Chapter 3

…

Olivia and Sharon were in the kitchen preparing dinner while James and Andy sat in the sitting room chatting.

"So, have you and Sharon been together long?"

"6 months, give or take…what about you and Olivia?"

"Nearly a year now, can't believe how quickly it's passed."

"There's a bit of an age difference between you two, doesn't it feel weird dating a woman who's older than you are?"

"Not really, to be honest I never really thought of M….Olivia that way."

"You work for her."

"I do."

"So what exactly is it you do?"

"We rake out terrorists, we keep our country safe."

"Where do you work?"

"You ask a lot of questions Andy." James smirked.

"I just like to know that Sharon and I are safe in your company."

"We work for the Government….MI6."

"MI6, wow that's some job. Pretty dangerous then, your line of work?"

"No more than yours I guess."

Sharon was busy cutting up some tomatoes, while Olivia prepared the pasta for the spaghetti. Sharon could feel Olivia's eyes on her now and again as they worked.

"Sharon, I would just like to apologise again for yesterday. It probably wasn't the best start to your weekend."

"Really it's alright, we've kissed and made up now."

"Have you and Andy been together long?"

"Nearly 6 months, there are times when I wonder why we waited so long. It always takes a drama to make some people realise they're meant to be together."

"What happened…if you don't mind my asking?"

"My Son Rusty, well he's not my Son by blood but I've come to think of him as such….anyway, he witnessed a terrible crime and ever since that day his life had been threatened by the man he was going to testify against. The man in question found out where Rusty was, he targeted him, and me. We nearly died, they tried to get to Rusty, kidnapped him by pretending to be a police officer. We found him, in time but we'd both been targeted from the beginning, threatened with death and I think it made Andy realise his feelings for me, and me for him. The last few months before Stroth was convicted, Andy barely left my side. We began spending a lot of time together, we fell in love."

"You seem very well suited for one another."

"What about you and James."

"He's always been a ladies man, always flirting. I suppose given what he does for a living it's expected of him."

"What do you do, or shouldn't I ask?"

"No it's fine, we're MI6."

"Really, I was not expecting that. That's quite a job."

"I love it, I couldn't imagine doing anything else."

"So how did you and James end up together."

"I nearly died."

"Oh my god, I'm so sorry."

"No, you don't have to be. An agent I trained many years ago turned, he became greedy, jealous of James and what he's accomplished in his career. Silva, the agent, blamed me for his failures and was determined that I should die, he shot me…it was touch and go for a while but through it all James never left my side. He killed Silva and sat by my bedside for 4 weeks until I eventually woke up. He confessed his love for me, at first I thought he was mad but his eyes, the love I saw in those beautiful blue eyes, I'll never forget that look…I knew then he was genuine."

"It's amazing isn't it?"

"What is?"

"That it takes death threats for both of us to realise how important the men are in our lives."

"We get there in the end."

The both began to laugh as Andy appeared behind them, a smile on his face.

"Do you two need a hand in here or what?"

"We're just coming honey."

"I'll take the pasta out." Olivia smiled, walking away.

"What was that about?" Andy asked, wrapping his arms around Sharon's waist.

"We were just talking about how we fell in love."

"Oh yeah, James was telling me she nearly died."

"That's what she told me too."

"They seem happy together."

"I think they are, just like us."

"Come on, let's eat."

…...

The foursome talked more over dinner before returning to the couch, Olivia was resting her head against James on the couch while Sharon was on the floor with Andy by the fireplace, resting against his body, his arms securely around her. Sharon looked up and saw the snow outside.

"It's gotten really bad out there."

James glanced up and moved from his seat. He went to the door to open it and a sudden gush of wind blew the door wide open, snow drifting through the cabin. Andy was on his feet in seconds, helping James to close the door.

"When the hell did it get so bad." James asked.

"We've been so busy enjoying ourselves, I guess we just didn't realise." Sharon added.

"James, perhaps we should make a move."

"Oh come on you two, it's really bad out there. There's no way you'll make it back up the hill in that. Why don't you both stay the night and head back tomorrow?" Sharon said.

"She has a point Olivia, tomorrow we should probably head back to London before it gets even worse."

"I agree, it's such a shame though… I was having such a lovely time."

"The couch pulls out, why don't I go and get some bedding for you both."

"Thank you Sharon."

Sharon came back moments later with blankets and pillows, James and Andy pulled out the couch as Olivia and Sharon made up the bed for them.

"Now, there's another bathroom just down the hall. Feel free to help yourselves to toiletries and things. Olivia I'll go and get you a nightgown, I'm sure Andy had some spare bottoms for you James, I'll be right back."

"She's always prepared for any eventuality." Andy joked.

"Aren't they all?" James smiled.

…

Olivia was staring at the ceiling as she and James listening to the wind and snow outside the cabin, James turned over…propping himself up as she watched her.

"Hey, what's on your mind?" He asked.

"They're nice people, aren't they?"

"Who, Sharon and Andy…yeah I guess so."

"You guess so, James we've completely ruined their weekend. They had to play host to two strangers instead of enjoying their time away together."

"I don't think they were that put out."

"We should send them something, when they get home."

"Yeah good idea, however in the meantime….try and get some sleep."

She turned to him as he leaned in and placed a gentle kiss to her lips before they drifted off to sleep. Andy moved to wrap his arms around Sharon's waist, happy when he felt her moved closer in to him.

"Sharon."

"Mmmm."

"I was thinking that maybe we should make a move tomorrow too."

"What, I thought you were enjoying it."

"I am but this weather is getting really bad and I don't want us trapped up here. We could stop of at Jessica's earlier than planned, you'd get to spend an extra day with her."

"I do like the sound of that, I miss her so much."

"So we'll leave tomorrow."

"Yes, I agree."

"You mean the world to me, you know that."

"Like wise, I just wish we hadn't waited so long to tell each other how we felt."

"Better late than never."

"Night Andy."

"Night honey."

…

The next morning Andy and Sharon helped Olivia and James get their stuff into their car before heading off. Sharon convinced them all to take a group picture before they left.

"Sharon, it's been lovely getting you know you and Andy. I feel like I've made new friends."

"I feel the same way Olivia, now you have my cell phone….please keep in touch. You and James should come visit LA sometime, you'll love it."

"Try and keep us away, well we should be going."

"James, great to meet you. I enjoyed out chat very much."

"Yeah I did too, you're a lucky guy Andy." He smiled, looking at Sharon."

"Believe me I know, so are you."

"Well come on Ma'am, we better get you back to base."

"Alright I'm coming, goodbye Sharon." She smiled, hugging the younger woman.

"You take care Olivia, you too James."

"Nice to meet you Sharon, hopefully we'll see you again soon."

As James and Olivia got into their car, Andy came to stand beside Sharon…wrapping his arm around her shoulder as she leaned in to him. They stood and waved off their new friends, a small tear falling from Sharon's eyes.

"Hey, what's with the tears?"

"I know we only knew them a short time but…I'm going to miss them."

"Come on you, let's get you to Jessica's, I think you need some serious Mother/Daughter time."

"I think I do too."

…

Sharon and Andy arrived back at Major Crimes on the Tuesday to find nothing had changed, Provenza was grumbling about Buzz not paying his money for the printer while Sanchez was busy chatting up DDA Rios.

"Good morning everyone." Sharon smiled, as she entered.

"Captain, how was your weekend. Did you manage to handle him for a whole weekend." Provenza joked.

"He was a model holiday companion."

"Companion…when are you two gonna give up this charade and just admit that you're seeing each other….we all know anyway."

"Lieutenant I don't…."

"Sharon, they're right. I'm sick of hiding our relationship."

"Andy…."

"There's nothing to be ashamed off, look I love you and I want everyone to know it."

Andy closed the distance between them, bringing her lips to his as the Team looked on, a few wolf whistles from Buzz and Tao.

"They've been seeing each other." Emma said, in Julio's direction.

"It's no big deal, they're perfect for each other don't you think?"

"I don't really have an opinion on that."

"Why do you have to be such a stick in the mud."

"I'm not."

"You are, you need to let your hair down once in a while."

"Oh yeah and what did you have in mind?"

"Have dinner with me."

"Dinner...with you?"

" It's not that absurd."

"Okay, I accept."

"Good, I'll pick you up here at 8pm."

"Deal."

…

A few weeks later Sharon was in her office with Andy when Provenza walked in carrying a letter.

"This arrived earlier for you Captain, sorry…I forgot all about it."

"It's quite alright Lieutenant."

Sharon opened the letter as Andy and Provenza looked on, the smile that graced Sharon's face didn't go unnoticed by either man.

"Everything alright Sharon?" Andy asked, concerned.

"It's from Olivia."

"No kidding, what did she say?"

"She and James have time off in two months time and they've decided to take a long over due holiday, they're coming here and wondered if we wanted to meet up."

"And there was you thinking you wouldn't see them again."

"Who's Olivia and James?" Provenza asked.

"They're a couple we met when we were away on that long weekend a few weeks ago."

"Oh I see, British are they?"

"Yeah, why?"

"Just being nosey, I'll eh…leave you to it Captain, Flynn."

Provenza left then alone as Sharon got up and came around to Andy's side of the desk, taking a seat in his lap, wrapping her arms around his neck.

"It'll be lovely to see them again, won't it?" She smiled.

"It will and at least this time there's no chance of snow."

…

-Fin