It was like a bomb had gone off in more ways than one. Everything was happening at once. None of it was good, and he didn't know what to do to fix things. Sharon was at the stove, trying to finish dinner without burning it when Hannah had a massive diaper blowout. Andy had been finishing the salad with Hannah right there, sitting on the kitchen floor as she crawled around and walked, holding onto the cupboards when both Andy and Sharon got a whiff of her. They looked at each other, the stench as strong as they could imagine. Andy pointed to Hannah, just at his feet, who had a teething toy at her mouth and was looking up at him with her wide eyes.

"Hannah?" he asked, making a horrified face. "What did she eat for lunch?"

Sharon nodded, a look on her face as well and said, "Nothing out of the ordinary. Oh, that smell is awful," she briefly covered her nose with the back of her hand.

"I'll change her," Andy said, wiping off his hands from the salad. He reached down to get Hannah, and that's when he noticed it had trailed out her diaper and was everywhere, up her back, down her legs, all over her. "Oh, Sharon, it's everywhere! I've never understood how a diaper blowout goes all over the place, up, out, almost defies gravity," he said. "Hannah, kiddo, what a mess."

Sharon looked down as he, now with Hannah in his outstretched arms, had her and had a horrified look on his face. Her eyes widened, "Andy, that's a full bath, a complete change."

He nodded, "Great timing," he sighed. "I'll get her a bath while you work on dinner. Kids aren't due for another 20 minutes, so I should be able to clean up this mess."

"Toss those clothes of hers right into the washing machine," Sharon called to him. "I'll clean up the floor in here," she said, glancing to the mess where Hannah's diaper had leaked everywhere.

Andy moved quickly to get Hannah to the bathroom before more of a problem was created. He put her right into the tub and started the water, carefully trying to strip off her soiled clothing. He sighed, noting he'd need to change his own shirt too. She'd gotten some on him, even though he'd rolled up his sleeves to work on the salad prep. Andy adjusted the water and put the clothing all by the trash can while he wiped her down before putting her into the bathtub. It was the closest thing he could reach without causing more of a mess. He'd get the clothing to the laundry room later.

"How is it coming?" Sharon asked from the doorway, almost startling Andy. He glanced up and rolled his eyes. Hannah seemed to be content, but the smell seemed to be only getting worse.

"She's covered in it. It's even in her hair," he nodded to her. "I wiped her down already, and oh, her clothing," he gestured to where he'd put it by the trash can.

She nodded, "I'll put it in the laundry room to take care of after dinner. I have to get back and check on dinner, but yell if you need anything. Whatever she ate," she grimaced and shook her head.

"I know," Andy made the same face. "The smell is awful." Sharon collected Hannah's clothing and disappeared down the hall to the laundry room where they could soak the outfit before washing it. Andy called to her, "I'll get that diaper outside to the trash as soon as I'm done here." He looked back at Hannah who was grinning at him, showing off her tiny teeth. He couldn't help but smile at her, even with as nasty as she smelled right now. Andy started to bathe her, and Sharon returned to the kitchen. It wasn't even a minute later when he heard the doorbell.

Andy glanced at Hannah, like that would help with the doorbell ringing. He knew it had to be the kids, early, and while that was normally not a problem or something he even cared about with his own children, it was the worst timing right now. He called down to Sharon, "Sharon, I'm trying to get Hannah out of the tub," he yelled, sighing to himself at the timing. He still wanted to change his shirt. Hannah needed to be dried off, needed a new diaper, and she needed a change of clothing. Sharon, he knew, was working at the stove, where it was possible to burn dinner if she left it unattended. As he'd tried to set the scene in his head earlier, he had envisioned answering his own door, and now, it just wasn't going to fit into the cards. "Sharon, could you get the door? I'm so sorry."

He groaned, visualizing the scene, his kids there with Sharon, and he quickly realized it was better than having Ricky and Bob walk in on them half-dressed and no mystery as to what they'd been doing. Andy quickly finished with Hannah and reached for her towel, letting the water out, and scooping her up. Hannah started to cry. She loved her time in the bath, and he tried to soothe her as he wrapped her in the towel.

Hannah's cry intensified to an all-out scream, and she started kicking to get out of Andy's grasp. He was trying to soothe her, unable to hear anything from the front door. Before he could step out of the small bathroom, Sharon was there, and he could see the kids in tow. Everything was happening and NOW.

"Dad?" Nicole asked, eyeing him with a wet Hannah in his arms, wrapped in a towel. He caught Sharon's gaze, and she closed her eyes and slightly shook her head at him, trying to convey she was sorry too. Nate was behind Nicole, an irritated expression on his face.

"We thought we had the wrong house, like you'd moved," Nate explained. "We weren't expecting anyone else here for dinner, let alone some kid too," he nodded to Hannah.

"Dad, what's going on?" Nicole asked, clearly surprised. She looked to Sharon, "You look familiar, very familiar."

"Kids," Andy held up one hand, while still trying to calm Hannah.

"I'll take her," Sharon offered, extending her arms for Hannah. "I'll finish with her."

"Mama, no," Hannah said, wanting to go back to the tub. Everything was happening so quickly. Andy handed off Hannah, and before he made more of a mess, he unbuttoned his shirt.

"Kids, I know this is a mess. Hold on," he said. "I need to change my shirt. This is Sharon," he said to her, "and Hannah."

"Wait!" Nicole snapped her finger. "We met you before, right? You were like really pregnant, oh," she nodded, "with her. You're a cop, work with dad, right?"

"Kids let me grab a shirt, and we can talk in the living room," he gestured down the hall. "Please."

Nate looked between Andy and Sharon, trying to pick up on the cues the two were trying to give each other. Sharon gave a small smile and nod to Nicole, "You have a good memory. If you excuse me, I'm going to change her. She had a diaper incident."

"Mama, no," Hannah yelled and tried to kick at Sharon. She moved down the hall to the guest bedroom where Hannah had been staying. Andy stepped out of the bathroom and gestured to his room.

"I'm going to grab a shirt. Oh, crap, could one of you turn off the stove? Sharon was finishing dinner," he said.

"I'll get it," Nate said, eyeing Andy as he walked toward the kitchen. Nicole stood there, arms crossed, trying to remember everything she'd learned about Sharon the one time she'd seen her in the restaurant.

"Dad, what's going on?" Nicole asked as Andy moved into the bedroom. He noticed Sharon's bag and things over on the floor by her side of the room, and he didn't want Nicole seeing all of that without further explanation, so he grabbed the first hanging shirt he had, one right on the back of the closet door, and he started back toward the door where Nicole was standing in it.

"Nic, please, I know this is a lot. Believe me, I didn't picture things like this," he grunted as he put on his shirt. "Let's go into the living room so we can all talk."

"This dinner was sudden. Is this why? Is she your girlfriend?" Nicole asked as they walked into the living room area. Andy surveyed the room and saw several of Hannah's toys. It was a fact of life; Hannah was one of his kids, and he wasn't going to hide her or any of her things anymore.

Nate rejoined them, his hands in his pockets, "The rice is a little dry. I put some water in it."

"Thanks," he sighed. "Look, yes, that's Sharon. You met her once, dinner, remember? She was still very much pregnant."

"So, are you like dating her?" Nicole asked. "You haven't told us anything."

"I've tried," he said calmly, and as he nodded, his eye caught Sharon walking back into the room, Hannah on her hip. "Look, Sharon's back," he gestured to them. "Let's sit down, okay?"

The kids glanced at each other, and they both moved to the couch, leaving the chair the only other spot to sit. Sharon moved to put Hannah on the floor by her toys, and the kids watched as she did that. Andy nodded for her to sit in the chair, and she discreetly shook her head, trying to indicate he should sit. He did, and she kneeled down on the floor by Hannah and Andy.

"As I said, this is Sharon, Sharon Raydor," Andy reached for her to touch her shoulder. She, instead, reached up and clasped her hand in his, giving him a slight smile. "Yes, as you presumed, she is my girlfriend."

"Okay," Nicole said hesitantly as she glanced at her brother. "Dad, you could have given us a little warning."

"And say what?" Andy asked. "Look, I am really glad you two agreed to come to dinner. I know you had other plans. I didn't want to get into it on the phone, and I figured it was just easier to have you come here and meet Sharon and Hannah."

"So, umm, how long have you two been dating?" Nate asked. "No offense, but Dad, you've never mentioned her."

Andy glanced at Sharon, and she quickly jumped in, "It's complicated. Your dad and I have known each other a long time, through work, yes, and dating, it's been, well, complicated."

"Wait, are you living here? Dad, did you call us over to tell us you are living together?" Nate asked, glancing around the room.

"Dad, you're living with her and a baby?" Nicole's eyes widened, now seeing the toys, gear, and things around the room that were for Hannah. "Mom warned us you probably had some problem to tell us, that or you were drinking again."

"No, I'm not drinking!" Andy exclaimed at the same time Sharon said, "He's not drinking."

Andy and Sharon eyed each other while Hannah moved along the table, walking as she held onto it. Sharon gave him a small smile and nod, and he nodded back before he turned to face the kids again.

"I'm not drinking, and no, Sharon isn't living with me," he said.

"Mama," Hannah patted Sharon's arm. She used her small finger to point at the new people in the room. Sharon kissed her finger and introduced the kids.

"Nicole," she said to Hannah and then pointed to Nate, "Nate."

Hannah just grinned and patted at Sharon again, "Mama." Hannah pointed toward Andy, almost like it was a game to name everyone. Sharon grimaced slightly, knowing Andy's description was difficult. She went for the one she'd been saying to Hannah.

"Andy," she said toward Andy, trying to convey she wanted to say more when she caught Andy's eye. He just gave her a slight shake of his head before he turned back to the kids.

"So, you two are dating," Nate offered. "That's the rush for dinner?"

"Yes and no," Andy said. "I have been wanting to see you both. You are always welcome here. I've told you I want to improve our relationship. I still do. To do that, though, I need to clear the air. I've been seeing Sharon awhile now, yes." He paused to let everyone relax a moment.

"Dad, ahh, this is a surprise. Sharon, you do know his track record, right? I mean, he's not exactly had the best story. Most of the women he's dated, we've never met, even though we knew they were closer to our ages."

"Your dad is a good man, Nicole," Sharon said, putting her hand on Andy's knee. She looked to him, and when she didn't catch his gaze, she looked back at Nicole. "Everyone has a story. We all have things we wish we could change. I know that. We all make mistakes, but the beautiful thing about life is we can always work to be a better person, to change. Your dad has done that. I know he wasn't there for you. I know he's dated other women, but if we constantly hold people to their mistakes of the past, we will never have a healthy future."

"I'm still trying to understand how a simple question of how long you've been dating is complicated. So, you've like worked together, right? When was the first date? Are we talking a week ago, a month ago, what?" Nate asked.

"So, here's the deal, guys," Andy clasped his hands. Hannah had moved closer to Andy in her walk around the table. He looked to her, looking into Hannah's eyes. With his eyes focused on her, he took a deep breath, "Nate, the question is complicated because it involves Hannah too. Guys, Hannah is my daughter too. Sharon and I are Hannah's parents. She's your half-sister, and I wanted you to finally meet her. It's time."

Both Nicole and Nate's expressions turned to shock as they glanced from Andy to Hannah, locking eyes on her as she patted Andy's leg. He pulled her toward his lap, almost surprised she wanted to sit with him. Sharon also moved closer to him, almost as a support system.

"Wait," Nicole shook her head. "You're her dad? You've never told us. We saw you," she looked to Sharon. "You were like really pregnant. Dad," she shook her head, "Dad, you never said anything."

Nate interrupted, "Dad, Mom's been right all this time, that you can't keep it in your pants! Why do you have to continue to be such a slime? She's your kid? You've hidden a kid, a kid dad, from us?"

"It all makes sense!" Emily yelled. "Dad, you were sleeping around. You had an affair with her? Are you kidding me? I remember as a teenager you telling us to do the right thing, and here you are, having a kid with a married woman? Dad, that's disgusting. It's bad enough you have been known to sleep with anyone, and now, you've been careless and made a kid with some woman from work, all while she's married? Dad, Mom has been right all these years. I can't even."

"I'm not married," Sharon said firmly, not wanting to get into too many details. "You are both allowed to have your reactions, but let's not get out of hand here. He and I are capable of making our own decisions as we have done. WE," she emphasized, "are not looking for your critique of the situation or your judgment. Please, please, let your dad explain."

All eyes turned to Andy, who had Hannah there on his lap, "Kids, here's the deal, or the start of it. You need to know Hannah is your half-sister. She's our daughter. It's been really complicated with Sharon, but we are dating, and we have Hannah."

"Why the secrecy?" Nate asked. "Why have you hidden all this? Let's face it, Dad, that she's not an infant. What, is she one or so? You obviously were with Sharon nine months before that. Did you forget to mention it to us? Something still is off here. You knocked her up, didn't you, and you were ashamed to tell us."

"Kids, Sharon and I have had a complicated story. We've worked together, and yeah, we had Hannah. I won't try to convince you Hannah was this grand plan of ours, but we love her more than you could imagine."

"Oh, please, please, tell me that this isn't some story about you starting a new family again. Sharon, please tell me you aren't pregnant again and decided to spring the new family on us, Dad."

"Stop!" Andy exclaimed. Sharon turned to Nicole.

Calmly, she spoke, her lips pursed, "I am not pregnant, and while I'm flattered you would think that fluke could happen easily again, I'm not and will not be. I have two other grown children, just like you two, also a boy and a girl. Hannah was a surprise," she smiled slightly, "a wonderful one who has changed my life in so many ways. Your dad and I have been trying to figure out our lives and how we balance Hannah with that. We've been dating. He's met my kids, and we wanted you two to know everything, out in the open."

"I can't believe you've been hiding this, Dad, a kid you made with some random woman, for almost two years, or longer, even," Nate said. "Mom is right that you can't get your life in order."

"Now, you just listen here," Andy pointed to him. "Your mother can have whatever opinion she wants. She's tried to influence the two of you as long as I can remember. Sharon and I are trying to fix our lives, together. It's hard with her not living here."

"So, you have talked about living together!" Nicole exclaimed.

"No, not like that," Andy sighed. "Sharon lives in Arizona."

"Wait, what?" Nicole snapped her head toward them. "I thought you were a cop, Sharon, right?"

"I'm retired," she gave a small smile. "I retired after I had Hannah, and then, she and I moved to Flagstaff, Arizona, where I teach at the university."

"No, no," Nate waved his hand, "something is still off. So, you two had a kid, but Sharon moved away?"

Andy raised his hand, "Let me explain it all. Yeah, I'm a screw up, but I'm working hard to do better, to be a better man. Sharon and I weren't together when Hannah was born. I'm not going to give you every detail, but you two obviously know relationships are complicated. You know the birds and the bees, so Sharon moved where she needed to go, and yeah, Hannah went with her. Slowly, we've been working on things, building a life together, and now, we wanted to share that with you. Hannah's here to stay, and whatever you think about me, I want you to know your sister."

"Half-sister," Nicole stated. "There's a difference."

"Not to me," Andy said quickly. "I can't make you love your sister or even want to be around her, but she's part of my life, and I hope she will be part of yours. I realize you aren't going to be best friends. She's an entire generation younger than you are."

"Exactly, Dad," Nicole sighed. "She could be my kid."

"But, she's ours," Sharon said firmly. "She's ours," she repeated. "My kids love their sister, and I hope in time, you will too."

"I'm still confused about moving. So, you two broke up? What's going on now? You're back together? That's totally not healthy, breaking up constantly. That's not the drama anyone needs."

"Hannah and I moved for my job," Sharon said. "Your dad and I have been working on things long distance."

"Well, Sharon, I'll just let you in on a little tidbit of information-Dad won't step up for your kid. He never did with us. I hope you're ready to raise a kid alone, and maybe that's why you really moved. You already know that."

"Your dad is not the same, Nicole," Sharon said firmly. "I hope you will see that."

"How is custody going to work?" Nate asked. "I mean, Dad, you work crazy hours, and no offense, but you can't take care of a kid here on a regular basis. Are you going to drag her through a court case for custody? Sharon sounds like you know Dad never really had custody of us. I assume you are prepared for that."

"There are a lot of technicalities," Andy said. "I'm not trying to take Hannah from Sharon. We're trying to see each other, to be a family as much as we can. Look," he sighed and glanced to Sharon, shaking his head. "I'm going to just put it out there. I am ashamed of what I did, but I hope this will help you see I'm serious about changing. Sharon and I had no plans for a longtime anything. Hannah came along. You know how that works, and yeah," he nodded, "I know I have a reputation. I'm changing. I've been changing. I'm not the playboy. I'm not trying to date random women. I'm dating Sharon. Sharon had a rotten husband and already raised two kids alone. She asked me to walk away from Hannah. I did," he said, and the room grew quiet.

The kids glanced at each other and then to Sharon. She bit her lip, looking at Andy, surprised almost he'd admitted to that. She cleared her throat, "In the beginning, our ideas about what was best for Hannah were not the ideas we have now. I thought, and Andy agreed, even if maybe begrudgingly, that it was best for me to start over, to wipe the slate clean, with Hannah. I walked away with Hannah, and your dad agreed to that. I left here, choosing to retire. No one my age needs to try and keep the awful hours I had with a small baby. I retired. I've done the cop life with two kids alone, and I didn't want it again. I started working at a college, one out of state. Hannah and I moved. Turns out," she reached over and put her hand on Andy's, "life doesn't go how you plan. Love is strong, and to be honest," she gave a small smile, "your dad doesn't give up. You should know that. I know he's wanted a life with you two for a long time. He didn't give up on me; it just took me a long time to see that. So, Nate," she turned to him, "dating is a very complicated question. We are dating, yes, but to put a time stamp on it," she nodded, "for us, is impossible."

"Dad, you've been living this secret life for two years," Nicole said quietly. "I don't know what to say. I feel like you want us in your life, but then, you hide your life from us."

"I've made plenty of mistakes, yeah," he nodded. "I should have done a better job with you kids. I thought walking away from Sharon and Hannah was for the best, but I quickly realized it wasn't. I want all of you in my life, and I'll keep fighting for that."

"You walked away, then?" Nate nodded. "Come on, Dad. You know that's your tendency. What makes me believe you'll change this time?"

"I'm in love with Sharon," Andy stated quickly. He looked to her, and then, he looked back to the kids. "I realize that doesn't help you. You'll argue I was in love with your mom, and yeah," he sighed. "I should be able to say that. I don't think I ever was, ever truly knew what that was, but I did love her, yeah. I have grown a lot. I've matured, and I have a love for Sharon I cannot explain. I'm owning up to all my mistakes. I walked away; I was asked to deny my kid, and I tried. I can't. I won't, and I hope you two will be able to forgive me and accept your sister."

"What do you mean you denied her?" Nicole asked.

"Your dad and I agreed, legally," Sharon explained after she looked to Andy, and he nodded for her to do so, "we agreed legally, I would have Hannah."

"I signed away my rights, biggest mistake of my life," Andy said. "Walking out on you two was the second biggest mistake, and the only reason it isn't the first, is that you still know I'm your dad. You can say I'm a crappy one, but I'm still your dad. I've never denied that. I denied it with Hannah. Work knows nothing about her, about Sharon. Until today, you didn't either. Hannah isn't technically mine, even though she is. I agreed to that, for Sharon. Sharon didn't want another deadbeat dad, and as you know, my reputation has preceded me."

"Your dad is not that, not anymore," Sharon said, squeezing his knee. "He is a loving man, a good man, and a wonderful father. He's trying to change everything about this situation, and I hope you can see that we are starting here. Yes, Hannah is already here and is one, but she's lived one of many, many years to come. We want you to be in her life, in our lives."

"Dad, that's crappy; that's cold," Nate said. "Mom has always talked about taking responsibility for your life."

"She's right, and I finally figured that out," Andy nodded in agreement. Hannah continued to look between everyone speaking. Nicole finally let out a long, loud sigh.

"Dad, I don't know what to say," she admitted.

"I don't expect anything now. I'd like to salvage dinner if we can. Sharon made chicken, and if we need to redo the rice, we can. I'd like to start, just us, eating together and talking."

"Dad, you've already messed up with two Flynns," Nate sighed.

"Well, Nate," Sharon pushed on the table to stand, as she tried to recover from the situation, "that can be one of our dinner topics, I suppose. Let's just get it all out in the open, shall we? I'm a big believer in second chances. Ask my ex-husband; I gave him quite a few second chances. You and your sister seem to be well-adjusted, responsible adults, so let's just get it all in the open. He and I are going to be raising Hannah together, no matter what you think we should do. I'm going to be around, and I'd like to get to know you both."

"Kids, I want you to stay. I want to work on our relationship. I have room to love all my kids," he sighed.

Nate shook his head, almost in disgust, "Should we be worried there are more, more kids, I mean?"

Andy glanced at him, wanting to snap at the comment. Instead, he just shook his head, "I've got three wonderful children. I'm trying to be a better man. I cannot change the past, but I can work toward a better future with all my kids."

"So, Sharon, you don't live here now, but are you going to move in with Dad? I mean, at some point, this shuffling Hannah back and forth has to get old, right?" Nate asked her.

"We have not made any plans, other than to keep seeing each other when we can," she admitted.

"It's like you two are setting up for failure already," Nicole scoffed. "Just admit it, that this relationship is nothing more than two people sharing a kid, and it sounds like you couldn't keep your hands off each other before, and that's all it is now, just after you put her to bed. You can't even agree on Dad being part of her life. Wow, Dad, I had hoped things were getting better for you. This is a mess."

"Nic, I know you are bitter. It is a mess, yeah. I'm trying to untangle it," he said.

"What's her name, her full name? She's not even a Flynn, is she?" Nicole asked.

Sharon cleared her throat, "Hannah Maire Raydor."

"Right," Nicole nodded. "Replacement kid since you left us. She's even got my middle name, but no surprise on the last name, Dad. I'm so disappointed."

"I'm sorry to hear that, Nicole," Andy said. "You know, as kids, I love you no matter what. I hope that might run both ways. I hope I can make you proud some day because I'm proud of both of you. I know I need to do better. I will with all three of you. I'm trying."

"Nicole," Sharon said quietly, meeting her gaze, "I named Hannah alone. I didn't know you had the same middle name. That's not on your dad."

"The door is there," Andy stood, Hannah in his arms and gestured. "I want you two to stay for dinner, to get to know people very important to me. I hope you will stay, but you are free to go. I want you in my life, in our lives."

"Let's just eat," Nate stood, sighing. "I think it's safe to say neither of us are interested in babysitting."

"Fair enough," Sharon looked to him. "We weren't planning to ask."

Nicole looked to Sharon, almost surprise on her face, "You don't seem Dad's type."

"Good," Sharon nodded. "He's a different man than the one you know, and as he's changed, so has his taste in women. I can assure you I'm nothing like you probably envision."

"You had a kid with my dad," she scoffed, "and didn't tell us. Let's say that at this point, I don't know what to think, other than to be disgusted."

"Well," Andy gestured to the table, "you can be disgusted and since you're staying, get to know your sister at the same time," he plopped Hannah into her arms. "I don't have all the answers tonight. I just have dinner, and let's eat it so you two can get on with your evening because I know this is about the last place you want to be. Just do me a favor when you go and tell your mom I'm not discussing any of this with her."