Sorry all for the delay in this update it was the last one my beta went through we never finished going through it together before other factors got in the way for both of us. I've been through it and hopefully I picked up any mistakes. It was written some time ago. I myself are battling a few issues health wise plus with my job and Christmas I become insane with weird work hours and with a family and other commitments writing and updating take a back burner. I hope all enjoy and I will try and finish this story at some stage not sure when it will get another update as have a couple of others to work on as well.


Beth leans over the coffee table, pulling it closer to the couch to have easier access to the photos. She just can't help but handle every single one, over and over again. Figuring it out in her mind. The order of events that the photos tell her. The story she can make from them. Time passes rather quickly and unnoticed by her.

"That's good to hear, Jess," Aaron says over the phone as he walks into his apartment complex. "You don't mind me calling again later, do you? Emily wants to talk to him tonight. I told her to just call but she wants to wait until I'm with her."

"I'll call her. Her number's still the same now that she's in the states, right?"

"Yes, it is. And you don't have to do that, Jess."

"Oh, please, Jack would love hearing from her. It's been awhile since those two spoke. Oh, and also, good news! I won't have any issues getting him to sleep tonight."

"He hasn't been sneaking his PSP into bed again, has he?"

"No, not at all. He's enjoying his time with his grandparents. Wants to spend as much time as he can with them. He's been using the 'I want to spend more time with them, I don't get much time with them' card and I can't say I blame him, Aaron. The plus side is that he has such full days, he's pretty much out like a light by the time his head hits the pillow," Jessica says. He lets out a low chuckle, imaging his little boy crashed on a bed after a long day. He inserts his key into his door lock.

"No, you really can't. He's doesn't-" He stops in mid sentence as he opens the door. The alarm is not beeping. Something's wrong, he thinks, quietly sliding a hand down over the grip of his gun, ready to draw it from its holster. He hears a soft familiar voice. It's Beth. Talking to someone. Or something, apparently.' He lets out a small sigh of relief before his anger flares. "What the hell are you doing here?" Aaron demands as he enters the apartment, then stops himself. Yelling at her isn't going to help. I just want to be done with this. In a softer tone, he repeats, "Beth, what are you doing here?"

"I'm here for you?" she says as she stands and rubs her hands down her pants legs.

Aaron frowns and shakes his head. He's so, so tired of her excuses. "I told you to go home. I don't want you here right now." I ask you to do something and then you go and do whatever you damn well please. I wish I had realized that long before this. And you, Beth, you're just too self involved to see the writing on the wall, aren't you? Pity is you'll always be too self involved to see it.

"I thought that was just a heat of the moment suggestion from you. You were pretty worked up when we spoke last."

Jessica overhears the strained conversation, noting the tension in Aaron's voice.

"Aaron?" she calls out. "Aaron?"

The sound of his name coming from the phone brings his attention back to Jessica. He brings it back up to his ear, about to speak again, when Beth blurts out.

"You on the phone to her again?"

He grinds his teeth, his hand fisting around his keys and feeling them dig into his hand. Quickly, he controls the anger building up within him before placing the phone back to his ear.

"Jess, I have to go."

"That's ok, Aaron. You sort out things with Beth. We'll talk later."

"We will. Say goodnight to Jack for me, please."

Clicking his phone off, he turns his attention back to the woman before him. "Beth, pack what little stuff you have here and go. Please. It's over."

Beth gives him an incredulous look. "What?" She's not going to give up on them that easily. Surely we can talk this out, she thinks. But he appears unwavering. She feels desperation starting to scramble in her chest. " Aaron, it's not over just like that, is it?"

"It was over the day I nearly died. You never did return anyone's calls. Why is that, Beth?"

Beth huffs. This again? she thought. How many times is he going to bring this up? How many times do I have to apologize for this? "We've been through this before, Aaron. I told you where I was. You know I don't answer the phone when I'm entertaining an art dealer."

"Interesting art dealer you were entertaining. Didn't know Joel was an art dealer. I thought he was a co-worker," he says.

A combination of shock and fear flickers across Beth's eyes before her stance changes from neutral to a more defensive pose.

Aaron mentally sighs. "I'm a profiler, Beth. Did you really think I'd never use my skills on you? Especially when you're leading me into painfully familiar territory?" he thinks. Does she really think I'm that blind? He shakes his head and says, "I've been cheated on before, Beth. Don't you think I wouldn't know the signs? Or check things out?"

"Holy Hell, Aaron..." she says, feeling like Aaron slapped her. She swallows the lump in her throat. "That really hurts, to know you have so little trust in me."

"No, it's not. Not when my tech goes looking for you because she thought I was dying. She had all the authority necessary to find you."

Stung, she blurts out, "This is just because that bitch Emily is back, isn't it? We were fine until she turned up!"

She scoffs and breaks her gaze with him. Her eyes cast downward to the table. The forgotten photos stare up at her. Angrily, she grabs a handful and tosses them at him. "And these photos! What the hell is going on here? Why the hell didn't you ever tell me you had another child?"

Aaron can feel his jaw working as he leans over and scoops up the photos. "That's in my past and it's between me and Emily. And that's all you need to know, Beth."

"Bullshit, Aaron! I'm not leaving! So tell me..."

An image of him grabbing her by the throat and shoving her back into the wall, growling Where in the fuck do you think you have the right? pops into his mind. It would be so easy, so...satisfying. Seeing the fear in her eyes. Getting that bitchy, judgemental mouth to clamp shut just once. His hands clenched into fists and he shifts his weight to the balls of his feet.

'No, Aaron. You may be many things, but you are not your father.' He blinks.

He knows he's saying the words to himself, but it's Emily's voice he hears.

You're right,'he thinks before squaring his shoulders and unclenching his fists. She's not worth it. Just be done with it.'

He folds his arms, setting his mental armor in place as he tells her, "Beth, just leave. And don't come back. I don't want you back."

He can tell she's unnerved. She's no longer dealing with fun loving, tender Aaron but SSAIC Aaron Hotchner. Watches as she mentally switches gears, trying a different tact.

"You're just stressed, and worn out, let me relax you, care for you Aaron," Beth says as she gently and slowly takes a few steps closer to him. Ignores the fact that his stance has not softened in the slightest. "Why not reduce your hours at work? You'll see that this is worth fighting for," she pleads to him, not realising until now how much he truly means to her.

"Beth, this is my job. I've tried to reduce my hours, but it never worked. If Hayley was here, she could tell you the same thing. What I do isn't just a job to me, it's my life. Just like art is for you. You love it and I would never ask any woman I am with to give up something they love. Just to be with me. I'd expect the same from them."

"Then why talk about having a future together?"

"That was before I nearly died, then found out you've been cheating on me for some time. Why do you think I've hardly been in contact or visited? Oh, that's right. You've been avoiding me. Every time I ask to talk you, suddenly have to go or are unavailable."

She opens her mouth to deny it, but one stern look from him stops her in her tracks. He can see her wheels turning, abandoning this lost cause for something that she might be able to win. Sees the triumphant sparkle in her eye when she's found her new battle.

He doesn't really have to guess what it's going to be about. He's seen jealousy too many times in too many people.

"And what about Emily? Mm? Shouldn't I be asking you how long that has been going on?" Beth asks him, crossing her arms and standing tall.

"What is going on here between us right now has nothing to do with Emily."

"Like hell it doesn't! You were cuddled up together in your office, all lovey dovey…" She hesitates. "I heard how tender you were with her. You haven't been like that with me in some time..." Her voice hitches.

He feels a wave of pity for her. 'Oh Beth, at least I realized breaking it off with you was never going to be easy,' he thinks. 'But I can't stay with a woman who doesn't know how to be faithful.'

"Don't go there, Beth," he warns. 'Why the hell does she have to go back to Emily? I knew it never be easy ending the relationship. And seeing Emily and I together didn't help. But I was never unfaithful. Unlike her.'

"You've done hell of alot worse with Joel." He stands there. His hands are clenched, nails digging in to control himself and not lash out.

The two stand there, staring each other down. Then there's a flicker in Beth's eyes.

'And here comes the other boot,' thinks Aaron.

"There is and never was anything been Joel and I, Aaron. Unlike what happened in your office."

"Really, Beth?" He shakes his head at her sheer obstinance. "Because what I found paints a whole different picture for me than the crap you're selling," Aaron tells her. 'Again with the lies. It's not nothing. Garcia showed me the surveillance videos from the hotel. Practically broke a world record getting from the lobby to his room. Not to mention what UV light would reveal in the elevator… And yet you tell me, 'Oh, he's just a co-worker, there's nothing between us. Don't be ridiculous, Aaron.' Stop selling this bullshit, Beth, I'm never going to buy it.'

"I'm not giving up on this. On us, Aaron," she says as she stands tall. Aaron sees the determination on her face.

'She isn't going to just let me walk away. Why not fight for something when you have it, but instead you fight for it when it's gone? It's over, Beth, but you're the only one who can't see the writing on the wall.'

Beth stares back at him and wants to growl in frustration. He needs me. He just can't see it right now. It's this damn case that's screwing things up. Once it's over, he'll realize he still want me around. I mean more to him than that bitch does. I do! He's just tired and stressed right now and isn't thinking straight. I won't give him up without a fight. And Joel...hmm...not quite ready to let go of him just yet. Never met someone who can scratch a particular itch quite as well as Joel. Not even Aaron, as much as I love him, he can't do that job as good as Joel. She gives herself a mental shrug, justifying her actions to herself. 'I have needs that need meeting. Even if Aaron can't do it. Joel understands that. I'll just have to be...more discreet.'

"It's over, as far as I'm concerned. What I do from now on is none of your -" His cell rings, interrupting him. He looks at it, gritting his teeth when he sees the name flashing on the screen.

'What the hell is he calling me for? He's the last person I want to speak to right now.'

"You going to answer that? Or is that that bi-" Beth clamps her mouth shut. The look Hotch is shooting her makes her think completing that word will have dire consequences. She gives him a tight lipped smile before continuing. "Is that woman calling you?"

'How dare you call the love of my life a bitch,' he thinks. He stopped and pondered that. 'Emily. She is, isn't she? I think I've just been too scared to admit until now.' He looks over at the woman standing before him and feels a stir of pity for her. 'This relationship was doomed to end before it even began, Beth.'

"What do you want Clyde?" Aaron bark into the phone. Beth jumps at his tone. He shoots her an irritated look and thinks, 'See? Not Emily. Now go away.'

"Why, hello Aaron! How are you?"

"Cut the crap, Clyde. I'm really not in the mood." 'He knows how to push my buttons every damn time we talk.'

Beth notices Aaron's body language shutting off more. One arm folds across his chest, tucking a hand under an elbow. 'It's his authority stance. Or at least the best he can manage with a phone propped up to his ear,' she thinks. As he looks at her, his mouth narrows, turning into a frown. He doesn't look at all impressed.

'He's in a mood. He's not only taking it out on me, but whoever is on the other end of the phone. Time to get my purse and cell. No use talking to him while he's cranky. I'll come back later, once he's calmed down. Then, perhaps, he'll in the right mindset to talk about us', Beth thinks as she moves around the apartment.

"Where's Emily?" Clyde asks.

"None of your business," Aaron says. 'God, that felt good. Not as much as telling you to piss off would, but still...' He stands there, waiting for Beth to leave. There's a look of reluctance on her as she stands there with her purse in hand. He scowls at the distraction. 'Damn it, Beth! I missed what he was saying. Get out of here right now or when you do leave, it may just be in a body bag.'

"Hang on a moment, Clyde," Aaron says, covering the receiver. "Beth. It's work. Go."

Beth does not move. He can see her emotions warring with themselves as he looks at her.

Aaron lets out a mental sigh. 'I'm starting to wonder if 'Elizabeth' is actually some ancient translation of 'Belshazzar' because you really need the writing on the wall, don't you? Or perhaps just a road map and a GPS device to find the door?'

He opens the door. Still she hesitates. His mind conjures up the imagine of Eddie Murphy as Mr. Robinson saying, 'Children..can you say "body bag"? I knew you could…' Still nothing. 'Really, Beth? Three year olds transition better than this. I'm done with countdowns. Want to throw a fit? You can do it outside.'

"Sorry, Clyde, just removing an unwanted house guest. What were you saying?" He suddenly recalls a memory of Emily laughing, at the end of a particularly trying day, and saying, 'Through all that crap...can I just say how amazed I am at how you can stay that civil?' He feels the edges of his mouth turn up slightly as he shuts the door behind Beth. He needed that. 'Thank you, Emily.'

"I need to find Emily and talk to her. She's ignoring all my attempts to contact her. I know you know where she is."

Aaron's civility takes a small step back .'You manipulative prick…' He nips the tip of his tongue before the words slide out of his mouth. 'You are not getting that info from me…'

"Look, Clyde, what Emily does is her own business. Where she is staying is her business. If she is refusing to take your calls, or respond to your messages, take the hint. She remembers all the shit you put her through, which in turn, put me through, too. I'm done being Mr. Nice Guy, Clyde. If I hear one word from Emily that makes me think you're pulling the same crap you did sixteen years ago, I will drop you in a hole so deep not even the Queen will be able to pardon you." For a man who was teetering on the edge minutes before, he is amazed at how calm he is right now. Emily's words 'You're better than this' ring in his mind. 'Clyde has gotten away with this before because people let him. Enough is enough.' His voice is firm and in control, even though he is pacing his living room, he remains in control, he's not going to let Clyde get the better of him. He is going to show Clyde that he is the better man. Even though Clyde has caused both himself and Emily heartache and grief, he will be the bigger man. And Clyde's day will come.

"She works for me. Aaron. I have a right to know where she is. More so when she suddenly leaves work, then London, without any warning."

"You're full of shit, you know that, Easter? I know for a fact you were in her interview this morning. So you know where the hell she is and why. Where she's staying is her business, not yours." Aaron's patience has reached the end of its tether.

"Agent Hotchner-," Clyde begins.

'Get bent,' he thinks. "Good night, Clyde," he says, cutting the man off and ending the call. He looks at his watch. 'Crap. It's that late?' He hurries to his room to grab a change of clothes for his go bag. 'It wouldn't surprise me if the whole team is over at Rossi's at this point…'

His thoughts fall back to Clyde for a moment and a wave of disgust fills him. 'God, I hate that guy.' Then his thoughts turn to Emily and the anger turns inward. 'Yeah, like I'm some kind of ... I'm sorry I screwed things up, Emily. I wasn't ready for you then. I'm ready for you now. I love you, Emily, truly I do. I'm just praying you'll find it in you to give this foolish man a second chance.'

His thoughts then turned to the team. 'They took the news better than I expected. Well, except Morgan. I was sure was going to have a go at us. Well, me. Until Dave stepped in and stopped him. Now we need to stand together as a team. Not let anyone pull us all apart. Work this case. Get it closed.' He let out a sigh. 'Then, and only then, can I think about what the hell to do with me, Emily, and everything else.