As soon as Emily Prentiss stepped off the elevator she felt sick to her stomach. She looked around her and let out a loud groan. The BAU bullpen had been decorated with pink, red and white hearts everywhere. Little cupid men with bow and arrows were hanging from the ceiling. Roses were placed through out the room. She walked over to her desk and dropped her bag down with a loud thud.
Morgan looked up at her, "Good morning Princess. Is everything alright?"
Prentiss looked up and rolled her eyes. "What the hell happened? Who in their right mind decided to decorate this place? Why is someone trying to shove this poor excuse for a holiday down our throats?" Emily was on a roll and her voice was getting louder with each word.
Morgan couldn't control his laughter. He never saw Emily act like that-especially over a holiday.
"Why are you laughing at me? Do you find these horrible decorations entertaining?"
Morgan just laughed harder at his distraught friend. He got up and placed his hands on Emily's shoulders. "Calm down Em. It's okay. What about Valentine's Day gets you so worked up?"
"It's just a day that gets to make all the single females in the world feel bad about themselves for not having someone in their lives. Because God forbid someone be happy without someone else! But for one day out of the year, couples go crazy looking for 'perfect' gifts for each other and it's pointless!" She shouted and the rest of the team started to gather around Morgan and Emily listening with amusement as Emily spazed out without noticing them. "I mean you get flowers, chocolate and lingerie. And hello people," she threw her hands up drastically, "flowers die, chocolate gets eaten and lingerie well, we all know where that ends up! It's a waste of time and energy...and money! But what I want to know is why people feel the need to decorate and make people feel bad about themselves is beyond me! I hate Valentine's Day Morgan, I HATE IT!"
Garcia walks up and looks down. "Sorry about all the decorations gumdrop. I didn't know they would bother you so much."
"You did all this?" Emily asked in disbelief.
"Yeah, I'm just trying to get everyone in the spirit. I'm sorry. And just a little warning, if you don't like it out here, do not under any circumstances come into my office." she informed her slowly then backed away towards the group again.
Emily looked around at the group now all staring at her and she rolled her eyes again. "Why are you all looking at me like that? You can't tell me that every single one of you likes this holiday. I mean, Reid, seriously?"
The young genius lowered his head and mumbled, "Actually I have a date tonight."
Emily's mouth along with everyone else's dropped open. "You have got to be kidding me," she whined as she plopped down into her chair.
"Good for you kid," Rossi congratulated.
"Make sure you write me a full report of what happens tonight," Morgan teased.
Sensing that Reid was embarrassed Emily continued her search for someone else who hates the holiday. "Dave?"
"Don't look at me, I actually enjoy it. And the fact that I don't have a wife at the moment so I don't have to buy anyone anything I enjoy it even more. But I do have plans tonight."
"I'm not even going to ask you Morgan because I'm sure you have five dates all lined up tonight. I hate you by the way, so that leaves…" Emily trailed off as she looked up at Hotch.
"If it makes you feel any better Prentiss, I'm not doing anything tonight either. I think Valentine's Day is a horrible holiday. There shouldn't be holidays that everyone can't enjoy. Single people don't enjoy it, but I don't mind the decorations as much as you do."
Emily crossed her arms defiantly over her chest, "You had me for a minute Hotch and then you just threw it away." Everyone let out another chuckle as Emily pouted.
"Maybe you should go out and try to find a valentine tonight Em," Morgan tried.
Emily whipped her head to face him so fast her hair flew into her face. "Why the hell would I do that Morgan? It's Valentine's Day. Everyone who wants a valentine already has a valentine. So not only do you want me to continue hating this holiday, but you also want me to hate myself for going up to some random guy and get shot down because a) he's either already with someone, b) he doesn't want a valentine, or c) he's gay. Really? Do you think that would make my day better?" Silence ran through the room. "Well do you?" Emily cried out.
"I guess not," Morgan chuckled.
"I hate you," Emily mumbled.
Hotch cleared his throat. "Okay everybody, let's get back to work." The team went their different directions while Hotch stayed behind and walked slowly up to Emily's desk. She turned her head and arched an eyebrow silently asking him what he needed. "Can I see you in my office for a minute Prentiss?" he asked softly.
Emily nodded then followed him up the stairs and into his office. Shutting the door tightly, Emily faced Hotch, "I'm sorry for my outburst sir, I know I should keep my personal feelings to myself, but coming in today and seeing all of those decorations made me want to bang my head against a wall. I apologize."
Smiling slightly Hotch walked over to his desk and sat down, motioning for Emily to do the same. "I didn't call you up here to ask you to apologize for your actions. I don't see anything wrong with them. You spoke your mind, that's all. You are entitled to your opinion." A long pause filled the office as Emily waited for him to continue. "I actually wanted to know if you wanted to…I don't know…hang out tonight, I guess you could say." Hotch watched as shock ran across Emily's face. "I mean, Jessica took Jack for the day, she said they were going to bake cookies and do crafts for the holiday, and I'm not doing anything and you already stated that you don't have any plans, so I figured we could get together and be lonely together."
"Hotch I just want this day to be over," Emily started, "I don't want to think it's Valentine's Day."
"Oh, I know, I just thought we could have an anti-Valentine's Day. You know watch a bloody horror movie or two. Take one of the cupids home and rip its head, feet, arms and anything else off of him. Maybe light him on fire, that type of thing. But if you don't want to that's fine, I—"
"I'd love to."
"Really?" Hotch arched an eyebrow. "You weren't too keen on the idea a few seconds ago. You don't have to Emily, it's fine."
"Well a few seconds ago, you didn't mention a horror movie and killing cupid. That changes everything," she smiled.
A half smile graced Hotch's face. "Great, so say around 8?"
"I'll be there." With that Emily stood up and left his office to finish her pile of paperwork, surrounded by a million hearts and flowers. But the idea of an anti-Valentine's Day party brightened her mood slightly.