14. Can I have this dance?

It had been the most beautiful day full of glorious sunshine, endless laughter and the feeling of true love in the air. To see love celebrated right in front of her, to be part of something so precious, had brought tears to Sharon's eyes as she witnessed Rusty slide the gold wedding band on Gus' finger before Gus did the same to Rusty. The scared, angry teenage boy she had taken into her home ten years ago was a grown man now. A man who had just promised to share the rest of his life with someone he loved more than anyone else.

Sharon still remembered the night Rusty confided in her about wanting to ask Gus to marry him. It had been Christmas Eve and everyone was going to be at the house for Christmas that year. Rusty had shuffled into the kitchen wearing his pyjamas, simple blue checked pants and a white t-shirt, and he had smiled shyly when Sharon had asked what was going on.

"You've been off all day," she commented, letting her eyes trail over his face. She knew those nervous twitches better than anyone. The way his brow quirked, the way he plucked at his sleeves and the way his voice became just a little bit higher. "Is there something you want to tell me? Are you and Gus alright?"

"We're fine. Better than fine, actually," Rusty had sheepishly smiled and reached into the pocket of his pyjama pants and pulled out the little black box. Sharon had known before he even opened it what it was and had thrown her arms around his neck, pulling him close. She had cried and Rusty had cried too.

The next night, when everyone sat around the dinner table, Sharon had met Rusty's eyes just before he tapped his spoon against the side of his glass. He'd stood up to make a speech, causing Emily and Ricky to roar with laughter as he brought up a couple of Christmas memories from time gone by. But then he had focused on the meaning of family and his eyes had singled out Gus.

"I became part of this family because Sharon and everyone else chose to love me. And you chose to love me too. After everything you went through and what I went through, you became part of this family too. But every family grows with the passing of the years…" Rusty had looked at Emily's swollen stomach. Six weeks away from having her first child, Sharon's first grandchild. "And I don't think this family is finished growing yet. It can grow bigger and I want it to grow as big as it can be. And I want to make it grow with you." He'd pulled out the black little box and opened it before circling around the table and going down on one knee next to Gus' chair. "Will you marry me?"

Sharon watched with a smile as Rusty and Gus entered the dance floor. Fairy lights adorned the trees and mason jars with candles stood on the two dozen round tables that had been set up in the garden. The evening was still warm and the air was filled with music, laughter and the scent of fresh flowers and grass. Dressed in matching white suits with emerald green ties, their wedding bands glistening in the fading sunlight, Rusty and Gus entered the dance floor and took each other's hand.

The music started playing and Sharon recognised it as a song Rusty and Gus had often played in the early days of their relationship. She'd heard it come from Rusty's room back at the condo night after night and after a while it had grown on her. To now see her son and his husband – a word she still had to get used to even though all three of her children were married now- face the world as a married couple, brought tears to Sharon's eyes. When she looked over her shoulder she found Emily standing behind her, little Abigail soundly asleep in her arms. Their eyes met and Emily smiled.

"You did this, Mom," she whispered, pointing at the two dancing people in front of them. "Your faith in him, your love for him… that's what brought him to this moment. If you hadn't opened your heart and your home to him, we wouldn't be here right now."

Sharon didn't know what to say in return. There had never been a moment's hesitation when it came to giving Rusty a home. She had acted out of instinct when she first saw him in the Murder Room days after the standoff with Stroh in Brenda's kitchen and every day she had just done what her heart told her to do and eventually this scared, damaged boy had opened up to her and learnt to trust her. And now he had given her the one thing she had always wanted for him; his happiness.

The song came to an end and people around then were clapping. Rusty and Gus parted and with their hands still linked both turned to Sharon, beckoning for her to join them. Feeling her cheeks flush, Sharon stepped onto the dance floor and she took Rusty's other hand when she reached him. His hand was warm and clammy, just like it had been the first time Sharon had held it.

"I wouldn't be standing here if it wasn't for this woman," Rusty said. "My mom came into my life when I was sure I wasn't going to survive. But here I am." His eyes found Sharon. "I've been told it is quite common at weddings for the father or mother of the bride or groom to share a dance, and I'm sure we will. But there is something I want to see even more." He squeezed Sharon's hand. "For the two people who changed my life beyond what anyone can even imagine, to share a dance together knowing that everything turned out alright in the end."

Sharon wanted to ask what he was talking about but Gus had turned slightly and focused on one of the other people in the audience. "Lieutenant?"

Two years since his retirement and they were never going to stop calling him that.

Sharon watched as Louie Provenza entered the dancefloor and held still in front of her. It dawned on her in that moment that he was in on the surprise because Rusty tenderly gave her hand to him and took a step back.

"Can I have this dance?" Louie asked, smiling a little. In the light of the candles he seemed younger than his actual years, like the last few years in Major Crimes hadn't aged him at all.

"Of course, Lieutenant," Sharon smiled and allowed him to lead her to the middle of the dancefloor. The elegant burgundy dress she was wearing complimented his black tuxedo perfectly. "I do hope you know how to dance."

"Me? I've been married six times. I know how to dance."

The music began to play and to Sharon's surprise she recognised the Swan Lake theme. For a moment her eyes found Emily's before she allowed Louie to delicately guide her across the floor. The tension in her muscles eased the longer she listened to the familiar tones and Sharon relaxed into the music and into her dance partner.

"Who would have thought we'd find ourselves here?" Provenza whispered into her ear as he spun Sharon around, all the while holding her hand and having his other on the small of her back. "Our little boy is finally grown."

"I know how much he means to you," Sharon answered. "And so much of what Rusty achieved is down to you. He found a confidant in you for the moments where he felt he wasn't ready to talk to me. I don't think I ever told you how grateful I am knowing that even when Rusty felt alone, he never really was."

Louie Provenza didn't answer but instead pulled Sharon a little closer and she nestled her head on his shoulder, letting her eyes slowly fall shut. For the first time in all the years she had called him a friend, she found herself in the arms of the man who had supported her and had her back when others had been prepared to walk away. He was the friend who always told her the truth, the one who would force her to look in the mirror and see herself and for those moments of reflection she would always be grateful.

The music faded out and Sharon's eyes opened as people around them applauded. She looked at Provenza and he smiled back at her.

"We did good, you and I," he said before letting Sharon's hand slide slowly out of his and turning to look at Rusty. She followed his gaze.

"We sure did, Lieutenant," she whispered. "We sure did."