A/N: Sorry, sorry, sorry, I'm soooo sorry guys. I've been really busy since school started on Wednesday. GAH I don't wanna go :'( I'm working over-time on getting these chapters up and finish all my friggin homework because Trig hates me (and the feeling is mutual). Only two chapters more until the ending! This has been crazy. Thanks so much for all the support you guys have given me. It really means a lot. I hope you all have enjoyed it thus far and hope that you follow through until the ending. Happy reading!


There was absolute silence in the conference room. All eyes were trained on Aaron's face except for JJ's, who was watching Emily carefully. Penelope opened her mouth, but, for once, no witty remark came out. Rossi sat back in his chair, hands folded on his stomach, dissecting every move that his friend made. Aaron shifted his weight slightly and moved his eyes from her face to the rest of the team. His expression was open, waiting for one of them to make a comment. JJ cleared her throat and everyone's attention moved to her.

"Congratulations," she said warmly, standing up. She reached her arms out as she walked towards Emily, who was biting her nails nervously. Em hugged her back automatically. Pen was the next one to thaw.

"Yeah. Congrats Emmy," she teased lightly, waggling her eyebrows. A chuckle burst through the brunette's lips. She stood up and joined JJ and Em at the front of the room in a girl hug. Spencer remained quiet, thoughtful. Rossi was beginning to smile and he reached over to pat Hotch's arm. Their Unit Chief flinched slightly before showing a slight smile.

"Hold up." Derek's voice sliced through the air, silencing the small bubble of conversation the girls had started up. Emily raised her gaze slowly to meet his. "You mean to tell me you're back for what? Two days? And you and Hotch are together? Is there anything else you haven't told us?" he bit sarcastically. It was clear he was hiding the hurt in his voice. Aaron's shoulders stiffened and Emily spoke quickly, before he could say something harsh.

"I'm sorry Derek. It wasn't really a planned thing. There's been tension between us for years, even you can agree to that. I guess my homecoming just kind of…brought it out," she explained sheepishly. "That's all of the skeletons out of the closet though. I'm not hiding anything else."

"Really? You sure? You're not pregnant right?"

JJ's voice flew across the room before Hotch could even open his mouth. Her blue eyes were stormy and her hands were on her hips. Dave and Spencer both moved their chairs back slightly, a reflex.

"Derek Morgan. That better have been the last sarcastic comment you had saved up. I'm not going to let you chew her out because she kept something to herself," she bit out.

"We can't have secrets on this team Jayje!" he yelled back, shoving away from the desk. Emily shot a warning glance at Aaron, who was about to stand up. He slowly sat back down, joined by a frazzled Pen.

"Oh, really? Because if I remember correctly, you weren't too thrilled when we had to go through your background history either," she snapped, her eyes steely. Derek flinched slightly, as if she had hit him.

"I'm not the one who was gone for two years," he mumbled under his breath.

"Don't lash out at Emily because you're having trust issues. Yes, she left us. There's nothing we can do to get those two years back. So quit exploding at her and try to get things back to the way they were," she said, voice only slightly softer. His face fell slightly before he raised his eyes.

"But you're not hiding anything else?" he asked, making the question sound like an accusation. Emily shook her head silently, afraid to talk. She really had missed her brother-like co-worker and was willing to try to repair any damage her sudden absence had caused.

"I'm sorry Emily. JJ's right. I do have trust issues. It hurt pretty bad when you just left. Like we were disposable. I'm willing to try to work it out if you are," he said softly after a moment of thoughtful silence, a hopeful expression on his face. Her eyes lit up and she surprised herself when she ran forward to give him a tight hug.

"Of course I'm willing," she breathed, squeezing him tighter. She felt a gaze burning a hole into her back and she pulled away from the hug. As she suspected, Aaron's eyes were on her figure possessively. She'd have to have a talk with him about that.

"This is going to be weird," she heard, "having a couple on the team."

"Two couples," JJ blurted. Emily flitted back to her side and squeezed her shoulder supportively. There was another awkward silence.

"What?" Pen asked, looking around. Derek's eyes widened and Rossi was muttering under his breath about hormones in young adults. Aaron looked quizzically at Emily, who ignored the gaze. Spencer finally cleared his throat and stood up.

"Us," he said, no waver in his voice. He wrapped his arms around JJ's waist, who blushed slightly and buried her head in his neck. Emily moved away slightly, giving them a moment. Pen exploded this time.

"YES! I was right! Jayje I've been hounding you on this for months, would it have killed you to give me a hint?" she shrieked, a smile on her face.

"Damn kid. Guess I should give you more credit with the ladies," teased Morgan, only a hint of sarcasm in his tone. Em knew better than to be hurt by his easy acceptance of JJ and Reid as a couple. Neither one of them had up and left for London for two years. Aaron stood, a slight smile gracing his face and made his way to where Emily was standing. He moved behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist and leaning his chin on her head.

"See? That wasn't so bad," he murmured in her ear. She leaned back into him, then flushed lightly as she caught sight of Rossi's knowing look. He only smirked at her, then turned his attention to congratulating JJ and Reid.

"Yeah, well, they can't chew you out. You're the boss," she muttered. He chuckled in her ear.

"I'm your boss," he teased.

"Only at work," she protested, wiggling away from his embrace. He faked a wounded look, but she shook her head.

"I've got to go tease JJ," she quipped, dancing out of his reach. She was chuckling at his frustrated growl when Morgan and Rossi made their way over to him. She mouthed 'Good luck' before turning to give Reid a hug.

"Good job, genius," she giggled in his ear as she squeezed his waist.

"Yeah, yeah," he mumbled, blushing. "The real prize should go to you Miss Prentiss. I don't think I've ever seen Hotch smile more than twice in all the time I've known him."

"Can I ask you something?" she asked abruptly. He looked confused, but nodded. "How come you didn't say anything at all when I told everyone?" A slightly guilty look crossed his face and he took a half step away from her.

"JJ told me," he mumbled under his breath. Emily rolled her eyes.

"Should have seen that one coming," she muttered. "What kind of a profiler am I?"

"Agent Prentiss. I need to speak with you."

The voice was like cold water on their happiness. All eyes turned to the door. Erin Straus stood there awkwardly, not quite entering the room but not leaving it either. Anger flashed across Hotch's face and Rossi and Morgan quickly stepped in his path. JJ shot a nervous look at Reid who automatically moved slightly in front of her and Penelope. Straus may have been a person like the rest of them, but she bore a scary resemblance to the witch from The Wizard of Oz (maybe without the green).

"Um, yes Ma'am," she finally forced out. She looked over at Aaron, worry filling her eyes. Her facial expression flipped a switch in him because his anger immediately vanished, concern replacing it. He locked eyes with her and she could see he was trying to comfort her the only way he could without calling attention to himself and her. She forced her feet to move forward as she followed the cause of the team's troubles out the door. She paused just outside of the doorway, watching as said woman shut the door and began her confident strides towards the other end of the bullpen. Emily Prentiss was not a meek woman, but now she had another person to think for and she knew she'd have to watch her mouth. Straus opened the door and gestured for her to take a seat. Emily sank slowly into the plush leather chairs on the opposite side of the large desk. All the papers were in neat stacks and a lamp sat in the corner. The click on the door sounded vaguely ominous and ice cold eyes were staring back at her.

"I see the team is taking your return well?" she asked in a business like tone. Emily nodded, then quickly tacked on a 'Yes Ma'am'. "Good, that's good."

"All due respect Ma'am, but why did you call me back in the first place?" she asked in a respectful voice. Her usual sarcasm was gone and Erin raised an eyebrow.

"What, no witty remarks? Never mind. I've been expecting that question. To be frank with you, the BAU is the most successful unit the F.B.I has ever seen. Your abrupt departure two years prior was a blow. The team was effective, but no longer a perfect unit. I realize that London was partially your choice as well, which is why I waited two years before sending the Director a request for your transfer. It was granted and Easter had minimal say in the decision." Emily blinked.

"I'm back to help the team run more effectively?" she asked, confusion lacing her tone. Another raised eyebrow.

"Are you not happy back here Agent Prentiss?" Emily knew that the older woman was not trying to sound harsh, but years in politics had made her voice cold.

"I am, Ma'am," Emily began, then stopped. She was debating whether or not to finish that sentence when a hurried gesture from Straus had her hurrying on. "I was only wondering if any favors would be the price for my return."

"The efficiency with which you return will help the Bureau will reflect in my paycheck. That is the only favor I need," Straus stated bluntly and something that looked like it was trying to be a smile showed on the older woman's face. Emily blew out a breath she hadn't known she was holding and forced a smile.

"Thank you Ma'am. You've been very generous," she replied, half with real feeling and half because she was required to. Straus waved her hand dismissively and pulled a paper from the large stack of files on her desk. She began writing, paused, then looked up at Emily.

"You may leave." Though she knew it was rude, she was out of the office before Erin could say anything else. Adrenaline had pumped nervously in her system and her hands were shaking now, but in a good way. She paused outside the closed door to collect herself so that the team wouldn't think something was wrong because it wasn't. It was right. She was back home where she belonged and Erin Straus wouldn't ruin the happiness to call in any favors. And she was in a new relationship with the most wonderful man she could imagine. She could hear muted whispers through the door and frowned. She opened the door slowly and the talking stopped.

"Hey guys," she greeted warily, pausing in the doorway with her hand on the knob. Pen's eyes were wide and JJ was stifling a smile. It was Reid that broke the silence.

"What did Straus want with you?" he asked in a small voice. With a rush of guilt, she realized that he'd been afraid that she was going to be taken away. She sighed internally. Earning their trust back was going be a long road, not that it was a road she was unwilling to travel. Aaron also looked worried; his brows were furrowed deeply and he seemed out of focus. She paused dramatically, long enough that Derek shifted his weight, and then she smiled.

"Nothing. She brought me back to 'help you run more effectively' and I don't have to worry about any favors being called in on any of you because 'our efficiency will show in her paycheck and that's all the favor she needs'," Emily explained brightly, placing air quotes around Straus's words. It seemed to hit the girls first that Straus was finally off their backs because JJ and Pen squealed and jumped up to envelop her in a hug before the boys even moved. When it did hit them, Derek's smile was so broad it looked like it would split his face, Dave was grinning, a full on rare smile, and Spencer hopped up to give her a quick hug before scooping up JJ in celebration. The cutesy couple-y move made her chuckle until Aaron came and mimicked it. Then she was squealing and laughing and trying to keep herself from attacking the man who held her because, really, how much could the team handle?

"This calls for a party! JJ, Emmy, we are going shopping. Rossi, go set the party up at the gihugic house of yours and take minions one and two with you," Garcia commanded everyone's attention as she barked out orders.

"What if I want to spend time celebrating with Emily, too?" protested Aaron as he nuzzled her neck. Garcia made a face.

"Okay, gross Papa Bear. You can have my duckling back at, say, seven tonight?" Hotch looked as if he was about to object again, but Pen leveled him with a gaze similar to the ones he used on his hardest-to-break criminals. He meekly nodded his head and JJ burst out laughing in Spencer's arms. Everyone looked at her, confused.

"Oh. My. God. Hotch. I have never seen you submissive, let alone meek," she choked out between laughs. Emily giggled quietly, earning a pinch to the side that made her jump. He smiled cheekily when she shot a glare over her shoulder. Rossi finally got the boys calmed down, the herded them out the door to work on the party that had been assigned to them.

"My man's whipped," Derek threw in, landing a soft punch on Hotch's arm and jumping neatly out of the way. Of course, the Unit Chief's attempt was half-hearted; he was clearly not moving from Emily until forced.

"What do I do Garcia?" he asked innocently. Penny furrowed her brow.

"Hmm. Well, you haven't had happy time to yourself in a gajillion years. Go home and relax," she suggested. Hotch cocked an eyebrow as if to say 'really?'. She rolled her eyes.

"I don't care what you do. You are not allowed to help Rossi and the minions with the party and you are soooo not going shopping with us, so find something to do!" she snapped, snatching Em's wrist and prying her out of his embrace. He sighed dramatically and pecked her cheek, earning a chorus of "Aww's" from the two remaining members of the team. Emily flushed lightly as Garcia dragged her out of the conference room and down the ramp with JJ at her side. She turned her head back towards him and the last image she saw was one of him leaning against the door frame, arms crossed, and a smile on his face.


Okay my dearies. Chapter 8 will be more exciting, I promise. This was just necessary fillers that needed added to lead up to the almost-finale! Thanks again for your patience with me(: you guys are amazingly the best.