Yes, I am still alive. I'm not sure if I had writers' block or if I just didn't know how exactly to end this story. I have written a one shot or two so I'll go with the "not sure how to end it" theory. But, I'm posting it right now because if I don't, I'll end up waiting and wanting to make sure it's how I want it. If you didn't guess already, this is the final chapter. It's finally over (and yes, I'm relieved). It's a completely fluffy ending, and there's sort of a lot going on, but I don't want to spoil it so just go ahead and read. Hopefully you enjoy it. (And if you don't remember the cliffhanger [sort of] from the last chapter, you should go re-read the ending.) ;)

We both watched as the SUV kept going straight. He wasn't letting up on the gas pedal, but the tires were losing air fast. Ryan hadn't calculated the distance we were from the spikes right, because that expensive car was hurtling towards us and the Hummer fast, despite the loss of air in the tires, and it wasn't going to stop before it hit us.

"Get out!" he yelled at me. For some strange reason he'd cut the engine, and there wasn't enough time to drive the Hummer out of the way. I scrambled to open my door; I'd had my seatbelt off by now. I flung my door open and Ryan pushed me out, and then followed. I wasn't expecting him to get out my side. We ran to the side of the road just in time. The SUV hit the Hummer with a thud. It wasn't a horrible crash, and we'd have lived if we hadn't gotten out of the Hummer in time, but it was still scary to think we were in there 30 seconds ago. I knew a few scratches or even some broken bones could have occurred. And it didn't help my paranoid thoughts to see that the driver's side door was crushed in, where Ryan had been. I decided I'd tell Horatio later that the Hummers looked cool, but they were like any other car, practically a tin can.

I stood there, stunned, staring at the SUV. The driver's side door started to open and a man stepped out. He looked a little dazed, and had quite the gash on his forehead. He took one look in our direction, saw the badges at our waists and tried to make a run for it. I didn't even think, I flew at him and slammed him against the car. "Don't even think about going anywhere Mr. Tomlinson! You're under arrest for the kidnapping of Emily Vandervoet."

He struggled with me, but adrenaline was coursing through me and I wasn't letting go of him anytime soon. "Her name should be Emily Tomlinson!" he snapped at me.

I shook him, a little more violently than I had planned. "Shut up!" Ryan came over and looked at me with a raised eyebrow. "I can handle him. See if she's there."

While Ryan was busy I cuffed Carrey. Soon the sounds of sirens were all around us. Horatio hurried over, along with Eric. I was still holding Carrey against the car, for good measure. Eric put his hand on my shoulder, indicating it was okay to let go now. He guided Carrey away. Remembering Ryan had gone to check the back seats, I hurried around the back where he'd disappeared to (the windows were tinted, I couldn't see through them) and was relieved to see Ryan holding Emily, who had a small cut above her eye. Other than that she looked fine. She turned in my direction.

"Cass!" I always loved how she shortened our names.

"Emily," I walked over, trying not to let tears fall. I wasn't very successful. She looked confused.

"What's wrong?" she asked.

"Nothing's wrong. These are good tears."

She smiled; unaware that anything was really wrong to begin with and wrapped her arms back around Ryan's neck. He looked at me. "I'll take her to get checked out okay?"

I nodded and he smiled. "Everything's fine now Cassandra, it's over." We walked to the side of the street where everyone was gathered.

"Is everyone alright?" Horatio asked as we approached, glancing back over at the crumpled drivers' side of the Hummer.

"Everyone's fine H."

He noticed Emily, clinging to Ryan as if her life depended on it. "Get her checked out Mr. Wolfe."

"Sure H." They left together, leaving me to stand there with Horatio and Eric.

"Are you okay, Miss – James?"

I looked up. I heard the pause he'd left between Miss and my last name. "I'm better than I've ever been now that we have Emily back."

Horatio smiled, and placed his sunglasses on his nose. I watched as he did this, in silent awe. Ryan had joked around about H being way over dramatic, but I'd never been there to witness it. Now I believed him.

...

We fell back into the routine of things in a few weeks. We did buy new locks for all of the windows and doors, or rather; Ryan did it himself after the scare we'd had. I can't say I wasn't a little bit glad he did it though; I'd do anything to keep something from happening to Emily again.

Emily had been going to school, so Ryan and I were both able to work, but one of us had to go and pick her up, which meant clocking out early. Horatio agreed to let us do this. I don't know how he pulls some things off but he managed to convince the higher ups that one of us could leave early and be paid for a full day.

It was Ryan's day to leave early, and I'd been waiting impatiently for him to leave. I needed to talk to Alexx, badly. When I knew Ryan was out of the building, I made my way to the morgue.

"Alexx?" I called when I walked in.

"Yea, honey?" she called from somewhere inside the room. I walked farther into the room now that I knew she was there.

"Can I talk to you about something?" I still didn't know where she was, but when she heard my question her head popped up from behind a counter.

"Of course! Come over here, I'm just cleaning up." I walked over to where she was. I wasn't sure how to start what I wanted to say. I think I chose the stupidest way.

"You have kids right?"

She looked at me with a raised eyebrow. "Yea, a son and a daughter. Why?"

I shrugged and sighed at the same time. "I might as well just say it. I think I'm pregnant, Alexx."

I expected her to jump with joy; instead she kept her face blank. "Did you do a home test?" she asked.

"No, I didn't want to," I hesitated, not really wanting to admit it. Then I let out a short laugh. "I'm scared."

"But you and Ryan have Emily, what are you scared of? Everyone knows you two are good parents to her. Or, you're going to be as soon as you both adopt her."

"I know but Emily's older, and well I didn't have her. I think I'm more worried about, you know, the whole baby stage. The weird cravings, the peeing a lot, the pain of childbirth, not that I'd know, but you know, I've heard stories." Alexx smiled and I became serious again. "Emily was older, it's not like Ryan and I had to teach her any of the essentials, if you know what I mean. I've always loved kids but I've never actually pictured myself having any. That's changed with Emily, but two?"

Alexx laughed. "Believe me honey, two kids is nothing. I have three sisters and two brothers. Counting me that's six kids. My parents handled it fine."

"Yea, but you're parents aren't CSI's with very demanding jobs."

"No, but they are both doctors."

"Oh," I didn't really have anything to say to that. A doctor was probably one of the most demanding jobs out there.

She smiled. "I think you're worrying too much. Besides you'll change your mind once you find out for sure and tell Ryan, I'm sure he'll be excited."

I smiled. "He probably will be. He's so good with Emily."

"Did you need anything from me in a doctor's point of view, or did you just come to talk?"

"Just to talk. I'll find out for sure. I know you're here if I need anything, thanks."

"It's not a problem honey, and you have my home number right?"

"Yea, thanks."

...

I came home later than usual that day, being occupied with something else that needed to be tended to. I mean, getting into a no-appointment health center in the afternoon in Miami did take a few hours. Ryan was a little worried when I got home.

"Where have you been?" he asked, as soon as I walked in the door.

"Running some errands. Why?"

"Why do you think? I was worried! You could have called."

"I'm sorry, Ryan, calm down."

He took a deliberate deep breath. "Sorry, but with what happened, I'm still not over it and when you don't get here on time I start to worry and you know how that works for me Cassandra."

I smiled and looked around. "Yup, I know exactly how that works." The house was spotless. "Where's Emily? She's not asleep already is she?" It was only 7 o' clock.

Ryan shook his head. "She's upstairs."

For the next two and a half hours, we all watched a movie together, falling back into the regular tradition. Emily was in bed by 9:30. Ryan and I stayed up, watching whatever we could find on TV.

"Ryan, when you first met me what did you think of me?" I asked, suddenly wanting to know.

"I thought you were... uh, well to be honest I didn't think much of you at all at first. Just another co-worker to get used to."

I rolled my eyes. "Well, thanks."

"What did you think of me?" he asked.

"I thought you were sexy," I laughed. "Never thought we'd end up like this though."

"Neither did I. I was sure Eric would get to you first."

"Or Jake," I rolled my eyes.

Ryan snorted. "Even I have a chance against him."

"Well I did choose you."

"You did, and that reminds me," he stood up and went to the other room.

With no idea of what he was doing, I directed my attention back towards the TV.

A few minutes later he came back. "Cassandra?"

I looked over. "What?"

"I wanted to do this the right way, make it official. I know we're not at a restaurant, or on some romantic date, but it just seems better this way."

"Do what the right -" Before I could finish my sentence Ryan was on his knee in front of me.

"I know we've only been together for a year if that, but I can't picture my life without you in it. So uh, will you marry me?" He was holding up a box with a ring.

I was surprised, but somehow managed to get out a very calm answer. "Well I already told you I would."

He smiled. "Yea, but that was because of everything that was happening. And we haven't said much about it since then; I just wanted to make sure you didn't change your mind."

"Of course not! Besides I'll need someone to help me look after Emily. Now get up, you're too far down for me to kiss. Ooh do I get that?" I said gesturing to the ring that was still in Ryan's hand.

...

Rapid knocking on the door. I knew exactly who it was; I'd called her over here. I got up to answer the door, but didn't have to walk far before it swung open itself. Saddie barged in, ran down the hall towards me and grabbed me in a hug.

I flinched. "Hi Saddie."

"Cassandra!" She grabbed my left hand and held it up to her face, inspecting the ring on it. "Wow, you're marrying Ryan!"

I'd told her the news over the phone, she'd screamed, and then there was some shuffling around before she came back on the line and said that she'd dropped the phone. She was the only person who I'd told every little detail of my relationship with Ryan to (even the things I'm sure he wouldn't want me sharing). Sure, Alexx and Horatio knew before Eric and Calleigh, but Saddie knew before everyone. She knew before I knew. Which was strange to think about, but it was true. I'd told her to come over.

I grinned at her. "Come sit in here, I have to ask you something."

Her eyes widened and she followed me into the living room. She looked so excited I had to laugh. "What's so funny?"

"Just you. You're more excited than I am over this."

"Well you're getting married! How can I not be excited?"

"Okay, well don't have a heart attack but, will you be my maid of honour?"

"YES! Yes, yes, thank you so much! I love you like a sister!" she hugged me again, squeezing me a little too hard.

"Ow, Saddie, not so hard," she could kill with her hugs. "There's one more thing I wanted you to know. But, you have to swear not to talk about it to anyone until I tell Ryan, because he has to be the first person, besides you, oh and Alexx, that I tell."

"Oh, I can keep secrets, you know me."

I raised an eyebrow. "Yea, just like you did when I told you I wanted Ryan to finish what he'd started."

"Hey now, you had never let me know that it was a secret. And besides, you wouldn't be getting married if it wasn't for that."

"I'm sure something would have happened, Saddie."

"Oh, be quiet Cassandra. I like to think it was of my doing that you and Ryan are together now. But anyways, this news you need to tell me sounds exciting! What is it?"

I smiled. "I'm pregnant!"

Surprisingly Saddie was quiet. She sat there, across from me on the couch. Her mouth made a perfect O shape, and then she started talking at me fast. "You're killing me with all of this information! You're not showing, how far along are you? Are you happy, sad? Are you still adopting Emily?! I promise I won't tell Ryan but you have to soon. I'm so happy for you!"

"Slow down! I'm already about a month along, I'm very happy about it, and yes, I would never let Emily go because of this. In fact we're in the middle of having Carrey Tomlinson's parental rights terminated. Doesn't that sound horrible?"

"It doesn't sound very nice, but he's in prison now."

I nodded. "He consented to it anyway. He wanted her at first, that's why he kidnapped her, but I guess he did it because he is her dad. He's realized he's not getting out of jail any time soon, and by the time he gets out Emily will have forgotten him again. Better for her to be away from him anyway. Then I guess Ryan and I have to file the intent to adopt petition, and it'll be official soon enough."

Saddie hugged me again. "When you first came to Miami I liked you right away. I'm glad we became friends, and like I said, I love you like a sister, Cassandra. I'm just so happy for you! You're going to have a real family soon."

"I know, it's pretty amazing actually," I paused, unsure of what to say. "So, maid of honour?"

"Ah! Yes!"

...

"Wow, since I moved here I never really got a chance to see the beach. It's even more beautiful than I thought it would be. Not to mention all the very good looking people..." I said it as two very muscular, very good looking shirtless men walked by. Ryan rolled his eyes and ignored my gawking. He knew any woman (and some men) wouldn't be able to not stare at that, so he wasn't so jealous. Instead he decided to take our conversation in a different direction.

"Yea, if you ever get the chance to go swimming in it, don't open your mouth too much. Have you ever been to the ocean anyways?"

"No, I'm scared of sharks." Ryan looked at me with his eyebrows raised. "What? It's a perfectly rational fear."

"The odds of being attacked by a shark are 1 to 8 million."

"And there are about 18 million people in Florida. So, I would have about 2.25 chances of being attacked by a shark in Florida."

Ryan rolled his eyes. "But you have to remember that's in all of Florida, not just Miami."

"Whatever, I'm still not going in the water."

We were walking down the sidewalk, neither of us wanted to walk in the sand, but the sidewalk was almost fully covered by sand now, due to people leaving the beach and walking up the sidewalk, or kicking it there on purpose. Somehow Ryan and I had both ended up with our day off on the same day, so while Emily was at school I'd decided I wanted to finally see South Beach. A whole year had passed since I'd moved to Miami and I still hadn't seen the beach, besides the occasional crime scene, or if I needed to drive by to get somewhere.

I saw a small restaurant up the road and decided I wanted to stop. The place was really more of a coffee shop, but it was still a pretty nice place, with a perfect view of the beach and the water. We ended up sitting at a table on the balcony outside, making the view even better. Instead of coffee we both ordered iced tea. They didn't have much but it was too hot outside for coffee, and it was good enough.

"Ryan?"

"Yes?"

"After the wedding," I loved emphasizing it, "do you want any more kids? I know we have Emily, but I'm just wondering." I actually wasn't wondering. I was hoping badly that he was going to say yes, because it would have spoiled the mood for sure if I'd said I was pregnant after he just told me he didn't want to have any.

He shrugged instead. "Whatever happens happens. I definitely wouldn't mind it." I let out an audible sigh of relief and he gave me a funny look. "Why?"

I couldn't keep it from him any longer, it had already been a whole week since I'd found out. "I hope you don't mind if it's a little sooner than after the wedding."

It was obvious that what I'd said didn't register right away; either that or he wanted to make sure he heard me correctly before reacting. Finally he smiled, but I couldn't tell if it was real or forced. "You're pregnant?"

I nodded. "Sort of surprising isn't it? Well, I guess not really."

"No, it's still surprising."

"Are you mad? It's half your fault you know."

"What? No, of course I'm not mad!" he stood up, at the same time as I did. We were each going to go sit beside the other, instead Ryan grabbed me in a hug, even lifted me off of the ground. A few people looked away from their meals to stare at us like we were making a scene. After we'd composed ourselves and were both grinning like maniacs we sat back down, both on the same side this time.

"We could make the wedding a little earlier," Ryan suggested.

"What? Like getting eloped? No way. I want bridesmaids and a big expensive dress and for someone to faint. I'm betting on Cooper."

Ryan looked serious for a moment. "Who says we have to invite Cooper?" I nudged him in the side and he smiled. "Not getting eloped, we can just plan it faster, make the date earlier."

"Yea, I think that'd be great." I turned in my seat and kissed him, and the people staring at us looked away, finally realizing what we were talking about was obviously personal. Other people who didn't notice our hug earlier turned to stare at us because we were kissing in a public place. Neither of us cared.

...

"Hey H!" I walked into his office without knocking. He'd already seen me coming through the glass.

"Miss James, hi. Did you need something?"

"Well, I wanted to talk to you about something."

"Okay," he put away what he was working on and placed his hands on the desk in front of him. I stayed standing. "Shoot."

"Well, you know Ryan and I are getting married soon. And I want a really traditional wedding. But, my dad isn't around anymore. He passed a long time ago, and I don't have any living grandparents left, or anyone else I feel close enough to, to walk me down the aisle. I know I've only been working with you for a year, but you're the closest thing I have to a father figure now. You care about us all so much, and I love that. So, I'm just wondering I guess, if you'd be willing to walk me down the aisle?"

Horatio looked surprised. "I'm flattered Cassandra."

"You don't have to, of course, I mean -"

"No, no. I'd love to."

"So it's a yes?"

Horatio stood up from his chair and faced the window, pulling a pair of sunglasses out as he did so. I had to grin at him. "It is most definitely... a yes."

...

Strange ending? Great ending? Weird way to end it, just breaking it off like that? Well, you can make up your own minds about the future, because this was it. I'm not sure what I'd want it to end up like. :P I hope it was, er, good? I love reviews, so feel free to leave me one, and if this whole thing is read by a new reader sometime in the future, thank you for reading although it's finished. ^_^ Thank you to all my already-readers, and everyone who put me on alert! :D

- luf100