A/N: Okay guys here is the final chapter for this story for those of you who have been asking me for ages. I am so sorry l let my stories get so behind. Life happened and the jerks happened and then I gave up, and then I realized I miss writing so much. Although I am not longer using this platform as my main one I will update stories periodically here. My main account is now on AO3 and Tumblr under the pen name: darkgothagentprentiss. I post daily on those sites so follow me if you wish.

Love you all

Also for those of you who have been dying to know about "Framed", I already started rewriting the story and I will begin posting in the next few days.

Loving You Forever is What I Need Chapter Twenty-Two

"Love alone is capable of uniting living beings in such a way as to complete and fulfill them, for it alone takes them and joins them by what is deepest in themselves."– Pierre Teilhard de Chardin

Emily Prentiss was sitting in her office; her morning had been busy with meetings and conference calls but was hoping she could take a break from work and get some coffee from her favorite place soon, but she never got a chance. Now, she needed to finish this report before she could head to her next meeting. A soft knock on her door made her look up from her computer screen, it was Alina with a sad smile on her face.

"I have some files for you to sign." The blonde woman said, "And coffee…mocha caramel latte nonfat milk," Alina said walking into her office and placing the drink in front of her. Emily wanted to jump up and hug her friend, but she knew she was still hurt because of the incident in her apartment.

"You are a lifesaver!" She said instead while smiling, hoping to remove the frown from her friend's face.

"The Nilsen file, and that case we took last week," Alina said unmoved. "Clyde wants to file these before…." She stopped speaking…it hurt to talk about that. "I can leave them here…no rush, just make sure you have them on his desk by the morning. I can't take another day of his grumpy mood." Emily reached to take Alina's hand as she placed the files on the side of her desk and for a second, they stared at each other.

"I am sorry," Emily said sadly.

"I have to go and finish my own reports, so…." Alina said looking away from Emily.

"Al, please?" She held onto her hand. "I know I have been an unbearable bitch lately, but please talk to me, I hate this silent treatment."

"We're not in fifth grade, Emily; I am not giving you the silent treatment." Alina's voice was calm and icy.

"You can be mad at me forever if you want, but I leave in two days and I would hate to leave with us never talking again."

"I am not 'not talking to you, I am simply abiding by your wishes to mind my own business."

"Al, come on!" Emily whined, " I am sorry I was an asshole, I love you and you know that please? I don't want to leave knowing you're angry at me."

"Why do you even have to leave in the first place?" Alina finally said looking at her with desperation and hurt written across her face. She was not mad at her friend anymore, not really, she was just mad at the fact that she had lost two entire days to go talk to Aaron Hotchner, and he had not even cared…it had been two days now, and it seemed like going over there didn't fix anything. She had expected him to fly to London immediately, but nothing, and now, Emily was leaving in two days and she would never see her again.

"Because it's not the same anymore," Emily admitted, standing up and walking toward the window in her office.

"He doesn't even live here; he is thousands of miles away." Aliana reasoned.

"It's not just about Aaron, yes, I will always love him, and trust me, that hurts so fucking much," Emily said, her eyes glistening. "But there is so much more than that…I can't just grab onto my old life and pretend nothing happened, Al, I was kidnapped and held captive, I can't just shake that off…."

"But, if you talk to us we could help, Clyde has tried to talk to you so many times, we will find a way, please, just don't leave…screw Aaron Hotchner, you are so beautiful and amazing." Her voice began cracking and Emily pulled her in for a hug.

"I am sorry, Al." They remained in a tight hug for a while. There were so many emotions going through Emily's mind.

"Please don't leave."

"Can we talk about this tonight?" She asked, wiping her eyes. "I really need to go to this meeting."

"Okay, go, but I can kidnap you and keep you inside your apartment until you are willing to listen to reason."

"Oh, I'm sure you can, I'm still leaving though." Emily laughed reaching for her phone on her desk and heading into her meeting leaving Alina alone in her office.

Ten minutes after Emily had left for her meeting, Alina was back in her own office reading case briefs that had been transferred to her. She was supposed to take some of Emily's duties until Clyde found a replacement, although she was hoping Emily would change her mind at the last minute.

"Detective DeJoung?" One of the interns approached her.

"Hey, Lewis, what's going on?"

"There is a gentleman here to see Chief Prentiss."

"She's in a meeting with the directors, please have him come back later," Alina replied, confused since they had given everyone strict orders not to pass any messages to Emily or Clyde due to the insane amount of meetings they had that day.

"I've already told him that, he said he won't leave until he sees her," Lewis said scared.

"What?" Alina frowned and then it hit her! "Oh, God!" She stood up immediately following Lewis to the reception area. Her heart swelled when she saw Aaron Hotchner standing there with a deep frown on his face.

"What took you so fucking long time to get here?" She asked, almost annoyed "I've got it, Lewis." She turned to the intern agent.

"I can't just drop everything I have in a minute and rush here, you told me to take care of things and it took a few days…."

"Oh my God!" Alina said in disbelief? "Did you actually quit the BAU?"

"Something like that?" He followed the blonde woman into Emily's office, "Where's Emily?"

"She's in a meeting, didn't you hear Lewis tell you that?"

"Well, can you get her, I just need a few minutes of her time." He said, walking out of the office and standing by the Interpol main hall.

"Jesus, Hotchner, hold your horses!" Alina held her hand up. "She's with the directors, you're going to have to wait."

In an office above them, Clyde was talking to the senior inspectors, and the director of Interpol was conference calling with them. They were walking about budget and Emily's transfer, Sean was also on a screen joining the conference. Clyde leaned against the glass window, then his eyes caught something or someone, and his eyes narrowed in fury.

"What in the bloody hell is he doing here?"

Everyone in the meeting turned to look at him and then to the glass wall to see if they could see the source of his sudden anger.

"Did you ask him to come?" He turned to Emily.

"What?" She asked, confused and standing up and walking toward the glass.

"Oh my God!" She exclaimed in shock.

"I'll handle this." She turned to Clyde and then the rest of the meeting members and said, "Please excuse me."

She rushed down the corridor and then down the stairs, finally making eye contact with him, as Alina tried to stubbornly push Hotch back into her office.

"You're making a scene, just wait in her office." Alina tried to shove him into her office.

"Emily," He said, watching her walk toward them.

"What are you doing here?" She demanded.

"Can we please talk somewhere private?" Hotch asked, stepping closer to her.

"No," She scoffed, "What are you doing here?"

"Please, Emily." He begged. "I just need five minutes of your time to talk."

"People are watching." Alina reminded them, trying to be as subtle as she could. Emily looked around at the officers looking out their windows…the eyes of the bullpen on them…trying to find out what was the commotion was.

"Aaron, please, I'm working, you just pulled me out of meeting with the director." Her voice was even, but she was shaking.

"I won't leave until you talk to me."

"Then I can have security arrest you, Agent Hotchner, and charge you with trespassing," Clyde said walking up next to them…Emily didn't even see him coming.

"Stay out of this!" Hotch yelled.

"Get the hell out of my agency!"

"Can you two please stop it!" Emily said angrily.

"Hotch, please just leave, I'll call you when I get off." She pleaded.

"Just talk to me for five minutes, please."

"Get him out of here!" Clyde barked.

"Dammit, Clyde, go back to the meeting! I'll handle this." She whirled around, looking harshly at her current boss.

Emily pushed Aaron into her office now that almost everyone in the building was looking at them, and she couldn't afford another scene.

"I'm going to kill him!" Hotch barked as she closed the door.

"Stop, Hotch!" She said angrily "What the hell are you doing here?"

"I need to talk to you."

"There is nothing for us to talk about, you need to leave, Aaron, you can't just come here and cause a scene."

"I told you I won't leave until you talk to me," Emily growled angrily. Why did he have to be so stubborn.

"What do you want?" Her voice escalating. "What can we possibly talk about, any words we needed to say to each other have already been spoken."

"I love you, I won't live without you, I can't."

"God, Aaron" She ran a hand through her hair in frustration. "Why are you doing this?"

"I quit the BAU." He said simply "I'm working on moving here, it will take a few weeks, but it is happening and…."

"You quit the BAU?" She asked in disbelief.

"Yes, I resigned, I still have to finish some matters, but it's a done deal, I'm working on getting everything arranged for Jack and I to move here."

"Oh my God, Aaron." She said, rubbing her face in exasperation. "What the hell is wrong with you?"

"I love you, Emily, I'm not going to stop fighting for you. I know you don't trust me and that's why you're scared, but I'm so ready, I'll do anything you want."

"Have you lost your mind?" She asked simply.

"I lost my mind over you many years ago. Marry me, Emily." He said looking at her longingly.

"Hotch…."

"You told me that I never took this seriously, that there was always something in between us. Well, now there isn't. I'm here for you, there's nothing else between us, Em, just you, me, and Jack."

"Oh my God, you're seriously delusional." Emily cried, her head spinning around, the tightness in her chest beginning to suffocate her.

"I won't leave until you agree to marry me." He said stubbornly, getting on his knees. Emily glanced around the bullpen to see that everyone was still watching them, and now, he was on his knees and more people were coming out of their office to see what was going on.

"Aaron, are you crazy?" She laughed, unable to believe what she was hearing and what he was doing.

"I can stay here all day long, I've got nowhere to be, just say that you will marry me."

"Fine, I will marry you, just please get up." She said, feeling her face flush as literally everyone in the bullpen was watching them.

"Really?" He asked, standing up and looking at her hopefully.

"No," She laughed, looking at his face as he pouted. "I just need you to get off the floor. Something is seriously wrong with you, something in your head."

"I love you with all my heart and soul. Emily Prentiss, I let you walk away from me before, but I am not going to do it now. I know you're scared, so am I, but I promise if you say yes, I will spend the rest of my life making you happy." He took two steps closer to her pulling her into his arms by her waist and kissing her slowly, then passionately.

Emily could hear the people standing outside her office clapping and whispering, and her brain was a complete fog; when they pulled apart, she smiled as she looked into his eyes.

"You have crossed over into the dark side." She said, still unable to believe what he had done, but not pulling away from his embrace either.

"So, will you marry me?" He asked hopefully. Emily laughed, throwing back her head.

"No" She smirked, "You can't just come here and wow me with words, Agent Hotchner, we're not done talking about this. You seriously resigned from the BAU?"

"I did?" He vowed, "I'm ready to do anything you want, Em."

They were interrupted by the door opening, Alina standing on the other side.

"Finally!" She exclaimed, walking into the reception area. "About time you two got your shit together!"

"She said yes!" Hotch said with a happy grin, "We're getting married!"

"Actually, I never said yes," Emily said slapping his chest.

"Don't worry, she will." Alina winked at him. "Told you she needed actions and not words."

"Wait! What!?" Emily asked in confusion, "You were behind this, weren't you?" Emily pointed at Alina frowning.

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"Right," Emily stated, rolling her eyes.

"I'm just here because Clyde is really wondering why you haven't gotten back to the meeting." Alina shrugged.

"Shit!" Emily said under her breath. "Look, I have to go, can we please talk later, I'll call you when I finish. " She turned and said to Hotch.

"I'll wait for you."

"Aaron." She tilted her head.

"Told you I am not leaving."

"There you go, now we're talking," Alina stated with authority.

"Okay, you know what…since you two are buddy-buddy, why don't you stay with him while I go back to my meeting." She reprimanded.

"Hey, I'm not a babysitter!" Alina protested, but Emily had already left.

"So, what now, "Miss Expert on Love?" Hotch asked, putting his hands in his pockets.

"Technically, she hasn't agreed to marry you so, you can't call victory, Hotchner."

"So, what do we do?"' He asked hopefully. Alina had never seen him so relaxed and vulnerable, obviously outside his stoic façade.

"Wow, you really do suck at this man thing." She said, shaking her head. "You need to really propose to her."

"I thought l had already done that."

"No, Hotchner," Alina laughed "Desperate declarations of love do not count as proposals; you need to do it the right way. A proposal she won't be able to turn down."

"Got any ideas?"

Later that afternoon, Emily and Hotch were walking around the streets after dinner, talking for hours. Emily's mind was still foggy and confused. Hotch had dropped everything behind to come to find her and ask her for another chance. In the past decade, they had found themselves so many times in this position, and it always ended up in heartbreak and tears. They were walking around St. James Park; London was breathtakingly beautiful at sunset. The serene skies filled with soft puffs of clouds that cloaked the glory of the majestic sun. The gorgeous trees slumping with the burden of saying goodbye to the leaves that had held onto them for three seasons. They stopped in front of the Thames River that overlooked the London Bridge. The air of the night begging to smell like the promise of rain. There were lighted trees nearby and people walking around hand in hand, others rushing around. There was also a troubadour nearby, Aaron held it into her hand and lead her to the nearby Gazebo, which was lighted and filled with beautiful flowers.

"What is this?" Emily asked. She had seen the gazebo before but never covered in flowers; the sun was about to set, settling an orange glow around them, the coldly dark sky beginning to take its place. He smiled taking her hand and pulling her to him. A song began playing and Emily turned around to see the troubadour right next to them.

"Aaron, what?"

The song was being played with a saxophone, but Emily recognized it immediately, the song was "I Have Nothing" by Whitney Houston. She couldn't count the nights she cried herself to sleep listening to that song and thinking about him.

"You know, I never knew I would love someone so much it hurt." He said, holding onto her hand and looking in her eyes.

"I made so many mistakes with you," He continued, looking into her eyes. "Most of them were to protect you, I never thought I was worthy enough of your love. So, I let you walk away time and time again." His eyes began glistening and so did Emily's.

"I've loved you since the day I met you, and no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't live without you." Her eyes were full now, refusing to spill, as the soft melody played in her ears making her giddy and lightheaded.

"Loving you forever is all I need, you're my life and my world, Emily Prentiss." One tear slowly falling out of his eyes.

"Marry me?" He asked, getting onto his knees and pulling out a velvet box, showing her a 3.0-carat tear-drop engagement ring.

"If you say yes, I promise you that I'll spend every single one of my days devoted to you."

"Aaron…" Tears were freely running down her cheeks.

"Emily Prentiss, will you marry me?"

"Yes," She heard herself sobbing, "God, yes, I'm so scared, but yes!" She cried. He placed the delicate ring on her finger and stood up pulling her into his arms and kissing her passionately.

"If you break my heart one more time, Aaron Hotchner!" She warned, feeling a fresh wave of tears.

"I'll die making you happy, that's a promise." He said, kissing her again, holding her close to him.

Nearby, Alina stood by a bench watching her best friend and smiling with a few happy tears rolling out of her eyes. If someone deserved to be happy, it was them. She watched them as they stood there kissing each other, night falling over them, the beautiful City of London lighted as if it was celebrating as well. There was a reason why they called it the "City of Dreams", after all.

You see through

Right to the heart of me

You break down my walls

With the strength of your love, hm

I never knew

Love like I've known it with you

Will a memory survive

One I can hold on to

I don't really need to look

Very much further

I don't want to have to go

Where you don't follow

I will hold it back again

This passion inside

I can't run from myself

There's nowhere to hide

Your love I'll remember forever

Don't make me close one more door

I don't want to hurt anymore

Stay in my arms if you dare

Or must I imagine you there

Don't walk away from me

I have nothing, nothing, nothing

Don't make me close one more door

I don't want to hurt anymore

Stay in my arms if you dare

Or must I imagine you there

Don't walk away from me

No, don't walk away from me

Don't you dare walk away from me

I have nothing, nothing, nothing

If I don't have you, you

If I don't have you, oh you

The End

"Love is something eternal; the aspect may change, but not the essence."— Eff Zinnert