The end finally came to our beloved series. I thought I was done with story a while back, but a bit more muse squeaked out. Thank you all for reading my story and I do hope you enjoyed it. (In the previous chapter I had named the baby Meghan as we didn't know what her name would be. To make things easier I did change her name to Willa to mirror the show.)

Moving On

Nate didn't take the news as Raylan had anticipated. The twelve year old slightly cocked his head and gave a distant stare.

"I thought you'd be happier," Raylan said.

"Well, I've made friends here, established relationships." Nate answered.

Raylan shifted his weight and sighed. "And?" He prompted recognizing the facial expression that indicated the boy wasn't done.

"And—well, you've made promises before that haven't quite come to fruition. And—how many times is it going to take you and Winona to get it right?"

"Fruition huh? That advanced English class seems to be right up your alley. I know that sometimes my intentions don't quite make it to reality, but this will. I can't stay in Lexington and the paperwork is all approved and I want to be there for Willa. Winona and I will try very hard to make this work and even if we don't, I still want to be close so visitation is easy and regular. Besides you need to be a part of each other's lives. Remember how sad you were when they left?"

Nate sighed. "I know, but things just have a way of not working out in our little family, in fact they tend to go to hell."

"Well I can't say that isn't true, but you have to look at the positive. In fact, I was thinking of sending you next week while I stayed here and finished up a few things."

"See, see, that right there is a means to an end. Whenever you have to finish up something, disaster follows and nothing good ever happens. I go off to Florida and whatever it is you have to do will blow up right in your face."

"It could blow up right in my face even if you are here. I'll be working a lot of hours and it would probably be best if you are with Winona and the baby."

But Nate just shook his head. "I have things I need to finish up as well. And you always work long hours. I'll be staying until you're ready."

"Oh you will, will you?"

"Why leave when I might just have to come back when you screw it up," Nate stated. He then spun around and stalked off to his room.

"Hey, get back here," Raylan yelled half-heartedly. But in the end he let his son have the last word and began to massage his temples which were beginning to throb.

Raylan stepped into the house expecting to be met with an impatient Winona and a fussy baby, but as he rushed through the door he saw neither. Winona was curled up on the couch in full snooze and the baby was absent. After his thorough search, Raylan gently nudged the new mother awake.

"Sorry I'm late, but where's Willa?"

"Hmmm?" Winona mumbled as she gathered herself from the glorious slumber that she had been allowed.

"Willa, you know, tiny little thing that likes to scream and cry a lot. Our daughter, have you seen her?"

"Yes, of course I have. Nate has her; he took down to his friend's house so that I could have a few minutes to unwind. I must have fallen asleep. He's not back yet?" She asked as she looked around.

"No, how long has he been gone?"

Winona looked around and finally located her phone. "An hour or so. They're fine, right? Tell me their fine."

"I'm sure they are. I'll call him, you just relax."

But Raylan couldn't relax so he stepped outside and began to walk towards Tommy's house as he dialed his son. He was instantly met with voicemail. He left a message as he picked up speed quickly finding himself at Tommy's front door. There had been no direct threats towards his family but he knew Boyd was capable of anything and Avery Markham was not a gentleman that pulled his punches. He couldn't get out of Kentucky fast enough and was rethinking his position on sending Nate to Florida to live with Winona until he could get there. He knocked and unable to wait another second he pushed the door open and called out.

"Hello—Tommy, Nate?"

Suddenly Mrs. Morton came from around the corner wiping her hands on her apron. "Marshal, good to see you. I understand that y'all are moving. Despite everything that's happened we're sure going to miss Nate, he's been so good for Tommy."

"Well, thank you. Yes, it's just time for us to move along. You, by chance haven't seen Nate have you? I was told he had headed this way."

"Why yes, he and Tommy are in the backyard," she said.

Raylan didn't waste any time, the fact that she hadn't mentioned the baby was causing a spike in Raylan's blood pressure. "Your daughter is adorable and Nate is very good with her," Mrs. Morton said as she trailed him, allowing Raylan to release some of the adrenaline that been sloshing around.

He looked outside and saw Nate perched on a swing with Willa sitting on his lap as he pushed his dangling toes back and forth.

"She has just loved that. He's been swinging with her for nearly the whole time. I think he's going to be a wonderful big brother."

"Yeah, I think so too," Raylan agreed as he let himself out the back door into the yard. "Hey guys," he announced. "You ready to give her up yet?"

"Sure, she really likes swinging though," Nate said as he offered up his sister.

Raylan took his daughter and held her close. Willa seemed startled by the transfer and began crying.

"According to Winona she does that a lot," Nate stated.

"Good to know. Make sure you don't go anywhere else without telling me," Raylan said. "Oh, and your phone went straight to voicemail."

"I think the battery died."

"You need to keep it charged so that doesn't happen. If I call you I expect you to answer," Raylan said, his voice rising to keep pace with the baby's shrill audio.

Nate merely shook his head in a 'whatever' manner causing Raylan's face to contort into the frustrated parent look, but understood he was no match for his daughter's demands and chose to head back to the house.

As he walked back with his squalling daughter he sighed in defeat, before long he would have a toddler and teenager to deal with. He still wasn't sure where is relationship stood with Winona. They had both discussed custody and visitation arrangements, but never quite got around to the specifics of exactly what their connection consisted of and Raylan wasn't sure he really wanted to know.

"Here she is," he announced as he pushed through the door.

"Yeah, I could kinda hear you from about two houses down." Winona said as she reached out for the baby.

"She does make herself known. Nate had her at his friend's house on the backyard swing set, said she loved swinging."

"That she does. I have one of those battery operated swings and it basically keeps me sane and her alive. Boy that sounded harsher than I intended."

"I understand. I can't imagine dealing with this and the rest of life's daily responsibilities."

"Yeah, no sleep and no quiet. It can get to you." She said as she uncapped a bottle and stuck it Willa's mouth. "I'm grateful to Nate for not running away as soon as she opened her mouth."

"How did he react?" Raylan asked.

"He probably could sense that I was on the edge of a nervous breakdown. No, really, he was wonderful. He took her and got her to quiet right down. He really does have a way with her, I was actually impressed."

"That's good to hear. How about after her lunch I take her with me for a while? Give you some more down time before you have to rush off tomorrow and then head back to Florida."

"That sounds like a great opportunity for me to find sanity and for you to bond with your daughter," Winona said with a genuine smile.

By the evenings end as Nate made faces and played peek-a-boo with his sister, Raylan and Winona decided that it in fact was worth giving their relationship one more try.

"I think we should. Nate needs a woman in his life, a mother figure." Winona said.

"Because clearly I haven't been doing enough." Raylan replied.

"That's not what I'm saying," she said glancing back at the kids. "He needs me just as Willa needs you. Two parents are so much better than one. We'll have different ideas and perspectives, and between the two of us—more energy."

"You got that right," Raylan said as he pulled Winona close. "Let me know what the doctor says about Willa's heart and then start getting ready for the Givens contingency to show up on your doorstep."

"Tell me again why I'm being dragged down to your boyhood home?" Nate asked as they pulled into the old homestead driveway.

"Because I've been spending most of time down here and the late night commute is really starting to drag me down," Raylan explained.

Raylan had been spending most of his time in Harlan county getting home very late every night and having to go pick up Nate from the neighbor's house, only to get up extremely early the next morning to do it all over again. With Nate's school having plumbing issues and being closed for at least a couple of days, the marshal figured it would be easier if he just carted his son down to the old stomping grounds. So with backpack in hand and a disgusted look on his face Nate made his way into the familial home.

"Don't look so sour. There's plenty of room for you to explore and just hang out."

"Hang out with whom?" Nate asked. "I don't see anybody. I might as well have gone to Florida."

"I tried to tell ya," Raylan said with a smile. "It won't be for too long, just try and deal with it please."

"Sure, just like everything else in my life that I've had to change in order to accommodate you. It's you that's supposed to sacrifice for me, not the other way around."

"Oh is that how it's supposed to go? But if I make you the center of the universe then you may grow up to be a brat, expecting the world to cater to you. I'm just trying to raise a responsible member of society that won't grow up and be an active member of the entitlement generation. So, see, I only have your best interests at heart."

"Sure you do. Save your speeches for somebody who just might believe you." Nate replied.

"Listen kid, this will be over soon. Just bear with me okay?" Raylan said stepping closer to Nate. "Life will be much easier for both of us if you do."

Raylan was exhausted, both mentally and physically. Working with Ava had about emptied him of patience and now his son had decided to kick his preteen obnoxiousness into full gear.

Nate understood that the world worked a bit differently in the hills of Kentucky and he still felt very much like a stranger. He had finally relaxed and allowed himself assimilate into Lexington life, but the hollers that had raised both of his parents might as well have been a foreign country. Feuds were often and grudges long, and it gave the boy a little understanding as to why his father acted the way he did. He could only hope that he would get out before he was permanently imprinted with the same code of conduct.

He had mixed emotions about going back to Florida. It wasn't that he was all that attached to the Bluegrass state, it was more that he was unsure of how he would feel returning to the place where he had lived with his mother. She had been a fixture in his life there and he was afraid that her memory would be waiting for him. It's not that he didn't remember her or think about her, it was just different here. Kentucky was where she had been alive, where she had escaped, not where her life had ended. His father would be busy building his life with Winona and the baby and Nate just wasn't sure where that would leave him. His mind was just a mixture of loss, confusion and heartache. He wasn't sure what he could talk to his father about or how he would take things, so he often just lashed out. He knew it wasn't always fair, but he was frustrated, scared and often lonely. He just wanted things the way that had been but completely understood that wasn't possible. It left him in an agonizing place.

The days had gone by and Nate had remained at the old house in Harlan. He kept busy by exploring the hills and woods around the house and watching the task force hard at work in the house. He could easily see that his father was in the middle of a big case and it was clearly important to him that it went well. But

he was quickly becoming bored with his surroundings despite being in the middle of the hive that was constantly buzzing. Raylan would come home late and Nate would hear his heavy footsteps as they came down the hall and into the bedroom that was now hosting its second generation of Givens. He could feel his father's eyes on him as he feigned sleep wondering what his old man was thinking. He knew he hadn't been the easiest child but then again his father hadn't done the most admirable job and he thought it only fair to dish out his own portion of disappointment and aggravation.

As the task was consumed with the case it wasn't difficult for Nate with his listening skills and persuasive nature to learn that Boyd had managed to get ten million dollars out of Avery Markham only to be betrayed and shot by Ava. And Nate thought his family was interesting, but Ava apparently hadn't been satisfied with just shooting one Crowder, she was out for them all. Now Boyd had escaped the hospital and everybody was on the run trying to find or not be found as the case may be. It definitely made for interesting times.

Raylan had stopped by for a quick hello and to check up on his son before heading out on the trail for Boyd, Ava and anybody else who might have been dumb enough to be caught up in this ridiculous web.

"Don't you have bad guys to catch," the boy asked upon seeing his father.

"As a matter of fact I do, but I thought I'd check up on you first."

"I feel honored—yet this should be a normal event. Ahh, I get it, you are turning over a new leaf since now you are going to try and be a real daddy for Willa." Nate said, unsure exactly why he was so bent on attacking and irritating his father even when the man was trying so hard.

Raylan stepped back and shook his head with determination. "You know, that's enough Nathaniel. I've had enough of this bullshit," Raylan snapped causing Nate to lower his head, as the boy realized that he had finally pushed his father too far.

"I know that I am not a candidate for father of the year, but I'm trying and you can see that I'm trying. Now the least you can do is to try and show me the tiniest bit of respect. When I earn more, then you can give me more, but I'm done with this crap you're shoveling. Have I made myself clear?"

Nate had silently berated himself for going too far over the line, but at the same time was somehow grateful for the harsh response. He kept his head but managed a nod.

"Didn't hear you?" Raylan asked.

"Yes sir, sorry," Nate replied softly keeping his head down.

"Good, now I'm going to go get the bad guys and then we can move on with our lives, okay?"

"Okay," Nate whispered.

Raylan turned to leave after planting a rough kiss on the top of his sons head.

"Wait—Dad," the twelve year old cried out chasing his father down. "Be careful," he said as he wrapped his arms around the marshal.

Raylan reciprocated and held his son tightly. He sighed heavily and was grateful for the sudden change of heart. He needed to do better, he already knew that, but Nate was going to have to be receptive to the effort or it would go nowhere.

They parted and Raylan placed his hand on the top of Nate's head and gave one last look at his offspring before heading towards the door.

The events of the following days were fast and furious. Raylan had set his badge aside in an all-out effort to finish to what had started many years ago. He was tired of Boyd getting away with everything and for Harlan County covering up the disasters that happen within its boundaries. It was time to take care of this once and for all and if that meant giving up his badge then so be it. He wouldn't be able to leave any other way.

Raylan knew the odds were against him, his coworkers doubted him, Vasquez was out for his blood and had never forgiven him for past sins. He despised the thought of the possibility that this quest may even leave his son an orphan and his daughter fatherless. It all seemed so ridiculous that he just couldn't walk away and leave it others, but he couldn't, no matter what the odds, no matter what the wreckage. How could he possibly put Boyd Crowder above his son, above his daughter, but that was exactly what he was doing and by doing so how could he ever become the father they both deserved.

Life was such a thin line; a line that separated the good from the bad, evil from those that hunt evil. By giving up his badge Raylan wasn't sure which line he landed on. Even with the badge he had wondered. But in the end he been able to let Boyd live and go into custody, trusting the judicial system to take care of him in a way that didn't include guns, bullets and the finality that they carried. He had killed Boone only because the wanna-be gunslinger couldn't leave it alone any more than Raylan could. The near miss was a reminder just how close to the line he had been walking. He had to let it go and leave it behind. He had to move forward he had to become the man and father his children deserved. He knew that would be the toughest job he had ever faced and could only hope he was up for it.

Four Years Later—

The car came to stop at the end of the dusty California driveway. Raylan unfolded his long legs and pulled his body out of the car twisting his torso as he did. Nate hopped out of the driver's side and surveyed the scene around him.

"Nice spread." He commented as he stretched his own body. Nate had grown taller and lanky in recent years, looking much like his father.

"Why don't you hang—''

"Yeah, yeah. I'm good, just going to stretch my legs a bit. Go do what you need to, just be gentle about it."

"When am I not gentle," Raylan asked, a smile threatening to reveal itself.

Raylan made his way to the porch and knocked on the door. He was a swirl of emotions when Ava opened the door. She looked good, though he could see her fear shining through and he was certain she had a shotgun sitting next to the door. In keeping with his son's advice he remained calm and kept his voice gentle. His mannerisms seem to put her at ease. As they started to walk she filled him in on her story he found that he was relieved that things had for the most part worked out for her.

"So now you know all about me—well most things anyway. Tell me about what you've been up to. Did you ever get back to Florida?"

"Yes, yes we did, went back to Miami as a matter of fact. The job is still tense and full of surprises but at least I can keep it at a distance. The baby isn't a baby anymore and Nate—well Nate is almost grown up."

"How's Nate's health? Didn't he have some kind of illness?" Ava asked.

"He still has good days and bad days, but he finally gave up on modern medicine. The doctors just wanted to do more invasive procedures and he decided to take it into his own hands. He changed his diet and does yoga." Raylan said with a smile. "It's helped and he hopes that one day he can say he's in remission from whatever the hell it is he has. He and Winona gang up on me all the time about my bad eating habits."

"So things did work out with you and Winona?"

"No, we tried, it just wasn't meant to be. We get along fine and we have a pretty loose visitation schedule with Willa. I get her a lot and that's what matters the most."

"Well that's a good thing then. Do the kids get along?"

"Oh yeah. Nate is Willa's hero, much higher on the awesome scale than her old man. And in turn she has him wrapped around her little finger."

"How old is he now?"

"Sixteen and driving. He got his license a few months back and I told him we would drive cross country and see the sights. He gave me the look I got all the time when he was eleven—I call it the look of disbelief. But I vowed that this wouldn't be a promise that I would break."

"You two have bonded then?"

"It took some time. I had to learn to follow through without fail and he had trust that I would. Now I think we are on the same page and it's a good page. I'm just sorry it took me so long to get to it. I'm still making up for lost time."

"I remember how smart he was, just so quick and clever."

"He's still that. Top of his class."

They had slowed up as they headed towards the back of the house. They heard voices and Ava's eyes became panic filled. She began to rush her steps until Raylan reached out and slowed her down. "It's okay," he assured.

They eased their way up to find Nate sitting on the concrete patio next to a green sandbox. Inside was a little guy who was showing off a small plastic truck.

"I had one like that when I was little and I took it everywhere with me, even the bathtub," Nate was telling the boy.

"I can't risk Boyd knowing about him. I don't believe he would ever hurt him, but I just can't stand the thought of him messing with his head." Ava explained

Nate and Zachariah took turns scooping sand up and moving it around in their mock construction site. "Hi Ava, how have you been? I hope it's okay that I'm hanging out with Zachariah, he was helping me from getting too bored."

"It's just fine," Ava said, choking back her emotions. "You sure got big, before long you'll be as tall as your daddy."

"I doubt that, but I am definitely bigger than I was the last time you saw me."

"He really likes you and that's saying a lot." Ava said, nodding her head towards her son.

"We both like playing in the sand," Nate explained as he stood up and brushed off his jeans. "You look good; I think California agrees with you."

"Yes it does. Can I ask how it is you all found me?"

"I got a picture from a branch office in Seattle; you in a pumpkin patch." Raylan explained.

"I knew I should have never gone there, damn pumpkin wasn't even worth it."

"It'll be fine, trust me," Nate said. "You're both safe."

"Thank you for saying that," Ava said. "I just hope that it's true."

"It will be," Nate assured her. "It will be."

"So how are we going to promise Ava her safety?" Raylan asked as they pulled back out onto the road.

"It's easy, we kill her."

Raylan looked over at his son, the alarm in his eyes quite apparent. "I'm sorry what did you just say?"

"Not actually kill her. Come on Dad, give me some credit. You just make it look like she's dead and sell it to Boyd. Come up with a fake death certificate, falsified driver's license, the works, be proactive—concoct a plausible story and deliver it to him. There's no reason he shouldn't believe you. DNA—throw in a DNA match, that'll definitely seal the deal."

"How'd you get to be so smart?"

"From my mom," Nate answered with a crooked grin.

And Raylan did just that, he even threw in the DNA match and found his son was right, Boyd did buy it, hook, line and sinker. Delivering it person made it clear how serious the news was whether it was accurate or not. And Raylan believed Ava and her son were truly safe from the clutches of the Crowder's, past and present.

He stepped back outside of the prison and quickly found his vehicle as it was the only one with a teenager leaning against it. He pulled the keys out from his pocket and jangled them as he neared the car.

"So where to now?" He asked his son.

"Well, I've always wanted to see Niagara Falls," Nate replied.

"Then Niagara Falls it is," Raylan said as he tossed the keys to Nate. "Oh and I keep forgetting to tell you that I bought season tickets to the Dolphin's games."

"But Dad I don't even like football."

"Neither do I," Raylan said smiling. "Now let's fire this beast up and head north. You drive while I figure out this gosh darned navigational system."

"Dad, your Kentucky is showing through," Nate teased.

"Yeah well, technology isn't always my friend," Raylan said pushing random buttons.

"No, you have to start at the main menu," Nate explained as he pulled away from the prison.

"You drive, I figure out how to get there, that's the way this works," Raylan said finally finding the screen he needed.

"Because we're a team," Nate said.

"Exactly, because we're a team."