Andrew Flynn hasn't attended the annual LAPD New Year's Eve party in nearly twenty years, but he had no other plans and Sharon mentioned that she might attend as well. After spending their Christmas together, he offered that they'll go somewhere where they could be alone, maybe just have a quiet dinner and then snuggle together on the couch and watch TV, but she turned his offer down. Despite the fact that he was not very fond of the LAPD party, he decided to go.

He locked his car and walked towards the entrance of the hotel where the party was held. The lobby of the hotel was decorated with icicle lights and a big lighted sign that said '2014' was hung above the reception desk. Another sign provided information about where the party was being held and he walked to the hall indicated in the sign.

The hall was beautifully decorated with soft lights and Andy almost bumped into his old partner Gary and a woman who seemed to be his trophy wife. Normally he would let his gaze follow the hot young woman with a hungry smile on his face, but not tonight, not when all he wanted to see was Sharon.

His eyes raked around the room, searching for her when he finally saw her leaning against the bar, talking to Sergeant Elliot and his wife. She was wearing a coral cocktail dress that was only a bit shorter than her usual work dresses. Big loose curls framed her face and her bangs were clipped to the side with a sparkly hair pin. He couldn't help but smiling at the sight of her. She looked nothing less than royal. He walked over to her, noticing that her dress had tiny crystal-like gems around the top hem that sparkled like little stars. It made her look magical.

"Lieutenant, I'm so glad you made it," she smiled when she noticed him. "You remember Sergeant Elliot from FID, don't you?"

"How could I ever forget?" Andy replied. It seemed like Sergeant Elliot did not get the sarcasm in his voice, or maybe deliberately ignored it. He introduced his wife to Andy and after a few minutes of small talk excused himself and his wife as they walked over to the dance floor. "You look beautiful," he leaned forward and kissed Sharon on the cheek, feeling it warm up under his lips.

"Thank you, Andy. You are quite handsome yourself," she replied.

"You seem fairly bored with the party, good thing that you found your FID buddies," Andy grinned.

"Well, it seems that all the other officers are still afraid of the 'FID bitch who stole Chief Johnson's position', so no one really approaches me." Andy couldn't help but noticing that Sharon's words indicated how painfully self aware she was of her miserable social position at the LAPD. She might have been the highest ranking woman in the force, but she was one of the most hated officers as well.

"Anyone who doesn't go near you is missing out. I, for one, feel very lucky to have you by my side tonight," he offered her his hand and she took it, lacing her fingers with his.

"Thank you, Andy. That's very sweet," she said and squeezed his hand. Andy felt heat creeping up his cheeks. Not many women have ever managed to make him feel so excited when they gave him a compliment. Sharon giggled, her laughter sounding heavenly in Andy's ears.

"What?" he asked sheepishly.

"You're blushing. It's adorable," Sharon replied. Andy rolled his eyes and shrugged. Suddenly, the lighting around the room changed and the a slow song started playing.

"Wanna dance?" Andy offered and Sharon smiled as she followed him to the dance floor, her hand still in his. He placed his free hand on her back and her hand climbed to his shoulder. He wished he could draw her closer, like he did on Christmas Eve in the murder room, but there were people around them and a few of them would most likely be thrilled to criticize the captain for not following the LAPD code of conduct in regards to officer fraternization. Andy would never put her in that position, so he kept her at a friendly distance, surprising himself at the self control he displayed.

"You know, I haven't attended these parties in seventeen years," he said. "I can't believe you convinced me to go."

"It's my first, actually, if you can believe it," Sharon admitted.

"What?" Andy's voice was a little high pitched. "How is that even possible?"

"Well, I was always on duty on New Year's Eve before my children were born. Once I had kids, I stayed at home during the holiday season and after both of them turned 18, I just spent the holidays with my parents in Utah," Sharon explained. Andy hummed, realizing that he might have known Sharon for quite a few years, but had no idea who she really was and what her life was like. Suddenly he felt angry at himself for all the years he judged her and was rude to her while she was doing a job that not many officers would even consider doing. Being the head of FID must have been some really dirty work, and required just as much courage and inner strength as any active duty officer, if not more. It didn't buy her any friends, but rather enemies. "Hey, where have you gone?" her voice drew him away from his thoughts.

"What?"

"You look all contemplative," Sharon said, her voice soft.

"I was just… I thought about you; how hard it must have been working in FID and how we… I gave you so much trouble without even knowing you," Andy replied.

"That's deep," Sharon looked into his eyes and he could see that she was moved by his words. "But I knew what I was getting into when I chose to transfer to IA." The slow song ended and a different song started.

Now I've had the time of my life… No, I never felt like this before…

Sharon and Andy exchanged amused gazes as they moved out of each other's arms and burst out laughing. Andy could see tears forming in Sharon's eyes.

"Oh God," she sighed. "I don't think I will ever be able to listen to this song again after…"

"You're telling me? I had to watch that DVD twice," Andy chuckled. Sharon nodded, wiping a tear that was hanging from her lower lash-line. A big smile spread across her face.

"Do you want to get out of here? Maybe go somewhere else?" she offered.

"Sure, you have a specific place in mind?" Andy asked. Sharon leaned forward so she could whisper in his ear.

"Somewhere where you can kiss me at midnight."

Sharon could feel the happiness fluttering in her stomach even before she opened her eyes. It was in her body and surrounded the air that she breathed. It smelled good, it tasted good, and it felt amazing. She was almost drunk with it. She didn't want to wake up; the dream was just too sweet. But she felt am arm being wrapped around her waist and a leg tangling with hers and then the realization hit her; it was not a dream; she could have it all.

Her eyes fluttered open and she turned her head, her lips grazing his own as she did. He captured them, his palm cupping her face.

"Good morning, beautiful," he said when their lips parted. Still a little sleeping, she buried her face in the crook of his neck, her warm breath ghosting over his skin. His hand climbed up from her bare back to her hair, gently caressing it as he placed a soft kiss at the crown of her head. She tangled her legs with his, enjoying his warmth, his smell, the texture of his skin against her cheek.

It has been years since she got to wake up in someone's arms and feel another person's skin against hers. Until now, she has not realized how much she missed it, the feeling of her heart expending with joy and the comfort that it gave her to just be happy and careless.

"Who knew you would be so cuddly when you wake up? I expected you to be grumpy," he said. Her lips curled in a smile against the skin of his neck.

"I like waking up like this, with you here," she said.

"So do I, babe," he replied and felt her sliding her arm around him, pulling herself even closer to him, her breasts pressing against his chest and her legs entangling even further with his. "So clingy," he teased her.

"I'm not clingy," her voice was shy, and he knew that she was not offended. He smiled to himself, wondering how long it has been since someone loved her the way she deserved, since someone held her in their arms and told her of their feelings for her. It must have happened a long time ago if she was so desperate to feel him, he thought.

"No, you're not," he agreed. "You're adorable." She moved her head from the crook of his neck and looked at him, her green eyes shiny.

"I am?"

"You are," he placed a playful kiss on the tip of her nose and drew her lips to his. "Very adorable and smart, incredibly sexy, amazing in bed," he paused and smiled at the blush that crept up her cheeks. "Funny and most importantly, you have a huge heart." He could drown in her eyes as he saw the veil of tears that made them glassy. "I love you," he declared. He had said it to her about ten times when they made love that night, but thought it wouldn't hurt to tell her again, just in case she thought the words were thrown into the air in the heat of the moment.

"You do?" Her gaze was almost child-like and a little insecure.

"I do. I love you very much," he said, his voice and eyes soft.

"I love you too, Andy," she said and drew his bottom lip into the heat of her mouth, sucking on it sensually. She rolled on her back and pulled him on top of her, kissing him hungrily while her fingers caressed the nape of his neck. His hand glided down her side as she wrapped her legs around him, her lips insatiably devouring his mouth, her tongue persistently arousing. A soft whimper escaped her mouth. Her stomach growled and Andy drew away, an amused expression on his face. "What?"

"You're hungry," he replied. "Maybe I should go and make breakfast for you."

"It doesn't matter, Andy. I'll eat later," Sharon replied and tried to pull him back down.

"One thing you should know about me: I never let a woman go hungry."

"But now? I mean, we were in the middle…" Sharon protested.

"Yes, now," Andy replied and bent down to pepper kisses all over her stomach. "First I feed you and then we resume our important meeting." He smiled at her and pressed another kiss to her stomach before getting up and putting on his boxers. "Stay here. I'll bring your breakfast to bed." Sharon let out a sigh and propped a pillow behind her back. Her stomach rumbled again and she rubbed it, feeling something more aside from hunger. It was a fluttering, first barely noticeable and then slowly growing and spreading upwards to her chest. She hasn't felt it in over 30 years, but it was unmistakable: butterflies. If she looked, she could almost see their gentle wings flapping through her skin. Leaning back against the pillow, she closed her eyes and released a long breath. After several months of worries about Rusty's well being and about her own personal safety, she felt calm and she knew that 2014 will be a good year.

THE END