And just like that, we are at the end. I can't believe it. I don't want to say goodbye to this fic, but I am so excited for you to read the last chapter.

So, without further ado, the final chapter of FTB.

People often ask them the story of how they got together. Hailey jokingly says she can't remember.

They tell them it's a complicated story. Like one of those stories you would not quite believe if it did not happen to you. They tell them their story is filled with plenty of challenges, like near-death experiences and job offers from the FBI, and memory loss. But there are also some pretty special moments too, like drinks between partners that become their thing and a first kiss in a bar and a second first kiss in a field in a town a few hours away. They tell them their story is complicated, but it is theirs nonetheless.

And they would not change a thing.

It's a whirlwind after her memories come back. Their worlds changed when she lost her memories, and then in a flash, their worlds changed again, so for the second time in three months, they have to figure out how they adjust. They are partners, though, through it all and they figure out a way to navigate it all, together.

A week and a half after the memories come back, Doctor Charles and Voight finally let Hailey back into the field. Jay does not think he has ever seen her this excited, with the exception of when her memories came back. He knows she was dying behind a desk, so being back out in the field, back where she belongs, is overwhelmingly exciting for her.

It's not even a real conversation. They are just sitting at their desks one day when they get word from one of their CIs about a potential drug bust and Voight tells the team to suit up.

"Hailey," Voight calls out as the team clambers to get out of the bullpen. "You too."

"But I thought-"

"I talked to Doc Charles this morning," Voight cuts her off. "So, you coming or not?"

Her nod is immediate and before Voight can say anything more, she is on her feet, walking behind Jay to the locker room to grab her bulletproof vest and gear up.

"You're back," Jay whispers as they walk.

"I know," She says, bobbing her head. "I thought it would take a little longer. More hoops to jump through and all that."

Jay shrugs as they round the corner and make their way into the locker room, the other officer's faces lighting up when they see Hailey. They don't make a big deal out of it, figuring they will celebrate later, but they all shoot Hailey a supportive smile as they head out, telling the detectives they will see them out there.

"It's been over three months," Hailey murmurs when they are alone. "The only time I've been out of the field that long was when I was undercover. And that barely counts"

There's a hint of nervousness in her eyes, something he does not think he has ever seen from her, and for a moment, he forgets about their drug bust, turning to look at her in the middle of the locker room, his hands anchoring on her forearms.

"Hey, you're ready," He tells her. "You are the best cop I know. You are ready."

"You're saying that because you're my boyfriend," She gives him a half-smile.

"I'm saying it because it's true," He corrects her. "You got this."

"Yeah," Hailey nods. "I got this."

"Exactly," Jay says as he takes a step back and starts to make his way over to his locker. As he puts in the combination and opens the metal door, he notices that Hailey has not moved. He looks up at her in confusion, watching how her lips curl up in a smile when he glances at her.

"Jay?"

"Yeah?" He nods.

"While we're out there…" She starts slowly, grinning. "I'll have your six."

His movement freezes, half of his vest on as he just watches her, her feet finally moving over towards her locker to get her own bulletproof vest. As she lifts it over her head, his mind finally catches up with him and he finishes putting on his vest before walking across the room over to her.

With a smile, he comes up to her, adjusting the straps of her vest as she looks up at him. He tugs the final strap tight before reaching down and grabbing her hand.

"I've got your six too."

It almost feels like the first time he's adjusting her vest, the first time he is making sure she is ready for what they are about to walk into. But they are so much older now and so much wiser and so much more in love. They were so young back then, the first time she told him she would have his six, and they had no idea what life was going to throw at them.

But she's proven it every day, that she will have his back, and he swears he will spend the rest of his days proving that he has hers too.

"You ready?" He whispers, smiling as she nods.

"Ready," Hailey says. "Let's go, partner."

As things shift at work, things shift with their friends too. It's nice, having everyone know, being able to look at Hailey with all the love he holds, and not having to worry if someone is going to say something. It's only been a few weeks since they told their friends and they are still in the stage where they are receiving a ridiculous amount of teasing and questions, but if that's the cost of being together and being happy, neither of them will complain.

"I still can't believe that you just took her on some trip out of town and that was it," Kim quips one night while they are at Molly's a week after Hailey has been reinstated to fieldwork. "Who would have known that Jay Halstead was such a romantic?"

"We're still on this," Jay chuckles as he takes a slow sip of his beer. "This is why we didn't say anything the first time around."

"Which was rude by the way," Kevin pipes in.

"I'm still lowkey concerned about how willing Hailey was to hang out with a stranger after she lost her memories," Adam laughs. "You're a detective, Hailey. You know the whole stranger danger thing."

Hailey shrugs. "What can I say?" She glances over at Jay with a smirky smile on her face. "He's charming."

It still feels a little strange being so open with their friends, but that does not stop him from winking at her, letting his face melt into a soft smile that is still reserved just for her.

"Maybe it's a good thing you didn't tell us right away," Kevin says, taking a long sip of his beer before adding. "If y'all are this disgustingly in love after however many months, I don't even want to know what you were like at the beginning."

"On a serious note," Vanessa rolls her eyes at Kevin. "I'm sure it's nice not having to sneak around anymore. You can just be out in the open."

"Although, please don't take that as an invitation to be too out in the open," Adam adds.

The team laughs, the sound lost in the chatter of the bar and the music in the background. Hailey shakes her head, taking a large sip to finish off her beer before turning towards Vanessa.

"It's nice," Hailey says, completely ignoring Adam's comment. "You guys are important to us, so it's nice that we don't have to hide this from you all anymore."

It doesn't just mean they can stop sneaking around, it means they can start being them. They can move in together, they can take the next step in their journey that they were so desperately ready to take and all of that sounds better than simply being able to hold her hand in public.

But he does that too because he can. Under the table, his fingers intertwine with hers as the last of her words fall from her lips, his thumb grazing against her skin as she laughs a little.

"Isn't it crazy?" Kim laughs, pulling the attention away from Hailey. "Voight used to say no in house relationships. Now you two are moving in together and Adam and I are practically raising a kid together."

"Guess a lot has changed," Jay murmurs, earning some nods and a few laughs from the rest of the team.

"You can say that again," Adam tilts his beer towards Jay. "I'm almost empty. Y'all want another round?"

The team nods and Adam stands, pushing in his chair and stepping out from his spot beside Kim. "Jay, wanna help me, man?"

"Yeah, sure," Jay says, giving Hailey's hand one last squeeze before hopping out of his chair.

"I'll come with," Kevin says. "For supervisory purposes."

"Alright, man," Jay rolls his eyes as Kevin lets out a loud, charismatic laugh. The trio slips across the bar, the crowd lively for a Tuesday night, and after Adam orders a round of beers, he looks over at Jay and Kevin.

"What?" Jay questions, noticing the strange look on Adam's face.

"Nothing," Adam laughs innocently. "It's just nice to have the whole team here, you know? Hailey's memories are back, Vanessa's back from undercover. It feels good."

"Can't argue with that," Jay chuckles and Kevin lightly bumps against his shoulder.

"Of course, you can't," Kevin shakes his head "You must be the most excited out of all of us."

"Don't think I can argue with that either."

"Look man," Adam turns serious. "We are gonna give you hell for the rest of your lives, but we seriously are happy for you two. I mean, Kev and I have known you longer than anyone at that table. We know how hard you have worked for this. We're happy that you are happy. You deserve it."

Jay can't help but look over his shoulder, catching a glimpse of Hailey chatting with Kim and Vanessa, her head thrown back in laughter and her blonde hair running over her shoulders, a large smile on her face.

"I am happy," Jay says as he turns back. "She really is the best thing that has ever happened to me."

It's cheesy, he knows, but it's also incredibly true. Surely there is a dopey smile on his face and his mind is still somewhat hyperfocused on her and while normally Jay wouldn't be so obvious in front of his friends, now he can be and after all they have been through, he can't find it in himself to act any differently. Surprisingly, the other two don't tease him, instead shooting him supportive smiles.

"Well, I can honestly say you have smiled more since you met her," Adam tells him with a pat to the shoulder. "A lot more."

"You trying to say I wasn't hiding my feelings well?" Jay laughs out at his own expense and Kevin shakes his head.

"You weren't fooling anyone, Halstead. We always knew something would happen between you two," Kevin says. "But we were always on board with it. Just make sure to remember us when you're choosing groomsmen for the wedding."

"Will do, man," Jay says, noticing the somewhat surprised looks the two officers throw his way when he does not even try to protest the wedding comment.

Hermann comes over with their beers and the three of them make their way back over to the table, distributing the drinks all around. Jay's hand finds Hailey's under the table again, her shoulder bumping against his softly as he sits down.

"A toast," Adam announces before anyone can take a sip. "To the team being together and to good life changes."

Jay smiles because even though it's such a simple toast, it means so much. And right in front of him is the perfect picture of good life changes. He glances at Vanessa, who is finally back, and Adam and Kim, who finally found each other.

Then, he glances at Hailey, and his heart races just at the sight of her because she is his best life change of all.

They raise a toast, all laughing and smiling, and as Hailey squeezes his hand under the table, everything feels at peace.

And as work and their social lives start to fall into place, they start to return to normal in their personal lives too. Any worries either of them had about how they would make yet another world-changing transition are long lost by the time they go home that very first night and slip into a rhythm that is simply them. There was a connection that was there from the very beginning when they met in a bank and thought they would never see each other again, a connection that grew into a partnership and a partnership that grew into a love. That connection somehow survived the bombing and stayed, even when her memories were lost, and it is that connection that holds them together when the memories come rushing back.

They waste no time getting back to being them after the memories come back. Nearly three months of the strange in-between they found themselves in leaves neither of them in much of a patient mood. If anything, the experience solidified that this is it for both of them. If they can survive this, they can survive anything.

It's a month after her memories come back when they move into their new apartment. Jay is incredibly thankful that he switched over to a month-to-month lease that would allow him to move the minute Hailey was ready. Hailey, on the other hand, had a lease for a few more months. Even though it was not a part of the original plan, she decides to just sublet her apartment and they focus on finding a place that can be completely theirs.

Because if these past few weeks have taught them anything, it is that they do not want to wait on their future anymore.

"Have I ever mentioned that I hate moving?" Hailey calls out with a chuckle as she stands in their new kitchen unpacking boxes. She is surrounded by an array of pots and pans and plates, trying to figure out where everything should go in the empty apartment.

"Pretty sure you mention it every time I helped you move," Jay responds from the living room, thinking back to the several times he has helped her move over their time knowing each other.

While Jay stayed in one place, Hailey was not as fortunate. She seemed to have a string of bad luck with homes: the first time she moved was because of a rent increase and the second time was after Vanessa moved out and the house felt too empty.

But her reason for leaving her third apartment was much happier: it was to build a home with him.

"Well, we are staying here for a while, buddy," She walks into the living room, where Jay is sitting on the floor next to the couch, going through boxes. "Because I really really hate moving."

A while. The words send a warm vibration running through his body at the idea of being here, with her, for a while. Like a while is the first step of a future, of forever.

He laughs as she plops herself down next to him, sitting cross-legged as she looks into the box that he is unpacking. "This box is boring."

It's a box of old books and office items. As he pulls out another book and inspects it, putting it on the floor next to him, he raises an eyebrow at her playfully. "Well, we can't all get the fun boxes. How's the kitchen coming?"

"Good," She hums. "I think we officially have the weirdest combination of cookware and plates, though."

He chuckles. "That's what happens when two fully grown adults combine all of their stuff."

"So, is that what the rest of the apartment is going to look like?" She teases, looking around at the empty room as if she was envisioning how mismatched it could be.

"Come here," He pushes the box to the side and opens his arms wide. She comes to sit in the space between his legs, her back resting against his chest, and he wraps his arms around her body as he gently leans against the bottom of the couch.

He presses his cheek against the side of her head and whispers, "The apartment will look however we want."

She cranes her head up to look at him. "Because it's ours?"

"Because it's ours."

For quite some time, home has not been four walls and a door, but rather, home has been her. So now, having a place that is just theirs, a place where he can always wake up with her and come home to her, it is more than he could ever have hoped for.

"You know, it's crazy if you think about it." She murmurs, leaning her head back into the crook of his neck. "Four years ago, I met some random guy at a bank robbery, and then all of the sudden, I am moving in with him."

"I don't know if I would say all of the sudden," He laughs out, not even needing to look down to know that Hailey is rolling her eyes.

"Right," Hailey chuckles and he can feel the vibrations against his chest. "Forgot that we took forever to get our act together."

"I think we were trying to be professional," He teases, fully knowing they were both too scared to make a move out of fear of losing the other.

'Whatever," Hailey retorts. "You know, I don't even think I was supposed to be working that day."

"What day?"

"Back at the bank," Hailey tells him. "I'm like 95% sure I was supposed to be in court that day, but then I got called to the scene."

"Explains why Intelligence beat you there," He pinches her side, and she swats at his arm, tilting her head up to look at him again.

"You still on that?"

"It was our crime scene, Upton."

Hailey pulls out of his embrace and turns in his arms so she is sitting sideways between his legs. Her legs are thrown over his left thigh, knees bent and pulled close towards her body as she sits sideways in front of him. She rests her right elbow on her knees and holds her head in her hands, turning her head to look at him.

"It's just crazy how it all worked out. I mean if one thing went different, we might not be where we are at."

He hums at her words and thinks back over the past few years of everything that had to happen to lead to where they are now. Not just the big moments, but the small moments that must have seemed minuscule at the time that brought them to where they are today

He thinks of the first time he brought her coffee and the first time they did their thing.

There are early morning stakeouts and surveillance days in his truck and late nights doing paperwork, all moments they shared together that let them get closer.

There were dozens of cases that, even though they did not know it, helped them build an unspoken communication and an unspoken trust. He thinks of the cases that got under their skin a little more than the others-the case with Booth, with Miller, with his father, with Darius Walker. Those were the cases that brought up their demons, but those were also the cases that helped them learn to support each other, that built the foundation they stand on today.

He thinks back to another seemingly random case, a double homicide from a few weeks back. Everything about it seemed normal. Little did he know that one case would take away Hailey's memories for several weeks and would change both of their lives forever.

But somehow, throughout all of that, they still ended up here. Despite bad cases and fights and the tens of thousands of terrible things they have seen. Despite being shot and being separated by 800 miles and then being separated by memory loss, they somehow still got here.

This thing between them that has been four years in the making, it's inevitable, and it has always been leading up to them here, together.

"It all worked out in the end, though, right?" He says quietly.

"Yeah." She smiles at him. "It did."

He can't help but lean forward and catch her lips with his. The awkward position they find themselves in on the floor is not convenient, but neither of them cares. He lets his hand come to cup her cheek and her hand rests on his shoulder to steady herself.

"We're gonna have a good life here," Hailey whispers when they separate, their foreheads still pressed together. "I can feel it."

As he looks at her, he can see a glimpse of this good life she is talking about. For the past few weeks, he has not let himself think much about the future, because, without her memories, there was no guarantee of what that future could look like. It was easier to just live in the present and help her get to know him and fall in love with him all over again.

But now? Now he can see the future and he likes what he sees.

He sees mornings in bed, waking her up with a kiss and holding her body tight against his. He sees lazy weekends and cooking dinners together and dancing in the kitchen.

He sees holidays and birthdays and he sees random Tuesdays where they are just sitting on the couch, consumed with each other.

He sees a ring. He knows she is it for him and he knows that one day, he is going to make it official. He does not know when and he does not know how, but one day he is going to ask Hailey Anne Upton to marry him and Jay knows it is going to be one of the greatest moments of his life.

He sees them leaving this apartment, despite how much she hates moving. But, with their growing life, they deserve a house. They are going to find a home, much like this one they are sitting in right now, one that is simply theirs. They will make it their own and fill it with their love and start a new chapter of their lives together.

And in that house, he eventually sees children. There's a little freckled-faced boy with green eyes who loves to get into trouble, but who loves his mother more than anything. Jay already knows that little boy is going to be a mini version of himself and will wear the two of them out beyond belief, but Jay believes he will also have his mother's heart of gold and be the sweetest child there is. When he looks a little more, he sees a vision of a baby girl with blonde hair and dimples when she smiles. She will have blue eyes from Hailey and freckles from Jay and stubbornness from both of them. And without a doubt, that little girl will have Jay wrapped about her finger in much the same way Hailey does.

He sees them growing old together. He sees a long career in the CPD, and he sees a happy life and home. He sees watching their children grow up and being ridiculously happy. And throughout it all, he sees Hailey with him, every step of the way.

He sees forever with her and somehow, he still wants more.

They are going to have a good life. She can feel it and he knows it.

"Yeah," He gives her another gentle kiss and breathes the words out against her lips. "We're going to be really happy."

She pulls back just enough that he can see her smile wildly before she leans forward to kiss him again.

"I can't wait."

"Me either," He murmurs, and for a moment, they just sit there, wrapped up in their little world of each other, before he leans back and stretches out his limbs. "But if we ever want to get to that good life, we probably should finish unpacking."

Hailey groans dramatically, throwing her head to the side and sticking out her lower lip. "Do we have to?"

"Unless you want to live the rest of our lives surrounded by half-empty boxes, then yeah," He chuckles, grabbing her hand and helping them both to their feet. It is not lost on him the way she blushes when he mentions the rest of their lives and it makes him all the more excited to be happy with her.

"Fine, you win," She rolls her eyes as she lets go of his hand.

He shakes his head and watches as she takes a step away, headed back toward the kitchen before she turns around and shoots him a sweet smile.

"You're lucky I love you, you know that right?"

"Trust me, I know."

How could he ever forget?

Wow. We have made it to the end. I can't even tell you how much I cried writing the last chapter. This story has been nothing short of a phenomenal experience. It makes me laugh SO MUCH that it was initially supposed to be a one-shot, and then it was going to be a five-chapter story, because look at what it became. I have loved every minute of writing this and I have so much love for this story. This has been my greatest experience writing in a fandom and I have loved every minute of this journey.

A big thank you to everyone who read and followed this story. The support from this story has been so far beyond kind and amazing and I am so thankful to each and every one of you. Every comment, reblog, retweet, dms that were just people yelling at me (cough cough after chapter 16) warmed my heart so much! I loved making new friends because of this fic and hearing everyone's theories about whether Hailey was going to get her memories back. You all have been so incredibly kind to me and I can't say thank you enough.

Thanks to my chaos queens imjustwriting and onechicago-rhekker for the constant encouragement and for answering all my fic-related questions (and for constantly asking when Hailey was gonna get her memories and about *ahem*). I'm so blessed to call you both "VIP fans" but more importantly, such dear friends.

And, of course, a huge thank you to the anon who left the prompt for this in my Tumblr asks. I know this is not what either of us was expecting from that prompt. I cannot thank you enough for the story you inspired me to write. It has been simply wonderful.

Thank you again to all of you. I love you all so much.

Until the next story.

Annie