Better or Worse

by Kadi

Rated T

Disclaimer: This is not my sandbox. I only visit it.

The sound of her doorbell ringing at a quarter to noon on Christmas Day took Sharon by surprise. As she pulled it open, her puzzled look turned to one of surprise. "You're early." Andy was standing in front of her in a casual white button down and a pair of jeans. She was still in a large, comfortable sweater and a pair of leggings, with her hair pulled back and curling wildly. She hadn't expected him until later in the day… or she might have actually put on makeup.

Andy grinned crookedly at her and stepped forward. "You're cute." He dropped a kiss on the top of her nose and edged past her into the apartment. "I'm not here for you."

"Oh." The puzzled expression was back. Sharon turned at her door and let it close behind her. "Then, no offense, why are you here?"

"He's here for me." Rusty looked up from where he was seated on the floor in front of a pink and blue racetrack. They made hot wheels for girls, who knew? He remembered loving these things as a kid, not that he ever had many toys growing up, but the hot wheels stuck out in his head as a big winner. When he spotted it while doing his Christmas shopping, he'd gotten it for Anna. She had of course insisted on him playing with her. He didn't mind.

With his hands in his pockets, Andy wandered closer to where the kids were playing, in the large open area between the balcony and the living room, where the tree had been set up. His head tilted and he chuckled quietly. "Rusty, that's an interesting outfit you've got there."

"Hey, don't knock it." There was a plastic tiara on his head and bright pink and purple plastic beaded necklaces around his neck. "I make this look good." Rusty stood up and smoothed down his jeans. "Anna, I've got to go. But I'll be back in a little while, okay?" As he spoke, he took off the tiara and placed it beside her, since she was already wearing one of her own. The necklaces he dropped around her neck.

"Okay," Anna sighed, and pouted just a bit. It didn't last long, however. She looked up at Andy and smiled. "Hi."

"Hi sweetheart," He smiled down at her. "I promise to bring princess Rusty back soon," he told her. "I've got to borrow him for a little while. Can you keep an eye on things around here?"

Her head tilted and her lips pursed while she thought about it. "Yup!" She gave a large nod, and almost topped her tiara.

"Good." Andy said. "You're in charge."

Rusty retrieved his hoodie and stopped beside Sharon. "The Lieutenant is taking me to see my mom," he explained quietly. "I wasn't sure I was going to go, and then I changed my mind." He paused for a moment and shifted uncomfortably where he stood. "That's okay, right?" He hadn't seen much of his mother since the adoption was final. She wasn't taking it well. It didn't help that Sharon had imposed the year long sentence on her, so it was all kind of unpleasant. Rusty was hoping she would come to terms with everything soon. Especially before she screwed it up and had to serve out the whole sentence.

"Of course." Sharon lay a hand on his arm. "Rusty, I was really more surprised that you hadn't said anything about seeing her before now. I just didn't want to push. I know you're in an awkward position." She wanted to pull him to her, but there was still only so much physical affection that he would allow. "I'll never stop you from seeing your mother, unless it poses a threat to you somehow."

"I know." Rusty pushed his hands into his pockets. "It's just… it's the holiday, and it's the first time you've had us all here together. I didn't want to make it weird. So I changed my mind and I wasn't going to go… and then I thought I should, but it was the holiday…" Rusty shrugged. "I almost couldn't, I waited too long to get my name on the list for the day, but I guess the Lieutenants made a couple of calls and got me in."

"Which is why he is with me." Andy joined them. "Provenza is with the family today," his kids and grandkids were convening at Liz's house. They had only just closed a case the previous day. It had looked very much like everyone's Christmas plans would be cancelled. Those who had been traveling had scrambled to make that happen at the last minute. Barring any serious emergencies or cases that couldn't be handled by Robbery-homicide, they'd earned the holiday off. They could still be called in, but Taylor was practically dancing at the chance to have them out of his budget until the New Year. Overtime and holiday pay was expensive when coupled with their regular salaries.

Sharon's brow arched. "You pulled strings to get Rusty in to see his mother today?"

"Provenza did," Andy admitted with a grin. "I'm just the official police escort." He shrugged, dipped his head when she continued to stare at him. "We made a couple of calls, cashed in a couple of favors. It wasn't a big deal."

"Hm." She hummed quietly. There was more she might have said, but not in front of the kids. Instead, she chose to be silently touched by it. "Well I'm glad. Thank you for that." Rusty was still not comfortable coming to her about his mother, but at least he had the others. She appreciated that he didn't like putting her in the middle of that relationship.

"We'd better get going," Andy told the kid. "I'll have him back soon," he said to Sharon. He pointed at her and smirked. "You behave now. I know what you're like when you're left unattended. Anna will tell me if you've been naughty."

Her eyes narrowed playfully. "You think so?" Sharon walked with them as far as the door. "Andy, you could be underestimating your powers of persuasion if you think my daughter is going to give me up."

He smirked as he leaned in to kiss her. "Never underestimate the power of a princess doll," he said.

"Oh no." Sharon's eyes widened. "What did you do?"

"Who? Me?" He held his hands up and backed out of the apartment. "I didn't do anything. I just think something got dropped off at my house by mistake, that's all." Andy winked and caught the door, pulling it closed between them.

Sharon groaned. "Oh god." It was the twinkle in his eyes that gave it away. He'd done something. She turned and walked back toward her kitchen. He was going to end up spoiling that child. It would be a tossup between him and Rusty as to who would spoil her the most. Sharon spotted the dollhouse that was now taking up a corner of her living room and sighed. No, perhaps it would be a tossup between them and Emily. While she stood in the kitchen, cutting the crust off of Anna's sandwiches, she let her gaze circle the living room. The small purple bike that Ricky had gotten her was still over beside the tree. Perhaps they were all going to be guilty of it.

Hours later, Sharon stood on her balcony while she enjoyed the coolness of the evening. The sun had already sank beyond the horizon, but the sky was still colored in hues of scarlet and violet. She loved this view, the way the lights of the city began to sparkle as the day faded. Arms circled her from behind, where she stood against the balcony rail, and a smile slowly curved her lips as she was drawn backward. Her grown children had chased her out of her kitchen to put the finishing touches on dinner. Beyond the glass doors, if she looked inside, she would see Emily and Ricky moving around her kitchen while Rusty set the table.

He had been quiet when he returned a few hours before, but Rusty was always a little subdued after a visit with his mother. He would talk about it when he was ready, and she knew that would probably not come in front of Ricky and Emily. There were some things he wasn't ready to share with his siblings, who were still largely strangers to him. They were bonding, but with Rusty it was a process. Someday he would be ready. She wasn't going to rush him, and thankfully, she knew that the older two wouldn't either.

The lips that were brushing the curve of her jaw had her thoughts turning away from Rusty, however. She sighed softly and leaned back in his embrace. He had dropped Rusty off earlier, only to return a few hours later for dinner. He had definitely managed to find a princess doll for Anna that had her squealing in delight the moment she opened it. The life-size Princess Sofia was currently her favorite toy.

Sharon turned in his arms and slipped her own around his middle. "You called in favors to take Rusty to see his mother." It wasn't a question. She watched the sheepish look spread across his face and leaned up to kiss the tip of his chin. "Thank you."

"It wasn't a big deal." Andy shrugged, but his hands slid up her back. "The kid wanted to see her, it wasn't a hard request to fill. We do what we can." He reached up and caught a lock of hair as it blew across her face and tucked it behind her ear. She had tamed the curls since he saw her earlier in the afternoon. It now fell in soft waves around her shoulders. The oversized sweater was replaced by a fitted blouse and a pair of jeans. As his hand dropped again, he tugged at her collar. "Have I mentioned that I really like this color on you?" It was deep, vibrant crimson.

"Hm." She hummed quietly. "I think you might have, once or twice." Sharon arched a brow at him. "Andy," she drew his attention back to her and away from the blouse. "It wasn't that simple, and you gave up part of your day to do it. It was very thoughtful of you."

He sighed. "Sharon, it wasn't even my idea, alright? The kid went to Provenza and he had plans today. Besides, it's Christmas. The kid wanted to see his mom, so he saw her. Simple." He was glad that she was touched by it, but that wasn't the reason he had done it. "I did it for the kid, Sharon. I didn't do it for you."

"I know." Her smile warmed. She slid a hand behind his head and tugged him down. "That's why it means so much." She found her lips with his, and let the kiss linger gently, but was mindful of where they were and who could see them. Sharon smiled against his mouth and let her eyes open. Her thumb stroked the strong line of his jaw. "I love you."

It was spoken so quietly he almost didn't hear it. It might have been a trick of the breeze, but there was a softness to her eyes, an emotion he'd seen before that she was only now giving voice to. His hands moved into the thick curtain of her hair. He tipped her head back and studied her face. There was a gentle curving to her lips, and a light flush that was coloring her cheeks. Andy lowered his head and let his lips gently brush hers. "I love you."

She hummed quietly against his lips. "Yes." He had shown her in only a thousand different ways. Even before they had taken the final step toward a relationship. It was all still so very complicated, with their jobs and her family. He was pushing his way into her life, in that way of his. To the others he seemed to be so quietly accepting of everything, It had come down to a choice, however, a decision of whether or not he wanted her and how he was going to make that happen. Sharon leaned back and let her hands slide down his shoulders, to finally rest against his chest. "That's why I filed the paperwork before we packed up yesterday. When we go back things may be a little different. Someone else will handle your reviews." It was more than just following the rules, which was why she had held off for the last few weeks. She wanted them to be sure about this, and while it was still very early, it seemed as though they were. He wasn't a temporary fixture in her life. However this relationship continued to evolve, it would continue.

"You told Taylor." His brows lifted in response. "You didn't let me see the look on his face." Andy pouted playfully at that. "I wanted to rub it in a little."

"I know." Sharon smiled up at him. "You'll get your chance soon enough, I'm sure. Just keep in mind, if you get in trouble, I can't get you out of it. Don't worry, he took it well. He was a real trooper." Her lips pursed. "After he stopped laughing and realized that I wasn't joking."

"What's so funny about it?" Andy scowled. "Really, why do people keep thinking that I—"

Her hands moved up and down his chest, stroking gently before he could get too worked up. "It's not about you, Andy, believe me." Her eyes sparkled, and she shrugged. "I'm sure we can expect there to be plenty of sympathy tossed your way. Darth Raydor, remember?"

That only made him roll his eyes. "Yeah well, I dare 'em to say it. I still have some pull down in FID. That Elliot kid still worships you. I could still get out of trouble, I bet."

The crooked, smug grin made her laugh. "Oh, I'm sure you probably could. Let's not tempt fate anyway." Sharon leaned into him and let her arms slide around his waist again. "I just thought you should know, now that the biggest gossip in the LAPD has been informed."

"No kidding." Andy snorted. His fingers laced together behind her back. He dipped his head and kissed her again. "So does that mean we can actually tell Provenza so that he can start being his cheerful self?"

"Hm. I think that means you can tell whomever you like now." They would still have to be discreet, but there was no longer any reason to keep it a secret.

"Good." His head tilted. "You do know they all already know right?"

"Oh Andy." Sharon laughed. "Of course they do. Julio also owes Mike fifty dollars on the matter, which he'll probably get back from Amy." Her eyes sparkled. "Honestly, when are you people going to figure out that there is nothing that any of you can do that I don't know about."

"Oh, believe me when I tell you that we know." Andy drew her closer. "It's why we're glad that you're with us and not with them anymore. Although I should point out, I think Buzz is going to clean up from all of them."

"Oh well," she rolled her eyes. "Something to look forward to."

"Yeah." His hands settled across her hips. "Actually, I was sent out here to let you know that dinner is about ready. Damned if food is the last thing on my mind right now."

"Hm." Heat swept through her at the darkening of his eyes. "Well, if you're good, maybe you can save that thought for later."

"I'm always good, didn't you hear? Big fan of the rules here." He liked her in denim, the way it hugged her hips and legs. "What did you have in mind?"

"Nothing elaborate." Her hands slid up his back. "I was just thinking that my very grown children would be okay on their own for one night, and all three of them are perfectly capable of keeping an eye on their sister." A smile tugged at her lips, a brow lifted. "Unless you had other plans, of course."

"Nope, no plans here." Except to see how fast he could get her out the door. Andy grinned, leaving her children on the evening of a holiday wasn't like her. "They're kicking you out aren't they?"

Sharon snorted. "Emily packed a bag for me and I was told that I was to leave with you and not come back until sometime tomorrow, and if you don't take me up on it, Ricky is going to be incredibly disappointed in you." She rolled her eyes. "I don't know where they learned to be so bossy."

"Oh I bet," he laughed. "They want you to be happy. Nothing wrong with that."

"No, there really isn't." Sharon's smile softened. "I do adore them for it." She tipped her face up to kiss him again. "You make me very happy."

His response was interrupted by the opening of the door. Anna poked her head out. It was all she let cross the threshold, she knew that she wasn't allowed onto the balcony. "What's taking so long? We're hungry!"

Andy stepped back, a bit reluctantly, and pulled the door wider. "I know kiddo." He hefted Anna up and into his arms. "We got distracted by a grown up talk."

The little girl sighed. "You have a lot of grown up talks. Must get boring."

It was all Andy could do to not laugh. "Something like that. Come on, kid. Let's go see what the others managed to do about dinner."

Sharon smiled as she followed them. Anna seemed to really like him, but she still wondered at letting her get attached, and confusing her so soon after her father's leaving. It seemed they had a mutual admiration society going on, however. Andy was always mindful of her, a surprise, given her parentage. Although in truth, Sharon supposed it probably shouldn't be. He didn't seem to mind any of her children, and Anna was hers now, only by choice rather than birth. As she watched him settle Anna in her highchair, she thought that, maybe it wouldn't hurt for her to have some kind of positive male role model in her life, someone who wasn't one of her brothers.

Dinner was a fairly casual affair. Sharon had been mindful of Andy when preparing it, and added a few vegetable dishes alongside the ham and its trimmings. With her princess doll still a big hit, Anna had insisted on Andy in the seat beside hers. The highchair was at the end of the table, and so Sharon was on his other side.

"So." Ricky was seated across from his mother. He leaned forward, elbows on the table to fix the two of them with a look. "I think we've been pretty patient so far, given what we walked into the other night."

Rusty snorted quietly and leaned back in his own seat. He exchanged a look with Emily, who seemed amused, but more cautious than her brother was. "You get the part where she's armed, right?"

Ricky smirked at him. "What? I'm just trying to figure out what all this is. I mean, one minute she's not dating, and the next there's this guy hanging around all the time. So is this like a holiday thing, or what? I mean, it's moving pretty quick. I think we can all agree it's been a pretty big year. Two new kids and a boyfriend, at least we don't have to worry about her showing up pregnant."

The minute the words left his mouth, Sharon and Andy looked at one another. She drew a breath while his brows lifted. She drew her bottom lip between her teeth and let her gaze drop. "This wasn't how I was going to tell them."

"Well it isn't like we'll be able to hide it, it's going to be pretty obvious soon," he rumbled quietly.

Ricky's jaw dropped. His face paled. "What?" He practically squeaked. "You have got to be kidding me. No way."

"Of course not," Andy snorted and began to laugh. "But that look, right there…" He pointed at his face, and the looks on Rusty and Emily's faces too. "That is…"

"Perfection," Sharon finished with a smirk. Her eyes glittered deviously. She leaned forward. "Darling, I love you, and I appreciate everything that you've all done and how wonderful you've been this last week, but this…" She gestured between herself and Andy, "this is between us, and not something that I am willing to discuss."

Rusty looked heavenward. "Told you," he muttered. He shot a look at Sharon and exhaled. "Please don't ever do that again." She managed to scare the hell out of him.

"Hm." She smiled sweetly at him. "Don't give me a reason to." She tilted her head and smiled at Andy. "Nicely played."

"You weren't so bad yourself." He leaned back and lifted his tea glass. "The instant vulnerability was a nice touch." The tremor of silent laughter that had gone through her, however, had given her away, but luckily, the kids hadn't noticed it.

"I thought so too." It also helped that she knew perfectly well that such a possibility did not exist. Sharon rested her chin in her hand. "Dessert?"

"Depends." He leaned toward her, dark eyes glittering. "What have you got?"

"Hm." Her lips curved slowly. "It is entirely possible that there is a black cherry and chocolate cheesecake that was made while you were being so very helpful this afternoon."

"You baked." His eyes lit with delight.

"I did." She smirked.

"Sold." He leaned back with a happy sigh.

Sharon laughed as she stood. "I didn't think I would get much argument out of you, for once." Her hand trailed across his shoulders as she passed his chair.

"Don't let it go to your head," he teased.

Ricky and Emily looked at each other and sighed. "She's your mother," They both said.

When they looked at him, Rusty snorted. "Don't look at me, I was adopted."

"Sharon, I think this one is done for." Anna was yawning and rubbing her eyes where she sat, head starting to dip. Andy pushed his chair back and stood. When Emily started to get up, he waved her back. "I've got it."

Sharon set the cheesecake in the center of the table and joined him as he lifted Anna into his arms. "Yes, I think you're right." She chuckled quietly when Anna yawned and burrowed into his chest. "Here, I'll take her. You stay." She lifted the little girl out of his arms and settled her against her shoulder. "Come on, baby," she said quietly. "Let's go tuck you in." She lay her cheek against the top of Anna's head and moved away with her.

A knock at the door had Ricky standing. "I'll get it. Were we expecting anyone else?"

"I don't think so." Rusty shrugged. He stood as well, but moved into the kitchen to retrieve the dessert plates.

"Everyone we know is either here or in Park City," Emily said. She leaned across the table when Rusty returned and began slicing pieces of the cake and placing them on plates.

"Not unless mom has any other boyfriends she hasn't told us about." Ricky was grinning as he pulled the door open, but it quickly faded. A sense of dread filled him. "I don't think you're supposed to be here."

"Well now, that's a fine way to greet your father, don't you think?" Jack Raydor stood on the other side of the door holding a bag filled with wrapped packages. He slapped Ricky's shoulder and tried to move past him. "Where's your mother? I have presents for Anna."

Ricky blocked him. "I don't think she wants to see you, and Anna was well taken care of, thanks."

"You have got to be kidding me." Emily dropped the knife in her hand and strode across the apartment. "I think you've got a lot of nerve showing up here, Jackson."

"Emily!" Jack smiled a little awkwardly. His daughter had always been less forgiving than her brother. Too much of her mother in her. "Now listen, all of that is between your mother and me. I really don't think she'd want the two of you getting into the middle of this."

"No, I'm sure she wouldn't," Emily replied. She fixed him with a frosty look. "But seeing as she's putting Anna down to bed right now, she's a little too busy to intervene. I'm sure that what she would appreciate is you keeping your voice down and not waking a little girl who has had a very big day." Emily pointed a finger at him. "You don't get to do this. You don't get to put her through the same hell that you've put us through all these years." Her head tilted. Her blue eyes had gone pale, like ice. "What's the matter Jackson, guilt finally get to you? Let me guess, you picked up a few cheap toys at a Walgreens on your way over so you wouldn't show up empty handed."

"Now Emmy—" Jack shifted uncomfortably. That was exactly what he had done, but he didn't expect to be called on it.

At the table, Rusty cast a questioning look at the Lieutenant. "Do we get involved?"

"We do not." Andy stood up and walked into the kitchen to make coffee. It felt like it was going to be a long night. He rolled the sleeves of his shirt up and busied himself with it, since it was a better alternative to what he was thinking. His thoughts involved bruised knuckles and a confrontation that would probably have him in trouble with Sharon afterward.

The raised voices had drawn Sharon's notice. She came down the hall at a slow, cautious pace, listening as she neared. Emily was displeased about something, and the answering voice was distinctly male, and all too familiar. She drew a breath as she felt her own ire rise. She stopped at the end of the hall and folded her arms over her chest. Sharon stood there for a moment before she walked over and edged her children aside. "Emily, Ricky, do me a favor and start clearing the table, please. We'll have dessert afterward."

"Come on," Ricky nudged his sister. "Let mom handle it. She's always been really good at dealing with his crap."

Her lips pursed while she waited for them to do as she asked, and once left alone with Jack, Sharon stepped through the door and drew it closed behind her. Her eyes narrowed. "You can't do this. You can't just show up unannounced and expect to be welcome, especially after what you've done. The divorce is final, Jack. I received my copies of the papers last week. Anna is asleep, if you'd like to see her, then you need to call ahead and make arrangements for a visit."

"Sharon, look," He held up a hand. "You can't just keep me from—"

"I think I can." She took another step forward and her voice dropped another octave. "I think we both know perfectly well that I can. You left, Jack. You chose to abandon another child, one that you asked that I adopt. Unless you'd like to see the inside of a family courtroom, you will do exactly as I say. Otherwise we can see how much you enjoy paying child support for the next fifteen years." Sharon arched a brow at him. "You wanted me to raise this child and I am raising her. We are going to do this my way, and if you don't like that, you can contact my lawyer."

"What choice did you leave me, Sharon?" Jack lost the false cheer and glared at her. "You were sitting around pining after another man. You know, I tried to make this work, and you couldn't even meet me half way. Now you're going to dictate when and how I can see my own daughter, who you can barely look at, I might add."

In the absence of getting what he wanted, Jack always tried to pick a fight. Then, when he still didn't find satisfaction, he would leave. Sharon chose not to rise to the bait. Instead she held out her hand. "If you'd like Anna to have those things, I'll see that she gets them. Otherwise you can hang onto them until you've scheduled a visit. It's really up to you, Jack."

His eyes narrowed further. She'd hardly blinked at his mention of the other guy. Jack puffed up. "Fine. Have it your way Sharon. You usually do."

She shook her head at him and smiled sadly. "Don't blame me if you're unhappy with how things have worked out, Jack. There was more than one opportunity available for you to turn it around. You chose to leave. Again and again, and the truly unfortunate part is that I was just foolish enough to let you come back. I'm sorry, it's not an opportunity that you'll have again. I might have been slow to learn my lesson, but I've learned it. I won't stop you from seeing Anna, but Jack, we both know that you don't want her. If you want to learn from your mistakes, then do it. Don't repeat them. You wanted to be better, so be better." Sharon sighed. "Emily and Ricky are angry now, but that won't always be the case. They were just starting to believe in you again and you've disappointed them, badly."

"So what are you suggesting?" Jack stared at her. "That I just… what? Forget she exists? Just walk off and not look back?"

It was on the tip of her tongue to tell him that he'd already done that. Sharon swallowed those words. "Jack, all that I am saying is that if you are not going to be part of her life, don't come and go the way that you have in the past. Better that you walk away than repeat those mistakes. It's something for you to think about, but a decision that only you can make." She was done with making excuses for him and waiting for the other shoe to drop. "I'll see that Anna gets this," she told him. Sharon reached behind her for the door and gave the knob a turn. She paused for only a moment before stepping back into the apartment. "And Jack, had I not just put her down to bed, I'd have let you see Anna tonight. Do not ever accuse me of standing between you and your children. You did that well enough on your own."

Sharon left him standing in the hall and closed the door between them. She leaned back against it for just a moment and sighed heavily. Those little confrontations with Jack were never pleasant. Her gaze swept across the interior of the room and she found that Ricky and Emily had returned to the table. It had been cleared, with only the dessert remaining, along with a full carafe of coffee. She pushed away from the door and strode toward them, via the christmas tree to leave Jack's offering there for Anna.

"They beat us to it," Emily said, and nodded to where Andy and Rusty were steadily cleaning up the kitchen and loading the dishwasher.

"Wouldn't let us help," Ricky said.

Emily was slumped in her seat, and Ricky had his chin in his hand. Both of her eldest children were sulking. That was another familiar side effect of one of Jack's visits. "They can be stubborn," Sharon explained with a smile. She rounded the table and lay a hand against Ricky's back. When Emily leaned forward and toward her, she cupped her daughter's chin. "You are definitely mine."

"Heard all that?" Emily cringed. "Sorry?"

"No, I don't think that you are." Sharon curled an arm around her shoulders and drew her daughter close. "Which is more than okay. You're an adult. I trust you to say only that which you feel needs to be said."

"You didn't let him in." Ricky sounded surprised. He looked up at her, dark eyes puzzled, and tried to work it out.

"No," she said. "This time I didn't. You were right about his coming and going unannounced. I won't stop him from seeing Anna," she explained to both of them, "but he'll do it at our convenience, and not his own. My days of facilitating your father's relationship with all of you are done. It's his turn. I've moved on." She felt eyes on her and lifted her gaze. Andy was watching her. She could see that he was agitated by Jack's surprise visit, but there was concern etched across his face. The kitchen, she knew, was his way of busying himself. She smiled at him, only for a moment, before she let her attention return to her children. "Have some coffee," she told them, "have some cake. Don't let him spoil your evening. Okay?"

It was her way of asking them to do it for her, Emily knew. She sighed quietly and curled an arm around her mother's waist. "I think we can do that. Chocolate makes everything better."

"Forget the coffee," Ricky muttered. "Break out the wine."

"Oh, I…" Sharon glanced up, her eyes found Andy again. When he only moved to the fridge and pulled out a chilled bottle of her favorite Moscato, she smiled gently at him. "Are you sure?"

"Never liked wine." Andy pulled down three glasses and carried them to the table. "Too boring."

Sharon chewed her bottom lip and decided she loved him a little more. "Thank you," She accepted the bottle from him, while he placed the glasses on the table. When he placed a corkscrew in her other hand, she decided that he might be a keeper.

Emily watched her mother open the bottle and start pouring. "If she gets tipsy and starts telling embarrassing stories, I'm blaming you," she told Ricky.

"Hey," He shrugged. "If she gets tipsy, we're telling the embarrassing stories."

"I can live with that." Emily lifted her wine glass and leaned back with it.

"It's good that you're both so cute," Sharon observed. She lifted her own glass and rounded the table to reclaim her empty seat. "Andy, stop cleaning my kitchen and have some cake."

"I'm almost done with your kitchen," He remarked with a grin. "I'll have some cake in a minute."

Sharon continued to watch him as he loaded the last plate into the dishwasher and closed it. Then he took a pot out of her drainer and dried it before putting it in the cupboard that Rusty indicated. "Andrew."

"Sharon." He smirked at her. He tossed the dishtowel onto the counter and strode toward her. "See, all done." Andy reached for the coffee and one of the cups he placed beside it and poured one for himself. Then he slipped back into the chair beside Sharon's.

"Thank you." She slid one of the dessert plates toward him, along with a fork.

"Anna go down?" He asked, pointedly ignoring that Jack had ever been there at all.

"Yes," Sharon leaned back in her seat. "Along with that ridiculously large doll. Where did you find that thing?"

"Nicole." Andy chuckled. "She remembered Anna being crazy about Princess Sofia when we were at Disneyland. She spotted it while she was shopping for the boys. I told her to go ahead and get it."

"Remind me to thank her." Sharon groaned quietly. "Between all of us, we've managed to spoil that child."

Andy leaned over and nudged her shoulder with his. "She deserved it."

"Yes," she smiled softly. "I can't argue with that." It had been a good day, Jack's visit notwithstanding. Anna would never know that he'd been there, however.

"There's just one thing left to do," Rusty said. He leaned forward against the table and grinned at them. "Start getting ready for her birthday." It was only a couple of months away, at the end of February.

"Yeah." Emily grinned. "That dollhouse was last minute. I can do way better than that. I was thinking princess castle…"

"Oh god." Sharon moaned, she let her head fall to the table. "I'm going to need a bigger house."