Well, folks, this is it. 13 months later (I started writing long before posting), it ends here. I really hope you have enjoyed the story and thank you so so much to those of you who have been with me along the way. Your support has meant the world to me. I hope this chapter leaves you all feeling happy and satisfied :) I may do some one shots after this, but not for another few months. I'm heading off to Europe for a while, so no writing until I get back. Thanks again for all the love and I hope you like!

Epilogue

Olivia tugged at her suit jacket for the umpteenth time. Her heart was hammering in her ears, even as she willed herself to relax. She felt a hand come down on her shoulder, and she looked over to see Elliot smiling at her.

"You're okay. Don't be nervous."

She nodded at him, but she couldn't help it. Standing in front of so many people, just waiting, was killing her. She didn't want to wait. The anticipation of seeing Alex was wreaking havoc on her insides. She was dying to see her, to hold her hand, to take this final step with her. In just over an hour, Alex would officially be her wife. They would officially be married. It had been an incredible journey, and she couldn't believe they were finally here. It had seemed like just yesterday they had first started seeing each other, and yet here they were, about to be married. Time flies. The starting of music caused Olivia's heart to stop momentarily. Her throat went dry. She looked to the end of the rows of seats to the back of the room, eagerly awaiting Alex's appearance.

A minute went by before she saw Lisa walk in, bouquet of flowers in her hands, slowly making her way up the aisle. They shared a smile, Olivia nodding at her in gratitude. She and Hannah had broken up when Hannah decided to come to New York, but they had remained friends. She had visited the summer before Hannah started at the Academy, and she had eagerly accepted the women's request that she stand in their wedding.

Lisa slowly made her way up the aisle, Olivia feeling her palms get sweaty as she realised Hannah was coming next and then it would be Alex's turn. She hadn't yet gotten to see her future wife in her gown, and while she was incredibly eager, she was also immeasurably nervous. She swallowed hard, willing the knots in her stomach to unravel. Calm down. You're fine.

Lisa moved to the bride's side of the alter, and once she was standing in her designated spot, Hannah appeared. Olivia's heart flooded with warmth when she saw the beautiful young woman begin her walk up the aisle. Every time Olivia saw her, she was filled with love and pride. She was the daughter they had always wanted, and they happily adopted Hannah as their surrogate child. Hannah had even taken to calling them "mom". It had started out as a joke, as a teasing comment said every once in a while, and the women hadn't discouraged it. The truth was, they loved it. So when Hannah started calling them mom and mama (Hannah dubbing Olivia mama), the women eagerly took to it and responded with gusto to the new names. Eventually it stuck, and Hannah only called them by their first names on the rarest of occasions. Hannah still had the occasional contact with her mother, but really, she had more or less cut herself off from that family. She had accepted that her mother could never be what she needed, but she wasn't upset about it anymore. Olivia and Alex more than satisfied her needs, and she was more than happy living with them.

Olivia fought the tears as Hannah approached the alter, giving her a loving smile as she stood next to Lisa. She was so damned proud of her girl. When Hannah had graduated high school, the teenager had immediately packed her things and moved to New York. She had gotten herself a part time job, and when she started at the Academy, both she and Alex had been there to see her on her very first day. That had seemed like just yesterday. She was set to graduate next month, and the women could not be any prouder. She was turning into a remarkable young woman.

Olivia's stomach dropped as the music changed and people began standing up. She took a deep breath, her heart pounding loudly in her chest. She was so incredibly nervous. She wiped her sweaty palms on her thighs, tugging yet again at her jacket. This is it. Beads of sweat formed on her forehead, and she discreetly wiped them away. She willed herself not to throw up, her stomach clenching with anxiety. She stared at the back of the aisle, waiting.

Waiting.

And then she saw her.

Perfect, beautiful, all white gown and hair pinned back. Their eyes met across the room and Olivia let out the breath she was holding, ignoring her clenching stomach. Their gaze never broke, but the closer Alex got, the cloudier Olivia's vision became. Her eyes swam with tears as she watched her beautiful bride slowly approach, a hand lightly resting on her stomach. The slight swell wasn't quite noticeable yet, but the matching grins they had been sporting for the last few weeks were evidence enough of what was to come. They hadn't told anyone yet (except Hannah of course), choosing instead to enjoy it in secret for a little while longer. When they had told Hannah, she had squealed loudly and immediately enveloped Alex in a hug. Every time Olivia thought of that moment, a smile tugged at her lips.

"That's so exciting, mom! Congratulations!" she exclaimed. She then suddenly pulling out of the hug, pulling back far enough to look at Alex. "I get to be godmother, right? I mean, I totally called it. Dibs!"

Olivia laughed, shaking her head.

"You can't call godmother."

"I just did. Besides, you don't get to say anything. You didn't even wait until the honeymoon to knock her up! You did it right away!"

Olivia bit her lip and grinned.

"No, but seriously," Hannah continued. "I'm godmother, right?"

Alex chuckled and nodded.

"Yes, you're godmother."

"Yes!" she exclaimed, pumping her fist. "Score!"

They had had several conversations since then about the pregnancy, especially when they realised Hannah started seemed less and less enthusiastic about it. In fact, as the days went by, she started to almost seem sad about it. The women had gone about gently prodding her, trying to find out what was wrong. Hannah had eventually finally confessed that she was excited for them, but she was worried that they would become consumed by the baby. The light bulb had immediately turned on for Alex, who understood that Hannah was worried she would once again be forgotten. It was then that she had pulled her in her arms and held her close. Hannah was an adult now, but there were times that that lonely, neglected little girl showed herself. Alex had addressed the issue head on, as she always did.

"Honey, I know you're feeling worried. I understand. It's okay."

"I feel stupid. I'm an adult. I shouldn't feel this way. Of course you guys want to have your own kids," Hannah said. She knew that they were trying. They had warned her. And she was happy, really she was. They would make great parents. She had been excited, but now… now that it was becoming a reality, she felt sad. Scared. Worried. She had liked having them in her life, and they probably wouldn't have much time now with their own child to care for. That child would take priority, just like her siblings had with her mother. She told herself it was how it should be anyway.

"Hey. Nothing you feel is ever stupid, okay?" Alex had said, pulling the girl to face her. "I want you to know that just because I'm having a baby, that doesn't mean that all of a sudden I have forgotten about you. You were here first, and you are so incredibly important to me, to us. We love you very much, Hannah. I wish I could have been there when you were a little girl, but I feel so very privileged that you are in our life now. I am so proud of you, and I love you so very much. There is no way that this child will ever take your place in my heart, do you hear me? I may not have carried you, but I have held you, I have cared for you, and I have loved you. There is a very, very special spot in my heart just for you and there is no one who can take that place. No one, okay?"

Things had drastically improved after that talk, and Hannah had been nothing but excited about the baby. She had even offered to share her room once he or she arrived, but the women assured her that that was not necessary (especially given that they had decided to convert the spare room into a nursery).

The sight of Alex standing directly before her pulled Olivia from her thoughts. She took another deep breath. She knew without a doubt that she wanted to marry Alex, but she still couldn't help feeling nervous. She held out a trembling hand, and Alex grasped it firmly in her own.

"Are you okay, baby?" she asked with concern.

Olivia looked deep in her eyes. She saw nothing but love and support shining through them. This is your lover, your best friend, and the mother of your child. This is Alex, she reminded herself. Suddenly, she didn't know what she was nervous about. Alex was her rock, her safe place, her home. There was no one else on Earth safer than the woman standing before her.

Olivia then grinned and nodded confidently, her stomach settling for the first time that day.

"I am now."

Fin.