Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters or M/C, but if I did, this is what would happen.
A/N: Hey everybody! Sorry it's taken me so long to update this story. My original intention was to take a 2-3 week hiatus from this story to regroup and then get back to writing it. Unfortunately, life had other ideas and then when there was finally time to get back to it, my brain was struck with a horrible case of writers block. The point is, I'm finally back at it now and should be updating pretty regularly (probably every 2-3 weeks or so) as I am currently trying to balance writing two multi chapter fics at once). Anyways, enjoy!
Chapter 10: Here to Stay
Sharon had been a little stressed last week about where everybody was going to sleep when Ricky and Emily came home for Christmas. Her condo wasn't very big and it didn't afford a lot of sleeping space. Sure, they'd made it work in the past, with Emily sleeping on the couch and Ricky sleeping on an air mattress, but she didn't want to do that this year. Her two oldest children were coming home more often now and even though they'd never complained, she wanted to make sure they were comfortable.
So, one night last week when she had been discussing the matter with Andy, he had offered her a simple solution: If they were all comfortable with the idea, everybody could stay at his place while Ricky and Emily were here. He had a large couch in the living room plus two extra bedrooms. Initially, Sharon was hesitant about the idea. She had not wanted to impose on Andy in that way. She pointed out to him that if they all stayed there, they would literally be taking over his entire house. He had told her that he really didn't mind as long as Ricky, Emily, and Rusty were comfortable with staying there, but it wasn't until Andy pointed out to Sharon the added benefit of her getting to sleep in the same bed with him every night for over a week that she agreed to bring up the idea to the three of them. When she had, they were all totally cool with the idea and agreed that it made a lot of sense to have everybody in one place.
It was now a couple of days before Christmas. Ricky had arrived in Los Angeles earlier that day and he and Rusty had just picked up Emily from the airport and were currently on their way back to Andy's house.
So, as the three of them made their way towards Andy's house in Echo Park, Emily stuck her head forward from the back seat and asked Rusty, "So, what's the latest with Mom and Andy?"
"What are you talking about?" Rusty asked Emily.
"We're not here all the time like you are little brother. So, when we come home, we like to know what's been going on since we were last here. You know mom doesn't spill any details, not even to Emily," said Ricky.
"And what makes you think I know anything? If you want a play by play, ask one of them," Rusty told them.
"Come on, Rusty. Give us something," Emily begged him.
"Okay. Did mom tell you about what happened that night when she Skyped you guys a couple of weeks ago?" Rusty asked them.
"What are you talking about?" Ricky asked him.
"Never mind," said Rusty.
"No way little brother. Spill," Emily told him.
"Okay, but promise me you guys won't fly off the handle when I tell you this," Rusty told them, although the statement was aimed at Ricky more than Emily.
Sure, whatever," said Ricky.
"Okay, so that night mom and Andy went to some LAPD charity banquet thing. When mom came home she looked like she'd been crying. So, when she went to go change, I asked Andy about it. I guess your dad showed up to the charity banquet drunk and he got up on stage and said some really ugly things about mom," Rusty told them.
"Like what?" Emily asked him apprehensively.
"Apparently, he started out by calling her a bitch for supposedly keeping you guys away from him all these years," Rusty began.
"Seriously?" Emily asked frustratedly.
"Oh my god! He's such a fucking liar. If anything, mom tried to make sure Emily and I had a relationship with him growing up. He's the one who made that next to impossible by drinking and gambling all the time. Plus, even if that were true, I wouldn't blame mom for it. She wasn't just going to leave us in the care of Jack who couldn't even take care of himself," said Ricky.
"Did he say anything else?" Emily asked Rusty.
"Unfortunately that wasn't the worst of it. I guess after that he proceeded to call mom a slut and accused her of messing around on him with Andy while they were still married, which we all know is also complete crap," said Rusty.
"Even if it wasn't, who gives a shit. He left her to raise two children on her own so he could drink and gamble his life away in Vegas. She gave him multiple chances and time and time again he disappointed her by refusing to stay sober and get help. Mom may not have said very much, but each time he left her, I saw how hurt and disappointed she was and she still didn't divorce him for over twenty years. So, even if she had decided to have a little fun during that time, it's not like anyone would really blame her. It's not like Jack probably wasn't off doing the same thing that he insists on accusing her of," replied Emily.
"Exactly," replied Ricky as he high fived his sister.
"I agree. The point I'm trying to make though is that Andy was really there for mom that night. After they got back from the charity banquet, he made mom tea and stayed the night just to make sure she was alright," Rusty told them.
"I'm not surprised. Mom's face lights up with the biggest smile whenever he's in the room and Andy looks at her like she's the sun. It's actually really adorable," said Emily.
"Yeah, Andy's a good guy. I don't remember the last time I saw mom this happy," replied Ricky.
"They're really good for each other. You can tell that they really love and care about each other," Rusty told them as he continued driving towards Andy's house.
About fifteen minutes later, Rusty pulled up in front of Andy's house. Ricky had followed Rusty over there earlier and dropped his car off before they went to the airport to pick up Emily. After they each grabbed their bags, they began making their way towards the house. Rusty opened the front door and saw the scene before him. Sharon and Andy were standing in the kitchen making out against the counter.
"Seriously?" Rusty asked rhetorically before Sharon and Andy quickly broke apart.
"Yeah. There's this thing called a bedroom. It has walls and a door and even a lock if you're really worried about someone walking in on you," Ricky joked.
"I don't know why either of you are surprised at this point. They're in love. People that are in love tend to make out a lot. Get over it. Plus, like I said before, Mom deserves to have some fun," Emily told them.
"Can I give her a medal now?" Andy asked Sharon.
"Stop it," Sharon told him as she playfully slapped his arm.
"What?" Andy asked her.
"You're encouraging their behavior," Sharon told him.
"Okay. She's right though," Andy told Sharon.
Sharon rolled her eyes and smiled at him before she turned to her children and said, "The three of you better get over here so I can hug you."
They each hugged her before Andy said, "Okay, there's a guest bedroom down the hall with a bed in it that I figured we'd let Emily have."
"Ha! Pays to be the favorite," Emily gloated to Ricky and Rusty.
"I'd say something rude, but I'm a gentleman," Ricky told her.
"Ha!" exclaimed Emily.
"That's really hilarious, Ricky," Rusty told him.
"Okay, enough," Sharon told them.
"As for the two of you, you have two options. One of you can sleep on the futon in the spare room and the other can take the couch or you can share the couch. As you can see there's plenty of room on that couch for each of you to have your own sleeping space," Andy told Ricky and Rusty.
"I think Ricky and I can both agree that we're gonna share the couch," Rusty told Andy.
"Yeah," Ricky agreed.
"You two are weird. Both of you could literally have your own room to sleep in and you still choose to share a sleeping space," said Emily.
"That doesn't make us weird. It makes us smart," said Rusty.
"Yeah, think about it Em. We're gonna be here for over a week. Mom and Andy can barely keep their hands off each other. Neither Rusty or I feel like traumatizing ourselves by sleeping in the room next to theirs and hearing god knows what," Ricky pointed out.
As Andy desperately tried to stifle a laugh, Sharon glared at him before turning her glare on Ricky and asked, "Richard William Raydor, are you done?"
"Sorry, mom," Ricky replied.
"Well, if you guys wanna get settled, dinner should be ready soon," Andy told them.
"Awesome cause I'm starving," said Rusty.
"What are you guys cooking?" Emily asked Sharon and Andy.
"Honey garlic shrimp and broccoli over pasta," replied Sharon.
"Oh my god! That sounds so good," said Emily.
In the midst of the conversation, Andy noticed that Ricky had slipped out the door that led to the backyard. He quietly excused himself and made his way outside. When he walked out there, he saw Ricky sitting in one of the patio chairs.
"Everything okay?" Andy asked him.
"Yeah. It's nothing important. Jack Raydor is just a shitty person that's all. Not much has changed there," said Ricky.
"Did something else happen after you talked to your mom a couple weeks ago?" Andy asked him.
"No. On the way over here, Rusty told us about what happened a couple weeks ago at the charity banquet. It just makes me so angry. I don't understand how anybody can be that vile of a person. I guess I should be used to it by now though, huh?" Ricky asked him.
"No. That's not the kind of behavior you should ever get used to or accept from anyone. What he did was beyond appalling and if I'm being honest, all I saw was red in that moment. If Provenza and the guys hadn't taken care of the situation, I probably would have and it wouldn't have been pretty. I know it's not much of a consolation, but what you have to realize is your father-" Andy began before Ricky cut him off.
"Jack," Ricky corrected him.
"Okay. What you have to realize is that Jack has a disease and his appalling actions are a result of that. It doesn't excuse his horrifying behavior or the vile things he insists on spewing at you, Emily, or your mother, but it does in some small way explain why. What you have to realize too is that you have power over this situation. Jack may refuse help and that's his choice. You can't change that or make him get help that he doesn't want. What you can do though is set boundaries with him and decide how much you're willing to let him and his issues into your life at this point. I can't speak for him or predict the future, but I know when I was having similar issues, it took my ex-wife keeping my kids away from me to realize that I had a problem and that I needed to get help for it," said Andy.
"Yeah. I guess all of that can sometimes get lost in the anger and resentment of the situation. Thanks, Andy," said Ricky.
"No problem. If you ever need anybody to talk to about stuff like that or anything really, you can always talk to me or call me or whatever the case may be," Andy told him.
"Thanks. I'll keep that in mind," said Ricky.
Just then, Sharon asked from the doorway, "Are you two ready to eat?"
Ricky got up, walked over to Sharon, and hugged her as he said, "Yeah. Thanks, mom."
"For what?" Sharon asked him.
"For being the best mom in the world," Ricky told her.
Sharon tried to keep her tears at bay before she hugged him and said, "Oh, Ricky. I wouldn't have it any other way. I love you."
"Love you too, mom," replied Ricky before he broke the hug and began making his way towards the table.
"And you…I swear the two of you have some sort of conspiracy going where you're trying to make me cry tonight," Sharon said to Andy.
"Not intentionally. I take it you heard that," said Andy as he wrapped his arms around Sharon's lower back in the doorway.
"Not all of it. Just enough to make me wanna cry," Sharon told him.
"Happy tears I hope," said Andy.
"Of course. Andy…I can't even begin to tell you how grateful I am that you did what you just did. You took it upon yourself to be there for Ricky when you didn't have to and I can't tell you how much that means to me. He's never really had a father figure in his life that he could talk to about stuff like that and get advice from. It just makes me so happy to know that he has someone like you to go to with stuff like this because as much as I wish I could, I can't fill the hole that's been left in his and Emily's lives as a result of their father's actions," Sharon told him.
"I'm happy to help. Ricky's a great kid. All three of them are great kids and they have the best mom any kid could hope to have," Andy told Sharon.
In that moment, as a few stray tears streamed down her face, Sharon pulled Andy toward her and kissed him.
A minute later, Rusty asked from the table, "Are we gonna eat or are you guys gonna stand there and make out all night?"
As Sharon and Andy broke apart and turned towards them, Andy replied jokingly, "I'm not sure. That's a tough choice to make."
Sharon playfully slapped Andy's shoulder before they began walking towards the table.
"What? I was just answering his question," Andy told her as they sat down at the table.
"Yeah, mom. Little brother walked right into that one," said Ricky.
"Can we eat in peace, please?" Sharon asked them before everybody began eating their meal.
"As long as you don't expect it to be quiet," muttered Rusty.
"Up top, little brother," Ricky told Rusty before they high fived.
"Plus, let's face it, with these two around, it's never quiet," said Emily in reference to her brothers.
"And when it is, it usually means trouble," Sharon added.
"Mom!" both Ricky and Rusty exclaimed.
"Come on guys, you know it's true," said Andy.
"Whose side are you on?" Rusty asked as he jokingly pretended to be insulted.
"The side that doesn't have him sleeping on the futon tonight," Ricky told Rusty as they all continued eating their meal.
After dinner, Rusty, Ricky, and Emily decided to watch Elf on Netflix, while Sharon and Andy were in the kitchen doing dishes. As Sharon set the last of the dishes next to the sink for Andy to wash, she wrapped her arms around him from behind.
"Are you trying to distract me?" Andy asked her.
"Maybe," said Sharon as she released her hold on him and grabbed a dish towel before leaning her back against the counter and drying the bowl Andy handed her.
"Well, just so you know, it doesn't take much for you to distract me," Andy told her.
"Oh, really? Care to share some examples," Sharon asked him curiously.
"Well, when we're at work, it usually starts when I hear the click of your heels. Then, I can usually tell when you're getting closer because I'll catch a whiff of your perfume. That's usually when I look up and our eyes meet and I smile at you which makes you smile at me. Oh, and that whole leaning thing you do isn't too bad either," Andy told her.
"I have no idea what you're talking about," replied Sharon teasingly.
"So, it is on purpose," said Andy.
"Maybe," replied Sharon.
"Hey, I'm not complaining. Just remember, two can play that game," Andy told her.
"I'm looking forward to it. What about when we're not at work?" Sharon asked him.
"Hmm…well that's a significantly longer list," said Andy.
"We've got time. I'm here for the next eight days, remember?" Sharon pointed out as her and Andy began putting the clean dishes away.
"All the more reason to space them out," said Andy.
"Okay, but you can at least give me something," replied Sharon.
"You wearing my dress shirts," said Andy.
"We're back to this again?" Sharon asked him.
"Hey! It's not my fault you look so good in them. Plus, for me, it's sort of a sentimental thing," Andy told her.
Sharon smiled before she said, "The first time we made love."
"Yeah. So, you can be sentimental about the tux and I'll be sentimental about you wearing my dress shirts. That way we'll be sentimental fools together," said Andy.
Sharon chuckled at that as she grabbed Andy and pulled him towards her as she said, "This is why I love you."
Andy hands settled against Sharon's back before he said, "I love you too. We better get in there before they catch us making out again."
"Yeah," said Sharon as she smiled at Andy before he let go of her and she turned around to make her way towards the living room.
As Andy stood there and smiled to himself for a moment, he wondered what it was exactly that he had ever done to deserve a woman as wonderful as Sharon. She was the Princess Leia to his Han Solo. The Stands with a Fist to his Dances with Wolves. The Lois Lane to his Clark Kent. The Captain to his Lieutenant. More importantly though, they were Sharon and Andy, and he had to admit, that was the one he loved the most.
A/N: Hope you guys enjoyed this chapter! As always, let me know what you thought of it by leaving me a review. Thanks for reading and reviewing and for sticking with me through the lack of updating over the last (almost) two months! It is greatly appreciated!