A/N: This is it! The end! Thanks to all who read and reviewed!! It's much appreciated!

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Kate was awoken by the ringing of her phone. She groaned, and glanced at the clock. She had just gone to bed ten minutes before, and actually couldn't sleep that well. She answered her phone.

"Oh, I'm sorry, did I wake you?" It was Don.

She smiled at the sound of his voice. "No, it's OK. Just finished having sex with my other boyfriend, had to walk him out."

"That's nice. Thank you for that."

"Mhm. But, no, really, it's OK. Can't sleep."

"Something botherin' you?" he asked, concern in his voice.

"Not sure. I'll get back to you."

"You doin' OK? Been takin' your pain pills?"

Kate rolled her eyes. "Yes, sir."

He smiled. "Good. How's the little guy doin'?"

Kate smiled and looked over at the newest addition to her family. "He's good," she said. "Keeping his daddy's spot warm for him. Aren't you, Bendel?" The teacup Yorkshire terrier glanced at her, prouncing around to mark his turf, and crawled back up.

"He ain't on my pillow, is he?" Flack asked.

"Um…" Kate hesitated, since, Bendel was in fact on Flack's pillow.

Flack groaned. "Kate, I told you I don't want that mutt on my pillow."

"Hey, don't talk about our baby that way. I'll take him away and you'll never see us again."

"If it was up to me, you'd stay, and we'd kick that thing out," Flack responded.

"Don't listen to daddy, Bendel. He's just jealous because he has to work and we get to lay in bed," Kate said, the dog ignoring her.

"Well if you're gonna ignore me, I'll just hang up. I'm sure I can find other girls in the city that will gladly talk to me."

Kate laughed, petting her precious dog. "Just don't come home reeking of cheap perfume. Bendel will get upset."

Don smiled. He was so glad they were back to this playful step in their relationship. Right after the incident, it had taken Kate longer to recover than previously planned. The drugs they tried didn't work, her stitches came out, and about a million other things that could go wrong. And of course, Don being the softy he was, he presented the tiny puppy to her on Christmas Day, by leaving it on the couch and letting her find it herself.

"Who is this?" Kate asked, looking at the tiny dog.

Flack looked up from his cereal bowl and the paper to see her looking at the dog. "A dog."

"Aww, baby, thank you, she's gorgeous." Kate picked up the dog, playing with it.

Flack put down the paper, and his spoon, and walked up next to her. "It's a he. And don't go naming it anything weird or foreign or after some diamond or something, OK? Little guy's been through enough in his life." Flack scratched the dog under the chin, and Kate smiled at him.

"I'm going to name him, Bendel. After the store."

"Bendel, huh? Sounds like a nerd name," Flack said, still petting the puppy. Kate knew he'd like having a dog around.

"Donald Flack, how dare you say that about our baby?"

Flack stepped back. "No way, that's your dog, Monroe. I ain't takin' care of it."

"If I'm his mom, you're his dad. Shut up and deal with it." Kate kissed Don before he could object, and went back to the dog.

After a few seconds, Don realized what was happening. "You're going to love the dog more than you love me, ain't you?"

Kate paused. They never said the 'L' word before. She just kept on going, thinking he didn't realize his mistake. "Maybe. He's cuter than you."

"Oh yeah? Well then you can take him to Stella's party, huh?"

"Maybe I will. He seems more fun."

"Hey, I'm plenty fun!" Flack objected.

Kate laughed at him. "Of course you are," she said in a mocking, baby tone.

Flack ran a hand through his hair. Kate looked up at him from her place on the ground with the dog, and noticed a strange look. "What? I was kidding."

Flack hesitated before blurting out, "I love you."

Kate hesitated. She wasn't expecting this. They always felt that they could have a serious relationship without having to say the 'L' word. After being so open and loving to Jack, she felt that that word was a curse, and that it best not to be said out loud, and that you should just show it instead of having to say it.

So, she turned it into a joke.

"Of course you do," she said. "I'm amazing. What's not to love?" and she went back to the dog.

"Hey, don't pull this with me, OK?"

"Pull what with you?" she asked, not looking at him.

"This thing you do where you push everyone away."

Kate scoffed. "Oh, like you don't."

"I just opened myself up…hey, will you look at me and forget the damn dog!" he yelled.

Bendel sat upright, scared at the sudden noise, and scampered off toward the kitchen. "Donnie, you scared him!" Kate said, and went to go after him.

"Yeah, he'll be fine, OK? He's a dog. I wanna talk to you."

"What do you want me to say? You know how I feel about this!" she yelled back.

"I want to know you care something for me."

"You know I do."

Flack sighed. He half-expected this reaction. And it was Christmas, and he could tell she was about to freak on him. Christmas was important to her, and she was still weak. So he dropped it. "OK. I'm sorry. Get the dog, we'll watch TV. Some father-son bonding time."

Kate was also remembering this night. It had been on her mind constantly. She felt so bad about it.

"Well, I gotta get goin'. You know. Scumbags to catch, and all that," Don said.

"Don, wait."

"Yeah, what is it?"

"I love you."

Don smiled. That's my girl, he thought. But he couldn't let her get away with it that easily. "Of course you do. What's not to love?" They both laughed. "I'll see you later, babe. Say good night to the rugrat for me."

Kate smiled, and hung up. She looked at her sleeping puppy, and for the first time in a long time, was actually, undeniably, amazingly, happy.

And she had Don Flack to thank for it.