While You're Making Other Plans

by Miss Shannon and Glistening Sun

4

Andy was surprised when she shook her head and smiled a bit sadly. Hadn't she been addressing him with her best Darth Raydor voice just a second ago telling him they needed to talk? But now she was slipping one of her hands out from under the covers and wrapped it around his arm, pulling him towards her.

"It's not you, Andy, it's me."

Blood rushed to his head and his heart contracted painfully, "Oh my God, you're sick. Oh Sharon, why didn't you tell me? What it is? You can tell me, sweetheart, you know that I'll be here for you, no matter what…"

"Honey, stop, I'm not sick," she gently interrupted him, squeezing his arm for reassurance, "I'm perfectly healthy. In fact, I'm quite a bit more healthy than most women my age."

Healthy, that was all he heard. She was healthy! Oh thank God! "Shit, sweetheart, you scared me there for a moment!"

But something about the situation was still off. Why was she in bed, hiding under every duvet, blanket and throw her household had to offer? And she had a lot of them to start with. Nor was she normally the type to hide.

"What's my girl doing in bed in the middle of day?"

"I was cold and I needed time to think." she sighed loudly, "We really need to talk, Andy."

"Then come here and let me hold you." Andy found that conversations were always easier when they were able to touch each other. He wasn't a big fan of sitting across from her at a table like adversaries and even if Sharon claimed to be healthy, she did look like she needed a hug. Andy leaned against the headboard and pulled her, and her mountain of blankets, up to his chest. She didn't feel cold, which considering the hot Los Angeles afternoon and the air-conditioning in the condo noticeably off, didn't surprised him. She felt small though, and somehow fragile in a way he'd never seen before. When he nuzzled his face into her hair and pressed a chaste kiss to the corner of her mouth, she hummed contently.

"You know, sweetheart, I've been thinking about our conversation this morning," he started, kissing her again. "Menopause isn't the end of the world. I'm not going to love you any less because you…" he faltered, embarrassed and unsure how to express himself.

"Andy, no." she groaned.

Andy had been caught in traffic on his way home and he had actually taken some time to read up on menopause, and its effects on a woman's body and, well, her sex drive. He really wanted to tell Sharon that he understood and that nothing would change between them.

"I know your body is going to change and …"

"Andy!" Sharon's voice had taken on a pained note and she lifted her face to look at him. "That really isn't what I'm worried about right now!"

"No? Come on, I know I spent a lot of time with younger women in the past but you have to give me some credit ..."

"Andy, stop! Please, just stop!"

Geez, he would never understand women, his own girlfriend in particular. Why was she using that voice with him now? What had he done wrong? He thought that he was being gentle, and sensitive, and understanding. Why was she looking at him as if she was about ready to slap him? Oh dear, if this was what menopause was going to be like, he was certainly in for a ride! Sharon sighed heavily and buried her face into his shirt. What? Now he was completely confused!

"Sweetheart? Hey, what's going on here? What are so worried about?"

Oh wait! There had been another paragraph in that article! He hadn't had time to completely finish it because traffic had started moving again. "Sharon, I … I know you won't be able to have more children now and … sweetheart, I'm fine with that. We agreed, remember? We agreed we didn't want children at our ages and … hey, I'm still on board with that, okay?"

Her head shot up and this time she looked positively murderous, "Andy, stop talking! You're only making this worse!"

Dammit! He threw up his hands in frustration. Stupid mood swings! How was he supposed to deal with them? "Then tell me what's wrong with you! You say you're fine, but you've been throwing up for weeks and you've … you've been acting so strange lately."

"That's why I said we needed to talk. Believe me, not being able to have any more children is the least of my worries! Far from it!" Jesus, why was she shouting at him now?

"Well, what is it?" he shouted back now well on the way to loosing his temper. "Because I sure as hell am lost!" He had tried to be understanding, but this woman was talking in riddles. Dammit, why couldn't she just come out and tell him what was going on?

"Honey, I'm pregnant," she said making sure to look into his eyes.

But Andy's temper had flared too much to notice her pleading look and really understand what she had told him. "What? Come on, what kind of sick joke is that? Geez, woman, stop messing with me!"

"You know how much I hate it when you call me that!" she shouted, momentarily forgetting her resolution to remain calm. Good grief, she knew he was upset! The news was shocking. She had been suspecting it for weeks, and she had still come home and hidden under her blankets, so she could make sense of it all!

Sharon took a deep breath. If she wanted to have a proper conversation with Andy today, he would have to calm down. "And you know I wouldn't make joke about that."

"How?" he blurted out.

"Excuse me? Are you seriously asking me how I got pregnant?"

"No! Good heavens, Sharon! Not that. How do you know? I mean, you said something this morning, but I thought we agreed it was menopause."

"No Andy, you said it was menopause! I didn't. And none of that matters now because I did a test, three tests actually, and they all came back positive."

"Tests can be wrong."

"Andy, honey, look at me. I've been pregnant before, I know the signs. That peach soda you kept joking about, the one we got at the farmers' market last weekend? The peaches I bought and had for dinner last night? I don't even like peaches normally."

"So you eat peaches, Sharon, that's hardly conclusive proof."

Was he really not listening? How much more clearly would she have to lay this out so he would finally understand? She should have planned this conversation better. She should have taken a few days to figure out how to tell him rather than just spring this on him, but it was too late for that.

"Fine, then go take a look into the paper bag on my bedside table. Inside are three pregnancy tests I took earlier and every single one is positive. I've missed two periods. I'm having morning sickness and I'm craving peaches. Andy, a pregnancy is the only logical explanation for this."

"Are you sure?"

"Seriously, what kind of detective are you, Lieutenant Flynn? Amy figured it out within a matter of seconds."

"Amy? Did you really just say Amy? What is this? Some elaborate prank? Are you filming this?"

"Oh Andy, I agree, it all seems like one big joke. Recently divorced and pregnant at fifty-one with the child of a man who's neither my husband nor ready to even acknowledge the possibility of a baby. My detective accidentally finding out about it at work before I even have a chance to tell him. Believe me, this is not how I planned my life either!"

"Amy?"

"Andy, can you concentrate on the important issue here?"

"And you told Amy?"

"Oh dammit – she walked in on me in the ladies room while I was waiting for the test results. Believe me, it was awkward enough, I'm not going to relive that experience by talking about it!"

"What did she say?"

"Andrew Flynn! Your girlfriend's just told you she's expecting your child! Focus!"

Andy bit his lip and looked at her. She was wildly beautiful in her aggravated state, the blazing eyes and flushed cheeks and underneath all that a vulnerability that was new. He couldn't find the words, but he wanted nothing more than to hold her and keep her safe, keep them safe. He smiled and gently leaned in to kiss her letting his actions tell her where words failed him. He tenderly cupped her face and then ran his hands through her hair and down her body until one of them came to rest on her stomach. He could feel her shiver a little at the contact and pulled her closer with his free arm.

"Hey Mommy," he whispered into their kiss. It wasn't much and he still wasn't sure how he could express the multitude of emotions he was feeling at this very moment. Love, an overwhelming love for Sharon and their unborn child, and the burning desire to keep them safe, right by his side and never let them go. Joy coupled with fear. Her arms around him tightened as she broke off their kiss and pulled back to look at him.

Gosh, she loved him, even if he could be such an idiot at times! An adorable idiot who'd obviously used the hours since this morning to read up on menopause.

"Hey Daddy," her voice broke, "Big news, uh?"

"Sharon, I … yeah, big news. I don't know what to say, I … I guess I'm a little … overwhelmed," he stammered.

"You're not he only one. You know I could make some space for you under my blankets, honey."

"Does it help?"

"It's warm and comfy and we could hide for a while." With a smile Sharon pulled a sheet over their heads, ensconcing them in a cocoon of soft light. "Better?"