Next chapter. Rated T

I do not own Rookie Blue, but if I did…

Andy stood there in shock. She couldn't help but tense. Her experience had taught her that she needed to brace herself for the joke that was sure to follow.

He watched her wait for a minute, thinking. "If you think I am going to joke about it, I'm not."

Andy took a deep breath and whispered, "Ok, let's try."

Sam spread his arms and hugged her. Her torso pressed firmly against his chest, he picked her up off the ground swung her around excitedly. "Thank you, thank you. I promise you I will do my best to make this work."

Andy giggled, "Ok. But I swear to god if you walk away again, I'll tell Oliver to hunt you down and shoot you."

"Not going to happen Andy. Not going to happen. Sam put her down and reached for her hand. "Ready to head to Sarah's?"

"Yes." All Andy could do was smile.

Later that night, Andy sat on the porch with a glass of wine when Sarah came and sat down next to her. Before Andy could say anything Sarah explained, "He is upstairs making sure Grayson is tucked in and good for the night."

Andy smiled, "He is so good with him."

Both women were unaware that Sam had approached the door to the porch and had paused when he heard his sister talking to Andy. He knew he should make his presence know, but he stopped out of sight and waited.

"Yes. Yes, he really is. That little boy adores him. I have a question to ask you though. Andy, are you scared about giving him a chance?"

Andy took in a deep breath and squeezed her glass a little harder. "I don't think I am scared. I love him. Always have. Always will." Andy frowned, "Don't give me that look Sarah. I may have been with Nick, but that only happened after I thought I had lost him for good. I thought it was all over. Done. So I tried to move on. He broke up with me. And I tried to fight for him. I begged him to talk to me for six weeks. After that I didn't think that there was any hope left. I was so lost. I was too scared to go home. It was bad enough that I was having nightmares about being attacked in my own home, but I felt like I had no one; that I screwed up everything with Sam; that is was all my fault. I mean who would want to love me, I killed Jerry. "

Sarah frowned at her and started to correct her. Andy and her had already hashed out a long time ago that it was not her fault. She thought Andy had gotten past that.

"Don't give me that look Sarah, I know now it's not my fault for Jerry dying, the of the rest of the mess is. But at the time, I just knew it was. So I asked for advice. Only it was the wrong person. I was grateful that someone was there for me, so when she persuaded me to leave Sam behind I listened to my mother. Then when I finally made peace with the end, he threw me for a loop. But I listened to my mother when she told me not to be that girl and just get away from him. I think I never really realized back then that she didn't like Sam. So yeah, I took the UC spot, went a way and came back. I ran again. Imagine my surprise when I came back and realized that he had moved on. I figured he didn't really love me, just loved the idea of being in a relationship with someone."

Sarah frowned, "Now you know that was not the case."

"I do. But I didn't know that then. And he kept pushing me away. And Nick was there for me the whole time. He kept me grounded. He understood me. He would talk to me and I would talk to him. We were a good match, Nick and I. It was nice to feel loved. To be cherished and I felt like I was a part of his life. He was so excited when we found out I was pregnant. I was in shock. I didn't have a clue what we were going to do. But he just smiled and said it would all work out. Then he was killed. I was almost killed. I was crushed and without all my friends at 15, you, Sam, my Dad I don't think I could have done it. I probably would have self destructed and ran again."

Sarah patted her arm and gave her a comforting smile. This had been the most she had heard Andy talk about Nick. Most of the time Andy avoided the subject but all she could think about was to encourage her to talk.

Andy took a sip of her wine and sighed.

"Your mom really doesn't like Sam?" Sarah frowned.

"No. She says I shouldn't be that girl and that Sam made me that girl. Mind you, I didn't know this until she found out that I was pregnant and it was Nick's. She raved about Nick and how Sam was so wrong for me. I figured she was right: He had moved on, I had destroyed everything for us by leaving and Nick was helping me pick up the pieces. I could see myself having a future with Nick. I really could. All the while I knew in the back of my mind I knew that I still loved Sam. But I could have him, so I settled and went on with my life. Only to have my life turned upside down for a while."

"Oh, Andy."

Andy started to cry, "I don't think I could survive him leaving me again when it gets tough. I know that I would go through it all again to get Grayson. He is my life. But if Sam is not serious and just likes playing house, I don't think I can survive a losing him too."

Sarah moved even closer to her and embraced her, "Oh, honey. I know the fear is there. Just talk to him. Make him understand how you feel. I have a feeling he has learned and grown from all this. Just like you. You two need a fresh clean start. Rule number one should be no bringing up the past in an argument. Talk about it, deal with it and move forward.

"Thanks Sarah, I really appreciate you listening to me. You and Sam have been really been my rock since Nick died and I can't tell you how much I appreciate it!"

"No problem. Let me get you some more wine."

Andy handed over her glass, "Thanks."

The moment Sarah had closed the porch door behind her and saw her brother standing there in the darkness her expression became serious. She grabbed her brother by the arm and pulled him behind her into the kitchen, her face wore a stern expression. It had been a long time since Sam had eavesdropped on his sister's conversation. Now he felt like he was twelve again. "I take it you heard us."

"Erm yeah. I mean, I knew her mother didn't like me. Just by the way she treated me. But I was so wrapped up in my grief that I didn't realize she was scared. Ungh, I am so stupid. I forgot my girlfriend got attacked in her own home. I am such an ass. Sarah, it kills me that she had to go through all that."

"Like I told her: no going back. You can't change the past, but you can change your path moving forward anytime. Go out and sit with her."

When Sam opened the door he could see Andy sitting on the porch swing with a serious expression on her face. He didn't know what to make of that. Was she silently grieving for Collins? Was she remembering all the ways Sam has messed up? Was she reliving the attack? Careful not to frighten her, he walked out onto the porch and sat down next to her. Tentatively he took her hand. "I am not going anywhere and will do anything to prove it."

"I know Sam. But you do realize I am the one that left you more than once? You sure you want to do this? I don't think I can take losing Nick and you for forever. I want this to work!" Her voice was soft. Sam couldn't detect any resentment in it. And then she leaned her head on his shoulder and closed her eyes. They were still in the same position by the time Sarah came back with Andy's glass.

Andy looked up and smiled. "Thank you."

All three of them sat and talked until Andy couldn't keep her eyes open anymore. Andy stood up, "I need to get some sleep. The little man will be demanding my attention way too early in the morning."

Sam stood up and kissed her forehead. "I'll just wait up with Sarah for her husband. Sleep well."

Andy squeezed his hand and headed upstairs.

As soon as she was out of earshot Sarah looked at him, "She knows you are afraid. You know she is afraid. Just take it easy and love her."

Sam looked down at the ground. "I know. She means too much to me. Grayson means too much to me."

"Ok, you better not mess this up. I just want to point out here that I know a pretty good place to hide your body and no one will ever find you."

"I think you will have to take a number." Sam felt her hand brush over his forearm. When he looked up, he saw the stern expression on his sister's face had softened.

"Just take it easy. Don't push. I know you want to marry her, but maybe you should give her some time to get used to the idea of you two dating first." With that Sarah handed him a ring box.

Sam closed his sister's hand around the velvet. As much as he wished to take the ring from her and give it to Andy right then, he knew he could not and would not risk anything this time around. "Sarah, she is no where near ready."

"But when she is, you'll be prepared." Sarah pried his fingers open and placed the box on his palm. He felt the texture of the worn velvet stimulate his skin as his sister shared some more of her wisdom. "Dote on her, love her and never stop."

Sam and Sarah heard the front door open. Sarah motioned for her husband to come out and join them.

"Hey Honey," Brian leaned in and gave her a kiss. He turned to look at Sam and held out his hand, "Hey Sammy, how are you? Surprised to see you here."

"Just up for a break. Andy had a rough shift and since we had some time off, we came up to relax."

"Always happy to have you."

Sarah giggled as Brian wrapped her in another hug, "missed you."

"I missed you too. Sam and Andy have offered to pick up kid duty tomorrow night so we can go on a date."

"Great, I have the perfect place in mind."

When they finally made their way back to Toronto, Grayson was exhausted. While Andy carried her son upstairs, Sam took their bags out of the car. In the past, whenever he had dropped them off, he had never allowed himself to linger. He had made it his own little symbol not to pull up behind Andy's car. As much as he wished for it, it was not his home. So he had always parked curbside. Now his truck sat there behind Andy's car and Sam didn't know what to do with himself. Awkwardly, he put the bags on her sofa and waited for her return.

When she came back into the room she smiled, "Do you want a drink before you go?"

"Nah, just this will do."

Andy looked puzzled at him as he walked over to her. He placed his hands around her neck and pulled her in for a kiss. As her whole body tingled, Sam kissed her with so much passion and she could feel it right down to her toes.