Author's Note: I thought I'd give an ending instead of just ending it, so I wrote this chapter just to tie everything up. As for what happens afterword, feel free to imagine for yourself.

Disclaimer: Still don't own Rookie Blue.

Andy and Sam had been great. Everything was still slow, but the smallest of things held so much more meaning than they had before. Their work situation had changed, separating them most days, making their mornings and evening time together more special. They actually had conversations about work without either of them knowing everything that they had already been through that day. The new conversations helped strengthen their relationship even further, mostly because of the fact that every detail didn't need to be shared, just the jist of their day sufficed, meaning Andy could leave out some of the endangering situations that she repeatedly put herself into, which in the end prevented Sam from ever worrying or getting angry.

Working towards becoming a detective also complicated Sam's schedule, on top of normal work he was studying everything he needed to know to be a detective. He was working hard and it was paying off, but it was also draining him physically.

He walked in her door, having just gotten off shift and all he wanted was to see her and then sleep, dropping his bag by the door and yelling out for her.

"Andy?"

"In here."

He followed her voice to the bedroom, grateful there was a large bed to lie on in there. He found her lying at the top of the bed on her stomach, reading a book. She was splayed across the width of the bed, hair done up in a bun, yoga pants and one of his black t-shirts on, legs bent at the knee and slightly swaying, she looked like she should be on the phone with one of her girlfriends gossiping about a boy, but instead of holding a phone to her ear she had a book in front of her face. Sam removed his jacket placing it on the chaise before rounding the bed to face her. She dropped the book down to the bed, smiling up at him, "Hey." He smiled exhaustedly before replying and lowering himself to her height so she didn't have to crane her neck to look at him.

He didn't say anything, just looked at her admiringly before closing the distance and kissing her. He climbed on the bed lying down perpendicularly to her body, placing the back of his head on her lower back, seeing as she was blocking the pillows, and closed his eyes. There was a silence, no need to speak, Andy continued with her book as Sam rested, content to stay where he was. After finishing her chapter Andy decided to ask him how work was, still debating if she wanted to continue reading or not.

"How was your day?"

He exhaled loudly and opened his eyes. He moved to rest his head on her bottom as he turned his face a little to look at her. She could see it in his eyes, it was horrible and he was exhausted. She closed her book knowing that he needed her. As she started to roll onto her back, he lightly lifted his head allowing her to move from her current position, once she was in a sitting position he rested his head back down into her lap. Neither one said anything, letting their eyes do all the talking, she could tell that something had really gotten to him, but she could also tell that he didn't exactly want to talk about it. She watched him a little longer before moving on, letting him know that he didn't have to talk about it if he didn't want to. She started playing with his hair, letting him relax. He closed his eyes, grateful that he didn't have to talk about what he had gone through today, and let her run her hands through her hair, feeling her fingers massage his scalp.

"Sam?"

He opened his eyes to see her upside-down face hovering over his. She continued on, knowing that he was definitely listening now.

"I love you, you know that right? I'm here if you need to talk."

She looks scared, like she's afraid that he might not know that already. He focuses on her face, almost as if her were staring her down, his face is serious, letting her understand how serious he is when he speaks.

"I know. I don't want to talk about it, not yet, but I know. I just want to be here, with you."

She started to nod as a smile crept across her face. She kept her eyes trained on his face for a couple more seconds before bringing her head down to meet his. She let her nose push against his; it had become their little quirk, before clasping his lip in hers in a kiss of comfort. She pulled her face away slowly, stopping just far enough above his mouth that she could speak.

"Do you want some dinner?"

He started to nod as he lifted his head to reach her lips with his a muffled, "Mhmm." vibrating through his chest. She pulled herself away, looking down at his smiling face, his whole demeanor had changed, and she was happy to know that she had caused it.

"I'll go get started then."

She gave him a quick kiss before, lifting his head gently and slipping out from underneath him. He started to get up to join her in the kitchen only to have Andy turn around and shove him back onto the bed. She laughed at his stunned face before her face fell to something softer and sympathetic.

"Just relax. You're exhausted. I can handle dinner. I'll come get you once it's done."

She started backing out of the room and added a, "Stay." accompanied with a demanding finger.

It had been about five minutes since she had left him in the room; she was busily working to make them something to eat, when she saw him walking into the kitchen.

"Saaaammm."

He was caught, he knew it by her tone, the tone that each woman had, that innate motherly warning tone. He dropped his head, looking at the floor, but continued to the kitchen to take a seat anyways.

"I told you to relax. You don't need to be out here."

He looked at her, letting her know with his eyes that he wasn't going anywhere.

"I want to be out here. I told you, I want to be with you. I don't like sitting in the other room alone knowing that I could be in here with you."

She nodded, quietly adding a, "'Kay." before turning back to the stove to watch their food. She could tell the day had rattled him a little, she tried to give him space, thinking that's what he wanted, but each time he would just come and find her, pull closer to her physically and emotionally.

Sam knew what he wanted, and it wasn't space; it was Andy. Anything that created emotions within him, he wanted to share with Andy. He wanted her there, when things went well, so they could celebrate together. He wanted her there when he had a horrible day, he wanted her there to comfort him, make him feel better, the way that she was able to when nobody else could. He wanted to be there for her through her ups and downs. He wanted all of her, all the time. He didn't need space, didn't want space, what he needed was Andy McNally.

He had already been thinking about it for a while, he wanted to take the next step, but he just wasn't sure that she wanted to or she was ready for it. He was done waiting though and he was going to go for it. Rejection hurts, but never even taking the chance would be even more painful. He couldn't live without her and he needed her and everyone else to know it. To know that they can't take her from him or they would have him to deal with. To know that he was with her, backing her up, every second of the day.

It had been a few weeks since that day, the case that had a deep impact on Sam. He hadn't pulled away, but he seemed secretive, like he wasn't telling her everything. He wouldn't lie, he just didn't give her everything that she wanted to hear. It was making her nervous, maybe a little anxious, she felt like she was waiting for him to start pulling away, but he never did. He was always there, but she was afraid of getting her heart broken again.

She stepped into his office after shift, expecting him to be finishing up, before they could head out, but he wasn't there. She turned to Traci, wondering if she knew anything.

"Hey Trace, have you seen Sam?"

"He left about an hour ago. I think he left you a note on his desk though."

Andy's face fell; she started to question his feelings for her. Would he really not even say it to her face, just end it again with a note? Traci noticed the emotional change that had quickly taken place and prompted her friend to sit down.

"Hey, what's wrong? I thought you guys were good."

Andy sucked in a deep breath, "Yeah, I thought we were, but a few weeks ago he came over after shift and he seemed a little broken. Ever since, he's been a little…I don't know. It just feels like he's hiding something from me. He's always watching his back around me, like I'm going to hurt him or something." She shrugged her shoulder with the last part, pretending like she wasn't that invested in the relationship anyways.

Traci sat there watching her friend, not wanting to give anything away before Sam even had the chance to surprise her. She shook her head adding, "Just give him a chance to explain, he's too in love with you to leave again."

She nodded her head knowing that her friend was probably right and she was just overreacting and overthinking everything. She stood up, planning on leaving when she saw Traci point to his desk, reminding her that he had written a note. She picked it up hesitantly, there were two papers folded in half, the outside of the last page had a simple 'Andy' written in the middle. She lifted the top, allowing her to see that there were only a few sentences on the first paper.

I love you. You know that right? Meet me at Baker Park.

She smiled, all her fears had suddenly been replaced by a comfortable feeling. She turned to the second page, which contained very little writing as well.

I wanted this to be more romantic than a text, but I am starting to rethink that now that I actually notice how horrible my handwriting is. If you can't read it, call me.

She chuckled to herself. His handwriting had been a major problem when they were partnered together and she had to do paperwork with him. Over the many shifts she had become accustomed to his certain scrawl and could now be considered a certified decipherer. She started to move toward the door, a bounce back in her step when Traci halted her progress.

"Andy."

She turned to see her friend dangling a key to Sam's truck on her finger. Traci couldn't help the laugh that escaped when she saw Andy's face brighten even more. Andy caught the key with ease, turning on her heels and adding a "Thanks Trace." as she headed for the parking lot.

Sam had obviously planned something out; he left her the key to his truck, so somebody must have helped him get to the park. She hopped in the truck, throwing her bag into the back, and sped out towards the park. It wasn't the closest park, so there was obviously something special about it, but she couldn't think what it was.

Baker Park was pretty large, lots of grass surrounding the playground filled with kids. She couldn't see Sam anywhere though.

Everything was set up; thanks to Oliver's help they finished a little earlier than he had originally anticipated. He sent Oliver off to wait with Zoe, who had gladly volunteered to secretly photograph the special occasion. After sitting there for about a half an hour Traci called.

"Swarek."

"Hey, she just left."

"Thanks Traci."

"Good luck Sam."

He hung up his phone, he didn't need luck, he was sure everything would go well, but he was nervous anyways. Now he just had to wait for Andy.

She let her eyes scan the park a third time before giving up and pulling out her phone. She put it to her ear and continued to scan the park.

"Hey."

"Hey, where are you?"

"I am on the hill behind the playground."

"Ok. I'll see you in a minute then."

She walked around the playground, actually able to see the hill now, which seemed farther away than she remembered. Walking towards it she noticed the sun reflecting off of a bunch of shiny somethings on the side of the hill, with the figure of a man standing at the top, as if he had conquered the world. She was getting frustrated though, why was he so far away? Why was he just standing there, not moving to meet her like a good boyfriend would do? She trudged on though. As she came closer she noticed the shiny somethings were just a bunch of plastic windmills. Letting her eyes take in the sight of all the windmills, she noticed they actually made up letters.

He could see her walking, he knew it would take a while, but he needed her to come all the way out, or at least until she could actually read what the windmills said. She suddenly stopped though. She read it. He could tell; he just knew that she had. Thankfully she had caught on and actually figured out that it said something. It would have been embarrassing to have to drag her back down to the bottom of the hill so he could point out that it actually said something. He gave her a few more seconds to stare at the question, before starting to make his way down to her.

She followed him with her eyes, watching him all the way down the hill. He came to a stop directly in front of her, allowing her a little space, so she didn't feel crowded or trapped. She looked like she was holding a grenade again. She looked scared, confused, tears brimming at her eyes, but not quite spilling over. Right now he wished he was in her head, that he could read her mind, but he can't and the fact that he is so unsure of what she will say, scares him, so he starts to explain.

"I love you Andy. I do. I need you. I need you to know we are partners in everything in life. I need you to know that I'll always have your back. I need you to know that I am with you, every step you make, every decision, everything, I'm with you, backing you up, protecting you. I need you to know that my love is forever, it never fades, and it never takes a break, it is constant. I need you and everyone to know that you are mine and I am yours forever. So to remind you of those things, I would like to give you something that will help you remember, that will be a constant reminder, that whenever you feel like nobody is there for you or nobody believes in you, not even yourself, it will remind you that I am and I do. So," he bends down on one knee, looking up at her, his eyes pretty much pleading with her, "Andrea McNally, will you marry me?"

She read the windmills, asking the exact same question, Will you marry me?, but him saying it makes it even harder. She doesn't know what to say. She knows she loves him, but she's not sure about getting married, doesn't know if she'll be a good wife, doesn't know if she can handle it.

"Sam."

It sounds exactly the same as it did when she was holding a bomb, a little hesitant almost sounding like a warning. She's afraid, and he can see that, but so is he. He stands up, reaching for her hand with his free one, the other holding the box containing a ring that he hasn't let her see yet.

"Andy….Do you love me?"

She nods her head, he's fully aware that she is in love with him, he knew what the response would be, but actually having her respond as he had expected, as he had hoped made him feel so much lighter, so much more free, made him feel as if he could actually pull off the corniest joke ever.

He smiled, happy with her response, but even happier that he had planned to say this line, planned it so well that he had the last two words put on the back of the t-shirt that he was currently wearing.

He dropped her hand, almost laughing at the stupidity of his own idea, but he was going for it.

"All you gotta do is,"

He turned around, showing her the two words largely and boldly printed across the back of his black shirt, causing a smile to break across her face. His arms rose above his head, thumbs pointing down to the words as he said, "say 'yes'."

He turned back around to see her shaking her head at his corniness, the biggest smile plastered on her face.

Her head went from shaking to nodding as she spoke.

"Yes."

He pulled the ring out of the box, taking her left hand and placing it on her finger. It wasn't just beautiful, but it actually fit her finger, unlike the first ring that had been placed there a few years ago. She stepped closer to him as she marveled in the beauty of the new jewelry, pulling her eyes away from her hand she looked up to Sam's face before closing the distance completely, kissing him, every emotion pouring into a few simple kisses. Pulling away from his lips she pushed her lips to his cheek before wrapping her arms around his neck and placing her head between his neck and shoulder, content on letting him hold her there as long as he wanted.

After a minute or so of silence, she mumbled into his neck, "I hope you know I'm taking this shirt."

He turned his head so his mouth was at her ear, "Oh yeah?"

She nodded, "I'm gonna wear it all the time. Whenever I think you might say no, I'll just flash you the back of this baby." She tugged on the shirt a little as she spoke. "You'll never say no again. This shirt may be your demise."

He chuckled at her confidence. "We'll see about that McNally."

He released her from his hold once he saw Zoe and Oliver making their way over. Zoe still had the camera up as she walked over, continuing to freeze the special moments of the couple.

THE END.

Thanks for reading!