Notes: Thanks for the reviews from the last chapter - I'm glad everyone enjoyed it. This chapter is a little on the shorter side, but I think you will enjoy it none the less. Please let me know what you think!
"No sex? Until the wedding?" Andy repeats as they sit in the therapist's office. Sharon was seated next to him on the couch and their hands were linked together over the middle cushion. They had contacted the therapist, or Doctor Susan as she preferred to be referred to, that Father Espinoza had suggested to them and sat through a few sessions with her. After their first session they had realized that there were some things that they needed talk about and agreed to come back. They liked the woman they were seeing. She seemed understanding of everything they had been through and wasn't too pushy at getting them to live a 'Catholic' life. At least until now it seemed.
"That's what I'm going to challenge you guys to do," Doctor Susan says as she leans forward in her seat, her legs crossed, "Your initial relationship was built purely on sex. The first time you encountered each other, you had sex. And yes you maintained a semi friendly relationship for a while after that, but the next time that you really sought each other out again, you had sex. And everything that has happened over the last few years, has been because of those decisions. Take the next few months, continue to get to know each other on an emotional level without the physicality coming into play."
"Okayyyy," Andy says, reaching up to rub the back of his neck as he looks over at Sharon, with wide eyes. They were hardly sex crazed, but had maintained a healthy sex life for the most part since they had officially 'gotten together'. Her ears were red and her cheeks were rapidly coloring, but Sharon offers a small smile in his direction and squeezes his hand before looking back at Doctor Susan.
"I think we can manage to do that."
"Good," The doctor smiles at the both of them, "Now I know we're going into the holidays and things get a little crazy schedule wise, but I would like to see you a couple more times before the end of the year, just to see how things are going, finish up some of the dialogue that we've started here."
"Of course," Sharon nods, standing up from the couch and letting go of Andy's hand as she smoothes out her dress, "Thank you again for your help."
"Wait, I have a question," Andy says, "If we're not having sex what about…uh…"
"Andy!" Sharon exclaims as she looks at her fiancé, her face getting redder.
"I personally believe that masturbation is healthy," The doctor replies, "But I would encourage you to look at this not only as a break from sexual intercourse, but a brief vow of chastity."
"Right…" Andy grumbles as he pushes himself up, "Thanks doc."
"That's what I'm here for," Doctor Susan replies before getting up and showing the both of them out, before welcoming her next patient back. Sharon pays for the session and schedules another appointment for them a couple weeks out. She thanks the receptionist and takes Andy's hand again as they walk out of the office and head for the elevator to make their way down to the parking garage. Andy manages to wait for the doors of the elevator to close before speaking again.
"No sex for five months?!" Andy exclaims, flipping his hand up in the air, "I'm not even supposed to jerk off!"
"Can we wait to have this conversation until we get home? Or at least the car," Sharon requests, her face starting to redden again. She was by no means a prude, but didn't want to be having an in-depth discussion about her sex life the next time the elevator doors opened.
"I would have enjoyed last night a little more if I had known," Andy grumbles, leaning against the wall of the elevator like a sulking teenager. Sharon rolls her eyes and stands across from him as they take the elevator down. They manage to make it to the garage level without anymore interruptions in their ride before heading towards their car, parked in the corner.
Andy unlocks the car and Sharon slips into the passenger seat before pulling her seatbelt closed as he gets in. Sharon watches as he stews on the ride home, his fingers tapping a quick rhythm against the wheel while he drives. She puts her hand on his leg when they get home, squeezing to get him to look at her.
"What has you so riled up?" Sharon asks, a concerned arch to her brow, "It can't just be about not having sex."
"It is though!" Andy exclaims.
"Talk to me," Sharon says, reaching up to cup his face and stroking her thumb over his jaw, "You haven't had a problem with that the last couple weeks, don't start now."
"I…" Andy sighs, looking down at his lap.
"Let's go in, I'll make some coffee and we can talk," Sharon says. She gets out of the car and heads inside, starting a pot of coffee. After letting Lily out of her kennel, she gets out two cups, putting a dollop of cream in one and a little sugar in both before looking up as Andy trudges into the house. He kicks off his shoes and hangs his jacket up, sinking down into a chair at the table. Sharon brings over the two cups, setting them down on the table before making a surprise sound as she's pulled into Andy's lap.
"I like feeling close to you," Andy murmurs into her ear as he wraps an arm around her waist, "I love the look in your eye when you look at me, how my name sounds on your lips…for a moment you're all mine…there's no work, no kids, just us."
"I'm always going to be yours," Sharon says as she presses her lips to his forehead, "You don't ever have to worry about that."
"We didn't have a traditional relationship," Andy says, "The kids were always there. And I love them, you know that, but there are so very few moments in the day that I get to have you completely to myself."
"We don't need to be having sex for you to have me. You have me right now," Sharon says. They had pursued finding another babysitter/nanny for the kids after Sarah had graduated from college and moved away from the LA area. She had suggested Molly as a successor and Sharon and Andy were quick to snatch her up before she got too busy, "I'm guessing that Molly won't have the kids back for a little bit. She said they were going to the park."
"What do we do?" Andy asks, reaching out to take a drink of his coffee.
"I didn't get a swim in this morning since Ricky woke me up early. We could jump in the pool," Sharon suggests as she runs her fingers through Andy's hair, her nails trailing gently over his scalp, "We could change into sweats and curl up on the couch, watch that movie we rented. I was going to bake some cookies at some point this weekend, if you wanted to help me with that."
"I think a movie sounds great," Andy says.
"Okay," Sharon smiles at him, "Let's go change, and I'll even make some popcorn."
"Sounds great," Andy smiles at her. Sharon slips off of his lap and heads down the hallway, changing into a pair of leggings and an oversized, worn-out Yale sweatshirt. She pulls her hair into a ponytail and makes her way back to the kitchen as Andy changes, topping off their coffees before making a bowl of popcorn. She sets it on the coffee table in the living room and brings their drinks in before putting in the movie to get through the previews. She grabs a blanket from the closet in the hall as Andy lumbers into the living room. He sinks down onto one end and Sharon comes over, nudging him to put his legs up before settling between them with her head on his chest.
"Okay?" Sharon asks.
"Perfect," Andy says, wrapping his arm around her. She wraps her arm around his and sighs as she settles in, smiling as he reaches over and grabs the bowl of popcorn, balancing it on her stomach. Sharon manages to pay attention to half of the movie before she dozes off, her fingers gently tangled with Andy's as she breathes softly while she rests against his chest.
After the movie finishes Andy comments on the quality and asks Sharon what else she wanted to watch as he turns it over to the cable. When she doesn't respond he looks down and notices her fast asleep, a serene look on her face. He brushes a loose curl away and strokes her cheek as he studies her face. There were times he came into bed after she had fallen asleep and saw her laying in bed with a furrowed brow as she slept, even if one of the kids was lying next to her. The furrow never went away until he slipped in next to her. He wondered what she was thinking about to cause the wrinkle in her brow, whether or not she was worrying about him, worrying about him drinking again. Sometimes he wondered if she was thinking about anything at all and simply just wanted him there.
Andy presses a soft kiss to her forehead, noting that there was no furrow in her brow as he adjusts his hold on her. He sighs softly and turns his eyes back to the tv as he flips through a few channels before settling on a show, turning the volume down once he does. He sits quietly as she sleeps, letting her get in a good nap, not speaking until he feels her move with a hum in her throat.
"Did I fall asleep?" Sharon asks as she shifts, looking up at Andy with half lidded eyes.
"Yeah, looks like you needed it though," Andy reassures her, smiling softly.
"I'm sorry," Sharon says with a small yawn. She shuffles up further and presses a kiss to his lips before resting her chin on his chest as she looks up at him, "So..."
"I can wait until the wedding," Andy says with a sigh, his hand rubbing up her back, "I will always wait for you. God knows you're worth it."
"You're too sweet," Sharon murmurs as she leans up again to kiss him, "I love you."
"I love you too," Andy smiles, winking at her as they hear the front door open, "The hoard is home."
[TBC]
