A/N: Again, if you're gonna leave a negative comment about Marlo/Nick, don't, I'm not interested in bein' somebody's bitching outlet.

You could have heard a pin drop. Everyone stared, speechless. It wasn't the kiss that shocked them, everybody knew that it was gonna happen once Andy was cut loose, what surprised them was that happened in the middle of the Bullpen.

Oliver was the first to recover. His "Call the hose monkeys, Frank!" brought Sam and Andy apart with a laugh. Sam wrapped his arms around her waist when she bent her head to his chest to hide the blush ... and the smile. Andy wrapped her arms around his waist.

"Alright, drinks at the Penny are not optional, your presence is mandatory to help the rookies celebrate! First round is on the Division. Rookies ... or their partners," he looked pointedly at Sam, "buys, they buy for the house, got it?"

A collective sound of agreement went through the room.

"Alright! What're we waitin' for?"

The Bullpen quickly cleared out. Sam and Andy held hands as they made their way to the lockers.

Andy kissed him on the cheek, "Gimme 20?"

Sam pulled her against him. "Not leavin' without you."

"Alright lovebirds, got lots of time for handholding later. Brother let her go so you can shower and change, I wanna buy my rookie a drink," Oliver teased.

"Whose rookie?"

Oliver laughed as he headed inside the guys locker room.

"I'd try and sneak you in, but I don't think Frank would approve."

Andy laughed. "You'll just have to make it up to me later."

Sam kissed her and whispered, "Count on it!" before letting her go.

20 minutes later Andy walked out to find Sam leaning against the wall. As soon as she was within reach he held out his hand.

Sam had one hand on Andy's back, the other on the door to the Penny. "You ready to take our relationship public, McNally?" he teased.

"I'm pretty sure ya did that when you kissed me in the middle of the Bullpen," she giggled.

Sam let go of the door and turned her to face him. "Seriously Baby, if you're not ready for this ..."

"Babe, I've been ready for this for 3 months."

Sam smiled as he reached for the door again. As soon as they walked in all eyes were on them. Andy saw the T.O's at the T.O table and nodded toward it. Sam shook his head as he put an arm around her waist. Andy smiled and leaned into him.

"What d'you want to drink? Draught? Tequila? Somethin' else?"

"Draught is fine."

Sam kissed her cheek. "You ok?"

"Yeah."

"Nice try. Tequila with a beer chaser?"

"Tryin' to get me drunk so I'll go home with ya, Swarek?"

Sam laughed. "You're already goin' home with me ..."

"Oh, yeah," Andy grinned making Sam laugh.

"Go join the rookies and I'll order our drinks."

Andy kissed his cheek. "Y'know it's ok if you join the T.O's ..."

"Nope. You're not gettin' rid of me, McNally, not without a fight."

"Not tryin' to get rid of ya, Babe ..."

"Good. Go." and he pushed her in the rookies direction while he went to the bar.

"Sammy! Congratulations my friend, I'd say you're officially free but I think the only thing that became official tonight is that you 'n Andy are both off the market." Liam looked at Andy who was watching Sam with a big smile on her face. "I'm happy for you, man."

Sam looked at Andy and winked. "Thanks, man."

"What can I get ya's?"

"2 tequilas with chasers."

Liam laughed. "You got it."

Sam felt her arms from behind. "You're supposed to be with the rookies."

"I was. But then a good lookin' guy at the bar winked at me," she sighed, "too bad he's my T.O."

Sam reached behind him and pulled her beside him so he could wrap his arm around her waist. Kissing her temple he said, "Not anymore, I'm just your partner now."

"Yeah, you're not stuck with me anymore," when Sam would've growled she grinned.

"There's my rookie," Oliver said as he came up between them, putting an arm around each shoulder.

Andy smiled. "Hi Oliver."

Sam shook his head but smiled, "Hey brother."

Liam set their shots and beers in front of them.

"Oliver, you joinin' 'em?"

"Make it 3 scotch and you got a deal, man."

Liam went and got 3 glasses and the bottle, pouring it he smiled at the young woman in front of him. "Here ya go. Pick your poison, Andy, so I know when somebody says they're buyin' for you."

Andy smiled. "Draught, thank you."

"Sammy, what about you? Your usual?"

"I think I'll just help with the beer that are comin' her way, man, thanks."

Liam nodded before being called away.

Oliver raised his glass, Sam and Andy followed suit. "Alright, brother, I may tease you about stealin' my rookie," both Oliver and Sam smiled, "but in all seriousness she couldn't have learned from anyone better ... well, except for yours truly,"

"So much for bein' serious," Sam grinned.

"As for this," he motioned to the arm around Andy's waist, "there's no one better. Just remember, my brother or not, I love this girl like my own ..."

"Yeah, I hadn't noticed, brother," Sam said dryly.

Oliver reached behind Andy and slapped Sam upside the head. "Wiseass!"

Sam just grinned.

They were soon joined by Jerry and Traci. "You sure you wanna get involved with him, McNally? We can find ya somebody better lookin' ..."

"Sorry, Jerry, not all of us can have Traci's bad taste," Andy said with a tongue and cheek grin making Sam and Oliver laugh while Jerry tried to find a comeback.

A couple hours and countless drinks later, Sam had Liam call them a cab.

Sometime over the course of the night the "Rookie Table" grew to include the rookies, their "spouses" and their T.O's. There was room, but Sam stood with an arm around Andy.

"Brother, where are your keys?" Oliver asked at one point.

"At home. We took a cab this mornin'."

"Sammy! Cab's here!"

Sam let his arm drop from around Andy's neck as he stepped back and Andy jumped off the stool.

"See ya guys," Andy said as Sam wrapped his arm around her waist.

They had barely cleared the door before Jerry looked at the other senior officers and said, "How long?"

Oliver smiled. "I say she's in, in a month, max."

"I'm with Ollie," Frank piped up and was echoed by Noelle.

"Sam doesn't live with a woman," came from Marlo.

"Hate to burst your bubble Cruz, but McNally isn't just any woman to Sammy."

"Yeah, well, Andy and I were together for 6 months before the academy, and the first 3 in, she didn't even hint at wanting to live together ..." Nick offered.

"No offense, G.I. Joe, but you did dump her half way through ..." Dov chimed in.

Nick looked him.

"No offense, Nick, but you're no Swarek."

Jerry looked at Traci who laughed. "I ain't blind, Barber. Besides, she told me that."

"When?!"

Traci looked at Nick. "Right after Swarek was made her T.O. You were her boyfriend for how many months but you never got why the academy was important to her."

"What is the big deal about the academy?" Nick wondered aloud.

"Collins, my man, even I'm not that clueless," Oliver said shaking his head.

Gail looked at him. "For a second generation, or a legacy, whatever you're more comfortable with, it's a big deal ... Especially when you think you've got somethin' to prove like she did."

"Somethin' to prove?"

Traci rolled her eyes. "Did ya ever wonder why ya never met her mother? Or why she didn't take guys home to meet her dad?"

"No."

"Dude, did you even try?!"

"There a problem?"

Dude, if I was Andy, I wouldn't've wanted to live with your sorry ass, either, because from where I'm sittin' you didn't show much, if any, interest in your girlfriend." Chris shocked them all with his quiet remark.

Oliver smiled and tipped his beer. "Well said, rookie."

Chris blushed a little.

"Alright kids, time for this old man to go home before the wife turns into a bitch ..." Oliver said as he stood up.

"Don't you mean a witch, Sir?" Dov asked.

The senior officers at the table stared.

"No, Epstein, I don't want to insult the witches of the world by calling my wife ... my soon to be ex-wife, a witch."

A woman walking by the table said, "We appreciate that."

Gail and Traci shared a look with Noelle as she walked away.

"Thought you were lookin' for your own place?"

"I am, but 'til I find one that the girls are happy with, I'm still there ... whether Zoe and the boy toy likes it or not."

"Do not envy you, buddy."

"None of us do."

"Y'know what? I tried, she didn't. The girls deserve better, so ..." he shrugged and looked at the young men and women at the table, "Rookies, congratulations. Do those of us that trained you a favor - Don't embarrass us!"

The T.O's and the rookies alike laughed as they bid him goodnight.

Sam paid the driver and they got out and headed for the door. Sam closed the door and pulling Andy against him, leaned back against it.

Andy smiled as she wrapped her arms around his waist and leaned her head against Sam's chest.

"Y'know Frank coulda warned us."

Sam laughed. "About?"

"The hangover that comes with evaluations. Thank God we're off tomorrow."

Sam laughed as she pushed away from him and slowly made her way to the stairs. He set the alarm before he followed her.

He found her standing in the bedroom door. He walked up behind her and wrapped both arms around her. "You suddenly afraid of our bedroom, McNally?" he teased.

Andy giggled. "No."

"Then get your cute little self in there so we can go to bed and sleep some of this off."

Andy laughed as he pushed her over the threshold.

A couple weeks went by, nobody heard talk of them moving in together. The looks they were getting were starting to get to Andy. They were out on patrol when she said, "What is everybody's problem?!"

Sam looked at her. "You wanna be a little more specific there, McNally?"

"They been actin' funny since the Penny a few weeks ago."

Sam laughed. "Yeah, I think I know what that's about but we are not talkin' about it on duty."

Andy looked at him. "Why not?"

Just then the radio came to life. Sam looked at her. "That's why. Call it in."

They didn't talk the rest of the day. When they got back to the Barn they were asked about going to the Penny but refused.

Sam pulled up at the house and killed the engine. He helped her out before grabbing their bags.

He flipped Andy the keys when his phone rang. He checked the caller I.D, saw it was Oliver and ignored it, wrapping his arm and around her waist.

Andy unlocked the door and headed straight for the stairs after kicking off her shoes. Sam threw their gear in the laundry room before going upstairs. She was already in the shower when he reached the bedroom. He stripped down before going into the bathroom.

"Not fair, startin' without me, woman," he said as he stepped in the shower.

He knew something was wrong when she didn't turn and look at him.

As soon as he touched her shoulders, he felt her shaking. He turned her to face him but she stared at the bottom of the shower. "Nice try, woman, look at me," he said softly tipping her chin so she was looking at him.

Even with the water from the shower, he could tell she was crying.

"C'mere."

Andy wrapped both arms around his waist. Sam held her for a minute before pushing her away and quickly finishing their shower.

They were curled up on the couch before anymore was said. Sam could feel she was still upset. He kissed her temple and smiled.

"That night at the Penny? Seems we were the table's favorite topic after we left."

Andy twisted a little to look up at Sam.

"Overheard our favorite rookie and T.O talkin' today ..."

"And?"

Sam laughed at her impatience. "Sounds like none of our friends were questioning how long it would take us to get together ..."

"Like I said, I'm pretty sure kissin' me in the Bullpen told 'em we were together, Babe," Andy giggled.

Sam shrugged. "With the question about us being answered, my friends questioned how long before we lived together."

Andy sat up. "What?!"

Sam pulled her back against him. "After overhearing Cruz and Collins I talked to Ollie, seems they were the only 2 at the table that said it's not gonna happen."

"Yeah, because he knows me so well!"

Sam laughed. "Yeah, he, uh, pretty much got his ass handed to him by rookies and T.O's alike because he tried to play the 'we dated' card, even the Ice Queen handed it to him for not knowin' why the academy was a 'big deal' to you."

Hearing that made Andy laugh.

"I guess Diaz really gave it to him though."

"Chris?"

Sam laughed.

"That leaves Marlo ..."

Sam growled.

"So she did say somethin' ..."

"Do we have to talk about her?" he growled.

Andy laughed as she said, "Yeah, we do. Sam, I don't care ..."

"Then why ..."

"Because she obviously thinks she knows you ..."

Sam growled again before he said, "I think Ollie said her exact words were: 'Sam doesn't live with a woman'."

Andy gave a half-assed shrug. "Ok."

"What does that mean?"

Andy turned over so she was looking at Sam. "It means, I don't care what she says. What was the table's reaction?"

Sam laughed softly. "You weren't just any woman."

Andy laughed. "Good to know."

Sam leaned over and kissed her. "Just so know, whenever you want to, I'm ok with it. If that's tomorrow or 6 months from now, it doesn't matter. We both know you practically live here as it is, and that's not gonna change, but that's somethin' you have to be comfortable with, ready for. Just 'cause my friends think it's gonna happen right away doesn't mean it has to. I'm just happy you're here. Oh, just so we're clear, whether you live here yet or not, this is your home."

Andy smiled. "The only guy I ever lived with was my dad, by the time I was old enough, I couldn't wait to get out. I love him, but ...

No offense to Nick, but the academy wasn't the only thing he was clueless about. Livin' together's a commitment. For a girl with trust issues to trust that a guy with commitment issues isn't just playin' house ... it wasn't a gamble I was willin' to take.

Then I met you. Talk about takin' a gamble. Trustin' a guy who could disappear in a heartbeat with my heart."

Sam was rubbing patterns on her back. "Does this feel like I'm goin' anywhere?"

Andy smiled. "No. And that's why it's not a gamble anymore. Even if we've only been together a couple of months, I love you enough to trust you enough ..."

Anything else she would have said was cut off when Sam kissed her.

He was smiling when he finally broke the kiss.

It wasn't until Sam whispered 'I love you too,' that Andy realized she'd said it.

She couldn't stop the smile if her life had depended on it as she finished, "to be here, to call this home ... with you."

"That better mean you're movin' in ..."

Andy grinned. "If you're sure you want a roommate ..."

"Roommate my ass," Sam growled before he kissed her again.

The next day Andy filed a change of address form. They waited until the weekend to pack her apartment up, not that she was taking much. Most of her stuff went to the Salvation Army, Goodwill or Value Village. A lot of the stuff from Sam's followed over the course of a few weekends as true to his word, Sam swapped out his stuff and replaced it with things they bought together.

Andy collapsed on the couch after the delivery guys left. "You do know you didn't have to get rid of every piece of furniture in the house, right?"

Sam laughed as he carried the pizza and beer into the living room. "Did I know that? Yes. Did I want to get rid of everything? To make this our home not just mine? Again, yes."

"It was our home ..."

Sam picked her up and sat down with her in his lap. "Most women would jump at the chance to redecorate their boyfriend's place, McNally."

Andy wrapped her arms around his neck. "What was it Oliver said?"

Sam laughed as he kissed her. "You definitely aren't."

Six weeks after she was cut loose, the transformation from his place to their place was complete.

They hadn't told anyone about the change in their living arrangements until one night at the Penny when Sam asked if she was ready to go home Dov asked where home was.

"Epstein, we only have one."

All eyes turned to look at them.

"Sammy? Buddy?"

Sam and Andy shared a smile. "Might as well tell 'em, Babe ..."

"Tell 'em hell, they're cops, hopefully smart ones, let 'em figure it out."

Andy giggled and slid off the barstool. "Night guys."

They were at the bar settling their tab when Jerry yelled, "It's about time, Sammy!"

Laughing, they walked back over to the table and Sam clapped Jerry on the shoulders. "Buddy, just because you didn't know she was there til now, doesn't mean she wasn't."

Everybody stared at them.

"For the record, I filed the papers 2 weeks after I was cut loose ..."

The table erupted in cheers. With that news they had to stay for another drink to celebrate.

When they finally got outta the Penny, it was with 2 coffees to go. Sam popped the tailgate and they sat down. Sam leaned against the frame and Andy leaned against Sam. They drank their coffees and laughed at their friends reactions to the news of their living arrangements.

"I'm almost afraid to see their reaction when we tell 'em ..."

"Tell 'em what?"

Sam couldn't finish his thought, they hadn't been together that long, he wasn't gonna freak her out, so he said, "That you redecorated the house." His face was a blank mask, but she saw the laughter in his eyes.

"Uh, no, you redecorated the house ..."

Sam laughed. "That's because it's not just my house anymore, it's our house ... or have you forgotten?"

Andy laughed. "No."

"Good, then let's go home."