A/N: Shout out to Whatif-ifonly for being my first review: Thank you so much for all the support and love! I wouldn't even be writing if it wasn't for you so thank you for the inspiration as well! As for the rest of you, cliffhanger! I know I hate those too, but there was no other way to really end the chapter. Fear not, my schedule is completely clear up until Friday and so I hope to update every day. I sorta forgot my disclaimer in chapter 1. I do not own Criminal Minds. Reviews are chocolate. I am in love with chocolate. Feel free to comment or PM with any ideas you want to see and I will make sure to credit you. Happy reading!


She paused, waiting for him to tell her to come closer or go away. He snapped himself to attention, straightening up. He didn't stoop to collect his dropped papers, just left them on the floor for one of the others to pick up later. He cleared his throat.

"I wasn't aware you were visiting. Welcome back," he said in a strained voice. Emily saw straight through him. She was sure the others did too. He was an excellent profiler, one of the best, but family always knew. His tight control was cracking and he was speaking to her because it was socially required. "If any of you need me, I'll be in my office," he spoke as he spun on his heel and closed the door. They had a brief view of him as he shut the blinds into his office and then it was quiet.

"JJ, Derek, Pen, let's go on our lunch break," Spencer finally said, breaking the silence. Derek nodded, standing from his chair.

"Come on baby girl we can go to that Chinese place you keep naggin' at me to try."

"Okay, first of all, Derek, it is not just 'some Chinese place'. It is only the most delicious food to ever enter that pretty mouth of yours," Penelope ranted as she marched towards the door. Derek smiled to himself before following, waving at Em over his shoulder.

"Let's make sure they don't kill each other," JJ chuckled, waiting for Spence to grab his bag.

"They won't kill each other. Derek doesn't stand a chance," he joked, walking beside her on their way out. They both turned when they got to the doors. JJ blew a kiss and Spence waved, then they were gone. Emily felt abandoned for a moment.

"Don't take it too hard. They're giving you privacy," Rossi murmured into her ear. She turned to him, a confused expression on her face. "Don't give me that. The Emily Prentiss I knew was as good a profiler as any. Anyone can see that something's wrong with him. He's waiting for you to go up there," he said, rolling his eyes and pushing her up the ramp. She stumbled for a second then turned to face him, hands on her hips.

"David Rossi, lay your hands on me again and I will happily remove them," she scolded, fighting to keep the smile of her face. He didn't even try to hide the one on his.

"There's the Emily I remember," he chuckled, before passing her on the ramp and closing the door to his office. That left her with no distractions. The calm she had felt earlier evaporated and she took a deep, shaky breath.

"You can do this Emily. He isn't going to bite you," she muttered under her breath as she forced her feet to move up to his closed door. She lifted a hand hesitantly to knock when a strangled "Come in" floated through the door. Her brow wrinkled in concern. Was he that upset to see her? She turned the shiny doorknob, ignoring the somersaults her stomach was doing. His back was to her, hands laid out in support on the top of his desk. His head was bowed and he was looking down. She felt a sharp pang of worry. Was he sick? She stood in the doorway, waiting for permission to come in.

"Close the door, please," he said quietly, sounding more in control. She stepped inside and gently shut the door. He wouldn't turn to face her.

"Aaron, look at me," she coaxed, hoping she sounded reassuring and not demanding. When he didn't even shift, she grew annoyed. Everyone else was happy because of her homecoming. She thought for sure after JJ's wedding he would be too. "You haven't spoken to me in years, the least you can do is look at me."

He whirled around and his usually calm eyes were on fire. She stepped back involuntarily, feeling a split second of fear. He wouldn't hit her would he? He clenched his hands into fists, over and over again. His hands went to his hair and he started shaking his head.

"I haven't spoken to you? The last time I checked, you were the one who took off. You were bored remember?" he growled. His words felt like a slap in the face. She didn't get angry, like she normally would have. He was right. He had practically promised himself to her and she had up and left to go to England for another man. That relationship would never be romantic, but she had still left Aaron Hotchner for Clyde Easter, and an alpha male like him didn't take that too well. Something in her face must have given away her hurt because his eyes softened immediately. He reached his hands out, as if to hug her, then dropped them to his sides. He laid one on his desk and looked away from her. "I was a wreck Emily," he whispered softly. He moved his gaze to her face and the pain in his eyes broke her heart. She stepped forward, laying her hands on his shoulder. He turned until his back was to her, but she didn't remove her hands.

"I promised you I would come back," she crooned. She leaned her cheek against his back, feeling his muscles relax in defeat. His shoulders slumped, something she had never seen before. She felt his hand cover hers where it rested on his shoulder.

"I didn't know when. I didn't know if you had made London your home. I needed to talk to you, but you were an ocean away," he whispered. He sounded so broken that she almost cried. A moment of silence passed and neither said anything. They were content to just be. He straightened up and turned to face her. His eyes were back to the same smoldering orbs she had been mesmerized by her first day. They no longer burned with anger and, to her relief, weren't icy cold. They simply were. He gently took her hands in his from where they had fallen to her sides. "But you're here now. And I can finally breathe again," he sighed, taking a deep breath. He exhaled as if he hadn't been able to do that in years. Em could relate. She hadn't been able to breathe and smile and exist this freely in two years. She lifted her hand to cup his cheek.

"I know. I felt suffocated, like there was this big rock on my chest. I meant it when I said I'll always come back to you Aaron. No man, Clyde Easter or otherwise, could keep me away," she murmured, staring at his face rememorizing every detail. He looked tired. Not stayed-up-all-night tired. Tired as if he hadn't slept in, well, two years. He gently laid his hand over hers, eyes roaming her face. She knew he was remembering her too.

"God Emily, I've missed you," was all she heard before his lips were covering hers and she was too busy focusing on not passing out to care that she hadn't had a chance to reply. She answered every silent question he was asking her and it came as no surprise that a man so intense would be anything but in every aspect. His kissing certainly made her heart race.

Neither noticed the smiling figure in the now open doorway.