A/N: Here's another chapter! I hope you all like it.

This chapter is the one you all have probably been waiting for and I loved writing it. It was also when I ended this chapter that I realized this story is starting to come to an end. I had the purpose to explore a lot of other storylines within this plot, but I feel that it would be too much since so much has already happened in the story. So I would like to ask you all what you'd like to see happen as an end or if you want me to continue on with this story. I love writing this story and I want to make you all happy, so please let me know.

Special thanks to guest, guest, Westie80, jenny crum, HotchRocks, Christiangirl, GottaLoveCM and Jareau37!

I don't own criminal minds!

Chapter 70: Reunion

Six hours later…

The light was shining through the curtains in the hospital room, the sun lighting up most of the room and causing the blonde in the bed to shift uncomfortably. She had trouble to open her eyes, so she carefully lifted up her hand and held it in front of her eyes to keep the sun from hurting them. Her eyes fluttered open with difficulty as she felt a distant pain below her torso. She ignored the pain and realized something was on her hand. She looked down and saw Adrian slumped over in a chair, one hand on JJ's as his head rested on his arm on the bed. He seemed to be asleep and from her surroundings she realized she was in the hospital. But where was Aaron? Why was only Adrian with her?

''Adrian!'' she called out, her voice hoarse and barely audible. ''Adrian.'' she said a little louder which caused her voice to screech.

The second time he heard his name, he lifted his head and a big smile appeared on his face when he saw that JJ had woken up. He immediately rose from the chair and stepped closer to the bed. ''Hi,'' he whispered gently. ''You've been asleep for almost seven hours. How are you feeling?''

She swallowed back the pain in her throat and looked up at him. ''Good. Just a little sore.'' she lied. ''Did you save me?'' she asked when the earlier events began to pop back in her mind. And then she was faced with Ward and the injuries he inflicted upon her. ''Ward?'' she croaked out in a terrified whisper.

''We got him, JJ.'' he responded proudly. ''He's in custody and he'll never see the light of day again, I promise you.''

''It's over?'' she asked in disbelief. It seemed so surreal. ''It…is…over.'' she stated, and her face finally broke out in a wide smile at the realization that she had accomplished her one last mission. She was done. She could finally walk away from the life she had come despise.

''JJ, listen to me.'' he began, his voice changing from soft to a just a little louder to let her know he was being serious. ''I know you wanted to save everyone you cared about, but what you did was reckless. You put more lives in danger by what you did.''

''I know.'' she whispered in agreement. ''But we got him, Adrian. We got Ward.''

''Yes, we did.'' he smiled out. ''But you did it impulsively, JJ. You are the only one of us who gets to live a normal life after all of this, and you put that at risk.'' he went on. ''You should never forget that, JJ. You can finally have all that you ever dreamed off.''

JJ looked up at him, seeing that his eyes filled with love and sadness at once. So she gazed back at him and stayed silent for just a few seconds to let the moment go on. But then he broke eye contact and put on his jacket that was laying in the chair. ''Where are you going?''

He turned back around and looked down at JJ, knowing she was about to be very happy. ''Someone else is here to see you, JJ.'' he said in happiness. ''And I have to be leaving. We have a lot to take care of now that Ward is in custody.''

''Will I see you again?''

''For your sake I hope not.'' he answered. ''Go live your life, JJ.'' he encouraged, realizing she was still in disbelief.

JJ pushed herself up in the bed, the pain taking over her face for moment. She extended her hand to him and he took it, his hand staying on hers longer than she expected. ''It was an honor to have worked with you, agent Ivankov.''

''The honor was all mine.'' he said and then he let go of her hand. He finally turned around when he knew that was it. He walked out into the hallway and saw Hotch standing next to his team in jeans and a sweater. He had apparently been strong enough to be discharged from the hospital. He gave the man an appreciating nod and then stopped in his tracks, something stopping him from leaving him.

Hotch felt his heart beat in his chest, knowing he was about to see JJ again. Seeing her in that warehouse wasn't the reunion he had ever imagined but this was going to be completely different than before. This was going to be real. He'd finally be able to real hold her again. So when he felt that he was ready, he walked towards the open door and stopped dead in his tracks when he was confronted of the sight of JJ in a hospital bed. She was sitting straight up in the bed, her long hair falling around her shoulder and framing her face as she stared off into the distance. She hadn't actually seen him yet, so he took a moment to let reality hit him, and it felt amazing. She was right there in front of him. And when they made eye contact, his heart stopped just for that small second. Everything felt just right again, with just a simple single gaze.

''JJ!'' he whispered gently. He practically stormed towards her and he stopped next to the bed and leaned forward as he put his arms around her body. He enclosed his arms tightly, finally having her in his arms again.

The tears began to run down JJ's face as her arms went around his body. She nuzzled against him, feeling the warmth and love of his embrace seep into her body. It was like coming home again and the emotions were pushing its way to the surface, and she wasn't able to stop the tears from falling. Her body began to shake softly and before she knew it she felt him hold onto her tightly, and in that moment she couldn't even feel the pain in her body anymore. She only felt that ultimate love that she had with him. It seemed like absolutely nothing had changed. He was the same, and so was she. ''Aaron…'' she whispered. ''I missed you.''

He kissed her head and held onto her tightly as is trying to make sure that she wouldn't disappear from his life began. But this was real. It was really happening. He had her back. JJ was alive and in his arms. ''I thought I had lost you forever when that bomb went off, JJ.'' he croaked out in vain. ''I though you died.''

''I didn't. I'm right here.'' she whispered with her eyes closed so she only had to focus on him and nothing else that surrounded her. She released her arms from his body when she started to ache again, and she pulled away from his embrace, his hands cupping her face. His eyes were filled with that undying love. But now their longing to be together was even bigger. Living without one another had been the ultimate test of their love, and JJ could see in his eyes what she felt in her heart. She didn't want to live another day without him. ''I'm so sorry about everything.''

''JJ, stop!'' Hotch ordered, his tone of voice raised. ''You're here. We're together that is all that matters.''

Adrian had been watching the scene unfold with Jill at his side, and he felt a weight being lifted from his shoulder as he had seen how happy JJ looked. She was finally home again and that was all that mattered to him. It was enough for him. ''Let's go.'' Adrian whispered to Jill. He took one last glance at the blonde as she talked to the love of her life, and then he turned around and walked away from her, knowing she'd always hold a special place in his heart.

Hotch couldn't wipe the wide smile from his face as he sat on the edge of the bed. He still couldn't believe it. It seemed like the dream he had so many nights, only to wake up and realize that JJ wasn't actually with him. But his dream really had come true.

He finally closed the gap between them and lingered close to her lips for a moment until he kissed her gently, his hands treading in her long blonde hair. He could feel her respond softly and with ease. But when JJ's breathing became unsteady, he pulled away and looked at her with concern. ''Is everything okay?''

JJ put her hand on her chest as she held onto his hand. ''I just felt some pain. I'm fine.''

''What happened to you after the explosion, JJ?'' he wondered. He could tell from the sadness that lurked in her eyes that something dark had happened. He couldn't stand to see her get hurt again. She had been hurt too many times.

Tears filled her eyes. He had tormented her. But the physical pain wasn't as bad as the emotional damage he had inflicted upon her. He had dredged up question about JJ's father and she long ago decided to bury the fact that he simply walked out of her life. But now those questions were back, and she couldn't help but cry over the fact that her father wasn't in her life. ''He took me to the other side of the building, and stabbed me again.'' she began to explain, her hands shaking from the terror that still haunted her body. ''He talked about my family. About my father.'' she admitted.

Hotch's chest filled with overprotectiveness when he watched her eyes fill with tears. He leaned forward again and gently pulled her in another embrace. ''I'm here, JJ.'' he whispered into her hair. ''I'll always be here. No matter what.''

JJ's body was trembling. His words were real and she knew it. She pulled back from the embrace and looked up into his eyes, finding herself get lost in the emotions that overcame her in that moment. His eyes were filled with promises for the future. It was the promise of the kind of happiness she had longed for with him. ''This is for forever.'' she whispered. ''I love you, Aaron Hotchner.''

''JJ, there's so much I want to say to you.'' he began, his heart fluttering in his chest at the knowledge of what he was about to do. He hadn't planned on it, but everything was too perfect to pass the moment up. ''I love you. The way I love you is crazy.'' he whispered as he gazed back into the ocean blue eyes he adored and loved. He could still remember their first meeting. An accident with coffee had let to that moment and he never regretted it for a moment. He had fallen irrevocably in love with the woman and she was all he needed to get through his life. Together he knew they'd be able to handle anything. Together they would survive. ''No words can ever express how I truly feel about you.'' he smiled out. ''You're my rock, my best friend, and most importantly, you're my forever.'' he stumbled, feeling his throat closing up. He had only done this once before, but this was different. This was far more real. ''JJ, you're everything that is good and pure in this world.''

She began to shake her head, knowing she didn't deserve those words. But he quickly took her hand to make her stop and he went on. ''You are! You're strong, you're kind, compassionate, warm, loving, stubborn, protective and absolutely beautiful.'' he said happily. ''You survived a dark period in your life and you survived. And it's in that dark time of your life…well our lives…that I had the honor of falling completely in love with you.'' he spoke out as he began to reach in his back pocket. He reached for the ring and clenched in his hand. He opened up his hand in front of her eyes, seeing the shock cross her face at the sight. ''I want to promise you forever, JJ. I want to spend the rest of this lifetime with you.'' he stumbled as a tear fell down his own face, holding up the ring before her eyes. ''I think this belongs to you. So Jennifer Caitlin Jareau, will you please spent forever with me as my wife?''

JJ began crying into her hands, not knowing how to take in that moment. She was crying hard. It was out of utter happiness and as she looked up at him, she nodded. ''Yes!'' she said as she lunged forward with no regard for her injuries at all. She held onto him tightly and felt his arms enclose around her waist. ''I love you!'' she whispered affectionately.

Hotch pulled back and took the ring and carefully slid it around her finger. ''I am happy.'' he whispered before he leaned forward to claim her lips. This kiss was even better than any of the others. It was passionate and brought a wave of reality and happiness over them. It was simply a real promise for their shared future that was coming their way. They were finally together at last.