The party was going as well as she'd hoped, maybe even better since Chief Taylor had brought along their big celebrity from the case. Rusty was excited, which he hadn't been earlier in the day, so Sharon knew she'd made the right decision even despite his grumblings about having a party. The only person who had been irritated about the extra guests had been Andy; he had been walking around all evening complaining about "Badge of Justice." He'd only stopped when she had pulled him aside and told him that it was a pity he disliked the show so much because she always enjoyed watching it from her bedroom late at night. She'd told Andy that she was looking forward to that, relaxing in her room, when the new season started in January, but because Andy didn't like the show, she wouldn't be able to invite him over. He quickly changed his opinion, flashing a grin about his new "favorite" show as he winked at Sharon.
As Sharon looked around at the party, she smiled. There was a lot of warmth and love in the room. They were all a big family, and she realized that whatever crazy path she'd led in life, it had brought her right here to this moment.
"What are you smiling about now?" Andy said quietly as he walked up beside her. He had been talking to Amy and Mike on the balcony, but Sharon hadn't noticed he'd moved inside.
"I'm just happy the evening turned out so well. We wrapped up the case earlier, the whole team came to see Rusty graduate, and here we are this evening," she smiled warmly at Andy.
Andy grinned, "Seeing you in giddy mom mode is one of my favorite sides of your personality. I always knew you'd be an amazing mother."
"Thank you," she nodded. "I just didn't see it in myself, at least not for a very long time."
"Umm, hey guys," Julio called out from across the room. "Take a look at this," he grinned as he held up a framed photo.
"I forgot to move that!" Sharon exclaimed quietly to Andy as he groaned too.
"What is it, Julio?" Amy asked.
"A picture of the captain, and the lieutenant," he grinned. "Well, actually there are two pictures here."
"Old news," Buzz waved to him. Buzz turned toward Sharon and Andy where they were standing, and several sets of eyes followed him until they were all focused on the couple. "We all know they are 'friends,' as they say," Buzz nodded.
"Julio, that picture," Sharon nodded to him where he was standing by the television.
"Is a classic," Julio smiled as he finished Sharon's sentence. "I'm not talking about this recent one of them. There's another here from decades ago! "Rusty, what's the story," Julio nodded in Rusty's direction. He looked up from his conversation with Provenza.
"What, huh?" he asked. "I wasn't paying attention."
"This picture," Julio flashed. "The one, I get. It looks like they went to some formal affair. The other, now that's a keeper," Julio grinned.
"Let me see that," Provenza moved quickly across the room as Sharon buried her head in Andy's shoulder. She felt him put his arm around her back and squeeze her shoulder in support. A little affection now was the least of their problems.
Provenza snatched the picture from Julio, who was still grinning. The rest of the room waited, all throwing questioning glances to each other. "Hmm, idiots," he sighed as he shook his head and handed the phot back to Julio. He met Andy's gaze and shook his head again. "You used to have really dark hair," he chuckled. "Now, you're just old."
"What is the picture?" Amy asked. Julio passed it to her, as the rest of the room continued to wait.
"Guys, Chief Taylor and our famous guest will be mad they left early," he grinned. "Gossip king of the department wouldn't believe this unless he saw it. There's are very own captain with her favorite lieutenant from what, maybe 30 years ago? It's an old one," he gestured to the photo.
"30 years ago? You two knew each otherer that long ago?" Buzz inquired, the surprise evident on his face.
"Oh, you could say that," Rusty rolled his eyes as he joined the conversation. "I'd say they more than just knew each other."
"Rusty!" Sharon exclaimed.
"What, Sharon?" Rusty shrugged as he turned to her. "You're the one who left the picture out. If you didn't want people to see it, why frame the photos anyway? They are detectives," he gestured to the room. "I've never been able to get anything by them, and quite frankly, I'm surprised you've hidden your relationship this long."
"Oh, we all know they are dating," Amy smiled as she waved.
"We are not dating! I'm in the middle of a divorce!" Sharon exclaimed and then sighed when she realized she'd let that slip too.
"Ahh, Captain, finally sending Jack packing, are you? Good for you," Mike nodded. "I never saw it, Captain. You're way too nice of a person to be mixed up with Jack."
"Thank you, Mike," Sharon answered, and distracted by his kind words, she didn't even realize what she said next until it was too late. "I assure you that unlike my first divorce, I will not have second thoughts about this one."
"Sharon," Andy sighed as he rolled his eyes and looked to the ceiling.
"First divorce?" Buzz asked. Julio grinned.
"I think I know where this is going," Julio smiled.
"Oh, you idiots, the cat is out of the bag!" Provenza exclaimed. "Sykes," he gestured to her, "where's that photo."
"Were you two married?" Amy asked as she studied the photo. "Lieutenant, you have on a wedding ring, and you couldn't be more than 25 in this photo."
"Ahh, 21, to be exact," he nodded as he smiled at the photo. "Sharon was 18."
"Care to explain, Lieutenant?" Buzz asked.
"Yes, we were married," Sharon rolled her eyes. "I'm not sure whether to be impressed or worried we kept this from the most elite detectives in Los Angeles. Andy and I met when I was 17; he was 20. We got married in college," she shrugged.
"And divorced," Andy nodded. "Too young, not willing to compromise, and different plans for our lives," he shrugged and continued, "happens."
"So, wait," Buzz frowned, "then, now?" he gestured with his hand.
Sharon just shrugged, "We're friends. We've built a very healthy friendship after everything."
"Can I add to that?" Rusty grinned.
"NO!" Sharon and Andy said in unison, which caused the team to all chuckle and smile at each other.
"Tao, we never considered something like this in our betting pool," Julio looked to Mike, pointedly.
"I can't believe it," Amy shook her head. "Didn't see that at all."
"Life happens," Sharon nodded. "I'm sure you have questions, but the only answer I can provide is life has a funny way of working itself out. It might take twists and turns, but, somehow, we are placed right where we need to be."
"So, you two were college sweethearts, married in college?" Mike smiled at them as he pointed to the two of them.
"More like I was in high school," Sharon smiled to Andy. "We thought we were destined to be together forever."
"What we really didn't realize is that life would throw us a lot of curve balls and five kids. Here we are today," he gestured to the room. "Without our mistakes of the past, as Sharon has reminded me, we wouldn't be right here today. We wouldn't have five amazing kids between us, and we certainly wouldn't be throwing a graduation party for Rusty."
"Huh," Rusty nodded. "I guess I never thought of it like that. So, I should thank the two of you for being idiots, as the lieutenant has said, when you were young, for my life now?"
"Precisely," Sharon smiled, "although, I will remember the idiot comment when it is time to buy your Christmas gifts."
The team chuckled, and the room grew silent. There were many questions, but no one wanted to ask right now. They'd find the answers in time. Julio broke the silence.
"So, Jack is a goner?" he smiled brightly.
"Hmm, yes, soon," Sharon shared the smile. "I'm looking forward to my fresh start," she added, as she smiled at Andy.
We've reached the end! Thank you to everyone who stuck with this story. I appreciate your comments. Sorry to end this just as the cancellation news is hitting, but hopefully, I can come up with another idea. Until then, I'm still working on my other story where Rusty and Sharon are in witness protection.