Thank you so much again for all of your support and kind words for this story. I am so overwhelmed by the support for this little fic. I think we're all craving a little more Sharon on MC. Anyway, here's the final chapter. As always, I welcome your feedback. I've enjoyed going along on this journey with all of you, and stay tuned because I have two other stories in the revision stages, and the shorter of the two will be posting next week.
I do not own Major Crimes or any of the fabulous characters.
Chapter Six
Andy started to stir when small bursts of light swept back and forth across his face, their intensity lighting his eyelids until they finally fluttered open. He saw the fuzzy white light and squinted against it until its source came into focus. He looked over at the spiral mirror-lined wind chime dangling from the patio ceiling just outside the bedroom. As he rolled over, small rainbows danced across the white bed linens. He was surprised to find the bed empty next to him, sheets cold. When he looked back over towards the porch, he noticed the sliding glass door slightly ajar and the white, thin curtain pulled back. It swung peacefully in the breeze that filled the room with a pleasant ocean scent. Andy suddenly knew exactly where his girlfriend had disappeared to when she woke up.
As he got out of bed and threw on his boxers, t-shirt, and a pair of shorts, he thought about the events that had framed the last week. He thought about how he almost lost her. It was the reason he had experienced a momentary panic when he found the bed empty this morning. But Sharon was perfectly safe, and the bastard who had tried to harm her was locked away after taking a deal for murder and kidnapping. Their little beach getaway had been spur of the moment. Nicole's in-laws owned a small house on the beach up the coast, and Andy had jumped at the offer to get away for a few days with just Sharon. He wanted to recharge, reconnect, and wash off the emotional stress of the last case. Sharon had been just as eager for the mini vacation. The calming waves and gentle breeze suited her, so it was no surprise she had sought the beach's refuge when she woke up.
Andy slipped through the open door and began making his way through the soft sand towards the water. It wasn't long before he spotted her. She was sitting, leaning back on a towel near the water's edge. Her focus was out to sea as the wind blew the soft strands of her thick hair in a mesmerizing dance. Andy studied her a moment. The rays of the early morning sun cast a perfect glow and illuminated all the beautiful highlights in her hair. She was dressed only in her thin white beach cover that draped loosely over her small frame.
When he sat down on the towel next to her, she didn't seem surprised by his presence. She turned and greeted him with a warm smile. He returned it before his eyes drifted down to her long, toned legs that had a healthy sun kissed bronze from the couple of days they had already spent at the beach. As his eyes traveled further up, he was pleasantly surprised to see that she wasn't wearing anything under her cover-up besides the lacy panties he had removed from her body last night before a heated round of lovemaking. That was something that had become a nightly (and sometimes afternoon) ritual on this trip. It seemed the sensual pull of the sea and sun had them both feeling extra amorous. Through the thin material of her cover-up he could make out the outline of her round breasts, and he had to mentally remind himself that they were on a public beach (even if it was completely deserted at the moment).
"Couldn't sleep?" He asked quietly.
"I slept perfectly. Just woke up early and decided to fully enjoy our last day here," she replied wistfully.
"You could have woken me. I wouldn't have minded," he said, brushing a lock of hair off of her face. She shook her head.
"You were sleeping peacefully. I knew you'd find me when you woke up," she explained. They shared a few moments of companionable silence.
"The bed was cold without you," he rasped, and she turned to look at him. She leaned in and captured his lips gently, but fully. The kiss grew in intensity as their mouths connected and their lips moved in sync. When he felt her tongue explore his mouth, he let out a moan, warmth flooding his body and pooling in his groin. They allowed themselves to get a bit carried away as Andy slowly laid her down and covered her body with his. They were so lost in kissing one another that they did not notice the encroaching tide creeping up and wetting the end of their towel.
Andy allowed his hands to wander up along her body, grazing the sides of her breasts. She moaned at the contact, so he moved his hands back and palmed them fully. He massaged them through her cover-up. The thin material allowing him to easily feel and then tease her hardened peaks. He kissed a line across her jaw and down her neck, paying special attention to the sensitive flesh of her enticing neck. Just as he was about to move his lips down to her chest, a large wave roared onto the shore and spread its seeking water over their towel partially dampening their heating bodies. They both jumped up at the contact, and then laughed at the silliness of their reaction.
Andy grabbed her hand and tugged her closer to him. They studied each other as their laughter died down. The ends of her hair were damp from the water that also wet her cover-up, which, much to Andy's satisfaction, was now clinging tightly to her body as a result. He leaned in and kissed her again. It was a sweet, passionate kiss that Sharon could feel all the way to her toes. When he gently pulled away, he stared at her, completely captured by her beauty.
"Marry me," he whispered. The words caught her off guard and pulled her out of her reverie. He noticed the subtle widening of her eyes and heard the sharp intake of breath. Truth be told, the words had caught him off guard as well. It wasn't as if he hadn't been thinking about asking her, because he had thought about it - a lot. He just hadn't planned on asking her right here, right now.
"Andy..." She breathed out. He could hear question in her voice, but not necessarily hesitation. He took it as a good sign.
"I'm not asking on a whim, Sharon. I want to spend the rest of my life with you. There are very few things that I'm absolutely sure about, and honey, I'm absolutely sure about you," he explained, taking both of her hands in his. "I'd love to spend the rest of our lives as husband and wife, but I understand if that's not something you want," he added honestly. She studied him a moment.
"Andy, it's not that. It's not that at all. I... you're serious about this?" She asked, still a bit caught off guard. He smiled.
"I already bought a ring. A while ago, actually," he said. "I didn't bring it because I didn't exactly plan this, but I swear I really have one-" he rambled, and he almost missed her quiet answer.
"Yes," she whispered. He looked at her with adoration and a little bit of shock.
"Wait, what?" He replied. She laughed softly.
"I said, yes, I would love to marry you," she repeated as she fought the tears that threatened to spill down her cheeks.
"Really?" He asked with a mixture of elation and shock. She nodded, emotion beginning to overcome her ability to form words. He pulled her into his arms and she wrapped herself around him. They stayed that way for several moments before she pulled away and captured his lips in a longing, sensual kiss that seemed to rapidly consume them both. When they pulled away, chests heaving and breaths labored, they kept their foreheads together and their lips close.
"So, tell me more about this ring," she teased in an effort to lighten the heavy mood. He laughed.
"Nope, you're just going to have to see it for yourself," he replied, gently placing a kiss to the tip of her nose. She smiled. They laced their fingers together and stayed together as the waves crashed around them. Maybe the thought of almost losing her had spurred his spontaneous proposal or maybe it was just the right moment, none of it mattered anymore. She had said yes to a future together with him. Their pasts didn't matter. The events of the last week were no longer relevant. He had her by his side for today and as many tomorrows are they were lucky enough to receive. He tugged her gently back towards their room, both content to finish what they had started on the beach.
As they slowly made love, the sound of the waves rolling onto the shore drifted softly through the open sliding glass door. Their bodies ebbed and flowed together and crashed over the edge in sync with the crashing waves outside. As they laid tangled together in the aftermath, they soothingly caressed each other's still cooling bodies. The sea continued to roar outside, but the gentle ocean air filled their room and reminded them of the sanctuary they had found in each other's arms. It was something that neither had realized they had been living without, and yet, had brought an easy contentment to their already full lives. And with the whispered promises of forever, it was something they would continue to have together now and whenever the waves of life roared around them.
THE END
