"That was unbelievable," Andy said after the two got into his car. Sharon had driven her car too, but the two wanted a few moments together to talk before they left the restaurant. Really, Andy also wanted to collect himself. He was almost speechless after the last hour and a half. Sharon leaned her head back against the back of the passenger seat and looked up to the top of the car.

She pursed her lips before she answered, "I'm not sure what surprises me more from all that. I'm not sure if I'm surprised that your ex-wife came or that I told her off in front of your kids."

Andy chuckled, "I'd definitely say I'm more surprised she came. You going off on her with this "this is how it's going to be" almost a work tone," he shook his head, "was awesome."

Sharon thought a moment and then started to laugh quietly. "Hmm, it was quite a shock to her. I don't think she saw that coming from me." Sharon turned her head toward Andy and frowned, "I hope you aren't upset with me. I feel like I overstepped, even if it was priceless to see her speechless."

"Are you kidding?" Andy raised an eyebrow. "Upset? I've been dealing with her, with that," he gestured toward the restaurant, even though Sandra and the kids had now left, "for years. I can't tell you how nice it was to have backup, to have someone on my side because in case you didn't notice, it was my family against me."

The car was quite for a few moments as the two processed the events of the dinner. Sharon reached over and took hold of Andy's hand. She squeezed it as she clasped hers with his and looked up at him. "You are doing the right thing with them. I know the kids didn't give you any promises, but keep trying. I have faith they will come around and want to have more of a relationship with you. I know you have worked hard. You are a good man, Andy, and I will have your back. Even when we were working together, I had your back; you just didn't understand that."

"Well, yeah," he rolled his eyes and looked away, still keeping their hands clasped. "I was a first-class idiot to not see the hot FID lady really did like me and wanted to keep me around the place. No one would keep going to bat for me time after time defending me. Yeah, you have had my back for years, even if I wanted to argue about everything with you."

"My, my," Sharon said in a mocking tone, one that had Andy turn back to face her. She grinned, "You really are making great strides to realize that. I believe we went years and years at work almost hating each other, at odds over everything, but I always had your back. I have you back again now because you are trying to do the right thing once again; you aren't trying to mess up anything, personally or professionally. I am proud of you."

Andy flashed a fake smile at her, and then, it turned into a grin. He tugged on her arm, pulling her toward the center console. He leaned toward her, and the two kissed a few moments. Andy pulled back to study her face, and he offered her a sweet smile. Sharon returned the smile, and she cleared her throat. "I think we need to leave this parking lot. I still have this strange fear your family is lurking nearby and is going to come back for another round of insults," she chuckled. "Would you like to walk on the beach with me?"

"Love to," Andy smiled, almost in surprise. "That sounds like a wonderful idea. I guess we should just follow each other. No sense in coming back here to get one of the cars, right?"

"As much as I hate to agree, yes," Sharon sighed. She made a production of opening her door and before she stepped out, she turned back to Andy, her eyes sparkling. "I do have a blanket in my car I keep for trips to the beach. I might share."

Andy grinned, and before he could say anything more, Sharon stood, closed the door, and she turned back and winked at Andy. He shook his head, thinking of her and what an almost mess the meal had been. He watched Sharon get into her car and then started to follow her out of the parking lot. While he drove, his mind wandered. He thought back to the moment Sharon had told off Sandra. He couldn't help but laugh now in the car. It was priceless. He would remember Sandra's expression forever.

She sat there, across from him, stunned. Her mouth was hanging open, and she didn't know what to say or do. Andy glanced toward Sharon, and she was very nonchalant and started to eat her pizza. Andy further glanced toward the kids, who were also stunned and looking between the adults. He made eye contact with Nicole and just gave her a head nod, and with that, she started to eat too. Andy wasn't sure if she was just afraid of Sharon saying anything further or what, but she started to eat. Nate followed Nicole, and when Andy looked back to Sandra, he found her still staring at Sharon, now her eyes narrowed.

Andy saw her start to open her mouth, and at that moment, he made eye contact with her. He gave her a look, one she seemed to understand, and then he just shook his head at her. She didn't say anything, but she didn't eat either. In fact, she refused to eat the rest of dinner, but did flag down the waiter to order a glass of wine. When it arrived, she started in on Andy.

"I certainly hope you can refrain from drinking with wine in your presence," she said to him, almost in a mocking and challenging tone. Andy decided to play along with her now that things were so tense. He knew he shouldn't, but the dinner was a mess now anyway.

"We'll see," he shrugged. He noted Sharon eye him out of the corner of his eye. He didn't look toward her, but he continued to eat his pizza. "You never know. The temptation is always there. Kids," he changed the subject, "how's the pizza?"

"Fine, I guess," Nate said, and Andy caught him looking at Sandra. He was very loyal to his mom; Andy knew that. He wasn't trying to pull the kids away from Sandra, but he just wanted his fair share of time to prove to them he wasn't the monster she'd made him out to be in life.

"Thanks for dinner, but after this slice, I am going to have to run, Nicole told him. She looked toward Nate and then back to the table, "Nate rode with me, so I guess he will be leaving too."

"Oh, I'll be leaving too," Sandra said quickly.

Andy just shrugged, "All I ask is that you try. I'm really trying. If you must go," he said carefully, trying to make contact with the kids, but neither would look toward him, "take the pizza home with you. I insist. I'm flying back to New York in the morning."

"See, more reason to leave," Sandra smirked. "I'm sure you two would much rather be alone, back at Sharon's place I'm sure."

"No," Sharon answered quickly, and Andy caught a moment of panic in Sandra's face. He knew she was worried that Sharon was going to go off on her again and had no clue what Sharon might say. "Yes, we enjoy the time we have together, but this evening was carved out for the kids. We both wanted to see the kids. Andy has been looking forward to this. On my trips to New York, he's spoken of you kids constantly. He loves to spend time with my daughter too."

"Your daughter? Where is she? Is she still at home that she travels to New York?" Nicole asked.

"No, I did mention my kids were about the same age as you," Sharon explained again. "She lives in New York, on the same block as Andy. That's how we ran into each other again and really got to where we are now. I was in town visiting Emily."

"Emily?" Sandra raised her eyebrows at Sharon. "Hmm, did Andy tell you he hates that name?"

"I don't hate that name!" Andy exclaimed and put down his fork. He looked around and gestured for the waiter, "Okay, I think the pizza needs to be boxed for the kids."

"You told me you hated that name," and then Sandra looked back to Sharon. "I wanted to name Nate Emily if he had been a girl. Andy refused, saying he hated the name. I've never forgotten it."

"Here we go," Andy grumbled under his breath. He felt Sharon reach over and squeeze his knee.

"Well, thankfully, you didn't have to argue about the name at all," Sharon flashed a fake smile at Sandra. "Nate ended any potential argument when he was born a boy. It's a good thing something like that didn't ruin your relationship."

Andy held back his laughter. Sharon was just knocking it out of the park with carefully worded insults at Sandra. He almost wanted to feel badly for her, but he'd put up with years and years of it. Sharon also had a way to her, that to most people, what she just said didn't sound insulting, but it was. He hoped the kids were not upset with Sharon for standing up for him. At this point, though, he wasn't sure it mattered because he was on such shaky ground with them as it was.

"This wine is just off," Sandra made a face and put down the glass before she continued, "much like this evening. Andy, I don't know why you like this place so much. It's just outdated now."

"Ahh, Mom, this place is a classic," Nicole said, trying to ease the situation. The waiter returned with the check, and Andy passed money to him, more than needed, without even looking at the bill. He handed the pizza boxes to the kids.

"Hope you two can eat this pizza. I'm sorry I'm heading home tomorrow. Offer still stands to visit," he told them.

"We'll see, Dad," Nicole nodded. "Nate and I need to go," she looked to her brother, and he caught her eye and stood. Sharon stood too, not wanting to be left in the booth with just Sandra on the other side of it.

"Andy, did you want to stay?" Sharon asked him sweetly, knowing exactly his answer.

"Nah, I'm good too. Came to eat with the kid and with you. Since the kids need to go, I'd say it's time." He stood up and looked to Sandra who had been collecting her things.

"Night, Sandra. No need to rush out of here on my account," Andy grinned. Sharon reached for Andy's hand.

"Sandra, great to put a name to the stories," Sharon nodded. "I'm sure we will meet again."

"Please," Sandra muttered. The kids were walking toward the door; Nicole looked behind her to see if they were coming, and Andy nodded to her that he was. "This won't last. He's never going to change."

"From this?" Sharon gestured toward Andy, who was now in front of her looking at the kids. "I hope he doesn't."

Andy chuckled at that comment from the car now. It had been so tense. He was positive the kids left early because dinner was so strained. He hated that. He really wanted a nice evening with his kids and Sharon. Sandra had ruined it. Andy thought about her arrival, that he should have said something then, but the more he thought about it, he realized that might have caused problems right away. The kids could have left before dinner even happened, and at least this way, he saw them briefly, and they met Sharon. His family life was a mess, and he was still blown away that Sharon had come to his defense.

Andy pulled himself out of his memories as they pulled into the beach parking lot. It wasn't deserted, but it wasn't full. This time of year, people came to do a lot of walking, especially if the weather was decent in the evening. Tonight was a calm and clear evening, perfect for the beach. He stepped out of his car and took in the salty air before he walked the two parking spaces to Sharon's car. She was seated at the driver side, changing her shoes. Andy grinned at her. "You bring all your boyfriends here?" Andy asked her casually as he walked up to her. She looked up and grinned.

"Why, yes I do," she chuckled. "It's your day today," she winked at him.

Andy chuckled at their banter as he dropped his head and nodded. He looked back at her as she finished with her shoe and stood. He walked to her trunk, which was open, and he found a bin inside of it.

"You really keep your trunk this organized?" Andy asked.

Sharon reached the trunk and put her arm on Andy's back as she looked inside her car, "What's wrong with that?"

He chuckled and turned, wrapping his arms around her. He leaned in and kissed, her, "Nothing, nothing at all. I think it's great. You are just amazing. You keep your trunk organized like this and have a beach 'go' bag ready at all times."

Sharon put her hand on his arms and looked into his eyes. She shrugged, "You never know when the right opportunity will present itself."

"Indeed," he winked, and the two kissed again. They stood there, in the parking lot, kissing a few moments before Sharon pulled back from him and gestured to the beach.

"My other boyfriends do enjoy walking," she shrugged.

"Well, that's why they are idiots," he teased her back and leaned in for another kiss. Sharon laughed into it, and they resumed their kissing. When they broke apart this time, Andy shrugged, "This is the best part of tonight."

"Standing in the parking lot, kissing?" Sharon chuckled.

"Well, yeah," he shrugged. "It's not like there has been much competition for the best part of the evening. Would you like me to say I played footsie with my ex-wife during our lovely dinner?"

Sharon dropped her head and laughed. Andy pulled her tighter, and the two just enjoyed the quiet moment. "I hate you have to leave tomorrow."

"Me too," he nodded. "I don't know when I will see you again. I can't easily fly back here between now and even the holidays."

"I know," Sharon sighed. "I am going to talk to Emily about her holiday show. She mentioned possibly dancing one of the main roles a couple nights this season. She's been an understudy to a part, and I need to see if she'll dance it. Usually, she gets that chance at least once a series because the lead has something scheduled. It always seems to happen, and it's even better if I know in advance."

Andy just nodded and kissed her head. He glanced down at her, "Are we walking?"

"You know," Sharon gave him a sweet smile, "I'm not sure I want to walk right now. Maybe the best place to be is right here, curled up with you and this blanket," she told him. "We only have a few hours left, and I think I'd just enjoy sitting right now."

"None of our kids are invited to this beach party, right?" he teased.

Sharon laughed and shook her head, "This is just time for you and me."

"Finally," Andy chuckled. He glanced to Sharon, "Oh, and by the way, I don't hate the name Emily. I just hate that Sandra wanted to name a kid after her Aunt Emily," he winked. Sharon chuckled, and the two started to get situated for their evening.