A/N: Ok, here we go! I'm so sorry it took so long but I picked the last chapter to hit my rut… I kind of squished the timeline together a bit to make this work… hopefully it works out! I've gotten to the end of the undercover operation so there won't be any more flashbacks of that, but I think it's fitting since this is the final chapter, when everyone's back to 'normal' and the undercover operation is truly being put to rest. I have also increased the amount of dialogue in the chapters as we go, mostly because I have a lot for them to say to each other now, but also because I usually write with more dialogue, so as they're getting back to normal, so is my writing style in a way.

Facing your fears is the hardest part of being a cop, but she's never had to deal with a fear like this before. She's never had the seniority or need to testify in court before, but she and Nick are the only ones who can do this. She needs to look her fear in the eye and put it behind bars. She's a cop. This should be no big deal, right?

Facing your fears is the hardest part of being a cop, but he can't say he's done it this way before. He's nervous about court, even though he won't admit it. If he screws up in any way, they could go free. He shakes out his shoulders, staring in the mirror at his reflection. Shake the nerves off. He's a cop. This should be no big deal, right?

"Whoa, why do you look like the high school English teacher I had fantasies about for the better part of my teen years?" Sam asks, coming up behind her in the mirror and placing his hands on her hips.

She shakes her head, laughing. "I have court tomorrow."

"Right. You know they don't have the guys in the room for that, just for your own protection in case… Well, no need to be worried, anyways," He tells her, smiling reassuringly at her reflection. He always could read her better than most. "You need a ride to the courthouse?"

"No, Nick's picking me up. We're going together and then I have to go help him rent a tux. The woes of being the best man," she sighs, leaning back into Sam's chest slightly.

"You know, referring to yourself as a man is kind of ruining this for me."

She grins slyly, turning to face him and winding her arms around his neck. "Ruining what? All those fantasies your overactive imagination dreamed up?" She leans in slightly to whisper in his ear, "Why don't we go see if I can help you finally live out a few before they completely disintegrate?"

"Nick! Are you even listening to me?"

"Yeah, 'course I am. China patterns, napkins, cutlery. If you ask me, we should just go with plastic. Or better yet, bring your own!"

Gail whacks him on the back of the head. "Nick, this is serious! I want your input!"

"How about you let me know when we get to cake tasting?" He asks. "Ow! Would you stop hitting me, woman?"

Andy watches him emerge from the dressing room in the tuxedo, nervousness written all over his face. He turns to the mirror, taking in his appearance with trepidation and pulling at his sleeves. This is all becoming so real. He's getting married.

"Here," she offers, stepping up and taking the tie from his fumbling hands. "You look great, Nick."

She wraps her arms around his neck briefly after securing the tie and he returns the embrace.

"So am I supposed to wear a suit, too, or is it ok if I go for a dress?"

He laughs along with her as he heads back to change.

Frank and Noelle's wedding comes a lot faster than anticipated. It's hard to believe it's been ten months since their return from Project Dakota; it's even harder to believe how close to normal everything has gotten. Nick and Gail are engaged, and she and Sam are really good.

"Careful. They always say weddings either bring a couple closer together, or tear them apart," Gail comments nonchalantly as they spend the day in fluorescent vests setting speed traps.

Andy shoots her a look as she clocks the next car going exactly the speed limit.

Gail holds up her hands in defence, laughing. "I'm just kidding. Chill out, Andy. You and Swarek are going to be fine."

The next car is going one over, but that would just be cruel, so Andy ignores the reading. "Yeah, we are. You know, it's weird, how something can just work the second time around."

"Yeah, it is. Just please tell me you're keeping Nick in line. If he shows up at the altar in some hideous powder blue tux, the second time won't work out either."

He comes into the bedroom without knocking, as usual, to find her trying to zip her dress.

"Do you have to be so damn independent, McNally?" He teases, stepping behind her to finish the job for her.

"It's what makes me so lovable," she fires back.

He scoffs, "That's one word for it."

"You know you love me."

His eyes catch hers in the mirror, all traces of humour gone. "I do."

"I love you, too," She replies, smiling widely. She still isn't quite used to hearing the words from his lips.

"Let's move in together," he says suddenly, still holding her gaze in the mirror.

"What?"

"You heard me. We practically live together anyways, let's just make it… official."

"You're serious?" She asks, turning to face him. She can't say she saw this coming. Sure, she'd been thinking about it occasionally, but she wasn't sure she was ready to make the first move on this one. She'd said 'I love you' first last time and look how well that turned out.

"I wouldn't ask if I wasn't," he replies, not making the mistake of trying to lighten the profession of commitment with a joke. He's already made that mistake once.

She's silent for a few moments, just staring at him. The Sam Swarek from before Dakota would not have done this. He wouldn't have been the first to request any kind of commitment. It's a testament to the difference between then and now that he's asking. "Let's do it."

He looks relieved, as though he were expecting her to deny him. "Really?"

"I wouldn't have said it if I didn't mean it," she says, grinning as she steps around him and heads for the door. "Now stop stalling and let's go before we're late."

The service is beautiful, as all wedding ceremonies are. Andy catches Sam looking over at her more than once with a strange expression on his face, and can't stop Gail's words from rushing back. Weddings either bring a couple closer together, or tear them apart. It's stupid to worry, she knows, but she can't help it. They're both notorious for their fear of commitment, so it isn't too far-fetched that at least one of them could be spooked by a wedding.

She pushes the thoughts from her head, turning to glare at Gail momentarily. The blonde smirks at her, knowing exactly what she's thinking about, while Nick looks between them with a perplexed expression.

"Oh, come on, Sam. Please! For me?" She asks for the zillionth time.

"No way. I'll do a lot of things for you, but this isn't one of them, McNally."

She sighs in exasperation as Oliver makes his way over to them.

"C'mon McNally, I won't let such a beautiful woman go to waste," he chides Sam, extending his hand to her.

Grinning brightly, she accepts his hand and allows him to lead her onto the dance floor, glancing back to see Sam staring after them with an eye-roll.

"Don't worry about him. He's allergic to dancing," Oliver tells her, spinning her out and then into hold, his hand on her back and hers on his shoulder, the others clasped loosely together.

They dance for a couple of songs before Nick comes to cut in. They fit together easily, standing closer than she and Oliver did, but not inappropriately so.

"So what was that look between you and Gail about?" He probes.

She shakes her head, "Nothing important. Just Gail being Gail."

He nods.

"So, getting any ideas?" She asks, looking around the reception hall.

He grins, "I'm not really allowed to participate in the planning anymore."

Her eyes widen, "What did you do now?"

"Why do you assume I did anything?"

The look she gives him stops his charade.

"She's being completely unreasonable! She dragged me along to look at those stupid card things-"

"Save the dates?" She supplies.

"Yeah, those things. So anyways, she's looking at, like, fifty different fonts that all look the same, even though she insists they're not, and I suggested we just send out an email or start a Facebook group or something-"

"You did not. Nick!"

He shrugs, "It's cheaper. Stop looking at me like that! You're supposed to be my best man! You're supposed to have my back!"

She laughs, "Sorry, but seriously?"

"Yeah, but that's not even what I did…"

"What else did you do?"

"Well, I kind of fell asleep while we were talking to the priest…"

She laughs loudly, "You fell asleep?"

He nods, "Snoring and everything."

"Oh my God, Nick. You're terrible!"

He grins, "It got me out of more planning, didn't it?"

She rolls her eyes. "You're unbelievable."

"Maybe, but you love me anyways."

She shrugs, "I guess you're ok."

"Ok? I'm only ok?"

"Yeah, kinda like your dancing," she teases.

"Hey now, my dancing is far more than ok," he says defensively. Without any warning, he pushes her away from him by their joined hands, spinning her as he pulls her back in and straight into a low dip. She shrieks in surprise, laughing loudly as he returns her to her feet again.

"Ok, that was pretty decent," she concedes.

"Thanks. Gail signed us up for dance lessons," he tells her proudly.

She laughs even harder. "I can't picture you in dance lessons."

"It was either that or no sex…" He admits sheepishly, causing more laughter to burst from her.

They dance for another song before they're interrupted by another request to cut in. She looks to her right to see the hand tapping Nick's shoulder belongs to Sam. She tries to hide her surprise but fails miserably.

"You're quite popular tonight," Nick says, relinquishing her hand to Sam's.

"It's because I'm so lovable," she replies, grinning cheekily.

"Yeah, all that time spent getting laughed at and insulted just warms my heart. She's all yours, Swarek."

"What brings you out here?" She asks as he pulls her into his arms.

"You. It seems the only way I'll get to see you tonight is if I come out here, so I figured I'd give it a shot."

She grins, "So my plan worked, then?"

"Apparently. The things I do for you, McNally."

It's time to face her fear. She's starting to panic a little. She and Sam were doing great. He was finally letting her in, but suddenly he's distancing himself. She catches him staring into space with no explanation forthcoming when she asks what's on his mind. He fidgets when they're alone and seems anxious for no reason. She's tried to write it off but it isn't just a passing phase. It's been this way ever since the wedding. She's surprised he even moved in with the way he's been acting lately. She needs to suck it up and confront him, no matter the outcome.

It's time to face his fear. He's starting to panic a little. Their wedding is approaching a lot faster than he anticipated. He's worried, but not for the same reasons he was last time. He's worried that she'll get cold feet and abandon him before he has the chance to leave her at the altar. He would never leave her, but she has no way of knowing that besides trusting him, and trusting has never been her strong suit. He needs to suck it up and trust her, as he wants her to trust him. He needs to trust that she'll trust him. He needs to trust that she won't leave him, even if the idea of that trust being broken scares him to death.

"I'm worried, Nick. He seems so distant… What if Gail was right? What if the wedding got him thinking and he realized he doesn't want that kind of commitment?"

"You shouldn't worry, Andy," he tells her, bumping her shoulder with his, "You guys are fine."

She sighs, "I don't know. I guess he'll talk to me when he's ready. I just don't want to make the same mistake of glossing over the issues like I did last time."

"Well, if it's any consolation, your break-up buddy will be here for you if things go south."

She smiles half-heartedly.

"But I don't think they will."

She builds her courage up through dinner. She needs to do this tonight. He's fidgeting more than usual and it's making her nervous.

"You want to take a walk?" He asks suddenly, surprising her. Sam never suggests taking walks.

"Um, sure?"

For the first few blocks, he keeps his hands balled in his jacket pockets, eventually relaxing them and taking hold of one of hers loosely. She tries to ignore the slight tension radiating off him and breathes in the night air. They walk in silence, eventually making their way back to the apartment. She doesn't understand the purpose of the venture, but decides to shrug it off.

"We've gone for the same walk four times this week."

"The same walk?"

"Four times?"

She's called in reinforcements. She loves Nick, really, but his advice last time was not very helpful, so she beckons Traci outside with them as well this time. Maybe the two of them together can come up with something more helpful than 'give it time'.

"Yes. It's the same route each night and it doesn't seem to have a purpose. I don't understand. Sam isn't the walking type. Especially not the walking outdoors for entertainment type."

Traci and Nick look just as confused as she is, so they really can't offer any constructive help.

"You guys are terrible best friends, you know that?" She snaps irritably.

Nick nods cheerfully, noticing Gail emerging from the Black Penny and standing. "Well, happy walking, McNally!"

She glares at him as he meets up with Gail, placing his arm around her shoulders and steering her toward his car.

"Maybe he's building up to something. Or maybe he's discovered the joys of walking. Either way, you just have to give it some time. He'll tell you what's going on eventually," Traci says.

"I waited for eventually last time and where did that get me?"

"So talk to him. Don't just say you're doing things differently this time, actually do them differently."

This time, she stops about halfway through the walk, bringing him to a stop as well.

"Sam, what's going on?" She demands.

"I- uh- don't know what you mean?"

"You don't like walking, Sam. Not for fun, and definitely not at work. So why the long walks through the streets?"

He glances uncomfortably to his left, a strange expression coming into his eyes for a split second before he seems to regain his confidence, smiling.

"I've been walking you past this spot for the last week, trying to get the courage to stop, and here you go and do it for me."

She frowns, following his gaze. "I don't get it."

He smiles more widely, looking at his feet for a second before raising his eyes to meet hers. "You know, Marlo broke up with me because she said there'd never be room for another woman in my heart with you there. I was kidding myself, thinking I could move on from you. I met my match when I met you."

"Wait, is this the alley where-?"

"You ruined eight months of undercover work in five minutes? Yes."

"Well, I was going to say where a rookie took down a veteran like it was nothing, but whatever you need to believe," she teases, grinning.

He shoots her a look. "Andy- What was that look?"

"What look?"

"That look you just got. Like you were surprised."

She shrugs, "You just never call me Andy."

He smiles a bit to himself. "Well you're going to have to get used to it. I don't think I'll have much use for McNally anymore."

"What do you mean?" She asks, her nerves starting to creep up on her again. What was going on?

"Well, I've been thinking a lot lately. About Jerry, and about you and me." That explained it. He was reserved after Jerry's death, so of course thinking about him so close to the second anniversary of his death would cause him to withdraw. How stupid of her not to think of it. "Jerry always believed that one day I'd meet the woman who could give me a run for my money, and he told me that would be a day he couldn't wait to see. Unfortunately for him, he didn't get to see you knock me flat on my face, but he did get to see you give me that run." He pauses, taking a deep breath. "What I'm trying to say is… You're it, Andy. You're the one who challenges me, pushes me, makes me better. I was foolish to think I could get over you. It's always been you, and it always will be."

She's pretty sure her heart stops as she realizes he's getting down on one knee. She sure as hell isn't breathing anymore. "Sam-"

"Andy McNally, will you marry me?"

She's speechless. She thought he was going to end things, yet here he is opening a velvet ring box to reveal the most beautiful ring she's ever seen. He's proposing. He's asking her to marry him. He's asking her right now, in…

"Sam?"

He nods.

"We're in an alley." She says, much like she pointed out the bomb in her hand the first time he said 'I love you.' He laughs, conceding her point, and she joins in after a few seconds. "Yes. Yes, I will marry you."

He grins broadly, slipping the ring on her finger as he stands, pulling her into his arms. She breaks away from his lips to point a warning finger in his face. "As long as we don't get married here."

"An alley? Wow, who knew Swarek was such a romantic."

She laughs, hitting Nick in the shoulder. "Hey, you proposed in a bar."

"Touché."

They sit in silence for awhile, just taking it all in. Neither could have predicted that they could be sitting outside the Black Penny, both engaged, just a year after Project Dakota. They'd been so sure Sam and Gail would not be able to forgive them for leaving that this feels surreal. There's just one more loose end she needs to tie up to make this night perfect.

"When I told Traci, I asked her to be my maid of honor, and she pointed out that, as I have two best friends, I was lacking one other key aspect of the wedding party. So, Nick Collins, will you be my mister of honor?"

He stared at her, expressionless, for a solid minute before breaking out into a grin. "A mister of honor, huh? I'm pretty sure Gail doesn't have one of those."

"Then she's missing out," she replies, splitting into a grin to match his. "Is that a yes?"

"Do I have to wear a dress?"

They laugh, lapsing back into a comfortable silence for a time. Andy studies the ring on her finger, still not fully believing it exists, before looking back up at Nick.

"You're a horrible break-up buddy, you know that?" She tells him. "I'm pretty sure you're not supposed to encourage reconciliation…"

He laughs, "Well, if I'm a horrible break-up buddy, so are you. I guess it's a good thing we're retired, isn't it?"

"Yeah, I guess it is," she replies softly. He drops an arm over her shoulders, pulling her into his side. She rests her head on his shoulder as they stare at the parking lot. Against all odds, they've finally gotten back to normal. It may not be the normal they had before, but maybe this normal is even better.

"Best buddies, then?" She asks.

He smiles, kissing the top of her head in platonic affection, "Always."

A/N: Ok! That is it. I'd like to thank you guys for supporting me and reviewing during this story, and I'm sorry again the final chapter took so long! For one last time, I would like to encourage you to leave a review!