A/N: And part two. I hope these chapters do the story and Prentiss justice. I have so much respect for Paget Brewster and the level of professionalism she maintained throughout her last episodes with the show. She is going to be greatly missed. As for Emily, we all know she's still alive, but I'm trying to make sure that the characters who aren't aware, don't pick up on any suspicious behaviour. We all know what these profilers are like... one slip up and you've got some splaining to do.

Anyway... enough of my ranting. Please read and review.

DISCLAIMER: I don't own Criminal Minds.


"Do you remember that guy who tried to come onto her… when Hotch and Morgan were right in front of him… what was his name?" Garcia asked, glancing around at the group. Reid smiled sadly, "The Viper," he answered, "She was not happy when we suggested she be the one to lure him."

"And that time when she poked your face while you were explaining that Aryan code…" JJ remarked, reaching over and mimicking Prentiss… "He's so lifelike."

Reid huffed and nodded, swatting away JJ's hand.

"I just remember…" Reid started, but was interrupted by Morgan, who jumped up from Emily's chair and kicked her desk, denting the side, before storming out of the office. The others turned to watch him leave, surprised by the force with which he opened the glass doors.

Their collective gaze turned to see Hotch emerge from the elevator, following his meeting with the acting Section-Chief Clark. He passed the group, sitting in the bullpen, quickly glancing at Emily's desk before racing to his office.

"What do you think Hotch is gonna do?" Reid asked nervously, looking around at his friends. Garcia and Rossi exchanged a look, knowing that this would be just like last time. Hotch would kill Doyle.


Hotch closed the door behind him and sat at his desk, sighing heavily as he ran his hands down his face. He could feel the emotions coming on, and knew that he couldn't let himself break down here, in his office. He swallowed hard and opened his laptop, pressing play for the thousandth time since it all began.

Emily backed away, through the group of agents towards the back of the room. Just before she reached the door, she turned and pushed the glass open. She made her way through the foyer and climbed into the elevator.

As the doors closed, the video switched to another camera, at the front of the building. Emily rushed down the steps and waved down a cab. She climbed into the vehicle, the car driving away from the building. The video zoomed in and highlighted Emily's face.

Hotch reversed the video and played it through again. And again. And again.

Each time his heart ached as the camera zoomed in on Emily's tear-stained face. If only she'd told him. If only she'd trusted him enough to let him in. But, just as he'd said in the note he'd given to JJ. He did understand. And he did love her. She had put her own life at risk to save their team. Their family. He sighed as his heart ached for the woman he loved.

He pressed the buttons and rewound the tape once more, burning the images into his brain. Hoping that this wouldn't be the last image he remembered of Emily Prentiss.


Elizabeth took Simon's hand and squeezed it tightly. They might have been divorced long ago, but they still cared deeply for each other. And if for nothing else, she was grateful for that. Especially today. The day they were burying their daughter.

Simon squeezed back when the song began, and the mourners placed the roses on the large black coffin that held his daughter's body. He felt the tears slip down his cheeks as his heart broke again for his little girl. The words of the song they both held so dear echoed in his ears and he looked over the coffin at the other man who held his daughter's heart. But Aaron wouldn't meet his gaze.

Darling, je vous aime beaucoup.

Je ne sais pas, what to do.

You know you've completely

Stolen my heart.

Morning, noon, and night time too.

Toujours, wondering what to do.

That's the way I've felt

Right from the start.

Ah, Cheri!

My love for you is tres, tres fort.

Wish my French were good enough.

I'd tell you so much more.

But I hope that you compris,

All the things you mean to me.

Darling, je vous aime beaucoup

I love you, yes I do.

Wish my French were good enough.

I'd tell you so much more.

But I hope that you compris,

All the things you mean to me.

Darling, je vous aime beaucoup

I love you, yes I do.

Darling, je vous aime beaucoup

I love you, yes I do.


As the service drew to a close, the members of the team gathered by the large tree, under the shade of its' branches. The family consoled each other as they mourned the loss of one of their own, Morgan wrapping his arm around Garcia's shoulders; JJ, holding firm onto Reid's hand.

Hotch and JJ, being the only members of the team who knew the truth, found it difficult to watch their friends go through this pain, but kept the secret to themselves. It was the only way to keep Emily safe. The only way to make sure that she stayed alive.

Rossi looked up from his feet and noticed two people headed towards the group. A woman, in her sixties and dressed impeccably, and a man, the same age and dressed in a black suit. Rossi tapped Hotch on the shoulder and tipped his head in their direction, the older agent surprised at the look on Hotch's face. A mixture of sadness, worry, and fear.

Hotch instantly recognized the couple and swallowed hard. He should've thought about this in advance, but he'd honestly been so concerned with how the team would be grieving that he hadn't had much time to consider Emily's parents. He regretted not being the one to tell them of the news in the first place, being instructed by the higher ups that it was best to come from someone who didn't know the Ambassador and her ex-husband.

When they reached the small group of people, Ambassador Prentiss held out a gloved hand for Hotch to shake. He obliged, but couldn't look her in the eyes. He then held his hand out to greet Mr. Prentiss, before turning to introduce the rest of the team to Emily's parents.

The others offered their condolences, Garcia surprising them by pulling both parents into a hug. When everyone had given their love and Hotch had offered the full support of the Bureau, the team began to walk back towards the cars. Hotch stopped when he felt a hand on his shoulder, and was surprised to see Mr. Prentiss standing there.

Hotch was further surprised as the older man embraced him tightly, his body shaking as he tried to hold back his grief. Hotch couldn't imagine the pain Simon must've been going through, believing that his daughter, his only child, was dead. "I know you did everything you could," Simon whispered. As they stepped back, Hotch nodded in reply. Simon put his hand on Hotch's shoulder and nodded.

Just before Hotch turned to return to the rest of the team, Simon held out a small package, with a note attached. It was addressed to him, in her writing. And post-marked two weeks ago. "She wanted you to have this," Simon said quietly, glancing over at Elizabeth who was waiting by the town car. Simon looked down at his feet, taking a deep breath before he looked up again, "She loved you Aaron, remember that."

Hotch nodded and offered the man a handshake. He watched as Simon walked away, before stashing the package in his coat pocket. Then, taking one final look at her grave, Hotch made his way across the lawn, rejoining the rest of his family and mentally preparing himself for what was to come.


"You sure you don't wanna come with us?" Jessica asked, helping Jack put his sneakers on. Hotch shook his head and ran his fingers through his son's hair. "I just need a little time to myself," he said quietly.

Jessica nodded sympathetically, wondering how this man was still standing after everything he'd been through. She smiled sadly as Jack gave his dad a hug, then took the small boy's hand and led him to the front door. "Well give us a call if you want anything while we're out," Jessica said, turning back. Hotch nodded and thanked her for her help, before closing the door behind them.

Hotch made his way into the kitchen, removing the bottle of whisky from the cabinet, and grabbing a glass. He walked down the hall and into his bedroom, closing the door. He knew no one else was home, but he felt like he needed the added privacy, if this note was what he thought it was.

He sat down in the armchair in the corner of his bedroom, placed the glass and bottle on the small table, and switched on the lamp. He slowly poured himself a double, then took his first sip. Sighing, he realized it was time.

Placing the glass back on the table, he slipped the letter opener into the crease and sliced through the tape. Removing the plain brown paper, Hotch felt his throat constrict when the book dropped into his lap. His mind went back to that day, the day they went to the zoo. The day he'd made the decision that Emily was the one he was meant to be with. Forever. She was his answer.

His finger traced over the small brown rabbit, dressed in a light blue coat. He felt a tear drop from his face, and onto the paper, quickly reaching down to wipe it with his sleeve.

He glanced over at the note, still attached to the wrapping paper. Reluctantly, he reached for it, tearing it off and slicing open the envelope. Slipping his fingers inside, he retrieved the notepaper, bringing it up to his nose. It smelled just like her… apple and cinnamon. His mind raced with memories, the scent of Emily triggering images in his mind from the years past.

He could feel his eyes well up as he unfolded the small note, written in her beautiful handwriting. He took another sip of his drink before he began to read her final words to him.

Aaron,

By now you know the truth. By now you know what I have done... what my past involves. And I hope, beyond all, that this will not stop you from loving me. I know you'll be hurting, and your mind will be going over the past years in your mind. And while I may have hidden secrets about my professional past, know that everything I have told you... the feelings we share and the memories we have, were all true. I meant those words and I will continue to do so, as long as I live.

You have to know that you have meant more to me than any other person in my life. I know that the things that have happened over the last few days have caused you to question this. But be safe in the knowledge that I do love you.

Aaron, I love you. You have to understand that before anything else. So long as you believe that, you will understand why I didn't tell you. Why I had to keep you safe. Why I had to make sure that our family was safe. Please don't spend your life wondering what you could've done. This was not your story to tell.

Take care of Jack and give him my love. Make sure he understands that I love him also. He has brought such light into my life, a light that I hadn't experienced in a long time. If I can be grateful for just one thing that you have given me, it was the love of my two favourite boys.

I know that you'll be hurting right now. And that there is nothing I can do to stop you from having to feel this pain. But please, be sad. I promise that we will see each other again. In this life, or the next.

All my love,
Your Emily.

Hotch read over the words, again and again. He kept reminding himself that, even if the rest of the world thought that she was gone, he knew that he would see her again. When that was, he didn't know. But he at least knew that the woman he loved was alive. And he knew, without a doubt, that she would stay that way for a long time.