Chapter 31
The next morning, in bed, Emily rolled over and opened her eyes. Hotch was laying in front of her with his elbow propped up on the pillow and his head in his hand, staring at her.
"Mmmm. What are you smiling about?", she grumbled, rubbing her eyes. He put his hand on the top of her head and leaned down for a kiss, returning his hand back to where it was before.
"Good morning to you too, birthday girl.", he smiled.
"How long have you been up?", she said.
"A little bit.", he said.
"Why? Did you not sleep well?", she asked.
"I slept just fine.", he smiled.
"Well, why are you up so early?", she asked.
"No reason.", he said.
"Did I wake you up? Did I do something?", she asked.
He laughed and kissed her again.
"What! Did I do something?", she asked again.
"Don't worry about it.", he said.
"Aaron! Tell me!", she said.
"You snore a little but it's cute!", he chuckled.
"What! I do not!", she said.
"You do! But it's cute.", he kissed her again. Her mouth dropped open.
"Is that why you were up early yesterday!", she said.
"It's okay, Em. Really. You're so adorable.", he said. She gasped.
"Oh! I can't believe you!", she exclaimed, grabbing a pillow behind her and smacking him with it.
He laughed and took it, hitting her back with it, practically having a pillow fight.
He let it go and got on top of her, allowing her to wrap her legs around him.
He looked down at her and smiled.
"It doesn't matter if you snore a little bit. I can always fall back asleep.", he told her.
"So why didn't you?", she asked.
"Because then I wouldn't get to watch how peaceful you look.", he said, tucking her hair behind her ear and leaning down to kiss her. She finally smiled and let their lips touch again.
"So, did you want to stop and pick up breakfast?", he asked.
"Together?", she asked.
"Well, yeah. I thought you could ride with me today. That way you don't have to drive and also... I was going to have us go straight to your surprise from work tonight.", he said.
"Okay.", she said.
"Besides, my car is bigger.", he said.
"Why is that important?", she asked.
"You'll see.", he smiled, leaning down to kiss her. "Now, come on! We have to leave early if we want to grab food and get to work early as well.", he said. They got out of bed and she grabbed him.
"To save time, why don't you hop in the shower with me? I promise to keep my hands to myself. Since we're short on time and all.", she said.
"I like that.", he said, heading to the bathroom.
After they got out of the shower, she combed her hair and dried it. She went for the curling iron but he stopped her.
"You don't need to curl your hair. I love it natural.", he said.
"Well, it's my birthday and I want to curl it, so let me look pretty today.", she said, picking it up.
He grabbed her face. "You always look gorgeous, no matter what.", he said, kissing her.
"I don't care. I want to do my hair nice since I didn't get to yesterday. Now, go get dressed.", she told him.
He walked into her room and got dressed. Once she finished doing her hair, she came out and changed into a black pantsuit with a navy blue t-shirt and her black boots, as always.
"Do you have a pair of sweatpants?", he asked.
"Um yeah? Why?", she asked.
"You might want to wear something a bit more comfortable tonight than what you have on right now.", he said.
"Okay...", she eyed him, not sure where he was going with that.
She grabbed a pair of gray sweatpants and her favorite black converse. "Here, give them to me. I'll put them in my bag.", he said. She handed him her things and saw inside his bag.
"You packed sweats too? And sneakers? What are we doing tonight?", she chuckled.
"Stop asking. I can't tell you. Don't worry, it's not a huge thing. I just know it's something you will want to be comfortable for.", he said.
"Alright, fine.", she said. "Hey, um... when do you get to see Jack? I've been wanting to ask but also give you some space on that too..."
"It's fine. I'm uh- actually going to Jessica, her sister's place to see him on Saturday.", he said.
"That's good! I'm glad!", she said.
"Yeah, I'm looking forward to seeing him.", he said quietly, dropping his head.
She walked over to him and grabbed his face, forcing him to look at her. "Hey, listen to me. You are a great father, okay? Don't let yourself forget that.", she said. He dropped his head and she picked it back up. "Okay?", she repeated.
"Yeah, alright. Thank you.", he said and gave her a hug. "Mmmm I don't deserve you.", he squeezed her tight.
"Don't say that!", she squeezed him tighter. "You do. Otherwise, I wouldn't be here with you. When you insult yourself, it's like insulting me, insulting my decisions because you are one of them. So stop that.", she said.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry. Please forgive me.", he teased.
"Make me.", she said.
He pulled back and looked at her.
"That's how you want it to be? Okay.", he laughed. He smiled and kissed her, moving his lips all the way down her neck, tickling her, and making her giggle.
"Okay, okay! I forgive you!", she said.
He brought his face back up to hers and they both grinned. "Let me just do my makeup and we'll go.", she walked into the bathroom.
"Where's my jacket?", he asked.
"Oh, you mean my jacket?", she laughed.
"Ha ha. Where is it?", he asked.
"In the middle drawer.", she said, while applying her mascara.
"I'm packing this too just in case it gets a little chilly. Also, I like seeing you wear it.", he said.
He walked in and came up to her, picking up her eyeliner. "Oh, I love it when you wear that. I don't think you need makeup at all but that makes your eyes really pop and look so much bigger. Only you could pull that off.", he said, carefully placing a kiss on her cheek so she wouldn't move and mess up her makeup.
"What?", she asked.
"That white eyeliner.", he said.
"You've noticed? I thought guys didn't notice that stuff.", she laughed, putting eyeshadow on.
"Not every guy gets to stare into your eyes, close up like I do. I notice everything about you. I've memorized every beautiful aspect of your face and body. Remember that day in my office a while ago? When I told you that you're hard to forget? Well, I covered it up by saying it'd be hard to forget anyone during that time I worked with your mom because she is. But I'm sure you probably knew that's not what I meant.", he laughed.
"Aaron, of course I knew. Girls always know. Besides, when it comes to stuff like that, you are a bad liar.", she giggled.
"I felt so bad! I thought I made you so uncomfortable!", he said.
She set her makeup down and turned to him. "No, you didn't. But I couldn't exactly say I was flattered and of course I remembered you too because how could I forget someone as hot as you. I played along with what you said though.", she said, turning back around and doing her lipstick.
"You thought I was hot then?", he chuckled.
"Yeah, of course I did. You were an older man in an authority position who was attractive and paid attention to me. Did you not pick up on me flirting with you all the time?", she said.
"Maybe a little bit I wasn't going to act on anything obviously. Even if I wanted to... And hey! I'm only seven years older than you!", he said.
"Right, but back then I was younger. Seven years seemed like a bit more of a difference than it does now.", she said.
"Well, now I'm flattered.", he said, holding her sides behind her and kissed her neck.
She set her lipstick down and turned to face him. "Your ego is way too big sometimes. Among other things...", she smirked.
"I didn't think that last one was an issue.", he chuckled.
"Oh, it's not.", she winked.
"Go grab your bag.", he laughed.
They grabbed their bags and drove to pick up breakfast on their way to work.
They got to the BAU before everybody else and went in his office.
"Thanks for breakfast.", she said, sitting down at his desk and opening her to go box with an omelette, hash browns, and bacon in it.
He sat down on his side and opened his box with the same in it. "I'm sorry we couldn't dine in this time.", he said.
"We are. Right here.", she said, taking a bite of bacon. He stared in her eyes and smiled.
Throughout the rest of the day, the buildup to that night was increasing. She'd been in a good mood all day and knew it was all because of Hotch. She finally felt happy.
When everyone else had left, she went up to his office and walked right in.
She walked over to his chair and rubbed his shoulders, leaning over and placing kisses behind his ear.
"So, are you ready?", she asked, bringing her arms over his shoulders and hanging down his chest.
He looked up at her and she brought her lips down to his. "Give me one second.", he said, finishing up the last bit of work he had.
"Alright! You ready?", he asked.
"Been ready all day.", she said. He grabbed his bag and pulled out her sweats and shoes.
"Good. Go change in the bathroom real quick. I'm going to do the same.", he said, grabbing his own sweats and sneakers.
When they came out of the bathroom and put their clothes away, they grabbed their bags and headed out the door.
They got to the car and once the door closed, he looked over at her and waited until she finished buckling her seatbelt and looked at him.
"What?", she said.
"Nothing, you just look really beautiful.", he said.
She leaned over and gave him a kiss.
"Let's go! I can't wait any longer!", she said.
"Alright, alright. Calm down, we're going.", he said as backed up the car and drove off.
Twenty minutes later, she was getting impatient. "Okay, where the hell are we going?", she said.
"We're very close. Okay. Close your eyes.", he said.
She closed her eyes and a couple minutes later, she could feel the SUV driving on a dirt road. "Aaron, are we on a dirt road?", she asked, confused.
"Sort of. Keep 'em closed.", he said.
When she felt them park, she said, "Okay, can I open my eyes now?"
"No. Hold on.", he said.
He got out of the car and grabbed his jacket that was now hers and opened the door on her side, helping her out. He walked her over to the back of the car and slid the jacket on her. He put his arm around her and squeezed her tight.
"Okay, now you can open them.", he said.
She opened her eyes and saw dozens of other cars in a dirt lot, parked all around them. There was a giant screen up ahead in front of them all and people sitting in trunks and the backs of their cars with snacks and popcorn.
Her jaw dropped and she turned to him.
"You took me to a drive-in theatre?!", she asked, smiling huge.
"Is that a good thing? Did I do alright?", he wrapped her arms around his neck carefully, still cautious of his healing wound on it.
"You did more than alright. I love drive-ins. I didn't know they had one here!", she said.
"They actually just opened it the other week and I thought it would be fun and we could be out in public technically and not have to worry about being seen as much and still have some privacy and besides... the movie showing is one of your favorites. I swear, that part, I didn't plan.", he said.
"What? Which one?", she asked.
"It Happened One Night. The Frank Capra one. I've only seen it once but I know it's one of your all time, favorite, classics.", he said.
"You remembered?", she asked, almost sounding sad.
"Of course I did.", he said
"I love you so much.", she said, reaching up to give him a kiss.
"I know. I love you too. I'm glad I did well.", he chuckled. "Happy birthday, Em. I'm gonna go grab us a couple snacks and drinks at the stand real quick. What do you want?", he asked.
"Ooooo... red vines, Pepsi, and popcorn to share?", she grinned.
"Whatever you want.", he said, kissing her quick before he walked away to the stand.
She popped the trunk and saw pillows and a huge blanket. She pushed the seats back and propped up the pillows, hopping in and facing the screen while the projector started.
Hotch came back with a bag of peanut m&m's, red vines, a large popcorn, and two Pepsi's. He joined her and set everything down while he pulled the blanket over them and handed her her drink.
He slung his arm around her and nuzzled her head into his shoulder and chest.
"Oooo you got peanut m&m's?", she squealed.
"Yeah. Next two are on you.", he said.
"What?", she asked.
"I got the last pack too at that hotel when you attacked the vending machine for not taking your bill. You remember?", he raised an eyebrow.
"Oh my god.", she covered her mouth. "I was so mean to you!", she said.
"It's okay and I'm only joking.", he chuckled. "Besides, earlier that day, in my office, I was kind of worse, so..."
"Yeah, you were kind of an ass.", she laughed.
"I see! That's how you're going to talk to the man who took you out tonight and did everything for you this morning?", he raised an eyebrow.
"Yes.", she kissed him and pulled away, biting her lip in a smile, while he copied her.
Almost an hour into the movie, Emily and Hotch were still curled up with each other under the blanket. She'd finished her soda and was shaking the ice around in the cup.
"You want me to go get you a refill?", Hotch asked.
"I got it. I need to stretch my legs anyway. I'll be right back.", she said getting up and giving him a kiss as she walked away.
She got a refill on her Pepsi and started walking back to the car when all of a sudden, someone bumped into her. She dropped her drink and it spilled.
"Oh my god, I'm so sorry.", she said to the man as they both bent down to pick up the cup. "Oh no, it got all over your shoes.", she said.
He chuckled. "It's alright, they're boots, it doesn't soak it up.", he said in an Irish accent that made her stop for a second. He reached in his black overcoat pocket and pulled out a few napkins. A small paper matchbook fell out along with them as he handed her a napkin. They wiped the soda off both their shoes.
"Thanks...", she said, hesitantly.
As he reached for the cup on the ground, his sleeve rolled up above his wrist. That's when she noticed the four-leaf clover tattoo that was far too recognizable.
Once he stood up, she saw the small matchbook on the ground and she picked it up. It was gold with a black four-leaf clover on it. She rose to her feet, holding it as he had started walking away slowly.
She turned her head and stared at him and he turned around right as he was about to approach Hotch's car.
"Good to see you, Lauren. Oh. Sorry- I guess it's Emily now.", he said, a corner of his mouth turning up slightly and walked away, throwing the cup in the nearest trash can.
She stood still, in place, eyes wide and mouth shut tight. She felt a lump in her throat. She didn't remember him but he knew her. She knew who he worked for. The tattoo, the accent, the matchbook... Doyle.