A/N I'm sitting here with my husband and daughter, and feel that I need to say that I hope no matter where you are in the world, you have somebody to share today with. Even if it's just a pet. This is the final chapter - thank you for all your support! It's so good to know you enjoyed it, and your reviews are always received with a smile.
Special thanks to my beta flashpenguin, who battled bad weather and migraines to help me turn this into something readable. I don't know what I would have done without her! So I hope you enjoy, and Happy Holidays! :]
For canny-bairn. Have a great Christmas!
Disclaimer: As much as I would love to, I don't own Criminal Minds.
Pulling the door to behind her, JJ let out the breath she hadn't known she was holding. She moved down the hall and leant back against the cool surface. Jack's words had stirred feelings deep in her heart, love making her eyes water and her mouth run dry.
Not wanting Hotch to see her distress, and not wanting to deal with the interrogation that would inevitably follow, JJ fought for composure, quickly wiping the few stray tears from her cheeks.
Breathing in deeply, she headed towards the bathroom. She splashed cold water on her face to take away some of the puffiness. She could deal with the questions later - right now she just had to make it through the rest of the evening.
Hotch set a small parcel in front of her, watching her carefully. JJ stared at it. The gift was wrapped in newspaper, secured with enough sticky tape to hold down the worst UNSUB.
"Henry helped," Hotch added with a chuckle, reading the amused smirk curving her lips. She nodded, running her hands through his hair.
"Obviously. But what is this?"
"It's your Christmas present," he replied, rolling his eyes in a way for which only she could only be reminded of his son.
JJ laughed. "But there are still a few days until Christmas. Isn't it a bit early for gifts?"
Hotch shrugged. "I couldn't wait."
Giving him a perplexed look, she took the crudely wrapped box and started to make her way through the tape barrier.
"Out of curiosity, is there any tape left for the rest of the presents?" she wondered aloud as her finger picked the tape away layer by layer.
"I can always run to buy more," Hotch replied, never taking his eyes off of her.
Finally pulling away the final layer of paper, JJ heard her breath catch. She fingered the small black box, eyes widening. Glancing up to find him watching her nervously, JJ slowly lifted the lid.
Seeing the small smile that graced her lips, Hotch offered a quick prayer of thanks that the small diamond ring was enough.
"Aaron..." she whispered. He took her hands between his own.
"JJ, I love you. I love you, and I love our boys."
Hotch took a deep breath. "I thought my life was over when Hailey died," he said softly, "But you showed me that it wasn't. You showed me how to love again, Jennifer Jareau, and made me a stronger man because of it."
His dark eyes fixed on hers, Hotch bent to one knee, their fingers still locked together.
"Will you marry me?"
Hearing him actually say the words rendered JJ speechless.
"What?" she asked stupidly, and Hotch chuckled.
"Marry me. Be my wife. For better or worse."
She stared at him, "You seriously want to marry me?"
"I do," he replied, giving into the protests in his knees and sitting back in his seat.
"But why?" she asked in horror, "I'd make a horrible wife."
"Because I love you."
JJ was silent for a moment. "Even though I get angry when you leave your shirts buttoned up in the dirty laundry basket?"
"Even because of that," Hotch replied with a shrug, chuckling at her genuine confusion but inwardly cursing Will for putting these doubts in her mind.
"Even though I ran away from you the first time you said you loved me?"
"It was too soon," Hotch justified, "You were surprised."
"Even though I left the morning after we slept together?"
"You were scared."
JJ flinched. "And even though during our first fight, I told you that I could never be in a real relationship with you?"
He chuckled again. "I believe I've proved you wrong on that one, don't you? But yes, even because of that."
She stared at him, her blue eyes wide in astonishment, her mouth gaping as she struggled to find the right words.
"And you still want to marry me?" she managed eventually, in a voice soft and full of astonishment.
"Yes!" Hotch laughed, "Because I'm so in love with you, all of those things mean nothing!" He squeezed her hands, smoothing his fingers over her knuckles. "Really, if I knew getting you to marry me would be this hard, I would have called in reinforcements."
That brought a smile to her face, and moving around the table, JJ slid into his lap, wrapping her shaking arms around his neck.
"Yes," she whispered, "I'll marry you."
He stared at her, a stunned smile lighting up his face. Hastily, before she could change her mind, he pulled the silver-banded ring from its box, sliding it onto the appropriate finger.
"Oh, Aaron," she gasped, "It's perfect."
"You're perfect."
"You're biased, but I agree, it's perfect. And so are you…except for the shirts."
"We're getting married," he said in awe. JJ laughed, so unbelievably happy that she thought she might explode.
"We're getting married," she echoed, before sealing her lips to his. She pulled back suddenly, frowning. "What reinforcements?"
It took him a moment to realise what she was talking about, and then a grin spread across his face.
"Well, Dave helped me pick out the ring. Morgan assured me you'd say yes. Garcia and Emily threatened to hold Jack and Henry hostage until you did. And then there were your parents."
"You called my parents?" JJ asked in surprise.
"I did. I wanted to ask your father for his blessing."
Touched at his thoughtfulness, JJ kissed him again. A soft groan left the back of his throat, his hands smoothing patterns over her back.
"I should let my parents know," she said suddenly, still beaming. On the table, his cell phone began to vibrate, and checking the caller ID, Hotch chuckled.
"Your parents might have to wait," he said, flipping it open, "Because Garcia won't."
"I am going to cut through all the pleasantries and get to the point of this call. Tell me you said yes or I'll be forced to hold on to my precious godson and fill him with refined sugar and red food dye."
"Oh, Garcie," JJ laughed, "It's okay. I said yes."
There was a pause, and then JJ and Hotch both covered their ears at the squeals that erupted from the other end.
"I knew it! I knew you would say yes! When is the big date? Have you told Emily? No, wait! I'll call the team and conference them and kill two birds with one stone. But now we have to go shopping and get you a real dress. You are marrying the boss and we are going to make this a wedding for the BAU books. Just leave it to me," Garcia rambled.
"You may start making the arrangements, Pen, but try to keep it low-key."
"What ever you want, Peaches, your wish is my command. I hate to cut this short, but I have to call the others. I will talk to you later. Bye." Garcia disconnected the call.
"That sounded interesting," Hotch acknowledged with a tight smile.
"I won't be surprised if she has the number to the church and banquet hall text to us within the hour."
Hotch sighed. "There isn't going to be anything low key about this wedding if Penelope Garcia has anything to say about it. But are you sure you want her to plan this? We can always elope."
JJ shook her head. "I don't mind her doing the wedding considering it's going to give her experience for another event in the future."
Hotch looked at her in confusion. "What other event? And please tell me that it has nothing to do with our honeymoon."
Giving him a mysterious Mona Lisa like smile, JJ reached into her purse and extracted a piece of white folded paper. She placed it into his waiting hands, chuckling as his eyes shot open. He studied it carefully, a small frown creasing his brow.
He unfolded it, glancing at the words. "What is this?"
"Results from a blood test I had done."
"I thought your physical was last month?" Hotch asked, wondering whether he should be concerned by the long words and numbers on the sheet before him.
JJ nodded. "It was."
He cleared his throat. "As much as I love the thought...I have no idea what I'm looking at."
She laughed. "Oh, really?" she said in mock surprise, "Well, maybe this will clear things up..." Reaching behind her into the pocket of her coat, JJ pulled out a thin rectangular package, carefully wrapped in plain brown paper. She handed it to him, smiling nervously.
"I was going to wait, but since Christmas has come early..."
Frowning slightly, Hotch turned the gift in his hands, his mind quickly working through what it could be.
"Open it," JJ prompted, and he wondered then why she sounded so uncertain. He pulled off the paper, and froze, staring with wide eyes at the white box he now held.
"Jayje..." he said in awe, his eyes widening.
"Open it," she repeated in a whisper. Pulling the corners of the box open, Hotch heard his breath catch as a positive pregnancy test slid onto the table.
"We never discussed more children," JJ said nervously, watching his face for some sign of what he was thinking, "But I...I mean..." Her faltering words came to a stop as Hotch moved closer, his finger coming to rest over her lips.
"Stop talking," he said, and then replaced his finger with his mouth. Sighing, she leaned into his kiss as her hands slid through his hair.
He tightened his arms around her shoulders, feeling her bury her face in his t-shirt. JJ let put a sigh of relief, tangling her hands in the soft hair at the back of his neck.
Pulling away, JJ looked at him. "Are you happy about this?"
"Why wouldn't I be?" he asked, confused by her question.
"It's sudden and unexpected, and I wasn't sure if…well, with Henry…"
"I love all of my children equally," he said gently.
JJ felt her face split into a happy grin. "All of them?"
One of his hands came to rest on her still flat stomach, his smile matching hers.
"All of them," he repeated, "Jack, Henry and this little one."
"You really know what to say to a girl to make her fall even more in love with you," JJ whispered.
"But I would rather show you. If you don't mind." He stroked her cheek gently.
As she guided him towards the stairs, promising to show him exactly how much she loved him, Hotch couldn't help the feeling of complete contentment that spread through him.
Things were perfect. She was perfect, and he was grateful that he had been given this chance to live again.
Feeling him stop behind her, JJ turned, frowning at the faraway look on his face.
"What's wrong?"
Hotch blinked, for the first time in his life having an easy answer to give.
"Nothing. Absolutely nothing."