DISCLAIMER: I do not own these characters except Matthew and Moxie. The rest belongs to James Duff and the Major Crimes Franchise.

Chapter 16

Later on, that afternoon, Sharon was outside in the front of their house, admiring the newly planted flower garden that Andy had fixed up. The color combination of the flowers was so beautiful Sharon thought to herself. "Do you like them?" Andy came up behind her from the driveway as he spoke. Sharon turned around and saw that he changed his clothes and his hair was damp from his shower. He looked so good, making Sharon blush as he walked up towards her. "Oh, yes, I love my flowers, and I love you" she said as she leaned up and kissed him. "Where's Matthew?" she asked him as she pulled away and admired him. "He's in the house, playing with some Lego's" Andy muttered as he leaned forward to kiss her again. Sharon hummed as he pulled away, breaking their kiss. "I love your haircut" she told him as she ran her fingers through his short hair at the top of his head. "I knew you would" he grinned. "So, what's on the agenda for the rest of the day, Commander?" Andy asked her as he grabbed her hand, holding it as they both made their way towards the backyard.

"Well, I told Lieutenant Provenza to call me if we catch a case today" she said as she glanced at her watch and noted that it was closer to 4pm than she thought. "I don't think we will be catching one today, it's almost quitting time for the rest of the team" Andy whispered in her ear and she shook her head at him. "We are on call the whole night too" Sharon reminded him. "I know" he replied as he leaned in and kissed her as they stopped just inside the backyard fence. "I had a very nice night out here last night" she told him after they broke their kiss. "I'm glad" he smiled at her. They walked towards the newly planted flowers. "These flowers are so beautiful, Andy" she said as she looked around the patio. Just then, Matthew opened the back door and Moxie came out running around the yard. The dog then went to one of the bushes and started barking. "He thinks something is in that bush" Matthew told his parents as he ran past them. Moxie was then digging around the bush as both Matthew and Andy went over to see what was there. Sharon took a seat on the couch that was back in its place on the patio and watched them.

Sharon's phone rang as she was sitting there and she pulled it out of her pocket, hoping it wasn't work. She looked at the screen and saw it was Emily calling. She answered the phone. "Hey sweetheart" she said. "Hi mom!" Emily said as she walked out of her rehearsal. "How's rehearsals going?" Sharon asked as she tucked her feet underneath her legs, removing her shoes first. "Great, I think we will be ready for opening night in September" Emily said as she walked to her car. "That's two months away sweetie" Sharon smiled. "I know, but it will be closer than you think" Emily opened her car door, placing her bag on the passenger seat and then closed her door and started her car. "Um, mom, do you think I can sleep over tonight and maybe the next few nights, the apartment building still smells like smoke and I just can't relax there right now" Emily asked her. "Of course you can" Sharon told her. "Ok, I'll be over in a few minutes, just leaving now" Emily told her and then she hung up her phone.

Andy looked under the bush that Moxie was barking at but he didn't see anything unusual. Moxie had stopped barking meanwhile and was now laying in the grass with Matthew giving him a belly rub. Andy walked back to join Sharon on the couch. She had a smile on her face as he approached her. "What has you smiling like that?" he asked her as he sat down. "Besides you?" she grinned and he chuckled. "Emily called and she's coming over to stay with us tonight and for a couple of nights" Sharon told him and Andy looked concerned. "Her building still smells like smoke and she can't relax there, so" Sharon told him. "So, momma looks happy that her girl is coming over" Andy said as he leaned in and kissed Sharon on her cheek. "I am happy" Sharon smiled as she caressed his face with her hand. "You want to cook out tonight?" he asked her as they sat together on the couch. "Hmm, what do we have?" Sharon asked as she watched Matthew and Moxie on the grass. "Fish, chicken?" Andy told her. "Both sound good" she said and watched Matthew get up and walk over to where they were sitting.

"What's up sweetheart?" Sharon asked Matthew as he joined them on the couch, moving in between the two to sit. Andy shifted over so there was room. "Can I go in the pool?" Matthew asked them. Sharon glanced over at Andy who looked back at her. "Oh, well, I don't see why not, if you're feeling up to it?" Sharon answered him. "Can Moxie come in the pool?" he asked. "I don't think the chlorine in the pool is good for the dog" Andy told him. "Moxie needs his own pool then" Matthew suggested. "Hmm, put it on the list then kiddo" Andy chuckled as Matthew moved off the couch and walked towards the back door. "Go put your swim trunks on" Sharon told him and then he ran inside the house. Sharon looked at Andy and smiled. "He's bored today" she said, shrugging her shoulders. "Hmm" Andy mumbled as he leaned forward and kissed her, this time on her lips, lingering there for a few seconds before kissing her again.

Matthew opened the back door, letting it slam behind him as he ran out carrying a towel, heading towards the pool. The commotion broke their kiss and Andy yelled out to Matthew, "Hey! Slow down!" Matthew stopped in front of the gate and turned around, waiting for one of them to join him so he could swim. Sharon stood up and started to walk to the back door. "Are you going in with him?" Andy asked as he watched her. "I'm going in to get the sunscreen" Sharon smiled and kept walking to the house, stepping inside the back door and bringing out the sunscreen that was in the mud room. Sharon walked past Andy, who was still watching her, and made her way to Matthew. "Here, let me spray this on you before you go in the pool" Sharon told Matthew and he held out his arms. Sharon sprayed his arms, legs, chest, and back. She then opened the gate to the pool. "Ok, you can go in" Sharon smiled as she watched Matthew walk into the pool deck, throw his towel on one of the chairs, and then did a cannonball into the pool. Sharon sat down on a chair on the pool deck and watched Matthew swim.

Andy's phone rang as he stood on the patio. He pulled his phone out of his pocket and saw his partner calling him. Andy groaned as he contemplated answering it. "This better be good" Andy muttered into the phone as he answered it. "Flynn! I haven't heard from you all day" Provenza said. "Yeah, well, that's kind of the point when I take a day off, you know" Andy told him. "Yeh, yeh, so how's Matthew doing?" he asked. "He's fine, back to feeling normal now, so don't worry, I'll be in with the Commander tomorrow" Andy chuckled. "Well, you missed the drama today" Provenza stated. "With Winnie Davis or Jack?" Andy asked. "Oh, well, I guess you heard about the drama then" Provenza muttered. "Sharon told me" Andy huffed. "Why was Jack there?" he asked Provenza as he moved inside the house. "Well, I checked with Evans on the fifth floor and he said that Jack was there defending some suspect in a possible gang involved robbery" Provenza told him and Andy rolled his eyes. "Geeze, defending a dirt bag, never changes" Andy muttered as he moved in the kitchen.

"Yeh, well, he was pretty upset that you weren't at work today" Provenza told him. "Why? Did he want me to punch him or something?" Andy said as he looked around to make sure Sharon wasn't sneaking up on him. "He made some comment to the Commander about him wanting to see the day that she gets tired of you" Provenza relayed and Andy's face just went blank for a second after hearing that. A million things were no going through his mind, him picturing himself punching that smug look off of Jack's face. "Well, I hate to disappoint him but that ain't gonna happen" Andy told him. "So, everything went ok last night?" Provenza asked as he made his way through the front door of his house, seeing Patrice sitting on her chair, waiting for him. "Yes, besides I thought you didn't want to hear about what happens with me and Sharon at home?" Andy stated. "Yes, of course I don't, not details anyway, I'll see you tomorrow Flynn" Provenza said. "Yeh, see you tomorrow" Andy said and hung up his phone.

Andy stood at the counter of the island, with his hands flat on it, thinking about Jack and what he had said to Sharon and reiterated by what Provenza told him. His hands turned into fists and he was about to slam his right hand into the island when the back door opened and Emily walked in. "Hey Andy!" she said as she brought her duffle bag in with her. "Hi Emily" Andy said, quickly un-fisting his hands as he stood in his spot. "Mom says I can spend the night here" she said as she walked further into the kitchen. "Yeh, she's looking forward to it, um, she's out by the pool with Matthew" Andy told her as he moved towards the refrigerator and started to take the food out to make dinner. "Yep, I saw them, I'm just going to bring this upstairs" Emily said as she walked to the stairs. Andy nodded and then started preparing the chicken and fish.

Emily came back down five minutes later and stepped into the kitchen. Andy was still there fixing things up for dinner. "So, your building still smells like smoke?" he asked her as she stood there. "Yes, it's really bad, but the owner of the building says that over the weekend he's having some company come in and deodorize the whole building so, I guess we will see after that happens" Emily told him. "You met your dad for lunch the other day?" he asked her as he was cutting up carrots. "How did you know?" she asked. "Your mom told me" Andy told her. "Oh, how did she find out?" she asked, wondering. "Your father ran into your mom today at work, and he asked if she knew about the fire in your building" Andy explained as he washed some more carrots. "Oh" was all that Emily said. Andy looked over to her and she seemed quiet. "You know it's ok you see your dad, I'm not offended by it and I know your mom wants you to keep in touch with him" Andy told her as he brought the washed carrots to the counter. "Does he know that I called you instead of him that morning?" Emily asked and Andy nodded his head. "I'm sure he was pissed by hearing that" Emily said. "Well, from what I heard, your mom told him and he handled it as expected" Andy said, continuing to slice the carrots.

Emily nodded and walked out of the house to where her mom and Matthew were sitting by the pool. "Hi sweetie" Sharon said as she hugged Emily. Emily sat down next to her and saw Matthew was sitting on the other side, laying in the sun with Moxie. "So, Andy told me that dad told you we had lunch the other day" Emily said to her. "Yes, your father paid me a visit today at my office" Sharon leaned over to look at Emily. "I didn't tell him that I called Andy that morning" Emily leaned forward in her chair. "I know, I told him that" Sharon stated and Emily shook her head. "I'm sure he was pissed when you told him" she said and Sharon shrugged her shoulders. "I don't know if he was pissed but he definitely didn't like what I had told him" Sharon smiled slightly at her daughter.

"So, are you keeping him home again tomorrow?" Emily asked as she nodded in Matthew's direction. "No, I don't think so. He wants to go to camp tomorrow and also play in his baseball game on Saturday" Sharon said as she leaned back in her chair. "His eyes are normal and he's been feeling fine all day today" she added. Emily smiled and shook her head. "Always protective of us, Mom" she said as she grabbed Sharon's hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. Emily looked behind her and saw Andy was opening the grill and getting things ready. "So, tell me about your date last night!" she asked her mom, almost squealing in delight.

Sharon glanced over to see what Andy was doing. He was still standing by the grill. She turned around to face her daughter. "It was nice" Sharon smiled. "Nice? That's all you have to say?" Emily asked her. "How did Andy make it nice?" Emily rolled her eyes at her mom. "We had dinner, and then we danced out here, and afterwards we sat, talked, and it was nice" Sharon smiled again. "Oh Mom" Emily huffed. "What?" she asked her daughter. "You're not going to elaborate on last night then?" Emily asked her again. Sharon shook her head no. "I'm sure you would tell Andrea or Patrice if they asked you" she added. "They're different" Sharon quickly answered. "Why?" Emily wondered. "Because they are not my daughter" Sharon simply stated. Emily turned in her chair and stared off into the pool. "I would tell you about my love life, if I had one" she pouted. "What's going on, Em?" Sharon asked her. "It's just, you and Andy, it's like a fairy tale but real life, like I can't believe my mom found love, at work, with her Lieutenant, and now you're married to him, living the life you always wanted, that dad could never give you, and I just want" Emily started and then paused. "I just want what you and Andy have, you guys make it look so easy" she finished and Sharon looked over at her daughter. "Honey, it's not easy, and takes a lot of work, but, when you find the one person who would do anything for you, or your family, you make it work, despite obstacles thrown your way" Sharon told her, reaching for her hand, and gently squeezing it.

"So, what are you ladies talking about?" Andy said as he walked up to them from behind. "Oh, just girl talk" Emily stated and giggled as she saw her mom blush and smile. "Hmm, girl talk? Perhaps I need to rescue Matthew then?" Andy stated as he bent down and kissed the top of Sharon's head. "He's sleeping" Sharon told him as she looked at the chair next to her and Matthew was curled up. "Hmm, well dinner will be ready in about twenty minutes or so" Andy told them as he walked around the fence and stepped inside. He then bent down and placed Matthew's towel over the sleeping boy. "Were you telling Emily about our date last night?" he asked. "She wouldn't give me details Andy, so don't worry" Emily stated as she stood up and started to walk away from them. "I'm going to go inside the house and set the table" she hollered back to them. "Set out five plates, Emily!" Sharon called out to her daughter. Andy looked at Sharon as she moved to the side of the chair, allowing him to sit down next to her on the chaise. "Everything ok?" he asked as he nuzzled her neck. "Yes" Sharon smiled and closed her eyes. "We should probably wake him up, otherwise he'll miss dinner" he told her in between kisses. "We should, hmm, before you get carried away" Sharon smiled as she moved to get off of the chair.

TBC