"I'm sorry the kids' plans have derailed our plans for the day," Andy said a few minutes later after he'd pulled away from his parking spot at the church. Sharon clutched her phone in her hand, looking down at it, and he watched her put it down and run her fingers over her ring. He'd been catching her doing that all morning; she couldn't get enough of it, and he had to agree. He reached over and clasped his fingers with hers, feeling the ring there as he did that.
"It's fine," she waved with her free hand, a slight catch in her voice. "All I want is for the kids to live their own lives. I've been worried they have all been dropping things left and right to worry about me, to care for me, that I really can't sit here and be upset they are busy for brunch with us."
"Still," Andy offered a shrug as he navigated traffic. He shifted his eyes slightly to catch her expression, and she was nodding in agreement. "Tell you what," he said, squeezing the hand they still had joined as he then pulled it from hers to put it back on the steering wheel. He continued, "The whole point of doing takeout for lunch was to relax with the kids at home, to not have a big production or scene in a restaurant when we told them we were engaged. Since it's now just the two of us, I'd like to take my bride out to eat. I think that will actually be easier and less work for both of us than if we do takeout. This way, we can just eat. We don't have to carry it upstairs, prepare our plates, and clean up. It will be all done for us, and besides," he winked, "I love going out to eat with you."
"Okay," she nodded in agreement. "I like that idea. I don't have a lot of energy but getting out of the house feels good. Doing something normal-church and lunch-like we normally do, that feels so great," she said in a long sigh. "I can't tell you how great it feels."
"I can see it in your color," he nodded to her. "You're looking a bit better. I know you have a long way to go. Having Emily here has been nice for you these last few days."
"I've loved it," she smiled brightly. "I hope her brunch with Jack goes well. I'm surprised he's putting forth any effort, but at least he is. It's all I've wanted for him, for the kids-to have any sort of relationship. I know the kids have tried over the years, but this is one of the first attempts I've seen him make to spend time with Emily."
"Yeah, Christmas a couple years ago doesn't count, not if he was drinking and just wanted Emily to crash on his sad, dreary couch and hide that he was drunk," Andy said, recalling the Christmas Emily had come home for a visit. Andy and Sharon had not technically been dating then, but he knew the story. He knew all about Jack, the empty promises, the mess he'd created with the kids. That had been back when he and Sharon were the best of friends. She'd confided in him all about Jack, about how he wanted the kids to spend Christmas with him, and how, in the end, while the kids had wanted to protect her, she'd found out about his drinking again too. It was like his life was on repeat-drink, sober, apologize, repeat. Both Andy and Sharon had seen it for years. Andy had provided Sharon with some insight to the mind of an alcoholic, and while that had been helpful, both knew that in the end, it had to be Jack making the effort with the kids.
"We'll see how things to today," Sharon sighed. "Emily says he's sober. I hope he is, and I hope he stays that way."
"He seemed to be when you were in your coma," Andy told her. "I mean, you know he and I could easily go rounds, but the few times he either called or stopped by the hospital to check on you, he wasn't drunk. He was usually coming from work, so maybe, just maybe, he has some steady employment now and a reason to stay sober with the kids talking to him more."
"Mexican," Sharon blurted out, and Andy twisted his head to study her. She nodded, "Sorry, I just feel like Mexican food. Would that be okay? I am not sure where you are driving, but I'd like that. I was listening to you," she shook her head. "Sorry, my thoughts are scattered today."
"Not a problem," he nodded, but he looked at her oddly, "Mexican? I'm not complaining, but that's usually your least favorite food we have. Rusty and I love it, but you, not so much. I'm beginning to think that hospital food did a real number on you. Here you are asking for Mexican, which is not your favorite."
"It sounds good," she gave a small shrug. "I've been eating so much bland food, all the various soups and sandwiches, Mexican sounds like a welcome change."
"Mexican it is," he nodded and moved lanes to turn left. "To tell you the truth, I'm not sure where I was even driving," he chuckled. "I was just driving, no destination in mind. We hadn't decided on lunch, but yeah, Mexican is great. Rusty will be upset he cut out on us today, but he's doing something with Gus."
"I've observed him for a few days now, but what is your take on the Rusty and Gus situation?" Sharon asked, shifting toward him.
Andy let out a long sigh, "I'm really not sure. They seem to like each other, but both have enough baggage to load down a cargo plane. I hope they can figure it out, but who knows."
Sharon chuckled at his analogy, and she pursed her lips, "I wonder if they are just too young, especially with the baggage they have, as you mentioned, just too young to clearly sift through everything."
"Maybe," Andy nodded. "I like to think there's a time and place for everyone, just like us," he gestured and winked. "I wish we'd gotten together 10 or even 20 years ago, but I don't think either of us was ready then. It's like now, the timing is right. We're emotionally ready for each other."
"We are," she smiled warmly at him, reaching over to squeeze his hand as he navigated traffic. "You really became part of my life, my closest friend, at the right time. I'd was getting settled in Major Crimes, and Rusty was a mess."
"You were ready to do something about Jack, even if you didn't do it right away," he explained. "I didn't set out as a friend of yours with this as the goal," he waved between them. "It wasn't like I sat down with Provenza one night and said that I was going to charm you until you married me," he grinned, the idea causing Sharon to laugh. "It just was the right timing. Honestly, you know my history, and I wasn't ready to settle down with anyone serious, let alone the smartest woman I know, several years ago. I was still being stupid, dating anyone who gave me a second glance. Something was just right with both of us and our timing."
"Yes, and that's what worries me about Rusty and Gus. I realize they have to figure it out," she sighed.
Andy nudged her with his arm, "It sounds very similar to what the kids tried to tell us, even though I realize we aren't going to tell Rusty any of this. The kids kept trying to tell us to figure it out. We had to do it ourselves."
"Very good point," she hummed. "I am just so relieved I'm on the mend and don't have to worry about the kids putting their own lives on hold for me. I don't want to be a burden. I want to recover, get back to work, and marry you. I think it's safe to say I have very basic, very low expectations."
"Basic and low?" Andy raised and eye and chuckled. "I'm a low expectation?"
She gave him a look like she was agreeing with the idea, and then, she started to laugh, reaching for his hand again. The two hated losing that contact with each other; both had noticed that as their hands continually migrated toward the other. "Well, you're not a low expectation," she said in a flirty tone as she grinned at him.
"Already feeling the love, Sharon," he winked, a huge grin on his face. "Here I was all excited to take my bride to lunch."
"You really are not going to let that go," she chuckled.
"Nope, I finally snagged ya, my gorgeous bride," he flashed a huge grin. "I'm never going to let you go."
The two arrived at the Mexican restaurant a few minutes later, the place an old favorite of Ricky's. It was Rusty's favorite too, Andy's as well, but all of that really came from the fact that it had been Ricky's favorite. Sharon had introduced Rusty to it, and in time, she'd introduced Andy to it as well. Now, it was the family favorite for Mexican food, something she didn't eat often, but today, it was exactly what she wanted. The restaurant was pleasantly busy when the arrived, but they didn't have to wait for a table. After they were seated, she put her menu to the side, folded her hands, and she looked across the table at Andy.
He felt her eyeing him and glanced at her over his menu, "Yes?"
"Just like what I see," she offered a playful shrug.
"You are feeling better," he nodded, his lips pursed. "I like you when you flirt with me."
"Yes, I am feeling more human, not necessarily better," she pointed out. "I don't see how looking at you is flirting."
He gave her an odd look, "You do realize that's one of the definitions of flirting, eyeing someone you like, just like this," he said, giving her a once over look. She burst out laughing and looked away. He waited for her to stop laughing and continued. "Glad to see it, that you are feeling more human. How about after lunch we go home and take a nap? I imagine you are worn out; I'm worn out, and that sounds like the perfect activity for our afternoon."
"I love the idea, BUT," she enunciated and waited for him to lock eyes with her, "the kids. Emily is coming over at some point today."
"Right," he nodded. "I'm sure we could nap, rest even, before she does. What time is she coming over?"
"I'm not sure. I'd imagine she and Jack are almost done with their brunch, so I would assume this afternoon. It's been so wonderful having her here. Have I told you that yet?" she grinned, knowing she'd mentioned it before. "Plus, there's the one other issue."
"That is?" Andy inquired, looking toward her. She tapped her ring, and he grinned brightly. "Right, engagement, and the kids don't know. I don't know how I forgot."
She reached for his hands as she spoke, "It's going to be an unforgettable wedding. I can't wait."
"Are you going to have it all planned today? I know I've teased you about that, but what are your plans?"
She gave a light shrug, "No, I don't think so. It will be fun to talk to Emily about it, though, to get her ideas."
"Just name the time and place. I'll be there. I really don't care about anything else, and I'm not saying that to be rude. I was so scared I was going to lose you; it's a miracle we are both here on the road to recovery," he said as he stared into her eyes.
"I can't lose you either," she squeezed his hands. "You with your heart issues. We need to make sure you are doing well this week too with your appointments."
"We will," he squeezed her hands and dropped contact to sit back in a more comfortable position. "The idea of losing you, Sharon, it makes me sick to my stomach. I couldn't fathom it, still can't. I kept telling myself that we'd only just begun. Can I ask you something?"
Sharon drew back with a surprised look and shook her head, almost in disbelief, "Andy you can ask me anything. We've always been completely honest with each other. What is it?"
He paused, not sure how to ask, but then, he gave her a small frown, "You've told me that in your dream we got married, and then, you died shortly after that. What do you remember? That just seems like my worst nightmare. No wonder you were so out of sorts when you finally came out of your coma."
Sharon took a deep breath, trying to recall the memory. She cleared her throat and started to explain, "In my dream, we'd gotten married right around Thanksgiving. The actual dates are foggy, but it was only a dream," she smiled softly at him. "I was sick already, even for the wedding, but we both wanted to get married. Actually," she paused and raised a hand as she recalled more, "I take that back. I'd suggested calling off the wedding due to my health issues, but we talked, and you were persistent to continue with our plans."
"That doesn't surprise me," he grumbled. "Dream or reality, all I want is to marry you."
Sharon smiled at him, but then, as she tried to recall more of her dream, her facial expression changed. She cleared her throat again, "We went ahead with the wedding. It was beautiful in my dream, but of course," she rolled her eyes, "it was like Provenza's in that we were finishing a case as we were about to get married. The kids were irritated, and we acted like it was no big deal. I want it to be a big deal. I don't necessarily want a big production, but marrying you is a big deal, not something I want to do at 5:00 after locking up a murderer."
"Okay," he chuckled. "Deal. We can agree to not get married in the middle of a murder investigation. Devil's advocate, though," he winked, totally teasing her, "we grew close over a lot of cases, Sharon. Most of our relationship developed around cases."
"Our marriage will not, though," she gave him a look, and then, she smiled at him. He gestured for her to continue, "We didn't go on a honeymoon as I told you because I was sick. Instead, we were immediately thrust into specialists' offices for different appointments. My medication was changed a few times. I ended up in the ER a couple of times, and through it all, I refused to step back from work, to see what was important in my life. I refused to see that living for my family was more important than dying for a job."
"Wow," he said after she paused and looked at him. He nodded, "Powerful. I can see how that would have almost haunted you."
"Yes, and as I have told you, in my dream, I died at work, going against the wishes of my doctor, of you, the kids, the team-Andy, I went against what everyone wanted for me all for a case. I don't want that. I want our family to come first, our lives to be more important than work. We've both almost died due to circumstances related to work, directly or indirectly, and I want a life with you. Yes, I realize our lives are closer to the end than they are to the beginning, but I want to live for the moment, to live for us. It took us so long to get here," she gestured between them, "and no job, even Major Crimes, a place we both love, is worth giving up our lives, you or me."
"This dream really got to you; I can tell," he smiled sympathetically at her.
"It felt so real, all of it, but it was really a nightmare, nothing like I want to actually happen," she frowned.
"That's settled," he patted his hands on the table. "We agree on that. Your dream, or nightmare, won't be anything that will really happen. It will stay in your head as a sick, twisted nightmare."
"Yes, it needs to stay that way," she sighed.
"I love you," he winked at her. "I love you in sickness and in health," and Sharon started to laugh again, dropping her head. "What? Oh, I can't wait for this wedding," he smiled. "Before that, now, we just need to order. Where is our waitress?"
Sharon started to laugh as she dropped her head, "We are hopeless. We've been sitting here talking all this time, and we didn't even notice that no one has been by to get our order."
"You picked the place, Sharon," he winked at her.
She chuckled and rolled her eyes, "Yes, I'm seeing the error of my ways. I picked you too. I'm happy to discuss my bad judgement while we eat."