A/N: Thanks helenawrites and Christopher Nolan for the reviews on last chapter and to everyone who read and/or reviews this story.
Epilogue
Audrey and Jack met each other's gaze from across the room and smiled at each other, feeling as good as they did all those years ago working for DOD. It hadn't been easy to get back to that feeling. Jack had carried his guilt over what happened to Audrey in China into the relationship, which only continued as he saw that she was still pretty broken over it. She consistently reminded him that it wasn't his fault but in the back of his mind there would always be a part of him that didn't believe it. He now told himself that it didn't matter. The past couldn't be undone and he was happy to have a future with Audrey again. Not to mention that it felt incredible to be able to talk about his own experiences from China with somebody who truly understood and loved him regardless of how much he hated himself during those memories. Audrey was also helping him feel like he had a soul again. He could feel the weight of his actions again and feel bad for the things he had done to accomplish his goal. As much as it hurt, he knew it was a good thing to feel human again, and he had to give Audrey credit for making him feel that way again.
Audrey felt herself slowly starting to heal once Jack was a part of her life again. For a while she had tried not talking about China, not wanting him to feel any more guilt than he already did, but found that it was therapeutic for both of them to be able to talk about it and move past it. It took a while for Audrey to feel like Jack truly didn't judge her for giving those files to Emerson and sleeping with Tony, Jack clearly wanting to avoid the topic and to pretend it never happened, but eventually he sat down and listened to her explain just how lost she had felt when he was taken by the Chinese, her depression, and the series of disappointments of trying to get him back through legitimate channels that had pushed her to her breaking point. He chose to forgive her even though Audrey wasn't entirely sure she deserved it.
Jack reached out to Renee after a few months had passed, wanting to check that she was okay, but confident that she did not want to hear from him. After several of his calls being sent directly to voicemail, he decided to leave a message telling her that she had been right about his lack of empathy that day which was enough to get her to pick up the phone the next time he tried to call. She was clearly still distraught over the events of the day but after a while started accepting that what they did was necessary, but that it was okay to let herself feel badly about it as long as it didn't consume her. Talking to Jack seemed to help as she now felt like she could connect to someone about the way she was feeling which she couldn't do that day because of how closed off Jack was. Renee also started therapy and decided to return to the FBI.
Tony's trial had caused tension between Jack and Audrey for a short time, Audrey deciding that she would testify on his behalf. Audrey did not speak on behalf of Tony's character but did attempt to explain how Emerson had taken advantage of Tony who had been grieving at the time Tony began working for him. Jack also testified in favor of Tony after much pleading from Audrey. He was letting his jealousy overcome him originally, but Audrey reminded him that she was just as guilty as Tony and if he truly believed Tony was all evil that he obviously did not forgive her for her crimes. Jack caved and reminded the court of the good Tony had done for the country, thinking that it could tip the scales. He supposed he had to believe Tony's actions were forgivable. Jack himself had killed and been responsible for the deaths of innocent people in the name of saving others. The difference being that Tony had done some terrible things for revenge on Michelle rather than for the good of the country, but he supposed that taking down the people responsible for her death was a good deed for the country, even if the methods he used were flawed. Their testimonies lessened his sentence, offering a possibility of parole after ten years with good behavior.
After the trial, things were smooth sailing for Jack and Audrey. They were dating again like a regular couple. Kim had reached out to Jack to reestablish a relationship, not only with her but with her daughter, Teri. Audrey had reached out to her own father who had been surprised to hear from her, but happy that she called. They talked for a while before Audrey dropped the bomb that she and Jack were back together. Audrey had been expecting a lecture, maybe more of a yelling, but instead found that her father just sighed and asked if she was happy. When she confirmed that she was, he decided that was all he could ask for and was just happy to have her back in his life. He apologized to Jack when they saw each other for the first time and Jack forgave him, understanding that he was just trying to do what was best for his daughter.
So here they were in their apartment celebrating their trip to the courthouse that morning to get married with their rekindled families, Bill, and Chloe. Although they had both changed so much since they had first met, they found themselves more compatible with each other now than they had been back then and agreed to always continue to grow together.