A/N: Okay, so I should probably explain the concept of this story. Hotch and Emily are together (obviously) and basically, for every letter of the alphabet, I'm going to write a snapshot of their life together. They won't be in chronological order, so I'll clarify at the beginning of each chapter when it's taking place. For the sake of the story, Jack was born November 2005 and they've been together since June 2010 and they moved in together in May 2011.

Some other background: Hotch and Emily got together about six months after Haley died (yes, in this universe, Haley did die =[ ) and Jack lives with Hotch full time. The Bureau knows about their relationship but let them stay together on the same team (and yeah, I know that it would never happen like that in reality, but that's why this is fiction), but with the understanding that when they're on the job, they're completely professional.

Timeline: This chapter takes place in March 2012, so they've been together for nearly two years and living together for nearly a year.

Chapter One

A is for Absence

"When is Emmy coming home?" Jack whined to his father.

"She's on her way from the airport, Jack," Hotch told his son for the millionth time. Not that he minded Jack's excitement. It never ceased to amaze him that the bond between his girlfriend and his son was so strong.

"Well can I call her?" Jack asked impatiently.

"She should be here in less than ten minutes, she called when she landed, remember?" Hotch reminded the 7-year-old.

Emily had been in California at an FBI training conference for the last ten days and both of the Hotchner men were missing her immensely.

"Can't I call her anyway?"

"No buddy. She'll be here soon enough. Why don't you go pick out a movie to watch after we eat dinner?" Hotch suggested to distract the anxious boy.

Jack went off into the living room and Hotch took the moments of silence to put the finishing touches on the meal that he and Jack had prepared.

He heard the key scrape against the metal of the lock followed by the opening of the front door.

"EMILY!" Jack bellowed and as Hotch stepped into the hallway, the small boy sprinted past him toward the dark haired woman who had just stepped inside the apartment.

"Hi sweetie," Emily greeted the boy. She dropped the handle of her suitcase and hoisted the boy into her arms, allowing him to hug her tightly around the neck.

Hotch took her suitcase for her and shut the door so that Emily could carry Jack into the other room. He set the alarm and joined them in the living room.

"Are you hungry Emmy?" Jack asked, his excitement reaching a new peak now that Emily was actually back.

"Famished. I didn't have time to get anything for lunch before I left for the airport," she admitted.

"Jack, why don't you go wash your hands so we can eat?" Hotch prompted.

Normally he loved having his son around—especially when Emily was around. He always felt happier having his whole family in the same room. In this case though, he just really wanted a moment to properly greet the beautiful woman who was sitting on the couch in front of him. Jack had, of course, seen them interact affectionately in the nearly two years that they'd been together, but they always tried to shield him from their more intimate and "adult" displays.

Jack went scurrying off through the apartment.

Immediately, like magnets, Hotch and Emily flew together. His left hand slipped under her sweater just slightly, stroking the small of her back while her hands tangled in his short black hair.

They said nothing before Hotch pressed his lips to hers. He was, again, struck by how soft and perfect her lips were. Even after two years, he still felt an undeniable jolt in his stomach when she was in his arms. He'd missed the feeling during her ten-day absence. Sure, they'd talked on the phone at least two or three times a day, but it was definitely not the same.

They pulled apart after only a minute, not knowing when Jack would reenter the room.

"Hey," he smiled, his forehead against hers.

"Hi," she grinned back.

"I missed you," Hotch informed her.

She smirked. "Huh…well I didn't really miss you, but it's nice to be back I suppose."

"You wound me," he rolled his dark eyes at her and pretended to take a step away.

Emily tugged him back towards her and kissed him. "I missed you too, you big goon."

He was about to respond in kind when Jack came running back into the room. "DINNER!"

"All right, Buddy, its dinnertime, calm down," Hotch laughed at the childish exuberance.

Hotch left his arm around Emily's shoulder as the three of them proceeded toward the closed dining room door.

He gave a tiny nod to Jack, who grinned and pushed the door open.

"What is this!?" Emily exclaimed, turning to look at Hotch, her eyes wide and bright.

Hotch and Jack had put forth their greatest efforts to make dinner special. There were candles lit and roses in the middle of the table. The nice china was out and there was a bottle of red wine sitting next to Hotch's seat at the head of the table with a smaller bottle of grape juice next to Jack's place. A heavenly smell was wafting towards Emily and her mouth immediately began to water.

"We wanted to do something to show you how much we missed you!" Jack crowed.

"You guys are amazing…I missed you too, you know," Emily hugged Jack tight and squeezed Hotch's hand.

"We made your favorite. Manicotti with Daddy's homemade sauce, garlic bread on bread that we made this morning and a salad with extra cucumbers. And Daddy says that that's your favorite wine," Jack reported.

"I don't even know what to say. I love you so much sweetheart," Emily kissed Jack on the cheek and he giggled.

"Love you too Emmy," Jack grinned.

Emily stood back to her full height and turned to be face to face with Hotch. "You, silly man, are one of a kind. Thank you."

She traced his soft cheek with her fingertips, loving the feel of his skin, before she leaned in and kissed him gently.

"Can't we eat?" Jack complained.

Emily and Hotch pulled apart chuckling and grinned at each other before joining Jack at the table.

)))

Hotch shut off the TV and smiled down at the two people lying on the couch next to him.

When they'd started watching Shrek, they'd all been sitting upright, Emily leaning against Hotch and Jack leaning against Emily. Now, Emily was sprawled out, her head on Hotch's left thigh as he ran his fingers through her hair.

Jack was lying cuddled up to her side, his head pillowed on her chest and one arm wrapped tightly around her middle and she was holding him just as tightly with both arms.

He remembered the first time he'd seen them sleeping this way. He'd been at a late meeting and Jack had had a nightmare, so Emily had comforted him and they'd been in this exact position when he'd gotten home.

That had been only a few months after they'd started seeing each other. Nearly two years ago. It seemed like lifetimes ago and like it was yesterday at the same time.

"Em," Hotch said gently. As much as he loved seeing them like this, both she and Jack would sleep better in their own beds.

"Em," he said again, "Em, wake up."

"Hmm?" she popped one eye open and looked at him blearily.

"We should put Jack to bed, sweetheart," he told her.

"Okay…I didn't even realize that I feel asleep."

Emily carefully sat up. She cradled Jack against her chest and lifted him into her arms with the ease of someone who had done it a million times.

"I'll take him," Hotch offered.

"No, Emmy," Jack murmured sleepily.

"I've got him," Emily's lips quirked.

Emily carried him to his room and set him on his bed. She was extra thankful that they'd insisted he'd put on his pajamas before they settled in to watch the movie.

"I'm glad you're home," Jack told her. His voice was rough with sleep.

"Me too, sweetheart," Emily agreed.

"Daddy is too. He's not as happy when you're not home. He's a lot quieter," Jack confided.

Emily's heart swelled.

"Well that's good, because I'm happier when I'm home too."

"Good, I love you Emmy," Jack murmured, half asleep.

"I love you too Jackster. More than you know," Emily whispered and kissed the sleeping boy's forehead softly.

"He down?" Hotch asked when Emily joined him in their bedroom.

"Yes sir," Emily nodded and headed straight for him, a glint in her eye.

)))

"You and Jack did a fantastic job with dinner," Emily told Hotch, her head resting on his bare chest. She placed an appreciative kiss right over his heart.

"Like Jack said, we wanted to do something special to show you how much we missed you and how much we love you," Hotch said, stroking her soft dark brown hair.

"You definitely succeeded. You big softie," Emily grinned.

"Good," he ignored her second comment. "How was California?"

"It was…nice. You know, lots of sun and beaches and attractive people," Emily shrugged.

"Attractive people, huh?"

"Oh yeah. Tons of really hot, really jacked guys wearing almost no clothes and trying to get in my pants," she said seriously, trying not to laugh.

"Well, it's official, I have to kill every man in Los Angeles," Hotch heaved a sigh.

She grinned and kissed him.

"You know, it's not just something that you say. I really did miss you. Every single minute that you were gone," Hotch told her when they broke apart.

"I know Aaron. I did too…I don't like going away for so long. Or at all for that matter."

"Love you, Em."

"Love you too."

A/N: Okay...so this wasn't beta-ed because I don't have a beta, so if there are any errors, in grammar or story continuity, or whatever else, let me know (I attempted to edit it, but it's hard for me to edit my own stuff because I know what Iwant it to say, so I tend to skip over errors).

Let me know what you think/if I should continue this/if you have any ideas for upcoming letters!