This is planned out to be a 15 Chapter story. A few tweaks here and there. For the reviewer who asked about Mary Francis, I didn't remember her name, so I just randomly picked one for her sister. For the other reviewer, I'm trying to follow the timeline of the show, with this picking up about 10 years after the finale.

Present

"Stop!" Max laughed, as nipped at her jawline. "I have to go back to work, Counselor."

"Think these guys could cater our wedding?" John asked, as they finished their hot dogs. "I believe this is your favorite place I take you out to. You're a cheap date, Honey."

She smiled at that. "It's all about the good company."

My soon to be wife, he thought, she said yes. Three weeks ago, tossed her birth control, us really merging our lives and homes. "You know you have four bedrooms? If we do this other thing, we're going to need one more."

She looked at him for a long moment. His house sold in a week, she thought, I'm pretty sure I could do the same with mine. I never told him this either. "I was thinking we could renovate the attic, make it a master suite or something. John, I don't have a mortgage, I bought it outright…I got a really large widow benefit package that allowed me to be a basket case for a year and afford a place to live."

He looked at her. "What?"

"I can afford to renovate it. Or sell it and we can afford something bigger."

"You're just bringing this up now, Honey?"

"We never really talked about money and I didn't really think about it until you started selling your house and talking about mortgages and splitting bills. When I bought that house? I thought it was perfect for the three of us. I had the basement finished, which is completely a catch-all play room and back room storage. I wasn't planning on anyone else living with us. What do you want to do? You need an office too and if we do the attic, Kara could take my room, the other bedroom could be that or a possible baby room and…what?"

A cop's widow, he thought, working non-profit. "You could have told me."

"It's weird. I bought the house and put the rest away for Regan and Nat. We live off what I make. We don't have to decide now."

"How much?"

"It doesn't matter."

"Of course, it matters."

"One point five million. Oh, don't look at me like that. It's for my kids, so they'll be taken care of. John, it's not important."

"Max.

"See? Now it's weird."

"It isn't weird. You could have told me."

"It's just money. I need to get back to work. I'll see you tonight?'

He nodded, as she stood on her toes and kissed him. If you're up to moving some boxes?"

She smiled at that. "Are you putting me to work?"

Merging our lives, Max welcoming Kara with open arms. Letting her choose paint for her new room, letting her decorate it, Nat and Regan giddy over having a big sister. Her just donating stuff, so there is room for me and Kara. Max and me, settling in to something. "Unless you want to hire someone, Money Bags."

She shot him a look. "Are you going to be weird?"

"Nah, go save the world, Honey."

9 Years Ago

"I won't break," Max said, seeing him looking at her six-month pregnant stomach. "She's moving around…do you want to feel?"

Pregnant and happy, Kenny thought, she is happy about it. Max, my tough, strong, reckless, partner and wife, is ecstatic about being pregnant, her changing body, all of it. "Are you sure?"

"I love your hands on me."

A baby, the thing we never agreed on. How is she pregnant? Max, who flees from commitment, made a lifetime one without hesitation. All I ever wanted was her. I thought we were on the same page. "Yeah. Sure."

Something is wrong, Max thought, as he laid his hand on her stomach after a long pause. He is so distant with me. "Is everything okay?"

My pregnant wife, he thought, who is so radiantly happy about this. Do it for her. I'd do anything for her. "You are growing a person in there. It takes some getting used to."

She laid her hand over his and smiled up at him. "You're going to be such a great dad."

No, he thought, no. I can't do this.

Present

"This is insane, Honey."

"I don't know," she admitted, as they stood in her attic. "It's huge. I was thinking, obviously insulate it, just big bedroom, awesome bathroom, lots of storage, make you an office nook and the other half full of shelves and to store all of this. I hate clutter, I throw stuff out all the time."

Tossed her entire house in Rome, beside most of her kid's stuff and her clothes. "I know you love this house."

"It was perfect for me and the kids. You and Kara, and possibly one more? We're going to be on top of each other."

"Move in, get married, renovate, have a baby…It's a big list."

"Raise a baby," Max said, turning to look at him. "I'd love to have a baby with you, I wanted a houseful, even if I got pregnant right now, I'd be close to 41 when I had it. We'd be in our 60's when it graduated college."

"What if we decide to have two?"

"Maybe you should have picked a younger fiancé."

"Nope. You're it for me."

She smiled at him. "It's a lot of changes. Getting married, talking about babies…did you see this coming with us when we ran into each other at the pool?"

"I saw you, with Regan and Nat and…I don't know. I felt something. It started simmering between us again and by the time you kissed me in the mud I knew we'd be together. Get this through your thick skull, I love you. I don't want to wait. What do you say we knock out this wedding sooner rather than later?"

"Run off and elope?"

He nodded. "Us and the kids? Do you want anyone else there?"

"I made headway with my parents. We're on better terms. Mel is one of my closest friends, I don't know how she would really feel about it. All the people I do book club and stuff…it's not like they're those kinds of friends? What about your mom? Your friends?"

"If you want a wedding, we can have one."

"I want to marry you. How isn't an issue."

"I'm looking forward to making you a Littleton."

I should have been one 10 years ago, she thought, no, stop it. That's crap. I loved Kenny, no matter what our problems were. We would have made it work. We loved each other too much not to. "I think I'd like that. John, Regan and Nat…I can't take their father's name away from them."

"I wouldn't ask you to."

"You're the best guy," she started, as her phone rang. "It's Jill Brock."

"You going to tell her?"

"That I'm marrying you?" Max smiled, as she hit talk. "Yes. Hi, Jill."

"Max, how are you? The kids? How is your mother in law?"

"Sharon is home," she started. And hates me…and she doesn't know about our engagement. "Regan and Nat are great. Loving school and swim team. I'm good."

"And you and John?"

"Me and John?" she repeated, smiling at him. "We're good too. Uh, yeah. We decided to move in together, he sold his house in about a week, and we're slowly getting it together here. Then he proposed to me…which I said yes to, so we'll focus on that once the five of us get settled in here."

That's the most she's really said about her life to me in years, Jill thought, and it's… "What?"

"John and I are getting married," she repeated, leaning back into his warm embrace. "We're pretty excited about it."

"Max. When?"

"I don't know yet. It's new and the five of us are really feeling this out together. He gave me a really pretty ring."

"You and John are getting married."

"You sound shocked."

"Max, when?"

"In a few weeks. We haven't settled on anything yet."

"Max, wait."

"For what?" she pressed, catching John's eye. "It's what we want."

"Do me a favor and don't run off and elope right now. I'll call you back."

9 Years Ago

"Oh, you're drunk," Max said. "I was getting worried."

Kenny looked at her and putting a steadying hand on the table. "Come here."

"Kenny?" she asked, as he pulled her close. "What are you doing?"

"Let's fool around. Get that baby out of you."

"What?"

"Get you all worked up so that it pops out."

"You are drunk…I have six more weeks to cook this kid."

"I want you, Max. My sexy wife."

I do feel sexy, she thought, there is something about this…being pregnant and feeling this kid in me. He barely touches me. "Come to bed with me."

"Right here."

She gulped, as he fiddled with his belt. "In the kitchen?"

"Turn around."

Present

"They're weird there. I feel saner not living in Rome. I'd marry you right now."

"Let's do it."

"In the middle of the night? I'm wearing flannel."

"And you're adorable in it."

"Adorable? I'm a lot of things, but that isn't one of them. Seriously, why would Jill be so dead set against this?"

"Do you have another husband out there I don't know about?"

"One in every city."

"That's my girl. Seriously, Max, they're weirdly protective of you. You're up on a pedestal in Rome. A beacon of hope or something. It's like they need to sacrifice you to ensure next harvest is bountiful."

"I think you need to be a virgin for that."

"Possibly being a cop's widow re-virginized you."

"I don't think that's a word."

"You good?"

She smiled at him, as he squeezed her for a long moment on the lounge chair. "I'm sitting here with my fiancé, our kids are passed out, and 90% of the boxes are unpacked. This is bliss."

"We should set a date. I'd marry you at the courthouse tomorrow on our lunch break."

She bit her lip, looking at her fingers laced through his. "I need more than a few hours to make myself into a bride. I'm okay to elope, John. I'd love for it to be private, intimate, us and our kids. I just want to be with you."

"I think the kids would plan it for us."

"We should let them."

"I'm not sure if that is brilliant or horrifying. How about two weeks from now I make you Mrs. Littleton? Right here, in our backyard, where we spent many nights doing just this."

She settled back against him, shifting slightly so she was looking at him. "It's a date, Counselor."

9 Years Ago

I hurt, Max thought, sinking into the cushions. I hate doing that, he knows I hate doing that. I think I have bruises from him pushing me into the counter. "Damn."

"Max?"

She looked up, forcing herself to smile. "Sorry, I tried to be quiet. I thought you were sleeping."

Glowing, he thought, radiant. This is what she wants…a baby. A family. How do I do this? How is she so calm and happy about this? My Max, the love of my life, who will always be too good for me. Radiant, he thought again, she looks so good pregnant, even with her bulging stomach. "I sleep better with you."

She smiled at that. "How's your head?"

"I just had a few too many."

She nodded, stroking her stomach softly. "I kind of miss that."

"I miss going out with you."

"I'm not an invalid. I can't go out and drink, but we can still go out. We probably should. We work a lot, we're about to have a baby…we should be enjoying are solo time together."

"Max?" he asked, as she stood up and smiled at him. Our kid inside her. I can handle a wife. a baby…I can't. No, look at her. She's all I ever wanted. For her. "Aren't you supposed to be resting?"

"I have an 18-pound stomach right now. It doesn't stop me from doing much beside drinking, running and going on patrol. Let's go out tonight."

Present

"What? Sorry," Max trailed off, looking up from her file. "Oh, are the Wilson's here?"

"No, it's two men for you. They don't have an appointment."

"Seems to be a running theme," she said. "I got it."

"Oh, and congratulations," Ellie said. "That is a gorgeous ring. We want to take you out to celebrate."

Max broke into a grin, despite the grim file on her desk and people waiting for her. "I'm pretty excited. We should go out. Let me take care of this."

The Wilson case, she thought, this gets to me. That poor boy, I got this. Help those who can't help themselves. This job makes me into sap even more than my own kids. Freezing, as she came around the corner, she took a moment to gather herself together. Do not freak out, Max, keep it together. "Jimmy? Agent Morell? What are you doing here?"

9 Years Ago

"Really?" Max asked dryly. I can't do this right now. It's like he's going out of his way to avoid me. Smile, make nice, people keep touching my stomach. It's like I repulse him, and I feel so pretty right now…there is something about this, swollen ankles and fat stomach and all, that I really like. Let Kenny get drunk and stupid over there. "I feel good."

"You're glowing," Sue said. "You're so small. You're all belly."

"I don't feel small. Neither does this thing inside me."

"Can you keep a secret?"

Like my husband getting drunk to avoid talking to me? "Sure."

"I just found out I'm pregnant too."

Present

"Sorry, it's small," Max said, shutting her office door. "What are you doing here?"

Max, twice in a few weeks, Jimmy thought, after her basically dropping off the radar for almost seven years at this point. Wary looking in her striped dress and jacket…she said she was happy. Her and John, their timing couldn't be worse. We didn't think she would do this. We thought she'd stay in Rome, raise her kids there, not…run away, start a new life, plan on getting remarried. To John, who doesn't deserve what is about to hit him. "We need to talk."

"Obviously. Is it the Murphy case? He got reconvicted."

"It is not the Murphy case," Morell stated. "It's about your husband."

Max didn't flinch, as she sat back in her desk chair. Are they dedicating a bridge? Renaming the town? "Okay."

"Max, I am so sorry," Jimmy said. "For you and your kids."

"I don't need your pity."

"Kenny didn't die that night," Morell said. "He walked in on a meth lab operation. He did get shot, he's been in witness protection ever since, preparing to testify against the Vitali's. Which he just did. The operation fell apart, the key players are dead…He's out of witness protection and wants to see you."

Max sat back at that, feeling her heart drop to the floor as she stared at them in shock. Unable to speak or think, she gripped her desk with both hands, her knuckles turning white with the effort.

"Max?" Jimmy asked, seeing her shocked silence at that. "Are you still with us?"

Kenny, she thought, they knew? They did this? They knew? All these years? Alive.

"I know this is a shock," Morell said.

Focus. Think. Speak. It's not just about me. My kids. John. Kara. Focus, Max, focus. "What?"

"Kenny is alive. He wants to see you and the kids," Jimmy said. "He wants to come home."

The kids he didn't want. The wife he was furious at. The wife who is planning her wedding to John…who my kids adore. Who I am ridiculously in love with. "Home? Oh, crap, I'm going to vomit."

She grabbed the trash can and threw up all the coffee and breakfast burrito that John had cooked this morning. Not morning sickness, she thought, this is shock. Kenny…alive. My kids. How do I do this to my kids? And me…John. Moved in, engaged…our family.

"Max?" Jimmy asked. "Are you okay?"

"Is that a joke?" she asked, wiping her mouth and reaching for her water bottle. I wish this was vodka. "Okay? You two come in here and tell me that my husband is alive after seven years? I don't even know what to think. I don't know what to tell my children. His parents and sister. I just got engaged and we're planning on getting married in two weeks. I'm not exactly sure what I feel expect shock and disbelief. Jimmy, you knew? All this time, you knew?"

"Yes."

"You watched me fall apart. You didn't think to tell me?"

"It was for his safety. It was better for you and your children, Max you were nine months pregnant, that you didn't know."

"Who else?" she spat. "I need to know, and I need to know now."

"Max," Jimmy started, she stayed as far away from them as possible. "Jill knew. She was the one who pronounced him dead."

"You assholes!"

"Max," he tried, as she heaved her water bottle at his head. "You need to calm down."

"Calm down! You've lied to me for seven years! You lied to his family for seven years! Sharon is out of her damn mind! I couldn't even function for a year, I couldn't take care of Regan and Natalie. Kenny dying broke me in a way I didn't think I would ever recover from. Now you come here and tell me…You assholes."

"Max."

"Shut up! I don't want to hear it!"

"Max, we thought you'd be happy about this."

"Get out of my office and don't come back."

9 Years Ago

"Stop!" Max yelped. "Come on, you're drunk."

"Not too drunk for you. Turn around."

"No! I hate that. You know that. Let go."

"Come on, Max," he slurred, not letting her go. "Turn around. Put that stomach away."

No, he's too strong. He won't hurt me…Kenny would never hurt me. Damn it. "Let go!"

"What the hell, Max?" he yelled, as she shoved him back with everything she had and stumbled around to the other side of the island.

"I told you let go of me. I hate that. You know how much I do. You're drunk all the time and…don't touch me right now. You turned what was supposed to be a nice night, into something awful. I'm going to sleep in the guest room. Good-night, Kenny."

Present

"Max?" John asked, looking at his wrecked looking fiancé on his office couch. "Honey? What's wrong?"

She shook her head, very glad her boss bought her sick excuse, as John tossed his briefcase on his desk and pulled her in close. Inhaling his familiar scent, she just shook her head. I can't. I can't do this.

"The kids are okay?"

She nodded, not letting go of him. I love him, she thought, he loves me. How do I... He doesn't deserve this. All he's been is wonderful to me…and he's who I want to be with. "Yeah."

"Sharon?"

Oh, they're next, if Morell and Jimmy didn't tell them already. "John."

"Max, you can tell me anything."

She nodded, as he combed through her hair, kissing her temple. "Agent Morell and Jimmy came to see me today."

"Murphy case?"

She shook her head, forcing herself to look at him. I need to know. I need to see it in his eyes. "I love you, John, and I so want to be your wife, have your baby and raise our family together. This doesn't change that."

"Max?" he pressed, not taking his eyes off her. "Tell me."

9 Years Ago

"A word?"

Max looked up from her hated paperwork. For my baby, she thought, I can't go chase bad guys down with this kid cooking in me. I hate paperwork. "I need to finish this."

"I didn't hear you leave this morning."

"I'm surprised you even woke up."

"Max, come on."

"I told you to stop and wouldn't. Just leave me alone."

"You're my wife. I'm not leaving you alone."

"Not here. Wasn't that the deal? Our personal life stays home."

"Tonight then."

She shook her head. "I'm having a girl's night. They're planning a baby shower and…I'll be home late. Don't wait up."

Present

"You're okay," he said, putting aside his own shock and not letting her go. "Max, Honey, you're okay. Breathe."

"I'm so far from okay right now."

"Do you want to get out of here? Talk it out before the kids get home. You can't ignore this."

She gulped, not wanting to move out of his arms. Kenny. "They broke me seven years ago."

He squeezed her tighter for a long moment. "You put yourself back together. You can do this. I have your back."

"What do I tell Regan and Nat?"

"We'll figure it out," he said, as her phone rang. Seeing her pale as she looked at it. "I got it, Honey."

"Thanks," she said, handing it to him. "Here."

"Jimmy," John said in way of greeting. "It isn't a good time. She'll call you back."

"John, wait."

He didn't take his eyes or arms off her. "She told me. We're talking about it. Give her some space."

"Is she okay?"

"No. Not even close to okay right now. I think we're going to head home…please don't show up on our doorstep. We need to figure out what to tell our kids. Max needs to get it together. She'll call you tomorrow. Good bye, Jimmy."

I can't, she thought, I can't handle this. No, Regan and Nat are going to need me. Focus. What do I tell them? What do I say to him? John has not taken his hands off me. "John?"

He slid her phone into her purse, before pressing his lips to her forehead. "Hey, get it together. You're better than this."

She smiled despite herself. He makes me believe that. Okay for my kids, our new family, for Kara and John. "I know."

"Let's go home, Honey."

9 Years Ago

"Kenny?" Max asked, freezing in the kitchen. "What is this?"

He wrapped his arms around her and held her close to him. "I love you, Max. I don't know what I would do without you."

She settled against him, a bit blown away by the home cooked meal and candlelit table. "I love you too…I've loved you since I was 23 and couldn't spit it out."

My pregnant wife, he thought, she loves me. Carrying my baby, it'll be okay. Me and Max, that's the way it's supposed to be. "You're going to be a great mom."

She smiled into his chest at that. I can't wait to hold our baby, she thought, I can't wait to be a family. "Right back at you, Dad."

Present

Everything we planned, talked about, John thought, as he ate with the girls. Married. Talking about kids. She tossed her birth control. Curled up in bed, telling me she needed 10 minutes that turned into two hours. "Give her space Regan. She doesn't feel good."

"Mom is never sick."

Heartsick, he thought, shocked. Gave me her phone and said she wasn't hungry. Ah, Max, don't shut yourself off. "Even mom's get sick."

"Is she going to be okay to marry you?" Nat asked. "She said we get new dresses. I wanted Mommy to look like a princess, but she said no."

"Yeah, Max said no to a ballgown," Kara said. "And a tiara. Come on, Dad, you guys really want to get married in the backyard? You totally need to sweep her off her feet. Max is happy napping on the couch with you, Dad, you guys need to stop being so low key and celebrate."

"So, what would you three have us do?" John asked. Wedding is on hold, she's still married to Kenny. Their dad and she's in shock. "How should we get married? Choose, Ladies."

"Destination wedding, Dad. With your children."

"Ah, Antarctica. Got it."

"With penguins?" Regan asked. "That would be fun."

Natalie giggled. "It's too cold."

"Seriously, Dad," Kara sighed. "You and Max should throw a big wedding. Make it fun. Celebrate. Make her buy some ridiculous dress. You guys are way to practical."

John nodded. She said she's fine. She's full of crap. Looking at her phone. Twenty missed calls. Ah, Honey. "Why don't you guys start planning? We can surprise Max, Mom, Mommy, whatever you call her, with something special."

"Something special?"

"Mommy!" Nat cried, jumping up and hugging her. "John said you were sick."

She hugged her back. My ball of sunshine. Everything for my kids. My family. "Not too sick for you guys."

Shaky, he thought, watching Nat hug her again. I do like this mama bear thing she has going on. "You feel better, Honey?"

She nodded, holding his gaze. "I'm good, John. Do you have my phone?"

"You missed a lot."

"Mommy, are you leaving?"

She looked back at her almost seven-year-old, and the set dinner table. "Nah. This is where I'm supposed to be. That smells really good."

"Dad made us all help," Kara said. "I tried to warn Regan and Nat that he always does that. They thought it was fun, Max. Seriously, wiping counters and setting the table."

"Really?" Max smiled. "I'm remembering that next time when I ask you to clean your room."

"Mom," Regan sighed. "Rooms are boring. We like cooking. You let us eat most of the batter."

"It's ringing," John said, passing her the phone. "Number 21."

She nodded, looking at it. One more night, just like this before… "Tomorrow."

He smiled at her, not being able to get a read off her. She's okay, we're okay. "Grab a stool, Max."

She smiled back at him, taking the offered stool and plate. "Thanks."

"You guys aren't all kissy," Kara stated.

"We decided to be good influences on our children," John said. J

"Mom, you look like Nat before she throws up," Regan said. "Mom?"

"Well, she has to get it from somewhere," she said. "Come on, this is too good to waste."

TBC