The How I Met Your Mother finale stretch begins this week, and speculations about the finale have reached a whole other level. Over the past few weeks, rumors have been rife that the Mother will die, which would explain why only Ted has been telling the story all this time.

The Hollywood Reporter was able to get some insight into the finale from actress Cristin Milioti, who was announced as the Mother last may. The brunette told the website, "That's insane. There are some crazy conspiracy theories, which really make me love the fans more... That is so crazy." It is unclear however whether or not she was just trying to throw off the rumor mill.

The rumors had some basis. In a recent episode, Ted (played by Josh Radnor) and the Mother were shown reminiscing. Ted brought up how surprised everyone was that Robin's mother showed up to her wedding. The Mother, as it turns out, didn't think it was a surprise. She said, "What mother is going to miss her daughter's wedding?" After her pronouncement came the shocker: Ted was brought to tears.

It has been revealed that Robin and Barney's (played by Cobie Smulders and Neil Patrick Harris respectively) wedding will finally happen during the final episode. Season Nine has been all about that big event, including all the other events that happened during that particular weekend. The episodes have been going backwards and forwards, from the future to the past and vice versa, in an effort to round out the Mother's story. The part that everyone has been waiting for will happen in the end at the wedding, when Ted is set to meet the Mother.

How I Met Your Mother is currently in its ninth and final season. The show began in 2005, following the lives of a group of friends in New York. The series of episodes leading up to the finale one starts on March 10, at 8PM. The special one-hour finale itself will be on March 31, Monday, at 8PM.