The RomanticComedy is ending, and the [[OfficialCouple Alpha Couple]] has finally hooked up. But what's this? It seems there's a BetaCouple in the wings! During the [[{{Denouement}} closing musical number/reception dance]] two characters who may or may not have interacted prior to this point are getting down and dirty, or even just looking at each suggestively as to imply they'll start dating.

This is essentially adding a cherry to the top of this HappyEnding, saying that after all the struggling and misunderstandings, the alpha couple's success has helped create love even between different people, implying they at least start dating and might even marry. It also serves as an abbreviated form of CleaningUpRomanticLooseEnds, so that the viewer can walk away happy knowing that the RomanticRunnerUp fiancé isn't left out in the cold but rather hooked up with the maid of honor who thought she'd never walk the aisle.

A thorny use of this trope comes when Gay friends of the main couple are implied to hook up this way. It might be to [[HideYourLesbians avoid the "dilemma" of showing on-screen gay couples]] which could alienate audiences, but [[UnfortunateImplications implies]] they'll both hook up [[TokenMinorityCouple just because they're gay]].

See also SexualKarma, LastMinuteHookup, and MaybeEverAfter, where the implied hookup may involve main characters or characters who do have a RomanceArc of sorts, and PairTheSpares, where the romantic rivals of the main plot hook up with each other. May be followed up on in a DistantFinale.

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!!Examples:
[[foldercontrol]]

[[folder:Anime and Manga]]
* Oujirou and Tamayo in the ''Manga/AngelicLayer'' is revealed to have started dating in the last chapter of the manga. This is averted in the Anime, where Oujiro ends up with Misaki instead, and Tamayo with Kotaro, and both pairings are given more time to develop before the RelationshipUpgrade.
* The epilogue of ''Manga/AnimalLand'' shows that, after defeating [[BigBad Giller]] and bringing peace between the carnivores and herbivores, the four remaining humans have married one another and [[BabiesEverAfter even have children]]. But while [[spoiler:Torazou and Capri]] have at least some decent screen time with each other (even if they are hardly romantic in nature}, the other pair is never shown interacting even ''once'' before.
* At the end of ''Manga/ChronoCrusade'', [[spoiler:Azmaria and Joshua]] are all but stated to become a couple despite their lack of romantic development beforehand.
%%* Speculated to have happened with Hiwatari and Risa at the end of ''Manga/DNAngel''.
* ''Anime/DarlingInTheFranxx'': It's implied that Naomi's incapacity of connecting with Hiro came, at least partially, from the fact she was attracted to women to begin with. The ending implies she got together with Ikuno in the DistantFinale.
* In the epilogue of ''Anime/DigimonAdventure02'', Ken and Miyako are married with kids, as are Yamato and Sora. Both couples barely had romantic interactions throughout the series.
* Invoked and parodied in ''Manga/{{Gintama}}'', where the trope is referred to as a "Franchise/FinalFantasy" (as in a romantic fantasy that happens near the end of a work, not the actual franchise). The characters dread such a fate happening to them, as from their perspective, they're deciding to spend the rest of their life with somebody they barely know. Fortunately, the only two characters implied to be together after the TimeSkip were actually a BaitAndSwitch joke and there's no romantic couples in the ending.
%%* In the DistantFinale of ''Manga/KnightsOfSidonia'', [[spoiler:Izana and Yuhata have hooked up, as have Samari and Seii]].
* ''Manga/TheLuciferAndBiscuitHammer'': The series ends with a DistantFinale epilogue that takes place 10 years after the rest of the story, and it's revealed that, in the interim, this occurred with three different [[BetaCouple Beta Couples]]:
** Hoshikawa Subaru was hinted to have a crush on Shinonome Mikazuki for most of the main story (though [[ObliviousToLove he was unaware]] and had a crush on Sami at the time). In the epilogue, Mikazuki and Subaru are strongly implied to be dating.
** There was also some subtle ship tease between Akane Taiyo and Tsukishiro Yukimachi, and they're confirmed to also be dating at the end. A bonus chapter shows how they got to together, with Taiyo realizing he loves Yuki and admitting it out loud, which she overhears.
** Shimaki Hyou and Hakudou Yayoi dated, fell in love, and got married during the TimeSkip. Unlike the previous two examples, this was definitely a case of PairTheSpares, as Hyou wasn't shown to have romantic interest in anyone during the main story, and Yayoi was in love with the protagonist, Yuuhi.
* In ''Anime/MyHime'', [[spoiler:Natsuki and Shizuru]]'s relationship is left as ambiguous as humanly possible at the end of the series, fueled by the question of whether [[spoiler:Natsuki]]'s "love" was meant in a friendly or romantic way, giving fuel to thousands of shippers to resolve it in FanFic. The supplemental material released later makes things a lot clearer, with the artbook implying a hook-up after [[spoiler:Shizuru's graduation]].
* In ''Manga/{{Naruto}}'', the part of the epilogue focusing on Chouji reveals he married and had a child with [[spoiler:Karui]], whom he'd never even been shown to interact with on-panel.
* ''Manga/NegimaMagisterNegiMagi'': The WhereAreTheyNowEpilogue states that [[BelligerentSexualTension Kotarou and Natsumi]] got married and [[HideYourLesbians heavily implies (in a roundabout way)]] that Konoka and Setsuna did, too. Both couples had become partners by that stage, but although that effectively marked them as {{Official Couple}}s they didn't see themselves as together until the epilogue.
* ''Manga/PandoraHearts'': Sharon and Reim get married in the epilogue. There were no hints of them being romantically interested in each other throughout the entire series, with the narration only mentioning that Reim helped console Sharon after their mutual close friend Break died in the final battle.
* ''Manga/ShamanKing'': In the manga and its 2021 anime adaptation, Ren and Iron Maiden Jeanne, who've never exchanged more than three lines in the entire series, have a [[BabiesEverAfter son]] in the epilogue.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Fanfic]]
* ''Fanfic/AddressUnknownRemedy'': Applejack and Sterling, Celestia's doctor, have started dating by the time of the epilogue.
* ''Fanfic/CollatedAccountsOfTheInfinityTrainASummary'': Lake and Jesse, with the former being identified as "Mrs. Lake Cosay" in her interview.
* The epilogue of ''Fanfic/SonOfTheSannin'' reveals that Lee ended up marrying [[spoiler:Yakumo]]. The author notes mention that they were supposed to have a proper romance arc during the story proper, but the latter was introduced so late into the story that there was nowhere to fit it outside of a brief summary during the wrap-up.
* An odd variant in ''[[http://www.fimfiction.net/story/27874/Xenophilia Xenophilia]]'': the bulk of the story is based on developing the {{OT3}} between Lero, Rainbow Dash and Twilight Sparkle, but Lyra Heartstrings is confirmed in ''[[http://www.fimfiction.net/story/57315/The-Xenophile%27s-Guide-to-Equestria The Xenophilie's Guide to Equestria]]'' to have joined their "herd", after a lot of foreshadowing in the original story. This may be shown in a future [[http://www.fimfiction.net/story/62265/Xenophilia%3A-Side-Stories side story]]
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Films -- Animated]]
* ''WesternAnimation/BarbieAsThePrincessAndThePauper'' ends with the princess [[spoiler: marrying her particular teacher]], the pauper [[spoiler: marrying the Prince]] who was supposed to [[spoiler: marry the princess instead]]. But that's not just it, since the little cutesy Princess's pet cat end up with the pauper's stray cat who believes he's a dog. Actually, pretty much ''everyone'' in the movie fits this trope. except for [[SexualKarma the villains]]. Hell, even the ''horse'' ends paired up!!!
* At the end of ''WesternAnimation/AGoofyMovie'', Max's Pauly Shore-voiced friend Bobby has such a hook-up with Roxanne's valley-girl best friend Stacey, when they both reach for Bobby's can of cheez whiz that he dropped. Bobby lifts his dark sunglasses and smiles at her, and Stacey gives him a brace-filled smile back. It's a cute/quirky moment, but there is absolutely no lead-up to it whatsoever. Not that anything came of either relationship in the sequel.
* ''WesternAnimation/ToyStory3'' ends with Rex and Trixie, another dinosaur toy, playing video games together. Subverted in the later TV special ''WesternAnimation/ToyStoryThatTimeForgot'' where Trixie hooks up with a different UsefulNotes/TyrannosaurusRex toy named Reptillus Maximus. Rex never shows any sign of being bothered by this.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Films -- Live-Action]]
* Many of Creator/AdamSandler's films end this way -- he gets the girl of his dreams, while everyone else is left with the spares.
** {{Exaggerated|Trope}} and PlayedForLaughs in ''Film/BillyMadison'' -- almost ''all'' of the film's minor characters hook up with someone, including the penguin that Billy hallucinated while he was drunk.
** In ''Film/FiftyFirstDates'' Alexa is hitting on Doug at the wedding, though he looks noticeably uncomfortable.
* At the end of ''Film/BigTroubleInLittleChina'', Eddie and Margo (the IntrepidReporter wannabe) are implied to get together when their only previous interaction in the movie was an insult.
* ''Film/BringItOn'' has this when the gay cheerleader of the team talks to another male cheerleader of another team.
* Done in a sequel: Hooper and Banky from ''Film/ChasingAmy'' are shown to have hooked up afterwards at the end of ''Film/JayAndSilentBobStrikeBack''.
* Heavily implied for [[spoiler: Scud and Janet]] at the end of ''Film/{{DEBS}}''; up until that point, they've been a BetaCouple of sorts, but they actually shared just a scene.
* At the end of ''Film/DownWithLove'' the Beta Couple is on the phone getting together with a hilarious synchronized chorus.
* ''Film/FourWeddingsAndAFuneral''. Almost all the main cast are shown to be hooked up with someone at the end.
* ''Film/HighSchoolMusical'': After the credits, we see Sharpay run toward Zeke (who has been crushing on her the whole movie) and jump on him because he makes the most awesome cookies ever. Of course the implied post movie hookup was kind of killed by [=HSM2=] (but then [=HSM3=] had them dance together at the prom... mixed signals, Disney!).
* Subverted in ''Film/ILoveYouMan''; the gay groomsman played by Thomas Lennon unsuccesfully hits on the protagonist's gay brother while at the wedding. "Sorry. You're not my type. I only date straight guys."
* ''Film/TheLastLegion'': Mira and Aurelius married after the film's events, as the final scene reveals.
* ''Film/TheLordOfTheRings'' movies did this with Faramir and Éowyn (who were a canon couple in the book as well). However, since they had to cut the scenes showing them growing closer in the theatrical version, it ended up looking like a random hook up to resolve the LoveTriangle between Éowyn, Arwen and Aragorn.
* During the Spring Fling scene at the end of ''Film/MeanGirls'' [[spoiler: Principal Duvall and Ms. Norbury]] share a meaningful look while dancing. [[spoiler: Janis and Kevin]] also dance at the Spring Fling and are seen kissing during the very last scene where Cady explains everyone's fate.
* Occurs at the end of the 1998 version of ''Film/{{The Parent Trap|1998}}''; in the final act, Martin (the mother's butler) and Chessy (the father's nanny/maid) disappear for a picnic together. Then, during the parents' wedding, Martin proposes to Chessy, as shown via snapshots during the end credits.
* In the ''Film/RichieRich'' film, the butler Cadbury and Gloria's mother are seen kissing at the end.
* ''Film/SkyHigh2005'': At the end, TroubledButCute Warren Peace is shown holding hands at the Homecoming with Freeze Girl -- even though the two never actually interacted during the movie. WordOfGod holds, had there been [[WhatCouldHaveBeen sequels]] he and [[spoiler:Layla]] would have gotten together.
* Simon and Kaylee at the end of ''{{Film/Serenity}}'' after Simon makes what he expects to be a DyingDeclarationOfLove and Kaylee says she’s going to live because of it. They’re shown kissing at the movie’s end, though the Boom comics keep toying with things.
* At the end of the movie ''Film/{{Stardust}}'', Captain Shakespeare (a closet FlamboyantGay) and Humphrey (himself getting married to Victoria, and not having been implied to be gay) share a look, with Victoria looking rather confused. Meanwhile, Tristan's parents (who only met once, on the night of his conception) are reunited.
* In the last scene of ''Film/{{Starstruck}}'', which focuses on his cousin's romances while attempting to break into show business, Angus meets and starts playing kissy-face with a woman who had never appeared earlier in the film.
* At the end of ''Film/SweetHomeAlabama'', the protagonist's gay friend from NY and gay friend in Alabama share a look.
* The thorny Gay Friends version happens at the end of ''Film/ThreeToTango'' when Peter, the gay partner of [[ComingStraightStory straight-but-people-thought-he-was-gay]] Oscar, ends up trading innuendo with Kevin, the newbie-gay football player whose nickname is [[GagPenis The Ponderosa]], now that Oscar has finally gotten the girl.
* In Amanda Bynes' ''Theatre/TwelfthNight'' HighSchoolAU ''Film/ShesTheMan'', both of Duke's friends are shown paired up with someone. Toby got together with nerdy Eunice and [[AmbiguouslyGay Paul]] is seen fixing Andrew's tie, much to Andrew's confusion.
** Sebastian finally got together with [[LoveAtFirstSight the girl he fell in love with the moment he saw her]], Olivia.
** And also, Viola's parents, having been divorced, are sitting together at the end and most likely mending their relationship.
** [[AlphaBitch Monique]] and [[JerkJock Justin]] are interestingly together, Monique being Sebastian's ex and Justin being Viola's ex.
* Eunice and Mr. Larrabee are implied to get together at the end of ''Film/WhatsUpDoc''.
* Inverted and then Subverted in ''Film/WhenHarryMetSally''. First, the titular leads actually try to set each other up with their respective best friends on a blind double date, but instead their two friends immediately click and become the official Beta Couple of the story, except they get their happy ending first with a wedding only a few months later. Harry and Sally are the Best Man and Maid of Honor but then subvert the trope by getting into a huge fight instead of getting together at that point.
* ''Film/TheWorldsEnd'': Andrew mentions Steven and Sam shacked up together after the events of the film, commenting "[[LiteralMetaphor It's a pretty nice shack, too.]]"
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Literature]]
* In the ''Literature/LordOfTheRings'' parody ''Literature/BoredOfTheRings'', after Sorhed was defeated:
-->''Of the Ballhog and Schlob, little was heard either, but local gossips reported that wedding bells were only centuries away.''
* In ''Literature/ABrothersPrice'', due to the Jane-Austen-Style plot elements, there is one match in the making at the end of the novel, [[spoiler: Jerin's cousin Dail would like to marry the Moorland sisters, and Cullen Whistler, née Moorland approves of the idea]] Also, depending on how you define it, Jerin doesn't "hook up" with all of his wives in the wedding night, as some of them are not yet of age.
* [[spoiler:Luke Garroway and Jocelyn Fray]] at the end of ''Literature/CityOfGlass''. They planned to get married in ''City of Fallen Angels'' but the marriage was postponed indefinitely, with [[spoiler:Jace's possession by Lilith and subsequent disappearance]].
* At the end of ''Literature/DoubleIndemnity'', at least the novel, Nino and Lola get married, but the fugitives Walter and Phyllis are implied to commit [[TogetherInDeath mutual suicide]].
* This happens to virtually every character in ''Literature/HarryPotter''. For those not specifically referenced in the epilogue, Creator/JKRowling tells who married who in interviews: [[TricksterTwins George]] winds up with Angelina ([[SettleForSibling who once dated Fred]]), [[TheUnChosenOne Neville]] marries [[OutOfFocus Hannah Abbott]], etc. [[RivalTurnedEvil Draco]], [[CloudCuckooLander Luna]] and [[ToBeLawfulOrGood Percy]] wind up marrying people who never even appeared in the story, and in Percy's case we know nothing about his wife except her first name.
* Creator/CSLewis's ''Literature/TheHorseAndHisBoy'' ends by mentioning that [[WellExcuseMePrincess Aravis]] moves in with [[MosesInTheBulrushes Shasta]]/[[spoiler:Prince Cor]] and that the two [[SlapSlapKiss continue to argue and make up constantly]] until they just decide that marrying will make the pattern easier. It [[ShipSinking sinks]] any romance between [[SapientSteed Bree and Hwin]], though, noting that they marry other people.
* In Creator/DorothyLSayers' ''Literature/LordPeterWimsey'' mystery ''The Unpleasantness at the Bellona Club'' ends with Robert Fentiman taking Ann Dorland out to a show, to help distract her from the unpleasantness.
** In ''Have His Carcasse'', when the police officer is reluctant to try to prosecute the case, Harriet tells him that the dead man's fiancee danced with a different professional dancer, and her son did not look pleased. Since the motive for the murder was to prevent the mother's remarriage, they prosecute.
* ''Literature/{{Quarters}}'': After she admits her love for him, Vree and Gyhard are very clearly just about to have sex when ''No Quarter'' ends, implying that they'll become lovers at last.
* ''Franchise/StarWarsLegends'': Gaerial and Captain Thanas met, fell in love, married and had a daughter some time after ''Literature/TheTruceAtBakura'' (where they were both major characters but never interacted) and ''Literature/TheCorellianTrilogy''.
* In Creator/PoulAnderson's ''Literature/TimeLag'', Ivalo says, after her rescue, that he hopes she will let him visit; the time lagged prisoners will need support to recover from their FishOutOfTemporalWater status.
* ''Literature/WhenTheRobbersCameToCardamomTown'': The narration at the end tells us that Kasper ends up happily married. The narrator doesn’t mention any names, but apparently, he married 'a lady who’s good at keeping things in order', clearly hinting at aunt Sophie.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
* The creator of ''Series/DerryGirls'' [[WordOfGod confirmed]] that [[spoiler:James and Erin, who briefly showed romantic interest in each other in Series 3, do get together after the conclusion of the series. However it's around 15 years later when they are both in their thirties and have spent more years together as simply friends]].
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Music]]
* Creator/AnnaRussell's "How to Write Your Own Gilbert and Sullivan Opera" spoofs (along with every other G&S trope) the tendency of "the liitle man who sings the patter song" to end up with "the big fat contralto". Dandelion (the aforementioned "big fat contralto") even sings about it in the final number, although it appears it will come as a surprise to Claude Billy Bunion ("the little man who sings the patter song").
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Theatre]]
* ''Theatre/{{Drood}}'' has the audience vote in two characters to get together and sing a romantic duet at the end, which often leads to some pretty interesting {{Crack Pairing}}s.
* In the GrandFinale of the Creator/GilbertAndSullivan operetta ''Theatre/{{Ruddigore}}'', Rose Maybud's disappointed suitor [[spoiler:Richard Dauntless]] hooks up with the chief bridesmaid instead.
* The musical version of ''Theatre/TwoGentlemenOfVerona'' pulled this with Thurio and Lucetta, who had no prior interaction in either the musical or the original play.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Video Games]]
* ''VideoGame/MegaManBattleNetwork 6''. If you played the game (or any in the series for that matter) then it should be blatantly obvious. [[spoiler: Lan and Mayl marry and have a kid who has a Navi who is a hybrid of Mega Man's and Roll's data.]]
* ''VideoGame/{{Pyre}}'': Some characters can get together, given that they ended up in the same side by the end of the game. [[spoiler:The Moon Touched Girl and Almer, as well as Jodariel and Ignarius are two of them]]. Independent of side, Hedwyn [[spoiler:will meet and get together with Fikani again]]. Although it's left a bit more ambiguous, it's still implied that [[spoiler:the Reader themselves will get together with Sandra if they promise to keep her crystal ball]].
* At the end of ''VideoGame/SuperMarioRPG'', Booster and Valentina get married. [[GuideDangIt Though you'll never see it unless you're told about it]], you can actually see Booster propose to Valentina if, [[EventFlag after defeating her]], you go all the way back up to the top of Booster's Tower and look at the balcony. As it doesn't get you anything and is easily missed, it's probably there because of DevelopersForesight.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Webcomics]]
* In ''Webcomic/{{Erstwhile}}'''s rendition of "Sweetheart Roland," the title character's DisposableFiancee gets a cutesy moment with the [[NoNameGiven unnamed]] shepherd who [[DoggedNiceGuy got friend-zoned by the protagonist]]. The protagonist's now-widowed father may also be hitting it off with some random woman at the wedding.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Western Animation]]
* ''WesternAnimation/HeyArnold'' creator Creator/CraigBartlett said that not only would Arnold and Helga hook up if ''The Patakis'' had been made, but Gerald and Phoebe would as well (and become the main couple, sort of). The GrandFinale movie seemingly makes up for that.
* Treated a bit oddly on ''WesternAnimation/KickButtowski'' where the Beta Couple Gunther/Jackie hooked up in an episode, however it has never been mentioned again, but fans seem to take this as a "They will one day", more so to get Jackie off of Kick's back to fuel the FanPreferredCouple of Kick/Kendall (depending on the episode).
* Subverted on ''WesternAnimation/PhineasAndFerb'' with [[AsianAirhead Stacy]] and Coltrane; they play BetaCouple to [[OfficialCouple Candace and Jeremy]] in the episode "[[Recap/PhineasAndFerbTheBaljeatles The Baljeatles]]" and end the episode {{holding hands}}, but in a later episode Stacy goes out with somebody else with no mention of whether she and Coltrane ever dated.
[[/folder]]

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