. Jerry stood next to Traci in a similar fashion while Oliver leaned against the table on his elbows.

"What're you drinking tonight, McNally?" Jerry smirked. "Soda? Oh, that's right, you're not old enough to drink."

"Do you want to get smacked again, Jerry?" Andy snarled.

"Sam, aren't you robbing the cradle a bit with this one?"

Sam gripped Andy's shoulder tightly to keep her from throwing the nasty left hook he knew she had across the table at him. Jerry couldn't miss the elbow to his ribs that Traci gave him though.

"Cut it out, Jerry," Traci chastised him.

Andy crossed her arms across her chest angrily and let Sam pull her flush against his side. Sam had been enduring Jerry's ridicule surrounding the relationship since Jerry found out it was Andy. But underneath it all, he had been supportive, dropping little comments about how good a guy Sam was to Tommy. Jerry was saved from further punishment though when Don called out across the room for him and Sam to come join him in a game of pool. Jerry practically skipped over to his detective buddy's side while Sam stayed where he was. He tried to play it cool, not wanting to let on how much he wanted to go play, but Andy could see right through him and his nervous knee bouncing.

"Go," she told him. "Just go. I know you want to."

"Thanks," he smiled and sloppily kissed her cheek before making his way over there.

Andy half expected Oliver to follow him but instead just pulled the seat Sam had previously been occupying over and sat down with them.

"You don't want to join them?" Andy asked curiously.

"Nah," Oliver shook his head. "I think I'll wait for Boyd to leave before I join them."

Traci and Gail had started in on their own conversation, not paying attention to her or Oliver. "What's with that guy?" Andy asked. "I mean, is it just me or is he a total creep?"

"It's not just you," he assured her. "I've never liked the guy. Has way too much attitude for one person. Not to mention, I don't appreciate the way he treats women. So you've had the pleasure of meeting him?"

"Earlier tonight, at Sam's apartment. He kept looking at me, like with a weird smile and winking and stuff. I kind of told Sam about it but he didn't really seem to think anything of it."

"Sam has blinders on when it comes to Boyd," Oliver explained. "They both worked little undercover stings together and now Boyd's about to join Guns and Gangs for the real deal. Sam puts him on a bit of pedestal because of it."

Andy glanced over, catching Boyd's eye as he stepped out of Sam's way to allow him to shoot. Even in the dark shadows across the room, Andy could see him smirking at her. Oliver could see it too and pulled his chair over even farther, effectively cutting off Boyd's view of her.

"Hey," he called her attention back, "I'm not saying this to scare you nor do I know if this will even happen but if Boyd ever tries to do anything or says anything to you, you come tell me. Sam has the tendency to brush things off when it comes to Boyd because he doesn't see him like the rest of us do. It's not that Sam doesn't care or that he won't believe you, it's just…" Oliver shook his head. "You just come to me, okay?"

Andy nodded. "Yeah," she agreed. "Thanks for looking out for me, Oliver."

He shrugged and gave her a half smile. "You're part of this family now. This horribly unconventional, dysfunctional, meddling family."

Andy blushed, not from embarrassment but the warm feeling coursing through her from Oliver's statement. He raised his beverage, clinking his glass with hers, and then exchanging a one arm hug. After that the four of them fell into easy conversation. Oliver bonded with Traci over their respective children and found Gail's caustic, unrestricted nature refreshing. They didn't even need alcohol to be a rowdy group; apparently the interaction of their personalities was enough for them to start their own little party at the table. At some point, Gail pulled a camera out of her purse and started snapping pictures. They all got a good laugh when Andy placed a potato chip from the basket at the bar on Oliver's shoulder, stating 'He's got a chip on his shoulder.' Oliver took over as photographer after that, taking shots of the girls together and awkward group shots that always ended up with someone not fully being in the frame because of Oliver's attempt at one handed shooting.

Sam was enjoying his time playing pool with the guys and sipping leisurely from his beer. Usually he took no care in monitoring his drinking, not worried about how intoxicated he got because he could always just catch a cab home. But tonight he was too distracted to even think about drinking. His eye kept getting drawn back to the table where Andy was sitting. He had seen Gail make her way over to the juke box, pressing buttons until Marvin Gaye's 'Let's Get It On' came on. She sang the first few verses, provocatively touching her body as she came back over to the table and thoroughly embarrassing Andy, until she managed to get Andy to join in singing. They all broke out in raucous laughter though when Oliver's voice cut in, finishing up the song in falsetto. Jerry had bailed out of the game a while back and went to sit with the others. He felt like he was missing out as he watched his friends laugh and converse with each other. Andy was in the middle of telling some story to the group, her hands gesturing wildly and eyebrows moving rapidly as her expressions changed, when Boyd called his attention back.

"Sammy? It's your turn, man. Get with the program."

He turned back to look at the table just as she was finishing her story, everyone erupting in laughter with heads thrown back and stomachs being clutched. Sam placed his pool stick in Boyd's other open hand, ignoring the calling of his name behind him as he walked over to Andy. Her smile was bright and happy as she turned to look him when he approached her side. Without hesitation, Sam grabbed her jaw gently and leaned down to kiss her. He didn't care that his friends were staring. He didn't care that her friends were staring. He didn't care that half of the bar was staring. He was happy and it was all because of her. When he finally pulled back, her cheeks were flushed pink and her lips a little swollen but she didn't seem to care. Sam prodded Andy out of the chair she was sitting in and took her place, scooting all the way back so she had enough room to sit between his legs.

None of them could remember ever laughing as much as they did when they were sitting together at that table.

"Oh my God!" Andy exclaimed suddenly. She untangled herself from Sam's arm, grabbing her coat and rushing out the back door.

"What just happened?" Sam inquired confused with a hint concern creeping in. Everyone shook their heads just as baffled as he was. Sam saw as Gail seemed to notice something the rest of them did not.

"Get your coats!" Gail told everyone excitedly as she slipped her own. She looked directly at Sam as she spoke this time, "You're going to want to see this."

All bundled up in their coats, scarves, and gloves, they followed Gail's lead outside. Sam was the last one out of the building, not understanding the little gasps of surprise and happiness coming from the others until he noticed the white flecks falling from the sky. Andy was standing on the brick partition that separated the buildings, arms stretched out to her sides and eyes closed peacefully.

"First snow of the year," Gail spoke softly next to Sam.

"It means a lot to her, doesn't it?" he asked.

She nodded even though he couldn't see it. "It was something she and her mom shared. She still gets as excited as a little kid," she chuckled. "Maybe you can share this with her now."

The others had grouped together for warmth, remarking on the beauty of the first snow, as Sam made his way over to Andy.

"I always thought it was a wonderful thing, snow," Andy marveled not even needing to open her eyes to know that Sam was near her. "Its ability to mask impurities in a white blanket. And then when spring comes, it all gets washed away. Clean slate. It's beautiful, isn't it?"

"It's nothing compared to you," Sam whispered sincerely.

Andy opened her eyes and turned her head to look down at him. The white snowflakes in his hair were a dark contrast to the blackness of it. He pulled his hands out of his pockets and reached up for her.

"Would you come down now, please? You're starting to make me nervous up there."

Andy chuckled, her boots squeaking against the ice that was starting to build up on the bricks. She squatted down and swung her legs over the side, letting Sam grab her under the arms and lift her down as if she weighed nothing at all. When her feet were safely planted on the concrete, she wrapped her arms tightly around his waist.

"Promise me something?"

"Go," he whispered, rubbing a hand up and down her back.

"If things go south with us, and I don't want them to, I hope they don't but if they do then… just don't, don't walk out the door, okay?" The steadily falling snow bringing up images of her mother. "Let's promise we'll work at it."

"You won't get rid of me without a fight," Sam answered adamantly.

Andy blushed and smiled shyly, "All right. Can I tell you a secret?"

"Of course," he replied and leaned down to let her whisper in his ear.

"You make me happy," she breathed.

Sam's smile was hard to miss, his dimples like craters in his cheeks. "And that's supposed to be a secret?"

"No," she laughed, "but I just thought you should know." Andy burrowed further into Sam's chest as he kissed her forehead and tightened his own grip on her.

"Have you seen her that happy since her mom left?" Traci asked Gail.

They had all been standing off to the side, watching the two lovingly embrace each other.

"I've never seen her that happy ever," Gail clarified. "What about Sam?"

"You kidding?" Jerry scoffed. "Sam's like a grumpy old man."

"He means Sam's unnaturally smitten," Oliver explained. "We're glad he and Andy have each other."

Andy called Gail and the rest of the group over to where they were standing. Oliver took Andy's other side, reaching his across her back and gripping Sam's shoulder. Sam surprisingly wrapped his other arm around Gail so that she and Andy were crushed to his sides. Traci took Gail's outstretched hand as she and Jerry joined them. If an onlooker were to spot them, they would just seem like any other group of close friends huddled together as they all enjoyed the first snow of the year. But as Andy and Sam looked around at the people flanking them, they realized just how lucky they were. These were no longer separately her friends and his friends. They were their friends.

"So who's hungry?" Oliver broke the silence. They all looked at him. "What?"

They shook their heads and laughed. Andy looked up at Sam to notice he was already looking down at her. They shared a smile, knowing exactly what the other was thinking.

Yeah… these are their friends.