Renee was parking her frog-green Jeep Wrangler in front of Hotch 's apartment. She was a bit too early, Hotch said 1 p.m., there were 15 minutes left, to this. Renee had to think about how Hotch looked at her, yesterday and she had to smile. Her grandfather was right, either you felt it, or you didn´t. And Renee felt it. All she could think about was Hotch and the hope, he could start, perhaps, to feel the same way about her.

oOo

Hotch saw Renee standing on the street. It looked like she was dancing by her car, to pass the time. Hotch had to smile. Renee was such a positive person. And he remembered, what Ike said. Renee has a large, loving heart for the three of us. Wasn´t that what he promised Callie? But the truth is, Hotch thought, I´m scared like hell. I´m so damn scared, I´ll lose someone I love again. And Renee was someone I could love, Hotch realized at once, but do I have the courage to let it happen?

Renee beamed and waved when she recognized Hotch on the other side of the street, taking off his helmet. "I 'm a little early, please excuse me. ", she said.

"You don´t have to apologize, Renee. I didn´t notice, what time it was. Lost in thoughts, I guess." Hotch replied, as he had crossed the street.

"You look good, Aaron. The motorcycle and the leather jacket, it suits you. Makes you look younger and kinda...well...dashing." Renee giggled.

"Dashing? " Hotch repeated in the elevator.

"You already know what I mean. You always dress up very correctly to create distance and you´re crossing your arms, just like now ... "

"You analyze me, now? " Hotch asked with a small smile. Renee blushed, "an occupational disease, I'm afraid. But I never do it again, I promise ... Oh, Lord. "

The elevator suddenly made a strange noise and stopped. "Are we crashing down? " Renee asked, slightly in panic, she grabbed Hotch 's hand. Hotch chuckled briefly, so Dr. Malone also had her weaknesses.

" I do not think so, Renee. The elevator is backed up several times. We´re save in here." Hotch pushed the emergency button in precaution. Renee tightened her grip around Hotch 's hand and moved a little closer. She tried to breathe calmly. " Renee, you don´t have to be afraid, nothing is going to happen." Her tried to calm her down a bit. It was obvious, Renee wasn´t kidding, she was afraid and she was shaking like a leaf.

" I-I´m not scared" , Renee stuttered, her heart was beating, like she was a fox on the run.

" Breathe, Renee. C'mon. In, out, in, out. It´s getting better, you see?" Hotch put his arm around her and slowly Renee became a little calmer. They sat on the floor of the elevator, Renee hugged Hotch 's knee and he gently stroked her back. "It won´t take long, Renee. You heard, what the janitor said?" Renee nodded, but she still clung to Hotch´s knee. "Let's discuss what we tell Mrs. Coffin on Monday? " Hotch asked, trying to focus Renee on other things.

"If we even experience Monday," Renee said dryly. She calmed down a little, Hotch 's closeness was like medicine. She felt at home in his embrace and Hotch held her, like he was never letting her go again.

oOo

Ken used a little white lie. It was true, he had an appointment , but it wasn´t a meeting with an author. Kenneth had an appointment with the jeweler. He loved Spencer and he wanted the whole world to know. Tonight he was going to propose and Ken hoped, Spencer just thought like him. But actually, Ken had no doubt about that.

He suddenly thought of Mike, his first love. At that time Ken was still a lawyer. The publisher Mike Thompson had been his client, that was how everything had started. Because of him, Ken broke up with his family, who could not understand, how a man can be in love with another man. The only one that stood by him was his younger sister Kerensa. She loved her brother without ifs and buts. It was her, who stood by him after Mike died in an accident while sailing. Mike inherited Ken his publisher and Ken buried himself in this new challenge, to forget about the big loss. Kenneth believed for a long time, he wasn´t able to love again. But then, there was Spencer, who conquered his heart by storm. Ken smiled. Spencer. His future husband.

"Hello, Mr. Rosenberg," Ken said, as he entered the shop. "Oh, hello, Mr. Baker. You want to pick up the rings, right? " Rosenberg smiled. It had been a difficult search, but finally Ken had found a very special kind of rings. Ken felt a bit like Jess, who was looking for the perfect wedding dress. Mr. Rosenberg handed him a small box and Ken trembled a little as he opened it. The rings were made of yellow and white gold, which bordered a fugue with a pattern. Ken nodded, " exactly what I had imagined, Mr. Rosenberg."

"I'm sure, he´ll like the rings, Mr. Baker. May I wish you good luck? For you and your boyfriend?"

Ken laughed, "Yes. You may keep your fingers crossed for me. Hopefully , I'll be a very happy man tonight. "

oOo

Spencer, meanwhile, emptied the breakfast tray with good appetite. Before Ken, he would have never considered to have breakfast in bed, but since he was in love, some things have simply become different. Spencer finally felt 'normal'. Ken took a lot of his imagined inadequacies away, he loved him the way he was and that made Spencer happy. He put the tray away and stood up. The clothes from yesterday were still distributed in the bedroom, Spencer smiled, they hardly managed to get into the bedroom, yesterday. On this occasion, Reid had to think about the 'do with me whatever you want.' I probably find something, Spencer grinned and decided to go shopping. 20 minutes later he came back, heavy loaded. Scented candles, champagne, strawberries and roses had found their way into Spencer's grocery bag. Another 30 minutes later, Spencer had transformed the bathroom with the large tub in a sea of candles and rose petals. He looked at his watch, wouldn´t be long, since Ken was back from his appointment. Spencer turned on the hot water and used the bath foam very generous.

oOo

"I 'm back! " Kenneth yelled a little later from the hallway. "Baby?"

"In the bathroom but you´re not allowed to come in, Ken. Otherwise I´d have to shoot you."

Ken laughed and let the rings disappear in his secretary. It smelled quite good, Ken was curious what Spencer had come up with.

" You have to close your eyes, Ken." Spencer demanded and came into the living room. "Atta boy," he grinned and blindfolded Kenneth with a silk scarf. "You'll just have to trust me now," Spencer whispered into Ken 's ear and began to undress him slowly. Ken groaned audibly when Spencer finally got to his boxers and freed him from the now narrow jail. Reid laughed softly and pressed himself against his lover.

"You don´t wear anything," Ken gasped in surprise. "Neither do you, Mr. Baker," Spencer chuckled and led Ken finally into the bathroom. "Right," Spencer said with a smile and sat down in the tub, " you can take a look now. " Ken loosened the scarf and blinked a bit. Spencer was sitting in the middle of a huge mountain of foam, the whole bathroom was filled with candles and rose petals. On the little table next to the bathtub were champagne, glasses and strawberries. Spencer tilted his head, "don´t you wanna come in? "

oOo

Renee was still shaking a bit. "I don´t know, maybe she wants to know how we both met?" She tried to organize their thoughts and to ignore the possibly (or very likely) crashing elevator. Just think of Hotch´s arms. How strong and lovingly they hold you, Renee thought. " We might say we fell in love, just before I went to Berlin and when I was coming back, old feelings came back to life, too. We´d stay as close to the truth, as possible."

Hotch nodded. He didn´t feel very comfortable, after all, they lied brazenly to a state institution. But this was about the greater good. "We collided in a café, that would be plausible, don´t you think, Renee? Renee? " Her trembling and breathing became worse again , the elevator lurched and creaked questionable.

"Oh my God," she moaned and clung to Hotch.

"Renee, we do not crash, ok ? Look at me, Renee! " She turned her head to Hotch, her huge brown eyes seemed to get even bigger, Hotch clearly noticed the panic in it. "There´s no need to be afraid, little Froglet," he said, stroking her cheek. He was now close enough to kiss her and Hotch surrendered to his feelings. Renee's lips were soft and warm and she tasted like honey. Hotch kissed her very gently and slowly broke away from her. He did not want to exploit the situation, he wanted to give Renee a sense of security and take her fear away. How good it felt to kiss her, Hotch thought. So ... right?

Renee's heart missed a beat, when Hotch 's lips touched hers. Hotch was so gentle and affectionate. If Renee had any doubts about her feelings for him, he wiped it away, with that kiss.

"Aaron." Renee breathed heavily and Hotch kissed her again on the forehead. "You're safe with me, Renee. There is nothing you have to be afraid of. I´m taking good care of you, I promise." Hotch strengthened his embrace a little. It felt so good to hold Renee in his arms. And then, suddenly, Hotch noticed something strange. Actually, he wanted to comfort Renee, but miraculously he felt comforted by her. Somehow the pain because of Callie started to fade a bit. It was still very much present, but Hotch felt a little lightness growing in his wounded heart.

"Carl is going to bring us right out of here, ok? Jess and Dave need us afterwards for some cake testing. Jess insists, you´re coming with me. Confectioner 's quite mad, the date already bursted three times." Hotch chuckled, "that happens quite often. Bursting dates, I mean."

Carl pushed the elevator door open. "Sorry, it took so long. Are you all right?"

A/N there´s a very important question to be asked, next chapter. And, Hotch and Renee will get a bit closer. Some reviews would be so nice, guys. It isn´t that bad, is it?