They made their way back toward the house, but before they got to the patio area, Sharon's mom and dad came outside with everything for the grill. The two glanced to Sharon, Andy, and Brady.

"Well," her mom, tried to hide her amused expression, "guess your dad and I have our own ways of extracting a confession."

Sharon closed her eyes and sighed. She heard Andy let out a low chuckle himself and felt him squeeze her hand. She opened her eyes and met her parents' gaze looking back at them. Sharon turned to Andy instead, "Do you feel like you are 16 again? 16 and getting the grand inquisition?" she pursed her lips in wonder.

Andy nodded, "To some extent, yes. My back isn't 16. Munchkin doesn't help that," he nodded to the baby and jostled him to get him laughing. "I'm certainly glad we aren't standing here at 16 holding our kid," he grinned.

"Dada!" Brady giggled as Andy played with him. Brady continued to giggle and looked around. He pointed to Sharon's dad at the grill, "Pa!"

"Oh, gosh," Sharon started to laugh. "We've got to work on that. I thought I heard him say that earlier, Pa, and I know he can't say grandpa yet, but that sounds like we live in 1800."

The family all started to laugh, and Brady started laughing too as he usually did when others laughed. Once they calmed down, Andy put Brady down to continue his wandering around the yard.

"So?" her mom asked Sharon and Andy since she hadn't gotten any information from them. "You just walk up here hand in hand and no explanation otherwise?"

"Pretty much," Sharon smiled. She looked to Andy, "Andy?" she asked. He just offered a simple shrug and winked to Sharon. She grinned and leaned up and kissed him, the first time she'd done that in front of anyone in their family. She had intended for a quick kiss, but Andy pulled her tighter, not that it was inappropriate, but it seemed to convey a lot to her family. They broke apart, still looking at each other before Sharon turned back to her parents. "This is not something we'd care to discuss at this point. I would really appreciate it if you don't share this with the kids. We have not included them in this," she gestured to Andy. "You may not understand, but this is new, recent," she clarified, "and we would like to keep our relationship our own for now at least. After the boys go back to school, we plan to figure this out."

Her mom and dad were standing near the grill. Her dad nodded, and then her mom did too. Her dad spoke finally, turning to Andy, "You're lucky we didn't put you on the couch when you arrived, but you've been good to Sharon and Brady. We're still cautious, but we do like you Andy," he nodded. "I'd tell you welcome to the family, but you've already created a family with my family," he gestured to Brady who had been off in his own world. He turned just as everyone was looking at him and smiled. He started to toddle toward the group.

"Mama, Dada, Pa," he squealed. He hadn't started calling Sharon's mom anything, but she didn't seem to mind."

Andy walked over and stuck out his hand to Sharon's dad, "I told you I wasn't going anywhere," he stated. "I still mean that. I love your daughter."

Bill nodded and returned the handshake. Sharon, almost emotional, turned to focus her attention on Brady.

"Ohhh, you are turning one in just a couple of days," she sighed. "I can't believe it." She hoped the change of topic could redirect the relationship focus.

"I just finished his cake," her mom told them. "Would you like to celebrate after dinner tonight, or is it too late?"

Sharon glanced up to Andy, and he gestured for Sharon to decide. "Tonight will be great," she nodded to her mom. "No point in waiting on a good birthday cake. He seems very happy and took a decent nap, so yes, tonight would be just fine."

"Excellent," Sue clapped her hands together. "I wrapped all his presents before you came. We got him a few small things if you don't mind him opening them too."

"Thank you, Mom," Sharon smiled. "Let me help with dinner, so we can get to his party."

Dinner went smoothly, and now that Sharon's parents were aware of Andy and Sharon's relationship, the two were a little more public about their affection, and thus, a little more relaxed. Andy draped his arm across the back of Sharon's chair when they had all finished eating and were talking. He kissed her cheek when he stood to help clear the plates, and when it was finally time for Brady's birthday cake, Sharon and Andy wrapped their arms around each other and stood behind Brady who was seated with his cake. Sue took several of the three of them before Brady covered himself in cake. While they watched the baby eat, Sharon took Andy's hand in hers and smiled, very happy that they were here, together, a year after Brady had been born.

The adults enjoyed cake too while they watched Brady finger through a few bites himself. He was a very happy baby; this evening was no different. Andy undressed him while Sharon started his bath. They had decided he could open his small pile of presents after he was dressed for bed.

"We knew you had to fly home, so we didn't get him anything big," Sue told them when they had returned to the living room. Brady opened a few toys and several outfits, Sharon chuckling at her mom's 'not much' comment when she'd asked Sue what they'd gotten for Brady. After they had opened everything, Brady sat on the floor in front of Sharon and Andy, playing with his new giraffe toy. Bill stood and walked over, handing Andy and Sharon an envelope.

"That's for Brady too," he nodded to them. Andy accepted the envelope, and Sharon nodded at him to open it. "Sharon, it's been a long time," he chuckled, "but we did the same thing for Emily and Ricky when they turned one, except we made sure it went into an account for the kids, something Jack couldn't touch."

"Oh," Sharon sighed as she let out a breath. Andy's eyes grew large too at the check.

"Your mom and I took inflation into account somewhat," he smiled, "as it's been 19 and 22 years since we've had to do this. I assume you two have discussed a college account for him, and I can trust that a simple check this time will make its way into that account?" he asked.

"Ah, yes," Sharon nodded. Her parents had given them a check for $5000 for Brady's college fund. As she thought about it now, they had given Emily and Ricky each a $1000 check, but she did remember her parents sitting down with her to discuss opening an account in the kids' names, one that they didn't want Jack to be able to access it. She'd buried that memory, but now, as she sat her, check in hand, she realized they did trust Andy already, even if they were being cautious about his past. "Mom, Dad, thank you," she smiled. "We do have a college account set for him, and we both contribute to it already. This is very much appreciated."

"Thank you," Andy stood to shake their hands. "I don't have to tell you it's not cheap to put kids through college. As Sharon and I both know, we're putting a combined four of them through school now, well," he nodded to Sharon, "she's graduated one," he smiled. "Nicole graduates in December, which is later than she'd planned, but she ended up switching to a double major. In the long run, will give her a lot more career options, but at least my ex-wife and I have been able to split our costs. Sharon is the amazing one, putting two through school by herself. I won't let that happen again; our son will have the money he needs to attend college and hopefully any graduate school he wishes, even if it's law school," he rolled his eyes, "as much as that pains me." The adults all laughed at Andy's comment, and he continued, "Sharon and I both discussed upping our contributions to his college account when the girls finished, and this is a big help."

"Glad to hear it," Bill nodded. "Just looking at him, he's a sharp one."

Brady was starting to rub his eyes. Sharon scooped him up and peppered him with kisses. He had a small board book in hand, and Andy took it to examine it.

"Ugh, I can't even see it," he sighed. Sharon started to laugh and caught her parents' inquisitive look.

She explained, "Andy had to get reading glasses a few months ago. He's still adjusting to them."

"Another way I definitely don't feel 16 again," he grumbled. Andy stood and gestured for Sharon to hand Brady to him. "I'll put him to bed. I can find my glasses and read him this story. I'll be back down shortly. You can visit with your parents."

Sharon kissed Brady goodnight, as did her parents. Andy jostled Brady again when he started to leave the room. They heard Brady squealing and giggling with Andy.

Sharon sat back down to talk with her parents. Her dad didn't waste any time.

"Is he living with you?" Bill asked.

Sharon didn't hesitate to answer, "No," she smiled. "Our arrangements have not changed. We were serious when we said this is new to us. I know this must look absurd or that we are not being truthful, but we have both had bad marriages, and we don't want to ruin this relationship. We are treading lightly and trying to go slowly, partly for Brady, but partly for both of us too. I love him, Dad," she smiled again. "It's taken me a long time to sort out my feelings, not that Andy did anything to question any feelings I have for him, but I needed to put Jack and all of that baggage in the past."

"Where is Jack, Sharon?" her mom asked. "I am just fine if I don't see him again, but where is he?"

"Honestly, I'm not sure," Sharon sighed. "We haven't seen him in a year. I'm guessing Vegas still."

"You have a little boy up there who needs to come first still, Sharon," her dad said. "I know it's easy to get caught up in romance, but always put him first."

"I will," she nodded. "I appreciate your concern, and it is a lot of the same concern both Andy and I have. We want to put him first which is another reason why we've not been in a rush with our own relationship. We want to put all the boys first this summer, again, which is why I am asking you not tell the kids. This summer, we are trying to navigate our new relationship with the boys home. Yes, we spend a lot of time together, but we don't want to complicate things further with the boys for now. Once they are back at school and we aren't under a constant microscope with them, we will have more time to figure this out."

Andy reappeared, this time with his glasses in hand. He flashed the glasses to Sharon, "I can admit defeat," he chuckled. "I'm admitting you are right and these do help. I can proudly say I was able to finish reading a board book to our one-year-old," he rolled his eyes and sat down next to Sharon.

"Maybe when he's 18, I'll buy you a cane. You'll be much older then, and you might need it to shuffle around," she grinned as she snuggled to his side. She heard him sigh and saw as he shook his head in defeat.

He looked to her parents, "See what she's like?" he rolled his eyes. "Couple years older than she is, and she's hassling me about being old."

"Oh, we know. Sharon has a knack for sarcasm. Is she the same at work?" Bill asked.

"Worse," Andy grumbled. "She's sarcastic AND in charge. I'm sure it will be worse for me when people actually find out we are together."

"They don't know?" Sue asked. "You work in a police station, full of detectives, and they don't know."

"We haven't made our business public, at least not to many. We aren't hiding Brady, but most of the people in the building haven't noticed. I'm sure it will start to get out," Sharon sighed. "I'm not exactly a popular person. Back at Christmas when we went to that ball, Andy was still new enough most didn't know him. He's got more of a reputation now," she smiled.

"I haven't been in any trouble. No way I'm setting foot in the FID office, well, at least not without a drooling kid by my side," Andy explained. "Kid is my secret weapon," he turned to explain to Sue and Bill. "Flash him in front of the FID Captain, and she melts. Works every time," he grinned. Sharon smacked at him.

"On that note, I think I'm going to bed," Bill stood. "I'm worn out. Andy, I trust your room is okay?"

"I appreciate the room," he nodded. "I've heard other guests haven't fared as well in the past."

"We are picky with our guests," Sue smiled. "Why do we take a drive tomorrow? Sharon, you can show Andy all around the area."

"Sounds like a plan," Sharon nodded to all of them and turned toward Andy.

"I'd enjoy that," he smiled. "Night."

They watched Sharon's parents head off to bed. Andy looked to Sharon and said very bluntly, "I want that, Sharon."

She continued to watch the hallway where her parents had just been. She looked to Andy, "I want that too," she leaned over and kissed him. "Why don't we sit on the front porch for awhile. We can talk, maybe more," she shrugged.

Andy's eyebrows rose, "Can we make out?" he teased. Sharon started to laugh, mindful of her parents down the hall.

"That can most definitely be arranged; it's at the top of my list. That can be something for now, while maybe we discuss some things for our future," she smiled as she stood and offered her hand to him.