A/N: Merry Christmas, dear readers! This chapter was not part of the story, but after I published the last chapter, it felt like it was necessary to progress this story and introduce a conflict that will later become central in this story. I hope that you all have a lovely holiday season and enjoy this chapter.


Sharon stretched in bed, her palms finding the padded headboard and pushing against it as she arched her back until she heard popping sounds coming from her spine and shoulders. Next to her, Andy squirmed.

"I hate it when you do that," he groaned as Sharon rolled on her side to face him, tangling her feet with his.

Sharon smiled at him softly. Sharon's post-coital stretching always made her feel true release like she could relax into her own skin. Like how some people smoked after having sex, she stretched until her joints popped back into place. Why Andy felt that it was cringe-worthy was beyond her understanding.

Sharon pressed her lips against his and slid one of her legs up and down his calf, enjoying the coarseness of his hair against the smooth skin of her foot.

"At least you're calmer now," he said and cupped her cheek in his palm. Sharon looked utterly beautiful in her afterglow despite the perspiration on her brow and chest.

Sharon hummed softly, not committing to agreeing with him. There was still a lot on her mind, and the issues wouldn't disappear just because she had amazing sex with her husband, and Sharon wished she could push the problems out of her mind for tonight. Usually, when they spent their night at this hotel room, they did it to forget about a case, not deal with death or grief – just her and Andy, encapsulated in their little bubble in the honeymoon suite that had a huge bed with eight hundred thread count sheets. Except that today the bubble had burst, and Sharon felt raw and distracted, although Andy has done all in his power throughout the evening to make it just about the two of them.

"What?" Andy asked when he noticed Sharon's pensive state.

"It's that new position," Sharon sighed.

By the look on his face, Sharon could tell that Andy was not keen on speaking about work, only moments after they made love. She was ruining the mood, and she felt guilty for it, but at the same time, she needed to unload the burden she was feeling.

"Babe, you don't have to take the job if you don't want it. There's so much going on right now, so if you feel like it's not right for you, you can pass," Andy said.

"It's not that," Sharon sniffled, feeling tears welling in her eyes.

"Then what is it?"

"I found out today that the new position requires me to go back to school," Sharon said. "If the committee chooses me for the job, I'll have to take a one-year program to get my Master's degree."

"That's all? Come on, babe, it's not so bad. You've considered going back to school. So now that might just happen for you."

"I was just toying with the idea, Andy. I never meant to actually do it. My chance to go back to school passed decades ago," Sharon said.

"You were not toying with the idea. Last year we spoke about you taking a few courses because of that degree you wanted to obtain. Remember?" Andy reminded her.

That was true. The previous year, Sharon expressed her interest in studying Humanitarian Relief. The idea emerged after she had seen the suffering people went through during the COVID-19 pandemic. But despite talking about it to Andy, she hadn't actually taken any steps to make it happen.

"Andy, it's unrealistic for me to go back to school now."

"It sounds realistic to me since they want you to do that for the job," Andy said.

"You realize that I haven't actually gotten the job yet?" Sharon arched an eyebrow.

"You got it. They just haven't confirmed it yet, because they also have to consider other candidates. It's politics, and you know it," Andy replied.

Sharon huffed. There was more to it, and she wasn't sure how Andy would react. "Even so, this going back to school thing – it's more complicated than that."

"How so?"

"The program that I'd have to attend is in San Francisco," Sharon replied.

"What does it mean for you?"

"If I get the job, I'd have to relocate for a year." Sharon's voice shook so badly that she could barely finish the sentence. Still being raw from lovemaking and the emotional turmoil she's experienced earlier that day, all of Sharon's dams broke. She wrapped her arms around Andy and buried her face in his chest. The tears burst at once and fell against his warm skin.

Andy held her close and let her sob. His fingers rubbed soothing circles on her bare back, but Sharon could not stop crying. With everything happening in their lives, she wasn't even sure what she was crying about. After what seemed like nearly half an hour, Sharon's tears subsided. She rolled on her side with her back to Andy and welcomed his enveloping arms that drew her to him.

Sharon closed her eyes and let a few remaining tears flow down from her eyes. "I don't want to leave." Her voice was broken.

"I don't want you to leave either," Andy said and pressed a kiss to the back of her shoulder. "But if that's what it takes for you to develop your career and do something that makes you happy, I would never forgive myself if I stopped you just because I was being selfish."

"Doesn't it make me selfish, though?"

"No, because you're doing this so you can help others in the long run," Andy said.

"I wish you could come with me," Sharon said.

"It's not impossible. I could take a sabbatical, and we could move to San Francisco for a year. It would be exciting."

"They won't let you do that," Sharon said. "Because of your age and your preexisting medical condition, if you take a sabbatical, they'll force you into retirement."

"Can they do that?" Andy asked.

Sharon turned to face him. "I don't want you to sacrifice your job for me. If I get the job and have to leave for a year, we'll figure it out."

"Okay, but promise me that you'll take the recruitment process seriously and not sabotage your own chances just so you can stay in LA," Andy said.

"I promise," Sharon said and entwined her fingers with his.

Andy's thumb traced the lines of the tattoo on Sharon's inner wrist, and his touch slowly began to calm her nerves and ease her anxiety. She snuggled into his side and tucked her face into the crook of his neck. Her eyelids became heavy, and she felt her body sinking deeper into the mattress until sleep took over her, taking away her worries for the time being.

-TBC-