A/N: This story has been an adventure to write... Anyway, thank you for the reviews! They always keep me motivated!
One week later...
Alex Cabot ran up the stairs to the Major Crimes Unit. She was late. It was never good to be anything other than five minutes early when it came to working with Sharon, and yet she was pushing ten minutes late today.
She and Casey had spent every night since their wedding celebrating. Staying up late into the wee hours of the morning making love, only falling asleep around 3am, which was giving them two to three hours of sleep a night. Tonight they'd have to sleep, because this morning they both over slept by almost two hours. Consequently, she was going to be late to work and Alex late for a meeting with Sharon. Normally, Alex would say Casey would be the one in more trouble especially since Judge Petrovsky was handling her case, but since meeting Sharon she changed her mind about the threat level Petrovsky proposed...Sharon was way more dangerous, she carried guns.
Running into the squad room, Alex found Buzz decorating a little Christmas tree with Amy. Gasping for air she asked, "Where is Sharon? Is the meeting over?"
Amy laughed at Alex's flustered state, "The Captain stopped for breakfast, she will be a little late."
"Since its thankfully slow this morning, we decided to decorate the tree. Want to help?" Buzz asked.
Setting down her belongings, Alex chuckled to herself as she picked up an ornament, "And I thought Sex Crimes was weird, you all put every department to shame."
"Alex," Sharon's voice carried across the floor, sending chills down Alex's back, "I thought you'd like the tree...Casey said Christmas was your favorite holiday."
"It is ma'am. I have just never known a unit to decorate a tree as a group project." Alex said nervously.
"We have to have something to make this unit festive. Being constantly surrounded by death isn't easy. Are we all here and ready?"
"Yes ma'am. Lieutenant Prevenza just ran to the bathroom. He should be back in a minute." Amy answered.
"Okay, let's go setup." Sharon said leading the way to the conference room.
Fifteen minutes later, the briefing on the newest case commenced. As the detectives filled the Captain and Alex in on the findings, Sharon's eyes caught something. A ring, there was a ring on Alex's left hand, and not just any ring, it was a wedding band.
Keeping her normal stoic look, Sharon let her mind wander. Alex was wearing a wedding ring, that could mean two things, she and Casey had eloped or she was wearing her mother's ring. She could feel her heart rate skyrocket. Would her daughter get married without her?
Suddenly, she was overwhelmed with the urge to slam Alex's head against the table and make her tell her just what she'd done. It couldn't be true it had to be a mistake. Suddenly Syke's voice cut through, "Captain?"
"Oh yes, well please look into that." Sharon answered regarding their findings. Looking back over at Alex, she noticed blonde put her hands in her lap. "Well, I think that wraps up our meeting here. Alex, do you have anything you'd like to add?"
"Yes," the blonde replied flipping through her notes. Sharon instantly noticed the ring was gone from her finger. She could feel her stomach twist with the realization, her and Andrew's petty fighting had caused them both to miss their daughter's wedding. "Okay," Alex began filling everyone in on the logistics about obtaining warrants, "So, I will secure the warrants and once you have those reports back and they match, call me. I will be ready with the deal."
"Okay, I think that concludes it. Everyone's dismissed." Sharon said with a weak smile.
Alex quickly bolted from the room. Her mind was flooding with panic. What if Sharon saw the ring? Would she say something?
Reaching the elevator, she felt a full on panic attack start. Pressing the button for the ground floor, she dug out her cell phone and called Casey. Casey would know what to do.
"Hey baby," Casey's warm voice came over the line.
"Oh my god, I forgot to take the wedding ring off!" Alex blurted. The doors opened and she fled the building to the safety of her car. "What do we do Casey!"
"Calm down, Alex." She soothed, "Everything is going to be just fine. If she didn't kill you, chances are good that she didn't see. However, do keep in mind, we do have to tell them eventually. I mean they are going to notice someday."
"Yeah, you are right." Alex said letting out a big sigh.
Once Sharon saw Alex leave she headed to her office. Walking inside, she closed the door then blinds. She was furious. Pacing the small room, she felt as if her head would explode.
How could Alex Cabot marry her daughter without her knowing? Why would Casey get married and not tell her? Why hadn't they told her yet? Why were they hiding this news?
Picking up her phone with shaky hands she dialed Jack. She needed to vent, she needed to yell. She needed to explode to the one person who would never take it personally. She needed her sounding board. She needed her Jack.
Hearing Jack's warm, "Hello," cross the line, Sharon burst into tears. "Sharon, honey, what is wrong?"
"Casey," was all Sharon could manage.
"What about Casey? Is she okay? What happened?"
"She got married Jack." Sharon managed as she began to pull herself together enough to talk. Jack had a way of pulling out her true feelings without even trying. He always managed to make her cut the crap, and the truth was Sharon wasn't mad, she was hurt and she only had herself to blame. "Jack, she and Alex got married and didn't tell us. They are hiding it."
"How do you know?" Jack asked in a monotone voice which told her he was hurt as well.
"I saw the ring on Alex's finger. She must have forgotten to take it off."
"I am sorry Sharon. This was a risk I was warning you of..." She could tell from his tone he was upset, but trying to not be.
"I know. I am sorry." She replied wiping her tears. "I am going to go fix my mess once and for all."
"Do you need me to join you?"
"No. I need to do this on my own. Pending the case stays quiet I will be home right after, darling."
"Ok." Jack replied before adding, "I love you, Sharon. Stay strong."
"I will. I love you too." As Sharon hung up she grabbed her keys. The trip to her car seemed surreal. She knew she hadn't lost her daughter, but gained a daughter, but she felt robbed of watching her daughter's wedding. It was her fault and Andrew's and she knew that, but it still hurt. She could only imagine how Andrew would feel. He only had Alex.
Arriving at Andrew's after about 20 minutes, Sharon climbed from the car. Walking to the door, she knocked and waited. Hearing him open the door, she forced a smile to her face.
Andrew locked eyes with her and sighed, "You do realize my daughter is your ADA so you won't get away with murder, and she's the type to go for the death penalty."
"I am very well aware of that." Sharon huffed, "We need to talk Andrew can I come inside?"
"I don't know if I feel safe with that, Sharon." He replied curtly.
Rolling her eyes, "Fine, would you like me to tell you on the stoop that our daughters eloped and we weren't invited because we act like two vengeful teenagers?"
"Alexandra got married without...without me?" Andrew stuttered in disbelief.
"Yeah, they got married without us. I know I didn't handle it well, Alex dating Casey, but you didn't handle finding out I was Casey's mother well either. We need to bury this hatchet once and for all Andy, or they are going to cut us off completely. I know you want to see them together and be apart of grandchildren and I do too and if we fix this mess we can always be there for the big things so what do you say?" As Sharon finished she felt relief wash over her. Maybe they could be friends...
"Come on in," Andrew said opening the door.
Walking into Andrew's home, Sharon was taken back. There were family photos everywhere. He had pictures of him and his late wife, Esme, pictures of Alex growing up, pictures of Alex and Esme, and endless pictures of him and Alex. It seemed so unlike the spoiled entitled man she'd known thirty years ago. His home didn't seem much unlike hers and Jack's.
Following him into the living room, she accepted a drink and sat down opposite him. "You've changed." She stated flatly.
"Esme, changed me for the good. She was an amazing woman. She had a way of drawing out the good in people." He replied looking into his drink, "She'd be very disappointed in me and my behavior, Sharon. I am sorry. I am sorry for everything."
Sharon watched him. She knew his body language was telling her more was to come so she waited patiently. He took a breath and continued, "I am sorry for hurting you all those years ago. I was selfish. You didn't deserve that kind of treatment. I think it worked out for you though, you got Casey, Jack, Daniel and Claire from it."
Sharon smiled, he was very right and she adored her husband and children. "You are exactly right, and you got Alex and Esme."
"I did," he smiled finally looking up at her.
"Why didn't you ever remarry Andrew? I know it's none of my business, but you deserve to be happy again."
"I couldn't Sharon. I had two great loves, one I cast away and one I lost. Not to discount our love, but losing Esme took the last of my soul. I am only here because of Alexandra and well now Casey. I know Esme is in heaven looking down on all of us smiling and laughing, and my love and heart belong to her always." He said smiling at his wife's memory.
"You are a good man Andrew. I am happy Casey has you in her life." Sharon replied.
"I can't believe I didn't figure it out sooner. She is so much like you. All red hair, green eyes, and nothing but a challenging spitfire. She has a all your good attributes." He laughed.
"Thank you. Alex is a sweetheart, smart as a whip, and gorgeous. She must get it all from Esme." Sharon laughed hard.
"Without a doubt," Andrew agreed laughing just as hard.
The two reminisced for about an hour, before plotting their revenge at their daughters. As Sharon left she hugged him goodbye, walking to her car she turned, "Andy, why don't you come over Saturday and watch the game with Jack and I? We can plan out our revenge a little more!"
"Sounds great Sharon! See you around noon?" He asked.
"Sounds perfect, see you then!" She waved. Pulling out of the driveway, Sharon had a giant smile on her face. She finally realized just how lucky her life has turned out. Her daughter found an amazing woman that she truly loved and she got her best friend back, and the best part was he was the father of her daughter in law. Life really seemed perfect. Jack was always right, everything always works itself out one way or another...