"I'm not done," Andy bellowed as Steve tried to make his creepy getaway. Steve tried to go, but Emily, who was holding his hand stopped and turned around to face him.

"Andy, there's nothing more to say," she shrugged.

"Oh, there sure is, you betcha," he started, "I've held my tongue, but now it's my turn. I should haul you outside and go at you and then let my friend, Julio, have a turn. That's what I should do. That's what my anger right now tells me would feel good, but no, I'm not going to do that. First, I'm an officer of the law, and I'm not going to do something to some dirt bag that would get me in trouble at work. My bosses are standing right here," he shook his head. "Second, I won't give you the time of day, spending any more time with you than I have to. How dare you? How dare you involve yourself in my family's life. You disgust me. Yes, I know, you didn't do anything illegal in the eyes of the law; oh, how I wish we could arrest you, but you're a different kind of scum. You cheated on your wife, when you led Sharon to believe you were divorced. Heck, you preyed on her with stories of crappy spouses, you knowing that would leave her vulnerable. I'm not making her innocent; we've spent over the last year working through all of that to be here where we are today. No, but you, you think that your behavior is okay, even cute and fun. Third, you recklessly abandoned your responsibilities when you were confronted about them. You know what-I'm glad you did only because those two will never have to know what a creep you are. Those two get a good shot at life because they'll have a father who loves them and would give them the world. Emily, I know you had a crappy dad, but know this from me-I've loved you for years, and there's nothing I wouldn't do to protect you, your sister, or your brothers. Loving Sharon means loving all of you, no strings attached, and I took that on years ago. Think about what you are doing with this dirt bag. Look around the room at all these people who have known you, loved you for years, and realize we are all on the same side. Don't let this dirt bag manipulate you anymore. We can all see he is a predator; he found you, wormed his way into your life, and look where you are now. What, you think after two marriages, he's a great catch?" Andy turned to Provenza and muttered quietly, "Sorry, trying to get a point across," to which Provenza rolled his eyes and Andy turned back to her, "Emily, you've been disgusted by your dad's behavior for years; yet, you've run straight into the arms of a man, a much older man I might add, who repeats many of the same behaviors of your father-cheating, younger women, no regard for moral responsibility. So, you decide Emily-your family loves you; that dirt bag doesn't. He abandoned your brother and sister; he'll do the same to you."

"Sorry we came. Andy, you're one who should know people can change," she shrugged, and she nodded to Steve, and they turned and left. The room was then silent.

Andy turned to Sharon, and she had covered her face. The team moved quickly to the kitchen area to dismantle the party; it had been ruined.

"Mom, I am so sorry," Ricky came right over, his face ghostly white. Andy had his arm around Sharon, as she stood there, shaking her head.

"Sharon, why didn't you tell us?" Rusty said.

Sharon looked at Andy, and she looked at the boys, "Boys, you know I've made some terrible mistakes the last couple years, and Andy and I have both worked hard to deal with all of them. The last thing I wanted to do for any of us was dig up all of that. Who he was, wasn't important, at least I didn't think it would ever be," she shook her head. "Where are the twins?" she asked looking around.

Andy leaned in and whispered in her ear as he held her close, "They are fine. Provenza just went downstairs to find them. Patrice and Nolan have them, and you don't have to worry. Patrice, I'm sure took good care of them, and Nolan will guard them with his life."

Sharon nodded, as she looked at the boys again, "I'm so sorry my mess has disrupted all of our lives," she grabbed hold of both boys' hands. "I am trying to pick up the pieces, Andy and I together. I don't know if your sister ever will recover."

"I'm just so sorry," Ricky said again, "Honestly, we had no idea. We thought you'd be mad about the age thing, but Emily said you'd worked together, so we assumed that would go in her favor. We had no clue. I'm sorry you had to deal with him, with all that. Mom, I should have been here. Andy, you're a good man-a great man to work through all this with her, and I'm just sorry it's taken me this long to realize that instead of judging you Mom, I should have been here to help you."

Sharon teared up at Ricky's admission; she and Rusty were on good footing. The two of them had talked things through during the year, but this, from Ricky, was a big step. She moved to hug Ricky, pulling him in tightly.

"Thank you," she whispered to him, "I am sorry this has been a mess, but I love you dearly. Always will. I hope that if anything good comes out of this mess, it is that you will try to build a relationship with your brother and sister. They are going to need you, Rusty, and even Emily. Andy and I want that for them; we want them to have all their siblings in their lives."

The two broke apart when they heard Patrice, Provenza, and Nolan entering with the kids. Sharon moved to them quickly and scooped them up, "I'm just going to change them," she nodded to everyone, and Patrice met Andy's eye and nodded to Andy. She followed Sharon.

Provenza made his way over to Andy, "Flynn, that guy was a new level of low, even for the creeps we see every day," he shook his head. "What is Emily thinking?"

Andy sighed, "She's not. She's thinking she's in love with some wonderful man. She'll see he's a dirt bag, just don't know how much damage will be done then."

Provenza shook his head, "Well, I didn't see him downstairs, her either. Patrice and Nolan were in the condo's common room. The kids were fine."

"What a mess," Andy shook his head and sighed, "ruined their day. Those two have had enough of a rough start. Just when we thought things were getting on track."

"Yeah, well, since everything else has rubbed off on me from the captain, seems only appropriate her sense of occasion has as well. We'll make it up to her, to the twins," he patted Andy's hand as he walked toward the kitchen to help the team clean up.

"I tried texting Em, but she won't answer," Ricky said. "You know, Rusty and I could go back to your place and see if she's there?" he offered.

"Well, I don't think she's there, but your mom might want some space. Now, I mean it when I say that we both love you guys-yeah, the mushy stuff you don't want to hear, but it's true. Your mom will be better if you give her an hour or so. Tell you what-it's mid-afternoon-let her regroup, and then let's all meet here for dinner. That is one thing she will enjoy-dinner with you boys. We'll spend the evening together because if I know one thing about your mom it's that she hates to see her children in a mess. When that's happening, she'll draw close to her kids who are here. She needs you tonight."

The boys nodded, "We'll be back later, and we'll bring dinner."

Andy patted them both on the shoulder as they left, took a deep breath, and went to help his friends. They'd certainly helped him today.