"I can't believe I'm having dinner with you and her," Provenza grumbled as they were on the elevator heading toward Sharon's condo. They'd come armed with dinner and flowers, Provenza suggesting the bouquet at the store that was almost dead.
"Get her these ones, Flynn," Provenza pointed to the wilted flowers."
"No, those look terrible! They're almost dead. She'd think I'm some idiot," he complained.
"Exactly my point, Flynn," Provenza had told him.
Now, here they were at Sharon's condo. Andy had never been here; he knew where she lived, but he'd never been to her place. He'd always kept an eye on her to make sure she was safe, even during all the years he wanted to hate her. He knew she'd sold the family home a few years ago, and when she moved, he made sure it was to a safe neighborhood. Other than that, he'd not been to her place. He was about to knock on the door when Provenza started complaining behind him.
"You don't have a key or something?" Provenza grumbled.
"Why would I?" Andy complained.
"Well, this thing of yours-30 years in the making, and I'm surprised she didn't already give you a key."
Andy turned to him, frowning. "Look, whatever you think has been going on, I was serious when I said that we started talking again this weekend. Don't make assumptions."
"Who is making assumptions? You've been the playboy of the LAPD for years, and only until recently, did that appear to stop, but maybe it was just a little more hush hush than I realized."
"Look, yeah, I dated around a lot for years, but really, until you said, it I didn't realize that I stopped seeing women when Sharon started hanging around Major Crimes more. Nothing was gone on. I promise. Get your mind out of the gutter. People can build on love; it doesn't always have to be lust. Trust me, I had three years of building on love 30 years ago," he said, realizing again, he'd said too much. He closed his eyes.
"You mean to tell me that you two never-you never, wait, that all those years ago, you never slept with her then? Just now?" he said bug-eyed.
Andy groaned as he sighed, shaking his head, "I really need to just keep my mouth shut. Sharon's a devout Catholic, well as much as can be when now divorced, but that meant a lot to her, and I respected that. Drop it. It's not your business," he snapped, pointing his finger at Provenza. "Don't mention that to her. It's personal, and I'm irritated with myself that you bring out the worst in me. I just keep talking around you."
"I thought I heard voices," Sharon said as she opened the door. She instantly realized she'd opened the door to some sort of disagreement. Andy had his finger in Provenza's face, obviously irritated by him. Instantly, upon hearing Sharon's voice, his demeanor changed. He dropped his hand, relaxed, and he turned to her.
"Hi Sweetheart," he flashed a smiled, Provenza's groan heard to both. Sharon's smile brightened, and she opened the door to the men.
"Lieutenant, nice of you to join us for dinner. Andy told me he'd invited you," she gestured for them to enter. Andy went first, stopping to kiss Sharon. He lingered there for a few moments, Provenza making gagging noises behind them. Andy broke from his kiss to Sharon, Sharon's hand still on his forearm, and he turned to Provenza.
"Do you mind?" he scowled.
"Yes, I do," he nodded, gesturing for Andy to move inside. "Get a move on it, Flynn. Dinner is getting cold. I'm going to complain if the food is cold."
"You're going to complain anyway," Andy said, now irritated.
Andy moved into the condo, handing Sharon the flowers, and as Provenza started to move past Sharon, he stopped and put up his hand, pointing at Sharon, "Captain, if you even think I'll greet you in the same manner, well, then go ahead and get the paperwork ready. I'll file my own harassment claim."
Sharon covered her mouth, as she was both embarrassed and laughing, "Glad you could make it, Lieutenant." She turned to Andy, "Thank you for the flowers. You remembered my favorites."
"Of course, I did. Provenza wanted me to get you the dead ones," he rolled his eyes. Sharon shut the door behind them as they all moved into the condo, chuckling at the notion of Provenza suggesting dead flowers.
"Well, I wasn't given much choice about coming tonight. This love-struck idiot made me come with him, and might I say, Captain, that while I had my suspicions about you two, those suspicions did not take me back 30 years."
Sharon nodded, clasping her hands in front of her, "Well, hopefully, you'll enjoy the evening. I dug out all my old photo albums," she smiled to Andy. "I still had things from long ago packed away. I hadn't looked at them in ages, but I have several photo albums full of pictures of us. There's at least one per year of college. I thought we'd enjoy looking at them."
"Well, why didn't you tell me sooner?" Provenza gestured. He pushed through the condo, past Andy, and he flopped in the middle of Sharon's couch. "An evening to make fun of younger versions of the two of you-count me in!"
"Ahh, dinner," Andy nodded to Sharon, where the two were still standing by the door. She smiled at him, putting her arm on his, to show him around.
"Well, leaving your grumpy partner there for a few minutes, let's get this ready," she gestured to follow her. "This is the kitchen, obviously."
"Stay away Provenza, unless you want to be gagging again," Andy said as he pulled her in for another kiss. She laughed into it, kissing him back excitedly.
"Hi," she grinned. "Let me show you the rest of the condo. Obviously, that's the living room, and there's a balcony out there with an amazing view." Andy continued to follow Sharon, as she had his hand in hers to tour the condo. "This is my bedroom," she stopped at the doorway to let him peak in.
"Captain, just stop talking," Provenza yelled from the living room. "I think I'm going to be sick…words like bedroom and all. Where is the bathroom?" he called down the hall to her.
Sharon rolled her eyes, leading Andy again, and this time loudly said, "Here's the bathroom. Lieutenant, next to my bedroom," she called to Provenza. "Should you find yourself getting sick this evening, please try to make it all the way to the bathroom. Note, there are two doors to the bathroom, the hall and one to my bedroom."
"Ugh, there it is again, the image of the captain's bedroom," he shuddered. "Better just close your bedroom door, Captain," he nodded. Andy chuckled, turning to the last room.
"Guest room?" he asked, and Sharon nodded. "Yes, even if both kids are home, this is plenty. I bought the condo for the view anyway."
"It's very you, the condo. I like it," he put his arm around her waist, as they squeezed back down the hall side by side. Dinner is getting cold," Andy smiled. "Let's eat, and maybe you can show me the view?"
"Right, dinner," Sharon nodded to herself. "I'm sorry. I didn't even notice. What did you bring?" she asked as she and Andy rejoined Provenza in the living room.
"Pizza," Provenza stood and walked to the kitchen, "and, I'm hungry. Stop ogling Flynn and let's eat."
"I'm not ogling her!" Andy snarled, but Sharon put her hand on his arm and shook her head. She started to chuckle, seeing how each man could completely irritate the other.
"Pizza," Sharon nodded, "interesting choice for dinner."
"Oh, Flynn's big mouth when he said to the team he'd see you for dinner," Provenza grinned, "he had to talk himself out of it. It was this whole saga that involved pizza. Have to hand it to him that he can make up things on the spot. So, pizza has been on my mind, and I said if I had to come along tonight, the least Flynn could do was buy me pizza."
"Yeah, somehow a nice evening with Sharon turned into a pizza party with Provenza," Andy grumbled. He looked to Provenza, "It's amazing you are still walking. All those ex-wives, and then, don't get me started on your diet. You had a greasy burger for lunch, with extra bacon, I might add, as well as all those fries. Then, you demanded pizza for dinner. You eat like an eight-year-old at a carnival."
"Just know it's not a slumber party tonight, not for any of us, Flynn. You're taking me home," he replied, opening the box hoping to snag some pizza.
"Joke is on you, Provenza," Andy smirked. "You told me to get pizza. I did, but it's all vegetable. No meats for you."
"Flynn, that's not even a real pizza!" Provenza exclaimed. "Tell me Captain, any alcohol in this place?" he asked.
"I just might," she smiled. She opened the refrigerator and pulled out a six-pack of bottled beer.
"That's my favorite kind!" Provenza exclaimed.
"What a coincidence," Andy rolled his eyes, shaking his head at Sharon. She just covered her mouth from a slight chuckle.
"Help yourself, then," Sharon nodded. "We can eat here or on the balcony. It's a nice evening." Sharon grabbed a glass of water for herself and for Andy, and then she followed the men. The three nodded and decided to eat on the balcony. Andy and Sharon sat at the table, while Provenza paced with his pizza, checking out the view.
"I do have to hand it to you, Captain. Great view," he nodded.
"You may call me Sharon," she turned to him. "Really, I think we'll be seeing more and more of each other. Sharon is fine."
"I'm not the one dating you! I have no intention of spending time with you," he grimaced.
"Oh, shut your trap, Provenza! What are you going to do if you stop by for a game, and she's at the house, huh? She's going to be around," Andy sighed.
"Well, I don't think I can repeat your name, Captain. It causes me acid reflux to say it. It was the name of one of my ex-wives."
"Ahh," Sharon nodded. "Now see, we do have something in common! We despise our ex's."
Provenza stopped and turned to her, "Captain, I really should ask what you were thinking with Jack Raydor? Come on-that guy? Other defense attorneys don't even like him!"
The three started laughing at that. Sharon just shrugged, and when they finally calmed down, she spoke to the two men as she looked to Andy, "I used a lot of poor judgement back then. I realize that. My life isn't over, and I'm hoping to redeem things a bit now."
"Well, knowing what a pig he is, Captain, I'm surprised you didn't throw everything he owns off this balcony."
Sharon pursed her lips and winked to Andy, "Well, lieutenant, I bought this place after I was divorced, not that he was ever around when we were married. You will be glad to know that after he left me the second time, after cleaning out our bank accounts of course, I did have the church come to collect all his favorite things-chair, desk, clothing. Anything that he'd left behind in the house, I donated to the church. It was the best feeling."
"Okay," Provenza nodded, taking another bite of pizza, "now, that's a captain I can get on board with. I like your thinking," he nodded.
"So, what's the latest on the case?" Sharon asked. Both Andy and Provenza groaned, shaking their head. "I take it Chief Johnson was a little irritated this afternoon?"
"Yeah," Andy nodded. "Fritz collected everything. Looks like the case is out of our hands. Chief was still going rounds with him about it. Wouldn't want to be at their house tonight. I guess we'll see what happens tomorrow, but we might not be working that case anymore."
"Hmm, too bad," Sharon shook her head. "It's amazing that it was dropped in our lap, and now, it's gone. Fate."
"What's that, Captain?" Provenza looked to her.
"Sometimes, things are just meant to happen," she smiled at Andy, taking his hand. It was quite for a few moments as the three thought about things. "Can I get either of you some dessert?" Sharon asked once they had finished the pizza. She continued, looking at Andy, "I might have thrown together an apple pie."
"Your homemade apple pie?" he perked up.
Sharon chuckled, as she stood to collect the plates. She patted his arm and then leaned down to kiss him, "Yes, the very same. I stopped by the store on the way home to get apples. It didn't take me very long, and quite honestly, I can't remember the last time I made it. You will have to battle Ricky for pie. It's his favorite too."
"Mmmm," Andy said, after he kissed Sharon. "See, Ricky and I already have so much in common." He looked to Provenza, "She makes the best apple pie."
"Well, now I need to be the judge of that," Provenza waved. "Let's see if it's any good, Captain." Sharon nodded and disappeared, leaving the two men on the balcony.
"Flynn, I'm still trying to picture you with her. She's not your type," Provenza told him.
"She's exactly my type, Provenza," Andy jumped in. "I tried dating everything she wasn't to not think of her. I love her, always have."
"Don't you think you are a little quick on the love her stuff?" Provenza asked.
"30 years too late if you ask me. Look, I loved her then, and I should have fought for her, at least gone after her. I messed up. She messed up. It sickens me to think of what we could have had-kids together, good life. It's time to stop messing around, stop fighting, and move forward."
"You're in deep," Provenza nodded.
"As long as she's with me, there's no place I'd rather be," he shrugged. He stood and walked to the balcony edge, resting his arms on it, looking over the city. "I started drinking because I couldn't get over her and realized I wasn't in love with Sandra for the right reasons. I hate myself for that."
Provenza stood, walking to him, "You can't change the past."
"I know," Andy frowned. "Still, wish I would have been here. I'd have given her a house filled with kids," he offered a small smile.
"You both have kids, though. It's not like either of you were deprived that," he said.
"Yeah," Andy nodded. "That's true, but I know she's a great mom. She wanted three or four kids. She had two because that dirt bag Jack left her. Plus, I still try to imagine what our kids would have been like."
"I shudder at the thought, Provenza rolled his eyes.
"Andy, would you give me a hand?" they both heard, and Andy nodded, going to help Sharon with the plates.
"Sorry about tonight," he smiled to her when he met her in the kitchen. He pulled her to the corner, out of eyesight of Provenza and kissed her again. She smiled into the kiss, pulling him as close to her as she could.
"Well, it was bound to happen. Let's just not make it a habit. Provenza for dinner?" she wrinkled her nose. He chuckled.
"Thanks for making pie. I can't believe you remembered it's my favorite," he smiled, taking two of the plates.
"Andy, there's very little I've forgotten about you. I replay our years together so much. Let's finish our pie and dig out the pictures so we can freak out Provenza," she winked.
"Anything to irritate the life out of Provenza and hopefully, even get rid of him," Andy sighed, as the two walked toward the balcony.