A/N: Wow! It's been so long and I'm so sorry! I've been so busy with work at the university and I also opened a home bakery with my sister and we had two weekends full with orders of cakes and cupcakes so the time-off I managed to get I used to sleep... Sorry :(

Thank you so much for your reviews. I couldn't answer all yet but just know that they made me really happy.

Here is the new chapter. I worked really hard to make this good. I hope you like it. And thanks again, Christy.

Disclaimer: I don't own CM. Just Anna :)

Chapter 7

"Oh, let me look at you…" Anna breathed pulling back from their embrace and taking Emily's hands with hers. "You look so beautiful, sweetie…" She said smiling looking at her.

"I can't believe you're really here…" Emily whispered while Anna brushed her thumb on her cheek to wipe her tears.

"Neither do I, honey… I thought I would never see you again…" She answered smiling. "Come with me. We have so much to talk about…" She said taking her hand and pulling her towards the house. "Call us when it's time to cut the cake…" She called over her shoulder and directed them towards the living room.

Hotch looked at them with sad watery eyes and shook his head to clear his thoughts. "They were really close, weren't they?" Gideon asked. He looked up to see the whole team watching the scene curiously.

"I think mom felt the separation more than me…" He tried to joke. "Emily never had a good relationship with the Ambassador, her mother, and when I introduced her to mom they just clicked, you know". He explained. "It was really amazing. Before our first anniversary she was already calling her mom too. When everything happened mom wouldn't speak with me for like five or six months. And honestly I think she just started talking again because of Jack…" He said sadly. "But she felt really hard. On Mother's Day or her birthday they would always have dinner together, just the two of them… it was a really strong bond, she really missed it". He looked back at the house with a sad expression. "I'm glad they're finally having the change to rebuild that…"

\*\*\*\

Jack Hotchner watched the scene in front of him confusedly. He saw his uncle hugging a pretty brunette he had never seen with his father's team and then his grandma came and hugged her too, looking at her with the same eyes she looked at him or his father and his uncle. Watching more carefully he could see that his grandma was crying behind her smile and the woman was crying too.

He saw the way his father was looking at them and couldn't remember if he had ever seen such a sad look in his eyes. He was sure that if he looked closely he would find tears in his eyes and he knew for sure that he had never seen his father crying. Not even tearing. So, who the hell was that woman?

"Mom?" He said looking back at his mother.

"Yes, honey?" Haley answered cautiously, already knowing what her son was going to ask.

"Who is the new lady?" He asked.

Haley breathed heavily and looked at her son. She never, ever had lied to him and she didn't want to start it now. Jack already knew about his father's past relationship and the history behind his conception because of one discussion between her and Aaron that he had heard, so she decided to just tell the truth. "Do you remember that time you heard me talking with your father about his ex-fiancé?"

"The one he was with before you two got together and made me?" He asked frowning.

"Yeah…" She nodded. "Well, that's her. Emily Prentiss…" She clarified.

Jack widened his eyes and looked back at the house. "And what she's doing here?" He asked confused.

"Well… you know that Agent Greenaway left your father's team, right?" At his nod she continued. "So, Gideon interviewed some new agents to fill her place and he ended up choosing her… your father didn't know until she was introduced to the team…"

"Wow… so, she's back…" He said surprised.

"Yeah, she's back…" Haley nodded.

Jack looked at his father who was still sneaking glances into the house. "Hey, mom?" Haley hummed at him and he looked back at her with wary eyes. "What will happen to us?"

"What do you mean, baby?" She frowned.

"Oh, c'mon mom, I'm not stupid. You just have to look at dad to see he didn't forget her… and now, with her working with him? What will happen with our family?"

Haley closed her eyes with a sigh. "Honey… your father is committed with us and this won't change… He won't leave us for her… I know that for sure…"

"So, he'll just keep ogling her forever?" He asked seriously.

She smiled sadly at her son. "Sometimes you're just too smart for your own good, Jack Hotchner…" She shook her head and sneaked a look to her husband. "I honestly don't know, sweetheart. What I do know is that he'll always be your father, no matter what. Do you understand that?"

"I know that, mom. But where does this leave you?" He asked her and she did her best to keep the tears back.

"I don't know, honey". She whispered looking at her husband. "I honestly don't even know where I want to be anymore…"

\*\*\*\

Emily and Anna sat side by side on the couch and Anna held Emily's hands again, placing them on her lap. "Okay, sweetie. Now, tell me, how are you?" She asked with a smile.

"I'm…" Emily started and then swallowed heavily. "I'm hanging in there, mom… it's so hard… I wasn't prepared for that. I didn't think I would have to face that again…" She said quietly while a few tears fell down her cheeks again.

"I know, baby. Aaron told me that it was a big surprise for both of you… he's struggling really hard too, you know…" She said cautiously.

"I know… but it's because he feels guilty… it was different for him. He has his family, he's obviously happy here and he loves Haley… everyone can see that… he had fifteen years of a happy marriage, with a son he's crazy about, a wife he loves and wants and a job he's just one of the bests at it. And me? I had to rebuild my whole life. I had to accept the fact that the only man I've ever loved betrayed me and then chose another life, without me. I understand his reasons, he wanted his son to have a real family. I get that, I really do. But it doesn't make it hurt any less…" She explained.

"I understand, sweetheart. But you're wrong to say that it was easier for him… I watched my son these past fifteen years and even though he has indeed a very good marriage and his son is the best thing in his life, he wasn't entirely happy. I watched him mourn every single February 21th because he remembered your first date. I saw him crying when I helped him to move into his new house when we were packing the things in your old apartment… he had to move on because he had a child to worry but not even for a second think that he didn't suffer, honey…"

Emily stayed in silence for a few seconds before swallowing hard. "Okay, but it's in the past. We work together now. He's my boss and that's it. Tell me about you… how are you?" She asked changing the subject.

Anna nodded sadly and caressed her cheek. "I'm fine, honey. I was in New York these past few weeks… Sean was in a car accident and I was taking care of him… but I still live in the same house… I'm retired now, of course. But I still do consults for some new writers… it keeps me busy… and of course, I spoil my grandbaby…" She said smiling.

Emily chuckled nodding. She knew how much Anna always wanted to be a grandma and that brought some sad thoughts because she remembered how she had promised her that they would give one to her soon. "I imagined so…"

"What about you, honey?" She asked. "What did you do all these years?"

"Oh… I traveled a lot the first year. Then I came back and applied for the CIA. Dad never admitted it but I'm sure he pulled some strings…" She said shaking her head. "But, anyway… I focused on my job. Anything that made me busy, helped me to forget. Thankfully I had to go away often on several assignments so it was easy to not stay at home thinking… after a few years I went to the Academy and made into the FBI. I stayed in the Seattle's Office for a while before coming back to DC and applying to the BAU. It was my dream ever since I joined the Bureau. Of course I never dreamed that I would meet Aaron again".

"I see…" She nodded. "And you never found anyone?" She asked curiously.

Emily just shook her head. "No… I dated a few guys but it never lasted more than a few months. I just couldn't… commit. Trust. Give myself again, you know…"

"I'm so sorry, honey…" Anna said running her hand through Emily's hair.

"Grandma?" Jack appeared on the doorway.

"Yes, sweetie?"

"Mom is calling… they're cutting the cake now…" He said looking at them curiously.

"Okay, we're coming…" Anna answered smiling and he nodded before leaving. "Let's go, honey…" She said standing and tugging Emily's hand.

\*\*\*\

"Hi". Haley said quietly as she approached Emily. The rest of the team was gathered by the grill talking with Aaron and Sean while Anna was inside with Jack. She noticed Emily going to the fridge to grab a beer and decided to just go over with it.

Emily looked up with a startle and frowned. "Oh, hi…" She waved awkwardly.

They shared an awkward silence before Haley cleared her throat. "So… how are you?"

"I'm good, thanks. You?"

"I'm fine…" She answered looking down to her feet. "Look, Emily… I just wanted to tell you that I'm okay with all of this, you know… you working with Aaron… you probably already noticed that the team is really close like a family and we usually have these BBQ's or night's out and we'll probably see each other often so… I just… I think I didn't want to have this heavy awkwardness between us…" She stammered.

Emily sighed and looked at the team to see if anyone was paying attention to their talk. "There's no reason for it, Haley… I don't hold any resentment towards you… it takes two to tango, right? It would be unfair of me to just blame you… you and Aaron had one too many and it had consequences… Aaron made his choice and I was out. Don't worry, I know my place very well. You're his wife and I'm just a coworker. You got him and I had to come with terms with it a very long time ago…"

"Did I?" Haley whispered looking at her husband.

"What?" Emily frowned at her.

Haley sighed sadly and looked back at her. "I have the most amazing husband in the world. He gave me fifteen years of caring, happiness, respect… he gave me the best thing in my life, our son… he gave me his time, his dedication… he just couldn't give me one thing… his heart…"

Emily widened her eyes slightly. "Haley…"

"No, it's true..." She cut her. "He couldn't. You never gave it back to him… he loves me, I know that. But he couldn't ever forget you… I don't blame him, never did… he was forced to leave you by his principles… he did what he thought it would be the best for our baby and I know he doesn't regret it. That's why I never hold it against him… I ignored all the times he cried for you when he thought I was sleeping… all the times he called your name in our bed… all the times he looked at the picture of you he thinks he hides from me… maybe that's why I never could give my heart completely to him either…"

"Why are you telling me this?" Emily asked frowning, purposely ignoring the ache in her heart at the woman's words.

"Because I know what a great man he is… I know it's because of that that he suffers every single time he looks at you because he knows how much he hurt you…" She answered truthfully. "I guess I'm telling you this because I want you to know that he suffered just as much as you… and knowing that, I hope you think before saying something to hurt him for resentment or revenge… he already paid for everything he did, trust me. I saw every single day…"

Emily just nodded at her and excused herself, going back to where the team was. Aaron, who had seen the end of their conversation, walked towards his wife and looked at her with wary eyes. "Is everything okay?"

"Everything's fine, babe…" She said smiling at him.

"What were you two talking about?" He asked curiously, taking her hand and pulling her into his arms.

"I was just telling her that I'm okay with her working with you…" She said and he smiled at her.

"I love you, you know that?" He asked leaning in to give her a kiss and frowning when she turned her head to the side making him kiss her cheek.

"Not here, okay…" She whispered into his neck and felt him nod.

"I really love you…" He whispered back after a few seconds.

"I know you do. Go back to the grill or Sean will burn everything for being distracted trying to flirt with JJ…" She said and he chuckled. She watched him smacking his brother's head and laughing along with his team and sighed. He was really a good man.

A/N: So? I'd really love some reviews... Next one will be based on Profiler, Profiled so it'll be more focused on Morgan and Garcia with a few hints of Hotch and Emily. And also a little surprise about Haley. Who will guess what it is?

Also, are you guys missing more flashbacks too or it's just me? Let me know!