The Pregnancy Ship

Chapter 24: Coming home to Christmas

Three days later…December

This is an A/U story

Disclaimer: These are not my characters they are fully James Duffs. I just love them so much and love to play with them.

Andy stood by the bed packing to go home, Sharon was changing the baby's getting them ready for their first car trip. She sat on the bed knees up with Natalie laying in her lap facing her. She was sated, having been fed just moments ago, but her eyes were wide open and she watched her mother. Her tiny lips were pursed and her little fists were moving jerkily. Sharon cooed to her as she dressed her infant in an adorable Tesa Babe outfit her mother had brought. It was an English garden/rose floral print cotton jersey kimono style romper with a little matching beanie that had a rose on it. There were tiny Mary Jane knitted booties that had a little flower knitted onto them and tiny ivory colored socks with lace. There was also a blanket to wrap around her for when she got cold. Madison was dressed in a matching outfit and already in a car seat carrier asleep for a change.

Out of the corner of his eye Andy watched Sharon being animated with the baby. The scene before him enchanted him. Her auburn hair was parted on the side with a slight bang and it was pulled over one shoulder. She had her glasses on and was dressed in black jersey yoga pants, a red tunic top with a scoop neck with a handkerchief hem covered by her favorite green sweater. Her feet were bare on the bed, but she had a pair of black ballerina slip-ons next to her bed. Her post pregnancy belly was hardly even noticeable under the shirt. It had gone down considerably with nursing twins even in the last three days. In an oldest daughter, mother-bonding moment, Emily had given Sharon a mani-pedi yesterday, so her nails were done in a sparkly pinky red polish.

As Sharon talked to Natalie cooing and playing a mimicking game, where she stuck her tongue out to see if Natalie would too. The baby responded by turning her head towards her and opening her mouth sticking her tiny tongue out, albeit uncoordinatedly and then pursing her lips when Sharon did it. She would also move her arms and try to eat her hands. She wasn't smiling yet and wouldn't for a bit, but she was actively responding and the more Sharon spoke in infant directed speech (i.e. baby talk) the more she reacted. Suddenly Sharon looked up and caught Andy watching her. "You're staring," she said flirtatiously.

"Yes, I am but do you have any idea how adorable you are?" He asked with his quirky grin that she had fallen in love with. Andy put a hand on either side of her hips and leaned in for a kiss.

Sharon kissed him back and as they came up for air, she pulled back and narrowed her eyes when she realized what he had said. "Me, adorable? Please! Whatever you do don't spread that around. My Darth Raydor persona has already suffered these past few months as it is."

"Honey, we all know that under that steely expression you use for Darth Raydor and the Wicked Witch, when it comes to your kids you are a marshmallow. All soft and gooey inside and if we didn't know that before we do now." He zeroed in for another kiss

"Come on guys. PDA! PDA!" Rusty said turning his head away and pretending to gag.

Sharon's blushed and she buried her face into Andy's chest. "Sorry Rusty."

Andy smiled at her embarrassment. "Yeah, sorry Kid! Forgot you were there. In any case Sharon you don't have to worry about your reputation, it stands on its own, the newer softer one and the scary one. The team will listen to you no matter what because they love you. They'd die for you. The force will listen because...well your old persona, the scary one you can still conjure her up anytime you need to..."

"He's right, Captain. No worries on that score," Provenza said from the open door of Sharon's hospital room.

Sharon looked over at him. The worry about his baby girl was etched into his face. It had aged him. He was pale and Sharon's eyes grew wide as she realized something was very wrong. She looked down at Natalie who had fallen asleep in her lap. She lifted her onto her chest and tried to get up. Andy was there to help her off the bed. He held onto her as she slipped into her shoes then he and Sharon, with the baby in her arms moved to stand before Provenza. "Lieutenant...Louie, are you okay? Is something wrong with Patrice or the babies?" Sharon asked as she reached out to squeeze his arm.

"Patrice is fine and so is Michael. Kayla however...we...we...found out today that she has Down's Syndrome, borderline, but that's not the worst of it. She has heart problems and has to have..." He swallowed the lump in his throat, "surgery." She...she may...she may not...make it." Sharon's heart broke for him as she saw he was barely holding it together. "I can't lose her Captain...uh...Sharon. I've only known her three days but she's wormed her way into my heart. I couldn't stand it if we lost her!" He said with a sob. Suddenly Louie broke down and Sharon holding Natalie in one arm wrapped the other arm around him and let him cry onto her shoulder.

Andy took the baby from her mom and handed her over to Rusty, freeing Sharon to put both arms around Louie to comfort him. He then stood behind her supporting her and patting Louie on the back feeling sad for his friend. Sharon's eyes were swimming in tears. Swallowing the huge lump in her throat in order to comfort her friend and second-in-command, she said, "Lt...um Louie I can't make any promises, but I can say that Kayla is a plucky little girl. She's survived all this time with the doctors not knowing about her, and being crowded by her brother. She's a fighter. As for the Down's Syndrome no parent wants to hear their child is developmentally or physically challenged, but with early intervention they have a much better future than they ever had before."

"I know, I know," he said wiping his face with a handkerchief. Louie struggled to pull himself together and then realizing that he had just cried on his captain's shoulder his face suffused with color. "I'm sorry Captain, uh Sh...Sharon I…"

Sharon shook her head and interrupted him. "Louie don't apologize. I seem to remember last year when Andy was in surgery, I came out of the Chapel from praying, and I saw you waiting for me. I thought you were going to tell me he didn't make it and I was so relieved when you said he was out of surgery and he was going to be all right. I fell right into your arms and fell apart. You gave me a shoulder to cry on, it was my turn to return the favor. That's what friends are for. Right, we are friends now?"

"Yes, Captain, very good friends. Um... well I guess I'd better get back to Patrice before she sends the troops out looking for me. Oh and Um Captain I'm not sure when I'll be able to go back to work or even if I will. Patrice is going to need a lot of help with the babies. I don't want her to have to do it alone. You know? But, I'm not sure I'm ready to retire either."

"I do know, Louie. I also know that Major Crimes will be lost without you. Perhaps a medical leave of absence and then part time?"

"Taylor wouldn't go for that. I don't think," he said sadly.

"Actually, he's the one that suggested it for the both of us. That way he has time to hand pick our replacements and we can train them for when we actually are ready to retire. It's not really that far away for either of us. Meanwhile he has asked me to consult with Lieutenant Tao over the phone, when needed. He has also placed some young people in Major Crimes to partially fill the void the three of us left when we went on maternity leave," Sharon explained. Sharon heard Natalie starting to fuss and realized she wasn't still holding her. She turned to see Rusty with her in his arms. She smiled and took her from him to go to the bed and start changing her diaper.

While Sharon was taking care of Natalie, Andy piped up, "Taylor came here earlier to see Sharon and the babies. He wanted to know if she had changed her mind about retiring now that the babies were here and if not was there any way we could cut our leaves short. He said they've been lucky recently with no real high profile cases to deal with. They were helping Robbery/Homicide with some of theirs, but this lull couldn't last forever and he was getting nervous about how long Major Crimes was going to survive without her administrative guidance. Especially since you were no longer available to hold the fort until she was able to come back. I agreed to go back after two weeks paternity leave so that Sharon would have a little more time to recover. Then Sharon will be going back part time when the twins are old enough to be taken out and she's physically up to it. Taylor has offered to let us keep the babies in the office until their place in daycare opens up. I think he must be desperate," he chuckled.

Provenza nodded, "he must be. I'm surprised he didn't show up in our room to see our babies." Provenza mused.

"He did, but your door was closed so he came here." Andy told his friend.

"Oh yeah, okay. Going back to what you were saying about him being desperate. I'm surprised he hasn't forced her to retire and hired somebody he can use as a puppet to do his bidding."

"Pope wouldn't let him." Andy defended his boss and wife; "for one thing she's got too much on both of them to try to force her into anything. They both recognize what a gem she is, on how well she has brought the team together and made them more able to work independently of her. Not to mention the fact that she makes Pope look good. He won't let Taylor do anything to her."

"Yeah well, it's a good thing she's got things on them, because those two are not to be trusted entirely. I was thinking about poor Tao, it's a good thing he got his trip to Hawaii last year. It might be awhile before he gets another chance to go anywhere. He must be desperate too. He's never been someone who craves being the one in charge. Mike won't shy away from it, but he doesn't particularly like it either. It doesn't give him much time to consult on Badge of Justice. Well I'll let you two go. It looks like you're about to be sprung in time for Christmas, Captain."

Sharon smiled at the thought of finally going home. "Yes, it does doesn't it. I'm sorry you, Patrice and the babies can't go home yet, Louie. Let us know about when they'll do the surgery. I'm sure Andy will be there for you and I'll be there in spirit. I might even pop in for a moment."

"Thank you, Cap... Sharon and Andy. I'll keep you posted." Provenza nodded and left to go back to his wife and babies.

While they were talking the nurse had brought a wheelchair for Sharon and the discharge papers. Sharon signed them and sat in the chair. Andy handed her Natalie and Rusty handed her Madison. Then they started down the hall, while Rusty and Andy carried all their (hers, Andy's and the babies) stuff, plus the carseat carriers. The nurses clapped for her and told them, "Merry Christmas! Good luck with your little ones!"

Sharon smiled and waved, but suddenly she realized what Louie and the nurses had said. It was Christmas Eve! With everything that had happened, she'd forgotten how close they were to her favorite holiday. A mixture of happiness and sadness washed over her but then suddenly they were out in front of the hospital and she was distracted from her thoughts. Ricky had parked in front of the hospital in the new navy blue Cadillac Escalade Hybrid, which Andy had bought the day before. He got out to help them load the car to get Sharon and the babies settled.

Sharon had been having mother daughter time with Emily and the babies when Andy bought it, so she had not seen it yet and did not know even what he had bought. When she'd asked he had simply said, "you'll see!"

"Merry Christmas, Honey," Andy said happily.

When she saw it she was glad she was sitting down. "Andy, what have you done? This is way too expensive!"

"Sharon, don't worry we can afford it, I promise. It's already paid for in full. Isn't it a Beauty? Besides my girls are worth it!"

"Yes it's gorgeous, but how? How can we afford it? It must be close to $100,000 dollars." Sharon was feeling a little upset at such a big purchase.

"$95,000 actually, and it's loaded. Relax Sharon, don't freak out, okay?" Andy tried to calm her down by explaining, "Provenza and I invested some money last year and it finally paid off. I got the car with some of the dividends. I didn't even have to trade in my car for it. Instead I donated it to that Indian school, you help your sister support."

While they talked Andy helped her into the passenger seat, while Rusty and Ricky settled the babies into their carseat carriers. Then snapped them into place facing the rear of the car. Both babies were asleep, but Sharon knew that wouldn't last long. "Andy, where did you get the money to begin with?" Her tone was quiet but slightly acerbic and imploring. She had always been under the impression that Andy did not have very much money.

Andy didn't get angry about her probing questions; he knew her experiences with Jack were what drove them. He reached out and took her hand in his and said quietly. "Besides the house my mother left me the bulk of her estate last year. After my dad died my grandmother passed too and they both left her some money. Then she was in the car accident and it was the other guy's fault. So she got a settlement from that. My sister is gone now too. I got it all except some to pay taxes. It wasn't a great deal but it wasn't anything to sneeze at either. I invested a portion of it along with Provenza in magic beans."

Sharon had been gazing at the car taking in everything about it, the color, the lines, the size, everything. When she realized what he had said, Sharon's head whipped around, "Andy, What? What Magic beans?" She asked confused.

"Do you remember Techie from a couple of years ago, the Dennis Dietz murder? When Tao was explaining things about vaporware you called it trading in your cow for magic beans. Remember?"

"Hmm mmmm," she nodded.

"Well Provenza and I were talking and we thought the idea of mutual fund investment wasn't a bad idea but since dealing with Techie wasn't ethical, considering how we met him. We decided to look around for an idea for an investment elsewhere. Then the idea about anti-hacking software came up and we talked to Ricky about it and he suggested we talk to a friend of his. So after talking to his friend we invested in his software development company. It took awhile to get off the ground. Just like in Techies situation, but we learned about being patient with these things from what happened with the Dietz thing. We basically got busy and forgot about it then lo and behold, the company sold the anti-hacking software to Cadillac and I got my first dividend check in the mail the day before yesterday. We're financially set for life, Sharon. I say it that way because ever since you came into my life I've been rich and I got richer when you gave birth to my... to our girls."

Sharon was touched by the sentiment, knew what he was saying was true and that he meant every word, but still her feelings of anger about being left out of the loop weren't entirely diffused. "That's sweet Andy, and I love you for it. But why didn't you tell me about all this? I thought I made it clear about how I feel about secrets! "

Andy smiled as he said, "I know you don't like secrets or surprises and I know why, but some times Sharon surprises can be wonderful things. I wanted to give you a wonderful surprise. Did I succeed or are you still mad?"

"No, I'm... not mad exactly. I'm shocked actually, I would never have dreamed of buying such an extravagant car." Sharon understood why Andy did what he did but she needed him to understand her reasoning also.

"Actually, I didn't buy it for the extravagance, Sharon. I bought it for its reliability, its durability, the fact that it's carriage rides high. Everything I've read about it screams safety. For my girls, you, the babies and for the rest of our family." Andy knew she would want her family protected as much as he did.

"It's a great surprise! It's a great car! However in the future we talk about any large purchases we make together, ahead of time. Okay?" She gave him her scariest Darth Raydor look. Andy nodded. Thinking her feelings about surprises was settled she looked around at the comfy beige leather seats with seat warmers, room to stretch out, and a dashboard that looked like it belonged on a jet airplane and something Andy had said registered in her brain. "Paid for, in full? How big was that dividend check?" She asked in awe.

He smiled because he knew he had her. "$300,000 and we'll be getting that amount every month for life." He showed her how it would talk to her and all the other bells and whistles. Not to mention anti-hacking software. She was duly impressed. Then they were home. As soon as the car stopped, Madison began screaming. Sharon didn't even wait to get in the house; she put a blanket over her shoulder and then took the baby from Rusty thanking him. He had taken her out of her carseat and handed her over. Once he gave Madison to Sharon, Rusty took Natalie in her carrier into the house. Sharon put the baby to her breast, cooing to her the whole time. The little one latched on with a vengeance and Sharon winced.

Andy had come around to her side of the car to see if she needed help, "You okay?" Andy asked concerned.

"Yes, I'm fine. She's just a voracious eater and if I didn't know better I'd say she has a vicious pair of bottom teeth."

With a grimace Andy told her, "It's more of a possibility than you think. Nathan had bottom teeth at one week."

"Great!" Sharon said sardonically. For no apparent reason, Sharon felt her eyes getting misty. "Um, Andy do you think I could have a drink of water? I'm kind of dry." She asked trying to keep her voice from breaking.

"Yeah, sure honey. I'll be right back." Andy turned and went to the kitchen to get her water. When he came back with it he could see that she had been crying. He gave her the glass, which she drained quickly. "What's wrong Sharon? If you really don't like the idea of..."

In a worn out voice Sharon answered him, "No Andy, it has nothing to do with the car. I love the car. They're not really angry tears or sad tears or even happy tears. I'm just overtired, glad to be home, glad to be able to see, and glad to have the girls here. Not necessarily in that order but at the same time, I'm overwhelmed sore and tired very very tired and this is just the beginning."

"We knew when we started on this journey it wasn't going to be easy, but you are not on this journey alone, Sweetheart, not this time. I will be there every step of the way and so will your family we will all help." Andy patted her knee in assurance then asked, "Are you ready to go inside?"

Sharon looked down at Madison who had stopped nursing, but was wiggly and fussing. "I suppose so, she's in need of a change and I need to eat something," she said reluctantly.

"You seem hesitant to go inside. What's wrong? I know you're tired but you're home, it's Christmas Eve..." He was growing even more worried.

"That's just it Andy, its Christmas Eve and I haven't shopped or baked or decorated! It's not going to seem like Christmas at all," she hung her head.

Andy tipped Sharon's face up so he could look into her beautiful green eyes. "Christmas is a feeling, of happiness and good will towards all. It's a celebration of the birth of Jesus, which by the way didn't happen on December 25 so many years ago. It's not about gifts or baking or decorating. So we can have our Christmas later if need be. Don't stress yourself out about it, we'll figure it out later. Let's just get you two inside before our little Maddie here goes off like a fire engine."

They walked through the door of the garage and into the kitchen, which smelled of cookies baking and pies. The counter had a punch bowl with eggnog in it and was surrounded by glasses to put it in. Her mother stood there eager to take Maddie from her. She wore an apron that said "My Grandkids Light Up My Christmas" with handprints from all her grandkids including Rusty's and Natalie's, but not yet Maddie's. Sharon handed the little one over to her mother, hugging her, kissing her cheek whispering, "thank you, and she needs to be changed," she told her mother apologetically.

Unruffled Eileen hugged her back and then looked down at Maddie. "Well, we'll just have to take care of that won't we?" She said and headed toward the nursery.

Sharon watched her go down the hall and then started to become aware of her surroundings. The house was decorated within an inch of itself. There was a beautiful tree, decorated with all of her angels. Gifts under the tree, food in warming trays on the sideboard, it looked and smelled lovely. Even the Christmas Village had been put up. "Oh my goodness!" She exclaimed putting her hands to her mouth. Her face suffused with color as she realized that while she had been in the garage having a pity party all this had been waiting for her. She looked at Andy. "You knew and you let me..." she trailed off knowing it was all a moot point now. She patted his chest and smiled up at him. He smiled down at her and took the hand that was patting his chest and kissed her palm. "You were right," she said. "Sometimes surprises can be wonderful!"

"Merry Christmas, Mom, Andy," said her children.

"Merry Christmas, Captain and Lieutenant," came from the team.

"Merry Christmas, everybody!" she said back happily.

The more she looked around the more she became aware of the people in the room were her children, Gus and the team or what was left of it. Amy, Cooper, Julio and Buzz. She saw her dad working on the lights at the bottom of the tree. He plugged them in and the tree lit up. Everyone oooohed and ahhhhed. Sharon noticed Tao was not there, she knew he was probably celebrating Christmas with his family, since his boys had come home for the holidays. Provenza and Patrice were still at the hospital, of course with their babies.

Everyone was busy finishing up the decorating including the team. Except for Julio who was holding Natalie. The baby was staring up at him and he was staring longingly at her. Her tiny fist was scrunched up to her cheek and she was sucking heavily on a pacifier, starting to frantically fuss. Julio swayed back and forth and bounced in an effort to calm her. He was singing in Spanish to her. Sharon sighed as her milk let down again at the sound of Natalie's distress. She looked down at the wet spots on her shirt and she pulled her sweater over them and put on a smile for everyone. Then she moved towards Julio to retrieve Natalie, who gave her up reluctantly. "Merry Christmas everyone and thank you for your efforts to make this place look like Christmas for me...for all of us. Also thank you Julio for your efforts to distract my daughter till I could get here."

"No problem, anytime. Ma'am, she's adorable," Julio said with a rare smile.

"Thank you, we think so. Don't we?" She said to Natalie, "You are adorable, aren't you? An adorable eating machine just like your sister." Sharon looked up and said, "um, if you don't mind I have to...um...feed her. Her sister would be hysterical by now if I made her wait two minutes. It's not fair to Natalie to test her patience this long."

"Merry Christmas Ma'am. No problem with regards to feeding Natalie, she's been very patient but I think she's had it with patience. Captain, we just wanted to say hi, Merry Christmas, and drop off our gifts to you and the babies. We're so glad you're okay, the babies are okay and that you can see again," said Sanchez.

"Thank you, Julio. Thank you, everyone it was...wonderful that my sight came back when it did! I was so afraid that I wouldn't see my babies and that I'd be blind forever, but it came back just at the right time," she looked down at the infant in her arms lovingly. "Right when my little Natalie was born." As if on cue the baby began to wail and Sharon knew she couldn't delay feeding her any longer. She sank down on the couch, pulled a throw blanket over her shoulder for modesty's sake, adjusted her nursing bra, her shirt and settled Natalie against her. She guided the nipple into Natalie's mouth and from there the baby knew what to do and got to it. The team looked away discreetly to afford her a modicum of privacy.

Sharon was able to relax while nursing Natalie because even with her eagerness to eat, she was much gentler than her sister. Although it might have something to do with the fact that she did not have any teeth. Poor Madison seemed to be growing teeth before she knew what to do with them. She had formed a special bond with Natalie, because she was the first one born and the first one she saw. She had also saved her sister. Sharon believed it was Natalie who had helped bring her sister to life when she put her arm around her shoulders. She was a quiet, patient and mostly undemanding baby. Madison was daddy's girl, already full of fire and sass. She could bring the house down with her screams of temper, but the minute Andy held her in his arms she quieted and stared up at him, in awe.

As Sharon gazed down at the baby while she nursed she felt Andy sit beside her. He had a tall glass of eggnog in each hand. He put one on the sidetable and held the one with the straw up to her lips. "Drink," he said.

She took a sip and then drained the glass. The silky eggnog slid down her throat leaving a feeling of Christmasy well-being inside her. It had been a long time since she had tasted her mother's eggnog. She had forgotten that the recipe she used was actually her mother's recipe first. It also made her realize that she hadn't eaten for several hours and she was very hungry. In fact she felt a little lightheaded. So, she was relieved when Rusty brought her a plate full of Christmas goodies, including a cup of her favorite Minestrone soup. "Thank you, Honey. I was starving. "

"You're welcome, Mom. Grandma noticed you were a bit pale and a little shaky. So she loaded up a plate, and recruited me to help bring them over."

Her mother was right behind Rusty with a plate for Andy. "Sharon, Darling, you have to eat at least three thousand calories each meal or you are going to hit a wall very quickly and Andy you are going to have to make sure she does. Here you go, Andy. You eat too. You're going to need strength to keep up with Sharon. She's a stubborn one that girl, and the twins are going to be handful, especially Maddie.

"You can say that again," Andy said with a sigh.

Sharon noticed Maddie's handprint had been added to her mother's apron in rosy red. Each child had its own color. Natalie's was a rosy pink. Emily's was bright pink. Ricky's was navy blue. Rusty's was purple. Remembering that she had handed Maddie to her mother she looked around the room to see who had her other daughter, and found Julio sitting in a corner holding Madison. She had been sponge bathed and changed and was wearing a rosebud patterned nightie. He looked happy holding her and she seemed happy too. "I think our girls have an honorary uncle in Julio," she said quietly to Andy.

"Yeah. I think that the hardest part about losing his wife was losing his daughter as well. He loves kids and has always wanted some of his own. I remember a case several years ago, where he fostered an abused boy, he would have adopted him if we hadn't found the boy's mother." Andy said sadly.

"I remember that too. Poor Julio, he's had so much tragedy in his life. I wish he could catch a break. He deserves it." Sharon knew she would be devastated if she lost any of her kids or Andy.

"Yeah he does, maybe Julio can be the twins Godfather." Andy put that idea out there to help them all out but mostly for Julio.

Sharon looked surprised at Andy's suggestion, "What about Provenza?"

"Louie's got his hands full with his own family. I think if I explain things he'll understand." Sharon nodded and leaned her head onto her husband shoulder as he asked, "Happy?"

In a tired but content voice Sharon said, "Yes, thank you Andy. It was so nice coming home to Christmas."

Thank you for reading my story and a special thank you if you have taken the time to leave a review.