A/N: This is my first Criminal Minds story, I'm a huge Emily/Hotch fan, and decided to take a swing at it. This is the beginning of a multi-installation story, but I'm unsure if I want to continue so I'll wait to see what kind of feedback I receive. Leave suggestions and anything else you'd like! Please R&R, this is my first time back in a while!

Disclaimer: Of course, I don't own the show, the characters, etc.

Hotch exited the elevator to his car. He got the last parking spot, and walked slowly to his car. Hotch reached his grey Ford Escape and turned the key. The cool winter caused Hotch to wait for his car to start. He looked down at his phone, and noticed a new message.

I've got Jack for the night, it got too late to wait up. Sorry Aaron.
The text from Haley. It wasn't a new message, he was used to getting these texts from his ex-wife. Hotch wished things had ended differently. However, they hadn't and he had begun to move on, it had been six months since they officially divorced. After a year of not being with his wife, it was time to move on. Traveling seven days a week definitely hindered the ability to date. Hotch let out a deep breath. His phone beeped again, another text message.

Team's going out to Riley's to celebrate Kevin and Garcia's engagement, come out!
That one was from Emily Prentiss. The whole team had been pushing Hotch to go out since the divorce was finalized, he was in a rut, and they all wanted to help him out of it. Hotch, who no longer had plans for the evening, decided to stop by the bar with the team. Hotch needed to get out of the houe, he'd been starring at the four walls of his apartment for the last year, he needed to get out. Hotch shifted the car into gear and towards his apartment. He needed to shave and change out of his suit before heading out.

Hotch pulled up to his apartment and climbed the stairs up to the his third floor apartment. He walked into his apartment and set down his briefcase. The silence was deafening. Hotch walked to his closet to find a nice button down shirt. He found a black button down, and laid it on his bed. He found a pair of light washed jeans and laid them on the bed beside his shirt. He walked to the bathroom, and climbed into the shower. Once clean shaven, he returned to his outfit, he dressed and sprayed cologne. He grabbed his phone which had another new message.

Hotch, you better be coming! This is my engagement drink, and you need to be here.
Penelope Garcia. The spunky technical analyst who could hack into your email before you even typed your password. Hotch admired her, as a person, she always saw the good. Hotch sent back a text that said he was on his way. How could he miss such a special time in her life?

In the meantime at the bar, the rest of the team was enjoying themselves. JJ was dancing close to Will holding a bottle of beer in her hand. Morgan stood in the middle of a group of college aged girls, none of whom seemed able to keep their hands off of Morgan's bulging muscles. Emily was playing pool with Reid and Rossi while the newly engaged couple was sitting alone in a booth.

"Alright Reid, I'm done with kicking your ass at pool. Stick to the things you know like chess and books." Emily teased Reid about his lack of pool skills. Dave laughed quietly at the banter between the two. Reid and Rossi went to join Penelope and Kevin in the booth while Emily headed to the bar.

She couldn't help but wonder if Hotch would show up.
"I'll have a strawberry margarita, double the tequila." Emily needed a drink, most of her friends were engaged, married, and with kids, and here she was, single in a bar with her co-workers. It stung her to know that she had wasted eight years undercover, and forming a forced connection with an international criminal. It was hard, but Emily was married to the job. "Here's your drink miss." The bartender smiled at Emily, she handed him a five dollar bill and walked away.

As she walked towards the table she noticed the door open and glanced to her left, and saw Hotch enter the bar. She walked towards him with a smile. "We started to worry you got lost, do you want a beer, my treat!"

Hotch looked Emily up and down, she was wearing a tight fitting black dress, it landed mid thigh and accented her long legs, especially with the red velvet heels. Hotch worked his way back to her face, "That would be great, thanks Emily. You look, um, different, I mean not a bad different." Hotch laughed nervously, why did he feel so awkward talking to Emily outside of her work clothes?

Emily laughed to ease some of the awkward energy. "Thank you, you don't clean up so bad yourself. The rest of the team is sitting in that back booth. I'll get you a beer, and meet you over there." The two went in opposite directions, Emily quickly downed her margarita, the tequila burned as it poured down her throat. She went up to the bar and ordered two bottles of Bud Light and headed back to the booth. Everyone was giving Hotch a hard time for being the last one to arrive.

"We're heading back to the dance floor, come on Will!" JJ grabbed Will by the hand and headed to the dancefloor, the two were dancing front to front hardly leaving any distance between them. Morgan had gotten rid of the crowd and was now dancing close to one young woman.

"I'm going to head out guys, I'm flying out to visit my Mom early tomorrow, enjoy your weekend off!" Reid climbed out of the booth and towards the door.

"Wait up kid, I'm heading out too! See you guys Monday, Congratulations Penelope!" Rossi shook Kevin's hand, and kissed Penelope's cheek. Rossi and Reid walked out the door together leaving Emily, Hotch, Penelope and Kevin in the booth.

"I must have really killed this party." Hotch joked. "Looks like I'm going to have to start drinking more." Hotch flagged down a waitress, "Hello, can I have a round of tequila shots?" Hotch smiled at the rest of the booth, "Who doesn't like tequila?"

Emily smiled, "I'll take some shots!" Emily quickly downed her beer before the tequila shots arrived. The liquor continued to flow at the booth for the next hour, and four tequila shots later, Emily began to feel quite tipsy. Garcia and Kevin had headed to the dancefloor, where Morgan and his dance partner had disappeared.

Emily and Hotch were both rambling on about nothing in particular. Emily couldn't tell you exactly what was being said, but she knew she was already feeling better about herself. She finally had built up enough liquid courage to ask Hotch a question she'd been dying to all night. "Did you wanna dance?

Hotch's stomach dropped, his mind raced a mile a minute. He hadn't danced with a woman in months, much less one as attractive as Emily. "It would be my pleasure." What was he doing, he could hardly separate his left foot from his right. None the less, Emily lead Hotch onto the dancefloor hand in hand. Hotch stood and danced awkwardly unsure of where to put his hands. Emily grabbed his hands and put them on her hips. There was still a large amount of space between the two that needed to be filled, Emily took a step towards Hotch and began dance a little faster. In no time, the two were dancing closely.

About twenty minutes into their dance, JJ came up behind Emily and grabbed her shoulders. Emily quickly spun around to face her friend. JJ smiled slyly, "Don't do anything I would, call me tomorrow or something. We're going to the zoo, but I can't wait to hear about your evening." JJ gave Emily a quick squeeze and headed out with Will and the newly engaged couple.

Emily turned quickly back to Hotch who was exactly where she had left him. A sudden wave of nausea filled Emily's stomach. "I'm not feeling so hot, I think I should go home." Hotch's bright face immediately sunk. He was disappointed but he understood.

"I understand, would you like to share a cab home since we live close? I don't think either of us is in any shape to drive." Hotch smiled and put his hand around Emily's shoulder to which she simply responded, "Let's get out of here."

The pair stood outside the bar, waiting for their cab to arrive. Hotch had his arms around Emily who was shivering. "Emily, I've had a great time with you tonight. Thanks for inviting me." Emily smiled and opened her mouth to respond when a car horn interrupted her. The pair turned to see the cab.

"I think this is us..." Emily said quietly, the two climbed into the backseat of the cab. "I'm going to 4971 Oakland St." The driver nodded and turned the meter on. Emily and Hotch giggled in the back about everything they see. Those tequila shots had quickly caught up on the two. The half hour cab ride seemed to take minutes to the pair.

The car came to a stop in front of Emily's apartment complex. Emily fidgeted to find the words to say what she wanted. Her mind began to wonder until her thoughts were interrupted by Hotch's voice. "We're at your apartment Emily. Are you okay to be alone?" Hotch's voice of concern seemed genuine, just like the look on his face.

Emily quickly blurted out. "Do you wanna come upstairs with me?"