Take on the World

4.

Andy awoke the next morning to find that at some point during the night, Luna wandered into her room and was now sleeping peacefully on her chest.

It was little moments like these that Andy never wanted to end, just watching her daughter sleep, not a care in the world. Since she worked three overnight shifts a week, getting to wake up like this for a change was nice.

It was only eight thirty, way earlier than Andy would've liked to be awake on her day off. But waking up to the sight in front of her was worth the early hour.

After about half an hour later, Luna began to stir, groaning slightly as she stretched.

"Morning sweet pea," Andy said quietly, leaning down to press a kiss to the top of her head.

Luna snuggled back into her chest, "It's early, the sun needs to sleep more."

"You're usually already awake by now,"

"But it's not school, so I need the sun to sleep so I can sleep too." The little girl said, Andy could barely tell what she was saying because she was mumbling, but it was obvious she wasn't going to wake up again any time soon.

Andy decided to take advantage of this time, slowly moving out from under Luna, putting a pillow in her place. She managed to shower, get ready for the day, and make breakfast before the little girl woke up again.

It was Saturday; sausage and eggs for breakfast. The two sat at the little dining room table and ate their food in silence, except for the occasional little conversations Luna would start. It was peaceful, just how they liked it.

•••

The knock on his front door is what brought him out of his thoughts. Robert hadn't slept, hadn't done much of anything except drive from the station to his house. He was still trying to grasp the information he'd received yesterday.

When he opened the door, Lucas was standing there, holding up the text message Robert had sent him less than an hour ago.

"There's a problem, need immediate help." Lucas recited the exact message he'd received. Robert just motioning for him to come inside.

"Herrera," Robert stated, "Andy... has a kid,"

"Luna, yeah. Sweet girl," Lucas replied as he sat down on the couch that was in the living room, Robert sitting down next to him.

"A few years after Claire died, I came back here to tie up the loose ends I left," Robert began to explain, "And I was drinking one night and I met this woman in the bar..."

"Sully..."

"I didn't know she was a firefighter, didn't even know anything about her... it was just a week long fling that happened while I was there." He was just straight rambling at this point, not even sure that Lucas was following along. "I don't do flings Luke, I don't know why we even started anything. After I left we didn't speak to each other or anything and now I find out she's got a daughter and she's mine and I..."

Lucas held his hands up to silence Robert before he got himself even more worked up. "Slow down... you slept with Herrera?"

"Luke, that's not the point!"

"The point is you have a kid, got it." Lucas shrugged, "Okay, now what do you do?"

"The point is I don't know what to do," Robert said with a long sigh. "After Claire... I never thought I'd have kids and now..."

"Oh god, what did you say?"

Robert looked at him, not really sure how to carry this conversation further. "I told her not to bring her to the station anymore..."

"Robert Sullivan," Lucas sighed, hanging his head. "I know it was a lot to take in, probably still is. But you don't turn your child away, that's not how this is supposed to work."

"In my defense, Herrera kept her from me, not the other way around. I had the right..."

"No you didn't," Lucas cut him off, he was good at doing that today. "I agree, she shouldn't have kept her from you, but you shouldn't have reacted the way you did. Now she's probably glad she didn't tell you she was pregnant because of how you acted yesterday."

"You're not helping," Robert shook his head. "At all."

"Hey, you're the one who texted me for help."

•••

Back with Andy and Luna, they were engrossed in a Disney princess movie marathon. They'd already watched Cinderella and Beauty and the Beast, now they were in the middle of The little Mermaid.

Luna was on her mother's lap, eyes glued to the tv in front of her. Andy however was texting Maya, trying to get advice.

Maya
He really said that?

Andy
I wanted to punch him, but I've got a kid to feed so I can't exactly lose my job right now.

Maya
He was probably just in shock, give him a few days to let it sink in.

Andy
Luna wanted to come to the station after school on Monday. I don't know how to tell her she can't.

Maya
Just bring her, he can't kick her out.

Andy
What part of I would like to keep my job don't you get?

Maya
I really don't know what you want me to do in this situation, I didn't keep my kid a secret from her father for four years.

Andy
You're a great help.

Maya
Hey, you're the one who asked for my help.

Andy rolled her eyes then placed her phone on the table beside the couch. By the time she looked up, the end credits were on the screen and Luna was already trying to find their next movie.

"Hey, why don't we do something other than watch movies today." Andy suggested, taking the remote from her daughter. "I don't get very many days off to spend with you, so how about we go out?"

"Shopping?" The little girl asked, rather excitedly. "Oh, and ice cream?"

"Sure my love, go find your shoes," Andy smiled.

Luna jumped up and ran to her room, causing her mother to laugh. Andy wasn't one to particularly enjoy shopping that often, but Luna loved it, so they were always going out, mostly just looking around at stores, the little girl was rather picky.

Once she came back with her shoes on, Andy slipped hers on, also grabbing her Phone, wallet, and keys before they headed out the door.

In the car, Andy would occasionally look back through the rear view mirror and see Luna dancing in her car seat to the music playing on the radio.

It was really the little moments she cherished the most, mainly the ones that happened on her days off. There was something about getting to see the smile on Luna's face when they would spend time together, doing whatever the little girl wanted to do, that made Andy wonder why she never wanted to have a family of her own one day.

Sure those two lines scared her, and for the first little bit she resented both Robert and her daughter... But now, seeing the little girl, her little girl, she wouldn't trade her for the entire world.

Because Luna was the world, she was Andy's world.