We've reached the end of this story my friends! I have had a couple of requests for a sequel…I'm still debating, but if there are a number of you who would be interested in one, I might have to write it. Thank you so much to all of you for reading, reviewing, and for sticking with me on this journey. You're amazing! And special thanks to burningxredxcaskett for reading through this countless times, and constantly keeping my chin up. Love ya!

Epilogue.

Five weeks later…

Lanie's piercing scream echoed around the nearly empty Old Haunt.

"Annnnnd I'm deaf," Rick winced as he rubbed his ear gingerly.

Lanie ignored him, her focus solely on her best friend. "You're pregnant?"

Kate nodded, beaming.

"Congrats, Chica!" Javi leaned over and slung an arm around Kate's shoulder.

"Yeah, boss. Congrats!" Kevin reached across the table and squeezed Kate's hand.

Rick frowned at them. "Hey guys! What am I? Chopped liver?"

Lanie laughed. "Congratulations to you too, Writer Boy."

"I think if this proves anything it's that I'm Writer Man." Rick emphasized the last word with a wiggle of his eyebrows.

"I'm gonna have to second that one," Kate teased as she raised her eyebrows and tugged her lip playfully between her teeth.

The boys groaned and shook their heads before they gave in and grinned.

"But really, congrats Bro," Javi said as he clapped Rick on the shoulder.

"We're excited for you two," Kevin chimed in.

Lanie plopped her hand down on the table, commanding the group's attention. "So, tell us. What'd your parents say? What about Alexis?"

Their time home had been a whirlwind. The doctor's appointment to confirm the pregnancy. Excitement. So much excitement. Telling their parents and Alexis. Sharing their excitement. And now, telling their friends. Kate smiled to herself as she closed her eyes a moment and thought back to telling their family and how similar their reactions were to what they were experiencing now.

After their initial doctor's appointment, Rick and Kate had their parents and Alexis over for dinner. They wanted to tell the three of them together, so no one felt left out.

"So," Martha asked as she spooned salad onto her plate. "What's your news?"

"What makes you think we have news?" Rick arched an eyebrow at his mother and she just rolled her eyes dramatically.

"You've been home a week, and we haven't seen you. Then suddenly you invite us all over for dinner. It's a little suspicious Richard."

"You don't think we just missed you guys?" Kate rationalized with a smile.

"Oh we have no doubt of that, Katie," her dad said, a twinkle in his eye. "But you do have news for us, don't you?"

Alexis just looked at them expectantly. Waiting.

"Well," Rick looked to Kate who nodded.

They smiled at each other, then exclaimed, "We're having a baby!" together.

Alexis' scream had rivaled Lanie's. Maybe even surpassed it. "Seriously?"

Rick grinned at his daughter. "Seriously!

The young redhead screamed again and everyone covered their ears. "Sorry," she shrugged. But she didn't look sorry at all.

"So," Kate began, the flecks of gold in her eyes dancing with excitement. "Is it safe to say you're excited about the news?"

Alexis jumped up to hug her stepmother. "Are you kidding me? I've always wanted a baby brother or sister. This is the best news ever."

Kate turned her attention to her dad and Martha. "You're being awfully quiet," she said hesitantly.

Jim looked at his daughter, tears brimming his eyes. "I'm so happy I can't even find the words," he said quietly. He reached across the table and squeezed his daughter's hand. "Your mother would be so excited."

Rick rubbed his thumb over Kate's hand as she nodded. She couldn't stop the tears from sliding down her cheeks. "I know she would."

The group was quiet for a moment, out of respect for Kate and Johanna. Then Rick noticed there were tears in his mother's eyes as well.

"Are you okay, Mother?"

The actress nodded, but the tears escaped and raced down her face.

"Martha?" Kate asked, clearly alarmed.

"Oh, Darlings. I'm thrilled. Over the moon. Its just…" she paused and took a deep breath. "I think it just hit me. All of this," Martha waved her hand through the air. "It almost didn't happen. You almost didn't make it Richard. We almost lost you."

Rick stood up, crossed to where his mother was sitting and pulled her in for a hug.

"I'm right here, Mother. Stronger than ever."

He held her as she cried, and Kate walked around the table to join them.

Martha was right of course. She had come so close to losing the man she loved more than life itself. It had been too close and she never wanted to go through anything like that again. They'd had enough close calls to last them a lifetime.

Rick looked a million times better than he had even at the wedding. His skin was sun kissed, the bruises were gone, and with the exception of a scar from his bullet wound, and a small scar on his head that was mostly hidden by his hair, no one would ever have guessed what he had been through. Kate thanked her lucky stars every night that her husband was not only alive, but he was stronger than ever.

Martha wiped her eyes before she squeezed Rick's hand, then Kate's. "I'm sorry. Here you are sharing this exciting news, and I'm crying like, well, a baby! I'm thrilled you two. I'm going to spoil this little one like crazy!"

They knew she would. They all would. This child was going to be loved so much by all of their family, both immediate and extended.

The evening was one of celebration, love and happiness after that point. Alexis, Jim, and Martha had fun debating the baby's gender and offering their own suggestions for names.

Rick and Kate had rolled their eyes at most of them, but decided to keep a few in their back pockets for later deliberation. All in all it was a perfect night.

When Kate opened her eyes again, her three friends were staring at her expectantly.

"Well?" Lanie demanded.

"They're thrilled," Rick said for her. "I think Alexis screamed louder than you did."

Everyone laughed.

Rick went behind the bar and pulled out a bottle of sparkling cider to celebrate. They passed a good part of the evening with their friends, and this time, there were more name suggestions.

"I just think you should go with Javier," the detective said for the third time in as many minutes. "I mean, this one over here," he motioned to his partner, "didn't go with it, so someone should."

"I was going to. But then we had a daughter…" Kevin pointed out.

Javi waved him off. "So anyway, what do you think?"

Rick and Kate chuckled.

"It's a great name, Javi," Kate began.

"But we aren't making any decisions yet," Rick finished.

The detective pouted, even going so far as to cross his arms.

"On that note, I'm gonna just throw this out there. Kevin Castle. It has a nice ring to it," the Irish detective piped in.

"Not as nice as Javier Castle," his partner muttered.

"Guys," Kate laughed. "We don't even know the gender yet! For all we know it could be a girl. And before you even say anything," she added when she saw Lanie open her mouth. "Lanie is a great name. Thank you for all of your suggestions. You've been so helpful!"

"We'll let you know as soon as we decide anything," Rick promised.

The group finished off their sparkling cider before they decided to call it a night. They parted ways outside of the Old Haunt just as the evening's darkness swept over the city.

"Feel like walking for a bit?" Kate asked her husband.

He pulled their entwined fingers to his lips and kissed her knuckles. "Sounds good to me, Babe."

They walked in comfortable silence for a few blocks, lost in thoughts of marriage, babies, and the elation they both felt.

Rick tucked his wife in his side and wrapped an arm around her shoulders. Her arm found its place on his waist as she leaned against him.

"So," Rick began.

Kate angled her head to look up at him as she arched her eyebrow in question.

"Baby names," he grinned. "Our family and friends are so helpful, aren't they?"

She rolled her eyes. "Oh so incredibly helpful. I'm pretty sure we're gonna have to deal with the boys and their suggestions throughout my whole pregnancy."

Rick chuckled. "Do you have any ideas? Because I've got a few - "

"I am not naming our child Cosmo!" Kate interrupted quickly. "We've already talked about that. And before you even suggest it, we're not naming our child Batman or Robin either."

Rick just smiled.

"What?"

"I just love hearing you say our child." He leaned down to kiss her and she grinned.

"I love saying it. Our child," Kate repeated as she wrapped herself up tighter in her husband's arms.

"I love it so much I'm just gonna let the fact that you nixed my favorite names go. For now."

Kate laughed. She knew he wasn't serious. She knew he was just having fun teasing her. She didn't care.

She was just happy to have this conversation with him. She was happy he was alive and well. She was happy Jerry Tyson didn't win.

They had their always, and she couldn't ask for anything more.

Thanks so much for reading, please share your thoughts! xo Kristen (and if you feel like following on twitter, it's at livewritealways. Thanks friends!)