AN: Well, here you go, the final chapter of Brooklyn 99. Thank you all for all the powerstones and support. And I know, it ain't perfect, but it's better than abandoning the book.
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[1 year, 6 months later] [Brooklyn Nine-Nine]
Time didn't slow down after Ray left. If anything, it sped up and forced everyone to grow whether they were ready or not.
Amy stood at the center of the bullpen, no longer just the over-prepared detective buried in binders and color-coded tabs. The sergeant badge sat firmly on her chest now, and she carried it with the kind of pride that showed in everything she did. She moved between desks, correcting reports, giving instructions, and keeping the entire floor running like a system she had personally engineered.
"Boyle, this form is missing three signatures and somehow includes a recipe for garlic butter," she said while flipping through his paperwork without even looking up.
Boyle rushed over, slightly out of breath but smiling like usual. "Oh, my bad. I misplaced it." He took the recipe and held it before Amy. "This is for later. Genevieve wanted me to test it for dinner tonight, and I thought I could multitask."
Amy pinched the bridge of her nose before handing it back. "You're married now, Charles. Be responsible."
Boyle lit up immediately at the word. "Yeah, I am. Still feels unreal sometimes." He paused, then leaned in slightly. "You should come over for dinner this weekend. Genevieve is making duck confit, and I have perfected a wine pairing that will change your life."
Amy gave him a small smile before turning back to her desk. "I'll think about it."
Across the room, Rosa sat in her usual spot. It wasn't obvious at first glance, though the way her hand rested on her stomach every now and then gave it away. Three months in, she still carried herself like the same intimidating force.
A suspect file sat open in front of her, but her focus drifted for a moment as she leaned back slightly. Amy noticed and walked over.
"You good?" Amy asked, keeping her voice low.
Rosa nodded once. "Yeah."
Amy glanced at her for a second longer, then softened just a bit. "If you need to take it easy, you can. I'll handle things here."
Rosa scoffed lightly. "I'm pregnant, not dying."
"Still," Amy said, then stepped back, giving her space.
Some things hadn't changed at all. Hitchcock and Scully argued over lunch like it was a life-or-death situation. What are they arguing about? Turkey sandwich with tomatoes or no tomatoes.
Terry was in Holt's office, talking about how the Vulture keeps stealing their cases.
Two desks, however, stayed empty.
Jake's chair sat untouched, pushed in neatly, waiting for a return date that no one could mark on a calendar. His undercover assignment with the FBI had been classified enough that even Amy only knew the basics: deep cover and no contact unless absolutely necessary.
The other one was Ray's desk.
No one said it out loud, but every now and then, someone would glance at their desks.
...
[Gina's World]
Gina's dance career took off. She created another dance group.
Her latest dance group, Hotgasm, had exploded online in a way that felt almost inevitable once people caught on. Videos trended constantly, her name stayed in circulation, and brand deals followed like gravity did its job. She leaned fully into it, building an online presence that mixed performance, sarcasm, and just enough chaos to keep people hooked.
She stood in a studio surrounded by dancers, phone in hand, reviewing a clip while shaking her head slowly.
"No, no, no. That move says confidence, but I need delusion-level confidence," she said, pointing at one of the dancers. "You're not dancing for them. You're dancing like they're lucky to witness you exist."
The dancer nodded nervously while adjusting her stance.
Gina turned the camera on herself and flashed a perfect smile. "Reminder for everyone watching. You don't chase success. Success chases me, and sometimes I let it catch up."
She ended the recording, satisfied, and tossed her phone aside.
Money wasn't an issue anymore. Fame wasn't either. She built her own world, and she ran it exactly how she wanted.
...
[Upstate New York – Vineyard]
The vineyard stretched across rolling land, rows of vines catching the late afternoon light in a way that made everything feel slower and quieter.
Emma Watson stood near one of the rows, sleeves rolled up, examining a cluster of grapes with careful attention. Life had shifted completely for her. Acting was behind her, politics no longer pulled at her time, and the chaos of public expectation had faded into something she controlled instead of endured. She wanted to spend her time with Ray and her family.
She brushed a strand of hair back and turned as footsteps approached.
Ray walked up beside her, hands in his pockets, taking in the view for a second before speaking. "You're getting better at spotting the good batches."
She glanced at him with a small smile. "I had a good teacher."
He shrugged lightly. "You picked it up faster than most."
She straightened and stretched slightly, then looked toward the estate behind them. "The new shipment goes out tomorrow. We're expanding faster than I expected."
Ray nodded once. "People like quality. And they like your name attached to it."
She gave him a look. "I don't want it to be about my name."
"It isn't," he said calmly. "That just gets them through the door."
She considered that, then nodded slightly. "Fair enough."
Her gaze softened a little as she stepped closer, lowering her voice. "I'm thinking of finishing another painting tonight." Aside from her wine business, she has taken an interest in painting, and let's just say she loves to paint her man behind the closed door before having messy sex.
Ray raised a brow. "Canvas or…"
She smirked, just enough to answer without words. "You'll find out later."
He let out a quiet breath, already knowing what that meant.
…
[Film Set – New York]
Across the city, Emma Stone stood under bright studio lights, script in hand, surrounded by a production that screamed scale and money.
After her last movie, The Amazing Spider-Man 2, she had stepped into something even bigger. Titan Studios had her locked into a major role for their new Avengers project, and the pace hadn't slowed since.
"Reset for another take," Alex's voice called out. He's directing the movie.
She nodded, stepping back into position, slipping into character like it was second nature. Cameras rolled, action hit, and she delivered the scene with the kind of confidence that came from years of experience.
Between takes, she checked her phone briefly. A message from Ray sat there, simple and to the point.
Dinner tonight. I'm cooking.
She smiled faintly before locking her screen and heading back into position.
Work stayed intense, but she balanced it in a way she hadn't before.
...
[Ray's Office – White Investigations]
After five months of doing absolutely nothing productive and only having fun with his harem, Ray had a difficult time adjusting to a simple life. For a guy like him, who had spent years fighting wars and hunting criminals, a simple life was really hard. He was yearning for that rush once again.
So, after a lot of thinking, Ray decided to become a private investigator.
White Investigations wasn't massive, but it didn't need to be. Word spread fast when results followed, and Ray had built a reputation that didn't rely on a badge anymore.
He sat at his desk, flipping through a case file while a client explained something across from him.
"I just need to know if my business partner is clean," the man said, clearly nervous.
Ray closed the file slowly and looked up. "Nobody's completely clean. Question is how dirty you're willing to tolerate."
The man swallowed. "I need the truth."
Ray nodded once. "Then you'll get it."
He stood, signaling the meeting was over, and the client left with a mix of relief and uncertainty.
Ray walked to the window, looking out over the city.
For once, everything he did was a choice.
His phone buzzed.
A message from Amy.
Is Stone coming for dinner tonight?
He stared at it for a second, then typed back.
Yep. And I'm thinking of having some apron fun.
Amy's reply came after a few seconds.
Ohh. I'll take the pink one and I want you to be completely nude. I want to climb you after I get home.
Ray chuckled after reading her text.
Life had changed for everyone.
And for once, Ray was actually enjoying his life on his own terms, doing what he wanted to do.
But what can one do when the past comes knocking at their doors?
The door opened, and two tall, well-built men walked in. Ray looked back and sighed. He knew them very well. They did four missions together in the past. "Barney, you look like shit and..." He raised an eyebrow. "...Brooker? I thought you died in Vietnam."
Brooker smiled as he said, "The Viet Cong sent a whole battalion to bury me. I let them finish the hole... then I made sure they were the ones who stayed in it."
Ray chuckled, shaking his head as he walked over to shake their hands.
"So, what can I do for you guys? Just to be clear, I'm a familyman now with lots of responsibilities, and my girl is pregnant, so... This better not bring me heat," Ray said as he walked over and sat down in his chair.