"Invitations (2/4)" - Hobbs/Raydor Fic
Title: Invitations (2/4)
Co-author: Immas13
Pairing: Hobbs/Raydor
Rating: T
Word Count: 1,640 words
Disclaimer: Not our characters or television show.
A/N: Many thanks to redrockcan and sharon_ray for their beta and suggestions.
Summary: Sharon is forced to openly come to terms with her relationship with Andrea, who is growing tired of their secretive romance. Chapter One is HERE.
“I’m just getting out of the shower give me a minute,” Sharon replied frantically as she picked up Andreas clothes off of her bedroom floor.
Once the footsteps moved away from her door Sharon looked at Andrea handing over her the last article of clothing as she shucked on her own robe.
Andrea could see Sharon’s panic throughout her body and stepped forward setting her hands on Sharon’s shoulders. “Sharon take a minute,” she said softly.
Sharon could feel the fear already rising within her body. “Oh my God, I haven’t told him that I’ve been seeing anyone. I...he doesn’t know...” Sharon set her hand on her chest in an attempt to calm herself from the anxiety that she was feeling.
Andrea calmly re-tied Sharon’s askew robe. “See what he needs first, then if he has questions...well, I...I’ll stay here, get him in the spare room and then I’ll grab my things and leave.”
“It’s not how I wanted him to find out,” Sharon said, her disappointment evident in her tone.
***
Conner walked away from Sharon’s door heading back into the living room pacing back and forth. Tonight had been a complete disaster. He was relieved when he had arrived back at his mother’s condo to find the lights on, signaling that she was still awake.
“Conner?” Sharon emerged from her room, closing the door securely behind her.
“I’m sorry it’s so late-”
“Don’t be,” she insisted, pulling him in for a hug, “what’s wrong?”
“It’s Nathalie, we broke up,” he said, hanging his head. Sharon regarded her son, there were dark circles under his eyes, his usually well-groomed waves were a mess, and there was a few days worth of stubble visible on his face.
“Oh honey, I’m so sorry, what happened?”
“She said that she was having second thoughts. That I was working too many hours, and that she didn’t want to be married to an absent lawyer, and make a home alone,” he said bitterly, recalling his fiancée’s words from their fight.
“I see, and what did you say to her when she expressed her feelings?” Sharon prodded as she gestured for him to join her on the living room sofa.
He ran his hands through his hair, messing it even further. “I told her that I needed to be really invested in work right now. I just got the job, and there is huge potential for me to move up and if I get promoted next year, the salary increase will be really good for us,” he continued on.
Sharon took his hand. “Conner, I love you dearly, but have you ever considered that you’ve been giving work 100% of your time, leaving nothing of yourself for the women you share your life with?” Sharon knew all too-well what it was like being involved with an absent partner; during the happier years of her marriage to his father, she was lucky if she saw Jackson for a few hours a week.
“That’s not fair,” he interjected. “It’s not that I’m choosing the job over her, because I adore her, and if I could I would spend every moment with her,” he insisted.
“I know you love her, and I know that she knows that too,” Sharon reassured him. “When’s the last time that you took her out?” she asked.
“Out?”
“Yes, or bought her some flowers? Or made her a coffee? It doesn’t have to be grand, but simple gestures like that make all the difference between feeling appreciated and feeling ignored,” Sharon said. A nagging voice in the back of her mind was telling her that she ought to take some of her own advice, but she ignored it and focused on her troubled son.
“Uh, it’s been a little while since I did something like that,” he admitted.
“And when’s the last time she did something nice for you?” she asked.
Conner sighed. “She leaves me little notes in my briefcase sometimes. Wishing me good luck on a case, or just something that says she loves me.”
Sharon nodded. “And how do you feel when you find them?”
“Like I’m the luckiest guy on the planet,” he said, defeated. “Shit, I’ve been such an idiot.”
“No, just distracted,” Sharon reassured him. “It happens, when you’re career-driven. And that’s okay, as long as you can balance both parts of your life.” She tugged him towards her for a hug, and he let her hold him close.
She felt him stiffen before he pulled back. “Mom? You said that you were in the shower?”
Sharon flushed as her mind pictured poor Andrea, stuck in her room. “Um, yes, I was.”
“It’s kind of late for a shower,” he said, “and your hair, it isn’t wet.” Sharon felt the colour drain from her face. Conner’s gaze shifted from his mother’s eyes to her bedroom door.
“Someone’s here,” he said quietly. Hurt, confusion, and embarrassment flashed across his face.
“Let me explain-”
“No, um, that’s not necessary.” His face was a bright pink now, and his ears were burning. “Why didn’t you tell me? God, I wouldn’t have just come over here-” He stood up looking back down the hallway and then back at Sharon.
“Conner, you are always welcome here, you know that,” she said firmly.
“I think I should go now,” he said.
“No. I am not throwing my child out of my home at this hour. Rusty isn’t home tonight, so you can stay in his room.” She nodded towards the room.
“No, really, I think I should go. Nathalie is staying at a friend’s place, it’s not far from here,” he insisted. “And I should set things straight with her sooner rather than later. Look, I’ll come by tomorrow morning?” He scratched his head awkwardly.
She regarded him for a moment before seeing that his stubbornness wasn’t going to give way. “Fine, but text me as soon as you get there. I don’t like the idea of you driving at this time.”
“Mom,” he said deadpan, “I’m twenty-five years old,” at her glare he added, “but I know you won’t sleep until I do so I’ll text you when I get there.” He leaned in to give her a somewhat awkward hug. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
Sharon sighed reaching for his arm as he turned grabbing his bag next to the door. “Conner I’m sorry.” Sharon wanted to express her sympathy for the way he had found out but couldn’t find the words.
“I know Mom, it’s okay,” he said, giving her a reassuring smile.
It wasn’t until she heard the click of her door closing that she let out the breath that she had been holding in. She felt the prickle of tears threatening to spill.
“Sharon?” Andrea emerged from her “hiding spot” at last, dressed in the jeans and button down blouse that she had been wearing earlier in the evening. “Are you alright?”
“Fine,” Sharon said, waiving off Andrea’s concern, “I’m fine.”
Andrea regarded her lover, she looked anything but fine. She walked over to Sharon and gathered her in her arms; she could feel Sharon shaking with the effort to hold in her tears. “I erm, heard your conversation. I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to intrude but there really wasn’t anywhere that I could go,” she apologized.
“No, of course. It’s fine,” Sharon said quickly into the crook of Andrea’s neck. She allowed herself to be held by Andrea for a few more moments before tugging herself out of her partner’s protective embrace.
“Well, I’m going to go home now,” Andrea said regretfully. “I know we said that we’d talk in the morning, but I understand if you need some more time, given, um, what happened tonight.”
“Thank you,” Sharon said, “I appreciate it.”
Andrea tugged at the hem of her blouse nervously. “You know, for what it’s worth, you gave him some really wonderful advice and I hope that things work out between him and his partner, I mean, it’s obvious he really cares about her.” She paused to look Sharon right in the eyes.
If only I could follow my own advice, Sharon thought bitterly. Having Conner find out about Andrea this way left a bad taste in Sharon’s mouth. She didn’t want her son to think of Andrea has his mother’s dirty little secret. She wanted him to be able to see Andrea for the intelligent, thoughtful, and compassionate woman that she was; to see her as the woman who Sharon had become so enamoured with.
Sharon worried the skin of her lower lip. “Would you like to come by tomorrow for breakfast, to properly meet Conner?” she asked tentatively.
Andrea’s eyes widened in surprise. “What? Really?”
Sharon nodded. “Yes, absolutely. You’re right Andrea, you’ve been right all along. I’ve been unfair and-”
Andrea embraced her again and rubbed her back as a few wayward tears trailed down Sharon’s elegant cheeks. Sharon held her close, relishing in how wonderful it felt to be held by her.
“I hate that I’m going to tell him about us because I got caught up in a web of lies and omissions. You’re right, it makes this feel dirty and I hate that.” Sharon pulled back to look at Andrea directly. “Maybe this can be our first baby step?” she asked.
“Anything you want,” Andrea reassured her. “If you really want me here tomorrow, then here is where I will be. I can come a little later, give you the chance to explain things to Conner first? Soften the blow a bit?”
“Okay,” Sharon agreed.
Andrea leaned in to kiss Sharon lightly before opening the door to her condo.
“Conner is an early bird, so we’ll probably be ready for breakfast at around 8:30?”
“I’ll be here for 9:00 then,” Andrea confirmed, smiling all the way up to her eyes.
Co-author: Immas13
Pairing: Hobbs/Raydor
Rating: T
Word Count: 1,640 words
Disclaimer: Not our characters or television show.
A/N: Many thanks to redrockcan and sharon_ray for their beta and suggestions.
Summary: Sharon is forced to openly come to terms with her relationship with Andrea, who is growing tired of their secretive romance. Chapter One is HERE.
“I’m just getting out of the shower give me a minute,” Sharon replied frantically as she picked up Andreas clothes off of her bedroom floor.
Once the footsteps moved away from her door Sharon looked at Andrea handing over her the last article of clothing as she shucked on her own robe.
Andrea could see Sharon’s panic throughout her body and stepped forward setting her hands on Sharon’s shoulders. “Sharon take a minute,” she said softly.
Sharon could feel the fear already rising within her body. “Oh my God, I haven’t told him that I’ve been seeing anyone. I...he doesn’t know...” Sharon set her hand on her chest in an attempt to calm herself from the anxiety that she was feeling.
Andrea calmly re-tied Sharon’s askew robe. “See what he needs first, then if he has questions...well, I...I’ll stay here, get him in the spare room and then I’ll grab my things and leave.”
“It’s not how I wanted him to find out,” Sharon said, her disappointment evident in her tone.
***
Conner walked away from Sharon’s door heading back into the living room pacing back and forth. Tonight had been a complete disaster. He was relieved when he had arrived back at his mother’s condo to find the lights on, signaling that she was still awake.
“Conner?” Sharon emerged from her room, closing the door securely behind her.
“I’m sorry it’s so late-”
“Don’t be,” she insisted, pulling him in for a hug, “what’s wrong?”
“It’s Nathalie, we broke up,” he said, hanging his head. Sharon regarded her son, there were dark circles under his eyes, his usually well-groomed waves were a mess, and there was a few days worth of stubble visible on his face.
“Oh honey, I’m so sorry, what happened?”
“She said that she was having second thoughts. That I was working too many hours, and that she didn’t want to be married to an absent lawyer, and make a home alone,” he said bitterly, recalling his fiancée’s words from their fight.
“I see, and what did you say to her when she expressed her feelings?” Sharon prodded as she gestured for him to join her on the living room sofa.
He ran his hands through his hair, messing it even further. “I told her that I needed to be really invested in work right now. I just got the job, and there is huge potential for me to move up and if I get promoted next year, the salary increase will be really good for us,” he continued on.
Sharon took his hand. “Conner, I love you dearly, but have you ever considered that you’ve been giving work 100% of your time, leaving nothing of yourself for the women you share your life with?” Sharon knew all too-well what it was like being involved with an absent partner; during the happier years of her marriage to his father, she was lucky if she saw Jackson for a few hours a week.
“That’s not fair,” he interjected. “It’s not that I’m choosing the job over her, because I adore her, and if I could I would spend every moment with her,” he insisted.
“I know you love her, and I know that she knows that too,” Sharon reassured him. “When’s the last time that you took her out?” she asked.
“Out?”
“Yes, or bought her some flowers? Or made her a coffee? It doesn’t have to be grand, but simple gestures like that make all the difference between feeling appreciated and feeling ignored,” Sharon said. A nagging voice in the back of her mind was telling her that she ought to take some of her own advice, but she ignored it and focused on her troubled son.
“Uh, it’s been a little while since I did something like that,” he admitted.
“And when’s the last time she did something nice for you?” she asked.
Conner sighed. “She leaves me little notes in my briefcase sometimes. Wishing me good luck on a case, or just something that says she loves me.”
Sharon nodded. “And how do you feel when you find them?”
“Like I’m the luckiest guy on the planet,” he said, defeated. “Shit, I’ve been such an idiot.”
“No, just distracted,” Sharon reassured him. “It happens, when you’re career-driven. And that’s okay, as long as you can balance both parts of your life.” She tugged him towards her for a hug, and he let her hold him close.
She felt him stiffen before he pulled back. “Mom? You said that you were in the shower?”
Sharon flushed as her mind pictured poor Andrea, stuck in her room. “Um, yes, I was.”
“It’s kind of late for a shower,” he said, “and your hair, it isn’t wet.” Sharon felt the colour drain from her face. Conner’s gaze shifted from his mother’s eyes to her bedroom door.
“Someone’s here,” he said quietly. Hurt, confusion, and embarrassment flashed across his face.
“Let me explain-”
“No, um, that’s not necessary.” His face was a bright pink now, and his ears were burning. “Why didn’t you tell me? God, I wouldn’t have just come over here-” He stood up looking back down the hallway and then back at Sharon.
“Conner, you are always welcome here, you know that,” she said firmly.
“I think I should go now,” he said.
“No. I am not throwing my child out of my home at this hour. Rusty isn’t home tonight, so you can stay in his room.” She nodded towards the room.
“No, really, I think I should go. Nathalie is staying at a friend’s place, it’s not far from here,” he insisted. “And I should set things straight with her sooner rather than later. Look, I’ll come by tomorrow morning?” He scratched his head awkwardly.
She regarded him for a moment before seeing that his stubbornness wasn’t going to give way. “Fine, but text me as soon as you get there. I don’t like the idea of you driving at this time.”
“Mom,” he said deadpan, “I’m twenty-five years old,” at her glare he added, “but I know you won’t sleep until I do so I’ll text you when I get there.” He leaned in to give her a somewhat awkward hug. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
Sharon sighed reaching for his arm as he turned grabbing his bag next to the door. “Conner I’m sorry.” Sharon wanted to express her sympathy for the way he had found out but couldn’t find the words.
“I know Mom, it’s okay,” he said, giving her a reassuring smile.
It wasn’t until she heard the click of her door closing that she let out the breath that she had been holding in. She felt the prickle of tears threatening to spill.
“Sharon?” Andrea emerged from her “hiding spot” at last, dressed in the jeans and button down blouse that she had been wearing earlier in the evening. “Are you alright?”
“Fine,” Sharon said, waiving off Andrea’s concern, “I’m fine.”
Andrea regarded her lover, she looked anything but fine. She walked over to Sharon and gathered her in her arms; she could feel Sharon shaking with the effort to hold in her tears. “I erm, heard your conversation. I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to intrude but there really wasn’t anywhere that I could go,” she apologized.
“No, of course. It’s fine,” Sharon said quickly into the crook of Andrea’s neck. She allowed herself to be held by Andrea for a few more moments before tugging herself out of her partner’s protective embrace.
“Well, I’m going to go home now,” Andrea said regretfully. “I know we said that we’d talk in the morning, but I understand if you need some more time, given, um, what happened tonight.”
“Thank you,” Sharon said, “I appreciate it.”
Andrea tugged at the hem of her blouse nervously. “You know, for what it’s worth, you gave him some really wonderful advice and I hope that things work out between him and his partner, I mean, it’s obvious he really cares about her.” She paused to look Sharon right in the eyes.
If only I could follow my own advice, Sharon thought bitterly. Having Conner find out about Andrea this way left a bad taste in Sharon’s mouth. She didn’t want her son to think of Andrea has his mother’s dirty little secret. She wanted him to be able to see Andrea for the intelligent, thoughtful, and compassionate woman that she was; to see her as the woman who Sharon had become so enamoured with.
Sharon worried the skin of her lower lip. “Would you like to come by tomorrow for breakfast, to properly meet Conner?” she asked tentatively.
Andrea’s eyes widened in surprise. “What? Really?”
Sharon nodded. “Yes, absolutely. You’re right Andrea, you’ve been right all along. I’ve been unfair and-”
Andrea embraced her again and rubbed her back as a few wayward tears trailed down Sharon’s elegant cheeks. Sharon held her close, relishing in how wonderful it felt to be held by her.
“I hate that I’m going to tell him about us because I got caught up in a web of lies and omissions. You’re right, it makes this feel dirty and I hate that.” Sharon pulled back to look at Andrea directly. “Maybe this can be our first baby step?” she asked.
“Anything you want,” Andrea reassured her. “If you really want me here tomorrow, then here is where I will be. I can come a little later, give you the chance to explain things to Conner first? Soften the blow a bit?”
“Okay,” Sharon agreed.
Andrea leaned in to kiss Sharon lightly before opening the door to her condo.
“Conner is an early bird, so we’ll probably be ready for breakfast at around 8:30?”
“I’ll be here for 9:00 then,” Andrea confirmed, smiling all the way up to her eyes.