A/N: I'm sorry for taking so long to update. My life has been a bit busy in the last couple of months, with me deciding to go back to school and get my Master's degree and other personal issues.
This chapter was inspired by (and written shortly after) my visit to New York City last year when I went to the US to watch Mary in Gloria: A Life. Towards the end of my stay in the US, I took a lovely two hours stroll in Central Park, and that was when this chapter was born. Who knew back then that another trip abroad would be so impossible only a year later? Also, someone a lot of you love to hate makes an appearance in this chapter. I hope you enjoy reading it.
Sharon stood under the awning of the balcony, her hair still wet from the shower, as she watched the first rain of the year and nursed a cup of tea. The earthy smell that saturated the air when it rained always brought her an unexplained comfort.
Andy appeared behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist "Who knew such good sex could bring rain, huh?"
Sharon smirked and leaned against him.
"Remember when we talked about going on a vacation together?" Andy asked.
Sharon hummed affirmatively. That was before Andy's heart attack and before the race for Chief Taylor's position – a race in which she wished she didn't have to partake.
"How about we take a week off and go to New York? It's beautiful in the fall."
"That sounds like a dream," Sharon murmured.
"A dream that can come true if you say 'yes'," Andy said.
Sharon turned in his arms and kissed him. "We've both been to New York countless times."
"Which is why it will be a relaxing vacation. We won't have to go to all the tourist attractions. It will just be us, walking hand in hand, enjoying the changing seasons, and finally seeing Emily's new show."
Andy's idea of a fall vacation sounded tempting. Sharon knew that Emily planned to come home for the holidays, but she would love to see her daughter sooner. Andy's sister lived in New Haven, so they could rent a car and visit her too.
Sharon wrapped her arms around his neck. "Perhaps we could take some time off at the end of the month."
"Do you think Rainie would like to come with us?" Andy asked.
"She's got school," Sharon said. "And while I'd love for Rainie to visit New York, maybe it could be just the two of us this time?"
"It's up to you," Andy said. His lips curved up in a smile that told Sharon just how happy he was for the chance to get away from their busy life for a few days.
Over the next week, Sharon and Andy prepared for their vacation. They didn't make concrete plans, other than visiting with Emily and Andy's sister, and hoped to spend their time moseying down the streets of New York or having a romantic picnic in Central Park.
"You know, I always wanted to do this," Andy said as they sat on the teal woolen blanket on the grass in Sheep Meadow and watched the squirrels running around the glade.
"Do what?" Sharon asked as she played with a fallen orange leaf.
"Just come here with a person I love and kiss her."
They leaned towards each other, but before their lips touched, Sharon heard the voice of a man she'd know anywhere.
"Shay?" Alfie stood up from a blanket not far from them and walked over to them.
"Alfie." Sharon choked on his name.
Andy stood up, and Sharon followed suit.
"Is that really you?" Alfie's excitement to see her nauseated Sharon.
Sharon hummed.
"I can't believe I'm seeing you again," he said. He introduced himself to Andy, and the two men shook hands. "Shay and I grew up together."
"That's cool. You must have tons of stories," Andy said.
"You have no idea." Alfie smiled widely. "I see you're doing well," he said to Sharon.
"I am, thank you. I hope you are too," Sharon replied politely, not wishing to extend the conversation.
"Things are getting better. I'm a father now, and we have a dog. A small family," Alfie said.
He never was good at taking a hint. "I'm glad to hear that, Alfie," Sharon said, shoving her hands into her pocket and shifting her weight from one foot to the other.
"I adopted Kelly off of foster care like you did with Rainie," Alfie elaborated.
"You know Rainie?" Andy looked between Sharon and Alfie, and by the inquisitive expression on his face, Sharon knew that he was connecting the dots.
Alfie hummed affirmatively. "My Kelly is younger than Rainie. She'll turn eleven soon. She's a redhead, just like Rainie." He pulled his wallet out of his pocket and showed them a photo of a young girl with braces on her teeth.
"Cute kid." Andy turned to look at Sharon and then at Alfie before wrapping his arms around Sharon's shoulders possessively. Sharon gracefully shrugged his arm off, and took his hand instead.
"It's good to hear, Alfie. I hope you are happy now," Sharon said and leaned into Andy's side.
Alfie offered her his charming smile, the one that used to make Sharon's heart do cartwheels in her chest. "Actually, I have to pick her up from a movie. It was nice to see you." He leaned in to kiss Sharon's cheek awkwardly and shook Andy's hand one more time before he went back to his blanket and began folding it.
"Shay?" Andy asked once Alfie was out of their sight. He looked at her oddly, as if he couldn't reconcile the name with her.
"It's just a stupid nickname, from when I was a child." Sharon shrugged, but she could tell that Andy was turning this interaction in his mind.
"He was more than just an acquaintance, wasn't he?" Andy asked.
"He was my boyfriend in high school," Sharon replied. "And a friend with benefits later in life."
"He met Rainie," Andy said. "Is this the same guy she mentioned when the two of you fought after I stayed the night for the first time?"
Sharon rubbed her palm over her face. "We fell out after his wife passed away a couple of years ago."
"He broke your heart." Andy slowly digested the information. "Didn't he?"
"I got over that, clearly." She leaned in for a kiss, surprised when Andy didn't return it. "Look, I don't want to talk about Alfie. It was my choice to end things between us, and it was for the better. He wasn't what I was looking for."
"He wasn't?"
"No, you are. A stable, loving, and sexy man like you? I couldn't find anyone better than you even if I tried," Sharon said, her voice thick with emotion. "Babe, I love you, and none of my exes will mean to me what you do."
"Babe, huh?" Andy joked at her use of the word. She usually opted for sweetheart or honey.
Sharon winked at him. "If I'm not mistaken, I believe you and I were about to make out when we were interrupted."
"Well, we must resume our important activity, then," Andy replied and leaned closer to her again, capturing her lips in a searing kiss, when they heard a slow but rhythmic sound on the leaves of the trees around them. Within moments, big drops of rain pattered on the leaves around them.
"We should probably finish that at the hotel," Sharon murmured against Andy's lips.
Andy's contented smile was all Sharon needed before they got up and quickly folded their blanket and their picnic basket. Before they left, Sharon caught one last whiff of the smell of rain, and just like all the times before, it made her feel cozy and safe.
-TBC-