Title: The Missing Pieces

Rating: This chapter is rated T

Disclaimer: As you all know, I do not own ER or these characters. If I did, we would have gotten more than just two short scenes, thank you. Spoilers for 15x21 "I Feel Good".

A/N: Ok, this is the last chapter. I want to thank everyone who read and reviewed my story. I would especially like to thank Historianic, babyshan211, as well as americanamuchacha and KG from the Save Reela board for sticking with me and all the great reviews!! Thank you, it really means the world to me!! Sorry for the delay in this chapter but this is the first chance I've had to write it. I had a lot of fun writing this, but in the words of Ray 'all good things'.

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Afterward, Ray and Neela laid on the couch. Neela placed her head on Ray's chest while he wrapped his arms around her, getting as close to her as possible. He took her hand and kissed the back of it softly.

"I love you" he whispered.

A small smile formed on her face and she said "I know you do. I love you, too." Ray started to caress her stomach and his hand moved over her scar from the accident after the rally. He moved over on his side so he could get a better look, he touched it softly and carefully. She's laying on her back now and says "It's been almost 2 years. I almost didn't make it."

He tenses up as his eyes begin to water and a slight shiver goes through him at what she just said, he couldn't stand the thought of her not being here. "I wish I had been there. I should have been there for you."

She places her hand on top of his and squeezes. "Honey, don't talk like that. You had a lot to deal with then. You had to take care of yourself, just like I did. You're here now, that's what matters." He moved their hands to her side and leaned down and tenderly kissed her scar. He brought himself back up and laid next to her again, wrapping his arms around her. She sighed. "I have some more things I need for my office."

"Ok, write them down and I'll bring them with me to work tomorrow." he said then covered them with a blanket, and they drifted off to sleep.

The next morning Ray woke up and found the list on the kitchen table. Neela had already left for work. He gathered the things together in a box and set it near the front door. He showered then left for work. He made his way up to her office and stacked the box on top of the rest of the other boxes. She was talking to County through the web-cam. After she said goodbye, she turned off her laptop and got up from the chair. She wrapped her arms around him and kissed his lips. "Thank you for bringing my things." He kissed her again, then looked in her eyes and still had that wicked grin on his face. "What?"

"Nothing." he lied

She smirked "You enjoyed that, didn't you?"

"Gates and Brenner seeing you with me? Yes" her eyes narrowed "I mean, no" he said quickly but she still didn't believe him "um, I don't know......" she saw right through him "Ok, maybe a little." She smacks him and he laughs "Look, I knew those guys were dicks from the second I laid eyes on them and knew they only wanted one thing from you, you can't blame me for being a little smug."

"Ray!" she exclaims while smacking him again, this time even harder than before.

"Ow. Hey, consequences of your actions, remember?" he grins at her.

She laughs "I'm not stupid. Trust me, there's a reason to my madness." She smiles suggestively at him. He leans his head down for another kiss, running his fingers through her hair.

He looks in her eyes "My mom called me this morning."

"How is she?"

"She's fine. She wants me to eat dinner with her tonight. I told you she wants us to stay close."

"Oh, so it wasn't just a line?" she teased.

He laughed "Yeah, that's the way I get girls to like me, tell them I eat dinner with my mother. Wins them over every time."

"It worked on me."

"Oh, really? I'll have to keep that in mind." He smiled, then started to look a little nervous.

"What is it?"

He looked her deep in the eyes and said "I told her that you were coming with me. I hope that's ok."

She's surprised "Sorry?"

"I want you to come with me. You've met my mom before, she likes you."

"I know but, does she know about us?"

"Not yet. I haven't had a chance to tell her. I think she thinks you're just visiting."

"Oh."

He pulls her closer "You don't have to come, I was just hoping--"

She interrupted "Ssshh" she placed her finger over his lips "It's fine. I'll go."

His face immediately lit up and he placed a kiss on her forehead and whispered "Thank you." He looked in her eyes and smiled lovingly at her.

"Are we going to tell her about us?" she asked

"It's up to you."

"I'm fine either way. If you want to tell her that's fine, but if you don't want to right away I'll understand. Does she know about everything that happened between us before you left?"

"Not everything. She knows we were roommates and that you're my best friend. I didn't tell her all the details when I got home. I went to some dark places and wasn't talking to anyone then. I didn't tell her, but from the way I always talked about you, I'm pretty sure she knows that I have feelings for you."

"Maybe we'll know whether or not to tell her when we get there." she said with a twinkle in her eye.

"Ok" he said, then hugged her.

"I have to get back to work."

"I'll see you tonight. I'll unpack some of your things before I go to work."

She kissed his cheek "See you tonight." She handed him the key and went back to work. Ray unpacked her things for her and then went back to work as well.

Later on he came home and found Neela in their room getting ready for dinner. She was putting on her lipstick when he opened the door. Her dress was green with small specks of glitter all over it, which made her look like she was glowing. His breath was literally taken away. He approached her from behind and wrapped his arms around her, putting his head down and smelling her perfume. He opened his mouth slightly and his lips just barely touched her neck. "How about we just stay in tonight?" he firmed his grip on her.

"Ray, your mom is expecting us and I really want to see her. It won't take long." she leaned back against him.

He sighed "Fine" he said then kissed the top of her head. He could tell this was important to Neela, actually it was to both of them. "I'm going to go get ready." He grabbed his clothes and headed for the shower. He came back out a while later and found Neela watching TV. She heard his footsteps and turned around "You ready?" she said. He nodded. She turned off the TV and walked over to him. She took his hand in hers and walked out of the apartment.

In the car Neela was very quiet. Ray could sense her nervousness, he reached over and grabbed her hand. "Hey, it's going to be ok. Don't worry. My mom is very sweet." She interlocks her fingers with his. They pull into the driveway a few minutes later. They walked up to the door and held hands as Ray knocked on the door. Jacey opened the door a few moments later "Hello, sweetie" she said to Ray and wrapped her arms around him. She gave him a loving hug. She pulled back and looked at Neela. "Hi, Neela! So nice to see you again!"

"Hello, nice to see you, too." she waved, then Jacey leaned forward and gave her an embrace. After she pulled back, she grabbed Neela by the hand and pulled her in "Come in, come in" she said. She led them into the dining room and told them to sit down. "Dinner is almost ready. Neela, I hope you like lasagna."

"Yes, I love it."

"Good" she smiled "Ray, honey, can you help me bring in the food?"

"Yeah."

"I can help you, too if you like."

"No, you're a guest, I won't allow it. You make yourself comfortable, and besides, this sort of thing is good for Ray."

Neela chuckled. "I know what you mean."

"Hey!" he said then started laughing, and made his way into the kitchen.

Ray and Jacey emerged from the kitchen a few moments later with the food and placed it on the table. "It smells delicious" Neela said. They got the rest of the food then sat down at the table. They started digging in. After a little while, Jacey looked at Neela and asked "So, Neela, how long are you going to be visiting for?"

"Um, I'm not visiting. I live here now. I just got a new position at Lechatlier."

She was slightly in shock, she wasn't expecting that answer "So, you and Ray will be working together then?"

"Yes. I'm the new assistant professor of surgery."

"That's so great, congratulations, dear!" she smiled at her.

"Thank you."

"So how is it going so far?"

"Some days are easier than others, but I have a great job that I love and it's been great being near your son again." she turns her head and looks at Ray who is smiling at her.

"I'm happy for you. So where are you staying?" she asked curiously.

"Well I was going to live in a hotel, but Ray offered to let me move back in with him. It's cheaper that way."

"I see. So you two are living together again?"

"Yes."

"How is that going?"

"It's good. Ray has helped me adjust to living here and to my new job."

"I can understand that can be difficult to make a huge transition like that. I'm glad things are working out."

They finish their food a while later and Neela says "That was very good, Mrs. Barnett. I can see where Ray got his cooking skills from."

"Thank you, dear and please, call me Jacey."

Neela smiled softly "Ok."

"When Ray was little, I would always have him help me out in the kitchen. I didn't want him to grow up to be another man that didn't know how to cook."

"I'm glad you did and you did a good job. It's perfect actually because I can't cook." she laughed

Jacey chuckled "Your mom didn't teach you?"

"No. My mum and dad didn't want me in the kitchen. They were always more academic, they wanted me to do well in school and be someone important."

"Is that why you became a doctor?"

"That was part of the reason, but it was mostly because I love helping people. Being a surgeon makes you feel like you're making a difference in someone's life."

Ray nods "She's right, mom."

"I understand. Ray, can you help me take these dishes, please?" Neela starts to get up and grab her dirty dishes to help "No, no. I was serious before, you just relax." She sits back down and Jacey takes the plate away from her.

Once they get in the kitchen, they place the dishes in the sink. They go back in to get the rest and then as Ray is going to go back out to see Neela, his mother calls him back "Ray?"

He turns around "Yeah?"

She walks up to him and faces him "Neela seems nice."

He smiles "Yes, she is."

"It's great what she did."

"Yeah, I'm really proud of her. She makes a difference mom, she's a good doctor and an amazing surgeon."

"That's not what I meant, sweetie."

He gives her a confused look. "I don't understand."

"I'm talking about her leaving Chicago to move here and be with you, Ray." she gives him a knowing smile.

Ray is a little surprised "You know?"

She chuckles "I wasn't born yesterday. She moved here, she works with you, and lives with you. She gave up everything to come here and be with you, and I've seen the way you two look at each other. I can see how much she loves you." He smiled "And I know that you really love her, too."

His face started to shine and he says "Yes, I do."

"I'm happy for you....for both of you. I've never seen you this happy before."

"I haven't been." he admitted

She smiles "I like her and she's good for you. You have my blessing."

"Thanks, mom." She wraps her arms around him and hugs him which he reciprocates.

They head into the dining room to join Neela. Ray smiles at her and takes her hand to help her up. They make their way to the front door and say their goodbyes. They get into Ray's car and head home. They walk into their apartment and sit down on the couch.

"Did everything go ok in the kitchen?"

Ray went into the fridge and brought back a couple beers. "It went fine. My mom said you seem nice and that she likes you."

Neela sighed with relief "Good."

"She knows about us."

"You told her?" she asked, surprised

"Actually, she figured it out. I guess we were pretty obvious." he smiled at her lovingly "And she is my mom."

"You're right. Is she ok with it?"

"Yeah, she said she's happy for us and gave me her blessing. She could see that we really love each other."

She leaned forward and kissed him on the lips. They separated and he leaned back while Neela placed her head on his chest. They wrapped their arms around each other. "I'm glad we're finally here."

He runs his fingers through her hair. "So am I."

"What took us so long?"

"I don't know. I think we were both scared. We both had things we had to work through on our own so we could be together. We knew how we felt, it just wasn't the right time. The important thing is that we were able to make it through everything that happened and still love each other and want to be together."

He was right, there was never any question about their feelings for each other or that they loved each other. It was always something; she was married, they were afraid or not ready or were interrupted. It wasn't always about that though. It wasn't about the interruptions or the accident, it was always timing. It was never the right time. They had to be ready to be together. They had been through so much and so much had happened and you couldn't blame them for being a little hesitant. The important thing was that they were able to work past all of that and finally be together, it proved how much they loved each other.

"You're right." She put her head up and smiled at him. Looking him in the eyes and staring at him lovingly.

He couldn't quite place the look in her eye but he knew something was going on "What is it?"

"Do you ever think about the future?"

"Sometimes."

"What do you see?"

He placed his hands on both sides of her cheeks "I see us, maybe a house, our children."

"So you can see yourself spending the rest of your life with me?" there was a slight glisten in her eyes.

He smiled at her lovingly again, then nodded "Don't you? Do you ever think of our future?"

She leaned forward and placed her lips on his "All the time."

"Could you see yourself marrying me?" he looked deeply into her eyes which made her heart race.

She smiled "Yes. Someday."

Still holding onto her face "Someday" he whispers.

She scoots a little closer to him and places her hand on the top of his leg and says "I'm really proud of you, you know."

"For what?"

"When you left Chicago that day, I had never seen you like that before. Then when you came back last Halloween, you were happy and had a positive outlook on life. You were more mature and had so much self confidence. It was like you were a completely different person."

"I'm still the same person, Neela."

"In some ways yes, you are but, in other ways you're different. You're finally happy. You were able to come back up from a place that was so low. A place that I don't want to see you go to ever again. You have all this strength. You're a lot stronger than I realized, and definitely a lot stronger than me. You were able to do all of that which is very heroic in a way. I admire that about you. I don't know if I would be able to do what you did."

He felt the smile on his face begin to grow and his eyes started to sparkle. He could see all the love she had for him shining through her eyes. He was looking deeply in her eyes again and said "You're strong, too. When I first met you, you were afraid and didn't have very much confidence, but I watched you grow into this excellent surgeon. The fact that you came here to be with me proves just how strong you are, roomie."

They share another kiss and then she places her head back on his chest while he runs his fingers through her hair. Finally, they were here, they were together, and they weren't going anywhere.

The End

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A/N: Thanks so much for reading!! Please review!

Also, I have an idea for another Reela story. I'm trying to work on doing a Ray/Neela video right now so it could be a while. Idk exactly when I will start but I look forward to writing it, so be on the lookout!!