A/N: Thank you all for the wonderful reviews. I love reading every single one of them!
XX
Together they decided that they would wait with looking at houses until they sold both of their places. Financially that seemed like the better option because neither of them wanted to be stuck with a house they weren't using anyway.
After just two weeks Andy got an offer on her condo. It was a little bit lower than she liked, but when she talked it over with Sam they decided to take the offer anyway. There was no telling how long her condo would be for sale if she wanted a higher price. And time cost money too.
That's how Andy ended up living at Sam's place just a month after they had decided to move in together.
''Where do you want this?'' Sam asked as he carried a small coffee table inside.
''Living room?'' Andy asked. ''If that's okay with you?''
Sam hated the fact that she asked permission for every little thing. She really did see the house as his and she didn't want to step on his toes.
''You don't have to ask McNally,'' Sam said for the umpteenth time. ''Just put things where you want them. If I don't like it I'll tell you.''
''I know,'' was her response.
Thankfully Oliver, Dov and Traci came along to help the two move Andy's things. Most of her things went to storage, but she did want to bring a few things with her.
After a day of hard work most of the things were unpacked and found a place in the house. ''That table doesn't really go with the rest of your stuff,'' Andy mused out loud as she looked at the result. ''The room is way too full like this.''
''What if we take away my old table?'' Sam suggested. ''We'll put the couch over there and then we have a little more space.''
''Doesn't make sense, because than the couch isn't facing the TV.'' Andy sighed and walked towards her table. ''Let's just put this one away. It doesn't fit here.''
''Come on Andy,'' Sam tried. ''You've been bringing stuff to storage all day long. It's your house now too, you get a say in it.''
''And my say is that my stuff doesn't go with your stuff,'' Andy shortly answered. ''Look, it's fine. I've moved four times in the last four years and I've spend six months undercover. I'm used to not having my own stuff.''
''But here you don't have to,'' Sam argued. ''Come on, leave that table. We'll find a place for it tomorrow.'' Slowly Sam walked towards Andy and put his hands on her shoulders. He gently massaged them and he pressed his lips to the back of her head. ''You love that thing.''
''I know it's a little old fashioned,'' Andy told him.
''It's okay,'' Sam promised.
''Belonged to my grandmother,'' Andy explained. ''She died when I was eleven. I always stayed with her on Wednesdays and Thursdays. Claire took everything with her when she left. Except for that table.''
Sam tugged on Andy's arm until she got the hint and followed him to the couch. He sat down first and Andy sat down next to him.
''How's Claire?'' Sam asked. Andy's mom was still a sensitive subject between the two of them. Sam still thought that someone who had left their kid in the middle of the night had no right to come back and demand attention later on.
Andy always looked for the good though and she really wanted to make amends with her mother. ''Haven't talked to her in a while,'' Andy admitted. She played with the hem of her shirt and laid her head down on Sam's shoulder.
''Is there a reason for that?'' Sam asked as he put his arm around Andy. He let his fingers slip under the material of her shirt and traced patterns on her skin.
He felt Andy tense for a moment and looked at her. ''You know you can tell me anything, right?'' he asked her. With the way she avoided the subject of Claire at all costs, he figured it had something to do with him.
''She thinks I'm making a mistake,'' Andy admitted. ''It's unbelievable,'' she huffed. ''When I came back I spend six weeks trying to contact her before I gave up. She called me back a month later. We saw each other three times since then and she still thinks she has the right to have a say in my life.''
''What did she say?'' Sam wondered.
''Doesn't matter,'' Andy angrily said. ''If she's got a problem with you than she can mind her own business. I've been fine without her, I'll be fine now too.''
Even though Sam wanted to believe her, he knew it wasn't that simple. ''What did she say?'' he asked once again. ''I want to know. I can take it.''
Slowly Andy raised her head a little so she could look at Sam. With a sigh she dropped her head back down. ''She thinks I'm making a mistake with you.''
Of course Sam knew that already. Claire had never been his biggest fan, but after everything that happened he could imagine that she wasn't getting any happier about him. ''She's trying to look out for you.''
''Are you seriously defending her?'' Andy wondered. ''I'm a grown up. I can make my own decisions and it pisses me off when she thinks she's got a say in this.''
''Your dad wasn't too happy either,'' Sam gently answered.
''That's different,'' Andy protested. ''My dad has been looking out for me all my life. Even when he was a mess. He was always there when I needed him. Claire just shows up whenever she wants to. Besides, dad is at least trying to be supportive. He invited you over for dinner and all.''
Sam cringed a little when he remembered that dinner. Tommy was definitely not too happy about the fact that they were trying again. Over the months Sam had won his trust again though.
Tommy had been sceptical at first, but eventually saw that Andy really was happiest when she was with Sam. And everybody could see that Sam loved Andy. Even Tommy.
''She doesn't know us,'' Sam finally said. ''If she did than she would feel different.''
''She doesn't know us because she never took the time to get to know us,'' Andy argued.
''What did she say?'' Sam asked again. He knew it had to be bad if Andy responded like this. Normally she was all for forgiveness and forgetting. Claire had definitely done a number on her.
Andy swallowed and looked at Sam. She didn't want to hurt him, but she didn't want any secrets between them either. ''She told me that you were going to end up hurting me or disappointing me again.''
''Andy,'' Sam interrupted her.
Andy held up her hand to stop Sam. ''I know you won't,'' she promised. ''She told me that history is repeating itself and one day you'll end up like my dad and I'll end up making the same mistakes she did.'' Andy bit her bottom lip and shook her head. ''She basically told me that I was a mistake.''
Sam closed his eyes as he pulled Andy a little closer. ''I'm sorry,'' was all he could say. ''She doesn't know what she's talking about. She doesn't know what she's missing.''
''I'm done with her,'' Andy fiercely said. ''She doesn't know me and this just proves that she doesn't want to know me.''
Silence washed over them as both thought about what had just been said. Sam couldn't help but feel guilty. If he hadn't broken up with her in the first place than Andy wouldn't have a problem with her mother about this.
''You don't have to choose,'' he tried. ''If she has a problem with me than you can spend time with her without me. It's fine. I get where she's coming from.''
''I don't,'' Andy shot back. ''If she doesn't want to get to know you, than she doesn't want to get to know me. I'm done Sam. I don't want her in my life if she can't respect the decisions I'm making.''
''Just know that I'm behind you no matter what. I've got your back.''
Andy smiled sadly and squeezed Sam's hand. ''You always do.''
Even though Andy was sad about the fact that her mother so easily left her again, she never shed a tear about it. She decided a long time ago that she had cried enough over Claire McNally. She was happy with her life and if Claire couldn't see that, than it was her loss.
Sam was her family now.
XX
When they were living together for almost four months, Sam got an offer on his house too. When he told Andy the good news she practically threw herself on him. It wasn't that she didn't like Sam's house, but to her it would always feel like just that; Sam's house.
She wanted a house that would be totally theirs. A place where they would build new memories. A place where they could put the past where it belonged.
The day after Sam got the phone call, Andy had already called some realtors to make appointments. Secretly she had kept an eye on what was for sale in the neighbourhoods they liked. Sam had caught her more than once while she was dreaming away behind her laptop.
''Get moving McNally, you don't want to be late,'' Sam shouted out to his bedroom. He had been ready to go for a while now, but Andy was taking forever.
''I'm coming,'' Andy yelled back. ''I only have to brush my teeth and then I'm good to go.''
Sam sighed and decided to wait in the truck. Five minutes later she followed him with a big grin on her face. ''I can't believe we're finally going to do this,'' Andy said. ''I have a really good feeling about this.''
A small smile formed on Sam's lips. It was hard to stay annoyed with her when she was so happy. Her smile just had that effect on him. ''I told you that we could've looked at something sooner,'' Sam said. ''You were the one that insisted that I'd sell my place first.''
''It was a wise decision.'' Andy still stood behind their choice. ''If we would've bought something right away then we would've had to deal with double the costs. Besides, your house sold pretty quickly, but it could've been a problem if it would have taken longer.''
The first house they went to was nice, but neither of them was really excited about it. The bathroom was pretty small, the kitchen was a little outdated and it just didn't feel right. On the pictures it had been really great, so Andy was a little bit disappointed.
Sam threw his arm over her shoulder as they left the house. He saw that she was disappointed. ''It's only the first house,'' he told her. ''There are plenty other options.''
The second house wasn't a winner either. At first it looked nice, but when Sam looked a little bit better he noticed that there was mold on the ceilings. That wasn't something they wanted to deal with, so that house wasn't it either.
The rest of the day went on like that. That night they were sitting at the dinner table when Andy sighed out loud. ''We have to find something soon,'' she said. ''This place is sold already, we'll have to move out in a few weeks.''
''It'll be fine,'' Sam tried to comfort her. ''We only saw four houses. Do you know how many houses are out there?''
''But what if we can't find the one?'' Andy asked. ''I just thought this would be easier. That's all.''
''If we don't find the one, we'll find a livable place we can rent and look from there,'' Sam said. ''Just don't worry too much. I'm sure we'll find something we'll both like.''
When he stood up he quickly pressed a kiss to the top of Andy's head before he started to clear out the dishwasher. When he returned to the table he saw Andy was checking out a house online. He had noticed her looking at that particular house more often.
''Where's that?'' Sam asked.
Andy looked like she had been caught with her hand in a cookie jar. ''What?'' she asked. ''Nothing, just looking if there's anything new.''
''You've looked at that house before,'' Sam said. ''Let me see it.''
''No,'' Andy quickly said. ''It's nothing. Too expensive and not really our style anyway.'' She stretched out and closed her laptop. ''Let's go to the Penny tonight,'' she suggested. ''It's been a while since we've been there.''
''You sure?'' Sam asked. ''This morning you said you would go to bed early.''
''This morning I was tired and now I'm over that,'' Andy smiled. ''Besides, Oliver misses you.''
''We can't have that.''
XX
A week later Andy walked out of the station as a yawn escaped her mouth. Her shift had been long and tiring. Sam had had a day off. He went to see Sarah, but told Andy that he would be back in time to have dinner with her.
When she spotted the big silver truck in the parking place Andy couldn't help but smile. ''You're here already,'' she said. ''How was Sarah.''
''Good,'' Sam answered. ''Really good actually, but she already had plans so I was back early.''
After Andy had met Sam's sister they had gotten quite close. Sarah liked having another female around. She loved her brother, but some things were easier to talk about with a woman. Besides, Andy had this way of making people talk without making them feel like they were giving away much.
Her company had really worked for Sarah and for the first time in years Sam saw his sister light up. She even made a few friends at a class she was attending. She was really making progress and Sam couldn't be prouder.
''I missed you,'' Andy said as she stepped into Sam's embrace. She closed her eyes for a second and rested her head on his shoulder. ''Bed was really cold when I woke up this morning.''
''Think you're funny,'' Sam said as he gently pinched her butt. ''I have a surprise for you.''
''What?'' Andy asked as she took a step back. ''What is it?''
''Hop in the truck and I'll let you see,'' Sam answered. When she didn't follow immediately, Sam opened the passenger door to the truck. ''Get in McNally.''
Andy tried to figure out where Sam was taking her, but he didn't give away anything. ''You'll see soon enough,'' was his constant answer.
When he finally parked the truck Andy looked out and shook her head. ''No Sam,'' she said. ''I told you that I had looked at it, but it's too much. We can't afford it.''
''Just come with me,'' Sam simply said. He helped Andy out of the truck and took her hand in his. The realtor was already waiting for them when they reached the front porch.
Andy reluctantly went along with Sam. She really loved the house, but she knew how much it cost and even though it wasn't ridiculously expensive, it was more than they could afford. When they first started looking for houses they agreed on a budget, that house did not fit into that budget.
When the realtor had shown them all the rooms Sam took Andy upstairs again. They walked into the master bedroom. Andy walked towards the window and stared out of it.
She could easily picture them living there. The neighbourhood was great. There were lots of kids, but it was quiet enough. There was a park nearby, but it was still in the center of the city. It had everything they were looking for. When she closed her eyes she could picture their future there without any problems.
''So?'' Sam asked. He walked towards Andy and when he reached her he wrapped his arms around her waist. ''What do you say?''
''It's beautiful,'' Andy answered. ''But it's too expensive for us now. Maybe in a few years...''
''You told me you didn't want to move from house to house anymore,'' Sam argued. ''This one is for sale now.''
''And we don't have the money now,'' Andy shot back. ''I love you for trying to find something that I love, but maybe I'm just asking for too much. The first house we looked at wasn't that bad, maybe we could go there another time? Look at it from another perspective?''
Sam took a deep breath and moved to stand between Andy and the window. He cupped her cheek and softly kissed her. ''I know you want this house,'' he tested.
Andy couldn't lie about that. It was the house of her dreams. ''You can't always get what you want,'' Andy simply said. ''And besides, as long as we're together things will be fine. It will become home when I'm with you.''
''I'm buying it,'' Sam answered.
''What?'' Andy asked. ''Don't be ridiculous Sam. This is too much for us. I'll be happy either way, I promise. Just as long as we're together.''
''I worked undercover a lot. You know how it works. Working undercover means you're saving a whole lot of money. We can afford this house if I use some of my savings. We'll get an affordable mortgage.''
''That's your money Sam,'' Andy sighed out. ''You worked really hard for that. You should keep it for something you want.''
''This is something I want,'' Sam simply answered. ''It's not just you that has ideas about the future, okay? This house is perfect for us.''
Andy shyly smiled when Sam mentioned his plans for the future. Every time he would bring that up she felt this warmth inside of her chest. The fact that he pictured his future with her just had that effect on her.
''The backyard is really nice,'' Andy admitted. ''And I like this neighbourhood.''
''It's great,'' Sam agreed. ''So you with me on this one? We'll buy this?''
Andy took a deep breath and took a step forward. ''We're buying this,'' she confirmed. She softly pressed her lips to Sam's.
Together they talked to the realtor and agreed on an offer they were going to make. Later that night they got the phone call that their offer was accepted. They were now the proud owners of a beautiful four bedroom house with a huge backyard and two bathrooms.
Andy squealed and laughed out loud when Sam told her the good news. She threw her arms around his neck and wrapped her legs around his waist. ''I love you,'' she told him.
''Good thing McNally,'' Sam said as he walked them to the bedroom, ready to celebrate. ''You're stuck with me now.''
''I think I can live with that,'' Andy promised.
XX
A few hours later Sam slowly kissed Andy's lips one more time before rolling off of her. They had celebrated multiple times. Both were tired now and ready to close their eyes for the night.
''I know you're probably annoyed with me asking this,'' Andy said after a few minutes of complete silence. ''But are you sure you're okay with this? It seems unfair that you're paying more for this than I am.''
Sam swallowed and looked at her. ''It was my idea,'' he said once again. ''Wouldn't have suggested it if I didn't want to do it.'' Part of him was really bothered by her reluctance. He didn't get where it was coming from. They wanted to spend their lives together, at least, that's what he thought.
''What's wrong?'' Andy asked when she saw the frown on Sam's forehead.
''I just don't get why you're making such a big deal out of this,'' Sam said. ''You lived with Callaghan and he bought that house all by himself. That didn't seem to be a problem for you at all.''
Somehow Andy's engagement to Luke was still a sore spot between them. They had never really talked about it and they probably should have.
Andy rolled her eyes and sat up. She pulled the covers up to cover herself. ''That was different,'' she argued.
''How?'' Sam wondered. ''How is that any different than this?''
''Because this is with you,'' Andy tried to explain. When she looked at Sam she saw that he didn't understand what she was talking about. ''You really want to talk about this?'' Andy asked. ''You really want to hear about me and Luke?''
''No,'' Sam said as he sat up to. He ran his hand across his face and shook his head. ''But maybe we should've talked about it. I don't get why it's okay for him to buy you a house, but it's not okay for me to pay a little bit more than you.''
''First of all,'' Andy started. ''It's not a little bit. I think it's a lot of money. And second of all, you are different than Luke. We are different than me and Luke. With Luke I always felt like I didn't have a say in a lot of things. I always felt like he somehow felt like he was better than me.'' Andy took a deep breath and finally faced Sam. ''He always picked the restaurants we went to. He picked out every piece of furniture. I didn't get a say in any of those things. He paid for everything too, like somehow I wasn't capable.''
Andy paused for a moment. ''With you it feels like we're equal. You make me feel like I'm your partner. With you I feel like my say is just as important as yours.''
All of the sudden Sam understood where Andy was coming from. All of her life she had fought against prejudices. All her life she had been the girl that was abandoned by her mother. Later she was the girl with the drunk father. When she was dating Luke she was the girl who had everything handed to her.
Even her beginning with Sam wasn't perfect. All of the sudden she was the girl who slept with her training officer. Now, finally, she could be the girl who fell in love and got her happy ending.
''We are equal,'' Sam promised. ''Your say is just as important as mine is. That is why I talked to you first. I wanted to be sure that you were okay with all of this. Me pitching in a little extra isn't going to change that. I just want us to live in a house that we both love.''
''I know,'' Andy admitted. ''I know that.'' She closed her eyes and sighed deeply. ''I'm being an idiot, right?''
''You're worrying about things that you shouldn't worry about,'' Sam said.
''Sorry,'' Andy apologised. ''I love you.''
''I love you too,'' Sam answered. He laid back down again and pulled her with him. ''Even if you're a little crazy sometimes.''
XX
A/N: I'm rounding up the journey of these two. I think they've learned enough and grown enough.
Let me know what you think!