Author's Note: I cannot stop thanking you all enough for all your reviews, follows, favorites and private messages. A special thank you to lonstanissima for the brainstorming and Roni for her Beta job!

Chapter 10

Beneath Your Beautiful

He watched the steam of the boiling milk rise as he inhaled the scent of the grounded coffee. He felt out of place, standing and waiting as he watched the barista's hands work quickly but precisely. His body was present, his mind however was bustling with thoughts, and his heart sat vehemently back in that club, in the corner where he had held Sharon just minutes ago. The fragrant memory of her perfume invaded his senses, making the strong scent of coffee disappear. The taste of her lips, so sweet. He thought about how much she would love this coffee shop. His eyes glanced over at the menu, they even made her favorite cup of tea. She always said his plain black coffee would burn right through his stomach, he refused to order it tonight. The image of her laughter from her teasing, it was just too upsetting. Instead of his usual, his hurt was making him rebel and he waited for two cappuccinos - a concoction neither of them would ever have. He swallowed. His heart and mind were not the only things she consumed, it was all of him. Friendship had become flirtation, and after tonight - after feeling her lips on his - there was no denying everything he felt. It could be love if she allowed it. He could love her. She responded, he felt her lips move against his. Her body trembled along his, and yet she ran. Ran, took off with another man. He nodded his head as two drinks were placed in front of him and then slowly walked to the table.

Abby watched him as he approached, his eyes betrayed him when he tried to smile at her. She hadn't asked what had happened and didn't have to. Curiosity didn't begin to cover everything she felt, but it was not the moment to ask. He had said something to Sharon, done something that had sent her sister running. By the looks of it, somehow expressed his feelings for her. The question was why? Why had she ran? Andy placed her mug down and took the seat in front of her.

"She's home." He looked at her confused for a moment, then understood when she raised her phone, and he simply nodded his head, taking a sip from his coffee. A failed attempt to try and hide his relief.

Sharon was home and safe.

Coffee was Abigail's decision. She knew it was the last thing he wanted to do, but she also knew he wouldn't refuse her invitation. He also wouldn't try to call or see Sharon tonight - that seemed obvious, but she was sure that being alone wasn't good for him. She needed to make sure he was alright. Her sister came first, yes. However, Andy's hands shook, the stress was visible in his shoulders and he seemed on the verge of tears. She didn't know much about addiction, but recognized that whatever he was feeling couldn't be good for his sobriety. Something had happened tonight, but he was still hers and Sharon's friend and knew they both wanted him to not fall into any temptations.

"You probably have tons of questions?" Andy breathed out feeling guilty and rubbing the back of his neck.

"Actually, I don't." She smiled at him with that warmth she always radiated. "I wanted to make sure you were alright. I'm not here to ask questions. I'm a good listener, if you need someone to talk to." She shrugged her shoulders before folding her hands on the table and leaning over a bit. "Are you okay?"

Her eyes held an achingly familiar concern, one he had witnessed too many times in another pair of light eyes. The question took him by surprise. He didn't know the answer himself. The sickly sweet drink was not taming the thirst or bitterness, he swallowed anxiously. His fingers played with his pinky ring. It dawned on him what he was truly craving. The golden liquid that would rightly burn his insides and help him forget. On a scale of wanting to punch someone or have a drink, he was in need of a meeting. He looked at Abby and saw the understanding in her eyes. She smiled warmly, her hand sneaking across the table and taking his encouragingly. She was being a friend.

"Thank you," he said softly. There were no other words to express his gratefulness for understanding even before he did that going home would not be healthy for him.

"You know," she squeezed his hand, then cupped her mug. Questioning him would not be appropriate, but they both deserved honesty. "It usually doesn't take very long for me to seduce a man. A few words, maybe a date." She tilted her head and looked at him as he shifted nervously. "I started to worry that I was losing it—"

He stopped her before she could finish. "Abigail, you are a very attractive woman, intelligent, kind, funny."

"But I'm not Sharon." She said with a soft smile. He looked down at his coffee and then met her eyes. There was no question in her gaze, just understanding.

"I'm sorry, Abby." He said guiltily.

He never intended to string her along, much less hurt her. Her willingness to open up and allow others to be part of her life with no hesitation was the thing that drew him to her. He had been pushed away from the person he truly wanted to be beside. She deserved happiness, to smile and laugh in the company of a man who was not in love with another woman. She was a spark in a dark room, a glowing light. Any man would be lucky to have her in his life. The time they spent together was full of excitement, she was a friend he would always treasure. Her late husband, Michael, had been a very lucky man. Andy too was lucky to have met her.

Abby shook her head, "Hmm, no, don't be sorry, I'm not. Actually I'm bit relieved." He looked at her curiously. "You are very handsome indeed, and I accepted to have a bit of fun while I was in town." She bit her bottom lip and hummed. "Even though I did, it was certainly not the way I intended. You are a sweetheart, Andy, and I have to say my thoughts of you shifted. You treated me like a friend. I've never had a man who saw me as more than a trophy." Her shoulder shrugged, then deflated quickly. "It may be my own fault. After my husband passed, I took initiative to not let men get too comfortable or stay too long in my life. This isn't something I'm saying to save my pride." She crossed her legs and sat up straight, taking a breath and letting it go. "I noticed something between Sharon and you after the game and since neither of you spoke a word, I called Leo. He's someone I could certainly see Sharon with and I knew that if it didn't work…" She smiled at him knowingly.

He shook his head. "It's not me."

Abby watched as his face fell, there was disappointment in his eyes and pain etched across his face. It was a high probability that he and Sharon would never hold one another again as they did tonight. However, he was sure about one thing - they both had been aware of what was happening. He hadn't been the only one to push things along. Their friendship was dancing on a very thin line for months and there was no other right step forward than the one they took tonight. The best thing might have been to travel back to the day she invited herself to his daughter's wedding and the weekend after when he took her to dinner. To erase it all and forget. He knew Sharon believed that certain lines should never be crossed and rules were meant to be followed. He didn't care much, he was ready to leap, but it was an obvious mistake to think so boldly. She would never choose him. They were both at fault for letting things come this far. It was what was coming tomorrow that frightened him. She was a professional and would continue working with him, but on what conditions? Would she ask him to stop being her partner? Would their dinners be over permanently?

"Oh, that can't possibly be true." Abby pulled him out of his thoughts. She had her suspicions, ones she had been too blind to see in the beginning, but noticed after her sister had practically slammed the balcony door on her. Sharing all her musings would be betraying her sister. It was not her place. "Does Shari know? About your feelings?" She asked instead.

"Yes," Andy cleared his throat. "Well, I think so." Abby smiled sympathetically. "I tried telling her once that I was interested, but she… Well, she stopped it before I could fully explain… everything." He wanted to tell her it was not just a fling, not just a moment's urge or temptation, but months of non-dating turned into hope. The image of Sharon leaving the club replayed in his mind. She had done it again tonight, stopped anything that could happen between them. He rubbed his palms over his face. It was his second never.

Sharon had many walls and he must have been naïve to think he could break them all down or at least one. The one to her heart. He noticed times where he caught her by surprise and her guard was down. He could see her fears, her pain, the questions, the hurt, longing, desire, and passion. Those beautiful green eyes of hers spoke everything she was afraid to put to words. He was allowed a moment to reach out and touch her, help her. Then she pushed him away. It was back to mountains of walls that separated them and he was left alone, without her.

Abby swallowed, worried. "You didn't try again?" She didn't want to pry, but something seemed very off. Sharon was a woman who fought for what she wanted. Then it suddenly dawned on her, she had never seen Sharon fall in love. Abigail was introduced to Jack much after the fact and her first love came and went so suddenly it had been Sharon's own secret till it had passed. Was this the way it usually happened for her?

"She said it would never work." He looked down at the coffee and then smiled wearily at her. "Never - that word has been repeating in my mind." He smiled trying to hide how much it hurt.

"You know she can be a bit stubborn." Abby said with a smile, he chuckled dryly. Yes, it was one of the many things they had in common. One of the many things he loved about her. "I guess you don't want me to say a word about any of this?" She whispered.

"That would be great." He said softly, nodding. Even if Sharon knew about his feelings, it was something he assumed she wouldn't like him and Abby talking about.

"Andy, promise me something." She hesitated, because she didn't want to upset Sharon in anyway. "I know right now, whatever happened in that club, it hurt and angered you. I'm not asking what it was. But don't push Sharon away. Please." She shook her head with a sad smile when he frowned. It hurt to hear her name, it twisted knots inside his stomach. "I won't talk about her personal things, but I will say that when I got here, I thought the separation from Jack had her glowing and changed, but now I know the friendship you two have is more medicinal then any divorce could be."

A silence drew over them as Andy's mind was once again possessed by the woman who consumed his thoughts. The way she made his skin tingle, his heart beat rapidly. How he could picture his future with her. That hearing her call him Andrew made him smile, his fingers itching to reach out and touch her. He felt alive when he could place a hand to her back and for a moment feel connected. She had let him in, allowed him a place beside her and now he was so lost on where he stood. Going back to just good friends seemed like such an impossible solution. Yet he would never regret the moment they shared tonight, despite all the consequences he would never change holding her in his arms or feeling how she trembled when being held. He looked at Abby and shook his head. He didn't want to discuss it any longer.

"Abigail," he smiled and let out a cleansing breath. "I hope we are still on for the hike you invited me to."

The lack of promise didn't go unnoticed and disappointed her, but she couldn't push him. Not tonight when she could see the struggle to keep himself under control was haunting him. Whatever had happened, it was her job to be beside her sister, to support her like she always did.

"Totally." She said with a bright smile. "Oh, of course, you promised me the best hiking trails. You're not getting rid of me, Andy. Friends, remember?"

The drive home was silent, but he did the gentlemanly thing she would never stop being shocked by: opening her car door and walking her to the condo. More like up to the eleventh floor. He made sure she was inside before riding down the elevator. Quickly enough that running into Sharon was impossible. The elevator hadn't even begun moving when he was already calling his sponsor.

Abby sighed as she closed the door behind herself. She smiled at her nephew watching her attentively, she toed off her heels, not caring about leaving them scattered at the door, and walked over to him.

"Are you waiting up for me?" She asked playfully. He chuckled making her smile as she slipped into the space beside him and took a handful of his popcorn before looking at the screen. Abby had bought him a surplus of movies she thought he needed to be introduced to. A proud smile grazed her lips when she saw one of them playing. She should go find Sharon, but she needed a minute. "Your mom home?" She asked instead.

Rusty nodded, then he turned to look at her. "Are you and Andy dating?" He asked uncomfortably.

She squinted at the concern and then leaned back looking at him more clearly.

"Everyone knew but me." She sighed. "Am I really that self-absorbed." He watched her grab another handful of popcorn. "Gee, I may need to reexamine some of the criticism my father has laid on me throughout my life and I ignored." She frowned staring forward and huffing out a breath.

"What?" Rusty asked completely confused.

Abby sighed chewing the last piece of popcorn, pausing the movie and looking at him carefully. "Look, I'm the cool aunt, super cool. Will get you out of any mess you ask me to. I'll even take the blame, if you kill someone. But you have to share some secrets." Rusty shook his head still not understanding. "Why didn't you tell me about Andy and Shari?"

Rusty swallowed nervously, then said softly, "I thought it was obvious."

There was a pause where they only stared at one another. "Well, I suppose you are right." She leaned back onto the couch and let her head fall back. "I was so blinded by my own motivations." She sighed closing her eyes. All the signs had been there.

Rusty shook his head, not wanting to know about those motivations. "They've been having non-dates for over a year. Going to movies, dinners, ballgames. Then tonight, but then… are they dating? Like really dating?" He asked.

Abby rolled her head and looked at him. She had her source here the entire time and neglected it. The boy would know more than Sharon herself, he was the eyes looking in. "Well, do they sleep over, do the hand holding?"

"Eww, gross." Rusty said as he shook his head.

Abby glared at him and sat up again. "Excuse me, young man. Your mother is a hot-sexy-beautiful woman. What do you think dating is? Just dinners and movies?" She squinted at him, eerily familiar to his mother's Darth glare.

"Yes, dating for old people." Rusty said.

Abby scoffed, slapping his shoulder and stealing his popcorn bowl. "Young man, I am only two years younger than your mother. Watch who you call old people." She stood up beginning to walk away. Then stopped looking back at him. A scowl lingered on Rusty's face. "And I may need your help with some planning for these two, you know, if they need a little push."

"Oh no, I'm not getting involved." Rusty grabbed the remote and started the movie again.

"Oh yes, you are." Abby called as she walked away, popcorn and all. His frown only deepened.

She walked slowly down the hall and took a long breath before she knocked on the closed door, stepping in before she heard an answer. She saw Sharon smile at her wearily, her eyes red as she sat on the bed. The sniffle made Abby hold her breath for a moment, she was still crying.

"I'm just going to change and I'll work in the living room tonight." She placed the bowl on top of the dresser. She wasn't sure she was ready for the conversation, it hurt how much had been kept from her. This wasn't the sister she knew, the woman who she always looked up to. She caught her wiping her eyes and couldn't ignore her. "Are you alright?" She asked tentatively.

Sharon nodded her head, the sleeves of her sweater caught underneath her closed fingertips. The tears were impossible to stop. All she wanted was to make this mess go away, go back to the day in her office when Abby arrived and have Andy go to dinner with them. Introduce him as her best friend, the man she was slowly falling in love with. She watched Abby walk into the closet. Her eyes closed and she inhaled a deep breath. She had felt heartbreak before, but never this way. Feeling physical pain along with the emotional one.

She cleared her throat and called weakly. "I'm sorry I left you. I…" Sharon stopped and shook her head. She wiped away the stray tear. "I knew Andy would get you home." Her voice shook just saying his name.

Abby returned in her shorts and t-shirt and nodded. Looking over at the popcorn and laptop she decided against ignoring the issue and walked over to Sharon. The younger woman sat in front of her taking one of her hands. Sharon bowed her head. "I am an open book, you used to be, too. We could speak through a glance. I can't read you anymore, Shari. I never had to either. You used to tell me everything." Abby squeezed her hand hoping she would say something, anything.

"I know you're upset." Sharon said softly.

"Why didn't you tell me? Tell me you had feelings for Andy?" Sharon swallowed and let out a long and shaky breath. "And please don't deny it now." Abby said defensively.

Sharon closed her eyes and exhaled slowly. Clearing her mind was incredibly difficult, because all she could see was Andy's hurt, the way his eyes shined with so much confusion. She had tried stopping herself from falling, but he had wormed his way into her mind, thoughts and heart. Now she didn't know what she would do without him. He was embedded in every part of her life.

Whatever would happen between them, she needed to be honest with Abby.

"I'm not." Sharon said the words just barely slipping from her lips, shaking her head. "I won't deny it."

Abby nodded, glad they were being honest for once. The hurt creeped in and she couldn't contain the bitterness when she spoke again. "So you lied to me? Let me go around…" Her hand slipped from her sisters.

Sharon looked up as Abby stood. "I never lied to you, you never asked." Her voice was muffled as Sharon raised a hand to her lips when she heard her sister scoff. She knew it was a stupid answer, but it was the truth.

Abby paced and stopped, her eyes glaring into her older sister. "So I have to interrogate you like you do to your murderers to get a story out of you!? To get to know my own sister?!" It rang in her ears, the hurt and ache in each shouted word.

"That's not fair, Abby." But it was.

"Oh, don't give me that crap! You spend more time solving other peoples' stories. You don't give yourself the chance to have one of your own. To even let your sister be a part of it!" Abby bellowed at her. It was uncommon for Abigail to raise her voice in anger. She was calm and empathetic, Sharon had pushed her over the edge. The younger woman pulled the door open with more force than necessary. "I need a drink!" Sharon winced and closed her eyes, Rusty would be concerned. She wiped her eyes and slipped on her glasses following her.

Rusty stopped as they came face to face in the hallway, no doubt running for cover to his bedroom. Concern flashed through his eyes. He had never seen her cry this way before. She placed a hand on his shoulder, "It's a sisters' disagreement. I'll explain everything tomorrow."

Rusty nodded. "But are you going to be okay?"

"Yeah," she ran her fingers across his cheek, then under his chin and smiled. "Go to bed, I'll see you in the morning."

She waited until he was in his room and followed Abby out to the balcony. She stepped outside. The rough and cold pavement striking her feet, then the tear stained face a shocking reality to how much her sister was hurting. Slowly, she moved to the railing and turned to face her, "Andy and I were just friends, I didn't want to stop you from—"

A palm went up as she drank a mouthful. "No," Abby shook her head. "Stop, just stop, Sharon."

"Abby." Sharon's voice shook. They never argued, much less for a man. They had never parted in anger and she didn't want it to happen now. She would do anything for Abby.

"You let me run around like a fool, I was the only one who apparently had no idea that you two had a thing!"

Sharon placed her hands palm to palm, a pleading look in her eyes. "Look, you weren't acting like a fool, because Andy and I are just friends and if you want to pursue him, I would never…" It hurt to even form the words. She may never stop them, never get in the way, but it didn't mean it wouldn't hurt.

Abby shook her head and placed the wine glass down. "You think…" She let out a long breath and stared at Sharon. "You think I'm upset, because I want Andy?" Sharon crossed her arms in front of her chest. God, it was painful to even think about. Abby pushed up and walked closer to her. When they were face to face, she began again, "I'm upset that you didn't tell me." Her hands raised at her sides and dropped immediately. Her own voice betrayed her as she spoke and it quivered, "That you let me hurt you."

Sharon pressed her lips together to keep the noise indicative of a sob breaking through. "You didn't hurt me."

"Shari? Please don't lie to me. I was walking around flirting with the man you have feelings for. How could that not be painful?" Both of Abigail's hands landed on her arms and moved up soothingly.

Sharon looked away at the view and closed her eyes. She had made it a one step forward, two steps back adventure when it came to her and Andy. There were things she wanted to whisper into his ear. Like how she wanted him to hold her, to cuddle up every evening after work. To get lost in a kiss. There were moments when she caught herself as her mouth parted, but the way he looked at her excited and terrified her and the words eluded her. The reality was much more complicated than the fantasy. The kiss was everything she could have dreamed of and more. To be held by him and feel cared for. Even if it was only minutes. To let never become a moment. Regret didn't cross her mind. It was bliss and filled her with so much need and longing. She wished she could have reached forward, put her hand on his cheek, looked into his eyes and told him everything she had been hiding, that she was falling for him, if she hadn't fallen already.

But here was Abby, the only reason she ran. She deserved to be told everything and now one thought didn't leave her mind.

"Is that all you did - flirt? You didn't…"

"What, have sex?" Abby said easily and comfortably.

Sharon frowned and ran her fingers across the cold railing, then clutched it. "I was going to say kiss, but yes, that, too." She looked down at her bare feet, then met her sister's eyes, her arms coming around her chest.

Abby thought about how many times she considered leaning forward and kissing Andy and letting him decide. She sighed internally. Now she knew he would have stopped it, but a kiss to Sharon was not just seduction, it meant so much more. It was a way of connecting to someone you cared for deeply. If she would have told her now that it had gotten that far, it would have broken her deeply.

"The dancing was the closest we got, no more than the hug in your murder room. He was never interested in me." She looked at the relief cross her features and sympathized. "Honey, why do you do this to yourself?

The tear trickled down Sharon's face. "He and I are friends. And sometimes I think that's all it can ever be?" She grumbled internally, she hated those words. Her heart was ready to go running to Andy, plead for him to listen, to give her a chance to make it up to him. Yet her mind kept her in this place, contemplating all the ways everything could go wrong.

The obvious question floated between them, "Why?"

Sharon couldn't lie anymore and took Abby's hand, the words barely escaping her lips. "I'm scared." She cried and tried taking a calming breath, but nothing helped. "To put myself out there after—"

"Thirty years?" Abby tried, reaching up and wiping away a stray tear off of her sister's cheek.

"It's not the years. I mean it is, but it is everything that happened in those years. My marriage broke apart. I was left in a pile of debt with two children. Not only did he leave, but he kept doing it over and over, and I kept allowing it. I took on a career I never intended to keep, where I was belittled, judged, humiliated, but I fought hard for my position and gained respect, if not terror." Abby smiled a bit. "I've had to prove myself every day of my life, to Jack, to our parents, to my children, to my superiors. I finally found a home here and at work until I was forced into a division where everyone hated me. I took in a boy, he became my whole life. And I fell in love with the man that probably wanted me there least of all."

"There it is." Abby said smiling brightly. Sharon's own eyes widened as she realized what she had just said. In love. "I'm your sister, confidant, if you can't tell me these things, who else will you tell?"

She couldn't resist it anymore, despite knowing the answer, she needed to hear it from Abby. Her voice pitched higher than usual as she tried holding in her emotions. "How is Andy?" She looked away, not able to keep eye contact.

Abby breathed out, "We had coffee, he… he is hurting, too." She inhaled a deep breath. "You do need to talk to him," The young brunette said softly as she tried to hide her defense for the man. The promise she made to Andy about their talk being just between them was unforgettable now, even if she ached to share it all.

Sharon nodded her head and placed her fingers against her lips. She never wanted to hurt him. It was a flaw of hers, to keep everything in, despite the fact that she trusted him unconditionally. The fear of allowing him in was that he'd stay until he decided to leave. It would break her, only leading her to push more people away and build more walls. However, she didn't want to lose him. Looking at her sister watching her made her shake her head. There was nothing else she could ask. She knew what she had done. It could be the final push between her and Andy.

"Abby, I am sorry. I didn't want to hurt you."

Sharon was pulled into a hug, it warmed her from the harshness of the night. The pain she felt in her chest. "I hurt for you. You love him. I'm not upset because of that. I am thrilled." Abby said still holding her tightly. "That night, here on the balcony. When you ran inside." Sharon nodded embarrassed to even think about it. "I was going to say: I think... he's perfect for you." Sharon inhaled as a hand ran up her back. It was the truth. After talking to Andy during half-time she had realized that seducing him into bed would ruin whatever friendship they had created. She enjoyed his company too much to lose it. Then the thought crossed her mind, he was what Sharon deserved.

"It's a mess." Sharon breathed out.

A chuckle escaped the younger sister as they pulled apart. "That you love a man?"

"That I love a man I can't be with." Sharon's voice cracked and she shook her head, her hands covering her face.

"Why do you keep saying that?" It was a scolding, one Sharon knew she needed.

"He works for me."

Abby's hand landed on her own waist. "So fire him or quit." Sharon chuckled. "Transfer, or just throw the rules out the window."

Sharon smiled for the first time. "It's not against the rules, not if we report it."

"Then?"

Abby pulled her to the seat, so she could see her face more clearly under the light. Then handed Sharon the glass of wine, but she shook her head, her legs coming up and folding, her feet resting on the chair.

"My team is an extended family, I trust them completely. It's the rest of the LAPD that will start rumors, what if that hurts Andy and the team. Also, I would have to send him out in danger, we have our opinions." It was possible that she was being selfish, only thinking of herself and not about his feelings, too, but she was afraid of showing weakness, it was why she hid behind the rules, to always have something to defend herself with. It kept some distance from everything that could swallow her whole. Like everything she felt for Andy.

"You can get angry, upset at each other, break up, he could be put in danger?" Abby listed some of the obvious concerns.

Sharon nodded. "And there's a chance I could lose him. Not only as the man in my life, but everything else that he is."

She always believed needing a man in her life would make her appear weak. Then she thought her time to fall in love again had passed. Maybe it was the way he brought her tea in the mornings, his smile that warmed her entirely, how his hand on the small of her back was comforting. She could list so many things, the biggest clue was that she didn't feel happy because of him, but with him. That they completed one another. The kiss they shared had sent a thrill through her like nothing and no one ever had. Not David, and definitely not Jack.

Abby took her hand and rubbed her wrist. "What about dating him?" They both smiled. "How does that thought make you feel? Holding hands, kissing, holding each other, touching. Or going into the bedroom—"

"Abigail," she said sternly. The younger woman smiled.

"Well, how does it sound?" She squeezed the cold hand in hers.

Sharon spoke breathlessly. "It makes my heart beat a thousand beats per minute."

Abby grinned and nodded, she knew exactly what she meant. Only one man had done that for her. "Shouldn't that trump the rest? Forget practicality, love him…" She pointed out to the city. "He's out there somewhere and you're here, when you should be together."

"I don't even know if he's interested."

Abby rolled her eyes. "Come on!"

Sharon sighed, "I mean, I know he finds me attractive, but what if it's not the same, not to the same extent, what if it all falls apart?" Abby winced. She knew that was Jack speaking. The man had really done a number on her sister and Sharon wasn't even aware how much damage he had truly caused. It had been repeated so much that it became her own voice. She hoped Andy would be open to trying once Sharon gained the courage. That he could teach her how a woman like her sister should be treated, loved and cared for.

"What if he wants you as much as you want him? What if he is your true love? I know you don't believe in that, but I do. I had mine. It's a wonderful feeling. You are left breathless after every kiss, trembling after every night together. Holding hands feels necessary, going a day without him hurts. Sometimes you just need to hear his voice to feel better." Sharon knew that one well. She often did it with Andy. "What if he is yours? Let's say three years, three months, weeks or days of bliss? Isn't it better than nothing? Doesn't the idea of never being with him scare you more than all these other possibilities?"

The warm tears began rolling down Sharon's cheeks again as the weight of her never dawned deeply on her.