A/N: A final thanks to everyone who has favorited, alerted and reviewed this story. Due to the limited reviews of the last chapter, I'm beginning to think that some of you may have lost interest in this story, but for those who haven't – I bring to you without further ado, the final chapter.

*Again, a major thanks to SVUgirl for all of her help, encouragement and support. BTW, if you get a toothache from all the sap in this chapter, blame her!

Disclaimer: I don't own anything, but I am super excited that we only have a little over a month until Season 3!

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"Are you a hundred percent sure?" Oliver asked skeptically as the two waited for their luggage to appear on the carousel.

"I think I would remember something like that," Sam snapped, irritated that his friend would not just drop the subject already.

"So you and McNally didn't elope?" Oliver asked for what seemed like the hundredth time.

"Damn it, Ollie! How many times do I have to tell you 'no'? Why don't you believe me?" Sam replied.

"Because… the two of you have both had these stupid grins on your faces for days now. Something had to happen," Oliver observed.

Sam just smiled wide as an answer. The bags started to cascade down and around, and Sam kept a sharp eye out for his and Andy's. He was counting the minutes until he could escape this particular interrogation.

"Wait. Something did happen, didn't it?" Oliver questioned, analyzing the smug smirk on his friend's face.

Sam smiled again, full dimples on display, and grabbed the luggage that had finally made its way over to him. "See you tomorrow, buddy," was Sam's only reply as he began to walk towards Andy, who was waiting impatiently for him near the doors with Sue.

"Sam!" Oliver called out from behind him, irritated.

"I'll call you later, okay?" Sam turned and winked at his friend, hoping that he would be pacified with that for now.

Of course he wanted to tell Oliver – hell, he wanted to tell everybody – but he also wanted to keep his promise to Andy, and Oliver's 'vault' was only one flimsy bolt more secure than Epstein's.

When he reached Andy, she bid a quick ado to Sue, and they walked to the long term parking lot to find Sam's truck.

"He's still hounding you?" Andy asked as Sam settled into the driver's seat after storing the bags in the truck bed.

"Hasn't stopped since the wedding," Sam confirmed.

"You're loving the fact that he is going nuts, aren't you?" Andy laughed.

"Yeah," Sam chuckled. "I do feel a little bad, though," he admitted, "keeping this from him." When Andy furrowed her brow in question, he explained. "I actually helped him pick out Zoe's ring, so…"

Sam smiled at the memory from what seemed like a lifetime ago. He remembered trying to talk Oliver out of it; back then, he couldn't fathom why anyone in their right mind would want to tie themselves down to one person for the rest of their life. He never really did fully grasp that concept – until he met Andy that was.

"Aw, that is so sweet," Andy surmised. She thought about it for a moment and then conceded. "You can tell him if you want," she shrugged, "I mean, he is your best friend and all."

Sam smiled, "Eh, maybe I'll call him later. We'll see."

The drive home was quiet for about half the trip until Andy spoke up again.

"Did you give any thought to how you want to tell everyone?"

Sam couldn't help but smile wide just at the idea – tell everyone. "However you want is fine by me."

She rolled her eyes. "Yeah, that's a big help. Thanks," she added sarcastically.

"Okay, okay," Sam responded quickly. He certainly didn't want her to get upset about it, especially after the amazing weekend they just had. "How about we meet up with everyone at the Penny after our shifts tomorrow and we can announce it then," he suggested.

Andy nodded, "Yeah. That sounds great."

They decided to pick up some take-out food for dinner that night, so they settled on ordering from their favorite little Italian place. Andy stayed in the truck while Sam went inside to pick up the food. She unclasped the chain from her neck and slid her engagement ring onto its appropriate finger; she couldn't wait to tell her friends about the engagement at the Penny the following night.

Her thoughts wandered back to the way her engagement to Luke was announced. She remembered the surprise of the announcement and how she wondered briefly how quickly the news had spread around the barn; the way she forced a smile through the apprehension she felt over the big announcement and how uncomfortable it made her feel. Most of all, though, she vividly recalled the way Sam had reacted to the news. An idea hit her just then. She glanced through the restaurant window to make sure that Sam wasn't on his way back, before she picked up the phone and dialed a familiar number.

Sam returned with dinner just as she had ended the call. She gave him a bright smile, and held out her hand to him. He put the truck in drive and then took her hand. When he noticed the ring, he returned her smile tenfold, and they headed home.

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Once they arrived at the condo, Sam unloaded the truck while Andy plated their dinner. As they ate, they laughed and joked about the weekend. After they cleaned up, Andy looked over to the luggage and grimaced.

"Sam, is it okay if I just unpack the essentials tonight and I'll do the rest tomorrow?" Andy asked. "I am starting to get tired, and I would much rather save up my energy for other things," she said suggestively.

Sam laughed and agreed. "Sure, go relax. I am just going to go check my work e-mail to get an idea of what I'm walking into tomorrow."

"Okay." She gave him a quick kiss as they separated, and then she remembered something. "Sam, I am going to call my dad and tell him the news. I bet he is going to be so surprised," she said excitedly.

"You should call him," Sam agreed, "but I doubt he is going to be surprised."

Andy wrinkled her nose and looked at him, perplexed. "Why not?"

"I already discussed it with him when I bought the ring," Sam explained. "He seemed happy about the idea."

"Really?" Andy asked, the emotion evident from her soft voice.

"Of course," Sam confirmed, as he walked up to her and wrapped his arms around her. "I thought he deserved the respect. He did raise a pretty amazing daughter," he winked and pressed his lips to hers.

"You amaze me more and more each day, Sam Swarek." Andy kissed him again lovingly, and when she pulled back she whispered a soft, "Thank you."

Sam smiled and nodded. "I think he is pretty excited about the idea of walking you down the aisle," Sam revealed what Tommy had confided in him over a month ago. "It's the only thing that stopped me from dragging you into that chapel a few days ago."

Andy was stunned; these new revelations overwhelmed her with an array of feelings. "Only thing, huh?" she tried to tease.

"No." Sam's lips brushed across hers as he shook his head. "You deserve the fairytale. I want to give you everything you ever wanted."

"I already have it," she whispered against his lips. When he looked at her questioningly, she explained. "I mean," she shrugged, "I have you, right?"

He felt his heart flutter when she said that. He recovered after a beat and kissed her resolutely. "Always have; always will," he promised.

She kissed him back and let her appreciation project through the passion. "Same here."

"Tell you the truth, I'm pretty excited about seeing you walk down the aisle myself," Sam confessed. "A pretty white dress; all of our family and friends. I want the world to know you're mine."

She stretched up onto her toes and wrapped her arms around his neck as she pulled him in for a passionate kiss. She broke away, dizzy with emotion, when they were interrupted by the ringing of his cell phone.

"Go do your work stuff and I'll call my dad. I want to get to bed early tonight," she said demurely, biting her lower lip.

Sam laughed as he backed away with hands held up in surrender, "Yes, ma'am."

Andy had to smile when she heard Sam answer the call. "Hey, Frank, what's up…?"

.

After Andy had called Tommy, who was, indeed, thrilled for them both, she began to get bored. She poured herself a glass of wine, flipped through some TV stations, caught up on the local news, and tried to read a book, but she couldn't focus her concentration. She decided to get up and grab her laptop, along with another glass of wine.

That's how Sam found her an hour after he picked up Frank's call - curled up against the arm of the couch, goblet in one hand, and the other hand scrolling along the touchpad of the laptop in front of her, which was perched precariously on the arm of the sofa.

"What are you looking at?"

Andy jumped at the unexpected sound of his voice, nearly dropping the computer to the floor. She was so engrossed in the website she had stumbled upon that she hadn't heard him approach.

She blushed as her eyes met his and her voice was timid when she answered. "Just some wedding stuff…"

"Yeah?" Sam answered, as he took a seat next to her and placed his arm around her shoulders. "Like what?"

"Vows and stuff like that," Andy replied with a shrug, secretly relieved that he didn't seem shaken about it.

"Find anything good?" Sam queried.

"A few," Andy responded cautiously. She was slightly taken aback that Sam was showing interest. "But I was kind of hoping we could write our own."

Sam laughed. "That is not happening," he declared decisively.

"I figured you wouldn't want to," Andy replied with an eye roll. "You're too cool."

"Hey," he said, as he used his arm to tug her closer. He lifted his hand a bit and nudged her chin with it, directing her to look at him. He took the glass from her hand and set it on the end table so that he could intertwine their fingers. "You know how I feel about you. I love you, Andy. I'll tell you anything you want to know or hear any time you want… but come on, in front of a hundred people?"

"I know you would," Andy conceded softly. She also knew that he would write his own vows if she really wanted him to, which is exactly why she wouldn't make him. "I was just teasing," she added to lighten the mood. "Besides, we can't go ruining that bad-ass persona you have, now could we?" she winked.

He laughed and placed a tender kiss on her lips before he reached over and grabbed the glass again. He took a sip from it and nodded towards the computer. "So, what'd you find?"

Andy smiled and moved the laptop between the two of them so that it rested halfway in each of their laps. "I think I narrowed it down to these three," she said, pointing at the screen.

Sam looked at her, duly impressed for half a second, before he turned his attention to the website, squinting to read the print.

Desiderata
"Go placidly amid the clamor of life, and remember the peace to be found in silence.
Speak your truth quietly, listen to others, but avoid loud and aggressive people…"

Sam laughed out loud as he read the first two lines. He looked at her disbelievingly and cocked his head to the side. "That one will definitely not work," he asserted.

"Why not?" Andy asked, seemingly offended.

"You do not listen," Sam said with both eyebrows raised high.

Andy opened her mouth to protest, but Sam cut her off. "And nothing about you is silent."

The suggestive nature in which he said the last part effectively silenced her protests, and consequently brought a blush to her cheeks.

"Shut up," she demanded as she swatted at his chest. "What about the other two?"

Sam read the passages carefully, and quite honestly he found himself getting a little emotional over the sentiments expressed through the words from I Love Youby Larry S. Chengges and Marriage Joins Two People by Edmund O'Neill.

He coughed to clear his throat and took another sip from the glass before he spoke, "They're both beautiful, Andy. Either one is fine with me."

She snatched her wine back and took a drink of her own. "We could do a kind of hybrid combo of them," she suggested as a compromise.

"Perfect," he agreed before pressing his lips against hers.

Without breaking away, he moved the laptop to the floor. She extended her arm backwards to put the glass down, before bringing it up around his neck to draw him in even closer, as she leaned backward into a more comfortable position. Sam hovered over her, balancing on his elbow to not crush her, while he deepened the kiss. He let his other hand run over the expanse of the smooth skin of her stomach and upwards. She moaned her approval, swung her leg around over his to trap it, and fisted her hands tightly in his hair, wanting to hold him exactly where he was.

They tore away and looked up at each other through hazy, desire filled eyes when the shrill ring of Sam's cell phone once again interrupted them. Sam dug the phone from his pocket and looked at the caller ID: Oliver. Of course it was.

"Aren't you gonna answer that?" Andy asked, breathlessly.

"Nah." Sam shook his head. "Oliver can wait until tomorrow." Sam reluctantly got up and held out his hand to his future bride. "Let's go to bed."

Andy smiled broadly as she took his proffered hand and zealously followed him into their bedroom, giggling the whole way.

Forty-five minutes later, the couple lay together, trying to catch their breath. After a few quiet moments of Sam running his fingers through Andy's hair and her using her fingers to draw patterns over his chest, she spoke up.

"Sam, what do you think about having a Christmas wedding?"

"Like, in December, a few months from now?" Sam questioned warily.

"Yes. Why? Oh, is that too soon? Am I rushing things? Did you want to have a long engagement?" Andy shot out her questions nervously, like rapid fire.

When she saw that he was looking at her like she had lost her mind, she continued, "Or it can be, like, next Christmas, or it doesn't have to be Christmas time at all if you don't like the idea. We can totally…"

"Andy, relax," he interrupted. He chuckled at the panicked look on her face and moved to kiss the top of her head calmingly. "I meant it when I said that it took all of my willpower not to drag you into the chapel in Vegas. I'm ready when you are. I was only concerned about the cold weather."

"Oh, okay," Andy said, as she breathed out a sigh of relief. "Well due to the weather, I was thinking we can do a conservatory like Allen Gardens, or – oh, oh, I know – Casa Loma would be perfect!"

Sam smiled and laughed at her enthusiasm as he pulled her impossibly tighter against him. "Sure, sweetheart. A Christmas theme sounds perfect; whatever you want."

Sam could feel the curve of her mouth against his skin before she kissed his chest. "Goodnight. I love you."

"For Casa Loma, you had better," he teased.

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The next morning, they fell easily back into their usual routine of coffee, breakfast, showers and were out the door and on their way to the fifteenth within forty-five minutes. When they arrived, instead of dropping her off at the front, Sam parked his truck and got out. Andy tried to act surprised and confused when he began to follow her into the station.

"I know that you are totally mesmerized by me, Sam, but have you forgotten that you don't work here anymore?" she teased lightheartedly.

Sam rolled his eyes. "Don't flatter yourself, sweetheart."

"Oh, really?" Andy questioned, while raising a skeptical eyebrow. She lowered her voice as a warning, but he could still hear the playful undertone in her words, "That's not what you said last night."

Sam chuckled and shook his head before he quickly amended his statement. "Ok, you're not always that mesmerizing," he laughed.

Again, she raised an eyebrow in challenge.

"Shut up," he mumbled in response as he pulled her in for a kiss, before guiding her into the personnel entrance.

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Leaving Andy at the women's locker room to change into uniform for parade, Sam went to look for his former staff sergeant to find out what was so important that he had to see him that morning. He found Frank in his office, gathering some papers for the info board.

"Hey Frank, you wanted to see me?"

"Yes, Sam. Briefing is about to get underway, so I don't want to get into it now," Frank bluffed. "Why don't you join us for old time's sake and meet me after," he suggested.

"Sure," Sam agreed willingly. "How's Noelle?"

"The babies are doing great, but she is frustrated as hell," Frank replied. "Honestly she is kind of scaring me." When Sam laughed, Frank lowered his voice a notch. "No joke, man. The other day I am pretty sure I heard her threaten the doctor if he didn't agree to do a C-section by next week."

"Well send her nothing but my best. Remind her that I'm on her side," Sam gibed.

After wrapping up with Frank, Sam decided to wander into the men's locker room to catch up with Oliver.

"Ah, the prodigal T.O. returns," Oliver quipped when he saw Sam enter.

Sam smiled and made a face like 'funny' as he took his seat next to Oliver's open locker. He was promptly greeted by a slap to the back of his head.

"What the hell was that for?" Sam asked.

"That was for dodging my calls last night," Oliver explained, looking pointedly at Sam.

"Sorry, bro. Busy." Sam winked.

"Ugh, enough!" Oliver declared, shaking his head to rid any unbidden images from forming. "You want to tell me what happened between the two of you this weekend?"

"I proposed," Sam admitted with a dimpled grin.

"Proposed what?" Oliver asked, confusedly.

"Dancing at the CN tower," Sam replied sarcastically as he rolled his eyes. "I proposed, proposed."

"You? Proposed? This weekend?" Oliver asked again for clarification.

"Is there an echo in here?"

"AH-HA!" Oliver exclaimed triumphantly. "I knew it!"

"Sure you did, Ollie," Sam patronized.

"She did say 'yes', right?" Oliver kidded.

Sam simply rolled his eyes in response.

"Imagine that," Oliver joshed, "self-proclaimed perpetual bachelor, Sam Swarek, finally joining the rest of us and settling down."

"Yeah, well," Sam bragged, "I'm not an idiot. I'd have to be crazy not to. She's the best thing that ever happened to me."

"About time you manned up, you sly bastard!" Oliver declared, as he pulled Sam into an awkward man hug and clapped him on the back.

"Thank you," Sam retorted sardonically.

"Why are you here, anyway?" Oliver questioned.

"Best wants to see me about something after parade."

"Let's get going then," Oliver suggested, unable to wipe the goofy grin off his face. "Speaking of him, Noelle really should give me half my money back. I didn't totally lose that bet."

"I wouldn't even try it. Not if you value your life, brother," Sam warned.

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Andy waited until she was alone in the locker room to slip the chain from her neck and slip her ring onto her finger. Once in place, she headed out for parade. As soon as she opened the door, she ran right into Sam and Oliver who were also making their way over to the briefing room.

"Hey! Congratulations, McNally. I heard the good news. How did this knuckle head trick you into agreeing to marry him, anyway?" Oliver briefly recalled her comment at the wedding about Sam's bedroom skills, so he quickly recanted the question. "You know what? Don't answer that," he said cheekily. "Not really sure I want to know."

Andy giggled as he pulled her into a quick hug and Sam feigned annoyance.

"Okay, okay let go. She's spoken for now," Sam quipped. "Hey, Ollie, give us a minute, will you?"

"Sure thing, brother. Good to see your ugly mug around these parts again," he joked as he walked away. "And do not make her late for parade," Oliver added, as he pointed an accusatory finger Sam's way.

Sam gently nudged Andy back into the women's locker room. As soon as the door closed, he pinned her up against the wall and kissed her passionately.

After a minute or two of indulgence, Andy pulled away. "Sam, someone is going to catch us!"

"So?" he mumbled, as he brought his face back to hers and rubbed his nose against hers. "What are they going to do? Suspend us?"

That comment earned him a nice shove in the ribs. "Too soon," she warned. "Come on, let's go."

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Sam followed Andy into the briefing room, and stood next to her while Best commenced the day's announcements.

"Harold Janson, thirty three, a known gang banger in the area is wanted for questioning in at least two murder investigations. Informants have spotted him in our territory recently, so let's keep our eyes and ears open. Now go - Serve, protect and bring the bastard in – today."

Just when the officers thought they were dismissed, Best spoke up again, louder.

"Oh, one more thing. I understand that congratulations are in order, to McNally here, on her engagement to Detective Swarek."

Hoots, claps and other variations of celebratory hoopla resounded through the room before Frank could finish speaking.

"The second time around seems to be a theme at Fifteen here, so I know you guys will make it just fine," Frank jested.

Cat calls and cheers erupted for the couple, and congratulations were extended to them by various officers who were slowly making their way out. All the while, Andy smiled radiantly as she accepted the good wishes and showed off her ring. She promised those who asked that she would fill in all the details at The Black Penny later that evening, after shift.

One of the last to approach Andy was Luke, who had unwittingly hung back, trying to compose himself from the shock.

"Congratulations, that is great, Andy," he said dryly as he shook her hand, purposely leaving Sam out of the halfhearted laudatory remark.

"Thanks, Luke" Andy said with a small smile and sharp nod.

Luke began to walk away, but stopped abruptly when something dawned on him. He turned to face her again, with sad eyes. "It was always him, all along, wasn't it?"

Andy thought about trying to downplay her happiness out of courtesy for his feelings, but she simply couldn't lie, or help the smile that graced her face. "Yeah, it really was."

Upon confirming that, she felt the tight squeeze that Sam gave to her hand, which was intertwined with his. When Luke saw the steeled certainty in her eyes and the happiness on her face, he returned a sharp nod and slight smile before he walked away.

Once everyone had filed out, and Sam and Andy were alone again, Sam led her out slowly with his hand on her lower back and spoke softly in her ear.

"Thank you, for surprising me with that. It was great" he admitted.

"It was pretty great, huh?" She replied giddily.

He nodded in agreement and placed a quick and tender kiss on her lips.

"Well, I promised myself that if I ever had the chance, I would do it right this time; I wanted to hear the right name announced," she admitted sheepishly.

Sam grinned as wide as she had ever seen - dimples she didn't know he had made their appearance.

"Sam, I am so glad we got that chance," Andy said earnestly.

"So am I, sweetheart. So am I." He placed a kiss against her temple when they began to part for their respective jobs. "See you tonight, copper?"

She winked at him and smiled sweetly as she confirmed, "See you tonight."

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A/N: The end! For anyone disappointed that I didn't write a McSwarek wedding, I may be persuaded to write one as kind of an epilogue to this around Christmas (SVUgirl is insisting I do it, what do you think?).

I hope you enjoyed. I have an idea in my head for another story (honestly I have a few chapters already written), so please let me know if you would be interested in reading it. Review, review, review, please!