Play time - Part 2 -

Rating: K

Summary: Post-Ep 6x8 Reflection of Desire. Hotch, Prentiss, theater, round 2.

Disclaimer: Not mine.

A/N: It's really getting hard to find the inspiration for a Hotch/Emily story, when you look at the lack of H/P scenes in season six and read all the spoilers about Pagets exit. On the one hand I'm used to it, because pairings I like never seem to work out, but on the other hand it's still frustrating. I never expected them to actually hook up on the show, but come on, some more cute, sweet scenes between the two before Paget leaves wouldn't have hurt. Anyway, I wrote another part for this story. Be warned. This one is not beta read (if anyone wants to do that job, let me know). This part turned out be more humorous then I had in mind, when I started writing this story. It happens. Now read for your self.

It was Friday night and Emily, Garcia and JJ had met at their favorite bar. They tried to get together and have a girls night out every two or three weeks, but sometimes one of them were out of town or was to busy, so that they wouldn't see each other for weeks. This time they hadn't seen each other for a month and they had many stories to tell. JJ was showing Emily and Penelope the newest picture of her son Henry on her phone, when she remembered something.

"Hey, has anyone of you plans for next Friday? I got two theater tickets, but Will and I are going to visits Wills family. It's it his mothers birthday."

Expectingly JJ looked from Emily to Garcia.

"Sorry, I will be star of the night myself, but maybe Emily wants them? The word is she has a new found interest in the performing arts. Especially when a certain unit chief comes along."

"Hotch? Did I miss something?" JJ's curiosity was piqued.

"No, you didn't, because there is nothing to miss." Emily claimed.

Ignoring Emily, Garcia went on to tell JJ what had happened two weeks earlier.

"Emily and the boss man had a date!"

"Really! And you didn't tell me!"

"There was no date!" Emily protested.

"Darling, did you or did you not spend an evening with him?" Garcia questioned.

"Rossi got us theater tickets! That's all." Emily defended herself.

"My point, exactly. He picked you up, you went out, had a good time: That's what you call a date!" Garcia insisted.

Emily rolled her eyes in frustration.

"It wasn't a date!"

JJ decided it was the perfect time to torture her friend a bit.

"What did you see?" she asked innocently.

"Cyrano de Bergerac."

"Cyrano de Bergerac, quite romantic don't you think?"

"Rossi's pick!"

"Well, you could do worse than Hotch."

"Definitely. The man is HOT. Not as hot as my man chocolate, but if you like the tall, dark, prince of cool type. " Garcia agreed.

Emily starred at her friends in disbelieve. Seeing the look on her face, the two women broke into heavy laughter. After they calmed down, all three of them took a sip from their drinks.

JJ noticed how Emily was a bit off. She didn't need to be profiler, to realize that their little teasing maybe had hit a bit of a nerve for her dark haired friend. She knew Emily and Hotch had a special connection. The way Emily had supported him, after the attack was more than a co-worker helping another co-corker. She hadn't thought much of it back then, since the whole team was very close, but what if it was more? What if Emily had deeper feelings for him?

Emily became aware of JJ studying her.

"What?"

"Do you want the tickets?" JJ asked quietly, not teasing anymore.

"Why not. If we are not out of town, I don't have any plans, yet."

"Good. I send them to you."

"Wait. What are they for anyway?"

When Emily came to the office on Monday she found an envelop on her desk, that was addressed to her in JJs neat handwriting. It contained two tickets and a piece of paper.

Emily sat down and unfolded the letter.

Hey Em,

as promised two ticket for The Sunshine Boys. I hope you are going to have fun and I'm expecting a full report afterwards. And don't be shy: ask Hotch to go with you!

Love

JJ

Emily put the letter down on her desk, starring at the two white tickets. Was this JJ's attempt of setting her and Hotch up? She wasn't quite sure what Rossis intention had been, when he had asked her to go along with Hotch, but somehow Emily doubted it had only been, so that Hotch would have company. Then, it was no secret that she and Hotch were friends. Maybe that was all Rossi and JJ were thinking of.

Emily was pulled back from her thoughts, when a familiar voice addressed her.

"Everything all right?" Hotch asked. He had some files in his hand and was on his way to his office, but had stopped next to her, when he had seen her moonily look.

"Oh yeah. I was just thinking..." Emily answered with a smile.

"Good." Hotch walked on.

Okay, why not, Emily thought and got out of her seat.

He was already on the stairs, when Emily called after him.

"Hotch!" Hearing his name, he turned around.

"JJ gave me tickets for "The Sunshine Boys" next Friday. I was wondering, if you would like to go with me."

When he didn't answer right away, she feared, he would just say no or that he already had plans or something else that would make her feel stupid. But he didn't.

"The Sunshine Boys? That's the one with two entertainers who hate each other, but reunite for one last time, right? I like to see that."

Emily was relieved to get an positive answer.

"Uh, great." Not knowing what else to say, she went back to work.

Just like the first time Hotch came by Emilys apartment to pick her up. He was very pleased when he saw, that she was wearing the same black dress, she had worn the night they had flown out to Alaska. He thought it looked very good on her and just like the first time he had seen her in it, he noticed how well her legs were shown.

Neither Emily or Hotch had seen The Sunshine Boyson stage before, nor had they seen the movie with Walter Matthau. They enjoyed it quite a bit. Emily was glad, it wasn't a dark piece. This way she got to hear Hotch laugh.

When the play was over they were in a good mood. Hotch helped Emily in her coat and was smiling brightly at her. Emily noticed this and wondered who this man was.

He stirred her away from the crowed of theatergoer and out on the street.

"The guy, who played Clark was fantastic."

"Oh yes. I loved him doing his comedy act."

They walked down the street with it's cafes and bars. Suddenly Hotch noticed something on the other side of the street. It was a bar called "Elliots". He remembered, that he and Rossi had been there one or twice. He stopped and turned to Emily.

"Would you like to get a drink?"

"I'd love to."

They sat down on a small round table across from each other. A waitress came by and they ordered some red wine. After that they sat in easy silence, until Emily couldn't help it, but had to chuckle.

"What?" Hotch had no idea what mad her laugh.

"This is more like you again." Hotch didn't know what was on her mind.

"Not talking. That's ...you."

"As opposite to...?"

"Laughing."

"As surprising as it seems to you, I do laugh occasionally."

"I know. I was there tonight. But it's not often that I get to hear it."

"True, but then it's not often that I get to hear you laughing either."

"Right." Emily smiled at him.

The waitress brought their wine. They took their glasses.

"To more laughing?" Emily suggested

"To more laughing" Hotch agreed and they clinked glasses.

"I know something to make you laugh. It's a joke Garcia told me this morning." Emily said grinning.

"Oh goodness."

"Don't worry. It's not NC-17. "

"Well, in that case: go ahead."

"Says the patient to the doctor: I can't sleep when I drink coffee. Says doctor. Interesting, for me it's the other way round: I can't drink coffee when I sleep."

"That's funny?"

"Yeah, if Garcia tells it to you..." When a smile appeared on his lips she added

"See! At least I made you smile."

He chuckled and looked in her eyes and Emily could have sworn, she saw the same sparkle of excitement in his eyes she felt that moment.

The next morning Emily was still deep asleep, when her phone rang. Cursing who ever it was calling, she picked up the phone.

"Hello" she said with a sleep filled voice.

"Sounds like someone had a long night." JJ answered cheerfully.

Emily growled something as answer that JJ couldn't make out, so she just ignored it.

"How was it?"

"JJ, it's 7 a.m. On a Saturday. Why are you up so early?"

"You do remember this adorable little boy, that calls me mommy? He does not care what day of the week it is to be full of energy when he wakes up and wants to be entertained."

"And why are you calling me at this untimely hour?"

"Because, you had a date with Hotch."

Emily yawned.

"So how was it?"

"We went to the theater, had a drink and that was it. End of night."

"Come on!"

"Sorry to disappoint you."

"I can tell you hiding something! Wait! Is he there with you!"

"JJ! He's my boss!'

"He's also a man. A handsome man."

Emily buried her face in her pillow.

"JJ it's 7 a.m. My brain is not ready for this kind of joking. Because you better be joking. I tell you what: I call you later, when you don't feel like being funny. So bye."

Emily hung up, before JJ had the chance to protest. Then she fell back in her pillows and closed her eyes. She was still tired and since it was Saturday she could as well stay in bed a bit longer. Maybe she would tell JJ later about how good Hotch had looked, how one glass of wine had turned into another, how he had walked her to her door and how the look in his brown eyes when they finally said good bye had made her knees weak. And how she had wished, he would kiss her. Of course, Hotch had not kissed her, but just because it didn't happen, didn't mean, she couldn't wonder about what it would have been like to be kissed by him. Emily wrapped her blanked around her. With a smile on her lips she to doozed off once more.