A/N: I'm actually changing this story so much from the original. This is yet another chapter I hadn't intended to write but I still thought we needed one more chapter before I started to mix it up. This chapter is set a couple of weeks after the girls/guys night. It's just a short piece to show that Hotch's feelings haven't truly disappeared and that Emily's are starting to pop up, though she doesn't really have a name for them. Please read and review.
DISCLAIMER: I don't own Criminal Minds.
Emily nodded nervously on the door and stood back to wait. She felt Sammy squeeze her hand and she looked down at him and smiled. He was practically beaming, excited to spend some time with his new friend. But he didn't realize this was such a big step for his Mom.
She wasn't quite sure why she was nervous. She just had that jumpy feeling in the pit of her stomach the moment she and Sammy stepped out of the car. But she put it down to just seeing him outside of the office, nothing more. She hadn't really spent all that much "personal" time with Hotch so this was an aberration. And she wasn't sure why it made her nervous. After her failed attempt at dating with Craig, she knew she wasn't ready for a new relationship, so maybe she just wanted some uncomplicated friendship from a man. Someone with which she could spend some time and just have an adult conversation. Mind you, she was just dropping Sammy off for the play-date, so that she could get some much-needed "shopping, hair-cut, eyebrow wax" personal time to herself. So the adult conversation was just a few minutes.
In any case, she was glad to have a friend with a kid around the same age so that Sammy wasn't so lonely. Apart from kindergarten, he didn't really get to spend time with kids his own age. And he missed out on a lot because of her work, because, if she didn't know and trust the parents, she wasn't about to send her kid off to play with them. But she definitely knew and absolutely trusted Hotch with her son. Hell she trusted him with her life on a daily basis so Sammy's life, she knew he was safe too.
Emily was broken from her thoughts at the scratching of the chain on the door. She looked up and saw Hotch open it with a smile. An honest to God smile. And she automatically smiled back. It was hard not to. "Hey. Come on in," he said brightly, stepping back in the door to let Emily and Sammy in. Emily smiled as she walked past, Sammy running in before her and joining Jack on the floor of the living room. "How are you Hotch?" Emily asked. Hotch shrugged and smiled. "I'm good. I've got my kid so I'm happy," he replied, "You excited about your day? Got big plans?" he asked, glancing over at the two boys before returning his gaze to Emily.
Emily nodded. "Yep. Big plans. Meeting up with the girls to go shopping… grocery shopping too. And then off to the hairdresser," she explained, "Thinking of going blonde… what do you think?" she teased. Hotch rolled his eyes. "I think we have enough blondes on the team Emily," he replied dryly. Emily chuckled. Hotch reached out to take Sammy's bag and Emily handed it over. "Thanks again for this Hotch. I appreciate it. And… if you ever need, you know I wouldn't hesitate to return the favour," she said quietly. Hotch smiled and nodded.
Emily knelt down where the boys were playing and ran her hand down Sammy's back. "Mommy's going now sweetie. Be a good boy for Aaron and Jack ok?" she said quietly. Hotch raised his eyebrows at her rather relaxed use of his given name. He liked it. He frowned and shook his head, clearing the thoughts running through his mind. FRIENDS, he kept telling himself. He looked back and smiled as Sammy stood and gave his Mom a tight hug. "Bye Mommy. Love you," he said brightly, before returning to the ramps he and Jack were building for their cars.
Emily smiled and stood. "I think I've been replaced as his favourite," she pouted. Hotch chuckled and pat her shoulder. "You're his Mom. And you're Emily Prentiss. I think it would be pretty tough to lose your top billing," he said quietly as he opened the door for her. Emily blushed and pat Hotch's arm. "Thanks again," she said. Hotch shook his head. "Not a problem. See you when you get back," he said. Emily nodded and walked down the hall. Hotch watched her leave then turned back to the boys setting up their "Mega Monster Truck Air Show" in the living room. He huffed and walked over to the dining table where he had set up his own "fun-place," with holiday leave request forms and cases that needed signing off. He sighed and got to work, the sounds of two entertained little boys filling his ears.