Just a quick note. A guest was displeased that I had written the family having a Christmas tree. I understand that Noah and Rachel are Jewish, but in the series both have played a bit fast and loose with the rules around their faith and culture (depending on what the plot needed/the whims of the writers.) Rachel buying a Christmas tree with Finn for example. Not only this but Sebastian was living with Rachel and would perhaps like to have a Christmas tree there.

My choice to have a tree and decorations was not a slight to Hanukkah customs nor a mistake. Rachel seems to celebrate both Hanukkah and Christmas.

Without further ado, here is the final chapter.

Sebastian hurried over to grab the bags that had fallen at Rachel's feet and to steady her as she was swaying on her feet.

"Would you like me to take her?" He asked and she snapped out of her daze and stared into Seb's eyes. He looked so happy. Happier than she'd seen him in months.

It was real. He was real. "No, thanks Seb." She smiled and he kissed her forehead, carrying her things to the other room and giving them privacy.

She closed her eyes and took a few stabilizing breaths before looking back up at her husband.

"I don't understand." She told him. "Where have you been?

Noah's lips twitched and his fingers itched to touch her. "It's a very long story, but I promise I've been making my way back to you the whole time."

Rachel's eyes were wet and she looked down at her daughter who was staring up at her with Noah's eyes. She looked away from Caroline and moved towards him. "There's someone you should meet, Noah."

Noah's heart warred, wanting to reach for his wife but also desperate to hold his daughter. He reached out and ran his fingers through his daughter's curls and a tear escaped his eyes. "She's beautiful, Rach. God she's perfect."

"She looks just like you." Rachel told him. "Has your soul too."

Noah stared down at his wife. "Must have been a nightmare."

Rachel blinked back tears. "You have no idea. Sometimes she was so much like you that it felt like I was losing you all over again every day. But then it was so comforting that being around her was like breathing."

"I'm so sorry." He promised. Rachel transferred their daughter into his arms and watched as he lifted the little girl close to his chest.

"Her name is Caroline Joy Puckerman."

Noah closed his eyes and pressed his lips against Caroline's little forehead. "You are the most beautiful child in the world. I'm sorry I haven't been here but I promise I'm not going anywhere."

He rocked her in his arms and stared into her hazel eyes, singing softly under his breath. Rachel was right about how much she looked like him. He felt his heart skip a beat as her little hand reached out and grasped his nose.

"I love you little girl." He promised Caroline long after she'd fallen asleep in his arms.

He realized that Rachel had been quietly watching the two of them the whole time. But she'd been doing so at a distance and he still hadn't touched her. He laid Caroline in her playpen by the tree and approached Rachel carefully. She didn't back away from him but she was tense.

He didn't stop moving until he was within arm's reach. "I'm so sorry, Rachel. I can't imagine how hard it has been for you. I'm so sorry. But I'm back. I'm not going anywhere." A horrible thought occurred to him and he analysed the space between them. "Unless you don't want me here."

Rachel's head snapped up and the fear in her eyes was very real. He moved to her quickly and cupped her cheeks as the tears fell freely. "No, please don't cry. I'm not going anywhere. I'm just not sure what to say right now. I know you're scared. You've already lost me once and you're afraid of it happening again. But I'm not going anywhere."

"You can't promise that." Rachel told him, looking at the floor. "You can't. You're a soldier and you can't promise this won't happen again."

Noah's thumb traced her cheek. "I'm not a soldier anymore, Berry. I was honorably discharged. Medals forthcoming I'm sure. But I'm done and they knew it. I'm here. With you and Caroline."

"And Sebastian." Rachel smiled. "And Blaine."

Noah chuckled. "Sounds very Brady to me, Babe. Sounds great." He kissed her forehead. "I'm here, I'm home. I love you."

He watched as Rachel thought over his words and gathered her courage. He couldn't guess at the hurt of the past several months. He knew she hadn't been alone but he also couldn't imagine how raising Caroline without him must have felt. He would die without her and she had survived it.

Rachel surged up in his arms and pressed her lips against his. Her body was pressed snug against his own and memories assaulted him of their life together so far. As she kissed his jaw he remembered their first date and as he nipped her ear he remembered the night be proposed. He was just rounding second base when-

"Caroline." Rachel told him, pulling away from his mouth as their daughter wailed from her playpen.

Bas popped into the room, winked in their direction and grabbed his Goddaughter from the pen. "Hello Princess, how about me and you go out for the rest of the day? Hmm? Stay at Uncle Blaine's?" He shot a wink their way before traipsing out of the room.

Noah raised an eyebrow at Rachel and she laughed when not a minute later he hurried through the room with Caroline bundled up for the winter with a bag full of her things over his shoulder. "Have fun catching up!" He yelled before slamming the door behind him.

"He really missed you." Rachel told him quietly.

Noah heard the note of sadness in her voice. But there would be time for all of that later. They probably all needed therapy. But for now…

"And what about you?" He whispered, nipping her pulse point. "Did you miss me?"

Rachel gasped and smiled. "Mmhmm."

Sebastian leaned against the front door with little Caroline in his arms and thanked a God he'd never believed in for bringing his family back together.