A/N: Here's another chapter. I hope that you've all been looking forward to this one and that I have done it justice. Writing this chapter was really hard because I wanted it to be perfect. So let me know what you all think! Have a happy Easter!

Special thanks to jenny crum, HotchRocks, 2Addicted2YourLove, Jareau37 and jjcrimminds!

I don't own criminal minds!

Chapter 74: Wedding day

Three months later…

She stepped in front of the full-length mirror and breathed in deeply, taking the moment in. She was having a moment all to herself before the ceremony was about to start. As she looked at herself in her wedding dress if was as if she couldn't breathe. This was the moment she had waited for since she met Hotch, and everything had played out like she wanted it to. The dress was simply perfect, and since the moment she first put it on, she knew it was the right one. It was simple yet elegant strapless lace gown that showed off her body perfectly. Her hair was up in beautiful updo, with a few strands framing her face. She felt beautiful, and ready to get married to the man she loved with all of her heart.

When a knock on the door sounded, she turned around and walked towards the door. ''I'm coming!'' she called out. She opened the door and broke out in a wide smile when she saw the person on the other side. ''Adrian!'' she exclaimed as she flew into his arms out of happiness.

Adrian put his arms around her waist and hugged her back before letting her go after a few seconds. ''I wouldn't miss this day for the world, JJ.'' he said as he closed the door behind him. As she walked further into the bedroom, he found himself looking at her in awe. ''You look stunning.''

JJ shot him a small smile. ''Thank you.'' she whispered, her hands clenched together. It had been a little over six months since she had last seen Adrian in the hospital. ''How has London been treating you?''

''I've actually been staying stateside after Ward's apprehension since Jill asked me to run the DC office.'' he revealed, seeing a moment of confusion cross JJ's face. ''Ward has provided us with vital information and we've slowly been bringing in his contacts.''

JJ carefully sat down on the edge of the bed, realizing a part of her missed her job. Although, she loved her job at DIA, she missed the field sometimes. But being with Hotch made it all worthwhile and in that moment she didn't regret her choices. None of them. ''That's really good.'' she said. ''How have you been?''

He sat down next to her on the bed, leaving some distance between them. ''I've been consumed by work.'' he admitted. ''And I've missed you, JJ.''

''I missed you too, Adrian.'' she said with all honesty. ''Things between us may not have run smoothly, and maybe our feelings got crossed, but I've always considered you as my rock through the hardest time in my life. You're one of my closest friends, and I don't want that to change, okay?''

He turned to fully face her, smiling back at her. ''It won't change. I promise.''

''Good,'' she said happily. ''because I have a favor to ask you. Will you walk me down the aisle?''

''Yes, of course I will.'' he exclaimed. ''Thanks for asking me.'' he said, feeling extremely honored that JJ thought that highly of him.

In the guestroom, on the other side of the house, Hotch and Rossi were sitting in two chairs with a glass of scotch. The older man had noticed that Hotch hadn't been able to stop smiling since guests had been arriving at their house. It only made him realize that he was truly happy, and he couldn't ask for more.

''It's only ten minutes before the ceremony is starting.'' Rossi announced. ''So are you ready to get hitched?''

Hotch rose from his chair and closed his dark blue suit jacket. He turned to face his friend and couldn't help but laugh. ''In an hour we will have four marriages between us.'' he mocked. ''You my man, don't get to tease me on the concept of getting hitched since your three marriages didn't last.''

''Women just can't handle being with me.'' Rossi joked. ''But I think your marriage is going to last, Aaron.'' he said, the tone of his voice softening. ''You're marrying a girl who is one in a million.''

The emotion behind Rossi' words touched Hotch's heart immensely. ''I am lucky man, Dave.'' he said proudly. ''And I am about to become an even luckier man.'' he went on. ''So we should get this show on the road.'' he insisted as he walked out of the guestroom. Hotch slowly made his way through the house he and JJ had been living in for two months, and he could already envision their future right before him. He saw the moments unfold before his own eyes and it only made him more excited and hopeful if that were even possible.

Once they reached the backyard, he realized how real everything was. Their closest family and friends were seated on the white chairs that led to the wedding gazebo, covering in beautiful flowers. The overall look of their decorations was simple, yet elegant. JJ had expressed her interest in having a simple and intimate wedding. She wasn't someone for a big wedding with hundreds of people. She liked comfort and that is exactly what Hotch felt as he walked towards his final destination, knowing it was a day he would never forget. As stepped into his spot, he quickly looked behind him to see Derek, Spencer and Sean standing there with smiles on their faces. He then stared back at Rossi, who was officiating the wedding, and gave him a small nod to let him know he was ready.

And ready he was. The music started only seconds later when Emily walked out of the house with Garcia right behind her. But it wasn't long before the world around him faded away, and he could only focus on her. JJ. He could see her face appearing before him, and he immediately broke down in his tears as the sight of her in the beautiful white dress. He kept eye contact with her as she gracefully walked down the aisle. His heart was beating a mile a minute as he saw a tear fall down JJ's cheek. He stepped forward and took her hand as Adrian stepped away from her.

''JJ, you look absolutely beautiful.'' he whispered as he kissed her cheek.

JJ couldn't fight back the tears that gently streamed down her cheek. The anticipation of the moment was raw on the surface, and she wasn't able to keep it at bay. ''You look very handsome.'' she said while walking with him to the altar. Her breath was caught in her throat and she faced him, their hands clenched together tightly.

Rossi looked at the couple before him, and couldn't stop smiling as he saw the loving exchange of looks between them. They were truly in love. ''Dear friends and family,'' Rossi began. ''we are gathered here today to share and witness this special occasion. Today, Aaron Timothy Hotchner and Jennifer Caitlin Jareau will join in marriage.'' he continued on. ''True marriage is built upon a love that never grows old. The sacred union of marriage is a union of two hearts, becoming one. On this day I wish you a lifetime of happiness.'' he said emotionally. He nodded to Hotch, letting him know it was time for his vows.

Hotch took a piece of paper from his jacket with shaking hands. He looked up into JJ's ocean blue eyes and felt himself getting lost in them. ''Growing up, I believed that each day would come and go. I never accepted or understood the concept of faith and destiny.'' he began, his voice already shaking. ''But then one day destiny struck my life when I spilled my coffee on you in a local Starbucks. That day changed the course of my life forever because I am standing here today vowing to love you for all the years to come.'' he continued eagerly. ''Our lives aligned in the most chance ways of all. And from that day forward, I began to learn what perfection truly meant.'' he carried on, feeling JJ's squeezing his hands lovingly. ''I have probably loved you from the first moment I laid eyes on you and I will love you until the end of time. I fell in love with you on our first date, and only realized that when we kissed for the first time.'' he stopped when he began to choke up. He took a few moments before going on. ''You are the person I want to wake up with every morning, and go to bed with every night.'' he said lovingly. ''JJ, if there's anything I want to tell you today, it is that I love you.'' he said as he gazed back into the ocean blue eyes he loved so much. ''But saying that won't ever be enough because words can't express how I truly feel about you.'' he went on as his voice started to shake. ''JJ, like I have said before: you are everything that is good and pure in this world. You are a strong and willful woman.'' he went on, squeezing her hands when the tears fell down her cheek. ''I don't know what the future has in store for us. But I do know one thing: I will spend the rest of my life making you happy and loving you!''

JJ was crying her eyes out when his vows ended, knowing it was now her turn. She just didn't know if she had the capacity to fully express her love to the man before her. ''Aaron, where did you come from?'' she asked sweetly. ''When we met I did not know who I was. Let alone who I wanted to be one day.'' she went on. ''How was I so lucky to have met you?'' she whispered in complete tears. ''Meeting you was unexpected and our relationship wasn't always effortless. There were a lot of times when the circumstances seemed unbearable, but I never once felt that our love wasn't worth fighting for. You stood by me when you barely knew me. You have loved the flawed person that I am.'' she went on. ''With you I have found a place in this world to call home. So from this day forward, I vow to be your other half, to honor and respect you each and every day of our lives, to laugh with you and to cry with you, to always support your choices, and to allow you to do the same for me. Bust most of all, I vow to love you without condition.'' she cried out. ''Aaron, you truly were my perfect stranger and you're about to be my perfect husband. I love you with all of my heart.''

Rossi took a step back and watched as the couple exchanged their rings, and looked into each other's eyes with complete admiration for one another. ''I now pronounce you husband and wife.'' he spoke happily. ''You may kiss the bride.''

Hotch pulled JJ closer and leaned slowly, their lips connecting in the most intimate of ways. The kiss was filled with the love they both felt for each other. And now that they were husband and wife the future could only get better.

JJ pulled away from the kiss, gazing back into her husband's eyes. She had truly found her place in the world, and she always thought of it that she was forever found. Aaron Hotchner had found her and made her the person who she was that very day. He had given her a life that she adored. But what she valued most was the love he had given her since the day they met. His love would be enough to survive hurdles, and together they would overcome anything.

''Jennifer Caitlin Jareau-Hotchner, my beautiful wife.'' he whispered with admiration as he put his arm around her waist.

JJ kissed his cheek and took his hand as he led her down the aisle. ''Mrs. Hotchner.'' she whispered to herself, knowing the name had always been meant for her.