Fans of How I Met Your Mother now have an official date for the end of their beloved show: March 31, 2014.

The announcement came via Deadline, which broke the news that the show would air its last episode two months ahead of when other shows usually air their finales. CBS will air the final episode and then to make room for the new freshman comedy Friends With Better Lives.

Show co-creators Craig Thomas and Carter Bays both tweeted about the news on Dec. 19, supporting the decision by CBS.

"It's a change-but fewer repeats, promotion during March Madness, and we get to do our finale not up against other finales...upsides!" Thomas tweeted.

"BTW, the March 31st finale is a very good thing for #HIMYM. More momentum, fewer reruns. Thank you CBS," Bays wrote.

The 1-hour special will be a conclusion to the nine-year story about Ted Mosby's (Josh Radnor) search for love. Fans were given little clues as to the woman who ultimately captured his heart and mothered his children (David Henrie and Lyndsey Fonseca) throughout the series, and were officially rewarded when her identity was revealed at the end of season 8.

'How I Met Your Mother' Season 9 Spoilers: Robin's Mother to Appear in Future Episodes?

The Mother character, played by Cristin Millioti, appeared in a handful of episodes throughout season 9 as she met many of Ted friends before meeting him. So far, she has met and befriended Lily (Alyson Hannigan) and Marshall (Jason Segel) while in Farhampton, and was revealed to have met Barney (Neil Patrick Harris) once before in New York City.

She still needs to meet Robin (Cobie Smulders) before she can meet Ted, and the show's 200th episode will heavily feature her character.

'How I Met Your Mother' Spoilers: 'How Your Mother Met Me' Episode Told From Mother's Point of View?

How I Met Your Mother returns Monday, Jan. 13 at 8 p.m. on CBS with the episode Slapsgiving 3: Slappointment in Slapmarra.

Tags: CBS television How I Met Your Mother