Chapter Twelve
"Thanks Dave but I really don't think Emily would enjoy being arrested on our first date." Hotch laughed.
"Hey, that was one time and I was a lot younger then. I didn't think we would actually get caught. I'll see you later Aaron and don't fuck this up because if you do I will still kick your ass." Dave said and then left going back to his office.
Emily woke up on Saturday; today was supposed to be the big day at the park with Hotch and Jack. She was nervous as hell. She had spent a lot of time with Jack since Haley's death and she loved that little boy with all her heart. She knew the reason she was nervous was because of Hotch. It wouldn't be like before when they hung out together. Before it had been just friends hanging out but now… now she knew how he felt and that changed everything.
She was afraid to move to fast. She didn't want her heart broken by the man she loved, and oh did he have the power to shatter it into a million pieces. But god did she want to be with this man in every way possible.
Hotch knocked on her door at eleven o'clock on the dot. Emily opened the door to him and Jack with a smile on her face. Bending down to Jack's level, she looked up at Hotch and then back at Jack.
"Hey Jack, how are you today sweetie?" she asked him quietly.
"Hi Miss Em'ly, I'm fine. Daddy said you are going to the park with us today. Are you really coming with us?" Jack asked her, almost in a whisper like he didn't want his dad to hear him.
"Do you want me to go with you Jack?" she whispered back to the boy.
Jack looked up at his daddy and then back at Emily and smiled at her.
"Yeah, I want you to come with us 'cause I like it when you play with me daddy and we haven't got to play in a long time." he smiled again.
"Well in that case, I would love to go to the park with you and daddy. Come in and let me finish getting ready and then we can go." she said as she let them into her apartment.
Emily ran upstairs and threw her hair up into a ponytail and then went to her dresser and pulled out a pair of blue-jean shorts and an old t-shirt that she wears when she is sparring with Morgan. She threw on her socks and running shoes and went back down stairs to a waiting Hotch and Jack.
"Okay sweetness I'm already to go, are you?" she said to Jack.
"Yep, let's go daddy. I want to swing on the swings with Miss Em'ly." Jack said excitedly; pulling on his daddy's hand and then he grabbed Emily's hand in his other, pulling them both toward the door.
They reached the park fifteen minutes later and made their way to the playground equipment with Jack running ahead of them.
"Oh I forgot something in the car, I'll be right back. Can you watch Jack for a minute?" Hotch said.
"Of course." Emily said and then went to catch up with Jack.
Emily looked up from her spot near the swings and saw Hotch laying out a blanket underneath the big oak tree near them. He placed a picnic basket on the blanket and then looked up at her and gave her a dimpled smile. He knew that would get her.
Emily returned his smile with one of her own and the turned attention back to Jack and continued to push the boy higher.
"Look daddy at how high I am going." Jack yelled at his father as he made his way toward them.
"I see that buddy, hold on tight okay." Hotch said as he stopped in front of the swings but out of the way. He really didn't think it would impress Emily if he got kicked in the face by his son.
Emily pushed Jack on the swing for a little while until he announced to them that he was thirsty and hungry and that he needed to eat now. They all went over to where Hotch had set the picnic basket that contained their lunch. Jack sat down on one side of Emily and Hotch took the other side.
Sitting in between the two Emily felt like she was the meat in a Hotchner sandwich… and she loved it. She felt content when she was with them, and she had always felt that way. No matter the type of relationship they had had in the past Emily had always been at ease with being with the two of them. They made her feel happy and alive when they were near. Until the whole thing with Doyle happened, Emily had thought their relationship was changing. And then when she came back he gave her her space to readjust and then Beth came into the picture so Emily backed off. Closed herself off from her feelings; locking them in the box she had just for Aaron Hotchner.
Now here she was again, sitting between her two most favorite people in the world and she was… happy. For the first time in a long time she was happy. Happier then maybe she had ever been before.
Hotch laid out the plates in front of them and then started distributing the food. He made Jack's plate first; putting a spoonful of potato salad, baked beans, a fried chicken leg and a roll on it for his son.
"Daddy I don't like baked beans." Jake whined.
"Jack, you know the rules. You eat what is on your plate or no dessert." Hotch replied.
Jack huffed out a sigh and Emily laughed. Hotch looked at her with a raised eyebrow.
"What are you laughing at?" he asked her with a smile on his face.
"Oh, I just caught a glimpse of what Aaron Hotchner looked like when he was a child and pouted for having to clean his plate."
"And why is that funny?" he asked as he started putting food on her plate.
"Because I can see Jack ten years from now giving you the same look you give us when he begging you for a new car and you tell him no the first time."
"And what sort of look would that be, Emily?" he handed her her plate.
"Thank you. That look you give us when Morgan and Garcia are goofing off and we need to get our focus back on a case. Yeah, that look your giving me right now."
Hotch started laughing at that and Emily laughed with him. He fixed his plate and turned to look at Jack, who was eating like he hadn't eaten in a week.
"Slow down Jack. You don't want to choke. I promise I made enough for you to have more if you want." Hotch laughed at his son's expression.
Emily ate her food quietly, watching Hotch pick at Jack. She loved this side of him. He was carefree with Jack and deep down Emily longed to be a part of that.
"Are you enjoying yourself?" Hotch's voice pulled her out of her thoughts.
"Yes I am. Thank you for inviting me." she said quietly. She looked at Jack and smiled.
"Jack, how is school? Are you enjoying the first grade?" She asked him.
"Yeah, we get to go to the library and check out books and we get to do stuff on the computer too. I like recess the most because my friend Blake and I get to play soccer if we want to. I like playing on a team too 'cause daddy and Uncle Dave are my coaches. I'm the best reader in my class and I am learning to spell better too." Jack enthusiastically said in a rush of words that left Emily chuckling.
Hotch watched the interaction between the two and knew that this is what he wanted it to be like all of the time. And if he had his way it would be.
"I'm so glad you are doing so well in school Jack. If you want me to and if it is okay with your daddy, maybe I can come watch one of your games. Would you like that?" she asked.
"Oh daddy can she come? Please." Jack begged his dad.
"Of course she can Jack. If she wants to maybe she can come to your game next Saturday." he said looking at Emily.
"Do you wanna Em'ly?" Jack looked at her and she could see the excitement in his eyes.
"I would love to Jack. Thank you." Emily answered.
"I'm full daddy can I go swing some more?"
"Sure buddy, just stay where I can see you."
Hotch watched his son go the twenty feet back to the swings and then turned back to Emily.
"Would you like to come over and watch movie with us? I can't promise it will be a good movie or one you haven't seen a thousand times but I would really like the company."
"I would like that." Emily smiled at him and he leaned over and gave her a quick kiss.
