AN: Well, here we are at the end of this journey. Finally able to post the final chapter. A huge thank you to everyone who has followed this story, and especially to those who are so kind in taking the time to review along the way. Love hearing from you guys.

I hope everyone is doing well.

Enjoy and take care.

CHAPTER 45

"The thing that counts most in the pursuit of happiness is choosing the right companion."

Unknown Source

CATHERINE POV

"What the hell is this thing?"

Sara laughs, not bothering to turn around.

"Seriously," I question. "This thing is bizarre."

"Stop poking it and just try it."

"No thanks."

Finally turning, Sara smirks.

"Trust me?" she questions.

"Always," I don't hesitate. "But this…"

Seeing her cross her arms over her chest, her gaze unfaltering, I sigh.

"Give me a fork."

Smiling, Sara leans over and hands me one.

Watching me closely, the smirk never leaves her face.

Dipping the fork as minimally into the mystery dish as I can, I hesitate a couple times before finally bringing it to my mouth.

Then, I think I die.

"Oh my God."

Sara's smirk widens.

"Don't ever doubt me again," she states simply, turning back to the other pans on the counter.

Sneaking another forkful, I shake my head.

"What is all this for, anyway?"

For the first time since the start of this conversation, Sara hesitates slightly.

"I, uh, I'm going to give it to my mom later."

I pause, brows raising.

"You mean, have dinner with her?"

Sara shrugs, eyes somewhat unsure when she faces me. "Yeah, I guess. If she wants."

My own eyes are surprised.

"When?"

Sara hesitates. "This evening I guess, as long as I don't get called in."

"And if you do," I read her thoughts, "it's an excuse to leave early."

Sara shrugs, expression slightly guilty. "Baby steps, right?"

I smile, closing the distance between us to place my lips on hers.

"I'm proud of you," I tell her when I pull away.

Sara blushes slightly, as always a bit embarrassed by compliments.

"Hey," she states, changing the subject. "You have plans tonight after shift?"

I raise a brow, "Depends. What exactly are you proposing, Sidle?"

Sara smiles slightly, "Can't tell you."

"Hmm," I narrow my eyes suspiciously. "You've been weirdly secretive today. I'm not sure how to feel about this…"

Sara's eyes glint mischievously.

"Well," she shrugs. "If you feel like being brave, follow the address on the card in your locker when you get off shift."

"What…" I shake my head. "How did you get into my locker? And when?"

Sara smiles, turning the water on to start rinsing dishes.

"I have my ways."

"Just one last thing."

"What?"

DB raises his brows at my biting tone.

"Sorry," I mumble, embarrassed. "I didn't mean that…I'm just anxious to leave, I guess…"

Russell smiles, "Apparently."

Grabbing the papers from the layout table, he sends me a look. "You know what, I can take care of this, you go ahead and get out of here."

"No," I shake my head, refusing to let my work slip because of my personal life. "I can-"

"Catherine," he cuts me off. "Go see Sara."

I smile, shaking my head.

"That obvious?"

He laughs.

"It's nice to see," he states warmly. "Now go."

Wasting no more time, I grab my things and bolt.

"What the hell…?"

Glancing back down at the paper in my hands, I look back up.

"Uh…honey?"

I anxiously glance around, hearing only my own voice echoing back to me.

"Am I breaking and entering?" I mumble, mostly to myself.

Glancing around, I cringe as my heels echo loudly on the bare wooden flooring. Moving towards the wall, I flick the light switch.

Nothing.

"Of course…" I mutter. "Sara? Sweetheart?"

Moving further inside, I squint to try to see anything through the dim lighting.

Hearing footsteps from down what looks to be a hall, I suddenly wish I'd brought my service weapon with me.

The footsteps stop, and in the dim lighting, my eyes finally make out a form.

"Sara?"

Moving further into view, Sara approaches me.

"Hey," she offers, a smile gracing her mouth.

"What…"

Looking around, I feel Sara watching me as I do.

"I love you."

Turning back towards her at her unexpected words, I narrow my eyes.

"Hon?"

Sara reaches out, taking my hand in her good one.

"Come with me?"

While I'm still nervous, and more than a bit unsure, I know I'd follow the brunette anywhere.

Leading me further into the house, the wooden floors creak slightly under our feet, the house unnaturally silent without any power on.

Moving forward, Sara pulls her lighter from her pocket. Grabbing a candle from a shelf, she lights it.

In the resulting glow, we explore the house.

Despite my initial thoughts walking into a dark, abandoned house, it's quick to see that this house is beautiful.

It's large, while still being cozy. Old, wood furnishings are etched with elegant details, engravings along crown moldings and detailed finishes almost everywhere you look.

The walls, the rooms, all of it are bare and empty. But, instead of feeling cold, it feels like it's waiting.

Waiting for fulfillment, for people, to once again grace its statuesque framework and fill it with the love that it's used to, but clearly been without for quite some time.

When we complete our walk, Sara stops in the middle of the main living room.

"Catherine, I love you so much."

"Sara…what is this about…?"

"Cath," she swallows, squeezing my hand. "I want to spend the rest of my life with you."

I smile, nodding with furrowed eyes. "Of course, sweetheart, and I with you."

"Catherine."

Sara's tone causes something to tighten in my heart.

She's intense, her gaze searing even as she's having trouble meeting my eyes.

"I want to move forward with you."

She clears her throat, lacing her fingers through mine.

"I…"

Trying again, she swallows.

"I want to create a home, a life with you."

She smiles slightly, her dark eyes alight with emotion.

"Not a life with our mothers."

I laugh, shaking my head before I get serious.

"What are you saying, Sara?"

Sara's body goes unnaturally still, her head bowing slightly before raising to meet mine.

"I want this home to be ours."

I feel my eyes widen slightly, my breathing stop.

"Only if you want…of course…"

Sara's tone grows hesitant as she watches me, my shocked expression.

"Sara…"

I shake my head.

"Wow, honey…"

"If it's too soon," she hesitates, starting to pull back from me slightly. "I didn't mean…"

"Sara, stop," I tell her, pulling her close. Reaching up, I trace her worried features. "I'm saying yes, Sara."

I smile, allowing this moment to truly sink in.

"God, yes, I'm saying yes."

Leaning in, I kiss her.

"I've wanted this with you for longer than you know, Sara Sidle."

Sara watches me closely, her eyes closing and taking in a shaking breath.

"I was so nervous," she confesses.

Sara so very rarely gets nervous or loses control over her stoic nature. Seeing how anxious she was regarding this issue, it shows just how much she cares, how much our relationship means to her.

Tipping her jaw back up to meet her eyes, I can't keep the beaming smile from my face.

"When?" I ask her. "When can we…"

"Now," she states quietly, her voice almost a whisper. "If you want…"

Kissing her, I give her the answer she needs.

Nodding, she takes a breath before pulling her phone from her pocket.

"You sure?" she asks one final time. "You sure you don't want to see it in the daylight? When you can actually see the house you'll be living in?"

I smile.

"Don't need to. What I've seen is already beautiful enough. And, the person I'll be living in it with trumps everything anyway."

Sara nods, watching me to be sure I'm serious.

"Okay," she whispers.

Giving me a smile and a final nod, she texts something on her phone.

Then, placing it back into her back pocket, she takes a deep breath.

"It's done."

I smile, joyful moisture tickling at my eyes.

"It's ours."

"You think we should get up?"

Sara laughs. "Nope. Not at all."

I smile, "Agreed."

Running my fingers gently up and down her collarbone, I watch her in the morning light now filtering through the windows, my fingers tracing idly across the St. Gabriel medal finally gracing her body again.

"You're so beautiful."

"I'm covered in dust," Sara laughs. "And I'm pretty sure I have splinters in places I don't want to think about."

I smile, "Yeah, perhaps we should have chosen a later date to share our first romantic night together in our new house. You know, at least wait until there was furniture."

Sara smiles roguishly, "That would've taken all the fun out of it."

Watching her, even though it's now light out, I find no desire to explore the house further now that I can see it starting to be lit brilliantly in the light of day.

Like I told Sara last night, all I need to know is that she will be living in it with me.

"I can't wait for everything ahead of us."

Sara nods, taking a deep breath.

"I want to thank you, Catherine."

"Sara…"

"No," she states seriously, tucking a lock of hair behind my ear. "We wouldn't even be here, together, if it weren't for you."

Sara lowers her eyes slightly before meeting my gaze.

"You've stood by me, through all of the hell the last months have brought. You've learned things about my past, my family. You've been through nightmares regarding my recovery…"

Sara blinks away the moisture in her eyes.

"You've been at my side through so much. Most people, sane people, would've walked away from me ages ago."

Sara shakes her head. "But here you are."

I kiss her deeply, trailing lingering kisses along her temple before I pull back.

"And how happy I am that I'm here." I trail my fingers gently down her jaw. "And that you've lowered your walls far enough to let me be here." I trail my fingers lower to her chest, stopping above her heart. "And here."

Sara shakes her head, watching me with such deep emotions in her eyes.

Kissing me deeply, she pulls back.

Eyes glancing over us, she notes us both lying naked together in the middle of the wooden floor of our new living room.

Suddenly looking nervous, she glances over at the window.

"Uh, Cath…what time is it?"

I follow her concerned gaze.

"I don't know," I shrug. "Probably around seven."

Sara goes pale, seeing our clothing spread to far corners of the room.

Then, hearing something in the driveway outside, Sara cringes.

"Honey?" I question.

"We, uh, we may be meeting with our realtor this morning to sign our official contract."

"What?! When?!" I gasp, my eyes wide. "Honey, when?!"

Sara cringes, cheeks reddening even as she laughs.

"Seven."

THE END

AN: Thanks for reading. Has been great taking this journey with you guys. Until we meet again, everyone be safe and take care.