A/N: We all remember the deleted scene about overnight guests, right? Well, I decided to put it back in there. So here you go!
Many thanks to the lovely blossom-of-snow for beta reading and editing this story.
Sharon couldn't recall meeting any of Rainie's friends since Kris and Chris. Rainie hadn't even mentioned any of her friends after that. Sharon worried Rainie hadn't made any friends after high school. Therefore, seeing her with TJ, a girl Rainie met while trying to determine Alice Herrera's true identity was surprising. From the little Sharon managed to gather about TJ, the girl was three years older than Rainie, worked at a photography store, and was a junior at USC, studying computer science. The sparkle in TJ's eyes when she looked at Rainie told Sharon that TJ had a crush on Rainie, who appeared to be utterly oblivious to the fact.
After getting over the initial shock of discovering that Rainie and TJ moved half of Lieutenant Provenza's belongings into the living room of her condo, Sharon began thinking about how she didn't even know that Rainie had a friend over. This friendship may have been platonic, but how would it feel if Rainie was in a relationship and didn't tell her? How would it feel if she discovered that Rainie had a girlfriend by walking in on them? And how would Rainie feel if it was the other way around?
Sharon had gone to several dates with Andy already, and it seemed that their relationship was solid enough to let Rainie know about it and to alert her of the fact that Andy would be around the condo more often and that he would most likely spend some nights over. Considering the fact that on the evening of their first date, Rainie teased Sharon about kissing Andy, Sharon didn't expect any trouble with the announcement.
While she ate dinner at her desk, Sharon watched Rainie, who was concentrated on the project she was doing on her laptop. This was not a typical occurrence in their home. They usually took the time to have dinner together and talk about their day, but Rainie was deep at work when Sharon returned from the PAB, and she didn't want to disturb her. More importantly, Sharon wanted to sit for a while with her thoughts about the case the Major Crimes Division just closed. The fact that they were not able to arrest a murderer didn't bother her as much as the fact that their suspect was a rape victim, who even after almost a decade, hadn't recovered from her assault. Sharon wondered how much those feelings applied to Rainie, who just like their suspect seemed to be functioning well, despite the abuse she endured in her childhood and adolescence. If Sharon wasn't aware of Rainie's triggers, TJ probably wasn't either. If Rainie was in a relationship with TJ, maybe it was a good idea to finally talk to her about healthy relationships and limits within them. She hoped to be able to set an example for the girl, with her own budding relationship, which she was considering taking to the next level.
Slowly rising from behind her desk, Sharon grabbed the plate. "We don't have a plan," she said on her way to the kitchen. "And I think we should get one."
Rainie lifted her gaze from her laptop for the first time that evening. "A plan for what?"
"Overnight guests in the condo," Sharon clarified as she put her plate in the sink.
"Sharon, I really don't need to talk about this right now," Rainie said, blushing.
"I understand, but –" Sharon walked towards the girl. "Watching you and TJ together, I realized I, too –"
Rainie cut her off abruptly. "Oh my God, oh my God. Please, please, please – what is it with everyone and TJ? I mean, Patrice practically asked us on a double date earlier and – listen, TJ is just a friend, and the very last thing I'm going to do right now is asking her to spend the night with me."
"I'm not talking about your overnight guests," Sharon replied. Rainie was clearly not ready for a relationship and Sharon had no intention to push her. "I'm talking about mine. There's a possibility that Andy will be spending the night now and then in the future."
"What?" Rainie's eyes widened. "Wait, I thought that things weren't going well between the two of you. That you were back to calling each other 'Captain' and 'Lieutenant'."
Sharon explained to Rainie the reason behind the official titles exchanged between her and Andy during the workday, and noticed how her daughter's gaze was becoming more and more distraught.
"No," Rainie said when Sharon finished explaining the LAPD guidelines about reporting relationships to superior officers.
"No? What do you mean "no"?" Sharon asked.
"Andy can't stay here," Rainie replied.
Sharon quirked an eyebrow. Considering Rainie's positive attitude towards her and Andy's dates, her reaction to the idea of Andy spending the night was unexpected.
"Look, I know that "spending the night" means sex, and I'm sorry, but you can't do that here," Rainie said.
Had it been Emily or Ricky saying this to her, Sharon would have let them know that it was her house and she was the one to choose who stays the night and who doesn't. But with Rainie, Sharon knew that she had to try to negotiate some kind of agreement.
"I know what you're thinking," Rainie said. "It's your house. I can't tell you what to do, but you can't do this to me, Sharon. It's not fair!" Her bottom lip trembled.
"Rainie, this is a good thing. I thought you'd be happy that my relationship with Andy is progressing naturally," Sharon replied. Maybe if Rainie understood the reaction Sharon expected and hoped for, she'd be able to consider it from a different angle.
"I'm happy that you're in a relationship, Sharon, but I'm uncomfortable with Andy staying over at the condo," Rainie insisted. "If you wanna spend the night with Andy, do it elsewhere."
"I understand why this would be scary for you," Sharon started. "But I also know that you like and respect Andy because he has proven himself as someone you can trust. How about we give it a shot and see how it goes?"
She could almost see the wheels spinning in Rainie's brain.
"Alright, but if he ever so much as glances me wrong, I am punching him."
Sharon assumed this was the closest thing to acceptance that she was going to get out of her daughter. She knew this reaction was a result of a deep-rooted trauma, and she couldn't fault Rainie for feeling helpless in this situation, but she also wanted to be able to enjoy her relationship to the fullest, in the same way she would want Rainie to enjoy a relationship if and when she chose to pursue one. And if she really thought of it, she and Andy hadn't been intimate in any physical way. Everything was old-fashioned, at least until they disclose their relationship to Chief Taylor. Still, she hoped that once they cross that hurdle, the physical intimacy would follow. If she was honest, she couldn't wait for it. Andy was an incredibly attractive man, and she didn't care to admit that he visited her in a dream or two.
Sharon had never been at Andy's Lakewood bungalow, but when he invited her for dinner at his place a few nights later, she willingly accepted. She thought they were going to order in, but Andy surprised her with a candlelit home-cooked Italian dinner and a tiramisu with a candle on top for dessert.
"What are we celebrating?" Sharon asked as her lips curled up in a smile.
"Our one month anniversary," Andy replied.
Sharon felt a pang of guilt. She didn't realize this was a monumental milestone for them.
"I got you a little something," he continued and pulled a small gift bag.
"Oh, Gosh, Andy. I haven't bought you anything," Sharon groaned, and her cheeks became a bright shade of red.
"I didn't say I bought it," Andy replied. "Just open it."
Sharon opened the bag and fished a remote control out of it. She gave Andy a strange look, unsure what she was supposed to do with a remote.
"Why don't you press the "play" button?" Andy suggested.
Sharon did as he said, and a soft but engaging electric guitar riff sounded off the speakers of Andy's iPhone which was hooked into a docking station in the living room. Sharon recognized the song immediately, and a toothy smiled spread across her face. The Raspberries' "Go All The Way" played on the radio precisely a month earlier as Andy drove her home from their first date, and neither of them could hold back as they sang along with the radio.
"I was thinking – if you agree – that this could be our song," Andy said and offered her his hand.
"Absolutely," Sharon replied as she placed her hand and let him swoop her into a dance. When Andy spun her in his arms, she ground her hips against his groin. An electric current jolted down her body and descended to the apex of her legs. Sharon gasped at her body's unexpected reaction. While she had initiated the sensual dance move on purpose, she did not realize just how strong her desire for him was. She ground against Andy again, just to get her point across, and he responded by spinning her in his arms again and covering her lips with his.
Sharon's palms covered his cheeks as she led them towards the couch, pulling Andy on top of her. His lips left her mouth and disembarked on an exploration of her jaw and neck, as his fingers undid the buttons of her powder blue blouse, exposing the cream-colored slip she wore underneath. His mouth sucked on her pulse point, and Sharon moaned.
"Your skirt is vibrating," he murmured as he caught her earlobe between his teeth, his tongue twirling around her diamond stud and making her purr. It took a moment for the meaning of his words to penetrate her desire-ridden brain, and she gently pushed him back and fished her mobile phone from her pocket.
"I'm so sorry, I have to take this," she said and answered the call. "Yes, Chief, how can I help you?"
Andy listened to the call, eyeing her strangely when she brought Taylor up to speed about their most recent case. "Sharon, does Chief Taylor know about us?" he asked when she hung up the phone.
Sharon's face flushed for the umpteenth time that evening. "I tried telling him about us yesterday, but he was too busy," she admitted nervously.
"So we can't – " Andy motioned between them.
Sharon drew her bottom lip between her teeth and brought her knees to her chest. "I'm so sorry. I didn't even think of this."
"Well, I guess we could celebrate our one month anniversary by snuggling in bed together. How does that sound?" Andy suggested.
"Great." Sharon let him lead her from the living room to his bedroom. Sharing a bed fully clothed was not what she truly wanted. She wanted things to heat back up between them, but now that he mentioned their duty to report their relationship to their immediate supervisor before they could move forward, she knew that Andy had her best interests at heart. She would feel horrible knowing that she broke the rules, and she would prefer their first time together to be guilt-free.
"If you want, I'll join you for the conversation with the Chief," Andy said as they spooned in his bed. "It's a joint responsibility, and you shouldn't be the one to carry the load on your own."
Sharon's fingers laced with his over her stomach, and she turned her head and pressed a soft kiss to his lips. "Thank you, Andy. You're incredible." A fuzzy feeling spread inside her body, and the butterflies fluttered their wings inside her stomach. Andy was not just a boyfriend; he was a partner, something she has failed to find in other men before him. He was willing to put in the effort required for this relationship to blossom, and Sharon was filled with gratitude and another feeling that she still wasn't able to name.
-TBC-