Careful! Double chapters posted in one go. Make sure you've read the previous one before you read this one. :-)

Upon unlocking the front door, Sharon was greeted with darkness. With a heartfelt sigh, she stepped out of her high heels and left them by the door to go in search of her family. Leah's room stood quietly, only illuminated by the night light glowing in the far corner. Sharon stepped in, the plush carpet soothing her aching feet as she walked towards the bed. The covers were in disarray, her daughter's favorite stuffy missing, but Sharon wasn't worried. Leaving the room as it was, she walked out into the hallway and crossed over to what had formerly been her bedroom and was now hers and Andy's. The bedside lamp was on and dipped the room into a comfortable, warm light. A smile lit up her face at the sight that greeted her: Andy was on his back, one hand resting on a stack of documents next to him on the comforter; the pen had fallen from his grasp a long time ago, it seemed. He was still wearing the cashmere pullover he had put on that morning against which Leah's cheek was resting. Just like her father, the baby was fast asleep, mouth slightly open. Where Andy's arm was wrapped around the child on his chest, Leah was curled around her toy bunny that she loved more than any other toy she possessed.

Sharon carefully lowered herself to the side of the bed and watched them sleep so peacefully. Andy was a practical person, so it had taken him a while to get used to his work being this theoretical. In the beginning he had endlessly complained about all the security concepts he had to compose and analyze, but at some point, she knew, he had actually started to enjoy putting his mind to work like this. The human tragedy involved with investigating murders had always been hard on Andy and the chance to actually prevent terrible things from happening was something he had found he quite enjoyed.

Sharon reached out and stroked her daughter's hair. She had missed her today. As he had promised her in the hospital, Andy came by the office almost every day, happily enduring the guys' jokes about his being a house husband when he delivered lunch. Provenza was still not over Andy's quitting his job, but he was beginning to make his peace with it. At almost a year old, Leah was beginning to take her first steps and babble endlessly. Her arrival at the office was usually heralded by her happy squeals at the sight of her mother. More often than she could count, Sharon had found herself biting back laughter as FBI-agents, officers from other departments or even suspects had watched with undisguised shock as the little girl had peppered the allegedly ice-cold captain's face with kisses. She reminded them after that she was in charge and that her having a small child would not get anyone off the hook, but she did secretly enjoy seeing their faces fall. They often had lunch with the team, Leah sitting in Sharon's lap and watching what was going on around her while everyone ate. It was a luxury to be able to see her child this often during the day and some days, like today, she simply didn't have the time to accommodate a visit. Busy with a new project, Andy had been happy to stay home and work, but even though she had been involved in a high profile murder investigation, Sharon had been missing her baby all day. However, she had realized early on, the feeling was centered around her own need to be with her child. It was not, as it had always been with Ricky and Emily, guilt. She knew that Leah was fine with Andy, that she would see her before she went to bed. Sometimes she envied Andy who got to see all the little things, some of which she witnessed, others she didn't, but most of the time she was content.

Sharon shrugged out of her jacket and remained in her silk blouse and skirt as she kneeled on the bed and gently lifted the sleeping child off of Andy's chest. Leah stirred and woke, but fell back asleep immediately as she recognized her mother's scent. She turned her head into Sharon's shoulder and gave a tiny snore that reminded Sharon of Andy, her fist grabbing a handful of silk. They were so alike, those two, Sharon thought. She just hoped that her daughter wouldn't have the same penchant for trouble that had once been so characteristic of her father. Sharon glanced at Andy but he seemed out cold. Small wonder it was, she thought. Leah could be quite a handful when she wanted to be. Cradling her daughter to her chest, she leaned back against the headboard for a moment, enjoying the feeling of the baby's warm body against her own. She would have to wake Andy soon, she thought. There was news to be shared. But for now she was content with the way she was, holding Leah and listening to Andy's deep and regular breathing. The case had been hard, a local politician's small daughter had been kidnapped, but they had found and rescued her in time. Maybe the sight of the three year old's picture on their Murder Board was what had made Sharon long to hold her baby so desperately. Encountering children in her professional life had always been hard, but it had gotten worse now that she had another small one at home herself. She smiled as she thought of her grown-ups. Ricky had started another business that had a lot of promise. Rusty's studies were going well and he was happy in his dorm room on campus. A possible love interest, or so she had deducted from his stories, was also on the horizon. Emily, who had spent her last season as a soloist, was now the star of a new show that was set to premier next week, just after Leah's first birthday. Sharon and Andy were booked into a nice hotel near the venue in New York City. Having decided to not expose Leah's ears to the discomfort of flying at such an early age, it would the first time they'd leave her with someone else.

When she had made Gavin Leah's godfather, she wouldn't have expected him to get so involved. What she kept forgetting with all of his theatrics, was what a hands-on person he actually was. With a mind like a sponge, Gavin had read a book on childcare and had turned out to be an absolute natural. Even though he stood by his decision not to want children for himself, he was great with Leah. Sharon had no qualms about leaving the baby with him for 36 hours, even though she hated the idea of not seeing her for so long. The overprotectiveness she had displayed in the beginning was now a thing of the past. Dr. Joe had recommended a very good female therapist who had helped Sharon work through her PSD and she had soon begun to feel better. Sharon gently rose and walked into her daughter's room, careful not to wake the baby in her arms. She put Leah into her bed and tucked her in, regarding her for another moment before she tiptoed out of the room and joined Andy in their bedroom.

Having removed the papers and pen, she lay down next to Andy and ran her hand up and down his chest, pressing her lips to his cheek. He grumbled in his sleep, but didn't open his eyes. Wide-awake despite the late hour, the remains of the day's adrenaline still keeping her alert, Sharon rubbed her leg over his and pressed her body into his side. Andy finally opened his eyes and grinned.

"Hello, Captain." He smiled at her, his eyelids still heavy with sleep. "Did you find the little girl?"

She nodded. "We did. She was a little shaken, but she is fine."

"Thank God," Andy said. "Leah's asleep?"

"Yes. I put her in her bed, so we can have a conversation."

"Uh-oh," Andy said. "Did I do anything wrong?"

Sharon gave a secretive smile and leaned in to kiss him to which he responded more passionately than she would have expected him to be capable of, having just woken up. His hand found its way into her hair and he pulled her in, his free hand running along the edge of her bra. Swiftly, Sharon straddled him and leaned down to kiss him, his hands now on her hips. When she sat up straight again to give him a mischievous smile, he shook his head in mock annoyance.

"You've been out all day and now that you're back you just want to climb on top of me and have sex."

Sharon laughed. "Do you want me to stop?"

His grip around her hips tightened as he effectively stopped her attempt to get away. "I never said that. I've missed you."

"I've missed you, too," she told him.

Later she was snuggled into his side, her chin resting on his bare chest as he was about to fall asleep.

"There is something I need to tell you," she said softly. She brought her hand up to his face and cupped his cheek. Andy had tensed at her words and winced when he felt the cold metal against his cheek. Catching her hand in his, he held it away from his face and ran his thumb over the ring she had finally put on her finger. She watched his face light up with hopeful joy.

"You're wearing it on your hand now," he said. "Does that mean...?"

"I'm ready," Sharon said. "I was ready last week, but then that case descended upon us and I didn't want to tell you in a hurry."

Andy smiled at her as he kissed her hand. There was no need to ask what had prompted her to make this decision. It hadn't been any special event, just a slow, organic process. She had found herself toying with the chain around her neck one day at work, then had looked at the ring and decided that it was time.

"I didn't think there'd ever be a Captain Flynn in the department," he mused, grinning. "Hell of a thing."

Sharon felt almost giddy inside. She wasn't finished announcing things to him. Her mind went back to her last big announcement and how things had gone so horribly awry. This time they were not in a Starbucks, however, but in their own bed, warm and comfortable.

"There won't be, Andy," she said, almost bursting out giggling when he looked absolutely dumbfounded and a little afraid.

"Honey," she said to put him out of his misery. "It's going to be Commander Flynn."

"Really?" His eyes lit up and she nodded enthusiastically.

"The promotion freeze was lifted. For me, that is. Pope just told me. I am pretty sure it was mostly to do with that case and all the media attention, but I don't care either way."

"That's great! Congratulations, Sharon. God knows you deserve it!" Andy wrapped his arms around her as tightly as their position allowed and she gave a comfortable sigh.

"It's time you put a ring on my finger with all the housework that I do while you're out making a career for yourself," Andy pointed out, making her laugh again. The fact that he was working from home was an ongoing joke between them even though most of the housework was done by her cleaning lady, as it always had. She found it amazing how Andy Flynn, who had been quite a macho back in the day, didn't mind their arrangement at all. She had her work, he had his and he enjoyed the bond with his daughter. In many ways, he was catching up on all the little things he had missed the first time around and no amount of teasing from Provenza could overshadow that experience.

They were happy, Sharon thought as she felt herself beginning to drift off to sleep. Who would have figured with the rocky start they'd had? She turned onto her side and Andy followed, spooning her from behind. His warm breath caressed her neck as his thumb stroked her ribcage.

"Guess whom I saw today," he murmured, his voice dragging a little as he was just as close to falling asleep as she was. He didn't wait for an answer before he went on. "Caroline."

"Yeah?" Sharon murmured back. They hadn't heard from Caroline in a year and she found herself relaxed at the sound of her name; the jolt of pain that used to accompany hearing it had vanished.

"Yeah. She has a girlfriend now."

"A girlfriend?" Sharon wondered aloud. "That's a surprise."

"Not really," Andy yawned. "She's had girlfriends and boyfriends before me."

"Really," Sharon asked, stroking his arm affectionately. "You never told me."

"Must have slipped my mind," he said. "Anyway. Her girlfriend was with her."

"What's she like?" Sharon asked, seriously intrigued. "Look anything like you?"

"Ha ha," Andy said dryly. "In fact, she says hi. They're coming to dinner next week if you're okay with that."

Sharon turned her head to look at him in the semi-darkness of their bedroom. "Are you sure it won't be awkward? Does her girlfriend know? Will we like her?"

Andy's eyes sparkled with mischief. "She does know and you'll love her. Hold on to your head, Sharon, turns out it's DDA Hobbs."

"What the...?" Sharon tried to sit up, but then hopelessly giggled when Andy wrapped her up in his embrace and cradled her to his chest again to stop her from moving.

"Be quiet, woman," he told her. "I need my beauty sleep if I want to put up with all of you women." He nuzzled her neck and kissed it, already drifting off to sleep again. Sharon remained awake for another moment, looking into the darkness. She was glad that Caroline was happy and she was glad that they were, too. Her mind wandered back to that day when she had told Andy about the baby. The heavy scent of coffee, the whirring of the bean grinding machines, the stuffy air closing in on her. She had been feeling so nauseous with nerves and morning sickness, her hands trembling as she had set the paper cup of tea down on the small table. She had been feeling clumsy and scared and the veil in Andy's eyes just hadn't lifted. She remembered the look of utter horror when she had told him that she was pregnant and the stabbing pain in her chest as the last bit of hope she had been clinging to was shattered. She had been sure that day that there was nothing she could do, that she had lost him forever. She had listened to his tirade on how she could even think of raising another baby at her age and when she had finally gotten away, having called Gavin to ask him whether she could come by, she had leaned against the wall in a public bathroom stall close to the office, crying her heart out, her arms wrapped around her softly swollen stomach that should have held promise, yet produced so much dread and pain.

Back then she would have never expected things to change, would have never expected to be promoted to Commander, engaged to Andy Flynn and mother of another happy and healthy child. She had never set foot in that Starbucks again since that day, the memory of the pain deeply engrained in her heart. She had expected the smell of coffee to make her sick, the place to feel claustrophobic, but now that feeling had lifted. Snuggling back into Andy's embrace, her hand resting on top of his, she decided that she would suggest a cup of coffee for him and a cup of tea for herself there the next time Andy and Leah would come to the office to visit. It was time to bury the last bit of the past and look into the future.

Sharon fell asleep with a smile on her face as she imagined Gavin's reaction to her announcement that she would need a wedding dress.

He'd squeal.

She was sure of it.

Fin

A/N: Thank you so much for sticking with me and this story! I had such fun writing it all - the angst, the fluff, the drama and the happy ending. I can't express how much joy all of your reviews have given me. Thank you thank you thank you!