This is the last chapter. It seems like a lifetime ago that I started this, and I just want to say thanks for reading, and thanks for sticking by this story. To everyone who reviewed, a thousand thanks, and I want you to know that feedback really is appreaciated by those of us who pour our hearts out on paper like this.

And now I shall shut up - and say, read on, MacDuff, read on!!

C

48

The night continued, bathed in happiness and love. Nick and Zoe had showed them their future with a marriage that was as full of love and trust and happiness as anyone could ever want, laughter ringing out every now and then as they danced. Dash and Adam were their past, hesitant, but increasingly willing to grab hold of a chance, much to Tom's dismay and amusement. The present was now, Maggie smiled as PJ once again wrapped his arms around her as they danced, the present was here, was love, was eternity and was perfect. He was her future, and she was his – and they would face it together as partners, as lovers and as husband and wife. Nothing could separate them, and nothing would be given the chance to.

Sighing into his chest, Maggie blushed as she remembered Tom's eyebrows going into orbit as he'd caught PJ trying to convince her to disappear into the night with him, hands wandering over Maggie, full of promise and innuendo, and what was worse, it had been the closest she'd come to agreeing. They'd found a dark corner of the room, and PJ had been kissing her, his lips hot and steamy against her neck. Maggie had arched against him, causing her body to come into close contact with his, teasing and tormenting both of them as she did so. He'd pulled her in tight, a soft groan appearing as his hips unconsciously thrust against her, and to everyone's embarrassment it had been then that Tom had walked around the corner and almost bumped into them.

"That tickles!" PJ murmured, grinning as he placed a gentle kiss on the top of her head. Leaning back a little, Maggie came back to the present as she looked up at him.

"Did you know I love you?" she asked, her eyes sparkling. "Did you know that?"

"Really? Well, I love you too," he smiled back at her. "I love you more than I will ever be able to tell you or show you, and it's just as well that we've got the rest of our lives together for me to let you know that."

On the other side of the room, Tom Croydon watched them sway slowly. Nick wandered over to him, smiling as he caught sight of who it was that held Tom's attention.

"I was right you know"

Concentration disrupted, Tom looked over at Nick.

"Hmm, what?"

"I was right. Always am, you know that. It's a Schultz family trait. James will grow into it, and so will the baby that Zoe's just told me we're going to have in eight months." He grinned proudly, accepting the handshake and pat on the back that a delighted Tom offered. "Anyway, I was right about those two. I told you they were made for each other, remember? Way back when, in your office, I told you. A Schultz is never wrong."

"I get the point, Nick – ooh, and look, here's Zoe on her way back. Looks like James is still fast asleep. Zoe! Over here! Nick was just saying that he wants another dance," Tom said quickly, and Zoe laughed as she came over to them.

"I highly doubt it, the man can't dance for toffee, but I will save you from him. I suppose he's telling you he was right again? That Maggie and PJ are perfect for one another and he was the first and only one to see it?" Zoe took Nick's arm and wound it around her, her smile widening as his hand came to rest gently against her stomach.

"I'll have you know – "

"That PJ has finally finished his dance with Maggie and now it's my turn" Tom grinned, cutting in and making a quick escape.

"But I WAS right" Tom heard behind him as he made his way across the floor towards PJ and Maggie who were by now leaning against the bar, champagne flutes in hand.

"Mrs Hasham" he began, grinning as PJ beamed with pride.

""Doyle Hasham. Well, Hasham actually, but I'm keeping the Doyle in there as a middle name or whatever it'll be. I'm not giving Doyle up for anyone" Maggie grinned, her grin widening as PJ gently took the glass from her and moved to stand nose to nose with her.

"Oh yeah?" he kissed the tip of her nose, eyes flashing with challenge and laughter, arms moving around her.

"Yeah, want to make something of it?" She challenged him right back.

"Mrs Hasham, later, you can bet your bottom dollar I'll challenge you later, but I'm not at all sure that's what the Boss wants to hear" he grinned, watching her cheeks flush red as she realised exactly how close she had moved against him, and where his hands had instinctively moved when she had stepped into him.

"PJ!"

"Sorry Boss – ouch!! You see that? Spousal abuse!!" PJ mock-groaned, stepping back as she aimed an elbow at his midriff.

"I'll give you abuse!" Maggie glared at him, quite unable to keep the pretence up as PJ's eyes flashed.

"Later, sweetheart, later!" he grinned, laughter breaking out as Maggie dragged Tom onto the dance floor, sticking her tongue out at her husband as she did so.

Of course, the fact that she winked at PJ as she did so caused all sorts of sensations within him, and he had to shake his head to bring him back into reality – coming face to face with a laughing Nick, Ben and Adam.

OOO

"So, Maggie Doyle. Happy?" Tom smiled down at her as he gently twirled her around the floor.

"Boss, I've never been happier. I love him. I really truly love him, and I can't believe he loves me back" Maggie blushed. In her wildest dreams, she'd never once imagined that her life would map out like this.

"Oh he loves you. Our Detective loves you, girlie. You're it for him. You're his entire world. I'm so happy for you, for both of you, Maggie. I just wanted to say that. I'm proud of you. You're a good copper, a good person, and now you have the life you've always wanted. You make the most of it, Maggie. You look after it, because life is precious, and what you and PJ have, it's rare, and it's precious and you hold on to it tight with both hands" Tom's voice tailed away and he hugged Maggie briefly, before moving away. "Just wanted to tell you that," he smiled. "Now, it looks like Zoe and Dash want a word"

"Which is scary in itself. Boss, I – " Maggie's throat tightened. Tom had always been there for her, a surrogate uncle if you like. He'd looked out for her, cared about her – and put her right when she'd needed it. He'd been her father figure in Mount Thomas, and it meant a great deal to Maggie to hear him speak as he had. "I love you too," she said, hugging him as close as she could. Smiling, she stepped away, steeling herself for an interrogation by her friends.

Tom found himself swallowing his emotions, dabbing slightly at her eye as he tried to clear the dust that had obviously gotten in there. Feeling a hand on his back, he turned slightly to see Chris Reilly smiling at him, offering her hand.

"Dance?"

"Dance." Tom nodded, his smile revealing his thanks. Friendship like they shared, like they all shared was a rare and valuable thing.

OOO

"So, Patrick. How's life?" Nick handed him a beer, taking the champagne flute from his hand.

"Not bad, not bad." PJ told him, accepting the beer and glancing over at his Boss and his wife. "In fact, it's pretty damn perfect."

"I told you so. I told him you loved her. I was right, you know. Always am, and - "

"Always will be" chimed in Adam, Ben and PJ.

"Trained you well," Nick grinned back. "Nice to see you've accepted the truth"

"You're full of it" Adam laughed.

"Nope, just perfect," Nick grinned back. "Seriously though, congratulations Patrick. I've said it before, and I'll say it again. You've got a good one there. You treat her right and you've got it made, mate."

PJ glanced over at Nick, accepting that for what it was. "I will mate. I love her, and she loves me. Can't get much better than that. And I'm going to spend the rest of my life proving that to her"

Ben smiled as PJ spoke, finally relinquishing his feelings for Maggie. There would never be anything between them, not while PJ was around – and then even if he wasn't. It simply wouldn't have worked, and besides, Ben was fast coming to the conclusion that Emma may well be right. Seeing Maggie glow with happiness, seeing her eyes light up when she saw PJ, he wanted that again. And he was becoming more and more aware that that was exactly how he felt when he saw Elly.

"It's good finding that, isn't it? It's good finding that one person who makes your whole soul smile. You and Maggie, you've got that, mate. She adores you, for some odd reason. Must be mad or something." Ben grinned at PJ, nodding slightly. "Reckon I might have found it too. Me and Elly, well, I've been thinking about it a bit lately. Reckon it might be time for me to visit a jewellery store," he admitted.

Nodding back, PJ smiled. It really was a night for unspoken conversations, he grinned to himself, accepting Ben's words. "Thanks mate. I – thanks"

Adam had watched as they spoke, noting the undercurrents, the spoken and unspoken words. Dash was going to love this.

"You do realise that Cooper here is a walking tape recorder, don't you?" Nick said with a grin a - to Adam - rather scary grin. "Young Cooper here will be spilling his guts to McKinley later on, and repeating everything to our resident gossip"

Adam drew himself up to his full height, swallowing his smile as Nick mirrored his actions. "Certainly will, and what are you going to do about it? You'll be doing exactly the same for Zoe, and you'll be telling Elly, and PJ will – "

"Not be doing any talking at all – " Nick filled in, ducking back with laughter as PJ went to thump him. " Now, I'm going to be every inch the best mate and go into enemy territory and rescue your wife for you. Come on men!! Onward and upward!!" he crowed, and a laughing Ben, PJ and Adam followed him.

OOO

"So how's married life treating you then?"

"Well, in the four hours I've been married, I'd say fairly well." Maggie smiled back at Zoe.

"Anything interesting to report?" Dash asked – then grinned. "She's blushing!!! Margaret Do – Hasham!! You little minx!! You can't keep your hands off each other!"

"I am not saying a word, Dash. Not a word. Smiling a lot, but not a word. My husband is a damn fine kisser, and much, much more, but that's for later. And that's all I'm going to say." Maggie said through a blush.

"You do realise that when you get back from wherever it is you're going on honeymoon, - and if Nick doesn't tell me soon, I'll castrate him – but you do realise that we want details. All the gory details." Zoe teased as Chris came over and sat down with them.

"That we do, Maggie," Chris's eyes sparkled. "This has been coming too long for us not to get details"

"Details of what" Emma piped up, coming over and plonking herself in Maggie's lap. "Details of what?" she repeated into the silence as the women around them struggled to hold in their laughter while at the same time think of a credible reply. "Ewww, you're talking about IT aren't you? " Maggie blushed bright red, and Zoe and Chris couldn't help the laughter that escaped. "You're talking about kissing, aren't you, about that tongue kissy thing, where you - "

"And there she is, and by the looks on your faces, we got here none too soon" Ben swooped in and rescued Maggie, PJ, Adam and Nick doing the same for the women they loved.

"She's happy." Pat Doyle said from his vantage point at the bar, his second whisky of the night swirling in the glass in front of him. "We talked, me and my little girl. We talked, we listened, and then we talked some more. She loves him, and he loves her. She's happy," he repeated as Carol watched him.

Reaching over, she placed a gentle hand on his arm. "I know. She is, isn't she? He adores her, and Maggie loves PJ just as much. They're lucky Pat, and so are you. " Smiling at him, Carol took a sip of her orange juice. "What about you? Are you happy? Was Maggie happy about – "

"Us? Yes," Pat smiled, placing the glass down on the bar. "She reckons you've turned her cross old man into a recognizable human. She thinks you're mad, but she says thanks anyway. So does PJ, oddly enough!" Standing, he took her hand, and led her to the dance floor. Wrapping her in a hug, Pat smiled, "I do too," he whispered.

The night continued, love and laughter palpable in the air. The past disappeared and the future was forged. Standing on the edge of the room, gazing in, PJ smiled over his wife's shoulders.

"Just look at them, Mags. Our family. Our friends. We're lucky, you know."

Maggie glanced over her shoulder, holding him close against her back. "I know. Dad's happy, Zoe's pregnant and Nick's over the moon, Adam and Dash are going to make the Boss go nuts, but even he's got Chris now – what? He has! Can't you see the sparks there?" she turned, raising her face to him, a glint in her eyes. Kissing him, she turned back to the room again. "And Ben's happy with Elly" she continued, shivering slightly as PJ placed a row of tender kisses along her collarbone.

"He's thinking about proposing, you know." PJ whispered, his breath hot and enticing.

Maggie arched her neck, both of them beginning to struggle to remember what they were talking about. "Mmmm, ah Ben? Propose? Elly will be happy" she murmured. "Ah, PJ?"

"Mm?" he turned her in his arms, his heart smiling as she turned back to him, stepping in against him, her body a perfect fit against his.

"Can we get out of here?" she breathed against his neck, her kisses eliciting tremors throughout him. "I want to take you up on your challenge", and her lips found his, her kiss addictive, hot and demanding.

And as the door silently shut behind them, their future lay in front of them, eternal, loving, passionate and powerful. Whatever it may be, wherever it may take them, they would face it together.

"Love you Doyley" PJ murmured as the rainbow exploded around them. "I love you Maggie," he repeated, smiling down at her. Maggie smiled right back, breathlessly happy When she was finally able to speak again, she grinned up at him. "I love you too PJ, always have, and always will. Now, shut up, Hasham, and do that again", and with that, she pulled the covers over them and laugher and happiness was all that would be heard for the rest of their lives.