Author's Note: Dedicated to Angel N Darkness for her birthday today. Happy Birthday Crystal!
Disclaimer: I do not own Criminal Minds. I do not own Can't Stop Loving You by Van Halen.
Disclaimer: Can't Stop Loving You – Van Halen
It's been three months since Hotch and Prentiss have broken up. Hotch was sitting in his office and reflecting over everything that has went on for the last three months. No matter how hard he tries he can't stop loving her. It hurt him that she could barely stand to look at him. He was lucky if he can even get her to talk to him in a professional manor. He thought that breaking up with her was the right thing to do because his life had fallen apart when his ex wife died. He didn't want to drag her down with him. Now it seems that she had moved on while he was still in love with her.
He looked out his office window when he heard her laughter. That was what hurt the most. She would talk, joke and laugh with everyone else but she wouldn't with him. She wouldn't even stay in the same room as him for a long period of a time. He knew he had nobody but himself to blame but it still hurt none the less. He just wished that he wouldn't have messed up so badly. He wanted her to know that he still loved her but at the same time he was afraid. He was afraid that she would laugh in his face just like she was laughing now.
Before he even knew what he was doing Hotch was up out of his seat and out of his office before he could even blink. The next thing he knew he was standing beside Prentiss's desk and pulling her up out of her chair. He saw the surprise in her eyes but didn't give her the chance to say anything. His head descended and then he was kissing her like there was no tomorrow.
Hotch broke the kiss so that he could get a breath and then he was kissing her again. He hoped that she could tell by the way that he was kissing her that he loved her still. He knew he was going to have to tell her the words but he also wanted her to feel how much he loved her still.
When Hotch finally broke the kiss he took in a ragged breath. "I love you Emily. I know I screwed up royally and nothing will change that. I can't stop loving you no matter how hard I try. Yes, I have tried because I thought that I was a broken man and couldn't give you what you needed. You're the only one who can even help to fix me. I understand if you can't or won't take me back but I just had to tell you I love you."
Prentiss gave a shout of joy and then jumped into Hotch's arms and wrapped her legs around his waist. "I can't stop loving you either Aaron."