Author's Note: I always think life is going to get less busy, and I am always proven wrong. I try not to use that an excuse, because even I begin feeling antsy when I don't update in more than two weeks. First things first, however, I really just need to thank you all for the overwhelming - and I mean, reallyoverwhelming, response to the previous chapter. I don't know how I'm so blessed, but I'm just going to keep doing what I do, and I can only hope you'll continue to enjoy.

Thank you to no end, and very happy reading!

Disclaimer in Chapter One!

Just when Emily was sure nothing else could go badly, life proved her terribly wrong.

A week had passed, or maybe it had been two weeks; Emily couldn't bring herself to keep track. The fact of the matter was, it was Hotch's first day back. She learned through the grapevine that Jack's arm was still broken, though his head no longer hurt from his concussion. She was glad for that much, though it would have been nicer to hear it from the man himself.

Emily gave a noncommittal shrug of her shoulders, glad no one's gaze was on her. She trusted they would be able to make like adults and continue on with their working relationship without letting personal matters impede their way. They were damn good agents, and nothing could change that.

That didn't stop her heart from pounding in her ears when she laid eyes on him for the first time in however many days.

She felt pathetic; the man obviously hadn't thought anything through! Yes, his son was his everything and she understood that, she really did, but it wasn't impossible for them to have worked something out in the meantime. He was disillusioned, naïve, and blind. Emily knew she sounded jealous, but Haley was so obviously playing him. He was a profiler, the best she knew…yet he couldn't see it.

It maddened her to no end.

At the end of the day, however, Emily was strong enough to know and accept that the past was the past. She wasn't one to dwell on past grievances, or cry over the way things had turned out. She was a professional; their team dynamic would not be changed, not because of her.

Not because of her, but because of someone else.

Emily learned it the hard way when she heard the sharp clap of heels against tile behind her, when she heard her name ring out in the bullpen, the question falling from the lips of a woman she had hoped she would never have to speak to again.

"Agent Prentiss, may I see you in my office, please?"

Strauss. Just thinking of the woman made Emily sick to her stomach. She didn't know what she wanted; all she knew was that it couldn't be anything good.

Slowly, she maneuvered out of her chair, taking careful measures to meet no one's eyes except the Section Chief's. She didn't want to see anyone's curious stares; her day was off to a bad enough start already.

Emily bit her lip, then wordlessly made her way down the corridor, her every stride just two steps behind Strauss.

It was when they settled into seats across from one another, and when Strauss actually began to speak, that Emily's head began to ache.

There was no fanfare, no cordial greeting. Strauss barely even waited until Emily was in a seat before beginning the soliloquy she had undoubtedly rehearsed a number of times before confronting her once and for all.

She didn't even leave room for Emily to interrupt.

"I put you in the BAU, Agent Prentiss," Strauss began, and already, Emily was appalled. "I knew how badly you wanted it. Everyone did. You were never exactly shy about letting us know," she said, her voice not without sarcasm. A beat passed. "But there were those who didn't think assigning you to the BAU was a good idea. They thought you were too reckless. I believed in you, however. And it's time to pay back the faith I had."

Stunned and even a bit numb, Emily opened her mouth to speak out in protest…but no words came out. How could they, when her entire body had stiffened as she listened to the older woman's deprecating words? The statements were already sinking in, yet she had not the slightest idea what Strauss was telling her. What did she mean?

What did anything mean?

"Your team is in trouble," Strauss finally continued, and Emily's head jerked up at the sound of her voice. "They've lost sight of their big picture. I believe they are reckless and, at times, out of control." Strauss let out a heavy sigh, and Emily had the sinking feeling deep in her gut that whatever the woman had to say next was not going to pretty.

Much to her dismay, she was right.

"It's time for Agent Hotchner's career to come to an end," Strauss said with bruising finality. "And if you want to stay in the BAU, Agent Prentiss, you're going to help me make that happen."

It was as if Emily's world was crumbling around her.

Nothing was right anymore; there was no good or clean way out. She couldn't defend Hotch without incriminating them both even more; what would happen to them if Strauss found out about the previous nature of their relationship? She couldn't risk her job either…she was certain that even without her presence in the BAU, Strauss would still continue to go after Hotch. Nothing would stop the woman.

And that worried Emily to no end.

There was only one real choice…and even that tore Emily to pieces. To bring about the end of Hotch's career would kill Emily all the same. They didn't have to be together anymore for Emily to remind herself that she still loved the man. How was she supposed to break him, to bring him down so far when she truly believed that he was one of the only agents left with pure, selfless motives and such great determination? The passion and control he exhibited in the field was unparalleled. Surely Erin Strauss had to know that.

But at the moment, it was as if Strauss was blind. Her hatred was, too, and it was something Emily would never understand. She didn't want to either way. What she wanted was to run away, to rewind their lives nine years and fight to keep everything as perfect as it had been.

What she wanted, however, she wouldn't be able to get.

It was with a begrudging heart and the most curiously blank expression on her face that Emily met Strauss's gaze. She swallowed thickly, mentally apologizing for what she was about to do.

"What do you need done?"

~.~.~

Not five days had passed before Emily'd had enough. The incessant calls at every hour of the work day, the unspoken, sickening authority, the feeling of filth that cloaked her skin whenever she met gazes with the older woman; it was all too much to handle, and Emily knew it would only get worse when they would leave home for a case.

So she backed out.

She made a rash decision, but in that moment, it was all that made sense. No matter how much distaste Emily had for Hotch, she wasn't about to spy on the man. No, her espionage days had long been over.

It was all this that she was thinking of when her hand finally connected with the solid, unyielding wood of Hotch's office door.

Emily caught the end of a conversation that made her all the more confused as she stepped into the office she had been in a million times before. "What about heading up a white-collar crime task force?" she heard Strauss ask. "That'll get you home at nights at a reasonable hour."

Hotch's eyes were on her in a heartbeat. She couldn't bear it…she was so close to caving in. "Sorry to interrupt," she said, and it was directed more towards Strauss than to handsome man in the room. Finally, however, she caught his gaze. "Sir," she greeted, her breathing already shallow, "I've…decided to resign from the FBI effective immediately."

Hotch had to physically restrain himself from dropping his jaw. He shook his head just barely, just enough for her to notice. "I…I don't understand," he said numbly. Emily wondered what was going through his mind at the moment; she wondered the same about Strauss.

She wondered if Hotch was thinking the same thing she was, that working in the BAU and going without seeing one another each and every day would be an experience too strange to fathom. But Emily caught herself; it wouldn't strange for Hotch, she supposed. Not when he had already broken things off between them.

She could have slapped herself at that very moment. He had asked her a question, one that Strauss was undoubtedly waiting impatiently for the answer to. Their so-called relationship should have been the last thing on her mind…and after all, she really didn't want to blame him. It wasn't his fault, per se.

It was Haley's.

"I'm taking the foreign service exam," Emily said, after a long enough silence. "With my connections, I stand a good chance of landing in the State Department."

Hotch's eyes were hard, but she could see the hint of sadness and fiery protest behind them. "Prentiss, I think that's a mistake," he said earnestly, willing her to reconsider.

But Emily wouldn't budge. "Well, don't try to talk me out of it." There was the stubbornness, Hotch noticed with a sigh. "Garcia saw my name on the list and she already tried. If she can't talk someone out of doing something, no one can."

Silence reigned once more, and the former lovers gazed at each other, reading each other's hearts and souls, for the longest of times before remembering that they still had an audience. "Sorry for the interruption," Emily said, and this time, her voice was quieter, more resigned. "But, sir, it's good to see you back. The team needs you," she said pointedly, and not without a glance toward Strauss. Something fishy was going on, and she would have nothing of it…though it wasn't as if she had any more authority within the Bureau. She was leaving; she was gone.

~.~.~

Emily couldn't bring herself to be surprised when she heard a familiar knocking on her apartment door. She didn't even have to make a guess as to who was waiting on her; somehow, she just knew.

And if she were being honest with herself, she knew she didn't want to talk to him at the moment. Not because of what they had gone through as a couple…or whatever they had been; but because Emily knew he would demand an explanation, and she wasn't ready to give him that. She wasn't ready to communicate to him everything that was going through her mind and heart…partially because she couldn't make sense of any of it herself.

But she couldn't stay away, not from him. No, just thinking of Hotch standing behind her front door was enough to make her body ache; and before she knew it, she was striding forward, letting the music she had been singing aloud to be her guide and her courage. One step, then another, and another…finally, Emily was there, pulling open the door. She was there, in a place she didn't want to be.

And so was he.

Author's Note: Not really a cliffhanger, but I'm ending it there because the upcoming events must be grouped together and will be in the next chapter - which will be a longer one, no worries. Besides, assuming you all have seen the season two finale and "In Name and Blood" (3x02), you know the gist what's about to happen. I say 'the gist' because I'm about to change some stuff up...and I just know you all will enjoy it. As always, thank you so much for reading! If you have a moment or two, please leave me a review! I'd love to know what you think so far. Your feedback is such a treasure for me.

Also...

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