"Love does not care to define and is never in a hurry to do so."- Charles du Bos

"Any last words, Aaron?"

"If you shoot him, I will end your life in ways that you don't ever want to know!"

"It'll be ok, Emily. I love you."

Tuesday, November 14th- Seattle, Washington

It's been 9 months since my nightmare in Fairview, Virginia.

I'm sitting in the back of one of our SUVs heading back to Seattle- Tacoma Airport. The team is heading home after nabbing a ten time arsonist who had spent the last six months burning down homes without killing anyone. We're all tired and excited as hell to get home for the three day holiday Aaron randomly decided to give the team.

Speaking of Aaron….

Nine months ago, Aaron and I had finally sat down and talked about what our relationship was and the previous three months. It took place a few hours after I had fallen asleep on Aaron's shoulder and woken up to find myself laying on my bed across from Aaron on his bed doing paperwork.

"We're stranded, Emily."

I lift my head up a few inches to get a better view of the window. The window is completely coated in fresh, powered snow, no doubt a result from some overnight snowfall. It doesn't look it's treacherous outside when I sit up and wipe across the window with my hand. "What do you mean?"

Aaron places his briefcase to his left and begins organizing files that are scattered in front of him. He doesn't look up as he responds, "The roads are super icy- there have been three accidents just on the road that leads to the highway. Dave wants us to stay the day."

"When have you ever listened to Dave?" I can't help but laugh. Even on the most treacherous travel days, Aaron always made a travel decision based on safety and case accommodations and not on Dave's constant suggestions that we stay overnight on the Bureau's dime.

Aaron's response is a touch short. "Since you woke up in a sweat and thought I was dead. Now that you're up, we should talk about your dream."

"I've already told you. We were kidnapped, tortured, and then you were killed right in front of me."

Aaron sighs and glances around the room. "We need to find somewhere to sit. It's really cold in the main room downstairs. We'd have to stay up here."

"Ok. Your bed or mine?"

"Yours. Mine is covered in a Mt. Everest of paperwork," Aaron says softly. He quietly walks over to my bed and sits on the very edge, the farthest away from me. I scoot forward a little and can see Aaron tensing up with every move that I make.

Aaron readies himself before starting. "Emily, I wasn't talking about the dream from last night. I have hurt you so much and I couldn't help but review in my head how bad I hurt you. The dream when you slept over back in January was one of the first things that came to mind. You wouldn't let me touch you."

I have to rack my brain that dream from almost ten months ago. I don't remember what had happened that night, but I do remember the gist of the dream. " Oh….that. Well, fine- it was a flashback to me being in the warehouse with Doyle. It wasn't Derek that came to find me- it was you. The only difference was that you just stood there and watched me until I died."

Aaron huffs and shakes his head in disappointment, which I believe is directed towards himself. "What are we doing Emily? You're dreaming of me watching you die and I treated you like crap. Why are we doing this, Em? You deserve better than me."

"What are you saying?"

"I have to let you go…for the best of us."

It was hard for me to hear that.

After everything- all the emotions, the arguments, and the time put into it- that we went through, Aaron wanted to let me go. I remember the look on his face- the heartbreak and regret- for saying what he had said. I couldn't let this go and had only one way to respond,

"You hurt me, badly, Aaron, but it doesn't give you the right to give up on whatever you want to call what we have. Look at me," I touch his face and add, "Yeah, I don't trust you all the way and yes, both of us need some therapy, but don't make this it. I love you."

Aaron nods. "I love you too."

"Then this isn't over. Not yet."

The nine months after our conversation have been filled with humorous and still heart wrenching therapy sessions with Neha, happy greetings and goodbyes every day between us, long conversations about life on the jet or during a sleepover that Jack has begged his father for, and of course, getting used to everyday life again. Aaron and I have been acting like things had been before my forced admission at the ball last year and it's been nice. It doesn't bother me much that our feelings for each other seem to dangle over our heads with every stolen glance and smile between us.

In others opinion, Aaron and I have been dancing around dating without actually going for it.

"Emily, you plan on sitting in the SUV all day?" I suddenly hear from behind me. It's Jennifer, who's standing at the backseat doorway with her bag over her shoulder. She's been incredibly supportive the past nine months by living with me for the first few months until I had the strength to do it on my own. Derek, Dave, Penelope, and Spencer were just as supportive for both Aaron and I.

"Yeah, I'm coming," I reply. I slide out of the SUV and finds that the first SUV is gone. Jennifer's smile on her face is immediately suspicious to me. She shrugs her shoulders and repeats, "You coming?"

"Jen, where is everyone?"

I hate the deviousness that sparkles in Jennifer's eyes. " There's somewhere the team needs to be and somewhere where you need to be, missy." She pulls up the strap on her duffel bag and adds, "I will be driving the SUV and youre need on the jet. "

"Why would I-" I stop as Jennifer jumps in the front seat, closes the door, and starts the engine. I take that as the end of the conversation and decide to play around with Jennifer's statement. I quickly and quietly make my way across the empty airfield to the jet sitting alone. The stairs are already extended to the ground, which I take up the stairs.

What I find in the jet stuns me.

Aaron is standing in the center of the jet surrounded by dozens of roses scattered on the seats and floor. He's wearing a tuxedo in front of a table with salmon, vegetables, and my favorite desert, chocolate cake. My heart is being uncontrollably now because I'm so shocked.

"Hi, Emily," Aaron greets with a smile.

"What is this?"

Aaron extends his arm out to me and I take it. "This is my way of saying that I'm ready. Ready for us, Emily."

"I'm sorry?"

Aaron pulls me close to his body. "I just want to prove that I'm ready for us. You told me that this wasn't over for us and that you and I had something. I know that it's been nine months and that you may have moved on, but if you haven't, I want this. I want us."

Eleven months ago, I didn't think a moment like this would happen. But it is and I'm going for it.

"I'm in."

The End

A/N: Thanks for reading!