Fictober 2024 Day 2

Prompts: it's been a long time

Andy gets to see another side of Sharon

A gigantic thank you to TheShadowsEdge without whom this story wouldn't be what it is

Getting to love you

Andy Flynn had known Sharon Raydor for a long long time. She graduated from the academy a few years after him. She was in Patrol around the same time as him. They frequented the same people, they worked in the same building. Then she left for the Dark Side. Their paths still crossed a lot, he still found her pretty and intelligent but the fact that she worked for the rat squat tarnished her appeal. But then, she came back to his division, working as some kind of annoying consultant. He started finding her attractive, not just physically. And his fascination for her slowly grew.

"It's been a long time!" She laughed on the phone, as he was driving her to the airport after their missed Christmas because of the horrible case with the Kosovar dude. He wasn't sure who she was talking to but from the background noise, he imagined her whole family. He could hear laughter and people whoohing. Her tone was light, amused, something he was not used to, something he had not heard since they were young and playing carefreely with toddlers. It made him wonder how much she had changed, if she had really changed after all. Was she still that young playful mother who chased after a young ballerina and a crawling little lion at an halloween party?

—-

As he was walking to the breakroom to get himself a well deserved coke, he heard Gavin's voice. Oh God, that man. He liked him as much as he hated him. He always had to be right, and sooo loud but he could only admire his dry humor. "Oh, it's been a long time." He heard him say with an extravagance. "Way too long, Darling, way too long!" A woman responded. Wait a second, was that… Yep, he looked around the corner. That was Raydor. His jaw nearly hit the floor. She was wearing a long glittering bordeaux dress. Her shoulders were free of any fabric, her long hair came in waves to frame her face which was bare of her glasses. She was beyond recognition! Gavin was still in his dark suit with a red glittering bow. Holding each other's hands, they entered the elevator and left a stunned Andy Flynn in their wake. That those two were friends was not a secret but still something he had a hard time wrapping his mind around. Gavin was so… loud and very present when Raydor was the exact opposite. Well, most of the time, she could be all those things if needed, he knew something about it. But wasn't Gavin… hum… gay? What were they doing holding hands and being dressed like that? He knew it would haunt him for a while.

—-

The third time he heard her say that very same phrase "It's been a long time.", she had already wrapped him around her little finger. She was in charge of Major Crimes for less than a month when her leadership, her soft authority and her bright mind had completely charmed him. Maybe the fact that she was so present and dedicated to Rusty helped to win his heart too. What's not to admire there? But that day… that day he was about to get Provenza and himself a coffee from that little shop near the PAB when he saw a beautiful tall brunette. She was… wow. Long lean figure, fitting jeans in tall brown boots, a simple shirt. He was about to go and see her when he saw her wave at someone. He turned around and saw his boss running on the street and jumping in the beauty's arms. "It's been a long time." She said, her face hidden in the other woman's neck. They hugged for what felt like a long time before going inside the coffee. Spying a bit on them, while getting his coffee, he understood that they were close friends and that the brunette owned a farm and that her husband was a pilot. What he understood too, was that Raydor may be a hardass at work, she was warm and smiley outside of it. It made him want to see more of that side of hers.

—-

By the fourth time he heard her say "Oh it's been a long time", her daughter in her arms, snowflakes dropping slowly around them, he knew her pretty well. They were friends, very good friends. Of course he wished for more. How could he not? She was so witty and funny. She loved sports and old movies. She was always up for any activity, whether it was going for a long hike in the desert or just having brunch. She was generous with her time and attention. She was smiling, smiling so much. She was the start that shines bright and lights up everything around her. He was just that poor moth trying to come close and enjoy it as much as he could. That she wanted to be his friend was already so much, so much more than he'd ever thought possible. Now, they were spending the holidays in New York, her daughter and his sister granting them at the airport. Really what more could he ask?

—-

"Oh it's been too long, I've missed you." She said, capturing his lips, her hand running up in his neck as he deepened the kiss. Oh, he missed her too. How could he not? He had been gone only for the weekend, spending some time sorting his things at home before selling it and seeing his daughter. Never had he dared imagine that one day she'd be his, that very first time he heard her say those words but now… Now that they were directed to him, he couldn't be happier.