The kids had been a good distraction. Now, they were off playing, having a good time, and that left both Andy and Sharon Sharon's kitchen table, sitting across from one another. Sharon rested her elbow on the table and then put her chin in her hand and looked over at Andy. He gave her a small smile.

"Thanks for having us over again tonight. My kids were excited to come back over here tonight. They enjoy Emily and Ricky," he told her.

"You're welcome," Sharon said quietly. "I'm glad we could do this again."

"Why does this seem awkward tonight? Is this awkward?" Andy asked her, gesturing with his hand. "I kept telling myself this was nothing out of the ordinary, but it feels awkward."

Sharon sighed and sat back, crossing her arms now in front of her. She nodded as she looked at him, "It's awkward, yes."

"We screwed up by," he said, gesturing again as he looked down the hall, not wanting to say anything too loudly, "sleeping together."

Sharon pursed her lips, "I think it's awkward because this is the first time we are seeing each other in person after that." She spoke slowly, thinking over her words. "We've spoken on the phone several times, but I know for me, it's easier to hide behind a telephone. We haven't run into each other at work.

I think it is awkward or feels award, if there is a difference, because we are here in front of each other in person."

Andy nodded as she spoke, her explanation making sense. He gave her a small smile and commented, "Fully clothed. That's it, right? We are fully clothed again."

"Sure," Sharon nodded in agreement. She crossed her arms again, almost as if guarding herself, "Last time, when we parted, we weren't-I mean, fully clothed." She blushed and looked away quickly. He sat forward and crossed his hands on the table, leaning toward her.

"I meant what I said on the phone now several times," he said quietly. "Look, that first time we spoke, I know I called it a mistake. I know I've said this already, but again, it wasn't, just two friends having a nice time. I'm glad you were okay with it, enjoyed it," he added. "I didn't want to make it awkward or ruin things. I was trying to give us both an easy out, but today, it feels like we screwed up our friendship."

"Thanks," Sharon said, nodding as she sat forward too, mimicking his stance, crossing her hands on the table. The two almost looked like they were in a negotiation. Her long hair dangled there by her face, framing it. She gave him a small smile, "I don't want this to be awkward, and I don't think we screwed up our friendship."

"Great," he sighed and chuckled. "Me either. Let's start by moving from the kitchen table, shall we? We can clean up the kid tornado," he gestured to all of the plates, cups, and the general mess left from the four kids all eating pizza. "Tell you what," he nodded to her, "I'll clean up this mess, and if you want, you can check on all the kids. If they are still enjoying each other, we can let them play longer. I'll meet you there in your living room where maybe we can just talk more. We seem to be doing a good job of that on the phone."

The two agreed and went to their respective tasks. Andy was right; they had been doing a good job on the phone. They'd been talking almost every evening, at least when neither was working. They'd been doing that for over a week now since they'd slept together. Tonight, in person, should be no different.

Several minutes later, Sharon returned to the living room to find Andy there already seated and turning on a baseball game. He reached doe the remote to turn it off.

"You don't have to turn off the game," she gestured at him as she sat down. He frowned and looked to her as she sat at the end of the couch.

"I'm not going to be rude, Sharon. That's so tacky-showing up here with my kids and watching a baseball game instead of talking to you."

She smiled slightly, "I don't mind if you watch it. I enjoy sports, and I remember from you living here that it was your favorite way to unwind." The two were now sitting at opposite ends of the couch. Emily had two of her dolls in the recliner, along with Ricky's firetruck, and it would have been more work to move the toys than to sit on the same piece of furniture as Andy.

Andy smiled, "Great, we can talk and just leave it on, okay?"

"Fine by me, so," Sharon said, patting her legs with her hands. It was summer, so she had on shorts. Andy did as well. The weather had been extremely hot, even for L.A., and her hands made a smacking sound on her legs as she patted them. "Sorry," she chuckled.

"So," Andy nodded, "it's still awkward."

"I don't want that," Sharon sighed, dropping her head. "I don't-"

"Don't know what to say or do?" Andy finished. "Yeah, me either. I have to be honest that I've had my share of flings over the years, and I guess what was not awkward about those is that I usually never saw the person again after."

"Ahh," Sharon bit her lip and nodded. Andy sighed and dropped his head in shame.

"And, I sound like a total jerk here telling you that, telling you that I'm some player. Look," he looked up at her and met her gaze. "I didn't mean it like that, anything about what happened."

"It's okay," Sharon said, reaching over and squeezing his hand. She gave him a small smile, "I think I understand what you are trying to say. In full disclosure," she cleared her throat and gestured with her hand, trying not to show her nervousness, "I'm at the other end of the spectrum." Andy gave her a quizzical look, and she continued, sitting back, pulling her hand back to her leg, "Since Jack, I mean, you, this, it's, it's, it's not something that I've done since Jack left. I know you've told me about other women, about how you feel they are a replacement for alcohol."

"That's what I want to clarify. I didn't see you as that the other night," he told her, his eyes looking at hers. "Yes, in the past, that was the case. The other night-"

"We were adults who enjoyed themselves immensely," she said in a very flat tone, and when her eyes met his, she blushed into a large smile.

"Couldn't have said it better," he told her. "I don't know what-"

"I'd be open for it again," Sharon blurted out, and then, she gestured with her hands, "I mean, if you are interested?"

Andy grinned and looked to her almost surprised. She rolled her eyes and chuckled. The two felt a little bit of awkwardness, but it seemed to be fading away.

"Yeah," he nodded as he winked at her, "I'd enjoy that very much. I guess so, what is this?"

Sharon shrugged and sighed, "I'm not sure, other than two friends enjoying each other. Does it have to be more right now? I don't know if it can be more."

"Work isn't a problem, at least as far as I know," Andy pointed out to her.

Sharon pursed her lips again, "No, I didn't mean that exactly. I just meant that right now, I'm not sure I can handle more. I'm not sure I ever will. As I said, I'm a divorced mother who is trying to get by. I can't handle more. A little fun here and there," she shrugged.

"Plus, I'm an alcoholic, and you don't need that drama," he told her.

"I never said that," she said, reaching out to touch his knee.

"I did," he nodded. "It's the truth. I'm barely sober, just over a year. I could slip at any moment. I don't need to be someone's anything, I mean, anything significant. I can be what you need though, and honestly, that's something I would enjoy too. The kids have their fun, so we should have ours, right?"

Sharon started to chuckle, and Andy gave her a look, wondering what was so funny. She waved her hand, "Sorry, just the idea of a play date like we called it for the kids. Let's just call it something else."

"Not movies and pizza," he gestured to the kitchen. "So, again, though?"

"I'd like that," Sharon smiled, nodding to him.

"I would too, maybe a coffee date?" Andy asked. "I think we are both a bit nervous about this being awkward. We do well when we talk. So, next time, coffee first?"

"Coffee, yes," Sharon grinned. "Anything, really. Look, though, this isn't some date, okay? I'm not looking for that."

"Sure, sure," Andy waved. "I think we are both a bit too scarred for dating. The wounds haven't healed. Not looking for that. I feel the same, just friends."

"I can do that," Sharon smiled. "I didn't realize how much I missed that part of my life until we were together the other night," she said quietly, glancing at him. "I felt like a person again, and I know that probably doesn't make sense."

"No, I do understand. For me, with others before," he gestured and then sighed, shaking his head. "Sorry, you don't need to hear about me playing the field as I already said."

"No, go ahead," Sharon reached over and touched his arm. "Please."

"Just, before, I used it as a way to forget things, to forget the pain. It became a way to escape. I don't want that. I want to enjoy it like you said, to feel alive."

"It's a different coping mechanism, I suppose," Sharon admitted.

"It is, but maybe it's a good sign we are moving on, ready for a normal or somewhat normal chance in life, right?" Andy asked.

"I can't promise any sort of schedule or anything," Sharon frowned. "I hope you weren't wanting that. I'm not even sure how long this might work for the two of us."

Andy reached over and patted her hand, "It works as long as it works, no questions. If it's not working, it's over. We still keep our friendship. One more time, 10, 100," he flashed a huge grin. Sharon rolled her eyes and looked away briefly.

"Okay," Sharon said, nodding as she pursed her lips. "Deal."

Andy leaned toward her and cupped her cheek as he kissed her. Sharon leaned into the kiss, putting her hand around his wrist. She hummed, and the two quickly broke apart when they heard the kids running down the hall. Truthfully, it had been a surprise they hadn't been interrupted before now.

The two separated, and Andy stood. Sharon looked up at him, and he winked at her while he smiled. She started to chuckle and shook her head. He squeezed her shoulder as he stepped by her and walked toward the kids.

"My two, time to go," he called, and with that, he disappeared down the hall to play with the kids.

It took another 20 minutes, but finally, Andy had collected his kids and was ready to go. Sharon stood at the door, Ricky in her arms. Emily was standing on the porch jumping around with Nicole. Nate was on the stairs jumping off of them to the sidewalk. Sharon tried to manage a squirming Ricky while seeing Andy and the kids outside.

"Thanks again for tonight," Andy smiled warmly at her. "Next time, maybe you and the kids can come have pizza at my place? I promise I'm trying to decorate better."

Sharon chuckled, "Sure."

"So, coffee soon?" Andy looked at her. Sharon bit her lip, and she looked at the kids. She looked back at Andy, "I'll check with my sitter, but yes, soon. I'd enjoy that very much."

"Night, Sharon," he said with a small nod and another warm smile. "It's good to see you smile."

Sharon didn't know what to say. She put her hand up to her mouth, surprised at what he'd said. Before she could respond, he was down the steps, the kids around him, making his way to his car. Sharon offered a small wave before she pulled her own kids back in the house.

"Coffee. It was simple and would be a nice way to settle into this new arrangement. She had questions, though, mainly logistical. They'd have to go to his place. She couldn't be bringing him back to her house with the sitter and the kids. It was time to get her kids in bed, and after that, she'd sit down and think over this new arrangement. The first time had been spontaneous, but now, now that they were going to try this, she had to think about what this all meant to her.