Disclaimer: Any characters you don't recognize are mine. All the rest…not mine. I'm just using them for my own personal fun. JE owns them.

Warnings: Possible mention of books 1-18

Author's Note: This is my final chapter. I took some liberties with Julie's age…who the heck knows how old she should be right now. Thanks for sticking with me and to those who have reviewed and supported me, you are the greatest! Also, thanks to my Beta, Cristi0819! You are the best.

Previously:

"Well, since you said please…of course I'll be your wife, Carlos." I hugged her to me as tears leaked from both of our eyes. We spent the rest of the night how I only hope we will spend the rest of our lives. Truly loving each other. Every inch of each other.

Ch. 25 Final Chapter

Six months later…

If someone told me two years ago that I would be a mother of the most wonderful little boy on the planet and getting ready to marry my Batman, I would have thought they needed to be committed. First of all, I was never having children. Ever! And the thought of Carlos and I getting married, while it occupied my thoughts on more than one occasion, never seemed like a possibility. I guess I should thank psycho Dave. If he hadn't left me those travel vouchers I never would have ended up in Hawaii, I never would have called Carlos for help, and he might never have come out and told me he wanted to be with me. I guess sometimes, psychos are good for something.

Last week we celebrated Ricky's first birthday at our beautiful house. It was a wonderful family affair. All of Carlos's family was able to attend, including Julie, and all of my family was there as well. My Dad, who is incredibly smitten with my little guy, has done an amazing job of conforming my mother. She is pretty head-over-heels for Ricky too. And why wouldn't she be? He is just like his father, the perfect charmer. He has to be the happiest child on the planet. He grins at everyone, all the time, and if it isn't his father's 200-watt smile, I don't know whose it is.

Ricky also just started walking about two weeks ago. He toddled all over the party, reaching up to everyone. No one hesitated to pick him up. He would give a quick cuddle and then instantly want to be put back down. He gets that from Carlos and I both, the boy doesn't like to sit still. I would say the funniest part was when Ricky had his first taste of birthday cake. We had him stripped down to a diaper and he was sitting in his high chair, which was black, of course. We put the little cake in front of him and everyone started singing Happy Birthday. His little face lit up and it was incredibly precious. Carlos was crouched down beside him and I couldn't help but think to myself how incredibly lucky I am.

After the singing, Carlos helped him blow out the candle. We had tried to practice with him, but he just didn't quite get it. He did try spitting at it a couple times, but that didn't work either, although it did get some laughs. Once Carlos removed the candle, Ricky gave the cake a long look, as if trying to decide what it was. Finally after a minute or two, he reached in with both hands and grabbed handfuls of the cake. He brought a fist to his mouth to take a taste. I kid you not, the boy moaned over the birthday cake. The entire party burst into laughter. Carlos looked at me and said, "No doubt who the boy's mom is, Babe." Then, my sweet little boy reached his other fist over to Carlos to share a bite of his birthday cake. I was so glad someone was taking pictures, because watching Carlos take a bite of the offered cake from Ricky was definitely a Kodak moment.

I joined my guys at the high chair and Ricky offered me a bite too. I took a taste, and ok, maybe I moaned too. It was really good cake. With a quick kiss to both of my boys, I continued on with my hosting duties. Thankfully, Ella had helped with all of the food, and between her, my mom, Valerie and myself everyone seemed well taken care of. I gave quick tours of the house to those of Carlos's family that hadn't seen the house yet and kept Julie close by my side, so she could show off her room. She was so excited that she had her very own room in our house. I could tell it made her feel like she definitely was a part of our family.

Ricky was spoiled with tons of gifts, the biggest coming from the Merry Men. Of course, they brought them already assembled, thankfully, and were playing with the toys with him. He is definitely one loved little boy. That night after the party, we shared our news with Julie. She already knew that we were getting married, but she didn't know that we were headed out the next week to Hawaii to do it, and that she was joining us. Luckily for us, the school she attends is a year-round school and they were on their track break, giving us two more weeks with her before she had to head back for her last year of junior high.

We arrived in Hawaii two days ago. We've spent all our time as a family and it has been fantastic. Julie is such a mature 14-year-old, much more mature than I was at that age. We have a villa that we are staying in and thankfully, the rooms that Ricky and Julie are staying in are on the opposite side of the living and kitchen areas as mine and Carlos's room. It is our wedding week after all.

XXXXXXXXXXX

I can't believe the time has finally arrived. Carlos and Julie are out waiting on the beach for Ricky and me. I am wearing the most beautiful wedding gown ever. I don't think I could have even pictured it before I saw it. It is a slightly off-white silk dress that falls straight down to my ankles. It has spaghetti straps and the neckline goes down into a v that shows off some cleavage but not too much. The best part about having a baby? The fact that my chest grew and didn't go away after he was born. I think Carlos likes that part, too. I chose not to wear any shoes as I didn't want to trip and fall in the sand.

This wedding couldn't be more perfect. Just Carlos, Julie, Ricky and me. It is being videoed so we will be able to show the ceremony to all of our family and friends, but for the actual moment it is just us, my family. I have never been so happy in all of my life. I stepped out of the tent that was set up on the beach onto an off white runner that acted as an aisle. Ricky held my hand as we walked down the aisle. I was looking down at him making sure he was going to be ok, and couldn't help but think of how adorable he looked. He was wearing tan shorts and a white, silky, button-up, short-sleeved shirt. He was bare-foot to help keep him from falling in the sand. He must have noticed Carlos and Julie because his little face lit up into his 200-watt grin. It was then that I looked up and saw Carlos. He was dressed just like Ricky and he was absolutely gorgeous. Seeing him standing there on the beach, barefoot and looking like a God just solidified how incredibly lucky I am. Julie stood next to him in a beautiful sapphire blue dress that just confirmed how gorgeous she really is. I guess it is a good thing her father owns so many guns.

As I focused back in on Carlos I couldn't help but think back to all of our interactions over the years that led us here. Meeting him in the dinner, him coming to my rescue after I was handcuffed to my shower curtain, me destroying his cars and the almost-smiles he would give me when he confirmed that it was "Just a car, Babe", me helping to clear his name when he was accused of murder, him saving me from Con Stiva, Cone, and so many others, watching him get shot after he walked into my apartment to save Julie and me, realizing how terribly in-love I was with him and then finally, finally admitting it to each other here in Hawaii almost two years ago.

As Ricky and I reached Carlos and Julie, Julie took Ricky's hand for him to stand with her. The Justice of the Peace, who just so happens to be ex-military, stepped closer to Carlos and I so we could exchange our vows. We elected to recite our own vows, instead of going with traditional. Carlos and I are about the furthest thing from traditional. I started the vows.

"Carlos, you have had so many roles in my life. Mentor, rescuer, friend, best-friend, lover and now, my husband. It used to be when I thought about tying myself down to one person and becoming that person everyone expected me to be, I would find myself shaking and shivering. Now, when I think about spending my life without you in it, I get those same feelings. I love you more than I ever thought it was possible to love someone. You are my super-hero in so many ways, Batman. You have saved me so many times, including saving me from myself. You have helped me to fly and I love soaring above the clouds with you. I promise you that I will continue to love you unconditionally for the rest of my life. I will go to you when I need advice, a shoulder to cry on and when I need someone to keep me from Denial Land. You are my Henry Higgins, Carlos. You always have been. And now, thank God, you are my husband. I love you."

With tears streaming down my face I squeezed Carlos's hands. If I wasn't mistaken, his eyes looked a little misty, too. He took his turn next. "Babe, I have loved you since the moment you walked into that diner. You dug a place for yourself into my heart of stone and softened it from the inside out. You helped me to realize that it was ok to let people into my life and to love. You have saved me as much, if not more, than I've saved you. You saved me from myself, you saved my relationship with my daughter, you saved me from living my life alone. You have given me what I never thought I deserved, Babe: Your love and a family. I'm not a super-hero, Babe. But I love trying to be one for you. You help me to fly, too. I promise that I will love you forever and longer. I will reach out for you when I feel myself starting to close up. I will be there for you whenever you need me my dear Eliza. I love you more than I ever thought I could love someone and I am so happy that you will always be my Babe, and now, my wife."

We exchanged rings, and then were pronounced husband and wife. Carlos and I embraced each other and shared our first of what I'm sure will be many toe-curling kisses as man and wife. We turned and wrapped Ricky and Julie in our arms and headed off to the sunset.

Two years later…

Life has been so amazing. Carlos and I have been working so hard to get RangeMan where he always dreamed it would be and currently, we are pretty close. Tank, Lester, Bobby, Cal and Carlos divide duties well between the five of them so that no one is working an obscene amount of time. The staff levels are where they need to be and for the first time in a long time, Carlos seems relaxed.

They decided to sell off the Boston and Atlanta offices, since those still had outside partners involved, and now they only own Miami and Trenton. Carlos travels some, but not nearly as much as he had to when he had the other offices. They have a rotation down, so that they are only spending a week in Miami and then four weeks in Trenton. I always hate those weeks that he is gone, but we get through it by talking on the phone as much as possible. Sometimes Ricky and I go with him, but only when I don't have important client meetings scheduled. I'm still running a lot of the administrative stuff in the office and I still love it. I go out on surveillance occasionally and I'll work with a plan to round up a skip, especially if they have ties to the Burg, but I don't chase skips by myself ever and not even with a partner much any more.

Bobby and Lexie got married a couple months ago. Once he introduced her to his Mom and Dad, they instantly fell in love with her. Mr. Brown has changed in a lot of ways, especially around me. I'm not sure if it had anything to do with me covering him in my amniotic fluid, but whatever caused the change, I'm happy for it. I will sometimes join the four of them for lunch at Pino's. Mr. Brown has even taken to ordering half a meatball sub to go with his salad. I can't tell you how impressed I am with that.

Lester's girlfriend didn't last long, because she just couldn't handle the uncertainty of the hours. He does have a girl friend right now. Her name is Cristi and he met her when he was visiting a friend at the VA hospital. They hit it off right away and he seems more serious about her than anyone ever before. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for the two of them.

Tank and Lula haven't gotten married yet, but they are very happy together. They live together and have been discussing adopting a child. I'm not sure what the hold up is on an actual wedding, but neither of them seems to be in a rush to move forward and none of their friends are pushing them. Tank's Momma would like to see them walk down the aisle, but she also assured Lula that as long as they are happy together, she won't rush them. She and Lula get along really well.

Celia, Carlos's sister, started seeing a doctor that works in the children's ward at St. Francis. They met briefly when she was there delivering Ricky and seemed to hit it off. They have been seriously dating for a couple years now, but I'm not sure if they are talking marriage. Celia is so happy, and that is all that matters.

Ricky goes to a private preschool and is thriving. He loves having the other kids to play with, and Carlos loves that it is so secure. My Mom and Dad pick him up after school three days a week, and take him home with them for the remainder of the afternoon. The rest of the time, he is usually upstairs "helping" Ella and Louis, or hanging at monitor duty with his uncles. He loves all of the guys at RangeMan, and I'm pretty sure the feeling is mutual. He just turned three a little over a month ago and Carlos and I shared our two year wedding anniversary. It has been so amazing.

Carlos is in Miami this week and he is going to be bringing Julie back with him. She is just starting her sophomore year of high school and wants to attend this college-prep high school in Princeton. Carlos and Rachel agreed that it would be good for her and she is going to be living with us. I'm so excited and so is Ricky. I have a surprise for Carlos when he returns home. We have another baby on the way. I'm pretty sure it is a product of our anniversary celebrations and I couldn't be happier. We had been trying for about six months with no success. I always find it so funny that when you aren't trying, like with Ricky, it just happens. And when you are, it seems to take a while. We decided we were going to stop putting pressure on ourselves and just let it happen if it was meant to and guess what, it happened.

I'm so excited. I feel so different than I did when I was pregnant with Ricky. I know it is way too early to tell, but I have this feeling, okay maybe it is just wishful thinking, but I think it might be a girl. I can't wait to tell Carlos. And celebrate! He's been gone almost a week and the pregnancy hormones are already killing me. I can't wait to work off some of these hormones with him. In the meantime, I'm headed to the Tasty Pastry to help alleviate some of the need. I can't wait until Carlos gets home! Donuts just don't have the same effect as they used to. I guess that is what happens to you when you marry a Cuban Sex God.

The end…for now.

Author's Note: Thank you so very much for all of your support. This was my first attempt at writing on here, and I can't believe the encouragement I've been given. I'm already working on another story (AU) that I hope to start posting soon. I'm also debating a sequel to this story. Here was my alternate ending. Let me know if you think I should do the sequel. Thanks again so much for your support.

Armed with a dozen Boston Creams, I headed to my car to head home. Ricky is spending the afternoon with my Mom and Dad and I could really go for a nap. As I walked toward my car, I noticed a note under the windshield wiper. I was driving my personal car, a gorgeous Porsche convertible. It is such a beautiful car, I don't even care that it is black. I grabbed the note and turned it over. My breath caught in my throat as I read it. "Boom!" Seconds later a loud explosion rocked the Tasty Pastry and I felt myself flying through the air. I think I hit garbage bags when I landed, because my landing didn't hurt and I smelled a combination of donuts and muffins. My last thought was, "My Baby" as my world faded to black.