A/N And so here it is the end. Trumpets sound fanfare, confetti falls everywhere, and the crowds cheer. I hope you enjoy. Thank you for coming along with me on this ride. Thank you to everyone who reviewed, alerted and made this their favorite story.

p.s. I own nothing including the song Need you now by Lady Antebellum

Picture perfect memories scattered all around the floor
Reachin' for the phone 'cause I can't fight it anymore
And I wonder if I ever cross your mind
For me it happens all the time

The worst thing about recovering. The thing no one tells you about. The thing that drives you mad and is almost worse than the injury itself. Is boredom. Boredom and infinite time. When you're recovering it seems like that is all you have. A never ending surplus of boredom and time.

Time to think.

Time to regret.

Time to dream.

The team came by when they could. When they weren't on a case. Garcia came often. They had finally forgiven her. They were a family once again. … Well almost a family.

He never came.

Jack had come by a couple of times, but it was hard for him. He had so much energy and she could barely move.

She smiled when she remembered the first time he had seen her.

He had walked up to her slowly. He stared at her. He took her all in. He slowly climbed onto the couch where she lay and leaned his little body over her chest, and ever so gently kissed just above the bandage.

Dave looked at him quizzically, "What are you doing Jacko?"

"I'm kissing Emily's boo-boo so it will get better. It got better right Emily."

Emily smiled. "Of course it did baby. You always make me feel better."

Jack smiled real big. He had helped.

But HE never came.

The team brought Jack over. Never him. She hadn't seen him since the jet. And that was only for a moment before the pills the doctor had given her had knocked her out. The last time she had really seen him was in that hospital room. When he had nearly sprinted out.

It's a quarter after one, I'm all alone and I need you now
Said I wouldn't call but I lost all control and I need you now
And I don't know how I can do without
I just need you now

The time was killer. At night she remembered his hands on her. His magical hands. She remembered every detail of that night. Every night she remembered. And every night she wished it was his hands and his body that touched her, not her own.

Another shot of whiskey can't stop looking at the door
Wishing you'd come sweeping in the way you did before
And I wonder if I ever cross your mind
For me it happens all the time

Does he think of me? Does he remember that night? Does he go to bed wishing it me touching him? These thoughts plagued her mind.

It's a quarter after one, I'm a little drunk and I need you now
Said I wouldn't call but I lost all control and I need you now
And I don't know how I can do without
I just need you now

She stared at the phone. She wanted to call. She didn't care what time it was. She knew it was late. She knew that even he, the workaholic who barely slept was safely ensconced in dreamland. She didn't care she just wanted to hear his voice. She wanted him to tell her that it was going to be all right. A moment of pure courage overtook her and she quickly stood up and grabbed her keys and purse.

Guess I'd rather hurt than feel nothin' at all
It's a quarter after one I'm all alone and I need you now
And I said I wouldn't call but I'm a little drunk and I need you now
And I don't know how I can do without
I just need you now
I just need you now (wait)
Ooo, baby, I need you now

Every red light, every stop sign she questioned what she was doing. She thought about turning back. She did it once, but she only got a hundred feet before she turned around again and continued the familiar drive to his house.

She stood in front of his door. She was shaking. She wanted her courage back. All she felt like now was the cowardly lion. She closed her eyes and sent a silent prayer to the gods. She knocked on the door. The sound broke through the silence and scared her. She wanted to run away, but she didn't she had passed the point of no return. She had to see it through.

She waited for an eternity. She held her breath. Did he hear? Would he answer? Would he be happy to see? Did he still want her?

After a lifetime stuck on the porch she sadly turned away. And then she heard it. The chain was sliding out of its lock. He was going to open the door.

He had woken from a restless dream. He had dreamt every night for a month. The first night after the hospital. After he had run like a coward, it had been a happy dream. Of a wonderful future. But every night since the dreams had gotten more and more horrible.

She didn't want him.

She had moved on.

She loved someone else.

She had died on the operating table.

She had died in his arms.

That was tonight's dream he had been with her when she got shot. He held her, but she died in his arms. He couldn't save her. Another woman he loved that he couldn't save. He never got a chance to tell her how he felt.

In real life he had a chance. But he had run. Like a coward. Who runs from happiness? Apparently I do. I don't even have the stones to go see her. Jack's seen her three times. But if I see her I have to make a choice. Am I ready to make a choice?

The knock brought him back to the world. He was sure he had imagined it. He waited. He didn't hear a second knock. But he could have sworn he heard the first. He waited.

Nothing.

Only Silence.

He waited.

Finally his curiosity got the best of him. He picked up his gun and stealthily moved towards the front door. He cautiously peered out of the peephole. It's Emily. What is she doing here? What time is it?

He opened the door. "Prentiss what are you doing here?"

Emily gave him an embarrassed smile. "That is a good question."

"Yes. It is. And you're avoiding it."

Here it is the moment to put up or shut up. Time to go all in. "I want to go back. I want to go back to that morning, and I want to grab that girl by her shoulders and say, 'What they hell are you doing? You're running away from your dream guy. You're running away from the sweetest boy in the world. Why? Because you're scared? Because no one has ever loved you like this? Because you're afraid it won't work out? Well trust me running away is so much worse.' But I can't do that. I can't go back in time. I can't change what I did. But I can say I am sorry. I can tell you that I will never do that again. I won't run anymore. I am yours. For keeps. For always. I love you. And if you'll take me back I will spend the rest of my life making it up to you."

Hotch rocked back on his heels. A heartfelt apology was not what he was expecting at whatever time in the morning it was. He didn't know what to do. He didn't know what to say. What do you say to something like that?

The silence was unbearable. How could he be silent after what I just said? "Aaron say something."

"Do you mean that?"

"Of course I mean that. Why would I come here at this time of night, and say all of that if I didn't mean it?"

"Because it sounds good. Because it what you read in fairytales. I love you. We both know that. I said it that night not in words, but I said it. And I woke and you were gone. And all you left was note saying you were sorry. You didn't even leave it on my pillow. You left it at the office. And then we go through the next two months, and we are slowly getting back to zero. And then you get shot. And it scares you. And you come here and you tell me everything I want to hear. But what you said, that's a big commitment. In some ways it's bigger than marriage. People understand divorce, but not too many people would understand this. You can't run again. No matter what. Are you really ready for that?" His eyes narrowed and he stared into her eyes daring her to blink.

"I am yours Aaron. For keeps. For always."

And then he was in her arms and they kissed. And it was better than both of them had dreamed.

He picked her up and carried her into their home.

And they lived happily ever after.

A/N So I hope you enjoyed. Please review and let me know what you think.