While You're Making Other Plans
by Miss Shannon and Glistening Sun
10
When Andy had first asked her whether she wanted to go to Lamaze classes, Sharon had only rolled her eyes. It was quite adorable that he wanted to do everything the right way, but it was still far too early to start with those classes. That was what she was telling herself anyway, but deep down Sharon knew why she was so opposed to the idea. They, or specifically she, would be a lot older than all the other mothers, some of them might not even be half her age. Truth be told, she was somewhat embarrassed. Andy would probably be fine, there were always older guys with significantly younger girlfriends and wives.
'There you go, Sharon,' she thought, 'you've been a feminist all your life. You've fought for women's rights on the force. You even went back and did that Masters in Gender Studies … Gender in Law Enforcement … and now you're embarrassed to show you're expecting a baby.'
A few days later Andy had brought up the issue again, "Lamaze. You said it's still too early and you were right. I looked it up." Of course he had! Andy Flynn had become quite proficient at internet searches ever since that faithful morning in the bathroom and he felt he knew more about pregnancy and peaches than he ever thought possible. Still too early meant there would be a time when it would no longer be early … maybe she could find private lessons? Yes, that would be an idea. Just Andy and a coach, no other couples, no prying looks. It would be a worthwhile investment.
"But I thought we could still do something nice together, you know, to prepare us for our Little Peach." Her eyes at sparkling at his suggestion - she liked the idea of doing things together just the two of them.
"You know how you said you loved swimming so much?" It was true, particularly now that Doc Cottle had recommended she stop running and all other high impact sports. Sometimes Andy would wake up to an empty bed on weekends and he would find her doing laps in the private pool located on top of her apartment building. He would stand back and watch her slicing through the water in smooth even strokes, the movement of her arms and legs breaking the water into a million sparkling crystals illuminated by the rising sun. His favourite part was when she pulled herself out of the pool and stood there for a moment like some water goddess, unaware of him watching her, squeezing the water from her hair and stretching, her cute baby bump very visible.
"I do. What did you have in mind?"
"Well, there's this spa out in the valley, it's a really pretty serene place. I figured we could go there for the weekend, go to the spa, try their mango-peach cheesecake – oh, and they do all sort of massages and facials, too."
"Oh Andy, that sounds absolutely wonderful! Honey, you're spoiling me."
Secretly, Andy had been very pleased with himself. If he'd suggested to go away to have a little break and give her some time to unwind, she might have said no, but presented this way as a romantic getaway with lots of peaches and plenty of time for them to be together, Sharon didn't seem to have noticed his motives. Andy had made a mental note to thank Gavin. He had been surprised how his girlfriend could be so relaxed after a full day's shopping with him and Gavin had offered a few pointers. Not that Andy didn't still have his morning mantra of telling himself to not be overprotective, but at the spa they would be far away from LA and any work related calls, they would be able to sleep in, and take naps during the day, and just take it slow. He had read somewhere that it was good to take a pre-baby holiday and he was determined to do as many of those as possible.
It had been Andy who had pushed to finally tell the team and Sharon had grudgingly agreed. She would have preferred to hide her pregnancy for as long as she could while Andy had been burning to tell everyone about their great joy. Which was probably why his best friend's reaction to the news had hit him so badly. She had actually been woken up by Andy talking loudly in his sleep, obviously reliving the conversation. "But I'm telling you, Louie, Sharon is pregnant. I saw our baby on the ultrasound … no, old man, stop saying that … no, stop it! No, I am not hallucinating! How can you say that … that's my son, not a broken knee!" He had woken up easily and while she had soothed him back to sleep, she had hatched an evil plan to bury her second in command in paperwork until he would finally come around. She had expected some form of blowback from him, jokes at her expense but not … well, simply ignoring her pregnancy and telling them they were hallucinating. He could make fun of her all he wanted, but she wasn't going to let him hurt Andy! The only thing she was grateful for was that it didn't seem to affect just how much Andy was looking forward to their weekend together.
/
After a leisurely breakfast, they retreated to their veranda where Sharon bedded her head in Andy's lap and closed her eyes, content to be close to him while he was leafing through brochures. She was wearing a simple sundress and he marvelled how she always seemed to look so much more pregnant on the weekends than at work when she was still hiding her growing bump with jackets and scarves. He leaned down to kiss her bare shoulders and run his hand over her belly, stopping when he felt a soft fluttering.
"She's been quiet all morning and the moment you touch me, she starts moving. So tiny, but she already recognises her daddy."
"Does he?" The joy on his face was adorable. It was such a simple thing, really, to feel their baby move, but when she looked at Andy, she knew just how special this was to him. Particularly after the conversation he'd had with his best friend.
"Yes," she confirmed, placing her hand on his cheek, "she recognises your voice, Andy, your touch, and how my heart beats a little quicker when you touch me."
"Really? Even now?"
"Oh honey, every single time, particularly on my belly," she confessed, her voice hoarse with emotion. "The way you look at me makes me feel so special."
"Because you are, sweetheart," he said gruffly, "you and Little Peach both."
When Andy later told her about the water aerobics course for expecting parents, something about experiencing the lightness of water and being closer to your child through that very same experience, he looked like a little boy, so very pleased with himself that he'd found something good for them. She simply didn't have it in her heart to say no to such genuine excitement. At least her body would be hidden in the water ….
It was an upscale resort and there were only two other couples, none of them particularly young, which made Sharon feel a little more at ease. Not that she had ever been shy about her body, she thought she actually looked pretty decent for a fifty-one year old, but her body did look too old to still carry a child. Once she was in the warm water though, cradled safely in Andy's strong arms, she forgot all about her earlier worries. The course wasn't really about exercise, but more about feeling good about yourself. She sighed and gave herself completely to the feeling of weightlessly floating in the warm salty water, anchored securely in Andy's arms. His hands were caressing her belly, exerting gentle pressure when he felt their child kick, massaging the tense muscles in her back to make her hum in contentment. She could feel the tension from the previous weeks ebbing away and let her head fall back to lie on his shoulder turning her face into his neck.
"You look happy," he commented pressing a kiss to her nose. "How's the little guy?"
"Blissfully happy, just like her mommy."
"Have I told you how much I love it when you call yourself his mommy?" Andy traced the line of her jaw with his finger, and then he kissed her again, taking care to find her lips this time. Sharon felt ready to doze off, the warm water making her sleepy. He kept his lips on hers, treading his fingers into her hair and gently massaging her scalp. They were so lost in each other that they barely noticed the class had finished and the other couples slowly leaving the bath.
"This was a wonderful idea, Andy. I haven't felt this … calm in ages. Thank you."
She loved the way his face lit up. Sharon knew that he constantly worried about her, and her pregnancy, and Stroh and always felt she was threatened. He had needed a few quiet moments and she noticed that when she was genuinely calm, it transferred onto him as well. She turned around so she could wrap her arms around his neck. Far away from LA and their jobs, Sharon ignored propriety and she kissed Andy firmly on the mouth pressing herself against him.
"Maybe we can take this to somewhere more private," she suggested feeling a sudden surge of those famous second trimester hormones. She could feel Andy's growing excitement and had to laugh, "and maybe we should hurry before we get ourselves arrested for indecent exposure!"
Laughing they existed the pool rather hastily with Andy's front pressed against her back. "Somebody needs to make sure you don't slip!"
"You could just take my hand."
Andy pulled her closer and leaned forward to kiss the side of her face. "No, not safe enough. I don't want anyone snatching my prize from me."
"Captain Raydor, Lieutenant Flynn, what a surprise meeting you here."
"Oh my God, Taylor!" they said in unison helplessly looking at each other. Andy was the one to react more quickly, keeping his arms wrapped securely around her middle. He would have stood in front of her to shield her from Taylor's gaze, but that would have looked strange and so he tried to cover their little secret. Of course Taylor and his wife were both wearing fluffy bathrobes, while they themselves felt rather naked. Sharon squared her shoulders and straightened up, nodding.
"Chief Taylor, Kassandra, pleased to meet you." She was painfully aware of her state of undress, but Taylor's wife had no such qualms. She pulled Sharon into an impromptu hug.
"Sharon, it's been so long! When did we last meet? May that awful Police Commissioner's Ball three years ago? Russell keeps telling me how busy you are with Major Crimes." She let go of Sharon and laid a hand on Andy's arm. "And Andy! How lovely to see you. You do look well – and happy. I was so pleased when Russell mentioned you two were going out."
"Thank you, Kass. Yes, we're very happy. We must catch up some time."
"We absolutely must! And Sharon, you do look radiant! Congratulations – you two must be so happy!" They both thought that this was it and that they could be on their way, but then Kassandra elbowed her husband in the side, "You could have told me our friends were expecting a baby!"
Despite making a rather ridiculous figure in his bright green bathrobe, Taylor found his most condescending of voices, "Kass, please! The Captain is our age. I'm sure she does not appreciate you making these kinds of jokes."
No, no, no, no, no! This was not how Sharon had imagined that particular conversation to go. She had expected it to be awkward, but she had pictured herself in Armani, not in a bikini! With Andy by her side and not trying his very best to cover her swollen belly with his hands making it only more obvious. Maybe she could just say goodbye and they could be on their way … and leave the conversation for Monday.
"Oh my God, Russell, you didn't know!" That much was obvious by the way he stared at his Captain and her Lieutenant with his mouth wide open. "Gosh, I am so, so sorry! Oh, how utterly awkward. Sharon, I am so sorry I spilled your little secret! Well, I guess we better be on our way! And congratulations again from both of us! What wonderful news!" and with that Kassandra pulled her husband away.
Sharon and Andy both stood motionless, their daughter choosing this moment to give a small kick right underneath her father's left hand.
"Andy, please tell me that did not just happen."
"You mean running into Chief Taylor and his wife in matching bathrobes and fluffy slippers?"
"Oh Andy!" she turn in his arms and slapped him against the chest, laughter bubbling up too powerful to stop it. "Matching bathrobes, she snorted, "Good grief, please promise me right here that no matter how old we'll get, we'll never get matching bathrobes, or slippers or anything, really."
"Aw, come on, sweetheart, you'd look stunning in anything. How about I get you a bathrobe with lots of little peaches?"
"Gosh, Andy, that was awkward. That was probably the most awkward moment of my entire career."
"At least we didn't wear matching fluffy duck slippers."
/
Andy pressed a peach into her hand and a kiss to her mouth. "You head up and rest, sweetheart, I'll be back with the rest of our things after my meeting."
"I'm not even tired," she protested barely managing to suppress a yawn, "I'm just going to take a quick nap and then get dinner started."
Sharon could feel Andy's eyes on her until the doors of the elevator closed. She was almost surprised he let her head up to the condo by herself, but he seemed much calmer after their weekend. Outside her door she found a little parcel and couldn't help but smile. The way it was wrapped was a dead giveaway. She remembered Christmas with the Johnson's all those years ago and Andy as the incompetent Christmas elf. That was why he had let her walk up by herself! Gosh, she loved him. Her heart beat a little quicker knowing he had made the effort to wrap his present himself.
Excitedly she ripped off the paper and found a photo of the two of them. She had no recollection that someone had taken that picture, but she remembered the moment only to well. They looked incredibly happy. Andy stood behind her with his hnds resting on her round stomach, their faces turned towards each other. He'd asked her that morning not to straighten her hair, so it was wild and curly the way he loved it. They were both smiling brightly, and she held a half-eaten peach in her hand. She had no idea how Andy had managed to take that picture, but she fell in love with it straight away.
She lifted the peach to her nose and smelled it, closing her eyes as she remembered that wonderful morning and relaxed happy afternoon with lots of cuddling and kissing. They were rarely that openly amorous in public, but the farmers' market had been a little out of town and … to be honest, she hadn't been able to bring herself to care. Their relationship was official and soon enough, even those who didn't know yet or had assumptions regarding the platonic nature of their relationship ould see them for what they were. A couple expecting their first baby. Why hold back?
They had bought plenty of the white peaches the market was famous for, and much more fresh produce. And then the next day Andy had made his famous veggie lasagne. Her mouth watered when she remembered that. After they had finished all their shopping, they stored their purchases in the trunk of her car that Andy had been driving, because he insisted that she would be safer if he drove and she had felt in the mood to indulge him. Of course, he had insisted on her car, because it was newer, and safer. He had actually looked into all the official crash tests and while he had been at that, he had also looked into buying the perfect car seat for their baby. Gosh, she loved that he could get into these things and she much preferred that to him watching her every move, and every step, looking at every item she lifted trying to determine whether it wasn't too heavy for her. It was no use telling him that she had carried around a three year old Emily when she had been expecting Ricky, no use telling him that she was pregnant, but not fragile.
They had walked over the market arm in arm, sometimes stopping to hold each other or kiss. She remembered how elated she had been, how good Andy's presence had felt and how much she had enjoyed her widely flowing maternity dress. Here, she didn't have to hide her growing bump. She could touch it when she felt her baby's movements – and Andy could rest his hand on her stomach and stare at her with his own brand of fascination. It had warm, with just a little bit of wind and the smell of the fresh fruit and herbs quite intoxicating. She could have stayed there all day, if only her feet hadn't started getting tired. Andy had been relaxed and not overly protective enjoying their little outing as much as she was. He must have noticed her getting tired, but he never said anything. Instead, he had leaned in to whisper he had a surprise for her and taken her by the hand, leading her through the market until they had finally come to a café that sold homemade pastries and cakes. Only when they were sitting on a bench, Andy's arm securely around her waist, had she noticed the logo and the name of the café - 'The Happy Peach'
"Andy! Did you see this?" she had squealed excitedly.
"You like it?"
"Oh Andy, this is perfect! We should use that little logo for our daughter's birth announcement!"
"Because you, too, have started calling our son Little Peach – just admit it!" And her blushing cheeks and nod had made his eyes shine with happiness.
She tenderly ran her finger over Andy's laughing face on the photo as she walked into their bedroom. Just a little nap and then she'd get dinner started. Content to be home she stretched out on their bed and lifted the peach to her nose again inhaling the sweet scent.
When Andy came home a couple of hours later he was greeted by the familiar sight of his girlfriend curled up in bed. Something was different though: not only was she not hiding under any covers, but there was a half-eaten peach still in her hand! God, he loved her, cravings and all. He bent down and placed a tender kiss to her lips still tasting of the familiar aroma. The kiss didn't get him any reaction; she only woke up when he tried to gently take the fruit out of her hand.
"The picture is great," she whispered sleepily indicating her bedside table.
"Who did you hire to take that, sweetheart? You look so incredibly beautiful!"
"Uh?" Sharon was still half-asleep, "I was thanking you for my present, honey."
"Sharon, this didn't come from me."
Suddenly Sharon was wide awake. "It was sitting outside the door when I got home and it looked like you had wrapped it. Are you saying that you didn't give this to me?"
"Did it come with a message?"
"No, just the wrapping paper. I thought …"
"I knew I should have walked you up! God dammit!" Andy grabbed some tissues from the box to not leave any more fingerprints and picked up the picture. He carefully pried open the back of the frame until a note fell out. His stomach clenched as he read it and wordlessly turned it around for Sharon to see.
"Clever, Captain, very clever. A child to replace the one I will take. – PS"