Chapter 4: My Biggest Mistake

Jason had been gone for almost a week. Elle sat beside the living room window watching every car that went by and praying he'd come to see her once he got back in town. She had really screwed up with him when she'd locked herself in the bathroom that day. Not that it was her fault; she couldn't have controlled her feelings about the issue if she had tried to. She let her emotions get the best of her.

It was getting late, the sun already having started to set an hour ago. It had been a hot day; one of Quantico, Virginia's record high's for this time of year. She really needed to get some sleep for work in the morning. It was Wednesday so tomorrow she had to work at the Washington Pony; her secretary work was over for the week think god. She hated the job but it paid more than most, so she'd plaster a smile on her face every Monday-Wednesday and play secretary till she found something better. Which wasn't likely to happen anytime soon.

For the past few nights, after she had gotten over her silly little phase, she had been sitting here and watching the cars go by and hoping one would pull into her driveway and be Jason, or every time the phone rang she'd jump and run hoping it was him. But there was also that dread it was Hotch calling to tell her something had happened. So when a black SUV pulled into the driveway her heart rolled over in her chest and landed in her throat.

The man who stepped out was dressed head to toe in black and he had his back turned so she couldn't see his face. Even when he turned to walk up the front walk and onto the porch he had his head down and one hand in his jacket pocket fiddling with something. Elle felt a moment of fear but quickly shoved it away, she had a gun and she knew how to use it.

The man knocked and she made her way to the door stopping at the end table to retrieve her gun. She unlocked the door and crocked it, pushing the safety off the gun. The man looked up and she dropped the gun throwing open the door and throwing herself into the man's waiting arms.

"Jason." She whispered as she pulled him close and hugged him tight against her. She felt tears sting her eyes and buried her head against the skin of his neck. He smelled like the woods and bar soap.

He wrapped his arms around her waist and lifted her up. It felt so good to hold her after being away from her for a week. He breathed in the scent of the strawberry shampoo she'd used and a faint undertone of the blueberry body wash that she loved.

"I missed you so much. I can't begin to tell you how sorry I am for losing my temper with you. I know it's not your fault for your job and I shouldn't give you the chose of me or you work. It's extremely unfair of me." She pulled back and looked up at him. He was staring at her but he was smiling. Raising her hand she brushed it over his stubble cheek and smiled back. "What are you smiling about? I'm trying to have a serious conversation with you."

"Think we could go inside and have that serious conversation?" He asked looking past her at the new decorations. It hadn't been complete when he'd left and no that it was he felt a little left out. But he was fixing to render that. If she accepted the offer he was going to make her.

"Sure." She stepped back but took a hold of his hand. She was acting like if she let him go he might disappear forever.

They sat down on the new couch, she'd removed the plastic and the soft material felt good against her bare legs. He turned so he could face her and kept her hand tightly in his. The smile he'd been wearing at the door hadn't disappeared and she felt better for it. She could still make him smile so she couldn't have messed this up as bad as she'd feared.

"Now what were you saying at the door?" He prompted lifting her hand to his lips and kissing her knuckles gently. She swallowed past the lump that was forming in her throat and took a deep breath. Slowly she exhaled it and continued her apology.

"I was saying that I was sorry for acting like a bitch and that I didn't mean to ask you to choose between me and your job. I know that I didn't exactly say it but I think that's what I was doing and I shouldn't have done that. I missed you and I don't want to have to live without you. For the first time in a long time I feel like I can be happy, not just content but happy. I haven't been happy in a long time." She paused and watched as he moved a little closer to her. He wrapped his arm around her shoulders and pulled her toward him. She snuggled against his side and tucked her feet under her.

"I'm glad I can make you happy. You make me happy to Elle. That's why I have a very important question to ask you." Suddenly the smile from his face was gone and he looked extremely serious. It scared her for a moment but she pushed the fear away and nodded her head telling him it was okay for him to continue. "I'm going to ask you something that will change both of our lives forever. I want you to know that I've had a lot of time to think over the past week and I was completely miserable without you. I kept thinking that when I came back you wouldn't want to see me. I kept wondering if you were even as I was sitting there in a squad room writing me out of your life. It scared me Elle, and not many things do that." He got off the couch and sank down to the floor on one knee. She looked at him confused for a moment and then realization came over her. Tears immediately sprung to her eyes. "Elle Greenaway will you do me the honor be becoming my wife?" From his jacket pocket he produced a black velvet jewelry box.

He opened it and a diamond bigger than Elle had ever seen peeked out at her from a gold band. She smiled and laughed letting the tears come flowing down her cheeks.

"Oh Jason." She whispered as he reached forward for her left hand and slid the ring onto her ring finger. She gave a goofy hiccup and closed her eyes.

"Elle, I need an answer please." She opened her eyes and looked down at him smiling.

"Yes, yes, yes, YES!!!" She screamed throwing herself into his arms and kissing him passionately.

TBC????