Save Me | Aaron Hotchner x Female OC

Chapter 31 - Buttercups

//A/N// 

Well, this is it folks; the end.

Thank you all SO much for coming on this journey with me. I've had a lot of life stuff going on while writing this fic (in comparison to when I wrote my first Hotch fic and had all the time in the world to do so), but having Hotch and Elena has given me so much fun and joy over these last months. I hope you enjoyed the ride, and do stayed tuned, because you never know what I might come up with next.

Enjoy this, the final chapter of Save Me

//x//

Elena

"So you'll come?"

I looked over at Aaron, who was sitting next to my ugly lamp (though I was rather fond of it now), which had a new chair next to it instead of the previously unpacked box. Most of the photos from the box were now up in my home, the photo of my mom and dad pride of place on the main wall in my living room. The rest of the items were lovingly stored in a smaller box under my bed – but Aaron had insisted I keep the childhood certificate for being the 'most caring' somewhere on display.

Aaron had just invited me to his friend Dave's house for some kind of pasta and wine night, which was apparently a team favourite event.

"I'm not sure...won't it be awkward?" I hated the idea of imposing.

"Not at all." Aaron placed his wine glass on the coffee table with a firm thud. "JJ is bringing her partner, Will."

Pasta and wine did sound like my kind of night...and the members of the BAU had certainly been a welcoming bunch. "Okay, I'd love to come." I made my way over to him and sat in his lap. "Thank you for inviting me."

He pressed a soft kiss on my lips, sending a little flutter through my body. "Dave insisted, besides, I'd love to have you there."

I nuzzled myself in to the crook of Aaron's neck and began planting soft kisses there. "I love you."

He hummed lightly and gripped my waist. "I love you too." He allowed me to keep kissing him for a while before he shifted me slightly. "Before we get to carried away, I have something for you. Wait here."

I stood from his lap and took his place on the sofa while he disappeared from my apartment, I assumed to go to his.

A few moments later he re-appeared at the door. "Close your eyes," he ordered.

I did as he asked and shut my eyes as he made his way back in to the room.

There was rustling, and something that sounded like a small curse from his lips, before he said, "Okay, open your eyes."

In his hands was the most beautiful bouquet of flowers I'd ever seen. Val's finest work by far.

"Aaron," I gasped, jumping from my seat. "They're beautiful. They must have cost a fortune."

Truly, he had three figures worth of flowers in his hands. It was like an extravagant wedding bouquet.

"You are worth everything and more, Elena," Aaron said, handing me the massive arrangement and letting me admire it.

I looked closer at the flowers. They were beautiful...and the meanings behind them all. If only he knew what he'd chosen, the message he'd unintentionally conveyed...

"Red roses were too on the nose for 'love'," he said as I admired one of the many red tulips that served as the focal points of the arrangement. "So I chose tulips, to represent-"