A/N: Well, my dear readers - this is really, truly the end - of this story, at least. Enjoy the epilogue and I'll see you at the end for a question.

Special shout out to BravoExpressions for letting me use the name Colin in my fic too. :D

TWO YEARS LATER (University of Cambridge)

"That's why it was called the 'shot that was heard around the world'." Marshall paused his lecture as the buzzer sounded. "Tomorrow we'll discuss exactly what material will be on the mid-term. Class dismissed."

There was a shuffle of papers and the sound of conversations starting as students began to leave the large classroom. Marshall turned to the whiteboard to erase his scrawling notes as he heard the sound of throat being cleared.

"Professor Fielding? I was wondering if you had a few minutes to go over a point or two from today's lecture."

Marshall continued to wipe the board, using the time to gather his thoughts. Every teacher has groupies – but I honestly didn't think I'd have any. Not at my age. But this girl has been mooning over me since the beginning of the semester and I knew it was just a matter of time before she plucked up her nerve to approach me directly.

"Professor Fielding?"

"Hm?" Marshall murmured as he finally turned to face his student. He tried to keep the polite smile on his face, while inwardly he was horrified at her attire. Penelope Woods was wearing a very short skirt and a low cut sweater – both pieces of clothing showing off to full advantage what the good Lord gave her.

Penelope flipped her blond hair over her shoulder. "I'm afraid my mind inadvertently wandered at one point during your lecture-" here she paused and leaned forward over his lectern, letting him have a very good look down the front of her sweater if he cared to look. "and I was wondering if you wouldn't mind filling in the gap for me."

"Ms. Woods," Marshall began.

"Penelope, please."

"Ms. Woods," Marshall stated firmly. "I'm afraid I don't have time today. You see-"

"Dada!"

Marshall turned toward the sound of his boys in relief. He crouched and opened his arms just in time to catch the giggling, squirming, oversized armful. Swinging them up into the air, he said over his shoulder. "Ms. Woods, allow me to introduce my sons: Connor and Colin."

"I'm sorry, Marshall, are we interrupting? I thought class was over."

He met the eyes of his lover and life partner as she slowly walked into the classroom, her eyes taking in the young coed still lounged provocatively against the lectern. Mary's voice dripped sweet with honey but he knew that there was a stinger hidden inside. He smiled into her eyes as he dropped a kiss on her lips.

"And this is Mary."

His tone of voice left Penelope in no doubt the position Mary held in his life. "Pleased to meet you, ma'am. I'm sure I can borrow someone's notes from today, Professor Fielding," Penelope was backing towards the door. "Have a good evening."

"You too, Ms. Woods," Marshall tried to wave but the boys prevented him so he merely smiled and nodded as Penelope fled.

Mary looked at him with a smirk. "One of your groupies?"

He groaned. "I do not have groupies, Mer. I'm far too old for that!"

"Don't sell yourself short, lover. Have you seen you in a pair of Levi's?" Mary made a growling sound deep in her throat and Marshall shook his head at her.

"I thought the newness of our relationship would have worn off by now," he teased her as he leaned in and breathed in her scent.

She laughed. "I didn't hear you complaining last night."

He gently bit her earlobe as she moaned and then hastily backed away as Colin smacked her upside the head. "We need to go if we have any hope of making it on time."

Marshall rolled his eyes. "Here – either help me pack up or take one of your sons."

"My sons? Yeah, right!" But Mary held out her arms and Connor nearly fell out of his father's arms reaching for her.

Marshall settled Colin more firmly on his hip as he began to gather up papers. "Where's Sadie?"

"Out in the hall talking to Dean Foster – I think she's trying to set up her scholarship fund now."

"Wise girl – glad to see my planning gene rubs off on her."

Mary snorted. "How does that work?"

He pulled her into him for another kiss. "Osmosis?"

She rolled her eyes and pushed him away as Sadie ran into the room. "Aunt Mary, did you tell him?"

"No, Kiddo, I was waiting for you."

"Dee!" Colin cried.

At the sight of Sadie, both boys began squirming in earnest to be let down. Mary and Marshall set them on their feet and they made a beeline for the little girl. Sadie opened her back pack and took out two balls, one blue, one red and began rolling them back and forth with Connor and Colin.

Marshall looked at Mary. "Tell me what?"

She shrugged her shoulders. "I had a doctor's appointment this morning."

He frowned. "I thought that was just a check-up."

"It was but-" she paused, biting her lower lip nervously.

"But what? Is something wrong?"

"Tell him!" Sadie demanded, looking up from her ball game with the boys.

"I'm pregnant."

Marshall grabbed her upper arms. "What?"

"I'm pregnant – again."

"You're sure?"

She nodded. "Ten weeks – are you-"

"Happy?" He crushed her to him, spinning them around in a circle. "I'm over the moon! I can't believe you're going to make me a father again. Wait," he set her down and backed away a step. "You're not going to hit me, are you?"

Sadie giggled and Mary smiled. "No, Marshall, while I'm still not turning cartwheels – I'm actually-"

He came back into her personal space, cupping her face gently. "Happy?"

She gave a small nod. "In my own way, yes. I'm thrilled to be carrying your child again."

Marshall let out a war whoop before he swooped in and kissed her fiercely.

"Kissy kissy!" Sadie called out, causing her adopted aunt and uncle to break apart and look down at her in amusement.

"Haven't you outgrown that, Kiddo?" Mary asked, a mock glare on her face.

"Aw, I'm just teasing, Aunt Mary."

"I know. Come on, pack up the balls – we have to hurry if we're going to make it to Jenna's engagement party on time."

As the family headed for their sedan, Marshall whispered to Mary: "You're sure the background check came back clean?"

Mary nodded. "Eleanor and I ran it front, back, sideways, upside down – and through every channel we could. We couldn't come up with any other aliases. Henry James Walker is his one and only name and his record is clean."

Marshall paused in buckling Colin into his car seat. "Clean – how clean? Too clean?"

Mary sighed as she lifted Connor into his. "No, he has some petty stuff on his record – same stupid kid stuff everybody does," she paused when Marshall raised his eyebrows. "Ok, maybe not you, lover, but the same stupid kid stuff the rest of us normal human beings do!"

He laughed. "I'm sorry, ok? It's just – it's Jenna, ok? I don't want her getting hurt," he explained as he slid into the driver's seat.

Mary opened her car door and slid inside, checking in the rearview mirror to be sure Sadie had buckled her seat belt in the very back. "You don't have to explain it to me – I've never had a friend other than you, let alone a female friend. I'd never let anything happen to Jenna."

"Can we please go?" Sadie called from the backseat. "I'm starving and I want to see Jacen!"

"Of course, mademoiselle!" Marshall drawled, adopting his French accent. "Is there anything else your little heart desires?"

"Yeah. Aunt Mary, if you could have a girl this time that would be awesome! Then the boys won't outnumber me!"

Mary laughed. "I'll do my best, Kiddo, but it's not really up to me."

Sadie frowned. "Who's it up to?"

Marshall laughed as he started the sedan and pulled out into traffic. As he listened to Mary stumble through giving Sadie an explanation she might understand, he focused on the English countryside passing by outside. A little over two years ago, he had been sitting on his couch, eating Chinese takeout and feeling sorry for himself and wondering if a life with Mary would ever be possible. And now here they were: an adopted "niece" in the back seat, twin boys sleeping in car seats, and another baby on the way. Sure the world at large thought he was dead and Mary wouldn't ever be able to see her mother and sister again. And there was always the chance that the Forellis would find them one day.

But for now – life couldn't get much better than this.

A/N: So for those of you who have read the book: The Princess Bride - this ending is very much like that. And I realize that I've left a lot of loose ends. Are they really, truly safe from the Forellis? What happens when Carmen gets out of prison? etc.

So, my question to y'all is: sequel or no sequel?