Emily Prentiss dropped her head into her hands and sighed. Her eyes stung from staring at the computer screen all day, she had no idea how Garcia did it. It was 8 pm on Friday and she had barely made a dent in the paperwork that she had intended to finish before the weekend.

"Best laid plans" she muttered.

While JJ was on maternity leave the team was supposed to have a lighter case load, meaning more time to catch up on paperwork. Once that was completed there were multiple seminars and workshops intended to update and inform current FBI agents to ensure everyone was on top of their game. They had been traveling relentlessly recently and everyone needed a break, not to mention, Emily guessed, Hotch had been catching crap for the team's growing pile of uncompleted paperwork. Yet three days into their supposed hiatus the team had been called out to Vermont. The case itself had been standard, at least for them. The un-sub was an angry misogynist who was trying to fix the world. Though Emily hated to be blasé about the suffering of those involved, it was not a case that had been worth their while. The urgency with which the team was demanded had more to do with the politically prominent townspeople than it had with the actual case. It was just another reason for Emily to loathe politics.

"Get outta here Em, that stuff will still be here on Monday," Derek called from the door. "I'm meeting some friends for a drink, you coming?" He flashed her his trademark grin.

"Thanks, but no thanks Derek. I'm beat. Be a good boy." She smirked good-naturedly at him. He laughed and she heard the door click behind him. Even Reid had left before her tonight and that was not a good sign. Derek was right, all this would still be here Monday, but it didn't mean she couldn't get a head start on the weekend. She grabbed her briefcase and selected a good portion of the pile to take home with her. She could almost hear Garcia and JJ lamenting her for her workaholic tendencies.

The next morning she woke early having fallen asleep within an hour of arriving home the night before. She had planned to spend the morning relaxing at home but after a quick survey of her kitchen revealed she had run out of coffee she decided a change of plans was in order. She was too antsy anyway; she'd feel better after she had made some headway with her papers.

With a steaming mug of coffee in front of her she easily delved into the pile of papers before her and slowly shut out the world around her. She didn't even look up when the pair of khaki clad legs appeared in front of her.

"Prentiss."

She glanced up to see her supervisor standing over her. She couldn't remember ever seeing Hotch in anything other than his suit and tie. Maybe she'd seen him in work-out gear once or twice, but it was still a shock to see him in such everyday attire.

"Hotch, good morning" she smiled, "I've never seen you around here before"

"I haven't been here often, I just moved last weekend" he replied, "Just across the courtyard from you."

Emily tried to smooth out the surprise that she knew had surpassed her features. She wasn't quite sure how she felt about her supervisor taking up residence in her complex. She didn't actually know any of her neighbours, and she liked it that way. She smiled and nodded when she passed them, but she was rarely in the mood to socialize when she returned, whether from a day at work or a week long case across the country – simply put – she was an extremely private person. She knew the neighbours probably thought of her as a mysterious loner of sorts, yet she didn't mind in the least.

"I was going to mention it last week," He continued, giving her that deep stare of his that led her to break eye contact. He unnerved her. She was never quite sure of herself with him, not like Morgan or Reid, or even Rossi around whom she was extremely comfortable.

"It will be a great place for Jack" she replied. He nodded once, and then glanced down towards the papers strewn about her table.

"Your boss must be a real hard ass," he commented, his mouth twitching slightly. Emily laughed,

"Yeah, but he's all right."

"Have a good weekend Agent Prentiss"

"Thanks, you too."

"Hotch. Moved into your complex?!" JJ exclaimed..

"Oh! This is perfect, my love. Just what you need!" Garcia put in. Emily sighed. It was Monday morning, JJ had dropped by and the girls had headed out for coffee. She hadn't seen Hotch again after Saturday morning, but she felt she should have dropped by to offer a hand – yet at the time the gesture felt overwhelming. FBI Hotch she could handle, Hotch at home was a whole other ball game.

"It's not a big deal," Emily said, "It's just…I don't know, weird?" JJ and Garcia traded a look.

"Well, personally, I'd love to see the inner realm of the Hotchner residence," Garcia smirked, "If you don't want to do the neighbourly thing, step aside my love." Emily and JJ laughed as a wail erupted from the small basket at JJ's feet.

"Well I guess coffee time is over," JJ uncovered Henry and scooped him up to her shoulder,

"Keep me updated ladies!" After JJ left Emily and Garcia finished their coffees slowly, relishing in the lack of pressure to return.

When she was eventually back at the office Emily found Morgan and Reid throwing a mini-football back and forth.

"So we hear Hotch has moved up in the world? Taken up residence near Casa de Emily?" Morgan raised his eyebrows.

"So it would seem." Emily replied, dropping into her chair and holding her hands out for the ball, "I guess I'll have to be on my best behaviour."

"No, girl, what you need is to need to cut loose and live a little Em. You think too much." Morgan responded as he caught the ball over his left shoulder, and chucked it towards Reid who reached out and missed. Behind Reid, Hotch stood with the ball in his hand.

"Seminar, Wednesday 7 pm. We're all going." He stated, then, looking at Emily he lobbed her the ball, "and thinking is never a bad thing." He turned and headed back to his office. Morgan raised his eyebrows,

"Live a little." He repeated.