Stella's POV

That night, Spencer insisted on staying with me while Emily went home to get some rest. I could tell she was reluctant to leave, but at the same time, I really wanted to be alone with Reid for a little while. We needed some time to discuss everything that had happened.

When the entire team had said goodnight and left, Spencer relaxed in the chair beside the bed, still holding onto my hand tightly. He was very quiet and I knew he was waiting for me to start talking.

"Did they tell you…everything?" I asked him softly, breaking the silence.

"Just that he raped you. A lot. That son-of-a-bitch," Reid muttered angrily. "I'll kill him if I get the chance."

I listened to him, then continued. "He kept me tied to a bed and he fed me once a day. He'd rape me and laugh afterwards while I cried silently." Abruptly, I stopped, unable to continue when I became overwhelmed with emotion. Spencer eased himself onto the edge of the bed and took me into his arms, holding me close.

"It's okay," he whispered. " I understand if you're not ready. You can tell me later." Gently, he stroked my long hair, which desperately needed washing.

"Oh, Spencer!" I sobbed. "I missed you so much! I was so scared that I'd never be able to talk to you again."

"Shh…" Reid insisted. "You're safe now and I'm right here. I'm never going to leave you again."

I tangled my fingers in his hair and clung to him with all I had, almost afraid that I would wake up from this dream and realize I was still a captive and he was far away from my grasp. But, I didn't wake up.

"Maybe…we can talk about it later…when it's not so…painful," I told him quietly.

"Whenever you're ready, I'll be here," Spencer assured me, holding me at arm's length and looking deep into my eyes. "I love you, Stella."

'I love you, too," I replied, thinking to myself that nothing had ever been more true.

Reid leaned in and kissed me, slow and sweet. My arms slid around his neck and pulled him closer and I parted my lips, granting his tongue easy entrance. This was what I'd dreamed of feeling again since the moment that I'd been abducted. I moaned quietly as he knotted his fingers in my hair passionately.

Emily's POV

That night, after leaving the hospital, Emily rode back to her apartment, Hotch driving her car. She was exhausted from the long, stressful day, but it worth it to know that Stella was safe.

"You okay?" Hotch asked, breaking the silence they'd ridden in for twenty minutes.

Emily nodded. "Just worn out," she admitted. "I really thought that we were going to lose her today. And Reid."

Aaron reached across the console and took her hand in his, squeezing it gently and stroking it with the back of his thumb. " Well, she's safe now. And I think she and Reid will be very happy together. In fact, I'm sure of it."

"Them being engaged makes me feel kinda old," Emily remarked, squeezing his hand in return. " I thought that when I adopted Stella, she'd have to grow up some. I didn't realize that she already had. And now she's engaged!"

"You aren't old!" Hotch declared. "To me, you're perfect."

Emily smiled wearily at him and leaned over, resting her head on his shoulder. "I love you, Aaron."

"I love you, too, Emily."

Stella's POV

The next day, the doctor released me and Spencer drove me home. Emily had offered to come pick me up, but Reid insisted and she seemed to give in easily. I was still considerably weakened from my captivity, so I was grateful when the nurse told me I had to ride downstairs in a wheel chair. Reid went down ahead of us while the older woman took me down.

"You've got a very nice young man there," she told me.

I smiled a little, something I was gradually learning to do again. "Yes ma'am, I do. He asked me to marry him yesterday."

"Really?" the nurse exclaimed. "Aww…that's so sweet. Can I see your ring?"

I held up my left hand for her to see the beautiful ring that Spencer had given me. She gasped and commented on how lovely it was.

When we got downstairs, Reid was waiting to pick me up. He helped me out of the wheelchair and into the front seat.

"You take good care of that fiancée of yours," the nurse called to him as he walked around to the driver's side.

"Yes, ma'am. I will."

Our drive home was slow, due to lunchtime traffic. I didn't mind, though; I enjoyed spending time with Spencer. To tell the truth, I didn't ever want to be apart from him again. I was afraid to be alone.

"Just so you know, Garcia practically has our entire wedding already planned out," Spence told me.

I laughed quietly, then stopped suddenly. It seemed to soon to laugh again. "Really? What does she have in mind?"

"I don't know exactly. I think it's all romantic wedding chapel and red roses."

I wrinkled my nose in distaste and Reid didn't miss it.

"Not your style?" he wondered. "What were you thinking?"

I shrugged. "Well, I haven't really given it much time. I like the idea of being married at the beach, though. In a flowy white dress. Barefooted. Very simple and elegant."

Spencer smiled. "That sounds better to me, too. We'll have to talk to Garcia about rearranging her plans."

"It's only been twenty-four hours since you proposed," I reminded him. "How much could be set in stone already?"

Reid raised his eyebrows. "You'd be surprised."

When we got upstairs, I opened the door and was greeted by a chorus of "Welcome Home!", shouted at the same time. The team had thrown a party to welcome me back. The apartment was decorated with streamers, balloons and more roses than I'd ever seen before in my life. Plus, the smell of fresh Italian cuisine was drifting through the apartment.

Emily came up to me and hugged me close. "We wanted to something to mark the occasion," she told me. "And Rossi felt like roses and Italian food was the only way to go."