"Careful." His mouth was close to her ear and she felt his breath on her neck, making the fine hairs there stand up as heat shot through her body. One arm lightly draped around her waist, he reached for one of her hands with the other hand, wrapping his fingers around hers. She giggled a little as they inched their way along the wall to get to one of the closed-off gazebos that were lining the balcony without being seen. The sky was a velvety dark blue now, the stars not yet out and their surroundings illuminated only by the small points of light that came from the strings of lights far above them.

Once inside the gazebo, they sat down on the upholstered bench, but he didn't let go of her hand even as she made to adjust her flowing dress over her knees. Only when she looked up at him, he drew his hand back, smiling sheepishly. The gazebo was illuminated by two thick candles in a glass vase and the shadows were flickering across his face, making it impossible to discern what he was thinking. The rushing of the waves was close and Sharon closed her eyes against it, imagining the steady flowing of the tides.

She shivered a little and before she could protest, he had shrugged out of his jacket and draped it around her bare shoulders. Her hand brushed his when she pulled at it a little to keep it from sliding off and she smiled up at him.

"Thank you, Andy."

It was so quiet and cold out here, completely unlike the ballroom that was beginning to heat up and was filled to the brim with music and voices. They had left behind Gavin dancing with Nicole and so they were relaxed and didn't have to worry about their companions for the moment. She found Andy watching her and turned away, slightly embarrassed. For the first time in a good while she actually felt attractive, but she was still slightly uncomfortable with the situation.

Andy's arm came back around her and she reveled in how lovely his touch felt. He never intruded upon her private space, always seemed to silently ask her permission by moving hesitantly at first and then moving surely and tenderly. She leaned a little into him and took his free hand, sliding it under his jacket where it came to rest on her stomach. This was why they were out here, after all, she told herself. She was glad that they were so sheltered out here even though the IA person inside her didn't think that the gazebos and the romantic atmosphere that they created were very appropriate for a work event.

Andy's big hand was warm and heavy and she leaned back with an almost inaudible sigh as he began to rub her stomach lightly. The baby moved and kicked inside her, Andy's eyes lighting up instantly. She kept forgetting that he had felt the baby kick only twice so far while she was used to it again by now. It was a normal occurrence for her, but it excited him still.

"Would she be able to hear me if I talked to her? I mean, would she recognize my voice at all?" he asked her.

"Maybe it is still a bit early. Babies do react to outward noises, but she has a little growing to do until then."

An amused grin spread over Andy's face. "I bet Provenza is going to be the first she will be able to recognize. He is the loudest and grumpiest, after all."

She chuckled. "I hope not."

"I'll just try to be louder," Andy mused.

"And how would that be any different from now, exactly?" Sharon laughed out loud when she saw his scandalized expression.

"That's what you perceive us as? Two crazy old roosters, trying to outdo each other in everything?"

She pressed her hand against her mouth as the laughter rocked her body, causing her daughter to kick even harder against Andy's hand. He turned his attention back to the baby, his smile visible even in the semi-darkness of their surroundings. For a moment all that could be heard was the rushing of the waves, then a jolt of laughter somewhere else on the balcony.

"You're going away for Christmas, aren't you?" he asked her suddenly. "Or you probably wouldn't have taken the whole week off."

She was surprised by the sudden change of topic, but indulged him anyway. "Yes. I am taking Rusty to Park City to spend the holidays with my parents and my children. My brother and his wife are going to be there, too."

Andy narrowed his eyes in concentration. "Your brother. John, right? You never told me much about him."

Sharon shrugged. "He is a lawyer and has been married to his wife Maura forever. High school sweethearts. They are very interested in art and theatre. We get along well, but we are not very close."

"Park City is a ski resort, right? What are you going to be doing all day?"

She closed her eyes and hummed luxuriously. "My parents rented a house this year. It has a pool and a sauna and it is just next to a small park with a pond. I'll swim and relax and go for walks and- what?" She had noticed his worried look.

"Don't go alone. What if you faint again?"

"I'll be okay," she assured him, touched by his concern. "The park is always full of people, anyway."

He seemed happy with that and continued to caress her stomach lightly and lovingly. "I'll be with Nicole and her family this year," he beamed up at her. "My son is going to come, too." There was a moment of comfortable silence before he spoke again. "Are you going to be back for New Year's?" When she nodded, he inquired further: "Do you have any plans?"

"Oh, no. I usually go with Gavin to one of his fancy parties. His friends are a lot of fun, but I don't feel like playing dress-up this year."

"You dress up very nicely." He gave her a warm smile that looked nothing like the way it did when he just turned his charms on as a means to an end.

"I don't fit into any of my little party dresses anymore," she told him. "Gavin offered to stay home with me, but he has been doing so much for me this year and I know how much he loves his parties." She shrugged. "I will just make myself comfortable on the couch, get take out dinner and watch movies. It won't be half bad."

She was about to ask him what his plans were when she felt a tightening in her stomach and her muscles became hard for a moment. Andy looked up quickly, his eyes wide. "Are you in labor, Sharon?"

It didn't last longer than a few seconds and she relaxed again, smiling at him. "No. It's just practice contractions. Completely normal and not even painful." When Andy still looked doubtful, she explained further. "Sometimes it happens when I stay in one position for a prolonged period of time. I've been sitting through all those speeches, after all."

"Tell me about it," he groaned. "So incredibly boring. You can lean into me if you like."

She doubted that it would do anything to prevent the Braxton Hicks contractions, but she did it anyway, resting her head against his shoulder.

"Are you still cold?" he wanted to know.

Sharon shook her head as she truly wasn't anymore, snuggling closely into Andy's side and with his jacket and arm around her. She felt his face turn into her as he pressed a kiss to her hairline and she closed her eyes, barely able to contain a content hum. He smelled so good and he was so warm. His hand left her stomach and she was disappointed only until she felt both of his hands on her back. He turned to face her and pulled her against him, wrapping her up in his embrace. His heartbeat was slightly accelerated, she noticed where she was gently pressed against his chest and she raised her head to look up at him. Andy had a strange look in his eyes and she was so drowsy with contentment that it took her a moment to understand what was happening. His hand came up to cup her cheek while he held her close with his other arm and, impulsively, he leaned in and sought her lips with his, the contact hesitant and light at first. Sharon's heart was beating quickly in her chest as she felt his warm wet lips on hers, the pressure increasing when he deepened the kiss. Inside her, arousal fought with apprehension and finally manifested itself in a deep, sensual hum that was muffled by his lips. His hand on her back went downward slowly, relaxing her a bit.

Oh, how she loved this man, she thought and instantly sobered up.

She drew back in the middle of the kiss, Andy's hands falling away as she sat up straight. From feeling happy and comfortable, she had gone to feeling miserable and at the verge of tears in a matter of seconds.

"This is not right," she said, her voice hollow, a first tear escaping her eye. She wiped it away with force; she didn't want to fall apart before she could get the words out. And after saying it, she needed to get back inside where everyone could see her, where he was forced to stay away from her, where she was forced to keep it together. But she couldn't stop herself as a sob was working its way up through her chest. This was not fair. He tried to say something, but she shook her head vehemently. Suddenly the gazebo around them felt claustrophobic rather than cozy. She got to her feet, shook his arms off like that. She couldn't let him do this to her.

"Sharon," he said. "Let me-"

"Andy, you are with Caroline. This is a mess as it is." She tried not to sound as if she was begging, but she didn't really succeed. "Don't make me the other woman on top of it all."

And with that she turned around to walk back inside, her nails digging into her palms as she slowed herself down in order to appear unfazed to any casual onlooker. She had to leave now, had to go home, she thought, wiping another stray tear from her cheek. She was set to leave for Utah just after her doctor's appointment on Monday and she wouldn't have to see him again until the new year. What had made her a little sad just a few minutes ago now gave her strength to carry herself gracefully until she had reached Gavin. She couldn't go on like this, couldn't allow herself to be close to Andy, to hope that he would come around someday. There was no use in it. He was with someone else and as long as he had not changed that, there would never be a future for them.

The baby kicked again and she wrapped her arm around her belly.

He was the father of her daughter. Nothing more and nothing less.

She was the other woman.

Nothing more.

A/N: I had to! Couldn't let you think that Andy had done something even worse, could I? Next up is the Christmas chapter. (I am writing Christmas chapters in October. I am worse than a supermarket.) Thank you for all of your support, guys. You rock! And also thank the lovely Bellusel for the quick update. She spammed me with hilarious gifs on tumblr which helped chase my exhaustion away at least long enough to write that scene! :-D