Finally, the real meeting...

Emily could feel her knees trembling as she stared at Hotch's stunned expression.

Oh God, what have I done? I should never have come here! She suddenly felt a spear of panic shoot through her. She looked at him, fear racing through her veins causing her muscles to tense in readiness for flight. The panic must have shown on her face, because quick as lightning, Hotch's hand reached out and caught hold of her arm.

Emily couldn't stop her sharply indrawn breath at his grip. He had grabbed her at almost the same spot on her arm that he had done earlier when she had tried to escape from him. And from the pain shooting up her arm, she knew it must be heavily bruised. To his credit, Hotch immediately let her arm go, an apologetic look crossing his face. However, before she could move, he reached down and clasped his warm hand around her cold one.

"Emily, please don't go. Come in." He pushed the door open wider, but didn't pull her in. Nor did he let go of her hand.

She stood there, heart beating quickly with panic. Either go in or run, Emily. Don't just stand there. Without consulting her, her feet moved on their own volition into his room.

Hotch gently led her in and stowed his Glock in the back of his jeans. He closed the door behind her, locking it and pulling the chain in place, all this time keeping her hand in his. He turned back towards her and they stood an arm's length from each other, unable to take their eyes of the other. This must be a dream, thought Emily. She could barely believe she was standing here in front of her boss. Her ex-boss, she reminded herself. She had never thought she would see him again.

Her eyes drank the sight of him in greedily. His hair was shorter than it had been when she had last seen him, she thought vaguely. But what caught her attention were the dark shadows under his eyes and the look of exhaustion on his face. He was thinner than when she had seen him last. Her heart ached. She was worried about him, even after all this time. She knew that there was no one around to really look after him. While she had been in the BAU she tried her best to watch out for him. She would often buy dinner for him when she knew that he would have to stay back late to complete the paperwork for the day. She knew whenever he was particularly affected by a case and would try her best to make sure he was okay, or at least made sure he knew that she was available if he ever needed to talk. He had only ever taken her up on the offer once and it had necessitated her going back to his place so that he could put Jack to bed first. It was the night where she had first felt like he had finally seen her as a friend.

"Emily..." She stayed completely still when Hotch murmured her name softly. Barely daring to breathe and not knowing why, she watched as his hand reached towards her and cupped her cheek.

"I can't believe you're standing here in front of me," he whispered hoarsely.

Emily's breath hitched in her throat and she felt tears prickling in her eyes. The man, whom she had always thought of as having the most stoic and unfathomable face in history, was openly showing what he was feeling. There was disbelief and … it couldn't be, could it, joy? She stared in amazement as his jaw worked uncontrollably and he tried to contain his emotions. She couldn't bear the look on his face any longer and unable to stop herself, she stepped forward and slipped her arms around waist, hugging him tight.

She felt him freeze. But it was only for a split second. His arms came around her holding her close to him. His left hand came up and cradled her head which was lying on his chest, stroking her hair gently. She breathed in the familiar smell of his lemony aftershave. Being in Hotch's arms was better than coming home. She could almost pretend that the last eight months had never happened. That everything was normal. Not that it was normal being held in Hotch's arms. But it felt so natural...so right... like they were two halves of a whole. She shook her head at the cliché that had popped into her head.

"What is it, Emily?" Hotch pulled back slightly to look down at her questioningly.

She felt a thrill of happiness run through her when she noticed that his arms remained around her. Apparently he was as loathed to release him as she was him.

"Nothing," embarrassed, she tried to deflect his question. "I just had a silly thought, that's all."

"Tell me anyway." His brown eyes looked so intently into hers that she couldn't help answering him.

"I was just thinking how good it feels when you're holding me." Emily didn't know why her voice had dropped to a whisper. She tried to smile. "See, I told you it was silly."

Although his face was set in its usual stern lines, Hotch's eyes never left hers. "Then I guess I'm having the same silly thought," he said softly.

Emily opened her mouth to reply, but no words emerged. Was he really saying what she thought he was saying? Never, ever, in her wildest fantasies did she imagine she would ever share a tender moment with this man who was now holding her in his arms. She had only ever seen him as her superior and then as a friend. She wouldn't even have called him a close friend, Hotch having built barriers stronger than a thousand Great Walls to keep people at arms' length, including the members of his team.

Sure there had been a couple of instances where she had felt a crush coming on, assisted no doubt by their close proximity at work and the sheer amount of time they spent together. But she had always quickly nipped it in the bud by reminding herself that it would never amount to anything as it was inconceivable that Hotch would ever reciprocate those sorts of feelings. So she had put it out of her mind and focused on her work. But now, looking at the soft, almost tender expression on his face, she wished she had taken the chance, because now it was too late; too late for her; too late for them. She closed her eyes briefly, knowing what she had to do.

"Hotch..." she started to tell him that it was a mistake for her to be here, that she had to go. But before she could say anything more, his lips were on hers.

This is one of my favourite chapters. Reviews pretty please! I promise I will post quicker if you give me encouragement ; P