out of the woods x hotchniss

twenty

hello hello! it's here! the day everyone has dreaded! the final upload of this book! there's an important author's note at the end and i highly advise everyone to read it😁

also thank you to my lovely mutual morgan for sparking this idea with an edit of theirs on tiktok. i hope you enjoy it🫶

as always, there will not be any trigger warnings on this last chapter since they will contain spoilers. if you're not comfortable reading without them, please feel free to message me and i will tell you them there! 😌

happy readings and stay safe besties! -salem🤍

word count: 5734

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Aaron: "To be fully seen by somebody, then, and be loved anyhow—this is a human offering that can border on miraculous." Elizabeth Gilbert.

Emily woke up and carefully checked her surroundings. Her eyes adjusted to the semi-bright light from outside. She noticed some movement behind her and felt a familiar arm wrap around her waist.

"Good morning," Aaron said softly as he kissed Emily's shoulder. The raven-haired woman smiled widely as she relaxed into his touch. "This feels like a dream to wake up to you."

"Good morning to you too," Emily said and turned around in his arms. She chuckled as one side of his hair was completely flat. It had been evident that Aaron slept on his right side that night by the look of his hair. Emily smoothed it out and ran her hand over the scruff on his face. "I like it."

"I'll keep it then," Aaron said and smiled shyly. Emily stretched and sighed heavily before slowly shutting her eyes.

"I have a meeting with Strauss and I don't want to get up," Emily groaned as she ran a hand down her face. Aaron chuckled as he sat up carefully, his body was sore from last night with Emily. He reached down and grabbed his boxers before slipping them on. Emily watched as he stood up and turned around. She couldn't take her eyes off of him.

"I think this calls for a celebration. Today, August twentieth," Aaron said as he tugged Emily up out of bed. He leaned down and kissed the woman quickly before pulling away. "Is the day that you and I finally get to be happy again."

"It's also the day that you decided you'll keep the scruff because I like it," Emily said and grabbed onto his face. The raven-haired man smirked down at Emily as his hands ran over her hips. "What?"

"Let's get married," Aaron said softly. Emily's head tilted to the side as a smile took over her face.

"We haven't even told Sean yet. We barely are getting into the—"

"Listen to me," Aaron said as he pulled Emily into him further. Emily's hands rested on his biceps as she looked at him in the eye. "You're the only woman I've loved consecutively for eighteen, almost nineteen, years. I love you more than anything. We can get eloped and have a big wedding when we're ready to tell the team. We can make an appointment at the courthouse tomorrow."

"This is crazy," Emily said and smiled widely. She wrapped her arms around his neck. Emily looked at each detail in Aaron's face. If she could, she would look at him forever. He was beautiful to her. "Are you asking me to marry you?"

"Yes I am," Aaron said and smiled softly at Emily. "I don't have a ring right now, but I promise to let you pick the colors for the big wedding."

"I'm thinking black, gold, and white," Emily said as she tilted her head up. She nodded her head as the vision of a lavish wedding was forming in her mind. Aaron leaned down and kissed Emily's neck softly. "I want the finest champagne, industrial wedding venue, and your scruff."