AN1: New story! This will be told from alternating of view with everything but the first and last chapter being in the past. Think "Gone Girl" or "The Last Five Years" where one tells it front to back and the other person tells it in reverse.

AN2: There are some "deleted scenes" I reference here and in my other pieces; those will be posted soon as well.

Hotch stretched his arms lazily over head, enjoying the pleasure that is waking up on your own without an alarm or worse, a phone call. The movement started a dull thumping in his head. He released a low groan, noticing a scratch in his throat. Rolling over to cover his head with the pillow, his hand brushed against warm, soft skin. He was startled by the presence of another in his bed.

He squeezed his eyes shut trying to clear the fog in his head. His night started coming back in flashes: "family" dinner at El Fuego, being coerced into doing shots by Garcia, and laughter; lots of it. The kind that makes his cheeks hurt the way they only do after a night off with his team or a weekend alone with Jack. He hadn't woken up with this kind of lightness in his heart in a long time. Blinking the sleep from his eyes he caught a glimpse raven hair. Ah Emily. She had been the cause of last night's celebration. Smiling he wrapped his arm around her waist, nuzzling Emily's neck.

A soft moan escaped her throat. "I've missed this," She said as she wiggled her back in closer to his chest. She was enjoying the warmth of his arms around her, the scent of cologne bringing back memories.

"And I miss not getting hung over after a night out," he dead panned. Emily laughed, throaty & quick.

"I've missed that laugh," he said as he planted a kiss on her shoulder, "and your skin," as he moved to suck on her neck. He nipped her ear continuing, "Having my hands on you. It's been too long," He gave her a little squeeze.

"It has been. " She rolled over, hitching her leg around his hip and found his mouth with hers. Pulling back she sighed, "I almost forgot what this was like." It had been four years since he held her like this, since there had been level of intimacy between the two of them.

He gave, what for Hotch, can only be described as a smirk, "What? Sneaking around? Sleeping with an old man?" He knew he was still in really great shape, probably better than when they met, but it was getting harder to keep up. Plus calling himself old would drive Emily crazy.

She quietly reached a hand for one of his muscular buttocks "With an ass like this I'll make an exception." She watched the look of shock his face then let out a loud laugh, almost a snort. "You aren't that much older than I am." She loved that he was still a little bit clueless about the effect he had on women.

Hotch grabbed his head from the pain, moaning. "I'm too old for this."

"You weren't too old for this last night." She strengthened the grip on his ass and threaded the other had through his hair at the back of his neck. She pulled him towards her, locking her lips on his once again. Their hands explored each other has the kiss deepened. She placed both hands on his face, breaking the kiss. She stared into his brown eyes for a minute searching them with her own chocolate ones.

"Feeling safe, loved, adored. That's what I missed" He stared back, mouth slightly ajar for a moment before placing a gentle peck on her nose. "What I really missed was you," she leaned in to kiss him again.

He chuckled into her mouth, "You really do have bad taste in men then."

She gave him a devilish grin as she leaned in and breathed into his ear, "I guess I like guys who break the rules, Agent," putting emphasis on the last word.

A growl escaped him as he rolled on top on her, pining one of her hands over her head.

There was something about her and their time together that made him feel like a much younger man.

"Where's Jack at today?" Emily asked as she slipped on his one of his t-shirts and made her way to the bathroom.

"He was already at Jessica's when we got back last night. Between Garcia's excitement and that bottle of tequila I asked her to keep him for the day as well."

Emily turned to lean against the doorway. "Agent Hotchner were you planning to seduce me?"

"From the moment you said you were coming to New York," he grinned at her. He went to the dresser and dug out a pair of lounge pants.

Emily quirked an eyebrow at him. "Really?"

"Of course not, we both know I am not that smooth. I figured I'd end up with a hangover. Hangovers and ten year olds do not mix. You were a pleasant bonus." He wrapped an arm around her waist and placed a kiss on her head. "Showering?"

"Mmhhmmm," Emily nodded and linked her arms around his neck. She leaned up for a kiss which she quickly deepened. When they needed air they finally broke apart with a moan.

"As much as I would love to join you I should go make breakfast." As he turned, Emily gave him a pat on the butt.

Twenty minutes later Emily padded into the kitchen to see Hotch hard at work making a breakfast buffet. He was pulling bacon out of the oven, which he sat next to a griddle full of pancakes. A bowl of cracked eggs were on the counter next to a fresh pot of coffee.

"Wow, you know how to treat a girl," she said as she placed a hand on his back.

"I may have gotten a little carried away. I don't get to do this often." He gave her a sheepish smile as he flipped pancakes. "I also have some hash browns in the freezer."

"What no fruit?" she teased.

"You're lucky I have this much. Five days in Texas followed by three chasing your guy from city to city doesn't leave a lot of time for grocery shopping."

"I can live without the hash browns, the coffee I cannot." Emily poured a mug. "I don't know how we're going to eat what you've already made." Emily leaned against the counter watching him move around the kitchen while she sipped her coffee. She was enjoying the sight of a half dressed man making her breakfast.

"What?" He asked spatula in mid air.

"Huh?" she asked shaking her head lightly to bring her back to the present.

"Do you like what you're seeing? You were staring at me."

A blush crept over Emily's face and she grinned into her mug. "I was just thinking about the last time we did this."

Hotch placed a kiss on her forehead as he grabbed plates from the cabinet. "Well hopefully the next time won't be in four more years."

Emily ignored his comment moving to sit at the breakfast bar. She busied herself with topping her pancakes with butter and syrup. "God, these are so good," she moaned with a mouthful. "What did you put in them?"

"It's a secret," he winked. After he took a long swig of coffee he turned to her. "So my night is a little hazy. How exactly did we get away from Garcia?"

"Told her my mother was in town demanding that I see her for breakfast before I went back to New York to catch the jet. It made logistical sense to stay at Mother's. And that your place was on the way so we could ride together."

"Smart."

"I may have also said that Morgan wanted her to come visit him and Hank," Emily chuckled. "Garcia can't say no to a baby, especially when she's drunk."

"You are devious," he quirked an eyebrow in her direction as he worked on his plate, "remind me not to get on your bad side. So what time do you need to leave?"

"I'm taking the five o'clock train but I want to go visit Morgan and Hank before I go."

"Well we will have to make the most of it until I get to see you again." He gave her a sly smile as he ran his hand up her thigh and leaned in to nuzzle her neck. "After last night and this morning, there is no way I'm waiting four years for that again."

Emily once again ignored his words about their future. Instead of reacting she munched on a piece of bacon and pretended to be really interested in adding cream and sugar to her coffee.

"Emily," Hotch said with a slow measured tone, "Are we ok?" He sat back and turned to face her.

"We? What do you mean we?" Emily's eyes widened and her voice went up an octave.

"I assumed that this meant you wanted to be together again, that you were ready to give this a real shot." He searched her face. "Apparently I was wrong."

"Yep." Emily got up and placed her dishes in the sink. "Thanks for breakfast. I should get going."

"Emily, talk to me. Let's discuss this."

"Why? What is there to discuss?" she crossed her arms and leaned against the sink.

"Why? Because I want to be with you. Because I am tired of us dancing around this and not actually talking about it." His palms where pushed into the counter as he leaned towards her. All he wanted was a chance to talk this through.

"God damn it, Aaron! What do you want from me?"