Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Twenty-two months (or thereabout) after their divorce was finalized Andy Herrera and Robert Sullivan ring in the New Year together.
Andy had a secret that she managed to keep hidden until New Year's morning; something she had decided to do to 'cement' their
start' (she had already agreed to wear an engagement and wedding ring to show the world that she's now ALL IN as far as 'THEM'....
Robert had always suspected that she had one foot in' their union and through therapy she had realized that he was- for the most
part- CORRECT: marriage is hard!)

At brunch, she directed him to a large and elaborately wrapped box she had hidden in the crawl space beneath the stairs. Robert,
delighted, tore into the wrapping with uncharacteristic aplomb; inside are jacket and blouse with 'captain' insignia and her name
above each pocket of the blouse: A. Herrera-Sullivan . Andy says "I haven't been the best wife but with our new start
I wanted to show how invested I am in us with DEEDS rather than words. Renewing our vows...thank you for trusting me." They kiss,
deeply AND WITH immense feeling...

Chapter Text

'Mac' had been unusually quiet and mopey in the weeks following the news of Kim's pregnancy and Adam is pretty worried by the time
he knelt beside her to try to find out what was troubling his little girl: "You okay Mac," he asked, gently 'chucking' the tip of her nose
with his knuckles. The Little One shrugged, without looking at him. "Hey; tell Dad what's bothering you, hm?"

Mackayla fiddled with her fingers for a bit before saying "I wish...why can't you and Mom be together right now...don't you love her?
She loves you."

"Uh...yeah, Sweetpea I know that...and you're right: I love your Mom very much and I want you to listen real closely now Mac: this
between Mom and me has nothin' to do with YOU, understand? You're MY girl Mackayla Ward Ruzek Burgess-you are Daddy's BEST
GIRL and the baby don't change that. OK?"

Makayla jumped onto his lap and hugged him tightly. "OK, Daddy."

--------

(Without love) Without love, there's no reason to live
(Without you) And what would I do with the love I give?
(All my lovin') To you, I'll be giving
And I promise, this I'll do, as long as I'm living

Chapter Text

🎵When we're in the dark and we're all alone
Oh darling...I can share my love with you...
No one knows- when life gets HARD-you're ALL I KNOW
I can share my love with you- when life gets hard-
When life gets hard...life gets hard...life gets hard, oh darling:
I can share my love with you🎵

Hughes took a break from studying for the Lieutenant's exam to visit her husband at headquarters. Jules Karr welcomed her with
a saucy 'smilk' (smile/smirk) before ushering her into her boss' office. "Hey! Why so 'zhooshy?"
When they kiss Lucas' hands wander south of the equator which his wife quickly corrected. "Now, Chief!" she giggled. How can you
non-hypocritically enforce the 'no boinking on city property' policy!"

"YOU said it: as CHIEF I can 'bodgy up' any complaint, though Jules is unlikely to report anythin."

Carefully plucked eyebrows raised mischievously Vic returned "ESPECIALLY if there's nothing to report!"

Grudgingly Ripley ceased pushing the issue and steered the conversation to another subject....the coming
birth of their daughter- an event that half a year ago neither could have imagined, having split and seriously
considering a permanent nonmarital arrangement (Lucas, having been burned twice before and hesitant to fully commit
himself and Victoria struggling to adjust from her previous 'free-bird' existence as a single woman to a spouse with a
timetable)- thankfully both had come to their senses with Diane Lewis's able assistance. "Vic...where'd you go just now?"
her husband repeated.

"Hmm? I, um was just thinking about how much I fancy you, that's all."

"I, um. fancy you as well."

----

Slang Terms--

zhooshy-dfressy/ell-grommed

Chapter Text

Since the break-up that (HE initiated) Director MacKenzie has done everything possible to avoid Agents Rodriguez and Keller, who are now
in the early stages of a budding romance. That proves much more difficult than he first thought and he spent much more than a night or two torturing
himself with what the two of them are doing- Keller with his hands and fingers, and MOUTH, and- in and on Elena: HIS WOMAN ...
he made it a point to remain in his office until the hallways remained empty. It all worked out until Keller paid him a visit before he can escape for
the day:

Mack-Do you need something, Keller?"

Keller-"Well, Sir, I um...I ah"-

M-"Let's speed this up, please."

K-"Right; well Sir...you see... me and Agent Rodriguez- we er"...

M-"I'm aware of your and Agent Rodriguez'...'situationship'...there are certain steps and procedures if THEORETICALLY' a relationship were to develop:
ticking all of the boxes keeps both you and her out of a disciplinary proceeding. Your personal life is your personal life but I'm required to ask if you specifically
are compromised by this involvement because if you are- THEORETICALLY- that' another can of worms."

K-"I read you, Sir. And I'M NOT."

M-"Good enough "

-----

The next day at around the same time YoYo showed up. "Hey."

"Hey. I was about to leave, but come on in. What's up?"

"Keller spoke to you." She says it more as a statement than a question.

"He did."

"He is not compromised; he admitted to you, yes?"

Mack answered coolly "We spoke...and he admitted that."

Before she crossed the room to where he stood Elena closed the shades and locked the door. Looking up into the face of the man she
loves she said "HE is not pero I AM. I am compromised."

"Already?"

"I would say for the past two or three years," she retorted. "And you are aware that I do not mean HIM. You are VERY AWARE of that Mr.
Director. And let us remember that a certain tall, gorgeous, know-it-all pushed a stunning, MAGNIFICENT KNOCK-OUT almost into
another man's arms--risking losing that show-stopping beauty possibly F.O.R.E.V.E.R. and in her kindness she accepts
that man's apology and says YES, OF COURSE, to take him back: because she loves and adores and is completely devoted to him...that
man should thank GOD every day and night as well as his lucky stars."

Mack smiled ruefully and rewarded her with a juicy kiss. "New start."