Tara wrapped her arms around Hotch and felt the tears welling up once again. It had felt like she had been crying for years, and it seemed to have no intention of stopping any time soon.

"How long, Aaron? How long are you going to be away?" she asked, her voice rough and oddly childlike, reminding her of when her father had left on one of his many deployments, and she, being the innocent 7-year-old she was, would ask him the same question every time, to which he had no clear answer.

Old habits die hard indeed.

Hotch felt her tremble in his arms again and his own heart shattered once more. Tara had become his associate, his friend, and over time his lover. He still felt guilty about Haley, and would never forget what catching a criminal had cost him, but Tara had managed to unconsciously rebuild him and make him feel love for her, and himself, in ways he never knew he could. But no matter how deep he had fallen for Tara, his son would always come first. However, that did nothing to stop the pain he felt from leaving her.

Breathing in her scent, he sighed deeply, feeling her body and his become one for the briefest second, and answered after a while. "I really don't know, I wish I did, but I have to be there for Jack now more than ever. He's terrified, I can tell, and I'll die before I let Lewis anywhere near him."

The thought of Aaron, her Aaron, lying dead in the morgue sent her over the edge once again. Something inside of her snapped, and she clenched her fists, clutching to the lapels of his blazer, afraid to let go, and began sobbing violently once more. He pulled her impossibly closer, and began to cry himself, tears silently streaming down his face and the lump in his growing ever larger. His internal rage grew also; how dare Peter Lewis be the cause of her pain? How dare anyone upset someone this wonderful?

How was he supposed to help put her back together?

The shrill ring of Hotch's phone forced them to separate as he took the call. Tara wiped furiously at her eyes, silently pleading that they stop to make this just a minute bit easier. She was head over heels for him, and would not love another again. He was enthralled with her, but would not let her be put in the same danger as his ex-wife.

"I understand, sir. Yes I'll be out in just a minute. I will. Okay goodbye." Hotch ended the call and hung his head, peering at Tara through his lashes. In less than a year she had grown so far, like a blooming flower, and even made Hotch grow. She completed him, and that fact made his very soul burn in anguish because he had to leave.

"Just promise me one thing, Aaron. One thing and I'll let you go." she pleads.

"Anything, my love. Absolutely anything." Tara's heart was racing and in two long strides she was back in his arms, and crushed her lips to his in a desperate attempt at one last, wordless farewell. His hands immediately grasped the sides of her face, fingers burying themselves in dark, thick, beautiful locks. As he surrendered to the warmth of her love, he had one last conscious thought.

Heaven.

Tara released his lips and stepped back until they were only mere centimetres apart and whispered her request into his mouth.

"Make the next one better when you come back."