Jess was crying in the car. "I 'm so angry, David ," she sobbed. "Hotch and Callie are made for each other. It's just not fair."
Rossi nodded, " I know Jessy. Everytime we arrive at a crime scene and take a look at the innocent victim, I´m asking myself, what´s the point in that? But it doesn´t help, to search frantically for a meaning. "
"You mean, sometimes you just have to accept it? "
"I'm afraid, Jess. Yes." Dave agreed. "And I guess, it´s good thing, we´re going to wait with our wedding. It would be too much for Callie. But Hotch keeps up quite well. "
"No, Dave, he doesn´t." Jess replied. " He hides it very well, he always does. I know Hotch. For a long time and know how he feels right now. And I 'm still not sure how he will take it. "

oOo

"Here you are," Hotch said. He was looking for Callie and found her on the roof.
"Penny did a beautiful job, don´t you think? "

Hotch put his arms around her. "Garcia has loads of talents. ", he said.
They stood for a while, looking over the rooftops of Washington.
"I really love this view, Callie. Did you buy it because of the view?"

" Yes. I had already seen 10 apartments and another 10 in front of me. This was a skeleton construction work. The real estate agent didn´t wanna show it, but I insisted. And I loved it, Aaron. Everything in this apartment is my idea and the walls in my bedroom and the study is only drywall. I wanted it to be big enough to live with my family there, sometime. But this won´t happen, I´m afraid."
" Callie," Hotch was barely audible, " I don´t know how to be without you, love." He buried his face in her curls. Callie felt Aaron crying and trembling. She hugged him as hard as she could. Someone has to take care of him, Callie thought desperately, I need to know, he survives this and is going to be happy again.

oOo

A little later, Ike Malone and his friend, the Reverend arrived.
"Callie, Aaron , that's Lionel Kincaide. We know each other since forever, he will perform the ceremony. "
" I immediately said yes, when Ike asked me. ", the Reverend said. "You´re doing a very brave thing here. I wish I could do a bit more for you, than just marry you. Have you got a marriage vow, something you wanna say?"

Callie nodded, " I want to say something, I have not prepared anything, but I want to say something. "
"Me too," Hotch confirmed. " We still have time, would you like something to drink, maybe a glass of wine ? "
"Gladly Sir, unfortunately I 'm not averse to worldly pleasures, Mr. Hotchner." Hotch smiled briefly, the Reverend reminded him a little of Friar Tuck.

oOo

Ike accompanied Callie into the bedroom. "How are you? No diplopia and no pain? "
Callie shook her head , " no, Ike. , But I 'm so tired and the Vicodin does not help anymore. Tonight we had to increase the morphine dose. I'm not sure how much longer I can hold on, Ike. "
Malone stroked her cheek . "I know, child. ", he said.
"I 'm afraid for Aaron, Ike. I would like to talk to Renée. "
"To Renée? But she is in Berlin, Callie. For another year."
Ike did not understand immediately what Callie wanted. They talked sometimes about Renée, about what kind of girl she was. Callie laughed always warmly when he told little anecdotes about her, Callie liked her, even though she didn´t know her in person. Ike had shown a photo of her, Renée was a pretty young woman with brown hair and brown eyes. She was looking like a warm, loving woman. Like someone, to whom she could confide Aaron and Jack.
" Oh, Callie, this won´t work ," Ike said, the penny had dropped.
"Why not? You think, she won´t like Aaron?"
" That's not it, though. Matchmaking two complete strangers? That would be a miracle."
"God owes me a miracle, Ike ," Callie said firmly .

oOo

Meanwhile, Callie 's apartment was filled again. The caterer came with the food and then gradually all guests arrived.
"And you need to be Aaron Hotchner? I 'm Ken Baker. Callie´s publisher and lawyer. And close friend. "
Hotch reached out his hand, " of course . Callie has spoken of you. But please, do come in. It's a little chaotic here at the moment. "
Baker laughed, " that doesn´t matter. Callie can use hustle and bustle, it distracts her somewhat. And us, too." Ken added. " Callie said, you were a lawyer, too? "
"That's right , I started as a prosecutor before I went to the FBI. But your career change seems a bit drastic to me . "
" A long story, Aaron. I'll stay a few days in DC. We still have a chance to talk. "

Jess and JJ knocked at the bedroom door. "We want to take care of the bride ," Jess said.
"Then men are now undesirable, I understand ," Ike smiled and got out to see if he could somehow help Hotch.

" Great Lord, Dave. Would you stop fumbling around at me? " Aaron grumbled and fumbled himself nervously at his fly. The men had decided in consultation for tuxedos, the women wore short , pale yellow dresses that fit Callie 's daisies dream. Garcia had this idea after she had a look at Callie 's wedding dress.

oOo

Hotch and the Reverend stood at the fringe of the roof. In the absence of yellow daisies Emily and Penelope had decorated the metal balustrade with white satin and yellow gerbera. The short distance from the door to the parapet was now a sea of yellow and white petals, Callie had to walk over.

Callie put her hand to her mouth as she throw the first look at it. The roof terrace was lit with candles and colorful paper lanterns in the background the sun went down. The candles and the lanterns had indeed previously been there, the carpet of flowers and decorated parapet had just emerged.

Penny sobbed loudly as Derek turned on some music.

' She's got a way' by Billy Joel, Hotch chose it .

Hotch held his breath when Ike leaded Callie to him. The dress she wore, couldn´t have been chosen better. It was really made for Callie. The daisies were as arbitrary embroidered on the dress and the slight A - line laminated a little, how thin Callie had become. But she shone from within, and her eyes had a warm glow. She would never look more beautiful than at that moment , Hotch thought and resolved, never to forget this image. She wore no veil to her dress, she had only a hairband, that tamed her short curls. On one side a yellow white flower was adorned.

oOo

"We have gathered together, because two people have made a decision. " Rev. Kincaide began when Ike had given the bride to Hotch.
" A decision that may perhaps be incomprehensible to some, but for Aaron and Callie this doesn´t matter today . They have found themselves in a stormy time in which we´re all just looking for the one thing, love. Love is the most important thing, two people can experience together, and we don´t choose the person, we fall in love with, we just do. Callie and Aaron would like to say a few words. Please, Callie. "

" Aaron. Actually, it should be easy for me as a writer to find the words , but ... but at the moment I´m running out of words. All I can say is, I love you. And I thank You so much, Aaron, for walking this way with me, even if it breaks you heart. Forgive me sometime, Aaron. "

"There is nothing, I have to forgive you, Callie. You have been the light when it was dark and the warmth, when it was so cold. For that I love You, Callie. And for being strong when I´m not and for making me laugh when all I want to do is cry. You will always have a special place in my heart, Kayleigh."

"So I ask you now, Kayleigh and Aaron. Do you want to be married to each other? Will you love and honor each other, in wealth and in poverty? You will take the good days as well as the bad days? Then I want you to say, Yes, I do."

"Yes, I do," Hotch and Callie answered in unison.

Rossi handed Hotch the rings.

"Then now exchange the rings. With this ring, I take you for my wife. "

" With this ring, I take you for my wife," Hotch repeated and put the ring on Callie´s finger.

" With this ring, I take you to my husband."

" With this ring, I take you to my husband."

Callie also repeated the words of the Reverend, she trembled slightly as she put the plain gold band on Hotch´s finger.

Spencer was crying silently, actually he was not so emotional , but at the moment every dam broke, probably because sobbing and crying was heard throughout the ceremony. Ken handed him a tissue and put a hand on his shoulder. Reid just accepted it.

Reverend Kincaide took a deep breath , " your love shalt be like these rings, no beginning and no end. I hereby pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss your wife now, Aaron." What Hotch extensively did.

Emily leaned close to Derek , he had his arm around her. At the moment he felt no walls, Emily built, whenever they were close. He wiped away her tears and Emily smiled. "Thank you, Derek. " she whispered.

"All right, we all cried enough , it is time to celebrate a little bit," Callie said, sniffling , "weddings are in fact intended for celebration. The buffet is open, help yourself, I don´t want anything to be left. We got no seating arrangements, make yourself comfortable. "

" First, there are some congratulations in order, Mr. and Mrs. Hotchner ," Dave interjected and made the beginning. He embraced Callie and then Hotch. It was a silent embrace, Dave did not know what he could say. Actually no one knew and they expressed their love and support simply with their hugs.

The party was organized in a short time , however, no one noticed. The small cold buffet was excellent, the wine that Rossi had picked, found a ready market and JJ took the part of the photographer this evening.
It was the perfect evening, when Callie and Hotch completed their wedding dance on the roof.

This song Callie had picked, she decided for Leonard Cohen, 'Dance me to the end of love' .

"It's so terribly sad, Will." Will held JJ in his arms, swaying with her in time to the music. Like all the others they looked at Callie and Hotch, who were just miles away from home and lived this moment like it was their last.

oOo

Can I drop you off somewhere, Spencer? " Ken Baker asked and kept the cab door open. "We could also take a little nightcap? You know the area, what can you recommend?"
"You never give up, don´t you, Mr. Baker? "
Ken laughed, "in my lawyer-days they called me 'Terrier', Dr. Dr. Dr. Reid. What I can´t have, excites me. So if you want to draw my interest in you in another direction , then we should have a drink together. "
"Sounds logical to me," Spencer said. " There is a bar in Georgetown, Morgan is trying for weeks, to drag me there. Supposedly the cocktails there are murderous. Whereby I don´t understand how a cocktail might be suicidal? Unless someone had poisoned it or someone would be allergic to alcohol. "
Kenneth smiled, "Just get into the cab, Spencer. I think, I can explain to you, how your colleague has meant that."

oOo

Emily and Derek walked hand in hand through the nightly Washington. "Don´t you finally wanna tell me, what´s going on inside your pretty head, Emmy? You mean a lot to me, why can´t you just tell me?" Derek tightened his grip. " Does it have something to do with Ian Doyle? "
Emily took a deep breath , "in some ways, Derek . Do you remember Clyde Easter? "
"Gosh! Don´t tell me, you´re in love with that tea-pot?"

Emily giggled, "Of course not, goof. But since I 'm back, I do not know. I expected, everything would be like before, after my 'death.' But I was wrong, Derek. I feel like on the go and that's not fair towards you. Easter has offered me the London office some time ago. I kept him on hold, but he needs an answer. As soon as possible."
"You wanna leave? " Derek asked tonelessly, had the whole world gone mad at once? Hotch on a self discovery trip and now Emily, who wanted to throw in the towel? What was next? JJ getting pregnant?
"Derek, I'll stay until Hotch is back, but then ... I 'm going to London, no matter what. It wasn´t easy, but it´s the right thing to do. I know."

oOo

Ike was the last person who said goodbye. "She is sleeping safe and sound, I set the dosage a bit higher."
"Thank you, Ike. For everything. I know, it´s not usual, what you´re doing for us here."
Ike shook his head, " that's not necessary, Hotch. You and Callie, you have become for me, if I may say so, like family. "
Hotch sat down with Ike on the couch. " I didn´t have a good relationship to my father. He was a very violent man, Ike. I would have given much for a father like you. And I'm serious. "
Ike was embarrassed by Hotch 's words. Maybe Callie 's idea was not so crazy. Hotch would win Renee's heart by storm, he knew his little froglet. And Aaron would be the best thing that could happen to her .

"There's something I wanted to give you," Ike said and handed Hotch a key.
"I´ve got a little house, down at Sandbridge Beach. The main holiday season is over, you´d be relatively undisturbed. My beloved wife and I had our Honeymoon in that house, also had my son and and my daughter-in-law. It´s just beautiful there."
Hotch took the key carefully, "we should go soon, I guess? "

"Yes, you should, son. It isn´t much time left, Aaron. "
Hotch nodded, " as if I did not know that , Ike. It does hurt, Ike. It hurt´s so much."

oOo

A few days later was more than clear that Ike had been right with his forecasts. Callie had mobilized all forces once again for the wedding, now she was getting worse. Hotch and she spent a lot of time in the park, when she was strong enough, or they made it to the rooftop terrace. They talked a lot , or just rested in each others arms.
" Jack's class teacher approached me, Callie. Has asked me, if you want to do a small reading of Ferdinand´s latest adventure. " Hotch fluffed up Callie 's blanket on the couch and sat down beside her .
"In Jack's school? Oh, that's a nice idea, Aaron . It does not have to be long or detailed, but I would really love to do that. " Callie smiled. "In the past I've done this very often . Kids are so honest, direct audience. Don´t you look so worried, I´m not dead, yet. " She kissed Hotch . "I think it would also be very nice for Jack . "

The reading, a few days later, ran smoothly. Once or twice, Callie lost track, then Hotch carried on. Jack sat with Becca in the front row and looked proudly to Callie and his dad . The small talk with the other parents and teachers Hotch and Callie held very short, it would have become too much. Callie, however, insisted to answer any questions, the kids had .

At Jack's Soccer Tournament, four weeks later Hotch had to carry her in a wheelchair, Callie was just too weak. But she wanted with absolutely to cheer Jack . Hotch could not and would not talk her out of that.
" Referee, you whistle! That was offside ," Callie yelled and Hotch smiled at her enthusiasm. How I´m going to miss that and how I gonna miss her, Hotch thought. Hotch could not breathe, his heart gave a wild beat.
Abby Jensen, who had come along to cheer Becca noticed Aaron's mood immediately. " Whether you could probably get me a soda, Aaron ? " she asked, giving him a chance to leave and recollect himself.
"Of course, Abby. I 'll be right back, honey," he said , turning to Callie.
" He does not want me to see, he´s crying," Callie whispered after Hotch was gone and looked at Abby .
"You shouldn´t worry, Callie. I 'm sure he means well. "
" That's what he does. I don´t know what to say to Jack, Abby. I must talk to him, soon. "
"You will tell him the right thing, Callie, for sure. " Abby took Callie 's hand. "I will think of you, my dear. Absolutely. " Abby was aware that she would never see the young woman again.

Jack rushed up to Callie after the game, "Did you see how I scored the goal, Callie ? "
"Yeah Jack , you've done great, come here. " Jack sat on her lap and pressed himself against her. "I love you , Callie. But you have to go away soon , right?"
" Yes Jack. I have to visit your Mom, do you remember? "
Jack nodded, " You really cannot stick around? "
"No, sweetheart. But I can tell your mom she isn´t forgotten and you still love her, ok? "
"Okay ," Jack said softly.
" Now go with Becca. Pic your trophy. Your dad comes right back and he wants to take some pictures, I´m sure. "
Hotch managed to come back for the trophy presentation. He tried hard to show, he was happy for Jack and Becca.

oOo

" Derek, you cannot ignore me forever," Emily dragged Morgan into an empty office.
"It won´t be forever. You´re leaving soon, Agent Prentiss ," Derek snapped angrily. Since her conversation after Hotch and Callie 's wedding he avoided her consistently and contact was limited to the professional. He was pissed, pissed and hurt. Morgan knew how stupid that was, he actually was able to understand Emily . She was looking for new challenges, should he blame her for that? But he loved her and definitely he did not want her to go to London. But he didn´t want her do be unhappy in DC, either.

" That's not fair, Derek. " Em said and put her hand on his arm. "Come on. I'm still here for a while, will you go on like that?"
Derek snorted, "No idea. "
"I 'm not out of the world, it´s an 8 hour flight. We can see each other, when ever we want to. You´re not gonna lose me, like Hotch loses Callie. And I will be here for some time. Don´t know, how long, but I´m here right now."
Morgan took her in his arms. " Long-distance relationships suck and do not work, Emmy. "
" Oh please, don´t be such a coward ! We´re gonna try. Maybe we are the exception to the rule? We´d ask Reid, what our chances are. "
Derek started to laugh, "Well, I don´t do that, the little one is pretty messy, actually. No idea why. "

oOo

The 'little one ' was looking very thoughtful into his coffee mug. Morgan was right, he was off track . He never could have imagined that the reason for this could be someone like Kenneth Baker.
They had been to that bar, after the wedding. To Reid´s surprise, he enjoyed himself with Ken. He was a good conversationalist, witty and charming. He had given Spencer the feeling of being the only one in the room who had his attention, something that was completely new for Spencer.
Kenneth had stayed a few days in DC, also to spend some time with Callie. Spencer and he helped cleaning up the wedding chaos. Hotch was surprised about it, but didn´t say a word.
Since then, Ken and Spencer phoned regularly and Spencer caught himself on the thought, that he missed Ken.

A lot.

oOo

"So glad, you´re here," Hotch opened the door and let Dave and Jess in. "I would like you to take Jack with you, today." Hotch said softly, Jess grabbed his hand, scared.
" That bad? "
Hotch nodded. " Callie is sleeping now, she is very exhausted. Jack, look, Aunt Jess and Uncle Dave are here. "
"Hi," Jack squeezed out laboriously. He sat on the sofa and obviously he had been crying. " I don´t want to go," Jack said petulantly. Since the end of the game he was sticking to Callie like glue. The little boy knew perfectly well that he would never see her again, when he was going to leave with Jess.
"Jack," Hotch said, "I want you to go with Aunt Jess and Uncle Dave. You cannot stay here. " He sat down next to Jack on the sofa.

" But I do not want to. I want to stay with you and Callie and I do not want Callie to go away. Why can´t you make her stay? " Jack looked at his father in despair.

" Your dad cannot do anything ," Callie said from the doorway. She was very weak and had to hold on to the door frame.
" Callie ," Hotch immediately jumped up and carried her to the couch. Dave looked at Jess and tried to keep his composure.

"It's great that you 're here ," Callie whispered. " Sit down, please."
Jack pressed himself against Callie and she stroked his hair. "Jack, we have talked about this. Don´t be so sad, Jack. You've got your mommy and me who take care of you and your dad."

"But that is not the same, Callie. I cannot touch you no more and you can´t hug me, when I need you."
"I 'm always there when you read the story of Ferdinand, Jack. Then I am very close to you and your dad. Alright, Jack?"
Jack nodded uncertainly and looked at Hotch. " Callie 's right, son. Wanna bring your bag and go with Jess and Dave? "
Dave stood up and held out his hand to Jack , " I can help you with the bag, Jack," he walked with him to his room.

" Don´t you cry, Jess, ok ? I can´t stop, if I´m starting now."
Jess nodded. " I will not cry, Callie, not now. " The two women hugged each other wordlessly.

"And here we are, ready to go," Rossi said, trying to sound cheerful. "Good night, you two. "
Rossi hugged Callie violently. " Good-bye ," he whispered into her ear. And to Hotch, " we are there when you need us. Come on now, Jack. We have to go, we´ll make pasta at home, what do you think? "
"I 'm not hungry ," Jack said sadly. "I love you, Callie ," Jack turned around once more before he was out of the door with Dave and Jess.

oOo

"We cannot drive to Ike´s little hideaway, Aaron. "

"No, we can´t." Hotch replied and pulled Callie close. "We can see the stars from here tonight, my love. Would you like, sitting in the beach basket? I can open the wine, you like so much. "
" I'd like that, Aaron. "

oOo

" Jack is asleep at last ," Jess said, and sat down next to David on the couch. She began to cry again.
" He asked me again and again about Callie, what am I supposed to tell him? And then he was telling me the story of his classmate, Becca , the girl will be all alone someday. I want to scream, Dave. Why is all this so terrible? We try so much to be good people and then so terrible things happen. What if this happens to us, too? "
Dave held Jess tightly. "No one can say what will be, Jessy. But I 'm sure we two live happily ever after. One day, we will look back with our grandchildren and find our life wonderful and fulfilled. This is, what you have to believe, Jessy. "

oOo

Aaron and Callie spent the whole night entwined in the beach basket. Wrapped in a warm blanket, with soft music and red wine.
"You won´t forget, what you promised me?" Callie whispered.
"No, I won´t. And I won´t forget a single moment with you, love. The sun is rising, do you see? "

"It's so beautiful, Aaron ," she whispered, closing her eyes forever.
"Sleep well, love."

Hotch cried uncontrollably.

oOo

Callie Hotchner 's funeral took place in silence . As simple as this ceremony was her obituary .

Callie, loved by Aaron and Jack

Three days later, Hotch drove his new Harley to Sandbridge Beach, to spend some time there. Another wish that didn´t come true for Callie, a ride on a Harley. Hotch was sure, it would be ok for her, if he enjoyed the ride for her. And Hotch was sure, he felt her presence on the backseat.

oOo

A/N It´s time to say thank you. A difficult story with a difficult subject . I wanna thank you for your reviews and for following this. It was not clear at the beginning how emotional this story would be and what it was churning up in me. But, but once started, I had to also write it to an end. My tissue consumption is shot into infinity, but I'm finally satisfied with my story and I'm glad, I wrote it .

There is a following story to this. Don´t know yet, if I´m going to post it, it´s already finished and exists in German.

If there is any interest, I´m going to do the translation. Just give me some feedback. The title will be...the promise I made... and it´s about Hotch and...you already suspected, I guess, Dr. Renée Malone. And Spencer and Kenneth Baker? Maybe? And Derek and? If you want to find out, just tell me. Oh, and there are no tissues needed, I promise.

love, Susen