A/N: Well this is the last chapter. Thanks so much to everyone who has been reading, especially those that have left reviews. This was my first posting of fan fic so they were all very welcoming and encouraging. A lot of this story was step up for other ideas I have, some of which are similar in format and others that will be case files. I hope everyone will continue to read and review. Now: on with the show.

Madison at a Year and Eight Months Old

Goren lay on his stomach on the floor next to Madison, who held a fat crayon in her left hand as she hovered over a blank page.

Eames sat on the sofa, with her feet securely tucked under her and a book in her hand that she wasn't reading. She liked watching them together, liked seeing the tension that usually latched itself to Goren's bones seep out through his pores.

She started noticing the changes in him when they moved in together a year ago. He was still her twitchy partner in constant need of texture and smell, but he had gotten better about not living in his work. The tougher cases still found there way into the sanctuary of their apartment, but most of them managed to stay safely locked away somewhere at his desk or in an interrogation room.

Goren could spend the better half of an evening watching Madison discover new things and he was usually the one she went to, to lead her on these little journeys. He would subtly teach her the words of a new found object and never assumed that understanding was not within her grasp.

Eames thought back to a few weeks ago when she caught him reading her an article from one of his issues of the Smithsonian about a newly discovered Egyptian tomb.

"What? She wanted to know what the pictures were of," he said defending himself.

"Bobby—"

"She came in here, she pointed to the picture…did her whole 'what dis'"

"And you started reading the whole thing to her?" Eames laughed.

"Hey she's at least gotten quiet."

"Of course she has you're reading the Smithsonian to her."

Eames quietly chuckled at the memory. Her mind drifted to more playful things he did like simple magic tricks that failed to impress her older nieces or how animated he could become while reading Dr. Seuss.

"Do you want to get married?"

He looked up at her, not sure if he was startled more by the question or how matter-a-fact the question was asked.

"Uh..." he sat up. "D-do you…want to get married?"

"It's not that ridiculous of an idea."

"No, no it's not…I just didn't think you would want…"

His voice trailed off as she sat on the floor beside him.

"We practically are anyway…and it would be easier for Maddie when she's older and…and there's the tax break," she paused to smirk. "I'd keep my last name…we just got Deakins to put us back together, it might irk him to have to yell 'Goren and Goren…'"

He was still startled, but also amused by her nervous rambling. Eames didn't ramble and she rarely got nervous. She was serious about this.

"Those are all…valid and practical reasons," he said and brushed a piece of hair behind her ear. "But I don't need a wedding or a piece of paper to know who you are to me."

"I don't want a big, circus wedding…I already did that once…mostly for Joe's mom," she paused as he heard him quietly laugh. "That's a story for a different night. Look…I just…is it so hard to believe I like the idea of being your wife…well say something…don't leave me out to dry in my embarrassing girly moment."

He smiled and glanced back at Madison as she waddled toward him. She plopped herself down in his lap and he instinctively started running a hand over her loose brown curls.

He turned his eyes back to Eames.

"My wife," he said with a teasing smirk, which she rolled her eyes to. "I…I think I'd like that."

His voice had softened with sincerity and he raised his free palm to cradle her cheek. He pulled her mouth to his and his bottom lip lingered between hers.

"I'll take that as a yes." Eames said.

Goren nodded. "Now about you're mother-in-law stories…"

Eames laughed, loving him for knowing she needed the safety of her humor to ease the weight of emotion passing between the three bodies sitting in the center of their living room floor.