Well, my dear loyal readers, here is the final chapter. I tried to wrap it up in a pretty bow and give you the ending you deserve. But, honestly, I don't think I can ever repay what you all have given me. You've stood beside me through this whole project and waited patiently while I struggled thru some of the worst situations life can deal to a person and a mom. "Thank you" seems so…cliché, but I truly mean it from the bottom of my heart: Thank you.

May all of you have a blessed Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Song prompt: "One Hello" by Randy Crawford (please check out this artist on youtube).

One Hello

Dave looked at the closed double doors decorated with large wreaths, and wondered what was taking so long. The ten minutes he had been standing at the altar had to be the slowest minutes of his life, and he wondered if Em had changed her mind. Of course, he wouldn't have blamed her.

Still, he could not help but wonder about the twisted road he had taken through his life-time. There had been mountains and valleys, sunshine and shadow, curves and straight aways. Many a time he had taken a U-turn or the wrong exit, and more than once he had stalled out. He had lost women he had loved, and even ones he had cared about. But it was the combination of both in one woman that had caused him to nearly destroy, then rebuild his life from scratch. And in the process, he had nearly lost everything. - including his own life.

The journey had been long, but it had eventually led him to where he was now: Content and at peace with his life. He had bridged the chasm between himself and the BAU, and he had returned in kind the sacrifice of the young Marine who had given all so they could be here today. The foundation he set up from the proceeds of the book would guarantee that young PFC Charles Bronson would never be forgotten, and his death would never be in vain.

The sound of Pachelbel's Canon in D filled the sanctuary, the doors opened, and the crowd turned to see Claire, dressed in white trimmed with lace, make her way down the aisle, rose petals fell from her little fingers. Looking up, she smiled at Dave and waved. Dave felt his throat tighten as he waved back. Following behind her, Elizabeth Prentiss was led down the aisle by Hotch.

Taking a deep breath, Dave barely paid attention as JJ and Pen took their assigned places at the altar, he was anticipating the moment he would see Em.

Then, there she was.

A vision unlike any he had seen in his entire life, Dave swore he forgot to breathe as their eyes met and locked. He wanted to pinch himself - this couldn't be real, he reasoned - then she slipped her hand in his, making it so.

I love you, he mouthed.

I love you, she returned with a smile.

Taking his place, Father Jimmy looked at the crowd, then at the couple standing before him. He cleared his throat. "Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to join in holy matrimony, David and Emily. They have requested to speak their own vows. Emily."

Her heart beating rapidly, Em took a deep breath. "Five years ago, you yanked my world out from under me. Everything I had believed in was ripped away. You broke my heart in a way I didn't think was possible. And I vowed to hate you forever. I swore to never fall in love again. Or so I thought. When I saw our daughter's face, I knew that no matter what happened between us, there would always be a part of me that couldn't help but love you. I just didn't know it…until that night I opened the door and saw you standing on the porch of the embassy. Little did I know that one hello would change my life? If I had listened to my pride, we would be dead. Instead, I listened to my heart and we lived. Until that morning, I never knew how much you loved me…your sacrifice told me all that I would ever need to know. They say that love is a circle that begins with one hello. And they are right, because here we are, together."

Her voice trembled with emotion, but her voice was strong. "I love you, David Rossi. You gave me two priceless gifts: Our daughter and my life. And I can never pay you back. But if you promise to always love me, I am going to spend my life trying."

Father Jimmy turned to face his best friend. "David."

For a long moment the silence stretched as Dave weighed his words. Taking Em's hands in his, he held them as he spoke.

"As an acclaimed author, I feel that I have failed myself because I'm at a loss for words. I thought I could tell you how you've given me a second chance and brought me the love I thought I didn't deserve. But you took that from me. As always, nothing is ever simple when it comes to expressing what's in my heart. And I've realized that's a good thing because it makes me work twice as hard to achieve the goal I've set for myself." Dave took a breath and continued.

"From the moment I met you, you captured my heart. You gave me a reason to be glad that I came back to the BAU when I could have been writing and touring. Your smile made me feel young. And I was glad when you returned my love. But I got stupid. I let emotions and pride get in the way, and I threw away the greatest gift God has given man: Love. There was no going back and I was prepared to live my life alone. Until that day I was given orders to protect you. I could never convince you that I had changed, but the longer you let me stay, the more I hoped that you would fall in love with me again.

"I didn't think twice as I defended you and Claire. And I would do it again. You are an amazing woman, Emily Prentiss, and I love the way you've raised our daughter. She is my heart." Dave took Em's hand and raised it to his lips. "But you are my soul. You are the missing half that makes my life whole. You've given me second chance at love and a reason for living. As God is my witness, I am going to spend my life loving you."

Silence filled the sanctuary. Twice, Father Jimmy cleared his throat. "Who gives this woman unto this man?"

The team and Elizabeth raised their right hand. "We do!"

"Dave, do you promise to love, honour, and cherish Emily in sickness and in health, for better or worse, until death doeth you part?"

"I do."

"And Emily, do you promise to love, honour, and cherish David in sickness and in health, for better or worse, until death doeth you part?"

"I do."

"May I have the rings?" Morgan and JJ handed the rings to Father Jimmy. "Lord, bless this circle symbol of everlasting love that it will always remain unbroken." He made the sign of the Cross before handing them over.

Dave took the slim white gold band encrusted with his, Em's, and Claire's birthstones. "With this ring, I thee wed," he vowed and slipped it over Em's finger.

"With this ring," Em repeated and slipped the wider identical band over Dave's finger, "I thee wed."

Smiling widely, Father Jimmy looked at his friends. "In the name of the Father, the Son, and The Holy Spirit, I now pronounce you husband and wife. What God has brought together, let no man tear asunder." He made another sign of the Cross. "David, you may kiss your bride."

Lifting the veil, Dave wiped the tear from Em's cheek with his thumb before he leaned down to kiss her. Covering Em's lips with his, he sealed their vows. Forever. The audience applauded.

There was a tug on his pants leg. Pulling back, he looked down at his daughter. He picked her up and held her close. "Yes, Claire?"

"Are you and Mommy married for real?" she asked solemnly.

Dave looked into the brown eyes that resembled those of the woman he loved. "Yes, Principessa, we are married for real. I love you."

"I love you too, Daddy." Claire's voice rang clear and loud thru the large room. She wrapped her arms around Dave's neck and hugged him. As his heart went into free fall, Dave pulled Em close into their now family of three. Hugging his family tight, Dave wasn't sure, but he swore he heard a bell ring in the distance.

In his arms he held the women of his heart and soul. Beside him stood his friends. And somewhere in heaven, Ray finally got his wings. Life had finally come full circle.

Never had a man been so blessed.

THE END.

"Remember, no man is poor who has friends."

This story is dedicated in it's entirety to the four brave Americans lost in Benghazi on Sept 11, 2012:
Chris Stevens, Steve Smith, Glen Doherty, and Tyrone Woods.

You will never be forgotten.