The Edge of a Dream

by Kadi

Rated M

Disclaimer: This is not my sandbox. I only enjoy playing in it.

A/N: NSFW, rated for this chapter.

Chapter 13

Sharon hummed quietly as she put together breakfast. She had just gotten off the phone with Sandra, who had called to check on Charlie. She assured her there was no reason for her to shuffle things around and rush home; they had the kids well in hand. The cold they were both suffering from would just have to run its course, and she was sure that it would before the weekend arrived.

Her head tilted. She could hear noise upstairs. The kids were playing quietly in the living room, but Andy was getting ready for work. His father was at the table with a cup of coffee and the morning paper, and Sharon was pretending to ignore the disapproving looks that she was getting from his mother.

Charlie wandered into the kitchen and she smiled. "What's up, buddy?"

"Can I have some juice?"

"You sure can." She gave the eggs another stir and set the skillet off the burner before she turned to the fridge. Sharon filled a glass and carried it to the table for him. She knew that Emily wouldn't be far behind him, and filled a cup for her before putting a lid on it.

Carla's brow arched as Charlie sat down with his drink. Breakfast was going to be at least a few more minutes. "Wouldn't you like to finish watching your show until it's time to eat?"

"He can when he's finished his juice," Sharon told her.

"Oh?" Carla tilted her head at that. "Didn't I see Emily with a cup in front of the television the other day?"

"Sandra doesn't let Charlie walk around with open cups or glasses at her house," she explained patiently. "So when he is here, the same rule applies, for both kids." It was only fair, and while she wouldn't mind or would have given Charlie a closed cup, she respected his mother's rules.

"I'm a little clumsy right now." Charlie flashed a wide grin at them. "I've got to grow into my big feet first."

Michael chuckled. "Your dad had the same problem," he told him.

Sharon scooped scrambled eggs into a bowl, and hearing movement through the second floor, she walked over and filled a cup with coffee. She thought that Andy might be joining them soon. "Charlie is having a growth spurt right now. He's stumbling a little bit. He's going to be a tall, handsome guy."

"I'm already handsome," he told her with a smirk.

"You're all Flynn." Sharon shook her head at him. He also seemed to be feeling better. She was grateful for that. Kids were pretty resilient, and she hoped they would continue to improve throughout the day. It was one of the mysteries of motherhood and childrearing that she was sure that she would never understand, how a child could be miserable and almost inconsolable one minute, and seem content and playful the next. Well, perhaps not in minutes, she acknowledged, hours certainly. Sleep had done both children a world of good, but they were still not completely back to their usual selves yet. For the time being, their moods were good, and she would take it.

Michael leaned over and whispered loudly to his grandson, "it's what the ladies like."

"It's important that you believe that," Carla told him. "The rest of us know better." She lifted her coffee cup and mused quietly. It seemed that Sharon had different rules for the house when it was just her child. She made a mental note to speak with Sandra about that.

Sharon shook her head. She could see the wheels in Carla's head turning, and with that, she felt the tension forming between her shoulder blades. "Sandra's kept Emily for us a few times when we had to work and our regular sitter wasn't available. When Emily is there, the house rules apply to her too." On cue, her daughter trotted into the kitchen in search of the rest of the family. "Table," she instructed her.

While the kids settled in with their juice, Sharon finished making breakfast. She made two plates with eggs, bacon, and toast, and a few slices of fresh melon. She placed them on the table in front of the kids. The adults could serve themselves, so after the kids were taken care of, she placed the bowl of eggs, a plate of toast, and platter of bacon at the center of the already set table. "I'm going to go and check on Andy," it didn't surprise her at all that as soon as she turned the kids began trading food. Charlie gave Emily his melon for her bacon. "I saw that." Both of them only grinned at her as she left the room, Andy's coffee in her hand.

Michael waited until he was sure that Sharon was out of earshot before giving his wife a long, warning look. "Stop it," he told her. "The point of visiting our son isn't to make his wife feel uncomfortable in her own home."

"They're not married yet," she reminded him. Carla wrinkled her nose at the bacon. "It's awfully greasy."

"Which is just the way our son likes it," he reminded her, "in case you've forgotten." He picked up an extra piece, since it looked like she wasn't going to have any. "So do I. That girl is bending over backwards, and legally married or not, it's just a matter of time and a piece of paper at this point."

Charlie looked over at his grandfather while he chewed on his bacon. "My friend Joey has two moms, too." He explained. "They live together, though. But they're very nice. I think Sharon is nicer, though. She makes better brownies than Joey's moms."

Michael lifted his coffee cup and toasted his wife with it. He smiled crookedly at her shocked expression. "See, it looks like we could be dealing with an entirely different situation. Let's just be grateful with how things are, and not how we'd like them to be." He looked at his grandson. "Now, tell me about these brownies, how hard do you think it would be for us to get her to make them?" If there was one thing that he and his son, and his grandson apparently, had in common, it was a sweet tooth.

"Not hard." Charlie's blue eyes sparkled. "I'll ask Sharon if we can have them." He leaned close to his grandfather, and his voice pitched low. "She'll say we have to have dinner first," he whispered loudly, "but if we're real nice, she'll let us have one before dinner, and sometimes, she puts peanut butter in them, and they're really, really good."

"Mmhm!" Emily nodded, eyes wide. "Charlie, ask momma. She'll do it. Peanut butter ones," she told him.

"Okay," he nodded, deciding it was an excellent idea. He would ask Sharon after breakfast.

"It sounds to me," Michael said, "as if you two have this situation all figured out and well in hand." From what he had seen for the past few days, the two kids got along pretty well. Or as well as anyone would expect siblings to get along. He seemed to remember quite a few squabbles amongst his and Carla's kids while they were growing up. They'd had four of them, and Andy was the only boy. That certainly made for some very interesting times.

Carla shook her head at him. "You're as bad as the kids," she told her husband. He was practically salivating at the idea of a sweet treat.

"What's not to be excited about?" Michael smirked into his coffee cup. "I don't get peanut butter brownies at home. This visit is looking better and better all the time." His wife might not agree, but he didn't care. He and the kids had a plan, and they would hatch it as soon as Sharon came back downstairs.

Andy was taking his time getting ready for work this morning. He wasn't thrilled at the idea of having to go in and leave Sharon with the kids, and his parents. She would be heading in later; and his parents had volunteered to keep the kids for them, but she would be alone with them for a few hours this morning. He looked up when she joined him in their bathroom.

"If that's for me," he drawled with a grin, "I'm going to love you forever."

"You already promised to love me forever when you asked me to marry you," she pointed out with a smirk. Sharon handed him the cup and took a seat on the low vanity between the sink and the toilet. She scooted back against the mirror and drew her legs up, folding them beneath her. He was standing there in only his boxer shorts, with his hair was still damp from the shower, and from the look of it, he had already shaved. "Breakfast is ready. The kids are eating with your parents."

"Yeah?" He took a sip of the coffee and hummed. She made it strong, the way he liked it, with no cream or sugar. Andy placed the cup on the vanity and walked over to stand in front of her. He rested his hands on her knees and slid them up her thighs, beneath the simple cotton dress that she had put on that morning. He leaned over and let his nose nudge her cheek before his lips brushed hers. "Morning."

"Good morning." She had risen before him. Emily had come into their room looking for her. Sharon had gotten both kids up, and satisfied that their fevers were much lower, but still hanging on, she had given both of them medicine. They had cuddled on the sofa for a little while before she had eventually gone to make breakfast.

"How are you doing today?" His hand wandered to her stomach while his lips moved to her neck. She seemed to be okay most mornings, but they'd had a few rough ones early on.

"We're okay." She smiled. A low moan was pulled from her throat when his hand slid up to cup her breast. "The kids are feeling better too. Fevers are down. I'll feel better about leaving them here today, if that keeps up." She drew a breath when his thumb stroked over her nipple. "Andy. Everyone is awake."

"They're all downstairs too." He moved his other hand into her hair and tipped her head back. His mouth covered hers. She tasted of the ginger tea that she had that morning. He groaned when her hand moved into his boxers to curl around him. He missed her. They hadn't had a lot of time alone together in the last several weeks, and even when they did, she didn't always feel like having his hands all over her.

"Is this what you want?" He was thrusting against her hand as she stroked him. She teased his tongue with hers as she felt him grow harder against her palm. He had been getting a lot of hand jobs lately, but that wasn't exactly what he needed at the moment, and as heat coiled inside her, she realized that she needed more too.

When she pushed him away, his eyes narrowed. Andy watched her slide toward the edge of the vanity. He groaned when the dress went over her head. "Shit." Her breasts were practically falling out of her bra. "You intended to tease me today, didn't you?"

"Maybe." Her eyes glittered playfully. She reached back and loosened the clasp of her bra. She watched his eyes darken when she tossed it aside. If there was only one thing about her changing body that he appreciated, it was that. "Is it a problem?"

"God no." He moved between her legs and pressed her thighs apart. Andy captured her mouth again. While they kissed, his hands slid up to cup the heavy weight of her breasts. He was gentle as he rolled her nipples between his fingers, and grinned against her mouth when she moaned in response. "Want you," he muttered.

"We'll have to be quick." She pressed him back and slid off the vanity. Her hands pushed his boxers down, out of their way. "I don't want to leave the kids alone for too long."

"Oh, it will be." He was throbbing to be inside her, and he realized, as his cupped her sex, he wasn't the only one needing this. He turned her in front of him and bent her forward. He was able to watch her in the mirror, and when her hands grasped the edge of the vanity, he moved behind her. He laid a hand against her back, and slid it slowly downward. His fingers caressed the curve of her backside, and then curled around her hip. He guided himself to her entrance and pushed against her folds, teasing her. When she met his gaze in the mirror, eyes dark, he pushed slowly into her. They both enjoyed the feel of her heat wrapped around him for just a moment. Then he began to move, slowly, but with increasing tempo. He watched her head fall forward, and her teeth scrape across her lip. Then his eyes moved to her breasts, and they way they bounced with each thrust. "Fuck," he muttered.

"Yes." She met his gaze in the mirror again. There was a challenge in her eyes.

"Hold on," he gritted out. He gripped her shoulder and changed his angle. They both groaned. He moved faster, with short hard thrusts, filling her quickly. In the mirror, he watched her slide a hand between her thighs and clenched his teeth together.

Neither of them lasted very long after that. The moment he felt her walls clenching around him, he let go. He slammed into her twice before his release filled her. He continued to thrust against her, hips jerking while his arm wrapped around her waist. He pulled her against him and pressed his face against her shoulder. "God you feel so good."

"Hm." She could only hum in response. She tipped her head back against him and drew several, quick, shuddering breaths. That was exactly what she had needed. She felt him slip out of her and she turned to wrap her arms around him. She pressed a kiss against his neck. They stood together for just a moment longer. There wasn't a lot of time for afterglow, however. She kissed him again before stepping away. "I'm going to get cleaned up. There's eggs and bacon."

"You are the perfect woman." He let her go, but admired her flushed skin and the curve of her hips as she bent over and started the side of the tub to start the shower. "One of these days, I'm going to be able to afford to stay home and keep you in bed all day," he promised.

"You say the sweetest things." She rolled her eyes at him, but laughed at the dopey expression on his face. "Hurry up, you'll be late to work."

"Yes, Sergeant." He used a wet cloth to wipe himself off and pulled his boxers back up. Andy left Sharon to her shower and moved into their room to finish getting dressed.

She had taken the test the previous fall, and the little bump in rank had also come with a nice little bump in pay. He knew she was looking to transfer out of patrol too, but there wasn't a lot available while she was pregnant. Until the baby was born, she was stuck at Central, working the book-in desk at holding. The guys in his division liked to tease him because dropping off or picking up suspects no longer bothered him. He didn't give a damn. If he got to see her during the day, then it was a damned good day; especially with how much they had both been working lately.

Andy moved downstairs with his tie in his hand and a jacket draped over his arm. He left it laying across the back of a chair in the living room and pulled his tie around his neck. He grinned as he walked into the kitchen. The kids were still at the table, working on their breakfast. "Morning." He carried his half empty coffee mug to the counter and topped it off before moving to the table. "Sharon will be back down in a little bit. She decided to grab a shower while she had a couple of free minutes."

Neither of his parents believed that for a second, at least not entirely. They had also been young and impetuous once. Michael leaned back in his chair. Andy had brought the coffee carafe over. He held out his cup and gladly took some more. "We wondered when you would find your way down here. You almost missed a good breakfast."

"I see that." Andy set the carafe in the center of the table. He stood between Charlie and Emily's chairs and checked on both kids. The fevers were still down, low grade from the feel of it. He nodded. He wasn't surprised to find Charlie's plate almost empty and Emily still nibbling. When she lifted a piece of melon toward him, he took it, nipping at her fingers until she laughed. "Thank you, baby girl." He stroked a hand over Charlie's head before rounding the table and taking a seat. "She made the thick stuff," he hummed in delight as he began stacking bacon on his plate. He found he had quite an appetite that morning.

"Oh for crying out loud, Andrew." Carla rolled her eyes at him. "Try not to be quite so obvious." She stood from the table and took hers and Michael's plates to the sink. "If you gentlemen will excuse me, I'm going to get ready for this day."

Andy only shrugged as she left. He was in love with a beautiful woman and she was having his kid. What wasn't there to be happy about? He dug into his breakfast and coaxed Emily to eat a little more of hers. When the kids asked to be let down from the table, he got them both to finish their juice first. "Sharon has to be at work at noon," he told his father. "She's doing second shift this week, so she can spend her mornings with the kids, since that's when she feels best." By about three in the afternoon, she would be nauseous and miserable. He knew she would power through, and with any luck, it wouldn't last more than a couple of hours. "She'll get off around ten, and should be home by eleven, but unless we roll out or something else comes up, I should be home by six."

"I wish you'd talk her into working fewer hours," Michael shook his head. Where he came from, a man didn't let his pregnant wife work, not if he could help it. He knew that he was an old, macho pig, as his daughters sometimes called him, but he managed to provide well enough for his family while Carla was having their kids.

"Believe me," Andy stood up and began clearing plates off the table. "I would like that too, but there is no talking Sharon into anything that she doesn't want to do, especially as long as she feels like she's able."

"She is also perfectly capable of hearing you when you are talking about her." Sharon strolled into the room in a pair of jeans and a soft sweater that hugged her form. She had taken an extra few minutes to dry and style her hair, so that it fell in soft, loose curls around her shoulders. "Are you up to no good, Andrew Flynn?"

"Always." He flashed a crooked grin at her. His eyes swept her form. He almost groaned, and might have, if not for his father and the kids. "You're killing me," he muttered.

"I know." She smirked. When he turned toward her and leaned against the edge of the sink, she rolled her eyes at him. His tie was hanging pitifully around his neck. "You're a lost cause," she told him. She moved in front of him and tugged on the ends of his tie.

"Nah, I just know you'll do it for me if I look cute enough." His brows bobbed teasingly. "It worked didn't it?" He lifted his chin. Her hands were making quick work of the tie.

"I just don't want you to be late again because you spent too long bumbling with it," She shot back. She tied it quickly and smoothed it down. Sharon nodded when it was straight. "There you go. I like this color on you." He was wearing the new teal shirt that she had gotten him.

"Me too." He dropped a quick kiss to her lips. "Thanks babe. I'm going to get going. I'll see you later."

"Be careful," her hand stroked down his arm as he moved away. "Play nice with the other kids."

"I'll try. There's a grumpy old bully at the playground, he gets on my nerves." Andy tossed back the last of his coffee and put his cup aside. "Okay rugrats, I'm out of here."

Sharon laughed when he tossed Emily over his shoulder and tucked Charlie under his arm, carrying him like a football. He took the kids back to the living room, where he would leave them playing on his way out. She shook her head at the squeals coming from the other room. "He's going to be late."

"I don't think he minds." Michael watched her put fruit and bacon on a plate and nibble at it while she moved around the kitchen, picking up the last of the dishes and placing them in the sink. He pushed up the sleeves of his shirt and joined her. "I'll take care of that. You go sit down and eat."

"Oh no," Sharon smiled warmly at him. "I appreciate it, Michael, but I can get the dishes, you're a guest."

"Nonsense." He pointed her to the table. "Sit. Eat," he said firmly.

"Yes sir." Sharon took her plate, but instead of sitting at the table, she pulled up one of the stools at the center island. "You really don't have to do the dishes," she told him again, "I can get them after I eat."

"You cooked." Michael looked at her over the rims of his dark reading glasses. "Don't tell me that my son lets you cook and do the dishes?"

"No." She laughed. "He's as stubborn about it as you are."

"Good." He nodded. "I won't need to take him out back and beat him. That might make the visit awkward." They got quiet while he washed dishes and she ate her breakfast. "Don't mind Carla," he told her. "She's trying to figure you out. I won't say she doesn't mean anything by it, because I think we both know that she does. She drives our daughters crazy, telling them how to take care of their families. So you're not alone."

"She's Andy's mother," Sharon shrugged, because it was a given that she would be polite. "She's also raised four children, so I'm sure that there are some invaluable lessons that I can learn. Anything else…" Sharon would just ignore as much as she could, and what she couldn't, she would grin and bear. Sharon carried her plate over when she had eaten as much as she could stand. "If I can't talk you into letting me finish up here," she said, and smiled when he glared at her, "then I am going to go play with the kids. Thank you, Michael."

"Off you go," he shooed her out of the kitchen. He watched her go, and once he was alone, Michael shook his head; it was his lot in life to be surrounded by stubborn, opinionated women. He had married one, produced three of them, and now it looked like his son had gone off and found another. Life had a funny way of working just how it was supposed to, he decided. The others would figure that out soon enough. He would just wait for them to catch up to him.

-TBC-

A/N: All evidence points to Andy becoming a vegetarian later in life, so at this point, he isn't. He indicates in The Closer S4E02 Speed Bump that it's recent.