A/N: This is a Hotch/Emily story. The only difference in this from canon is that Doyle was the one who died (Morgan shot him) rather than Emily 'dieing'.

Lets try to get at leats five review, please? :)

Alteration

26 August 2012
-01:07am-

Emily sighed, relieved as she stepped out the shower. The room was steamy, the mirrors clouded over with condensation. As always, a shiver ran through her as the temperature rapidly lowered around her after stepping out the deliciously warm water. Her hair dripped onto the linolium flooring, sticking to her creamy skin. Droplets trailing down her neck and into her cleavage, under her fluffy white bath sheet which she had wrapped aroud herself.

After all that dancing, drinking and general behaviour unacceptable for a grown woman, let alone an ambassadors daughter, it was good to clean of all the sweat and the spilled alcohol on her. Nothing was more sobering than a good shower... except maybe seven espressos. A wry smile fell onto her. Good old coffee...

Her ears suddenly picked up the sound shuffling from under her, and Emily reacted quickly, hand instantly reaching for her weapon only to stop as she remembered that Hotch was actually in her apartment. Emily loved her apartment, sure, but it wasn't exactly conductive for sneakign around. You could hear everything through the walls and floors.

Taking a long, calming breath, she left her bathroom and went into her bedroom, throwing her weapon onto the bed as she hurried to dress. She chose a simple fitted black shirt and black slacks to wear, not wantign to make a big fuss over it at one in the morning. She really didn't care about how she looked on the plane, as long as she was comfortable.

However, the shuffling from the downstairs persisted, and she paused, lookign at her outfit... It couldn't hurt to dress smartly though, could it? Chris and JJ always made an extra effort to look good, so if she did to it would just... complete the trio. Before she could talk herself out of it, she had gone over to her wardrobe and started to rake through her clothes.

She pulled out her embellished, cream caftan style top, which allwoed for easy, fluid arm movements, and matched it with her black skinny-leg trousers and her black leather jacket. dressign quickly, and pulling her hair into a messy bun, bangs framing her face, she applied a quick coat of red gloss and mascara.

Not to over the top, yet a definite effort on her part. The top had actually been a gift from Chris, and she had never worn it before, but it was surprisingly comfortable even with the small beading. Emily puleld her overnight bag out of the bottom of the wardrobe and quickly grabbed her favourite pyjamas (they were extremely soft and very comfortable) a pair of fluffy slippers and a few extra tops and a pair of slacks.

Shoving on her black court pumps quickly, she rushed from the room after collecting her toiletry bag and down the stairs. She slowed when she saw Hotch pacing, on the phone with an angry expression on his face. His lips were pursed and his entire form tense.

Licking her lips, slightly apprehensive, she went over to her kitchen to put food down for Sergio, the tabby cat prowling along the side, miaowing insistantly at her. "Hey push, who's a good kitty," she cooed softly, scratching under his chin. He purred in delight, before hopping from the side and headbutting his food container.

Shaking her head, she bent down and scooped some of the dry cat food, putting two into both of the food bowls and then refilling his water dish. He instantly went for the food, and she shook her head. "Fat little kitty," she mumbled affectionatly, before looking back at Hotch.

"Is everything okay?" she questioned, after he hung up, eyebrows furrowed and a deadly serious expression on his face. He responded 'I'm fine' curtly, almost snapping at her, and she rose her eyebrows before glaring at him. "It was just a question, Hotch."

He sighed and rubbed his eyes with his thumb and forefinger. Hotch looked at her, feeling guilty about snapping at her when it wasn't her fault he was tired and in a bad mood. "No, I'm sorry... I'm just tired, don't worry about it."

"Oh. Do you want me to drive?" she asked, worried for him, to the point she was actually worried about the fact that she was so concerned, and he gave her a 'are-you-serious' expression, before shaking his head with a wry sort of smile.

"I think I'll drive. You may not feel drunk, but you still have alcohol in your system, and it wouldn't look good if you got pulled over for drink-driving," he said, soem of his humour returning. Emily blinked, before flushing and bobbing her head, chuckling slightly.

"Yeah. That would look really bad..."

- 01:54pm-

Emily slumped in her seat on the plane, coffee in hand. JJ and Chris sat opposite her, Chris reading a file with a venti mochalatte in one hand, and JJ resting her head against the window savouring the coolness on her still slightly flushed skin. She had sobered greatly, but she was still a little bit heated, and sleepy.

The flight was five hours, so JJ was catching up on any sleep she had missed. Hotch had, thankfully, agreed to let them have a few hours sleep before startign the brief, and he himself had even fell into a slumber on a further end of the plane.

Emily couldn't help but stare at him slightly. Even in his sleep, he seemed to be tense. Frown delicate on his lips, eyes scrunched shut, moving rapidly under the lids. She wanted to ease his tension. It made her worry to see him in such turmoil. He had already been through so much that it was unfair he was still suffering.

"Why won't Spencer talk to me?" Chris whispered, anxiously. He hadn't spoken to her since the breifing... he wouldn't even look at her. It made her scared. Emily looked at her sympathetically, not knowing what to say. "I didn't do anything wrong, right?"

If there was one thing that Emily had learned about Chris, was that when it came to people she cared about, Chris was always paranoid about upsetting them. You could tell by her desk in the office. It was prefectly neat, files organised, monitor straight with two pictures of her family and the team on either side, and an orchid plant. She made sure to keep it looking tidy, and at the same time sentimental to please Strauss. But her drawers at her desk were full to the brim with rubbish that she didn't need, excess supplies and random files.

Emily looked over her seat to where Reid sat, head low, wearing sunglasses as he read through the files. There was a slightly disturbed look on his face, and he blocked everything around him out, like Morgan who was listening to his iPod.

"It's probably nothing, Chris. You shouldn't worry about it," Emily assured her, turning back to the other brunette. Chris still had a gloomy look on her face, but concurred, sipping her mochilatte and closing the file, feeling to apprehensive to sleep. "Tonight was good, before the case, wasn't it?"

Chris smiled slightly, nodding. "I forgot how good it was to be able to have a drink when I go out," Chris chuckled quietly. Emily rose an eyebrow in questioning. "Anna's four in October, Eva turned two on the first, and James is one. I was still breastfeeding when I got pregnant with Eva, and before Eva was even five months old I was pregnant again with James. He only just stopped breastfeeding. I haven't had a drink in over four years," Chris explained, wearily and Emily whistled low.

"Wow... that's... a lot of pregnancy," Emily finally stated, and Chris rolled her eyes, agreeing silently. She yawned and leaned back in her seat, exhausted. Emily gave her a disapproving glance, a natural instinct to take care of the younger woman coming up. "You need to get some sleep."

"You aren't fairing any better than I am, Em. Besides, I can't sleep on planes... or without Spencer. And he isn't talking to me for some unknown reason so looks like I'll just be putting up with being awake. But you should try. God knows JJ is," Chris chuckled, and JJ opened an eye, looked at Chris before playfully hitting her on the arm and going back to sleep.

"I'd feel bad leaving awake with no one to talk to," Emily told her, her voice low, and Chris's eyes went over to Reid, and then gave Emily a sad grin.

"Don't worry about me. I think I have a husband that I need to have a conversation with," Chris lamented, and Emily gave her a supportive glance. Chris gave her a look of tenderness, before she stood and went over to where Reid slept, softly treading the carpet with bare feet. She knelt next to his sleeping form, and shook him gently. Emily looked away from them, to see JJ watching her with a gracious look.

"What?" Emily asked, a slightly defensive undertone in her voice. JJ laughed lightly at it, her blue eyes glowing at her friend.

"You treat her like she's your daughter sometimes," JJ stated and Emily frowned. She began to protest, and JJ rose her eyebrows, cocking her head to the side. "You do the same thing to Spence. It's nothing to be ashamed of. You probably are the closest thing Chris ever had to a mom."

"Yeah, but still... oh god... If I'm the mom, then who's cast as Daddy in this little scenario?" Emily asked, paling and JJ chuckled, saying 'Hotch, obviously'. Emily felt her cheeks starting to burn, while a smirk fell onto JJ's lips. Unbidden, Emily's eyes flicked over to Hotch again, and JJ's eyes widened as Emily's cheeks turned even more red.

"You like Hotch," she hissed gleefully, and Emily glared at her, saying 'shut up!' under her breath, looking around to make sure that no one had heard the blond. JJ covered her mouth, suddenly feeling energized. She leaned over the table. "Oh my god... since when?"

"I don't... I don't like Hotch... I was just surprised, that's all," Emily protested, and JJ just scoffed, shaking her head, before a soft look came over her face. She could see that her friend was in obvious denial. Truthfully, she had begun to see the hints of attraction long before this conversation. A look there, a touch here. Emily's constant worry for Hotch, and how well they got along. Emily had been one of the main things keeping Hotch stable after Haley's death, and her nearly dying at the hands of Doyle had nearly shattered the fragile Hotch.

And then there was the fact that Jack loved Emily. JJ never mentioned it, but she knew perfectly well that Emily doted on the boy, taking him to the zoo and the cinema and trying to be there for him when Hotch couldn't. If Emily hadn't started to like Hotch, JJ would have been extremely surprised.

"Would it be so bad if you did? I mean, you two would look great together... you would be great together. And if you ever had a baby, with his dimples and your eyes? That would be one of the most beautiful babies in the world," JJ declared, keeping her voice low enough so that only Emily could hear her. Emily flushed shaking her head, disproved and JJ gave her a pointed look.

"No... Don't be silly..." Emily insisted before she slowly trailed off, images of a little girl with big brown eyes and dimples in her mind. She looked wistfully out of the small round window into the night, and JJ gave her a half-smile and reached over the table squeezing her hand tightly. Emily blinked at her, at the tender expression that JJ had and it made her feel slightly vulnerable. "Do you really think we would be good together?"

"Honestly... I think you'd be amazing, Emily," JJ told her, and Emily swallowed, looking over at Hotch silently, before her eyes fell down to the table top. JJ exhaled slowly, and graciously looked away, past Emily to Reid and Chris. Chris was now lying on the couch with him, on his chest. His legs were bent slightly, with her lying between them and her head rested on his shoulder, him having shifted into a slightly more upright position. They had a thin blanket draped over the both of them, and they both slept lightly.

"Do you think they'll be okay?" Emily asked, breaking her out of her trance, and JJ glanced at her, slightly surprised, before she dipped her head, gazing back over at the married couple.

"I think she loves him too much for them not to be."

-08:26am (Virginia) 06:26am (Los Angeles) -

Emily rubbed her eyes as she stepped out of the black SUV. She put on her sunglasses, the morning sun bright in the sky. After arriving in LA they had gone straight to their hotel to check in and drop of their things. Naturally, Chris and JJ had both showered and changed to get rid oft he dirty feelign that often came from drinking to much. All three were fully sober once more and ready to work, hyped up on coffee and about four hours of sleep.

Chris stepped out after her, wearing black, perfectly ironed slacks with a crease straight down the centre, and a cream lace kimono style top. On her feet she wore simple black suede pumps, and her hair was French braided to keep it out her face. Her chrome Colt.45 was in it's holster on a brown belt around her waist, along with her badge. JJ followed her.

Her blonde hair was pinned back in a with the rest in curls, and she wore a grey cable knit assymetric sweater with black wide leg trouser and grey seude heels. She carried her Glock 26 on her belt, and had sunglasses on already as she stepped onto the red brick driveway.

"Wow... she really didn't spare any expense when she bought this place, did she?" Emily stated, looking at her fellow female team members, and Chris looked up at the building, shaking her head and whistling. It was rustic Spanish, coming in from a private courtyard with large trees in the yard. A red Porche was in the driveway. "This has to be worth at least a million dollars. Reminds me a little of my mothers summer home."

"Reminds me of the spoiled rich kids from the ranch down the roads," Chris stated nonchalantly, hands on her hips with a cocked eyebrow. JJ looked at her out the corner of her eye, and Chris smirked at her, before she looked at Reid, who was rubbing his temples and ducking his head slightly. She scowled slight, walking away from JJ and Emily. Emily watched as she set her fingers on Reid's temples, tongue moistening her lips as she gave him a worried look.

"Do you have your sunglasses?" she asked softly, and he nodded, his eye twitching and looked at him, before reaching into his pocket and pulling them out. "Put them on, okay? I don't want you in pain," she stated. Reid took them from her quietly and put them on, before giving her a tight hug. She smiled and held him just as tightly, until Hotch gave a disapproving cough.

"Reid, Chris, professionalism now. We have a case," he interrupted. Chris rapidly seperated from Reid, giving a curt aqquiensce to their leader and boss. It was only for a moment, however, as three seconds later, her phone went off in her pocket.

Sheepishly, she looked at Hotch, before answering it. "Hello sweetheart, what's wrong?" she said, and Emily mouthed 'Anna' at her. The other brunette nodded, and then held one figner up, excusing herself for a minute to talk to her daughter.

"We can catch her up later. Lets go," Hotch instructed, and the rest of the team followed him up the driveway and to the large darkwood door. Two heavy men stood on either side, in black suits with sunglasses on.

"This must be the upped security," Emily stated, looking up at Hotch, who nodded. He held up his badge.

"We're the Behavioral Analys Unit with the FBI. Miss Archer requested our help," he told them, and the two men stared down at him, then at his badge, before stepping aside to allow them entrance. Morgan exhaled sharply at the extravagant decor in the lobby, and then whistled.

"Man... this nearly puts some of my houses to shame," he muttered, and Reid chuckled softly, his hands in his pockets. Morgan rose an eyebrow, smirking slightly. "You ready for this, kid?"

"Why wouldn't I be?" he asked, bluntly and Morgan scoffed, clapping him on the shoulder. Chris walked in after them, placing her phone her pocket and looking at Rossi, who rose an eyebrow. She shrugged and beamed at him, standing next to him a a blonde haired woman started to walk down the hallway towards them.

She looked miserable, until she got closer and saw Reid. Her eyes widened, and the woman rushed forward, wrappign her arms around his waist and burying her face into his neck. Chris grit her teeth, fingers twitching to reach for her Colt, until Emily quickly held her arm, warning her not to react.

"Spencer! I'm so glad you came," Lila gushed, her eyes red from obvious hours of crying. He looked at her nervously, a strained smile on his face as she held onto his arm, her hand sliding down and fingers intertwining with his. Morgan winced and looked at Chris, who'se expression had gone cold and steely.

"Miss Archer, I am sure you remember our team. These are members that joined after we met you, Agent Rossi, Agent Prentiss and Agent Reid," Hotch introduced the three, and Lila furrowed her eyebrows, opening her mouth slightly.

"I already know Spencer," she said, confused, and Chris steeped forward, a tight, unwelcoming smile on her face with caused a shiver to run down Lila's spine. Chris held out her hand.

"Agent Chris Reid," she intorduced herself, and Lila hummed in surprise, drooping Reid's hand and shaking hers, asking 'Are you his sister?'. Chris bared her teeth menacingly, looking past Lila at an uncomfortable Reid. "No. I'm his wife."