Today's story is written by Elisabeth Bethi21R (Twitter R_Bethi)
Sorry for any mistakes, English isn't my first language
Andy was bored, it hadn't been a busy shift, just a couple of Aid car calls nothing for others, she just hoped for a call to distract her. She had no one to talk, well almost all of A-shift was there and also Jack, but he wasn't fully back yet. There was only one person she wanted to talk to, but he wasn't there.
You ask why he wasn't at work? Well...
A few weeks ago after dr. Grey's house fire and Maya's fall, Bishop exploded, only mentally not literally. She was so angry at every one that she confessed to everything, about the truth of the blackmail, bringing Beckett the alcohol, which got her suspended indefinitely. With the blackmail also came out Robert's and Ross' relationship, which got Robert suspended for five weeks, but Ross just got a reprimand, provided he does not cause more trouble; because the fire commission didn't want to lose another chief and she happened to be one of the better ones they have had after Ripley, also they didn't want to risk getting another chief like Dickson. Beckett was sent to another station, Station 19 didn't have a captain yet, that would be decided after the new year, but Andy had the best chance of getting it, so until that they rotated the lieutenants as interim captains.
The team was more mad at Maya than they were at Robert, which was surprising for him, because he thought they would hate him again. But the team realised that there were bigger problems than having a secret relationship with your superior, plus they also have had some inappropriate relationships before, so who are they to judge. But they couldn't forgive Maya giving alcohol to a recovering alcoholic, that was something you won't get over so easily, so they let her deal with her problems on her own, she didn't want to listen to anyone anyway. Even Carinahasn't tried talked to her, she has had enough of fixing people.
Andy was sitting in the captain's office, spinning in the chair, she was so bored and she missed Robert, missed their friendly banter, which always managed to cheer her up and bring a smile to her face. Then there was a knock on her office door, which brought her out of her thoughts.
"Cap, can I come in?" it was Vic.
"Vic, yes please come in" Andy stopped spinning in the chair asVic stepped in with two mugs.
"You don't look bored at all" Vic said with a laugh.
"What gave it away?"
"Well you have done all your paperwork, the office is oddly tidy, I know you clean everything when you're bored, plus the spinning in the chair didn't help to hide it as well." As she said that she put one of the mugs on the table for Andy.
"Yeah, I'm bored. What's this?" Andy asked as she looked at the cup, that Vic placed on her table.
"Try it." Vic watched Andy, wanting to see her reaction, while sipping some from hers.
Andy eyed the mug suspiciously, first smelled it, then took a sip, but hummed from satisfaction, "Hmm, it tasted good, Christmassy. What is it?" She took another sip.
"It's glögg."
"Glögg?"
"It's mulled wine or glögg, as they call it in Europe, very traditional winter drink there, good to enjoy on cold evening with some gingerbreads" Vic explained.
Andy was very confused "How do you know this and where did you get it?"
"Sully told me, he brought it, plus I also did a little Google search," She chuckled.
Hearing Roberts name, Andy sat up straight in her chair "I didn't notice him, when was he here?"
"He was here a couple of days ago, I think you were on a call when he was here, he was looking for you and wanted to give it to you, anyways he said to hide it and drink only when no one around, said it was too good to share with anyone else," Vic said casually, thinking nothing of Robert wanting to see Andy or Andy asking about Robert. "Sully also added that it's usually with alcohol, but because we are on shift he brought the one without, but I bet with alcohol it would be better."
Andy smiled "Thank you for the drink, Vic"
"I should go now do some more chores and leave you to do... whatever you were doing before."
Vic exited the office, leaving Andy alone with her thoughts again. Andy needed the shift to be over, so she could go and see Robert. She decided to go over to his place after the shift, but the shift was only half way through. Andy knew it was wrong tothink like that, but she really hoped for a call, someone to need help, for time to go by faster. Luckily there was one and when they got back it was the end of the shift, Andy quickly packed her bag, went home, showered and went to the shop to get couple of things.
There she was standing in front of his home, that used to be theirs, Andy was nervous, she didn't know how long she hasbeen standing there and was considering to back out of her plan, but she finally managed to ring the bell.
Robert confused at who was at his door was surprised to see Andy standing there when he opened the door, but he was glad she came. He didn't know what to say so he just settled for "Hi".
Andy greeted him with a hug "Hi to you too."
"Well, come on in then," Robert stepped to the side letting Andy in and closed the door while Andy put the bags on the groundand hung her coat.
Robert curios why Andy was there asked "So you missed me that much you had to come over with groceries?"
"Yeah, the shift was boring, and you not being there makes it more boring, and also I needed some company and I knew you must be bored as hell, so I came over. Oh and thank you for the mulled wine, it was really good."
Robert smiled at that and hugged her again "Well I am glad you came. As I have a lot of free time now, I am trying to cook some new things, in this case old, but I was thinking of making some gingerbreads. I used to make them every Christmas with my parents when I was younger. I could use some help, you are welcome to join me." Robert took the grocery bags from the ground and took them to the kitchen.
But Andy didn't follow Robert to the kitchen, she froze, she has been there a couple of times after their divorce, but it still felt weird for her to be back at his house. The house was almost the same, couple of changes here and there, but it was still the same. They made so many memories there, Andy still remembers them, the cozy evenings on the sofa, the salsa dances, oh she liked dancing salsa with him, she could still remember how smoothly they moved around in the house, how Robert spun her around...
Her daydream was cut short, because Robert noticed she didn't follow him to the kitchen. "Hey Andy! Andy, you coming?"
Andy didn't know what to say to him, but noticed the decorated tree in the living room. "Yeah sorry, I... I didn't know you liked Christmas that much?" She pointed at the tree.
Robert chuckled "Yeah, well I usually aren't home during Christmas and don't have that much time to decorate it, too busy saving people. But this year with the suspension I'm home and wanted to feel a little more festive, maybe I'll even decorate the rest of the house later. But do you like the tree?" Robert askedproudly.
Andy thought for a moment "It's kind of alright, but your decorating skill definitely need to be improved, the tree looks horrible."
Robert felt a little offended "It isn't that bad. I like it and it's MY TREE, so no judgement please, I tried my best."
Andy laughed at how defensive Robert got "When you start decorating the house call me, I'll help you, because this tree just looks sad and I don't want to know how the rest of the house will look when you finish."
Robert looked at the tree, cringed to himself, being a perfectionist, he had to admit the tree really looked hideous,"Definitely will use that offer, but now come on and join me." Andy followed Robert to the kitchen.
When Robert was butting the last gingerbreads into the oven Andy decided to have a little bit of fun, so she threw some flour onto Robert.
Robert surprised about the attack asked "What was that for?"
Andy feigned innocence "I was just cleaning the kitchen island."
Robert made big eyes at her "Really, cleaning the kitchen island?Just admit you did it on purpose"
Andy pretending not to know what Robert was talking about, just shrugged her shoulders "Are you telling me you don't trust me".
Robert made a thinking face "Well let's see, you definitely have made some questionable choices before"
Andy being fake offended hit his arm: "Hey! I know I have made some bad decisions, you don't have to remind me."
Robert grabbing his arm: "Ow, that hurt?"
Andy not believing him "Really, I didn't even bunch that hard, don't be such a baby".
"I thought you were bored and wanted my company, if you don't want to stay you can always go."
"No! I... I want to stay and I'm sorry... for calling you a baby, not sorry for hitting you, you deserved it." Andy laughed.
"Okay, okay" he but his hands up in defeat, but Robert wanted revenge, so he threw some flour back at Andy, which started a flour war between them. They finished when the oven signalled them that the gingerbreads were ready, so they stopped and Robert took the cookies out and put them on the counter.
Robert told Andy "We should let them cool down so we could decorate them later. But at the same time we should clean up because the flour is everywhere and you have some right over here."
While saying that he but his hand on Andy's cheek to clean it. Andy surprised by Robert's action froze for a moment, but then looked into his eyes and only seeing love, leaned more into his touch, it was soo soft and calming.
But the contact was short because Robert went to clean up "You should also clean up and you should know where the bathroom is, and if you don't have any clean clothes with you I can find you something, just let me know"
Andy just smiled and nodded, Robert went upstairs leaving her standing there in the middle of the room not moving. She still felt his touch on her cheek, she had missed his touch, his smell, missed being around him, everything about him just calmed her down and made her feel safe. Spending time with him, let her forget all the problems around her. In her heart she knew she still loved him, maybe he still loved her as well. So she let herself wonder, what if they were still together, the months longseparation never happened, the divorce never happened, would it be like that every day, just the two of them spending some time together, being domestic and who knows perhaps by now they would have had a mini Andy or Robert they could have shared their love with, also make those gingerbreads and spend the Christmas as a happy family.