Hopeless

They'd been through another case in Washington when he came to his apartment more upset than usual. She'd been at his apartment waiting for him to come home to surprise him. He'd given her a key shortly after they'd come home from the last case. They'd also told the team on the jet while they had cuddled up. At first they had been shocked and a little angry but they supported them once they realised they fully understood the risks of this relationship but that this was a deep relationship not just sex.

When he came in he slammed the door and threw his case on the sofa not noticing that Emily was sat there in a sexy negligee. She flinched when it landed next to her.

"What the hell?" she exclaimed.

He was startled at the sound of her voice and looked to the sofa. Sitting there was Emily and boy did she look amazing. He felt guilty about throwing his briefcase at his girlfriend.

"I'm sorry, I didn't see you there," he answered.

She saw that he was guilty but more upset than he had been lately. She knew something had happened. She just hoped it wasn't too bad.

She got up and placed her hands on his shoulders and made him look at her. "What happened?" she asked.

"They want me to step down," he answered.

She looked at him shocked. Could Strauss really have done this to him; at this time? It was unthinkable. The team without Hotch.

"No, no, they can't take your job from you. It's all you have at the moment," she said hugging him while tears welled in her eyes. She didn't want anything more to hurt him. She wanted to spare him from pain. His job was everything to him just like hers was though she would be willing to give it up for him if the need ever arose.

"Em, they're not taking my job from me. I've agreed to step down to stay within the team. They wanted to take me from the team. Morgan will step into my shoes," he assured her.

She calmed down. "When?"

"After the end of the next case."

She nodded and sighed, "At least you'll still be on the team. We will get Foyet."

"I know."

She lifted her head and kissed his chin. "You look amazing," he smiled at her.

"Thanks," she smiled back. "It's all for you."

"I appreciate it."

He kissed her on the lips and began to feel her beautiful curves while she took off his top, jacket and shirt. He pushed her towards the sofa while she took off his belt. The trousers were off within a second. Soon she was arousing him and he was naked. They began the act of love and he trusted himself against her.

He woke up on the sofa the next morning with her head on his chest. He played with her hair while she woke up.

"Morning," she smiled up at him.

"Morning," he smiled down at her.

She remembered what he told her last night. Why did they do that to him? Did they know they had been seeing each other for a few months now? If they had wouldn't they have called her in? Were they going to do so this morning?

"Do they know?" she asked. "Does Strauss know about us?"

"No or at least she never brought it up."

"And knowing Strauss she would have." Strauss had it in for Aaron.

He just nodded.

"Why did they ask you to step down?"

"They believe I am emotionally compromised in my position by Foyet." She hated Foyet even more. He'd succeeded in taking his position from him; she hoped it would only be temporary. He was so good at being the Unit Chief. Soon he would just be SSA Aaron Hotchner not SSAIC Aaron Hotchner.

"I hate him more and more daily."

"Same here."

"Aaron," she asked stroking his chin.

"Yes Em," he answered taking her hand.

"When the Reaper's gone will you stay with me or will you go back to Haley?"

How could she think he would go back to her? It was Emily who owned his heart. He would want to see Jack as much as possible though and he didn't want Jack to turn Emily away. He just hoped he could have them both. He could just imagine her with his child. They'd be great together. Jack would adore Emily and he hoped Emily would Jack. He could even picture them with their own child. He would love to have a child with her.

"Aaron..." she said vulnerably bringing her back to the present day. "It doesn't matter. What were you thinking about?"

"I was thinking how Jack's going to love you," he answered truthfully. He didn't want to freak her out by telling her he'd already begun imagining their children.

"Oh Aaron," she smiled up at him.

"Well, we'd better get ready for work."

"Of course."

Luckily she'd brought a change of clothes last night but she knew they would have to arrive in their separate cars. Though the team knew they still had to hide it from the Bureau. They always got around it by arriving in separate cars at separate times. It seemed to be working so far. Also to her he was Aaron at home and Hotch at work. To him she was Emily at home and Prentiss at work. They only showed affection on the jet where it was just the team.

They got ready for work and after breakfast she left first. He soon followed. When they got there they were soon called into the conference room.