He sighed and rolled his head toward her. She could see the motion out of the corner of her eye and shook her head at him; no words were needed. Both were exhausted. She pursed her lips, almost ready to say something, but she instead cleared her throat and shook her head again.

"Seriously, I can't believe we thought this was a good idea," he sighed. "I'm definitely seeing a side of you I never imagined."

"Can we just forget it?" Sharon said, looking up at him. She really wanted to be anywhere but here right now. It was the middle of the night, but it felt like the longest day ever.

Andy was quiet for a few moments, which was hard, considering the circumstances. Suddenly, he burst out laughing, "Sharon Raydor battling it out for a Black Friday sale. Never thought I'd see it happen."

Sharon made a face and with her purse swung toward him and smack him with it. He let out a quick groan, and then, he shrugged at her.

"Don't start," she pointed at him as she righted her purse on her shoulder. "Looking at your cart there, you managed to find a few things."

"What? Like I'm not going to shop too? We both have kids," he said ticking off his fingers. "We both have very limited funds, which," he sighed, "compounded by my overtime this weekend being snatched up by senior guys in my part-time job. We both have off this weekend, which is rare with police work. We both have kids with the ex's."

"Basically, a perfect time to save a few bucks on things the kids want for Christmas," Sharon said nodding. "Look," she waved her hand at her cart, which she guarded closely to herself. "I told you from the flyer that I can finish my Christmas shopping with this and saved $200. That pays for my groceries for the month."

Andy nodded and looked at his cart, "Is it wrong if I'm trying to convince them I'm a good dad with toys? I mean, I realize that doesn't buy love."

Sharon shook her head, "No, but your kids are still having trouble trusting you. I think you picked very nice things for them."

"When will this line move?" Andy said in an irritated tone. "We've been standing in it for an hour."

"Hmm, worth it for the bike I got Emily," Sharon nodded to the box.

"I'll put that together for you," Andy offered. "Sorry they didn't have any already assembled."

Sharon gave him an odd look, "You don't have to do that."

"What?" Andy chuckled. "It's not like dear Jack is going to do it. Honestly, I'm shocked he's keeping your kids all night.

Sharon nodded in agreement, "I am too. I'm just keeping the faith. I know he's going to mess up, but I just don't know when. I'm glad Emily is excited to see her dad. I admit it kills me to send the kids with him. He's going to have a rough time with Ricky. The most he's spent with the kids is a few hours. Overnight, through Saturday, that will be interesting."

Andy raised an eyebrow at her, "You know, we've both been so busy with work. Are you okay with all this? I know it's hard on you not seeing your kids, sending them off with him. You're always with them when you aren't working."

Sharon pursed her lips, "I'm trying to focus on other things, like this," she gestured to the line with her hand. "Thank you for coming here with me. It has been fun."

"Fun?" Andy said with a look on his face. "Parents rushing around a store for a deal, smacking at each other, standing in lines-not my idea of fun, Raydor. If this is yours, you need to get out more."

"Probably do," she sighed. She nodded as the line started to move again. "What about you?" Sharon asked after they stopped moving. "You got a partial shift. I know you have to be tired. You came home at 10:00, only to get a couple hours of sleep before coming out here with me at 4:00 in the morning."

"Keeps my mind off the mess I have," he said with a quick wink.

"You aren't," she gestured with her hand, not sure how to say it. He gave her an odd look. She cleared her throat, "You aren't thinking of drinking?"

"No, not now," he sighed. "If we stay in this line any longer-"

"You've been sober for some time now," she stated.

"Not that long," he replied. "It's not even been a year. I won't feel like I'm really making progress until I get to a year. There's just-" he paused, cutting off himself. He looked at her, and she was waiting for him to finish. "Look, there are just milestones, and I need to get to a year. I look back on the last few months, and yeah, I've made some progress, but I need more time under my belt."

"Some progress!" Sharon exclaimed, almost so loudly that people started looking at her. She rolled her eyes as she looked back up at Andy. He was a good head taller than she was, especially now when she was wearing running shoes and jeans as opposed to her work heels. "Andy, you have to be so proud of yourself! You've come a long way. I still can remember the still drunk guy in my office after a bar fight. That's even recently, not to mention you before rehab. You've taken on a second job, and you are doing well with both jobs. You've reestablished your relationship with your kids, and you are getting your life on track. Not only do you have a car now, you are starting to save some money. You have the best landlord ever too," she said grinning at him with a twinkle in her eye.

Andy chuckled and looked to the floor, humbled to hear her talk about his accomplishments. "Best landlord is right-a bit of a drag if you're in trouble with that same lady at work," he winked when she dropped her mouth open to look at him. "It's just that I feel like a sloth-barely moving. While time is flying in some areas, like how much my kids are growing, it's creeping in other areas, like how quickly my bank savings is growing."

Sharon burst out at that, and she grinned at him, "Good explanation."

"I try," he shrugged. The two grew silent again in their own thoughts. Andy gestured to her as the line moved again, and they both pushed their carts forward.

"What are your plans with your kids for Christmas? Have you and Sandra discussed that?" Sharon asked.

"Yeah, well," he rolled his eyes. "She wanted to keep them from me all of Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. I think I've convinced her to let me see them Christmas afternoon, that is, if it's okay with you. I know we've been trying to let my kids have their time at your house and not to get all the kids confused with each other. I mean, they've seen each other, but if your kids are there, I try not to have my kids there and vice versa. Anyway, I guess what I'm trying to say is that I think Sandra will let me have them Christmas afternoon, but I don't want to interfere with your Christmas with the kids."

"Andy," Sharon said, tapping his arm to stop him from rambling. "It's fine, good even," she smiled fondly at him. "Jack asked to see them Christmas Eve morning, and to be honest, I am thinking he's going to drink all night and through Christmas, just a gut thought. I'll have my kids, and I think it would be really nice if all the kids were there with us that afternoon. We'll make it a fun day for all of them."

"Oh," Andy raised his hands in defense, "I don't want to intrude on your family time."

"Andy," Sharon rolled her eyes, "the few times I've been around your kids, I adore them. I think the four would love playing together. We can bake cookies. I love to bake Christmas cookies. We can have a kid-friendly Christmas meal and open presents. It sounds really nice."

"If you are sure-" Andy said, looking questionably at her.

"I'm sure," she said with a firm nod.

"Wonderful," Sharon smiled. "It really is starting to feel like Christmas. I have always wanted a house full of kids, family memories, cookies, all of it. The last few years have been rather bleak. My paycheck has been too tight to really get the kids nice gifts, things they need like this bike," she gestured. "We will have a great time with them."

"Excellent," Andy grinned. "I do appreciate you, Sharon. You've become such a great friend. I mean, I wouldn't stand in a toy store line, going on over an hour," he looked to his watch, "for many people."

"We've become an unlikely pair," she grinned at him. "So, you're off for Christmas? I'm on call and working Christmas Eve morning when Jack has the kids, but I hope to not get called in otherwise."

"Yup," Andy nodded. "As soon as Sandra and I discussed seeing the kids, I told my security job the more senior guys could have their shifts. Somehow, we're off at the office too, but I'm working December 26 through January 3 without a break."

"Ahh," Sharon nodded. "Trade offs."

"Worth it," he said. "To think of where I was a year ago."

"Same," Sharon nodded. "So, tell me, what are these plans you hinted at when you hit a year of sobriety?"

"Well," Andy shrugged. "I mean, I know I'm an alcoholic. I will always be one, and I could slip at any moment. It's just what I want to do when I hit that year, like I'll feel like I'm finally getting somewhere."

"Such as?" Sharon asked again. She eyed him, and her eyes dropped to his cart. As they did, she frowned and pointed to it, "Wait, what is that buried in the bottom of your cart, Andy Flynn?" Sharon gave him a dirty look and moved toward his cart. He jerked it away.

"Hey, lady," he said loud enough to draw attention. "No taking things from carts. You were the same lady battling it out for a pink bike basket earlier. These are my toys."

Sharon's face turned bright red, and she stepped back, all while Andy grinned at her. He continued to grin, and she crossed her arms. He shrugged.

"The kid needs a tool bench," he shrugged.

"Andy," Sharon sighed. "You do not need to get my children a Christmas gift."

"Oh," he snorted, "I sure do. I live with them!"

"You are renting a room!" Sharon exclaimed.

"You said we were friends. Friends take care of each other's kids. Emily would think I was a horrible person if I didn't have a Christmas gift for her."

Sharon crossed her arms, "What did you get her? I can see that toddler workbench now. What did you get her?"

"Barbie camper," he grinned. "You got her that bike and the Barbie house she wanted. Barbie is on a budget. She can't get that convertible, not maybe until her birthday," Andy winked, talking like Barbie was Emily, "but Barbie can go camping. I picked it up while you were looking at bikes. It's on sale," he flashed a smile.

"The store is on sale," Sharon gestured around her, shaking her head. "You're spoiling them."

"What?" Andy shrugged. "A toddler tool bench and Barbie camper aren't spoiling your kids. Besides, it's not like Jack is going to get Ricky anything like that. He hates tools from what you said. Does the guy do any manual labor?"

"No," Sharon scowled. "Still, this isn't necessary. You work hard for your money."

"As do you," he nodded. "I spend it as I like."

"Fine," Sharon waved at him. "I'm already thinking about what I'm going to get your kids. If they are coming for Christmas afternoon, I won't be there empty-handed."

"Sharon, their mom spoils them. It's not necessary," he said.

"We're friends," she said, throwing that back at him.

"Fine," he said flippantly.

"Fine," she said in the same tone. The two were quiet. Finally, Sharon cleared her throat, "I'm starving. Pancakes on me after we get out of this mess, you know, as a thank you for coming."

"Fine," he said again. The two burst out laughing. It grew quiet again.

"Ahh, so to answer your question earlier," he said breaking the silence. He glanced at her and then, he quickly looked to his feet, "my one-year mark?"

"Yes?" Sharon asked, drawing out the question.

"I've wanted to tell you this, not sure how to say it, but it's something on my mind," he said, stumbling over his words. Sharon shook her head at him, and he finally continued, "Look, at my one-year mark, if not before it, which, we know is around May 1st. That's about when things started to improve-I want to get my own place."

As soon as the words were out of his mouth, Andy regretted it. Sharon's face told him he'd shocked her. She stood there a moment, and he tried to explain.

"Look, it has nothing to do with you," he gestured. "You've been amazing. I need to do this. You helped me back on my feet. If it's a money thing, you know, from me, just say the word. I can help you find a new tenant. I don't want to leave you high and dry."

"No," Sharon said nodding, now that she'd found her voice. "I'm, I'm happy for you. Let's ahh, get these toys, get some breakfast, and let's go home. I think we are both ready to crash. Of course," she said quickly again, "you get your own place whenever you want. I should be getting a pay raise in January, and I'll be just fine. I'm getting my footing too, just as you are, not to mention, that back child support Jack promised-maybe I'll see some of that in January too."

"I feel like I ruined this nice outing," Andy frowned. "I'm sorry. I just want you to know my plans, but I also want you to know it's not anything wrong, just me trying to grow up."

"It's fine, Andy," she said, nodding. "We always knew this was temporary."