Chapter Nine - Team Building & Chocolate Surprises


Emily slapped at Reid's hands and let out a chuckle. "Find your own damn peanuts Spencer Reid! These ones are mine!"

"But Emily…" came the playful whine in response.

She never even gave him a chance to finish before she stuck out her tongue at him and pulled the small bowl closer to her. Hotch almost laughed at the pout that crossed Reid's face but after killing off the last bowl of the snack the boy shouldn't have been surprised.

As Aaron stood he ran a hand down Emily's arm to get her attention. "Would you like another one?" He tipped his head to indicate her glass, still half full of the pale lager that she had been drinking that evening.

Emily looked down at her glass and considered for a moment, she knew she had already had too much to drink and that she should have stopped after the last one. But with the promise of a ride home from Hotch, she was allowing herself to enjoy the evening out, without worries for a change.

It seemed like it was always her that was carting one of the others home at the end of the night, usually Morgan or Garcia, even Reid once or twice. But tonight when they had made plans to go out for 'team bonding' Aaron had promised to make sure she would get home okay and she jumped at the chance.

Besides that it meant that she got to spend more one on one time with Hotch and that always made her happy. Digging herself deeper into the hole she was already in.

"Yes." She gave a hard nod of her head and smiled up at their supervisor. "That would be positively lovely." She closed her eyes and snickered at the loose wobbly feeling in her neck muscles.

Aaron chuckled under his breath as he moved away from the table and threaded his way through the small pub they were all in.

He cataloged the positions of all of the team in the building and smiled at the various activities they were engaged in.

Reid had wandered away and was now standing next to the pool tables. And if he had to guess JJ and Will were attempting to rope the poor boy into trying to learn how to shoot pool again. It was comical to say the least because for as much as he could calculate the exact trajectory of a shot, the relative strength needed to sink the ball he had little to no coordination when it came to actually performing the activity. It was right up there with his difficulty with his fire arms qualifications and after having to go through that with him every year he wished Will and JJ better luck.

Aaron leaned back against the bar and watched as Garcia and Kevin bickered over the merits of the latest film that they had gone to see. They had been at it for at least the last half hour and it didn't seem to be winding down any time soon. That was another unexpected paring, one he wouldn't have seen coming but was more the happy for. She was such a unique and loving woman it was honestly sad that she didn't have an outlet for everything that she was, other than the team. But this guy seemed to get her and she shined in his presence.

He stopped and watched as Will laughed at JJ's frustration as she once again, tried to explain to Spencer why the last shot he was attempting wasn't going to work. He had a momentary thought that as unexpected as it was Will was remarkably good for JJ, he had seen her relax in the last year, she seemed to have found that missing piece that she was always striving for, and it all came in the form of a tranquil New Orleans native.

Dave, unsurprisingly was saddled up to the bar and doing is best to flirt is way into an invite home from the pretty barmaid. Every single time they were here he tried, and if nothing else, Aaron had to admire his persistence.

He supposed at some point he was going to have to let the poor guy know that Shelley was gay, although he was pretty sure only he and JJ knew that little tidbit.

Honestly, she didn't seem to mind the attention from the older man so maybe he should just keep his mouth shut.

He peaked along the bar to see if Shelley was on her way over and then shrugged as Dave continued chattering along, keeping her monopolized. Returning his attention to the floor, he looked at the remaining two members of his team. Derek had made his way over and had taken over the seat left vacant by Reid.

He and Emily sat hunched over the table, watching the smattering of people on the dance floor and Hotch smiled as Derek said something that caused the woman to snicker from behind her hand. It was odd seeing Derek just sitting around but with his leg being the way that it was he certainly couldn't be out dancing like he normally would be.

"So what'll it be hansom?" came the soft south Virginia twang from behind him.

He turned to Shelley and smiled at the relieved look in her eyes. "Another for Emily and just a coffee for me, if you can find some back there."

"Sure thing Hotch, figured it was getting about that time, just made a fresh pot."

This was why they kept coming back to this little hole in the wall. Shelley always took care of them and she spent a significant amount of time and effort at getting to know each of them personally.

She glanced over at the table before asking, "Want another Sprite for Derek?"

"Why not, couldn't hurt." He shrugged his shoulder and watched as Shelley moved with practiced ease behind the bar.

Shelley tipped her head to the side as she looked at the table. "It's odd; I don't ever think I've seen him spend this much time sitting down. Lord only knows how disappointed his groupies are."

Hotch nodded his head in agreement, remembering more than one pouting woman being turned away from the table that night. "He pulled the muscles in his bad knee during the last case; it's giving him a bit of a hard time tonight."

"He's taking muscle relaxants?" When Hotch nodded she grinned. "Well, that explains the Sprite."

Shelley rolled her eyes at Hotch as Rossi started to make his way down to where they were standing.

She leaned and said with a conspiratorial whisper, "He's not ever gonna give up, is he?"

"No, not until you tell him."

"But that would spoil all his fun." She winked and passed the drinks to him. When he tried to pay, she flapped her hands at him. "These ones are on me."

As she moved away to the next customer he looked down at the bar top and smiled as he noticed the glass of scotch mixed in with his order. Yep, there was a reason they kept coming back.

Rossi snagged his glass and leaned back against the bar with a sigh and Hotch had to grin at the look on his friends face. "Still a no go?"

"Nope, but that's not going to stop me from trying."

They shared a grin as Aaron started to collect their drinks and attempted to head back to the table. Rossi grabbed Derek's drink and smirked as he looked back at Emily.

When Dave didn't move but turned to face Hotch instead, he almost groaned at the look he was getting from the older man. He had seen this look before and knew that he wasn't going to get away from the older man till he said his piece. "Whatever is going on with the two of you… it's a good thing."

Hmmm, best to play dumb… "What do you mean?"

"You and Emily, the last couple of months, the time you two have been spending together, it's good."

Right, knew that wouldn't work… "We're just friends Dave." Even saying that he couldn't help but wish that it was something more, given time that it would be.

"And I never said it was anything else." Rossi got a pensive look on his face before he continued. "There's always been a certain tension between the two of you. Even though you have always been too professional to let it affect the team, we've all seen it."

Aaron had the grace to look slightly embarrassed. "We didn't have the best start and after a while it just became habit."

"I heard about how she started with the unit and I can understand that. I think I can count on the fingers of one hand the number of people there now, you didn't hand pick."

Hotch closed his eyes for a moment and let out a silent groan, before setting the drinks back on the bar beside him. "But…?"

"I was just wondering…" The look on Dave's face was anything but innocent or even curious, as he spoke.

"Spit it out Dave." Now Hotch was getting annoyed. His feelings, the possible relationship between himself and Emily was still new, and as yet un-discussed; he didn't need Dave poking around yet.

Only two weeks had passed since Christmas and most of that was spent working on a case in Arizona. He still hadn't had the opportunity to talk to Emily about moving their relationship to a more romantic level, he was hoping for tonight.

"If there wasn't something more between you, she looks at you, you look at her, and I have to wonder if there isn't something more going on."

"Dave, please… stop meddling." He grabbed his glasses again turned back to the table.

"Honestly, I'm not. I just wanted to say that the change… it's good."

Aaron rolled his eyes and started back. Ever since the divorce became final, it seemed that David Rossi had made it his mission to make sure that Hotch wasn't alone for very long and now he seemed to have decided that Prentiss would be a good choice.

Not that Aaron himself disagreed with that sentiment, far from it in fact.

As he set down the drinks he considered he thought she would be too. Since they started seeing each other away from work, he had felt a change in himself. The distance he had from the team was dissolving and it wasn't even intentional. He could feel the difference. He was smiling more than he had in years and the days didn't seem as overwhelming as they did even six months ago.

She didn't let him go more than a few hours alone in his office before she came to bother him. Sometimes it was just a file she wanted to turn in. Whereas before she saved them for the end of the day, now she would bring them up one at a time. Often as an excuse to coax him down for coffee or badger him into taking lunch with her.

The last couple of months he had taken to spending at least one afternoon down in the bullpen, with a chair pulled up to Reid's desk, working on his files, rather than hold up in his office.

He was learning more about his team in the last six months that he had in the last six years, and all of it because of a bright, friendly, dark haired woman.

As the night progressed Dave wandered over to the pool tables and Derek ambled off to enjoy the company of the only groupie that didn't care if he was dancing and left the two of them alone.

Not that he was at all unhappy with that. He was finding that he enjoyed these quiet moments with Emily more and more as time passed and as much as he loved the team he often found he couldn't wait to get her alone.

They were both leaning on the table, heads close together and he smiled as Emily snickered. Shelley made her way back towards the bar and skillfully managed to avoid Rossi's hands once again, giving him a smile and a playful swat.

Emily rested her chin on Hotch's shoulder and whispered softly in his ear. "He does know she's gay right?"

Hotch raised is brow, okay so he and JJ were not the only ones who knew. "Nope."

"Are we gonna tell him?" Emily pulled back to look at him and wobbled slight on her stool causing Aaron to grab her hand and help balance her.

When she was steady he allowed their entwined fingers to rest on his upper thigh.

He shook his head with a slight grin. "Nope."

Emily bumped shoulders with him. "You are kind of bad, you know that?"

He shrugged as he looked at the dark haired woman behind the bar. "She doesn't seem to mind and he enjoys chasing her. At this point I don't even think he wants to catch her."

Emily smiled and went back to observing the bar around them.

A soft song came on and he finally found the nerve he had been working up to most of the night. It was time to see if he couldn't get her to see what could be between them. If he wanted more with her he was going to have to change the way that he interacted with her, and this would be a good place to start.

Up till now the changes between them had been completely personal, no one really knew what was going on but if he did this, it would be telling the team at least, what his intentions were for the other profiler.

Hotch pushed himself out of his chair and held out his other hand to Emily, causing her eyes to widen with surprise.

"Dance with me?" he questioned softly.

She carefully placed her hand in his and he led her over to a small section of floor. It was a little darker there, providing them with, at least some, privacy. The music was soft and seductive and as Hotch pulled her into his arms he felt his blood thrum with excitement at having her in his arms, so close. Having it not matter how he was touching her, or how close he was standing.

She was flush against his body, allowing her alcohol loosened muscles to rest against him, trusting him to help hold her up. While they held the traditional pose for dancing there was no space between them. Aaron leaned his head down so that his cheek was against hers and Emily almost gasped as he breathed in through his nose, inhaling her scent. His arm slid down her back, wrapping completely around her waist, pulling her flush against him so that not even air could get between.

She panted softly at the feel of his body swaying against hers to the soft beat of the music. Through the haze of alcohol in her system she wondered at the shift she could feel in him. Was it real, or was it simply a product of her own wants manifesting, making her read into the situation what she wanted instead of what was really there. She had thought for a time that perhaps things were changing between them but he had seemed to pull back from her a bit and while she was grateful at the time it didn't mean that she didn't miss the way that her blood raced through her veins.

In that moment she was reminded though, that she was a warm blooded woman… and that she had definitely been alone for far too long.

Emily let her head tip back and she glanced up at him, their eyes caught and held.

For long moments the music and each other were the only things that existed. Aaron brought their joined hands to his chest before letting go.

Carefully, sensually he trailed his hand down her forearm before allowing it to slip off and rest on her hip, pulling her closer, letting her feel the full length of him against her own body as they gently swayed back and forth, their feet no longer moving.

She left her hand on his chest; she had to be able to feel the way that his heart was racing. He could feel the need coursing through his blood and that combined with the music, with the feel of her soft, pliant body was enough to push past his tightly held control.

Just as he was about to lower his head, feeling her breath on his face, when he thought he would finally be able taste her soft lips, he felt the vibrations against his hip. Aaron closed his eyes and actually groaned with disappointment.

Still keeping her wrapped up in arms he reached one hand back and pulled off his phone. Looking at the display on the front he felt disappointment rush through him. There went their plans for the rest of the evening, another date blown by a job that they both loved.

"Hotchner," His voice as a low growl and the person on the other end had to know how displeased he was at the moment.

Emily rested her head on his shoulder, closing her eyes and just listened to the sound of his voice as he talked to the person on the other end of the line. Whatever it was, it was serious because she could feel the tension returning to him, tension that had been missing most of the night and she let out a disappointed sigh.

Not in the interruption of their night but that he was losing one of the few chances he actually had to relax. Well, if she was honest, a part of her was disappointed about their plans, too.

He snapped his phone shut and glanced across the bar at JJ, seeing that she was already on her phone, and already on the move.

He reached a hand up and traced the side of Emily's face with the tips of his fingers, allowing the real regret he was feeling to show in his eyes.

"I'm sorry; I have to go back in."

She looked at him with a furrowed brow, wondering at how bad it could be. "Do you want me to come with you?"

"No, I'm hoping that it's nothing; that we can take care of this tonight with a consult over the phone. There's a possible case in Oregon and it's going to be a media frenzy when it breaks, that has the locals a bit panicked."

Emily nodded her head and disentangled from his frame, realizing with a blush that she was still wrapped up in his arms.

"I'm sorry about dinner. I promise I'll make it up to you."

She gave him a soft smile and shook her head. "Aaron, I understand. You don't have to apologize."

He led her back over to the table and grabbed his jacket before heading for where Derek sitting a couple of tables away.

He gave the other man a slightly apologetic look. "Morgan, I have to go back to the office. Can you make sure Prentiss gets home okay? I was her ride tonight."

"Sure thing Hotch," Derek grinned at his friend, everyone knew that Emily had too much to drink to be driving home. Having relied on Hotch to take care of her and make sure she got home okay. "Pull up a chair Princess."

Hotch met JJ at the door and gave one final sigh of regret, he glanced back at Emily, who was watching him from the table where he left her before heading out into the night.

Somehow, he was going to find a way to make this up to her.


"Hush. No questions… always you with the questions. Just sit back and relax, we'll be there shortly." Aaron did his best to contain his smile and was slowly losing the battle.

Emily flopped herself back against the seat and huffed. But for all of her pretense at annoyance, this was one of the things that she found she most enjoyed about Hotch's hidden personality traits. She had seen moments of it in the last year but nothing like what came out when he wasn't repressing his natural behavior.

He was quite playful and loved surprises.

Somehow it was never something she had expected of him.

She never knew what to expect from him and what he always seemed to enjoy most was watching how she reacted to each new thing they did together.

And this time was no exception, as she let out a gasp as he pulled into the parking lot. It was an out of the way, hole in the wall that no one would have thought to look for in a place like this. But she had heard a couple of people down in the cafeteria talking about it and had always wanted to come but never thought she would have the chance.

It really wasn't the type of place you came to alone or when you were out with your girlfriends… this was the place where you brought a date. It was, in a word, intimate.

Hotch climbed out of the car and helped Emily out and kept a firm grasp of her hand as he led her to the door.

A young woman came over to them and without him having to say anything to her lead them to a table in the back, discretely placing two of the black "late night" menus on the table. The hostess' behavior seemed to add to the ambiance of the place.

Aaron pulled out her chair and she glanced about the room taking in the dark wood paneling and soft deep carpets. She guessed that this was the advantage to being here on a Tuesday night. The room was almost empty and there was distance from one table to the next, it was like being virtually alone.

Although from what she was able to understand from her rampant eavesdropping, it always felt that way. She glanced at her companion as he pushed the menus to the side of the table without looking at them.

She figured that he would have to know what he was doing. Hotch was nothing if not prepared for anything. Emily wearily leaned back on the high backed chair and closed her eyes as she enjoyed the low lighting and soft gentle music flowing around the room.

"Tired?" his voice was soft so as not to disturb the illusion of peace surrounding them.

She turned her head to the side and gave him an easy smile. "Very much so, it's been a long few days."

Aaron tipped his head to the side and looked her over, she had dark circles under her eyes and it was more than obvious that she hadn't been sleeping well. "You look tired."

She considered mouthing off at him but she gave up that thought. It was a defense mechanism and one that she was trying to give up in her dealings with Hotch.

"I know." And she did, she knew she did.

His brow furrowed with concern. "You're not sleeping?"

"Little bit but…" She didn't want to say it, not out loud; she didn't want work to intrude on this place.

Hotch gave her a gentle prodding. "Nightmares?"

"Off and on, since we came home from Oakland." She let out a defeated sigh and accepted that they were going to talk about this. But perhaps this could be a good thing, she could finally ask. "Why doesn't it seem to get to you?"

He gave her a sympathetic look. "It's practice Emily, lots and lots of practice. You have to remember that I've been doing this for over ten years now, off and on. But we aren't so different. I get them, same as you, same as all the others."

Aaron reached out and gripped her hand in his own and Emily allowed the feeling of warmth to fill her as she turned her head and looked out the window, letting the darkness cover her thoughts, finally allowing herself to relax.

The waitress came over to the table and Hotch spoke quietly as he placed their orders. She smiled at the fact that he didn't ask her what she wanted. Normally he would but this seemed to be another part of the surprises for the night.

His phone rang and he softly apologized before getting up from the table and moving a short distance away. She felt her face soften as she figured out who it was he was talking to. There was only one person in the world that caused quite that look to appear on Hotch's normally stern face.

Jack.

She watched with no small amount of wonder it how much his appearance changed. When he smiled, especially that particular smile, he looked so much younger, almost carefree and it was amazing to see. Something she had been witness to more and more often since this strange little arrangement of theirs started.

Over the last year or so she had watched him as he became more distant, more closed off. That hard shell that seemed to surround him became tighter and tighter and like everyone else she felt completely helpless to stop it. She tried, hell, they had all tried.

Gideon leaving had changed him, in fundamental ways.

She shook her head as he hung up the phone. Not wanting to dwell on things that seemed to be very much in the past. Even Reid had commented that Hotch was more relaxed that he had ever seen him, even before she arrived on the team.

Aaron was heading back over to the table as the waitress arrived and Emily let out a gasp at what she was carrying.

What she had been secretly hoping they were here for since she saw where they were.

Hotch took the seat next to her rather than the one he had been sitting at before he took his call. He smiled again, that same smile, as he watched the expression on her face. As soon as everything was all set up he finally gave up the urge that he had been trying to control for most of the last few days.

He trailed the back of his hand down the side of her face and repressed the need to close his eyes and the feel of her soft skin under his hand.

It was coming… there time was coming, and soon.

"I do listen to the things that you say," he whispered quietly.

Emily pressed her cheek into the palm of his hand, before turning to the display on the table in front of them.

There was a small pot, placed above a small votive candle and she leaned forward to breathe in the deep rich smell of the chocolate and smiled as she realized that he really did listen. Honestly, she didn't think that anyone other than Reid and JJ knew about her burning love affair with chocolate, in all forms.

"I haven't done this in years."

Hotch would never admit it but he had spent days trying to find the perfect place to take her. It seemed like half the time when they made plans something always came up and interfered.

So when he started to plan this night, he wanted to do something low key, that wouldn't matter if it got canceled but still showed her that he paid attention to her, heard the things that she said.

Over the last few of months, since that day in the quad that thought alone became one of the most important in his mind.

For her to understand how he really felt about her, how important she was, how more important she was becoming by the day.

So this was what he had come up with, a small little out of the way fondue restaurant that served a special late night chocolate fondue desert. He had called several days ago and quizzed the poor hostess to make sure that this would be exactly what he wanted. He was fairly surprised that he got a smile when they arrived instead of a glare.

He would have to remember to leave her an extra-large tip just for that. He did kind of give her a hard time.

Emily looked at the offerings on the table and inhaled the scents surrounding her. The smell of deep, rich, dark chocolate and strong, hot coffee with just a touch of Irish cream in it filled her senses and she could feel her mouth water from the smell alone.

There was fruit of every description on small serving platters, from strawberries and pineapple, to bits of passion fruit and maraschino cherries. There was another plate with small bits of firm cake and mini marshmallows, making her laugh joyously.

It was totally decedent and in that moment she fell just a little bit in love with the man sitting at the table with her.

Aaron picked up the fondue fork and speared a small bit of banana before dipping it carefully in the chocolate. She watched his strong hand as he twirled the fork, coating it completely. He lifted it to his own lips and blew on it, cooling the confection before presenting it to her.

She didn't think to object, just opened her mouth and accepted the small treat he offered her. Closing her eyes in bliss as the flavors exploded on her tongue.

"Oh God I love chocolate!" she mumbled around the small bit of fruit.

"I know." His voice was deep and husky and as Emily's eyes opened she was captured by the look in his.

For long moments they just sat and stared at each other, each communicating a thousand thoughts, and a thousand feelings. Finally Aaron gave his head a small shake and pulled back slightly, they weren't ready for this.

Not yet anyway.

But hopefully, after what he had planned for the weekend they finally would be. She would know, without a doubt that he was trying to shift the nature of their relationship.

After that they dug into the fondue and both enjoyed it immensely. They would alternate between enjoying their own finds in the twelve different kinds of fruit and sharing with the other one, offering bits and pieces from their forks.

Everything changed again in a moment when a small marshmallow fell from the stick and onto Aaron's plate as she was passing it to his lips. Without thought she picked up the bit of gooey chocolate coated marshmallow in the tips of her fingers and offered it up to him.

Hotch felt his pulse race as he firmly gripped her wrist, holding her hand still as he accepted the offering. When she attempted to pull her hand back he gripped her wrist tighter and stared at her, holding her eyes captive with his own dark orbs.

His tongue carefully lapped at first her forefinger, then her thumb, alternately sucking each digit into his mouth, making sure to not miss a single drop of the warm dark chocolate, or the flavor of her skin.

Emily puffed softly, as she attempted to control her breathing, feeling the rhythmic stroke of his tongue against her skin, his teeth gently nipping at the pad of her thumb. She could feel her face heat and it wasn't from embarrassment but from the shear fire he was causing to rage through her blood.

She wasn't sure what was going on with Aaron but it was breaking down every last barrier she had left. The whole thing over the last six months had left her so unsure of herself, of him, that she often didn't know how to react. He would run both directions from simple friendly interactions, to this burning heat that left her feeling scorched.

In all the time she had known him Aaron had always been upfront and forthright in everything that he did, but things were changing and she was honestly terrified because a very real part of her was so afraid that she was reading everything wrong… that the things she was hoping for weren't really there.

He had said that this was just supposed to be friendship… but it didn't matter what he had said when he was touching her the way that he did sometimes, but when the touch was gone, the insecurities set in again.

Finally Hotch allowed her to pull her hand back and she tucked it in her lap, letting out a soft nervous giggle. She looked off across the restaurant and tried to get this feeling flowing through her body under control.

She didn't know how to handle this feeling, how to keep it contained. For the hundredth time since this all started she had to remind herself that there was no expectations, only friendships but how did she manage that when her feelings were changing and continued to change by the minute.

Emily did her best to push the feeling back down and find her center again, something that was becoming harder and harder to do by the minute.

She cleared her throat and did the best she could to distract herself. "Thank you for this. This place is definitely going on my list of top ten places to visit again."

"You're welcome. I must admit that I enjoyed this. I'm not a big fan of chocolate but this was wonderful. I honestly feel like I've been doing something totally decadent."

Hotch wanted to press, push the moment she was trying to back away from but he could see that cornered look in her eyes and let it pass but there was a soft smile on his face as he leaned back in his chair and picked up what remained of his spiced coffee.

He had to repress the urge to grin like an idiot. He finally had proof that she wasn't completely immune to him and that perhaps there was a chance. That all of the thoughts and feelings he had been hoping for might come to fruition.

On the dance floor, in her apartment, both of those could have been brushed off as aberrations caused by drink or the moment but this couldn't be. Neither of them had been drinking and while the moment was romantic it wasn't overly so. Finally he knew what he was going to do and when. And for the first time since he started to make plans for the weekend he was sure of the outcome.

They finished their coffee in companionable silence before Hotch stood to go and handle the bill. Emily snagged one last maraschino cherry from the table and headed for where Hotch was standing by the door, waiting for her.

She felt a goofy smile cover her face, that he would do something like this for her. She could tell by the way that he spoke that this wasn't some where he had ever been before so he had to have decided to find this place, specifically because of her love for all things chocolate.

She was sinking deeper by the day and a part of her didn't want to escape.

As they moved off to the car she felt a lingering sadness envelope her that this was all it would ever be, that this man that she was getting to know would only ever remain her friend, and while she would never want to give that up, she couldn't help but wish for something more.

Because in Aaron Hotchner, she was finding the friend, the man, she had always wanted.


TBC in Chapter Ten – Skyrise Eden Part One


Author's Note: This is another one of my special favorite chapters. If any of you are ever in Alberta, Canada, find your way to Banff and a small restaurant called The Grizzly House and have the late night chocolate fondue. It's an experience you don't want to miss, completely decedent and something that should be shared.

Blessings, Brandywyne