AN: So, this is it, the final chapter. (And it's a long one too - Lol).
The end of Stranded.

As I said in the last chapter, thank you to all of you who have read this story from the beginning to the end. I have greatly appreciated it. Thank you for giving this story a chance.
From the bottom of my heart, Thank You.

Thank you to those who have favourited and/or followed the story, it was a great encouragement for me to keep writing the tale.
To all of you who have reviewed this story as a fellow member of this website and those of you who are just Guest Reviewers, thank you for taking the time to review, your feedback and your reactions as we journeyed through this story was great to see. And it was awesome to talk to those of you who kept PM-ing me with your thoughts and feelings about what was happening.
To those of you who did not review but read this story from beginning to end, thank you very much for reading, just seeing that there are people who have taken the time to view and carried on reading this story have also been encouraging for me.

It has been my pleasure to write this story for all of you.
I will be writing up the next adventure (going one story at a time, that way I can be dedicated to it like I was with Stranded) from tomorrow (my time).

Again, thank you and I hope you will enjoy this final chapter, The Epilogue.

from Dante Andy Anderson

Epilogue:

Quite a few years have passed now.

The two had defied the odds and remained together as a happily married couple since being High School Sweethearts.

Quinn had attributed it to the fact that she was dating a beautiful woman who made her laugh and made her feel special, making people gasp at her and feeling scandalised until they realised the woman she was dating was her wife.

"What the hell?" Santana had asked one day, "I thought you were dating someone, I was about to beat you up for doing that to Rachel,"

"Well, I am dating a wonderful woman who makes me laugh, makes me happy in my faith, and makes me feel complete, it just so happens that she is my wife at the same time," Quinn had said, "I never understood why couples stopped dating once they get married, it's even more reason to keep dating and having beautiful fun nights, you know, to remind each other why you still love each other, and you do discover more about each other as you keep going,"

"Why do I have a feeling I know this from somewhere?"

"Because I got the idea from a Christian Pastor, the title of the article slash blog was 'This Man Is Dating Someone Even Though He's Married. Sounds Disgusting, But I'm On His Side', it was really good, I recommend it,"

Santana just nodded her head and made a mental note to read it when she got home from their coffee catch up.

"Are those paparazzi people slowing down on you now?" Santana asked afterwards.

"Yeah, they were the worst after people discovered that Rachel was married to a woman and they wouldn't stop, but now that it's cooled down, no one cares," Quinn said as she sipped her coffee.

See about a year ago, it was leaked out that Rachel was indeed married and had been for quite a few years. The media exploded with that and the girls were rarely given peace until a few months later.

Rachel had lost some of her more conservative fans, but she knew that that was coming, and some fans seemed annoyed that she was married, but the majority were supporting and told her that they still loved her.

Quinn was now working full time as a Marine Biologist and Veterinarian at the California Research and Rescue Centre.

The place was similar to yet not as big or well-known as their Floridian counter-part, the facility focussed mainly on rescuing injured marine life and setting them free.

Most of the animals were dolphins, seals, sea lions and birds.

She was loving her job there.

On the odd occasion she would be consulted at various conventions where she would give a lecture and at times she'd be invited to guest lecture at various universities around the country because of her research.

Other times, she was part of a team that would travel overseas for conventions, Quinn even went to one in New Zealand and she told Rachel how fun she found it and how green New Zealand was.

"It's cold though," Quinn said on the phone, "I'm in one of the cities that is incredibly far south, I swear it's like four seasons in one day here, but the people are really nice,"

"Are their accents hard to understand?" Rachel had asked.

"At first, but after a while it's not so bad,"

"How'd the convention?"

"It's amazing, we're learning new things from each other and new techniques, it's fantastic,"

"I'm glad you're having an amazing time Sweetie,"

"You and I have to come here one day, I'm sure you'll love it,"

Rachel laughed a bit and said she would put a pin on it.

When Quinn turned twenty-six, Rachel and her had discussed the prospects of having children, she wanted kids and felt that now that she was starting to be settled where she was in life, it was time to think kids. (Even though she was about a year away from completing her Vet courses but she'd work around that she surmised).

Rachel was ecstatic, since she felt it was time too. Quinn decided she was to be the one to carry the child as Rachel was still working hard on her television show and wouldn't have the time as she was a main character; before she told Rachel about a recently almost perfect technique that would combine genetic material from both mothers, so no donor was actually required. Rachel wanted to try it but argued back that since Quinn was in her final year of Vet courses and would be busy, she should be the one carrying the child.

"But Rachel," Quinn started.

"Quinn, I've thought about this, I should carry the baby, the studio can work around that, they'll just hide me behind props once I get larger, besides you're working on your final year with the vet courses and you won't have time," Rachel argued back.

"Yeah but," Quinn started.

"Quinn, I'm doing this, you have courses to finish and a job offer that you're going to step into once you're done at San Diego State, you're interning while working at the same place and that's great, okay," Rachel said, "And you're really smart, not a lot of people do their PhD's in two years and you did, most people can take four sometimes up to eight years to do their PhD after their Bachelors,"

"I'm not sure how that applies to your argument, but with regards to my PhD, it was because I knew what I was researching and where I was looking so I kept working through it, I had a game plane and I wasn't lecturing full time like some people do, besides, it was because I did a Masters beforehand, it's the only reason I finished that bit earlier, anyway theoretic's, the point was not about how ridiculously early I finished my PhD, it's about which of us is going to carry a child,"

"It will be me, it's the best way and you know it,"

"But Rachel, I can,"

"Quinn, we'll have a chance for more children, okay, and once you've got the actual work and have time, you can carry baby number two,"

"Okay, okay, you win this round,"

"I always win,"

"Rachel,"

Rachel just laughed.

After that the two set about to see how to get the procedure done. And they were lucky that it was successful, Rachel told the studio about her pregnancy and the studio worked around it much to her delight. The cast even threw Quinn and her a baby shower.

Their first child Madison was born after Quinn's twenty-seventh birthday to the joy of her mothers.

"Just like the game Quinn," Rachel said as she held her daughter and Quinn started laughing as she kissed her wife's forehead.

As for Rachel, after her move to Los Angeles where she and Quinn had shared a small apartment, which was hard because their income wasn't great at the time, Quinn was feeling bad about it and Rachel had to assure her that she didn't care by saying, "We've survived on less, remember?"

Eventually the Broadway roles were coming in and some television spots, Rachel had enough so that the two could buy a bigger house together.

Quinn felt bad about that, not that Rachel cared and she made sure the blonde knew that.

"Quinn, we have a shared account, it's okay," Rachel had said.

"But I feel so bad, you work hard and you should spend the money on you," Quinn said.

"And if you really believe that, then I want to spend the money on and with my wife,"

"But you already got me a Ute,"

"So?"

"Rachel,"

"Quinn, we're married, we have a joint account, and I want to share everything I have with you, wouldn't you do the same if you were in my position?"

"Of course,"

"See, so no complaining,"

Quinn had admitted defeat to that with a kiss to Rachel's lips, her hands in a surrendered position.

"You should work in Television like me," Rachel said to Quinn one day, this was before they considered having Maddie.

"As what?" Quinn asked.

"I don't know, do Animal Planet, you'd be great, and people would so watch because you're cute,"

"Thank you Sweetie, but I like my job,"

"You know, they may ask you to be part of documentaries,"

"If asked, I'll consider it,"

"You so should, and you could be like a female Bear Grylls, you know survival,"

"No Rachel,"

"Okay, well, you could do something with diving, I mean you're a qualified scuba diver now,"

"So, you dive too,"

"But it's not my field,"

"Rachel, like I said, if asked, I'll consider it,"

But that was as far as Quinn would take it, television wasn't for her and she was happy with the job she had, as now she too was starting to have a better income that gave travel allowances.

After the birth of Madison, (nicknamed Maddie), Rachel who was still working part-time on the musical comedy-drama, which was in its' second to last season, was asked if she'd ever go back to Broadway, Rachel answered that of course she would if she felt called for it, she loved the theatre, however, L.A. had Broadway productions too, so she was not fussed about it.

She had already auditioned the year before for one of the touring shows of Wicked that was being produced in Los Angeles and was cast as Nessarose while being an Understudy for Elphaba, she didn't mind, she was just glad to be part of the show.

The year after Madison's birth however, she did get offered a part as one of the leads for a Broadway Production in New York, playing Anna in the finally constructed production of Disney's Frozen, and she was conflicted, but Quinn told her that she should go for it.

"But what about you?" Rachel asked as she kissed her wife's lips as the two lay in bed.

"I'll still be here, being a Marine Biologist won't make me leave, and I'll be there opening night, and visit you as much as I can, Mom and Dads will look after the baby, okay, Maddie will be okay,"

"But,"

"Rachel, you have to take this opportunity, don't miss out because we're here, don't let us be the ones to hold you back, you know I'd hate that,"

Rachel looked at her again, "But you are my life now, you are what I live for, what about Maddie? Quinn?"

"I will look after her, she is my daughter too you know, and Mom will be up in a couple of weeks anyway, and we will Skype, I promise you Rachel, it'll be okay, we will visit you when we can, we'll be okay, we will come see you, I promise, I just don't want you to miss this opportunity,"

Rachel looked unsure.

"It's only for six months, okay, we'll get through it," Quinn assured her.

"Okay," Rachel said eventually as she hugged Quinn tightly.

"You will be great as Anna,"

"Thank you, I can't believe I'll be acting with Shelby and she's playing my sister Elsa,"

"It's kinda weird,"

"No more weirder than what my relationship with Beth is,"

"We're not going there again,"

Rachel had smiled at that.

And on opening night, Quinn surprised her by being there with the Berry men as Judy stayed back to look after Maddie.

That year, Rachel won Best Supporting Actress of a Broadway Musical at the Tony Awards.

She was stunned as she went to the stage and gave her thank you speech.

Just before Quinn's thirtieth birthday, she gave birth to the couple's second child, Alison, it was Quinn's turn to carry.

Maddie was almost three.

Rachel was working between projects currently and was also working on a solo album, much to her delight, because her fans said they would be happy to get the album and she had said that she would have done it either way because it'd be something she wanted checked off her bucket list.

She also got a role in another TV Series starring as a scientist of a forensic team. Quinn helped her a lot with what she called the science speak.

The small family was happy.

It has been seventeen years now since Rachel and Quinn were deserted on an island together.

And on the almost anniversary of them being stranded there, Quinn called Rachel, who was at home with the kids due to the school holiday's for Maddie, who was now six and Alison was about to turn three and wasn't in preschool that day.

"Rachel," Quinn said on the phone.

"Yeah Sweetie," Rachel answered.

"You have to get to the centre,"

"What? Why?"

"Please, just come, and bring the children,"

"Quinn? What's going on?"

"Just come to the centre,"

Rachel drove over with the children and as she entered the centre she saw Quinn looking at her with a smile and a Californian Sea Lion next to her.

"Oh my god, no way," Rachel started.

There standing next to Quinn was a very, very, grown up Frankie, looking very proud of himself as if he had swum miles (which he had).

"Frankie, find Rachel," Quinn said as Frankie waddled up to Rachel as Maddie hid behind her legs and Alison cried a bit in fear.

"It's okay," Rachel said as Frankie reached her and leaned into her hand, "Hey Frankie,"

The sea lion let out a content huff looking up at the person he saw as his dark haired mother before looking back at his light haired mother.

He looked at Rachel before looking at the girls. It didn't take the sea lion long to realise that the two were his mothers pups, therefore they were his family now too.

He looked at Maddie first.

"Frankie, this is Maddie," Rachel said as Maddie looked at the sea lion and then leaned against her mother's legs as Alison hugged Rachel around the neck, "And this is Alison,"

Frankie let out another small huff as Quinn walked up to them and kissed Rachel's cheek before kissing Alison's head as she scooped Maddie into her arms and kissed her cheek.

"How do you know if it's really Frankie, Mommy?" Maddie asked as she remembered the stories of their time on the island with Frankie.

"Well, he still likes to steal my lunch," Quinn started as Rachel laughed, "What? He did, I saw him climb up the planks over there, waddle over to me, and just as I said hi, he took my tuna sandwich, I was not happy,"

Rachel was still laughing at her, "He loves his Quinnie Mommy, that's why he knows you should share your food with him,"

"So, you know because he stole your lunch?" Maddie asked.

"Sometimes," Rachel said, "You just know, we know that that's Frankie, we could never forget him, even if he looks just like another sea lion to other people,"

"Oh, okay," Maddie said.

Frankie waddled up to Quinn as she put Maddie down, "Mommy," Maddie squealed.

"He won't hurt you," Quinn said as Frankie leant softly against Maddie and the little girl slowly touched the sea lion's head.

"We can take him home with us," Rachel said with a grin.

"No, absolutely not," Quinn started but Rachel pouted at her, "Rachel, no, can you not do that pout, no, Rachel,"

"I'm using the Celebrity Card,"

"What?"

"I'm a Celebrity, according to a few people, therefore I will have weird pets and no one will care, they'll think it's cute, besides you always have the truck any way, he can ride in to work with you and then be with us after work,"

"No, Rachel, we can't take him home with us, besides won't your fellow members or PETA think that that is bad?"

"No, not as long as we look after him and, and, well, I, Frankie is family, he's part of our family, he should come home with us,"

"No, we can't,"

"Frankie, Quinn said no, what do we do when Quinn says no?" Rachel started as she pouted and Frankie did his version of the pout which was to turn around from Quinn so that he could look back up at her, dip his head a bit and widen his eyes, as a pup, before Quinn lost her eyesight, she always said yes because he was too adorable. As an adult…he was still too freaking adorable for Quinn.

"Fine, yes, he can come home with us, but we have to build a pool for him, okay, and make sure he's happy in a liveable space, and he comes with me to work every day so he can get the right food and all that, and during my days off, I will make sure he has all the right foods brought home with me that will be enough for him for the two days," Quinn said as she sighed and adjusted her glasses.

"YES," Rachel said in victory as Maddie eyed her new house mate.

'Unconventional family indeed,' Quinn thought to herself.

As time went on, the unconventional family drew closer, Frankie was happy where he was, he enjoyed teaching Maddie and Alison how to swim and let them hold onto his back as he dove and swum through the water, and he enjoyed following Rachel as she cooked in the kitchen or was in the garden gardening, he even enjoyed sitting with Quinn in her truck as she drove to work almost every day.

One time a dog barked at him as he was sitting in the front seat of her truck and he barked back scaring the poor thing.

One week when Quinn was away at a conference, another staff member who he learnt to trust would contact Rachel so he could bring the Sea Lion home to the household, he didn't mind, he just missed the feeling of having Quinn there too, but the kids provided a lot of fun.

Over time, he also eventually warmed up to a fellow female Californian Sea Lion that was at the centre and the days of which he'd return home with Quinn lessened as he eventually had a full family of his own. His own pups (as the pups he had adopted back on the island were part of the colony and fully grown and no longer needed him, hence his need to find his human mommies again so that he could have that feeling of home).

But there were still days where he would head home with her.

Today was one of those days, Quinn had a hard day working on various animals and lecturing because she was asked to. So when it was time to go home, Frankie could tell she was exhausted.

When they were back in the house, he eventually settled in the living room as the fire was going, not that you needed one in California at this time of year, but Rachel loved the ambience given by it and he loved the feel of the fire, it reminded him of the days when he was still a pup back at the island with the two women.

He sighed in content as he leaned his head down on Quinn's legs and listened as she was reading a story to Maddie and Alison, who were sitting on her lap as she was sat on her arm chair and her feet on the footstool.

Rachel was currently in the kitchen preparing coffee for Quinn and warm milk for the kids. She tried once to prepare soy milk, but the kids didn't like it, so she resigned defeat and made usual milk.
"Maybe when they're older they'll appreciated your Veganism," Quinn had said to her.
"Yeah, Maddie is leaning that way anyway," Rachel had said with a smile.
"And if you look at it, they're semi-vegetarian like me for now anyway,"
Rachel had laughed.

When story time was over, Rachel and Quinn got up and tucked their children into their beds and kissed them goodnight before returning to the living room.

Frankie sat up as he saw them enter.

They sat on the soft rug together in front of the fireplace, Rachel was sitting on Quinn's lap as the blonde wrapped her arms around Rachel's waist and kissed her neck before kissing her lips.

He moved over to them and joined them, leaning his head on Rachel's lap like he always used to as she stroked his fur like she did when he was a pup and the three were enjoying the fire that was going at the beach bivouac.

Quinn smiled as she stroked his head too.

"What?" Rachel asked as she looked back and saw Quinn smile.

"Just life, you know," she said.

"Oh?"

"Yeah, it just gets me thinking, you know, you never know how life can end up, for us, we never knew that the greatest adventure we would have, started with us being stranded together on a deserted island,"

"I agree,"

"It's good to be home again,"

"Yeah, it is, with the whole family,"

"With the whole family,"

"I love you Quinn,"

"I love you too Rachel,"

Frankie made a small sound at them.

"Love you too Frankie," the two women said to him as they patted his head.

And to that, Frankie looked at both of them, saying with his eyes and they knew it, 'I love you both too,'

It was good to be home.

The End.