A/N: Hi everyone! It has been a long time. Unfortunately, I have to announce that this is the last chapter of Forever Found. I have tried to continue the story, but none of it would have done it justice. So I decided to make the choice to end it here, as much as it hurts.

I am forever grateful to those who have read and enjoyed this story. It was my absolute favorite to write so far. Writing this story gave me the opportunity to explore different plots and subplots, and I loved it. It's really hard for me to say goodbye to this story and all of the wonderful people who have read, favorited, followed and reviewed. I love you guys dearly for the support and kind encouraging words. I hope to see you at my other stories!

A little bit about the epilogue – it's a chapter that shows Hotch and JJ's life over the course of twenty years and some flashbacks throughout their marriage. I hope everyone is satisfied with this epilogue. If not, please let me know!

Special thanks to jenny crum, HotchRocks, jjcrimminds and Jareau37!

One last thank you, to everyone! Now, here we go. Enjoy!

Chapter 76: Epilogue

Forever Found.

As her eyes traced the letters, she breathed in deeply. Those words had more meaning to her than anything else. It signified the ups and downs of her life, the struggles and the success in her life, their lives. Over the past twenty years of her life she experienced more than she could've ever imagined. Her marriage with Hotch had withstood more than she anticipated. Hurdles, hardships. They had overcome so much together.

First of all, her job. Although she had left the CIA and joined DIA to stay out of the field, her career had once again threatened the solid foundation of their relationship. Doubts and fears had reentered and JJ knew that she had the chance of losing her husband.

JJ walked inside the apartment, seeing Hotch sitting on the couch. She closed the door behind her and let her bag fall to the ground. With a deep sigh she dropped to the couch and faced Hotch. She leaned in and gave him a quick kiss on the lips. ''Hey,'' she whispered.

Hotch pulled back and almost immediately realized something was bothering her. So he took her hand and gently squeezed it. ''What is it, JJ?''

She shook her head in response. ''It's nothing!''

''JJ, come on.'' he began. ''I know you. We've been married for two years so I know when something is bothering you.'' he insisted as he pulled her closer to his side, his arm going around her body. ''Whatever it is, you can say it.''

JJ moved away from him in a surprising move and rose from the couch, beginning to pace through the living room. ''I don't know if I can. I shouldn't.'' she whispered with difficulty. She suddenly stopped and walked to the coffee table, sitting down on it so she was sitting across from Hotch. ''The Director of DIA has given me two options regarding my career.'' she breathed out.

The moment she spoke of her career, Hotch felt his heart sink. While he and JJ had been incredibly happy to be together as husband and wife, he knew her career was also a vital part of her life. He had always been afraid that it would come back to haunt them and now it was. ''What kind of options?''

''The Defense Clandestine Service has been pushing my boss for a transfer.'' she revealed. ''The DCS conducts covert mission around the world regarding domestic objectives.'' she explained. ''And they want me to join them. I was told today that they have been asking for the transfer for two weeks now.''

Hotch rose from the couch in complete disbelief. ''So they want you back in the field?'' he asked and she nodded. ''Then it's a no-brainer. Just remain in your current position!''

''Well that's the problem, Aaron. I can either remain in the position of senior advisor and eventually rise the ranks…'' she explained slowly. ''..or I can be transferred to DCS.''

''I don't see a problem there. Rising the ranks sounds good, right?''

''It does!'' she agreed almost painfully. ''But if I ever get a promotion I will lose my covert status, Aaron.'' she croaked out. ''It means I could never go back into the field. I would never be able to work as a field agent again.''

''JJ, you promised me!'' he reminded her immediately of conversations they had before they were even married. ''You swore you'd never let your career come between us again.''

JJ took a step forward. ''I know, Aaron. I know.'' she said. ''But this is who I am. It's who I've always been.''

''What about everything the CIA took from you?'' he asked angrily in disbelief. ''What about that, huh?''

JJ nodded. ''Yeah, you're right. My career at the CIA wasn't easy, but in the two years before I was assigned here in DC, I made a difference. I did real good, and I can't just give it up like the flick of a switch.''

So much emotion and resentment had finally been shown in that moment. On JJ's part, she had finally realized how much her job had defined her, and the importance of it. As for Hotch, his fears had come alive when she spoke the words of a transfer, and the thought of his wife in the field killed him. Especially since she had promised him to stay behind a desk.

It was two days later that JJ had turned down the transfer and had decided to remain in her position at DIA. She had expressed to Hotch that their marriage meant more to her than anything else, and that losing him would never be an option.

But unfortunately for JJ and Hotch that wasn't the only struggle in their marriage. Soon enough, the demanding workload at the BAU had Hotch away from home more than he had expected. It was after months of JJ trying to show understanding that his job had started to put a strain on their marriage.

She was curled up in bed, her hands resting on her stomach as she had her eyes closed. She had tried falling asleep for hours to no avail. Her head had been filled with concerns, and the troubles she was sensing in her marriage. Of all things to go wrong this wasn't what she expected. Not ever. So she had crawled into bed, hoping to get the sleep she so desperately needed while Hotch was off on another case. They had only spend three days together in four weeks and after three years of a steady marriage she couldn't take it anymore. Especially not now.

Her head jerked up to the door when she suddenly heard the sound of the front door opening. She immediately jumped from the bed and slowly walked through the hallway towards the stairs. Once she came to a standstill, she noticed Hotch standing at the end of stairs, staring back at her. Due to her head rush she sat down on the top of the stairs, not saying anything to him. She simply didn't know what to say anymore.

Down the stairs, Hotch awkwardly put down his briefcase and rid himself of his coat, leaving him in his dark blue suit. ''The case ended abruptly so I decided to come straight home.'' he said, feeling the tension between them grow. ''How are you feeling?''

Her eyes went from the ground to his momentarily. ''Just a bit nauseous throughout the day, but I am holding up.'' she responded, her voice filled with an eerie sadness.

He could sense the mix of anger and disappointment. So he decided to address the issue instead of ignoring it any longer, like they had done on the phone so many times. ''I'm really sorry about the cases, JJ.'' he began. ''I wasn't thinking when I accepted the case in Memphis.''

She only nodded at him. ''I know you're sorry. I know that.'' she spoke. ''But it goes much deeper than that.''

''Okay,'' he stated. ''What does that mean?''

She carefully rose from the stairs and began to walk down the stairs. At the end, she sat down once again, just right before him. ''Last night I spoke to Adrian for the first time in months and he asked me how my life was going, if it was everything I wanted it to be.'' she said. ''And I couldn't answer him, Aaron. Because I don't think that my life is going how I had planned it.'' she continued on. ''The fact is that the life I wanted with you isn't happening and there's nothing I can do about it.''

''I don't think that's true.'' he said, his voice slightly raised due to the tension between them. ''If you're unhappy we can figure this out! We can do this, JJ.''

''Unhappy?'' she repeated in a mumble, causing her to stand up and stop right in front of him. ''I gave up everything for you, Aaron! When I had the chance to transfer to DCS, I didn't do it because you asked me to.'' she went on, her voice growing lower with each word she spoke. She had become more emotional than planned, but her feelings had to come out. ''But that's not even the worst of it.''

He moved closer to her as she sat back down, his face filled with concern and love all at once. ''JJ, I…'' he tried to say but he stopped when she broke down in tears before him. He immediately kneeled down and put one hand on her cheek as the other rested on her knee.

She looked up at him with tearstained eyes. ''You missed the first sonogram of our baby, Aaron. You didn't even call or text.'' she sobbed as she moved her hands to her growing stomach. ''I don't want to raise our child on my own. I can't do that.''

''JJ, where is all of this coming from?''

''Aaron, I just miss you.'' she whispered sadly. ''But I don't know how to say that to you without asking you to choose between me and your job. And I know your job is your life.''

''JJ…'' he whispered as he lifted her chin gently so they gazed right at each other. ''…you are my life. Yes, I love my job. But you mean so much more to me.''

''I just need you to show it.''

That was another difficult moment, but just like any other they moved past it. What had gotten them through were the little moments. Those moments of indescribable happiness that defined who they were together.

Like their honeymoon.

The view from the porch was breathtaking and he was taking it all in, gazing in awe ahead of himself. His arms were on the railing as he leaned on them for support, his eyes still glued to the sight before him. The sun was shining bright and his beach house was looking better than ever, but what got his attention was something, or rather someone else. He watched JJ, now his wife, come out of the ocean, her skin dripping wet. His breath hitched as he fixed his eyes even more on her. The black bikini left enough to the imagination, and although he had seen her without clothes so many times before, he was still amazed by her beauty. The sun and setting only added to it. Her legs were long, so beautifully long and glowing. He still couldn't believe how incredibly lucky he was to have her. She was so amazingly beautiful that it still surprised him. But like this, as she was in that moment, he thought she was the most beautiful he had ever seen her. She was just natural. No make-up, nothing done to her hair. Yet she was still so stunning.

JJ was walking up to the house, flipping her hair to one side and squeezing the salt water from it. A wide smile took over her expression when she noticed Hotch leaning on the porch and staring down at her with a grin on his face. She ran up the stairs and quickly joined him on the porch, their eyes meeting immediately. His gaze still ignited that same fire within her. Something deep down that made her feel so incredibly loved, a way that was just meant for them. Before him, she had never belonged anywhere or to anyone, but now. Now she had found a home. She believed that freedom used to be her greatest gift until they had met. And it took being with him for her to realize that his love was the true gift in her life. It was something no one could ever take away from them. He was it for her, all she'd ever want to get through life.

Hotch groaned out in frustration when she grabbed the towel from one of the chairs to dry herself off. So he leaped forward and pulled it from her grasp in one powerful motion, surprising them both. He watched as JJ broke out in a big smile at his actions. So he closed the distance with towel still in his hand. ''I prefer you like this.'' he whispered teasingly, as he looked at her from head to toe.

''Really?'' she asked. ''All wet and drippy? What's fun about that?''

He took another step forward and suddenly scooped her up into his arms. Her wet body was tightly pressed against his and he could feel the heat radiating from her, forcing him to respond to her. He walked inside and gently put her down on the couch. ''You have no idea what you do to me.'' he whispered, their lips mere inches away. He was hovering just above her and he saw her gaze intensifying, her breathing becoming unsteady.

JJ's hand were making a slow torturous path from his muscular chest all the way down to his stomach. She stopped there and suddenly pressed her hips upwards, earning a moan from him. One she had gotten to know by heart. And she knew that teasing him made him lose absolute control, which she loved to do to him. She continued a slow and sensual rocking motion with her hips as their lips met passionately.

His body came to rest fully on top of her, intending to stop her teasing. But she suddenly pulled away slowly. ''Aaron, hold that thought!'' she whispered as she slipped away from underneath him. She raced to the other side of the living room and took an envelope out of her purse. She turned back around to Hotch and dropped down next to him on the couch, seeing him smiling back at her widely. She handed him the envelope with anticipation. ''This is kind of my surprise to you!'' she said happily. ''I realize we only discussed three days for our honeymoon because of your workload, but I discussed it with Dave and you have the next month off. So do I!'' she spoke extremely excited.

''What did you do?'' he asked curiously as he took the envelope from her.

She moved closer to him, her head coming to rest on his shoulder. ''Open it.'' she encouraged.

He slowly opened the envelope and pulled out a picture of a small house right on the beach. A beach with white sand and clear blue water. It was picture perfect. He looked back up at JJ with questions. ''What is this?''

''One of my former CIA assets owns this house in Seychelles and we can use it for the next four weeks.'' she explained. ''I thought it would be the perfect place for our honeymoon.''

His mouth fell wide open as JJ leaped forward and embraced him tightly. His mind was still processing the shock of her gift that he was almost frozen as his wife was now planted in his lap. ''JJ, you didn't have to do this.'' he whispered, his breathing coming to a sudden stop when he felt her lips on his neck.

JJ suddenly pulled away from him and just stared at him. ''Hmm, I am so happy right now.'' she whispered lovingly while caressing his cheek. ''This…us…is what reminds me that everything I went through in my life was worth it. Because now I have you.''

''What about everything we went through together?'' he teased. ''Or do I need to remind you of how often you disappeared claiming that it was a work emergency.''

She sat straight up with a smile crossing her faces, her lips curving up. ''They were work emergencies. Just not the kind that you expected.'' she interjected. ''Besides, what about your job, huh?''

He pulled himself up on the couch and put his arms around her waist. ''If you want to do this, then fine!'' he said happily. ''If anything interfered in our relationship it came from your side.''

''Okay, like what?''

''Hmm, let me think.'' he said as a devilish grin shot across his face. ''For starters, it didn't help that other men were in love with you.''

She suddenly turned around and pulled away from his arms. She huddled up on the couch, their legs touching as she faced him fully. ''No one else besides you was in love with me.''

Hotch coughed loudly to mock her. ''Owen! Adrian!'' he summed up. ''God knows how many other men.''

''Are you calling me a heartbreaker?'' she continued on, the banter making them both laugh and smile aloud. ''There's just one name in my defense….Haley.''

''Oh come on, Haley did not cause much trouble.''

In response, JJ tried to hide her smile when she realized how completely oblivious he had been about Haley when they had just started their relationship. ''She was so in love with you that you didn't even see it.'' she said as his eyes stared back at her with intensity. ''She hated me so much because you and I were together. In her eyes I had stolen you from her.''

''You know that's not true.'' he whispered affectionately, grabbing her hands and holding onto them tightly. ''Haley and I were over long before you and I met.''

She looked at their intertwined hands and matching rings and felt her heart warming. ''I knew that.'' she agreed. ''But your history with her was quite intimidating to me. You had something with her that I'd never had with anyone. To top that off, you lost something that I couldn't possibly understand.''

He leaned forward and kissed the top of her head. ''I loved Haley, JJ. She's a part of my past that I can't erase and the loss we suffered together was tragic. In the end our relationship wasn't strong enough to withstand all the hurdles.'' he continued on. ''And that's where our relationship is different. We've already survived so much that I know that we can handle anything in the future.''

Their month spent in the Sychelles had been a whirlwind. Being away from the real world allowed them to grow closer, to fall even deeper in love.

Of course, he had been right. They had survived so much more, together. And being together was all that ever mattered. Their love had overcome the pressure of their careers, and it had lifted them both up higher than either could've imagined.

And their love created the small life that would bless them for years to come.

Together they looked down at the small bundle nestled in JJ's arms. With tears in their eyes they stared down at their daughter. A beautiful little girl with big blue eyes matching her mother's, but the hair was all of her father. She was a beautiful mix of both her parents.

''She's so tiny.'' JJ breathed out in complete awe. She finally dared to look away and stared into the eyes of her husband. ''I love you.'' she whispered.

He gave her a loving kiss on the lips before returning his attention to their daughter. ''Madeline Clara Hotchner.''

''Maddie.'' JJ whispered.

When thinking of the name there had been no fighting. In a way JJ felt honored that Hotch had chosen to give their daughter the middle name Clara. It was a tribute to the life lost years ago. A way of honoring the daughter that Hotch never had chance of holding, or loving completely.

And as he looked down at Maddie, he felt so incredibly blessed. JJ had not only given her love to him, but now she had given him a daughter. It was the life he always imagined. And as he sat beside his family he knew it was better than any dream he had.

Two years after the birth of Maddie, the Hotchner family welcomed twins into their lives. Lilly and Travis made the family complete. As complete as any family could be.

Every time she gazed at those two words – Forever Found, her entire life would come rushing back to her. Those words defined how she felt. They meant that she had found a true home, a real family, and life too beautiful to imagine.

She opened the book in her hand to the last page, and for the first time, she read the last passage:

''They only ever needed each other. Time stopped, movement faltered, people vanished. Together they had their own world, they had each other. And in their world that was enough. There was no label for it, no words to describe what they had. Together they were simply Forever Found.''

The tears had begun to stream down her face as she read the last words in the book. It wasn't just any book. It was a book that Maddie had written to honor the love between her parents. A book, that much to everyone's surprise, had been published. And although names had been changed and Maddie had remained anonymous for the sake of her family, it had become a story people spoke off. A story that inspired people.

And as simple as it was, it was a story of true love and soul mates. But it was so special and rare because not everyone had the fortune to find a love like JJ and Hotch's. Theirs was forever, never ending. A love that transcended all.

The end!