This chapter was written by Raydor Fan. (Not only does she write magic but she asked me to repost this chapter after she made some changes/corrections.) She scooped up all the lovely characters (Mary in particular) and wrote an amazing chapter. All credit is hers. She knows how much I respect her so I won't say anything else but... Enjoy!
The house seemed extremely quiet; the boys had gone home. Nick, Rusty and Andy had gone to get fitted for their tuxedos while Kate, Nicole and Anna had gone for dress fittings. With the wedding only four weeks away; the clothing details had to be taken care of pretty quickly. Sharon's dress was on order due to arrive by week's end.
The house seemed huge with nobody in it to make noise. Sharon wandered around aimlessly for several minutes after everyone left. The whole family had taken to cleaning up after themselves ever since she passed out two days before something that made her pleased but left her with nothing to occupy her time but sleeping which if she was being honest, she was in need of but the bedroom was the last place she wanted to be again.
The knock on the door startled her, walking quickly to open it she was surprised and overjoyed to find Mary on the other side.
"Lovely," Mary hugs her tight, kissing her cheek as she did.
"What brings you out here?" Sharon returns the hug. "I'm not complaining; I am just surprised."
"Call it instinct and a bit of worry," Mary smiles as she places her nursing bag on the floor by the front door and eases herself into the house closing the door behind her. "I came to check on my favorite lady but not just your physical health, sweetheart."
"I don't understand," Sharon says softly as Mary leads her to the sofa. Easing Sharon to sit down, Mary takes a seat next to her and gently picks up her hand in her own.
"When I first came to visit you; I could see that you were hurting and I had hopes the time away at the beach would help. When I came for Rusty's birthday, I could see that you were much better but there is something still keeping you from healing completely." Mary swipes Sharon's hair out of her eyes and behind her ear. "You pulled away from me when I tried to help you at first; you were resistant until you scared yourself by passing out. Lovely, what is it that is keeping you from healing? What made you pull away from me?"
Sharon takes a deep breath and just stares at Mary for a moment; there is something about the woman in her presence that makes her feel safe and loved. "It wasn't you that I was pulling away from," Sharon whispers. "I didn't want to ruin the day for Rusty and once again I was weak and it frustrated me. I wanted the attention to be on him; not for everything to stop so I could go take a nap. I should be able to stay up all night with my son playing video games."
"Physically, you are weak right now. Emotionally, you are gaining strength but none of your family or friends find you to be weak. There is a group of people that want nothing more than to take care of you." Mary kisses Sharon's hand in a gesture of love and reassurance. "Talk to me, sweet girl. What else is hurting you so much? I can see the pain in those beautiful eyes of yours."
"I have spent so much time alone, trying to heal after separating from my first husband." Sharon whispers. "I shut myself off; put up walls that didn't get knocked down for twenty-five years and Rusty did it in a day." Sharon sobs and Mary pulls her close. "Then Andy came along; I don't ever want to feel like that again and I'm so afraid of failing this family. I feel myself start to panic because I get so scared sometimes."
"Scared of what, honey?" Mary whispers as she rubs Sharon's back and kisses the top of her head. "What are you scared of?"
"Afraid of finding myself alone again; what if it's all gone tomorrow?" Sharon shivers causing Mary to pull the blanket from the back of the sofa over her out of concern. "I don't want to be alone ever again."
"You are never going to have to worry about that," Mary holds Sharon tighter tucking the blanket around her. "Andy adores you, Rusty is legally your son and those children and grandchildren are your heart and you are theirs. You have friends that love you so much; me included. Don't waste energy on something that doesn't need to take up residence in your soul."
"My heart knows you're right," Sharon sniffles.
"Will you let me check you over?" Mary questions softly. "I'm worried about you, Lovely."
"Yes," Sharon sighs and snuggles closer to Mary who smiles not wanting to break contact with Sharon but needing her nurse's bag which was by the door.
Standing slowly, Mary takes Sharon with her and proceeds towards where she left her bag. "Come with me," Mary holds out a hand. "Let's check you over."
"Mary, I don't think I can handle having to stay in bed again." Sharon says softly hoping not to upset her friend. Sighing heavily as she finds herself being walked into her bedroom, she fights the tears of frustration until Mary stops and looks at her with the most loving smile she's ever seen breaking the dam of tears open again.
"Lovely, I know; I know; just trust me. You need the fresh air." Mary leads Sharon through the doors to the back patio and onto the futon.
"Thank you," Sharon's eyes burn with tears; Mary has a better understanding of her than she even realizes at first.
"Let's take a peek." Mary gently checks Sharon over smiling at how she relaxes and allows her to do what she needs to do to take care of her. "Pulse is better, your lungs and heart sound good. Blood pressure is better still a bit low. Temperature is up a little but not enough to be considered a fever."
Mary sits down beside her and lifts her shirt gently; continuing with her examination. "Sweetheart, accept the healing that Andy's love for you has provided. Is your belly tender?"
"No," Sharon shakes her head as Mary pushes on her stomach. "What do you mean?"
"I have no idea what your ex-husband did to that heart of yours but I know that Andy's love will heal it; you just have to stop being scared that it's going to vanish." Mary pulls Sharon's shirt back down before having her roll on her side.
Sharon groans as the change in position and the fact that her back has been aching ever since her forced respite.
"Back is sore; isn't it?" Mary questions softly as she rubs the tight muscles hoping to bring relief.
"Not as much as it was," Sharon whispers.
"Am I okay?" The fear in Sharon's voice is a bit unnerving but Mary helps her turn over and takes her hand to offer reassurance.
"Close your eyes and take some nice deep breaths; that's my girl. Relax; you're going to be just fine now. I'll be right back." Pulling the spare blanket from the end of the bed and a book from the night stand, Mary covers Sharon, handing her the book to keep her occupied and sets off for the kitchen to find her some food.
"Mary?" Andy questions anxiously as he walks in the door having seen her car in the driveway. "Mary, what are you doing here?"
"Hello handsome," the woman is pulling the left over pizza from the oven as he walks in and kisses her. "Where are your boys?"
"They decided to go to the chess park and for burgers. Is Sharon okay?" Andy looks around looking for the love of his life.
"She's on the porch," Mary reassures. "Just don't startle her; she's pretty relaxed at the moment."
"Did she call you?" Andy was confused and concerned. "Is she sick?"
"No, I came on my own; I wanted to have a chat with her; Rusty had texted me that you were leaving her alone so I took the opportunity to come see her." Mary smiled as she watches Andy move through the house to check on his love. Rusty had been keeping in touch with Mary since Sharon passed out; they were both very worried about her.
With pizza and juice in hand, Mary starts towards the porch surprised to find Andy watching from the bedroom but not at Sharon's side. A look of confusion crosses Mary's face as to why Andy is holding back. Kissing her temple, Andy whispers to her. "She needs you right now. Whatever you did, she's different. Settled."
"Lovely," Mary sits down next to Sharon, putting her arm around her friend to hold her close. "Eat something." Mary holds the plate with the pizza for Sharon to take, placing the juice to the side, smiling when a bottle of water suddenly appears also. "You need to regain some strength to go back to work and for other things that handsome man of yours has in mind."
Sharon giggles, finishes her pizza and falls asleep resting in the safety net of her friend's arms. "You okay out here?" Andy asks when he hears the conversation go quiet. Walking out to the porch, Andy stops at the sight before his; his Sharon so unguarded and open; so peaceful and loved.
"It was an emotional morning; she fell asleep," Mary smiles. "I don't mind holding her until she wakes; it's nice."
"She loves you," Andy smiles as he watches Mary tear up. "Feeling is mutual." Mary kisses Sharon's head taking the time to reflect on the growth she's witnessed in this precious family she's grown to love.
"Mary?" Sharon whispers when her eyes open, feeling a little disoriented.
"I'm right here, Lovely." Mary adjusts the blanket and holds Sharon tight. "Right here."
"Thank you for staying," Sharon whispers. "I don't want to move." Sharon giggles as Mary pulls her closer. "Then don't my sweet girl, I don't want to let go yet. Just keep resting and relaxing; we have lots of time together today. However, I do think that your handsome fella would like to know you're okay and I want you to drink some water."
"Oh no, Sharon starts to get up. I didn't mean to worry him." Pulling her tighter to her, Mary tsks and whispers soothing words to her friend. "I want you to make an effort to put yourself first sometimes, like now. Andy is fine; he just wants to know that you are."
"She's right beautiful," Andy smiles as he leans in to kiss her nose. "You are much better; I can see it. I think you need more sessions with Mary."
"I don't know how but she sees through me," Sharon sighs. "Did you get the tuxedos fit?"
"We did," Andy smiles. "Cummerbunds perfectly match the dresses the girls picked out. You are going to be amazed at how beautiful they look."
"Why didn't you go with the girls?" Mary questions; she knew how much the details meant to Sharon.
"They wanted time with Anna." Sharon explains. "Anna and I had narrowed it down to three dresses and I left her in charge once they tried them on to pick. I'm trying to show her how important she is in our lives."
"Beautiful," Andy leans over and kisses Sharon. "How about some ice cream?"
Nodding, Sharon giggles at the smile that breaks out on Andy's face. "Mary, she cannot eat it alone… we have six different flavors what do you fancy?"
"Pistachio?" Mary smiles when Andy jumps up and kisses her head. "We have that."
"Mary, when I told you the other day that you were welcome here anytime; I really meant that. I would love to have you here as often as you want to come. Rusty loves you; the boys talked about you for hours after you left they want to be nurses now. You are part of this family; please know that."
"I do," Mary smiles. "Rusty is convinced that I am needed here and you know that I cannot deny that sweet child. The night that Andy took you to Nicole's to rest; Rusty told me about his life on the streets and how you saved him."
"He saved me," Sharon says softly. "That bullet was meant for me."
"That bullet brought us all together," Mary reminds her. "Everything happens for a reason; I am a firm believer in that. You had to come to it; to get through it. Look what it has done for you and your family."
Swiping the thermometer over Sharon's forehead, Mary smiles and nods letting Sharon know that the nap did indeed help.
"She's right," Andy smiles as he hands over the bowls of ice cream. "The children came together for Rusty and for us. We're functioning as a family now. My children are healing from years of lies while yours are getting reacquainted with their mother and finally meeting their brother. We have grandchildren that we love and a new one that will be here before we know it. Look at how our lives have changed, Beautiful."
"You had to drug me unconscious for four days. Andy, you did everything for me fed me, bathed me, changed my clothes." Sharon sighs. "Guess that covers in sickness and in health part."
"Stop that," Mary snaps at her friend as she reaches over and turns her face gently towards hers. "You have to stop feeling guilty about that. Your son almost died; he jumped in front a bullet meant for you. That isn't something you just brush off; that is something that would bring the strongest man to his knees and you hung in there through the surgery and the vital parts of his recovery."
"I would do it all again," Sharon whispered softly. "It should have been me."
"No," Mary kisses the top of Sharon's head. "What you experienced was love beyond condition from your son and your fiancé."
"I would do it all again," Andy moves closer and takes the bowl of ice cream from Sharon. Picking up the spoon, he gently feeds her the whole bowl watching as she allows the gentleness and love from the gesture to settle in. "Those four days; I felt so intimately connected to you; more so than any time we have made love prior to that. Since then, when I make love to you, there is a deeper connection now. I know you feel it too."
Sharon blushes as she realizes Mary is listening to the intimate details of their love life. "I do."
"That is the positive that comes from what you view as a negative experience," Mary says softly. "Guilt and regret have no place in that beautiful heart of yours, Lovely."
"Maybe we both need sessions with you," Andy smiles at their friend. "You have helped bring healing."
"All I brought was clarity of the truth," Mary smiles.
Again all credit for this chapter is Raydor Fan's. She has taken characters dear to my heart and written a beautiful chapter. Thank you. And for all of those anxious for Sharon to get back to work, it will be in the next chapter. (I'm working on it.) Sorry for such the long wait. And thank you for all the support.