He was nervous, and that was odd. It was breakfast. He did breakfast; he liked breakfast. It was time with Hannah. He loved Hannah, and more than anything, he wanted to spend time with her. Finally, he was getting that, time with his daughter. Yet, he was antsy, nervous, and he wasn't even sure he would be able to stomach breakfast.

Sharon was making him nervous. He wasn't even to her house yet, or her parents' house, as it had been, and his stomach was in knots. He had spent an amazing few hours with her not even 24 hours ago. That hadn't made him nervous; he'd enjoyed all of that time with her, the intimacy, the alone time with her. Realizing that his feelings about Sharon were now clouding his judgment-that was making him nervous. Realizing that he was getting in too deep with Sharon-that was making him nervous. Realizing that he could ruin things with Sharon, and in turn, could ruin his relationship with Hannah-that was making him nervous. He needed to take a deep breath. He needed to focus. Hannah was at stake. He would do anything for Hannah, even if it had to mean accepting that Sharon's insecurities were never going to go away and acknowledging that Sharon was never going to relax around him. He didn't feel he could continue with Sharon in her current mindset. She didn't trust him, and he wasn't sure she ever would.

Andy wanted it all; he wanted the storybook life, but as he'd matured through his own life, he had come to the conclusion most people just didn't have a storybook. He certainly hadn't had one, but he had a chance, at least a small one, to have Hannah in his life, a chance to improve his story and that of his daughter.

Andy checked his GSP and groaned. He'd missed a turn, but the streets around this area were in a grid, so after he made his turns, he was back on course. He was now only a mile from the house, and he let out a long breath. It felt like it had been a long day already, and it wasn't even 8:00 in the morning. He glanced at the clock; it was 7:45. He was early, and he hoped it was okay. It had to be okay. How could she get upset he was early? At this point, he didn't care if Sharon was upset with him as long as she didn't hold it against him. Of course, nothing with Sharon was easy or predictable, so she could hold it against him. He was getting a chance to see Hannah, something he wanted, but didn't expect. Sharon had surprised him slightly with that, in a good way. Maybe, just maybe, she would now start letting him see his daughter.

Andy slowed the car to look at the house. It was a very traditional Mediterranean home, typical to the area as well as Los Angeles and the surrounding area. Sharon's car was in the driveway. He knew this wasn't Sharon's childhood home. Her parents had moved to this retirement area some time ago, and as he parked, he glanced around the street. It looked peaceful and homey. Andy took a deep breath. He wasn't sure why he was so nervous. Sharon said the kids were out of the house; they had early flights. This was just time with Sharon and Hannah. He could do this.

Andy parked and nodded to himself in the car. He was seeing his daughter, and for that he was thankful. He wasn't going to ask Sharon what had made her extend the invitation. Perhaps it was the grief talking; he didn't know, but he was going to enjoy this time. He'd see Hannah and then head for L.A., hoping that this would be the first of many visits with his little princess.

He knocked on the door and took a deep breath. Andy glanced around again and looked down at his clothing. He had wanted to look nice, not that Hannah had any clue who he was or if he looked nice for her. Andy still wanted to look nice, and maybe, deep down, that was still for Sharon. Sure, the woman had seen him in gym shorts and well, much less, the night before. He still wanted to look nice, not overdressed, but nice. He glanced at his khaki slacks and nodded to himself. He had the business casual look going with the slacks, navy blue polo shirt, and loafers. He looked up, startled, when the door opened, and his expression quickly turned to a soft smile.

She looked amazing, and that was the last thing he needed to be thinking right now. Sharon had on white capri pants with a royal blue loose top. It looked bright and fresh, something opposite to her mood, he was sure, but it did so much for her. It almost wiped away the look of sorrow he knew was hiding under her exterior.

"Morning," he said quickly. "I'm early. I hope that's not a problem. I just realized your family-you said they were leaving early?"

"The kids left over three hours ago," she gave him a small smile. "They had to be at the airport before 5:00. Did you find the house okay? I didn't think about including some basic directions with the address."

Andy held up his phone, "GPS, remember? I found it just fine," he chuckled lightly. She seemed nervous. Sharon knew phones had GPS, but he looked to her hand on the door and noticed she was fidgeting. Finally, she realized they were both standing there and gestured inside.

"Ahh, please come in," she cleared her throat. "Hannah has been awake since 6:00, which is pretty normal for her when I go to work."

"I see," he nodded. "That would explain how you look so nice this early in the morning. Kids had to leave, and Hannah has been up awhile. You look great, by the way," he leaned over and whispered. She glanced at him like she was shocked he would say that. "I mean, you look more rested. I know the last few days have been extremely draining. You look like yourself, Sharon."

She glanced back at him as she led him through the house. He looked around as they walked, noting there were funeral flowers everywhere. They walked across the living room, and she addressed him, "I meant it when I said you helped me relax and forget. I slept last night, and I haven't slept in days now. Hannah is back here on the screened in porch," she told him. "We've been out here all morning. It's still cool enough to enjoy the weather."

Andy nodded as they walked. He cleared his throat, "Nice home your parents have here," he said. "It looks like they were very happy."

Sharon had reached the sliding door that would take them to the screened in porch and turned back to him, "They were very happy," she nodded with a small, almost nostalgic smile. "They were a wonderfully happy couple. Enough for now, she shook her head before she started crying. He sighed, feeling badly that he'd almost made her cry with just the mention of her parents' home, but she just closed her eyes and shook her head, as if she shook away the memories for now. "Hannah is out here, in her saucer."

Andy raised an eyebrow, wondering if this was THE saucer, the toy he'd gotten her for Christmas. Sharon opened the door and stepped onto the porch area, and Andy followed. The porch wrapped around to the side, almost forming an 'L' around the house. It was a huge porch, and he liked it instantly. He'd want to have something like this too if he lived here. He was so absorbed in studying the house, he almost missed him.

Yes, him. It wasn't Gavin. Oh, he'd spoken to Gavin late last light after he'd returned to the hotel from this very house. Gavin had crossed his arms and looked at Andy when he'd returned, walking to the doorway of Andy's room where Andy was relaxing against the headboard of the bed watching an old movie on tv.

"Sleeping with her whenever the two of you are in the same room isn't a good idea," he frowned and looked at Andy before he added, "no matter how good of a guy I think you are."

Andy sat up quickly, "You know? She told you the details already? She just left here."

Gavin pointed at Andy, "You've already told me more than she has. No, she didn't tell me. Yes, I know; I knew. I knew it would happen. It keeps happening. I had a feeling she would leave the house and come here. Sure enough, she said she needed to clear her head," he rolled his eyes. "Yes, I know what you two were doing. Plus," he gestured with his hand over his head, "there's an almost aura here, just an ambiance. Andy, I'm not that dense. No, I've been waiting downstairs in the bar. I knew she'd leave through the lobby, her own little walk of shame. I was about to come upstairs because I'm ready to crash myself, and let's face it-it had been awhile-when she finally walked through, her hair looking flat-maybe damp is the right word?" He put his finger to his mouth to think and nodded, "She probably showered to make herself presentable. Anyway, I spent a couple hours with her dad, and he was exhausted, so I just waited in the lobby. I didn't figure you as the tie on the door type," he smirked.

Andy gave him an irritated look, but then he gestured, "Did you talk to her, I mean, Sharon, on her way out? How was she?"

"No, she was flustered enough," Gavin told him. "While she is my best friend, even Sharon needs a break from me. I knew she'd had a rough couple days, but she looked like she needed a moment alone. Did something else happen, besides the obvious? You two didn't argue, did you? Oh," he put his finger to his lip again and nodded as he thought, "problems in the bedroom department? Did you have some issues, Andy?"

"No!" Andy exclaimed. "No issues, not that I'm discussing with you. She wasn't flustered when she left me, I mean, grieving, but she was calm."

Gavin leaned his head against the doorframe and gave Andy a small smile, "I know you care about her, probably more than most 95% of the men in her life, but you know she doesn't trust easily. She's been through it, and if she keeps trying to convince you this arrangement," he moved his hand in a circle, "is working for both of you, it's not going to continue."

"That's all I have been thinking about," he frowned. "Thanks for the advice, and I don't want that to happen. I care too much about her, about Hannah to let things blow up completely. I hit my own realization tonight. Thanks," he gave him a nod.

"Look, Andy," Gavin said as he started to step away from the door, "I know you're a good guy. I know you love Hannah. I wish you the best. We both want Sharon to be happy, but I'm not sure she's realized that even for herself, that she can be happy."

"Andy," he heard and shook his head, almost embarrassed he'd gone to a memory with the current situation. Andy turned his head to Sharon, and she gestured. He followed her gesture. Hannah was playing in the saucer he'd bought her, making all kinds of noises, while Sharon's dad sat next to her, a cup of coffee in hand.

"Andy," Sharon cleared her throat, and he could hear her voice wavering as she gestured. "This is my dad, Bob O'Dwyer. Dad, this is Andy Flynn," she gestured. He couldn't take his eyes off Sharon and noticed her hand was shaking. Her voice was nervous, very nervous, and she took a deep breath, "I believe it is time you meet."