A/N: This is the third chapter! Special thanks to CMemlovr for beta reading! I hope you like it!
Andy stood before Sharon, a combination of surprise, anger and confusion flickering across his features.
"What did Amy mean by that, Sharon?" he seethed.
Sharon glared at him coldly before replying, "Shut the door, Andy. There's no need for everyone to hear this."
Slamming the door shut, Andy turned to face Sharon once more, rage blazing in his eyes. "Is it true that you're pregnant?"
Sharon took a breath to calm herself before responding, "Yes."
"Why didn't you tell me? And how long were you going to keep this from me?!"
"Andy, stop."
"I just can't understand why you'd hide this from me – why you wouldn't tell me something so important!" He shouted furiously.
"I know, and I know that you can't understand, but I had my reasons."
"Reasons? Sharon, you hid that you're pregnant from me!"
"I needed to think before saying anything, Andy. And…I was worried about how you might react," replied Sharon quietly before warily taking a seat.
Andy regarded her with confusion before responding, "I could never react badly to knowing that you're pregnant with my child, Sharon. To have a child with you… I wouldn't have reacted badly," said Andy in a low voice.
"I wasn't sure if I wanted this baby, Andy. I was considering abortion, but Amy helped me to see that it wasn't a decision I wanted to take."
Andy took a seat beside her, mulling over her words. "An abortion, Sharon? You would've terminated our child without telling me?"
"Stop this, Andy! Look, the baby is a mistake – I'm not going to terminate it, but you have to understand that it is just a mistake," replied Sharon heatedly.
"Just a mistake? Why is everything related to me a mistake, Sharon? I suppose I should just count myself lucky that you've already discounted abortion as an option?!"
"I wouldn't have had an abortion, Andy, and I still won't. You can trust me on that one. I'm already a mother, and I love my children more than my own life, I would not be able to terminate one of my children, even if they are unborn. But you can't understand how I'm feeling right now – how I've felt since discovering that I'm pregnant! You don't know what the sleepless nights and nausea and anxiety have been like," said Sharon, her eyes beginning to well with tears.
"I'm sorry that I yelled, Sharon," he murmured, reaching for her hand. Sharon moved her hand out of his reach, folding her arms across her chest.
"I'm tired, Andy. I'm tired of these fights and I'm tired of not knowing where we are in our relationship. I've tried to understand but I can't. And now, I'm just tired of our relationship and the fights it's causing." Sharon kept her eyes firmly on the ground as she said this, avoiding his gaze at all costs.
"Look at me, Sharon. I'm tired too, but I still love you, and I would still do anything for you. I- I want to give this a chance for the sake of our child. You don't understand how happy I am to know that you're pregnant with my – our – child. Why did you think that I'd be upset?" replied Andy softly, gently wiping the tear tracks beneath Sharon's eyes.
"I'm sorry, Andy, I –I didn't expect this pregnancy, and I don't know what to do."
"Calm down, Sharon. Everything's going to be alright. This baby is a gift, Sharon."
"I don't know, Andy. I don't know if I want to keep this baby. I just need time to think about this, and I need you to understand, please," she pleaded with him.
Nodding gently, Andy replied, "Just promise you won't cry anymore."
"I promise," whispered Sharon softly.
She felt lighter now that Andy knew the truth. He wanted the child and ways happy that she was pregnant –that in itself was a relief. However, she was still uncertain. Her relationship with Andy had been going south and was far from stable, adding a child to the equation…she just wasn't sure.
By the time she arrived home that evening, she felt drained. Sharon threw her purse down on the couch before sinking into it herself. She couldn't hear Rusty moving about the apartment as she usually could and worried. Calling him on his cell phone, he assured her that he was just out with friends, helping some in calming her down. Still, she felt inexplicably lonely, and a little bit lost. She needed to talk to someone, and decided that Andrea would probably be the best person.
Andrea arrived at the apartment soon after Sharon had called her, and was surprised to find the other woman in tears.
"What's going on, Sharon?" asked Andrea worriedly.
Hugging her friend tightly, Sharon didn't speak. After she'd become less agitated, Sharon and Andrea moved to the living room, where Sharon proceeded to detail everything that had happened in the last few days, receiving the support of her best friend.
"I can understand how you're feeling, Sharon. It must've been such a shock to find out. But I can't help but be happy for you – you're pregnant with Andy's baby and he's absolutely crazy about you. What's wrong?" asked Andrea, surprised.
Sighing audibly, Sharon replied, "I'm confused, Andrea. I feel like I'm floundering through this – to the extent that abortion seemed like a viable option for me. I, a woman who loves her children more than anything was willing to terminate my child simply because they haven't been born yet."
Andrea placed her hand consolingly on Sharon's shoulder, "Calm down, Sharon. Andy wants the baby, which means that you'll have his support as a parent."
"I have no doubt that Andy will make a good father, I'm just not sure about…myself," replied Sharon hesitantly, "I don't know if I'm in a position to have a child again. And, well, my relationship with Andy's been pretty rocky lately."
"Don't worry, Sharon. Everything will work out – you just need some time to think things through for yourself," replied Andrea reassuringly.
"Thanks for supporting me, Andrea. You're a true friend."
Andrea smiled gently before replying, "I'll always support you, Sharon – you've always done the same for me, and now it's my turn as a friend." Hugging her friend, Andrea rubbed a consoling hand between Sharon's shoulders.
Sharon didn't see Rusty until the next morning while she was preparing for work.
"Morning, mom," he called as he entered the kitchen.
"Good morning."
Seeing her anxiety, Rusty kissed his mother's cheek. "Are you okay, mom?" he asked concernedly.
"I'm fine, honey. Don't worry."
"You're the one who looks worried," he replied, "Did you tell Andy yesterday?"
"Yes, I told him. ''
"And…?"
"What?
"What did he say?
"He was glad." Sharon wished the interview would stop; she felt like a suspect! "Rusty, can we talk later? I've got a big case right now and need to be at work. Your breakfast's on the counter."
Nodding silently, Rusty watched her leave.
It took longer than expected to reach the crime scene. On seeing her, Andy wanted to talk to her, but knew that it wasn't the time or place. He contented his protective instinct instead, watching her movements like a hawk. He knew he was being obvious, but since he was sure that Sharon wouldn't be receptive to discussions of her pregnancy, this was the next best alternative.
Sharon noticed his hovering immediately, and teased him about it, not wanting the rest of the team to know about her pregnancy. Suddenly, she tripped on a bit of uneven paving – Andy was on her in seconds, checking that she was fine.
"Be careful, Sharon," he murmured gently.
Glaring at him for his overtness, she replied sternly, "I'm fine, Lieutenant Flynn. No need to worry so much." At this, she left to walk ahead of him with Amy.
Andy knew that he had to sort out his relationship with Sharon, not least because of the effect it would ultimately have on the baby's life. He needed to talk to her at any cost.
Andy knocked on the door of her office.
"Yes?"
"Sharon ... You got a minute?" he asked, leaning in to her office.
"Yes, come in." Entering her office, Andy was suddenly unsure of what to say, keeping her gaze silently instead. "What did you want to discuss, Andy?"
"Us."
"What about us?"
"Please, Sharon. I want to fix this – we can't just pretend that nothing has happened. I want to fix our relationship, for the baby."
"I understand your concerns. The baby and I are fine, and you have nothing to worry about. If you don't mind, however, I'd rather not discuss my personal life at work," she replied, peering sternly over her glasses. Andy nodded.
"Fine, but we still need to talk. Come with me to dinner tonight?" Sharon thought for a moment before sighing.
"Alright, dinner tonight," she consented.
Andy smiled slightly and left the office, coming face to face with Provenza as he did.
"What are you doing, Louie?"
"Seems to me that there's something you and the Captain are hiding from the rest of us." Andy stared at him.
"I'm not saying there is, but if there were something, you'd find out soon enough."
Andy returned to his desk, intent on avoiding any more prying questions.
After a few hours, Sharon felt a severe migraine coming on. Throwing down her pen, she sat back and massaged her temple with one hand, the other resting on her belly.
"I don't know what my life's going to be like from now on, but you're definitely going to be a part of it," she murmured quietly, addressing her belly.
On seeing the Captain through the blinds, Sykes decided to see if she could help.
"Are you okay, Captain?" she asked.
"I'm fine, just a headache."
"Do you need anything?"
"No, there's no need. It'll pass."
"I'm sorry to ask, Captain, but how did everything go yesterday?"
Sharon took a calming breath before replying, "Nothing. Andy was delighted by the news, but our relationship still isn't great. I'm not sure what to think right now."
"Don't worry Captain, everything will work out."
"I hope so. We're going to dinner tonight, to try and sort everything out." Amy nodded slightly in understanding. Behind her stood Andy; waiting for Sharon.
Noting his presence, Amy excused herself to leave them alone. They regarded one another for a long time before Andy broke the silence.
"You ready, Sharon?"
"I'm ready, let's go," replied Sharon, getting up from behind her desk.
Together they left the office and walked to the closest restaurant to talk.
~~~ TBC ~~~
