Awaken
A/N: Yay! Last chapter brought in quite a few reviews. It really does make quite the difference. First, it makes for a happier writer, leading to a better story for y'all to enjoy. This chapter is mostly just fluff, as last chapter had a huge reveal.
Same disclaimer as in chapter one.
That being said, without further ado, I give you;
Chapter Nine
"I think I'm ready to talk now…"
Aaron's breath caught in his throat as he glanced down at the brunette in his arms. He gently pressed his lips to her hair in a ghost of a kiss and nodded slowly, waiting for her to speak.
Emily inhaled slowly and began to move away from him, sitting across from him instead. She nodded once and licked her lip, shrugging. "What am I supposed to do?"
If there was ever a moment where his heart broke, it was now. He ached for her, his chest hurt for her. It was just one horrible event after the other. Starting with Doyle, then it was the process of healing from her new injuries in Italy, and now it was not knowing who she was. His agent had it bad, and he was desperate to help her in any way possible. He loved her. He took in a deep nasally breath and exhaled, working his jaw in the process. "Honestly… I don't really know, Emily." He moved a bit closer and rested his chin on top of her hair, pulling her into his chest. It took the brunette a few moments to bring her arms around him. "-But, know this; You will always be Emily Prentiss to me. The best, and strongest agent on my team." He smiled and nudged her gently with his nose. "Do me a favor, and remember this,You're never alone. Whether you need me or not, I will be here for you. Always." He nodded, rocking her slowly in his arms as he repeated her words from so long ago. He felt a tear trickle down his arm and began to rub her back as well. "Shh. It'll be okay."
She didn't know how long they sat like that for. It could've been for minutes, or for hours. However long the time was, she was unsure. After awhile though, she had fallen asleep in his arms. Aaron lay awake by her side, his arms wrapping around her protectively. He longed for this to be real, to wake up with her in his arms every morning, to make breakfast together in the kitchen, and to play with Jack after work hours and on the weekends. There was nothing more he could want, and he was sure of it. He tugged her closer as she slept soundlessly, and watched her. She looked beautiful. He just needed to make her believe it, to make her feel it. He closed his eyes after awhile and began to drift off to a light slumber as well.
The next morning, he had awaken to the overpowering aroma of bacon and coffee. He inhaled the scent hungrily and grinned, slipping his feet into slippers, and putting a bathrobe over his T-shirt and boxers. He maneuvered down the steps easily and watched from the corner as she moved throughout his kitchen, humming. Dimples began to indent his cheeks as he watched the brunette. She seemed so domestic and calm, it all felt so right. He watched for a few moments, trying to stay quiet as her back was to him.
Sensing a presence, she smiled to herself and stopped humming. Without turning around, and grabbing the carton of milk from his fridge, she smirked, "Gonna stand there all day, Hotch?"
Aaron grinned slowly and walked over to her side. He looked down on her with warm eyes and laughed softly. "You're happy today… How are you feeling?" He liked the drastic change in her attitude from last night.
She nodded and smiled sheepishly, making his heart flutter, "Yeah… Um, I remembered something last night" His grin widened and he rubbed her back gently as he nodded his approval. At this point, memories had been slowly making their way back to Emily. It had taken weeks, but she was slowly returning.
"That's great, Em! What'd you remember?"
She placed the milk carton on the counter top and turned back to him. "I remember the time when we all went to Dave's house and cooked dinner." She shrugged and smiled widely, a dimple indenting her cheek. "It's not much-"
Aaron shook his head and grinned, "No, Em, that's great!" Her smile had faltered slightly as she was about to continue, but he moved away, "After breakfast, I need to drop things off at Jess' for Jack. You okay staying here or do you want to come?" He searched her face for anything and watched her shrug.
"I'll stay." Aaron nodded and gently touched her back briefly before walking around her to help finish the breakfast.
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Emily was laying on the couch, the TV on low and the phone in her hand as she waited for Aaron to return. The brunette sighed and curled a piece of hair around her finger as she spoke softly, "I don't know, Jayje… Last night I was a mess, and he was there. He's always just there." Her lips had arched up in a smile as she thought about him.
"Well, that's good, isn't it?" JJ sat in Garcia's lair with the other blonde. "Oh, hold on, Garcia wants to talk to you."
There was a slight shuffle of the phone, and then a squeal. "Gumdrop! Tell us more, please?! What's it like staying in his apartment? Have you seen him naked yet?"
Emily laughed softly and ran a hand through her hair. "No, Garcia. I have not, and probably will not. And I don't know… I kind of like it. He's… sweet. Although, I do miss the BAU." She paused, the line going silent for a few moments. "Can you put me on speaker?"
"Sure thing, gumdrop!" She pressed the button and waited, "Alright, you're golden. Shoot."
Emily nodded and inhaled softly, pinching the bridge of her nose. "This morning when I woke up, I… I remembered something. Well, two things. I remember the dinner at Rossi's before we all disbanded for the year…"
She waited in silence. After she didn't continue, JJ and Garcia both prompted her, "Well? What was the other thing…?" Her voice was almost silent as she continued.
"…I think I'm falling in love with Hotch."
The squeals that followed echoed through the phone. "Oh, Gumdrop!" Garcia clapped her hands together, "I'm so happy for you! Have you told him?! Please tell me you did!"
"Actually… I haven't. I just don't know how. With everything going on, and… I don't know. Why would he even want me? I mean, what guy would even want someone who doesn't even know who she is? I'm broken. He doesn't want that." She shook her head and sighed, closing her eyes.
"No! Emily, don't you DARE tell yourself that! You are amazing and beautiful, and intelligent, and any guy would be lucky to have you!"
Emily sighed and rolled her eyes, "Yeah, well, thanks. But I think I'm going to wait at least…"
"Careful, Gumdrop. If you wait too long, he could already be taken-"
She swallowed and sat up as she heard the keys jingling in the lock. "I-Um, have to go… He's here. I'll talk to you both soon." She hung up and turned the TV off right as he walked into the apartment.
"Hey, anything good on at the moment?" He walked over to the living room and sat down next to her. He placed his hand on her knee and turned to her, flashing her a charming smile. He watched her shake her head and he studied her, making her heart flutter. "How do you feel, Em?"
"I feel fine." She shrugged, her heart beginning to beat faster.
He raised an eyebrow and shook his head, "I don't believe that."
"Well, believe what you might, but I'm fine."
He shrugged, leaning in a bit closer, "Fine isn't a feeling, Emily."
Emily gulped at the way her name came off of his lips. She sat across from him, her eyes on his as she was silent for a moment. Her lips were pursed but she didn't speak. Instead she studied him. "Yes it is, People can say they're fine." She leaned in a bit closer and watched as he smirked, shaking his head.
"Sure, you could say that- If you want to." Emily smirked at his response and he leaned a bit closer. His eyes began to flutter closed as they breathed eachother's air. "You can't imagine how much I want to kiss you right now…" His voice was soft and caring, lusting for her.
Emily's lips parted and she swallowed, shrugging ever so slightly, "Do I..Have to imagine?" Hotch smiled widely and slowly leaned in further, closing the gap between them. He pressed his lips to hers and grinned. It was a soft kiss, one that showed how much he cared for her.
The kiss was short but yet it felt like they could do it all day. Aaron was the first to pull back and he looked at her with dark eyes, dark sad eyes. "No, Em… We can't." He inhaled and shook his head, his heart breaking. He couldn't take advantage of his subordinate. It wouldn't be right. And plus, it was against the rules. He caressed her jaw at seeing her face fall. "I'm sorry, but we can't. I'm your boss and-"
"Don't." She shook her head and placed her finger to his lips as she looked up at him with dark eyes. "Don't say it." She glanced away from him, beginning to blush and already try and compartmentalize. He slid onto his knees and kneeled before her on the ground. He took her hands in his and looked at her.
"Emily, sweetheart, we can't do this… Not now. I can't take advantage of you. I won't take advantage of you." He looked up, catching her eyes with his and sighed softly, pressing a gentle kiss to the corner of her lips. He brushed his thumb along her cheek and shook his head. "Not yet."
Emily's heart fell. She glanced down and released a painful breath. "Hotch-"
"Em." He closed his eyes and shook his head. He swallowed hard and rested his forehead to hers. "We really shouldn't, but I think I'm falling in love with you..."
Her breath caught in her chest and her blood ran cold. Goosebumps traveled up her arms as her eyes widened. She stuttered, trying to think of something to say, anything to say. She needed to say the words to him but didn't know how.
A/N: Yay! An update!
Remember to let me know what you think in a review.
-CriminallyCastle.
