60A/N: The final chapter! I loved writing this story so much, and am sad to see it end. I'll be gone for a few weeks, but then I'll start up some new stories. This was my very first story EVER, so I didn't know how to pace myself, so I'm going to take a break. Please read and review, since it's the conclusion, it would really mean a lot to me if this got some reviews. Thank you so much to anyone who's favorited, followed, reviewed, or read this story, it's incredible to think that there are people out there who actually like reading my shit. Anyways, I'm rambling. Please read this, and don't forget to review!
"Aaron! Come look at this!" Haley yelled in a stage whisper. Hotch emerged a few moments later. "Look at this." She pushed the door open slightly so he could see inside. Morgan and Emily were both protectively wrapped around their younger counterparts. It was a perfect sight. They had never looked more peaceful.
"I want to make it official." Aaron blurted out. "I want to adopt them." Haley's confused look quickly turned into a grin.
"Me too," she told him before giving him a big kiss. "Let's call Alex."
"We need to talk," Haley and Aaron said to their four foster children seated at the table. Emily tried hard not to let her fear show on her face, but apparently she failed.
"Don't worry! It's not bad. It's very good actually," Haley rushed to assure her eldest daughter. Emily's tension visibly decreased. Her brain then turned to what else they were excited about.
"Are you getting another kid?" She guessed, and the both laughed.
"No, we actually wanted to adopt you. All of you." The room went silent, before Emily finally spoke.
"Seriously?" Her voice was barely above a whisper.
"Yes, seriously. We want to make our rag-tag family of misfits official."
They were all speechless.
"So, are you guys ok with that?"
"You're asking our permission?" Derek asked.
"Well, yes. Your opinions matter to us."
"Absolutely! Are you kidding?!" Emily exclaimed, the reality finally seemed to have soaked in.
"Me too," Derek said.
JJ and Spencer nodded. Haley started to cry tears of joy, and hugged the person closest to her, which happened to be Emily. After her initial shock, she hugged her back happily.
"We've got a date at the courthouse.
It was here. After being in and out of homes, she was finally getting a family. A real family, that she loved and that loved her. It seemed too good to be true. She was carefully French-braiding JJ's golden hair as she thought about what was about to happen. She was getting a family. A real family, not just one that said they were a family with so much more going on behind closed doors.
"Em'ly? You ok?" JJ seemed to have noticed her distant expression.
"I've never been better squirt. You need to put your dress on though, ok?" JJ nodded and ran to put on her dress. Emily then busied herself with doing her own hair. She pulled into a half-up before curling it. She put on a bit of make-up, just eyeliner, mascara, and eyeshadow, before putting on her own dress. It was time.
JJ's dress went with her hair and eyes perfectly. It was light blue, and went just past her knees. The skirt flared out slightly and had a large blue ribbon tied around her waist. She looked like the cutest Barbie doll to enter this world.
Emily's dress was also blue, but much darker. It had a similar style to JJ's but more flowy. It went down to her knees, with long sleeves and an overlay of lace. It would twirl around her if she spun, and she wore it with some flats Haley had let her borrow.
"Well, you two look beautiful." Morgan was in the doorway, dressed in a nice dress shirt and tie. Spencer looked similar, but he had a bowtie and suspenders with his outfit. He looked like a 19th century scholar. "It's strange to see you in something other than black."
"You two don't look half bad yourselves, and you look strange all formal too." Emily observed. She felt her breathing quicken as the reality of what was about to happen really started to hit her
"Hey, hey, breathe with me Princess." Derek was next to her, his hand on her shoulder. Her breathing returned to normal, and she laughed slightly.
"Sorry. I just… never thought I'd be here. I thought I'd age out of the system, not actually be…"
"Yeah, I know. I can't believe it either. It feels… incredible."
"Guys, it's time to go!" Haley yelled from downstairs. Emily took a deep breath.
"Ready to head into the unknown?"
"Always."
Everyone they knew was practically at the courthouse. Kate, Elle, and Penelope sat in the front row, and Dr. Lewis and her wife sat next to them. Gideon sat between Tara and her wife and Rossi and Carolyn. Ms. Todd was on the other side of Carolyn, Stephen and Ashley next to her. Alex was there too, and she was smiling the most Haley had ever seen her smile. One of Haley and Aaron's old friends from high school, Matt Simmons, was there too. Haley's parents and her sister Jessica had decided to attend. Luke and his parents sat closer to the back, but Derek was happy to see him there.
"Do Haley and Aaron Hotchner wish to adopt and care for Emily Prentiss, Jennifer 'JJ' Jareau, Spencer Reid, and Derek Morgan for the remainder of their time as minors?"
"We do."
"I officially declare Haley and Aaron Hotchner to be the legal parents to these four minors!" The courtroom erupted into applause. Alex hugged Haley so tightly she thought her ribs might break, before moving onto Emily, JJ, Spencer, and Derek.
"This all happened because of you. Thank you," Emily whispered into her ear when she hugged her. Alex felt tears spring to her eyes. She remembered way back when the first time she'd opened Emily's file. It was hard to believe that that shy, nervous, trembling little girl had transformed into this confident and kind young woman.
"I'm proud of you, Emily." Tara whispered into her ear when she hugged her. She felt her ears flush at her statement.
"Eek! It's official!" Penelope threw her arms around her.
"Don't crush her Pen," Elle warned. Reluctantly, she let go.
"Why didn't you say your brother was a hot cup of cocoa?" She asked her friend. Morgan overheard her and laughed.
"You're not too bad yourself Baby Girl," he teased back. She blushed a bright shade of red.
"I'm happy for you Em," Elle told her during their hug. "Now, I think your family is waiting for you." She put emphasis on family, bringing a grin to her girlfriend's face.
She turned back to her family, who pulled her close. Alex was taking a picture of them. It was permanent. Official. Real.
They had finally found their home.
A/N: Ahhhh! It's over! How crazy is that? It's been two months since I started this story! I'd like to thank Sweetkid45, xGoldentigerlilyx, hetwaszoietsals, Tumbles3, hkl-129, Lady Lunera, Daisy Angel, PAGET, Celineherondale22, mmharrell, Taylor (guest), .darkness, bohogal1998, Dichan03, Zaiakai16, Guest, Jean-Moddalle, Alex (guest) and anyone else who has supported this story! The people I named are the ones who reviewed, but I am incredibly grateful for all the support I have gotten, it means so much. Thank you again, so much!
Love,
Elle