A/N: This is the fifteenth chapter! Special thanks to my amazing beta CMemlovr for beta reading! Please review for the next chapter! I hope you like it!
The next morning, Sharon was woken by bright sunlight hitting her face. Opening her eyes slowly and blinking gently to adjust them to the sudden bright light, she frowned. Casting her eyes to the clock beside her, it took her a moment to notice Andy standing near her, breakfast in hand.
"Good morning, darling," smiled Andy, leaning down to kiss her tenderly.
"What's this, Andy?" murmured Sharon sleepily.
"A special little breakfast, just for you," he grinned.
Smiling gently, Sharon replied, "That's so sweet of you, but you didn't have to."
"I know, but I wanted to," he teased.
Glancing blearily around her room, Sharon noticed that the blinds were open, allowing the sun to practically blind her.
"Andy, could you shut the blinds, please? The sun's too bright," she grimaced.
Smiling indulgently, Andy reached for the blinds and pulled them shut, "Better?"
"Much," replied Sharon, thanking him, "How's Rusty doing?"
"He's much better this morning – he's eating breakfast in his room right now."
Sharon sighed with relief, "I'm glad. I meant to check on him yesterday, but I ended up sleeping like a log," she muttered ashamedly.
"Don't worry, Sharon. I checked in on him last night. It's understandable that you'd need your sleep," he murmured gently, taking her hand in his.
"It's great that you're both getting along so well," smiled Sharon.
"I love him, Sharon. He's a great kid, and he's like a son to me."
"I know," assured Sharon, "I'm just happy that he has a father figure like you."
"I asked him to call me dad," admitted Andy hesitantly. "Last night," he clarified, at Sharon's questioning look.
"What did he say?" pressed Sharon tentatively.
"He asked for some time to get used to the idea. Understandable, I guess," he shrugged, feigning nonchalance.
"Don't worry, Andy. He'll come around pretty soon, I think," Sharon reassured him, smiling gently.
"I hope so," murmured Andy quietly, "but I can't help thinking about the mistakes I made as a father with Nicole. I missed so many important things – birthdays, school plays, first steps…I just, somehow I think that the fact that Rusty's hesitating must be a reflection of the fact that I'm not really a dad."
"I understand how you might feel that way, Andy, but you have no reason to," soothed Sharon, "Your relationship with Nicole is strong, and she has obviously forgiven you for your mistakes. You need to learn to forgive yourself, too," she murmured, pressing her lips to his chest as he kissed her forehead softly.
"Thanks, Sharon," he cleared his throat gruffly, "you know how to make me feel better like no one else."
"As you do for me," she returned, kissing him gently. "Now," she smirked, "are we going to have breakfast? I get the feeling that this little one doesn't feel like waiting," she grinned.
Andy chuckled, smiling brightly as he watched Sharon tuck in to the breakfast he'd prepared.
********...********
Following a satisfying breakfast and conversation with Andy, Sharon checked up on Rusty.
Knocking lightly on his door, Sharon called his name lightly before poking her head in to his room.
"Mom, come in," he greeted, patting the bed to invite her to sit beside him. Complying, she sat and kissed him on the cheek.
"How are you feeling?" she asked concernedly.
"Better," he assured her, "and my fever's completely gone."
Smiling contentedly, Sharon replied, "I'm glad. What are you up to, then?"
"Preparing for exams," he sighed, "there's just so much work," he groaned.
"Ah, but I'm sure that you'll pass with flying colours if you keep at it. When are your exams?"
"I've got a couple of days," shrugged Rusty, "but I want to be prepared."
"I'm so proud of you, Rusty," grinned Sharon, the difference in his attitude to his education causing pride to swell in her chest. He'd come so far.
Rusty couldn't help the rush of gratitude that rose in his chest – he knew with absolute certainty that he wouldn't even be considering college if it weren't for Sharon, and for that he's thankful.
"I should leave you to finish up, then," smiled Sharon, pressing a kiss to his forehead before leaving his room.
Entering the living room, she spotted Andy on the couch and joined him, placing her hand gently on his shoulder.
"What's the matter, Andy?" she asked worriedly.
"Nothing, really. Just thinking," he replied glumly.
"What about?" she asked, with a sinking feeling that he was still dwelling on his mistakes as a father.
"Nicole," he sighed.
"Please don't dwell on it, Andy. You'll be a good father to our child – I know it," she insisted earnestly. "What's gotten into you, lately?" she asked cautiously.
"I just – with you and the baby, I want more than ever to be a better father. But every time I think about this baby, I remember all the mistakes that I'd made with Nicole, and the nagging emptiness that remained when I no longer had her in my life."
"Is that the only thing that's bothering you?" she pressed sensitively.
"Well, I wonder how. How she managed to forgive me for all I'd done – or neglected to do."
Sharon took his hand comfortingly, murmuring, "She forgave you because you're her father, and she could recognise that even parents can make mistakes, and that you were desperately trying to fix the mistakes you'd made. She wanted a better relationship with you in future, because it is a relationship worth having."
"I – thanks, Sharon," he sighed.
"You need to forgive yourself, Andy," pressed Sharon delicately, hugging him tightly – reassuringly. "Nicole's forgiven you; now it's time for you to do the same. Everyone makes mistakes, Andy. The important part now is to learn from your past to be a better father for this little one," she smiled, pressing his hand to her belly.
"Thank you," he murmured hoarsely, emotion clawing up his throat. "I'm not going to let myself make the same mistakes with this baby."
"I have full confidence in you," assured Sharon, smiling gently.
Clearing his throat, Andy muttered apologetically, "I think I need some air."
"Take the time you need." Sharon nodded understandingly. Andy smiled slightly and kissed her cheek.
*********...********
Inhaling deeply, Sharon realised that she needed to speak to Nicole in order to assuage Andy's lingering concerns. Having called Nicole while Andy had stepped out, Sharon waited for her arrival.
"Is everything alright, Sharon?" asked Nicole breathlessly, having rushed to see Sharon.
"We're fine," she reassured her, "I just needed to talk to you about your dad."
"Is something wrong with him?" she asked anxiously.
"No, no, it's nothing bad, per se."
"Then what is it?"
Sighing, Sharon replied, "Andy's been quite broody lately – he seems to be unable to put his past mistakes behind him. I think he needs reassurance from you that, though he wasn't always present, your relationship now is what truly matters. He seems to think that whatever failings he had as a father to you will be transferred to our baby."
"I'm not really sure how I can help," replied Nicole uneasily, "It's definitely true that my dad was…distant, to say the least, while I was growing up. But that doesn't mean that I love him any less, or that I blame him. I know now that he was suffering, and that makes me appreciate the little presence he did have all the more."
Sharon smiled softly, "I know this, and you know this, but I think your dad needs some convincing."
"What can I do?"
"He's out right now, but when he gets back, would you mind talking to him? Maybe you could help him realise that he's the only one clinging to his past."
Nicole nodded in assent, hoping that she could help her father move on.
********...********
About an hour later, Andy still hadn't returned, and Nicole had begun an excited conversation with Rusty with regard to the baby.
Sharon had expected Andy to be back earlier, and had become concerned by his absence. Until she heard the door suddenly click open, admitting Andy into the apartment.
"You doing okay?" she murmured quietly to Andy.
"I'm fine," he replied softly, his eyes downcast until he spotted his daughter in the sitting room. "Nicole? What are you doing here?" he asked, pleasantly surprised.
"I felt like dropping in on my dad," she grinned easily, hugging him close.
"It's always great to see you," he murmured, "though I can't say I'm not surprised."
"Well, I didn't exactly decide to come by of my own accord," admitted Nicole, "Sharon asked that I come and see you."
Glancing at Sharon, Andy took his daughter's hand, "So I suppose, then, that you also think that I'm worrying for no reason?" he asked gruffly.
"No, dad. I think that your concerns are valid, though not necessarily realistic. Yes, you made mistakes, but it hasn't changed the fact that I love you and that I couldn't have asked for a better father, in spite of everything that happened. I'm proud to have you as my dad, no matter what," grinned Nicole, shrugging shyly as she pressed herself into her father's embrace once more.
Clearing his throat gruffly, Andy murmured, "Thank you, Nicole. I – I know that you forgave me a long time ago, I guess I just needed to hear it again. And I wanted to apologise – truly apologise – for what I put you through." He pressed his lips to her temple, stroking her hair softly.
"Thank you, dad. I'm glad that you're my father." They remained in silence for some time, before Nicole broke the quiet apologetically, "I hate to do this now, but I've got work in the morning, and I have to leave if I'm to make it back in time. I'll see you in a few days, though," she added brightly.
"Don't worry about it, Nicole. Thank you for coming out here, and for being such a good daughter to your old dad," he grinned, hugging her shoulders tightly.
"I'll see you later," she smiled, then, turning to Sharon she called, "and you be careful! That's my sibling you're carrying."
"I will," laughed Sharon, "have a safe ride home."
"Thanks. Oh, and Rusty? We can argue about your assumptions about the baby some other time," she grinned cheekily.
"You just don't want to admit that you're wrong," teased Rusty.
Sharon and Andy exchanged a glance before Sharon interrupted with "What assumptions?"
"Rusty's convinced that he's going to have a little sister – I say we're going to have a brother," laughed Nicole.
"Seriously guys?" chuckled Andy, "what's it matter so long as the baby's healthy?"
"Of course healthy is a priority – but it's fun to debate," smirked Nicole.
"Could you choose something else to debate about?" asked Sharon, frowning slightly.
"I guess," replied Rusty, "I promise we won't debate the baby's sex again."
Smiling Sharon thanked them for their compliance, uncomfortable at the thought that they might not welcome a sibling because their sex hadn't been as expected.
As Nicole left, Sharon sank wearily into the couch.
"Cup of tea?" asked Andy, smiling gently.
"No thanks. Can I have you, instead?" she asked, teasing him lightly.
Acquiescing to her request, Andy sat beside Sharon and smiled as she cuddled into his side. "Thanks for everything you did today, Sharon."
"Do you feel better?" asked Sharon.
"Definitely."
Smiling, Sharon replied, "Then I'm happy."
Silence passes between them for a beat before Andy murmured pensively, "I honestly thought for a while that I had been just as bad as Jack."
"You're two, very different people, Andy. Jack never did learn from his mistakes – he kept repeating them until even the kids decided that they'd rather not interact with him. You learned and changed; something that is much harder to achieve," she replied, a hint of admiration in her tone.
"Thanks, Sharon," he sighed.
"And now, we're going to change the subject; the less I think about Jack, the better," grumbled Sharon quietly. Andy kissed her forehead softly.
"Sorry – should've guessed," he muttered. Then, out of the blue, he remarked, "I'm glad that we have each other."
Sharon was content; Andy's mood had improved, and it seemed as though he finally had the confidence to handle the new baby without being shadowed by his own past. The thought was comforting.
~~~ TBC ~~~
