A/N: This is the very last chapter of "Training Wheels". When I started writing the story three years ago, I wasn't sure if I will be able to bring this project to completion because I've never written a story this long before. But here we are. It feels very odd to post the last chapter because after working on it for so long, I feel like these characters walk beside me all the time. As Admiral Adama said about Searider Falcon, "I like it so much that I don't want it to be over," and I feel the same about this story.
I hope this was a good alternative to all the Major Crimes fans who didn't vibe with how the show ended. I hope that you'll keep this version in mind when you think of the show and that it made everything less bitter.
I want to thank all the readers who stayed with this story for three years and 83 chapters. I don't take it for granted that you all took the time to read it. Thank you for all the comments, the love, the criticism, and PMs. I appreciate all of it.
I would also like to thank blossom-of-snow, who edited all the chapters in this story and made crucial suggestions that helped improve it. Thank you so much for taking on this project, being an inseparable part of it, and making such a significant contribution to it. My heart is full of gratitude and appreciation to you.
Even though it's time for all our beloved characters to take off the training wheels and march this world on their own, this is not goodbye. I am writing a sequel called "Journey" that will complete Sharon, Andy, and Rainie's story of becoming a family. I will start posting it soon, so stay tuned. It will be much shorter than "Training Wheels", so you won't have to wait three years for its completion.
It was a pleasure to write this story, and I hope you all enjoyed this 3-year ride.
I love you all, M.
Los Angeles, June 2023
Sharon fastened the last button on the back of Rainie's dress and placed her hands on her daughter's shoulders. Rainie looked beautiful in a bohemian ivory lace-over-tulle wedding dress. Small baby's breath flowers weaved through the waterfall braid that cascaded in long, fiery curls. Her daughter looked perfect on her wedding day, and the sight of her brought tears of joy to Sharon's eyes.
Rainie examined herself in the mirror and then turned to her mother with a smile. "This is exactly how I imagined it."
Sharon smiled tearfully and took her youngest daughter's hand. Her fingers glided over the tattoo on Rainie's inner wrist. It was a clover made of three interlocking hearts. Both Sharon and Andy had matching tattoos on their inner wrists. The three of them got the tattoos five years ago, on the day Andy officially adopted Rainie. Sharon didn't oppose tattoos, even though she never considered getting one until Rainie suggested it on her adoption day. In retrospect, she thought they could have commemorated that day in other ways, but she didn't regret her choice.
"You're beautiful, my love." Sharon d looked at their joined hands, noticing the golden Claddagh ring on Rainie's left ring finger, with the heart tip facing outwards, symbolizing her engagement. Three years earlier, when Emily got engaged to Henry, now her husband, Sharon bought a Claddagh ring for her, and she did the same when Rainie got engaged, even though her youngest daughter was not of Irish descent. It was a beautiful family tradition.
"I can't wait to see Lauren," Rainie said.
Lauren was Rainie's bride, an intelligent interior designer Rainie met at the pride parade. What started as a one-night stand soon became a loving and committed relationship. The two dated for three years, and unlike in Rainie's previous relationships, Sharon knew from the very start that the two would spend the rest of their lives together.
"I can imagine," Sharon said.
"I wish her parents were here. She cried her eyes out a couple of days ago."
Lauren's parents did not accept her sexual orientation and stopped talking to her when she came out. When she and Rainie got engaged, Lauren reached out to them, but they remained resolute in their decision to cut all ties with their daughter. Lauren's younger brother, Sam, was the only family member who kept in touch with her, and he would be giving her away at the wedding.
"I am so lucky, Mom. I am so lucky to have a person like you, who accepted and loved me for who I am without judgment." Rainie wrapped her arms around Sharon.
"Always, sweetheart. Love is love, and I hope that one day Lauren's parents will realize their mistake."
"Me too," Rainie whispered.
There was a knock on the door.
"We're ready," Andy said, his voice muffled by the door.
Sharon looked at her daughter, who called for Andy to come in. As Andy walked in, Sharon's eyes raked over him. He looked dapper in a black tuxedo, and she felt a fuzzy feeling spreading inside her chest.
"Look at my beautiful girls," he gushed.
Sharon's lips curved up in a smile. The way Rainie and Andy adored each other now made it hard to believe that there was ever a time when her daughter disapproved of him as an overnight guest in the condo.
"You don't look too bad yourself." Sharon winked at him. His hair had grown white, and his wrinkles deepened over the years, but the mischievous glint in his eyes was as present as ever.
"Are you ready, Firecracker?" Andy asked Rainie. He started calling her that after Rainie began publishing a comic strip by that name. That comic, which jumpstarted Rainie's career as an illustrator, achieved national acclaim among the LGBTQ community for its diverse and round queer characters. She was invited as a speaker to conventions and lectures. It was what she's always dreamed of, and while both Andy and Sharon were proud of her, Andy had become a dedicated fanboy.
"Yes, but before we go out there," Rainie paused and looked at her parents with shiny eyes. "I just want to tell both of you how inspiring you are. You walked through fire and rose out of the ashes like phoenixes. I adore the two of you so much."
"Oh, honey," Sharon said. "You are an inspiration to both of us. You worked so hard for everything you have. You're a phoenix too."
"I love you so much," Rainie said. "And both of you look so beautiful today." Rainie opened her arms for her parents, who stepped into her embrace.
"We love you too, Firecracker," Andy said and kissed his daughter's cheek.
Entwining their hands, they left the room and walked towards the garden. Careful not to be seen, they took a peek through the lattice fence. The rows of chairs were arranged on both sides of the beautifully decorated lawn, all the way down to the canopy where the ceremony would take place. Most of the seats were already occupied. From the back, Sharon could spot the members of their division. Provenza, who had to be the oldest officer in the entire LAPD by now, sat with Patrice.
Andrea sat with Lara, her girlfriend for the last year and a half.
Ricky was sitting in the front row next to Emily and Henry. Sharon looked at her beautiful boy from afar. He was dating a girl he met at one of the cons he attended with Rainie, but it was too early in their relationship and to bring her to his sister's wedding. Sharon met Eva a couple of times, and she made a good impression. Sharon was rooting for them.
Emily rested her head on Henry's shoulder. She was 40 weeks pregnant, and the Los Angeles heat was not agreeing with her. Emily's due date was only three days away, and Sharon was glad that her daughter chose to give birth in LA.
At the first sounds of John Lennon's "Imagine" the guests turned their heads towards the aisle. Lauren glided down the aisle, her arm laced with her brother's. She looked beautiful with her chestnut-colored hair braided in a bun, and daisies weaved into her hair.
"Look at her; she's so beautiful," Rainie said.
"She is stunning," Sharon agreed.
They watched as Lauren reached the end of the aisle. Her brother kissed her cheek before taking his seat. Sharon and Andy linked their hands with Rainie's as they led her down the aisle. When they reached the end, they both took their seats next to Emily and Henry.
"How's Peanut doing?" Sharon whispered to Emily, who rubbed her rounded stomach.
"Peanut is doing pirouettes on my uterus," Emily whispered and took Sharon's hand. She placed it on her stomach, and Sharon could immediately feel the baby's moves underneath her palm. It was an incredible feeling. Peanut was definitely excited to get out of there.
"She'll be out soon," Sharon assured her daughter.
The ceremony began. It was a secular non-traditional ceremony that included words of welcome, a reading, and Rainie and Lauren's vows before they both said I do. When the couple kissed, Sharon looked at Andy with tears in her eyes. He wrapped his arm around her shoulders and pulled her to him. He pressed a kiss to the crown of her head and whispered his love to her.
"We bless all of you for being a part of this ceremony and taking part in this beautiful union. May love always prevail in all of our lives," the celebrant said, concluding the ceremony.
The guests rose to their feet and cheered for Rainie and Lauren as they walked hand in hand down the aisle, towards the hall where the party would take place.
After the guests cleared from the yard, Sharon remained in the garden with Andy.
"You look happier today than when you did on our wedding day," Andy teased as he wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her close to him.
"Life is good," Sharon replied. "My children are all happy. That's all I've ever wanted for them."
"And soon we'll have Peanut," Andy said.
"Can it get any better than this?" Sharon beamed.
"It's pretty perfect," Andy admitted as he led her into the hall where the party took place.
A decade ago, if someone told Sharon that at the age of sixty, her life would change beyond recognition, she'd laugh in their face. The choice to transfer from FID to Major Crimes started a chain of events that even today felt unbelievable. Ten years ago, Sharon saw Major Crimes as a career opportunity, a division where she expected to spend her remaining years in the force until her retirement. Now, Sharon knew it was the beginning of a new life, not only for her but also for Rainie and Andy.
Swaying from side to side in Andy's arms as they slow danced, Sharon rested her head on Andy's shoulder. She closed her eyes and inhaled his intoxicating scent, mixed with his spicy aftershave. It was an alluring smell, but even more so, it always grounded her to the here and now, to him against her, and to the love they shared. When she opened her eyes, she caught a glimpse of all her children standing next to each other, Ricky and Rainie's hands placed over Emily's stomach, with her hands gently resting over theirs – all three of them with radiant smiles on their faces. Everyone was excited for Peanut, or the new reigning princess, as Ricky jokingly called her, to join their family.
"Look at them," Sharon whispered to Andy with tears in her eyes.
Andy quickly dropped her hand and fished his iPhone from his pocket. He sneakily snapped a few photos of the children and then showed them to Sharon. "Now, this magical moment will be with us forever."
When Sharon and Andy walked into the condo later that night, their feet hurt after hours of dancing. It had been a fun night, but they were exhausted. Sharon stood in front of the mirror and began plucking the pins out of her hair when Andy came to stand behind her and pressed a kiss to the nape of her neck.
"I don't think I told you how beautiful you look tonight." He wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her against him.
Sharon smiled to him through the mirror, melting into his as he sucked at her pulse point. His fingers quickly peeled her dress off her body until she stood in front of the mirror in her underwear.
Sharon turned to him, claiming his mouth in hers when she felt a vibration from Andy's jacket.
"Someone is calling you," she murmured against his lips.
Andy's hand pulled his phone out of his pocket, and he sneaked a peek at the screen. "It's Henry."
Sharon took the phone from Andy's hand and answered the call. "Henry," she said breathlessly. "Is it time?"
Henry confirmed Sharon's suspicion that Emily was in labor.
"We'll be there," Sharon said before hanging up.
Their intimate moment forgotten, Sharon and Andy roamed around the room, getting ready to leave for the hospital.
Sharon pulled a forest green cardigan over her head when Andy suddenly placed his hand on her shoulders and stilled her movement. "I just wanna say, you're the prettiest grandmother-to-be I've ever seen."
Sharon's lips curved upwards in a wide smile. This man knew his way with words. He was so goddamn good at making her feel like the most unique person in the universe, and she loved him so much.
"I'm so excited!" she called out and took his hand as they walked down the hall together.
Sharon managed to pull the remaining pins out of her hair on the way to the hospital, along with the hair extensions that the hairdresser plugged into it. Andy threw a terrified gaze at the Yorkshire-terrier sized amount of hair extensions.
"Oh, come on. You knew I had extensions." Sharon teased him as she mussed her hair to break the hairspray stiffness.
Andy made a silly face that made Sharon giggle. "Well, it looks like you're holding someone's head in your lap."
"Remember that time we had to thaw a frozen head?" Sharon grinned as Andy's description of the extensions reminded her of the Brewster case.
"Of course, Dick Tracey! How could I ever forget that bozo?!"
Shortly later, Andy peeled into the hospital parking lot. They quickly made their way to the maternity ward, where a pale and sweaty Emily lay, looking so different than she did a couple of hours earlier.
"Mom, you never told me how bad it was going to get." Emily groaned between contractions.
"Don't worry, sweetheart, in a few hours, you'll be holding our beautiful little Peanut in your arms, and it will all be worth it."
Sharon sent Henry to get ice chips for Emily, and the father-to-be seemed relieved. Men, they really didn't know how to deal with this situation, Sharon thought. When she gave birth to Emily, thirty-five years earlier, Jack made himself scarce. He only showed up once the ordeal was over, and once Emily was already cleaned, fed, and clothed – nearly two hours after her birth. When Ricky was born, he wasn't even around anymore and only turned up when Ricky turned four months old. To Sharon's relief, Emily had a loving, supportive husband. He may have been a bit scared, but he was still present and excited.
After hours of Sharon and Henry taking turns helping Emily through her contractions, the doctor finally declared that Emily was in full dilation, and Emily was wheeled into the delivery room with Henry by her side.
Ricky, Rainie, and Lauren ran into the waiting room barely a minute later, and all of them looked flushed and breathless. Sharon and Andy hadn't expected them to be there, especially since the hotel where Rainie and Lauren were staying was out of the city.
"Is Peanut here already?" Ricky asked.
"Soon," Sharon said. She urged her children and new daughter in law to sit and wait patiently.
"I can't believe you drove all the way here on your wedding night," Andy said to Rainie and Lauren.
"Are you kidding? We're going to be aunties. We wouldn't miss this in the world." Rainie leaned into Lauren, who pressed a kiss to her wife's temple.
It didn't take long before Henry came out to let everyone know that Emily had given birth to a beautiful little daughter.
"I'm an auntie!" Rainie called out happily and hugged Lauren.
"Aunt Rainie," Ricky bumped his shoulders against hers. "It has a nice ring to it."
Sharon gazed at them, tears of joy rising in her eyes. Even if she tried, she could never ask for anything better than this day, this moment. Everything was perfect.
-THE END-