As Sharon finished cleaning up the kitchen, she smiled as she listened to Andy and Rusty. They weren't saying much, but that was only because they were concentrating on a game of chess. She could hear the two move their pieces and every now and then, she'd hear one of them sigh. It warmed her heart that two of the men she loved most in the world had become so close. It would only be a better evening if she could have Ricky and Emily join them.

Sharon turned and leaned against the counter as she looked around her kitchen. It wasn't the home she missed, but it was home. People made it a home, and she was glad to see signs of life in her home. Rusty's books were stacked next to the table. Andy's coat was over the back of one of the chairs. She turned and looked at the refrigerator where she and Rusty had put pictures and paperwork on display, pictures of Sharon with Andy, even one with Rusty and Andy, along with papers detailing events at the church. It wasn't the home she imagined, but it was going to be the home she shared with her husband, at least when he was able to visit.

Of course, Andy had said he'd marry Sharon while he was in town. He'd hoped she would be okay with the short notice and happily told her he'd packed two different suits so she could pick her favorite.

"I'm free the rest of the week," he grinned as he gestured with one hand. "The question, my dear, is when are you available to get married?"

"I think with one small change at work, I can be ready for Friday," she nodded. "That gives us the rest of this evening and all day tomorrow to plan. Easy," she shrugged as a huge grin spread across her face.

"Friday?" Rusty moaned, as he shook his head. "I've got that final at 4:00 on Friday."

"Ahh, yes," Sharon smiled at Rusty. "I told you sometimes a snow day isn't worth it." Andy looked between the two for an explanation. "Rusty did the snow dance on Monday morning when everything was canceled. He mistakenly thought that would get him out of his final. Instead, his professor moved it to Friday at 4:00."

Andy chuckled, "That's like the worst time. I like this guy."

"Yeah, well, I don't. I'm just ready to be done with the class. I can't do more studying. I'm studied out," Rusty said as he continued to complain.

"We could do it earlier on Friday, say mid-morning?" she suggested. "Oh, but that might not work. I have to confess that I told Kathy and Becky about our plans," she said as she shrugged at Rusty. "Sorry, Rusty that I didn't you first, but I did want to discuss it with Andy here. Kathy and Becky grilled me after my trip to check on Andy in the hospital, and it just came up. I had told them I wasn't sure when Andy was going to visit next, but we planned to get married when he did come here."

"Why don't you give them a call?" Andy suggested. "I know it's short notice, and I know they have become good friends. I like Mike and Eric. You've made good friends, Sharon, and of course, if they are available, it would be great to have them there. If not, we can continue to talk this through."

So, Sharon had called the women, Becky first. She had surprised Sharon with some additional help in the process.

"I already have a doctor's appointment scheduled for 8:30 Friday morning and already have a substitute teacher scheduled for the day. I was going to take care of a few things, but this is fantastic!" she exclaimed. "We will be there. I can't wait. Sandra, you deserve to be happy, and you are just almost a different person when he is around. I am so happy for you. Listen, I can help even more. One of the judges here in town is a friend of Mike's, and maybe we can get him to perform the ceremony. Would you mind if I worked on that for you?"

"Mind?" Sharon smiled into the phone. "That would be very sweet of you. We were going to just go to the courthouse, get our marriage license, and see which judge was available. It would be great to have a personal connection to one."

"Great! I'll get working on that. I'll let you know what time," she added, and the two hung up.

Sharon's call to Kathy also had a positive outcome. "Sandra, I haven't taken a single day off school all year. I'm going to hang up and call in a substitute for Friday. This is so exciting!" she exclaimed. "Who have you invited?"

After Sharon explained the small, intimate wedding plans, Kathy had surprised Sharon by offering to have a small reception in the form of a luncheon at her house. She enjoyed putting on parties and promised to turn her dining room into the perfect setting for the small party. Sharon, while still hesitant to do so, accepted the help and the offer. She wasn't used to people wanting to be kind, wanting to help, especially since she had spent most of her career dealing with the evils of this world.

So, in the matter of a few minutes, Sharon's new friends had helped her plan her wedding, a wedding that would be taking place in less than 48 hours to a man she'd been in love with much longer than she'd admitted. She, Andy, and Rusty had talked about more of the details over dinner, and now that dinner was over, the guys had retired to the living room where they were playing chess, and she finally had a few moments to process everything. Andy was here; he was in her home, their home," she smiled as she internally corrected herself, "and he was healthy, on the road to recovery. She pushed off the counter where she had been leaning against it as she had been lost in thought and made her way to the living room to join the guys. She sat down on the couch next to Andy and eyed the board, glancing to Rusty with a look of surprise.

"Yeah, yeah," Rusty waved her off. "I know he's winning. Don't say anything."

Sharon just nodded and bit her lip as she sat back to watch their game. It didn't last much longer, just another few minutes, before Andy won.

"Checkmate," he grinned. "Write this down; I finally beat Rusty."

"Have you been practicing?" Rusty frowned as he questioned Andy. "Either that, or I'm totally fried from my exams."

"Make any excuse you want," Andy waved at him. "I finally beat you, after what, hundreds of games?"

Rusty grinned, "Consider it your wedding present. I'm going to go and read. I don't want to study, but I feel like I'm being irresponsible if I don't study more before the final. Sharon, did you hear about Friday?"

"Not yet," Sharon shook her head. "I expect to hear in the morning. I would safely plan on a mid-morning wedding with lunch after. You'll have time to make your final," she smiled.

"I can only hope there's a question on it asking what I did before the test. I think it would be a first for someone to answer they'd spent the morning watching their mom get married," he grinned. "Night guys."

"Night," Sharon and Andy called out in unison.

Once Rusty was in his room, Andy shifted on the couch to face Sharon and put his arm on the back of the couch.

"So," he grinned, "are you sure you're okay with this?" he gestured. "We don't have to get married this quickly. I realize that I surprised you with my visit. We can wait until we can plan better."

"No," she reached out for his hand and stopped him from talking. "No, I don't want to wait. I can't wait to marry you, Andy," she smiled brightly.

"I can't either," he said quietly as he leaned in and kissed her. The two kissed for a few moments, aware Rusty was down the hall, and the both pulled back to smile at each other again. "I did bring two suits. I will let you decide. Again, I'm okay to wait. You even have that cast, Sharon," he nodded to her wrist.

"It's fine," she waved to him. "It's always going to be something. I found a dress at work after I came back from seeing you in the hospital. I'm serious, Andy. I don't want to wait. I found a lovely ivory colored dress, and I am very happy to say, that while I didn't plan this, it does have lace sleeves with some fabric under the lace. I think it will cover the cast. I just feel so stupid for slipping."

"Well, I know you will take my breath away in anything you wear," he told her quietly. "Cast or no cast-I don't care. In sickness and health, if I'm not mistaken?" he grinned.

"Hmm, yes, we've already had our share of that. Let's stick to health from this point forward. You know," she gave him a flirty smile, "there is something you can do to help me since I have this cast."

"What's that?" he asked, a twinkle in his eye.

"It's very hard to wash my hair. Rusty helped me the other night; we washed it in the sink. I'd rather not do that. I was thinking a nice hot bath, and of course, that would traumatize Rusty, to ask him to wash my hair while I took a bath," she grinned. "Do you have the same fear?"

Andy jumped up, so quickly, it surprised Sharon. She burst out laughing at Andy's quick movements. "I'll start the tub," he said and winked to her as he moved quickly down the hall. Sharon closed the house and locked the doors as she smiled. The rest of her week and weekend were shaping up to be almost perfect.

The next day and a half passed by quickly, and soon, it was time for Sharon and Andy to get married. They'd spent the morning running around the house, taking care of the few last-minute details. The two had a busy Thursday, one which Sharon had to work. Rusty was home, which meant his car was home too, and he'd lent it to Andy to meet Sharon after work so the two could go ring shopping.

"Andy, I feel strange about going along with you to pick out a ring for me," Sharon explained as she sorted through her pile of paperwork on her desk. Andy had met her at work, and now that her day was over, the two were back in her office where she was finishing for the day, and he was waiting for her. They were going to get some dinner and pick out a ring for Sharon.

"Well, that's understandable," he nodded. "It's a good thing I know you so well and already bought you a ring," he grinned. Sharon looked up; she had been consumed with her stack of work, she hadn't noticed Andy had pulled out a ring box and was now kneeling on the floor next to her desk.

"Sharon," he said quietly, as he still had to be aware of her new identity, especially at work, "I thought a lot about how I wanted to do this. I know this isn't some romantic location, and even our story doesn't have some long, romantic tale to it, but it's us. We met at work, years ago, decades ago. I know I fell in love with you at work, working alongside you each and every day. We work better together, in any area of our lives, not just actual police work. It's been awful without you back home, but we have found another way to make this work. I love you with my whole heart, and while this isn't where we work together, it's your work now. I found you here in Ohio, and I never want to let you go. So, Sharon," he smiled up at her, "would you marry me."

"You know," she smiled as she took a step closer and put her hand on Andy's arm, "that ring will help me a great deal. It's beautiful, by the way," she smiled warmly at Andy. "Somehow, we never talked about my ring, but you knew exactly what I would like. Emerald cut, simple, classic," she nodded. "Good job," she grinned. "That will help me because as Rusty has told you, I seem to have a problem. I seem to be attracting a lot of men here, and I don't like that."

Andy let out a loud laugh and nodded his understanding, "So?"

Sharon smiled down at him and nodded, "Yes, Andy, I would love to marry you. If I can't hide from you, which I apparently cannot," she smiled, "I'd best stick with you." She put her hand out for Andy, and he put the ring on her finger.

"Perfect," he grinned. "Just like you." Sharon blushed as she helped him stand. She put her hands on his face and pulled him in for a kiss.

"You didn't have to drive all the way here just to propose," she laughed.

"I did," he nodded. "We still need wedding bands."

So, the two had left Sharon's office, a very happy couple and spent the rest of the evening enjoying dinner and their ring shopping. Andy had picked a simple, solid band, one he told Sharon he most definitely wanted, even if he'd have to keep it hidden most of the time. They had picked out a similar band for Sharon, but one that had diamonds nestled in it. It went well with her engagement ring.

So, now that it was Friday morning, they were finishing with the details. Rusty had just returned from the flower shop, where Sharon had allowed Andy the day before, to surprise her.

"You always have the best taste in flowers," she told him the first night after they had gotten ready for bed. "Even when we weren't dating, or I tried to convince myself of that, you always brought me flowers, sometimes just because," Sharon shrugged as she put lotion on her hands. "I am happy with anything you pick because I know you love me and will pick something you like, which means I'll like it too. I'm working all day tomorrow, so I trust you."

"You trust me with your flowers?" he questioned as he sat back against the headboard to continue talking to her.

Sharon leaned over, "Andy, I trust you with my life, so yes, I trust you to pick out the flowers."

Andy had picked out a bouquet of mixed flowers, and luckily, the florist had some lilies on hand to put in the bouquet. He and Rusty had agreed Sharon would love it, and Sharon had only wished she could have gotten a picture of the two men picking out bridal flowers. The flowers had just arrived, and Sharon was still racing around the house, hair done, makeup on, but not in her dress.

"Are you ready?" Sharon grinned at Andy as she walked into the kitchen and found him dressed, drinking a cup of coffee.

"Ready," he grinned. "While the robe is nice," he gestured to her, "it's not what I expected for your attire, Sharon."

"Go," she waved him off. "Take my car and head to the courthouse. I'm going to meet you there with Rusty. He's going to drive me."

Andy raised an eyebrow at Sharon, "You don't want to go with me? I mean, we are pledging our lives to each other Sharon," he chuckled.

"I want to surprise you," she grinned. "I've kept you away from the dress, and I want you to see it when I arrive. Becky, Kathy, and their husbands are going to meet us there. Go," she nudged. "I'm going to put on my dress, and we'll be there shortly."

Andy had followed Sharon's request without objection. He arrived to find all of Sharon's friends already there on the courthouse steps.

"Andy, it's so good to see you," Kathy told him as she came up to greet him. "We're so sorry to hear about your hospital stay."

"Yeah, thanks," he nodded. Sharon had not told their friends it was a work-related accident because that would have brought up more questions, just that Andy had developed a serious blood clot.

"So, what has your doctor said since?" Becky asked.

"I'm doing well," he nodded. "I'm on medical leave from work right now, which is why I was able to come here and surprise Sandra. I hate that I have to go back so soon, but our grandsons are in the Nutcracker next week, and I can't miss it. Work for Sandra is a mess, and well, after my medical issues, we didn't want to wait."

"Oh, that's so sweet. You called them 'our' grandkids," Kathy smiled. "I'm sure Sandra has met your children?"

"Oh yeah," Andy nodded as he smiled. "She loves them, and the feeling is mutual."

"Is she going to be able to travel back to California over the holidays?" Becky asked.

"No," Andy sighed. "With work, especially retail, it's tough this time of year. Our schedules are terrible, and really, or jobs are just so demanding."

"Sounds like we need to get you a job here, Andy," Mike patted him on the back. "Married, but living apart. That can't be fun, so we need to focus on getting you here."

"Yes, because we can't lose Sandra," Kathy smiled. "We enjoy her so much and are so happy for the two of you."

"Thank you," Andy nodded, but he paused when he saw Rusty pull up. "Ahh, they are here." He moved down the few courthouse steps to the street where he opened the door for Sharon. She had her winter coat over her dress, and he chuckled. "You're teasing me."

"I'm cold," she smiled brightly at him. "It is Ohio."

"Well, let's get you inside. I hear there's a wedding today," he winked as he offered her his arm. She smiled warmly as she took it. Rusty waved as he pulled away to park. The group all made its way up the stairs and in the building while they waited for Rusty.

Andy's phone rang before Rusty arrived, and Sharon looked to him with a questioning gaze. He dug it out, and he rolled his eyes. "Provenza," he said as he whispered to Sharon. "He keeps checking on me to make sure I'm alive. Just a sec," he raised his hand and stepped away.

"What!" Andy exclaimed when he answered the phone.

"While I'm driving to work, I wanted to see what your sorry self was doing today," Provenza told him.

"I'm busy. Appointment," he told Provenza.

"Hmm, well, some of us have to work for a living," Provenza explained.

"You don't say?" Andy questioned him. "Medical leave. Remember that? I'll be back to work soon enough. Why are you going in this late?" Andy asked as he glanced to his watch to confirm that it was after 8:00 on the West Coast.

"Late night, but we solved the case. I was calling to see if you want to come over for dinner. Patrice is making some vegetable thing. I figured I could give you my portion," he said.

"I lived with you for a few weeks, and you couldn't wait to get me out of your hair. I'm gone a few days, and you want me to come to dinner?" he asked.

"You need to eat, don't you?" Provenza asked. "Besides, I was going to wait, but we got engaged last night. That was part of the late case. We kept having to move dinner plans, but I finally asked."

"Oh, yeah?" Andy grinned as he turned back toward the group to make sure they weren't waiting on him. He noted Rusty hadn't arrived yet, and he nodded to Sharon he was trying to finish the call. "Congratulations. You got her to say yes, I take it."

"Of course, she said yes!" Provenza exclaimed. "Now, dinner, tonight?"

"I can't," Andy admitted. Provenza didn't know Andy was out of town, and he wasn't about to tell him. "Grandkids in Nutcracker over the next week. What about the end of next week?"

"You know how the ballet goes! In fact, you used to drag her with you. Are you really going to see it several times?" Provenza said, now irritated.

"I am, but I'll tell you what-I'll have you and Patrice over for dinner end of next week. Deal? I'll even get wine for her and beer for you."

"Now, that's a deal, Flynn. I'll be in touch with the day and time. I have to go. Some of us have to work," he said and hung up. Andy sighed as he shook his head. He rejoined Sharon.

"Everything okay?" she asked, still keeping her dress out of sight under her coat. He nodded, "Dinner plans next week, my work partner," he explained, knowing the rest of their friends were wondering about his call.

"Ahh," Sharon nodded. "Good."

Rusty joined the group, and they all started toward the judge's chambers where they would fill out the marriage license, and in less than an hour, would be married.