I've been having quite a few delays with these last few chapters. Many apologizes. There is a lot going on in my personal life, but I do plan on continuing. I hope everyone will stick with me. Many thank you's to all the wonderful words and encouragment to continue for these two. Please enjoy!
"Captain, I found something quite interesting here."
"Yes Lieutenant, come in please." She tells Tao.
"So we ran blood samples and the sample of our suspect and victim both match up as brothers." Tao gives her the folder as she frowns.
"So either the family is lying about not knowing him or only our victim knew." She continues reading the files. "Paternal brother then."
Tao nods. "Should I get the family to come in?"
"No, no Lieutenant. I want to find this mans mother. Who is she? And I'd like to speak to the suspect before we call the family."
"Right away Captain."
Sharon continues working when another face comes into the office.
"Lieutenant?" She said nervously.
"Come in, take a seat. What can I help you with?"
"Thank you, Captain." Drew takes a seat in front of Sharon's desk. "I wanted to speak to you about the a Doe case."
Sharon shifts nervously on her seat. Looking out of her windows, waiting for Andy to appear in the murder room.
"My work is about done, which means I bring you all the files for you to sign off on." He hands her files.
"Thank you Lieutenant. I really need to work on the case at hand here. But I can get this back to you by tomorrow." She smiles awkwardly.
"That sounds great." Sharon sees Andy walk in with Provenza and looks over to her office. "I will lead you out." Quickly getting up out of her seat.
"Sharon." She stops. "Maybe we can meet up to have dinner you can give me the papers then?" He smiles at her and she looks up. She sees Andy walking her way.
"I really can't." She walks out from behind her desk and he follows her to her office door.
"Just one dinner. I promise I won't disappoint." He smiles at her a large grin.
Her stomach flops. Andy meets them at her door. Sharon stays mute. Her head falling to her chest.
"How about you think about it and I'll call you?" She nods.
Drew only now sees Andy and holds out his hand, Andy shakes it looking at Sharon.
"It's good to see you better Lieutenant." Drew tells him.
"Thank you, it's glad to be better."
Drew turns back to Sharon and smiles saying goodbye.
Sharon looks at Andy nervous. He hands her a folder.
"The two brothers want to know when they can have the body the mother is planning church services and need a date."
Sharon opens the folder. Still looking at him carefully. He isn't meeting her gaze. She swallows deep in her throat.
"Did you let them know we are still investigating?" She asks.
"Yes. They yelled and pulled rank on me so if you get a visit from the Chief or calls..I guess they went above you." He says as Taylor comes towards them.
"Thank you. If you can I'd like you to sit with me in the interview with the suspect?"
"Of course, Captain." These words sounded distant. "Anything else." Taylor now at their side.
"No that's all Andy." His expression softens with his name. "Thank you."
It wasn't often she used his first name with the others around especially not with Taylor.
He nods with a gentle smile and walks away. She takes a deep breath and slightly feels the pull at her chest. And walks to her office, Taylor following her.
"Please Chief take a seat."
As he does she pulls the blinds down closing her door.
"I've been receiving calls from the Roberts family. You know a lawyer calling me at five in the morning is not something I want to wake up to." He looks at her angry.
"Well Chief, I apologize about your sleeping being disrupted but I have a case going on here and I'm about to go in and interview the suspect. Maybe if we can get something out of him. You'll get to sleep in tomorrow." She picks up files from her desk and stands at her door waiting for him.
He gets up clearing his throat and they walk to the murder room together.
"Everything ready?" She asks them.
They all agree. "Okay Lieutenant Flynn please join me."
Sharon takes a seat with the suspect and Andy stays standing behind her, the lawyer sitting with his client.
"Alright Mr. Vallarta. I apologize for the long night you've had." She smiles."Were you read you rights?"
"Yes."
"Let's begin. Where were you yesterday night between the hours of seven and nine?" The lawyer nods and the suspect begins talking.
"At home."
"Anyone that can confirm that?"
"My mother. She is ill and she lives with me now."
"Your mother? What is your mothers name."
"Maria Vallarta." A tear runs down his eye.
"Why are you crying Mr. Vallarta?"
"He doesn't need to answer that." The lawyer responds.
"Yes, I just wanted to make sure your client fills well that's all." She smiles at him.
"My Mother is sick, very ill. I should be working not sitting around here. I need medication for her." The suspect is speaking loudly.
"Mr. Vallarta, I understand. I will se what I can do to help you." Sharon's voice calm.
"Let me explain something to you. We crossed blood samples from the crime scene and we found your blood which I assume comes from under that gauze there." Andy tells him, Sharon shows him a picture.
"And the blood of the suspect." Another picture is put in front of him from the crime scene. "When we crossed it, it came out as Raymond Roberts and you are half-brothers. Did you know this?"
"Don't answer that." The lawyer says.
"Were you friends with Raymond? How did you meet?" Andy continues attacking him with questions.
"Don't answer that either." The lawyer says.
"Alright if we are going down this path I'll talk to his mother Captain and see what she'll tell me about her son and his father. Maybe she had something to do with this." Andy says strongly.
"No, no, no. You can't worry my mother. Please." The suspect screams.
"Alright. Then tell me what happened." Sharon talks carefully.
"I knew he was a half brother, my Mother had no idea I was meeting him."
The lawyer scoffs. "I told you not to answer that. That's enough. My client will not answer anymore questions." Getting up from his chair.
"I want to talk!" The suspect screams. "I need to talk." He cries.
"Go ahead. I'm listening." Sharon says delicately.
"This is all hypothetical." The lawyer says.
"Of course." Andy says sarcastically.
"My Mother raised me alone. I never knew who my father was. I knew she slept with a lot of men. But I was always told that a man by the name of Alfonso Roberts was my father. When my mother became sick about three years ago I went out looking for him. I found his youngest son, just six moths ago. He helped me by giving us clothes and food the little money that he had. He asked me not to tell anyone, that his family loved his father-adored him." He slams the desk hard.
Andy moves closer to Sharon but stops when Sharon raises her hand slightly to stop him.
"Please you need to calm down." Sharon says carefully. "Or the Lieutenant here will have to escort you to a holding cell until you do."
He looks at Andy almost wanting to strangle him. He spoke but through his teeth. "He helped but then his money stopped coming because he started volunteering rather then working." He grows furious and turns his head and spits. "Or that's what he said. I needed money for my Mothers treatment. I..I was full of rage. Rage towards his father the bastard who left my mother after three years to marry his mother because she was pure and beautiful and my mother was a stripper a hooker." He screams in rage, tears coming down his eyes.
Sharon remains still. She doesn't move. Sympathy in her eyes. Andy closer now to Sharon arms wrapped around his front. Ready to restrain him.
"My mother never stopped loving him. She never spoke of him to me but she loved him. She says I look just like him. I wasn't sure if Alfonso Roberts was my father but when I saw Raymond I needed nothing else to confirm but his face almost identical to mine." He's still crying but hysterically now. He stands up.
The lawyer pulls his arm and he yanks away. Sharon is standing and Andy is already restraining him.
"My mother told him she was pregnant before he married her." He screams. "Only a year before for they married I was conceived." He cried.
Officers come into the room. Sharon halts him by putting up her hand.
"No, no. Lieutenant let him go." Andy obeys. He almost falls to the ground at his release. He sits on the chair crying.
"My mother is dying, I just need help." He is sobbing his head looking at his cuffed hands on his lap. Sharon walks over to him. Andy tries to stop her she holds her hand out and tightens his wrist almost as a reassurance. He stays back.
"Mr. Vallarta." She puts a hand on his shoulder. His lawyer only watches them carefully. "We can help with your mother, I promise I will look after her."
"You cannot say this to my client." The lawyer stands up. "She is lying to you."
"I am not. I will make sure she has a place to stay a place where they can take care of her." The suspect looks into her eyes. Sharon meets his gaze, sadness and loss meet her eyes.
"I do not want a lawyer anymore, please take him out." He shouts Andy helps the lawyer out of chair and takes him out.
"You are making a mistake." The lawyer shouts.
"Alright Mr. Vallarta please continue." She walks to the other side of the table and sits down. Andy closes the door and sits with her this time.
"Before Alfonso married that woman his family told her about me, that I was probably out there. She confronted the man and he denied me, he said he knew nothing of this woman. When my mother found out she never looked for him again." He sobs his words. "I was left with only a name for a father, my mother chose a coward for a father and I've lived with that everyday of my life, not her but me." He cries deeply onto his chest.
Sharon swallows deep in her throat. Andy looks at her and takes over.
"We need to hear you say it, or no deal Mr. Vallarta." Andy's words strong.
Anger and satisfaction reaches his face and voice. "I shot him, I pulled the trigger he told me that he knew. That he knew I existed, but didn't know where to look. That his mother had talked about my mother many times before but that that man always denied me. I hit him with a bat for all the suffering that man put me through." He wipes his nose with his sleeve. Sharon watches him carefully not saying anything but listening.
"You shot him for revenge against your father?" Andy asks him angry.
"He was not my father, but he owed me years and I just need to help my mother." He shouts louder then Andy. "That boy didn't want to destroy the image of his father. He didn't want to let me contact his family for money, for help. He was no brother of mine. He was ashamed of me! Just like his father!"
"That boy like you call him, was trying to protect his mother." Andy shouts. "Just like you." The suspect looks up at him crying, confused.
Sharon pats Andy's arm. He calms down. "Mr. Vallarta, Raymond had no relationship with his father. In fact he grew with very little respect for his father. His mother and brothers were all he lived for."
The suspect looks down and cries. "You might have just lost the biggest help you had." Flynn says. "The only help."
"He never.." The suspect cries.
"He never told you." Sharon helps him finish.
He sobs bringing is handcuffed hands up to his face. Crying into them.
"His family explained him to be noble and help anyone that needed it." Sharon explains. "I think you knew it to, you just couldn't help but wonder.."
"..if your father was just like him maybe he would of came looking for you or never denied you." Flynn finishes.
"I ask you to write down everything you said." She slides a paper towards him. "We will have the DDA come in and make the agreement we talked about." She stands up. Flynn opens the door and sends in an officer to watch.
"My mother?"
"I will take care of it." Sharon nods, her voice sincere.
They all meet out in the murder room. "Detective Sykes I'd like for you to make sure this mother is taken care of."
"Yes Captain."
"Lieutenant Provenza, please call in the family. We need to inform them about the new family member they gained and why they lost Raymond." She says quietly.
Provenza nods.
"Lieutenant Flynn, please come to my office."
"Yes Captain."
They walked to her office. She wanted to talk to him about Drew but she was at work. There was no other reason for calling him in to her office.
She looks at her watch. "Should I call patrol to pick up Rusty?"
He looks at her confused. "No that's alright I'll let you know when I'm going for him."
She nods. "That's all Lieutenant."
He looks at her puzzled trying to read her carefully. She looks down at her desk.
He opens her door and walks out leaving it open. He comes back.
"Captain?" He's smiling.
"I'm off to pick up the kid. Just saw the time." She nods approvingly also smiling. He winks and walks off.
Andy picks up Rusty. Both of them cordial but quiet. Andy decides to step right into the conversation.
"I noticed you a little tense this morning?"
Rusty says nothing.
"I know I'm not an easy person to talk to.." Andy begins.
"No Lieutenant that's not the problem." He cuts Andy off. "I'm happy to see Sharon so happy. I just, I don't know." He stops.
"No keep going please." Andy says carefully.
"Well it's...just don't hurt her." This catches Andy off guard. "Look I've seen a lot of guys come and go in my Mothers life, Sharon doesn't deserve that."
Andy stays quiet. "Rusty. I can't possibly understand what you've been through. But I can promise you that I'll be with Sharon till she wants me to be. And that includes you too." Rusty looks up from his lap.
"I'm sorry Lieutenant, I didn't want to offend you." Rusty voice calmer now.
"First lets start off by calling me Andy."
"I'll try."
"Alright and secondly you did nothing to offend me. You told me what you thought and that is all I can ask for. That's all."
"Thank you Lieutenant.. I mean Andy." Andy smiles at him. "You know she's very particular with certain things. Like cleanliness and crumbs and well mostly everything." Rusty says a little more jokingly.
"Well I guess you're in trouble because so am I." He smiles.
"And please keep the PDA to a minimum. I know the only place you can..well.."
"Yes." Andy laughs.
"..is at home but it's still a little strange."
"It's a promise. But I need you to help me with a little mission."
"A mission?" Rusty asks him confused.
"Yes, something for Sharon."
"Okay."
Andy tells him his plan and Rusty agrees. They spend the next few minutes talking all the way until they run errands and finish back at the murder room.
They find everyone together in the murder room. "Hello Rusty, thank you for picking him up Lieutenant." Sharon smiles at both of them.
"No problem Captain." He winks at her.
Rusty goes to his usually cubicle.
"Alright lets wrap this up. Let's talk to the family. They are coming up now. Lets give Raymond back to them." Provenza says.
Sharon walks to her office and draws a curtain open. She closes it again as she sees Andy walking her way. And walks behind her desk. He knocks.
"Come in."
He walks in closing the door behind him. "Change your mind did you?" He points at the curtains.
She smiles. "You caught me, I wanted to talk to you."
"Yeah I got that feeling since the last time I was in here, what's going on Sharon?" He looks at her puzzled.
"How did the pick up go?" She asks him.
"Good, but that's not what you want to talk to me about." He smiles. "Wait." He says walking towards her. "Can I do something that may upset you?"
"Well that's really no way to pitch an idea." She smiles at him as he stands right next to her.
"Can I?" His hand swipes a hair behind her ear.
"Yes." She trembles a whisper.
His hand behind her back and one on her chin. Her hand automatically on his cheek and the other caught between them grabs his tie. He smiles and gives her a gentle kiss. Her hand runs back to his neck. A small hum in her mouth. That makes him continue the kiss just a moment longer. She sighs on his lips and kisses him one more time.
He pulls away her eyes still closed. Holding onto his tie. He rubs his hand gently on her cheek as to wake her up. She opens her eyes and lets go of his tie.
"Thank you." She smiles. While cleaning his lips.
"Thank you?" He resumes the cleaning of his own lips and walks to the other side of her desk.
"Well you did exactly what I don't have the nerve to do, here." She waves her hand around the office.
Andy gets a smirk. "And I thought you were going to get mad." He smiles.
"With Drew here and all, I just, you seemed a little serious that's all." She gets a little embarrassed.
"That's what jealousy does." He shrugs.
She smiles. "We can resume over dinner?" She asks him.
"Absolutely Captain." He winks holding onto the doorknob.
"Wait Andy." He turns back. "You have nothing to be jealous about.
He opens the door. "Thank you, Captain."
She laughs a little. As he lets out a big smile.
The family of Raymond come and are told of the truth. Provenza and Sykes take over the notice. But Sharon can see the pain that reaches all of them. They leave with more despair in their hearts then when they came in.
"They want to meet Mr. Vallarta's mother Captain to see what they can do. They say that's all Raymond would ask them to do." Sykes says her voice saddened.
"Let's arrange that." Sharon nods. "Let's make sure Mr. Vallarta has spoken with his mother first."
"Yes Captain." Sykes nods and walks away from her office. She walks after her and everyone is finishing up their paperwork.
"Great job everyone. Let's get home and I'll see you all in a few hours." She smiles moving away.
"Captain." She turns back at Provenza's calling.
"Yes Lieutenant."
"Drinks?" He says with a grin.
She smiles and looks at all of them staring at her carefully.
"Well Tao has a date with his son. But the rest of us." Provenza says.
"Yes, Captain maybe Rusty would like to join us?" Tao says.
She points at Rusty as he walks in.
"Yes Lieutenant, I'd live to go." He says quietly. Sharon smiles and nods in approval.
She takes a glance at Andy and he has a very large grin on his face as if he's enjoying this too much.
"I'll have one." She says simply.
They all cheer in laughter and hoots. Obviously trying to make her a little uncomfortable and embarrassed.
She walks to her office to get her things together. She comes back with all of them waiting for her. She gives Rusty some money and thanks Tao, he promises to drop him off fed and early.
They all move into the elevator together. Andy next to her at all times. They let everyone out before them.
"You know how to get there, want me to drive?" He smiles at her.
"I've been to the Hideout many time Lieutenant." She says.
"Have you?" He says playfully.
She smirks at him. "I can drive." She walks ahead if him. Everyone already out of the building.
"You know that's the walk I'm talking about." She stops and he catches up to her. "The one that drives me crazy." He whispers in her ear.
They arrive at the hideout, he waits for her and they walk in together. The team has already chosen a table in the corner and they join them.
"So Captain, first time here?" Sykes asks.
"No, this used to be a frequent place I visited." She smiles.
They all laugh. "Really?"
"Yes, I'm sure if I go up to Barbara and ask for my usual she will still know it." They all are amused.
"Alright. One of the Captain's usual? Lets all have one." Sanchez says.
"No, no. I don't think any of you will enjoy it." She says worried.
"Captain after the third drink we won't even remember the first." Provenza adds teasing her.
She shrugs. "Alright I'll order." She gets out of her seat.
"I'll join you." Andy says. They all are a little entertained by her attitude.
"Hey Barbara."
"Hey Sharon haven't seen you here in awhile. The usual." She smiles and looks at Andy's eyes wide.
"Yes thank you, but five of them." She answers the bartenders expression. "Celebrating with the team." She looks over to their table.
"Not sure that those guys can handle your usual." The bartender says, Sharon smiles. "And a cranberry-soda." The bartender looks at Andy and nods and moves away.
"You weren't joking?" Andy says looking at her as she leans onto the bar.
"Not at all." She grins.
"So what's in this drink?" Andy asks.
If I remember correctly it's some juice and a lot of alcohol. I kind of invented it. And it's become Sharon's drink around here." Andy looks at her carefully.
"I thought you were a wine kind of girl."
"Oh I am, but I can get a little crazy too." She laughs at her own words a little embarrassed.
He rubs her back gently. She looks at him again but is interrupted by the bartender.
"Five Sharon's and Andy's usual." The bartender winks.
Andy brings the drinks on the tray.
"You have yours named after you too." She smiles. They arrive at the table.
"I'm probably the only person that comes in here and doesn't order a drop of alcohol." He hands out the drinks.
They all toast. Cheering on Sharon to take the first drink. She enjoys everyone's expressions as they take their drink. All of them pleased except Provenza. Which says it's to feminine. The beers start coming quickly after but she sticks to her drink. Slowly drinking enjoying the conversations. Everyone a little taken aback by her continuous laughter. She takes her last drink.
She sees Andy slowly drinking his too. He puts his hand on her knee, under the table. She grabs his hand in both of hers and plays with his fingers still listening to everyone's conversation. Everyone has had too much to drink, that they are far from knowing what's happening under the table.
She stops and puts it back higher up on her leg. He smiles.
"I should really go." She whispers to Andy. The others too drunk in conversation to even care.
Andy pats her on her leg and nods. Taking one last drink. "Let's go."
She is standing grabbing her things. "You don't have to leave." She looks at him guilty.
"I want to." He says. They say goodbye. She reaches for his hand once they are outside.
He squeezes it tight. "Not worried someone can see us?" He holds up their hands.
She shakes her head. "You are helping me to my car that's all." A smile appears on her face.
He helps her open her car door. "Are you okay to drive?"
"Of course. That drink was sitting there the whole time. I'm fine. You can follow me all the way to my place to make sure." Her tongue between her teeth a small smile.
"I was hoping you'd say that." He closes her door.
They pull up at parking spaces close to each other he opens her door Sharon's is already ready for his extended hand to be there, she grabs hold of it and comes out.
"You're staying right?" She says as he puts a hand on her back.
"Only because you asked." He gives her a small kiss as they walk. "You know I think the team go to see you under a different light tonight."
"I did too. Who will drive them home?" All of a sudden this thought dawning on her.
"A taxi. Barbara usually lines it up for them. Or I drive some of them. Even she does."
"Just in case Rusty's inside, can I have a small kiss?" She asks as they arrive at her door.
"Beautiful you can have as many as you want." He pulls her into him and kisses her passionately but soft.
She opens the door and takes off her shoes and puts on her booties. She turns on the lights.
"I guess, Rusty..." Her words end as she walks towards something.
"How did this get in here?" She asks herself, Andy behind her.
"I had a little help from Rusty." He says.
She turns around on the spot. And looks at him carefully. "You brought these?" She turns back.
"Yes, I did." He says with a big smile
Sharon sits on the coffee table next to the long stem roses, running her finger through them delicately and pulling one out through the vase.
"They are beautiful Andy, thank you." She stands with one in her hand and walks to him giving him a gentle kiss. He wraps his hands around her waist while her hands remain between them playing with the rose.
"None of them more beautiful than you." He smiles. She shakes we head. "Corny line." She kisses him again but her hand going behind his neck with the rose.
"Corny or not, thank you. I love them and I love you." She lays her neck on his chest in his neck.
He smiles. They sway side to side as if music were playing. "What are we doing now?" She asks pulling up her head.
"Dancing." He says smiling.
"I don't hear any music." Her words playful.
"You're not listening carefully." He smiles.
She closes her eyes as he hums a slow melody of a song and she smiles. The music truly coming alive in her living room. She laughs when he twirls her.
"We really are crazy." She lets out through a laugh.
"Lieutenant, you got her to dance." They hear Rusty and they look at the door he's standing there with half a smile.
They drop each others hold and smile at each other and at him.
"You can keep dancing. I'm going to get a drink in the kitchen."
Sharon nods and looks at Andy confused. Andy shrugs. She follows Rusty.
"How was the movie?"
"It was good and yes I had dinner." He says trying to divert her stare from getting a cookie. Andy walks in and grabs a cookie, she looks at him a grin on her face.
"I know you don't like crumbs, Rusty told me." He smiles answering her expression, then grabbing another cookie.
She is amused at how comfortable each one has become in this space. How they have started sharing stories about her. She shakes her head in amusement. She is grateful to have them both here and not in the loneliness she was living a short time ago.
"Andy." Her voice higher pitched then usual. He sees what her exclamation is for.
"She hadn't seen them." Rusty says.
Andy shakes his head.
Another vase of roses were on the table. She walks towards them putting the one in her hand down on the table. Rusty and Andy smile a each other.
"You didn't have to." She looks at both of them smiling.
"I told him it was too much." Rusty adds.
"And that's how they got in here!" She says till playing with each rose.
"We made a few stops on our way from the school pick up." Andy wrestles the jar of cookies from Rusty. Rusty frowns.
"I think we are low on cookies Sharon." She turns around at Rusty's words and sees Andy with the cookie jar at hand.
"That was a brand new bag of cookies." She says a little amused.
"There are two boys in the house now. Food isn't going to last too long." Rusty says putting the last cookie from his hand in his mouth and walking out of the kitchen.
"I think the Kid invited me to live here." He puts the jar back in its place and washes his hands.
"That talk most have gone very well." She smiles.
She has two roses in her hand now. "You know they last longer if you leave them in water." Andy says teasing her.
"It's too much. You didn't need to.." He's cuts her off by kissing her.
"I wanted to." He says whispering in her ear. He kisses her neck. And he quickly moves away from her. She frowns.
"I promised the Kid not too much PDA in front of him." He looks towards the living room, she laughs.
"So what else did you two talk about." She taps his chest with the roses.
"Well he is giving me a run for my money." His words sounding humorous and playful.
"How so?" She asks intrigued.
Andy grabs hold of the flowers and takes them from her hands she looks disappointed. He puts them on her neck and softly moves them down her bare chest and where her dress exposes a part of her breast. He pulls them away towards him, her attention back on him.
"Well he told me not to hurt you." She grins. She takes her roses back from him. "I knew you would like to hear that." He walks to the cub board and takes out two cups.
"What did you say?" She watches him walk towards the fridge.
"Well the truth. As long as you'll have me I'm here for him and you." He pours them both a drink and it isn't till he hands her the drink that he notices her expression if confusion.
"You alright?" He asks worried. She takes the drink and puts it down the roses too.
"Until I'll have you? What does that mean?" Her words are not anger but hold confusion.
Rusty walks into the kitchen. He realizes he's interrupted something. "I can come back."
"No." Sharon says.
"I was going the news, but decided to get a cup of water." He looks at them carefully. "Is everything okay?"
"We're fine. We will join you in a second." Rusty looks at them carefully and gets his cup of water and goes.
Sharon picks up her two roses and walks out of the kitchen, Andy follows. Instead of the living room she goes to her room. She turns on the lights and an even larger bouquet of roses stand on her dresser.
Even though not upset her body does soften a little. She turns around. He is leaning on the entrance to her doorway.
"Thank you." She walks towards them and admires them just like she did the others.
His hands go around her waist as she pulls out a rose from that bouquet too. She closes her eyes and lets out a deep breath.
"Can you tell me what upset you?" He kisses her neck and she opens her eyes and stares at the three flowers in her hand.
"Nothing upset me. Just confused with your comment." He lets go of her and turns her around. "Until I'll have you?" She repeats his words. "What does that mean?"
He understands now and rubs his forehead. "Well Sharon I don't know what plans you have."
"I can say the same about your promise to Rusty." Her voice soft.
"No, that's not fair." His voice sounding hurt. He clears his throat. "We've never talked about our plans. I know mine and that's all I can base my future on until I hear yours." He looks at her carefully as she plays with the roses in her hands.
It was a conversation both knew needed to happen. They were both worried that the ideas of moving forward in the relationship weren't the same. It was the right moment to talk about them but the fear of this dream ending reached both of them.
He held her hands in his and moved them up. The roses running up with them. Her eyes meeting his. He smiles and gently kisses her hands, she returns the smile. It was a reality setting in. Both afraid to lose what they had started to build. A love both had never found in anyone but each other.
"Let's talk about them now." He says his voice soft. "Our plans."