"Oh, I'm sorry to bother you. I didn't realize anyone was still awake," Andy said late one night as he stepped into the kitchen area. It was off of his bedroom, but apparently, Sharon had been very quiet as she sat on the far side of the kitchen at the small round table with just a faint light on from that corner. She hadn't turned on any of the overhead lights. She looked up from where she was working.

"Don't mind me," she said as she started to gather her paperwork. "I didn't want to wake you, but this is the only place in the house I can pay bills. I don't have a desk area anymore."

"You didn't wake me," he said, shrugging his shoulders as he walked to the sink area to get a glass for water. "Like I said, didn't know you were here. I was sleeping, woke up, and now, I'm really thirsty. I just came out here for a glass of water. What are you doing up at," he paused and turned to look over at the stove where he could see the clock, "1:45 in the morning?'

Sharon pushed her hair out of her face. She'd been sitting there, almost hunched over, and she pursed her lips as she looked to him, "Working on bills, what I'm almost always doing here at home in the middle of the night. Sorry," she sighed and waved her hands in the air in a flustered motion. "I'm just trying to make it all work. It's not," she frowned. "Don't mean to bother you with it."

"No bother," he shrugged. "Bills and I don't exactly get along right now either," he said, leaning back against the counter while he sipped on his water. "You know, as a kid, all you want to do is grow up and be an adult. Well," he shrugged, "it's not all it's cracked up to be."

"Very true," Sharon said with a slight chuckle. She looked down to the table and pulled her robe closed. Andy noticed the gesture.

"Your house," he nodded to her indicating she didn't have to watch her clothing. "Besides, what, sweatpants and a t-shirt-I think you are perfectly acceptable. If you normally wear a robe too, fine, but don't feel like you have to change anything because I'm here. I mean, I know your living situation has changed. I guess, just, thanks. The room really helps."

"I meant to ask how you were settling in," Sharon said, now crossing her arms as she sat back slightly. "It's been a month now."

"Fine, good," he nodded. "Bed, tv, bathroom off the room-it's like a hotel," he flashed a grin. "Really appreciate it."

"Hmm, a hotel with crying kids down the hall. I hope they aren't too much of a bother," she told him.

"Nah, not at all," he waved. "Quite frankly, it's been nice to hear kids in the house. I miss mine."

"When is the last you saw them?" Sharon asked.

"Ahh, it's been since I just got out of rehab, so months now. My ex doesn't want me to be around them, afraid I'll slip," he admitted. "Which," he nodded, "I did. I'm not proud of myself or the fact that I started drinking again."

"You're not drinking now, though. That's a start. Are you ashamed of how you will look to your kids-is that what is keeping you from them?" Sharon asked.

"No, it's not that at all, totally my ex. After rehab, she only let me see them with Provenza. Look at me," he gestured to himself, "a grown man with barely a penny to his name, not even a car, and I had to see my kids with my best friend, mainly because he's a police officer too. I'm wanting to sit down and talk to her now that I'm getting my footing again. Like clockwork, each month, the money is sent to them from my paycheck. That's not a problem. I'd just like to see my kids. I missed both of their birthdays in rehab," he frowned and looked down. "I sent them both a card, money in it," he huffed. "That's not the kind of dad I want to be, one that doesn't see his kids and barely remembers to throw a few bucks at them. Anyway, with a place to stay now here," he gestured around, "I'm getting my act together and hope I can see the kids, even with Provenza."

Sharon just nodded as she listened. When Andy finished, she cleared her throat, "I suppose I'm in a unique situation where I can see both sides to that issue. I think parents want what is best for their kids. We want to protect them, sometimes, even if that is from other people. However," she quickly added and held up her hand, "I also believe kids should be able to be with their parents. If Jack were to float back into town, it would be a tough call. He barely knows the kids and doesn't do anything like you try to do with yours, financially or any other way. He doesn't support them financially and probably never will. He doesn't remember them on birthdays or holidays. Anyway," she shook her head, "it's a tough situation. I'm sorry."

"Thanks," he nodded and sipped his water again. Sharon started to stack her bills and paperwork. Andy looked over when he heard the noise, "So, not to pry, but I know things are tight for you, really tight. Can we still sit down here this weekend maybe and figure out what you want me to contribute financially? I don't expect you to pay all of the power, water, or cable bill. I want to pull some weight. Maybe that will help you a little too. I know I've especially been busy this last month. I've barely been around here, working like crazy. I did get a little more overtime this month, which will help. I'm not sure if it's good or bad I hope for a crazy murder to give me overtime."

"Okay," she said, still stacking her paperwork while she listened. "That's fine, the bills I mean. I can't believe how much better the grass already looks with just you cutting it, what, three times?"

"Yeah," he said with a small smile. "It does look better. The trick is always using that string trimmer, you know, to get the weeds and tall grass by the fence and side of the house. It just makes it look finished."

Sharon shook her head, "Miracle worker, that's what I call it. This old house finally looks like it has a little life to it."

"Your yard is still in bad shape," Andy explained as he gestured. "You have more weeds than grass, and it all needs to be watered more, which is hard with no rain and no real sprinkler system. It's a work in progress, and to be honest," he said, meeting her eyes, "I am enjoying it. It's nice to put a little sweat into something and see it respond. I'm going to work on it more this weekend and trim all the bushes around the house. That will make a huge difference."

Sharon paused again, "The bushes aren't that bad, are they? I've been so busy with work and the kids, I hadn't even noticed the bushes."

Andy crossed his legs as he stood and looked to the ground while he chuckled, "They're bad-trust me. Your house isn't that bad, just old and needs a little TLC. We agreed I'd do that. I'm going to work on things this weekend. Oh, speaking of, what's the deal with that swing set back there? You have nothing on it, just the old frame."

Sharon sighed, "Emily has been begging me to get her a swing, but I don't feel that set is very secure. It's a nice wooden set, but several of the boards are rotten. Have you looked at it?"

"Nah, just mowed around it," Andy shook his head. "I can fix whatever so the kids can use it. It probably wouldn't cost that much. The bones of it are there. If it's not in too bad of shape, if you get the supplies, I'll fix it."

Sharon's eyes met his, "Deal," she nodded. "My mom was asking what to get her for her birthday. I didn't really know what to tell her. I mean," Sharon gestured, "there are a few things, but what do you tell your parents? I'll offer that up, supplies for the swing set."

"When's her birthday?" Andy asked.

"May 15," Sharon said, not that far away now," she nodded.

"Oh wow, no that's just in a couple weeks. Look, I'll have the yard in tip-top shape. Are you having a party or something?"

"Probably not," Sharon said with a slight frown. "I don't have the budget for that right now. I can give her a nice party, just with the kids and take her somewhere fun for the day. She'll love that. She will have a little party at daycare, and really, with her turning four, that's all she needs. She's so excited to say she's four. She keeps telling everyone she's three and a half, as if she is keeping track of the days one by one."

Andy chuckled and nodded, "I believe she told me that too."

Sharon smiled at the mention of her daughter, "She's a character, such a spunky girl. I can't believe she's almost four, just a couple more weeks. Ricky, then," she sighed. "He'll be one this summer."

"Right," Andy nodded as he looked to her. "Yeah, I didn't even think to ask when their birthdays were. When's his birthday?"

"July 5," she hummed. "He'll be 10 months old in just a couple days now," she sighed. "He's almost walking. Time is moving so quickly."

"Almost a 4th of July baby," Andy smiled.

"I was in the hospital in labor on the 4th," Sharon said. "He was born at 2:00 AM. Somehow, even in labor on a national holiday, I felt about as alone and as forgotten as one can. Jack had long disappeared. He had no interest in Ricky's birth. I believe I told you I caught him with his secretary when I was four months pregnant with Ricky-Valentine's Day," she rolled her eyes. "I was so stupid and thought we could work on our marriage, get it on track. Yes, that was a big mistake."

"I'm so sorry," Andy frowned. "I'll tell you that a guy like that is a new kind of low, I mean, to cheat on a wife, one, but then, to cheat on a pregnant wife. I promise you that with my marriage, I was never like that. I wasn't a cheater. I wasn't even a mean drunk, just a stupid idiot who lost it all."

"Enough for the trip down memory lane," Sharon said as she stood, pulling her long robe closed again over her sweatpants and sweatshirt.

"Hey," Andy gestured to the table, "I'm sorry to bother you here while you were working, but it's, wow," he said, looking at the clock now, "2:20. We both should get some sleep."

"Yes," she nodded. "Ricky will be up around 5:15, and I need to get ready for work before he gets up."

"Wow, I guess I didn't realize how early you were up each morning," Andy told her. "I mean, I knew Ricky liked his bottle at 5:30 or so."

"Right," Sharon nodded, "and I have to be ready for work then because as soon as I get him going, Emily needs to get up so I can get out of the house on time."

"Here I thought I was the early riser at 5:45 to catch a ride in Provenza's carpool by 6:30," Andy chuckled. "I'll leave you to get some rest. Night, ahh, Sharon."

"Still hard to say, isn't it?" Sharon asked. "I find myself having a hard time saying Andy, even though we worked together before."

"I guess it was never casual, even back then at work. You were Officer Raydor, and I was Officer Flynn. We all used last names, even after hours."

"I suppose that's true," she said with a small smile. "Night."

"Night, and like I said, this weekend, finally, neither of us is working, so let's look at those bills. I'll work on the yard and the swing set for the kids."

"Thanks," Sharon paused with the paperwork in her hand. "I'm up so many nights, praying the money will all fit, will pay all the bills. Thank you for the help."

"Thank you," Andy said. "You've changed my life."

"Sleep well, ahh, Andy," she said and with her robe pulled tightly closed, she walked down toward her end of the house.