Author's Note: Well, this is it. The end of the line. Just thinking that makes my heart ache a little, because this story has really redefined my FanFiction experience. I remember being overwhelmed by the thought of ever posting a single story back in May of 2010. But now, here we are. I've been working on this story for a little over fourteen months, yet it never once felt that long to me. Maybe because you all have been so endlessly patient and encouraging, and that has made me constantly work harder to pull from my heart and put everything into this story. Yes, that sounds about right.

I know I've said it before, but I just want to thank you all one more time. Thank you for being a great audience, and continually enjoying chapter after chapter. I hope this very last installment of Kiss the Cook lives up to your expectations. So, without further ado...enjoy!

Disclaimer in Chapter One!

"I know the whole purpose of having an apron is to get it dirty in the kitchen," Emily sighed, staring at the previously spotless white fabric that was now colored with a splotch of the tomato basil soup she was ladling into bowls. "But can you really blame me for wanting it to remain spotless for forever?"

Hotch chuckled adoringly, coming up behind her and pressing a kiss to the nape of her neck, breathing in the comforting scent of her hair and skin. "You've been using it for around a year, love," he reminded, "yet you hardly ever get it stained."

She turned to him then, a mischievous twinkle in her eyes. "Except for that one time..."

He smiled slowly as her voice trailed away. "Oh, yes. That one time." Their silence lasted barely a minute, but in those precious sixty seconds, they remembered an incredible evening. Emily's intention had been to make chocolate toffee saltines, a particularly favorite treat of Hotch's, but the chocolate had eventually been used for...other things.

"If I remember it correctly, someone's fingers got into the chocolate mixture I was making, and I just had to start over," Emily said smartly, crossing her arms over her chest as she stared indulgently at him.

His previously sweet smile morphed into something more dangerous. "There was absolutely no starting over, sweetheart," he rumbled, his husky voice washing over her like the sweetest kind of ecstasy. "You and I just...kept going." And going. And going.

"I suppose you're right." Emily grinned then, and leaned in for a quick and chaste kiss before going back to her cooking.

"If you don't think we'll be able to get the stain out and it's really bothering you, I could just get you another apron, you know," Hotch said simply, as if it were the most obvious statement in the world.

"I think you've gotten me enough in the past year," she said soft, eagerly letting him take her hands in his; and even in the nicely dimmed lighting of the room they were in, the diamond ring on her slender finger sparkled brightly. Emily very nearly swooned as Hotch brought the hand to his lips and left a gentle kiss there.

"Oh, but I think I'm the one that got the greatest gift of all," he said earnestly, his eyes smoldering as he gazed longingly at her. "You're going to make me the happiest man in the world, Emily Prentiss," he whispered. "In fact, I think you already have."

Their lips met for a long kiss then, the perfect mixture of sweet and sultry, and Emily found herself melting readily in his embrace, her eyes fluttering closed at the onslaught of pleasurable emotions. She felt unrestrainedly giddy as she realized that, soon enough, they would be sharing the rest of their lives with one another. That, soon enough – yet soon enough – she would be Emily Hotchner.

She could hardly wait.

Emily opened her eyes just in time to see Hotch dip a finger in his bowl to taste the flavorful rich and creamy soup. She was rewarded with a pleased moan as the flavor exploded on his tongue. "God, Em, I'll never know how you do it," he rumbled, his eyes flashing with lust as she took his finger in her mouth and sucked slowly. His thumb caressed the corner of her mouth idly. "You take something as simple as tomato basil soup and you make it taste so good. What's your secret?"

"Freshly cut cilantro and a lot of lemon juice," she said, reluctantly moving away from her fiancé in order to brandish two spoons. One hand on her hip and the other stretched out to Hotch, she cocked her head in the direction of the pantry and refrigerator. "Want a glass of wine? Your pick."

"That sounds absolutely fantastic." Barely a minute had passed before Hotch was pouring two glasses of chilled white wine and holding one to Emily's lips. Their gazes never left one another's as the cool, slightly bitter, but inherently delicious liquid ran down Emily's throat. "Well?"

"Perfect," she murmured, leaning in for one more kiss. "Wanna eat in the living room?"

"Of course. We can take some of the cushions off of the couches and place them on the floor so we can sit by the fire and use the coffee table as a dining table –" He stopped as Emily began to laugh. "What?"

"My adorable little interior designer," Emily purred endearingly, balancing her bowl in one hand as she ran the fingers of her other through his thick dark hair. "I love you."

"I love you more," Hotch said in a tone that spoke of no doubt whatsoever. "But need I remind you that you were the one who was talking yesterday about moving things around the living room and refurnishing different parts of the house?"

"Well, yes," Emily relented, curling up at his side as they sat on the floor. "But we are going to need the extra room if and when we have a little girl toddling about," she said wistfully, her eyes wide and shining brightly.

"Who says we're going to have a girl?" Hotch retorted, though his expression was completely and utterly soft. He could imagine her already: little brown curls, pink chubby cheeks, a toothy grin, and a tendency for squealing that would capture anyone's heart for good. She would be absolutely, positively gorgeous. Just like her mother.

"Do you not want one?" Emily countered cheekily, though she didn't really need to hear a verbal response to know what his answer would be.

He gave her knee a little squeeze. "You know I do, sweetheart."

Emily chuckled a little, shaking her head at how serious he had become. "Aaron, I'm not even pregnant yet," she reminded, her eyes crinkling at the corners as he drank in how comfortable she looked in his home – their home.

"Yet," Hotch repeated with a roguish and over–the–top wink.

Emily couldn't help it; her soon–to–be husband's boyish manners put her in a fit of giggles. "Oh, you silly man," she breathed out on a sigh as his lips found her neck. Her arms circled snugly around his waist. "God, I love you so much. But if you keep this up, our soup is going to get cold."

He groaned a little, wholeheartedly unwilling to pull away from her embrace. It was just too good, too right. Too nice. "I wouldn't care in the slightest if it didn't taste so damn good," he grumbled, before eagerly tasting a spoonful.

That only made Emily laugh even more. "You're welcome, Aaron."

~.~.~

"Well, you two. Your big day is just one weekend away. Have the butterflies settled in yet?"

Emily smiled softly at Hotch, who was holding her hand in his lap, before meeting the gaze of their wedding planner, Skye. It was their very last meeting and they were wrapping everything up...but it seemed like there was still so much they needed to go over! It was almost overwhelming, but God, Emily loved it. "I'd be lying if I said the butterflies haven't been in my stomach since the very moment Aaron proposed."

"You're adorable," Hotch whispered in her ear, then turned back to the other woman. "I guess it's been almost surreal with every single day that has passed, but now that we're less than a week away...it's incredible. I can't wait."

"I'm so happy for you both," the young blonde gushed, flipping through page after page of everything they had decided.

It was one great flash of color; vibrant red and sunny yellow caught Emily's eye, and while she had never really been the little girl who had fantasized day after day of her princess wedding, she couldn't help but feel inexplicably giddy at the thought of having everything just right. She was in love with her bouquet already; the sight of red roses coupled with white lilies and small sunflower blossoms easily brightened her mood.

Then there was the matter of the bridesmaid dresses. And the cake and the boutonnières and the music and the food and the guest favors and –

Oh my.

Skye's voice eventually pulled her from her frantic yet perfect reverie. "So let's just do one last general overview of everything. Flowers, food, decorations, all that sweet stuff. All of the orders were placed last week, so we should have everything perfectly on time. The flowers are going to be freshly cut that morning; red amaryllis, hypercium berries, and white roses for the center of each dining table, then white calla lilies and French tulips along with cascading baby's breath for the altar itself. And then there's the matter of your gorgeous bouquet." Skye looked from Emily to Hotch, grinning widely. "You guys, this is going to be one beautiful wedding. One of the most beautiful I've ever had the honor to help plan."

"You're a lifesaver," Hotch said simply, as Emily nodded her emphatic agreement.

"It's just what I do," Skye laughed in response, her attention back on the planning book in front of her. "And can I just say your choice of bridesmaid dresses is just absolutely stunning, Emily? The soft gold color by itself is so classic and perfect for your color scheme, but the red inlay in the bodice...oh my goodness. Beautiful."

"Well, I had a little help with that one," Emily said, her gaze never leaving Hotch's. "Who would have ever guessed that this one is a closet fashion enthusiast?"

"Well, when you put it that way..." Hotch's voice trailed off, making both women laugh.

"I kid, I kid," Emily relented with a luminescent smile.

"I know, sweetheart." His thumb stroked the arch of her hand slowly, and he watched, obviously amused, as a small shiver raced down her spine in result. It was something so slight that it shouldn't have even mattered, but to Hotch, it meant the world that he could have such an effect on her. He knew he had the ability to make her heart beat that much quicker because she did the exact same for him. Every single day.

He loved her like he was sure he would never love anyone else. She was his savior, his guiding light, his angel. She was his, and he wasn't ever going to mess that up ever again.

As Skye excitedly went on about his spot–on choice of boutonnières and their gorgeous cake ("Gold on white with red roses at the very bottom...that's like something out of a fairytale!"), both Hotch and Emily became more and more lost deeply in thought. It was their last meeting; the number of days until their wedding could be counted on one hand. Yet neither of them were nervous or anxious at all.

It was a different sort of excitement they were sharing at the moment, one whose definition could not possibly be found in any dictionary. Theirs had been quite the journey, over rocky terrain that consisted of heated arguments, rampant emotion, blood, sweat, tears, and unbridled lust. They had been stubborn at times, and incorrigible at others. But in the process, they had found themselves – and each other. Their eyes had been opened to a world of love that they could continue to give each other, just as they had those nine years ago. Innocent yet experienced love that provided the perfect sense of serenity and contentment.

There was really nothing more they could ask for.

~.~.~

"I don't understand why you feel like you need to starve yourself to fit in your dress. You're so slim...so gorgeous. Please eat something, Em."

Emily rolled her eyes indulgently at the man. "Aaron, you're making it sound like I haven't eaten in weeks," she pointed out drolly. "So what if I prefer salads over a burger?"

"It's a really good burger," Hotch said simply, smirking a little as he watched her bite her lip at the sight of the delicious–looking food. Evidently, when it came to things like this, it didn't take much to sway her. He made sure to file that bit of knowledge away for later.

She picked idly at her salad, but never once looked away from the food on his plate. She just couldn't help it; the chef in her was calling out, singing an overjoyed tune, and she just had to know what magical ingredients had been put together to make such a beauty. "It looks like one..."

"Lamb with feta cheese," Hotch said in explanation, his voice and eyes taunting her in the most wicked of ways. "Oh, and tzatziki sauce. You love tzatziki sauce."

Emily outright groaned, then punched him playfully in the side. "You're such a terrible tease, Aaron."

There was a newfound darkness in Hotch's gaze now, a newfound huskiness and seduction in his voice. "Won't you have just one bite?"

"I suppose so," Emily caved eventually, and though her tone could have easily led one to believe the idea made her reluctant, she eagerly let Hotch feed her a morsel of the flavorful burger. "If you insist."

It was after Emily had finished raving about the delicious taste and after the two lovers had been gazing into one another's eyes for long enough to forget their surroundings that the other person at their table reminded them of his presence. "You two make me sick."

Both Hotch and Emily burst into simultaneous laughter at the sound of Sean's disgusted voice. It was beyond perfect to have Sean in town, at the table, with them, especially with the wedding so soon; who else would have been their best man? It seemed to have been an eternity since the three of them had gotten the chance to meet all together. And though their last experience had been less than stellar, they never once mentioned the falling out, for the past was the past, and all three of them were more than willing to accept that.

Hotch grinned cheekily at his younger brother. "It's our goal," he said matter-of-factly, twining his fingers with Emily's under the table. "Surely you've grasped that by now."

"Forgive me, I haven't," Sean grumbled under his breath, but neither party of the soon–to–be wedded couple missed the hint of a smirk teasing at the corner of his lips.

"Now, aren't you glad you brought us together in the first place, little brother?" Hotch asked rhetorically, his voice dripping with sarcasm; but the intent behind his question was absolutely serious. He knew he owed a hell of a lot to Sean.

Hotch couldn't even imagine living a life without having known Emily. Without knowing what it felt like to love somebody so much; to hold her, and whisper sweet nothings in her ear, and make love to her until everything else around them completely faded away. He hoped that he would someday be able to communicate at least a fraction of his gratitude to Sean. Someday.

"I know I am," Emily answered softly, before Sean could even get out a word in response. As accustomed as she was to every single aspect of her fiancé, she still couldn't prevent her heart from doing a little flip when Hotch squeezed her hand and gave her a small smile.

In contrast to his previous feigned distaste, Sean turned to the two with a truly pleased expression on his handsome face. "I'm very glad. I can now say that I'm not entirely a failure of a matchmaker." He shot his brother a childish grin that gradually morphed into something more heartfelt – in true Sean Hotchner fashion.

"I can't even picture how my life would have been like had you not introduced me to Aaron," Emily said to Sean, her gratefulness evident in her voice.

The lovers' gazes met. "I was just thinking the same exact thing," Hotch murmured, his eyes shining.

"But really," Sean inserted gently. "At the risk of sounding extremely clichéd, I've seen how good Emily is for you." His grin widened when Emily smiled in his direction. "And how good you are for Emily, as well. I'm...indescribably happy that you two have come this far, and I'm so excited to know that you two have an incredible future ahead of you," he said earnestly.

When Hotch looked back at Sean, it was with an expression that could only be equated to true familial affection. He gave his shoulder a shove from across the table, and both Hotchner brothers were reminded of the roughhousing they had indulged in when they had been too young to know of the ills of the world around them. "Now all you have to do is say those exact same words at our wedding, Mr. Best Man."

His food forgotten, Sean leaned back in his side of the booth and propped his hands behind his head, completely and utterly comfortable and content as he gazed at his two best friends. "I wouldn't miss it for the world."

~.~.~

There was a flash of white on the dance floor; a swirl of expensive fabric, satin, lace, and chiffon. And then, an appreciative murmur in her ear, words that fanned against her porcelain skin. "You look so beautiful."

Emily basked in the glory that washed over her at his breath-taken, awestruck whisper. "You say that every day, Aaron," she reminded softly, her eyes glittering beatifically in the flattering light of the ballroom.

"Because it's true every day," Hotch said simply. "But today..." He barely managed to stifle an deep, appreciative groan. "Oh my God. I can hardly breathe."

"Breathe, baby. Don't die on me now." She shot him a wicked, feline grin. "You're going to need those lungs of yours later."

A growl met her ears as he spun her in his arms and dipped her just as the music came to a swell. Their first dance as husband and wife would soon be coming to an end, but it was as if neither was noticing; the hands of time had come to a lovely stop, and all that mattered was the moment they were living and enjoying. "You naughty girl."

Emily's lips found Hotch's cleanly and handsomely shaven cheek. "I love you," she said from the very bottom of her heart and soul, irrevocably love-struck and head over heels.

Hotch gazed at her with a playful sadness reflected in his gaze. "You beat me to it," he murmured dejectedly, and they shared a sweet smile and the shortest of kisses in result. Hotch had never known happiness quite like this; the feeling of having Emily in his arms as they were surrounded by the people they loved most was one he would trade for nothing in the entire universe. It defined his existence, made him feel whole.

It made him feel human.

"Guess what I tied around my bouquet," Emily said, her gentle voice pulling him back to the present. Her words could easily lull him into a world of fantasy and love that never dies; but Hotch decided to let that wait until the dark of night came over them. "Did you notice?"

Only then did he realize that Emily had long since pulled something from her bouquet and kept it in her hand for the entirety of their dance. Without another word, she pressed it into his palm, watching his face intently as he realized just what it was. "I had no idea...Emily."

It was the necklace he had given her for her birthday, too many years ago to even count. The red jade was still just as smooth and cool to the touch; the Chinese character still rang very true. Emily smiled, gazing lovingly at her husband – her husband! – as he ran his fingers gently over the fragile stone. "I would have kept it in my pocket, but to no one's surprise, there are no pockets in this dress," she explained cheekily.

His eyes never leaving hers, he tucked the necklace into his front jacket pocket, easily solving her 'problem'. "It's gorgeous," he praised, his breathing just the slightest bit shallow. A thumb ran circles on Emily's lower back, moving from the beautiful satin and up to the bare skin of her shoulder blades.

"I aim to please," she said, shrugging elegantly. Everything about her was elegant, even as the music came ever closer to a slow stop. Her delicately coiffed hair, her simple yet stunning makeup, the curves of her body as she swayed in time with the man that made up the other half of her heart...she was a vision. An angel. "I bet now you're glad I stuck with tradition and didn't let you see the dress until I walked down the aisle."

"You could say that again." They were barely moving now; time was slowly starting up again, but for a few seconds more, as the last chords of music played from the side of the large space, they would still be in their own little world. "Everything is absolutely perfect," Hotch noted, and tucked a strand of hair behind Emily's ear. Even the simplest of his touches made a shiver run down her spine. "Have you noticed that?"

"I've known that for years now, Aaron." Their foreheads rested against one another. "The perfect love of my life," Emily whispered, and her voice only barely met his ears. Even if he had been a deaf man, however, Hotch had the feeling he would have been able to hear – feel – her words in his very core.

"I could say the exact same."

Emily smiled teasingly, raising one perfectly manicured eyebrow. "So do it."

His lips found hers, and they kissed like nobody could possibly have been watching. "There's no other woman for me, Emily Hotchner," he said against the corner of her mouth, worshipping her skin as modestly as possible given their present circumstances.

A sigh slipped past her red smiling lips; those very same full lips that made Hotch forget his own name when he felt them on his skin. "That sounds so nice."

"I won't stop saying it," Hotch vowed. "Right now, tonight, ever."

"Tonight..." Emily's eyes fluttered shut, and the breath was stolen from her body as she thought of the twilight hours they would soon be sharing as man and wife, lover to lover bearing heart and soul in the most erotic of ways. "Oh, Aaron."

Their feet acted of their own volition as they moved toward the front of the ballroom, their song having ended long ago. Still, it was as if only the two of them inhabited the dazzlingly decorated space. "I plan on showing you just how much you've blessed me, Emily, love."

She shook her head at him adoringly, in the way one might have regarded a young child; a young boy with a flop of black hair covering his eyes and a toothy grin as he reached inside the cookie jar for a delightful sugary treat. It was just the same. "You don't need to show me anything," she admonished softly, the brown of her eyes filling him with a beautiful warmth.

"I want to," Hotch said; and nothing he had ever uttered – save for three meaningful words – had ever been more true.

When she regarded him this time, Emily's smile was the most brilliant Hotch had ever seen it, and he felt a true sense of accomplishment knowing that he'd had a hand in making her so happy. She had more than returned the favor, after all. "Well, then," she said, touching his lower lip reverently with the smallest of her fingers. "I certainly won't object."

~.~.~

As the last traces of Sean's heartfelt – yet, of course, duly embarrassing – speech as best man met their ears, Hotch and Emily went up to the front of the room, in front of all of their loved ones, to give a toast – one that echoed almost exactly the vows they had made to one another at the altar.

"Emily, ever since the first day I met you, when you very nearly refused to let me into the restaurant to see Sean because you had already closed up..." they both laughed at the memory, "ever since then, you've proven that you can make me the happiest man alive with every day that passes. Your smile, the way you understand me even when no words are spoken between us...I've never known love like this, and believe me when I say it is an honor to know that you feel the same way. I'm blessed." He brushed his thumb gently under her eye, stopping her sweet crying. Her ensuing watery smile nearly made his heart stop. "When I'm around you, I feel complete. I love you, Emily Hotchner. You mean so much to me; you are my world."

"God, Aaron, must you always insist on making me cry?" The two of them shared a chuckle, as did many who were huddled lovingly around them. "I'll admit, as I've told you before, that I was skeptical when Sean first told me he wanted to introduce me to one last person, his very last attempt. When I heard it was his older brother, I figured I might as well give it – you – a chance. And I'm unconditionally happy I did."

She grinned widely, her heart pounding, when he took her hands in his and brought them to his lips. "There really are no words to describe how I feel about you. Anything other than irrevocable love would simply fall short." Her eyes sparkled with so many emotions, too many to count. "I fell for you, Aaron. Hard. And when I had to leave for Connecticut...it tore me apart, but you understood. I never stopped loving you, and I don't think I ever will. I can't promise you perfection, or that we won't have more of our ups and downs; but we've proven in the past that we grow from our mistakes, haven't we? There have been rocky elements to our past..." Her voice trailed away, and just as she had known he would, Hotch finished her sentence for her.

"But look at how far we've come."

"Yes," she whispered tearily.

"A long time ago, I promised myself that I'd give you your happily ever after, no matter what." His voice softened, so much so that it was almost only Emily that could hear him. "What do you think, Em? Have I kept my promise?"

Emily gazed deeply into his eyes, so deeply that she swore she knew his every secret; so deeply that she knew every crevice of his soul. "You always do," she said simply.

The happiness was near overwhelming as Hotch turned this time to their audience. "Which is why we want to thank each and every one of you so very much for attending, and sharing this beautiful day with us. All of you hold a very special place in our hearts, and this moment would simply not have been the same without having all of you here."

"To our parents," Emily said, catching the eyes of her mother and father, and knowing that Hotch was giving his mother a smile, "we love you so incredibly much. I know I speak for Aaron when I say I am grateful for everything you all have done to raise us in the way you knew was best. Without your endless adoration, dedication, and patience, we would not be the people we are today. To put it quite simply, thank you for absolutely everything."

"To our bridesmaids and groomsmen, our maid of honor and best man; to our friends and family," Hotch continued, "thank you for showering us with affection and companionship whenever we needed it most. Thank you for the shoulders to cry on, the kindred spirits to laugh with, the support systems and advice–givers. Having you here, in this ballroom, in our lives, is the greatest blessing of all. I can only hope and pray that, together, we will forever be surrounded by the ones we love in our future."

And as the attendees began to break out in passionate applause, Hotch and Emily finally turned back to one another, dreams of a happily ever after fresh on their mind. "To our future," they said to one another in unison, their glasses clinking. Their gazes locked as Emily rested her head on his shoulder, her lips finding the hollow of his throat as he turned to drop a tiny kiss in her hair.

~.~.~

"To our future," they repeated dazedly as they lay in bed that night, tangled in one another and in the clean, sweet–smelling sheets.

"I love you, Aaron Hotchner," Emily said against his skin, as she nestled deep into his warm, safe embrace. She felt truly at home with his arms around her waist, and her heart beat wildly at the thought of starting the rest of their lives this way – together.

"I love you more, Emily Hotchner." His lips found hers in a whisper soft, gentle, and heartbreakingly sweet kiss. "Now get some rest, beautiful. We have a glorious week ahead of us." A glorious life.

The kiss was all Emily needed to fall finally in a deep and beautiful sleep, with Hotch right by her side.

THE END.

Author's Note: I say this nearly every time I finish a multi-chapter story, but words truely cannot describe how magnificent a time I've had writing Kiss the Cook. It's been a sort of eye-opening experience for me; in the process, I'd like to think that I've learned more about not only writing, but about love and the trials and tribulations of every relationship. It's an amazing experience to be able to pour your heart and soul out into dialogue and description, and I know I am partially indebted to you all for that; for being able to see the beauty in even the darkest, most twisted moments of this story - of any of my stories. That right there is something I am so incredibly grateful for, and that I will never forget.

If you can, please leave me a review, even if you haven't before. Reviews are very nearly our only sense of compensation here on FanFiction, and they really do mean the world to us – to me. Signed or anonymous, short or long, your reviews are priceless to me; they are like the finest treasure, and I can say without a doubt that there are times I know I wouldn't have been able to keep on trekking through this beast of a story without your support and dedication. So thank you again, so very much.

Stay tuned for one last tie-in oneshot to the KTC universe, which should be posted some time next week! Much love to you all.