A/N: I'm sorry it took me so long to update with the next chapter. I was (and still am) very busy with schoolwork and it takes most of my time. This is a short chapter, but I hope you'll enjoy it.

The drive back to Sharon's apartment building was rather quiet; Sharon and Andy glanced at each other every few minutes, but none of them dared to speak. Each of them was encompassed with their own thoughts and sharing them with each other felt too intimate, even more intimate than having to see each other naked in the shower.

"You know that you would have to ask her some hard questions eventually, don't you?" Andy broke the silence.

"I know." Sharon replied. She knew he was right, but she couldn't bring herself to think about having to be a cop with Lilly. It seemed like this girl has been through so much and all she wanted was to protect her.

"She doesn't see you as a cop anymore; she sees beyond that." Andy indicated. Sharon had that effect on children, apparently. While other people just felt sorry for kids like Rusty and Lilly, Sharon actually did something about their situation. She was that way with adults too and this was something that Andy appreciated about her. When she made a promise, she never backed on it.

"This makes it so much harder," she replied, her voice low and sad. "She wants me to take her in, because Rusty told her I'm a nice foster parent."

"Are you going to do that?" Andy wondered. He knew that Rusty's presence complicated her life. He could only imagine how much more complicated her life would be if she took in another abused child.

"I don't know. I don't have room for her. She can't share a room with Rusty and I can't put her on the couch," Andy easily detected the painful undertone of her voice. He noticed it before; her voice usually became thicker as if to mask for the pain.

"You know, given where she came from, she might be eternally grateful even if you let her sleep on the floor."

"I can only take her in temporarily. Maybe I'll be able to find a nice family from Rusty's school who would want to give her a home." Sharon said, as if to herself.

"Maybe you could put her in a convent." Andy joked, hoping that it will help easing the tension. From the corner of his eye he could see a small smile forming on her lips.

"When I was Lilly's age, my parents used to joke that if I misbehave they'll put me in a convent," she grinned.

"Did it work?" Andy chuckled.

"I'm not a nun, am I?" Sharon replied and Andy was glad that her mood improved.

"I'm sure you would make a very good nun, but it's hard for me to believe that Armani make coifs." Andy joked and was happy to see the smile spreading across Sharon's face. He pulled over in front of her building and went out of the car before she even undid her seatbelt. He opened the door for her and reached out for her hand, as she went out.

"So eager to get rid of me, lieutenant?" She teased him.

"It's late, so I'm gonna walk you to the door, if you don't mind," he smiled at her and Sharon noticed that it was not his usual boyish grin, but a soft and affectionate smile.

"Thank you, Andy." She entwined her arm with his and they walked into the building. He slid his hand down and laced his fingers with hers as they stood and waited for the elevator to reach the lobby. She didn't show any objection and he felt his heart fluttering a little bit inside his chest. He tightened his fingers around hers and felt her shoulder pressing against his ever so slightly. He turned his head and smiled at her when he heard a ding and the elevator doors opened. They walked in together and Sharon rubbed the back of his hand with her thumb.

"You haven't pressed the button," Andy said and noticed the rosy color that spread across her face. He leaned forward and pressed the button, then turned to her. "It happens to me all the time."

"Don't you live in a duplex?" she wondered.

"Yes, that's why I keep forgetting to push the elevator buttons all the time," he grinned and she let out a soft giggle. The ride to the 11th floor was faster than they expected and he walked her down the hall and to the door of her condo. She fished the keys out of her purse and turned to him.

"Andy, thank you for…" her voice faltered as she noticed the look in his eyes. She didn't need any explanation to what it meant and before she could wonder how it was even possible that she hadn't notice it earlier, she felt his arm coming around her waist and gently pulling her towards him. She closed her eyes and her lips spread open as he leaned down and captured them between his. His mouth was warm and his lips were soft. She brought her hand to the back of his neck and her fingers caressed it slowly and then climbed upwards to his salt and pepper hair. The touch of his tongue against hers sent currents through her nerves and she wasn't sure if it was helping her relax or making her excited. Her mind suddenly went blank; not a single thought passed through it, and she felt as if she was in a trance. It did not affect her body, which seemed to be quite independent, allowing her to kiss him back eagerly. A faint moan escaped her lips as they parted, their eyes slowly fluttering open and their gazes lingering on each other for a moment.

"Good night, Sharon," Andy said, his voice low. He pressed his lips against hers for a quick kiss and squeezed her hand, before his fingers unwillingly released their hold of her hers.

"Night, Andy," she said, her voice shaky. He gave her a quick and slightly overwhelmed nod and walked down the hall. Her eyes followed him until he went out of her sight and she smiled to herself like an idiot before turning to unlock her door.

Once inside her condo, Sharon shut the door behind her and leaned against it, closing her eyes and bringing her front teeth to bite her bottom lip, trying to gain her breath. When she was sure that her legs could carry her weight, she walked to her room, feeling her body light and airy as a cloud. She went through her evening routine faster than usual and then let her body drop onto her bed, feeling as if she was floating even after her back touched the mattress. She reached out for her bedside lamp to turn it off and closed her eyes, letting out a content sigh and falling asleep almost immediately.