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6->'''Boy:''' Will you go out with me?\
7'''Girl:''' Excuse me?\
8'''Boy:''' I've always liked you.\
9'''Girl:''' Oh my gosh... I like you too.\
10'''Narrator:''' After years of coming to terms with their feelings, their story has yet to begin. '''THE END'''\
11'''Murayama:''' Whaddya mean The End?! We're just getting to the real part! How do you even “date” anyway? The book says nothing about it since it ended right after they confessed.
12-->--''Manga/MusashiKunToMurayamaSanTsukkiateMita''
13
14It finally happened. After all the {{Fanwank}} and {{Shipping}}, after all the [[SheIsNotMyGirlfriend denial]], after all the WillTheyOrWontThey, after all the fighting (by either [[BelligerentSexualTension the couple]] or [[ShipToShipCombat the fans]]), and after all the heartless [[ShipTease teasing]], devoted fans and viewers alike are at last rewarded with the two characters (usually the main character and his/her close friend of opposite gender) everyone knows and/or demands should inevitably get together, finally doing just that. Too bad it can't be enjoyed, what with the show ending in the next two seconds and all.
15
16Oftentimes the audience will only follow a series just to see if a specific couple will hook up. Actually hooking up the couple in the middle of the series runs the risk of ShippingBedDeath. In many series, resolving the romantic situations of the main characters is a SeriesGoal, hence any attempt to break through and resolve the relationships before the GrandFinale results in FailureIsTheOnlyOption. StatusQuoIsGod results in the characters' relationship stagnating for the duration of the series.
17
18With a Last Minute Hookup, even the most uncreative and hilariously unromantic of writers are enabled to enjoy all the benefits of rewarding incessant {{fan|on}}s with an intimate relationship, without the hassle of actually having to do so. All they need to do is make sure the two have [[TheBigDamnKiss that one single kiss]] or exchange a single "I love you" at the very end, and it's all good. It's just that easy. Besides, TrueLoveIsBoring anyhow.
19
20This is also a way writers [[CleaningUpRomanticLooseEnds get rid of inconvenient romantic competition]] by having said competition [[PairTheSpares suddenly fall for someone else]].
21
22Though certainly not exclusive to them, the trope is especially frequent in [[PrecociousCrush premature crush]]-laden shows directed towards kids and tween audiences, where very few writers have the guts to take a jab at illustrating actual romance, but nonetheless, a vast majority still feel the overwhelming need to drop an innumerable amount of [[{{Anvilicious}} anything-but-subtle]] "[[ShipTease hints]]" toward the prospect all throughout the series. For the few bold ones that do have the guts to at least give it a try, they are hampered by {{Media Watchdog}}s and the usually larger portion of the audience who, quite frankly, just aren't into that kind of stuff.
23
24While actually seeing the couple together and having a relationship would have been nice, there can be potential problems that arise from that, which this trope removes, such as the new couple [[ShippingBedDeath not having the same chemistry now that they're together]], their [[RomanticPlotTumor romance taking over the story]], or the characters becoming SickeninglySweethearts. It may result in another [[ShipSinking ship being sunk]], but that couple's shippers are spared having to see their rival ship together. This sometimes overlaps with StrangledByTheRedString when it's done ''especially'' badly, but it can also serve as damage control for that trope, though there is a risk of any of these happening in [[PostscriptSeason unexpected sequels]].
25
26See HookedUpAfterwards for when this happens to side characters, and MaybeEverAfter for when the hook-up is hinted or implied rather than being certain.
27
28Contrast with NewOldFlame.
29
30'''Important Note''': Even though this is not an AudienceReaction, and is usually pretty straightforward, (i.e. [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin the couple hooks up at the last minute]]), that examples can get subjective due to ShipToShipCombat, ShippingGoggles, or just plain disagreements. What one person considers to be the couple getting together, another person may not. For example, the couple may have confessed their feelings for each other earlier, at which point part of the audience now considers them to have hooked up, but the couple doesn't have their FirstKiss until the very end, (or vice versa) and the other part of the audience doesn't consider them officially together until then. This can also apply to couples that hook up earlier but break up and don't get back together until the very end.
31
32!!Warning: This is an EndingTrope, so spoilers abound
33----
34!!Examples
35
36[[foldercontrol]]
37
38[[folder:Anime and Manga]]
39* ''Manga/{{ARIA}}'': A variety of this trope occurs at the end of the series when super-undine Alicia declares that she will retire and get married. Before that, there was no indication whatsoever that she was even ''seeing'' someone, let alone that she was getting engaged. Throughout the series [[PseudoRomanticFriendship she appears to be mostly focused on Akari]], so her announcement does come totally out of the blue. Worse, her fiancé doesn't even get the slightest bit of screen time, so it all feels like quite a cop-out.
40* ''Manga/CaptainTsubasa'': In the last two Volumes of the first manga series, Tsubasa and Sanae realize the feelings they have for each other, Sanae finally becomes honest with herself and her feelings, but Tsubasa is a strange case, he showed no hints whatsoever that he liked Sanae or anyone else, so his love confession felt like a last-minute plot. This is saved from its own awkwardness because that’s only the first manga series’ climax, the sequels do take their time to show Tsubasa showing affection towards Sanae, and consequently developing their relationship.
41* ''Manga/DNA2'' makes it obvious in the final scene that [[VictoriousChildhoodFriend Ami]] and Junta will end up together. This is after a good chunk of the manga revolved around Junta's feelings for Karin and her trying to come to terms with her own for him, with the attempt of hooking Junta up with Ami being a minor subplot that was quickly forgotten. Couples as StrangledByTheRedString, as the other romantic options are quickly dealt with: Kotomi has been [[PutOnABus shipped off to Germany]], Tomoko goes back to her [[JerkJock jerk]] boyfriend and Karin, [[FishOutOfTemporalWater being from the future]] has to return and actually fixes the circumstances, so that Junta will end up with Ami.
42* ''Anime/{{Erin}}'': It's implied in the last scene that Elin and Ialu are married with a child.
43* Happened in ''Anime/IGPXImmortalGrandPrix''. Takeshi and Liz spent all of 26 episodes (two years in-universe) [[BelligerentSexualTension exchanging blows]]. Takeshi already had a girlfriend in Fantine, a pilot for a rival team, who noticed Liz's connection with Takeshi and promptly broke off their relationship. In the last few minutes of the final episode, Takeshi [[CannotSpitItOut struggles to ask Liz out on a date]]. Liz responds with a [[TheBigDamnKiss gentle kiss]], confirming her answer.
44* ''Manga/TheLawOfUeki Plus'': Ueki and Mori officially become a couple at the end.
45* ''Manga/MagicKnightRayearth'': In the anime version, Hikaru and Lantis do this, with a full-blown confession from both of them, right before Hikaru gets whisked back to her world. [[WhereAreTheyNowEpilogue The last few scenes]], however, seem to imply that they won't be separated for long...
46* This is heavily implied in the anime ending of ''Manga/{{MAR}}'' between Ginta and Koyuki/Snow. Their last scene has them clinging to each other [[SnowMeansLove under the snow]], suggesting they're now a couple, right before the credits roll.
47* ''Anime/MartianSuccessorNadesico'' holds off on making the relationship between Akito and Yurika official until the very end. While Yurika was pushing for a reciprocated ChildhoodFriendRomance from the start, Akito avoided it at every turn. The fight leading UP to the romance began with 5 minutes left in the series and is established with about 2 minutes left.
48* In ''Anime/MobileSuitGundamZZ'', Roux Louka ends up joining Judau in the ending. He's the hero, his primary love interest (the BigBad, Haman Khan) is dead, and his [[ChildhoodFriendRomance Unlucky Childhood Friend]] Elle is more-or-less hooked up with Beecher, so Roux (the only unattached girl on the Gundam Team) is elected despite having no more subtext with him than any other female major character.
49* Parodied in chapter 2 of ''Musashi-kun to Murayama-san wa Tsukiatte Mita''. After Musashi accepts her spur-of-the-moment offer for a relationship, Murayama [[ThinksLikeARomanceNovel starts pouring over her collection of romance novels]] for advice since she has no idea how to date someone. Unfortunately for her, every single one of them ends with the confession.
50-->'''Murayama:''' Whaddya mean ''the end?!'' We're just getting to the real part.
51* ''{{Franchise/Naruto}}'': Due to the genre of the series, all canon pairings were decided within the last two chapters and ''Anime/TheLastNarutoTheMovie''. AllLoveIsUnrequited is strictly enforced for the entire duration of the series and even at the end of the main story, the romantic relationships of the characters were still left unresolved. Then the last chapter is a BabiesEverAfter DistantFinale with the romantic relationships somehow resolved off-screen during the TimeSkip. In the case of [[OfficialCouple Naruto and Hinata]], their hookup was resolved in a canonical movie appropriately titled ''The Last'', set between the second last chapter and the last chapter of the manga.
52* ''Anime/{{Nightwalker}}'': Over the course of the story, Riho develops from {{muggle}} GirlFriday to SecretKeeper to [[spoiler:vampire daughter]] and finally to lover of the {{Vampire Detective|Series}} protagonist. Despite appearing like a one-sided crush on Riho's part for the majority of the show, in the penultimate scene Shido and Riho get into bed (a coffin) together.
53* ''Manga/NodameCantabile'': It isn't until the very last scenes of the anime that Chiaki finally recognizes his feelings for Nodame and decides to study abroad together with her. Alas, their relationship has been put back a level again for the second season, following the manga.
54* ''Manga/RanmaOneHalf'': The final chapter shows NoRomanticResolution for most of the LoveDodecahedron, except for Ryoga, who gets over his unrequited love for Akane and chooses to become committed to his relationship with Akari.
55* ''Manga/RaveMaster'': Haru and Elie declare their love for each other during the final battle, when it seems she's going to have to kill him to save the world, but fortunately, he turns up alive one year later and they're HappilyMarried [[BabiesEverAfter with a son]] in the epilogue.
56* ''Anime/SamuraiPizzaCats'': The original version sees protagonist Speedy frequently lusting after tea-girl Lucille; late in the series, he develops feelings for his teammate Polly, and they literally end up in each other's arms in the [[GrandFinale series finale]]. However, writers for the dubbed version weren't provided with scripts of the original episodes, forcing them to make up plotlines and dialogue as they went; as a result, Speedy's growing attraction to Polly is never mentioned at all until the final episode, making their embrace at the end seem very sudden.
57* ''Anime/SandsOfDestruction'' ends with Morte and Kyrie [[KissingDiscretionShot apparently suddenly realizing their feelings for one another are romantic]] in the last moments of the very final episode. You could almost make an argument for them being StrangledByTheRedString, considering that most of their previous interactions were nearly entirely platonic or [[AmbiguousSituation ambiguous]] at best, except that the romantic resolution is given little more than a light nod.
58** The [[VideoGame/SandsOfDestruction game]] it was adapted from averts the trope, with the two of them becoming an OfficialCouple about halfway through the plot and plenty of build-up: he's clearly infatuated from their first meeting, and she shows hints of softening towards him before the plot [[LoveEpiphany brains her with a clue-by-four]].
59* ''Anime/{{Vandread}}'': Dita finally gets into the spaceship with the male protagonist to fly home with him, after he [[SayMyName calls her name]]. Coincidentally, the only time Dita calls Hibiki by ''his'' name is in that episode.
60* Subverted in ''Anime/TheVisionOfEscaflowne''. Hitomi and Van confess their feelings for one another in the last half of the last episode, but they don't kiss and Hitomi returns to Earth, leaving Van's world forever.
61[[/folder]]
62
63[[folder:Comic Books]]
64* Fairy tales often leave off with the couple overcoming the problem at hand, having a kiss, and proceeding to "live HappilyEverAfter". This is turned right on its ear with the ''ComicBook/{{Fables}}'' comic book series, where it's revealed that the "Prince Charming" from the various tales is all the same guy, working through a series of failed marriages.
65* Within a year of ComicBook/HarleyQuinn crossing over into canon comics, writers flip-flopped and started showing that the Joker really would kill Harley and only kept her around because she was loyal and made him laugh. A good handful of writers even had Joker openly flirting with Batman and Lex Luthor to amp up his creepiness. But in the very last issue of ''Gotham City Sirens'', when Harley wants Joker dead for good and believes he's luring her into a trap, right before the New 52 complete reboot of the DC Universe, Joker kisses Harley. Note that this particular writer had zero experience writing the Joker before this.
66* ''ComicBook/StrangersInParadise'': The hookup of [[spoiler: Casey and Tambi]] in the last issue struck many readers as [[StrangledByTheRedString forced]], given that they'd only been revealed even to have had an employer/employee relationship two issues previously; both were examples of Terry Moore's KudzuPlot tendencies getting out of hand as the series drew to a close.
67* ''ComicBook/XMen'': Over 20 years (real time) after their initial relationship crashed and burned, Shadowcat and Colossus finally consummated in the pages of ''ComicBook/AstonishingXMen'', [[spoiler: She's lost in space, presumed nearly dead, within the year.]] But he was also dead for nearly a decade of that time.
68[[/folder]]
69
70[[folder:Fan Works]]
71* Most of the couples in ''Fanfic/SonOfTheSannin'' avert this, getting together during the course of the story (either shown on-page like Naruto and Hinata or implicitly like Shikamaru and Temari). The only ones who play it straight are Kiba and Tamaki, who get a BigDamnKiss in the second-to-last chapter (and a few chapters earlier even had an IfWeGetThroughThis moment).
72[[/folder]]
73
74[[folder:Film -- Animated]]
75* ''WesternAnimation/{{Aladdin}}'' ended with the titular hero and his romantic interest marrying and sailing off on a magic carpet together---but the sequel movies and TV series which follow press the ResetButton a little bit, making them only ''engaged'' (with Aladdin living in the palace to learn the ropes about being a Prince before the marriage takes place). While this may seem practical, it also allows the show to avoid the squicky-to-ten-year-olds portrayal of physical intimacy between the two romantically linked characters. (It also conveniently gives the hero a chance to demonstrate his manliness by becoming a [[MagneticGirlfriend desire magnet]] for every [[TheVamp hot villainess]] and DamselInDistress who comes to town.)
76* ''WesternAnimation/AMonsterInParis'' stretches this trope to its limits, with [[spoiler: Raoul and Lucille]] only hooking up ''after'' the [[spoiler: DancePartyEnding]].
77* ''WesternAnimation/Shrek1'': For all of the fairy tale subversions, plays this straight by having Fiona and Shrek hook up at the end, but the subsequent sequels serve to illustrate the ups and downs of their abnormal marriage.
78[[/folder]]
79
80[[folder:Film -- Live Action]]
81* ''Film/AttackOfTheKillerTomatoes'': Lois Fairchild and Mason Dixon, after having perhaps [[StrangledByTheRedString thirty seconds of screen-time together]] before this, fall passionately in love in the last sixty seconds and sing the beautiful romantic duet appropriately titled "Love Theme from Attack of the Killer Tomatoes" before literally Walking Off Into The Sunset Together.
82* ''Film/BillyMadison'': Practically every single character pairs up with someone right at the end, including a real person and a giant penguin that had previously only existed in Billy's mind.
83* ''Film/EpicMovie'': Near the end of the film, Mystique ends up revealing she now finds Peter extremely attractive and drags him into his tent to have sex with him. Peter had a crush on Mystique near the beginning of the film, but her only scenes up to this point involved her mocking and rejecting him, and the other simply had the X-Men and her now wanting to stand beside Peter. Her finding him attractive enough to have hardcore sex with him, [[FanDisservice as a fat, unibrowed grandma]] [[ChubbyChaser per his requests]] might I add, all night long near the end of the film comes almost completely out of nowhere.
84* ''Film/FoolsGold'': Gemma Honeycutt and Alfonz. He at least had formerly expressed lust about in her in a fairly sleazy manner, but her attraction came out of absolutely nowhere (she had spent the film mooning over Finn).
85* ''Film/{{Highwaymen}}'': After Fargo's defeat, the protagonist initially considers leaving as his quest for revenge is over (Fargo previously murdered his wife). He and Molly seem to get together just before the end credits.
86* In ''{{Film/Holiday}}'', John and Linda wait until the ''very last shot'' of the movie to make their relationship official. That's still one up on the play's MaybeEverAfter ending.
87* In most of the ''Film/JamesBond'' films, Bond will hook up with other women throughout the movie, but he almost always waits until the last few minutes to hook up with the main [[GirlOfTheWeek Bond Girl]]. Of course, [[TheCasanova Bond being Bond]] he's usually slept with them once, or at least kissed them, before that.
88* ''Film/TheLordOfTheRings'': The pairing of Faramir and Éowyn at the end of the [[Film/TheLordOfTheRingsTheReturnOfTheKing third film]] comes [[StrangledByTheRedString basically out of nowhere]] (though [[AdaptationExplanationExtrication it's given much more attention in the books]]) after Éowyn has spent most of her time pining after Aragorn. Though you might argue realizing the crush is hopeless shows CharacterDevelopment.
89* ''Film/TheMartian'': Beck and Johanssen's relationship is reduced to a literal Last Minute Kiss when she gives him a quick smooch before he goes EVA to help retrieve Mark, instead of (apparently) hooking up beforehand and moving into the same bunk as happened in the book. Given that said romance didn't really add much to the story in the first place and barely ever comes up after it's mentioned, [[Administrivia/TropesAreTools this doesn't really hurt much.]]
90* ''Radio/OurMissBrooks'': After eight years on the radio, and four years (concurrently) on television, Connie Brooks finally gets Phillip Boynton to propose marriage in the last ten minutes of the [[TheMovie cinematic]] GrandFinale. Even then, the proposal is ''de facto'' [[TheMatchmaker delivered by Mrs. Davis and Mr. Boynton's mother.]]
91* ''Film/PiratesOfTheCaribbeanTheCurseOfTheBlackPearl'' has Will and Elizabeth, who despite being obviously in love with each other the entire movie don't kiss until the penultimate scene, (which also includes an AnguishedDeclarationOfLove).
92* PlayedForLaughs in ''Film/PopstarNeverStopNeverStopping'', where immediately after the Style Boyz performance at the Poppy's, Lawrence makes out with the unnamed stagehand who he had previously never even met (at least on screen). This is even {{Lampshaded}} by Conner in the middle of his inner monologue.
93--> '''Conner''': Yo, do they even know each other?
94* In ''Film/ThePurchasePrice'', Joan and Jim finally kiss and (it's implied) consummate their marriage in the last seconds of the film.
95* ''Film/SavingSilverman'': J.D. hooks up with Coach Norton at the end of the movie, immediately after both admit they are gay. They get married in the next scene.
96* ''The Snake King'', A Film/SyFyChannelOriginalMovie, ends with the male lead and female lead, who have shown ''[[StrangledByTheRedString no interest in each other at all]]'' up to this point, falling in love after the final battle. It is a prime example of this trope, complete with the one single kiss at the very end.
97* ''Film/StrangeDays'': Mace and Lenny get together just seconds before the end credits roll.
98* ''Timelock'' ends with a spaceship pilot and a criminal in bed... despite the fact that she was a total bitch to him and he should be serving his sentence at Alpha One.
99[[/folder]]
100
101[[folder:Literature]]
102!!By Author
103* This happens in so many books of Creator/AgathaChristie such as ''Literature/TheMurderOnTheLinks'', ''Literature/TowardsZero'' or ''Literature/WhyDidntTheyAskEvans'' In fact, it might be shorter to name the Christie books that ''don't'' have a last-minute hookup. Sometimes the 'last-minute' part may even be as late as the final page and occasionally overlaps with FourthDateMarriage.
104
105!!By Title
106* ''Literature/OneQEightyFour'': The novel ends with Aomame and Tengo escaping 1Q84, renting a room in a hotel, and having sex before looking up at the solitary moon in the sky.
107* ''Literature/TwentySixSixtySix'': The first part ends with Liz leaving the love triangle with Pelletier and Espinoza in favor of Morini.
108* ''Literature/TheBeastPlayer'': At the end of the original duology, Seimiya agrees to unite the two conflicting territories of Lyoza through her marriage to Shunan.
109* ''Literature/{{Changes}}'' actually manages to subvert this: Harry and Karrin finally almost acknowledge their feelings for each other and manage to set up a date, but Harry [[spoiler:gets shot and dies]] just before the date can happen. Of course, this being Harry, [[PlotArmour the hero of the series]], [[spoiler:he goes on to solve a case ''while being a ghost'', then comes back alive]].
110* ''Literature/TheChroniclesOfPrydain'' by Creator/LloydAlexander: After five books of arguments and misunderstandings, Taran and Eilonwy get married at the very end of the last chapter of the last book.
111* In the ''Literature/DarkestPowers'' series, Chloe and [[spoiler:Derek]], only get together at the end. However given they may make an appearance at some point in the next YA trilogy (''Darkness Rising''), there might be the possibility of seeing them as a couple then.
112* ''Literature/TheDaVinciCode'': The romantic subplot between Langford and Sophie was limited to this trope, more for the sake of the hero getting the girl than for any plot purpose.
113* Creator/VernorVinge's ''Literature/ADeepnessInTheSky'' has two mild examples. There is ''some'' foreshadowing of the relationships involved, but it's still pretty sudden.
114** [[spoiler:Pham and Anne spend most of the book trying to outmaneuver and ultimately murder each other, but when Anne is deFocused, she and Pham become an item in less than a page.]]
115** [[spoiler:Pham ships Ezr off with Qiwi within twenty pages of the end of the book, and Ezr apparently has no problem with this. In his case, it's especially jarring because Ezr has spent literally the ''entire book up to this point'' faithfully waiting on the Focused Trixia, only to be flat-out rejected by her once she is partially defocused because she no longer feels like a human. Flip a page or two, and suddenly Ezr and Qiwi are a thing.]]
116* ''Literature/HarryPotter'':
117** Hermione and Ron. After seven books of WillTheyOrWontThey, they make out in the hall while Voldemort and the Death Eaters are attacking the school and people are dying.
118* ''Just Friends'' by Robyn Sisman sees the two main characters embark on rather serious relationships (with other people) and have genuine problems when living with each other for a short time. The relationships with their partners conveniently end so they can end up together on the last page, leaving many questions as to how they would live together and deal with each other's and their own character flaws unanswered.
119* Done surprisingly well in Creator/GuyGavrielKay's ''Literature/TheLastLightOfTheSun''. At the start of the story, Bern Thorkellson is saved by witch-in-training Anrid. He then goes off to have numerous adventures, while she stays behind and eventually becomes the head witch on her island. Neither of them ever forgets the other though, and when Bern returns home at the end of the novel, Anrid is waiting for him. She explains that he has been pardoned and is allowed to come home to the family farm while dropping some not-so-subtle hints that she would like to go with him. Bern--who at this point has watched his father die and is more or less disillusioned with life in general--decides that having some genuine warmth in his life would be a good thing, and they decide to get married and give it a shot.
120* ''Literature/LoyalEnemies'': After a lot of WillTheyOrWontThey-tension, several [[LoveEpiphany Love Epiphanies]] and lots of EveryoneCanSeeIt, werewolf Shelena and her so-called enemy Veres eventually just disappear into the bushes and have sex in the epilogue. PlayedForLaughs because Veres' apprentice Rest assumes they're going to try and kill each other. Though Shelena leaves immediately after, it is heavily implied they will see each other again regularly as she is confident that [[LawOfInverseFertility she's pregnant]] and Veres would want to see his child. The follow-up novella shows them still madly in love, living together and raising their son.
121* In ''Literature/LuckyJim'': [[spoiler: Jim and Christine]] breaking it off with their romantic rivals, after a whole book of romantic setup, and getting together is the last thing to happen in the book.
122* In ''Literature/MemorySorrowAndThorn'', although the relationship between [[TheHero Simon]] and [[RebelliousPrincess Miriamele]] had been shaping up over the course of all three books, it's not until the denouement that they finally upgrade it thanks to a bit of GladToBeAliveSex coupled with StandardHeroReward.
123* It's not until the last page of ''Literature/{{Mockingjay}}'' that Katniss ends up with [[spoiler:Peeta]].
124* ''An Old Fashioned Girl'' by Creator/LouisaMayAlcott. She spends the final paragraphs letting readers know that, the two main couples did indeed marry, and pairs off most of the other unmarried characters, not without a TakeThat to readers who objected to [[spoiler:Laurie marrying Amy rather than Jo at ]]the end of ''Literature/LittleWomen''. Although the hookup is mentioned in the middle of the book, she does this again in ''Jack and Jill'' by explaining that all the assumed pairings would happen in a decade but they're just children now. She has to add the obligatory old maid, however, in Molly.
125* It is very common for ''{{Literature/Redwall}}'' novels to reveal in the epilogue that characters got married after their adventure. Rather infamously, it never happened for Mariel and Dandin.
126* ''Literature/SenseAndSensibility'': The main female characters finally get with their men during the last two chapters out of fifty. Creator/JaneAusten seems to prefer spending more time on the conflict arising from bad relationships than on the good relationships.
127** Right, this is because Austen specialized in courtship plots. The whole point of a courtship plot is that it follows a couple from the beginning of the relationship to a successful conclusion, which in Austen's time meant an engagement or wedding. You can't have the couple getting together in the middle of the novel, because then the plot would end.
128* In ''Literature/TheShipWho Won'', Plennafrey rescues Keff from Chaumel and the other mages. Keff initiates RescueSex with her and, because he's [[SingleWomanSeeksGoodMan much kinder than men she's used to]], Plenna falls in love and wants to [[StayWithTheAliens leave her planet for him]]. Keff wants a FriendsWithBenefits situation as he's much more dedicated to his [[ChastityCouple chaste relationship with Carialle]]. At the end of the book, as Plenna's preparing to leave Carialle gives a biology presentation that concludes with telling Plenna that she wouldn't be safe in space - at which point Chaumel, who's had a rapid HeelFaceTurn, calls Plenna a treasure and asks her to marry him. They've barely spoken, but she's delighted and goes away with him immediately.
129* In ''Literature/TheTwilightSaga'', Jacob Black with [[spoiler:Renesmee. It takes them ''less than a minute'' to be paired up, especially after Bella delivered her and recently passed away. Way to mourn the girl you thought you were in love with, Jake]].
130* ''Literature/WarAndPeace'' ends with [[spoiler:Pierre and Natasha getting hitched]]. The [[DistantFinale epilogue]] shows them HappilyMarried.
131[[/folder]]
132
133[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
134%%* ''Series/{{Alice|2009}}'': Hatter and Alice.
135* ''Series/{{Angel}}'' has a variation, where [[spoiler: Fred and Wesley]] don't so much hook up at the last minute as they do hook up and then have ''exactly one minute'' to enjoy it before [[spoiler: Fred dies in the very next episode]].
136* ''Series/AshesToAshes2008'': In a heartbreaking way [[spoiler: Alex and Gene]]. Not to mention [[spoiler:[[BetaCouple Shaz and Chris]]]].
137* ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer'': Faith and Principal Robin Wood. The two head off to the Cleveland Hellmouth to battle there. [[spoiler: However, as of the comics, they've apparently broken up.]]
138* ''Film/{{Clueless}}'' Even though Dionne and Murray have sex in the movie, they do not hook up [[{{Disneyfication}} on the TV show]] until the last episode of the show.
139* ''Series/CrossingJordan'': In the should-have-been-a-season-finale series finale, we do get one final angst-free kiss between Woody and Jordan.
140* Rose and the Tenth Doctor's metacrisis clone in the ''Series/DoctorWho'' series 4 finale "[[Recap/DoctorWhoS30E13JourneysEnd Journey's End]]".
141* In ''Series/LesFillesDaCote'', at the end of the show's first incarnation, before its reboot with a pretty much brand new cast, it is strongly hinted Marc gets off with Claire, and they [[PutOnTheBus depart as a couple, possibly to Brussels]]. Apparently Claire was worn down and couldn't be bothered to say "Non!" anymore.
142* ''Series/{{Firefly}}'': Simon and Kaylee don't have a chance to get very far on the show itself, but in the BigDamnMovie, they finally share their feelings during the final showdown with the Reavers, and one of the last shots is them making out.
143* ''Series/{{Friends}}'': The final episode ended along similar lines: Ross and Rachel had already been together and broken up in various capacities, but only in the series finale did they get to hook up For Real, presumably to be together happily ever after.
144** And even within the finale, the WillTheyOrWontThey theme was dragged out to the very. Last. Moment.
145** Thankfully averted with both Chandler/Monica and Mike/Phoebe. Chandler and Monica were together for over half the series without any breakups to hook them up again and married for the final three seasons. Phoebe and Mike got (back) together at the beginning of Season 10 and married halfway through.
146* ''Series/GilmoreGirls'': The very last scene of the finale has Lorelai running into Luke's arms and kissing him. A bit of a variation, as it wasn't a matter of WillTheyOrWontThey -- they already ''had'' -- but had broken up a season earlier: the real question was whether or not they'd get back together.
147* ''{{Series/Hannibal}}'' hinges its entire plot on the [[FoeRomanceSubtext antagonistic]] yet [[LoveMakesYouEvil magnetic ]] back and forth between [[TheEmpath Will]] [[TheProfiler Graham]] and [[IAmAHumanitarian Hannibal]] [[SerialKiller Lecter]]. Though the first two seasons are laden with HomoeroticSubtext to the point of it having a very long HoYay [[https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/HoYay/Hannibal page]], it remains subtext until season three, where Bedelia helps Will finally understand that [[spoiler: yes, Hannibal has indeed been in love with him for years, likely smitten even as far back as their first interaction.]] The series ends with the two [[spoiler: pack killing together, tenderly embracing and escaping the clutches of the FBI via cliff dive. [[MurderTheHypotenuse They even make a meal of Hannibal's former love interest Bedelia]].]]
148* ''Series/ICarly'': After ''5 years'' of shipping fan wars, pandering for the Sam/Freddie pairing as well as the Carly/Freddie one ''and'' both relationships having temporary in-canon relationships that are broken up, Carly kisses Freddie for the last time and they have a last-minute parting kiss in the original series finale before Carly leaves the country.
149* ''Series/{{JAG}}'': After ''nine seasons'' of UnresolvedSexualTension, Harm and Mac get together in the ''last five minutes'' of the series finale.
150* ''Series/KamenRiderDouble'': Akiko and Ryu hook up six episodes (plus a movie) before the end of the season. Akiko started with a vague interest in each of the three male leads, though definitely leaning towards Ryu, who on the other hand, didn't seem interested in a relationship at all. Despite Akiko never overtly pursuing Ryu on-screen, he finally asks her out in the ''A to Z'' movie, then in the show they are confirmed to have hooked up via a prank on Shoutarou. This left very limited time to develop the relationship beyond some superficial lines and gestures, but in ''Movie Wars Core'' they got married (and were still married by the time of the ''Accel Returns'' movie which confirmed Ryu does love her.)
151%%* ''Series/{{Life On Mars|2006}}'': Sam and Annie.
152* ''Series/LifeWithDerek'' has one of the Victorious ChildhoodFriendRomance variety in the penultimate episode of the series between [[spoiler: Derek and Emily]].
153* ''Series/LizzieMcGuire'': In the series finale movie Lizzie and Gordo have their kiss at the end complete with fireworks.
154* ''Series/TheMentalist'': Jane and Lisbon finally confess their feelings for each other and have their FirstKiss in the final shot of the Season 6 finale, which was originally the show's final episode. (The show has now been renewed for an "encore" season, but the creators made it clear that they deliberately {{Invoked}} this trope just in case a renewal wasn't forthcoming.)
155* ''Series/MissFishersMurderMysteries'': Phryne and Jack ''finally'' get their OfficialKiss after three seasons of solid WillTheyOrWontThey, not to mention plenty of BelligerentSexualTension along the way.
156* The SurprisinglyHappyEnding of ''Series/TheMusketeers'' has all four protagonists happy in love. D'Artagnan, Athos, and Aramis all had well-established love interests, but Porthos had only ever had [[GirlOfTheWeek Girls of the Week]], and that quite rarely. Cue one of the Girls of the Week from a single episode earlier in the series, with whom he'd only been mildly flirtatious, suddenly turning up in Paris, and by the end of the (pretty fast-paced) episode, they're engaged.
157* ''Series/MysteryScienceTheater3000'' mocked this concept when it occurred at the end of one movie: "I know our love wasn't part of the plot, but... let's be part of the loose-end festival anyhow."
158* ''Series/TheOfficeUK'': Tim and Dawn in the UK Version. [[spoiler:Dawn finally leaves Lee for Tim at the end of the Christmas special (which was actually after the series finale). David also finally hooks up with a girl, but it's uncertain if that will be as lasting.]]
159* ''Radio/OurMissBrooks'': After eight years on the radio, and four years (concurrently) on television, Connie Brooks finally gets Phillip Boynton to propose marriage in the last ten minutes of the [[TheMovie cinematic]] GrandFinale. Even then, the proposal is ''de facto'' delivered by [[TheMatchmaker Mrs. Davis and Mr. Boynton's mother.]]
160* ''Series/PhilOfTheFuture'' has the two main characters and best friends, Phil and Keely, starting their relationship just before Phil finds out that his family is returning home in the final episode of the series, and sharing their first kiss a few minutes before Phil leaves.
161* ''Series/SabrinaTheTeenageWitch'' had Sabrina [[spoiler:returning to first love Harvey instead of getting married]] when [[ScrewedByTheNetwork the network]] refused to allow an hour-long finale.
162* ''Series/SpaceCases'': In a [[StarCrossedLovers love sucks]] version of this, Harlan and Catalina share their feelings for one another [[spoiler: right before an explosion sends her to another dimension]] and she is replaced by {{Su|spiciouslySimilarSubstitute}}zee. However, Harlan starts to hit on Suzee almost immediately at the start of Season 2.
163* ''Series/{{Spaced}}'': In an instance of this trope occurring long after the actual series is over, the last two minutes of the DVD documentary feature a couple that looks exactly like Tim and Daisy arguing over who should change their baby.
164* ''Series/StargateSG1'': In the final episode, Daniel and Vala finally get together, having been constantly bickering (and, in Vala's case, flirting) throughout season 10 and some of season 9. They spend many long, monogamous years together. Even then, the hookup is reversed when Teal'c goes back in time and changes the past, but it's implied that they'll end up together eventually anyway.
165* In ''Series/Stargirl2020'', the final minutes of the finale reveal Rick and Beth are married in the future. While a popular couple for the fans to ship, they never showed any actual romantic interest in the series proper.
166* ''Franchise/StarTrek'':
167** ''Series/StarTrekVoyager'': The [[StrangledByTheRedString out-of-nowhere]] CrackPairing of Seven of Nine and Chakotay in the final season. This was largely a way to appease Robert Beltran, who had been complaining about the uselessness of his character, so they shut his mouth by slipping Jeri Ryan's tongue into it. It got one episode more than halfway through the final season suddenly establishing that Seven had a one-sided interest in Chakotay, despite a complete lack of chemistry or buildup prior to this (and both having far more ShipTease with ''other'' characters). Then, in the very last episode, with no further explanation, they suddenly get together. Fans generally went [[FlatWhat "what"]]. (The ExpandedUniverse novels, faced with actually having to deal with this relationship, ended it immediately. Canonically, ''Series/StarTrekPicard'' retroactively made this the [[spoiler:LastHetRomance for Seven]].)
168** ''Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration'' introduced a will-they-or-won't-they relationship between Worf and Troi that ultimately remained ambiguous.
169** ''Series/StarTrekDeepSpaceNine'': [[CasanovaWannabe Julian Bashir]]'s interest in Jadzia Dax is [[FirstGirlWins clear from the very first episode]]. Seven years later, Jadzia Dax has [[GirlOfTheWeek fallen in love with a character of the week]], [[OneShotCharacter been forcibly separated from him]], [[HoYay fallen for a woman]], [[{{Anvilicious}} been separated from her by social stigma]], [[UptightLovesWild fallen for a Klingon]], [[CrazyCulturalComparison married him]], [[LawOfInverseFertility tried to get pregnant]] [[IWantMyBelovedToBeHappy (with Bashir's reluctant medical assistance)]], [[RealLifeWritesThePlot been senselessly murdered]], [[TheNthDoctor had the Dax symbiont extracted and rejoined to create Ezri Dax]], [[RelationshipSalvagingDisaster slept with said Klingon again]], [[OldFlameFizzle broke up with him]], [[FirstGirlWins realized she had feelings for Bashir]], [[TwiceShy spent a third of a season avoiding him]], and then finally [[ElevatorGoingDown kissed him in the next to last episode]] and slept with him in the last. They probably ended the series because they ran out of ways to torture the Bashir/Dax shippers.
170* ''Series/SugarRush'': Kim and her crush, the hedonistic Sugar, finally cop off after Sugar stabs a guy. Rather than letting them have any kind of relationship, the second series fast forwards 18 months and ''nothing more'' has happened between them. Talk about a letdown.
171* ''Franchise/SuperSentai'':
172** ''Series/ChoujinSentaiJetman'': After a series-long love triangle between Ryu, Kaori, and Gai, with the attraction between Ryu and Kaori only implied, a WhereAreTheyNowEpilogue shows that they marry three years after the events of the show.
173** ''Series/BakuryuuSentaiAbaranger'': The WhereAreTheyNowEpilogue and Dekaranger Vs hint at Yukito and Emiri being in a relationship. Finally confirmed in Gokaiger that they got married.
174** ''Series/TokusouSentaiDekaranger'': Episode 46 is a massive ShipTease between Sen and Umeko, but it's not till ''Magiranger Vs'' the following year that it is confirmed as canon.
175** ''Series/MahouSentaiMagiranger'': Hikaru and Urara suddenly marry two episodes before the end of the show. JustifiedTrope since Hikaru had had a vision of his own forthcoming death so there wasn't really time to extend the courtship.
176** ''Series/JukenSentaiGekiranger'': Mele's motivation throughout the whole of the series is her love for Rio, but he doesn't return her affections until right before [[spoiler:they die together]] at the end of the show.
177** ''Series/ZyudenSentaiKyoryuger'': Amy and Daigo get together in the final episode after she suddenly confesses that she loves him.
178* Subverted in ''Series/TedLasso''. The final episode opens up with Ted walking into Rebecca's kitchen, obviously scruffy from sleep, asking if she wants to talk about it... and then in walks Coach Beard, closely followed by his wife, and the quick explanation that they're here because of a gas leak and Ted is ''actually'' asking whether Rebecca is willing to discuss [[spoiler:Ted moving back to the US.]]
179* Spoofed at the end of Series 2 of ''Series/ATouchOfCloth'' when Jack Cloth suddenly and inexplicably hooks up with the only available main character -- his nemesis, who killed his wife and who he was inches away from killing for most of the series, and who is also another man, with no indication given to Jack's (or his) orientation prior.
180-->'''Ann:''' But... I don't understand.\
181'''Jack:''' Nor do I. That's just how feelings work.\
182'''Ann:''' But you ''hate'' him.\
183'''Jack:''' Love and hate don't mean anything, they're just words we use to describe meaningful feelings.\
184'''Ann:''' He ''killed'' your wife!\
185'''Jack:''' ''(with a shrug)'' No one's perfect.
186* ''Series/VeronicaMars'' ended on a number of cliffhangers due to its cancellation, one of which was over the status of Veronica and Logan's incredibly on-again/off-again relationship. The concluding BigDamnMovie seven years after the show ended revealed that they didn't get back together at the time, but then they do hook up (apparently for good this time) by the end of the film. [[note]]Though since there are confirmed canonical tie-in novels set after the movie and possible plans for a sequel, this may or may not meet your definition of "last minute".[[/note]]
187* ''Series/{{Warehouse13}}'': [[spoiler: Pete and Mika (subverting their relationship LikeBrotherAndSister)]].
188* ''Series/TheWestWing'':
189** CJ and Danny get together for keeps in the last few episodes, though they'd had feelings for each other (and kept kissing each other) for years before then.
190** [[FanPreferredCouple Josh and Donna]] who share their first kiss late in the last season and whose relationship status is then left hanging until the finale (where all we see is them waking up together).
191* ''Series/{{Wonderfalls}}'' has Eric return at the VERY LAST MINUTE, having left his wife for good.
192* ''Series/TheXFiles'' didn't have Scully and Mulder become a couple until near the end of the seventh season, when they weren't sure there would be an eighth. And even then it was only implied.
193* ''Series/{{Zoey 101}}'': Zoey and Chase. After three seasons of ShipTease and EveryoneCanSeeIt, they confess their love to each other, but only after they're 6000 miles away from each other and can't do much about it. Chase is then PutOnABus for the final season, only to come [[BackForTheFinale back in the finale]], where they finally kiss and become a couple ''in the last five minutes''.
194[[/folder]]
195
196[[folder:Mythology and Folklore]]
197* Numerous fairy tales leave off with the StarCrossedLovers overcoming the problem at hand, having a kiss, and proceeding to "live HappilyEverAfter." With the state of modern marriage, it would've been nice for the storytellers to have left some notes and guidelines as to how a man and a woman could come to achieve this. Maybe even a study guide.
198** The HappilyEverAfter ending is deconstructed in ''Theatre/IntoTheWoods'', the Music/StephenSondheim musical. In their song ''Agony'', the two princes sing about their love for (obviously) Cinderella and Rapunzel (their ''names'' in the script are officially "Cinderella's Prince" and "Rapunzel's Prince", removing any possible doubt). They eventually catch up with their respective love interests and marry them at the end of Act One. Then, in Act Two, they reprise the song, except this time it's just as obviously Sleeping Beauty and Snow White they're singing about. It's pretty clear (even before one of them seduces [[spoiler:the Baker's wife]]) that the Princes are a ''lot'' more interested in the chase itself than in HappilyEverAfter.
199-->'''Rapunzel's Prince:''' She has skin white as snow...
200-->'''Cinderella's Prince:''' Did you learn her name?
201-->'''Rapunzel's Prince:''' No, there's a dwarf standing guard.
202* OlderThanSteam: One of the most obvious examples is "Snow White and Rose Red", where not only does Snow White get the prince (formerly bear), but her sister [[CleaningUpRomanticLooseEnds Rose Red marries his brother, who had not even been mentioned so far]].
203[[/folder]]
204
205[[folder:Theatre]]
206* In Agnes de Mille's ''Rodeo,'' the Cowgirl spends three-quarters of the ballet fruitlessly pursuing the Head Wrangler. During the final movement, the Hoedown, she falls for the Champion Roper instead, leaving the Head Wrangler to pair off with the Rancher's Daughter.
207* ''Theatre/{{Ruddigore}}'': Richard is aced out by Robin/Ruthven for Rose's affections just before the closing chorus, so he immediately and enthusiastically turns to Zorah, head of the professional bridesmaids corps. She accepts him with equal enthusiasm, despite having had no real interaction with him previously. This is typical of the "any partner is better than no partner" attitude that tends to prevail among Gilbert's characters.
208[[/folder]]
209
210[[folder:Video Games]]
211* ''VideoGame/{{Aveyond}}: The Darkthrop Prophecy'' has a PlayableEpilogue that's just choosing and wooing a bride for male lead Edward. It's also an in-universe Last-Minute Hookup; he has until the end of the day to choose his bride, or his mother will choose one for him. Earlier games in the series tended to play this straight for the main couple and avert it with side couples, who could get married at any point in the quest as long as the conditions were met.
212* ''VideoGame/EternalEden'' is an unusual variation. After spending a major portion of the game flirting with [[DudeLooksLikeALady Jean]], Fierro was engaged to Josefine in the epilogue. Granted, the epilogue took place after a CosmicRetcon, where the events that take place in the game did not happen in the new reality, and the two probably had an offscreen romance.
213* ''VideoGame/FireEmblem'': You can make this happen if you put off getting an A support between two characters until the final battle.
214** In ''VideoGame/FireEmblemAwakening'' especially, there are several units available via [=SpotPass=] (playable versions of Emmeryn, certain antagonists[[note]]Gangrel, Walhart, Yen'Fay and Aversa, the last of which is notable for being the boss of the chapter you have to beat to unlock these in the first place[[/note]], and Priam) which you only get access to right before the final map who are still somehow able to reach S support level with the player character. Downplayed (but still present) with Flavia and Basilio (towards the player, since they are only PlatonicLifePartners of each other) who become playable in chapter 23, about 3 chapters before the last one.
215** ''VideoGame/FireEmblemThreeHouses'' only lets Byleth reach an S support 'after' you've already beaten the final boss. Especially notable with [[spoiler:Rhea, who 'is' the final boss of the route in which you can S support her.]]
216* Played with in ''VideoGame/LufiaIIRiseOfTheSinistrals'', Gades ''[[DiscOneFinalBoss seems]]'' to be the final boss, and Selan suddenly confesses to Maxim mere minutes into the aftermath. [[ForegoneConclusion Their journey is far from over.]]
217* ''Franchise/MassEffect'':
218** The RomanceSidequest of the first two games will [[PreClimaxClimax reach its climax just before the endgame]]. In the first game, it happens just before heading through the Mu Mass Relay in pursuit of [[spoiler:Saren]]. In ''VideoGame/MassEffect2'', it's during the hours leading up to the suicide mission through the Omega-4 Mass Relay. In both games, this trope applies only if you sufficiently nurtured a relationship with a romanceable character throughout the course of the game. Something about uncharted Mass Relays seems to heighten hormone levels in organic species...
219** Subverted or played straight in ''VideoGame/MassEffect3'', depending on when the player locks in their preferred romance. This time, the big scene occurs just before the assault on Cerberus HQ. Probably not so much the 'uncharted Mass Relay' bit as it is the 'we're probably going to die so let's do it while we still can' bit. If the player waited until the last minute to lock in the relationship, it's the same deal as the first two games. If they locked in the relationship at the first opportunity, there are bits of dialogue making it clear that Shepard and his/her love interest have been having sex for quite some time before the actual love scene, with hints that the love interest has effectively moved into the captain's cabin.
220* ''VideoGame/NeverwinterNights'': You can, if you want, try and develop a relationship with Aribeth --[[spoiler:after you've defeated her and she is awaiting a likely execution for treason, and just before you go off to fight the BigBad]].
221** And as we find out in the expansion pack, [[spoiler:she ''is'' executed, whether you redeemed her or not]].
222* Typical romance theme in ''VideoGame/RivieraThePromisedLand'' between the Ein and [[HaremGenre the girls]] isn't really obvious other than a RelationshipValues until the very end of the game, [[spoiler: where a BigBad kills off the protagonist's soul mate to revive an [[SealedEvilInACan sealed lady monster]] for a final battle [[DisneyDeath before she gets revived after you beat the game]].]] Rose's good ending is not better either, [[spoiler: since Ein has been treating her as a cat for the entire game until some magical medicine turns her into a human girl.]]
223* ''VideoGame/ShiningForceII'': There are a couple last-minute hookups. [[spoiler: Bowie and the princess hook up after his kiss brings her out of her coma. Sarah we found out had a crush on Bowie all along and is heartbroken, but we're led to assume that she [[PairTheSpares hooks up with Kazin instead]].]]
224* ''Franchise/StarWars VideoGame/KnightsOfTheOldRepublic'': All three potential romances do not reach their resolutions until the end of the game. The [[GayOption lesbian relationship]] with Juhani occurs after you decide to stay on the good side once and for all, the relationship with Carth occurs when you return to the ship, and the relationship with Bastila begins not long before the final boss battle.
225* ''VideoGame/TalesOfXillia'': Milla and Jude are seen as this by some players, as they never actually admit their feelings for each other out loud and their ([[LostInTranslation English]]) scenes tend to lack a certain romantic note to them, which makes their status as OfficialCouple come off as this. [[spoiler: The fact that [[AscendToAHigherPlaneOfExistence Milla becomes the new Maxwell]] and has to leave the Human for the Spirit Realm, leaves any ''proper'' relationship an impossibility.]]
226* ''VideoGame/TraumaCenter'': The ending of the second game heavily implies that Derek and Angie finally get together, short of a direct love confession.
227* ''VideoGame/{{Xenosaga}}'': Allen and Shion get together at the end.
228[[/folder]]
229
230[[folder:Webcomics]]
231* ''Webcomic/{{Avalon|1999}}'' had two: [[spoiler:Joe & Helène, and Ceilidh and Phoebe. This second one became a rather large controversy for many fans, as there was little to no hint of it in the strip before the ScheduleSlip until the text summary that the author ended the comic with. The second one felt rather out of left field (perhaps to the point of Phillips' falling prey to PairTheSpares), while the first one was pretty obvious for quite some time.]]
232* ''Webcomic/{{Fans}}'' had a few examples in the strip's fifth book (which was meant to be the series' last arc, until T. Campbell and Jason Waltrip decided to [[{{Revival}} return to the strip a year or so later]]). Will and Shanna, after [[WillTheyOrWontThey dancing around each other]] finally hook up. After Tim's tech business goes bust, [[PairTheSpares Tim and Julia get together]]. And in one of the more bizarre variations on this trope, Alysin (who had at the beginning of the arc decided to leave her husband Rikk because she felt she didn't deserve him) not only reconciled with Rikk but resolved the Rikk/Aly/Rumi triangle...[[MarryThemAll by inviting Rumi to join their marriage]]. As of two or so years of the revival, all three relationships are still doing well (although Will and Shanna have had some stumbling blocks).
233* ''Webcomic/KidRadd'': At the end of the title character's "game", he always leans in to kiss his girlfriend Sheena ... at which point he's interrupted by the credits. [[spoiler:(This extends to the end of the comic itself.)]]
234* In the last chapter of ''Webcomic/MagicalBoy'', [[spoiler:after his attempt in asking Toby out fails, Max gets asked out by Sean]].
235* ''Webcomic/{{Starslip}}'': Holliday and Cutter are shown holding hands in the final episode. They'd staged a [[CrackPairing makeout session]] a few episodes earlier to throw off Deep Time's prediction algorithms, but there was never a hint of romance.
236[[/folder]]
237
238[[folder:Web Original]]
239* ''WebVideo/AlexanderAvila'': Discussed in his "Last Minute Gays" videos. He discusses how a lot of canon queer relationships are only allowed to get together at the end of a series. Among the many examples are Korra and Asami from ''WesternAnimation/TheLegendOfKorra'' and Marceline and Princess Bubblegum from ''WesternAnimation/AdventureTime''.
240* ''WebVideo/CriticalRole'': In the final episode, [[spoiler:Scanlan and Pike]] ask each other out right before the WhereAreTheyNowEpilogue begins, and said epilogue involves them getting married.
241[[/folder]]
242
243[[folder:Western Animation]]
244* ''WesternAnimation/TheAdventuresOfJimmyNeutronBoyGenius'' had Jimmy and Cindy finally kiss in the last episode, "The Lady Sings the News". Even though the episode itself was [[ADayInTheLimelight Libby-centered]].
245* ''WesternAnimation/AdventureTime'': The final episode "[[Recap/AdventureTimeS9E13ComeAlongWithMeTheUltimateAdventure Come Along With Me]]" has Princess Bubblegum and Marceline share a kiss after the latter rescues the former from GOLB. LSP and Lemongrab also kiss, which is PlayedForLaughs.
246* ''[[Franchise/AvatarTheLastAirbender Avatar]]'' franchise:
247** ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender'' ends the series with Aang and Katara sharing their OfficialKiss.
248** ''WesternAnimation/TheLegendOfKorra'' ends with [[MasculineFeminineGayCouple Korra and Asami]] walking off into the spirit portal {{holding hands}} and [[HeldGaze looking lovingly]] at each other. The creators later confirmed that Korra and Asami are indeed an OfficialCouple at the end.
249* ''WesternAnimation/CodenameKidsNextDoor'': The last minutes of the finale "[[Recap/CodenameKidsNextDoorOperationINTERVIEWS Operation: I.N.T.E.R.V.I.E.W.S.]]" reveal that Numbuh 3 and Numbuh 4 are married in the future. Numbuh 2 and Numbuh 5 are also married, even though they never showed romantic interest in each other during the show like Numbuh 3 and Numbuh 4 did.
250* ''WesternAnimation/DannyPhantom'' is quite an obvious example: after three seasons of flirting and {{U|nresolvedSexualTension}}ST, Danny and Sam finally get together at the end of the series finale.
251* The GrandFinale of ''WesternAnimation/{{Daria}}'' has Upchuck [[PairTheSpares randomly hitting on]] [[{{Goth}} Andrea]] during a party. She agrees to leave the party to go on a date with him, to his complete and utter amazement.
252* ''WesternAnimation/{{Doug}}'': Providing an animated equivalent to the ''Series/{{JAG}}'' example, after seven seasons of WillTheyOrWontThey, Doug and Patti finally become a couple in the last few minutes of the final episode.
253* ''WesternAnimation/{{Futurama}}'': Subverted. Fry and Leela confess their love for each other and kiss at the end of ''[[Recap/FuturamaM4IntoTheWildGreenYonder Into The Wild Green Yonder]]'', which was supposed to be the series finale, until the show got revived for more seasons. Fry and Leela stay an OfficialCouple for the rest of the series.
254* ''WesternAnimation/JackieChanAdventures'': The last minute of the finale rushes giving all of the good guys a happy ending. This includes randomly having Jackie and Viper [[StrangledByTheRedString hook up out of almost nowhere]], though Jade had been their ShipperOnDeck from Viper's first appearance.
255* ''WesternAnimation/KimPossible'':
256** RelationshipUpgrade as a GrandFinale is ridiculed by Kim and Ron in the show's third season, in a bit of LampshadeHanging that foreshadows the end to the then series-capping TV movie. The two watch a weepy teen drama called ''[[SoapWithinAShow Agony County]]'':
257--->'''Ron:''' Oh, please! Are they still teasing that Charity and Danny are gonna get together?\
258'''Kim:''' Like that's ever gonna happen! It would end the series.
259** Subverted with the main couple in a special case. Kim and Ron's OfficialKiss was the last scene of what was intended to be the FinaleMovie. However, grassroots operations orchestrated by fans [[UnCanceled brought the show back]]. Kim and Ron stay an OfficialCouple for the entire fourth season.
260** Drakken and Shego are very implied to be a couple at the end of the series finale "[[Recap/KimPossibleS4E22Graduation Graduation]]."
261* ''WesternAnimation/MyDadTheRockStar'': In the final episode, Willy, the male lead, and his female friend Alyssa start dating. Furthermore, it's only in the last few minutes that they officially become a couple, with Willy spending most of the episode uncertain if they were on a real date or just hanging out as friends. Quincy also finds a LoveInterest (in [[LastEpisodeNewCharacter an entirely new character]]) during those last few minutes, which avoids making him a third wheel.
262* The GrandFinale of ''WesternAnimation/PennZeroPartTimeHero'' has Penn and Sashi share a kiss sometime after the team's final mission.
263* ''WesternAnimation/ReBoot'' had Bob and Dot finally kiss during the last couple minutes of the series finale. The series was UnCanceled three years later, and the ResetButton was pushed to a degree - they spend the first few episodes of the season back in JustFriends territory and are still not really officially together by the new finale.
264* The GrandFinale of ''WesternAnimation/RegularShow'' has Mordecai literally hooking up at the last minute with a ''brand new character''.
265* ''WesternAnimation/TheReplacements'': In the final episode, it is revealed that Jacobo and Tasumi are a couple. Considering that the idea of them as a couple had only been hinted at once previously, Todd and Riley's surprise at that reveal is [[JustifiedTrope pretty justified]].
266* ''WesternAnimation/SuperRobotMonkeyTeamHyperforceGo'': After four seasons of BelligerentSexualTension with many CanNotSpitItOut moments, the last episode has Sprx and Nova finally show their true feelings for each other when Nova confesses her love to make Sprx go back to being good after the [[ArtifactOfDoom Fire of Hate]] turned him evil and he almost killed her. Nova then gives Sprx a kiss right before the final battle against the resurrected BigBad begins and the series leaves off on a {{Cliffhanger}} ending.
267* ''WesternAnimation/TeenTitans'': The series often alluded to Robin and Starfire having feelings for each other, with the duo finally having their [[TheBigDamnKiss Big Damn Kiss]] in the last few minutes of the FinaleMovie, ''WesternAnimation/TeenTitansTroubleInTokyo''.
268* ''WesternAnimation/YoungJustice'':
269** The series finale randomly has [[TheBigGuy Wonder Girl]] and [[TheSmartGuy Robin]] hook up, though neither had received much screentime or characterization to lead up to the development. A part of the script that didn't make it into the final product [[LampshadeHanging even pokes fun at how sudden relationships can happen]], with the two stating "We know" and secretly holding hands.
270** That same unused scene reveals that [[GlassCannon Tye]] and Asami get together. There was nothing explicitly romantic between them previously, but they at least interacted more and it was already popular with the fans.
271[[/folder]]

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