Prologue

She was on the warpath so everyone cleared the way while she headed to Hotch's office. She was meant to be leaving today and he had turned down her resignation. Why couldn't he just damn well accept it? It wasn't like he gave her a second thought. He'd been basically ignoring her for months since he started dating Beth. It was like he didn't want to know she existed so why was he refusing to let her resign. It just didn't make sense.

She barged into his office and he looked up straight away. Great he thought! Why couldn't she just let it be? He didn't want her to leave and that was that. She was a great asset to the team and he couldn't replace her. Who was he kidding?

"What's your problem, Hotch?" she shouted at him. "Why won't you accept my goddamn resignation?"

"Emily, you'll be a great loss to this team if you leave..." he answered looking down sitting on the edge of his desk. "I could never find another as good as you."

"Yer right," she shouted getting more and more annoyed. "You could find anyone to replace me. It's not like you ever notice what I do. I just want a job where I'm appreciated."

"You don't think I appreciate you," he answered a little angry.

"You've been ignoring me since Beth came on the scene and only interact with me when you have to. It's like you don't even want me to exist."

"Of course I want you to exist."

"Then why don't you show it. You don't even give me a second thought."

He was really wound up now and not quite thinking through what he was saying. "I'm always thinking about you! That's why Beth and I broke up last week!"

"What?" Emily answered off-guard. He'd broken up with Beth. He always thought of her. No if he did why would he go out with Beth? He couldn't love her not like she did him anyway. He couldn't do.

"I love you that's why I don't want you to go," Hotch shouted.

"But Beth?" she answered confused.

"I've been scared, Emily. You're my subordinate. I shouldn't be feeling this way over you."

"If you accepted my resignation I wouldn't' be your subordinate so it wouldn't be wrong for us to be together." She was pretty sure he worked out Beth was just jealousy on her part. He was the best profiler in the country.

"If I accept it you'll leave for London," he answered vulnerably.

"Not if I have someone holding me here because he loves me as much as I do him."

He smiled at her and added, "Really?"

"Absolutely. I love you, Aaron," she replied taking his head into her hands. "I love you. I couldn't stay feeling like you didn't want me. It was killing me."

"I love you, Emily. I should have let you know long ago."

She then grabbed his face and kissed him. They had their hands in each other's hair when there was suddenly a knock on the door. They pulled away and sorted themselves out while Hotch called, "Come in."

Strauss came in and raised an eyebrow seeing the two together. "We were just discussing Agent Prentiss' resignation," he informed her straightening himself out.

"Finally," she answered in a clipped tone. "I hear you're to leave for London today, Miss Prentiss. I hope you have a pleasant flight."

Emily noticed Aaron try and mask a look of sadness and added, "Not anymore, Chief Strauss."

"Oh," she answered surprised narrowing her eyes at Aaron.

"I have something to keep me here..." she said putting her hand on his arm then narrowed her eyes at her and added, "But I will be leaving the Bureau."

She nodded and smiled slightly.