A/N: Sorry for the long wait. I've been going back and forth when I needed to decide how and when to end this story. So there's one more chapter left after this one.

Special thanks to kiki3142, Kikki Kapoor, Christiangirl and Twilightangell!

I don't own criminal minds!

Chapter 33: Future promises

And the knock was life changing for Hotch. He didn't just open the door because he had a delivery. No. This time it was the knock he had waited three years for. It was the knock that would renew his faith in humanity and love. So he opened the door without hesitation, not knowing who was on the other side. His eyes were on the floor when he opened the door. His eyes traveled along the long bare legs. And then his eyes fell on her face. There she was. She was standing in front of him in the flesh. It wasn't a dream or a nightmare in which she would suddenly disappear. She looked absolutely gorgeous but that wasn't the only thing that touched him. She looked like herself. She was smiling widely and her face was filled with indescribable happiness. In that moment he saw the old JJ. The girl he fell in love with and who showed him joy and passion. The girl who enriched his life with her presence. The girl who showed him what true love really was and she made it unforgettable.

JJ's heart was racing as she finally made contact with his eyes. He looked great. He hadn't changed a bit. She had to stop herself from throwing herself in his arms. She had missed him every single day. But three years earlier she made the best choice by leaving. She choose the best way to recover from her trauma. She still lived with her past but she just learned to deal with it.

Hotch was still speechless while they were both frozen in their spots. It was as if they had never met and they were blown away by each other's looks. But that wasn't the case. He was happy about that though. He couldn't think about never having known JJ. His life would've been radically different in negative ways. ''JJ!'' he whispered, knowing it was the only thing he could possibly say.

''Hi!'' she greeted simply, her voice filled with all the love she felt for him. But as she felt him looking at her the tears fell down her face. She had waited so long for this and the moment had finally come. She was ready to let him catch her. ''I missed you!'' she cried out as she threw herself in his embrace.

Hotch immediately held her tightly. The feeling was nothing out of the ordinary. It was like no time had passed and they were just hugging. But it felt so good. In that moment he didn't know if there would ever be better moments in his entire existence. ''I'm glad you're back.'' he whispered into her hair, hearing her cry into his shirt. He didn't care. She could stain all his shirts if she needed to because he would never take those kinds of moments for granted. ''I missed you so much!'' he said as his own tears were falling down his face. But they were tears of happiness. The hurt of waiting finally disappeared into thin air and he could only focus on the woman in his arms.

''Where the hell have you been?'' he asked.

JJ pulled away, wiping the tears from her face. Hotch stepped aside to let her in and she took the invitation. She walked towards the couch and sat down next to Hotch. He left a small amount of distance between them. ''I went to Florida.'' she began. ''I found a program for victims of sexual abuse and they're also specialized in PTSD.'' she went on. ''I went through extensive therapy and treatment for twenty months. It took me a long time before I started to see what I had really been through. Denial was my worst enemy and my therapist knocked it out of me but even then it took months before my recovery was noticeable.'' she explained. ''I left Florida after two years. I knew the program worked for me and I decided to live out in the real world again.''

Hotch was happy to hear that JJ had been in therapy. It was what her trauma required. If she stayed with him, he would've done the same thing. He was just happy to hear that JJ realized that all on her own. ''Where have you been this past year?''

''I stayed with Jason Holmes.'' she said, hoping he wasn't going to be mad at her. But Jason had become a great friend and she knew he was someone she could rely on. ''I just showed up at his doorstep and he offered me his guest room so I stayed there for the past year.'' she went on. She didn't notice any hint of jealousy or anger in his eyes. She could only see relief and extreme joy. ''I got a job and I started to live again. Like I used to.''

Hotch took her hand in his. ''I'm so happy to hear that you're alright.'' he started. ''You look so good, JJ. You look amazing.'' he gushed. ''Like the old you!''

''Thank you.'' she said as she moved closer towards him. She cupped his face and she leaned in to kiss him. He responded when their lips touched in the softest way possible. JJ wanted to pull back but his kiss pulled her back in for more. It still felt as amazing as it used to be. But this time it was even better. This time it was for real and they both knew it. This kiss was only a small example of what the future would be like for them.

Hotch pulled away to catch his breath. ''God, I missed you.''

''I missed you to.'' she cried out in happiness. ''I thought about you every day. The thought of being with you kept me going throughout the last three years, Aaron. You've always been my rock and this time it's for forever because I am never leaving you again.''

''I won't even let you!'' he smiled. ''There's no chance of it because I love you, Jennifer Jareau. I'll always love you no matter where you are of who you're with.''

''I love you too.'' she whispered as she crawled against his side. ''It seems like no time has passed since we sat on a couch like this.''

''I know, but it has been nine years since I've seen you like this, JJ. I just can't wait to start the rest of our lives together.'' he said. ''I hope you feel the same because you'll never get rid of me.''

JJ laughed at his words. ''Good. Where do you want to start?''

''Do you want to meet Jack?'' he asked excitedly, seeing the same feeling in her eyes.

''I would love to. That would be amazing!''

Hotch gave her a quick kiss on the lips. ''You do have to behave like a princess because he thinks you're one and that I'm your prince.''

''Oh, that's the cutest thing I've ever heard, Aaron.'' she said happily as she already imagined meeting his son. It was something she had wanted for so long but she was never ready. But now she finally was. ''I also can't wait to surprise the team!''

He immediately rose from the couch and grabbed JJ's hand, pulling her up from the couch. ''They will be so happy, JJ. They missed you like crazy.''

''Where are we going?'' she asked happily.

''We're going to make up for lost time.'' he beamed as they left his apartment and walked into the future together. At that point their path was unknown but they both knew they would be happy as long as they had each other. Nothing would ever tear them apart because they had already gone through the worst and that was just a testament to the eternity of their love.