"She really does snore, doesn't she?" Andy asked quietly as he looked over at Sharon. Sharon looked down at Hannah, who was asleep between them as they sat on the bed in Sharon's hotel room. Hannah was out for the night; neither had wanted to move her to her crib yet, but she was snoring, loudly snoring. She gave a small glance up at Andy, as she was stretched out, lying on a pillow, while Andy was sitting up, his back against the headboard. The television was on, but they had the sound turned down quite a bit while Hannah slept.

"You snore," she simply said and looked back at Hannah.

Andy turned his head with a horrified look, "No way I sound like that. She is loud. Provenza, he's loud too. I mean, sure, I know I might snore some, but it's nothing like that."

Sharon hummed, just enough so he could hear her, "Deny it all you want."

"You hum in your sleep," he said, and with that, Sharon lifted her head off her pillow slightly and looked to him.

"I do not," she made a face and shook her head.

"Hmm, you do," Andy said, almost mocking her with the humming. "How would you know if you hum anyway? Anyone ever tell you?"

"Not that I can recall," she said and dropped her head back on the pillow as she looked at Hannah again.

"Of course, from what you've told me over the last year or more, it's not like many had the opportunity to hear you hum. Provenza might have told me I snore," he grumbled. "Bet your other kids think you hum."

Sharon started to chuckle and closed her eyes. She hummed, and with that, Andy started to laugh too.

"She really is snoring," Sharon said as she continued to chuckle.

"I know! It's loud. Hey," he said and waited for her to turn slightly to look at him. He nodded down at Hannah, there, in her sweet little pink pajama set, another two-piece set without the feet in them, and he gave her a soft smile, "Thanks for inviting me to hang out with you two this evening. I appreciate it. I know it was to get my mind off my dad. I'm feeling much better. Just sitting here," he nodded, "has been good."

Sharon looked up at him, and then, she quietly and slowly sat up to be face to face with him instead of lying down on her pillow. They had been stretched out there relaxing for over an hour how. Hannah had fallen asleep about a half hour earlier, and they were really just enjoying the peace and quiet. There was a re-run of a police procedural on the television, but with the sound turned down, neither was really paying attention. The almost-empty pizza box sat on the small table by the window. Sharon had been surprised when Andy had said pizza sounded good. They'd picked it up close to the hotel, along with a large salad. That was gone, and there was a slice and a half left of pizza. Both had been hungry, hungrier than they had thought.

She shifted her legs slightly, her focus on Hannah, trying to make sure she didn't wake her. When she got into position, sitting against the headboard like Andy, she turned sideways, her legs curled to her side. Hannah shifted slightly and moved her arm. Both looked to her, waiting to see if that would wake her. When she moved her lips and started snoring again, Sharon looked over to Andy again and gave him a small smile.

"I am glad you are feeling better, and I'm sorry your dad made you feel that way at all. I know you mentioned your dad was hard on you, but I just," she shook her head. Andy," she said, slightly breathless as she looked at him, her eyes searching his. She shook her head, "You really are a good man. I want you to know that. I want you to believe that, and I want you to realize that I know that."

"It's nothing new with him, nothing I haven't come to expect, to have drilled into me," he waved his hand slightly. "My dad will always see me as a washed up, drunk, divorced cop who never did one good thing in his life. I don't know why he surprises me, or I let it get to me anymore. I guess I realize people change; I know I've tried to change, and even when I show up and tell him about Hannah, even about how I'm trying to do the right thing with her, he's back to my problems of 20 and 30 years ago. He doesn't want to change, and at this point, he's not going to change. He's stuck on the idea of me still married to Sandra with a happy family, no problems, and honestly," he said a bit louder and then looked with a panicked expression to Hannah before he lowered his voice, "he never ever liked her, not at all. I think that was partly why I did like her; dad didn't, and I wanted to show him. Even I messed that up, drinking like I did, putting the bottle ahead of my family. Dad doesn't let me forget what I've done."

Sharon reached over and put her hand on his cheek. She gave him a soft smile, "You are a good man. I want you to know how hard that is even for me to say because honestly," she shook her head, "I rarely see a good man in my personal life. I wanted for so long to believe you were like all the others. I know I treated you like all the others, which wasn't well, but you have continued to show me time and time again that you are nothing like I expected, nothing like I thought."

Andy reached up and put his hand on hers. He turned slightly and kissed the inside of her wrist, and Sharon then pulled her hand back and looked at him, a sad smile on her face. He shook his head, "I know you've had it rough, that you've been through it, Sharon, with Jack. I know you have lost pretty much all faith and trust in men. I know it's hard for you to believe any guy is a decent guy, but I also know you have a couple really great, decent men in your life. Your dad and Ricky are pretty great, at least I can speak of your dad. I know he's a good man, and I cannot imagine anyone you raised and put forth all that effort is not a good man. I think you have some good ones around you. I know you trust them. You were raised by your dad, and then, you raised Ricky. You know decent men can exist. I'm not arguing that they can't. I guess I find it hard to believe I can be one of the so-called 'good guys' or whatever," he waved his hand. "I've heard from my dad for so long I'm a disaster, I just really think that too."

"Hey," Sharon bit her lip and reached for his hand that was on the bed, near Hannah. She took it and searched his eyes with hers. She closed her eyes and shook her head slightly, "I've treated you so badly for so long. I know I haven't given you a chance. Honestly," she let out a sigh, "I haven't given you anything but grief, and I'm not proud of myself for that. Seeing your dad today, Andy," she pursed her lips, "something clicked with me. I don't know how to explain it. I saw someone stuck on the past, stuck on the idea people cannot change, stuck on the bitterness. I don't want to be like that. I have been like that. I've been punishing you for anything I can without cause in many cases, and I haven't given you the benefit of the doubt with any of it. Today, I saw a man who was so determined to bring you down for issues you've had in the past, he couldn't see you've addressed so many and are working to be a better man. I wasn't seeing it, not until today, truly. I suppose that I'd been noticing so many of the things, the gestures, you'd done lately to make life better for Hannah and even me, but I wasn't giving you credit for that. I was instead almost waiting for the other shoe to drop, for you to throw up your hands and walk away from her. I suppose, deep down honestly, I am still waiting for that. There's that little twinge of, of," she waved her free hand in the air, "I'm not sure what, but I suppose I have this small thought still that you are too good to be true with Hannah, that you will disappoint me just as I want to trust you with her."

Andy listened, watching her face as she spoke. He looked down when she mentioned waiting for the other shoe to drop, his hand still clasped in hers. When she finished, he squeezed her hand and looked up at her, "Thank you for saying that. I know your life hasn't been easy, still isn't," he nodded toward Hannah. "You're the strongest woman I've ever met, and believe me, I've met a few," he smiled slightly and then chuckled when she tried to shake her head. "It's true. Take my own mother," he nodded. "You've met my dad, so consider what she must have been like. She was a great mother, so strong, and she'd kill me for saying this, but she doesn't have the inner strength you do. You've been through it and are still fighting, yeah," he gestured with his free hand, "sometimes at the wrong people," he said as he gestured to himself, "but still, you keep going. I know when we first came up with our little idea, it was about as sterile as you can get." He looked down at Hannah, still sleeping and snoring and back to Sharon with a small roll of his eyes, "Okay, that might have been a poor choice of words considering everything. Sterile, in any sense of the word, isn't the right word, but everything was just so calculated, planned. Somewhere in that, even before Hannah, I felt a slight shift. I know just the idea of Hannah then clouded my judgement, but then, seeing her," he sighed and ran his hand through his hair, "seeing what you'd done-bringing our daughter into this world and ready to raise her on your own," he shook his head. "I'm just so different now, different than I'd ever imagined. All I want to do is be with the two of you, but I know, or so I thought, you could still barely stand to look at me outside of a bedroom, and while you've allowed me to see Hannah more, I feel you still question my intentions with her."

Sharon nodded as she looked at their hands. She looked up at him, and she gave a sad smile, "I did. I did all of that, and I can finally admit, finally see that I'm changing. I want to change. You, Andy Flynn, make me want to believe things can be different."

The two grew quiet, turning their attention to Hannah, who rolled to her side and continued to make her little baby noises between snores. They just listened to her for a couple of minutes, digesting what had been said. Finally, still not looking at each other, Sharon cleared her throat and spoke while still looking at Hannah.

"I used to think that having a father for my kids, even one like Jack, was better than no father at all. I used to think that, I suppose, early on when he was doing his disappearing act. I believed that he would at least step up and do the right thing for them when the time came. He didn't. He missed family events, and he disappointed the kids time and time again. I think that is what really crushed me. He disappointed our kids. They were our kids, and he forgot that, as he was more interested in his personal life-I wouldn't even say personal happiness because I'm not sure he was happy or is now. He was just determined to be anywhere but with us, ultimately hurting all of us. I used to think any dad was better than no dad," she shook her head and closed her eyes. "Then, as they years went on, and he continually disappointed them, I started to believe they'd be better without any idea of him, without expecting him to maybe, just maybe," she emphasized, "being part of their life. I thought that for awhile too, and, then, I hated myself for thinking that, for wishing away a man who'd helped bring two children into the world. I couldn't believe I'd think such a thing, that maybe he could and would change eventually. I told myself that for a long time. Now, still, I'm not sure he will. At some point, though, I told myself that exposing them to Jack-that was something I could never take back, I could never undo the fact they knew their dad, as bad of a father as he was, I couldn't undo that. With Hannah, that's where I wanted to take control of the situation. I wanted to protect her from feeling disappointment, from feeling like her dad didn't love her," she sighed and pursed her lips. "I've always wanted to protect Hannah, all of my kids. After dealing with Jack, I thought the best way to do that was to erase any memory of you, of her father because in my mind, I was stuck on the idea that she was better never knowing her father because my other two were still living with constant disappointments from their father. You've been trying to change that, at least my impression of that. Then, today, I see a father so incredibly disappointed in his son," she shook her head. "My head has been all over the place. Through all of it, I see you. I see you fighting back, fighting against everyone, and it tells me that's who you are, a man of character, a fighter, and I do want you to know, I see that now. You do love your father, even when he continually tries to pull you down, when he continually expresses his disappointment in you. You still try and fight for his affection. With me, you continue to fight for Hannah, for the right to be around her, for the ability to know her. You keep fighting. Jack never, ever once did that. He's never fought-for the kids or for me. You," she gave him a small nod, "I believe you will fight to be in Hannah's life if it's the last thing you do."

He nodded, and he squeezed her hand again, "It's not just Hannah," he said quietly. "In all your talking there," he looked up at her, "and know I am very grateful to hear whatever you are thinking, you keep saying I'll be there for Hannah. I will. I always will. I love her. She's the greatest thing I never knew I would ever have or want," he gave Sharon a small smile. "It kills me that I have already missed so much of her life, kills me. I think about the world she is growing up in, and it almost pains me to think that I won't be able to protect her, that you won't allow it, or something will happen to me. I see these dirt bags we haul in off the street who have harmed beautiful young girls, and my mind goes to her. I think of all my kids, but I think of Hannah so sweet and innocent now. I want to be there for her, but the thing you haven't addressed is that I want to be there for you too."

Sharon glanced at him, and he was looking back at her. She cleared her throat, "You have been there for me, especially recently. Through all of this, I've dictated the terms of our arrangement; I know that," she eyed him and gestured around the room. "I realize that hasn't been fair; I've dictated the specifics of our sleeping together, and I'm sorry. I've made everything on my terms. You've been there for me. I know that. You came all the way to Phoenix to my mother's funeral, and then, you didn't argue when I needed us to sleep together after that, again all on my terms. I know you've been there for me. Lately," she frowned and shook her head, "I suppose I'm just realizing that it can't be all on my terms. I think we have maybe started to figure out what the other needs because we've just been in sync," she looked to him. "I find myself wanting you in my bed more and more lately, and I think we've finally figured out how to make that arrangement work."

"I think it's way more than that, and if you are honest with yourself, Sharon, you know it's more than that too. This isn't just about us having the right chemistry in the bedroom, not anymore. It hasn't been like that for a long time. If you really look at it, you know that. Sharon, it has been wonderful; I could almost say better every time, but I think that's because there are real feelings there, feelings that continue to develop, and as we are with each other more and more, those feelings are intensifying. I think you know that," he lifted his hand to her chin and looked at her. "I've told you I care about you Sharon. I know I do. I don't think this is just about being in sync but developing much deeper feelings for one another."

Sharon watched his eyes, and she slightly shook her head, "I know you care, but I'm not sure I can grasp the full idea of that. I can't do relationships, and I mean, I don't know how to do them. I haven't had a successful one yet."

"Well, no offense, Sharon," he lightly chuckled, trying to break the tension, "we wouldn't be sitting here if either of us had a successful one. I mean, that's kind of the point. It would be one thing if you were a widow or I was, but we both stink at relationships. That doesn't always have to be the case. What I don't want to do is be like my dad, going forward from her. I've realized a lot too with him. He continues to dig up the past. I did it too; I've done it for a long time. It's time I let it go. I cannot change the past, but I've been working to make things better in the future. I can only work on my future, and that's what I'm finally willing to recognize. Looking forward, I want to be the best possible father you could ever imagine for Hannah. I want to be in her life, and I want to be in yours. I'm not asking for some big answer now, but I'm putting it out there."

Sharon nodded at him as he spoke, "I know you want to be in her life. I know. I'm working on that, the idea of letting you in, but it's hard, and some of that, much of that," she corrected herself, "is due to my past. I know I need to not pass that along to you, and I'm going to try harder. I'd ask that you give me time," she said looking at him. "I've watched you with her lately, and it bothers me how I've treated you. I'm trying. As for being in my life," she sighed and looked up at the ceiling, but then she looked back to him and found him looking at her. "I don't know how to do that. I really don't," she gave a small shrug. "After all these years, I know how to be alone. That's what I know. I'm worried that we'll ruin things and that will backfire on Hannah. I enjoy being with you in the bedroom," she admitted and cleared her throat. "I do. Maybe things have been good there because there is something more. I'm not sure yet, but I don't want to let that go."

"We can't just keep sneaking around late at night after I see Hannah to have our good time," he replied to her. "I want more, Sharon. I'm hurting myself if I don't at least tell you that."

She nodded again, her lips pursed, and finally, she shook her head at him and spoke quietly, "I don't know how to do any of this."

"I think you do," he gave her a soft smile. "To start, don't try to do anything extreme. Let's just relax and start talking. Can we do that? For a year and a half, almost two years, Sharon, we've basically fallen into bed when it's convenient. You've assumed I'm going to run off on you and Hannah, and I've assumed you want to continually run off and keep me from Hannah. Let's do nothing, other than to try and just talk. We've figured out we enjoy the physical side, but we have been lousy at the emotional side including communication. We can see how things go from there."

"Hannah has to be our focus," she said, looking down at the sleeping baby.

"Hannah is not only the focus, Sharon, but she's what led us to each other ultimately. Come on," he sighed and shook his head, "I think without her, we would have had our way with each other for a few months, and then, that would have blown up on us. It almost did a few times, but with Hannah here, I know I've kept coming back, and in doing so, I've seen what a wonderful woman you are. At the same time, we have to focus on Hannah, but we have to separately focus on the two of us if we are going to make any changes."

"I've really hurt you," she frowned. "I know that; I've been realizing that. When I look back, I keep trying to find a time you've really hurt me, but you haven't. I am the one," she paused. He took her hand in his.

"Yeah, I've been hurt. I hate I didn't see her born, that I didn't get to hold her then and for every day after that. I hate it. Yeah, I've been hurt, but I've also found joy with you two, and I'm choosing to focus on that, the joy," he said.

"I don't know what to do now," she looked to him.

He looked to her and looked to Hannah. He nodded to Hannah, "We get some rest, real rest tonight," he told her. "We go to bed, here, together, to sleep, to be with each other. Nothing more tonight. I'm going to put Hannah in her crib, and then, we're going to bed. We're going to get up tomorrow and start a new day, trying to trust each other and see where that takes us because that's all we can do for now. No promise, just one foot in front of the other, one day at a time."

She nodded and cleared her throat again, "We can't figure this out this weekend."

"I wouldn't dream of it, of suggesting that," he said. "This isn't going to sort out itself in a day."

"I can't promise anything," she said.

"Just promise we will work together," he looked to her.

She nodded, "I suppose we'll need to talk about you coming to Flagstaff again, maybe soon. I think I'd like that."

He closed his eyes, and when he opened them, he looked to her, "That's a start, Sharon."