AN: Hey all. Thanks for the patience. I've been working on a few stories but haven't really felt like writing much lately. Hopefully this is the sign that my muse is back. Please read and review. Also, going with the chapter titles being inspired by music, this one is from Passenger's "The One You Love". I am totally in love with this album, so check it out. It's called "Flight of the Crow" and features lots of awesome Australian artists collaborating with Michael Rosenberg. Really beautiful music.

DISCLAIMER: I don't own Criminal Minds.

With the lights on

Emily smiled at her dad, tears glistening in his eyes as he pressed down on the tie hanging from his neck. He smiled back, crinkling his nose as he took in the sight before him. Although he'd thought she had looked beautiful earlier that day, dressed in her white bridal gown, Simon couldn't help but feel the warmth spread in his heart at her new bridal outfit.

The two Prentiss' turned when she heard the door opening, and smiled at the nurse who poked her head through the door.

"He's here… if you're ready."

Emily smiled at the redhead and nodded, "Thank you," she replied softly, before turning back to her father.

"You ready for this sweetheart?" Simon asked, his own nerves evident.

Emily shrugged and grinned, "I don't think I need to be worried, Daddy… after all," Emily huffed, "We already share three kids and a mortgage… why not a surname?"

Simon chuckled and nodded, hugging his daughter tight before stepping back and straightening his tie. Holding out his arm, Simon winked at his daughter, "Let's get the show on the road."

Elizabeth and Natalie smiled in unison when they heard the door open and looked up to watch Emily and Simon make their way through the opening.

"You look beautiful," Natalie gushed, holding out her hand to squeeze Emily's arm gently. Emily smiled and gave Natalie a hug, then turned to her mother.

"I'm so proud of you sweetheart," Elizabeth whispered as she embraced her daughter. Emily stayed silent, not trusting her voice as she pulled back.

Clearing her throat, Emily looked around at her three parents. The three parents who had raised her, supported her, shown her what it was to be a parent. She smiled at them, before breathing deeply, "Ok… Let's go so I can marry Aaron before something else happens."

Hotch swatted Sean's hand away, evoking a huff from the younger man. Hotch rolled his eyes and looked up, "Sorry… I know you're only trying to help, but I've been successfully tying my ties for the last 30 years of my life."

Sean held his hands up in defeat and chuckled, "You're a stubborn bastard, brother… good luck Emily."

Hotch rolled his eyes and fixed his tie, huffing inwardly at his current state of dress. He had managed the energy to sit up and pull on a dress shirt and tie, but underneath his blanket, all he had was boxers. He shrugged and smiled, looking over at Jack and Reid in the corner, where Reid was helping Jack to button his shirt.

Morgan pegged the door back, nodding and grinning at Hotch before he walked over to take his place between Rossi and Reid. Hotch glanced nervously over at the minister who had offered to perform the service in the hospital. Looking around the room, Hotch was surprised the number of people they'd managed to squeeze into such a small space. He wasn't going to admit this to anyone, but he was glad that the witnesses to their wedding were the only one's he'd really cared about… Sean, Kerry, Jessica, Mike… and on Emily's side – her parents. And of course the team.

When he heard the music start up, Hotch's gaze turned to the doorway, smiling when he saw Garcia walk through the door. She was dressed in dark green scrubs, holding her bouquet of white roses and green daisies in one hand and holding onto Jack's hand with the other. Jack beamed up at his father, Hotch replying with a wink, before he joined Jessica and Mike. Garcia took her place in front of the guys.

Shortly after Garcia took her place, JJ made her way through the door, smiling proudly. In her arms, she held the twins. Though they were oblivious to the current ceremony and the implications it would have on them, both children grinned when they saw their father. Hotch couldn't help the tears that pooled. He waved to the children, the entire group laughing when Lexi clapped her chubby hands together. JJ carried the children to the other side of the bed, passing Matty to Elizabeth.

The crowd of family and friends then turned to watch Simon lead Emily through the small doorway, Hotch's face lighting up when his eyes locked with hers. She winked at him and he chuckled, his heart beating faster. Emily bit her lip when the beeping of the heart rate monitor grew louder and faster. Hotch rolled his eyes and unclipped the device from his finger.

When they reached the side of the bed, Emily leant over to kiss her father's cheek, before he joined Natalie and Elizabeth. Emily turned to Hotch and reached over, running her fingers through his hair. "You feeling ok?" she whispered.

Hotch nodded and reached up, taking her hand in his own. Leaning closer to her side Hotch whispered, "I like this look on you."

Emily rolled her eyes and ran her hand over the white scrubs, "Just a little something to feed your nurse fetish." She ran her hand down Hotch's green tie and smiled, "I don't object to your look either."

Emily turned to JJ, holding out her bouquet, before turning back and taking Hotch's hand in her own. She squeezed tightly and nodded to the minister.

"Aaron and Emily have prepared their vows, so without further ado…"

Emily took a deep breath, looking at her father and winking, before turning back to Hotch. She squeezed his hand and looked into his eyes.

"I had a whole speech planned… you know how much I love to talk…" Emily started nervously. Hotch huffed and offered her a loving smile, "But given all the action today I must've left it at home so I've gotta go off-the-cuff." Emily shrugged and took another deep breath, "There's not a lot that we haven't shared already… three kids, a house… a particularly strange gravitation towards hospitals… so I guess all I can do is promise to you today, that no matter what happens in the future, I will be there… by your side. Sharing your pain, your joy, your heartache, and your happiness. It's pretty simple, really… I love you Hotch."

Hotch smiled and brought Emily's hand to his mouth, placing a gently kiss on her knuckles. He glanced up, waiting for the minister to nod, before he began.

"You all know I'm a man of few words so… without too much talking… Emily, I was going to promise to care for you, to wait on you hand-and-foot… as long as we both shall live. But…" Hotch smiled when Emily pouted sarcastically. He continued, "BUT… given the number of times we've both been close to death, I'm starting to rethink that." Hotch paused, nervously ignoring the chuckles of the "congregation". Taking another deep breath, he continued, "It's pretty simple for me too, Em. I love you and that's something I promise to do for the rest of my life… no matter how long (or short) that is."

Emily kissed Jack on the cheek, sitting forward to run her fingers through his hair, "Now you be a good boy for Uncle Sean and Aunt Kerry tonight."

Hotch nodded and ruffled his son's hair, "And take care of your brother and sister."

Jack nodded to his parents, taking his uncle's hand and blowing kisses to the pair on the bed.

Emily sighed, standing up from the seat and making her way to Hotch's bed. She took the hand he extended, offering him a tired smile and helping him to shuffle over in the bed. As she lay down, Hotch wrapped his good arm around his wife and kissed her cheek, "How you feeling Mrs. Hotchner?"

Emily chuckled and turned to face her husband, "God that makes me sound old."

Hotch ran his fingers through her hair, "You say old, I say beautiful."

Emily turned in his arms and ran her fingers over Hotch's stomach, leaning up to switch off the overhead light. They lay there in silence for a few moments, making the most of the peace and quiet.

"So… quite a day," Hotch murmured, kissing the top of Emily's head. He felt her nod, but she remained silent. Leaning down to look at her face, Hotch noticed a track of tears sliding down her cheek. Poking her side, Hotch wrinkled his brow, "Emily," he sighed.

Emily sniffled and shook her head, hoping to shake the melancholy away, before she looked up and offered Hotch a smile. Unfortunately for her, it fell flat. And Hotch never was one to let a sad smile go without comment.

"You know that sharing my joy and pain means that I also get to share in yours… wanna spill on the tears?"

Emily reached up to wipe her eyes, before sitting up on the bed. She paused a moment to gather her thoughts before her eyes drew up to Hotch's. When she saw the wrinkle in his brow, Emily felt another tear drop down her cheek and she reached up the run her finger over Hotch's face.

"I almost lost you today."

Hotch felt his heart constrict at the fear in her voice… the pain. He knew that the day had been… eventful. But Hotch had hoped that since he and Emily had moved past the bad, and would be able to focus on the good. They'd finally gotten married. But now looking into his new wife's eyes, Hotch could see that this wasn't the case.

Reaching up and running his fingers through her hair, and stopping at her chin, Hotch guided Emily forward until their lips touched gently. As he drew back, Hotch offered her a smile, "The operative word in that statement was almost, Em. I almost lost you… and you almost lost me," he paused and kissed the tip of her nose, "But the important thing that we need to take away from today, is that we're a family. You, me, Jack, Matty, and Lexi… we're a family. Always and forever."

Emily bit her lip and nodded, tapping her nose on Hotch's, before she dropped down to his side again, linking her fingers with his where they lay on his stomach. Feeling the tingles as Hotch's finger ran down her arm, Emily sighed, "Always and forever."

AN: I've actually decided to end the story here. I know I could've probably written this awhile ago but I just haven't really had the chance. But now that they're married, they've got the babies... I just don't think I can keep writing the story. I might do some one-shots in the future, but I wanna keep working on "Indefinable" so I'd prefer to just end this story on a positive note. Thanks so much for reading.