Photograph
He noticed one random day. Actually, he noticed the very first time he walked into her old apartment, but it was a random day in her new place that actually made him think about it. And, if he was being honest, it was only because Jack of all people said something about it. The fact that his son waited for the car ride back home instead of asking on the spot earlier made Hotch's wheels turn even more. Or maybe he was reading too much into it. Jack was only a child after all.
"Daddy?" He called out from the back seat, his eyes glued to the window, his hands clutching a stuffed giraffe.
Hotch only hummed in response and Jack continued: "Doesn't Emmy have a family?"
Hotch's brows furrowed in confusion and he quickly glanced at his son through the mirror before answering carefully: "She does."
"And she loves them? Her family?"
He was about to answer when he realized saying 'it's complicated' to a child doesn't really mean much and he would probably only disturb his son.
"Why do you ask, Jack?"
"Because, daddy, she doesn't have photos. We have uncle Sean, uncle Jess, mom and we have a photo of Emmy too!"
"You're right, Jack. She doesn't have photos." He said, his mind already drifting, considering what that meant.
And that's how Hotch actually started thinking about it.
Emily wasn't close to her family, but that was not it. She didn't even have photos of the team on display and he knew for a fact they had taken more than a few over the years. They arrived at his apartment and Jack seemed to have dropped the subject and the giraffe in the car, engrossed now by some insect he saw on the garage floor near where Hotch parked the car. He was in an insect phase now (if there was such a thing). Every small creature with an exoskeleton was fascinating to him. Hotch was amused because just a few months ago he was terrified of bees. Emily, on the other hand, was just annoyed. If Jack brought one more cricket inside claiming this could be the Jiminy Cricket she would completely lose it - just not in front of Jack. Emily didn't have the heart to tell him she was terrified of crickets (she had a displeasure towards insects in general), which also amused Hotch, who couldn't understand how she would prefer dealing with ten unsubs over touching one small cricket. Also, Sergio seemed to enjoy playing with the insects. It was three against one (four if you counted the crickets), so she was just hoping he would move on to something else soon.
Hotch finally got Jack to abandon whatever he had found, convincing him the small being needed to stay in the garage and keep the car safe, which seemed to be reasonable for Jack, who followed his dad up the stairs and they entered the apartment. Jack went to his room to play and Hotch started examining his own living room, specifically looking at the photographs laying around, while thinking about Emily's apartment.
Neither him nor Emily were actually fans of taking photos, but having just a few was different from having absolutely none.
Emily moved around a lot as a kid, but she could have carried photos with her, that wouldn't be a problem. Also, if his memory wasn't betraying him, he was pretty sure he remembered seeing pictures in the Ambassador's house when he worked for her. A bit of a stretch, but Hotch was pretty certain he saw photos at the Ambassador's house.
"The box." Hotch muttered to himself, angry that he hadn't thought of that before, but everything seemed to have happened so fast…
Emily died and that's when he realized he loved her. He spent months running what if scenarios in his mind, most of them under the assumption she didn't feel the same way because Hotch just couldn't bring himself to be too hopeful.
When Emily finally came back, he invited her over for dinner and, after putting an angry Jack to bed with the assurance Emily was back for good and that she would play with him the next day, he apologized in advance, always the gentleman, before gently brushing his lips against hers. She was confused and, for a moment, he thought she was going to run away and never come back (scenario #7 coming true), but then he relaxed when she put her hands around his neck and brought him closer. He smiled and kissed her again, properly, taking his time in feeling her lips on his, carefully running his hands through her hair before settling them at her waist.
"So that's why you actually invited me over." Emily said after they broke apart, her hands still around his neck, keeping him very close. Hotch immediately blushed and started freaking out.
"Emily, I'm sorry. I don't want you to think… I just..." He trailed off, not knowing how to explain it.
He looked incredibly cute when flustered, Emily thought to herself biting back a chuckle.
"I'm just teasing you, Hotchner. I've been wanting to kiss you for a long time."
"You have?" He asked, relief written all over his face.
"I'd hate to fight Jack, but this beard just made me want you more."
He shook his head at her comment, want him more? He didn't even think she wanted him at all. Now, Hotch had no idea what was the appropriate response, if there was one, and looked around, as if the answers would be written in thin air. What was the protocol now? It had been a while since he had done... whatever that was.
Actually, he had never done anything like what was happening now, so he was just lost.
"Do you have uh... a place to sleep?" Hotch asked tentatively.
"You know, some guys usually wait until the third date." Emily said seriously.
"That's not, ugh. I just meant..." Once again, he found himself at a loss for what to say. Nice one, Hotchner. Very smooth.
God, she could play him like this forever if it meant that blush showing up on his cheeks.
"Aaron." She said and paused, his first name feeling completely wrong yet absolutely right in her mouth. "I don't have anywhere to go. I mean, Garcia almost demanded I go to her house, but I rather stay here."
"I'll sleep on the couch." He said solemnly and Emily resisted the urge to make another joke, it was enough. At least for tonight.
"We can share." She said and winked at him, already going to his bedroom as if they had been doing that for years.
Something about being dead, hiding from a terrorist and coming back changed Emily a lot. She was more scared about anything unusual happening around her, triple checking her own shadow, but, at the same time, she didn't want to lose a single minute. Carpe diem started to make sense when she thought about it and she kind of hated it, but the new and improved Emily Prentiss wasn't willing to lose an opportunity out of just fear of the unknown. So she jumped (figuratively, but also literally, in bed, with Hotch).
The morning after, Hotch got up and rushed out of bed. He couldn't help the smile playing on his lips when looking at Emily's sleeping figure. He rubbed his eyes just to be sure he wasn't dreaming. He got back to reality a moment later and, as quickly as possible, and careful not to wake Emily, he moved to the kitchen in order to cook her breakfast. He grabbed his phone and found Dave's contact.
"Can you cover for me today?"
"I'm sorry, who are you and what you did to Aaron?"
"Dave, not now."
"Consider it done. I can't believe Emily convinced you to take the day off."
Hotch shook his head. Rosi really knew everything.
Apparently Jack was in a coma, because they were halfway through breakfast with no sign whatsoever of the child in question.
Hotch saw Emily picking her nails and, despite her reassurances the night before, a part of him was already preparing for the worse - which fortunately didn't come.
"I need to find a place to live." She said, her eyes glued to the stack of pancakes in front of her.
"You can stay here as long as you need."
She reached across the table and took his hand in hers. "I need my own place, Aaron. That'll help me feel more grounded, at least for now. And I want to take things slow between us, so we do it right."
He agreed with a nod full of happiness and relief. "Do you want help looking for a place?"
"I would love to, but I don't want to take up too much of your time."
"We can do that today if you want."
"Don't you have work?" She asked, eyeing him suspiciously.
"I may have asked Dave to cover for me." He answered sheepishly.
"Aaron Hotchner, who would ever thought you would do such a thing."
"You heard the director yesterday: we aren't allowed any cases until they finish their evaluations. Plus, today is monthly meeting day. Strauss, budget, director. It's boring and unnecessary." He explained and shrugged it off, as if he was used to skipping those kinds of things. Or any type of work related thing.
"And Rossi is gonna do it?"
"I'm guessing he will get Morgan to at least go with him. I just know I owe them beer and scotch."
"You most certainly do." She added with a laugh.
They sat in comfortable silence finishing their breakfast. Emily felt like she hadn't been fed in years, which didn't go unnoticed by Hotch, who saw the pile of pancakes getting smaller by the minute. Maybe it was hunger because of the nightly activities, maybe it was being home. Maybe both. She caught Hotch staring at her, a strange expression across his eyes.
"Everything okay?'
"Uh, there's something I need to tell you. Your old apartment... it's still yours."
"I didn't know dead people could own property." Emily said, an attempt to lighten the mood.
"After the hospital, I left the team and went to your mother's house. I told her you got hurt during a case. She looked at me seriously and asked if you were dead because, in her words, "I guess the unit chief isn't in the habit of making house calls in the middle of the night for scrapped arms". I couldn't say yes but I also couldn't explain it. I simply asked if she could keep paying your rent. She nodded confusedly and I apologized, saying I hoped some day it would make sense."
"You did that?" Emily asked, feeling suddenly overwhelmed by emotion.
"Yeah."
"I don't know what to say."
"You don't have to say anything."
"Thank you." She said sincerely and squeezed his hand. "Would you mind if we swing by?"
"Of course not. Do you wanna go now?"
"Yep. Let's just grab Jack and we can leave."
Hotch entered the apartment but lingered around the door holding Jack in place, trying to give Emily space.
"You can come in, it's fine." She called out dismissively when she noticed they weren't following her.
After looking around the remaining boxes, checking their contents and separating a few clothes in a corner, she turned to him and said: "I don't think I want any of this stuff anymore."
"Okay. Do you want to hold on to it a little longer?"
"Not really. I just want to grab one thing and the rest can be donated." She disappeared into her bedroom and came back with a small box in her hands. "This is the stuff I always carried around since I went undercover the first time. When you go deep, you gotta take at least one personal thing, something that keeps you grounded."
"What did you keep in yours?"
"A photo of me and my parents from my graduation, a picture with Matthew and John and, later, I added a picture with the whole team. The actual protocol was to keep this in a PO box, so we could access it when we needed without putting our cover in danger. After I came to the bureau, I had gotten so used to the box that I kept it. But I put it in the safe."
"Hey, buddy". Hotch called and Jack came running.
"Everything okay, daddy?"
"Sure. I was just thinking about what you said today. What do you think about buying Emily a beautiful picture frame?"
"Can we put a picture of the three of us there?"
"Yeah, we can. But you can't tell her, okay? It's a surprise."
"Okay." He nodded solemnly like he had just been given the most important information on the planet.
The next day he and Jack left early with a task to complete. It took hours, first because Jack didn't like any frame, then because he couldn't decide on a picture.
After what felt like hours of scrolling through his phone with Jack, they finally settled for a picture Garcia took of them.
They were in the park with the team, their first outing together after Emily's return. She and Aaron were trying to keep their relationship on the down low, but Jack, innocent and sweet, wasn't in on their plan and outted them without even knowing what that meant.
"Hey, Jack. Why don't you stop a little bit and drink some water?" Hotch called out after spotting a very sweaty Jack running around under the sun.
"But daddy." Jack started to whine, but when Hotch crossed his arms, he immediately stopped and knew it was better to just drink the water.
Hotch handed him a cup and he downed it in one big gulp.
Jack studied the group of adults around him for a moment and saw JJ and Will holding hands. He then turned to his father and said: "Daddy, is Emmy your girlfriend?"
Emily spit the water she was drinking as ungracefully as it could be done while Hotch's eyes widened.
"Why would you think that, Jack?" Rossi asked, the smirk already plastered on his face.
"Because Henry said his mom and dad kiss and hold hands and they're boyfriend and girlfriend and Emmy and daddy kiss and hold hands a lot."
Hotch and Emily both froze, not daring to look at anyone.
"Did you know, old man?" Derek asked Rossi in disbelief.
"I'm surprised you didn't."
"Did I say something wrong?' Jack asked worriedly.
"No, Jack." JJ assured him sweetly. "You said exactly the right thing. Why don't you go back to the swings? I'm sure Henry is anxious for another round of hide and seek."
"Okay." He said and ran off.
"Uh, so I guess I don't need to inform you all that Emily and I are dating." Hotch said seriously.
Emily laughed at Aaron's antics and moved closer to him, intertwining their fingers. He smiled shyly at her and they just looked up at Jack, enjoying seeing him so happy and free.
The team congratulated the two of them with a couple of "finally"s and Garcia made Emily commit to a ladies' night in order to receive all details.
Later when they went to dinner together, Garcia found a perfect opportunity she just couldn't pass: Jack was sitting in Emily's lap, eating spaghetti Lady and the Tramp style, which formed a huge smile on Emily's lips and an even bigger one on Hotch, who was staring right at her, his hand around her shoulder. The blonde discretely grabbed her phone and took a picture.
"When are we giving the picture to Emmy, daddy?"
"How about tomorrow?"
"Okay."
Hotch grabbed his phone and texted the oh so familiar number.
"What are you up to tomorrow?"
"Nothing, really. Why?"
"How about we have lunch together, the three of us?"
"That sounds perfect."
"Great. Any requests?"
"Hum, lasagna would be amazing. My place or yours?"
"Yours. We can go for ice cream in that place you liked."
"Awesome. See you tomorrow!"
Emily heard the doorbell two consecutives times followed by two knocks on the door, which would drive anyone insane, but not her, cause she knew that was how Jack knocked to let her know it was him.
"Hi, Jack!" She said, opening the door and he, as usual, immediately launched himself in her arms. Emily ruffled his hair and placed a kiss to his cheek.
"Hi, Emmy! Can I go play with Sergio?"
"Sure, hon. You don't have to ask." Emily said, but he was already chasing the cat when she finished her sentence.
"Hi, there." Hotch said and pecked her lips. Emily quickly looked around and spotted Jack distracted with Sergio, so she pulled Hotch in for a longer kiss, which he immediately accepted.
"Hi." She said when they separated. "So, what do you have there?"
"I got what I need for the lasagna plus a very important package Jack and I need to deliver to you."
"Oh?"
"Yeah, but not now."
"You tease!" She said and playfully hit his arm.
"Don't poke around."
"I won't make any promises."
Hotch cooked, Emily watched, Jack played. They ate, they went out for ice cream and then it was finally time for the delivery.
"Jack, would you do the honors?" Hotch asked solemnly.
His son nodded seriously and left to retrieve the package.
Emily opened and immediately started crying. Both Hotch and Jack freaked out.
"What's wrong? You didn't like it? Too cheesy? Jack and I just noticed you don't have photos laying around. I thought it'd be nice to have one."
"This is amazing. I'm happy crying, really. Come here, Jack. Thank you." She said and hugged him tightly. "I really loved it."
Jack smiled and Emily asked him to pick a place to put the frame in.
"I don't have anything laying around because I got used to not being able to due to being undercover. I only had fake photos with fake people, whom I had never met. My only real memories were that box, which was always hidden. When I came back, it was so long that I forgot how to have memories. All I have stays in that box and I'm not even sure what's real and what's not."
"I didn't know if I was overstepping."
"You're not." She assured him and added in a whisper: "Doyle is dead. I don't need boxes anymore."
Jack called them out to show the place he picked for the frame: the shelf near the TV because it was the first thing anyone could see after entering the apartment.
"It's perfect, Jack." Emily said, smiling reassuringly at the boy.
Hotch looked at the frame, and then at Emily, before saying: "It really is perfect."