I did it. This is it. It's finished.

Thank you to everyone for reading this. Thank you for the reviews (looking at you holoswirls). Thank you for the favorites and follows.

I'll be going on hiatus starting tomorrow. When I come back, I'll have seen Dominion, so I'll probably start writing that.

For now, enjoy the epilogue.


"No, no, no. Don't mess with your hair buddy." Emily's college roommate, Cassie, leaned down and fixed her son's hair. "It has to look nice when you take the rings to Aunt Emily and Uncle Sam, okay?"

"Okay Momma!"

Ellie swept into the little waiting area, dressed in a beautiful deep blue gown. She tossed her hair over her shoulder, moving among Emily's bridesmaids, checking each one of them. She stopped to fix the drape of Lizzy's skirt, saying, "There, now it won't get caught on your wheelchair."

"Thanks Dr. Sattler," Lizzy said. "I'd never hear the end of it from Eli if it did get caught."

Ellie smiled. "Just call me Ellie." Ellie changed direction, stopping in front of her seventeen-year-old daughter, Amy, fixing her small bouquet.

Lastly, Ellie stopped in front of Emily with a smile.

Emily smiled back as Ellie reached up and adjusted the simple wildflower in Emily's hair.

"There," Ellie said. "Should I tell them you're ready and send your father back?"

Emily looked to her bridesmaids, Cassie, Lex, Lizzy. Lizzy flashed her a thumbs up. Lex smiled, "We're ready."

Zoe, Emily's childhood best friend, current therapist and maid of honor, nodded, her thick black curls bouncing. "Ready whenever you are, Emily."

"Alright. Go ahead Ellie."

Ellie smiled, gave Emily's free hand a squeeze, and swept out of the room.

"Alright you two," Zoe said to her daughter and Amy, who were the flower girls, "When the music starts, you'll be the first to head down the aisle, just like we practiced."

After a few moments, the music started. Emily stepped back out of sight as the two flower girls started walking.

"Careful," Emily's father murmured from behind her, setting a hand on her shoulder to keep her from bumping into him. He'd put on a suit and tie, probably the only one he owned. Emily was pretty sure he'd trimmed his beard too.

Emily gave him a smile, lowering her voice, "Can you believe you're giving me away?"

"No—" he shook his head, "—seems like you're still my little girl, with that big smile, who couldn't give me a moment of peace on dig sites." He blinked back tears.

"Oh God Dad, don't cry…" Emily stepped forward and hugged him tightly. "Because if you cry, I'll cry and ruin the makeup Lex spent hours on."

Her father pulled back, taking a deep breath. He smiled. "You look beautiful Em…" He took the hand that wasn't holding her bouquet of wildflowers in both of his. "He's perfect for you, you know that?"

"Of course, I do. Never thought I'd hear that out of your mouth though."

Her father chuckled and set his shoulders. "Off we go then kiddo."

Emily took a deep breath, and they started walking.

All she could see was Ellie, beaming with pride. Ian, smiling at her. Tim, with his stupid dinosaur bowtie. Owen, his arm around Claire. Muldoon, who'd flown all the way from Zambia. Billy, grinning at her like an idiot.

But then her vision tunneled. Focused on him.

Him and his smile, and his hair that still somehow looked a little tousled. With that smile that told her she was his whole world right now. Emily would be damned if he wasn't her whole world.

It took absolutely no time at all, and yet an eternity to get to him. To stand and face him. To recite her vows.

And in an instant, the minister was saying, "You may kiss the bride."

And he kissed her, gently, slowly. He pulled back ever so slightly, murmuring for just her to hear, "I love you."

Emily smiled, blinking back tears, and kissed him again, briefly.

They pulled back. Sam put an arm around her waist.

"It is my pleasure to announce," the minister said, "Dr. Emily Cate Grant and Dr. Samuel Michael Grant."

Sam's entire family erupted into chaos. Emily could hear his sister saying, "You changed your name?! Sammy!"

Sam laughed, leaning into Emily.

Somewhere over in the group of Emily's friends, Ian said, "Oh God there's three of them now…"


The next few hours were a blur. Emily threw her bouquet; Lizzy caught it and spent the whole night teasing Eli about it. He'd come as her date.

By the time they got a moment to themselves, it was nearly midnight. Emily sat down beside Sam on the couch in her living room.

"You know," Sam mused, "I'm glad we're both doctors."

Emily looked at him, raising an eyebrow. "Why?"

"People can't get us those stupid 'Mr. and Mrs.' towels."

Emily burst out laughing, leaning on him. "I'm so glad I married you."


A little over nine months later, in their new log cabin, Emily and Sam laid their newborn baby girl in her crib.


A bit different than I usually write stuff, but this moment has been a long time coming. Please consider leaving a review.