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As the four were starting to make their way toward the living room, Charlie looked back and commented, "Wow, Sharon, you look fantastic. You lucky dog, old man," he smirked to his dad.
"Dude, that's my mom," Ricky piped up.
"Charlie, show some respect towards Sharon," Andy chimed in, "although, you are right. She does look gorgeous," as he turned toward Sharon and smiled.
Sharon rolled her eyes, "Well, there's that Flynn charm I keep talking about."
Andy smirked and commented, "Well, like I told you-"
Before they could get any further, two quick movements stopped the group.
"Uncle Charlie, Uncle Ricky!" Tommy and Matthew came running and flung themselves at Charlie and Ricky.
"Hey guys," Ricky said as he ruffled the boys' hair. "I didn't know you were here."
"Tommy, what's up? Are you spending the afternoon with Grandpa and Sharon?" Charlie asked.
"Yes! We're having a party," Matthew jumped up and down, happily. "There's cake. Come and get some cake. Uncle Rusty even put some ice cream with my cake."
"Wait-what a party. Dad, Sharon, what did we walk in on? Is this something for work, but wait, Nicole's here? Oh, man, I am so sorry! We can totally go somewhere else for awhile," Charlie said.
As Charlie was sandwiched between the two boys, Ricky heard voices and peaked down the hall to the living room.
"Mom, seriously, it looks like a lot of your friends are here. I see some judges. What's going on?" Ricky asked.
"Ricky, Charlie, we've been trying to tell you-" Sharon started to say.
"Come get some of the wedding cake," Tommy yelled as he pulled Charlie by the arm.
"Wait, what? Wedding cake?" Ricky stopped and turned to look at Andy and Sharon.
"Mom, why do you have a guilty expression on your face, and wedding cake-what? Mom, no, did you get married today? Oh man, is that why you were trying to call us? You two got married today and didn't even have your sons there? Ivory dress-Mom, you did, didn't you" Ricky started yelling as he looked back and forth between Sharon and Andy.
At this, all of the party guests turned toward the commotion now just outside the entrance to the living room. It was hard not to hear everything going on, and many of the guests just started shaking their heads.
"Oh, this is why I wanted a party-good food and a show," Provenza said as he went over, found a seat on the couch, and sat down, looking satisfied.
"Louie, honestly," Patrice said as she swatted at Provenza's leg.
"Who is that?" Cooper whispered to Sykes.
Amy, who was closest to the hallway, took a small step to get a view of the hallway. She leaned back toward Cooper, whispering, "Looks like their kids. Ricky for sure, but I can't see the other one by Lt. Flynn. I think maybe his son too."
"Mommy, Uncle Charlie is here!" Matthew came running into the room towards Nicole. "I told him to have some wedding cake."
Nicole too Matthew's hand and walked toward the hallway, "Dad, is Charlie really here? I'm so glad you got in touch with him about getting married! Why didn't you tell me he was coming?"
At this the group arrived in the living room to see the household of guests seated and standing around.
"Um, Charlie, Ricky, here's the deal. Yes, we got married," Andy started to say.
Sharon just started to shake her head, feeling completely embarrassed. This was not how things were supposed to go with ANY of their kids.
"Alright that's enough! I've about had it with these two idiots this week. Well, actually, I've about had it with these two idiots in love for the past three years. Charlie-good to see you. Raydor Spawn-Ricky-good to see you too. Your idiot parents, and yes, I can call them that and you will probably agree with me-got engaged last week without telling anyone. They proceeded to drive up the coast to a friend of the Captain's who married them, and then they came home and didn't tell anyone for days. Congratulations, you're now brothers," Provenza said in exasperation.
"Provenza, really?" Andy looked at him annoyed.
"Okay yes, it's out there. We did all of that. Yes, we got engaged, and yes, we went up north and got married. We've been trying to call you boys all week, and neither of you would return our calls," Sharon said with an edge to her voice as she turned to look at both boys.
"Wait, Charlie, you didn't come here for the party?" Nicole asked.
"We came here-" Charlie started to say, but was interrupted by Ricky.
"Mom, you two drove up north and got married? You didn't have your kids there? Charlie and I LIVE up north, both of us. Hello? You didn't think to let us know. Oh man, does Emily know?" Ricky asked as he ran his hands through his hair.
"Dude, I live with the said idiot parents, and they didn't even tell me!" Rusty chimed in.
"Surprise?" Sharon smiled weakly at both Ricky and Charlie.
The party guests all started to take seats to watch the family saga unfold. Many thought that Provenza had been right; it was entertaining to watch the two try to explain to their kids what they had been thinking. All the while, Tommy and Matthew, going unnoticed, moved back over to the food table, where they started taking big swipes of the frosting with their fingers and eating it.
"Matthew, Tommy, don't eat the cake like that," Dean scolded as he ran over and pulled the boys from the cake.
That got everyone laughing and helped to break the ice. Both boys were covered in icing. They had it all over the face, and because they had it on their hands, they started wiping it on their shirts, pants, and even the table.
"What is that?" Ricky asked as he pointed to the cake.
"Gee, here I thought with a detective for a parent, you might pick up on a few things," Julio chuckled.
"Yeah, well, obviously it's a cake, but what is on the cake?" Ricky asked as he then walked over to inspect the cake.
"Uncle Charlie, come see the cartoon cake," Matthew said as he pulled Charlie to the table.
"Cartoon cake-Mom, is this…is this a Wizard of Oz cake?" Ricky asked looking questioning at Sharon.
"Umm, yeah, that would be my doing," Gus said as he stepped toward the table.
"Gus, really? What's up with the cake," Ricky turned and asked Gus.
Sharon and Andy both sighed, looking at each other. Andy smiled at Sharon and took her hand, "Well, we wanted the kids to all get along. At least they do."
Smiling back, Sharon said, "Yes, this is family-messy and all. Lieutenant, would you care to explain to our boys the meaning behind your cake?"
Both Charlie and Ricky turned to Provenza, where he happily recounted the events leading up to the cake. Both boys found the explanation to be really funny, and soon, the whole party was laughing again.
"Wizard of Oz. That's a good one. I hadn't heard that story. I've always just heard about Darth Raydor. That's always been my favorite, but this, this is a close second. Well, it looks like my nephews had the right idea. I'm starving. I want some cake," Ricky smiled as he went to his mom.
"Mom, I really wish you would have told me you were getting married. I would have been there, and you didn't have to hide it from me. I know you aren't getting back together with Dad. I'm glad you found someone who makes you happy. You didn't have to run off. I would have been there. I would have given you away, but it's cool. I get it. You wanted something for yourself, and you haven't done much for yourself for a very long time," Ricky told Sharon as he gave her a hug.
"Please! Save the drama for Dr. Phil!" Provenza huffed as he got up. "If those little gremlins didn't ruin all of the cake, I would like a big piece, maybe two."
Everyone started laughing, and as they all got up to get cake, Rusty and Gus cutting more pieces to hand out. Matthew and Tommy had been given some when the party had been interrupted by the arrival of Charlie and Ricky.
As the cake was being passed around, everyone began coming over to the two newcomers to welcome them and chat with them. Things were getting back on track.
"Yoohoo! We're here!" everyone heard from the front door.
"Oh, here we go again," Andy muttered as he stood with his hand on Sharon's back.
Sharon sighed herself, "Well, at least she'll like the cake."
Brenda and Fritz walked into the living room and took a quick glance around, "Oh, it's so good to see everyone! It's been way too long. Fritzy has been telling me about all of you, and I'm just so glad to be here-never thought I'd see the day we'd be celebrating Andy and Sharon together. That was a shock, but congratulations to you both," Brenda said as she walked over and hugged Andy.
"Sharon, congratulations," Brenda said as she awkwardly hugged Sharon.
"Thank you, Brenda. We're glad you could make it. I believe you know most everyone here, with maybe the exception of our kids. Please make yourself at home and have some food," Sharon smiled at Brenda. "Glad you could make it, Chief," Sharon commented over Brenda's shoulder to Fritz.
"Thank you for inviting us. What a lovely party. Andy,-" Fritz was interrupted.
"Lands' sakes! Who did the cake?" Brenda interrupted everyone. "A Wizard of Oz cake! Oh, this reminds me of that case where Andy started drawing that picture of Sharon as the Wicked Witch and-"
"Brenda!" Fritz interrupted.
Laughing, Provenza stood up and walked over to Brenda, "Chief, you always were a sharp one. Yes, that's the reason behind the cake. I'd like to call it my gift to these two idiots. We've had to watch the soap opera unfold the last several years. Never say never-that's what I've learned. Who would have thought-"
"Yes, who would have thought that Provenza would finally find a decent lady to marry him," Andy snarled as he was starting to get agitated. "Chief, a lot has changed."
"Well, duh, I mean, I about choked on my Ding Dong when Fritz told me we were coming to a wedding reception for you two. It was shocking enough when he told me awhile ago y'all were dating. I never thought you'd actually like each other."
Sharon walked up to Andy and grabbed his hand, fingers interlocking. She looked up at him and decided then and there, she didn't care. She usually kept things private, but these were her friends and family in her home. She leaned up and placed a deep kiss on Andy's lips.
"I love him. Plain and simple," Sharon smiled as she looked at Andy. "Let's have some cake. We are all here this afternoon to enjoy this party. It's had its ups and downs, but let's enjoy the rest of it!"
The party continued with the guests having their cake. A big section of the cake, void of frosting, was cut and put on a to-go platter for Nicole and Dean. The boys had eaten a huge chunk of frosting off the cake, but no one cared anymore. Provenza was seen refilling his plate over and over, happy to have the free food.
Both Ricky and Charlie seemed to be over the shock of their parents' news and were now talking to their parents' friends. Sharon and Andy had finally found a chance to sit down and were now sitting on the patio with Patrice, Kathy, Mike, Amy, Cooper, Andrea, and Fritz. Both judges had left, saying it was the most interesting party they had been at in a very long time. The boys had brought their swimsuits and were in the pool with the adults watching them. Nicole, Dean, Ricky, Rusty, Gus, Buzz, Brenda, Julio, Morales, and Provenza were all huddled together inside.
"What are they talking about?" Andy turned toward Sharon, nudging her to look inside.
"I don't know. It can't be good. Provenza is in the middle of it, and they've even recruited the kids and Brenda. Patrice, do you have any idea?" Sharon asked.
Sighing, Patrice said, "Sharon, I honestly don't know what he has planned, but I know he has something planned."
"Oh boy," Andy muttered.
"Mike, what are they doing?" Sharon turned, almost interrogating Mike.
"No idea, Captain. They asked me if I could help with their plan, but I was really busy with 'Badge of Justice' this week, so I don't' know what they are doing," Mike recounted.
"Oh my-Really? Mike, you had to ruin this afternoon and bring up Badge again?" Andy whined. "Badge, Badge, Badge. Why do-"
Andy stopped talking as he glanced at Sharon who was glaring at him.
"Why don't you tell me all about it later?" Andy smiled at Sharon as he looked toward Mike. "I mean, I don't want to ruin Provenza's plan."
Sharon patted Andy on the arm, glad that she had diffused the "Badge" situation. Andy's irritation with the show was comical to her, but she liked it even more that she could get Andy to retract his comments with just a glare.
"Okay, people. Listen up," Provenza said as he clapped his hands together. "We have something to show all of you, but you have to come inside. You won't want to miss it."