Hi guys! this is my first ever fanfic so let me know what you think and how to improve. Thanks!

Disclaimer: I don't own... unfortunately

Chapter 1:

"Who is she?" Rossi asked no one in particular, hoping at least one of the six people sat around the table had the answer.

The same six faces stared back at him blank until Garcia's voice could be heard delivering fact after fact "Nicole Richards, 31, grew up in Sherwood, Oregon with her mother, father and 2 younger brothers until she left in 2000 to study law and psychology at Harvard University, she is single with no children and WOAH she has an IQ even higher than that of boy wonder here with an impressive 196" Both Rossi and Hotch looked slightly impressed while the other five looked a mixture of shocked and afraid at the idea of someone smarter than the genius doctor.

None of them noticed they weren't alone in the room until a voice sounded behind them "aww don't stop there, tell them about my 8years as a prosecutor or my mean forehand in tennis which earned me my scholarship to Harvard" they each turned to see a smirking brunette in the doorway looking back at them.

Derek chuckled and walked over to shake the woman's hand "Derek Morgan , nice to meet you. I'm the guy everyone round here comes to if they're looking for some fun" he was flirting he knew and so did they rest of them, not that they could blame him she was beautiful.

They all thought so; Women and men included in that. Even Hotch. Her hair thrown atop of her head in a messy bun, her eyes shining with too many different colours to count, cheeks bones that looked like they should be in Hollywood and a beautifully heartwarming smile.

She laughed, which had it not been for the smile on her face could easily have been mistaken for a sigh "Pleasure. I'd introduce myself but it seems there's no longer any need" she teased while looking over at Garcia who had the good sense to blush before saying "Penelope Garcia, resident computer genius, busybody and on the way back to her bunker" the other occupants of the room laughed as Garcia shook Nicole's hand and practically ran out of the room.

Next to introduce themselves was Rossi who kept it short and sweet with a name, a handshake and a smile. Followed by JJ and Blake who welcomed the girl, apologised for their friend's behaviour and then left the room to catch up on paperwork. Reid was next commenting on her high IQ and asking her all sorts of questions which she of course knew the answer to making him blush and walk out of the room keeping his head down, wondering how she knew so much. Leaving her with just Hotch and Derek in the room with her. Derek smiled at, while Hotch invited her to his office so they could decide where she would work and discuss her role and her skills. She followed closely behind as he led her along the balcony looking over the bullpen to his office before opening the door and holding it allowing her to enter, closing it behind them.

He sat behind his desk "I'm Aaron Hotchner" he said realising he'd left it quite late to introduce himself "I'm the unit chief and if you have any problems come to me. Erm, do you have your file with you?" And no sooner than he'd asked had she pulled it out of her hand bag and placed it on the desk in front of him. He was silent as he read over occasionally looking surprised or impressed before looking at her "that's a very impressive skill set you've got there, any particular reason you want to join the BAU?" He asked "or the FBI for that matter you were a brilliant prosecutor from the looks of it" he added quickly.

She smiled as though expecting the question because truth is she was and she knew just how to answer it as well, truthfully. "Everyday I would sit at my desk and a new file would come across my desk, another woman raped, or a family murdered and it wasn't enough for me anymore to just stand up and argue that the person was guilty. I realised I wanted to be out there catching the people who did it, I felt that here was where I could really make a difference. Where I could stop the rape or stop the murder before it got to someones like my desk." She paused and looked at him as if to ask if he understood, he nodded and signalled for her to continue "look I know the BAU is a tough place to work, you see things people couldn't even imagine nor would they want to. I know what I'm getting myself into here sir. I swear." she finished.

Hotch looked at her, really looked at her and saw himself all those years ago making the same decision she had "I understand, I've been where you are. Literally. I was a prosecutor too. Ok, be here at 9am tomorrow morning, it will give you time to set up your desk before we brief at 10" he told her.

She stood to leave, thanking him and shaking his hand, she made it to the door before she heard his voice say "oh, and maybe a pair of pants tomorrow huh? A skirts probably not the best clothing device to catch a criminal." He joked.

Laughing as she left this office she caused all the other agents gathered in the bullpen to look up at her in shock, did Hotch just make her laugh? She waved to them as she walked to the elevator, stepping in and making her way home to prepare herself for tomorrow and the rest of her life.