A/N: Here's the next installment - the morning after! I hope you enjoy this chapter, it's actually the end of the story. I'll be adding one more chapter - an epilogue of sorts - in the next few days, and then I have an idea for a new story, but sadly this one has come to an end. Please continue your wonderful feedback and comments, it is much appreciated and certainly helps inspire me to keep writing! And thanks to all that have been reading - hope it's to your liking!

I don't own anything.

Emily Prentiss had slept in. For the first time in like, years. It was 9 am - not actually very late, but for someone who habitually woke up at 6am with or without alarm clock, those three extra, luxurious hours made all the difference. Emily smiled as she attributed such a sound sleep to the fact that she'd had a bedmate - someone to cuddle up against, someone who held her tight in his arms. His very strong, toned arms. She'd actually never really been a cuddler, instead preferring her space, but with Hotch in her bed, it was a whole different story. She couldn't get close enough to him. Another smile spread across her face as she recalled the night before. After their serious talk, the heated make out session had continued with vigor. They'd eventually made it into her bedroom, though nothing more consequential than a good old-fashioned rounding of second base had occurred. They'd both wanted it - oh boy had they, but Hotch had pulled away when he felt the last shred of his self-control slipping, his hands and lips detaching from her chest.

"Emily," his voice had been rough and deep, and it had sent shivers up her spine. "If we don't stop now I won't be able to, and I don't want this to...I think we should wait." And Emily, disappointed as her libido was, had agreed, knowing it was probably a wise decision. They'd have plenty of time for all of that stuff in the future.

And so it was these thoughts that filled her head as she turned over in bed, stretching, expecting to see Hotch, possibly hoping for a little early-morning action. However, the rest of the bed was empty, and there were no signs of his ever having been there. But before Emily could go into full-on panic mode, she furrowed her brows and felt something weird on her forehead. A note, taped to her skin. She pulled it down, rolling her eyes.

Emily, had to pick Jack up early and didn't want to wake you. See you later for the usual. PS You're a blanket hog. - Hotch

Emily grinned and bit her lip as she read the note. It sounded exactly like Hotch. What she didn't know, however, is that it had taken the man about ten minutes to figure out what to say - after all, he'd never been the love 'em and leave 'em type, so early morning notes weren't really a specialty of his. He'd internally debated as to whether or not to add the PS at the end, but knowing Emily, she'd appreciate it. And she did, though of course she could hardly believe the accusation. She was, however, exceptionally glad that today was Saturday, her usual hang-with-the-Hotchners day. They usually began their days together with coffee around now, so Emily quickly hopped out of bed and into the shower, annoying lovey-dovey thoughts that weren't completely unwanted running through her mind.

"Will you push me on the swings, Daddy?" Jack looked up at his father as the trio reached the park, the adults with coffee mugs in hand - having made an educated guess that Emily might be a little delayed (a fact he took some pride in, of course), Hotch had prepared the two travel mugs, and the feeling of pride surged again when he pressed it into Emily's hand upon her arrival and her grateful grin was accompanied by a chaste kiss on the cheek. It was interesting, Hotch noted, that such a simple gesture could send such shocks throughout his entire body. He wondered if she had any idea how great the effect was she had on him. He was contemplating this when he felt a sharp tug on his pants. Jack had been itching to go, so they hurried out of the apartment and walked the two short blocks to the park, Jack chattering happily to Emily the whole way. Hotch had surprised Emily by grabbing her hand as they strolled without saying a word (although that aspect was certainly typical), and she had accepted similarly, enjoying the weight of his hand in hers, a reassurance of sorts that things were good, and that last night wasn't any sort of mistake. Of course, she had blushed a little too at the unexpected physical contact – a fact Hotch noted with satisfaction. Looks like he had a similar effect on her.

"Of course, buddy," Hotch replied, and Jack ran toward the swings, followed closely by his companions, though at a much slower pace.

"So, uh, I wanted to just say thank you again, for last night," Hotch said, keeping his eyes trained on his son ahead, but squeezing Emily's hand a bit tighter.

"Well thank you back, Hotch. I had a great time," she replied lightly. "I'm really glad you took Dave's advice last night."

"How did you know about that?" Hotch asked turning to look at her with bemused surprise. Emily rolled her eyes.

"JJ called me this morning on my way to your house to interrogate me, and told me that she knew something would happen with us since she and Dave were working both angles."

"Ah. Of course. So what did JJ have to say?"

"There was a lot of squealing, a lot of 'omigods' and a lot of expressive vocabulary," Emily listed, smiling. "And then she said to tell you, you're welcome."

"You mean for how she was pouring tequila down your throat? You and tequila, Emily Prentiss, that's a dangerous combination." Emily blushed, remembering just exactly how forward she'd been at the bar the night before.

"I'm sure I have no idea what you are talking about, Agent Hotchner," she responded.

"Is that your gun in your pocket or are you just happy to see me?" Hotch mocked in a high-pitched voice, and Emily burst into laughter.

"Yeah, okay, you caught me. Tequila makes me kind of slutty. You're just lucky you were the first guy I saw," she teased, detaching her hand from his and going over to give the impatient Jack a push. Hotch gave a groan and shook his head. One thing was for sure - Emily Prentiss would keep him on his toes. Hopefully for a long time to come.

The trio remained at the park for a few hours, stopping at a small deli for a late lunch before heading back to Hotch's apartment. The hand holding had continued, much to the delight of both parties. Much more to the delight of both parties, however, was when upon entering the apartment, Jack ran ahead and Emily pulled Hotch back to her and gave him a sweet kiss. He could taste the strawberry ice cream she and Jack had shared, and he decided that was his new favorite flavor.

"It's kind of cool that I can just do that now," she said, giving him a quirked smile.

"Mmm," Hotch murmured in agreement as he closed the apartment door behind them.

"I mean, I can just do that now, right?" Emily raised an eyebrow at him.

"Of course. Well, probably not at the office," he modified, giving her a grin. "Don't want to put on a show."

"Speaking of a show, I think we have an audience," Emily said, nodding down to Jack, who had run back into the room with a few toy cars, as she pulled away from his embrace.

"What's up, buddy?"

"How come you and Em are kissin'?" The five year old asked innocently, his brow furrowed in a perfect imitation of his father. Hotch regarded his son with a smile, and bent down to sit with Jack and his Lego's on the floor.

"Well, bud, sometimes when grown-ups like each other, they like to give each other kisses," he explained simply, but of course the precocious Jack wasn't entirely satisfied.

"Like when they're married?" he asked, sending Hotch into a small coughing fit and causing Emily to stifle the laughter that threatened to erupt at Hotch's discomfort.

"Well, grown-ups are allowed to kiss when they're - um, when," he turned to Emily for help explaining their particular circumstance, but she just gave him an amused shrug, which was not particularly helpful. So Hotch paused, and then went for it. "When a daddy like me has a girlfriend, then sometimes they kiss. But only grown-ups!" he added on the end, causing Emily to give another chuckle behind him.

"Well I think kissing is yucky," Jack said, scrunching up his nose, and Hotch gave an internal sigh of relief. The last thing he needed was a five-year-old Lothario on his hands. Luckily the amount of time Jack spent with Morgan was tempered by the amount of time he spent with Reid, so heart-throb of the playground wasn't a worry quite yet.

"So Em is your girlfriend?" Jack asked, his mind working faster than Hotch sometimes gave him credit for. Hotch took a deep breath, but before he could answer, Emily swooped in. Crouching next to the boys on the floor, she gave Jack a big smile.

"Yep. Is that okay with you, buddy?" she asked seriously. Jack nodded just as solemnly.

"Yeah its okay. Because you tell better stories than Daddy. And you make really good grilled cheeses," he answered, and then his eyes lit up. "Can we have some for dinner?"

"Of course," Emily replied, and Jack gave a grin before turning his attention back to his cars. The adults stood back up.

"So," Hotch said, a bit awkwardly. "I'm sorry if that was presumptuous, I just didn't know what else to tell him," Hotch said, avoiding eye contact. "I know we only just - whatever - but, I mean, we've been um, hanging out for a while. I'm sorry," he said, and for the second time in her life Emily was privy to an exceptionally rare Hotchner ramble.

"Aaron Hotchner, stop apologizing for silly things," Emily chastised him gently. "Don't you want me to be your girlfriend?"

"Of course I do," he answered. "It just sounds kind of - juvenile. And this is, well, this is more important than that," he said honestly, finally meeting her warm eyes.

"Well what would you prefer? Lady friend? Companion? Secret Lovah?" With each suggestion, Emily moved closer to Hotch.

"Can't we just be us?" he asked softly. "I like us." He reached around her slim waist to pull her closer.

"Yeah, we can just be us," she replied, eyes twinkling. The sweet smell of her shampoo filled his nostrils, and Hotch leaned in to give her a small kiss on the forehead. Emily sighed at the contact, perfectly content. The two remained seemingly frozen for a bit, safe and comfortable and happy until Jack's voice broke the reverie.

"So do I get a grilled cheese or what?"