Life as it stands now

Author: Joy

Email: Julianna@ziplip.com

A/N: This is a very long final chapter. It wraps up all lose ends to my satisfaction. There is a significant time break between the last chapter and this one.

A/N2: There has been a lot of back and forth about the whole honorable guy thing in this series. I have been asked several times in a variety of ways where you find these guys The answer is simpleChurch. I don't want to be preachy or annoying but all of the men that I have used as examples of good solid guys were Christians. Take it how you want. I don't want to offend anyone, but in my life that is the answer. Words to live by: Guys who believe in something bigger then themselves are far more likely to not see themselves as the center of the universe.

SO here it isThe End.

"Dammit Ian," Pez swore crouched behind a cement pillar.

"Where is Goth Guy when you need him?" Danny mumbled next to his partner.

"Can you explain to me why that thing ain't working?" Five heavily armed men in the center of an abandoned building had them pinned down.

"I think it doesn't want Jake to know unless its skewering him," Sara responded.

"You talk about it like it has a personality."

"You've met remember?"

"Yeah had a hell of a time explaining the scars to Lee." Suddenly the Witchblade activated. "What the hell?"

"Ian's nearby," Sara said quietly, "and Jake just passed out from the hit to the head Hurry up Ian."

Glass broke overhead of three of the shooters. "Is he insane?" Danny muttered. Sara let out a primal yell and went for the two others. "Are you insane?" Both Wielder and Protector were transformed into complete body armor easily taking out their appointed criminals. Each shooter was knocked unconscious with limited effort.

"OkayI didn't know it could do that," Danny held his hands up in front of each of them. Sara and Ian smirked at each other and began to dual back and forth. "Guys Jake is injured bleeding hello?" The team continued to swordplay. "Man I am glad we didn't enter that theatre or I am sure you two would have let me die." Both warriors looked to Danny, who was gathering Jake up.

"I'll get him," Ian offered. "Fencing tomorrow?" he asked Sara.

"I want full swords this time. I'd like to see if I can get a little more control over the armor stuff," she muttered tugging on it. "Now how do I get it to go away?"

In the blink of an eye Ian laughed and his disappeared, "Practice." He marched himself with Jake outside.

"I hate you," she scowled continuing to tug at the offending metal.

Danny stopped her mid step. "RelaxIt is part of you. You have to calm down before it feels safe."

"Now who's giving the little bugger a personality?" Sara snipped as the armor retracted. "Hey ouch!" she exclaimed as the bracelets tendrils dug into her skin. "Cut it out. That's only fun when Gabriel's around," she chastised the blade.

"That is more than I wanted to know," Danny said shaking his head. He stopped abruptly and asked, "You don't use that on Gabriel do you?"

She thought, "Define use."

"SARA!" he yelled. "I am checking him for marks tonight!"

"Yeah what is on tap since I will be home alone?"

"Male bonding. Jake of course is out due to the blood lose and head injury, which does not mix well with large quantities of alcohol."

"So you, Ian, and Gabriel are going out to get smashed," Sara questioned.

"Yes and you are the designated wife for the evening," Danny informed her.

"Excuse me?"

"What? Lee and Mai-Ning are well Lee and Mai-Ning. When we get arrested you are the only safe one to call."

"Don't be too sure," Sara nudged.

"Right. Your 'punishments' for Gabriel alwaysalways involve some sort of titillation that causes him to go blind with pleasure. Ian and I are not the fortunate. I have children that could hear us and I would end up sleeping on the floor of my own bedroom. Ianwell Ian has decided it is in their best interest to wait until marriage, which Mai-Ning thinks is sweet. It's not much of a wait now but Of the three of us, Gabriel getting in trouble gets the best compensation for it."

"Maybe I'll make him sleep on the sofa?"

Danny smirked, "You couldn't even do that when you were friends."

Sara rolled her eyes and growled. She laid a hand on Danny's arm and asked, "Home much does Gabriel tell you about" she gestured with her hand.

"Only enough to explain why he's late, why he's tired, why he was unreachable, or why the phone suddenly got cut off. You are always far more detailed in that department," Danny looked at Sara with a lifted eyebrow. "I'm guessing this is what you decided to take all that pent up energy of yours on?"

"I think its good use so how often do you need those expla"

"EVERYTIME I SEE HIM!" Danny stated strongly. "I know he's younger and ItalianIs it true what they say aboutnever mind Next time he's on the phone with me and you have an itch that needs scratching please let him hang up the phone first. I did not need to hear first hand 'what was on tap' as you put it last nightthough it did put me in the mood for some fun with Leewhich was later interrupted by Gabriel calling to apologize." Sara had the decency to blush a nice bright red.

Ian sat with Jake in the ambulance before it took off. Several police officers came and took statements from Danny and Sara while others rounded up the shooters. They were eager to sound moronic about the two knights that attacked them.

"What took you two?" Ian asked leaving the EMT's to their work.

"I was explaining to Sara why she was the 'Designated wife' tonight."

"Oh because whenever Gabriel gets in trouble he manages to still get sex," Ian stated mater-of-factly.

"Why do you know that?" Sara blasted. He tapped on the Witchblade.

"Telling secrets," she murmured to the object.

"That and every time I see Gabriel, he is tired, late, or unheard from for days."

"So what are you saying?" she asked. "I handle our sexmarriage better." Both men laughed. "What?"

"You don't drink coffee anymore," Danny quipped.

"You are far less antagonistic," Ian added.

"You let comments at work slide," the detective stated.

"You smile all the time. And," the knight said looking at Danny.

In unison they said, "You haven't killed Jake."

Danny smirked, "Everyone at first marveled at you being in love."

Then Ian raised an eyebrow, "But everyone KNEW when you and Gabriel started sleeping together"

"The sudden elopementeverything about the way you acted changed." Danny looked at his watch. "Let's hit the hospital to check on Jakethen guys night."

"More like Gabriel's rest night," Ian teased.

"Yeah, maybe we can get him inebriated enough he won't be able to get it up," Danny retorted. Sara laughed. "What?"

"That thing they say about Italian men is true," she smirked wagging her eyebrows, "Won't work."

"Hi honey I'm home," Sara called as a joke into Gabriel's former apartment. It still possessed the bare essentials so Gabriel could crash if he ended up working late but their residence was Sara's old apartment.

"Oh good I was afraid I wasn't going to see you before I left," he mumbled throwing on his coat. She grabbed the edges and dragged him to her feasting on his lips. "Sarabe good. I'm going out," he scowled with his arms at his sides trying not to encourage her. Though these dayshell since they elopedhis mother was still pissed at him about that whenever he got within a few feet of Sara he felt the desperate need to touch her. It was almost a biological reaction.

Sara flashed her big green eyes at him, "I just had to listen to Ian and Danny discuss our sex life for an extensive amount of time and now I want to act upon it or at least make you late to keep the record going." She leaned in and nibbled on his ear.

"That's evilthat's so unfair" he gasped as her hands roved places they shouldn't have been. "Just once I want to arrive on time" he muttered.

"Baby you arrive on time every time," she cooed.

Gabriel looked deeply in her eyes and was overcome with need. "They can wait!" he decided.

Sitting at the bar Ian and Danny waited for their perpetually tardy friend. "Sorry I'm late" Gabriel began.

"But you got caught up with something," Ian and Danny mimicked.

The youngest man made a face; "Well it's your own fault. She decided she didn't want to break the record because you hassled her so."

Danny eyed the younger of the two men beside him, "And you could not pull yourself away."

"If Matthew and Lily were staying with your mom and Lee decided to make you late to meet us for drinks, can you honestly tell me you wouldn't stay?" Gabriel questioned.

"Is my wife wanting to make love or because the baby needs something," Danny sputtered. Little Geoffrey had been born almost four months before and Lee was still hesitant to leave him alone. "I'm not sexually frustrated at all right now!"

"Never mind," Gabriel said shaking his head.

Ian sat stoically observing the two men quite amused. "What's with you smiley?" Gabriel quipped.

Ian blinked a few times. "If you are referring to me, I am very well thank you I suppose once I have experienced making love I will understand the necessity to be talkative and frustrated about it, but for right now I am just amused at how much you are ruled by the appendage between your legs."

"What did he just say?" Danny asked. Normally he never had trouble decoding Ian-speak but tonight it just wasn't working.

Gabriel sighed, "He's saying because he's a virgin he isn't obsessed with sex like we are. The irony of course is we aren't even remotely bad for guys. Sara is more obsessed with sex then I am."

"Yes and we don't need to hear about it," Danny stated downing his beer. "Another please!" he called to the bartender.

"What is your problem tonight? You and Lee were doing it when I called" Gabriel questioned.

"Yes! We were and you woke the childrenand I hate you," Danny snapped.

"Oh!" the younger man grimaced.

"Thus being why you will neverever call after eight p.m. again." As much as Danny appreciated the two new guy friends he had acquired he had to constantly remind himself they were in different places in their lives and relationships. Having a new baby meant a ton less couple time.

Ian laughed out right, "Please tell me your children were not traumatized."

"Matthew asked why Mama and Papa were wrestlingLike I said, I hate you. When he needs therapy, you're paying for it," Danny snipped.

"Well lock your door!" Gabriel snapped back.

"It was locked. Matthew learned from Ian how to break into to rooms with simple locks." Danny turned to the other man; "You can pay to bail him out of jail when he's up for breaking and entering." Gabriel chuckled. "Between the two of you, you managed to ruin the one night of pleasure we've had in a week." Ian gaffed. "Shut up!" Danny shouted.

"Hello?"

"Sa-ra," Gabriel happily sing-songed over the phone.

"You're drunk," she muttered.

"Danny was singing the baby blues tonight and drowning his sorrows. I just decided to join him. Comfortably numb as the song goes."

"Great. Pink Floyd flashes."

"HeyRoger Waters is god," Gabriel claimed.

"Watch it, you're about to be struck by lightning," Sara smiled. "Need a ride?"

"Ian's driver is taking us homeCan I come home?" he asked like a little boy.

Sara smiled to herself, "You mean to our place?"

"I mean to home. Home is where you are Sara."

She closed her eyes and relished the words, "Yeah luv. Come home. I would love to be your Snuggle Bunny."

"Tonight or this lifetime?" Gabriel asked simply.

"How bout both?" she responded playing with her still unfamiliar wedding ring.

She could feel him smile through the phone, "Both suits me just fine."

Sara was in bed when Gabriel unlocked the door. He toed off his shoes and went to his real bedroom. He watched her sleep soundly, light on, book resting on her chest. She had been trying to stay awake to wait for him. He removed his clothes and got in bed beside her.

Gabriel's heart began to thud. He wondered how much Sara was wearing under the covers. Smirking to himself and also pondered the fun of waking Sara in a very pleasant waythen again she was such a light sleeper he doubted he'd be able to pull it off.

Pausing for a moment, he noticed the Witchblade was pulsating. Gabriel had never observed it make that sort of pattern before. It looked almost like a heart beat except there were periodic blue pulses in the midst. Carefully he laid his hand on the pulsing stone to see if it would respond to him. The two tendrils that always seemed to come for him slithered up his arm bore into his skin.

Gabriel normally saw blips of current life and conversation when the Witchblade attached to him, sort of like a personal communicator to help explain different things about Sara he didn't understand perfectly. Most of the time it would show him brief moments from Sara's past to explain a reaction or attitude.

This was quite different. Gabriel was not seeing the past at all. He was seeing his life with and without Sara. He was being urged forward but he wasn't completely sure what to. At first the images were of life with Sara before they got marriedthe calmness. Suddenly the vision turned sort of sexual showing him how badly and how often they needed yet other since the elopement. More than anything else he heard a heart beatstrong and consistent. Finally he saw himself at Sara's gravethere wasn't much time. They would not grow old together. But he was still hers when she died.

The heartbeat became stronger then doubled. Suddenly Gabriel saw the gravestone clearly. 'Beloved wife and mother' it read. He wasn't alone. There was a boy of ten or so and a girl in his armsa strong, beautiful, little girlher mother's daughter of seven or eight. The little girl wore her mother's bracelet. Then the vision ended.

Gabriel sat up abruptly waking Sara. They were still connected by the Witchblade. "What? What?" Sara questioned sleepily. She sat up with her arm. "What is it sweetheart?" she mumbled.

His eyes turned to her and realized the point of the vision. He stared deep into her eyes and kissed her. "I need to make love to you," he whispered kissing her jaw line.

"I like a man with a mission," she smirked.

"You have no idea."

Gabriel started to feel guilty about not at least giving her a clue. "Sara?" She looked to him sweetly. He laid her back against the bed poised above her. "Let's make a baby."

"What?"

Gently he rubbed against her kissing her softly, "I want to see you grow round with my child." He caressed her stomach with his hand.

"Gabrieldo you think we're ready for that?" Sara asked quietly.

He caressed her cheek with his fingers and twisted his arm so she could see the blade as well as his attachment to it. "I think it's time," he murmured keeping his eyes glued to hers as he pushed inside her.

Gabriel shook with need and amazement. Sara blinked rapidly and began to move. She was having a vision at least the Witchblade was doing something weird. That's when Gabriel felt it. There was some sort of electric current running through them both. They had made the choice but the Witchblade was providing the party favors so to speak.

Sara gasped, "So I guessit showed yousomething." Her pants were loud and desperate.

"Yeah," he responded. "Sara" Whatever the blade was doing was speeding things up quite a bit. "I'm afraidis goingto beoh god over Ahh humiliatingly quickly!" Gabriel nearly shouted seeing stars.

"NoHere!!!" Sara shouted arching off the bed. Gabriel responded in kind. Both gasped loudly for a while before their bodies began to burn for one another again.

Sara's sweat soaked body woke a day and half after the marathon began. Gabriel was breathing evenly but that did not necessarily mean he was asleep. She looked at the clock then her husband. He stirred. "I don't think I'm ever going to want to have sex again," he mumbled.

Sara laughed, "If I'm not pregnant after that"

"Oh you'll be pregnant. No condoms, diaphragm, or pillyou'll be pregnant," he groaned. "I pulled every muscle in my body."

"I guess that is what Danny meant by saturated bombing of the ovum."

"The least it could have done was let us stretch first," Gabriel complained.

"Time to shower," Sara said tugging at Gabriel.

"Notime to die of exhaustion. The male body is not meant to cum that many timesIn fact it should be physically impossible"

"I told you, you are the Italian Stallion," she said pulling him up right.

"Please never call me that again," he moaned. "TubStanding is evil."

"Baby!" she said sticking out her tongue with a big smile.

"Oh god, the glowing has begun!" Sara smacked Gabriel on the butt as they entered the bathroom.

Sara and Gabriel sat in Aunt Sally's restaurant on Sunday evening when the restaurant it self was closed. The guests for Sunday dinner included Danny, Lee and their children, Ian, Mai-Ning who was now officially Mrs. Nottingham, Jake and his girlfriend Stephanie (a brain if you can believe it), as well as Gabriel's parents, siblings, and general family. The guise of the dinner was a 'reception' for the wedding that didn't happen between Sara and Gabriel. Ian was the only one who knew better.

Danny clinked his glass, "To the happy couple. Gabriel I entrust you with my best friendand pray for your sanity."

"Very funny Woo," Sara smirked.

Mrs. Bowman kissed her cheek on her way to sit back next to her sister. "I think you will have the harder time of it. All those old things lying around. Your children will never be able to visit their father at work."

"They won't be able to visit mom at work eitherall those criminals," Gabriel smarted off.

"Hush now," his mother scowled.

Ian was positioned next to Gabriel at the table. Casually he turned and whispered, "My friend, she will begin to show before you announce your joyous news if you do not speak soon."

"I hate the fact we can't keep anything from you," the father to be grumbled.

"I hate the fact that Sara knows when Mai-Ning and I are intimate and vise versa but that does not make it not so."

"We're going to tell everyone tonight."

Ian smiled, "Good. Your mother has been hinting at grandchildren since you started to date Sara."

"My mother has nothing to do with this," Gabriel snipped.

"No," the older man murmured, "It showed you the future. Your child was needing to be conceived."

"The way you put things."

"Hey, hey, hey," Danny gripped. "No secrets in the corner. I am part of this little posse of guys and I will not be kept in the dark."

"Oh really," Gabriel raised an eyebrow.

"Yes really."

Lee nudged her husband with a smirk while walking little Geoffrey around. "I wanna see baby brodder," Matthew insisted.

"Come here Matty," Sara said sitting the little boy in her lap. Lee rested the baby in the little boy's lap while Sara secured both.

"I'm a big brodder Aun Sara," Matthew said proudly.

Sara's eyes shined as she sought Gabriel's gaze.

"What did I say?" Danny began, "I knew you would want a baby snuggle bunny of your own."

Sara laughed instead of getting mad. "OkayWhat's wrong with her?" Jake asked quickly. "She has been way too happy lately and she has never been willing to let her tease her about the whole Snuggle Bunny thing before."

She shrugged, "You tell them. I'm occupied," gesturing to the little men in her lap.

Gabriel smiled brightly. "Aunt Sally, Mom" he called to the other end of the table where his family was chatting away happily in Italian. Once all eyes were on him, Gabriel continued. "We decided to have this family gathering not just to celebrate our marriage" Sara nodded to him to continue. "We also wanted the chance to celebrate and tell you all at once that we're gonna have a babySo mom to get your first grandchild by me after all."

Gabriel's family responded as to be expecteda flurry of motion, commotion, chaos, and chatter. Sara's 'family' was far less animated. In fact Jake and Danny sat in shock blinking rapidly. Somehow in a lot of ways Sara wasn't a woman in their minds until that moment. She was always one of the guys and now Lee, Mai-Ning and Stephanie were buzzing around her speaking in high pitched voices that only dogs and other women could understand.

Gabriel got a hug from Ian who released him to his family while he observed the still shocked expressions of the detectives next to him. "Is your head injury bothering you again Jake or is there another reason your mouth is hanging open?" he questioned.

"Pez is pregnant Pez is pregnant" Jake muttered his mantra.

Danny looked confused at Ian, "You knewYou knew and didn't tell me. I'm going to kill you Nottingham!" Ian chuckled.

Lee asked loudly, "How far along are you?"

"Made it through the first trimester so"

Danny looked even more stunned; "I am effectively the worst detective and best friend in the history of mankind to have missed this."

Sara looked at him sympathetically, "We just wanted to be sure before we told people Didn't want to jinx it."

"Have you had an ultra sound?" Mai-Ning inquired.

"Yep Baby's first picture," Sara muttered drawing out the image from her pocket once Lee retrieved the baby and Matthew went running off to play with his sister, having no concept of what was happening.

Mai-Ning went to show Ian who smiled and at her lovingly. "You've seen it right?" she asked with a raised eyebrow.

"In a manner of speaking," he replied softly stroking her wrist.

Leaning down to his ear she whispered, "I don't know that I'm ever going to get used to this bond you have with Sara."

"You don't have to. Just believe my devotion lies with you as well as my love."

A huge smile broke over her face. "My dark knight" Mai-Ning teased his earlobe.

Ian reached his hand up into her hair and brought her mouth closer. "Do you want to have me show you my love here? You know how little will I have to be away from you."

Gabriel slapped the middle of Ian's chest. "What was that about being ruled by the appendage between my legs?" he mocked.

Danny chimed in, "Oh that will decrease significantly when the baby comes don't worry."

Lee hit her husband. "Stop that."

Sara looked over the table of family and friends that were family and felt truly blessed. After feeling so isolated for so long this group presented her with great love and acceptanceat least most of the time.

"So my dear," Mrs. Bowman began, "when will you be moving to a safer department?"

Monday morning Sara arrived to work on time no worse for wear. Danny and Jake sat themselves on the side of her next obstructing her view. "What's up guys?"

"Just wanted a good view of the glowing mama," Danny smirked.

"Shut up."

"How could you tell Ian and not me?" her partner fussed.

She tilted her head; "Sometimes Ian is just there at the right moment. Sometimes he is just that connected." Danny nodded slowly beginning to get the idea. "So can I have my desk back?"

"Sure," Jake offered as both men moved.

On Sara's desk sat twelve small Velveteen rabbits. "What is this?" she asked.

"Well we knew you guys had been going at it like rabbits so" Danny offered getting a slap to the chest.

"Baby snuggle bunnies for your Baby Snuggle Bunny," Jake commented patting her stomach.

The Witchblade became fire red, "Jakeyou're touching me"

A/N: That's it. Pleas for a sequel or fill in some of the time missed in the gaps of this chapter can begin.Now!

A/N2:What would you guys think of me picking up the 'Tension' series?