Disclaimer: We don't own Criminal Minds.

A/N: So this is it, the final chapter. We hope you like it. :)

Chapter 9

It was time. JJ couldn't help but feel anxious as she and Hotch entered the large park, waiting for any sign of Maya. If she looked hard, she could identify each agent that was casually walking around in the park--each blending in as park workers, or just random people enjoying the park.

After what seemed like minutes, a tall, thin man and an unconscious Maya who was either passed out or asleep, entered the park. "Target spotted. Do you want us to take him down?" Morgan asked from his position of throwing the football with Justin.

"No, we need him to make the transaction first." JJ reminded, moving closer to Hotch unconsciously as the man finally approached them.

"The Taylors, I presume?"

"Yes, I'm Jenny, this is my husband Aaron." JJ didn't have to feign the nervousness in her voice. If this went wrong, she wasn't sure if she could live with herself.

"You have the money?" The thin man asked.

"Right here." Hotch said authoritatively. Even a trained profiler could have easily mistaken his normal stoic facade for a husband trying to assert himself as the dominant male.

"Pleasure doing business with you." The man replied as he handed Maya over to JJ who held her protectively. Hotch quickly put his arm around the pair and led them a safe distance away while JJ whispered "Take him down."

"How is she?" Amanda asked frantically as they entered Maya's hospital room to find JJ and Hotch talking quietly. The kidnapper had been taken down without injury, and Morgan and Justin were currently interrogating him.

"She's fine." JJ soothed, holding Amanda's hand, "The doctor's ran a few tests and they said the only thing he gave her was a sedative, which was probably to keep her from screaming out in the park. Other than that Maya is extremely healthy."

"Did he--?" Amanda asked fearfully, not able to speak the word molest, but she did not have too, the entire room knew what she was asking.

"No, not as far as the nurses can tell." JJ smiled hopefully, we'll know more when she wakes up, but I don't think so."

Amanda breathed a sigh of relief and JJ smiled as she saw Garcia run into the room to find her friends. Garcia had kept Amanda company while the rest of the group participated in the takedown. JJ had wisely chosen to keep Amanda back at the office in case something went wrong.

"Mommy?" A small voice from the bed asked, jerking everyone's attention to the small girl.

"Yes, baby, I'm here." Amanda couldn't help the tears from falling at the sight of the little girl.

Seeing the tender moment between mother and daughter, JJ quickly made eye contact with the others and they slipped out of the room, unnoticed as Amanda threw her arms around her daughter.

Garcia nodded and mumbled something about jelly beans and a stuffed animal as she headed off to the gift shop and JJ and Hotch stood awkwardly in the hall.

"Hotch, I just wanted to say 'thank you'. It meant a lot that you would help one of my agents--" JJ began.

"There's no need for thanks JJ, we're friends. That's what friends do for each other." Hotch informed quietly, sliding his hands in his pants pocket.

"Friends, yeah okay--friends." JJ agreed, pushing a stray piece of hair behind her ear. After a beat of semi-awkward silence, she spoke again, "Let me know when you, Dave, Reid, and Emily get ready to go back to the airstrip and I'll drive you."

"You don't have to do that." Hotch replied after a moment, unsure of what to say. He would miss JJ far more than he'd like to admit, but he had his chance and blew it. There was no use trying to change the past.

"Erm...Alright, well, um..." JJ sputtered, far from her usual eloquent self. "I guess this is goodbye then."

"I guess so." Hotch nodded, reaching out his hand. "It was a pleasure to work with you again."

JJ took the hand gladly, but longed for more. "As it was with you."

"Take care, JJ." He smiled wryly as he turned toward the door.

"Bye Hotch." JJ whispered to the fleeting figure. She was sure it wasn't supposed to end like this, it felt all wrong. He shouldn't be leaving--actually he should be leaving, but not without her. It had taken her a few months to realize it, but DC was her home, no matter where she moved to. No matter where she worked, the BAU was where she wanted to be. But the realization came too late, she had made up her mind months ago and couldn't go back. There was a time where she could have been courageous and tell Hotch how she felt, but that opportunity was a long time ago. So she resigned herself to watch the man of her dreams walk away.

"He's different from the last time he was here." A voice surprised JJ a moment after Hotch was out of sight. She had been too lost in the moment to notice Amanda come up next to her.

"That's how he was when I used to work with him." JJ confided quietly. "I've never worked with a better man."

Amanda nodded. "Without him, I don't know how we would have gotten my daughter back." She paused a minute before slightly altering the conversation. "He's pretty cute too."

"He's alright." JJ suppressed a smile.

"He's better than alright, or else you wouldn't be blushing." Amanda said knowingly. "JJ, don't let him get away."

"Hotch lives back in DC and he used to be my boss. And he used to have a girlfriend. I don't think me and him would be such a good idea." JJ lied.

Amanda groaned. "Level with me. Do you like him?"

"Yes." JJ admitted, her voice hushed.

"Then go." Amanda smiled. "He's a good one."

"You know what? You're right. Thanks Amanda, I owe you!" JJ yelled, running quickly down the hall towards the stairs, hoping to catch Hotch before he left the hospital.

Running quickly down the five flights of stairs to the ground floor, she somehow managed to catch him as exited the ER--probably saying good-bye to Morgan who was having his arm stitched up.

"Hotch! Wait!"

"JJ? What are you--" he started, but she cut him off by fusing her lips to his. At first JJ felt some hesitation, making her worried that she had waited too long. All doubts however subsided as she felt him deepen the kiss, pulling her in closer to him.

After what felt like both an eternity, and no time at all, the pair broke apart. They were silent for a moment, taking in what had just happened before Hotch spoke first. "What did that mean?"

"I lied when I said I was over you." JJ confided. "I wasn't in love with who you were being, but I'll always be in love with who you are."

He wrapped his arms around her small waist, both pulling her even closer, and steadying her shaky balance. That kiss had been mind-blowing, and had seemingly knocked her off her equilibrium. "Can you forgive me for letting you walk away? For becoming a monster to the few friends I had?"

JJ nodded. "Only if you can forgive me for being a coward and fleeing across the country so that I wouldn't have to deal with watching you with Valarie. OOOH Valarie!" JJ remembered. "What's uh--what is going on with you and her?"

"We broke up after I came here last time." He smiled. "I thought she deserved more than someone who only wanted her as a distraction. JJ, I love you." The words felt so right coming from his mouth, he had been waiting forever to say them.

JJ leaned up and kissed him--albeit less extravagantly--again. Pulling away after a few moments, JJ let her small hand ghost across his flushed cheek. "So does this mean Henry and I can stay with you until we find a new apartment in Virginia?"

"It means I want you and Henry to stay with me forever."