I want to once again thank each and every one of you for your reviews, favorites, follows, and support for this story. I took a giant leap outside of my comfort zone, so your feedback has been invaluable! Sadly, this is the last chapter in this saga. I enjoyed going along on this journey with all of you! As always, I welcome your feedback.

I do not own Major Crimes or any of the fabulous characters. That honor belongs to James Duff and co. I just enjoy writing about them.

Chapter Twelve

One Month Later

Memories flitted through Sharon's mind. Pieces of a relationship that started out as an amazing friendship on the brink of something more, something precious, but faltered after a well-meaning false start. Looking back on it, she realized now that jumping into bed with Andy had been her way of dealing with the feelings she wasn't ready to face. They were overpowering her, so expressing them through sex seemed like the safest option at the time. She had been wrong. And yet, she wouldn't do anything differently if she had it to do over again because if she did, they might not be here right now. Here in this beautiful relationship that has added tremendous happiness and fulfillment to a life that was already full.

That night when she finally put a voice to her feelings, she had been scared of the fallout. Now, she was embracing it. Embracing the love and joy she had allowed into her life and the partnership that she had craved during her marriage, but never found. After she had gone to Andy that night and told him what was in her heart, they had fallen asleep, fully clothed, in each other's arms. The next morning, she awoke surrounded by his strong arms and chest and bathing in his enticing scent from the t-shirt he had allowed her to borrow. They talked that morning about all of the misunderstandings along the way. They bared their hearts and made sure there was nothing left unsaid between them. They decided to move slowly to give each other time to figure out this unexpected turn in their evolving relationship.

After all of the things that had transpired between them physically, Sharon found it sweet and a bit romantic that their first time together as a couple was nothing exotic or unusual. They had been cooking together in the kitchen. Rusty was out with friends which gave them a little more latitude with their displays of affection. Neither seemed able to keep their hands off the other. Next, it was their lips that couldn't seem to part. Things quickly escalated from there, the stove turned off and dinner forgotten for the time being. Sharon was done holding herself back from something they both wanted.

As they stumbled into her bedroom, Andy pressed her up against the closed door. He ground his hips into her a few times, and she eagerly matched him, feeling his desire for her easily through their clothes. It had been over three months since they had last been together and under completely different circumstances, but neither wanted to rush this. They slowly removed each other's clothing, running their hands over newly exposed skin, admiring the other's body as if this was actually their first time. In a lot of ways, it was.

Once they were both free of their clothing, they moved together, their lips never parting, towards her bed. Sharon felt the edge bump the back of her legs, and she tore her lips away to climb on the bed. Andy followed suit, and they laid next to each other on their sides, facing one another for a moment. Both of their eyes held the love and desire they felt for the other as Andy began ghosting his fingers up and down the side of her body. She shivered at the sensual contact and placed her hands on his chest, caressing the muscles and skin she found there. Oh, she wanted him.

Once she had explored his chest, she trailed her fingers down his stomach, over his hips, and began ghosting her fingers over his hardening length. He shuddered at the contact and she smiled. She ran one finger up and down his shaft before deftly grabbing ahold of him fully. He moaned at the sudden contact. She pumped him gently, applying just the right amount of pressure and watched as his face contorted with pleasure and his length hardened further in her hand. Suddenly, he gently pushed her shoulder and landed on top of her devouring her lips with his own. Their tongues clashed and tangled as their arousal grew.

Andy snaked a hand between their bodies, stopping to massage and caress her soft, full mounds. After paying both of them plenty of attention, his hand continued until he reached his goal. He slowly ran his fingers through her wet folds and moaned when he felt how ready she was and how much she wanted this. It matched his own excitement. He teased her entrance and ran his fingers back up her center before landing on her sensitive nub. He began circling it with a gentle pressure that had her moaning. He moved off of her, but kept her cradled in his left arm. His right hand continued to bring her pleasure, and he could tell that she was close. He inserted one finger, followed by another as his thumb continued to pleasure her nub. Her breathing increased as her legs fell even more open, and he watched the pleasure dance across her face. When she finally stiffened and moaned out his name, he couldn't take his eyes off of her as she came undone in his arms. It was beautiful and all he wanted to do was do it again.

He gave her a few moments to come down from her high, his fingers gently working her through it, before he moved his body back on top of hers. He lined his hard length up with her entrance and slowly entered her as their lips connected once again. Once he was fully wrapped in her warmth, they paused to share this moment of being completely physically connected with another person. He caressed her skin, sensually palmed her breasts and tweaked the hardened peaks before they started a slow and steady pace of long, deep strokes.

He moved in and out of her and Sharon relished the delicious sensation of their bodies being brought together again. This time, though, it wasn't just physical pleasure (although, that was quite amazing), it was also emotional. She could feel him making love to her with every thick, throbbing stroke through her sensitive walls. And this time, it wasn't too much. It was exactly what they both wanted, needed.

As her own desire built, Sharon brought her knees up closer to her body and wrapped them around Andy's waist, deepening the angle. Andy moaned at the new contact. Sharon's movements became more erratic when this new angle allowed Andy's length to hit that elusive spot inside of her. Every time he bottomed out, she felt a jolt of pure pleasure that was building with every stroke. Andy was beginning to lose control as well. Sharon's tight, velvety walls overwhelming him with sensations. It felt so good, he shortened his strokes, not wanting to leave the comfort of her warmth. He sped up his movements and the faster, almost constant contact with her pleasure spot had Sharon on the verge of crashing over. He continued his thrusts, even faster, but no less passionate, and Sharon flew over the edge into a place of bright lights, pleasure, and bliss. It was more intense than any orgasm she could remember. As she was finally beginning to come back down, she felt Andy thrust into her fully and release himself deep inside of her. They collapsed into a heap of heaving chests, sweaty skin, and rapidly beating hearts.

After a few moments, their bodies had finally calmed down and they laid together while Sharon ran her legs up and down the back of Andy's, both loathe to relinquish the physical connection. The irony not lost on Sharon. It was this physical connection that had almost sunk them before they had a chance to have this. And now, neither wanted to give it up.

"I love you," he rasped into her ear before placing a sweet kiss into her hair. She smiled brightly.

"I love you, too," she cooed, and he held her a little tighter. She allowed her mind to drift to those earlier moments in their relationship, and the result of that journey filled her with love and peace.

When the physical connection became impossible to maintain, he reluctantly slipped the rest of the way out of her and rolled into the space next to her. They snuggled up together and relished the closeness they were both feeling. Eventually, they would finish dinner and make their way back to this exact spot. They would probably make love again before drifting off to a blissful sleep. This time, though, neither was worried about crossing lines or making excuses for their closeness. No, they were going to embrace it and let it carry them together into a shared future.

THE END