OK…so my short epilogue did not turn out to be so…yet.

When I started writing the flashback of the next day, it overtook the chapter so much so that it didn't feel like an epilogue anymore. So guess what? Bonus time! I wrote the next day as a separate chapter, which will then be followed by the actual epilogue. Finally a little more than just implied McSwarek love…Enjoy!

Sam arrived at Andy's apartment the next morning promptly at ten o'clock to help clean up after the strip poker charade.

He knocked on the door waiting as patiently as he could to see her; it had been a long, sleepless night. When she answered wearing a simple tank and shorts and no makeup, she took his breath away just like she always did.

She stepped aside and ushered him and he soon realized that most everything had already been cleaned up. "I thought I was coming here to help."

Andy reddened. "You were…it's just I couldn't really sleep so I decided to get up and get started."

He was just glad she didn't call to tell him not to come. "How long have you been up?" He wondered; the house looked spotless.

"A few hours." She admitted sheepishly.

Sam winked; he knew exactly what she meant, though he didn't admit that he had been up for hours as well, just biding his time till he could see her again. After tossing and turning all night, he had gotten up, cleaned his own house, fixed his lawn mower and cut the lawn the minute he felt it was polite enough to do so. He then set the steaks to marinade before he finally got in the shower to get ready to come over.

Andy had cleaned the house, done up all the dishes, set the table, baked a cake for dessert for tonight and most obviously started breakfast.

"Well, something smells delicious." Sam complimented.

"I hope you like waffles." She said knowing that they were one of his favorites. Whenever they were on the job and had a chance to actually sit down and eat breakfast, he almost always ordered waffles.

Sam grinned, wondering if she really needed to ask.

"Come and sit down." She said, directing him to the table.

She had already put out two place settings on opposite sides of the table, and provided juice, milk, bacon, and fresh fruit to top off the waffles. When Andy moved to pull the last waffle out of the maker, she brought the full plate back with her and smiled. She had turned back just in time to see Sam sliding the second place setting around the corner and over to the end of the table so they would be able to sit closer together. He looked up at her slightly guilty before grinning back.

Andy simply took the seat he had moved her plate to and offered him the waffles. He took one and put it on her plate first before he served one for himself. They began to eat in relative silence.

As they ate, they would steal glances at one another not sure quite how to put into words what they were feeling. When their eyes met, they could both feel their pulses racing. Andy quickly blushed and looked back down at her food.

Sam nudged his leg up against hers to get her to look back at him. "This is really good."

"Thanks."

At Sam's prompt, they finally managed some small talk. As they enjoyed the rest of their meal, their legs continued to rest against each other, both needing the contact they had been deprived of for so long.

With breakfast done, Sam offered to do the dishes but Andy would only let him wash. They worked as a team to finish them up, content in being together and each privately hoping for many more mornings like this in the future.

"Well, McNally since you handled the rest of the clean up by yourself, what are we going to do now?"

She was thrilled that he wasn't planning to rush off, and she searched her mind trying to find something to do that would keep him there. She could think of a lot of things she wanted to do, but they hadn't even been on a real date yet. And she was so happy to have him this close that she was struggling to find something G rated.

She needn't have worried. Sam had it all under control and he wasn't going anywhere, not if he could help it. He grabbed Andy's hand, stopping by the fridge to get a couple of bottles of water. He led her to the couch and pulled her down beside him as he picked up the remote and leaned back.

Andy loved how comfortable he appeared to be in her home. She knew she could get used to this very easily. He flipped the channels until he found that a Blue Jays game would be starting shortly. "This ok?"

"Perfect." She said, looking into his eyes. They both knew that she meant way more than his choice of television programs.

Sam was happy to find that Andy knew a lot about baseball; another thing they had in common and could enjoy together. Having switched from water to beer around the fourth inning, they watched the entire game and post game show, chatting and laughing and discussing the good and bad plays.

When the game finally ended, Sam realized that he still had things to prepare at home. Their date was supposed to start in a couple of hours and all he had done was marinate the steaks. But he was torn; he really wasn't ready to leave Andy.

"I have to go get supper ready." He stated, rising from the couch.

Andy tried not to show her disappointment as she stood up with him. "OK…so six o'clock then?"

"Too long." He muttered before making a decision. "Why don't you just come with me now? That way you don't have to walk."

Andy grinned knowing he was feeling the same things she was. "Sam, a girl needs time to prepare for a date." She blushed; they hadn't even really labeled it a date, maybe it was just him paying back the bet. "I mean…"

"You already look perfect for our date." He assured her, glad that they were finally on the same page – as far as he was concerned this was definitely a date, with hopefully many more to come.

She shook her head. "Are you kidding? Look at me."

"Oh I have been." He smirked, taking a couple of steps towards her. "Believe me; you look beautiful. You always do."

Andy blushed, though not quite convinced. "Thank you."

"Andy, you are gorgeous; you could never be anything but. And I've wanted this for so long; I'm tired of waiting. All I need is you."

Andy couldn't respond; she was too overwhelmed by the realization that they were finally going to be together and that Sam wanted her as much as she wanted him.

When she didn't say anything, it was Sam's turn to worry that maybe he was jumping the gun and she wasn't as into this as he was. "I know it seems fast; I mean we haven't even gone out. But the feelings are there… and I don't want to rush you, but…"

"Sam…Sam…" She reached out and touched his arm to steady his nerves.

"Hmmm?"

She moved her hand down along his arm to grasp his hand. "I know and I have those feelings too. And for some reason it doesn't feel like we're rushing; it just feels right. And even though it may not have seemed like it, I've been waiting too."

Sam's relief was evident; she still had a grip on his hand and he used it to pull her in close. "I can't wait two hours."

"I'm not going to like it either, but this girl wants to look 'special' for dinner tonight." She whispered suggestively.

"Andy." He responded in a low voice. It was all he could get out, as his whole body received her message loud and clear. He closed the remaining distance between them and pulled her in for the kiss they were denied in her room last night, and Andy was right; it was the best kiss of her life.

When they finally broke for air, he leaned his forehead against hers. "Two hours is two hours too long. So go get ready now and come over as soon as you're done. Don't take too long."

"OK." She agreed as she leaned in for another mind numbing kiss.

Andy finally broke away knowing that if she didn't, they weren't going to make it over to Sam's house for dinner. She would have been happy with that too, but they had both been waiting for far too long. And everything they already had and everything they could possibly be warranted more than just a few hurried moments it deserved celebration.

Andy registered his moan of protest and grinned in response. "You have to go."

Sam brushed his nose against hers, and she felt that familiar rush of feelings that she got every time he did it. It always made her feel like she was his, even before she truly was.

"I know." He agreed without moving an inch.

Andy giggled. "I won't be long."

"Promise?"

"Promise."

He gave her one last quick kiss and moved towards the door.

"Wait." She called out.

He turned around and grabbed her hand, ready to pull her out with him. "I knew you couldn't resist either."

Andy giggled again. "I just wanted you to take the dessert so it didn't get ruined on my walk over."

"Oh." He said, somewhat disappointed.

She grabbed the cake and passed it to him before kissing his cheek. "I can't wait." She assured with a whisper.

After locking the door behind Sam, Andy practically ran down the hall to her room; she was not going to delay this any more than she already had. She rushed to the drawer and pulled out the panties from the previous night; this was definitely a special occasion. She grabbed the matching bra, grinning at the thought of Sam getting an eyeful of both of them on her. She skipped to the shower.

Sam grinned the entire way home; his girl was coming over. He was cooking her supper, and if all went well, it would be his turn to cook her breakfast the next day. He couldn't be happier.

He was just finishing the last of his preparations when he heard the knock at five thirty. He smiled at the thought of her hurrying over to see him; happy that she was just as excited as he was.

"It took you long enough." He teased as he opened the door.

Without missing a beat she gave it right back. "Hey, perfection takes time."

He shook his head as he closed the distance between them; she really had no idea.

"I missed you." He whispered as his hands cupped her cheeks and his lips softly met hers.

"I missed you, too."

Sam slid his hands down her arms and gently led her inside, closing the door with his foot. He let go with one hand and entwined their fingers with the other as he continued to lead her through the house and out onto the deck.

Andy let out a quiet gasp of surprise; it was incredible. She really didn't know if it always looked like this, but it was like a beautiful oasis…breathtaking. His yard was perfectly groomed; the patio table was set, with a bottle of wine chilling. She could see the lanterns that had been strung along the railing, and could only imagine what it would have been like had the sun already set. "Sam, this looks amazing."

"Not as amazing as you do." He said, as he leaned in for another kiss; he still had not let go of her hand.

He pulled away after a few seconds knowing that if he didn't, they wouldn't make it to the meal. He smiled when she whimpered in protest.

"Would you like some wine?" He offered, letting go of her hand to pull out her chair.

"Yes, please."

He poured them each a glass before moving to the grill to put on the steaks.

They continued to talk quietly as Sam finished cooking the meat. Andy loved watching him move expertly around the grill and knew in her heart that she could stay here with him forever. For once in her life, the thought of running was nowhere to be found and it felt so good.

They ate their meal while enjoying comfortable conversation. And after relaxing for a bit once they were finished, Sam stood up to clear the table insisting that Andy should sit down and let him take care of it. Any clean up would be done later…much later. After putting all the necessities away, Sam joined Andy back outside.

They had been sitting quietly just enjoying each other's company, when Andy broke the silence. "Sam that was so good. Are you ready for dessert? I can go cut the cake if you like."

"McNally, as good as that cake looks; it's not what my body is craving right now."

He stood up and held out his hand to her; she took hold without hesitation as he led her back into the house and into his bedroom. She watched as he lit more candles around the room and then came back to pull her into him.

He pressed his lips softly against hers, pouring every emotion he had felt over the last year into showing her just how much he cared. But showing her wasn't going to be enough. "I love you, Andy."

It slipped out; he didn't regret it because it was how he had felt for a long time. He just wasn't sure if it would scare her or not so he continued quickly wanting to fill any awkward silence that might be following. "I hope it's not too…"

She put her hand gently on his mouth to stop his worry. When she felt him relax, she let her hand glide softly over to his cheek and led him back in towards her. "I love you too, Sam."

That was all he needed and he continued to kiss her gently but with more passion than she had felt in her entire life. She really wasn't sure how much longer her legs would hold her upright; he shook her right to her very core.

When breathing became an issue, he started moving his kisses along her jaw line. He was going torturously slow and she knew it was probably taking all of his self control to do it. She had seen the look in his eyes and knew they were as dark with need as hers were.

But as much as they both wanted this, they also wanted to relish every moment. This wasn't something to be rushed; this was special and it meant the world to both of them.

When Sam reached for the hem of her shirt, she immediately raised her arms to help him with his task. As he lifted it up and over her body, she caught a little grin before he moved back in to kiss along the newly exposed skin of her collarbone. She was pretty sure that he had recognized the color from last night. He dropped feather light kisses along her body as he reached for the button of her jeans. As he slowly began to unzip them, she felt a soft chuckle against her skin as well as a quiet confirmation, "special".

Andy's pants fell to the floor and she pulled Sam up for a kiss as she stepped out of them. She then proceeded to return his favor by helping him remove the barriers of his clothing. When they were both left only in their underwear, Sam guided Andy to the bed.

As they lay spent in each other's arms, Sam knew that he would never be able to go back. He had no doubt that he was exactly where he wanted to be, and it was important for him to know that she felt the same way. He didn't really know how to ask so as always he relied on his sense of humor to break the ice.

"I can't believe you took advantage of me like that." He teased.

"Sam!"

"I'm only kidding, Andy." He assured. "I just want to know that everything is OK…that you don't have any regrets. I know it may seem too soon but..."

"Sam, the feelings have been there for a long time and we both know that; we've just been holding them back. I told you before it doesn't feel fast; it just feels right."

After a few more moments of silence, Sam sighed in contentment before leaning in to whisper in her ear. "What about cake? Is too soon for that?"