A/N: I seriously can't believe that the final chapter is here. (takes a deep breath and wipes eyes) Oh, it's sad to see this ending. But it's been a good ride.

First of all, though! Thank you so much for all those fantastic reviews, as well as listings! There's been so many. (BEAMS) You guys have made me insanely happy. Thank you!

Awkay… (gulps) Final chapters are always a bit nerve wrecking, so I'll just get to it. I really hope that you'll enjoy the ride!

Epilogue

In the end both Aaron and Spencer had to spend months in the hospital. Several agonizingly long months, only eased by the fact that after the first month they got to stay in the same room. While Aaron's recovery was mostly physical Spencer had as many scars in his mind as on his skin after all the time he'd spent under Anton's terror.

It wasn't until after several weeks Aaron found out just how badly they'd both been injured. The unit chief himself had come an inch from dying of the gunshot wound that'd missed a lethal area with less than an inch and a stab wound that just about tore through his spleen. It'd take a very long time before his body would function properly again and even then his immune system would never be the same again. Spencer, on the other hand, had his leg broken from two places and it was still unclear how much of the mobility could be restored. Aside that there was a massive collection of minor cuts and bruises, some of which would leave scars. The one mark that infuriated Aaron the most, though, was the rather deep electrical burn close to the doctor's neck, on the exact spot that'd always been the most sensitive and receptive to touch. It was Anton's way of saying 'You'll never touch him the same way again'. Being so close to the explosion had also damaged Spencer's hearing, leaving it slightly impaired. Future would reveal how it'd affect the genius' work. The burns were the worst part, though. Along with his back both of Spencer's legs had been burned to a point where amputation had been a very likely possibility. It didn't make things easier that some debris from the explosion had torn the damage even wider. It'd take a long time before Spencer could even try to get back to his feet.

The mental part was, however, the most excruciating. With the nightmare over Spencer's brain finally had the time to process just what he'd been through. Had the time to remember, over and over again, all the things Anton had said and done. To relive those days when the doctor had no other choice but to accept the abuse, the lies, the pain, the terror, the threat, the loneliness. Aaron had never felt as helpless as he did during those endless nights when Spencer's dreams were full of monsters and no amount of anti anxiety medication managed to chase them away. Spencer was even more sensitive to the touch than before which only added the torment. Even Aaron was barely allowed to brush the doctor with his fingertips and although it was nowhere near possible yet they couldn't help wondering what that aversion would do to the intimate part of their relationship.

And then there was the constant stress. As Spencer revealed when they first met after their final encounters with Anton they'd come very, very close to losing their unborn child. According to doctors it was still more than likely that the pregnancy wouldn't have a happy outcome. If the baby would be born alive there was a great chance for some sort of a disability. Even though they were in a hospital the pregnancy didn't advance without complications. For about a million times they were sure that they'd lose the baby with all the bleedings and cramps. Severe nausea made it even harder. It tore Aaron to pieces to watch Spencer being torn apart by agony and guilt. Enough so to make him wish that he'd get to put another bullet into Anton's head.

But somehow all three of them kept hanging on. And on their fifth week in the hospital, on their second day in a joined room, they received visitors who made enduring it all a little bit easier. It was almost past the usual visiting hours when the door opened to reveal a person Aaron had thought he'd never see again.

Jason Gideon stood by the room's doorway, with a uncertain look on his face and a tiny bundle held securely in his hold. "I… understand that we have a lot to talk about. But… Lucia was missing her daddy."

They spent the entire night talking, visiting hours be damned. Emotional, hurt, fearful, uncertain. But when Jason left the room at dawn all adults were a great deal calmer. This time they could be sure that it wasn't the last time they'd see the former profiler.

For the first time since the dramatic and nearly lethal end of the whole nightmare Spencer allowed Aaron to hold his hand.

Thirty-two Weeks After the End

For Aaron and Spencer life was never exactly normal. Especially since the whole ordeal with Anton Silas. That's why the phone call that reached Aaron exactly five minutes after the team's jet landed, bringing them back from a case, wasn't completely unexpected. The unit chief frowned and shivered the second he saw who the caller was.

Spencer had been promised a new job as a university's professor but for medical reasons the doctor hadn't been able to start yet. Staying at home with just Lucia while Aaron was solving cases and Jack juggled through school was driving the genius up the wall. But no matter how bored, hormonal, scared or upset Spencer got the man never, ever called him while he was at work. That's why cold sweat crept to Aaron's skin when he picked up. "Spence?"

The first thing he heard was a groan. What he heard next certainly wasn't what he'd expected. "It's… It's time, Aaron."

A second ticked by, then another, before realization dawned. It took Aaron all he had not to stumble on his own feet. "What?! But it's two weeks…!"

The list of swear words Spencer flooded out just then, with such volume that Aaron had to pull the cell phone a bit further from his ear, was quite impressive. "Trust me on this one. The little one's not gonna wait any longer." There was some hissing and whimpering that tore Aaron's heart, followed by a comfortingly familiar yet atypically high pitched female voice before Spencer spoke again. "Garcia… She's gonna take me… to the hospital, and look after Lucia."

Aaron nodded, still trembling uncontrollably but at least a little bit more lucid than before. "Okay… Okay… I just… I'll call Jessica, and tell her to pick Jack up from school."

He shuddered slightly when a hand was laid to his shoulder but calmed down upon meeting David's face. 'I'll get Jack', the older man mouthed. Later Aaron wondered if he even remembered to give a nod or smile of gratitude.

For at that very moment Spencer cried out with sheer agony and Aaron's coherent memories gained a massive gap. The next proper memory he had was of himself sitting alone in the hospital's waiting room, still trembling pitiably. He must've have made his way to the hospital by himself, probably coming to the conclusion that no one – save Derek, perhaps – would've dared to drive fast enough. A tiny part of him wondered where Penelope and Lucia were. Had she said something about Lucia needing a new diaper…? Truthfully, all that fit into Aaron's head was Spencer. He'd met a doctor on his way in. Apparently the birth was progressing extremely quickly and they were already wheeling Spencer into a theater. They'd promised to get him as soon as he'd be allowed to enter. That was what felt like a lifetime ago.

Aaron swallowed, only then noticing how dry his mouth was. What if something had gone horribly wrong, for either Spencer or the baby, or both? They'd been through so much. Too much for it all to be trashed like this.

It'd taken countless of hours of therapy, for both Spencer's body and soul, and the process was still nowhere near over. Several parts of the genius' mind and body would never be the same again – they'd never work side by side again, not the with the wounds deep inside of Spencer's remarkable head. But finally, finally there was a blinding bright beam of hope.

Every single day the boundaries separating them were lowering. A month ago they shared their first night in the same bed. Began to feel like a couple again. A week, three days and eight hours ago they shared the first kiss of their new relationship. (Because they had to call it new. So many things had changed, just like the scar growing to cover a wound never feels like the former skin.)

They were learning to trust. To open up. To depend on one another. They were recovering, adjusting and coping. And they were doing it all together. As long as they had each other and their soon growing little family, as long as they didn't give up on one another, everything would be alright eventually.

"Mr. Hotchner?" A midwife who appeared a little bit too perky to his liking flashed him a radiant smile. "You can come in, now."

Aaron stood up, then froze as worry flashed through him. He looked at the midwife with a frown on his face. "Is… everything going according to the plan?"

This time the midwife's smile was smaller but not any less warm. "Not exactly. It looks like the tiny arrival had made some plans of their own. Why don't you come in and see?"

He followed, his feet wobbling in a way he'd never felt them weaken before. Fear and excitement circled inside of him as the door separating him from the love of his life was finally opened. Aaron, the non-blinker he was, blinked thrice. Then his eyes widened. Absolutely everything went to a halt inside of him.

There, on a bed that looked extremely uncomfortable, lay Spencer, very much alright although visibly exhausted to the bone. And the genius wasn't alone. There, securely wrapped in the younger man's arms…

"I… I'm sorry. I was hoping that they'd have the time to call you in, but… He really was in a hurry."

Aaron inhaled sharply. Suddenly the room seemed to be spinning around him. "'He'?"

A radiant, beautiful smile appeared to Spencer's face. Such that would've melted anyone's heart. "Yeah. Aaron, we have a son."

Neither of them noticed how the midwife left and the whole room emptied from staff, leaving them alone with their child. For another moment Aaron remained still in his shock. Then, so suddenly that he probably caught Spencer off guard, he half leapt a step forward, so that he was stood right beside the two of them, and pressed a kiss to Spencer's slightly parted lips. After a couple of seconds he felt Spencer respond, with such love and affection he'd known with no one else ever before.

It was still much too early to tell if their son had suffered any brain damage from the ordeal Spencer was put through. They had a million issues to be sorted out. Things could still fall apart. But as it was none of that mattered.

They'd come so very close to losing each other. Their little boy. Everything. This was not the moment to worry.

Perhaps that thought was what gave Aaron the courage to whisper what he'd been so damn afraid of.

An hour or so later, when Spencer and the newcomer had been okayed to retreat to the calm of their own room, the team entered slowly, nearly cautiously. As soon as JJ and Penelope saw the baby all hope of a quiet first meeting was lost. Spencer's high pitched pleas for his younger child's safety were soothed by the caress Aaron gave his cheek.

JJ, who was completely lost into the new arrival's eyes, smiled fondly. "Oh dear goodness, you're perfect. You're going to break a lot of hearts, aren't you?"

Figuring that she was in no condition to catch his words David leaned closer to Aaron, a solemn look on his face. "Poor Will… He's going to have a hard time after this one…"

"I heard that!"

In the middle of the rest of the chaos they never realized that Emily had been missing until she entered, Jack rushing into the room a couple of steps ahead and Lucia safely in her arms. "Is there room for us, too?" A grin appeared when she spotted the baby boy. "Somehow I got the feeling that these two refuse to wait for meeting their baby brother any longer."

Something close to a smirk took over Derek's formerly somewhat thoughtful face. "Or was auntie Emily the impatient one?" the dark skinned agent teased. He earned a rather firm swat to the shoulder for his remark.

As soon as he lay his eyes on their youngest Jack didn't see anything else. The boy's eyes widened as he approached slowly, having been reminded several times over that he'd have to take it easy around the little one. "He's so small…!" A frown of worry appeared in an instant while the boy glanced towards his dad and stepdad. "Is he okay?"

While Spencer was busy with the baby he'd somehow managed to negotiate from JJ Aaron supported Lucia with one arm and wrapped the other around Jack, a rare smile on his face. "Don't worry, he's just fine. He'll grow up quickly."

Jack nodded, still thoughtful but no longer worried. The boy touched the baby's head carefully, instantly earning a yawn and a bizarre, clearly delighted sound. "When can I start to teach him soccer?"

Seeing the look of sheer terror in Spencer's eyes Aaron had to bite back a chuckle. "You may have to wait for a couple of years, buddy."

"So, daddies…" Penelope's eyes were still shining with sheer adoration. There was no longer the slightest question over who'd be the newcomer's godmommy. "Have you thought about a name for this little angel?"

"Actually…" It was amazing to see such a look of pure, utter joy and happiness on Spencer's face. If anyone had ever deserved to feel such joy it was the genius, after everything he'd been through. Even though the guilt over everything Anton brought on the others would never go away the moment of bliss was a blessing. "We haven't decided on the second name yet. But he'll be Hotchner-Reid." The parents exchanged a look. "And his first name will be Morgan."

Watching Spencer struggling on the endless path to recovery had been murder for Derek. Watching the man build up a family with someone else almost as much so. Derek couldn't even process all the emotions that came over him when he saw the little family gather together, the newborn baby safely in Spencer's arms. Through the tidal wave of pain he gained some comfort from seeing all the happiness on the genius' face. Aaron would take a good care of him, and Derek would be there watching over as well. Always.

Derek's eyes shifted, locked with Aaron's for a brief moment. That one look spoke a million things. Mixed emotions waved inside Derek. He was probably the only one who'd noticed the beautiful white gold ring on Spencer's left ring finger.

It's amazing, how much a tiny object can hurt.

And then Spencer spoke. "… first name will be Morgan."

Derek looked at his best friend, blinking a couple of times with surprise. There was no mistaking the smile on Spencer's face. He found himself returning it.

Yes, his heart would probably always be a little bit broken. No, things hadn't gone the way he would've desperately wanted them to. But at that moment he knew that he'd get better, at least a little bit. Eventually. "Thank you."

After the team left Spencer fell asleep, throughoutly drained. He woke up with a sensation of alarm upon discovering that the room was already shadowy and most of his family was nowhere to be seen. Only baby Morgan was asleep nearby, making tiny noises in his sleep. He was just about to panic when he noticed Aaron's note.

'Went to take Jack and Lucia home. They got tired. I will be back soon.

I love you.'

Spencer took a deep breath, relaxing.

When they got discharged from the hospital they read the letter he wrote for Aaron before heading for Anton together. Crying at times, each word ripping open a scarred wound. But they both felt better afterwards. Since then leaving tiny notes had been their own thing.

"I love you, too", he whispered. Knowing that Aaron knew. He'd said it out loud often enough since they read the letter.

It wasn't until then he noticed a new bouquet of flowers, well within his reach on the table. Curious, he snatched the note attached to them. Instantly a tiny smile appeared to his face. It was easy to recognize Jason Gideon's handwriting.

'I didn't have the heart to wake you, especially since Aaron said that you just fell asleep. Congratulations on baby Morgan. He's perfect.

The next time I visit I'll wait for you to wake up and see me. I promise.

It's good to see you happy.

ps: Congratulations on the engagement, too.

Exactly ten minutes and fifteen seconds later Aaron found him sleeping soundly. For the first time in forever he didn't have nightmares.

Jason Gideon was driving towards his cabin when his cell phone began to ring. He picked up after giving it a thought. "Gideon."

"This is Howard Tilsdale, with the CIA." The voice sounded tired, stretched thin, just like Jason's did once upon a time. "I know that it's been over eight months since we talked, but…"

"I remember you." His voice sharpened slightly while adrenaline spiked up. "Do you have any news?"

There was a long, heavy sigh. "The search is finally over. Elle Greenaway's body was found this morning, buried to the side of a road. Silas must've ditched her there." Tilsdale had to pause for a while. "Would you… like me to inform her family?"

Jason inhaled sharply, his eyes stinging for a moment. How was the other man supposed to know that her former BAU-team was Elle's only family? "No, I'll do it myself. I'll also take care of the funeral arrangements. Thank you, for the information."

Once the phone call was over after some stiff formalities Jason stole a glance towards the sky and sighed heavily. "We were both too restless spirits for the FBI, weren't we? I hope that you're at peace now, Elle, wherever you are." He could've sworn that he felt a brush on his cheeks, and heard a familiar laugh. He blamed it on sentimentality.

Only Dr. Isabel Karev was in the room with one of her patients when a lone figure entered almost soundlessly. She didn't offer the arrival a smile. Such wouldn't have belonged into this situation. "Would you like me to explain how this all happens?"

The arrival shook their head, arms folded tightly. Fingers were squirming and drumming restlessly. The tension was only understandable. "You turn off the life support. After that it may take minutes, or hours. But… He dies."

Dr. Karev nodded, the tone of the arrival's voice giving her chills. Something about all this felt off. "That's right."

A pair of stormy eyes met hers. There was a load of pain and rage in them. "Can I… spend a moment alone with him? There's something important I need to tell him, before…"

Dr. Karev nodded, suddenly in a hurry to get out of the situation. "Yes, of course. You're his sister, after all." She was almost out of the room when she spoke. "Take all the time you need."

The woman stood by the bed nodded numbly, her eyes not leaving the monster lay in the bed for even a second. As though she would've feared, even after all this time, that he might somehow open his eyes and… "Thank you."

(It wasn't until some days later, when the patient's approaching funeral revealed that he had no living siblings, Dr. Karev understood why she was trembling when she left the room.)

Once the door had been closed the visitor waited until the sounds of steps had disappeared before speaking. Her voice was a vicious hiss while she leaned closer, closer. "See, you son of a bitch? You lost this one. I saved her, on my own terms. They're all still alive. And you… You are finally going to hell."

He'd made her play a sick game to save her sister's life. He made her take those pictures. Made her bring two bombs into the bureau, to those people who'd been her surrogate family for a brief moment, once upon a time. Because of him she almost killed them, actually killed six other people. Because of him she'd go to hell. But she'd send him there first.

Half an hour later it was all over. Anton Silas was dead. There was a grim look on Ashley Seaver's face when she took her cell phone and dialed numbers. "Hey, sis. It's over now – they're all dead. You can come back home."

'You don't choose your family. They are God's gift to you, as you are to them.'

(Desmond Tutu)

End.

A/N: (blinks, gawks, rubs eyes, then blinks again) Yup, folks. This is officially the end of the story. And against all odds, it seems to be a happy one. (beams) So yeah, nothing's ever going to be quite perfect, but they have each other and they'll be okay.

You guys, thank you from the bottom of my heart for staying on board through the whole story! This has been a long but amazing ride, and you guys have made every bit of it worth the effort. So thank you! (HUGS) You rock.

Awkay… It's getting late and I'm going to have a early morning so I'll head off now. Once more, thank you! Who knows, maybe I'll see you around later.

Take care!

Guest: So it seems. (sighs) Let's hope that they'll finally get the happiness they totally deserve.

Massive thank yous for the review!