Notes: One step forward two steps back. I had the majority of this written for a while before I went on vacation but wasn't sure how to tie it up. I had some time during a layover today and thought I'd take a stab at it. Enjoy!

"Alright, I'm trusting you to watch your brother and sister while we're gone," Sharon tells Ricky as he sits at the dining room table working on his homework with Libby and Drew, "I know it's only going to be a weekend, but we are going to be in New York."

"It'll be fine. We got movies and groceries tonight, they have to finish their homework before we can do anything, I have money to order dinner for Saturday, and you'll be back on Sunday. And I can call Aunt Andrea or Uncle Gavin if I have any issues. Not that I should have any."

"I know, I just worry. It's the first time we've had you do this and haven't been at work," Sharon sighs, "I'm your mother I'm allowed to worry."

"Worry all you want mom, we're going to be fine," Ricky assures her, "Now you better get going or you're going to miss your flight."

"Alright, alright, last hugs," Sharon says, giving Ricky a big squeeze before hugging each of the twins and pressing kisses to their foreheads, "Be good for your brother. We'll see you Sunday."

"Bye!" Libby chirps with an enthusiastic wave as they head out the front door to meet the cab that was waiting for them. Andy puts the bags in the trunk before opening the door to the back seat for Sharon. She smiles at him before climbing inside and sliding over to the driver's side. She buckles her seatbelt as he gets situated before the driver confirms that they were going to the airport.

"Yeah, terminal...4," Andy confirms after looking at the tickets in his pocket. He winks at Sharon before tucking the tickets back in place, reaching over to grab her hand, "They're going to be fine you know."

"I know, I know," She sighs before smiling wider again, "And I get you to myself almost the entire weekend."

"That you do," Andy grins, giving her hand a squeeze, "So what's the plan?"

"By the time we get there it'll be way past our bed time, so we'll go to the hotel and check in. We can have a bit of a lie in if we'd like, Emily said she wasn't going to be available to meet us until lunch time, so I thought we'd meet up then, we could take her somewhere nice. Then we have to drop her off at the theater where the performance is, they're doing rehearsal before the show, which leaves us enough time to come back to the hotel, get ready, and go to dinner before we go back to the theater for the performance," Sharon explains, "My parents were going to try to make it down to watch as well, I haven't heard anything about it lately so I'll have to give them a call tomorrow. Are any of your sisters coming?"

"I know Soph is, she said she got tickets. Katie was supposed to be getting tickets but I haven't heard anything lately."

"Well if you talk to them tomorrow and find out we can get there a little early and save some seats," Sharon tells him as she plays with his fingers.

"I will call them in the morning before we head out for the day," Andy assures her with a small smile. Sharon smiles back and leans over to kiss him.

"Sounds perfect," She murmurs. The rest of the ride to the airport is passed in a comfortable silence. Once they reach LAX she pays the driver as Andy gets their bags out of the trunk, putting his duffel bag on top of her rolling suitcase. He takes her hand as the driver pulls away and walks into the airport with her, heading towards the security lines since they'd already checked in online and didn't want to check their bags. They make their way through security without incident before heading for their gate.

"You hungry?" Andy asks as they start to come upon a strip of food vendors.

"I could eat," Sharon smiles, "I didn't get much for dinner."

"Burgers?" Andy indicates the restaurant ahead. Sharon nods and follows him into the small restaurant, snagging a table that had just opened. The two eat a quick dinner before finishing their trip to their gate, making it just as the first boarding calls are made. Sharon yawns once they get to their seats, slipping her purse under the seat in front of her. Her book ends up in her lap but she never opens the cover as she settles against Andy's shoulder and closes her eyes, dozing off before they even get off the ground.

Once in New York the two take a cab to their hotel and Andy gets them checked in before leading his now wide awake wife upstairs. He drops the bags onto the luggage rack before unzipping his and starting to look through it for his pajama pants. Sharon slips behind him and wraps her arms around his waist as he searches. Her cheek presses to his back as her hands fiddle with his belt buckle.

"Can I help you?" Andy questions teasingly.

"Most likely," Sharon replies, starting to pry the belt open. Once she has it apart her hands slip down to cup him through his jeans, squeezing him gently. Andy groans and his hands still.

"You're making this really difficult."

"You could make it easier," Sharon says as she continues to tease him, "Or harder, depending which way you look at it."

Andy abandons his bag and turns around in his wife's hold, finding her eyes dark with desire as she stares up at him with an entirely too innocent look on her face.

"But if you don't want to..." She trails off.

"You know damn well I want to," Andy growls, walking her back towards the bed. Sharon grins and presses her lips to his, moaning as he pushes her onto the bed and falls down with her.

In the morning Sharon groans as sunlight pierces right into her eyes through the open curtains across the room. She lifts a hand to cover her eyes as the other reaches out to feel the other side of the bed, surprised to find it empty and cold. Her eyes flick towards the door as she hears the key in the lock. She pulls the sheet up around her chest before relaxing when Andy comes in holding two to go boxes in his free hand.

"Hi," She greets in a soft tone before moving to sit up against the headboard.

"Hey," Andy smiles. He kicks off his shoes before climbing into bed next to her and offering one of the containers, "Got you breakfast, figured you'd be hungry."

"You figured correctly," Sharon smiles before leaning over to kiss him. She pops the top of her container open, groaning softly when she finds a bagel with lox inside, "You are a saint, Andrew Flynn."

"Anything for my beautiful wife," Andy grins and presses a kiss to the side of her forehead when she blushes, "Why do you always blush when I tell you you're beautiful?"

"I turn fifty next year, I've given birth to four children, I am amazed you still find me attractive," Sharon admits after chewing over her first bite of the bagel.

"I'm hardly what I was twenty years ago, but that's what I agreed to when I married you, growing old together. Though I don't know when we're going to get to that old part," Andy grins, drawing a small laugh from Sharon, "I've seen you at your worst and I've seen you at your best. And you know what my favorite is?"

"What?" Sharon asks, honestly curious.

"This," Andy murmurs as he trails his fingers down her bare arm, "All tumbled up, bare faced, thoroughly...loved."

"Who flipped your charm switch this morning, hmm?" Sharon shivers as he takes his hand in hers and presses a kiss to the palm of her hand.

"You. You are a beautiful, sexy, thrill of a drug, babe," Andy tells her and kisses her shoulder.

"You're not too bad yourself," Sharon grins and kisses his forehead, resting her head against his. She offers him a bite of her bagel and laughs as he wrinkles his nose and shakes his head. She finishes the bagel and puts the container onto the bedside table before slipping out from under the sheets and offering a hand to her husband.

"Where are you going?"

"Shower," Sharon tells him. Andy takes her hand and rolls out of the bed before following her to the bathroom. By the time the two of them are out of the bathroom and ready to go for the day it left them just enough time to walk to Emily's dorm and pick her up for lunch. Sharon slings her purse over her shoulder and digs her cell phone out, "I'm going to call Ricky and see how everything is going."

"Should be up by now," Andy comments as he looks at his watch, figuring it was getting close to 9 in LA.

"Should being the operative word," Sharon laughs as she hits the speed dial for the house before holding the phone to her ear. She grabs Andy's hand as they make their way outside, waiting for Ricky to pick up. She frowns when the phone rings through to the answering machine, "Richard this is your mother, you better be out of bed. Call me."

"He didn't pick up?"

"N..." The phone starts to ring and Sharon glances at the number, "That's him."

"Hey Mom, sorry I was downstairs and missed the phone."

"That's okay, we're just heading to get your sister for lunch so I thought I'd see how everything is going."

"Fine, Libby's friend Danielle was going to pick her up to go to the movies later this morning, is that okay?"

"That's fine, do you have any cash?"

"Yeah a bit."

"Give her a twenty and I'll pay you back when we get home, okay?" Sharon tells him.

"Sure."

"What about Drew?"

"We were going to hang out and do some guy things."

"Guy things?"

"Mostly just playing video games. Maybe a movie. It's pretty nice out today, maybe take a couple laps of the neighborhood on his bike," She can almost hear her son shrug as he describes what they may do with their day, "I don't know, we'll play it by ear."

"Okay, we'll be around if you need anything."

"10-4," Ricky responds and Sharon laughs and shakes her head.

"Bye, honey."

"Bye, mom," Sharon flips the phone shut and tucks it back in her purse as they continue down the sidewalk.

"House still standing?"

"Enough that the phone line is still connected," Sharon smiles, pointing across the street to the dorm that Emily was living in, "I'll call and let her know outside."

"Sounds good," Andy replies before guiding his wife across the street in the midday traffic. They walk up to the building and make their way inside to wait for Emily in the lobby.

"She should be down in a second, she was just grabbing her jacket," Sharon explains, "What were you thinking for lunch?"

"Whatever Em wants, I'm up for anything," Andy shrugs as he tucks his hands into the pockets of his jeans. A few moments later Emily emerges from the elevator with a gaggle of students on their way out as well. She drops her bag before she jumps into her father's arms and wraps her arms around his neck.

"Dad!"

"Hey Em!" Andy stumbles back a step before catching her and wrapping his arms around her to stop her from tumbling down. Emily presses a kiss to his cheek before turning around and wrapping her mom in a huge hug.

"I'm so glad you guys are here!" Emily squeals as she squeezes her mother tight.

"I'm so glad to see you honey," Sharon murmurs as she hugs her daughter close, so glad to finally see her. She holds onto her for a few moments before letting go and smiling at her as she brushes her hair out of her face, "You're doing okay?"

"I love it!" Emily grins, "You guys hungry?"

"Starving," Andy butts in, "What sounds good to you?"

"There is a really good thai place, couple blocks away if you're up for it?" Emily suggests.

"Sure, thai sounds great," Andy smiles before wrapping his arm around Emily's shoulders and guiding her out of the dorm lobby. Sharon grabs her bag and reaches out as Andy reaches for her, tugging her closer as they walk, "Which way am I going?"

"Left!" Emily instructs with a flung out arm.

"Left it is," Andy turns them and Sharon laughs as she stumbles slightly. She leans into her husband and shivers as a breeze hits her in the face. Winter was coming for the northeast, and she did not miss it in the least.

After a nice lunch with Emily and a walk around the area and campus, they walk the girl to the theater where her performance was being held later in the afternoon. Sharon hands over her ballet bag with a smile, "We'll be back later tonight. Your grandparents are coming, and Aunt Sophia also. You'll come out after and say hi?"

"Of course."

"Good," Sharon smiles and kisses her daughter's forehead, "Break a leg honey."

"Thanks, Mom," Emily smiles with a blush on her cheeks. Sharon and Andy watch as she makes her way into the theater before turning to head back towards their hotel. Sharon lets out a sigh as she watches Emily confidently make her way into the theater, leaning into her husband's hold a little.

"She's doing so well."

"Of course she is. She's her mother's daughter," He comments as he presses a kiss to the crown of her head, squeezing her close for a moment, "Come on. We need to get back."

"Need to is a bit strong," Sharon comments as she turns around in his hold.

"I made some reservations last night after you fell asleep," He tells her, "We don't have a ton of time to make it though."

"You made reservations?"

"I did," Andy smiles, "Quiet little Italian place, perfect place for us to grab a cab after also."

"Sneaky, Mr. Flynn."

"When I want to be, Mrs. Flynn," Andy grins. Sharon shoves him playfully before taking his hand and heading back towards the hotel with him. The two get ready for dinner in a well perfected dance of moving around each other and in and out of the bathroom. By the time they're done Sharon has her hair up in a twist and is dressed in a long sleeve, flowing, knee length, black dress with black heels. Andy cinches a deep purple tie around his neck before buttoning his suit jacket and running his fingers through his hair, "Ready?"

"As I'll ever be," Sharon smiles and shrugs on her pea coat before following her husband down to the lobby. He hails a cab for them and once their inside gives the driver the restaurant name. She watches as the lights pass during their drive, only snapping out of her reverie when they stop. Andy jogs around to her side of the car, opening the door for her. She smiles and takes his hand as she gets out, shutting the door behind herself.

Inside Sharon looks around the small restaurant, only counting twenty tables or so with a small band setting up in the corner. The lights were down low and there were candles on each individual table, highlighting the rustic feel of the decor. She starts a little as she feels Andy's hand on the small of her back, smiling up at him as they follow the host to their table.

"I'm surprised you were able to get reservations on such short notice."

"Pulled a few strings?"

"Oh?" She questions as he pulls her chair out for her.

"For you, anything," He murmurs in her ear as he pushes her in. He steps around to the other side of the table and takes his seat, grinning at her as he opens the menu. Andy continues to tease Sharon throughout dinner, leaving her thrumming by the time they leave the restaurant to go hail a cab to the theater.

"What is with you?" She asks as he wraps his arm around her and holds her close, protecting her from the cold wind, "Not that I mind."

"What? A guy can't treat his wife to a nice weekend in New York?"

"Well a guy can, but you…" Sharon teases as she looks up at her husband. They'd been married almost 15 years. The romance wasn't dead but it wasn't like they had just gotten together either. Careers, kids, pets, age all put a little damper on things. Which was why she had a tendency to get suspicious when Andy would start pulling out all the stops.

"I can make you walk to the theater you know," Andy bites back playfully.

"Oh, I bet," Sharon laughs. Andy grins and shrugs, kissing her on the lips, but doing it quick enough not to mess up her makeup.

"We have a weekend semi alone. I thought we could take some time and enjoy it a little," He explains. Sharon smiles and kisses him back softly.

"You're so sweet sometimes."

"Sometimes!? That's all I get is a sometimes."

"Well you can also be a right ass too," Sharon smiles with a gleam in her eyes.

"You're lucky I married you, no one else would be able to handle that tongue."

"You like my tongue," Sharon tells him with a wink before getting into the cab as it pulls up to the curb. Andy shakes his head, trying to clear all of the dirty thoughts that had plagued him at her response before climbing into the car. Sharon gives the driver the address of the theater before resting her hand on Andy's leg. Turnabout was usually fair play.

Once they get to the theater Andy pays the driver before struggling to get out of the car, glaring at Sharon as she laughs at him. She slips out of the car easily and shuts the door before grinning widely at him as they stand on the curb.

"Don't forget we're meeting your parents here," He warns her before they make their way inside. Sharon hands over their tickets and they head down into the auditorium, looking for a row of seats long enough to accommodate their entire family. She points to a row and counts out the seats before plopping in the far one and indicating Andy to sit in the first one. Thankfully not too many more people show up before their family starts to filter in.

By the time the theater really starts to fill in they're just waiting for her parents. As she's looking around Sharon spots her mother and raises her hand to indicate where they were. Mary makes her way over with Bill, Sam pulling up the rear behind them. Her eyebrow raises slightly as she sees the girl. Last time she'd heard the two of them had gotten into a fight and weren't talking. She wasn't expecting her to show up tonight and hadn't calculated her in when saving seats. Sharon slips out of her seat and stands to greet her parents, hugging both of them before hugging Sam.

"I wasn't expecting you tonight," Sharon tells her as she steps back while Mary and Bill slip in to their seats.

"I didn't know if I was going to make it," Sam shrugs, "I wasn't able to get a bus ticket down and none of my friends were coming into the city this weekend. I hope it's okay I called your parents to see if they were coming."

"Of course not," Sharon assures her. Sam had gone on vacation with them to visit her parents and spent enough time around them she knew it wouldn't be a bother to them to drive to New Haven to pick her up, "Does Em know you're coming?"

"Not exactly," Sam blushes and looks down, "I bought the ticket before we got in our fight, but I wanted to see her dance. She's my best friend you know?"

"Oh I know all too well," Sharon tells her having experience much the same issue a few times with Andy, "Let me see if we can scoot a little bit and get you a seat."

"It's okay, I can sit in this one," Sam indicates an empty seat right in front of her and Andy's seats.

"You sure?"

"Yeah," Sam nods and gives Sharon a reassuring smile. Sharon smiles back before letting the girl sit down and slipping back to her spot next to Andy. He turns his head and leans closer to her ear so he didn't have to speak loudly at all.

"I thought they weren't talking to each other," He whispers. She shrugs as she looks over at him before looking up as the lights dim, indicating the show was about to start. During the show, Sharon's face lights up every time she sees Emily spin and twirl across the stage. She holds her breath as she leaps and only lets it out when her toes successfully touch the ground and she effortlessly transitions into another movement.

At the end of the performance the entire auditorium is on their feet applauding the dancers as they take their final bows. Sharon notices Sam alternating between clapping and wiping at her eyes as she stands in front of them. Soon people start to empty out of the theater and she stops Sam with a hand on her shoulder.

"Em's going to be out here in a second," She tells her with a supportive smile.

"Right," Sam nods. She lingers around as the family consults each other on how well Emily and the other dancers had done during the performance. Sharon keeps her eyes on her as they talk, making sure that she was okay. She raises her hand when she sees Emily step out from back stage, still dressed in her unitard with a pair of sweatpants over the top. The girl grins and waves back before bouncing her way over. Part of the way over the extra pep in her step turns into a full on run as she spots Sam standing behind her parents with her hands stuffed in her pockets.

"Sam!" Emily shouts, practically shoving her father out of the way as she all but tackles her girlfriend, both of them easily tumbling to the floor as Sam loses her footing from the all out assault. Emily braces herself against the ground and immediately claims Sam's lips in a kiss, deepening it to a level that was most likely not appropriate in front of her parents and grandparents. After a few moments, Andy clears his throat a little loudly and Emily pulls away, grinning down at her girlfriend, "You came."

"Of course I came," Sam replies and wraps her arms around Emily, crushing her close to her body, "I love you."

"I love you too," Emily mumbles, "I'm sorry."

"Me too."

[TBC]