A/N Third time's the charm. Tissue Warning!

Epilogue - 30 plus years in the future

The man on the bed still had a full head of hair and his goatee but neither was the almost jet black they had been. Now they were a mixture of white, silver and steel gray. The only thing giving away his less than stellar condition was the nasal cannula, the IV in his hand and the heart monitor. He appeared to be sleeping but his eyes blinked open slowly when he heard the door open. He smiled when he saw his visitor.

"Hey, sweetheart," he smiled.

"Hi, Daddy," she smiled back. "How are you feeling?" He sounded tired and a little weaker than the day before.

"'bout the same," he shrugged. "You bring the kids?"

"They'll be by later," she said.

"I'm not all that fond of them seeing me like this," he said.

"They'd rather see you like this than not at all," she said. "They love their poppi."

"Poppi loves them, too," he said. "Hotch came by earlier. He's gotten old."

"Did you tell him that?"

He nodded. "He told me to look in the mirror," he chuckled.

"Speaking of Hotch, did he tell you he's going to be a grandfather again?" she grinned.

"What is this, Jack's fourth?" he asked.

"His fifth," she said. "He's a doctor. He can afford it."

"You just missed the rest of the brood," he said.

"I met them as they were leaving," she told him. "We're having breakfast together in the morning. It's a rare event we're all in the same place when a holiday isn't involved and we're taking advantage of it."

"Hotch said the rest of the team would be here tomorrow as well." He paused. "Well, what's left of them anyway."

"I can't believe Uncle Spencer is gone," she said, "or that it's been ten years since he died." She took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "Everyone but Uncle Aaron is scattered to the four winds."

"You were never a big fan of change," he chuckled.

"That's because I had so much of it when I was little," she said.

It was quiet for a few moments before he spoke again. "You know I'm not going last much longer," he said. "The doctors say probably just another week, if that."

"Daddy...," she started.

"Sweetheart, I'm ready," he said. "I miss your mom, your big brother who never got a chance to live, your nonna., your aunts and uncles. I'm the only one left and I'm tired."

"I know," she said, her voice trembling. "I'm just not ready. I'll never be ready to lose you."

"You're s strong woman," he said. "You'll survive. It'll take a while and it may not seem like it at times, but you will."

"I thought you were too grumpy to die," she smiled gently. "Grumpy old men are supposed to live forever."

"I was grumpy long before you came along."

She took his hand and began to stroke the back with her thumb. "I know I'll be fine," she assured him. "Whenever you're ready, just let me know. I'll kiss you goodbye and hold your hand when you go."

"That sounds nice," he smiled. His eyes began to close. "I think I'll just sleep for a while."

"You do that," she said. "I'll be here when you wake up." He just nodded as he drifted off. She kissed his forehead and began to sing the lullaby that her nonna sang to her when she was little.

Stella stellina la notte si avvicina:
la fiamma traballa,
la mucca nella stalla.
La pecora e l'agnello,
la vacca col vitello,
la chioccia coi pulcini,
la gatta coi gattini;
e tutti fan la nanna nel cuore della mamma

She kept singing even when the alarm on the heart monitor went off, stopping only when the nurse came in to confirm what she already knew. She kissed his forehead one last time.

"I love you, Daddy."

Fin

Translation

Star, little star The night is approaching:
the flame is tottering,
The cow is in the cowshed.
The sheep and the lamb,
the cow with the calf.
The hen with its chicks.
The cat with its kittens;
and all are sleeping In the mother s heart!

A/N: This is the end of this story but I have several sequels planned. There will be a kidnapping, attempted kidnapping, betrayal, weddings, babies, murders, a crossover (maybe two), old team members, new friends.

Thanks to all the people that reviewed, favorited and alerted. I know I didn't answer everyone but each and every one was gold to me and I treasure them all.