A/N: A few reviewers asked what I was planning to write instead of Sharon's tragic and untimely death. I assure you that she will survive in this story, she will have two equally painful storylines, focused on her emotional journey. The build-up for one of them starts in this chapter, but that's the only hint I'll give about it. The primary storyline will develop over a few chapters and will escalate gradually, and will be carried into season 6. So if you can find the Easter eggs in this and the following chapters, you'll probably be able to figure it out.

Also, I would like to both thank and wish a very happy birthday to the ever-so-lovely blossom-of-snow who edits each of my chapters with a lot of patience and helps me round up my storylines.

Three meetings in one week. Sharon hadn't realized that Andy was so stressed, and she couldn't figure out what was nagging him. The case they'd been working was not exceptionally difficult, he was getting along very well with both his children, his health was improving, and he and Sharon weren't experiencing any trouble in their relationship.

They rarely discussed his alcoholism. Andy did not have any trouble acknowledging his addiction, but Sharon preferred not to talk about it for several reasons. For starters, she felt it was unnecessary to bring up Andy's addiction. Andy was well-aware of the damage his drinking caused his loved ones and worked to repair that damage every single day. The more pressing and uncomfortable reason was the trauma she suffered from being the daughter and ex-wife of alcoholics. Even though Sharon recognized the emotional injury inflicted on her by Jack and her father, she hadn't healed enough to tackle the subject.

Even so, seeing Andy struggle with his sobriety was painful to watch. Despite her reluctance to talk about the way alcoholism has affected her life, she knew that supporting him could help him cross this hurdle.

Knowing that the best way to get Andy to unburden was over a hearty meal, Sharon drove to Andy's favorite Italian restaurant, picked up his preferred dish and a scrumptious dessert, and drove over to his house.

Andy's car wasn't in the driveway when Sharon parked in front of his house, and after glancing at her watch, she realized that his meeting only ended fifteen minutes earlier. It would take him another fifteen minutes to get home. Sending him a quick text to let him know that she was waiting for him with dinner, she crossed the road and used her spare key to unlock Andy's door. Turning on the lights at the hall, she noted that Andy had repainted the walls and that he hung more family photos, changes that were most likely suggested by his realtor.

After Sharon set the dinner table, she took a seat in the living room and thought about how she wanted to address the difficult subject.

Andy's heavy steps pulled her away from her thoughts. She pushed herself off the couch and greeted him with a peck on the lips.

"I brought dinner," she said as she watched him shed his jacket and kick his shoes off.

"That's good. I'm starving." Andy unbuttoned his shirt and removed it, leaving only a white undershirt.

As she ate, Sharon watched Andy savor his fettuccine Alfredo. He was quieter than usual and focused solely on his plate.

"So how was your meeting tonight?" she asked.

Andy lifted his gaze from his plate and arched his eyebrows. "The same as usual."

"Are you feeling alright?"

"Yeah, I'm fine. Why?"

"I just noticed you attended more meetings than usual this week," Sharon said. "And if something is bothering you, maybe I can help."

Andy shifted in his chair. "I'm just nervous about some things."

"Anything you care to share with me?" Sharon asked.

"Maybe after we eat," Andy said.

That was a brush-off if she'd ever heard one. Sharon ate her dinner in silence, which Andy seemed to be endorsing. His bleak mood engulfed Sharon, so by the time they finished dinner, she was feeling quite melancholic as well.

"You wanna go to bed?" Andy offered after she washed the dishes.

The question surprised her. He had spent the entire evening pushing her away, so she hasn't expected him to ask her to stay the night.

Sharon nodded. Maybe what both of them needed was a good night's sleep before they could communicate as usual.

Their silence lingered during their nightly routines. Ever since they started spending the night together, Andy kept makeup remover and cotton pads in his bathroom for her. Sharon also left a few cosmetic products in his medicine cabinet and comfortable sleepwear in his closet, which she used now to get ready for bed.

She was happy when Andy wrapped his arm around her as soon as she crawled into bed. He pulled her close to him and nuzzled her neck.

"I went to an open house the other day. It's a really nice find in Echo Park," he murmured into her hair. "It has two floors. The master bedroom has an en-suite toilet, and all the rooms on the top floor have balconies. The kitchen has been recently renovated and overlooks a big pool. The owner is an elderly lady who's moving into a nursing home, so the asking price is good."

"What's wrong with it?" Sharon asked. After the black mold incident, any house they looked into seemed to have a deal-breaker flaw.

"I'm not sure Rainie will like it," Andy admitted.

"Why not?"

"The owner's name is Simone Beck," Andy replied.

"There are many people with the name Beck. It doesn't mean she and Rainie are related," Sharon replied.

"That's what I thought, but then I saw some of the family photos on the mantle. Rainie's mother is in a few of them."

"That doesn't make much sense. Rainie was born in San Diego," Sharon said.

"Maybe Sharon Beck moved there after she got pregnant," Andy said. "Or maybe old Mrs. Beck moved to Los Angeles later in life."

Sharon hummed, trying to make sense of this information.

"I know the entire situation with her mother has been difficult for her," Andy said. "I love this house, but I don't want to make things harder for her."

Sharon stroked his jaw. "Thank you for being sensitive to that."

"You don't have to thank me. I care about Rainie a lot. You know that."

A comfortable silence spread between them as they listened to each other's breaths.

"Why don't we go see the house together, just you and me. If I like it as well, we'll think about how to proceed." Sharon suggested after several minutes.

"Would you really consider living in that house?" Andy asked.

"It's just a house. It doesn't matter who lives there right now. What matters is what we bring into it," Sharon said. "Let's go see it together. If we both likely, we'll decide what to tell Rainie."

Andy pressed his lips to her shoulder and squeezed her thigh. "Thank you for this evening, Sharon. It's nice to have someone taking care of you sometimes. I didn't realize I needed it."

"I'm happy to be here, Andy. We are a family, and that's what families do," Sharon said.

"I like being your family."

"Me too," Sharon turned in his arms and pressed her lips to his. "Goodnight, my love."

"Goodnight, Sharon," Andy said.

Sharon put her head on his shoulder and closed her eyes. She drifted into a dream about a house full of love and light, a house where happiness and joy resided, a house for a weird little family. Her weird little family.

-TBC-