Snuggling into Andy's side on the couch, Sharon laughs as he gently tickles her side with his fingertips, smacking him lightly on the back of his hand when he persists.
"Stop!" she finally squeals, laughing as she draws away from Andy just enough to peck him on the lips mid-giggle.
Andy smiles against her mouth, swallowing her laughter as he shifts against her and deepens the kiss. Despite the fact that they're in the lounge, and that Rusty could walk in on them at any time, neither Sharon nor Andy particularly minds. While it would probably be uncomfortable, neither one of them is under any illusion that Rusty is naïve enough not to have noticed their relationship, particularly since Andy has been living with them for the last three months.
Pinned beneath his exploring hands, Sharon rolls her hips against Andy's solid frame, laughing outright at his instantaneous reaction. For a while, they enjoy their entanglement, and Andy shifts so that Sharon is comfortably reclining on the couch as he allows his hands to roam her body freely. However, when she begins to reach for his buttons, Andy leans his forehead into Sharon's lips, pushing her hands away apologetically with a shake of his head. Chuckling dryly, Andy huffs, "why do you always do that?"
"What?" asks Sharon innocently.
"Tease me," he laughs, pecking her lips lightly before helping her sit up again.
While Andy's sure that Rusty is fine with them being in a relationship, he's not particularly keen to give the teenager an eyeful should he come home at an inopportune moment. Which is why he'd felt the need to stop the immensely enjoyable embrace he'd been sharing with Sharon moments before.
"I'm sure I don't know what you mean," smirks Sharon, arching a brow at him cheekily.
"Of course you don't," he responds wryly, laughing when she dissolves into giggles, her head pressed into the crook of his neck.
The last three months had passed remarkably quickly (though Sharon might disagree, as she'd been on enforced medical leave), and Andy had joined Sharon and Rusty's home with little need for adjustment. In fact, Sharon's sure that Rusty is somewhat thankful for another masculine presence in the apartment, even if it's only for moral support when Sharon insists that his outfit is a "crime of fashion". Sharon herself has been thankful for his presence – especially once she was off the painkillers and in physical therapy for her shoulder. But more than that, she'd enjoyed sharing a bed with Andy – especially when her shoulder had healed enough to make partaking in certain activities more enjoyable.
The sound of the front door slamming shut breaks Sharon from her reverie, causing her to lift her head from Andy's shoulder to welcome Rusty home. Striding in as usual, Rusty dumps his bag on the floor by the kitchen table before waving a hello to Andy and Sharon, who make no move to leave the couch, comfortable as they are. Besides which, Rusty will make himself at home on the armchair soon enough. Stifling her laughter, Sharon nuzzles her face into Andy's neck, peppering feather-light kisses against his throat and chuckling when he squirms uncomfortably, the softness of her kisses tickling him impossibly. Moments later, Rusty steps into the lounge, plonking himself down unceremoniously onto the armchair facing the television.
"So, what's for dinner?" asks Rusty without preamble.
"We were going to get takeout, as it's Andy's last night with us – what would you like?" responds Sharon, smiling at Rusty's predictable question.
"You're leaving?" asks Rusty, directing his question at Andy quietly.
"Yeah, kid. Three months are up – you'll be glad to have me out of your hair, I'm sure," he chuckles self-deprecatingly.
"Yeah, but Sharon won't be," he smirks, laughing at Sharon's indignant splutter at his comment.
"While that is true, I'm capable of saying so myself!" she mutters with mock-irritation.
"Eh, but you wouldn't – that's too emotional for you," teases Andy, laughing along with Rusty.
"And on that note, I'm going to leave you two here while I order what I want, since you're being so uncooperative," snarks Sharon lightly, giggling at Andy's horrified look.
"Just promise no tofu this time, Sharon," pleads Andy, remembering the last time he'd left ordering takeout to Sharon.
"I make no such promises," teases Sharon as she saunters away from the lounge and into the kitchen, "you should've thought about that before you started teasing me," she sings over her shoulder.
"We're doomed, kid," laughs Andy, smiling crookedly at Rusty, who looks equally horrified.
"Ugh, so long as she doesn't order tofurkey again, we should be okay," murmurs Rusty grimly.
Andy makes a noise of assent, remembering how awful the 'meat replacement' Sharon had ordered last time had been. He feigns a shudder for Rusty's benefit, laughing when the teenager silently agrees with him. He may be a vegetarian, but Andy had never been one for meat, much less meat replacements.
"So, how come you're leaving tonight?"
"It's been three months – I'd hate to outstay my welcome," chuckles Andy.
"I wasn't kidding when I said that Sharon wouldn't mind you staying," remarks Rusty quietly.
"I know, Rusty. But she has to ask me herself – has to be comfortable enough to ask," responds Andy equally quietly, not wanting Sharon to cotton on to what they're discussing.
"You've been together for quite a while now – surely this must have come up in conversation?" he asks with a smirk.
"We've only been together for a few months, Rusty," corrects Andy.
"Really? 'Cos I have photographic evidence that would suggest it's been a little over half a year…" teases Rusty, knowing that Andy would probably laugh off the photo.
"I'll bet you do," grins Andy, "but there are other things that Sharon and I need to discuss – I can't just up and move in," he laughs quietly. In reality, he thinks that Rusty's probably bluffing – there's no way that Rusty could've known that they were together before they'd told him when Andy moved in three months ago. Then again, that conversation had gone surprisingly well and with little fanfare, almost as though Rusty had already known. The realisation dawns on Andy slowly, and for a moment he makes no move to address it, wanting first to discuss it with Sharon.
"I just wanted to let you know that I – I wouldn't mind, if that's what would make Sharon happy," murmurs Rusty quietly.
Andy is touched by Rusty's admission, glad to see how well the teenager has adjusted in the three years he's been living with Sharon. In fact, Andy's sure that had this happened three years ago, Rusty would have almost certainly reacted negatively – his volatile relationship with his own mother and her boyfriends meant that he was less receptive to Sharon's care and the attention of her male colleagues. But, that had gradually shifted over the years, and Sharon and Andy's conversation with Rusty with regard to their relationship had been easy, if not anticlimactic, as the teenager just took their admission in stride, happy for his mother and her new partner.
"That's – I'm glad that you feel that way, Rusty," smiles Andy, the corners of his eyes crinkling as his expression softens.
"Don't get all soppy on me! I just meant that, y'know, I'm chill with it."
"Good to hear," laughs Andy, "now if only the LAPD would be as 'chill with it' as you are." He finishes somewhat worriedly, wondering when he and Sharon are going to declare their relationship to HR, and how that might impact his assignment to Major Crimes. He's under no illusions – he knows that there's no way he'd allow Sharon to be reassigned, especially after all the battles she's fought to win the team's respect. At the same time, Major Crimes is his family, and he can't imagine being separated from them. Yet another discussion he and Sharon had shelved over the last three months.
Andy is broken from his thoughts by Sharon's re-entrance into the sitting room, her small frame already curling into his side.
"What did you order?" he asks with a mocking grimace.
"Your favourite," she purrs, laughing at the horrified look on Rusty's face.
"Please tell me that there's some meat somewhere, Sharon," he whines.
"Don't worry, Rusty, I've ordered tofurkey for you, since I know how much you enjoyed it last time," she grins wickedly as Rusty cringes.
"Ease up, Sharon, you're going to give the kid a heart attack – I'm sure she's ordered something edible for you, Rusty," laughs Andy.
"Tofurkey is edible!" retorts Sharon mock indignantly.
"Only if you enjoy eating sofa-foam," growls Rusty, knowing that Sharon is only teasing him.
Giggling madly, Sharon buries her face in Andy's shoulder, unable to control her laughter. Once the giggles subside, she pecks Andy's cheek fondly before turning back to Rusty, "I ordered you some chicken, and I got Andy a veg dish. Don't worry – it's actual chicken, not a meat replacement like last time."
"Phew," laughs Rusty, thought I was going to have to make a midnight McDonald's run, there." Sharon's face twists into a grimace – Rusty knows how much his mum abhors junk food. Recognising his advantage in teasing, Rusty chuckles drily before looking to Andy and remarking, "they've even got vegetarian options – I'd have been able to get you something, too."
"Thanks for the thought, kid, but I'm not sure I'd like to incur Raydor's wrath over a veggie burger," laughs Andy.
"I'm not a tyrant!" protests Sharon.
"You are about junk food," prods Rusty, laughing at the indignant expression on Sharon's face.
Huffing with mock-irritation, Sharon stands and storms back into the kitchen with a muttered, "I give up!"
Andy follows close on her heels, still chuckling as Rusty reclines proudly into the couch. His work for the day is done. Finding Sharon standing at the counter with her shoulders shaking with laughter, Andy draws her into his chest, enjoying the feeling of her body relaxing against his.
"Can you believe that three years ago, this argument might have been a real one?" sighs Sharon, glancing proudly at her youngest son in the living room.
"I can believe that you did an excellent job getting him settled," smiles Andy fondly, his lips moving subtly against her forehead as he inhales the scent of her hair.
"You helped too, Andy. You and all the others who put up with me when I dragged him in to work. I'm proud of him and all he's achieved by himself, but don't think for a second that I can't see what a good influence you, Provenza and all the other team members have been on him."
Clearing his throat thickly, Andy nods silently, grinning proudly at the realisation that, though he may not have done the best by his kids, he'd done something right with Rusty. "These last three months – he's really grown, Sharon. He's not the kid we picked up off the streets anymore, he's a good kid, and you're a credit to that."
"These last three months have been wonderful – I honestly don't know how I would've managed with my shoulder those first few weeks. And you've just been so supportive – just, there, in a way that I've never really been used to having someone. For Rusty, too."
Andy's unsure how to respond, particularly since Sharon seems to be tearing up with the admission. Their conversation has been hushed; though Rusty doesn't seem to be in a particular rush to eavesdrop. Now, though, Sharon raises her voice slightly, looking Andy dead in the eye before stating very clearly, "I love you, Andy."
Gobsmacked, Andy remains silent for a beat. It had been three months since he'd told her that he loved her, and now she was finally saying it back to him.
"I love you too, Sharon," murmurs Andy, his lips finding hers.
"Stay," she whispers quietly against his throat when they break apart, her lips nuzzling into the crook of his neck.
"Sharon-" he begins, a half smile creeping up his face, but tainted with a tinge of sadness. "You know I want to – badly – but we haven't even spoken to HR or Taylor yet and I- I need to know that no matter what, we're both in this."
"We can talk to Taylor tomorrow, if that would help," remarks Sharon quietly, "but you need to know that, no matter what he says, I want to be with you. Now, if that means being reassigned to FID, I'm willing to do that, because I'm happy with you – happier than I've been in a long time, Andy." She finishes confidently, her face flushed with passion.
Swallowing thickly, Andy cradles Sharon's cheek in his palm, his eyes glistening, "I wouldn't let you," he murmurs after some time.
"What?" she asks, confusion colouring her tone.
"I wouldn't let you get reassigned – not after everything you've been through to reshape the squad – to earn our trust and respect. No, if anything, I can be reassigned – probably to Robbery Homicide – because you're indispensable.
"Andy-" she protests, but he cuts her off.
"I won't let it happen, Sharon," he says simply, "not after all the good you've done."
"I can't let you get transferred either, Andy!" she replies indignantly, placing her palm flat on his chest as she pushes him away slightly so that she can meet his eyes, "It's not up for debate, Andy. You're good where you are – any idiot can see that you fit perfectly with Major Crimes. I, on the other hand, have proven quite…flexible." She chooses her words carefully, lifting her lips in the ghost of a grin as she traces the outline of his cheekbones with her thumbs. He smiles sadly against her hand, turning his head to press a kiss against the pad of her thumb.
"We seem to be getting ahead of ourselves," he chuckles mirthlessly, "we haven't even spoken to Taylor yet."
"That's true, but I wanted you to know where I stand…just in case," she smiles. Rocking onto the balls of her feet, she reaches up and presses a firm kiss against Andy's lips, allowing him to deepen it as he shifts against her. "So, will you stay the night?" she asks quietly when they break apart, her eyes glinting mischievously as he chuckles.
"Sure," he grins, "we can even synchronise our wardrobes for your first day back."
Sharon laughs at the memory that seems so distant now, despite the fact that it was only three months ago. She marvels at exactly how much can happen in the space of three months – how much could still happen – and beams contentedly.
"We can discuss that and, uh, your future residency here tomorrow. Tonight, we can just…be."
"Sounds great." He grins crookedly, the expression reaching his eyes and warming them.
Hey guys! Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoyed it! If you did, please leave a review :) Thanks to Meg0613, EvilRegalShandyLvr21, ProfTweety, CapricaM1983, Guest, Gingersnapped907, Besilea and Guest for reviewing - I really appreciate it! :D