A/N – So this is it. The last Chapter. A million thanks to mxpw who has been an amazing beta and whose comments I have always looked forward to each time I sent him a chapter. To all of you who reviewed, thanks so much. To those who took time to answer the polls, thanks for that too. I enjoyed all your responses and it was brilliant actually seeing how the story could have turned out if I took all your suggestions. I really hope you enjoy this.

The Inevitable Life of Chuck Bartowski

Chapter 14 In Disguise

Ft Meade Maryland, 12.10pm, 13th April 2009

It's his third briefing and already Chuck can feel the weight of his new life pressing down on him. It's not even close to unbearable though because as always Sarah is there. He wishes though that he only worked for the CIA as they had rather gray rules on relationship between partners. It was not condoned but it was also not completely ruled out. His problem is that the NSA was pure military and fraternization on the job was not allowed. General Beckman was taking great pleasure in reminding Sarah of that right now.

"Do I make myself clear, Agent Walker?" The question is asked in a tone that brooks no argument and Sarah waits before answering. She wants to look at Chuck before agreeing to the General's demands. She really wants to give him one last chance to protest but she knows that he understands the full ramifications of the decision and Casey's need to be incorporated into Ellie, Devon and Morgan's lives.

Chuck does not look at General Beckman or at Graham on the screen on the wall. Instead, he turns slightly, knowing instinctively that Sarah is looking at him. He remembers her words about gray choices and difficult decisions and understands this is just the start. However, he also realizes that Colonel Casey is part of the team and needs a cover. He actually is ok with the cover part of the plan especially since it meant Casey always being around to protect his family. He just hates the fact that while on the job, he and Sarah are still not allowed to fraternize.

He slowly nods and winks at her, a small smile on his face and he knows it's enough. Sarah finally answers, her voice polite but still with a tinge of belligerence in its undertone. "Yes, ma'am. Perfectly. Agent Bartowski and I will do I jobs to the best of our ability but just so you understand.." she pauses and turns to wink back at Chuck. "What we do on our own time is none of your damn business." She turns on her heel and walks out and cannot help but smile when she hears Chuck stammer out a quick 'sorry and see you later' before rushing after her.

I 95 En Route from Ft Meade to Langley, 3.41 pm, 14th April 2009

Jill knows that it could happen at any time, but she's handcuffed and blindfolded and cannot distinguish anything beyond the fact that she's sitting in the back seat of a SUV. She hopes that when it does occur, she'll survive the encounter.

She knows the plan by heart, as well as the consequences, and just wants to get it all over with. But in order for that to occur, she needs to play her part. She does not trust Colonel Casey or even Sarah, but she does trust Chuck. He has no reason to lie to her and never had. She knows that he will do everything in his power to put together another program, so she must be patient and in the meantime, take revenge on those people who were truly responsible for her paralysis.

She feels the impact on the SUV and understands that it has begun as she holds on to the door handle. The third impact sends the car careening off the road and Jill can feel her seat belt digging into her flesh as it overturns and smashes into the barrier at the side of the expressway. The crash disorients her such that she does not protest or fight back when she feels rough hands grab her and carry her to another waiting vehicle. Her blindfold slips and she finally gets a glimpse of the sun as well the men surrounding her.

She recognizes the face of one of the men carrying her as someone she had seen at Fort Meade. It's a dangerous game for her but no different than being the Intersect. There are spies everywhere and at least for her first check in, she will have news to give to Chuck on her first find for the CIA.

She sees the needle and recoils even as she can hear the voice of one of the men telling her not to struggle. Her mission has begun and she hopes that this one will end better than the last.

Packard Building, Stanford, 3.08pm 28th April 2009

Alice smooths down her skirt and touches her hair for the fifth time as she waits for the elevator to stop at the correct floor. Even now, she wishes that she had gone home to change or at least worn her lab coat over her clothes as a sort of shield. She really hopes that he will at least listen to her apology and knows that she does not deserve even that. However, she hopes that Professor Bartowski is as forgiving as she knows him to be and that he will forgive her despite what she had done to him.

When Marie from the Dean's office had called this morning, she had been expecting another dead end on news about Professor Bartowski, only to be told that he had finally called and requested an indefinite leave of absence. She had pressed Marie for more information and was finally rewarded when Marie's voice dropped to a conspiratorial whisper, telling her that the Dean had given Professor Bartowski only up to this afternoon to clear his office.

The elevator finally opens and she walks down the hallway towards his office. She can hear things being moved and at least knows that she can have some closure here. It's been a month since she's seen him and in that time, Alice has come to terms with the fact that she's missed her chance with him. At least now, she can be truthful in telling him that he deserves more and she hopes he will find it.

He's reaching for the box on the top shelf; most of his upper body is hidden by the half-filled boxes stacked haphazardly on one another when he hears the tentative hello coming from the doorway. The room is a mess because he really does not know where anything is but Chuck is his buddy and had asked him for a favor.

"Ummm, yeah, hi." Morgan maneuvers from around the stack of boxes to see the second most beautiful brunette he has ever seen. In his mind, Ellie will always take precedence, although he knows that ship has sailed, leaving him a lonely captain looking for a first mate.

"Oh, sorry." Alice stops short when she sees that it's not Professor Bartowski. "I'm uh, I'm looking for Professor Bartowski. I was told he'd be clearing his office." She does not know why she feels like crying and hates the fact that her glasses magnify her eyes.

"Hey, are you ok? Here have a seat. Chuck's not here. He asked me to help him… I'm Morgan by the way." He pushes a chair in her direction and extends his arm, hoping that she does not cry but wanting to see how he can help.

"He's not coming?" She wills herself not to cry, not really wanting to frighten off the nice person who's trying to help her. "I'm sorry. I just wanted to talk to Professor Bartowski."

She looks so bereft that Morgan gently pats her on the back twice before snatching his arm away when he realizes what he's doing. "Hey, no, don't look like that, I'll try and get him on the phone, just hang on a minute." Morgan takes out his phone and dials, keeping both hands on the pad even though he still has an urge to pat her on the back again.

Alice looks up at him, her expression a mixture of hope and gratitude as she hears him connect the call. "Hey, Chuck, my man. Listen, I know you said that this was a private line and all and that I was only to call in an emergency and not like a computer emergency or a Call of Duty kinda…um yeah…no…ok so getting to the point, I have um…" Morgan looks expectantly at her.

"Alice."

"Yeah, so I have Alice and she really needs to talk to you, man. Uh, yeah…I think this is important." Morgan finally hands the phone over to her. "Go ahead, he says he wants to talk to you too."

Alice takes a deep breath before taking the phone, holding it close to her ear as she listens to the voice on the other end. "Umm, hi, Professor Bartowski." Her voice is tentative at first until she hears his greeting and his next words not only forgiving her, but asking her to call him Chuck. The sense of relief that washes over her is immense and she's glad that she's sitting down. "I just wanted to apologize." Again, his response is amazing as she nods at his words, each one finally allowing her to understand that he does not hold a grudge against her and that he's leaving because he wants to do something else and it's partly because of her that he's realized that he has the ability to do more.

She's sad that her feelings will never be reciprocated but elated in knowing that he bears her no ill will and also wants the best for her. "I hope you'll be happy." She means it and knows he means it too when he wishes her the same, adding that his friend Morgan Grimes is a good guy too. She says goodbye and hangs up, finally handing the phone back to Morgan.

"Thanks. Umm, Profe…I mean Chuck, says to thank you and that you're a good guy." She smiles, a dimple appearing on her left cheek. She had not intended to tell him that but he's been so nice and sweet that she knows it's the right thing to say.

"Okey dokey then. I'm just gonna pack up here…" Morgan's never been good with the ladies and he knows that Chuck knows that. He turns to pick up a discarded book only to swiftly turn around again before Alice can react. "Umm, so as I was saying, I'm going to finish up here and when I'm done…" He can see her brown eyes magnified by her glasses as she looks at him unblinking, her face expectant. "Maybe we can have coffee?"

"Ok, but I think you'll get done faster if I stay and help."

Morgan wants to do his victory dance but knows it would be a tad too much and settles for just nodding as starts to fill in the boxes as quickly as he can.

Silverlake, California, 6.23pm, 29th April 2009

"Whoa, honey, don't you think you've, you know, gone a bit overboard?" Devon surveys the food laden dining room table while directing the question to Ellie as she scurries around the kitchen, filling yet another serving dish with hot food.

"No, Devon, I don't." She does not mean to be curt with him but Chuck was coming over to see them for the first time since that fateful morning when he had asked for her help. He had not told her much, except that he was probably going to take a sabbatical from teaching and reassess his life. He had sounded happy, if a bit tired, and had hinted that he hoped she would be ok if he did not come alone. Ellie had been so tempted to ask if he was bringing Sarah but held her tongue instead just telling him that she would make his favorite foods.

Ellie had precious few memories of her mother but even then, she knew she had more than Chuck. And the one thing she could remember was her mother cooking big meals for them as a family, either to celebrate a special occasion or to cheer up her dad when he came home disappointed that one of his ideas did not work. It was her only real link to her mom and she hopes Chuck will also understand the significance. She does not understand his choice to stop teaching but welcomes the fact that he's back in her life and that they will hopefully be able to start being a family again.

"I want him to know that I'm there for him no matter what his decision is and even if I don't understand it, I'm happy if he is. So we're celebrating." She ends the sentence on a definitive note, challenging Devon to contradict her as she turns to stare at him.

"Whatever you say, babe." He loves her regardless of her quirks, or actually because of them, and he's always known that family was important. He's looking forward to seeing Chuck again and ensuring that Ellie gets the family reunion she wanted. He looks at their wine selection and opens a nice Zinfandel from Napa, handing Ellie a glass to calm her nerves.

He goes to open the door when he hears the doorbell, expecting to see Chuck only to be confronted with a total stranger holding an empty milk carton. "Hi neighbor, I'm John Casey. Moved in next door yesterday."

"Uh, yeah....hey, dude. We were wondering about all the moving boxes. Anyway, welcome to the neighborhood. Hey El, come and meet our new neighbor, John…um…" Devon trails off as Ellie joins him at the door, carrying one of her pumpkin pies.

"Casey, John Casey. Nice to meet you, ma'am. That sure is one great smelling pie." His stomach growl adds credence to his statement and Ellie's smile widens further when she sees Chuck walk through the archway, walking hand in hand with Sarah.

Chuck was always the one who collected strays, be it the orphaned cat at school or Morgan, and she does not know when she picked up the habit as well but she knows she has as she extends an invite to John. "We have more than enough food, why don't you join us?"

The double take he does disorients him as much as the offer as he looks at Ellie and then at Chuck as he reaches the door. "Um, no thank you, it seems you have guests and I only came by to borrow some milk and to introduce myself." He really only needs to get in the house and plant a bug or two to test his equipment.

"Sure, come on in and I'll get you that moo juice." Devon invites Casey in as he sees Ellie mist up as soon as Chuck reached the door, wanting to give them a bit of privacy.

Chuck immediately hugs his sister, holding her tight, hoping that she can feel his love for her. It's difficult to accept that he will have to lie to her in order to protect her but overall, he understands that it's a choice he has made for now. He can feel Sarah's hand on his back, her presence giving him the support and courage he needs to move forward. "Hey sis, I missed you." He whispers in her ear as he feels her response when she just hugs him tighter.

"I promised Devon I wasn't going to cry." Ellie finally pulls back and gives Sarah a watery smile. "How are you feeling?" She directs the question at Sarah, hoping that the blond has recovered from the injuries she had sustained last month.

So many things had occurred since their initial meeting that Sarah has to pause before answering. This time, she can feel Chuck's hand lightly touch her own as he indicates his presence to her. She wants so desperately to take his hand but knows that their cover is as co-workers and friends, nothing more.

"Better, I'm better, and I just wanted to thank you for helping me and to ensure that you understand that it's all over now and Chuck is safe." It's always been easy to lie but Sarah knows that she'll always try and tell Ellie the truth and ensure that she does what she says.

It had been Graham's plan to have Chuck tell his sister that he had decided to work freelance for the government, writing benign programs for the Census department. Sarah was retired and would serve as his liaison and the idea was for her to bump into Casey and start some kind of relationship so that it would not seem weird when he started hanging out with Chuck. Surprisingly, it was Casey who had vehemently objected to the whole idea, only to have Beckman overrule him. In the end, Chuck had been the one to tell Casey that it would all work out for the best as a start, and Sarah had to convince him that they would not need to show much public displays of affection. Sarah's cover would enable her to hang out with Chuck and with Casey as her cover boyfriend, it would also allow him to be there and protect Chuck and his family.

"That's great." Ellie pulls Sarah into the house and directs her next question at Chuck. "So just tell me you're happy and even though you've probably stalled your career with a sabbatical, tell me you and Sarah are happy." Ellie can see that there is something between them and even last time, she could tell that her baby brother had been smitten. He may not have admitted it then but it would only make sense that he had done so subsequently. He looks so content and she knows she can put it down to finding closure with his sad discovery of their dad in a coma. However, she can tell it's more than that. He had always looked a bit lost but today, he looks just a bit more grown up than before.

"No, I mean yes, I'm happy and I guess so is Sarah but we're…just…we're not.." He wishes he could tell her the truth but there's too much at stake. He knows what is important though and thoroughly understands that its now up to him to protect those he loves as well as to accomplish the things that he knows he can do with the help of the Intersect and most importantly with Sarah by his side.

"Ellie, I'm really grateful to your brother for all his help but we're not together. I mean we're friends and everything…" She sees Chuck look at her, relief etched on his face but sadness dimming his eyes due to the lie. "And since we're working together now, it's for the best." She can see Ellie's skeptical look and deftly changes the topic as she compliments the wonderful smells wafting from the kitchen.

Sarah walks towards the kitchen, nearly bumping into Casey at the entrance. They do a little dance of avoidance with Sarah laughing as they feint left and then right, finally stopping as Casey holds onto her arms and deftly moves to one side. She extends her arm and introduces herself, all the while knowing Chuck is watching and that her heart solely belongs to him regardless of her external demeanor.

Casey can feel Chuck's eyes on him and hopes that the nerd can at least try to mask his emotions. He does not like doing this as much as Chuck hates it but it's the job and at least Walker was trying to sell it, although her eyes do not in any way reflect the wide smile on her face.

"So, John, are you sure you won't join us?" Devon offers again, seeing how much food Ellie had already prepared and noticing Casey giving Sarah the once over. It's not that he thinks Chuck does not have a shot with Sarah but more that a little competition would do Chuck good. Devon has faith that he will win out in the end. He can see the way they move, always instinctively knowing where each other is at but still not touching. It's weird, but also perhaps just the two of them taking it slow, not wanting to start something just yet in view of all the changes in their lives.

"Sure." Casey nods, still holding Sarah's gaze. It's all a job to him and he hopes his two partners understand that.

Ellie takes Devon's hand, wondering why he had invited John but trusting him all the same. She does not like the way he's looking at Sarah or the way Sarah is looking at him and for the life of her she cannot understand why her brother is not doing anything. However, taking all the recent changes in his life and putting it into context, she can imagine that he's probably going to need some time. But as his big sister, she has the prerogative to at least ensure that he gets the chance she knows he wants.

"John, why don't you sit next to me and tell me a bit about yourself. Chuck you go there and Sarah can sit by you with Morgan next to her, if he actually shows up." It's the best compromise she can do and is at least relieved to see Chuck's face brighten just a little with the arrangement.

It's like a new start for her and her brother and she's looking forward to it. The dinner goes well with Morgan showing up halfway with a guest of his own. She cannot understand how everyone thinks there is a resemblance between her and Alice but they do and she accepts the fact with grace.

It's only when Sarah excuses herself to use the bathroom and she sees both Casey and Chuck stand up as she leaves the table, does she see acknowledge that things will never be simple as she notes her brother's longing look as well as Casey's expectant one.

Her only shining moment of hope is near the end of dinner when Chuck volunteers to wash the dishes and Sarah agrees to help. She sees her brother take out his phone to answer a call as Sarah leans in close, their heads almost touching. Their bodies comfortably close as Sarah speaks into the phone and Chuck lightly touches her arm as if giving her support. It's an intimate scene of a generic moment in time, so much so that Ellie cannot understand the incongruity of them pretending to be friends when she can see that they are not.

Ellie does not see Chuck touch Sarah after the incident in the kitchen and even when they leave, they walked their separate ways when they reached the fountain, with Sarah giving her phone number to Casey as they looked on.

"You ok, babe?" Devon wraps his arms around Ellie as she leans back into him.

"Yeah, I just…" She trails off as she sees Sarah wistfully look back, not at Casey but at Chuck, before she wraps her coat tighter around her and walks the other way. "I just wish that they'll realize what's in front of them and not take too long."

He rests his chin on her shoulder and pulls her closer. "You know, I have a good feeling that they will."

Chateau Marmont, Los Angeles, 8.38pm 29th April

Jill sits at the bar, nursing her second vodka tonic and wishing that she could have a third and a fourth. However, she at least feels filled with more purpose than she has had in a long while. Leader had not been pleased with the destruction of the base but had welcomed her back with open arms, more due to her Intersect than anything else.

She still had to undergo their psych evals and a truth serum session, both of which she passed; not because she had been telling the truth but because all she had to do to avoid lying was to trigger a flash. It not only affected her neurologically but also psychologically, allowing her to think she was telling the truth. Her clothes, watch, earrings and necklace all had patterns interwoven into them, allowing her to trigger a flash at will. It had been Sarah's idea, although both her and Chuck had cautioned against doing it for extended periods knowing that it would result in her continued slow deterioration.

She passed all their tests and only now had been sent out on a new mission. The information was sketchy at best but at least for her first report back, she can give them the name of one of the moles in the NSA. She would like to do more though as she scans the room again, hoping to recognize her contact or at least hoping her contact would recognize her.

She turns back to her drink only to finally notice someone sitting on her right.

"So, love, should I buy you another drink or would you rather just go up to my room." His accent is jarring because it is so at odds with his roughish appearance. It's all very upper crust English but with a hint of underlying danger taking into account his five o'clock shadow. She does not react as she signals the bartender for another drink before using her code phrase.

"I thought it would rain today." The clear night sky belied her words. His answer back is cryptic but provides her with the knowledge that he is the contact with yet another iteration of an Intersect chip.

"Clear skies all the way." He finally turns to face her, hand held out. "Cole Barker." She is not the person he had expected and it does throw him a bit. But he has a job to accomplish and steels himself to move forward with this. "I'm in suite 5D." He places a key on the bar and walks toward the elevator. He's experienced enough to know that regardless of how people look like, they're all guilty of something and it's the only thought that gets him through his job. He's here to bring down Fulcrum from within and it is his only goal.

Choices have never been plentiful in Jill's life but she can see a number before her, each leading to a different inevitability. She signals the barman again and asks for a phone. She dials a number that she has memorized and waits for it to connect.

She hears his laughter before he answers and sighs before launching into her first report in. "I don't have much time so if Sarah is there, she should hear this too."

"She is." It's the only words he says.

"There is an agent called Myers at the NSA. He's Fulcrum. I'm at the Chateau Marmont and my new contact is a Cole Barker. He's supposed to have a new Intersect chip or at least access to one. Leader is expecting me to bring in both Cole and the chip."

It's Sarah who answers her, "Good, we'll follow up on Myers and Cole and will do a drop by the hotel pool tomorrow if we find anything. Good luck."

Jill hangs up, grabs the key while tossing a few bills onto the bar and turns to walk towards the elevator. It's not the life she had imagined but at least she gets to make her own choices each day.

Fort Meade, Maryland, 7.13am, 9th April 2009

He's sitting next to her bed, her hand held firmly in his as he waits patiently for her to wake up. The program had been run last night and like his personal experience, she's been unconscious since it ended. Her breathing is fine and her pupils show the appropriate response, as do all her other vital signs. At this juncture, all he is really waiting for is for her to wake up. He places his palm near her heart, wanting to feel each heartbeat, knowing that its cadence matched his own.

Chuck has never been one to be swayed by fairy tales or superstition. However, he cannot help but stare at her lips and think of princesses and magical kisses, so much so that he feels compelled to lean forward, touching his lips to hers. Her response back is almost instantaneous and he puts it down to serendipity as he deepens the kiss before reluctantly pulling back.

"Hey" his smile is as wide as it can be as he sees her eyes flutter open and then land on him. Her answering smile is all he needs but he wants full confirmation that all is well as he holds up a picture, hoping to not trigger a flash. Zarnow had provided him with the picture saying that it would be the one most likely to trigger a flash in Sarah should she still have the Intersect.

Sarah blinks trying to focus first on Chuck, drinking in his visage, before looking at the picture he is holding up. There is no pounding in her head and more importantly, she does not have any reaction to the picture. "That's a nice house." She wants him to kiss her again, already craving the missing physical connection even though she can still feel his palm near her heart.

Chuck nods, turning it around to view it himself and unfortunately triggering his own flash.

Coke Can

British Passport with Sarah's picture

Files of Triad Activities

Maps of Kowloon

Various mug shots

Air Tickets for Mr. & Mrs. Andersen

Coke Can

The information is relatively benign but it still gives him just a bit more insight into the world he's being thrust into. He wonders if the picture was chosen on purpose as the information it provides shows a past case history of Bryce and Sarah. A Hong Kong assignment where she had to kill three men. The pictures of the crime scene, though rendered in black and white, cannot hide the violent fight culminating in their deaths.

He shudders involuntarily and knows that she has picked up on his response as she looks at him, her blue eyes questioning. Chuck tries to smile but fails.

"What did you see?" She can tell he has been affected and has always known that there would come a time where she would need to be honest with him about what her job had and still does entail. She cannot shield him from who she is but she would do her hardest to shield him from the more difficult aspects of the job, even if it meant taking on the most distasteful parts onto herself.

Chuck opens his mouth but cannot articulate the horror he feels for her. He cannot blame her for taking the lives, not after knowing the background of the men she killed. However, he wonders how she manages to stay sane and hopes that he can be there for her, like perhaps Bryce had been. He sees a look of fear come over her face as she ducks her head, trying to hide her tears and it's then that he reacts as his hand reaches out to lift her chin up.

"Kowloon 2002. I'm sorry." He sees her eyes widen and a tear falls before she hastily swipes it away, and again turns away from him as if embarrassed and afraid. Its then that he realizes again what different worlds they are from and that she thinks he will judge her. "No, Sarah…when I killed Vincent, I had you to talk to. Who did you have? But now, just so you know, I'm here and we're in this together."

Sarah notes that it's becoming a habit for Chuck to always say the right thing and she realizes that it's what her dad had always hoped for her, someone who understood her like he did her mom. It's then that she looks around and notes that he's probably spent the entire night in the chair just looking over her. "How's your dad, you should go and check on him." She still does not understand or agree with Stephen Bartowski's decisions but acknowledges that in the end, he had tried to make amends for his mistakes.

"He's still in a coma but Casey says General Beckman has agreed to have him transferred to a facility in L.A. so I can visit and eventually Ellie too, when I tell her." He wants so much to tell his sister about their dad but knows most of it would be deemed classified. That's probably what he hates most about his new job, the propensity to lie with ease is something he will never get used to. The fact that he is partnered with Sarah will go a long way in making every obstacle in his way seem more trivial. He holds her hand and can feel her squeeze back.

"I…I'm not good at this and I've got a lot to make up for." She pauses as she sees him look at her. She does not turn away but takes another breath before she can continue. She needs to tell him that she's done her job to the best of her ability because she wanted to make a difference and she accepted the fact that sometimes she had to take on the burden of judge and executioner, rendering her conscience not always clear but she is still able to sleep at night. Sarah needs him to understand that she'll do everything to ensure his conscience will always stay clear. "It's not going to be easy, but you need to trust me and do what I ask when the time comes. I know my job and you being with me are enough." She sees him smile at her comment, an enigmatic expression on his face.

"What?" She stares at him as he finally stands up, her hand still in his. Sarah valiantly tries to sit up and only manages to when Chuck props up a pillow behind her. "Chuck, is everything ok?" He still does not say anything although she can see he's processing her words. It's only when he gets down on one knee, does she hold her breath, not trying to second guess him but totally losing all form of speech or thought as she looks at him, her blue eyes wide.

"I don't know a lot of things about life or women or how to be a spy and I never thought I would ever feel complete. Growing up and even up until two weeks ago, I resigned myself to living a life half lived. Except right now, I know exactly what I want and what I want is to be with you, always." Chuck had initially wanted a conventional proposal but realized that with Sarah, he needed to be different. Not so different that he had to become someone else, but different enough such that she understands that this is who he is now, who he has become because of her.

"It's a promise from me and I want one from you too." Chuck knows it's about risks and being brave but also about love and recognizing the inevitable. He looks at her as she blinks her blue eyes bright with unshed tears. She does not answer back but her ensuing smile is all he really needs as is her pull on his arm.

Sarah pulls him to her, not trusting her voice but understanding that she needs to give him an answer. It's such a natural decision for her, knowing that this is what she's wanted all along, what she's been waiting for all this time. Their kisses all along had been driven by each of their different needs, only coming together in their execution.

This kiss is inimitable as it signifies all things past they have shared as well as highlights all things future that they can expect together.

The End

So my final poll for this story is

1) I really love The Princess Bride and wanted a tiny homage to it. Those who read the book, tell me if it's a good homage or not?

2) Jomarch does feel all the lose ends have been tied up. Agree/Disagree

3) Yes, Morgan does end up with Alice and Cole was written because I felt bad for Jill. Should I have written in Alex for Casey as well?

4) That's it folks, all done with my little AU. Enjoy Season 3 and leave a review on your way out.