The Man of her Life
Chapter 1 – Back home
A.N. : Please, remember I am not an English-native speaker and there might be (a lot/tons of) grammar mistakes. I'll correct them when my proof-reader will be online :) Anyway, Hotchner/Emily Prentiss romance fic ! Don't flame if you don't like the pair :p
The team got down the plane. It was already night in Quantico. The day after was Saturday and that would leave plenty of time to the team to gather their minds again for Monday, for a new case. It had been a difficult case again, one involving children and when Emily Prentiss felt the fresh air against her face, she simply thought she was glad to be back. She had craved for home during those ten days in California. She had a dreadful thought; maybe it was time for her to give up the job…
She looked at the team she learnt to love during those three years she has been working on the BAU. Each partner was different and had different skills but she all respected them. They never let someone down.
"Any possibility that someone drives me home tonight?" she asked to no one in particular. "I left my…"
She didn't have to finish nor explain herself. Morgan offered "No problem, you came with me, I can drive you back."
JJ giggled a bit "Always the ladies' man."
Morgan smiled "Nah, you know, there's Tina…"
Hotchner joined the team on the tarmac. "Why don't you go find Tina, it's been a while since you've seen her. I can drive Prentiss home."
Morgan asked Emily silently with his eyes. She couldn't resist his begging eyes and laughed while saying "I'm fine with it". Emily made a tiny face "Oh and I thought I was your next conquest…" She winked at him "Too bad!"
The team laughed together and decided then to call it a night.
Once sit in the car, Emily slowly put her head on the headrest, closed her eyes and sighed. Hotchner sat in the driver's seat. He looked at her : "Tired ?"
She turned her head to him and slightly opened her eyes "More like exhausted."
He nodded. He felt this way too. "Same here."
The drive was silent; both were obviously tired and didn't want to talk about the case. It had touched them deeply and she knew that Hotchner was thinking of his son. She risked the question: "You're thinking about Jack?"
He didn't look at her and continued to watch the road. He wasn't driving fast.
"I am." And not waiting for her next question, he added "He's at his grandmother's, I had him on the phone just before getting on the plane."
She wasn't surprised he had anticipated her question. Not wanting silence again, she replied "It's good to have a contact, by phone or not. It's nice to feel we're not alone in this job."
Everyone knew about Aaron Hotchner's private life. It was all about his son since Haley's horrible death. Since then, he was spending all his free time with Jack and no one else.
Emily was a bit taken aback when he asked "Don't you never feel too lonely?"
She looked at him. He wasn't usually someone who asked personal questions to his team members. He knew them, he cared for them but she never really heard him ask this kind of questions. She lowered her head. Now was the time to tell the truth.
"I am…" She hesitated but continued "I don't feel lonely… anymore."
He was pulling his car in her alley when he finally got what she meant. Emily had moved out several months ago from her expensive flat to a comfortable house in the suburbs. And tonight, the lights of the house were on. There was obviously someone in the house. She knew he had just understood her and somehow felt sorry for him. He would drive to an empty home tonight, unlike her.
He nodded and softly smiled. "I'm happy for you."
She smiled back and without thinking, she said "Come in. I want you to meet someone."
He gave her a sceptical look but she insisted "Come on, it will only take you a few minutes." She quickly had the nerves to add "Besides you are not waited, anywhere." She took her bag from the trunk as he got out of the car. She had convinced him and she knew now that there was no way back.
She had to knock three times before someone actually came at the door. After a small key sound, the door was opened and Emily smiled widely.
"Good evening, Clarita! Got my message?"
"Good evening Madam. Yes, I did."
Clarita took the bag from Emily's hand and looked suspiciously at Hotchner.
Emily quickly said "This Mr Hotchner, Clarita, he's my boss."
Clarita's face brightened up a bit, her employer talked about her colleagues sometimes. She closed the door after them. Hotchner was looking at Emily's entry hall. It had nothing to do with her ancient flat downtown. Colours and lights were warm. He felt more comfortable but still he thought he was invading her employee's home.
He heard Emily say "Where is he?"
Clarita's reply came from what appeared to be the kitchen. "He's hidden. It's his new favourite game!"
Hotchner finally understood. Emily didn't feel alone anymore because she hadn't a man in his life but an animal in her life! This is what he thought until he entered the living room, following Emily who was now bending over some toys. Toys! In the middle of her living-room... Hotchner was more than surprised and couldn't say anything.
"Ah! Gotcha!" Emily ran after a little bundle, grabbed it. The little kid laughed. Emily turned around while still hugging and kissing the kid. She then watched her boss who was still gasping at his discovery. She smiled and walked to him.
"Sir, I want you to meet Tom..." She paused. "My son."
Hotchner's face finally moved. "You have a son…"
Emily kept smiling "Tom, say hi."
The kid dove in his mother's shoulder. Having a son himself, Hotchner knew how to deal with younger kids and spoke first "Hi Tom! I'm Aaron, hi!" But it only made Tom dive deeper in his mother's arms.
Emily laughed a bit "He's usually not that shy!" Hotchner smiled back. He was full of questions.
Clarita entered the room "Madam, I made you dinner." She looked at Hotchner "There's enough for two." She then kissed little Tom and added "He's already eaten. Bed is waiting for him" She winked at Emily.
"Thank you, Clarita! I'll manage from here, thanks!"
"Then I'm going to sleep." Again, she looked at Hotchner. "Good night Sir." She quickly left the room and Hotchner heard Clarita closing the front door after her.
As Emily started climbing the stairs, she said : "I'm going to put him to bed and… Well, why don't you head to the kitchen, I'll be right down."
Hotchner nodded and smiled "Sure." He then heard Emily softly talking to her son, asking how the things had gone when she was away. A son. Emily had a son. The kid couldn't be more than two years old. He wasn't really talking yet and he still had a diaper on him.
Ten minutes later, Emily came down and entered the kitchen, sighing. "He's asleep." She grabbed a chair and sit in front of Hotchner who was already sit at the table. She looked at him and started "I know... I know you have questions. And I know I haven't been quite honest lately."
He smiled at her "Quite honest? Lately?"
She smiled back. He didn't seem to be that upset. "Uh, well, I maybe should have mentioned him at some point."
His smile disappeared. "Prentiss, your child is what? Two years old? Two years and a half old ?"
"He'll be two next month."
"Yes, you should have mentioned him. At least to me. After all, I'm your boss."
Emily shivered. Maybe this wasn't going to happen as smoothly as she had hoped.
"I… It went fast." She waited for him to say something. He was silent.
She got up and went next to her fridge. She caught something and when she turned around to face him, he saw it was a bottle of red wine. She looked at him and then at the bottle "If you don't want a glass, that's fine but I need a glass." She grabbed the bottle opener in a drawer next to her and put everything down on the table. She turned to get a glass. She heard him pick up the bottle and the bottle opener. Two glasses it would be.
She sat down and, as he was opening the bottle, she started to talk. "Remember that time, when I told you I could take care of that little girl, Cassie, whose family has been murdered in front of her?"
"I remember".
"It's at that time I started to gather every paper I needed." She paused. "For an adoption."
"When did you get Tom?"
"About six months ago."
Hotchner nodded. He poured the wine in their two glasses. Everything was clear now. She had moved because of the soon arrival of her son eight months ago. He started to wonder why he had been so clueless about that major change in her life. He was his boss and he hadn't noticed a single change in her behaviour.
"I should have told you. You're my boss, I know. But no one else knows. Well…"
He instantly prayed that he wasn't the last member of the team to learn about her "secret". He didn't know why but he didn't want to feel like he was a bad employer. He cared for his team and he didn't want to feel like they needed to hide things from him. He took a sip from his glass.
"JJ knows. But that's it."
He sighs. "Hierarchy knows?" She nodded. "I had to get a recommendatory letter from work."
He shook his head "This was quick. A young boy? So fast?"
She looked at him, she felt hurt. "I know what you mean. Don't blame me. I did this in the rules. I'm a single mother, I know. If there was any help above, I don't want to know. I have been happy and honestly, that's all that matters." She took her glass and finished it.
As she grabbed the salad bowl in front of her, he started to apologize. "I'm sorry. I'm a bit… Well, I'm not disappointed. And I'm happy for you, of course. I'm just a bit confused at how I'm your boss and how I don't know anything about you."
He poured her another glass of wine. She handed him the salad bowl and sighed.
"Listen, I'm sorry. I am really sorry. I know that I should have said something. But I was a bit scared. Not that you are a bad boss or anything, it's just that you are my boss and you are not the kind of person I'm going to tell everything about my life. I don't know. I was probably trying to protect myself."
She looked at him. He was eating. She continued "We all treat you differently since... since everything happened..."
He looked at her, wondering what her point was. "You would have treated me differently if you had known I had a kid at home."
"I don't know."
"You probably would have and from now on, you probably will."
Hotchner couldn't pretend he didn't understand what Emily meant. Without no doubt, having a child in his life had changed his point of view on many things, on many cases. There wasn't a single case involving kids that wouldn't remind him of his kid. Surely, Emily was feeling the same now, as JJ was.
They sat and ate in silence a long time before she spoke again.
Bending over and waiting for him to look at her, she said "I'm relieved that you are now aware of the situation, Sir."
He couldn't help smiling a bit, making her feel that he would understand her.
"I'm sorry it took me so many months to say something but it had truly been six really busy months."
"Was it hard?" Hotchner took a sip in his glass again.
Emily smiled. "It was. It still is. And I'm a single parent…" She coughed "I mean, like you, I, uh..."
"But he is a great kid!" She continued, blushing. "He's smart, he's cute, he's…"
Hotchner laughed "He's your son."
She laughed too. "Thanks! He is!"
She poured him some wine again. "I'm proud of him. And I'm proud of me. I thought I would never make it."
"How so?"
"I don't know. I'm 36, I have no man in my life, well, except Tom now" She giggled, she started to feel the heat, direct effect of drinking the wine.
Hotchner nodded. "And... You don't feel lonely anymore, as you said to me."
"Exactly." She went to grab some cheese in the fridge and showed him some. As he nodded, he couldn't help thinking about how classy her tastes were. French cheese. Very Emily of her. "Now, every time I go home, I feel happy. There is someone who waits for me, which wasn't the case before." She looked at him, it was exactly what he didn't have, someone who was waiting for him tonight. Feeling the urge to divert him from bad thoughts, she added "I haven't had many relationships." She shrugged. "Men tend to avoid cold women."
He smiled. "Do you consider yourself as a cold woman?"
"I don't know. Not anymore, I guess. I used to be one but I hope I've changed."
"I think you've changed."
She smiled "Thanks." Emily teased him a bit "Then you thought I was a cold woman before?"
He laughed, pouring them the end of the bottle. "I don't have to answer that, do I ?"
She laughed with him "Nah, you don't have to."
They finished their drinks and cheese until Hotchner said "Thank you."
She took the plates and headed to the sink. "For what ?"
"That little dinner, that little chat."
She turned to him and grinned "You're welcome, boss."
He got up and brought the glasses as well as the empty bottle to the sink. "Thanks for the wine as well. You always drink expensive bottles all alone ?"
She smiled taking the glasses from his hands "I'm not alone but yes, I do love expensive wines." She winked at him. "You know, I have a spare bedroom, bed is already made if you want. You have drunk, you're tired, take it easy ! I don't mind having you here tonight."
Hotchner thought a second at this offer. He was about to answer when Emily added "You know, the only thing that might wake you up here is Tom playing in the morning."
His simple reply was "Thank you."
Emily was about to say "You're welcome, boss." But then she figured he could change his mind, feeling that he shouldn't be here because he was his superior. Tonight, she didn't really consider him like her boss but more like a friend. She said nothing and finished to wash the dishes as he went to his car to get his bag.
He was careful enough to close the main door without any noise. He didn't want to wake the kid. He thought at Clarita, the nanny. Emily had hired someone who could stay all week at her home. No doubt Emily tipped her big for her services. A clean house, dinner, taking care of Tom, apparently for ten days… Emily must have thought at everything before starting the adoption process. He couldn't help wondering if he had done the same for Jack. Haley's family was helping while he was away but maybe, at some point, he would have to think at a plan B, just like Emily. Was a plan B a nanny, or maybe a new wife ? He shook his head. He wouldn't get married again. That was the best for Jack.
He was still daydreaming in the living-room when Emily approached him and touched his sleeve. "Are you alright ?" She asked.
He turned quickly "Yes. I'm fine."
She watched around her "Do you like it ?"
He did the same "Definitely better than your old flat."
She giggled "Less modern, that's for sure." She let it slip "Clarita sew most of the things. I need to find my own taste."
"Not too modern, not too old-fashioned, it will take you time."
"I have time. When I'm not working... When I'm not taking care of Tom..."
"Then you have no time." He smiled.
After a pause, she said "Let me show you your room."
She turned off the lights and Hotchner followed her upstairs, carrying his bag. She pointed a door and mouthed "Tom's bedroom", she pointed at the door next to Tom's "Mine" and, at the end of the corridor, she pushed a door and made him enter. She closed the door behind him and talked a bit louder "Spare bedroom" She smiled at the well-made bed. "With a spare cover and…" She opened up another white door. "a spare bathroom, so you won't be bothered by anyone."
He smiled "You mean, so "I" don't bother anyone."
"Same" She said grinning as she checked if towels were needed although she knew he had already everything he needed in his travel bag.
She went to the door "If you need anything… Good night."
"Good night."
As she was closing his door, he made three quick steps to meet her and stop her "Thanks, again." Both smiled and she closed the door.
Emily went directly in the bathroom. She needed a shower. She felt drained by this long day. Several thoughts were in her mind. She was glad to be home and to find Tom safe. He was definitely the love of her life now. Thinking about love, she immediately thought that it was weird to have a man under her roof. Not that she imagined anything to happen with Hotchner but she quickly remembered that it had been almost one year since she had an affair. With a son who was almost two years old and her being almost 40, that would take her some time to finally find a man. She chased this thought from her mind. She was only 36 !
The weekend… She was going to have two entire days to forget about the work. Two days that she was going to spend with Tom. She made a mental note to ask Clarita how everything went with Tom while she was away. Emily just hoped that the next case wouldn't take her away too long and too far away from home. She finally put her tank top and a short and went to bed. It wasn't long before she felt asleep.
Aaron Hotchner had the same ritual. He took a shower and tried not to think about the past case. He thought of his kid who was with Haley's mother. It would take another complete week before he could see him and that would happen if he hadn't another case on the next Friday night. He wondered what he could do this weekend. He didn't want to stay in his flat by himself. A house... Emily had a house, he had a flat. He certainly could afford a house, even if it was just for him and Jack. That was what he would do this weekend... Meet a real estate agent. He stepped out of the shower, put some pyjamas bottom on and laid on the bed. He was asleep less than two minutes after.