Welcome to the final chapter of "Finding Our Way"! That's right, the LAST chapter. No epilogue, nothing. This is it. That said, I hope you like it. If not, ummm, sorry, but thanks for reading...? :-)

As always, thank you guys so much for all of the awesome reviews, follows, and favourites. Your support is greatly appreciated, whether you're just joining me now (or in the future) or you've been kicking around since the early days of this story. I'm going to miss hearing from you guys, but feel free to join me for my other stories, message me here, or hit me up on Twitter. Anyway, you're all truly AWESOME, so thank you again, and kudos to you for making it through this rather long story.

Dedications… This chapter goes out to those of you who have taken the time to write a review, tweet, or message, whether it's been one or many. All feedback is greatly appreciated, even if it's just to ask when the next chapter is going up. It's proven to be a great source of motivation, inspiration, and entertainment as we've moved through this story, from the wanting to throw your phone moments to the laughing or crying ones. It's been a blast, so thank you guys!

I'd also like to dedicate this chapter to svugirl25. I can't even remember when she hopped aboard my crazy bandwagon, but huge props to her for being my guinea pig/bodyguard (and becoming a great friend). In other words, since joining me, she's had the patience to read through most chapters (of most of my stories) prior to me posting them on here. That said, a huge thank you to her for her support and suggestions. Oh, and for those of you reading Clean Slate, she's the reason you're getting an alternate ending. I think both will go over well, but the alternate one has a nice little touch that I think you'll appreciate. Anyway, a huge thank you to her for her awesomeness.

And, ah hell, I'll also dedicate this chapter to those of you who need a little pick me up after seeing some of those promos and articles about s6. I hope this helps a little. Hang in there though, and remember to politely bug the networks about getting a seventh season. Sherry's taking over and she's the heart and soul of McSwarek, so s7 should be AWESOME.

And, sorry for not getting this chapter up sooner. I've been sitting on it, debating/hesitating (while updating some of my other stories, and fixing/adding to chapters I shouldn't even be thinking about right now), and contemplating scrapping it altogether and finding a better way to send it off. I even considered waiting another week or two to post it, but, there comes a time when you have to say screw it, and go with what you have... I think that time has (long since) come, and you guys have waited long enough. So, let's send this sucker packing. It's a little heavy on the details in some places, and given that we're winding down, it isn't exactly the most riveting chapter, but I hope you like it anyway.

WARNING... This chapter suffers from the excessive use of the words: lips, kissed, kissing, kiss, and mouth... It just couldn't be helped.

Oh, and the chapter jumps around a little time-wise, so be mindful of that.

Now, without further ado, let's get to the recap and then the final chapter.

Recap: Since it's super long, I'm just going to suggest going back to the last chapter's recap. But, for a recap of the last chapter on its own, here are the basics... Andy and Gail made amends. Nick returned. Sam discovered that the cure to Andy's allergy to silence was to kiss her quiet. She explained why she wanted to get married on October 18th. After two weeks, Andy was finally released from the hospital. Sam calmed her down after she had a nightmare about the explosion, and Andy got all sentimental. Sam, Oliver, and the Shaw children had a snowball fight, followed by Sam learning how to braid hair. Worried about hurting her physically, Sam kept coming up with excuses (usually involving food) to avoid intimate moments. When Sam learned that Andy was unable to find a venue for their wedding, Sam took matters into his own hands, telling her that he had an idea. But, with the change in location came a change in the wedding date too, making the new day, August 20th. Fed up with the lack of intimacy, Andy pulled out the wand and after some convincing, she finally got the good candy ;)

August 20th, Oliver's Cabin…

Moonlight glistened on the largely still lake. A comfortable breeze tugged at the treetops, making them sway ever so slightly, though the rustling of their leaves was drowned out by the music resonating through the open space below… A clearing where bodies moved to the rhythm of the beat, some driven by an almost calculated step, while others were instruments of the alcohol flowing through their veins. And all, only visible under the light cast by the stars and the moon, an array of candles dispersed around the guests, and the small artificial lights that were used sparingly. But, what little unnatural lighting there was, was tastefully done, including the tiny white lights that were strung along the railing of the porch where Andy now stood, palms resting on the wood as she took in her surroundings for the umpteenth time, wondering how on earth she got so lucky. Eyes now shifting back to her rings, a soft smile spread across her face as tears filled her eyes, and her mind went back to mere hours earlier.

She sucked in a sharp breath as Sam came into view, tears instantly pricking her eyes. "Don't cry, don't cry, don't cry," she whispered, her heart racing as the significance of the day, and all of the emotions that came with it, descended upon her.

Tommy chuckled as he cast a fond glance down at his daughter. "Believe it or not, kiddo, but your mother bawled on our wedding day."

A small laugh escaped Andy. She just couldn't help it. Because, although she was now on relatively good terms with her mother – amicable enough, in fact, for the woman to be present now, at the wedding – years ago Andy wouldn't have thought that a woman who could abandon her family would have cried about anything. Or that someone like that was physically capable of shedding tears or showing any kind of emotion that wasn't completely negative. But now, she could maybe see it. After all, her mother may have screwed up, but the woman was only human, and since coming back into her daughter's life, she'd proven that she actually had a heart, and that she could be kind and caring. So, in a sense, Andy could almost believe it. Her thoughts were drawn back to her dad as he spoke again.

"I'm proud of you," Tommy said quietly, pressing a kiss to the top of his daughter's head before raising his own and beaming at everyone gathered.

Andy wet her lips, intending to say something equally as sentimental, but found herself at a loss for words as they descended the stairs and started to make their way down the makeshift aisle. So, instead, she merely nodded, her eyes trained straight ahead in the direction of her future. At least, that's what she tried to do. But, despite it being a relatively small ceremony with only their closest friends, family members, and co-workers, she momentarily lost sight of Sam amidst the smiling faces. And, in that moment, everything changed. A wave of nerves crashed over her already butterfly-ridden mind and body. Her smile faltered and her step unconsciously quickened.

"Easy there, sweetie," Tommy whispered, forcing her to slow her pace. "Run or crawl, he'll still be there waiting for you."

Drawing in a deep breath, her gaze briefly shifted to the sunset and the light reflecting off the lake. 'My dad's right,' she thought, thankful when she felt her nerves settle just a little. 'Run or crawl, rain or shine, Sam Swarek will be there. We've come too far for anything to stop us now.' Her heart did a little flip. 'It's like the saying goes: "come hell or high water", we're doing this. This is our day… the beginning of our life together as a family, and the end of all of the fighting and struggling to get here. This is it. We made it. We did it.' Her eyes sought him out again.

"See," Tommy whispered, as the groom came back into view.

Andy's lips curled upward until the smile broke through, lighting up her face, but with it came a fresh wave of tears that threatened to spill over. And, the emotional battle only became harder the closer she got to him.

"Did you run up here, McNally?" Sam quietly teased as Tommy finally let his little girl go, literally placing her in the hands of the man who would now take care of her for the rest of her life. Not that Sam hadn't already taken on that role, but now it would be officially bound with vows.

The second her hand fell in his, relief flooded through her, causing a small laugh to escape. "At least I didn't tackle you."

Grinning, he squeezed her hand, feeling it tremble in his. "I wouldn't have minded... if you kissed me this time."

Her cheeks turned a pretty shade of pink. "Sam," she said, intending for it to be a warning – to tell him to behave – but it came out sounding breathy instead. Suddenly conscious of all of the sets of eyes on them – something she'd been too distracted to really notice before – she handed Traci her bouquet and reached for Sam's other hand, drawing in a slow breath as she took it in hers.

"McNally," he breathed back before running the pad of his thumbs across the back of her hands in a calming manner, all the while stepping a little closer. "Last chance," he whispered. "After this, there's no going back."

"Sam," Andy said, a slight frown on her face as she met his warm, brown eyes. "We passed that point a long time ago… And, I don't wanna go back. Not now, not ever."

"You're sure about this?"

"There's nothing I want more."

As his hand rose to caress her cheek, he angled himself so that he was facing away from their audience, trying to find a little bit of privacy in their not-so-private setting. Then, ignoring everyone but Andy, Sam stooped down, kissing her softly until someone nearby cleared his throat.

"Not yet," the minister chided.

Although there were a few chuckles from all around, one laugh in particular seemed to stand out from the others – it was loud, and it came from somewhere over Sam's shoulder… Oliver. "Better hurry minister; these two aren't exactly known for following the rules," the best man advised.

Blushing again, Andy pulled back, but kept a firm grip on Sam's hands, drawing strength from him in a bid to keep her knees from trembling and perhaps even from giving out beneath her.

Eyes twinkling with amusement, Sam grinned at her and winked, receiving a massive smile in return. "Watch it, Ollie," he muttered, casting a glance over his shoulder in his friend's direction. He then nodded toward Andy's bouquet, which was still clasped in Traci's hands. "McNally's got pretty good aim, so if you don't wanna give Celery any ideas…"

Hearing a loud "I do" being yelled from somewhere down below, Andy's attention snapped back to the present day. Her eyes settled on Dov, who had his hand up in the air like an elementary school kid who desperately wanted the teacher to pick him. It was hard not to laugh at his enthusiasm, no doubt over wanting another round of drinks. Regardless of the reason though, he seemed happy, and that was all that really mattered.

Without anyone to interrupt her, she studied the people at his table a little more. The smiling faces. The laughter. Her own lips twitched. If she had to take a stab at it, she'd guess the group was probably halfway through a round of trivia, something she'd be willing to wager that Dov or Chloe would win again. The King and Queen of Useless Facts. Complete dorks, but man, did she love them. All of them. They were more than just her friends; they were her family, and she couldn't imagine her life without them in it. The same obviously went for Sam.

"I do," Andy echoed under her breath, her gaze shifting to her rings again. Palm lifting a little, her thumb moved to finger the metal, sending her mind back once more.

"I, Andy McNally, take you, Sam Swarek…" She drew in a deep breath, struggling to blink back the moisture in her eyes. "…to be my husband…" Feeling him squeeze her hands, she smiled up at him, feeling her nearly unbridled nerves settle a little more. "…to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health…" Her voice faltered at the slight shine in his eyes. 'Is he getting emotional?' Hearing the minister repeat the next part, she wet her lips. "…to love and to cherish, from this day forward, until death do us part." She stepped toward Sam, wanting to wrap her arms around him and kiss him until she grew weak in the knees, but the minister cleared his throat again and turned to the groom... her groom... Sam. Andy bit back a smile. She'd always thought the man was supposed to say the vows first, but they'd never really been normal, so maybe this suited them. Either way, it didn't matter. They were here. They were doing this. It wasn't imagined. It wasn't hoped. It was reality, and it was a good one.

"I, Sam Swarek, take you, Andy McNally…"

A shiver ran through her at the way he said her last name, while her teeth gently gnawed on her lower lip in an effort to resist the urge to kiss him... a temptation that was rapidly growing stronger.

"…to be my wife, to have and to hold…" As if sensing her thoughts, he gently pulled her a little closer, almost like he was daring her to act upon that desire. "…from this day forward…" One eyebrow shot upward. Definitely a challenge.

Andy swallowed hard, feeling his breath fan out across her face. She wasn't going to make it. Between the tears in her eyes – just from knowing how far they'd come – and hearing him say those words, something had to give.

"…for better or worse…"

She closed the gap, releasing his hands and sliding her own up to his face, holding him still as she kissed him, tears simultaneously rolling down her cheeks. And despite the loud whistles and the minister's attempts to get their attention, Andy kept Sam close, placing another tender kiss on his lips as he wrapped her up in his arms. "Sorry," she breathed when they finally parted. "I had to."

Warm, intense, brown eyes now dancing with light and laughter, Sam said, "Had to, huh?"

"Yeah," Andy whispered. "But it's your fault." She could tell he was trying to hold back a laugh. "You were practically begging me to kiss you."

"I was, was I?" he asked, grinning.

"Uh huh. With your eyes. And your lips." She smiled, her gaze shifting between the two. "And it was only a matter of time before you kissed me."

"Really?" His tone was teasing.

"Yup," Andy said, both of them seemingly blocking out everything and everyone around them. It didn't matter that their guests were exchanging looks, wondering what on earth was going on... why the ceremony had stopped or why the couple was whispering back and forth to one another as if each side was determined to have the last word. None of it mattered because everyone knew that Sam and Andy were in their own little world, and that any attempts to draw them back to the ceremony before they were ready would be useless. "So I was doing you a favour," she added with a smirk.

"By kissing me?" he asked, chuckling. "By stopping me from marrying you?"

"No. By preventing you from breaking the rules again."

"How thoughtful... taking one for the team like that," he replied with a smirk.

"That's what partners do." It didn't even matter that they weren't partners at work anymore, at least not the way they used to be, because they were more than that. Much more.

"Yeah? And is my partner going to let me marry her now?" Sam asked, his voice still so soft that only she could hear the words.

"You gonna kiss me after?"

He quirked an eyebrow. "Just try and stop me."

"No, thanks," Andy said, lips curling upward. "So, you gonna marry me now?"

"You gonna let me?"

"You're the one that has to finish your vows," she reminded him, her body shaking with silent laughter.

"You're the one that has to stop..."

"Kissing you?" Andy finished for him, eyebrows shooting upward.

"Never."

"Good. Now hurry up and make me yours."

"You always were," he argued.

Lips tugging upward a little more, Andy nodded and whispered a soft "Always", though she remained in his arms with her head now against his chest, listening to the thumping of his heart as he said the rest of his vows and she attempted to regain control over her emotions. But, every word he uttered sent vibrations through him, which in turn, seemed to reverberate through her body, tugging at her heart a little more and causing it to swell. Hearing him, seeing him like this – right here, right now – was something she hadn't even thought possible in her dreams. At least, not until the last year or so. But, he'd changed; she'd changed. They'd grown closer. Become more open and honest about things. Stopped running. Stopped hiding. Figured out how to make it work.

Feeling him kiss the top of her head, she finally raised it and met his eyes, only taking a small step back to accept the ring that was passed to her. At this point, she wasn't even thinking anymore – she was so caught up in her groom that she automatically repeated the minister's words and slid the ring onto Sam's finger.

Smiling down at her, Sam held out his hand and took her wedding band from Oliver. "With this ring, I thee wed," he said slowly, gently taking her left hand in his. "Wear it as a symbol of our love and commitment," he finished, sliding the ring onto her finger.

Their eyes remained locked until the minister finished saying his piece, then both turned to look at him expectantly, and a little apologetically.

"Alright, alright," the minister said with a chucke. He, like everyone else gathered, knew perfectly well that after all of the interruptions, it wasn't going to be a quick kiss, and making Sam and Andy wait even longer certainly wasn't doing anyone any favours. "You may now kiss the bride."

Sam didn't hesitate. With his hands on her hips, he tugged Andy forward and pressed his lips to hers in a tender kiss.

Unable to keep her mouth from curling upward, she smiled as her arms wound around his neck and they kissed again. "We did it," she mumbled into his lips.

"Mmmm hmm," he replied, gently nudging her nose with his before letting his lips brush up against hers. "And how does it feel, Mrs. Swarek?" he asked, only pulling away long enough to get the words out.

"It feels… right," Andy said, her smile lighting up her entire face again as her mouth met his, seemingly desperate to become reacquainted after a painful few seconds apart.

He nodded when they finally separated, the growing smile on his face causing his dimples to appear. "It does," he agreed.

Still lost in the memory, Andy didn't see or hear Sam approach the stairs. In fact, it wasn't until one of the steps creaked rather loudly beneath his weight that she snapped out of it, startled to discover that she was no longer alone. But, the feeling rapidly vanished. And, even without looking, she knew it was him. She always knew. "You scared me," she said quietly.

"You okay?" he asked, his voice full of concern upon finding her tucked away in the shadows. So much concern, in fact, that an apology was completely forgotten. "It's like you've been somewhere else today."

"Just thinking," Andy replied softly, gaze turning to the calm lake. Then, eyes fluttering shut, she breathed in deeply, letting the smell of pine, candles, and surrounding nature wash over her, instilling her with a sense of peace… an euphoric sensation on a scale that she'd never really experienced before. The feeling had been so strong that day – just so completely overwhelming – that it had brought her to this point, to a quiet moment on the porch where she was able to reflect on everything, without any interruptions… until now. Not that his presence bothered her. In fact, she welcomed it.

"About?"

She shrugged. "Just the past." There was a small pause. "The present." Her lips twitched. "And the future… our future."

"And?" he prodded, eyebrows furrowed. Her silence – or rather, her vague response – was a little unnerving. After all, it was unlike her to succumb to silence like this. And when she did, it rarely boded well.

As her head slowly turned toward him, her smiled widened and her heart did a little flip. "Annnnd from where I'm standing, it all looks pretty damn perfect." Her face scrunched up. "Well, I mean, there were a few tiny blips." She held her thumb and forefinger close together before squishing them together. "But you know, I think the universe got it right this time. I think we got it right."

"Is that so?" Sam asked, his tone teasing.

"I mean, the future is a little scary looking – terrifying actually – but yeah... Don't you?"

He nodded as he climbed the last step and rounded the corner, making his way to where she was standing. "So then, why are you up here? I thought you'd be down there with everyone, dancing or…?"

"I will," she replied quietly, head swiveling back so that she could see the temporary dance-floor again. As unconventional as it was, they'd decided to open up the floor before they'd even had their first dance. And, seeing the smiles now made it worth it.

"Is it your leg?" he asked, eyes darting downward, even though her dress concealed her entire lower half.

"No."

"Good," Sam whispered, as he stepped up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist, closing his eyes and letting his head drop a little lower until his face was nestled up against her neck. The smell of her shampoo – though faint now – still filled his nostrils, causing his hold on her to tighten as memories of about eight months ago flashed before his eyes… to a time when he thought that he'd lost her, that he'd never be able to hold her again or breathe in her scent. But, here they were. He could feel her, smell her, and if he opened his eyes, he could see her too. "You sure everything's okay?" he asked, pressing a soft kiss to her skin before raising his head to study her.

"Positive," Andy replied, letting her head fall back against his left shoulder, her own arms rising until they rested on top of his. And, for several minutes, they just stood like this in silence, watching the dancing below: Steve with Traci, Dov with Chloe, Gail with Holly, Oliver with Celery, Jamie with Chris, her dad with a woman from his A.A meetings. They were all smiling – all happy – and for the first time in a long while, Andy felt like everything in her life was finally right… really right. Letting her own eyes slowly close, she leaned into Sam a little more, enjoying the feel of his strong arms around her, and the warmth radiating from his body that helped block out the cool summer night's breeze. Linking her fingers with his, she added, "I'm happy."

His lips tugged upward at the ends. "So am I," he said, dropping a kiss on the top of her head before letting silence encompass their little spot in the shadows once more. And, it was only in that moment that he really understood why she seemed so different that day. Because, as he witnessed the scene below – the result of years of screwing up, but finally getting it right – he knew that on this day, she was trying to soak up every little thing… trying to connect all the dots, enjoy every moment, and engrain it all in her memory. "It is perfect," he said quietly, his eyes scanning the area, and finding all of the most important people in their lives present, except for Jerry. And then there was the beautiful and tranquil setting, even with the music. And, of course, there was Andy… together, with him, at last.

"Uh huh," Andy agreed, her voice barely audible as she slipped back into some of her thoughts from earlier. And, even when she felt his lips on her bare shoulder and then her neck again, she remained motionless for a moment longer before finally drawing in a deep breath and trying to slowly turn in his arms. "Sam?"

He mumbled something unintelligible into her hair, his grip tightening in a bid to keep her in his arms, just the way they were. To just freeze time. That moment. But, she seemed determined to turn, so with a sigh, he finally let her. And, once she was facing him, he felt his breath being taken away for the umpteenth time that day. "God, you're beautiful," he whispered, and it wasn't the first time he'd thought it that day or any other. But, today she looked more radiant than ever, and it made it even harder to take his eyes off of her. Even when she wasn't smiling, she seemed to be glowing. Lips turning upward, he found one hand shifting to cup her face, his thumb gently caressing her cheek as he looked down at her. "Beautiful," he breathed, and unable to resist, he leaned in and placed a tender kiss on her lips, followed by another, and another, each one soft and sweet.

Andy's lips also curled upward into a small smile as her arms snaked up behind his neck, pulling him back in and deepening the kiss, her entire body melting into his. "So are you," she said, when they finally pulled apart.

He quirked an eyebrow, doing his best to bite back a smirk. Beautiful, huh?

"I mean… You're… uh… you're handsome." Feeling his body shake with silent laughter, she swatted his arm. "You know what I mean."

"So you don't think I'm beautiful?" Sam teased, trying to feign offence.

Her mouth fell open. "That's not—"

With a small chuckle, Sam leaned in and kissed her quiet. "I get it, McNally. You think I'm a monster."

"That's—" she began, eyes wide.

"Shhh," he said, kissing her again until he felt her relax. "I'm just teasing." He paused, eyeing her carefully when he felt her start to tense up again just seconds later. "What's on your mind?"

Her hands fell until they were resting on his chest. "I…" Andy paused, biting down on her lower lip as her fingers curled around the lapels of his suit, keeping him close. "Well, umm, the doctor said I might be able to start desk duty in another month or two, if my recovery continues to progress at this rate... She said something or someone in the last month or so must have given me the extra incentive to heal faster." She raised an eyebrow suggestively.

"That's… that's great," Sam said, though a frown slowly formed on his face. When did she talk to the doctor?

In response to his silent question, Andy said, "I went this morning."

"But—?"

"I know, I know, it's kind of crazy right? I mean, things were a little rushed," she rambled on, "But she had some time open up at the last minute, and since we're gonna be here for a week, I had to cancel my original appointment, so I figured I might as well go today instead of waiting another two or three weeks to see if another time slot opens up." Winded, Andy paused to draw in a breath.

"If I can have the bride and groom take the stage... It's time for speeches," Traci called out as the music was turned down a few notches.

Andy sighed. Not now.

"What is it?" Sam asked, ignoring the interruption. Something was off.

She gave him what she hoped was a reassuring smile. "It can wait."

"McNally?"

"Swarek," she corrected.

His lips twitched. "Are you sure?"

Am I sure? Of course I'm sure. She stared up at him in confusion. "Yeah, you married me and—"

"No," he said, chuckling a little as he shook his head. Then, growing more serious, he asked, "Are you sure it can wait?"

"Oh... Yeah," Andy replied with a small nod. "Like I said, everything's perfect."

"The bride and groom…?" Traci's voice came again, the music simultaneously going down a few more notches.

A small laugh escaped Andy. "Guess we better go before someone starts to get the wrong idea." Still, she remained where she was, tilting her head up to kiss him again. Then, finally pulling back, she let out a resigned sighed. "Ready?"

"If you are," he replied.

"There's nobody I'd rather do this with."

He smirked. "You gonna twist around everything I say?"

"Deal with it, Swarek, you're stuck with me now," Andy said, grinning as she linked her fingers with his and together they walked toward the stairs.

Two weeks before the wedding…

"Are we almost there?" Andy whined, knocking her skull back against the headrest of the passenger seat, as boredom and frustration got the better of her. She had no perception of the time – absolutely none – and could only surmise that it had been at least an hour, maybe even two. And, without being able to see a damn thing, the entire ride seemed painstakingly long. Not that she wasn't in good company; she was just antsy about not knowing where they were going, or for how long.

Sarah glanced at her future sister-in-law and smirked. "No, but if it helps, we're about ten minutes closer than the last time you asked."

A frustrated sigh escaped her. "You know, all you have to do is let me take off this blindfold and I'll stop asking. I promise." Andy turned her head to her left and shot the other woman a sweet smile, without really knowing if she'd see it or not. Please let me take it off. Please let me take it off. The thought ran through her head like a mantra as she leaned forward – eager and full of hope – wondering if this was the moment when Sam's sister would finally take pity on her. Pleeeeeeeease.

"Not happening," Sarah replied with a small laugh. "That might work on my brother, but not on me. Besides, I promised him that I'd keep you in the dark, right up until we get there."

"Seriously?" Andy asked in disbelief, slumping back in her seat in defeat. She had to have at least considered it, right? I mean, she pretty much kidnapped me... Okay, well, maybe I went willingly, but that was before I knew about this stupid blindfold. Or that it would take this long. She bit back another sigh. And, stealing my cell phone too? What if Sam tried to call? She mentally shook herself. Sounds like he had a hand in this too. But then, why didn't he say anything last night, or this morning? Her lips twitched. Because he knew I'd ask twenty questions, so he tried to siphon me off onto his sister and let her deal with all of it. Well, that, and we were uh... busy. Feeling her cheeks warm as thoughts of the night before and earlier that morning invaded her mind, she drew in a deep breath. He is so gonna get it. And a blindfold? Really? Why? Her eyebrows knit together in confusion."That's a bit of a literal interpretation, don't you think?"

"Nope, he handed me the blindfold himself."

He what? Andy's mouth fell open. Yeah, right. This has to be a joke. There's no way."That's a good one," she said, shaking her head at how ridiculous the whole situation seemed. "You know, for a second there you almost had me."

"It's not a joke, Andy. He was very thorough with his instructions," Sarah replied, holding back another laugh as she mimicked her brother's voice. "No matter how many times McNally asks, and no matter how she asks, don't tell her where you're taking her and do not let her take off the blindfold. I repeat, do not let her take off the blindfold."

Great. Andy let out an over-exaggerated sigh, then fell silent... a spell which, by her best estimate, lasted for at least twenty minutes, and – having run out of ideas for ways to occupy herself – consisted only of drumming her fingers against her thighs. After all, she'd already tried singing along with the radio, chatting with Sarah, daydreaming, and even napping, but nothing could distract her or curb her growing impatience. "Are we at least close now?"

"You could say that," Sarah replied with a grin, as she signaled and turned down a dirt road.

Bump. Bump.

When Andy felt herself being jerked around in her seat for the third time within the span of a couple of minutes, her eyebrows furrowed again. Where the hell are we? "Uh, Sarah?"

"Yup?"

"We're, uh... we're friends, right?" Andy asked slowly.

"Yeah, of course."

"And, Sam still wants to marry me?"

"Obviously."

"So, you aren't just blindfolding me, taking me to a remote location, and then going to murder me?" Andy joked.

"Either you watch too many horror movies, or you've already been on the job for too long."

"I haven't worked in nearly eight months," Andy said, unable to keep the bitterness out of her voice. "And, yeah, maybe I've witnessed too many horror stories in real life, but..." The train of thought left a bad taste in her mouth, causing her to trail off. I just want back out there.

"So you've got an active imagination," Sarah said with a small shrug, trying to slowly steer the conversation back to something a little lighter.

Yeah, and I'm not the only one. Andy hesitated. "You know, ever since my accident, Sam's been so..."

"So what?"

She bit down on her lower lip and worried it between her teeth before finally saying, "Overprotective."

"Andy, he's always been that way with you. Even when he didn't remember you, he had this innate desire to keep you safe. And before that, I heard the stories from Oliver. Not all of them, I'm sure, but enough to know that Sam's always been like that when it comes to you... to the people he cares about."

"Yeah, but, this... this is different. It's... it's more." She paused. "More so than usual."

"In a bad way?"

"I... I don't know. It's different. Weird, maybe. I dunno..." She let out a loud breath.

"You've both gone through a lot," Sarah said.

"I know. And, I get that we've both changed, but he just seems so attached. So worried. And, it's not like I'm even doing anything anymore. I mean, what's gonna happen when I'm finally cleared to go back to work?"

"He'll calm down," Sarah assured her. "He knows things happen while on the job, and what happened with you, it doesn't happen everyday."

"But—" Andy began.

"It'll just take a bit of time for both of you to adjust. You'll be fine though, trust me. I see the way you two look at each other. You'll figure it out."

"I hope so..." Despite the lingering doubt and hint of fear, Andy changed the subject. "You know, not being able to see anything makes this drive feel ten times longer."

"So does worrying."

Andy inwardly groaned. Yeah. Not going there. She's right. It'll be fine. Everything's fine. Determined to occupy her mind with something else, she continued, "I feel like I'm a kid again, you know? Sitting in a car. Going for a long ride. And it's like... time just crawls, as if everything's in slow motion." A small smile touched her lips as she thought back to her childhood. "This one time, when I was seven, my parents took me to Niagara Falls. And really, it isn't even that far, but to me, it felt like it took the whole day just to get there. Of course, I was so tired by the end of the day that I slept on the way back, but..." She paused. "That's just kinda how it feels now. A lot of waiting. Driving. Not knowing."

"Well then, I guess it's a good thing we're here," Sarah said with a smile as she brought the car to a stop. "But, don't take the blindfold off yet."

Hearing the door on the driver's side open, Andy unbuckled her seatbelt and opened her own door, tentatively stepping out, her heart pounding heavily in her chest at the prospect of what may or may not lie ahead. He's so gonna get it. The first thing to hit her was the smell of pine, then the uneven ground. "Sarah?"

"I'm impressed sis."

"Sam?" Andy said a little louder, her head swinging left and right in an attempt to figure out where he was. What's going on?

"Didn't think you'd be able to get her here with that thing still on," Sam said, tongue darting to the inside of his cheek when he saw Andy take another confused step forward, this time in his direction. With a smile playing out on his lips, he moved toward her, reaching her just as she stumbled.

A curse tumbled from Andy's lips as she fell forward, her hands flying out in front of her in a bid to break her fall.

It never came.

Something warm wrapped around her arms, practically lifting her until she was upright again. Now steady, she sucked in a sharp breath, her hands rising until they rested on warm skin. Her frustration evaporated. Her lips twitched. And, without really thinking, she let her hands move further upward, trailing along familiar biceps and shoulders, before moving up to his neck and settling on his face. Then, tilting her head up, she pressed a soft kiss to his mouth, melting into him when she felt his arms wrap around her.

"You know, that would have been pretty embarrassing if you were wrong," Sam teased before kissing her again. "If I was Oliver... or Chris or Dov."

She blindly swatted him with one hand. "Can I take it off now?"

"McNally, my sister's still here," he whispered in her ear, the huskiness in his tone making her shiver.

"You know what I mean," she said, swatting him again as she reached up with her other hand and pulled off the blindfold to find him grinning down at her. "You're…" She fell silent as her eyes slowly took in the scenery. The forest, lake, cabin. "Sam?" she breathed, awestruck.

His heart rate picked up as he nervously waited for her to say more than just his name, to know if his idea could even hold a candle to anything she'd imagined. Did I screw up? He searched her face, but she wasn't giving much away yet. She loves weddings. Has probably dreamt of her own since she was a little girl. But, I knew that. I knew it and I still took the risk. Asked her to trust me. To let me do this. And she was so stressed with her recovery, I thought I could help. But, what if she doesn't like it?

"We're getting married here?" Andy whispered, both her expression and tone now revealing her uncertainty, confusion, and a little bit of doubt.

He drew in a deep breath, not quite sure what to make of her reaction. She doesn't like it. This is everything to her, and I screwed up. "I..."

She looked up at him expectantly.

Deciding to abandon any attempts at a verbal response, Sam took both of her hands in his, and led her to the far side of the property, closest to the lake. Maybe I can persuade her? "We umm…" He nervously cleared his throat, then slowly turned her to face the water. "We could have the ceremony here."

"Here?" Andy repeated, taking another step forward before turning to him and pulling him with her. "Right here?" Her voice was soft. The uncertainty and confusion were mere shadows.

Sam nodded, watching as her head turned back toward the lake. Is she warming up to the idea? "At sunset."

"At sunset," she echoed, her mind already envisioning the big day. The sun setting in the background, its light reflecting off the lake. The natural arch created by the trees, making the property seem even more secluded, yet also providing a great eye-line to the water. In her mind, it seemed so romantic. The thought had her eyes sliding back to Sam, her mouth opening as if to say something, but all she could do was stare. Did he really come up with this on his own? She laughed inwardly. How on earth did a man who knows so little about weddings pull this off?

He stared back, waiting another moment in silence before tugging on her hand and nodding toward the large wooden platform that was still under construction. "When it's done, it will be big enough for dancing… and we can set up some tables around it."

Andy continued to let her eyes wander for another moment before finally speaking again. "So, ummm... So, this is what you've been working on? …Where you've been coming on your days off?" Her eyes were a little glossy.

Sam nodded, then turned her so that she was facing the cabin a little more. "And uh, there will be small white lights along the railing and on some of the trees. Candles. That kind of... thing." He hesitated, shifting a little uncomfortably. "Wedding stuff." He grimaced. Wedding stuff? That's how I'm going to sell this idea? He silently cursed. Say something else. "And afterward..."

Her eyes darted back to him.

"After..." He hesitated. "I was thinking we could spend a week up here?"

The confusion was back. "But… but you're a city boy...?"

"I'm whatever you need me to be, McNally," Sam replied. It took a lot of effort to stop his eyebrows from shooting upward at his own cheesiness.

"You," she whispered, eyes shining as she still tried to take everything in... what he'd done for her... for them. "I just need you to be you." With that she pushed herself up on her toes and kissed him softly.

And, for a brief moment, his nerves were forgotten about, until she pulled back and looked around again. "So... will it work?" he asked a little hesitantly. Aside from when he'd proposed, he was fairly certain that he'd never cared this much about an opinion before.

"Are you kidding me?" Andy said with a laugh, all the while staring at him as if he had three heads. "It's perfect," she added with a big smile. "But, how did you even find this place?"

He let out a loud breath, relief flooding through him. "It's Oliver's."

Hold on. Oliver's cabin? As in THE cabin? "Wait.. So, this is where you guys went?" she asked, thinking back to what Dov had told her about the trip.

Sam merely nodded, not really surprised that she'd heard some stories about it.

"But, I thought that trip was a disaster?" Andy asked, brows furrowed.

Hands settling on her hips, he pulled her close. "It wasn't a complete disaster." The slight uneasiness in his tone caused her to look up at him questioningly.

"Okay, but that still doesn't explain why you'd want to get married here. I mean, I know it's pretty much impossible to find a place at this point, but...?"

"You know how Oliver is..."

"Oliver's a lot of things," Andy said slowly. Is that supposed to be an explanation?

"When it comes to us," Sam clarified.

Her frown deepened. "Pushy? Determined?" What the hell is he talking about?

"Yeah." Seeing that she still didn't understand, he sighed. "It's complicated."

"So are we."

He let out another loud breath. She's not going to let this go. "It was getting late and there was a lot going on." He hesitated. "And he... he caught me off-guard."

"What do you mean?" Andy asked, biting down on her lower lip.

"I, uh... I may have admitted some things that I shouldn't have," Sam said, shifting uncomfortably again. "Not because they weren't true, but because..." He noted her perplexed expression. "Because I wasn't with you."

"I don't understand," Andy said, searching his face. What could he have possibly said that was so bad?

"You're really gonna make me say it?" Sam asked, biting down on the inside of his cheek. He wanted her to know, but getting the words out was another matter altogether.

"You started it," she pointed out, though part of her was tempted to let it slide. And she probably would have, except he'd piqued her interest so much that she wanted to know, and talking had proven beneficial for their relationship lately, so she could only hope that this was one of those times.

"I did," he agreed a little reluctantly. Still he hesitated. "Oliver... got me thinking..." He paused for a long moment. "...about the future."

She remained silent, heart beating a little faster than normal as she waited for him to speak again.

"And I…" Again, he hesitated, then reached up and brushed the hair out of her face, letting his hand linger on her cheek afterward.

"It's okay," Andy said quietly. Maybe another time, she thought to herself with an inward sigh.

He pressed his lips against her forehead, buying himself a few more seconds. As hard as it could still be to talk about personal stuff at times, he wanted to tell her. He really did. And, he was determined to get it out now, no matter how long it took because she deserved to know. "I realized..." Though trembling, he attempted to gently caress her cheek with his thumb. "I realized that no matter how many times I thought about it, one thing never changed."

Her heart rate picked up a little more. "What?" she whispered.

"You," he replied softly.

"Me?" Andy whispered, feeling a little weak in the knees.

"You," he repeated. "You were always in it."

Her eyes widened. "I was?"

Sam nodded. "I... I missed you," he breathed, tucking the stubborn locks of hair behind her ear. "I knew I shouldn't, but I did." He unconsciously pulled her a little closer. "And no matter how many times I tried to deny it, to move forward…" He paused, swallowing hard. "In there…" He nodded toward the cabin. "I realized." Again, he fell silent for a few seconds, this time staring into her big brown eyes. "I realized that I wanted it all with you."

She stared up at him, eyes wide and mouth slightly ajar. Wanted it all? He...? But...? "Like, to get married?" Andy choked out, still a little baffled.

"Married. Kids. The park on Sundays," he replied, letting out a loud breath and with it, a small laugh. Opening up to her felt liberating. It terrified him, but the feeling it gave him afterward was something he'd never be able to explain. The way it made him feel about himself, and about her. His lips curled upward.

"You said that?" Her eyes got all glossy again. "And... and you..." She drew in a deep breath. "...you really want all that?"

Again, Sam nodded. "With you."

She struggled to blink back the tears. Idiot, don't cry. He wants it all with me. She let out a small laugh. Sam Swarek wants it all. The whole package. More than just being together. Being married. He wants a family. "I..." She shook her head, still in awe. "So..."

Sam chuckled.

She drew in another deep breath, trying to get her bearings. "So, you want to get married here because…?"

"It's the first time I admitted what I really wanted… to myself and to someone else," Sam said. "Admitted to wanting something more... to a future, with you..."

Tears now rolled down her cheeks, despite her best attempts to keep them at bay.

"Don't cry." His voice was soft and soothing.

"I'm not crying," Andy weakly argued.

"Of course not," Sam teased. "So your eyes are just leaking?"

A small laugh escaped her. "I swear this whole wedding business is making me ten times more emotional than usual," she said, her voice cracking. Then, still unable to find an adequate response to what he'd told her, she pulled him close and kissed him deeply.

When they broke apart, he smiled down at her. "A couple more weeks, and then you can relax."

Andy shook her head before taking in the scenery again, only just noticing that the flowerbeds were alive with their wedding colours. "You've already helped with that." She paused. "But, what if it rains?"

I won't leave you crying out in it alone this time, he thought to himself. Shaking the thought, he said, "Then we'll move things inside." He shrugged. "We're keeping it small enough that it should work."

Her hands slid up his chest until she was able to wrap her arms around his neck again. "Thank you," she whispered before placing another tender kiss on his lips. "It's better than I could have imagined... Better than anything we could have possibly found in the city." She smiled up at him. "It's... perfect." She kissed him again, this time a little deeper, leaning into him a bit more when his arms encircled her waist. But, when his right hand started to slide under the back of her shirt, teasing the skin just above the top of her shorts, she reluctantly pulled away. "Your sister's here," she breathed.

"She went inside."

As if on cue, Sarah called out from inside the cabin, "Not that I don't want a niece of nephew, but uh, we've got work to do." She stepped outside. "And I really don't want to think about that, so if you could maybe just hurry up...?"

A groan escaped him. "She was inside," Sam corrected, glaring at his sister before the female Swarek stepped back into the cabin.

With a sigh, Andy pressed a quick kiss to Sam's lips, then turned and started walking toward the log structure. She'd only made it a few steps though when something hard hit her from behind, causing both of her feet to come off the ground as she jolted forward in surprise, a small cry escaping her, more from shock than anything else. Regaining her balance, she whirled around to find Sam now holding his shirt, an innocent expression plastered on his face. "Really? Are we five years old now?" she said, hands on her hips.

"Oh please, McNally, a five year old lacks the finesse—"

"To whip his fiancé with a shirt?" She quirked an eyebrow.

"It's all in the wrist," Sam explained, unable to keep his dimples from popping as he smiled over at her.

"Then you must have weak wrists," Andy replied with a grin. "Because I'm pretty sure Leo could do it better than that. I mean, I know he's not five anymore, but..."

Tongue darting to the inside of his cheek, Sam stepped toward her. "Yeah, well, Leo can't do this." He yanked her toward him and kissed her deeply until he felt her knees go weak and her body melt into his.

"No," she said a little breathlessly. "Just you."

He smirked. "And this..." He trailed kisses along her jaw and down her neck, one finger hooking under the neckline of her shirt and bra strap, and tugging on them so that it revealed more skin, which he then pressed his lips to, placing a series of soft kisses all along the exposed area.

Though her eyelids fluttered shut, she threw her hands up to his chest to hold him back. "Sam." She drew in a deep breath as her eyes opened and her brown orbs met his. "We're at Oliver's cabin."

"I know."

"And your sister..." Andy's eyes scanned the area for Sarah, but it seemed like the woman had in fact gone back inside, and stayed there too.

"Is probably too scared to come back out again," he said, chuckling as he pulled Andy back in for another kiss.

She hummed in agreement. "I think I bought the wrong dress." Her mind went back to when she'd been out dress shopping with her best friends.

"It's not right," Andy said with a frustrated sigh.

"Andy, no matter what dress you pick, Swarek's gonna love you," Traci said.

"But I want it to be perfect," Andy whined. "I want to look good for him."

"You could show up in a brown paper bag and he'd still marry you," Gail said, rolling her eyes. "Although, I can't imagine it staying on for very long."

Andy whirled around to face her friends, a deep blush creeping into her cheeks. "Gail," she hissed, her eyes darting to the associate who was helping them, before returning to her friends.

"What?" Gail replied calmly. "All I'm saying is that with the way he stares at you, he's either gonna burn a hole right through the bag, or he's gonna rip it off you. So, my suggestion: if you're going to buy a real dress, get one with a zipper and make it easier for the man."

"Or," Traci began, interrupting the other woman. "You buy one with a corset that laces up to ensure you make it through the ceremony and the reception."

Andy's blush deepened and her heart rate sped up at the thought of that look, and what her wedding night might entail. Swallowing hard, she turned back to the mirror. "Nope," she said, looking at the dress again. "No. Definitely not… Not this one."

"Wrong dress?" Sam questioned, drawing Andy back to the present.

"Uh huh," she replied, a mischievous glint in her eye. "Might be too hard to get out of."

"I'm a handyman, McNally," Sam replied, another smirk gracing his face. "Pretty sure I can manage."

"Sam, leave the poor girl alone," Sarah yelled from inside the cabin. "You both have things to do, and you'll have her to yourself in three weeks."

Andy couldn't help but laugh. "Yeah, Sam, leave the poor girl alone."

His eyes narrowed. "Why did we invite her again?"

"Because she's your sister, and she's awesome," Andy replied. "And you know, if she's awesome, then I guess you are too, and that in turn, makes me awesome, right?" She paused. "Because I took you down."

"Yeah, yeah, I got it," Sam said, remembering what he'd told her when they'd gone under as Gabe and Edie. "But you're forgetting one little detail."

"Which is?"

"How awesome can my sister be if she's turning my... McNally against me?"

"Your McNally, huh?" Andy said with a grin, before giving him a small shrug, kissing him on the cheek, and backing away. "You know, I kinda wish you'd introduced us sooner. She's fun. Super awesome."

"Yeah, real fun," Sam said sarcastically. "I think I like you two better apart."

"No, you don't," Andy replied, before giggling and starting up the chorus of Cyndi Lauper's "Girls just wanna have fun". Seeing him wind up his shirt, she backed away a little faster until she felt her heels hit the stairs. Then, sticking her tongue out at him, she spun around and vanished into the cabin.

An hour later...

Andy stepped outside of the cabin, stretching her legs in a bid to get some of the stiffness out. It wasn't even that she'd been in there for very long, but, despite having the windows and doors wide open, she'd been itching to come back outside and breathe in the fresh air, and feel the gentle tug of the breeze and the warmth of the sun. But, they still had plenty of last minute details to sort out, not to mention finishing up the wedding favours for the guests. And really, when she stopped to think about it, they could have done all of it from Toronto. Not that she was complaining. No doubt Sam had asked Sarah to bring her, not only to show her the place, but also to give her some time out of the house, something she hadn't really been doing much of lately.

With a soft smile on her face, Andy took in the scenery again, her smile automatically widening when her gaze settled on Sam. Everything about what he was doing looked so natural... so relaxed. His movements. Expression. Everything. The thought made her pause before parking herself by the railing, leaning up against it with a cold glass of water clutched in her left hand. Definitely in his element, she thought. Even out here. Her heart did a little flip as she watched him work, soaking up the sight. Admiring him. The sun shining down on his shirtless upper half. The way his muscles moved every time he swung the hammer or lifted up a piece of wood. The jeans that hung low on his hips. She swallowed hard.

"You just going to stand there, gawking?"

A blush crept into her cheeks. Jerk. He knew and he's only just saying something now? She hesitated. Okay... fine. I guess he did let me look for a bit before calling me out. She made her way down the stairs, doing her best to look innocent, as if she had no clue what he was talking about. "I wasn't staring," she lied.

The look Sam gave Andy told her that he saw right through her.

"I was just..." She shrugged. So maybe I was looking a little... More than a little... Whatever. She rolled her eyes and looked around again, this time frowning. "So, the others still aren't back?"

"They were..." When he saw her look around again, he added, "They dropped off the supplies." Now that she was closer, he offered her a soft smile. "But they turned around again and went back for food..." He paused. "Apparently it takes three of them: one to place the order, one to carry it, and one to drive."

"Well, Chris and Dov did get lost the last time they were here, so I think Oliver's supervision is kind of necessary, don't you think?"

A small laugh escaped Sam as his tongue darted to his cheek. "Probably." He took a step toward her. "So how are things going in there?"

"Good," Andy said with a small nod. "A couple more hours and we should be done with the wedding favours." She handed him the glass of water, watching him down a quarter of it before setting it on the ground. Then, when he pushed himself upright again, she started to reach for him, but he was already turning away, lips curled upward.

Her eyes narrowed. He did that on purpose. He knew what I wanted, and he turned away. She folded her arms across her chest. Jerk.

"Wanna help?" he asked, his voice so full of innocence.

Without a word, Andy moved forward, watching as Sam knelt down, before lowering herself onto the platform, settling herself a few feet away from him. Yeah, Swarek, I wanna help, and then I want to get you back. So, keep that smug look off your face... the one you're trying so hard not to let me see. Yeah, I know you.

"Just hold the nail," Sam said, biting back a smirk as his eyes flicked up to her. "Right there." He pointed to a spot.

"I'm not holding the nail; you hold the nail."

He quirked an eyebrow. "Have you ever used a hammer before?"

"I'll have you know I'm an expert at hanging things, thank you very much," she replied.

Sam folded his arms across his chest and gave her a look. "Really?"

"Yeah," she said, but the way he kept staring at her had her blurting out, "Well, I hung up some pictures… once or twice…"

He wasn't buying it. Yeah, sure, McNally.

"Okay, okay, I may have been a little drunk." Geez, can't he just play along?

He chuckled. I knew it.

"It still counts though," Andy insisted. It does.

"I'm curious, McNally, in what world does that make you an expert?" he teased.

She glared at him. Fine. You win. "In mine."

Sam smirked. Good try. "You're holding the nail."

"Or I could just hold the nail and swing the hammer," Andy said, eyeing him carefully. Wait, is he actually considering that?

He held up his hands in defeat, passing the hammer over and sitting back. "Just hold the nail steady… No, a little lower." He ran a hand over his face. This isn't going to go well.

"Oww," Andy cried out just seconds later.

"Well, you're not supposed to let go of the nail when you swing."

"Shut up," she said, but seconds later she was laughing. "You win, okay? We do this your way."

He quirked an eyebrow. "My way?"

"Yeah." Wait, why's he looking at me like that?

"Okay," he happily agreed, wasting no time in leaning forward.

"Uhh...?" Andy began, staring at him in confusion. What?

"My way," he said with a smirk, raising her thumb to his lips and pressing several kisses to it, all the while watching as her eyes traveled up and down his body, and her chest rose and fell a little heavier than usual. Full-blown grin now on his face, he leaned forward a little more, settling himself between her legs and gently forcing her to lie back as he planted a hand on either side of her, trapping her.

She willingly complied, her hands now lightly resting on his sides. "I think I like your way," she whispered.

The words had hardly left her mouth when he shifted again, his hands snapping to her body, his fingers tickling her sides.

She immediately broke out into a fit of laughter, her body twisting and turning as her hands came flying up in an attempt to stop him. "Sam," she gasped, between laughs. "No… no, no, no."

He didn't stop. A grin was firmly planted on his face upon seeing the massive smile on hers.

"I... I... changed... my... mind," she said, barely able to string the words together anymore. "My way," she rushed out before her body jerked the other way in an attempt to defend herself. You're… I swear… gonna… get it," she gasped. And he did. Her fingers curled around the glass of water.

Whoosh.

He didn't even see it coming; just felt the water and ice as it splashed him in the side of the face, dripping down his body and causing him to gasp as a shiver ran through him. Blinking hard, he shook his head, sending drops of water spraying everywhere. And then his gaze was back on Andy, staring down at her wide eyes and guilty expression before watching it change altogether.

"Oops," she said, smiling sweetly up at him.

"Oops?" he echoed, tongue darting to the inside of his cheek.

Her smile widened. "I... I love you?"

A loud laugh escaped him. "So how's your leg, McNally?" he asked, leaning down so that his lips were just inches from hers.

"Good," she replied, the uncertainty in her tone clear as her eyes shifted from his brown orbs to his lips and back again. Uh oh.

"Ready to test it out a little more?" Sam asked, letting his lips brush up against hers, as one hand ran up her side.

She swallowed hard. Okay, that doesn't sound so bad. Actually, it sounds really good right now. "Uh huh," she breathed.

He kissed her quickly. "Good," he said, abruptly pulling away, despite her reaching hands. "Then let's test it." Before she could react, he scooped her up, and carried her down the small hill, toward the lake.

"Sam?" Andy squeaked out, panicking when she saw the direction they were heading. "Don't you dare… I swear…" They were now just metres away. "Sam?" No, no, no, no. Please, no.

"Yeah?" he asked, his voice so casual it had her squirming even more.

"Sam, no," Andy pleaded, her heart racing. She knew what was coming. If he does it, I'm gonna kill him.

He stepped out onto the dock, walking right up to the edge. "You said you're good, not fine."

"But…" she began, eyes wide. "That's not—"

"Not what you thought this was going to lead to?" he asked, smirking.

"No," she blurted out. Hell no.

"Ah, but my sister's watching, remember?"

She could feel him shaking with laughter. "I surrender, okay? I'll hold the stupid nail and you use the hammer."

"Tempting," Sam replied, pausing for a moment as if he was actually considering her words. "But, I'm afraid it's too late, McNally. You're going to have to let go." He loosened his grip on her a little, swinging her just the smallest bit to get a bigger reaction from her. It worked.

"No," Andy said, wrapping her arms tighter around his neck, while her wide eyes stared down at the water. "Sam?" It came out as a whimper. It wasn't that she was scared of the water, but she was positive that it would be cold. And, she didn't have a change of clothes.

"Fine," Sam said, slowly turning away, but just seconds after she sighed with relief, he swung back toward the water. But, instead of letting her go, he threw his entire body in, taking her with him.

The second he surfaced, a loud curse escaped him. It was freezing. Much colder than he'd expected. "Andy?" he said, a hint of panic in his voice when he realized that at some point after hitting the water, she'd slipped out of his arms. Running a hand over his face, he wiped away some of the water, then turned and looked for her. "McNally?"

"I hate you," she muttered, coughing from the little bit of water that had gone up her nose.

As he turned toward her, he was met with a face full of water, which he quickly wiped away. "But I... I love you?" he said, mimicking the tone she'd used when she'd said it just minutes before.

"You're a jerk."

"Maybe, but I'm your jerk… your partner…" He paused, inching forward. "We're in this together, remember?"

The corners of her mouth curled upward. "You're so lucky I love you."

"Maybe I'm just lucky that you're an idiot," he said with a smirk. Receiving another splash to the face, he added, "Or that you find me completely irresistible." He swam a little closer.

"Oh, I do, do I?" Andy said, a hint of sarcasm in her voice. "You wanna test that theory?"

His eyebrows shot upward.

Andy groaned. "That's not what I meant, Sam. Not that I haven't..."

"Thought about it?" Sam suggested.

She glanced up the hill to where the cabin stood, then looked back at him, not really sure if she wanted to give him the satisfaction of knowing, although she was fairly certain that he already knew the answer. "Maybe."

"Maybe?"

"So what if I did?" Andy asked, trying to act indifferent.

"Told you I was irresistible," he teased, hands now on her sides. "You know, the cabin has a bed..."

Andy rolled her lips together, feeling her cheeks warm, despite the cold water.

"I could tell Sarah to take a walk. Ollie said the trails here are pretty long," Sam continued, his breath fanning out across her face. "And then I could call Oliver and tell him I lost the hammer." He paused. "I think the closest hardware store is another 15 or 20 minutes away from them. Buys us some time."

"Thought it all out, huh?" Andy said, grinning. "Planned it?"

"I've been out here by myself for hours, McNally. Gave me a lot of time to think."

"Yeah? And what were you thinking about?"

"You." He smirked. "And how satisfying it would be to throw you in the lake."

"Not funny, Swarek," Andy said, rolling her eyes, though she still inched a little closer to him.

His hand slid down to her leg for a moment before moving back up, his expression growing more serious. "Still feeling okay?"

She nodded, snaking her arms around his neck before letting her legs wrap around his waist, the slight chattering of her teeth leaving her desperate for his body heat. "It's so cold though."

Removing one hand from her body, he brushed the wet hair out of her face. "Not as warm as it looks," he agreed. He met her eyes for a brief moment before glancing over her shoulder in the direction of the dock. "Hold on tight," he said quietly as he slowly moved them toward it, grabbing the edge once they reached it.

"We don't have to go yet," Andy said, biting down on her lower lip. She hadn't left the house that much later than him, yet, she still found herself missing him and craving the extra contact now."I mean, we're already wet... and cold." When he didn't argue, she leaned in and kissed him, smiling into his lips when she felt his hand slide up the back of her shirt, his palm gliding across her skin before pulling her body flush up against his. "I never thought I'd see you in a lake... or out here," she said, her left hand gently moving through his short hair.

"Didn't think I'd see you fully clothed in a lake," he said with a wink.

She playfully swatted his arm before smiling softly. "You didn't think you'd see me in a lake, period."

He nodded slowly before leaning in and nudging her nose with his, coaxing her lips back toward his for another kiss. "And yet, I think I like it... This... And, you."

"You think you like me?"

His response was lost against her skin.

She shook her head. "Well, I think I'll marry you."

His head snapped up. "Think?"

"Uh huh," she mumbled into his lips as she closed the gap and kissed him deeply.

"My kids use that dock," Oliver shouted from somewhere up by the cabin.

Sam's head fell against Andy's shoulder, feeling it shake as laughter tore through her body.

"I guess we should uh, probably get back up there before one of them comes down," she said quietly, her cheeks a little rosy.

Raising his head, Sam met her eyes again. "Two weeks and one day 'til we don't have to worry about interruptions," he said quietly, before kissing her and moving them back toward the grass. Two weeks and one day, he silently repeated. Then a full week without everyone else... Just her.

Once there, her feet slid back to the ground, though her arms remained locked around his neck. "Two more weeks," she whispered. "Just two more until it's official."

"Two more," he repeated, his dimples appearing as he smiled down at her. There had been a day when the prospect of marriage or anything even remotely serious had terrified him, and to some degree, a small part of him was still scared, but with her, it seemed like a natural step. It was something he wanted, and maybe even needed.

Pushing up on her toes, Andy kissed him softly before breaking away, letting her hands fall as a sigh escaped her and she turned toward the cabin.

Sam waited a moment, noting the way her shirt clung to her body as she walked up the hill. Then, letting out a sigh of his own, he followed. And, when he finally caught up and slid his hand into hers, he knew, without even looking, that she was smiling.

The Present Day (August 20th), After Sunset, at Oliver's Cabin...

I can do this. Just breathe. Smile. And, it will all be over in a couple of minutes. She mentally nodded. Simple. Straightforward. I've got this. Piece of cake. Right? Just shake it off. And she did. Or, at least, she tried. She shook her free hand until her entire arm was awkwardly moving around, then started to simultaneously bounce a little from her left foot to her right one in an attempt to rid herself of her nerves.

Feeling his own arm move a little, Sam looked over at her, eyebrow quirked. It was something he'd seen her do a few times while warming up for a jog. "You planning on running a marathon in that dress?"

Andy shot him a look.

"Hey, all I'm saying is that if you were planning on running, I think you're over an hour late," Sam said with a wink, though in all seriousness he was glad that both of them had made it through the ceremony, unlike the people in some of the chick flicks he'd suffered through with her. Not that she'd suffered too. And well, maybe they weren't all bad. In fact, he'd long since discovered that there were certain benefits that came with enduring them... Like the way Andy held onto him and cuddled right up to him; the way she looked up at him and kissed him every time something happened in a movie that she liked; and the way she always seemed to be in a good mood after. And the list didn't end there. "But you know," he began, tugging on her hand until she stopped walking and turned to face him. "We could just hightail it out of here." He raised his eyebrows suggestively.

"Yeah? You gonna steal someone's car since the truck is trapped by everyone else's vehicle?"

"We'd bring it back... tomorrow," Sam said with a smirk.

She rolled her eyes and let out a deep breath. "We can do this, right?"

"Already have." He ran the pad of his thumb over her rings.

"I meant the speech."

He merely nodded. There wasn't much he could say since he'd somehow managed to convince her to do all of the talking. "It's what you're good at," Sam quipped.

"But it just... it seems so wrong now."

"Then go with your gut."

Biting down on her lower lip, she gave him a small nod. It wasn't that she minded talking in front of this many people – it was more the fact that she had to do it while being this emotional that freaked her out. "Just don't let me cry," she whispered, already feeling the moisture in her eyes.

All Sam could do was chuckle softly, releasing her hand so that he could wrap his arms around her instead.

"That's not helping," Andy breathed, drawing in another deep breath in an attempt to combat the wave of emotions she felt crashing over her... The overwhelming feelings caused by how connected she felt to him.

"I could kiss you instead...?"

A small laugh escaped her this time. Okay, that kind of helps.

"Think I found a winner," he teased, tugging her a little closer and kissing her softly, only guiding her over to where Oliver had set up the makeshift podium when he felt some of the tension leave her body.

With all eyes now on them, Andy smiled rather awkwardly, feeling more than a little self-conscious as silence fell upon the small clearing. "Hi," she blurted out, her voice shaking about as much as the rest of her body. Hearing a few laughs, her eyes widened. Oooookay. She cast a glance at Sam, who merely shrugged, his lips tugging upward in a reassuring smile.

She smiled back, this time with a little more confidence. Then, realizing her glass was in front of her, she took a quick sip of the liquid inside, buying herself another moment to compose herself. "So, umm, I wrote this really great speech earlier… well, we did." A small laugh escaped her. Technically, she'd written it, but Sam had been there, right beside her, every step of the way. He'd pretty much let her ramble for hours – days even – just sitting there, nodding or adding in the occasional comment when he felt one was warranted. She unconsciously bit down on her lower lip as she thought back. Maybe that wasn't all Sam had done. He'd also proven to be a distraction… a big one. Kissing her. Caressing her skin. Helping her "change" because apparently she'd looked really uncomfortable in her clothes. Her cheeks warmed at the thought of what had followed those moments. Needless to say, it had taken awhile to write the speech, but they eventually got it done, proving that they could still work well together. Her writing. Him observing. And, it didn't matter how long it had taken them because it had worked. They'd gotten it done. Were both satisfied with it… or so she'd thought. The last minute decision to scrap the speech had her panicking. Just breathe. You know these people. Who cares if you cry or butcher it? Nobody. They'll still love you, and you, them.

Feeling a soft tug on her hand, Andy looked over at her husband. "Right," she whispered, giving him a small nod as she struggled to focus on their guests again. Then, in a much louder voice, she spoke again. "But uh, one of the things I've learned since starting at 15 Division and meeting Sam is that life doesn't always go according to plan. And, no matter what you say you wanna do or you're gonna do, it doesn't always turn out that way." She paused, looking to Sam again for confirmation that he was still okay with her going off-script. Receiving another small nod, she gave him a soft smile, then continued. "Soooo, we had this speech written, but looking at everyone now, it just doesn't feel right anymore… the speech, I mean. Not, you guys." She mentally shook herself. "I mean, you're all here because we care about you, and..." Andy actually shook her head this time. Focus. "Anyway... So, this, right here," she said, making a random gesture to imply that she was referring to what she was saying. "… this didn't go according to plan, but the most important thing is that we're here, and the most important people in our lives are here with us. All, but one, that is." She picked up a glass, lifted it high in the air, and said a soft, "Jerry Barber," which resulted in a chorus of his name being said by all who were in attendance. Without thinking, she passed her glass over to Sam, then turned back to everyone else. "Honestly, I don't know how we would have made it here without you guys… without all of your support over the years. I mean, it hasn't been the smoothest journey, but we made it." Andy looked over at Sam again, pausing at his expression. She couldn't quite discern it, and yet it was obvious that his entire demeanour had changed in the last minute or less, and although she couldn't be certain, she didn't think it had anything to do with Jerry.

"You're not giving yourself enough credit, McNally," he said, his smirk a little slow in forming.

She rolled her eyes and, knowing what he was thinking, barreled on. "You could say that our relationship has been rather, umm... well, rather explosive," Andy said, a slight crack her in voice. "I mean, anyone who was there on my first day at 15 can tell you that the way I entered Sam's life was more or less just that." She paused. "Of course, that's a memory I try not to think about too often." She shot Sam a look. "Except someone here seems to be rather fond of reminding me about how I blew his op."

"That's... that's not exactly how I say it," Sam argued.

"Either way," Andy continued, her lips curling upward at his sheepish look. "If I hadn't made such a rookie mistake, and Sam hadn't been a little rusty with his running, we might not be here today."

"Hey now," Sam growled, reaching to pinch her, but she swatted his hand away and smiled.

"Be nice, Sammy. She already got the full blast of your infamous temper," Oliver joked.

"Thanks, buddy," Sam said sarcastically, his expression softening a little when he felt Andy gently massage the back of his hand.

"Anyway," Andy said, noting Sam's discomfort and trying to direct the attention away from him. "This journey has been..." She shook her head and let out a loud breath. There were a lot of ways she could describe their relationship, but really, when it came down to it, it had been… "...explosive..."

"Like when they first said 'I love you'," Traci chimed in. "It exploded out of her mouth when they were sitting in his truck."

"It did not," Andy argued, but Sam laughing loudly beside her suggested otherwise. Traitor, she thought, though on the inside she was laughing. So busted.

"Repeatedly," Sam said, grinning as he thought back to that moment in the truck when she'd completely caught him off-guard. He remembered feeling something that he'd never really experienced before… along with hope. Feeling like maybe the future he thought he was going to have wasn't the one he needed to have. That he could do better. Be better. With her. Because he was loved. By her.

"She may have blurted it out, but you waited until she was holding an actual bomb," Traci said with a pointed look.

Andy shot Sam a guilty look. "Sorry," she whispered. She hadn't anticipated the audience participation.

"We were holding it, Nash," Sam said.

Traci merely smiled in response.

"And the proposal," Tommy said quietly, saying what everyone had been thinking, but were almost too afraid to say. "I almost lost my little girl that day. I almost lost her to that…" He paused, eyes shining. "…to that thing," he added, referring to the suicide bomber. "But, here we are. My girl's all grown up. Married. And, now I have a son."

Tears pricked Andy's eyes. When she'd first gotten back together with Sam, she'd been worried that her dad wouldn't accept him. That he'd tell her that she was making a mistake, that Sam would hurt her again. But, he'd been supportive. Said all the right things. And she'd watched them together too. It wasn't an act; it wasn't some show put on for her benefit. It was genuine. They got along. And, her dad seemed happy… for her… for them. I'm not gonna cry. Nope. Not now. She drew in a steadying breath, leaning into Sam when she felt him tug her a little closer.

"You okay?" he breathed, his eyes full of concern.

She drew in another deep breath, then nodded. Still, she waited a moment before speaking to their guests again. "It's… it's been a rollercoaster. But, the thing is, as terrifying as some of those moments were, I always knew that I was never alone. That Sam was always there for me, whether we were together or not." She smiled softly. "He always knew what to say, what to do. Just always had my back, like each and every single one of you." She paused. "You know, they say bad things come in threes. And, maybe they do, but with us, I think it's more like big things come in twos, sometimes good and bad, but sometimes just good." She wet her lips, all the while biting back a smile. "But either way, as hard as it's been, I wouldn't change a thing because everything that's happened has been representative of us… of how crazy this journey has been, and maybe, just maybe, we had to go through all of it to get here. I mean, everything that happened, well..." She drew in a deep breath. "...it got the guy who didn't do committed relationships and the girl who couldn't stop running, here." There was an obvious rawness in her throat now; a lump that threatened to choke her words. And, through it all, a shine in her eyes, as she struggled to hold back the tears and conquer her emotions.

"I think we have to give Boyko some credit too," Sam said, trying to give her a bit of a distraction when he sensed that the tears were going to come hard and fast, sooner rather than later. "To this day, I think we're both wondering who he was trying to punish when he assigned me as her T.O."

"Trouble from the start," Oliver said with a soft chuckle. "Even Jerry knew it was different."

"Had to be," Sam replied. "Some hotshot first day rookie literally knocked me off my feet. Put my back to the pavement and tried to kiss me."

"I did not," Andy argued, smacking him gently as their guests laughed.

"Whatever you say, dear," Sam teased, loud enough for only her to hear. Then, with a small shrug, he said to everyone else, "So maybe she wasn't trying yet."

"Sam Swarek," Andy said in a warning tone, though her lips were twitching as she struggled to hold back a laugh. So gonna get it.

"Shhh, McNally," he said, pressing a kiss to her temple. "Swarek," he added in a whisper, his lips only hovering by her ear long enough for the word to come out.

"I think I sense some baby cops in the near future," Oliver said, grinning from ear to ear as he watched his friends.

"Buddy, I've seen your kids grow up, and I don't think McNally and I want to balance explosions and chaos at the same time," Sam said with a loud laugh. "So, if you don't mind, I think it's probably best if we break our tradition first…" It came out sounding slightly sarcastic.

Andy's eyes shot toward him, widening at his admission... Did he just…? She blinked hard. He… he basically just told all of these people that he eventually wants kids. Her mouth fell open a little. Sure, he told me like two weeks ago, but saying it in front of all of them… our friends… our family. That's huge. Her gaze shifted to their guests to confirm that she had in fact heard correctly. Based on the silence and the wide eyes staring back at them, that was exactly what he'd said. When her gaze settled back on Sam, it was clear that he'd only just realized what he'd said. He had that deer-in-the-headlights type look that was so uncharacteristic of him. Had it been a more private setting, with just the two of them, she probably would have laughed, but he looked so uncomfortable that she couldn't help but feel bad for him.

"Uh…" Sam said awkwardly, scratching the back of his head before giving Andy a small nudge to snap her out of it, hoping that she'd ramble or do something to take the attention off of him because he was fairly certain that after that bombshell, he wasn't about to get off the hook so easily.

"Oh, umm," Andy began, still staring wide-eyed at Sam. What the hell am I supposed to follow that up with? "I…" I, what? She stared at him blankly.

"Hey, Sammy," someone called out.

"What?" he asked a little hesitantly, his eyes still on Andy as he silently willed her to say something.

"I'm not so sure that tradition will break."

Sam bit down on the inside of his cheek as his eyes scanned the gathering for the speaker, knowing that whatever was coming, wasn't going to help matters. "Why not?" he reluctantly asked, casting a wary glance at Andy that told her that he was starting to regret the decision to let everyone start drinking so early. There was no doubt in his mind that alcohol consumption accounted for this so-called speech getting out of hand so quickly... not that he blamed Andy. Their group was just a little over-enthusiastic.

"Because you'll have enough fireworks behind closed doors to count—"

Sam cleared his throat, cutting off the rest. "That's my wife you're talking about."

"He's got a point though," Oliver said. Seeing the look Sam gave him, Oliver held his hands up in the air in defeat. "Just saying...sparks fly. They have since day one."

Feeling the tension practically radiating off Sam, Andy drew in a calming breath, then pressed her lips together in an attempt to stop the deep blush from entering her cheeks. "So, uh, I think…" She shot Traci a look, silently pleading for help.

"It's time for the first dance," Traci called out.

Giving her friend an appreciative smile, Andy nodded and said one final thing to the guests. "So, umm, thank you guys so much for coming. Help yourselves to more food and drinks, and enjoy the rest of the night." When the attention gradually moved away from them, Andy finally turned back to Sam to find him staring at her with an odd expression on his face. She quirked an eyebrow, but the expression merely changed into a closed-mouth smile. What's going on with him? It wasn't that bad, was it? I mean, sure, it went a little off track, but...

"Ready?" he asked quietly, holding his hand out to her.

"Huh?" Andy said, staring at him blankly for a moment. Oh, right. Shoot. First dance. She'd been so thankful for Traci speaking up that she hadn't even really paid attention to what had been said. "Yeah, that... Umm, definitely." She rested her hand on top of his and let him guide her out onto the dance floor.

Once there, everything around them seemed to slip away as they fell into their own little world, eyes locked. And then their bodies began to move to the music, slowly at first, maybe even a little stiffly, but soon it became natural. Unconscious. Just a gentle sway of their hips. Moving in sync. Following the slow, steady rhythm of the song. And then the music seemed to just fade away altogether as he tugged her a little closer, their hearts beating in tandem.

"We did it," he breathed, his entire demeanour changing again as he studied her, the moonlight casting a soft glow on her face that made her look even more beautiful. As a small smile touched his lips, he lightly rested his forehead against hers, still wondering how his life had managed to finally turn out right.

Her eyes fluttered closed, a soft smile touching her own lips. "We did," she agreed, her breath fanning out across his face.

Unable to resist, he gently nudged her nose with his, then kissed her softly before pulling away just enough so that he could look into her brown orbs again.

As if sensing his thoughts, she slowly opened her eyes to find him watching her carefully. Too carefully perhaps to be normal. Not that she wasn't used to intense looks from him, but this was different. It seemed more calculating. Curious. "You're happy?" Andy asked quietly, biting down on her lower lip and worrying it between her teeth, something she'd found herself doing more than usual that day. But, there was just something off about his expression. Something beneath the loving gaze. The soft upward curve of his lips.

"I am," he said with a reassuring smile. Feeling her tremble a little, he frowned. She'd already admitted to being happy earlier, but that didn't stop the question from passing over his lips. "Are you?"

"Yeah," she said, a soft smile gracing her face as he twirled her.

She's nervous. Scared? As he pulled her close again, he studied her a little more. But why? What changed? Something overnight? This morning? His frown deepened. Nash didn't say anything. The speech is done. She doesn't even seem to know we're dancing anymore. Something's on her mind… has to be.

They danced in silence for a minute before Andy spoke again. "Soooo, I was thinking of maybe sitting out for a little while longer." Her voice was quiet, but the hesitation in her tone was clear.

"What?" he asked, completely baffled. Sit out from what?

"At work."

"At work?" he asked, quirking an eyebrow. Apparently her allergy to silence couldn't even be quelled by their first dance. Not that he minded. The prospect of dancing in front of everyone wasn't exactly a comfortable one – as it was, he'd been lucky enough to not have to say much during the speech – so her talking now was definitely a welcome distraction. But, the fact that something was bothering her set him less at ease. Still, he hesitated. Is that what's bothering her? He silently cursed. She's worried about returning. About not being ready. About how I'll react.

She nodded. "At work," she repeated.

"But you love the streets. You hate desk duty." He paused, his forehead creasing with worry. "Is this because—?"

"No," Andy replied softly. "It's not because of what happened."

"Then why?" he pressed, twirling her again.

She waited until she was back in his arms before speaking. "I think it's time for some changes."

"Changes?" he said, perplexed. "Like what?" She's never brought anything up in the past, so where the hell is this coming from?

"Well, like me riding the desk for awhile... and Boo," she replied casually, struggling to withhold a smile.

"Boo?" Sam said, his mind reeling. Boo? What?

"Yeah..." Her lips twitched. "You said you wanted a labradoodle mutt, right?"

Sam stared at her. I think I've lost my mind. Or I'm dreaming. Because this is ridiculous. McNally wants to ride the desk? And she wants a dog? What's next: Ollie's secretly her uncle?

"And you wanted to name it Boo Radley," she gently reminded him.

"Let me get this straight… You want a dog?"

"Yeah."

He studied her for another moment, bewildered. "Why now?"

"They're really protective, you know?"

Sam sighed. It is about the accident. I thought she was getting better. She isn't even having as many nightmares anymore. But, I was wrong. She's still scared. "Look, McNally," he said softly, "If you want a dog to feel safer, then we'll get one. And, if you don't want to work on the streets that's fine, but—"

"Oh my god, Sam, this has nothing to do with what happened months ago," Andy said with a small laugh. "I'm fine, really. I'm okay. It took awhile, but I'm okay now."

"Then what—?"

"Look, I promise it has nothing to do with that day. It's just…" She hesitated. "Over the last eight months, things have been pretty calm. You know, no explosions." She eyed him carefully. "Well, except for the ones they were referring to... the ones behind closed doors." She couldn't stop the blush from entering her cheeks this time. "There have been a lot of those in the last little while."

He couldn't help but chuckle, despite still feeling worried. "So, what then?"

Andy stared up at him for a long moment. "Well, ummm, it has to do with the wand."

He laughed again. "The wand?" Sam said in disbelief. Really?

"Yeah," Andy replied, her lips twitching again.

"What about it?" he asked slowly, feeling like he was no closer to getting an answer than he had been when he'd asked his first question.

Wetting her lips, she leaned toward his ear and whispered, "It makes magic happen."

Sam shook his head, his tongue darting to the inside of his cheek as a loud laugh escaped him. "McNally, I don't think you being on desk duty or us getting a dog is going to mean we…" He wiggled his eyebrows suggestively. "…more... even with the wand."

Her cheeks turned a shade darker. "That's not what I meant."

Sam stared down at her, taking in the smile that was slowly spreading across her face. So if that's not what she means, then…? "McNally?" he said, his eyes widening as it started to click. Her behaviour. The appointment. The water in her cup during the speech... definitely not wine. Big things come in twos. Things being pretty calm. No explosions. Desk duty. And, she was glowing. He silently cursed as his mind went back to what he'd said just minutes before... in front of everyone. It's different, he thought. I didn't know. But I'm... I'm... His lips curled upward, as he looked to her for clarification.

Andy's smile widened even more at the sudden shift in his expression... the clear joy... the hope. To confirm his thoughts, she nodded. "We might be going to the park sooner than you thought," she said softly.

"So you're…?" he began, sounding hopeful, but not quite sure if he wanted to voice the thought in case he was wrong.

"I'm..." Andy nodded. "I'm pregnant."

His movements stopped altogether as he met her eyes, the sincerity in them causing his own emotions to go haywire. And then his body started to shake with unshed laughter, sheer joy – unlike anything he'd felt before. I'm gonna be a dad. Go to the park. With her. With our child. He shook his head in disbelief as a massive grin formed on his face. No wonder she's been different today. She's… The thought was cut short as he swept her up in his arms, completely lifting her off the ground before setting her down again and sliding his hands to her face so that he could place a tender kiss on her lips. Just two years ago he'd admitted, within the confines of the cabin – and within his own heart – that he wanted a future with Andy, and that he wanted kids and the park on Sundays. Now, outside of the cabin, it was becoming a reality. She was his; he was hers. Partners in crime and in life. Bound in marriage. Together at last. And in less than nine months, they were going to be parents too. The thought had him kissing her deeply, not even caring who was watching anymore.

"You sure you can handle explosions and chaos?" she teased when they finally pulled apart.

He couldn't even form a coherent thought anymore – at least not one that he could verbalize – so he leaned back in to kiss her, feeling her smile against his, knowing that this time, they got it right. That despite all of the twists and turns, the trials and tribulations, maybe, just maybe, the universe really did have a plan, and with the promise of a baby and Boo, everything they'd gone through to get to this point had been worth it. "I think the universe did have a plan," he finally whispered, as he moved his lips upward to kiss her forehead. "A pretty damn good one."

Andy smiled softly. "I think you're right," she replied, tears in her eyes. As she tilted her head back up to meet him for another kiss, she mumbled into his lips, "Maybe not a fairytale, but I think we're getting one hell of a happily ever after."

C'est fini! That's it. The end has come. So, thanks again for reading! I hope you enjoyed taking this journey with me, and I hope you'll let me know what you think about this chapter and the story as a whole.

Also, thank you in advance to those of you who write a review for this chapter/story, including any that I receive down the road. I love feedback, so I will still read them, and respond if you have any questions, etc.

Aside from that, THANK YOU, and I hope to see you around for some of my other stories!

Best wishes,

E.D.H

Twitter – RB_ADI2DE