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Chapter Twenty Eight Epilogue: Worth the Wait

November 2013 (Present Time)

"I just don't see what the big deal is. It just a few more months." Emily told Hotch sitting across from him at the dinner table. It was their first team dinner at their new house but it turned up being a debate on when they should get married. "I just want her to be walking when we get married. JJ, tell him."

The blonde waved her hand. "I'm not getting into this with either of you." She turned to Will ignoring Emily's eyes on her.

"Why don't you just put her in one of those wagon things and have Jack roll her down the aisle?" Morgan chimed in with his two cents taking a bite of food.

Emily glared at the man. "Yeah and while we do that let's wear jeans and cowboy boots too." the sarcasm oozing off her words made everyone chuckle.

Garcia happily swatted Morgan on the arm. "No this is going to be the best wedding ever so if Mama wants to wait until our angel can walk I say we do." She played with the eight month old sitting in the highchair next to Emily.

Emily looked up at Hotch "Please? It's just a few more months and that gives us time to decide on our honeymoon."

"You still haven't done that?" Garcia eyed Emily. The brunette just shook her head and glared at Hotch.

"What? I just want to have a nice quiet time." He said defending himself.

"He wants a cabin in the woods and I want beaches, sand, water, and sun." Emily told the rest of the group.

"I just want you naked in my bed for a week." Hotch muttered. Reid turned red immediately while JJ and Will turned to talk to Morgan as Dave just smiled like a goon at Hotch and Garcia was utterly speechless.

Emily chuckled. "I think you might have cleared the party." She took the fussing baby from the highchair.

"I-I just never thought I would ever hear anything like that coming from our Unit Chief." Garcia finally got out as everyone else agreed.

"Alright Lily you make the deciding vote. Wedding now or later?" Emily asked the baby whose hands were on either side of her face. The baby giggled as Emily made a face.

"Dada, dada!" she squealed.

Emily frowned. "That's not fair. That all she can say."

"I think the child has spoken." Hotch laughed. "Right, baby? Dada is right." he reached over the table and took the baby.

"Dada, dada!"

"No Lily, mama, mama. Say mama!" Emily told the girl. Lily just grabbed at Hotch's face and smiled her toothless grin. "What about Jack he gets a vote. Jack!" Emily called into the living room where Jack and Henry had a table set up just for them.

The heavy foot falls came around the corner and both boys walked in. "Huh?" Jack said walking over to Emily.

"I have a question for you. Do you want Daddy and I to get married now and you help Lily down the aisle or would you like to wait and have Lily walk down the aisle by herself so you don't have to…"

"Hey you can't do that. It's cheating. You can't make your way better sounding." Hotch complained.

"I can and I will because it is better." She stuck her tongue out at him then turned back to the boy. "Jack what do you want?" she hoped he would actually participate in the wedding talk this time. For the past few months he shied away from it. Emily wasn't sure exactly why but he preferred to stay out of it and when they mentioned the wedding he would walk away or change the subject.

Jack looked at both of them. "I…" he paused. "I don't care."

"Oh come on Jack don't you want Emily and your dad to get married?" Garcia laughed not noticing the look Jack made and Emily shared.

He bolted out of the room immediately and Emily motioned for Hotch to stay. She ran after him as he stopped in the kitchen in a huff. "Jack? What's wrong Honey?" she turned him so they were face to face.

"I don't want to talk about the stupid wedding anymore!" his eyes were slightly glossy from held back tears.

Emily's heart broke at the sight. "Why?"

Jack looked around for a quick exit but sighed not finding one. "I just don't." he said.

"Jack, do you not want us to get married? I thought you were okay about this but if you're not we can talk about it." She took his hands in hers.

"I do but…" he stopped looking to the floor instead of Emily's eyes.

"But what?" she prompted gently.

"But why can't I call you Mom and Lily can call my dad daddy even though he is not her real dad?" he whispered it out but Emily got every word.

When Hotch and Emily told Jack they were getting married he wanted to call Emily mom but she refused. It wasn't that she didn't want that or didn't see Jack as her son, she did. He was her son but he was also Haley's son. "Jack, I thought we talked about this." Jack just stared at the floor. "Here" she motioned to the bar stools by the counter. After they both took a seat she continued. "Jack you are in every way my son. I love you just as much as I love Lily. And I always will no matter if your dad and I get married or not but you are a special kid." She winked at him. "You have another mother who did something so extraordinary for you. Your mom loved you so much that she saved you Jack. I know you don't remember a lot about what happened but she was a hero. Your hero and I don't want to take that from her. I don't want to replace your mom. I never could so that why I don't want you to call me mom. That is her special name."

Tears were free flowing from both of them, Jack looked up "But you're special too. You're my mom too."

Emily smiled "I am but so is Haley. And she was your first mom so that name is for her." she thought for a moment. "But why don't you make a new name for me. It can be a nickname."

Jack nodded slowly "Like what?"

"I don't know. Why don't you think about it and let me know." she hugged him tight.

"And only I can call you it?" he asked pulling back.

"Only you." Emily agreed.

Jack hopped off the stool and raced back into the living room where Henry waited. Hotch passed him walking into check on them. "Hey you okay?" he asked seeing Emily wipe at her tear stained face.

"Yeah, did you hear any of that?" she asked.

"No." he lied, he was standing outside the door.

She smiled at him. "Sure you didn't. What do you think?" she called his bluff.

"I think you are amazing and Jack and I are the luckiest guys in the world to have you." He wrapped his arms around her waist.

"Lucky enough to wait until Lily walks?" she smiled sweetly at him.

"Not a chance." He kissed her.

-CM-CM-

May 2014 (Present Time)

The music flowed around them softly but all they heard was the beat of each other's hearts. The people watching faded away and the crowd's conversations went unheard. The dark haired pair swayed together taking in every ounce of love the other put out.

Emily's head rested on Hotch's shoulder and his face was turned into her soft hair. Their hands were clasped together and arms wrapped around the other. "Worth the wait?" Emily's whispered into his ear.

A gently chuckle came from the man. "I would have waited forever for you."

"Forever is a long time." She mused.

"You are worth it." He gazed into her dark eyes. "You are worth everything."

A slightly blush covered her cheeks as the love he had for her shined bright in his eyes. "So are you."

As the song faded their lips met in a soft kiss.

The End

A/N: Thank you so much for all the comments and reviews!