A/N: Well, this is it! Hope everyone has enjoyed the story. Thank you for all the kind reviews and FFs. I say it every time, but I truly appreciate them. Please R&R here, and see you in "Major Crimes"!

Disclaimer: I do not own or operate "The Closer."

Epilogue

"I've got something to discuss with you, Mom," Rosie said.

Sharon sat on the sofa next to her daughter. "Sure. What's up?"

"Well, I've really been thinking about what I want to do now that I am officially a college graduate."

Andy had been reading the ESPN magazine, but put it aside. He had a feeling he knew where this was going.

"You were considering law school," Sharon answered, a little apprehensively.

"I was. I really was. But wow. That's nearly like medical school! I couldn't even start to think about practicing for four or five years! And I'd be all but broke the whole time," Rosie explained.

Sharon nodded. "That's true. It does require a great deal of hard work, but I know you could do it."

"I know I could too, but I just don't want to be an attorney. I want to really help people, you know?"

"Then social work, maybe?" Sharon said hopefully. Even social work and its burnout rate was preferable to what she knew was coming.

Rosie grinned. "C'mon, Mom. You know me better than that. I really want to go to the academy. If I'm admitted, I'll get paid while I go, and I'm assured of a job when I get out. The LAPD is really trying to hire more women and minorities – you said so yourself."

Sharon had closed her eyes when Rosie said "go to the academy." She looked over at Andy. His expression was sympathetic. He understood, but this was between Sharon and Rosie. "Sweetheart, it's not that you can't make it. I know you can. But I'm your mother first, and I hate the thought of you facing what the LA streets are like these days. I worry about you."

Rosie reached over and took Sharon's hand. "I know, Mom. But this is what I want to do. I know what the hours are like. I grew up with a cop, remember? I know what you deal with. And look at it this way: I've got the first three weeks at the academy to quit if I think I can't deal with it, with no penalties. I've already started working out and running to get in shape to take the physical."

"That's good, but no amount of working out prepares you for what that physical is really like," Andy put in.

"Dad…" Rosie said warningly.

"Staying out of it. Just sayin'," he replied.

Sharon sighed hugely. "Rosalind, if you do this, you know I'll support you in every way. You're a grown woman and you can make your own decisions. It's so much better for a woman than it was when I went through the academy, but it will never be easy. You need to realize that."

"Mom, if I wanted easy, I wouldn't want to go to the academy. I don't want easy. I want to be a police officer."

"It's not like you're packing her off to the Eastern front," Andy said.

Sharon shot him a warning glare. "Whose side are you on, anyway?"

"Neither. Just throwing that out there. Want me to leave?"

"No, Dad. I couldn't talk to Mom about this without you being here, too. Honestly, what do you think?"

Andy grinned at her. "You're like your mom, Rosie. You are one tough cookie. If anybody can make it, you can. But," he continued, as Sharon's glare deepened, "it's not easy. It's a damn tough job, in fact. It's not a safe job, especially for a beat cop. You go into a domestic violence situation, and some idiot might be standing behind the door with a gun. So you have to decide: try to talk him down, or just shoot the asshole and make his girlfriend's life better? It's not an easy choice. You'll see stuff that will make you want to sit down and cry, or beat someone's head in. Kids, old people, animals – it can get to you, and you have to learn to leave it at your desk when your shift ends. Doesn't mean you don't care, but you have to learn to leave it at the station, or you go nuts."

Sharon nodded in agreement. "As usual, Andy, you broke it down to the basics. That's pretty much it. And I know you can do it, Rosie, but I just want you to know what you're getting into. And, no matter how old you are, or how old I am, you're still my daughter and I want you to be safe more than anything else in the world."

Rosie scooted over to Sharon and hugged her. "I know, Mom. I know. But this is what I'm supposed to do. I know it is."

"All right then. If you have to, I guess you have to."

Andy hoped if he ever had to have the same conversation with Gina and Carla, that Carla would take the news as well. But he doubted it.

The new officers stood in precise ranks in front of the review stand on the academy grounds. For Rosie, the six months of academy had flown by, and she was more than ready to hit the streets. Matt was there, of course, along with Gina, Carolyn and the Major Crimes crew. Andy and Sharon were in their blues, standing with the families on the platform, since they had a part in the ceremony.

The academy chief called her name, "Officer Rosalind Raydor, step forward." Rosie came to attention, marched smartly up the steps, saluted the chief and then shook his hand. He motioned her to where Andy stood, trying to look sober, but failing completely. Since he was now her superior officer, she saluted him, and he gave her the academy diploma, along with a bear hug, lifting her off the ground. "I'm so proud of you, Rosie, sweetie," he said.

"Thanks Dad," she whispered, then went to stand in front of Sharon, and saluted her.

Sharon returned the salute and pinned Rosie's badge on her chest. "Officer Raydor," she said, "You are now a member of the Los Angeles Police Department, sworn to serve and protect." Her voice was strong, but when Rosie looked at her, she saw Sharon's green eyes glistening with tears. She hugged her daughter and it took everything she had to step back, allow Rosie to walk off the dais and return to her place in the ranks.

In the general seating area, Carolyn nudged Gina, "You know, Dad really is a good man. Matt and Rosie needed a dad and he's been there for them, and when Mom finally let go, he's been here for us. He's really cool."

Gina nodded. "He is. Amazing what you find out about people you think you know."

After the graduation ceremony, the new officers threw their caps into the air when the academy chief said, "Dismissed!" and went to meet their families. Lieutenant Tao was on hand with his camera to get photos and there were handshakes and good wishes all around.

Tao e-mailed Sharon the photos that evening, and Matt had printed one out for her. As she sat on the sofa, she looked at it. In the photo were Sharon, Andy, Rosie, Matt, Gina and Carolyn. She touched the picture. It wasn't at all a picture of the family she thought she'd have 20 years ago, but it was certainly the picture of the family she loved.

"You look hot in those blues. Have I ever told you that?" Andy said, from behind her as he leaned over the sofa back and kissed her ear.

"I'll keep that in mind. I've always kind of had a thing for a man in uniform, myself," she replied with a smirk.

"Is that so? Well, I'll keep that in mind, too." He looked over her shoulder at the photo. "Mike did a good job on those pictures."

"We have a nice looking family."

"We sure do." Andy brought Sharon's face around and kissed her.