A/N: Again I have to apologize that it took me so long to update. I didn't think that it would take me a week to make up my mind how to end this. Because, yes, as announced this is the last chapter. I know that some of you hoped for another "hot and steamy" chapter, kind of payback for Hotch, but my muse wasn't in the mood. This is the epilogue instead, wrapping things up – at least that's what I had in mind.

My heartfelt thanks go to all of you who have this story on alert, favored it, reviewed it or exchanged PM with me. By name and referring to the last chapter: greengirl82, NicknHotchfan, CSIFan4Life, HPforever-after, History05, Rugbygirrl and rachreinke. Thank you so much!

Since this is the last chapter, your reviews are even more appreciated. Let me know what you think about the ending. And now R&R please...

Disclaimer: Not mine. Spoilers for Season Six and Seven.

Another day. Another unsub.

Hotch usually makes sure these days that Morgan is by Emily's side when they have to enter a suspicious location or interrogate a suspect. Derek and Emily are partners and best friends, and he knows that aside from himself Morgan will be able to protect her best should push come to shove. Not that she needs protection. He needs to feel safe though. At least as safe as one can feel when they are in the field. Hotch wants to make it work. They both do.

He still can't believe that they're doing this – trying to make it work. After their not so accidental meeting at the coffee shop and the passionate love making afterwards there was no way around a decision. In or out. There was no fine line to balance anymore. It was an awkward situation when they lay on the couch together. They had been there, done that, but never in broad daylight before, and convincing Emily to stay wasn't easy. Hotch remembers everything as if it was yesterday, even if it was more than five weeks ago. Her inner struggle. His hope that she would stay. Astonishingly enough it wasn't his words that convinced her in the end. "Why should I stay?" Her whispered question hung in the air between them, and there were so many answers that Hotch wasn't able to pick one. "Because...," he started and then kissed her instead. Not a feverish and passionate kiss like before but a tender and loving one. And when she pulled back and looked at him, he could see the same thing she probably saw reflected in his eyes – fear. Yet there was no other way, no way out. They were in head over heels. And she stayed.

Another night. Another bad dream.

Just because most of the nights Hotch is with her, this doesn't mean that Emily has no more nightmares. They are not as terrifying, not as intense, as before anymore, and in most of her nightmares she even survives. But she still dies in some of her dreams, and sometimes it's still Hotch killing her. She doesn't tell him, doesn't have to. He can tell from the panicked reaction when she wakes up, gasping for air and holding on to him as if her life depended on it. Some day these dreams will vanish. It takes time though, and he will be there, hold and comfort her, as long as it takes.

It is the time between their daily routine and their nocturnal closeness that is the most difficult. They are no ordinary couple. Perhaps they look like one when they take a walk in the park or have dinner together – as rare as these occasions are. But they both bring along too much emotional baggage to be able to do things the easy way. Fortunately none of them is interested in easy.

So they don't have to pretend.

Emily doesn't have to pretend that she doesn't notice how Hotch sometimes winces when the weather changes and the scars, Foyet carved into his skin, hurt. Or that she doesn't realize how overly protective he behaves toward his son. A son he almost lost. And Hotch doesn't have to pretend that he doesn't notice how Emily still struggles with regaining the trust of the other team members after her absence. A trust she already has won back again. Yet she doesn't allow herself to believe it.

They both wear the injuries of their violent past on their bodies and their souls. They both almost died. They know that life is too short for pretending.

However that doesn't mean that they don't enjoy their newfound togetherness. It is a sunny weekend, and they meet in the park to jog together. Even if they are both in good shape, Hotch could outrun Emily any time. All the same he lets her run ahead and lets himself drop back a little. After a few steps she perceives what he is doing.

"Staring at my ass again, g-man? I told you to stop that!"

He can hear the smile in her voice. Despite her words she loves it, this much he knows by now, and he already feels the anticipation rise because he also knows what will happen when they will be back at home later. What always happens when they spend time alone together. It's such a cliché, and yet they fulfill it hook, line and sinker. Hotch can't keep his hands off her, no matter how hard he tries, and he was more than pleased to realize that the same applies to her when it comes to him.

Home... that is her apartment or his these days. Although they spend most of the nights together, they still have both of their apartments. None of them wants to make hasty decisions about moving in together, and in addition there is his son who needs to adjust to the situation first. There is no doubt, though, that after first there will be a then. A common future.

Emily never told Hotch but when she had that talk with Rossi about second chances, told Dave not to let a second chance slip away, she thought of Hotch. Maybe Rossi assumed it. He never addressed it though. What a quirk of fate that Rossi cited her later on and told Hotch the same thing, causing Hotch in turn to tell her that he considered them his second chance. Thinking about this cycle makes her dizzy and almost awestruck at the same time. She slows down and lets Hotch catch up with her.

"Another round?" he asks, and a smile flits across his face. He looks so happy, and these moments are so rare in their lives. They really need to laugh more.

"You bet!" she calls out to him, pretending that she is already starting to sprint, the thoughts about the fateful cycle still in her head. But when Hotch also wants to pick up pace, Emily suddenly stops, stands in his way and turns around to face him. There is something she needs to tell him. Desperately. And she can't believe that she didn't already do it, only thinks of it now.

"I want a second chance," she says, and it takes a brief moment until Hotch realizes that her words might suit the specific situation but that they have a much deeper meaning.

Hotch steps closer to her. "Yes, please," he says seriously, his eyes a mixture of love, desire and trust, signaling her that he understood what she just told him, before he all of a sudden steps aside and starts to sprint. And he does not pretend like Emily did moments ago. He is running full speed ahead as if something inside of him has eventually been released.

"Staring at my ass again, g-woman?" he calls out to her.

Emily stares at his back speechless. This man surprises her every day anew. And this time she won't let him outrun her again. At least she can try. After all he just offered her a second chance.

The end