A/N: Finally, we have reached the end of this little tale. I can't believe 5 chapters could take so flippin' long to finish! But at least I got it done before the S4 premiere - yay, me :)

Big thank you to kate04us for being my smut beta - I would be nothing without you! Oh, and you can thank CapricaM1983 for the amount of smut in this chapter. It took on a life of its own - without her in my ear, these two probably wouldn't have nearly so much fun!

As for me, I can only apologise…

CHAPTER FIVE :: Hope For The Weary

It was just beginning to snow lightly, the air around them warming a little as they stood in silence, holding each other. Neither of them was sure how long they had lingered on the sidewalk, although certainly it was enough time for fingers and noses to become numb with the cold - and for Andy to have cried himself out.

He lifted his head from her shoulder when Sharon stepped back from him slightly, her hands moving to cup his face as she studied him. He was calm now - serene, even. The peace that had been eluding him finally seeming to have settled within his soul. When she smiled up at him, he returned it instantly, and she was encouraged to recognise that the light that had been missing during this trip was now returning to his eyes.

"Let's go back to the hotel," she suggested in a soft voice as his lips nuzzled the palm of her hand.

She expected him to agree readily, but instead he shook his head, no. She frowned, confused.

"We have one more thing to take care of first," he explained, a small smile playing at his lips.

"What?"

"Ah," he whispered as he drew her back into his embrace, his lips pressing a kiss to the top of her head. "Now that would spoil the surprise…"

Sharon's face broke into a beaming smile as they approached the destination that he had been so secretive about. The Howard Gilman Opera House - where the American Ballet Theater was staging 'The Nutcracker' - stood imposing and beautiful in front of them. Less imposing was the young woman bouncing up and down on the steps outside, desperately trying to warm her shivering frame.

While Emily Raydor was not performing this year, as she was due to visit Los Angeles for Christmas, she was still helping out with some of the younger ABT dancers until she left. Upon receiving a call from her mother's boyfriend this morning, however, she had managed to arrange a couple of hours of free time. Squinting into the snow, she squealed as she saw them approaching, taking the steps two-at-a-time before flinging herself headlong into her mother's arms. Andy's steadying hand at her back was the only thing that kept Sharon from being knocked flying by her daughter's enthusiastic greeting and he laughed quietly at the scene before him.

"Oh my God, I can't believe you're actually here!" Emily grinned up at Andy from her position at Sharon's side, before meeting her mother's gaze once more. "I've missed you, Mom."

Sharon kissed Emily's forehead lovingly, her green eyes swimming with unshed tears. Tears which, for the first time in a while now, were of happiness.

"I missed you too, honey," she replied, voice thick with emotion.

They both looked over at Andy, who was now smiling broadly.

"He did good - right, Mom?" Emily teased.

Sharon smiled softly up at him, her hand stroking his face as her other arm remained wrapped around her daughter.

"He did very good," she agreed firmly.

Emily rolled her eyes as the two of them locked glances, disappearing into their own private world for a moment and seemingly able to have a whole conversation without uttering a single word.

"I don't know about anyone else," she interrupted eventually, "but I'm freezing my butt off out here! Can we please go inside?"

Sharon turned to her with an indulgent smile. She was about to acquiesce when Andy spoke instead, causing her head to whirl back around to look at him.

"Actually, I thought I'd head back to the hotel - give you two a chance to catch up properly."

Emily caught the fleeting look of concern that crossed Sharon's face before she schooled her features once more, forcing a smile into its place instead. Without giving either of them the chance to say anything, Emily decided that she may not know what was going on here, but she was going to take charge anyway.

"No way, mister!" Andy stared at her in shock as she marched over to him and looped her arm through his. "Mom and I will have plenty of time together when I come to LA in a few weeks, but with your family and my family and Christmas and everything, I'm hardly going to see you at all." She prodded his chest dramatically to make her point, in typical Sharon fashion. "I want to spend some time with you properly - now!"

He raised his eyes skyward as she pouted up at him, in a near-perfect impression of her mother. Jeez, it was hard enough resisting one Sharon - what the heck was he going to do with another one? Meeting her steely gaze again, Andy sighed defeatedly. There was absolutely no point in arguing, he knew - and as he saw the way Sharon's face lit up at the sight of her daughter making such an effort to include him, he realised that actually, he didn't want to argue at all.

Settling an arm around each of them, Andy smiled again as they headed up the steps and into the warmth of the building beyond.

The snow was falling in thick flurries as they exited the opera house some two hours later, each of them smiling as they turned onto the sidewalk. Sharon had been positively glowing with happiness the whole time they were there and he had loved simply being able to sit and watch as the joy radiated from her face. The visit with Emily had not just lifted Sharon's spirits, though - Andy, too, felt lighter than he had in a long time.

Sharon threaded her arm through Andy's as they started walking, her face turned up slightly to watch the snow fall, tiny flakes landing on her lashes. Andy wondered silently whether there had ever been a more adorable sight. He stopped walking for a moment to watch her and she paused too, looking back at him questioningly. He pulled her back and she went willingly into his embrace, her lips parting in anticipation just before his mouth made contact with hers. He kissed her reverently, delighting in the feel of her against him as he contemplated what on earth he could ever have done to make this beautiful, intelligent, wonderful creature fall in love with him. She studied him as they parted, before bestowing upon him the most delighted smile he thought he had ever seen. With their arms wrapped around each other, they slowly turned and headed west, towards the Brooklyn Bridge and the waiting warmth of their hotel.

They were cold but happy as they entered their hotel room a short while later, flakes of snow in their hair and a rosy glow on their faces. Studying her as he put away their coats, Andy thought he had never seen her look more lovely than she did at this moment. He crossed the room to join her by the window, drawing her into his arms and simply enjoying holding her close as they drank in the view together.

"I'd forgotten how beautiful it is," he said softly, his voice a low rumble next to her ear.

'It really is," she agreed, pulling his arms more tightly around her as she rested against his chest, his body strong and sure as she leaned back into him .

Turning her around to face him after a few moments, Andy bent down to her and tenderly brushed her lips with his own. He would never know what he had done to deserve this woman, but he couldn't imagine his life without her in it and he needed her to know how he felt.

He pulled back, his dark eyes intense as he sought out her gaze.

"I love you." The words were the truth but somehow they didn't seem enough - yet at the same time, they meant everything. Anything else he could say would be woefully inadequate. He had never thought he would feel it again, this all-consuming devotion to another human being - he had given up years ago. He had given up after Abby. Then he had found her. Sharon smiled up at him as he stroked the curve of her cheek with his thumb. "I wish there was something I could do to show you just how much."

His eyes shone with sincerity and she touched a palm to his cheek as she kissed him softly, a gesture of acknowledgement and affection.

"You do show me, Andy. Every single day."

She leaned back to look at him again then, her arms looped around his neck and her fingers running slowly through his hair, her eyes expressing the emotions that the lump in her throat prevented her from putting into words.

Suddenly, she grinned wickedly at him.

"You know…" she murmured, her eyes glinting playfully in the lamplight. "I've never made love in a hotel room in New York City." One eyebrow arched coyly as a smirk pulled at her lips.

"Is that so?" He chuckled at her for the first time in days and her smile widened in response. She nodded, running her hands down his torso until she reached his belt before tugging his t-shirt free from his jeans. Her fingers slipped underneath the fabric, roaming the expanse of his back as he briefly captured her mouth with his own. "Maybe we should do something about that…"

Sharon hummed in response, closing her eyes as his lips went to work on her neck. She pushed him backwards, gently walking them towards the bed as her hands continued to meander across his torso.

"Maybe we should…"

Their lips met again in a heated kiss, desire chasing away the pain and grief that had been hanging heavy over them almost since they arrived. Clothes were frantically removed, hands exploring skin, lips meeting before parting again in search of other, more enticing areas to investigate. Laying Sharon on the bed, Andy knelt above her, his lips beginning a journey down her body as her hands rested in his hair. He did not spare an inch of her skin, burning a trail down between her breasts, pausing to take first one and then the other into his eager mouth. She moaned in response to his touch, the desire that she had damped down that morning now reawakening and coiling deep within her. She was so aroused that it was almost painful and she was desperate to have him inside her.

Andy continued his relentless exploration of her exquisite body, finally reaching the place she wanted him the most. Sharon cried out as his tongue swiped across her, teasing and tormenting as her back arched off the bed, frantically seeking more contact. Carefully, he pushed one finger into her, then another, his tongue never ceasing in its relentless and sublime motion. Sharon moaned, grinding herself down onto him as he moved against and inside her. God, she was so close already. She just needed a little more…

She almost screamed in frustration when both his mouth and his fingers abruptly left her. Opening her eyes, she found him hovering above her, crooked smile in place as he watched her struggle to regain her focus. He knew exactly what he was doing to her and in that moment she didn't know whether to prod him or kiss him to make him continue.

"Andy…" she panted, her eyes begging him not to stop.

He ran his fingers lightly down her arms and she shivered, another small hum of arousal escaping her. Taking her hands in his, Andy raised her arms deliberately above her head, their fingers entwined as he held them there. Dipping his head, he captured her mouth for a deep kiss, his body hovering tantalisingly close to hers as he settled above her.

Sharon was done waiting. She needed him now. Wrapping her legs around his middle, she felt his smirk against her lips as she rocked her hips against him impatiently, his rock-hard length hot and twitching against her centre.

Holding her hands in place with one of his, his other moved tantalisingly slowly down her body, stroking and caressing until finally it rested between them. Positioning himself at her entrance, he at last pushed carefully into her, closing his eyes and groaning low in his throat as he felt himself being enveloped by her delicious heat.

They instantly began moving together with a matching rhythm that seemed as natural as breathing, their innate understanding of each other taking control of their actions. Neither was going to last long, they knew, but that didn't matter - not when the sensations of skin against skin were this exquisite. Not when they were here, like this, together.

Feeling her climax begin to ripple through her, Sharon whispered his name, her body surrendering all control to him. He understood her intent immediately, his lips trailing kisses along her neck in silent appreciation of her absolute trust in him at a time when he had struggled to trust himself - there was no greater gift that she could give him. Their gazes locked as he continued to move inside her, guiding her through her orgasm until he, too, reached the point of release. Wordless understanding passed between them, a bond that spoke to complete intimacy, breaths mingling and hands holding tight as their bodies finally let go.

Andy rested his forehead gently against Sharon's as they gradually regained their senses, brushing a damp lock of hair away from her cheek with his fingertip. His lips brushed against hers softly, their kisses still sensual yet languid now that the urgency of the moment had passed. Her legs remained wrapped around him as her fingers caressed his face, pausing to rub gentle circles against his temples. Eventually rolling onto his side, he gathered Sharon in his arms and pulled her close, unwilling to relinquish her touch. As she rested her head on his chest, the love that they shared sealed them within its warmth. If the last few days had taught them anything at all, it was that no matter what happened, they would always have each other to hold on to.