A/N: The final chapter... :( This is just an epilogue, about a year down the track. I want to thank everyone for reading and reviewing. Hope you continue to enjoy my writing. Believe me, there'll be more to come.
DISCLAIMER: I don't own Criminal Minds.
Emily and Hotch were sitting on the couch with Jack sitting between them. They were watching "Finding Nemo" and Jack was loving every minute. Emily sat up when she heard the lock turn. "Charlie?" she called out, standing to run to the door. Jack jumped up, excited. He ran down the hall and Charlie reached down to pick him up.
"What are you doing home kiddo?" Emily asked her daughter. Charlie smiled. "I have a week of holidays. Just dropped past Poppy's to say hi and now, here I am," she said. Emily grinned and put her arm around her daughter as they walked through to the lounge room. Hotch stood and hugged Charlie. "Thanks," he whispered. Charlie stood back and smiled. "So what are you guys up to?" she asked. Jack bounced in her arms, "We're watching Nemo!" he cried out, holding his hands in the air. Charlie tickled him and he giggled. "Ok, well can I watch it with you?" she asked. Jack nodded fervently. Charlie tossed her overnight bag on the floor and moved over to sit on the couch. Emily sat down next to Hotch again and smiled. She had a family now.
Charlie took a sip of her juice and glanced into the kitchen. Emily was busy pouring a coffee for Hotch and herself. "Hey Hotch, I was thinking of taking Jack to the park this morning," Charlie said, loud enough so Emily could hear. Hotch looked up from the paper and smiled. "Ok. Should we make it a picnic?" he asked, looking at Emily. She nodded and smiled. "Sounds good," she replied, handing the cup of coffee to Hotch. Charlie couldn't contain the grin that grew on her face.
Emily and Hotch got the food ready while Charlie helped Jack pick out what toys he wanted to take. He settled on his soccer ball and a frisbee. It was about 11 when they were ready to go. Hotch picked up the cooler, Charlie picked up the five-year old, and Emily picked up the toys. Then they headed outside for the short walk to the park.
Hotch set up the blanket and food while the other three started to play. When everything was set, he joined them in a game of frisbee. He laughed when Jack tried to catch a high-flying throw from Charlie and landed on his butt. Emily (nick-named "The Worry-er" by Hotch and her daughter) ran over to check on Jack. But he was fine, and was up and playing again in no time.
Charlie and Jack took a walk down to the bathrooms while Emily and Hotch got lunch ready. By the time they returned it was ready to eat.
Emily couldn't help the smile that stretched on her face when she saw Jack sit down in Charlie's lap. "He misses you," Hotch said, nodding towards the two. Charlie smiled and ran her fingers through his hair. "I miss him too," she replied. She looked up at her mom and Hotch. "I was actually thinking... I'm in my final year of under-grad and was thinking about grad-schools. And, in addition to Harvard and Stanford... I've put GWU on my application list," Charlie explained. Emily's face lit up. "Really?" she asked excitedly, jumping up to hug her daughter. Charlie nodded and smiled. "Really. I don't expect to bunk with you guys. But... I really miss all of you and I really like the school so..." her voice trailed off and Emily was beaming. She sat back down next to Hotch and he put his arm around her shoulders. Then he looked back at Charlie and smiled.
Jack had finished his sandwich and was getting anxious to go and play. Charlie brushed her hands together and nodded in the direction of the lake. "How about we go for a walk down to the lake?" she offered. Hotch nodded and Jack jumped up and down. "Can we? Can we daddy? I wanna see the gooses," he squealed. "Sure. Go ahead," he answered. Emily looked pretty set as she lay down on the blanket with her book. "Us old folk will stay here with the stuff," he joked. Charlie nodded, her arm almost pulling from it's socket as the boisterous Jack tried to drag her away. "Ok. Just make sure you guys move every now and then. Your old hips will jar if you don't give them some exercise," she teased. Emily chuckled and Hotch shook his head. He smiled as he watched the two of them walk away, then turned to Emily. "There's no doubt," he muttered. "No doubt about what?" Emily asked. Hotch smiled and poked her side, "No doubt she's your daughter," he teased. Emily smiled and shrugged. "You know what? I'm ok with that," she replied. Hotch smiled and lay down, resting his head on Emily's tummy.
The two kids had been gone for about ten minutes when Hotch sat up and stretched his arms. He turned to Emily and smiled. "You wanna pack up the stuff and go see where the kids are?" he asked. Emily nodded and smiled. "Sure. But... you sure you wanna lug all that around with you?" she asked. Hotch shrugged. "It's not that far. Plus, we can set up down near the lake while they feed the leftovers to the birds," he suggested. Emily nodded and sat up. They quickly packed up the blanket and leftovers. Hotch reached over at took Emily's hand and squeezed it. He hoped he'd waited long enough.
Emily wasn't paying attention as they made their way down the path. She was looking up at the sky, enjoying the painfully beautiful day. A rare weekend-day when they were home and could do things like have a picnic with their kids. She sighed and watched two birds fly through the sky, dancing around each other as they played in the air. Hotch smiled and squeezed her hand as he led her down the path. Emily looked down at him and smiled, then looked up ahead. She stopped in her tracks when she saw them.
Charlie was holding Jack, both of them grinning. Behind them stood everyone. Morgan, Dave, Reid, JJ, Will, Garcia, Kevin. Their team. As well as Jessica and her husband Mike, and Emily's Dad. Morgan and Dave held up a sign saying "Will you marry me?" in bright red letters, signed "Hotch". Emily turned just as Hotch stopped on the path next to her, pulled a small velvet box out of his pocket, and got down on one knee. Emily looked down at him, tears forming in her eyes. "Hotch," she said quietly. He just smiled.
"Emily. There are so many things I could say to you that could express how much you mean to me. But instead of saying how I feel, I thought I'd show you. Everyone here loves you so much. You brighten each of their worlds simply by being you. And I don't know how it could get any better, by I want to see how much brighter you could make my world. Emily Prentiss, will you marry me?" he asked.
Emily didn't know what to say. Of course the answer running in her head was a resounding "YES!" So just as he had shown her by simply asking, she showed him by leaning down and kissing him gently. As they pulled apart she leant her forehead on his and smiled, "Of course Aaron. Yes I'll marry you," she whispered. Hotch grinned from ear to ear. He reached into the box and pulled out a classic princess-cut diamond ring. Tears slipped from Emily's eyes as she held out her hand and Hotch gently slipped the ring onto her finger.
He jumped up from his knees and lifted her into his arms in a hug. When he put her back on the ground he turned to the crowd and threw his arms in the air. "She said yes!" he cried out. Emily grinned and saw the large group moving towards them. Everyone wanted to congratulate Emily and Hotch as they exchanged hugs and best wishes.
Emily looked at the edge of the crowd where the kids were waiting. She took Hotch's hand and they walked over together. Emily hugged her daughter tightly. "Congratulations Mom," Charlie whispered. Emily smiled and stood back, brushing Charlie's hair behind her ears. "Thanks babe. I can't believe you kept this a secret!" she cried out. Charlie shrugged and turned to Hotch and Jack. "It was worth it," she replied. Hotch reached over and hugged his soon-to-be step-daughter. Emily watched as her daughter and her fiance (!) hugged. She ran her fingers through Jack's hair and smiled. Yesterday she was a single mom, dating a single dad. Today, she was becoming part of a family.
A/N: That's all folks. I wanted to end on a big note. Hope this worked. I thought, with my other big story and the other versions of this idea (Emily's kid) that I'd leave this one here. Please read and review. Thanks for reading!