Happy Season Five Premier Day! It's pretty clear that our faves will not be bringin' the joy for this ep...but at least we get them back on our screens. Read this update for the reunion we wish we were getting in 5X1 but aren't. Sending massive love, Reddixon!
When Vic barreled into the bunks, the panicked look on her face was clear to Ben, Maya & Travis who were freshly showered and changing into their civies. Having overheard bits and pieces...including the worst part of Andy & Robert's argument, she knew the team had to do something.
"Houston, we have a problem." Vic's tone was loud and exasperated. She ran a frustrated hand across her face.
"No, no more problems..." Ben said. "That shift kicked my ass. I'm exhausted."
"Copy that," Maya groaned. She was still adjusting to being back and today's shift had been non-stop.
"No...sorry...nope. Neither of you get to opt out here. You're both going to need to talk to them," Vic said, rambling a bit.
"Okay...why don't you rewind a bit and tell us what you're talking about," Travis finally said. He could see from the look on Vic's face that she was concerned about something.
"I was headed into the turnout closet when I heard Sullivan and Herrera going at it..." Vic said.
"They were having sex in the turnout closet?" Ben and Maya asked in unison.
"What?" Vic said, with confusion in her brow. "Arguing. They were fighting and it was...it was not good." She shook her head for emphasis. "I think they're done."
"No?" Travis said.
"That's impossible," Maya agreed.
"You must be missing something," Ben added.
"The way Herrera walked out of that closet... I'm pretty sure I'm right. Someone has to do something," Vic said. She was convinced of what she'd seen.
"I thought they were getting better..." Travis said a bit dumbfounded and to no one in particular. At the start of the last shift everyone had noticed that things seemed to be different between Andy & Robert. No one had asked, but the energy felt better and Andy was smiling again after weeks of being unhappy.
"Andy was out of here so quickly, I thought it was just the bad call," Maya said, shaking her head and feeling a bit frustrated. She had seen that Andy was upset and figured she'd text her later to check in rather than go after her. She was exhausted and just wanted to sleep in her own bed. A month at home had thrown her routine completely off track.
"Sullivan's slated for a double, I'll check in," Ben said.
"I'll call Andy," Maya said. "See what I can do."
As Maya, Ben & Travis talked amongst themselves, Vic realized she might be able to provide a perspective that no one else in the station could. Her relationship with Robert, Sullivan... she didn't even know what to call him. They weren't exactly friends, but there is one person who she knew could probably get through to him, if he were still here.
Robert was a bit taken aback by Vic's presence. He was walking out of the Captain's bunk headed towards his desk when she entered his office. She didn't knock, seemed a bit flustered and barely stopped to look at him before she began speaking.
"So…I wasn't really sure if I should come in here because we're friends-ish…not really the kind that talk to each other about our love lives, but I feel like we came to an understanding after Luke and I just think I should tell you what I think he'd say if he were here." Vic finally took a breath, but continued to pace in the small room.
Leaning up against the back desk, Robert eyed the woman in front of him curiously. "Okay…" he finally said, feeling like he was fairly certain he didn't really want to hear what Vic was going to say but would listen nonetheless.
"In his final moments, facing death, all Luke wanted was to be with the woman he loved. The woman you love is alive and well and breathing and you could be with her. You could be with your person and you're choosing not to be," Vic said with disbelief in her voice.
"Look, I appreciate what you're trying to do here, but…" Robert tried to interject, but Vic kept talking, determined to get her words out.
"I don't know the details and I don't need to, but what is obvious is that you both love each other and you're both miserable without each other. I also know that you would be crazy to let Andy go. She's worth fighting for," Vic added.
Listening to every word Vic said, he knew she was right. Robert couldn't help but feel a bit defeated though. "I'm trying, Hughes, I really am…"
Vic rolled her eyes and sighed loudly before pinning Robert with a firm gaze. Hands on hips with full sass she said, "The Robert Sullivan who paraded in here a couple years ago pushing us to make an already great firehouse even better, the man who recovered from what could have been a career ending injury, surgery and recovery wouldn't accept that defeated, bullshit excuse. Try harder." Realizing all the words that she'd just spoken and feeling the confidence fueled by adrenaline waning, she was unsure where to go next. "Look, all I'm saying is... if Luke were here he'd tell you to fight."
"You done?" Robert asked with a small tug of his lips upward. Looking across his small office he could see more clearly than ever how Luke had fallen for Victoria Hughes.
Vic stopped pacing for a moment, paused and said, "Yeah... I think I am." Not intending to give Robert a chance to reply, Vic headed towards the door.
"Vic," Robert called out after her. It was the first time he could remember using her first name, but it seemed right. When she turned back towards him he said, "Thank you."
Vic nodded her head and left the office as quickly as she'd barged in.
ACROSS TOWN...
"Prima," Michelle answered the phone, sleep thick in her voice. "It better be an emergency, why are you calling me so early?"
"Can I come over?" Andy replied into the phone, the tears in her voice evident.
The sound of Andy's voice woke Michelle up immediately. "Are you okay? What happened?" She questioned.
"I just... Robert & I..." Andy struggled to find her words.
"Drive safe. I'll put some coffee on," Michelle said thoughtfully while slipping out of bed and throwing on a thin robe over her shorts and tank.
"Do you have anything stronger?" Andy questioned mostly rhetorically. "Also, I'm already here." She'd left the station knowing she couldn't go home and out front of her sistercousin's is where she ended up.
A few moments later, Andy landed on Michelle's doorstep and was instantly enveloped into a hug. Standing in the foyer of Michelle's place, Andy let the emotions of the past 24 hours out. Her body racked with tears. She could only describe the feelings whirling around within her as heartbroken. Michelle poured her cousin a whiskey, made her own cup of coffee and said, "Okay, talk to me."
"I don't even know where to start?" Andy said as she took a sip of the amber colored liquid. It burned going down, but warmed her belly instantly. She took another sip.
"When you said you and Robert were in a rough patch a few weeks ago, you didn't mention that you thought your marriage might be over..." Michelle said gently.
"I know..." Andy said, covering her face in a bit of guilt. "I guess I just..." She was nervous to say what was on her mind.
Michelle tipped her head to the side. "I mean, I know we're still getting reacquainted, but you have to know I would be here for you."
"It's not that..." Andy finally said. "I guess... I'm already seeing a therapist and that's weird enough. I didn't want to loop you into my drama too." She said with an uncomfortable smile.
Michelle chuckled a little. "Ahhh... didn't want to be analyzed or counseled by your therapist cousin, huh?" Andy shrugged her shoulders a little. "I get it..." Michelle smiled. "But you should know, before I'm a therapist or mental health professional I'm family. We're sistercousins, Andy. You can count on me."
"I guess I'm still getting used to that," Andy said as she reached over and grabbed her hand for a squeeze. Shifting a bit on the couch, she got more comfortable and decided to dive in. "So...the rough patch I told you about, was obviously a little more than a rough patch..." With that Andy began recounting the details of the past few weeks and what landed her on Michelle's doorstep that morning.
"Andy," Michelle said, "I can't believe you've been going through all this on your own."
"I mean, Maya's been great. Supporting me as much as she can and therapy has actually been really helpful." Andy watched Michelle smile. "Not just just to help understand what happened in my relationship with Robert, but to help me understand me."
"It's crazy how much our childhood traumas impact us as adults and often we don't realize the baggage we're taking into relationships. Then something happens and all this crap comes up that you weren't expecting. And it's not just you... I mean you do realize that?" Michelle questioned.
"Oh, yeah." Andy said thinking that there was for sure stuff Robert had experienced with his family going on that was impacting his ability to move forward. She was quiet for a moment before admitting, "I'm not sure where to go from here." At the height of her anger, she'd told Robert she was done. She hadn't meant it, she didn't want to walk away, but also knew she couldn't stay in the holding pattern anymore.
"Well, for starters you'll stay here as long as you need." Michelle began and Andy tried to interrupt her, but Michelle put a hand up. "You'll stay as long as you need."
"Thank you," Andy managed with a small smile.
"And...I guess... you have to figure out if you meant what you said or if you're just angry and hurt and tired..."
"All of the above," Andy said with a yawn.
Michelle smiled and started getting up from the couch. "The good thing is you don't have to figure it out now. "C'mon. You're exhausted and the guest room is made up." With that, Andy followed her cousin upstairs. Just as she was about to cross the threshold of her new home away from home, Michelle added. "For what it's worth, I think if you were really done and ready to walk away, you wouldn't feel so conflicted. Maybe give him another chance? The therapist in me says...try and talk it out one more time."
Andy nodded her head but didn't reply. She knew deep in her heart that she wasn't ready to give up on them. Shutting the door behind her, grabbing a change of clothes from her go bag, she fell into bed and went to sleep.
BACK AT THE STATION
Vic hadn't been gone long before he heard a knock at the office door. Looking up Robert saw Ben on the other side and gave a motion for him to enter.
"You too?" Robert questioned before Ben could say anything. Ben gave him a quizzical look and Robert realized he didn't know Vic had been by. Shaking his head he said, "Vic just left."
"Ahh..." Ben nodded in recognition. So that is where she had jetted off to while he, Travis and Maya finished getting changed. He had debated what approach to take. At this point, he'd had multiple conversations with Robert calling him a stubborn idiot in so many ways and he'd been where Robert was. It wasn't an easy place to be. Not one that a man takes lightly. With that in mind he opted out of the preachy, what are you doing approach and tried something else. "She overheard some of your argument with Andy."
"Yeah," Robert said, a bit chagrined. Not his finest moment that was for sure.
"So you here to give me another get off your ass and do something speech?" Robert said a bit sarcastically remembering Vic's monologue.
Ben laughed a little. "Nope. Just here to ask you what you need right now?"
Robert paused for a moment and breathed. He was tempted to tell Ben he didn't need anything, but he knew that would be a lie. He was so frustrated he felt like he couldn't breathe. He felt pretty worthless seeing the hurt on Andy's face as she left the turnout closet and wanted to go after her but honestly didn't know what he would say. Furthermore, he was on deck for a double so he really should be trying to get some sleep before they got any calls. "Honestly..." Robert replied, "To hit something."
Ben nodded his head, "Ok. Get your gloves. I'll meet you in the gym."
"Warren, you don't have to do that, you're exhausted and need to get home to the fam..." Robert tried to give him an out knowing he had a full plate between Joey, Tuck & Miranda.
"Your ugly mug was the first face I saw after surgery a few months ago." Ben said with a chuckle and saw Robert cut a small grin. "You had my back. I have yours."
Robert gave an appreciative nod. It had been a long time since he'd had a relationship like the one he and Ben were developing and it was taking some getting used to.
It was about an hour later, Robert and Ben were both breathing heavy and dripping sweat. They'd sparred and Ben had held the bag while Robert got out his frustration. Both men focused on the workout and intentionally didn't talk about anything but boxing, reps, hits and rounds.
Stripping his gloves off and grabbing his water bottle, Robert finally asked. "You're really not gonna say anything, huh?" Ben was a man of his word and if he said he wasn't gonna bring up Andy and Robert's marriage, he wasn't going to. But Robert was still certain he had some things he probably wanted to say.
Ben paced a bit as he caught his breath and gulped down some water. "I mean... it's not that I don't have anything to say. I just...I've been where you are and sometimes you just want people to shut up. Not give you their well meaning advice because at the end of the day the one who has to make the call is you."
"I appreciate that," Robert said thoughtfully. He trusted Ben though and knowing that he'd successfully faced separation from his wife and moved to the other side. They were happy and their marriage enviable. His insights could be helpful. "So what aren't you saying?"
"They say, time heals all wounds, but that's a lie. It's what you do with that time that counts." Ben took a breath before continuing. "And... you've taken time, you've taken space and now it's time to man up. Decide that you want your wife more than you want to be right." Ben shrugged his shoulders a bit.
Robert shook his head slowly as Ben finished. "Not pulling any punches..."
"You asked." Ben said back, his face showing absolutely no apology.
"Touche," Robert said dryly knowing he had in fact inquired about Ben's opinion and to some extent knew that whatever was said would sting a little.
"Look Robert, one of the reasons I grew to respect you is that you play to win," Ben said. "When you're committed to something, you're all in. And it doesn't matter if it's the job, or rehabbing your leg or recovery." He checked Robert's expression and saw that he was tracking. "But for whatever reason, with your wife, you're playing not to lose. You're keeping your cards close to your chest and trying to protect yourself in case this blows up...the problem is that you're pretty much guaranteeing failure. You're pushing her away and it seems painfully obvious that if you don't get back in the game, you're going to let the best thing in your life walk away."
"Maybe she already has," Robert said a bit dejectedly remembering Andy's words from earlier that morning.
"If you've not signed the dotted line on divorce papers...hell even if you had... I'd pretty much bet everything I have in the bank all Andy needs is your forgiveness," Ben said. "And you showing her that you're willing to do whatever it takes to make your marriage work." Ben was certain that love wasn't the issue between his two friends. They had both been miserable apart the past few weeks. They just needed to forgive each other, recommit and work on their marriage together.
"But what does that even mean?" Robert said with frustration in his voice. "I feel like I'm trying, doing the things I know to do… we make some progress then boom something happens and we're back to square one."
"How long did you and Claire date before you got married?" Ben asked a bit tentatively.
Robert thought for a moment. "Mmmm...over a year," he eventually answered.
"And did you fight?" Ben asked.
Robert laughed a bit. "Oh, yeah."
"At any point did you think it might be over? Like something so bad had happened that you were sure you guys wouldn't make it?" Ben shot another question out.
"Yeah… I did something pretty stupid once." Robert thought back to the time he'd broken up with Claire.
"And how long have you and Andy been together?" Ben questioned again, knowing Robert likely knew where he was headed at this point.
"But I love Andy," Robert said as kind of a knee jerk reaction.
"Look, I get it." Ben said with a shrug of the shoulders. "Sometimes love is just love. You just know. I knew quickly with Miranda, but it didn't mean we didn't still have stuff to work out. She had a big ole career and Tuck. It was complicated and it took time. You and Andy haven't had that much time to navigate all the bumps that come up in relationships. "
"I hear you, I think I just thought I'd be better at it this time around," Robert finally admitted.
"Don't get all victim-y on me. It's not a good look." Ben gave Robert a disapproving stare. "Relationships are hard work for everyone. You don't marry someone because you think it'll be easy, you do it knowing it'll be hard as hell, but you love them so damn much all the hard is worth it."
"How long have you wanted to say that?" Robert joked, lightening the mood a bit.
Ben laughed. "Look, great marriages are built. The man upstairs isn't droppin' happy relationships down from the sky. Just like you built your career and got to where you are now...you have to put that same kind of effort and more into your marriage."
"And what if I feel like I don't know how to make it work?" Robert asked somewhat vulnerably. He was so frustrated by the blindspots that kept popping up. He was normally a much more rational guy. Able to problem solve and think strategically, but here… in this situation, he was a mess and he knew it.
"You get help." Ben replied quickly. "After I went back home, even though Miranda had been in therapy, that didn't magically fix the things in our relationship that had gone wrong. She kept seeing her therapist and still does, we did marriage counseling together and I went to some solo sessions too. It was uncomfortable...and hard...but it helped. And now that we're on the other side of it, we're unshakeable. I know we could face the worst and make it through it. " Ben said as he thought about the 4 months of separation that was the worst time of his life.
The two friends chatted a little while longer before parting ways, Ben heading towards the lockers and showers, while Robert headed back down to the Captain's office.
After sparring with Ben, Robert had barely enough time to shower and grab a bite to eat before the B-Shift was dispatched. They had multiple calls, which helped him focus on work and not the situation with his wife, but it left him beyond worn out. When he made it to his hotel that next morning all he wanted to do was collapse into bed. He texted Richard and let him know he needed to reschedule their meeting for later in the week, ordered room service and turned on SportsCenter while he waited. After a late breakfast, he changed into a pair of sweats and fell into bed. He was out like a light, almost immediately slipping into a deep slumber.
Looking from left to right, Robert took in the view of the woodsy path as he walked. There were huge trees everywhere, but just up ahead he could see what looked to be a clearing that opened into a field. Looking down, he felt like himself, was wearing his clothes, but couldn't figure out exactly where he was nor how he had gotten there. It was a strange, out of body feeling. Just before sunset, the sky was various shades of yellow, orange and red. As he gazed towards the clearing, he saw a shadowy figure that he felt inexplicably pulled towards. Making out the person's figure, his slow gate picked up speed into a run. The faster he ran, the more he was able to make out. A flowy white dress, long black hair blowing in the wind, then brown skin and a side profile.
"Claire," Robert exclaimed as he scooped up the woman into his arms and twirled her in a circle.
"Bobby," Claire replied gently as she found her footing on the ground. She cupped his cheeks and saw the tears in his eyes. "It's good to see you." She couldn't help the bright smile on her face as she looked at the man she loved. He'd aged and life since she'd been gone hadn't been easy on him, but he was still as handsome as he ever was. "Or should I say, Robert." She joked in a serious voice.
Robert didn't catch the joke as he tried to make sense of what was going on. Confusion furrowed deep in his brow, but despite it, he too wore a smile. "How...where...are you..."
"How isn't important...we're in your dream...and I'm real-ish." Claire said a bit vaguely answering Robert's unasked questions. Grabbing his hand she said, "C'mon. We don't have much time."
Still in shock and amazement, Robert held her hand tightly, following her lead as they walked through the open field. He shook his head just a bit before asking, "What are you doing here?"
"I'm here to help." Claire said plainly.
"You know about..." Robert stopped walking, Claire followed suit and looked up at him.
Interrupting him she finished his statement, "Andy." She smiled and started walking again. "Yes, I know about Andy." They were quiet for a moment before Claire added, "She's good for you. She challenges you, doesn't take your crap and loves you so much. That's all I could ever want for you."
Robert couldn't help the comfort he found in Claire's words. "It didn't occur to me that you'd be...I don't know...watching from wherever you are." He said a bit disconcerted at the thought.
"Well... I'm not really watching per-say, the Universe has me busy with all sorts of special assignments, but I do check in on you from time to time." Claire's voice was unusually chipper and when Robert looked over, she seemed highly amused.
"Wow, I just don't..." Still trying to make sense of what was going on, Robert tried to find words for his next question, but again was interrupted.
"Shhh, we have more important things to talk about and I've got to get back home before someone realizes I'm missing." Claire looked to the left of her at Robert and smiled. He still had a bit of a bewildered look on his face. "Do you remember when we broke up?" She asked with a bit of mischief in her voice. "Well...when you broke up with me."
"Not my finest hour," Robert said dryly as he remembered Claire's devastated face when he told her he wasn't sure he wanted something long term. It was a complete fabrication and he knew it when he said it, but they were getting too serious, too fast and while something in him said to follow her anywhere, fear deep in his gut said 'run'.
"We definitely agree on that...you told me, you didn't think you wanted something long term, said you weren't in love and didn't feel as strongly about me as I felt about you. And to top it off, you said that you were sure I could find someone better." Robert cringed a little as Claire recited his words back to him.
"It was a bit more complicated than that." Robert squeaked out despite knowing she was mostly right.
No time for delay, Claire said honestly, "You lied to my face and broke my heart."
"But..." Robert said, his shoulders making his way up to his ears in surrender. "I came to my senses. Realized I was scared and making a mistake. I begged you to forgive me and take me back."
"And because I loved you, I did," Claire said with a grin. "Six months later we were married and we spent a few amazing years together until..." Her smile turned a bit sad and wistful.
"Until," Robert repeated thinking of the horrific day that changed the course of his life forever. A part of him died the day of her accident. From that moment on he'd had a hole in his heart that didn't start to close until Andy. Their relationship had been healing in so many ways. She'd come into his life, a complete surprise and caused him to open back up and actually enjoy life again.
It would have been easy to get stuck there in that moment and in that memory, but Claire knew their time was running out. She had to tell him the things he needed to hear. The things no one but her could say. "Bobby, the reason I could forgive you and still go all in after you hurt me is because I understood that life had given you all sorts of wounds, between your parents, Opa and war, that made trusting someone and going the distance feel impossible. You've had a lot of loss and that can make opening up hard. So you pushed me away, not because you didn't love me, but to try and protect yourself from getting hurt down the road."
Robert nodded at her because he knew that she was right and hearing those words, remembering that time in his life, he realized exactly why she was here. "That's what happened with Andy." He closed his eyes for a moment as understanding washed over him. "She felt betrayed, we argued and she got scared. She questioned everything and pushed me away." Recognition crossing his face. "And I did the same thing..."
"Yes." Claire nodded her head and sighed deeply, despite how stubborn he could be, he was getting it. She gazed over at Robert, "You know in heaven...there really isn't space for regrets. You just come to this place of peace and understanding that things could only ever have happened how they did."
"Guess that's something to look forward to," Robert said a bit morbidly.
"I'm not looking to have you join me here anytime soon," Claire said gently." Quite the opposite actually."
"What does all that mean?" Robert questioned with confusion on his face.
"I don't know why things happened the way they did, but I'm at peace with it. And I'm so grateful for the people I loved and those that loved me, the experiences I had and the joy. I had a full life." She smiled as she remembered her time on earth. "My point is... you're still alive. You still have time, don't waste it."
"I'm trying. I'm just..." Robert struggled to get the words out even now.
"Afraid," Claire finished for him. "You're afraid to go all in because something awful might happen down the road and this argument you've found yourself in is the perfect excuse to say you tried, it didn't work and shut down again."
"Losing you broke me," Robert said honestly. "It took years for me to feel normal again and I just don't have it in me to take another loss like that. I'm tired of losing people I love."
"Well first of all... you've never been normal," Claire teased, which got an annoyed look from Robert. "Second of all, I hate to break it to you, but you aren't special. In life, everyone has losses and big ones. So the likelihood that you're going to face some other hard things is high." She added with a mix of sass and humor.
"You always did have a way of telling me the truth." Robert chuckled as they continued walking.
"I saw how hard my death was for you and I'm sorry. I know you've spent years keeping people at a distance, but have finally started opening up and you're happy. What did you used to say, 'embrace and enjoy'." Claire took a quick glance at Robert and smiled. "You're finally doing that again."
"Embrace and enjoy," Robert repeated. He remembered saying that often. After losing his parents, he'd been on a mission to do work in the world that mattered and to enjoy the life he had. When he met Claire, he was happier than he'd ever been, but losing her felt cruel and deeply painful. He couldn't find a silver lining or positive perspective after that.
Noting that the sky was getting darker, Claire knew she'd have to go soon. "Do you remember how we used to sit on the back patio, under the twinkle lights you almost killed yourself putting up?" She asked.
Robert laughed thinking about how he'd been sure he could get the job done on his own and refused to ask for help, then fell off a ladder. "How could I forget," he replied with a smile.
"We made a lot of plans under those lights, dreamed a lot of dreams..." Claire began. "How many kids we'd have, what our house would look like, how we'd balance my career in finance with your desire to save the world, the places we'd travel..." She looked over at Robert and couldn't name the feeling washing over his face.
Robert was quiet for a moment as they continued to walk. "I haven't thought about all that in years," he said quietly. What he didn't say was it had been too painful to think about all the dreams they had for their life together that would never be. He shoved all those feelings, those hopes for the future down, put them into a box and suited up with armor. He was friendly when he needed to be, always professional, focused on work and enjoyed casual relationships where he kept people at a distance.
"I know," Claire said. "But it's safe now. You've grown. You're stronger. You can dust off those dreams and create a beautiful life now. Andy's your second chance. Don't let your ego or stubbornness or fear get in the way of all that."
"It's not too late?" Robert questioned, unsure whether Claire would have the answers. She wasn't God, she didn't actually know the future, she'd just been giving him advice he needed based on knowing him. He knew the way he left things with Andy wasn't good and there was a part of him that really did believe her when she said she was done.
"No, I don't think that it is, but don't wait." Claire said firmly. Before Robert could reply she said, "Gotta run." Leaning up, she brushed a quick kiss on his cheek and started a slow run away from him. "They're looking for me!" She had joy and delight on her face, happy to have fulfilled her mission. "Go home. Forgive her. You deserve to be happy." She started running in the opposite direction.
"Claire, wait." Robert yelled after her, hoping for just a few more minutes.
Claire stopped her run just briefly. "Oh and Bobby, for god sakes, give her the ring." She waved once more in his direction, blew a kiss from the distance and was gone.
Robert was startled awake by a knock on the door of his hotel room. "Housekeeping." He shook his head a bit to clear the fog and got up to answer the door realizing he must not have put the DND sign on the handle. The room attendant greeted him cheerfully.
"That won't be necessary." Robert said. "I'm checking out early." With that he shut the door and moved hastily about the hotel room packing his belongings. It wasn't long before he was racing through the hotel lobby and meeting the valet for his vehicle.
When he pulled up to their apartment, he threw the SUV in park and didn't bother getting his large bag from the back. Opening the door, he couldn't help but inhale deeply at the smell of home. He didn't see Andy's car out front which he decided worked in his favor. Popping the champagne he'd purchased in the fridge to chill and finding a vase for the two dozen roses he'd also picked up, he went about setting things in motion to win back his wife. He just hoped it wasn't too late.
Several hours had passed and it was well into the evening now. Robert pulled out his phone and decided to check Andy's location. When he saw that she was at Michelle's he figured he'd try and wait it out. At this point, he knew he couldn't start the conversation they needed to have with a text. With a show on TV, he stretched out on the couch. Watching mindlessly he thought back to the dream he'd had earlier in the day. Claire's words in that dream had pierced him in a way that no one else could. Andy was his second chance. He knew it and while he was scared for so many reasons, he really did want to create a lifetime of incredible memories with her. He was certain of that.
The sun was barely up when he woke that next morning with a stiff neck and sore back. The couch had never been comfortable for more than a short nap. He looked across to the coffee table and saw the black ring box he'd pulled from the safe last night and wondered to himself if he was crazy. Remembering how hurt and upset Andy was when she left the turnout closet, he couldn't help but play out worst case scenarios. Would any of this actually be enough to get Andy to take another chance on him? Slowly but surely he made his way off the couch, padded into the kitchen to put on coffee and headed upstairs to shower and get ready for work.
When he arrived at the station he patted his pocket unconsciously, the ring box tucked safely there. He didn't know what made him grab on his way out the door but he did. He wasn't sure exactly what he would say to Andy when he saw her, he'd rehearsed some things, but nothing felt totally right. He was doing just that as he changed into his uniform and prepared to get an early start to the day. As he looked at reports on his desk and he sipped his second cup of coffee, his mind kept wandering to the ring in the top right drawer. Lost in thought he didn't see Chief McCallister walk through the station lobby until he was knocking on the Captain's office door.
"Chief McCallister," Robert greeted, standing up. "What can I do for you, Sir?" He questioned, caught off guard by the visit.
"I'm on my way to City Hall, but I wanted to drop off the 4 week station evals in person," McCallister said as he handed Robert the manila file. "I've been impressed, Sullivan. You've cut budget while keeping response times down and patient saves up. Keep this up and there might be more opportunities for you down the road."
"Thank you, Sir. It's been a team effort. Gibson & Herrera both had a hand in getting the team there," Robert replied.
"Sounds like we've got the right leadership in place which is good since you'll likely get a few transfers. Station 88 didn't quite make the cut. We'll be downshifting that operation and dispersing personnel over the next 60 days."
Robert nodded and felt a bit nostalgic. "That was my first post with the SFD some years back," he said a bit wistfully. "We'll be happy to take them, Sir."
Looking at his watch, McCallister noted the time. "I'll see you in another 30 days." Robert nodded and the Chief exited his office.
He felt a spark of excitement rush through him as he listened to McCallister. It was only thirty days, but it was still a step in the right direction and he knew the chief wouldn't be sending other firefighters there if he wasn't pleased with how the operation was running. He'd realized fairly quickly that while the A-Team ran a tight ship, some of the other units had gaps to close and his double shifts getting things in order had paid off. With the unexpected visit from the Chief, his morning routine was thrown off slightly and it was time to kick it in gear.
A fleeting thought had passed through Robert's mind that maybe he should call Andy into his office after line up, but thinking of the important conversation they needed to have, that wasn't at all how he wanted things to go. Unfortunately he didn't have much time to dwell or figure things out, 19 was dispatched to a call in the middle of line up. What was painfully obvious though, was how Andy had avoided eye contact that morning or communication with him on any of their calls unless absolutely necessary.
SEVERAL HOURS LATER...
Andy paced back and forth in the small space of her bunk and worked to build up the courage to yet again speak her truth. Frustration tried to creep in as she thought about how tired she was that simply talking to the man she loved about their relationship was such a potential minefield.
She'd spent the past two days at Michelle's hiding out. Drinking a little too much whiskey, vegging on junk food and watching bad reality TV with a side of sappy romance movies. Today was the day to say something. Opening the door to her bunk she patted her stomach to help soothe the nerves. When she stood in front of the Captain's office door, she took a quick glance in, Robert was standing with the desk raised and an open file in his hands. Taking a deep breath she opened the door and stepped in.
"Hi," Robert said as he looked up and saw his wife standing nervously in front of him. He dropped the manilla envelope on the desk.
"Hi," Andy said unsure about so many things, namely what to say beyond that initial greeting.
"I... I wanted to talk to you earlier, but it's been..." Robert shook his head a bit thinking about McCallister's visit and then the back to back calls they had.
"Crazy today," Andy finished for him.
Robert put his hands in his pockets and leaned up against the back desk. Looking down before catching Andy's gaze he finally said, "I'm sorry about the other night. I saw something that wasn't there. I know I got it wrong." He knew that didn't automatically fix things, but it was a good start. When he'd calmed down he was able to see things more clearly. While he didn't like seeing Andy's hand on Jack's cheek, it was innocent enough and he didn't actually think there was anything going on between them. His temper had flared and the unfamiliar sensation of jealousy filled his gut. He'd reacted poorly.
Andy felt disarmed and a bit thrown off. Looking across the small office at her husband, she hated feeling like there was an ocean separating them again. "Thank you," Andy replied. She was quiet again for a moment, not rushing to fill the silence. "I've spent the last two days a wreck, honestly. Debating whether or not I should say something." Andy shook her head a bit and began a slow cadence. "For what it's worth, I was apologizing to Jack."
"Apologizing?" Robert questioned with curiosity as he watched his wife walk back and forth in the small room. She paced when she was nervous.
"For putting him in the middle of something he never should have been a part of." Andy stopped walking and turned to face Robert. "I never should have vented to him about issues we were having. That wasn't fair to him or you... it wasn't fair to anyone," she admitted.
Robert held his wife's gaze, "I'm not a jealous guy...that's never been my style, but I won't lie. I instantly felt jealous and pissed." Robert rubbed his face in frustration. "I know you would never..." The last few days had made him realize that he'd been looking for a way out and that had been it. Yes, seeing Andy with Jack in the middle of the night hadn't felt good, but there were so many explanations for what was going on. Rather than listen he'd just found another reason to be angry with her and push her away.
"Well, I would hope so..." Andy replied back sassily. When she saw the look on Robert's face, it was remorseful, but she didn't really know what that meant or where they would go from here. "I am so damn tired of apologizing, of defending myself, of fighting you." She shook her head lightly as she leaned into the frustration she felt.
"I don't want that either..." Robert said, but before he could continue Andy interrupted.
"Well what do you want? I'm at a loss about where we go from here... I mean, I was a little dramatic the other day...but I do need you to make up your mind." Andy pleaded.
Nerves bubbled up on the inside of him. His normally calm exterior was fidgety and he wanted to get the words out to say how he truly felt. Moving away from the desk so that he could stand in front of his wife he said, "Andy, I..." He stopped himself feeling frustrated at the surroundings. He didn't want to do this here.
Sensing Robert's internal conflict, Andy looked up and held Robert's gaze. His eyes were clouded with a mix of emotions and while normally she could get a read on him. Today it felt hard. Initially she thought maybe this was their moment, but the more he seemed to struggle with his words, the more she wondered if he was going to say something she didn't want to hear.
Like he did love her, but that wasn't enough. Or that after everything that had transpired, he didn't think they could make things work. She didn't think she could take that. Not today...not now. "You know what, we're in the middle of shift. We should do this later," With that Andy swallowed down the emotion in her throat and hurried out of the office, leaving Robert behind.
When the door slammed Robert stood still but growled in frustration at himself and the words that wouldn't seem to come out the way he wanted them too. He was so caught up in this not being the right place or time. Nothing was going according to plan, but when he looked over into the cracked open drawer and saw the ring box, he knew it was silly to wait any longer.
Grabbing it, closing the distance to the door, he followed Andy out to the barn. "Andy wait," he yelled. When Robert made it to the barn, he looked around and couldn't help but notice all the A-Shift folks milling about. They had gotten the rigs back to the station a while ago from the last call and were prepping for overnight.
"Just don't Robert," Andy said without turning around. She didn't want to make a scene. People were doing enough talking about her and them as it was. If they were going to end their marriage officially, she didn't want it to be done in front of the entire station.
He hadn't planned for an audience, but that didn't matter at this point. "I'm an idiot," Robert said louder than he wished. Out of his peripheral vision he could see people starting to look in their direction. Realizing Andy had stopped walking, he knew those words had gotten her attention. When she finally turned around Robert moved so that he was standing directly in front of her.
Taking a deep breath, he thought back to what he told Richard weeks ago and found the words to convey what was in his heart. "I was hurt and angry and I've let my ego cloud my judgement for weeks, but I can't let the best thing in my life walk away without a fight...because loving you is as natural to me as breathing. It's easy. And like you, trusting is hard. But there is no one else on this earth I'd rather do hard with, than you."
With red rimmed eyes Andy listened to her strong, stoic man pour his heart out. There was something about his words that felt so pure and honest. "Robert…" she tried to interrupt, but he kept going.
Taking Andy's small hands in his. "You asked me what I want…" Robert looked away for a moment and when he captured her gaze again said, "I want long walks and dinner dates, late nights and early mornings, coffee in bed, dance parties in the kitchen, evenings spent with you and your trashy reality TV." Andy laughed lightly through watery eyes as she listened.
"I want you to tease me about smoothies and being too neat. I want Christmases and anniversaries." The more Robert spoke, the easier it was to start listing all the things that were hiding in the crevices of his heart that he hadn't allowed himself to remember. His own eyes welled up as he cupped one of his wife's cheeks and held her gaze. "I want a house, with a porch and a yard and babies. I wanna see the world with you and dream with you. I wanna laugh with you, celebrate with you and cry with you. I wanna have your back while you have mine. I want it all and I want it all with you. Forgive me for taking so long?"
Andy didn't have words. How could she respond to that? What could she possibly say? Doing the only thing she knew to do, a move that had somehow become her signature anytime Robert shared his heart with her, she reached for the sides of his face and pulled him down into a kiss. "Of course I forgive you." She whispered as she pulled away. When Robert moved from her hold just slightly and dropped to one knee, her mouth fell open. "Omg, what are you doing?" Andy questioned.
Looking down from the catwalk, Vic Travis, Dean and Ben watched in awe at what appeared to be the long awaited reconciliation between the husband and wife. While they couldn't hear every word, they could certainly read body language.
"Aren't they already married? What is he doing?" Dean said with a confused look on his face.
"Shut up. She said she'd never wear a ring." Vic replied quickly with a huge grin.
"We really should have had popcorn for this," Travis said thinking this grand gesture moment was movie worthy.
"My man..." Ben mumbled under his breath with a proud look on his face. Robert was fighting for the woman he loved and Ben couldn't be happier for his friend.
Meanwhile Maya and Jack were watched from the entrance to the barn having come down the station stairs as all this was transpiring.
Ring in hand, looking up at the woman he loved, Robert said. "You always said you didn't want one, that it was silly...but I love you and I want you to have something from me that reminds you everyday of that love. Andrea Herrea, will you wear this ring as a symbol of our love and commitment?"
Unable to hold back the tears, Andy blurted out. "Yes. A hundred times, yes." Rising to his feet, Robert slipped the stunning diamond ring on her finger and his lips crashed into hers. When they pulled apart, Andy stared at the beautiful ring on her hand, but was quickly brought back to her surroundings by the cheers, hollers and clapping she heard around the station. Smiling, arms still around her amazing man, she looked at her friends celebrating them on the catwalk, in various nooks and crannies with a grateful heart. Looking up to Robert, she whispered in his ear, "Take me home."
Robert laughed and smiled back down at his wife. "Baby, it's the middle of shift."
Before Andy could reply, she heard Maya's voice. "Go. We've got this." Maya hadn't heard exactly what her best friend had told her husband, but knowing Andy there was only one thing on her mind and she deserved it. it. They deserved it.
A few minutes later after congratulations from the team, they stood in the station lobby, finally away from prying eyes. Robert cupped Andy's cheek as she looked up at him and said in a low voice. "Meet you at home."
Eyes still watery and feeling disbelief at Robert's bold declaration... in front of the entire station no less, Andy replied with emotion in her voice. "Meet you at home." Sharing a chaste kiss the married couple parted ways.
Andy headed up to the lockers to grab her things while Robert headed into the Captain's office to do the same. He looked at his watch and saw the time. Knowing the apartment was still arranged from the night before, the dining table set with flowers and candles, champagne in the fridge, he quickly formed a plan to pull off one last surprise.
He sent a quick text to Maya and told her to ask Andy to see the ring. While he knew it would annoy her a little, it would buy him a few extra minutes. He got Maya's text reply back just as he was placing a doordash order from one of their favorite Italian restaurants. They hadn't been back from their last call very long and it was nearly dinner time. He knew his wife... she'd be hungry. Opting not to change out of his uniform and do it at home, he grabbed his go bag and headed out of the station.
Grabbing Vic to help her distract Andy, Maya looked for her friend in the locker area. Before she could say anything, Vic went in for the kill. "Oh my god, Herrera! Who knew Sullivan had it in him?" Her face was bright and happy.
Andy was still a bit shocked at the turn of events and struggled to find her words. "I mean...I don't even know what to say..."
"You don't have to say anything, that rock says it all." Maya replied back as she grabbed Andy's hand. "It's huge!"
"Seriously," Vic cooed over Maya's shoulder. "Did you have any idea?" She added.
"No," Andy said, shaking her head as she too stared at the gorgeous diamond on her finger. "Honestly, I thought we might be over."
"Well, clearly he pulled his head out of his ass," Maya remarked. "It really was about time."
"I second that," Vic added with sass.
Andy looked at her two friends who had done their best to support her during the past four weeks. "You guys have been so great. Thank you."
Beating Andy to the punch, Maya said. "Well get out of here. Go enjoy some super hot make up sex."
"Eww..." Vic said, nudging her as Andy laughed. "We did NOT need that visual."
"I love you both!" Andy said with a huge grin. With that she slammed the locker shut, grabbed her go bag from the floor and raced towards the stairwell.
Robert made it home in record time. Running upstairs, he kicked out of his boots and uniform then changed into jeans and a dark button down. When he made it back downstairs, he pulled the champagne from the fridge and sat it in an ice bucket to chill. He started lighting the tall and short candles on the dining room table, but was interrupted by a ring of the doorbell. His heart beat a little faster knowing his window was running out. Andy would be home any minute now. He unpacked their dinner and leaving the to go containers on the bar, went back to finish lighting the candles. This was how Andy found him.
When she opened the front door, her face was a mix of both surprise and delight. The lights were dim and there was soft music in the background. The dining room table had a stunning bouquet of at least two dozen red roses and there were tall & short candles littered about. Robert was standing next to the table barefoot, jeans and a dark button down rolled up to his forearms.
Dropping her bag, walking through the entryway and meeting him near the table, she smiled as she tried to find her words. "How?" She hadn't left the station that much later than him, how had he pulled this off. "What is all this?" She finally got out.
Unable to resist, Robert titled Andy's chin up and captured her lips in a tender kiss. One hand slipping around her waist and holding her close he said in between kisses. "This is dinner."
Returning her husband's affection Andy said, "This looks like more than dinner...besides when did you have time?"
Robert smiled, reached down and grabbed Andy's left hand. He placed a gentle kiss on the finger now wearing a diamond ring. Seeing his woman wearing his ring, knowing they were finally good again. Recommitted to one another and moving forward, made everything in his world feel right. He used the hand he held to turn Andy towards the stairs. "Go up and change," he said and dropped a kiss on her cheek from behind. "I will tell you all my secrets later."
With that Andy headed upstairs to their bedroom. When she walked past the mirror above the dresser she almost teared up again after catching a glance at herself. As much as she could feel the happiness and joy, she could see it in her eyes too. She took a quick glance at the ring on her left hand. She had always known Robert was more traditional than she was. It had definitely bothered him when she said she didn't think they needed rings, but he'd gone along with it. Probably because of everything going on with her dad, his leg and surgery. However after everything the past several months had brought them, there was something really special about wearing it. Not only was it stunning, it just felt right.
As Andy kicked off her boots and slipped out of her uniform, she couldn't help but replay the events of the day over in her head. Her mind was blown. After being so sure they were done, never going to find a way to reconcile, Robert-I-don't-like-making-a-scene-Sullivan had gotten down on one knee and proclaimed his love for her in front of the entire station. What? Standing in front of the closet, she considered throwing on a dress but didn't want to get too fancy and opted for jeans she knew Robert loved because they made her butt look great and a low cut black tank. It was casual but still sexy. Andy pulled her hair out of the low ponytail it was in and ran a brush through it. Before heading out of their bedroom she made a small pit stop at her bedside table and pulled out her own small black box. Robert wasn't the only one who could pull off a surprise. She opened the box, took the heavy platinum band out and tucked it into the pocket of her jeans.
While Andy was upstairs changing, Robert finished setting up dinner and discarded the take out boxes. With bare feet, Andy padded down the stairs quietly and found her husband in front of the bar cart tearing the foil wrapper of a bottle of chilled champagne. She hugged him from behind and breathed in the scent of him deeply. "You aren't starting without me, are you?" She asked a bit rhetorically.
"Not a chance," Robert said and turned in Andy's arms and they held each other loosely in a hug.
"You know, I'm tempted to say we should skip dinner and just head up to bed, but..." as if her stomach was conspiring against her, it growled lightly, just loud enough for Robert to hear.
"You're hungry," He finished for her.
"Something like that," Andy replied a little sheepishly.
"There's no rush," Robert replied easily with humor in his voice. "But let's toast." His arms fell and he turned to pop the cork on the champagne. Andy held up each flute and let him fill the glass stemware with golden bubbles. She debated for a moment in her head if now was the right time or if she should do it later. "What should we toast to?" He asked, setting the bottle down and reaching to take a champagne flute from her hand.
Looking up at the man she loved and seeing his love for her reflected back, Andy couldn't hold back any longer. "Wait." Robert eyed her a little curiously. "I want to give you something too." She sat both glasses down and took a deep cleansing breath before reaching in her pocket in search of the heavy platinum band.
Holding the ring in her hand, she said, "You drive me crazy in the best and worst ways. I get overwhelmed and scared sometimes by the bigness of our love. I didn't plan for you, but somehow… you stole my heart anyway." Swallowing back the emotion welling up in her throat, Andy held one of her husband's large hands in both of hers. "Robert Sullivan... man that I am deeply in love with, will you spend forever with me? Will you wear this ring as a symbol of our love and commitment?"
"It would be my honor," Robert said with a gentle smile and determined look in his eyes. Andy slipped the band on her husband's hand and they held each close.
A short while later after toasting to 'new beginnings', they sat down to eat. "Okay, spill." Andy said as they dug into their meals. The handmade pasta with all local ingredients from Cantinetta was one of their favorite places to go. They had first visited the restaurant's Bellevue location right after they'd gotten together. Going across the water 30 minutes seemed safer than dining in town. The food was amazing and luckily they had a Wallingford location which was easily accessible. "You had maybe a 15 minute head start and you drive fast, but not THAT fast."
Robert smiled and took a sip of water. "Most of it was here last night." Andy's head popped up and she gave him a confused look. "I checked out of my hotel yesterday, got flowers and champagne...and was ready to grovel."
She couldn't help the small smile forming on her lips as she listened. "Grovel?"
"I mean... I was kind of an ass in our last conversation." Robert said with a sheepish grin.
Andy pinned him with a stare. "Understatement."
He shrugged slightly admitting defeat. "I came home last night and you weren't here. I checked your location and your phone said you were at Michelle's so I figured I'd wait. Fell asleep on the couch. When I got up this morning and you still weren't here, I wasn't totally sure what to think, but knew I'd see you at the station. And on a whim, grabbed the ring from the safe and brought it with me. I didn't really have a plan for that part. I just knew I had to do something." Robert nodded his head a bit thinking back to earlier that morning.
"Well, you shocked the hell out of me, that's for sure." Andy said, taking a sip of her champagne.
Robert laughed. "I shocked the hell out of myself too." He reached out to grab Andy's hand and held it loosely.
"You do realize the team is probably never going to let you live that down?" Andy joked a little.
Robert shook his head with a small grin on his face knowing she was right. "I'm aware." Over the past several months one of the things he'd been most grateful for was developing relationships with various members of 19. And one of the things they loved to do was joke around and have a good time. He expected more than a teasing when they returned back to work. Finding his wife's gaze he said, "It was worth it though. To see your face. Put that ring on your finger. It was worth it."
Robert seated at the head of the table with Andy off to his right, made reaching across the table easy. Andy leaned over, cupped the side of her husband's face and pulled him to her for a kiss. When they pulled apart she whispered, "And for the record...I want everything with you too."
Everything was a big word and they still had a lot to talk about, but Andy knew there were things she wanted with Robert that she'd never considered before. She'd always be ambitious. Always want to advance her career and move ahead at work, but she could also admit that the possibility of creating a whole different life had opened up for. One that didn't just include work and the Station 19 family, but the one they would build together. As they finished up dinner and put their left overs in the fridge. Andy felt herself growing anxious to taking their celebration to the bedroom.
Leaning up against the counter, "Have we finally reached the part of the evening where you take me to bed?" she asked with a flirtatious look in her eyes.
"Almost," Robert said before he grabbed his phone from the kitchen counter. After a few quick swipes, the background music changed and the volume turned up. "First, I'd like to dance with my wife."
Hearing the song and easily recognizing it, Andy tilted her head a little and laughed. "Seriously?" Percy Sledge's soulful voice blared through the Bose speaker crooning the well known lyrics to 'When a Man Loves a Woman'.
With his eyes twinkling from the nearby candles, Robert gave his wife a sexy smile and replied, "You gonna laugh at me or you gonna dance with me?" He didn't care that the song was kind of cheesy. It felt right. He loved the woman in front of him more than he thought possible. He would do anything for her. He knew he could never go back to being who he was before her, before their love. He'd let her peek behind the curtain of his heart and see who he really was and she didn't just accept him or understand him, she loved him. And while he was terrified of all the unknowns that might come next, he knew loving her was worth the risk.
Barefoot, looking up at the man she loved, Andy didn't need words to reply. She wrapped her arms around her husband's neck and held him close. As they swayed to the slow bluesy tunes, Andy felt relief like she was sure she'd never felt before. Their chemistry and emotional connection had brought them together. They had heat and passion in spades, but it was wildly apparent that none of that was enough.
Without both of them confronting their own fears, choosing honesty over comfort, experiencing pain and being willing to say the hard things they would never have gotten here. It wasn't about perfection, but their growth together over time. That's what made her sure, that if they could live through all the things they had up to this point and keep choosing each other, keep loving each other, they'd be okay.
SEVERAL HOURS LATER...
It was somewhere in the wee hours of the morning when Andy woke. She hadn't been asleep long. Unsure exactly what time it was, the sky still dark, she laid in the quiet of their bedroom. Feeling the warmth of her husband next to her, Andy breathed in deeply and let the emotions of the day wash over her. She thought back to how she'd braced herself as she left Michelle's place the morning prior. It would be the first time she saw her husband after making her bold, slightly stupid, very dramatic declaration and she wasn't sure what to do or expect.
Snuggling deeper into the warmth of their bed she laughed inwardly at herself pacing the bunks nervously before going down to the captain's office. She had absolutely no clue what was coming next and it wasn't something she would ever forget. Robert felt things deeply, she knew he did. He had a big heart and worked hard to protect it. He also usually chose privacy over the public square. He didn't make a big show of most things, so to witness him do the exact opposite still left her speechless.
And the ring, Jesus, the ring was the most beautiful thing she'd ever seen. She wasn't sure how many carats it was, but it was huge. It would definitely take some adjusting to wearing and they'd need to find something more understated for work. She hadn't realized just how much it would mean to him, to have her wear it, but seeing how happy the ring made him, she felt a twinge of guilt thinking maybe they should have done it sooner. Everything about their evening had been perfect. From the champagne toast to their dance. It had been so them. And when they finally did get to the make up sex part it did not disappoint. Tender, unrushed, passionate and more...it was exactly what she hoped it would be.
FLASHBACK...
Andy headed upstairs while Robert blew out the remaining candles, turned off the lights and checked the locks. When he got upstairs he found her lying down, legs hanging off the end of the bed and dangling to the floor. She wore a happy smile and her left arm was reaching up towards the ceiling as she looked at her ring.
"You caught me?" Andy said as she peered at her husband standing in the doorway.
Making his way over to the bed, Robert laughed a little and laid down next to his wife. "You know, for someone who didn't want a ring... I'd say you're kind of into it."
Andy nudged him slightly, "Hey..." But unable to hold it back, she chuckled a little too. "Maybe you're right...or maybe I'm just really into the sexy man who gave it to me."
Propping himself up, Robert leaned over for a kiss. "Maybe both." One of Andy's hands held the side of his face. "We'll have to get you something more practical for work."
"Yeah," Andy said with a smile. They laid there a few moments in silence before Andy turned to her husband and asked. "What are you thinking?"
Robert looked at his wife with love. "That I've missed your smile." Cupping her cheek, he ran a thumb across her lips. "What are you thinking?"
Faces inches apart, holding each other's gaze, Andy whispered. "That I think I fell in love with you all over again today."
"Guess that's a good thing since you're stuck with me," Robert joked as his hand lazily swept down the smooth skin of Andy's arm.
"You know, one of the reasons I was first attracted to you, was your decisiveness. You decide what you want and go get it. That drive, that determination is..." Andy's voice trailed off and she felt her body heat. "You came for me today. Fought for me. Claimed me. And I think that just might be the sexiest thing I've ever seen," she added before capturing Robert's lips possessively.
The air around them charged quickly. The emotions from the entire day had been rumbling beneath the surface and they had finally reached a boiling point. Covering Robert's body with her own, Andy straddled his hips and plundered her husband with bold kisses. She nibbled the corners of his mouth, bit down lightly on his bottom lip and swept her tongue into his mouth over and over.
Surrendering to her assault, Robert slid a hand up her back and speared his hands through her hair. His body heated as Andy trailed, wet open mouthed kisses down the column of his neck and nimble fingers worked the buttons on his shirt. With each bit of freshly exposed skin, she kissed lower, tracing the muscular lines of his abs with her tongue. He grew harder. Sitting up so he could remove the offending garment all the way, he held his wife close and teased, "I thought I was taking you to bed."
"I thought you liked me on top," Andy returned with a naughty grin before lifting up the hem of her tank and pulling it up over her head. Robert's lips found the spot just underneath her ear that he knew made her weak. Her head dropped back to give him better access as he explored it.
"I like you anyway I can have you," Robert replied, his husky voice vibrating against her neck. Reaching behind her, he unclasped Andy's bra and it joined the other discarded garments on the floor.
Her core clenched as her husband's mouth captured one nipple while pinching and stroking the other. "Yes..." she sighed as Robert stoked the fire already building inside her. Eyes closed, arms wrapped around Robert's shoulders, Andy's body pulsed with need.
Robert, feeling the tension growing, instructed, "Wrap your legs around me." He stood with his wife in his arms, pulled the duvet and top sheet back and laid her down. Hovering over her, he planted kisses from her lips, down her neck, across her breasts and down her abdomen before finding the button of her jeans. Andy lifted just slightly so he could peel them down her body. And when she was gloriously naked, he looked at her with pure lust and said, "You are incredible."
Andy saw the heat in Robert's eyes and knew it reflected her own. With just his words, he could undo her like no man before him. She watched him discard his own jeans and boxer briefs and bit her lip in anticipation of what was to come. He was absolute perfection and she wanted nothing more than to feel every inch of him. Robert's muscular form sank into Andy's delicate curves and they both relished in the feeling of being chest to chest, as close as two people could be.
Resting his elbows at either side of Andy's head, Robert brushed her hair away from her face with lazy strokes of his finger tips. He swept his nose against hers and kissed her softly, tenderly, again and again. The urgency of the hours and moments before was dissipating and left in its wake was the sweet expanse of time. Andy's hands coasted up and down the smooth skin of her husband's back as she leaned into his long, slow, kisses.
Robert's grand gesture had been something for the memory books, the confessions of love and emotions of the day had been complicated, but this wasn't. This moment was simple. His lips touched her cheeks, her eyelids and the tip of her nose. Andy sighed in sweet relief feeling every bit of his love for her in each kiss. She gasped as Robert's hand coasted down her body, between them and stroked her drenched core.
"Oh, God," Robert heard his wife say in a breathy moan. Her leg dropped open as his fingers invaded her; he drew lazy circles of varying pressure around her clit. Sliding one finger then another into her tight, slick channel he felt her body quiver under his touch. Expertly, he pleasured her in the way that only someone intimately familiar with her body could.
Andy's back arched and her muscles contracted under Robert's touch. With every stroke, the pressure within her was building, but Robert kept her release, just out of reach. "Robert..." she breathed in frustration, but realized it wasn't just her orgasm she was missing. It was the feel of him.
"Yes, Love..." he replied innocently, dropping kisses on her neck, acutely aware of how he was torturing her.
"I want you," she whined, not caring how desperate she sounded. Her hips moving of their own volition adding to the delicious friction she felt that was so good, but not quite enough.
"You have me," Robert answered his wife simply. He couldn't help the sexy grin that flashed across his face as he looked at her eyes shut tight, her muscles tense and her body screaming for release. Hearing Andy swear in frustration he chuckled. "You wanna come?"
His fingers still working her at a slow pace, keeping her right on the edge, Andy pinned him with a glare. How could he ask her that? She didn't just want her climax, she needed it. Seeing the amusement on her husband's face, she relented and played the game she knew he'd started. "Please."
Giving in, Robert deepened his strokes and increased the pressure on her clit, finally sending her spiraling into orgasmic bliss. Her hips bucked underneath him and she called out his name as her body contracted.
"You're such a tease," Andy said, rolling her eyes as she came down.
"I love you too," Robert replied back as he kissed her. Running a hand down her body he hitched one leg up around his hip and pushed forward slowly. "So, good," he growled as buried himself in her. His hips moved again and again, going deeper with each thrust. He felt the flutter and contraction of her muscles with each stroke and could only stave off his building orgasm by setting a glacial pace. He wanted to savor.
The room bathed in low light from the bedside lamp, Robert's hungry eyes pierced Andy's. Though the pleasure he was wringing from her body instinctively made her want to close her eyes, she held his gaze. In his eyes, she could see every word he spoke today. Every desire, every dream, every hope. Overwhelming love. She arched her back and pulled him closer wanting to be consumed by him. "I love you so much," she whispered. There was no denying that he owned her. He owned her heart. She was his, but also he was hers.
Robert kissed his wife softly and against her lips, recited her words back to her, "I love you so much." His heart swelled and he wanted to memorize her face, the light in her eyes, the slight flush of her skin...He wanted to remember every detail of this day.
Feeling his release near and committed to taking Andy with him, Robert laced the fingers of one hand through his wife's. Guiding her hand up over her head, he tightened his hold and increased his pace. Their bodies moved in perfect tandem, Andy meeting him thrust for thrust. And as if falling off a cliff, Andy felt herself pushed towards an all consuming orgasm. Tremors rippled through her, as Robert's name tumbled from her lips and she felt him succumb to his own release. His forehead rested against hers for a moment before sliding onto the bed beside her.
BACK TO CURRENT...
Andy shifted in bed and turned to face her husband. He was asleep on his side and his back was to her. Wrapping an arm around his center, Andy pressed a kiss into Robert's back and held on tightly.
"You good?" He questioned in a sleep laden voice after feeling his wife shifting in bed behind him. While listening for her reply, he grabbed her hand, kissed the palm and held on loosely.
"Yeah...I'm good." She said unsure why despite feeling better than she had in longer than she could remember, emotion was welling up in her throat.
"What's wrong?" Robert inquired, still a bit groggy. He'd heard something in her voice that made him turn around. His thumb gently grazed her soft, supple skin as he cupped her cheek and stared into her eyes in the dim light.
Laying on her side and resting a hand on Robert's chest, Andy looked away briefly, took a breath and finally said. "Let's not do this again... I pushed you away, you left me. You pushed me away, I left you. I just... No matter what, no one leaves okay."
Robert bit the inside of his lip slightly and his eyes watered as he listened to her vulnerability. He was all too familiar with the fear of being left behind. He'd felt it over and over again... first with his parents, then brothers in the military, then Claire, then Luke. He knew what it was to worry that one day 'your person' would be gone. And during the month they'd been apart it was something he'd wrestled with too, but after facing the prospect of not having the woman he loved by his side, after having to picture a life without her, he knew without a shadow of doubt he didn't want it.
Cracking a small smile, his head tilted slightly to the side, Robert replied. "We'll probably disagree a lot over the next fifty years and I definitely plan to keep driving you crazy… but no one leaves." Holding his wife's gaze he leaned in and pulled her into a soft kiss.
When they settled back down, Robert on his back with Andy's head resting gently on his chest and were just about to drift off she whispered. "Robert?"
"Yeah baby…" he replied easily as he caressed her arm gently.
"What changed?" Andy asked quietly. "I mean today was…" She couldn't find the words to describe it. "But I was pretty sure we were…" her voice trailed off.
Robert thought for a moment about everything that led up to where they were now and tried to make sense of it. The truth was it had all added up. Every conversation he'd had with his wife, with the people in their lives who cared about them, getting honest with himself about what was really holding him back and facing the reality that he could lose the one person in his life that meant the most and of course his dream. Finally he said, "I don't think it was just one thing...a lot happened I guess and it all led me to this truth." He tipped her head up so their eyes could find one another's. "We have a once in a lifetime, change your whole life, didn't know it could be this good kind of love. It's worth fighting for, it's worth this risk, I'd be crazy to let you go."
THE NEXT MORNING...
Robert and Andy sat side by side at the kitchen bar with Andy's laptop on the counter in front of them. Holding hands and both feeling a bit nervous about what was ahead, but facing it together nonetheless.
"Andy, hi." Trish said brightly, noticing the attractive man in the screen next to her. "And Robert, I'm assuming?"
"Hi," Robert greeted.
"I can't help but say, I'm surprised," Trish said, looking at Andy for an explanation.
Andy glanced over at her husband and smiled softly, "It's been a whirlwind of a week, but things are good between us. Better."
Trish nodded and smiled at Andy's words. "I've heard a lot about you, Robert." She said gently.
An uncomfortable chuckle fell from Robert's lips and looking down, he rubbed his head nervously. "Hopefully not all bad."
"Hey," Andy nudged him a little and gave him a small grin. "Have more faith in me than that."
Trish was enjoying the banter between the couple, seeing Andy with Robert even just these few moments had reinforced what she believed to be true. They were two people in love. "Doctor, patient confidentiality keeps me from confirming or denying that," she said in a playful tone. "And technically, I'm supposed to reserve judgement, but what I will say is... that woman sitting next to you, is pretty crazy about you."
Robert looked over at his wife with a smile and brought the hand he was holding up to his lips for a brief kiss. "I'm pretty crazy about her too." The married couple shared a meaningful look.
Andy cleared her throat and turned back to the screen. "So I know today was just supposed to be my normal session, but I figured since Robert was here and ready this would be a good time to jump in together," Andy said with a hopeful expression on her face.
"Absolutely," Trish said. "So typically, I work with couples from anywhere between 12 and 16 sessions but that's not hard and fast. We cover a specific set of challenges or recurring issues a couple may be facing. The goal here typically isn't to resolve every issue under the sun, that would be virtually impossible. But it's really about helping you cultivate tools and resources that will support you in navigating conflict, having more effective communication, deepening trust and overall building a stronger relationship." Trish saw that both Robert and Andy were following her, so she continued. "So, Robert, I've heard a lot from Andy at this point. I'd love to know what you're hoping to get out of these sessions?" Trish asked.
Still holding Andy's hand, Robert looked away briefly then finally said. "If I'm being honest, I'm not totally sure… We love each other and both want a long, happy marriage. I guess... I want to do the work." Looking over at Andy he added. "We want to do the work."
Trish looked back at the two people in front of her and smiled gently. She couldn't help but think to herself this would be one of the couples that made it. "Then let's get started," she said confidently.