#major thoughts

  If I had could make one wish for Sharon and Andy in S3 of Major Crimes, it would be for a chance to see their friendship develop. On screen.

I ship 'Shandy' pretty damn hard but the Wedding/Nutcracker non-dates made for frustrating viewing. They had all the promise of relationship development and then completely failed to deliver! I know, I know - baby steps... and it was very amusing to watch Provenza watching Andy work himself up before asking Sharon out (twice!). But, because the non-dates occurred off-screen I feel that we, as viewers, were cheated. We didn't get to see Sharon and Andy navigate the awkward transition from 'people who work together' to 'people who sometimes see each other outside of work'. In fact, as nothing seems to have changed between them in the office, we can only assume that everything is as it ever was. They remain supportive colleagues and seem to have a friendly working-relationship but I don't think that they can really be considered as 'friends'. Yet.

Sharon is obviously a very private person, despite being allowed by the writers to access her softer, emotional side as Rusty's guardian. But that exclusivity is (at least for me) starting to get old. I think it's time the writers showed her opening up (or at least a little more relaxed) around her team. We've had glimpses of this but, like the non-dates, nothing concrete.  

Surprisingly, Andy is also very closed off - not around the team but in relation to his emotions. I don't think he's examined why he really wanted to asked Sharon to his daughter's wedding (because, let's face it, there was no other reason for him to go into her office at the end of the day, when their case was closed, and start talking about how he was gonna go to his daughter's wedding, even though 'most of the people there hate [him]' *cue puppy-dog eyes*. Real subtle, Flynn.). Sure, Andy was aware of his primary motivation for wanting to ask Sharon to the wedding - he needed an ex-wife-buffer and to make good with his daughter. Sharon, being her usual charming self, was the logical choice - but I think maybe Andy had a second reason for singling Sharon out. A reason he's not yet quite aware of.

He's noticed her. Not as the wicked witch, or Captain Raydor, but as an attractive and intelligent woman. If Andy only thought about Sharon in a  platonic sense, would he have gone fishing with his 'so it's not like a date or anything...?' when she oh-so-casually invited herself to Nicole's wedding?

I don't think so.

So Andy is attracted to Sharon but isn't really aware of it. 

I guess that's the difference between these two. Andy is closed off to his own feelings but wears his heart on his sleeve while Sharon plays her cards close to her chest but is very self-aware.

Re-watch the moment Sharon suggests to Andy that he could do with a 'buffer' ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wlYobLGEnVI). Sharon is trying waaaay too hard to be casual. That little shrug she gives as if she's not bothered either way and the smile that she is not quite successful in fighting?

She's pleased... More than she thinks she should be. 

Sharon knows why Andy's in her office. She knows what he's trying, in his adorable roundabout way, to ask. So she saves them both the potential awkwardness by letting him know that she is free that evening and, with a voice much softer than the one she usually permits around her team, that she 'likes weddings'.

She's noticed him too. And although Sharon knows things aren't quite as they seem when Andy asks her to 'The Nutcracker' several episodes later, she agrees to go anyway. 

But they still have a looong way to go. 

So, back to the original topic, for S3 I'd like to see Sharon and Andy begin to establish a deeper relationship... We've already seen a little bit of Andy supporting Sharon at work (I loved it when Taylor compared Sharon to Brenda and Andy defended our girl, and, of course, when Andy comforted her in Poster Boy after the perp's suicide)... Sharon's helped Andy out too (agreeing to the non-dates), but it would be nice to see more them letting down their walls a bit more around each other. Maybe they could start having the odd working lunch together, or Andy could come over to Sharon's home... It would be great if Rusty figured out that there could be something more between them before they do. ;) (Provenza already seems to be on the case, though I'm not sure it counts as Andy's not exactly difficult to read... Heh). I'd also luuuurve to see Andy meeting Sharon's kids, or Sharon using Andy as a sounding-board if when she starts to consider divorcing Jack (this has to happen!!!).

I know many people (myself included) want to see a kiss, but I think it would, at this stage, be more destructive than anything else. Sharon's not in the right place for a relationship atm. She needs to get the hell out of her marriage first. Legally and emotionally. I know Sharon's under no illusions as to the man Jack Raydor has become, and she certainly doesn't love him anymore, but I still think she'll need time to heal, and to forgive herself, if said divorce happens.