The IA offices were quiet and mostly empty. It made it easier for Andy to spot Sharon outside her new office as she shut the door and turned around. He offered her a small smile and weaved his way through the remaining desks until he reached her. She returned it after a moment, but he noticed how it was nowhere near the smile he was used to seeing from her.

"There's a new restaurant around the corner I thought we could try. I've heard it's romantic..." He shrugged a little and watched her, knowing just how lucky he was to have this chance with her.

"Romantic?" she repeated, and her eyebrow arched up briefly over her glasses.

"Uh, that's just how I've heard it described," he added quickly. "We can go somewhere else if you'd prefer." He would be fine with fast food as long as she said yes.

"No, it's fine. I'll follow you in my car." She adjusted her purse on her shoulder and glanced around the room. He couldn't pinpoint what her expression was when she turned back to him.

They were both quiet until after their meal was ordered and the waitress left. Sharon sighed and swirled her wine in her glass, all but refusing to look at Andy.

"I'm sorry," he told her. "I shouldn't have said those things and I should have called you." He kept his gaze on her, watching as she took a slow sip of wine and left a faint imprint of her lipstick on the rim of the glass.

"I should have called too." She shook her head and set her glass down, her hands folding on the table. "But transferring to a new job..." She took a deep breath. "I thought being closer meant we could... explore whatever this is, only to be greeted by your cruel words."

"And that was incredibly stupid of me to say. None of it is true of you, Sharon." He stared at her until she met his gaze. "You are incredible. You're loving and warm and kind, and from what I've heard, you're damn good at your job."

"If that's what you believe, then where did 'cold-hearted bitch' come from?" Her voice still held obvious bitterness that caused him to inwardly cringe.

"Because I heard rumors about you and I'm an idiot," he answered after a moment. "Rumors created by people who don't know a thing about you and are honestly missing out." He detected the slightest change in her expression, but at least it was a small step in the right direction. "Can we start over with you in LA?"

She was quiet for several moments, absently fiddling with the ring on her right hand as she looked down at their empty table. He was silent, giving her time to think while hoping for the best.

"Okay," she finally agreed, "because I could use a friendly face."

Andy smiled immediately. "I promise you can count on me. Friendly face, romantic dinner, unwinding after a long day." He reached across the table and rested his hand over both of hers.

She said nothing for another moment. "I'm officially divorced. As of last month. He signed the papers and then the positioned here opened up, so I applied for a transfer. Starting over at this age seems ridiculous... But here I am."

"Have you finished unpacking?"

She laughed a little and shook her head; Andy withdrew his hand after squeezing hers gently. "No, not even close. I signed the lease two days before I started working and I've been busy since then."

"If you want any help, just let me know. Put me to work." He flashed a smile that briefly turned into a grin.

"You're one of the only people in the city that will talk to me, so I think I'll take you up on that offer." She couldn't help but smile in return. "As long as you don't ignore me for the next three months..."

"I can take you out to dinner again tomorrow to make sure that doesn't happen," he offered, his voice filled with sincerity.

"Why don't we do Chinese at mine and you can help me unpack?" she countered and he nodded.

"I'm down, as long as you don't write me up or we don't get a case." He shrugged and leaned forward in his seat.

"Thank you, Andy." Her voice suddenly dropped down to a softer tone that took him aback.

"For what?"

She was at a loss for words for a moment, her mouth slightly parted open. "For being a good friend, even when we barely knew each other."

"You don't have to thank me," was all he said. "Just enjoy dinner with me."

She started to respond until their waitress returned with their food, placing it between them before she left them alone again. Their evening took a considerably better turn as they ate, and Andy insisted on following her home to make sure she got there safely.

They stood in the hallway outside her condo, her purse and keys dangling from her fingertips. He smiled and took in the surroundings, somehow finding Sharon at home there.

"Do you want to come in?" she suddenly offered, gesturing to her door with her key-filled hand.

"Oh, uh. Sure," he stammered, nodding and watching as she unlocked the door and stepped inside.

He followed her, still watching as she flipped on lights and left her shoes, jacket, and purse on a stack of boxes by the door. The further they walked into her condo, the more boxes and haphazard stuff he found.

"I'm sorry about the mess." She sighed and looked around the room, her hands coming to rest on her hips. "Do you want something to drink? I have bottled water and... that's it, actually."

"I'm fine." He left his jacket on the box by her stuff and returned to what he guessed was the living room, carefully nudging a box over so he could sit down.

Sharon returned and moved the box to a desk across the room, immediately taking the spot next to him. She settled back into the couch and he shifted so he could see her, noticing the exhaustion that was briefly visible.

"How are you doing?" he asked gently. "You've had a hard few months..."

She shook her head and slipped her glasses off to rub at the bridge of her nose. "It feels like they've dragged by and happened in the blink of an eye," she admitted. "I just want to get settled down somewhere and have a home again."

He wrapped an arm around her and she settled into his side, her head coming to rest against his shoulder.

"If you need any help, don't hesitate to ask," he murmured, his hand absently running up and down her arm.

"Thank you." Her voice was just as soft and he squeezed her gently. "I don't know what I'd do without you."

"You'd be fine, you know. You don't need me."

"But I like your company." She lifted her head to look at him and he was taken aback by how sincere her eyes were.

"I like yours too." A smile slowly spread across her lips and remained, bringing one to Andy's lips as well as he watched her.

"Would you do me a favor while you're here?" She asked softly, and he immediately nodded. "That box by the desk is too heavy for me to move and I need it back in my bedroom..."

"Do you want me to move it now?" He glanced from the box to her, trying to read the myriad of emotions in her eyes.

"If you don't mind..."

"Not at all." He stood up and easily lifted the box. She led the way back to her room where there were considerably less boxes, save for two as her night stands and a few in the closet. "Where do you want it?"

"Closet is fine," she answered, watching his backside as he lowered the box to the ground and turned around to face her.

She immediately flushed at being caught staring, but he only grinned and gave her a once over.

"Anything else you want me to move tonight?" he asked, his eyes lingering on her well-fitting skirt before he met her gaze.

"That's all." She stepped closer and tilted her head up so they were inches apart, their gazes locked.

She made the first move, closing the distance between them to press their lips together. She rested her hand on his neck and he kept his to himself for a moment. When their kiss didn't break, he placed his hand on her hip and gently pulled her closer, his lips moving against hers. Finally, they parted for breath, eyes fluttering open until green met brown.