"I really appreciate you coming here this weekend," Sharon said as they sat on the floor watching Hannah. She was now in her pajamas, ready for bed, and they were letting her get out her last bit of energy before putting her to bed. Truthfully, Andy couldn't stand the idea of putting her to bed and then having to leave; he was trying to soak up every minute with Hannah and Sharon. It had been a good day, even with Sharon's family in town. Ricky and Bob had left just after 2:00 so they could get back to Phoenix and get Ricky back on a plane to San Francisco. It had been a short enough visit it hadn't been too stressful, yet, it had been a good visit, in that he'd had a chance to speak to Ricky, hang around with Sharon's family, and hopefully show them just a little he was trying.

Andy looked up from where he had a toy he'd been holding for Hannah and gave her a soft smile, "I didn't want to be anywhere else, and I'm only sorry I couldn't get here for her party, for the whole weekend."

Sharon nodded and focused her eyes on Hannah. She was walking alongside the coffee table, still just not quite where she was walking alone. She would walk with toys and things, the little walker toys in front of her, but she was taking her time walking alone. Both adults were surprised. She seemed so ready over a month ago, but she was almost just enjoying her little milestones before anything more. She was a sweet baby, not a lot of trouble, and her eyes just moved back from one parent to the other as they spoke. Sharon was on one side of the coffee table with Andy on the other.

"I know her party was a disappointment for you. I was looking forward to you being there too. I was even going to have you formally meet a few of my friends," she told him.

Andy raised his eyebrows, "Really? I mean, I know you invited a few people, but I really hadn't thought about what you'd say to them. Okay," he sighed, "correction, I had thought about it, but I just figured you would say I was your friend, Andy."

Sharon, with her eyes trained on Hannah, looked over to Andy, and he was looking at her. She gave a small nod, "I wanted them to meet you, the man in my life and Hannah's dad. I am really trying here. I know you don't quite understand, but it's hard for me."

"I know you are trying," he gave her another soft smile as he handed Hannah the toy she wanted. "Actually, I know you are trying really hard, and I guess that's what I want you to know about me. I'm trying really hard too, just in different ways from you. I guess I understand what I feel about you, where that is an area you are still cloudy. I'm trying in my behavior with Hannah and in my acceptance with you. What I mean by that is that I put all the relationship blame of my past on me. I look at myself as not being good enough, meaning I'm not good enough for you. I'm sorting through how I feel about myself. I guess we are both just a mess."

Sharon let out a small chuckle as she nodded. The two focused on Hannah, and she rubbed her eye. Sharon cleared her throat until she met Andy's gaze. She gestured to him, "I like you, mess and all. I admit I was disappointed when you couldn't be here for her birthday, but you took me by complete surprise when you showed up last night." Hannah rubbed her eye again, and Sharon nodded to Andy, "She's going to have to go to bed. I know you don't want to say goodbye to her."

He frowned, "No, I don't. I guess putting her to bed means my trip is almost over, but I know she's tired. I'll put her to bed, if that's okay with you?"

"Of course," Sharon smiled at him. "I can share," and when Andy gave her a look, she chuckled. "I can share sometimes, and I am learning to share her with you."

Andy stood and gathered Hannah in his arms, "Pumpkin say goodnight to Mom," he said, carrying her to Sharon where Sharon kissed her. She stood, with Andy pulling her up, and he leaned in to her, "I like you too," he winked. "Are you giving out those kisses?"

Sharon closed her eyes and laughed. She leaned up and kissed Hannah again, "Yes, see, I gave out another kiss."

Andy playfully tugged at her arm and before she knew what was coming, he kissed her quickly and started toward Hannah's room. Sharon stood there, almost speechless, as he called to her, "I'll be back in a few. I hope Hannah isn't the only one getting a goodnight kiss tonight."

Andy spent almost 10 minutes with Hannah, holding her for a few, and when she started to squirm, he put her in her bed. She was tired. He knew from what Sharon had told him and the little he'd seen, she usually tried to stand when being put to bed. She didn't do that tonight. It was late, later than normal for her, and she was exhausted. He hated saying goodbye to her, and he ran his hand over her sweet little head with her hair there, all falling around her face. He would miss her; he always missed her. It was getting harder and harder to leave her, to leave them.

When he finally returned to the living room, Sharon was reading a book on her couch. She glanced up at him, and he smiled at her. "She's down for the count."

"I guess then you are getting ready to go," she pursed her lips.

He shook his head, "Not yet, no rush. I want to spend time with you, Sharon. That's what this is all about, being with both of you. I was planning to leave around 11 or so. Maybe I'll doze a little before I go. I still have time."

"Come sit," she patted next to her. "I feel like we have been through so much, but the basics, just sitting together here on the couch, for example, I feel like we've never really done."

"I'd like that," he said, moving quickly to curl up with her. Sharon moved into his side, and he wrapped his arm around her as she got comfortable next to him. Sharon hummed, and Andy let out his breath once they were comfortable.

"I've been thinking," Sharon said, slightly turning to face him.

"Okay," Andy said slowly. "Is this good or bad? Are you using that incredible mind of yours for good or evil?"

"Maybe I won't share with that tone," she said in a slightly teasing tone. "I have been thinking though."

"I'd love to hear your thoughts, especially if are there telling me you want to share. What's on your mind?" Andy asked.

"My break, Fall Break," she clarified, "is at the end of October. Maybe Hannah and I could make a trip to Los Angeles."

Andy pulled back slightly, "You serious? I'd love for you to come to Los Angeles. I know it's a big trip, trust me, and I'm not making it with a baby."

"It's a long drive, yes," she nodded as she thought. "We will be fine, and I want to see you more," she said with a tight, small smile. "I miss you, and you haven't even left yet."

"I'd really like that, for you to come to Los Angeles. I have plenty of room at the house. I'll even take time off work," he told her.

She nodded as he spoke, "Great, I'll check the calendar. Another thing," she said, now, putting her head on his shoulder so she didn't have to look him in the eye, "I keep going over what you said to me-"

"That I love you?" Andy asked. "It's true. I told you that telling you halfway asleep wasn't my ideal way to express that, but it's the truth. I think it slipped out because I was just so happy and comfortable, there in your arms. You've made me feel things I've never felt Sharon."

"I feel a lot for you; I have a lot of emotions, and I'm just not quite ready to put a label on them," she said in a very flat tone, one she was trying to use to not get too emotional. "I hope you understand. I hope you know it isn't necessarily that I'm questioning you, exactly, but I'm questioning everything."

"Sharon, I realize you may never get there. I realize we may never have an explanation for this awkwardness surrounding Hannah. I mean, the elephant in the room still lingers. I'm not legally listed as her father. Your kids don't know that. I know your dad does, and I appreciate he hasn't spilled our personal lives to everyone, but I know that there's a lot of awkwardness with us that may always be there."

"I can't believe I'm saying this because I felt so strongly before, but Andy," she turned back to him, putting her hand on his chest and looking him in the eye, "I've realized I don't care what a piece of paper says, not now, at least. I know it's a legally binding document, but I don't want to talk about it or deal with it right now. Gavin will give me the "I told you so," look when I tell him we are working on things because he cautioned me about filing the paperwork but did it. I don't want to think about a contract. I think we are doing okay by ourselves. I'm not keeping Hannah from you, and I think we are trying to move forward as a couple."

He listened, running his hand over her arm as she spoke, "Thank you for that. I guess I still just feel inadequate."

"I know, just as I feel I'm a relationship mess," she said, now leaning on his chest. "We have so much in front of us, so much, I just," she shook her head. "I've told my kids about you, my dad, and yet, I still get this panicked feeling."

"Just relax, just breathe, and just keep talking to me. I'm not trying to pressure you, and you suggesting you come see me," he grinned at her and leaned in to kiss her, "that's a good effort, Sharon. I'm already excited about it, and it's what, two months away, right?"

She nodded, "I'm not sure when we can see you before then. My semester is just getting started. I have a trip to San Francisco to see Ricky the end of September, and I'm going to see Emily the next weekend after that because her show is premiering. That's a quick trip, and I'm not even taking Hannah."

"You need me to keep her?" Andy's eyes lit up, and Sharon frowned, almost realizing she'd made a mistake.

"I already asked my dad to watch her, quite some time ago, when Emily mentioned her show. It just seemed easy. He's right there in Phoenix, and even with the flight time and all, I'm only gone just 48 hours. It's all I can do right now. I'm sorry," she sighed. "This again has nothing to do with paper, Andy. This was well before I was willing to admit we were anything more than a causal relationship."

He frowned and nodded, "I understand, but going forward, I want to be part of this, if you are saying you aren't seeing a piece of paper. Does that mean you see me as Hannah's parent, her dad, the man who created that bundle of joy with you?"

Sharon blushed slightly but continued to look at him, "I think back to that time period, when she surprised me, us," she rolled her eyes. "I know I was very standoffish with you. I know I was almost void of emotion. I suppose I could see you wanting more, and I couldn't allow that. I'm sorry. It's not an excuse, but I've told you how I viewed a lot of relationships then. To answer your question," she paused, looking in his eyes, "I know she's your daughter, even as much as I've tried to disassociate you from Hannah. She looks so much like you, and I see you every time she smiles. It melts my heart," she said, now slightly choked up. "I do really care about you, more than I think I can express."

Andy gave her a small smile and wiped his hand on her face. She had a tear, and when he did that, she shook her head, "I don't know why I'm emotional."

"We have a lot of emotions running between us," he said quietly.

"I know, and I'm just getting adjusted to you being here this weekend, and you're leaving," she sighed. Her eyes searched his, and she put her hand on his face, pulling him closer to her where she met him in a long, lingering kiss. There was a sense of desperation, of urgency, and with a lot of passion behind it. Andy pulled her further up, toward him, and when they finally broke apart, he put his head against hers.

"I have about three hours before I need to get ready to go. I want to be with you, to show you how much I care, and I just want to hold you in my arms before I go. We can even sleep a little, and then, I'll grab a shower and take a coffee for the road. How does that sound for the evening?" Andy searched her eyes and found her looking directly into his.

She leaned in and kissed him tenderly, her thumb running over the stubble on his face. She paused to catch her breath, "I'd say that sounds a lot better than discussing my dad and Ricky's thoughts about you."

He returned the kiss and replied to her, "Let's go with my idea tonight. You can fill me in on your dad and son over the phone. What I have in mind, we definitely need to do in person."