"Wake up, sleepyhead." Robert whispered into his wife's ear as he kneeled against the side of the bed. Brushing a light kiss over her cheek as he pulled away.

Andy's eyes fluttered open and she was greeted by the smile and piercing brown eyes of her handsome husband. Waking up to that face would never get old. There were just a couple problems. "You're too chipper and definitely overdressed," she said, sleep thick in her voice.

"But I brought coffee," Robert teased and handed Andy the warm mug as she sat up in bed. He sat down on the edge of the bed and watched her eyes close in happiness after that first sip, a grateful sigh escaping her lips. Her hair was a mess of wild curls and the soft grey sheet barely covered her naked body.

"I really, really appreciate coffee in bed but I generally prefer to start my days off with morning sex," She said with a flirtatious, sleepy smile.

"It was your decision to host Friendsgiving," Robert replied back simply, doing his best to resist her charm.

Andy rolled her eyes playfully and put her coffee mug on the bedside table. "I think we still have time for a quickie." She leaned in to kiss him.

"People will be here in a few hours..." Robert said between kisses. "I'll make it up to you...I promise." He added before getting up.

Watching her husband walk towards the door, "I'm holding you to that." She grumbled.

Freshly showered with slightly damp hair, donning shorts and a t-shirt, Andy made her way to the kitchen. Robert stood against the island with his ipad in hand.

"Checking your spreadsheet again?" Andy teased.

"Laugh at me all you want to, my spreadsheet is making sure we don't miss anything," Robert countered.

"It's a get together, not a 5 alarm. You put out some food and drinks, people come, they socialize, have a good time, send them home, mission accomplished." Andy said with a smile.

"Are you done?" Robert asked, feigning annoyance. "Ready to actually help me get the food and drinks you speak of ready?"

"Let me have my fun...it's cute that you want everything to be just right." Andy said.

"Cute?" Robert questioned. "Nothing about me is cute."

"Your wife begs to differ," Andy replied and leaned up for a kiss. "Also, I'm pretty sure, being cute gets you laid."

Robert shook his head, they shared a laugh and set about getting things ready. To make things easy they ordered a fried turkey from the best cajun restaurant in town and just had sides to prep and a table to set... With music coming out of their Bose speaker, they got into an easy rhythm sharing the kitchen. A few hours had passed and it seemed they were in a good spot. People shouldn't be arriving for another 30 minutes or so. Andy had set the table, the bar was stocked, sides were cooked or prepped, the charcuterie board was complete and the turkey was warming in the oven.

Checking his watch and seeing just how much time was left before guests arrived, Robert couldn't help but think his wife may have been right. They could have made time for a quickie this morning...but it was probably better to be safe than sorry. She was washing her hands after putting the finishing touches on the apps. Wrapping an arm around her waist, Robert pushed her hair aside and dropped wet kisses on Andy's neck. "You may have been right," Robert whispered.

Acting playfully ignorant, Andy asked. "About?" She knew they were ahead of schedule and seeing that there wasn't much else to do, Robert was no doubt regretting not taking her up on her recommendation that they have morning sex.

Robert circled his wife's waist and Andy turned in his arms to look up at him. "Our time table..." Robert murmured as he leaned in for a kiss. His hand massaged her hip ever so gently and Andy sighed in pleasure, with each pass of his tongue. Robert took their kiss deeper and deeper and it wasn't long before Andy felt that familiar fire stirring in her belly that always followed her husband's kisses. As if he could read her mind, Robert lifted her onto the countertop so they were now eye level as he stood between her legs. With arms wrapped around her husband's neck, Andy matched Robert kiss for kiss.

She was nearly swept up in desire as Robert trailed open mouthed kisses down her neck and his hands traveled up her loose her t-shirt to caress her skin. Just as she was about to green light their pre-get together escapade, she heard a knock at the door. "Was that a..." Andy said, pulling away.

Robert looked over at the clock on the stove. "It's still early, nobody's supposed to be here yet."

Hopping down off the counter, Andy grumbled. "Well, apparently, they didn't get the memo that you never arrive early to a dinner party. She ran a hand through her hair and headed over to open the door.

"Happy Friendsgiving,"Dean said from the door with fake enthusiasm. Taking in Andy's appearance, he added. "I'm sorry... I know I'm early. I'm a single dad with a busy toddler who's driving me nuts."

"Get in here," Andy said, taking the diaper bag from her friend as he pushed in the stroller. "Pru is an angel." She added, already pulling the little girl out of her stroller.

"Well, by all means...please take her." Dean said jokingly. He loved his daughter, but like every parent knows, sometimes they drive you absolutely crazy.

Robert came over to join the 3 of them in the front entryway. "Couldn't wait to get the party startled, huh Miller?" He joked a little.

"Well, I did bring the supplies for my legendary ritas." Dean said proudly holding up the bag.

"Bar cart is this way," Robert replied with a smile and led Dean back towards the kitchen.

"I'm gonna run up and get changed," Andy said, holding Pru in her arms tightly. "I'll take Pru upstairs with me." She grabbed a soft book and her pacifier from the diaper bag. With that she headed upstairs, set Pru up on the floor to play while she dressed and diffused her curls. While she finished upstairs the rest of the crew started to arrive.

"No Emmett," Dean said as Travis grabbed a beer.

"He's working, but said he may stop by after his shift at the hospital. Honestly, he's been working a ton of overtime so I doubt it." Travis said.

"Knock, knock," Vic said loudly as she entered. Hands full with a still warm apple pie. Travis headed over to shut the door behind her.

"This smells amazing, " Robert said, taking the pie from her hands and heading toward the kitchen. "Come on in. Make yourself comfortable."

"Hughey!" Dean exclaimed. "You made it." They shared a short embrace. He was happy to see Theo wasn't behind her.

"Where's Pru?" Vic questioned.

"Upstairs with Andy. Dad needed a break." Dean smiled a little. "Marg?" He asked.

"Is that even a question? Of course. Let's get this party started." Vic said loudly with a big smile.

"And where's Theo this afternoon," Travis inquired, noticing she was dateless like he was.

"Working, but he really wanted to come." Vic replied. She was so glad they had been able to come to a consensus and things with her and Travis were back to being in a good place.

By the time Andy returned downstairs everyone had arrived. They had drinks in hand, were socializing, passing Pru around and playing with her. A good time was being had. She felt oddly emotional as she checked in with the pockets of people. All the people she considered more family than friends at this point. It filled her up to see everyone together, safe and happy despite the challenging year 2020 had been for all of them. Zeroing in on the man she was looking for, she rounded the corner of the bar and slid an arm around Robert's back, hugging him from behind. "Hey."

"Hey," Robert replied back as he turned in her arms and pulled her into a brief kiss. They were both relaxed and present, enjoying the house full of people. Still holding one another loosely, they looked up as Maya's voice found them.

"Oh God," Maya said playfully, rolling her eyes as she spotted them in the kitchen. Breaking away from her conversation with Carina, Ben & Bailey. "Promise me you won't be like that all night."

Andy and Robert both smiled a bit, but Carina's voice is what she heard first. "Bambina," they're in love."

"What she said," Andy grinned.

A short while later, with the extra seating added to the table and Pru finally down for a nap thanks to Robert, the Station 19 family sat down for dinner. Looking around the table at her people. The ones who she would literally run into fires after and most importantly the love of her life, Andy's heart swelled with love and gratitude. It had been such a hard year, but here they all were and it was important to stop and acknowledge that.

"Okay, okay..." Andy said loudly, getting the attention of the table. "I know it's corny, but my dad always made us do it, so let's not stop the tradition now. I'd like us all to share with the group one thing we're thankful for." She looked around ready to hear mumbles and grumbles in protest, but didn't get pushback at all. Instead, before she could even go first, the group started.

"I'll go," Ben said. He grabbed Bailey's hand in his and held it tightly. "I'm thankful for my health. After the cancer scare this past year, I'm more aware than ever just how fortunate I am to be in good health."

Bailey leaned into Ben and said, "I second that and will add, I'm thankful for medicine. In a year where an unknown virus has ravaged the global population, hospitals and their staff, researchers, scientists have all come together like never before to bring about solutions. We aren't there yet, but everyday, I feel like we're getting closer." She said with a small smile.

"I know exactly what you mean," Carina said. "I'm thankful to have spent time back in my home country, where things are still so bad...just being able to do something, help in some way, has made a huge difference." She added.

"And I'm thankful that my wife made it back so we could actually make it down the aisle," Maya said, holding Carina's gaze. "Also, I'm thankful for teamwork. This team has been through so much this past year, but we keep stepping up and finding ways to come together."

Surprisingly, Jack popped up next. "I'm thankful for a lot of things..." he began. "But especially that Marsha is alive and fully recovered from COVID. It's crazy how someone can come to mean so much in such a short period of time, but she has." The group smiled and nodded at his words, each of them understanding in some way exactly what he was saying.

"Well, I think it goes without saying," Dean said, "I'm thankful for all of you being a part of Pru's tribe. There isn't another group of people on this planet that I think would be better for her to grow up with. I'm indebted to each one of you for how you support us both." He nodded genuinely as he spoke.

"We love Pru," Vic said. "And you too, of course." She didn't catch the emotion wash across Dean's face because it was so brief, but it was definitely there. "I'm thankful for all of you helping to put out that fire in my parent's restaurant. Things could have been worse, I definitely know that. All three of us are so grateful." She said thinking of the conversations she'd had with her parents over the past few months. After the fire, they had all been spending more time together and reconnecting in a way that she didn't think would ever happen.

Travis patted her leg gently and began speaking. "I'm thankful for how all of you just accept me for who I am. You guys know things with my parents have been even more complicated than usual these past few months and it just reminds me even more how grateful I am to have joined a firehouse that's not just a team, but a family." Travis said thoughtfully.

Feeling a bit like a broken record Robert spoke up, "I'm also thankful for each of you. You've all had my back this past year and I'll never forget that." He rested a hand atop Andy's and caught her eye. "I'm also especially thankful for my amazing wife." He felt her squeeze his hand back and smiled gently. They both knew things could be so different, but they'd weathered so many challenges and were still standing.

Andy grinned at Robert and said, "I love you too, Babe." The table table ooo'd an awed a little at the term of endearment. Everyone was happy that Robert and Andy were in the place they were now. "I'm thankful for so many things, but at this moment what's top of mind... friends who have become family. I love all of you and I can't imagine my life without you." She added.

"That seems like a good place for a toast," Dean said. Raising his margarita glass, "To friends that become family." The rest of the table followed suit and they commenced eating.

After dinner everyone milled about eating dessert and chatting. They didn't have a huge backyard, but Robert had set up corn hole in the small patch of grass and the fire pit was going on the nicely decorated patio area. Maya, Dean and Jack were back there. Meanwhile, Bailey and Carina sat at the kitchen bar chatting about the hospital. Carina was holding Pru. Robert had started putting food away and tidying up the kitchen.

"Ok, spill," Andy said while it was just her, Vic and Travis around. "You've been looking at us weird all afternoon." She added in a hushed whisper. It had been a couple months since she felt like her and Robert were under a microscope. After they reconciled, it had taken a little time, but eventually the team had given them their space. So Andy was surprised to feel watchful eyes on them today.

"What?" Vic tried to pretend they hadn't been observing the married couple. When Andy served her a look that said talk or else she surrendered a bit. "Okay...okay...we're just happy to see how happy you guys are. At the station you're mostly professional, so it's a bit strange to see you all lovey-dovey." Vic added hand motions for emphasis.

"I second that," Travis said. "I mean, we're definitely happy for you both, but I heard Sullivan call you 'babe'." The expression on his face was unreadable.

"Oh," Andy said with a chuckle, surprised at their feedback. She wasn't sure what she'd been expecting, but it certainly wasn't that. Looking across the room in Robert's direction she smiled, he was chatting it up with Bailey and Carina in the kitchen, "I don't know what to say...at home we're just us."

Seeing the trio in conversation, Ben made his way over. "What are we talking about here?" He asked, taking a sip of his margarita.

"Apparently these two can't get over mine and Robert's affection." Andy said with a slight roll of the eyes.

"Oh this is nothing," Ben said. "When we had them over for dinner, they were all over each other." He made googly eyes and laughed.

"Okay, that is not true." Andy piped up and punched Ben in his arm. She felt herself flushing a bit at the attention.

"You had them over for dinner?" Vic and Travis asked in unison, confused since the team had never been over to Warren's place.

Seeing their reactions, Ben searched for a way out. "I think I heard my wife calling me." He hightailed it in Bailey's direction.

Andy shook her head and said, "Married couple date night. They hosted. Very casual." This garnered reluctant approval from her two dear friends.

Some time later...

Andy folded the dish towel and threw it casually over the edge of the sink to dry. Picking up her glass of red wine and taking a sip, she looked across their open main level and smiled at her husband. His head was leaned back onto the top of the couch and his eyes were closed. He'd put so much time and energy into making today amazing and it paid off in spades. The food was delicious, the team had a great time and everyone agreed they expected another invitation back for a game night. Wine in one hand, Andy grabbed her cell phone from the counter and headed in Robert's direction.

"What are you thinking about?" She questioned as she sat down next to Robert and rested her head against his bicep.

Robert lifted his arm and pulled her into his chest. Brushing his wife's forehead with a soft kiss, he said. "Today was a good day."

"It was, wasn't it?" Andy smiled. "Guess your spreadsheet can stay," She joked.

Robert reached down to tickle her side slightly and Andy erupted in laughter. "Hey!"

They settled back down and enjoyed the comfortable silence after a house full of people. Andy reached over to the coffee table and picked up her cell phone wanting to look through the pictures she'd snapped. The happy couple spent a few minutes looking through the photos and Andy stopped on one where Robert was holding Pru. Her head was resting on his shoulder, one of her small hands was curled under his neck and she was falling asleep. "Who knew you'd be such a baby whisperer." Andy said. The house was full of people who loved Pru and because of all the attention she'd been getting, it had been hard to get her to settle down for a nap, but eventually Robert had been the person she fell asleep with.

"I could say the same about you?" Robert replied thinking about his own observations of Andy and Pru. She seemed to be a natural.

"I guess that will come in handy one day," Andy said casually. They hadn't discussed kids and she didn't know if she wanted to get into a full on discourse about it...but she couldn't not acknowledge that watching her husband care for the small child had done things to her insides. When Andy looked over at Robert, she saw confusion on his face.

"What do you mean?" He asked with genuine curiosity.

"That one day when our kids are fighting their sleep, you'll work your magic on them and get them to settle down." Andy replied like it was the most natural thing.

"You want kids?" Robert asked. They hadn't discussed it, but he knew she wasn't a fan of babies. Pru was the only exception that he knew of. At one point in his life he'd wanted them and believed he would have them, but life had taken a different turn. Now he was just grateful for a second chance at love and the fact that after a few bumpy months, they were stronger than they ever had been. The marriage counseling, daily check-ins with each other and weekly date nights were all keeping them communicating and connecting.

"You don't?" Andy replied back, answering his question with a question. She was fairly certain he wanted kids or at least he had at one point.

"I just didn't..." Robert tried to find the right words to say.

Seeing her husband struggle a bit, Andy took pity. "You're not totally off base...I was definitely the person up until this past year who didn't see herself being a mom or having kids...but a lot has changed. Most importantly, you and us. When I think about our future, I.." Andy found herself now searching for the words.

"...I see it too." Robert finished for her with a gentle smile. "Big house with a yard. Two kids, maybe a boy and a girl. You'll teach them dance and I'll teach them basketball. And it will be amazing."

Andy reached up and cupped Robert's cheek before bringing him into a kiss. "It will be amazing."

They sat there a few minutes longer before Robert made his way to his feet. With a sexy grin, he reached out a hand to his wife and said, "C'mon let's go to bed. I think I have some making up to do."

Andy took Robert's hand and they headed upstairs to put a cherry on top of a perfect day.