A/N: For my fellow tiger, Tigerlily, before her little one arrives! So here's the scoop. I apologize for not updating stories at a faster rate but at work has been insane. Really insane. So these updates are going to be a little slow and I'm very sorry about that, but as it is, work is leeching over into my spare time. So I'm just sneaking in a few minutes here and there to write. But I will keep updating. Just slowly. Also, the nomination ballot is up for the 2012 Profilers' Choice awards. The link is: www. fanfiction topic / 74868/ 69379386/1/. Just take out all the spaces, but if that doesn't work for you, just go to the Criminal Minds Forums and go to "Chit Chat on Authors' Forum". There are a lot of talented authors out there with great stories so show your appreciation for these folks and nominate them! Now on with our story!


Emily rested her head against her door and sighed quietly. She had hoped she would have a little time before she would have to face Hotch again. Time to recover, time to think about his sudden declaration of feelings for her and examine what she really felt for the man. However, she should have known that he would not have given her any time to regain her footing, to fortify herself against what he had promised would be an onslaught of romantic overtures. When Aaron Hotchner wanted something, he went after it, full throttle, and he has decided he wanted her.

A part of her felt thrilled and excited. She had to admit there was something about him that drew her in, that she found attractive and intriguing. Another part of her was annoyed. Emily Prentiss didn't make hasty decisions. She thought things over carefully, weighed the pros and cons of each decision. But Hotch wasn't even giving her that luxury. Probably to keep her off balance, she thought in exasperation. It was a pure tactical move and classic Aaron Hotchner. Surprise your opponent.

Why was she resisting this so much? She liked Hotch. She was attracted to him. He had been clear that he would do what he needed to win her heart. Why not just enjoy it?

Because she knew she could easily lose her heart to this man and that terrified her. The hand that was resting against the door tightened into a fist. She was afraid. Afraid she would lose herself so completely to this man only to be discarded like she had been so many times before. Her parents, other men in her life, even in some ways her teammates. Didn't you forgive those you love no matter what? How long did it take some, perhaps all of her BAU family to accept her again after Doyle? It wasn't immediate.

Except with Hotch. He never held it against her. He never froze her out. He tried to protect her as best he could. He even tried to take the brunt of the anger from the others. She trusted him with her life, but could she trust him with her heart?

He knocked again. She could feel the vibrations through the door. He wasn't going to go away. Emily knew that much.

Taking a deep breath that she slowly let out, Emily unlocked the door and slowly swung it open.

"Hi," she said softly.

He smiled gently at her and held up a paper bag. "I brought over some food for you."

Her eyes lit up at that. Emily was very hungry and her nose was telling her that whatever was inside the non-descript brown paper bag was aromatic and very yummy. She stepped aside to let him in and after she had closed and re-locked the door, led him to her kitchen.

"I hope it's not more low sodium wheat crackers." Emily joked.

Hotch grinned at her, flashing a set of dimples she had not seen in a while. Her heart did an odd little flutter. To hide her flustered state, she busied herself with peering into the paper bag that Hotch had set on her counter.

"No, no low sodium wheat crackers, though it is something that your doctor would approve of," he replied as he watched her dig through the bag.

Emily pulled out some egg drop noodle soup, some plain steamed rice, steamed vegetables and beef and broccoli. Her eyes lit up.

"Food! Real food and not cardboard," she cried out happily. She moved to a cabinet to get some plates and glasses. She glanced over her shoulder. "You are joining me?"

He smiled again and nodded, pleased that she was asking him to stay. He slipped onto a barstool as Emily set plates and utensils before him. The food was divided up and for several minutes, there was silence as they ate. Or rather Hotch watched Emily devour her food. He raised his eyebrow in amusement, happy to see her appetite was still there.

After a few minutes, Emily realized Hotch had barely touched his food while half of her plate had been eaten. She blushed a delicate pink and dabbed at her mouth with a paper napkin. "Sorry," she mumbled, embarrassed by the clear evidence of her hunger.

"Why?" Hotch queried her. "I'm glad to see you have your appetite. You need to build your strength back up." He picked up his own fork and speared a piece of broccoli before putting it in his mouth.

"You didn't have to bring me dinner," Emily said.

"I like doing things for you," Hotch replied. He reached across the counter to touch her hand. "You deserve to be pampered and fussed over, Emily."

Her blush deepened. "Hotch…" She cleared her throat and freed her hand to take a sip of her water. "How did you know beef broccoli from Red Lantern was one of my favorites?"

"Emily, I'm a profiler. I notice things. But especially about you. I didn't realize how much I noticed until I realized I could truly lose you forever." Hotch's eyes softened and he reached for her hand again.

"Hotch, about that…"

"I'm pushing too hard," he said in a gentle voice. "I know. I nearly lost you a few days ago, Emily and that scared the Hell out of me. I don't want to waste any more time."

"But Hotch, I need time," she sighed. She removed her hand from his once more and noted how much colder it felt without his warm skin pressing against hers. But she needed to get this out if only to give him an opportunity to back out before either of them got in too deep. "I don't know what I feel. You drop this on me, while I'm in the hospital, and I haven't had time to process any of it. I'm leaving the BAU. I'm trying to decide my future. You're not giving me a moment to breath, Hotch."

She stood up and walked into the living room. Hotch followed her and watched as she walked to the windows that overlooked the street below.

"Are you saying you have no feelings for me," he asked quietly.

"No!" she cried out softly as she spun around to look at him. "That's not what I'm saying." He looked so sad and every fiber in her wanted to take away that look on his face. She stepped closer to him. "I'm just saying I'm not sure what I feel. I'm saying I need time."

"So what do we do? I mean, what if you decide you're going to take that Interpol job or some job away from the area? Do we add distance to this as well?" Anxiety began to claw inside of him. Would everything be over before it even had a chance to start?

"I don't know what I'm going to do," she admitted. She looked up into his face and gave him a faint smile. "But I do know that thanks to my little jaunt in the desert and that car accident, I'm not taking any job for at least a week or two. I'm not saying no, Hotch. I'm just saying give me a little time and don't come on so strong."

He wasn't entirely happy with what she was saying, but he wasn't entirely put off. She was only asking for a little time and not for him to stop completely. He could do that. It will be hard to do. His instinct is to go after what he wanted and he wanted Emily Prentiss, badly. He couldn't rid himself of the feeling that if he didn't do something, she would be lost to him forever. But to have her, he needed to follow her lead. While Hotch was certain of his feelings, he knew Emily wasn't as clear about what she felt for him. He couldn't push her too hard on this or she would retreat, and had his emotions not taken over so completely a few days ago, he would have altered his approach.

"Okay," he finally agreed. "I won't come on so strong."

"Thank you," she said grateful he didn't take her request badly. She gave him a saucy grin. "But that doesn't mean you can't keep bringing me Red Lantern take out."

Hotch chuckled and gently steered her back to the kitchen. "We should finish our dinner before it gets completely cold."

"Hotch," she stopped him. "Thank you. I can't promise you anything right now because I'm not really sure how I feel. But I do want to figure it out. To find out and see, if there is an "us" here. Thank you for doing this for me."

"Em," he put his hands on her shoulders to draw her closer to him. "Know that I would do anything for you."