A/N: This fic is a multi-part story and is not connected to my previous first-time Criminals Minds story, Wanted: Requited Love. This story is occurs after JJ leaves but before the appearance of Sean McAllister. And, this is purely romance, no angst or drama.

The first thing she did when she entered her apartment was to throw her keys into the abalone shell on her foyer table before shuffling into her bedroom. She kicked off her shoes and immediately began to strip, dropping a piece of clothing with each step to her bath. She turned on the water, waited impatiently for it to turn warm then added her oil. Letting the tub fill, she donned her robe from behind the door and made her way to the kitchen with the already chilled bottle of wine. Pulling out a corkscrew, she opened the Moscato and gingerly poured a full glass. Taking a sip, she sighed in delight at the bubbly, fruity drink before heading back to her bath. She hoped the rest of the team had as good a time winding down as she was about to.

The team had left Thursday afternoon for Tulsa, Oklahoma, and returned Friday, specifically, the plane landed at 4:30 p.m. on Friday. The case, though distressing, was over quickly, but after three back-to-back cases, they were exhausted. Derek Morgan had asked each member of the team about their plans that night, hoping to get a group to go out to the bar. Penelope Garcia and Ashley Seavers both had been up for drinks and dancing, but David Rossi and Aaron Hotchner had declined.

"What about you, Em? Care for a little drink, a little dancing…" He'd done a little side step, spinning on his heels.

She'd smiled, chuckled, but shook her head. "Sorry, don't think so. I'm looking forward to a hot bath, a glass of wine, or two, and a big plate of my Penne Romanoff."

"Hmm. Penne Romanoff, that sounds pretty good." He hinted to her, standing mere inches from her after dancing in her direction.

She'd gently shoved him back. "Not a chance. I'm going to enjoy some quality alone time tonight. You three go have fun. I'll see you all Monday."

When she opened the door of her bath, jasmine scent permeated her senses and goose bumps started to rise on her skin. She placed her glass down on the corner edge of the triangular, extra-deep tub and started lighting the candles. After lighting all of the candles, she loosened the tie on her robe and let the garment slide down her bare skin to the floor. As she stepped into the tub, the steamy water slowly began to bake away the cold she'd been feeling from not only the cold winter weather in her home state, but also the cold left over from the case. It was only at times like this that she could begin to push the images and sounds of the horrid memories into storage within her brain. She hadn't been able to do this as per her normal routine after each case, so, she had three separate cases to try to erase from her mind. To help her in her struggles to compartmentalize, the wine let it all slowly ease away.

She sank below the water, allowing the warmth to cocoon her then came back up just enough for everything below her chin to stay within the warmth and blinked away the water from her eyes. Sleeping later would be a bitch if she didn't stop letting her mind wander. Reaching for her glass, she took a sip and leaned back against the tubs edge, allowing her body to float and her eyes to close.

It was nearing nine p.m. when she finished her dinner and put her dirty plate into the sink. She poured what was left of the wine into her glass and started towards her bedroom to curl up with J.D. Robb when she heard a knock on the door.

Taking a sip, she started walking to her bedroom to curl up with a new J.D. Robb novel when she heard a knock on her door. She frowned at the disturbance but given the time, she assumed it was her old teammate, Jennifer Jareau. Since she'd been forced to transfer from the BAU, they'd made it a ritual to have girl's night on Fridays while her husband, Will, watched their son, Henry, for her. But she had called and told J.J. that she wasn't up for doing anything that night. She reached the door and looked through the peephole. She drew back suddenly, then shook her head and looked again. Sure enough, her unit chief was standing at her door.

She pulled the robe tighter across her chest then opened the door. "Hi."

"Erm… hi. I, uh, just came by to, um, ask a favor."

"Ok." She motioned for him to enter, holding the door wide for him. He passed her and if she didn't know better she'd have thought he'd meant to brush up against her.

She shut the door and locked it then followed him down the hallway. He hadn't been to this apartment before. He'd been to her previous one, but this was all new. "First door on the left," she directed.

Once in her living room, she motioned for him to take a seat, but he shook his head and said, "I'm not staying long. I know you had your plans for the evening."

"Nothing much. I was actually just going to do some reading."

He nodded then looked around her apartment. His eyes seemed to take in everything at once, each piece of furniture, which wasn't much, the pictures and knickknacks, again, not much. She waited for him to tell her why he was there, but he didn't.

"Uh, Aaron, what was the favor you wanted to ask of me?"

"Oh, um, I have a banquet I've been requested to attend tomorrow night."

"Oh, you need a babysitter for Jack."

"I, um, no, I..., well, I know it's short notice but I was wondering if you'd like to attend with me as my guest?"

She could see the slight flush growing from his neck up to his cheeks and thought how sweet it would be if he'd been asking her as a get-to-know-you-better type of romantic date. Though she'd never really entertained the thought, she couldn't say she had never wondered what it would be like to be involved with the raven-haired, gorgeous man standing in front of her.

"It is short notice, but I suppose I could go with you. What kind of banquet is it?" she asked.

"It's, well..."

He looked so adorable at his stammering and then it dawned on her that he wouldn't be acting like this unless...

"I don't need an escort-type of guest. I'm asking you to go with me as an actual date."

She blinked, and then blinked again. She cocked her head to the side and squinted. "You want... to go out on a date – date?"

He took a step closer to her and suddenly seemed larger than life. She had to crane her head to look up into his eyes.

"It's been, well, awhile since I've asked someone out on a date. You know?" His breathing had quickened substantially. "Maybe I didn't say it right. This is me, Aaron, not your unit chief, asking you, Emily Prentiss, if you'd like to go out with me."

Her breath caught. It was like straight out of a movie. Almost as good as that line 'You had me at hello.'

He was close, almost too close and she couldn't help taking a step back. Her misstep caused him to stiffen and she could see the hurt on his face. Oooh... she had to get rid of that look. How stupid can I be?

Smiling brightly... Don't overdo it, Em! "I'd... love to. I just, you surprised me. I never even dared to think you'd do something so... well... un-Hotch-like."

Now it was his turn to squint at her. "What do you mean?"

"Well, I am your subordinate and doesn't, isn't there something written somewhere that says we can't be..." she chose her words carefully just in case she was wrong and finished, "romantically involved." There, she said it. Now it was clear as crystal. No confusing the offering.

The corners of his mouth ever so slowly crept up on his face, showing his adorable dimples. "It's not welcomed, but it's not a rule. They wouldn't have any basis for making one of us leave. And..." he lingered on the thought as he stepped forward to remove the distance from her step back. He fingered a wet tendril that had fallen over her forehead and brushed it behind her ear. "I'd still be asking even if there were."

"Really?" she squeaked. She cleared her throat and asked, "You, um, really want to, um –"

"Yes," he breathed. "Do you?"
She nodded slowly then more vigorously.

"Ok then. I'll pick you up at six."

"Oh, ok."

They walked to her door and she held it open as he walked through. "Oh, Aaron, what is this banquet anyway? What's the dress code?"

He grinned. "State dinner... White House, so formal, black-tie attire is expected."

Her eyes grew large and round. "OH! I guess I have some shopping to do tomorrow."

The thought of clothes shopping must have triggered his thoughts because his eyes flickered and he let them slowly travel down her face to her robe. She adjusted her robe, hiding the skin he was obviously ogling. His gaze shifted to her eyes. "I'll, uh, see you tomorrow, six o'clock."

He started to walk down the hallway when she truly realized where he was going to be taking her. "Aaron, wait. I'm not cleared to attend."

He stopped, turned on his heel and called back, "I took care of that last weekend. You're good to go." Then he spun back around and gingerly danced down the stairs, leaving Emily with her mouth hanging open and a final image of her unit chief with the largest smile she'd ever seen on him, framed with a pair of dimples.

A/N: I've written Part II but won't post it until I have Part III finished. I'll try to have that done sometime this weekend or early next week.