Part IV

Since there was much more in Emily's purse to discover than in his own wallet, Hotch continued his quest to learn more about the woman behind Agent Prentiss when she had already put everything back in his wallet and leaned back in her car seat, studying him from the side.

Finally, Hotch's eyes fell on a photograph that must have been taken only recently. It showed Emily in a tight embrace with a rather handsome guy about her age, their faces cheek to cheek, both smiling happily into the camera, and obviously feeling most comfortable in each others arms.

The waves of first nausea, then pain, and finally anger washing over Hotch as he saw this picture were not expected. Once again, his iron control and ability to keep his face straight in every single situation came in very handy. But it took something. Hotch more felt than saw that his hands would give him away right now - he was surprised to notice them shaking, and he couldn't force it away.

Of course, Emily had a life outside work - only because he hadn't one any longer not everyone of his team must have become a social failure. Still, this hurt. Much more than he was willing to accept. Especially after Emily's spontaneous reaction just minutes ago, when she gave him the clover. Yeah, those lucky charms were simply not for him.

Hotch tilted the photograph in Emily's direction. "And who's this?" he asked her in what he thought was a nonchalant voice. From the look his question brought to Emily's face he immediately knew he'd failed. Big time.

Something wicked inside her made Emily get a little bit cocky. She put on a dreamy look before answering Hotch. "He's the love of my life." she stated simply.

Hotch felt as if someone had emptied a bucket of ice down the back of his shirt. "Ah." was all he managed to say.

"Yes... He's just a great guy. He's always there for me, whenever I need him, and it's always perfect fun to be with him."

"Mhm." Still nothing more from Hotch.

A moment later, he asked "You know him long?"

Emily chuckled to herself. "Nearly forever."

At this, Hotch looked up at her, puzzled. How come he'd never noticed there was a man in her life?

Emily couldn't contain herself any longer. "Hotch, he's my cousin." she blurted. "He's two years older than me, his father's my Dad's brother. When we were kids, we'd spend a lot of time together, at least when we were not living anywhere abroad. He is my big brother and teenage crush in one person. And yes, as you are dying to ask but will never dare to, I kissed him once, he actually was the first guy I ever kissed, but that's it. So you can now put away again that jealous look on your face."

Hotch cringed. Damn. Where had iron will and control gone? Or was she just guessing? He suspected not, quite aware that his face had probably spoken volumes about his feelings. "You read me like a book." he stated, grumpy. But something enormous and heavy had lifted from his soul.

Emily's voice was soft. "This wasn't so hard. It nearly came in capitals. And I'm a woman. We are good in recognising these sort of things, you know." Her hand was covering his again, the look in her eyes kind and gentle. "And I like it if you go all monosyllabic. It's kind of cute." she smiled.

They both fell silent, Emily still covering Hotchs hand, and studied the display of emotions on Hotch's face, all of a sudden all too aware of what she'd just provoked, and why she had done it. All too aware as well of his presence within the limited confines of the SUV, and most of all, aware of what his reaction really meant.

Her stomach gave an awkward flip and her pulse quickened, when she was hit by the realisation of what this meant to her, for her, and how much she liked this meaning.

Hotch's voice was low and velvety, but almost threatening as well when he said: "Don't like this." Emily tilted her head, an unspoken 'Don't like what?' hanging in the air. She could hear her heart beating in her ears and was sure he must hear it too, it was way too loud.

"This." Hotch waved the photograph in front of her. "And you calling other guys 'the love of my life'." He turned towards her as he spoke, his left hand grabbing her right shoulder roughly, pulling her in his direction. "And you fooling me like that." His right hand went behind her neck. "And..."

"Hotch."

He stared at her.

"Shut up."

What Hotch saw in Emily's eyes acutally made him shut up for good.

The urgency of his kiss shocked him, shocked her, but at the same time ignited a fire in both of them, and neither had any intention to use more words any longer.

Just maybe that lucky charm had its effects, if you believed in it strongly enough.