A/N: This is the nineteenth chapter! Special thanks to my amazing beta CMemlovr for beta reading! Please review for the next chapter! I hope you like it!
Sitting in the bedroom together, Sharon felt perfectly content – albeit tired. Reaching over, Andy hugged her lightly, kissing her forehead gently as he did.
"I'm sorry I had to miss work today," murmured Sharon.
"You've nothing to apologise for, Sharon. It's perfectly natural for you to need time off at this stage of the pregnancy," Andy reminded her gently.
"I know, but I hate missing work," she paused, sighing before she continued, "Which is why I have decided to work until the end of my pregnancy."
"Are you kidding, Sharon? You can't take such a risk! No, you need to stay home and forget work – at least until the baby's born," he replied firmly.
Sharon frowned darkly, "You need to stop sensationalising the possibilities of this pregnancy. I will continue working."
"I just worry about you," he murmured, chastised, "I don't want you to stress yourself out – which can happen pretty easily in our line of work."
"I'm well aware, Andy. Obviously I'll have to refrain from visiting crime scenes, but that's not going to stop me from working from the office. I will not accept any objections in this," she warned sternly
"You're the boss," he sighed. "Just promise me you'll take frequent breaks?"
"I promise," she smiled, cuddling into his side now that the tension between them had dissipated.
"You ready for dinner?" he asked quietly, "it's getting late."
"Sure," agreed Sharon amiably, "would you mind giving me a hand, though? I'm pretty tired."
"Of course," smiled Andy. Taking her gently by the hand, he led her to the kitchen and helped her ease into a chair at the table. While she sat, Andy finished up with dinner, serving it to Sharon.
"Where's Rusty?" he asked casually, noting his absence rather suddenly.
"He went to dinner with friends," replied Sharon.
Andy accepted her response and sat to dinner with her, both content in the quiet that fell between them.
"I take it that the kicks are not as painful as they were?" asked Andy, grinning.
"Thankfully, no. It's early days still, though, so the kicks are bound to be less frequent." Andy nodded understandingly, though Sharon sighed before continuing, "I'm just a bit worried about the upcoming appointment."
"Why?" pressed Andy concernedly.
"I can't shake the thought that something might go wrong."
"It'll be fine, Sharon," he said consolingly, "And just think: we'll get to see a bigger little person in the ultrasound this time!"
His remark caused Sharon to smile, "I'm excited about that, too," she admitted quietly, "not least because I've got moral support, this time."
"What do you mean?"
Inhaling deeply, Sharon replied, "When I was pregnant with Emily and Ricky, Jack wasn't really around. It's so different with you – I'm so glad that I have you in my life," she confessed.
Andy smiled and leaned across the table to press a kiss to her downturned lips. "I'm always going to be here for you, Sharon. I love you and our child, and that's never going to change," he insisted sincerely.
"I love you, too," replied Sharon easily.
A lull fell between them until Andy resumed conversation. "When do you think Rusty's going to be home?"
"I'm not sure – he mentioned something about staying over at his friend's."
"That's good; it's nice that he has such an active social life."
"It is," smiled Sharon.
********...*********
They'd been deeply asleep when Andy's phone blared in the silence of the night. Reaching for it quickly so as not to wake Sharon; Andy answered immediately on seeing Provenza's name on the screen. Sighing in frustration, he took the call to the living room so as not to disturb Sharon.
"Provenza," he growled, "what's so important that you've called me in the middle of the night."
"We have a crime scene," replied Provenza stonily, "Can you come down?"
"I can't leave Sharon, especially not when you've disrupted her sleep again," snapped Andy.
"Might I remind you that you're both cops?" hissed Provenza. Calming, he continued, "Look, it looks like this one's going to be a bad one."
"I'm not sure that I can leave her alone," sighed Andy, frustrated, "Rusty's out, and I can't just dump her here for a crime scene."
"I understand, but it's not exactly like she'll miss you," he pointed out, "she's probably still fast asleep. So, you can get your butt down here and help us – especially if you don't want me calling the Captain in on this one," he spat.
Tiredly, Andy agreed and hung up. Returning to the bedroom to get dressed, Andy pressed a kiss to Sharon's hair as she slept before leaving for the crime scene.
********* ... *********
A couple of hours later, Sharon woke to a cold bed. Her eyes sliding blearily open, she checked the clock and noticed that it was early for Andy to be absent.
Asking herself where Andy might be, she decided to call him. Unfortunately, she received no response, so she resorted to texting him instead.
'Where are you?' she tapped out.
'Called out last night – be home soon.' Andy's message was brief but timely. Sharon sighed in relief and slid out of bed to get ready for the day.
As she was preparing breakfast, she heard the front door to the apartment slam, followed by the sound of Rusty's voice: "Mom, I'm home!"
"Hey, Rusty," she called, alerting him to the fact that she's in the kitchen, "how are you?" she asked on seeing him.
"I'm good," he replied easily, "you?"
"All fine here," she smiled.
"Where's Andy?" he asked curiously.
"I'm not entirely sure," she replied, "breakfast?"
Rusty nodded eagerly and sat at the table to have breakfast with his mother.
******** ... ********
Andy returned home about an hour later. Hearing Sharon and Rusty's voices in the kitchen, he went there to greet them.
"Hey, Andy," greeted Rusty.
"How are you, kid?" he asked smiling.
"I'm good, you?"
Andy didn't have the time to respond, as Sharon interrupted with a question of her own: "Where have you been?"
Sighing tiredly, Andy replied, "I got called out for a case at around five this morning."
"Why didn't you wake me?"
"Didn't see the need," he shrugged wearily, "are we going to work today?"
"We are," replied Sharon, "let me just grab my bag and we can head out."
As Sharon left, Andy turned to Rusty, "You've got exams coming up, right?"
"I've got my second one coming up in a few days."
"Good luck, kid."
"Thanks, Andy," he smiled.
Returning to the kitchen to kiss her son's cheek goodbye, Sharon interjected, "Take care of yourself, Rusty."
********...********
Sharon sat peacefully in her office, smiling when she saw Andy pushing her door open.
"Sharon, there's someone here who wants to see you," he smiled warmly.
Surprise in her features, Sharon greeted her visitor enthusiastically, "Nicole?! What are you doing here?"
"I decided to pay you a visit," smiled Nicole, "How are you?"
"I'm doing well," replied Sharon, "please, have a seat," she added, gesturing towards her office.
"Join us, dad?" invited Nicole.
"I'd love to, but I have to talk to Provenza," replied Andy.
As he was leaving, he bumped into Andrea.
"Hey, Andy. Is Sharon in her office?"
"She is," smiled Andy, "Nicole's there, too, if you'd like to join them."
"Thanks," she smiled, turning to knock on Sharon's door. "Mind if I join you?" she asked opening the door slightly.
"Andrea! Of course, c'mon in," invited Sharon.
"Hi, Nicole. It's been a while," greeted Andrea.
"It has," she agreed, "how have you been?"
"Can't complain," smiled Andrea, "I just decided to drop in on Sharon."
"Me too," grinned Nicole.
"It's so nice that we can all be together like this," commented Sharon happily.
"You never got back to me, Sharon," frowned Nicole, "I'd like to buy some clothes for the baby."
"Same here," added Andrea, "though I don't know the baby's sex."
"You guys don't have to get anything! Besides, it's a bit early, yet," laughed Sharon.
"As to the baby's sex – we could always buy unisex," replied Nicole, ignoring Sharon's insistence that they not buy clothes. Then, turning to Sharon, she added, "I'm the big sister – there's no way I'm not going all out on this," she smirked.
"Nicole's right, Sharon. We'll buy unisex, but there's no way that I'm not buying this baby something cute," chuckled Andrea.
"Fine, you've worn me down!" laughed Sharon, "do you want to go shopping together?"
"How about now?" suggested Nicole.
Sharon agreed, and the three of them left her office. On the way out, Andy stopped them.
"Where are you three headed?" he asked curiously.
"Baby shopping," replied Nicole, smiling.
"Have fun, ladies," smirked Andy, "just don't let Sharon get too tired."
"Don't worry about it," insisted Sharon.
"Later, Andy," added Andrea, steering Sharon towards the elevators.
********...********
"Look at this! It's so cute!" crooned Nicole.
"Have a look at this dress – wouldn't it be lovely for a baby girl?" asked Andrea, holding up a tiny dress.
Sharon smiled and replied, "Andy would like to have a daughter. Though he wouldn't be unhappy with a son – we're just not that bothered by the sex so long as it's healthy."
"That's a good mentality," commented Nicole.
"When's the next ultrasound?" asked Andrea.
"A few days from now," replied Sharon with a smile, her hand resting on her belly.
"Hey, Sharon, could you change your mind and find out the sex?" teased Nicole, "you're making buying clothes really hard."
"I know you're curious, Nicole, but Andy and I decided to be surprised," replied Sharon patiently.
"I guess," muttered Nicole.
A few hours of shopping later, the women decided that they were done for the day.
"We got some lovely things, didn't we?" remarked Nicole.
"We did- and the fact that they're unisex is great, too," added Andrea.
"Thanks for coming along," smiled Sharon.
"Do you want me to take the bags?" asked Nicole, "they look heavy."
"No, I'm fine," replied Sharon.
"Don't forget to call us after the appointment, Sharon," Andrea reminded her as they reached her apartment building.
"I won't," smiled Sharon, "I'll see the two of you later."
Sharon stepped into her apartment and threw her keys down, lowering herself tiredly into the couch, bags and all.
Hearing her come in, Rusty greeted Sharon, "Hey, mom." Catching sight of her fatigued appearance, he added, "You look tired."
"Thanks," she replied wryly. "I went shopping with Andrea and Nicole for the baby."
"Sounds nice," commented Rusty, "can I see what you bought?"
"Sure," smiled Sharon, laughing at the sight of Rusty's excitement.
"They're so cute," laughed Rusty, "I'm sure Andy'll like them too."
"Is he home yet?" asked Sharon.
"Nope, but he'll probably be home soon," assured Rusty.
"Then I'll go get dinner ready while you have a look at the other stuff we bought."
**********...**********
That evening, Andy found it hard to tear his eyes away from the baby clothes.
"They're so adorable, Sharon."
"Glad you like them – Andrea and Nicole thought so, too."
"It's almost like having the clothes makes the idea of having this baby so much more real."
"I know," replied Sharon softly. "While we were shopping, Andrea pointed out this really lovely dress for a girl. It'd be nice to have a girl," she remarked pensively.
"It would," agreed Andy, "but it would be just as nice to have a son," he smiled.
"That's what I think, too," grinned Sharon, "though Nicole protested again that we refuse to find out the baby's sex."
"Ah, but that's just Nicole. She's impatient and always has been," laughed Andy.
"I'm just so glad that the kids are excited about having a new sibling," she murmured, her hands drifting over the new clothes.
"Me too," he smiled, gently kissing Sharon.
"Alright, I don't know about you, but I'm exhausted," groaned Sharon.
"Then let's get to bed," he laughed, helping Sharon to gather the new clothes and store them in their bedroom.
~~~ TBC ~~~
