Season 4 - Episode 10 - two weeks after 'Fifth Dynasty'

August 28, 2015

It was a Friday. He and Sharon had taken off for the day because his house would be full. Ricky's birthday was Sunday and Emily flew in last night to stay the weekend. They'd decided to all stay at Andy's for the weekend since he technically had a three bedroom. Only two were used as bedrooms though because he'd used the third room as a study … he had too many books.

A king sized air mattress was purchased and he had a couch, so sleeping arrangements were made. Sharon sadly had to sleep with Emily because she'd just been dating Andy for almost two months. No one had to know they'd been sleeping together the whole time. Sharon would never be ready to tell them, Andy worried, but was patient.

"I'm taking Emily to lunch." Andy walked out of his bedroom.

"Not me?" Ricky whined. "It's my birthday!"

Andy laughed.

Emily joked, "Is it your third birthday?! Because jeez you're a toddler …"

Ricky rolled his eyes.

"Your birthday is in two days, Ricky. I'm taking you to lunch then." Andy clarified.

"Oh, okay."

It was Emily's turn to roll her eyes as she turned and walked out the door.

"What about me?" Rusty chimed in.

Sharon was thoroughly enjoying this from her incredibly comfortable spot on the couch.

"I buy you food all the time, kid."

Rusty pouted.

"Alright, boys," Sharon called out to them. "Get over here … we're watching something."

"Nothing scary," Rusty said.

"Nothing stupid," Ricky added.

Sharon shook her head and kissed Andy when he leaned down to say bye. "Love you," he whispered.

"I love you." She mouthed, smiling as she watched him leave in those jeans she loved, taking her daughter god knows where.

Ten minutes later in Andy's car.

"WHERE?!"

"You heard me."

"Andy!"

"What?!"

"You better be taking me to lunch after. You promised lunch."

"I will."

"I'm hungry." She whined.

"Who's the toddler, now?"

She ignored the comment and went back to the shocking matter at hand. "A jewelry store … like … for an engagement ring … ANDY!?"

"If you don't want to help …"

"No, no, of course. I have to help. Good lord, if I left this up to you, you'd get the most gaudy, ugly …"

"Hey!"

"Sorry, men are stupid. I know what we'll get. Good idea asking me," she swatted him. "When … oh my god, Andy, when are you going to ask her?"

"No time soon … just want the ring."

Emily smiled and shook her head in disbelief.

"So … men are stupid?"

"Yes."

"Emily," he warned.

"Prove me wrong."

He smiled and shook his head. "Working on it, kiddo."

Season 5 - Episode 12 - during 'White Lies Part 2'

September, 2016

She'd just sent everyone home. It had been the worst day in a long while. It had been the longest day in quite a while. Russell Taylor died this morning. Andy and Sharon barely had time to speak about it all. Sharon remembered a hug, but that felt like days ago.

He was the last one in the room with her after she sent them home, Provenza shooting him a look, 'Take care of her' it meant. She was about to fall apart, they both could tell. She could tell.

"Sharon?"

She was staring at Dwight's mother on the screen, waiting for some sympathy to emerge.

After too long of a moment, he moved next to her and placed his hand on her lower back, lightly.

"Hey," he moved in front of her, keeping a hand on her waist, and she finally looked at him.

"Hi," she smiled.

"Talk to me." It was more of a question.

She shook her head and hugged him tight.

After a bit, he pulled back until he was just holding her hands.

"Sharon? What do you need?"

She looked into his eyes for a long while, thinking about what she needed more than anything. She looked again to the picture of Dwight's mother.

"I need to get out of here. I want to go home, get in bed, cuddle up to you, and sleep."

He leaned forward and kissed her quickly.

"Sounds good to me. Let's go, then."

An hour and a half later, they were in bed cuddling.

"Thank you." She whispered against him. Her hands slowly moving over him.

"I needed this, too." He kissed her lips and pulled back. Her eyes were closed. "Hey, look at me, please."

She did.

"I'm here … when you need to talk."

"I don't need to tonight." She waited a beat. " Do you need to talk?"

"I'll wait for you."

"You always do," She hummed against his lips and kissed him slowly. "Thank you for being wonderful."

"I love you." He'd do anything for her to just talk to him right now.

"I'm going to church in the morning."

"I figured you'd go tonight."

"I just need this, tonight … you." She hugged him closer and started to drift.

"I love you so much, Sharon," he kissed her head and soon drifted with her.

She woke before him. Completely wrapped around him. It was a little after six. She stayed put and just enjoyed the quiet. Enjoyed him. She watched him for a bit, sleeping soundly, light already seeping through, unfortunately, but it allowed her to see him. She never liked touching anyone when sleeping, but of course, he was different. Even if she fell asleep fully on her side, she'd end up fully on his, or him, hers … it was as if every atom in her body pulled her to be next to his.

She loved waking first, and waking naturally. Loved watching him sleep, and wake slowly. She wasn't sure if she let him know enough … just how cute he was … she smiled … handsome. He'd want her to say handsome … or sexy, and he was, but 'cute' worked better, she thought. Adorable. Especially in the morning.

She didn't want to wake him, so she closed her eyes and thought about yesterday. Tears came soon and she just let them fall.

She really wanted to be called into Taylor's office today and hear him complain. About anything.

She'd give anything for him to call her into work right now.

"Penny for your thoughts?" He saw the tears.

She opened her eyes, wiped her cheeks, and giggled, surprised because she hadn't realized he was waking. She felt better when she saw the look in his eyes.

"You're very cute." She answered and leaned up … kissing his cheeks and lips and forehead and lips again and then rolled over quickly to get out of bed before he could pull her back. She waited a moment before standing and he had time to at least wrap his arm around her waist.

"Hold up," he let out.

"Stop," she swatted his arm, "I need to get up."

He wanted to whine. He wanted to pout. He didn't, though. He smiled. She didn't need that this morning.

"I know, hold on," he maneuvered over to sit next to her. "Morning." He took her hands and leaned in to kiss her quickly.

"Morning," she answered.

He stood and held his hand out for her, embracing her after she stood.

"I love you. You're beautiful. Want me to go to the church with you?"

Still in the hug, she grinned, knowing he absolutely did not want to. "No, but thank you." She pulled back to kiss him and walked to the closet.

He watched for a moment. Then he crawled back in bed.

She smiled after changing, at him still in bed. She needed to get to the church before work and he still had another hour before he had to get up.

"So, yesterday … after you dropped in to give me a hug, Rusty felt bad …"

"Good."

"Andy," she warned.

"What? He should feel bad for not thinking of you."

"He gave me a long hug after."

"Good. He fucking learned something." He sat up in bed. Might as well get up, too.

"Andy, I don't want to hear things like that." She walked up to the bed.

"Okay, but I rarely complain about him, babe."

"I know. I definitely see how much you love him. Maybe show him a little more?"

Andy nodded. "Okay." He stood. He was unhappy with Rusty.

"You have to be patient with him and I don't want him to know that you-"

"That I'm disappointed in him? He can know that. He should know that! I know that Rusty, Emily, Ricky … they come first, but I'm not going to stand by and let them disregard you or forget about how fucking important you are to them." He felt his anger rise. It settled when he looked to her.

"Andy, they know …"

"Rusty is twenty years old. When is it his job to do the right thing FIRST and not make people work on their patience for him? He was ONLY worried about Dr. Joe. Sharon, even Provenza told him …" Andy didn't want to talk shit about Rusty.

Sharon understood, but Rusty would do no wrong in her eyes. She would be patient with him forever. She would love him no matter what. Andy stood.

"YOU, Sharon, are my most important person." He hugged her and then stepped back to have her eyes on his. "Of course my children come first, but they don't want to have much to do with me and I respect that. Nicole does some, but that's because," he placed his hands on her hips as he moved closer, "the most important person on Earth showed her that I may be worth a little something."

"Andy-"

"I will always think of your well-being before Rusty's. I will always show your children how disappointed in them I am if they don't treat you well. I'm sorry, but I'm also … not sorry … at all. I love him, Sharon, so very much and I will always have his back, I would die for him, but until then," he kissed her stunned face, "it's you. How fucking corny, how lame, how nauseating it sounds I know, but, I don't-"

She kissed him hard, shutting him up. He responded instantly and pushed her back against the wall.

They made out for a little bit and then pulled back.

"I love you," he kissed her forehead and released her, moving to the closet to change.

She stood for a moment after he just left her against the wall, then moved to sit on the bed. "I love you."

He talked while he dressed. "I'm very glad that you're going to church. I'm sorry that I can't help you … there are things, Sharon … that I can't … I can't empathize with..."

She just watched him.

"Things that you can find understanding from someone else … or elsewhere, like your priest, like Emily, I just, I don't feel bad about Dwight losing his life. I don't feel bad about not feeling bad about Dwight losing his life. I do hate that you do. I do hate that I can't help you with this."

"Provenza told you-"

"Yes, of course he told me what you said. Please don't tear yourself apart inside because of this waste of life Darnell, or his mother …"

"I appreciate," she spoke slowly, "... very much appreciate and love the fact that you know me so well." She stood to wrap her arms around him when he emerged from the closet. "And you're right … you don't understand, and you can't help me."

He stuck his bottom lip out. That was unacceptable.

"And that's okay." She made sure he understood. "You can't with everything. I know you want to."

"I desperately do … Sharon … this bothers me, but I … I get it."

"You can't fix everything. Also, I'm completely in the dark with this. I do not feel sorry for killing him and I'm so … I feel like I'm just …" she breathed out in frustration.

He brought her in for a hug.

"I don't know," she finished. "I don't feel like 'me'."

"You are you and I love you," he mumbled against her hair.

"I love you." She kissed him. "I'll figure it out. We'll talk."

"I'll be better with Rusty."

"You're fine, Andy. You're right, I know that I don't push him enough … but I don't want to."

He smiled. "Then don't. That'll be my job. And his adoptive father, Provenza."

"Hmmm."

"I'll go make a quick breakfast?"

"Mmmmm," she held him tighter. "Yes, please."

He grinned, kissed her quickly, and rushed to the kitchen. She was going to have the best breakfast.