A/N: This is the final chapter of this story. I'd like to thank all of you who followed this story, left reviews and sent me PM's. Your feedback - good and bad alike - was very helpful. I know some people would be thrilled with this ending, and some may be disappointed. I still hope that all of you enjoyed the story. Special thanks go to Kadi219 for reading, commenting, proof reading these chapters and helping me develop this plot when I got stuck.

Sharon opened the trunk of Andy's car and helped him pull his trolley out. It was heavier than it looked, but she was used to travelling, and the weight didn't seem unusual. She assumed Andy packed a little more than he needed, but with the storm that shut down several airports in the East Coast, it seemed to make sense that he might need to extend his stay if he couldn't fly back.

"Where will you be staying in New York?" she asked as she locked the car and they walked together into the airport.

"Well, assuming I manage to make it to New York by midnight, I'll be spending the first night at Abigail's home. Then I'll move to a hotel in the city," Andy replied.

"I see," Sharon said as they stood in line for the ticket desk. "Andy, I know it's not my place to ask, but is your sponsor available to take your calls while you're away?"

"Yes, and I also have a list of AA meetings in the area I will be staying in," Andy replied.

"And you have me," Sharon added.

"Yes, I do." Andy took her hand and drew her close to him. "So how are you planning to spend your week?" he wondered.

"I mostly plan to spend time with the kids. I assume that they'll want to split their time between Jack and me," Sharon said.

"If you feel the need to be alone, you know my house is always available, right?" Andy asked. Sharon nodded. They went up the line together and when Andy's turn came up, Sharon sighed, realizing their separation was nearing. The stewardess handed Andy his boarding ticket and Sharon accompanied him to the gate. Once they found Andy's boarding gate, Sharon wrapped her arms around him and felt his arms doing the same. Standing in his embrace felt so good, so relaxing, so safe. She wished that it could last forever. When they finally pulled apart, Sharon had to bit her lip in order to stop herself from crying.

"I love you, Andy," she said.

"I love you too, honey," he replied and their lips met in a passionate kiss.

"Stay safe, and take care of yourself," Sharon requested and Andy promised to follow her words. She watched him as he walked through the gate, until he disappeared from sight. Her heart quivered inside her chest, and her tears threatened to burst without her consent. Turning around, she walked quickly outside the airport and back into the parking lot, where she finally let herself go and broke out in tears.

The condo smelled like freshly baked pastry and coffee and the noise in the kitchen made it clear that Rusty and Ricky have been cooking together. Sharon truly enjoyed seeing her two boys getting along so well, especially considering Ricky's initial response to the news of Rusty's adoption. The two boys came a long way since then and it filled Sharon's heart with joy. Sharon walked into the kitchen and greeted her two sons good morning.

"Hi Mom," the two young men greeted her back. The beautiful harmony of their voices made her smile widely.

"What are you making?" she asked when Rusty poured some coffee into her favorite mug and handed it to her.

"Blueberry pancakes," Ricky responded. "And Rusty's special eggs, and bacon."

"That sounds great. Do you need me to set the table?" she offered and without really waiting for their response began taking out plates and cutlery out of the cupboards and drawers. "Where's your sister?" she asked as she placed the dishes on the table.

"Still asleep," Ricky replied. "I was kinda scared of waking her up," he explained. Sharon smiled softly. Emily hated it when Ricky woke her up and in their youth, he often received a not-so-gentle blow to the head every time he tried.

"Well, maybe if you ever tried using a softer voice when you woke her up instead of shouting into her ear, you wouldn't have a reason to be scared," Sharon grinned and her two sons laughed. "I'll wake her after I'm done here," she promised.

"Mom, did you check up on dad?" Ricky asked.

"I called the hospital. He's doing better and they're moving him out of the ICU," Sharon replied.

"That's good," Ricky said. "We're gonna visit him later, right?"

"You and Emily can go. I have some errands I need to run," Sharon replied.

"Does this have anything to do with what happened last night?" Ricky wondered.

"I'm not sure what you're referring to," Sharon replied, hoping that her son decides to let the subject go.

"You left his room crying. Dad must have said something to you, right?" Ricky asked. "And I heard you telling him that you're done with him. Is that it?"

"Ricky, things between your father and me are complicated. I don't want to…"

"Look, Mom. I appreciate it that you took time to take care of him while he was in Intensive Care, but now that dad is improving, you should take the time to travel to the East Coast and be with Andy," Ricky said.

"We spoke about it before, Ricky. I am where I am needed the most," Sharon said.

"The person who needs you the most right now is Andy, not Jack," Rusty replied.

"And we," Ricky motioned between him and Rusty. "We bought you a ticket to New York. Your flight is tomorrow at noon, so all that you really need to do is to call Andy and let him know."

"Ricky!" Sharon looked at her older son with a combination of shock, anger and appreciation. She then turned to look at Rusty. He lowered his gaze and smiled shyly. "Ugh, fine," she said eventually and the two siblings looked at each other with an amused gaze.

"Consider it an early birthday gift," Ricky grinned.

"My birthday is in eight months, Ricky," Sharon narrowed her eyes and looked at her son.

"Well, a late Christmas present, then," he corrected himself.

"You are incorrigible," she muttered, but walked over to her two sons and wrapped her arms around them. "Finish setting the table and I'll go wake up your sister," Sharon said and walked out of the kitchen, a silly and wide smile gracing her features.

New York was snowy and the cold was numbing. After so many years of Los Angeles winters, Sharon could honestly say that she wasn't used to this kind of weather. She tightened her thick scarf around her neck as she walked out of the subway station. She pulled her phone out and looked at the address Andy texted her the day before, then tightened her hold around her trolley handle and started walking down the street to where Andy's hotel was. He spent his first night in Abigail's home, and when he heard she was coming, he changed his reservation at the hotel so she could check in on his behalf. Sharon knew that she would miss the funeral. Her flight landed in the evening and she assumed Andy was already on his way from the suburbs to the city. She was quite surprised when she rounded the corner and noticed him standing at the entrance of the hotel, shivering from the cold. She sped up her steps until she gave in to her feet's will and ran to him, nearly breaking the wheels of her suitcase as she stopped abruptly and flung herself into his arms. He looked pale, tired and sick and she hoped the sweet kiss they shared improved his mood as much as it did hers.

"I checked in for us," he murmured as they went into the hotel, exchanging the biting cold outside with the comforting heat of the lobby. "We got a room on the 14th floor. There's a great view of Times Square."

"That's great," Sharon replied as they walked towards the elevator. When they finally closed their room door behind them and removed their coats, scarves and hats, they took the time to really look at each other. "How are you doing?" Sharon asked and cupped his cheek. He shrugged and she could see tears welling in his eyes. Andy was a very strong man, but Sharon knew that losing someone very close could shatter the toughest of men. She could tell by his expression that he fought his tears with all his might. "It's okay to cry, sweetheart," she urged him and wrapped her arms around him. His first sob was strangled and hearing it made tears rise in Sharon's eyes almost immediately. The second was a long and miserable wail that sent a shiver down her spine. For the last few days, Andy tried so hard to be strong for her, to support her and ease her anxiety that she almost forgot what he was dealing with. Sitting on the hotel bed and watching her amazing and caring boyfriend falling apart in her arms was just as painful to watch now as it was when it happened several days ago in her condo. She hated it that she had no words to console him. And all she could do was holding him, stroking his salt and pepper hair and letting him exhaust himself crying.

It was an hour later when his tears finally ran out and Sharon felt his body becoming heavier against hers. She said his name softly and suggested that they'll get changed and go to bed. If she was honest with herself, travelling to the East Coast has made her very tired as well, and seeing Andy in such mental distress wore her even further. They undressed silently, and although it was the first time they dared removing their clothes in front of each other, neither of them bothered looking. Their minds were too preoccupied in order for them to care about it. They crawled into bed and Sharon felt Andy snuggling closer to her and placing his head on her chest. Her hand immediately went into his hair and stroked it in soothing motions. He thanked her silently before his breaths evened out and he drifted into sleep. Despite being completely lethargic, the thoughts that ran through her head made sleep evade her. She was so happy and so sad at the same time. Happy that she managed to fly to New York, that by miracle the airport was reopened and that she was going to be there for Andy; and sad because seeing Andy so broken was agonizing.

"At least he won't go through that alone," she said to herself as she threw a glance at the sleeping man in her arms. Closing her eyes, she said a quick prayer and thanked the Lord for filling her life with love, and for making sure that she will find her way to the place where she was needed the most: Andy's arms, heart and soul.

THE END

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