This is set around the episode Demonology when Hotch was an ass!

Hotch chickened out after the case was finished. He just didn't know what to say to her. He missed her to the point where it hurt. And he did love her, he was pretty sure he loved her the first time he met her in that Monica costume. He was just scared what would happen if things didn't work out between them. How would that affect their job? He was putting books back on the shelves in his office with these questions running through his head when Prentiss walked into his office soaking wet from head to toe. He immediately stopped what he was doing and looked at her.

"What's wrong?"

"Um, I just found out that an old friend of mine died," she reported to him sadly.

"I'm sorry." Emily shook her head, trying to act like it wasn't that big of a deal. "Do you need to take some time?"

"Um," Emily paused trying desperately to compose herself. "There's a chance that he could have been murdered, and there might be a second case."

Hotch felt his heart breaking as he watched Emily struggle to keep her poker face on. He wanted, no he needed to do something to make her feel better, but all he could say was, "What do you need?"

"Just some leeway to check it out," she responded quickly.

"Of course, anything." His words were gentle. He hated seeing his girl so distressed, and the fact she still wasn't back to talking to him made it worse, because the only thing he wanted to do right now was cross the room, close the distance between them, pull her into his arms and hold her until all of her pain was gone.

"Thank you," she turned to walk away but stopped short when he said the one thing that he hasn't said to her since they first met. Her first name.

"Emily, if you want to take a few days and let us look into it."

She faced him again. "Matthew was incredibly messed up, and I hadn't seen him in a long time but he was important to me," her voice cracked and she took a breath to calm herself down once more.

Hotch nodded his understanding. "At least let us help." She may not let him help her by himself, but he knew she'd let the team, and he was right.

She nodded then whispered, "thank you," before she walked away from Hotch.

All he could do was watch her go. He needed to do something for her, but he didn't know what, and he was pretty sure she wouldn't want his help anyway.

HALLOWEENPARTY

As Emily walked back into the rain, she started to cry. Matthew was extremely important to her, but if she was being honest with herself, all of her tears weren't for the loss of her friend. It was also over the fact that Hotch just stayed planted to his spot on the other side of his desk. She wanted him to hug her, soothe her, tell her it'll all be okay, but he didn't and that hurt her just as much as Matthew's death because Hotch was just as important to her.

HALLOWEENPARTY

As the team investigated the case Emily became more upset when Morgan didn't even have her back. Morgan of all people. The first member of the team that actually accepted her. She could see where he was coming from, but it didn't make it any easier. So when Dave offered to buy her a cup of coffee she went willingly, thankful that someone was still on her side. And when he asked her why Matthew started to question the bible she let him in and shared her painful past with him. She was disappointed that the person she was sharing this information with wasn't Hotch, but she knew Dave wouldn't say anything. She trusted him completely and she needed him. When the words, "Let's go give a profile," left his mouth, all Emily wanted to do was hug him. She was so grateful to have him by her side.

HALLOWEENPARTY

When Prentiss questioned the priest she had to struggle to keep all her emotions in check. Her anger was ready to bubble over. She had a very hard time keeping the edge out of her voice, but in her mind, no one could blame her, she was losing everything. She was interrupted when Hotch walked in. Finally, she thought, he's here to help me.

"Father you're free to go," he stated firmly. He saw Emily's eyes snap up to his out of the corner of his eyes but he ignored her. "We're sorry if detaining you has caused you any hardship."

"I hope you find peace."

At his words Emily glared at the priest. Once he walked out her glare found Hotch. What the fuck was he doing?

Hotch started to walk away but not before he commanded, "My office." Emily quickly followed. He let her go into his office in front of him and when she whipped around he knew she was pissed off at him…big time. "Are you actually accusing the Italian government of authorizing this man's assassination list?"

"He admits he was present at every death," Emily countered angrily.

Hotch shook his head. "The case is over."

Emily stood before him shocked for a second before her mind came back. "You said you'd give me leeway."

"And I did. I understand your frustration. There's some things we cannot control. Take some time off." He walked to the other side of his desk, hoping that the piece of wood could at least keep her from hitting him.

"What?"

"I don't want to see you in the office for the next few days."

Emily took a deep breath then walked away before she said something to him she might later regret. Hotch watched her leave and again felt like an asshole. After this ended he was going to go talk to her at her place and cheer her up. He had to because he hated seeing her all broken and sad.

HALLOWEENPARTY

It took Dave barging into his office to knock some sense into Hotch. He then realized that he would risk his career for her.

After Emily walked out of the house and marched up to him and stated, "If you want my gun and badge I'd understand." Hotch shook his head then quickly changed the subject. Finally when he started to walk away and he heard Emily say "Thank you" to Morgan and him respond "Always" to her he realized he was the only one who didn't stand behind her during this case.

HALLOWEENPARTY

He went home and changed out of his suit then ran to the market to grab her favorite ice cream. Then he stopped to pick up Chinese, all before he made his way to Emily's house. He wasn't sure what he was going to say, but he wanted to be there for her, and even thought they weren't talking at the moment, their deal to comfort each other still stood. He walked up to the steps and stood before her door, nervous about what kind of mood she was going to be in. He knocked lightly and waited. He expected her to be upset, but he got so much more than that.

"What do you want?" Emily snapped coldly as she crossed her arms across her chest.

"I, uh, I wanted to bring you some stuff and see if you wanted to talk maybe."

She scoffed. "No Hotch, I don't want to talk." She tried to shut the door but Hotch shoved his foot out to stop it.

"Prentiss wait." He pushed the door open again, and pleaded with her. "Talk to me. Let me in please."

Emily pulled the door open more and stepped closer to him. "Talk to you? Are you kidding me?" she spit out. "I came to you and I told you that I lost someone close to me and you just stood there. Then when I needed you to help me with the case you tried to find any reason not to help!" She shoved him in the chest. "I needed you Hotch, and you weren't there! Dave was the one who believed me and who stood behind me the entire time. The one who was there when I wanted it to be you. I had to tell Dave about my past when I needed it to be you!" She shoved him again which caused him to stumble back at the force. "But where were you? You know, this whole time I was trying so hard to make you want me, to make you give into your temptation, but now I see that you don't care about me because if you did you would have done whatever you had to do to help me. You would have fought for me!" One last rough shove sent Hotch into the wall. "You told me before that I was worth any risk! And that any guy who didn't see that was an idiot, well I guess you're an idiot or I'm just not worth the risk for you!"

"Emi—"

"Shut up!" Emily barked. "I don't care what you have to say." Emily feels her eyes tear up. "I needed you Hotch," she choked out. "I needed my best friend, but you were no where to be found and then when you did decide to show up you sent me away. I have nothing to say to you Hotch. I just want you to go away and leave me alone."

Hotch listened to her words and wanted to tell her that he didn't think she'd want him to hug her when she first told him, but in his heart he knew he should have held her and grabbed her regardless. He knew Emily was right. How could he show her how much she meant to him if he wasn't there for her when she needed him? He wanted to say something, anything, but every thought in his mind disappeared. How could he make this right? Looking into her watery brown eyes he wanted to kiss all of her pain away, but then he remembered he was the reason for it.

Hotch opened his mouth to speak, what he was going to say, he didn't know, but he didn't have to worry about it because she stopped him.

"Just go Hotch." She backed away from him and went back into her apartment. Hotch stood staring at her door for a minute then hung his head and started for the stairs. He turned back quickly when he heard her door open again and she called out his name.

She ran up to him and his heart started to race, but he then felt that same heart drop when she grabbed the bags out of his hands then stormed back into her condo slamming the door shut.

Hotch's mouth hung open in shock. He knew he had to make it up to her, but he had no idea how to. He shoved his now empty hands into his pockets and walked back to his car like a puppy that just got kicked. He was going to have to pray for a miracle to fix this with Emily, so as he walked to his car, he began praying, because regardless of what she said, Hotch needed Emily in his life. He needed her friendship back and he was going to get it because he planned on doing whatever he had to do.