Author's note: Okay so I'm a little unwilling to let these two go. In the interest of building suspense, the epilogue will be two chapters. I absolutely loved writing this chapter (It's nearly double the length of all the others) so I hope you enjoy reading and feel free to leave a comment because it makes me smile :)

*Six months later*

Winter had passed as quickly as it came and Spring flew by similarly. It was mid-March and Emily had effortlessly settled into her new job and second chance at a life in Virginia. Although she and Hotch no longer worked together, the 9-5 life allowed her ample time to spend with him and Jack. Hotch himself had opted for priority on local cases as opposed to distant ones and while he still travelled, he travelled less frequently than usual.

The two spent nearly every day together and most nights; sometimes when Jack was at Jessica's or staying at a friend's Hotch spent the night at her apartment but for the most part, Emily stayed over at the Hotchner residence. Her apartment provided her with a solid foundation for her return and Hotch welcomed the transition in making this time around a sure thing.

It was a Monday evening and Hotch was due to see Emily tonight. Given that he had been away on a case over the weekend, he was eager to see her and relieve some of the stress the serial murders had taken on him. The paperwork was almost double due to the number of victims and it had just gone past nine thirty when he heard a knock on the door and permitted the person on the other side to enter.

"Hey handsome." He looked up to find Emily with two takeout bags and a kind smile on her face.

"Em, what are you doing here?" he enquired in surprise; quickly standing to greet and hug her. She placed the bags on his desk away from the paperwork and Hotch enveloped her and held on tightly as she ran her hands calmingly through his hair.

"Bad one, huh?" she asked softly.

"Yeah."

She pulled back and kissed him tenderly before grabbing the bags and leading him to the sofa.

"I figured you'd be working late so I brought takeout. And ice cream although it might be soft by now."

Hotch looked at her in awe for a moment before giving her hand a tight squeeze. There were so many things to love about Emily Prentiss but somehow she always knew the exact thing to say or do to make him feel better. He watched her tell him jokes while they ate and cherished the sound of her laugh and the glisten in her eyes as she spoke about uplifting topics.

Since Emily had been back the two had briefly talked about the future, although they were more focused on the excitement and maintenance of their relationship for the time being.

In that moment, Hotch realized he wanted nothing more than to have the incredible, compassionate relationship they shared, every day for the rest of his life. They had tried, failed, tried again and now succeeded and he had never been so sure of anything in his life. Before Hotch acted, however, there were two people he needed to talk to.

The next day, Hotch checked a number of databases before he found the number he needed. The phone rang twice before he heard a female on the other end.

"Hello?"

"Ms Prentiss?"

"Speaking."

"Hi Ma'am, my name is Aaron Hotchner; I worked as Head of Security for you some time back." He stated.

"Hotchner… Ah yes, I do remember. How are you keeping these days, Mr Hotchner?" Elizabeth asked.

"I'm very well. In fact, I have something I'd like to talk to you about. Would we be able to meet sometime this week?"

"I have appointments running until Thursday morning; will you be able to come by the house at maybe 3pm?"

Hotch confirmed and they said their goodbyes and he suddenly felt nervous at the prospect of meeting Elizabeth while dating her daughter. While he'd never met Emily when working for her security team, he often heard her name come up in conversation and saw the odd picture around their home. Funny, he thought, how fate would hide people from each other at one point in life and draw them together at the next.

Thursday came around and Hotch informed Rossi he'd be attending a meeting and wouldn't return until later; which wasn't exactly a lie. Even though wearing a suit was second nature to Hotch, he picked out his favourite and paired it with the navy blue tie Emily had presented him for his birthday and drove to the house.

He was let in by security and remembered what it felt like to be on the other side of the fence. After a mandatory search, a housekeeper led him to the study where he found Elizabeth reading.

"Good afternoon, Ms. Prentiss." Hotch greeted, extending his arm to shake hers. She reciprocated and gestured him to sit down.

"Please, call me Elizabeth. What can I do for you today, Mr Hotchner? I haven't seen you since the case of the Russian immigrant. Is there any further business you'd like to discuss, possibly pertaining to a case?" She inquired, placing a bookmark on her page in the book.

"Elizabeth." He smiled. "Then you will have to call me Aaron too. I've actually come on a more personal matter."

Elizabeth grew curious. "Go on."

"It seems in the last year or so, I've grown rather fond of your daughter, even though there were obstacles at the beginning and it was rocky when she moved to London. However, since she's been back, we've been in a steady, happy relationship and the thing is…" he paused. "The thing is, I'd like to ask your daughter for her hand in marriage."

Elizabeth looked as if she was about to say something but instead, allowed him to continue.

"I know we've only been together for six months but I'm incredibly sure of this. I love your daughter with everything I have because she means the world to me and I know you two have had your predicaments in the past but I believe it was best to come to you first and ask for permission."

Hotch sat in anticipation before Elizabeth gave him a light smile.

"Aaron, you always were the gentleman. I think 'predicament' is a light way of putting it and yes, Emily and I have had our differences over the years but regardless of what she thinks or feels about me, she is my daughter and I love her very much. I respect your decision to come to me and I will agree on one condition."

"Anything."

Elizabeth looked over at a wooden framed picture and Hotch vividly remembered it as a photo of Emily when she was younger. "You see, Emily was always so restless growing up. She wanted to be more than what I'd provided for her so she was challenging and pushing the boundaries. I think a large part falls on the lack of stability she had in terms of secure roots. I know it has been some time but wherever it is, I want her to be happy and settled with a place she can call her home. I don't want her to spend the remainder of her life feeling like an outsider. If you can provide her with that, that's enough to gain my blessings."

Hotch shuddered at the thought of all the times Emily felt distant and apprehensive living in Virginia, granted it was safely tucked away in the past.

"I think the reason Emily left for London was to find exactly that. But I know for a fact, she belongs here with me and I would never let her feel out of place or unsettled. I nearly lost her once and it was unbearable." Hotch confessed. "But you have my word; I'll do everything in my power to give her the best life she can have."

Elizabeth let out a small laugh. "You can relax Aaron, I trust you to do right by her. You were always reliable and my most trusted staff. I remember when you accurately profiled a stalker who'd been hanging around for about two weeks and while the others guarded the house specifically, you knew he'd wait until I was in the car."

"All I can recall is him waiting at a stop light for you and how strong his jaw was when I punched him." They both reminisced and after a while, Hotch checked his watch and mentioned he had to leave.

"Well thank you for coming to me Aaron. I wish you and Emily all the best for the future, and I hope you two are very happy together."

"Thank you, Elizabeth. I hope we can come together some time and you can meet my son, Jack, also."

Elizabeth smiled before picking up her book. "I'd like that. Take care."

On the way back to the office, Hotch stopped at a nearby jewellery store and picked out a silver ring with small diamonds encrusted all the way around; complimenting Emily's endless circle of beauty.

He kept the box in the breast pocket inside his coat and patted it a number of times just to make sure it was safe and still there.

When he got home later that evening, it was apparent Emily wasn't in however he was greeted by a bouncing Jack who tackled him at the door. He went to change out of his work clothes and returned to the living room where his son was.

"Hey buddy. Do you mind if we have a little chat?"

"No daddy." Jack replied, making himself comfortable on the sofa.

"So uh… you like Emmy a lot right?" He asked nervously.

"Yuh-huh she's funny and nice and plays with me and reads to me." Jack beamed.

"What would you think of Emmy being around more? Like say if she moved in or if we all lived together? And maybe… I was thinking of asking her to marry me too, if you're okay with it of course."

Jack jumped up and down in his seat. "That would be so cool and she'd be here all the time and wouldn't have to go home and we could play and watch movies and I like when she puts me to sleep and…" he hesitated.

"What is it buddy?" Hotch gently rubbed his back.

"…Would Emmy be my new mommy? Would mommy be okay with it?"

Hotch knew this conversation would come up sooner or later if the two got married.

"Jack, no one can replace your mom and no matter what, she will always love you. Remember I told you how every night she used to watch you while you slept just to make sure you were alright? It's the same now; she's still watching over you and she's still looking out for you, even if she can't tell you herself." Hotch said softly.

He often told Jack stories of his mom because he never wanted Jack to forget her memory. Although it still hurt, Emily's love lessened the pain which he was thankful for. Jack lowered his head and moved to curl into Hotch's side.

"You don't have to call Emmy 'mom' if don't want to and things will still be the same, just more official. But know Emily loves you loads too."

Jack was quiet for a moment. "Maybe one day. I do love Emmy daddy and she's my second favourite person." He counted both his parents as number one and loved them equally like his two superheroes, as told in the stories to his father.

"I know you do buddy and I do too. But you're my first favourite person in the whole wide world and I'd only do anything if it's okay with you."

"Marry Emmy, daddy." Jack nodded. "She makes you smile like this." He pulled the largest, cheesiest grin he could as he wrapped his arms around his dad.

Hotch's heart melted as he pulled Jack into a tight hug; another thing he learnt from Haley. There wouldn't be a day that went by where he didn't show affection to his son. "I love you, Jack."

"Love you too daddy."

Emily came home an hour later and Hotch had arranged for Jessica to pick Jack up so he could take his girlfriend out. When Jessica arrived, Jack ran to Emily and gave her a tight hug before smirking knowingly at his father and went; leaving her slightly baffled but thought nothing of it. Hotch explained that he wanted to treat Emily to a nice dinner and the two went to one of their favourite restaurants. Given that it was a Thursday night it was fairly quiet and the two drank, dined and conversed.

"Aaron this is lovely; what is this in aid of thought?" she asked kindly, sipping on her wine.

"Can't a man take out his beautiful companion, just because he loves her?" Hotch replied, making Emily blush.

Afterwards, Hotch took Emily to the Moongate garden, a cosy, modern area. At nine o'clock it was dark and soon closing however Hotch knew the caretaker, a man who he'd helped through a tricky situation and he let them stay past closing time. The trees were in full blossom as the pair strolled along the path, eventually coming to two semi circle walls which led them to a granite pool and a small granite island, with four walkways leading to the center. Dim lights lit up the garden in a glow and when they arrived at the middle, he untangled their linked arms and held both her hands.

"The first time I'd ever found this place was after I was given the divorce papers," Hotch confessed. "I was angry and full of emotions, so I took a long walk to blow of some steam. I came across these gardens and walked around, eventually settling on that bench over there." He pointed. "I reflected a lot on my life and all the things that had gone wrong, and found myself calmed by the surroundings. But here I am today with the exact opposite; something that's so right. I love you Emily."

Emily's heart swelled with warmth as Hotch shared his past with her, something she was no stranger to. "I love you too, Aaron. We've faced so much, both good and bad but we've come out stronger. Together." She added, squeezing his hands.

"Together." He smiled to himself. "Emily I thought my moment for the perfect life had come and gone and I was content that I experienced it but now that I have you, I don't want to ever let it slip away from me again. I want to be with you, every day for the rest of my life. I want to wake up next to you, fall asleep besides your warmth and live my days out as your friend, partner and husband."

He fondly stroked her cheek before he stepped back, got down on one knee and presented a small black box from his pocket. Emily's eyes widened and filled with tears as her heartbeat rapidly increased.

"Emily Prentiss, you are the love of my life. Will you marry me?"

For a second she was speechless; the words unable to escape from her throat. She nodded her head vigorously and wiped her tears with the hand Hotch wasn't holding as he took the ring out of the box and placed it onto her finger.

"Yes, yes; a million times yes." She burst out, half laughing and laugh crying when he stood up and enveloped his arms around her waist. Emily sobbed into his chest overwhelmed with emotion as Hotch unpeeled her from him, wiped her eyes and pressed their lips together. She wrapped her arms around him firmly wishing the moment would last forever. Throughout all they had been through both separately and together, Emily could finally say she was beginning the rest of her life with the man she was madly in love with.