'How I Met Your Mother' comes to a close after 9 seasons

Hit sitcom How I Met Your Mother came to an end on Monday night after a nine-season, 208-episode run.

[WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD]

The finale provided many answers for fans -- the most important, of course, being the full story behind the show's mysterious Mother.

The final episode unveiled that the Mother's real name is Tracy McConnell, and that yes, she has passed away by the "present time" in 2030, when Ted tells the story. Cristin Milioti, who portrays the Mother, had called the suggestion of her death "insane" and "crazy," but fan theories proved true last night when it was revealed the Mother has been gone for six years.

The confirmation of the Mother's passing could have ended the show on an expected but tragic note, but HIMYM chose to continue its focus on love.

"No. I don't buy it. That's not the reason you made us listen to this," Ted's daughter Penny says at the end of the story. "This is a story about how you're totally in love with Aunt Robin and you're thinking about asking her out and you want to know if we're okay with it."

Ted's children Penny and Luke give him their blessing, and the show ends as Ted arrives at Robin's apartment, blue french horn in hand.

"We had our last table read and I cried puddles of tears," actress Cobie Smulders (Robin Scherbatsky) tells CNN of the finale. "It's such a good group of people, such a great show."

"I get to play such a wonderful character," Smulders continues. "I'm so blessed and I'm sad to say goodbye, but we've been blessed to be on the air for nine years."

[CNN]