AN: It's the end of an era. A very short era, but an era nonetheless. Thank you all so much for all your kind words about this story. It has meant a lot to me! I can't believe I started this story less than two months ago and now it's finished. That's crazy! But, here we are, the actual end.

Thank you again and please let me know what you think of the epilogue!

They'd gotten married days after he proposed, just the two of them with Tommy and Sarah. They'd put their old houses on the market and they sold quickly. Within a month of the wedding, they were moving into the first house they looked at and fell in love with. It was nice for them to have one place to be as a married couple instead of switching off nights at each other's places. It had been four months since Andy was attacked and abducted and she had not let it change who she was. She and Sam dealt with it and worked through it, but she was still Andy McNally. For the time being, at least, she was changing her name officially the following week.

She walked down the stairs of their new house wearing a long, deep red gown as Sam straightened his tie at the bottom of the steps. "Wow," he said when he noticed her and she smiled.

"Get a good look," she laughed, stepping off of the stairs to stand in front of him. "This is the last dress you'll see me in until the wedding."

"Oh, I'll be looking at you all night," he promised and she kissed him. She reached behind her for his wallet on the table where they kept their keys and other odds and ends. Going through it, she pulled out the simple wedding band he kept there. "We're telling them tonight?" He asked as she slid it onto his finger.

"Well, we have to," she smiled, turning around so he could unclasp the chain that hung low enough to hide her engagement and wedding rings. "I put the invitations in the mail this morning."

"Oh right," he nodded when she faced him again. He took her left hand and slid the rings on one by one. "Are you ready for all that emotion?"

"I've been ready since the day we got married," she laughed, running her hands over his chest. "But I'm glad we waited. I'm glad we've had the last four months to be husband and wife without everyone else chiming in. Everyone should do that when they get married."

"I don't know about that," he chuckled, reaching for his keys. "But it definitely worked for us."

"I can't believe we kept it a secret this long," she said, shaking her head as they made their way onto their porch.

"I can't believe you kept it a secret this long," he laughed and she shrugged. He held her hand, steadying her on her heels, as they made their way down the steps.

They were off to the Police Ball that the city was throwing. Officers and detectives from all divisions around the city were expected to be there and Frank let them know that he wanted a strong presence from 15. So, all of their friends were going, using it as an excuse to dress up and get drunk on the city's dime.

"I texted Traci," Andy said as Sam drove them toward the hotel where it was taking place. "I told her to get everyone you and I cared about to meet us in the lobby."

"Good thing we're running late," he laughed and she nodded. "You're making this announcement?"

"I have a feeling they think we're announcing our engagement," she told him and he nodded. "So, I'm sure they're already talking about that. I'll just tell them all that it happened four months ago and we got married a few days later."

"You think they'll be mad we've kept them out of the loop this long?" Sam asked and Andy sighed. There was a chance that could happen.

"I'm really hoping they'll just be happy for us and forget about that," she said and he laughed. "Oliver's gonna be mad."

"Oh yeah," Sam chuckled. "But he'll be way more happy than anything."

At a red light, he looked over at Andy, who was looking out the window, and focused on her rings. They never wore them, except when they had dinner with Tommy or Sarah, not even when they were home alone. It was easy for them to keep it a secret from their friends. They got married, celebrated with their family, and had a couple of days off to themselves to celebrate further. Both had admitted to wanting to tell their friends, but neither had done it. Sam insisted he didn't mind, but it was Andy that wanted it to stay between them. It was she that wanted it to be a big reveal. And he was more than happy to have her as his wife, for the time being, without all the fanfare that usually came with it.

It was he who finally convinced her that they should start planning a real wedding if they ever wanted to have one. She agreed and they used their rare days off together to get a venue and caterer picked out. They were now planning the smaller details, but she was convinced they could get it done by the time the wedding was to take place in two months. It was still going to be small, but they wanted to have something that they could share with all of their friends.

As Sam pulled up to the valet, Andy smiled at him and he returned it before climbing out and handing the keys over. He opened her door, taking her hand to help her step down. "You ready for this?" She asked him as she glimpsed inside and saw all of their friends through the door.

"Ready as I'll ever be," he smiled. She returned it and he put his hand on the small of her back and led her inside.

"What's this all about, Sammy?" Frank asked as soon as they were inside. Sam's left hand was in his pocket, his ring hidden, and Andy's was hidden behind the fabric of her long dress.

"We have something we want to tell you," Andy said and Sam nodded from beside her, looking down at his feet. "Promise you won't get mad," she said quickly and Sam laughed.

"Why would we be mad?" Gail asked, crossing her arms over the navy blue lace dress she was wearing. "We all thought you got engaged? But why would that make us mad?"

"We did get engaged," Sam admitted, finally looking at the group of people assembled: Frank, Noelle, Oliver, Celery, Traci, Steve, Gail, Holly, Dov, Chloe, Nick, and Chris. "Just..."

"Four months ago," Andy finished and everyone's jaws dropped.

"Excuse me?" Traci asked, stepping forward and Andy hid her face behind Sam's shoulder for a second before regaining her composure. "You got engaged four months ago and never told any of us?"

"Before I go any further," Andy said, smiling and holding her right hand up. "Please promise you won't get mad," she said again and after a second, everyone nodded.

"Okay," Noelle said, looking at the people around her, making sure they would keep their promises. "Go ahead, McNally."

At the use of her last name, the one that wouldn't be hers in a couple of days, she smiled and Sam moved his hand up her back to squeeze her shoulder. "We got married four months ago."

"What?!" Oliver asked, laughing. Sam let out a sigh of relief and nodded, revealing the ring on his finger. "How did you keep that secret?"

"It was pretty easy," Sam shrugged. "I kept my ring in my wallet, Andy kept hers on a necklace."

"Okay," Traci said slowly, looking at Gail who was smiling wider than anyone had ever seen her. "Why did you keep that secret?"

"After what happened to me and to us, we wanted it to be something for just the two of us," Andy explained, reaching for Sam's hand. "And we probably didn't need to keep it to ourselves this long, but it's been really great."

"So, why now?" Chris asked through his smile.

"Yeah," Dov nodded, his arm around Chloe's shoulders. "Why tell us now?"

"Well," Sam said, looking to Andy. "We're going to have an actual wedding and we want to have it with you guys."

"Yes," Andy nodded. "I sent the invitations out this morning. But I wanted you to know the truth before you got them. We didn't want to keep something so exciting from you any longer."

"Congratulations," Oliver said seriously and both Sam and Andy smiled at him. "We are all really happy for you."

"Yeah," Traci said quickly, her previous anger gone. "We are."

"I mean, we would have been just as happy four months ago," Gail said and everyone around her nodded. "But, we're happy for you," she smiled.

"Thank you," Andy smiled, letting go of Sam's hand. Traci pulled her into a hug that Gail joined in on.

Oliver hugged Sam, patting him on the back, and Frank shook his hand. They were congratulated by everyone else with hugs and kisses on the cheeks until they heard the food being served in the ballroom behind them.

"Okay," Frank said, straightening his tie. "We need to head back. Swareks," he said, smiling at the beaming couple. "After you."

"Thanks," Sam said, walking through the crowd of their friends and into the ballroom. They found their seats at a table with Oliver, Celery, Traci, Steve, Gail, and Holly. The rest of their friends sat at the table next to them, close enough to talk comfortably.

"Is there something else you're not telling me?" Traci asked Andy while they were alone at the bar.

"Like what?" She asked, looking for the bartender.

"I don't know," Traci shrugged. "You've been downing waters all night."

"So what?" Andy asked, looking down at the rings on her left hand.

"So, are you not drinking the free wine and liquor for a reason?"

"No reason," Andy said, shaking her head and avoiding eye contact.

"McNally."

"I haven't taken a test or anything," she admitted quietly. "And I haven't told Sam anything. I'm just- I'm late."

"Andy," Traci gushed, squeezing her arm. "Why aren't you doing anything to find out for sure?"

"Um, because I'm terrified?" She laughed and Traci ran a comforting hand over back.

"I know," she nodded. "It's scary, but imagine how great it would be!"

"I know you're right," she nodded. "But, oh my god, we've only been married four months. We haven't even had the wedding yet. It's so soon."

"Who cares?" Traci laughed. "It's you and Swarek. This should have happened years ago."

"You're right," Andy smiled, finally accepting the water from the bartender while Traci took her glass of wine. They stayed behind a minute longer to finish up. "I'll take a test tomorrow," she said. "I'll tell Sam when I know."

"Good," Traci smiled. Then, "Andy, you could be pregnant right now."

"I know," she smiled and Traci hugged her. "Okay, you're the only one who knows, so keep it down!"

"Sorry," she laughed, looking back at their table. Luckily, no one was paying any attention to them. "Let's go."

They walked back to their table and sat down next to their respective dates. "Hey," Sam said as Andy sat down next to him. "More water?"

"Yeah," she nodded, taking a sip. "I'm just really thirsty."

"Okay," he shrugged, leaning closer to kiss her.

"So, it's out there," she said and he nodded, laughing. "How's it feel to officially be my husband?"

"It feels even better than when no one knew," he said and she smiled. "Which I didn't even think was possible."

"I know," she beamed, squeezing his thigh. "You're stuck with me."

"No one else I'd rather be stuck with, McNally," he promised before kissing her.

The next morning, Andy slipped out early- before Sam was awake- so she could run to the store to grab a pregnancy test. Her hands were shaking as she brought it up to the register, but she kept reminding herself of what she and Traci talked about the night before. It calmed her down as she drove her car back to the house. As she pulled into the driveway, she looked up at their bedroom window and imagined what Sam would think if she were really pregnant.

Months before, when he had just left the hospital, he was the one who brought up having kids. She hoped he didn't think it was too soon because, even though she thought it was still early, the thought of starting a family with him made her happier than she could have ever imagined. She knew that he would be excited and he would be happy, but she also knew he would be scared and protective. She knew, long before marrying him, that Sam Swarek worried a lot about the people he loves. She couldn't begrudge him for that, so she learned over the years to accept it and even revel in it.

She took one last look at the window and decided she needed to go inside and figure out whether or not she was carrying a future Swarek. She closed the door behind her quietly, left her keys on the table, and crept up the stairs and through their bedroom into their bathroom. Sam was still asleep, on his stomach with his face toward the window. She closed the bathroom door behind her and went about doing the test.

Just as she was washing her hands, she heard the bed creaking as Sam woke up. "McNally?" He called, his voice closer than she was expecting.

"Yeah?" She called out, standing in front of the test to hide it from him, and he opened the door. "Morning."

"I gotta pee," he said and she shook her head. "No, I'm pretty sure I have to go to the bathroom," he smirked and she laughed, nodding.

"Can you use the one in the hall?" She asked and he narrowed his eyes. "Please?"

"You're being weird," he noted, stepping back into the bedroom. "Real weird."

"Come back when you're finished," she called after him and he grunted his reply. She turned around to face the test, a couple of more minutes and she'd know whether or not she was pregnant. She couldn't watch anymore and moved into the bedroom to wait for Sam.

"Why are you acting so jumpy?" He asked when he came back, pushing her gently to lay back on the bed while he got in next to her.

"I'll tell you in a couple of minutes," she promised and he knitted his eyebrows together. "Just wait a couple of minutes."

"Is everything okay?" He asked slowly and she smiled, nodding her head. "Then what's in a couple of minutes?"

She ignored his question and kissed him hard. After a second of confusion, his hand got tangled in her hair as he kissed her back. When enough time passed, she pulled back and he instinctively moved closer to capture her lips again. "Sam," she laughed, pushing him away. "I need to tell you something."

"So, something is wrong?" He asked, sitting up so his legs dangled off the side of the bed. She shook her head and sat next to him, looping her arm through his.

"Nothing's wrong," she insisted. "The last week or so, I've been thinking a lot..." she trailed off, looking longingly into the bathroom.

"About what, Andy?" He asked and she looked at him with wide eyes and an even wider smile. "What's going on?" He asked, unable to hide his own smile, but he wasn't sure why.

"I think I might be pregnant," she said quickly and his whole body tensed beside her. "Scary, I know," she laughed.

"No," he said, shaking his head and smiling. "You're serious?"

"Well, I don't know," she laughed again, standing up and pulling him with her. "I took a test before you woke up. That's why you had to use the other bathroom."

As they walked in together, he wasn't sure what to look for, so he just watched her. She picked up the test and turned toward him, nodding furiously as tears slid down her cheeks.

"Yeah?" He asked and she nodded again, tossing the test into the sink. He pulled her closer by the hand and kissed her so hard she was backed against the wall. She threw her arms around his neck and he lifted her until her legs were around his waist, using the wall to keep her upright as his hands slid up the sides of her body.

"Oh my god," she breathed when the kiss ended. "We're having a baby. Wow."

He held her as her legs unwound from his body and then lowered her to the floor. "I can't- I mean- Wow," he said, his eyes wide and she smiled.

"I feel like this is a stupid question considering your reaction," she laughed and he smiled, resting his forehead against hers. "But you're happy about this? It's not too soon?"

"Are you kidding me?" He asked, stepping back. "I am so happy. We've been married for months and we still have plenty of more months until the baby comes. As long as we're doing this together, I wouldn't have cared if it happened the night we got married."

"Good," she said as tears of pure joy spilled from her eyes. "Because I'm really excited and I can't wait to have this baby with you."

Sam kissed her again, slower and less feverish than before, and really let the news wash over them. Her hands were on his chest, still bare from sleeping, and his arms were wrapped around her waist. "This is really happening?" He asked her and she nodded.

"I mean, we're going to need to go to the doctors and check for sure, but yeah," she smiled as she put her hands on either side of his face. "This is happening, Sam."

"I'm gonna be a dad?" He asked and Andy nodded again before wiping away a new batch of tears. "To your kid?"

"Yes," she laughed. "We're going to have a baby. You and me, Swarek."

"A little baby Swarek," he mused with a certain twinkle in his eye.

"Yeah," she smiled wide. "Can we get out of the bathroom, though? I feel like there are much better places to celebrate this news."

"Oh yeah," he nodded, laughing. He was in a daze like she'd never seen him before. But it was a happy daze, one she could feel seeping into herself. She couldn't wipe the smile from her face, didn't want to. So, she got into bed, still smiling, and he got in next to her, turning on his side to be facing her. "I'm in shock," he admitted and she laughed, looking up at him.

"That's okay," she promised. "I've had more time to process the idea of us being parents. Give it a couple of hours and I'm sure you'll start building the kid a crib or something."

"Our kid," he said and she nodded. She could really see him trying to wrap his head around the idea of the two of them having a child. At first, his excitement took over and now reality was setting in. She was happy to see that he still had the same look of excitement when he spoke.

"We can do this, you know?" She asked and his eyes focused on hers. "You and me, we've been through a lot. We can handle this. We'll be good at this."

"I hope you're right," he admitted and she leaned in to kiss him.

"I know I'm right, Sam," she promised and he let out a sigh of relief.

"Okay," he nodded. "Then, I believe you. We're going to be good parents."

"Yeah," she smiled as her arms slid around his neck, pulling him to her. "We are."

He smiled before kissing her and she smiled against his lips. Sam Swarek, Andy McNally, parents. With the house and the marriage, a kid on the way, he was starting to live the future he had told Oliver about their first weekend in the cabin. It was all coming together and he was beyond thrilled.