Author's Note: Picks up twenty minutes after the last chapter.

The Family Dynamic

Emily tipped her head onto Hotch's shoulder as they walked out of the cafeteria.

Now that touching him was allowed, she wanted to do it all the time. And as his arm slid around her shoulders and he kissed her forehead she realized that he probably felt the same way. Not to mention that once they were back home and on duty again, they'd be stuck three feet apart at all times.

So they really should stock up on the close contact now.

But then just before they got to the elevators, a thought occurred, and she suddenly stopped and looked up at him.

"Oh, I almost forgot." She put her hand on his chest, "where's the chapel? I wanted to light a candle. I mean," she shrugged her shoulder slightly, "if you don't mind."

Though she knew that Hotch wasn't a huge fan of organized religion, her grandmother . . . and even her mother to a slightly lesser extent . . . were big fans of candle lighting. Emily was never as devout as either of them, but she'd always had faith in that particular ritual. It was something tangible.

A quid pro quo.

By her mindset . . . with a life built around the rule of law . . . it was a more logically sound approach to reaching out to God than simply by prayer alone.

Hotch's expression softened as he looked down at Emily.

"Of course I don't mind. And I think it's off the first floor, by the lobby. Though," his brow wrinkled, "this is a Jewish affiliated hospital, so I'm not sure if they'd have candles."

Wasn't that just a Catholic ritual?

Emily's face started to fall . . . but she needed candles! Candles were what worked!

Then she realized that she was being silly thinking that wax sticks had magical powers. That was just a connection she'd made in her mind because of her family.

So she shook her head as she gave him a little smile.

"Well, that's okay if they don't. I'd just like to say a prayer either way."

"All right," he rubbed her shoulder as they started walking again, "well then, let's go see what they do have."

She really was a sweetheart wanting to do that for him. Though he had of course been sending up prayers of his own for his mother, he hadn't done it in the hospital chapel. To him, prayer was a private thing, not something he wished to do in front of others.

As they started walking again, Emily shook her head, "oh Hotch, it's okay. I can find it. You should go back upstairs."

They'd already been gone a good twenty minutes, and she didn't want to keep him from anywhere he needed to be.

"No, it's fine," he said softly, brushing off her concern, "if there had been any news Sean would have come and found us, or had me paged. And I had an update just before you came so I'm sure the nurse won't be out again for at least another half hour."

That was true. But also . . . they stepped onto the elevator . . . now that Emily had arrived he didn't want her out of his sight for even a minute. He didn't know how long it would be until this bubble burst.

Right now things were kind of okay.

Not really of course, but there was an illusion there that they were, and he was happy to embrace it while he could. Because at any time something could happen with his mother, or Emily could get called away, and then everything would go to shit again. So if he could help it, as they stepped into the corner of the elevator and he tucked her against his side, he knew one thing.

He just didn't want to waste any of this time they had by being apart.

/*/*/*/

When they stepped off the elevator onto the main level, they continued on, following the signs, until they'd found the small plain room which functioned as the non-denominational chapel at the hospital. And to Emily's delight, they did have candles, so Hotch stood back by the door watching as she made an offering, lit the flame and said a prayer.

These were not rituals that he truly understood . . . his family wasn't religious . . . but still, watching Emily perform them suddenly brought tears to his eyes.

These things were being done for him. For his family.

His mother.

The tears began to pool . . . his mother. His mother would adore Emily. Now . . . he wiped the corner of his eye . . . he just hoped that they would have a chance to meet.

So when Emily had finished and come over to meet him by the door, he pulled her into a hug. "Thank you," he whispered before placing a small kiss on the corner of her mouth.

He made sure it was a chaste kiss. If she got embarrassed about what had happened in the elevator, he was quite sure that she'd have convictions of some kind about appropriate displays of affection in a chapel.

Of course he also had convictions about appropriate displays of affection in a chapel.

But as had been demonstrated to him already today, male, female brains didn't process these things the same way. So he made sure not to do anything that might embarrass Emily, before he tugged her gently into the hall.

When Hotch tangled their fingers together, Emily's eyes crinkled slightly as she leaned against his side. They had candles in a Jewish hospital.

She didn't know if that was a miracle or par for the course.

But to her, thinking about it as she saw Hotch hit the elevator button, that seemed like a good sign. And she made a mental note to stop and light another one before they left for the night.

After all . . . the door slowly opened . . . ever little bit helped.

/*/*/*/

As they the elevator started its climb again, Emily began to yawn . . . repeatedly. The adrenaline of her trip was wearing off, and the simple fact that she'd now been awake for thirty plus hours was definitely catching up with her.

With a vengeance.

And after her seventh straight yawn, slightly embarrassed, she looked up at Hotch.

"I'm sorry, but I didn't actually to bed at all last night."

This was great, she came all this way to be with him, and now she could barely keep her eyes open!

Hotch squeezed Emily's fingers as he gave her a faint smile.

"It's okay, there's actually bunk area down the hall. It's supposed to just be for staff but the nurses have been nice about letting Ileana go in there with Gabby, so I'm sure we can get a little professional courtesy extended for you."

Given how much overlap law enforcement and medical professionals had in their work, they were often inclined to extend favors to one another that might not be available to the general public. In which case, most likely the nurses would let Emily take a nap in their crash room.

And if they didn't, well, he'd just steal a pillow from the supply room and stake out a quiet corner of the waiting room.

He put his arm back around Emily's shoulder as he pulled her back against his side.

Most likely they'd let her lay down, and that would actually work out really well all around. Because God knew he didn't want to have Ileana and Emily sitting together in the waiting room all day. Ileana would have a million questions. And he wasn't going to have Emily put through the third degree by his family on the first day of their… well, their relationship.

Relationship . . . his eyes shifted down to the woman leaning against his side . . . a term he was still adjusting to as it applied to his situation with Emily. For so long she'd been Prentiss, and then finally he'd allowed himself to see her as "Emily." And now, well, now she was something more.

He kissed her temple.

But he was very happy about the something more, even if it was going to take him a little while to settle into their new roles. And although there was a lot of appeal in just going straight down to the nurses desk to ask about Emily using the crash room, he knew that he had to go back to the waiting room first and tell Sean where they'd be.

Unfortunately though, he knew that Ileana would have definitely returned by now so there was no way to push off the two women meeting until later. So as he and Emily stepped off the elevator, Hotch knew that it was lucky they'd have a good reason to step out of the waiting room again. And as they walked back into the space in question, Hotch's eyes sought out the corner where he'd last left his brother.

Still there but now with his whole family.

Seeing little Gabby sitting on the couch with a small stack of what looked like coloring books, Hotch couldn't help but smile at her outfit. Since last he'd seen her that morning, she'd changed into her fairy princess dress, which was now being worn over her thermal shirt and wool tights.

She was adorable.

It was just then that Sean looked up and waved at him. Then he leaned over to whisper in his daughter's ear. Her head snapped up as a grin spread across her little face. The crayons were dropped onto the cushion as she bolted off the couch, and with her parents laughing behind her, she yelled, "UNCLE!" and bee lined across the room.

Emily chuckled as she saw the little fair haired bullet flying at them.

Apparently this little cutie was Hotch's niece. A fact confirmed when Hotch let go of her waist to catch the little girl racing up to him.

"Hi sweetheart," he said with a smile while reaching down to swing her up, kissing her cheek before he moved her over his hip, "were you a good girl at your class?"

Gabby might have occasionally been a painful reminder of his son's absence, but feeling his eyes crinkled as she started chattering away about her finger painting project, he couldn't deny the spark of happiness he felt that could only come from time spent with a small child.

They brought a simple joy to your day.

His eyes shifted over to Emily smiling at them . . . but of course he had two sparks today. And when Gabby paused to take a breath, he used the opportunity to make a quick introduction.

"Gabby this is my friend Emily," he tipped his head, "can you say hi?"

For a moment Gabby stared at the woman next to them . . . Hotch could see her sizing her up . . . and then her suddenly face lit up.

"Mommy boughted me a color book!"

Hotch's lip quirked up . . . and Emily had passed muster.

Emily grinned at Hotch's niece as she reached over to loop her arm through his . . . clearly 'color book' was "coloring book."

"Well," her eyes flickered across the room for a moment to seek out the mommy in question before her attention snapped back to the little girl, "it sounds like you have a very nice mommy."

Also a very attractive mommy. Hotch's sister-in-law was quite beautiful. And it really was fortunate that she'd learned the family dynamics before she'd just shown up here today and the little voices in her head had given her a complete complex again.

Seeing Aaron's girlfriend look over to them, Ileana saw that as her opportunity.

Sean hadn't been able to tell her much of anything. Though he had said the woman was pretty, and he certainly hadn't been wrong there. But there were things to learn beyond the obvious.

So she stood up to go see what more she could discover.

Spotting Ileana starting across the room, Hotch figured he'd just head her off at the pass. So while still carrying Gabby on his hip, he closed the distance between them.

This was going to be a quick in and out like he'd done with Sean, because Emily wasn't playing twenty questions today.

At least not until after she'd been able to get a nap.

"Aaron," Ileana greeted her brother-in-law with a kiss on the cheek as she took her daughter from his arms, "I did not know you were expecting a friend today." She turned to Emily with a smile. "Hello, I am Sean's wife Ileana. And you are Aaron's girlfriend, yes?"

Emily's mouth quivered . . . no beating around the bush with this one. But fortunately she and Hotch now had had 'the talk,' and her status as girlfriend had been clarified and officially confirmed. So as she felt Hotch's arm slip around her waist again she nodded firmly.

"I am," she put her hand out, "Emily Prentiss, it's very nice to meet you," she tipped her head and her tone softened, "though of course I wish it was under better circumstances."

Next to a funeral, this definitely ranked as the worst possible circumstances to play 'meet the family.'

Ileana immediately sobered then as well, as she nodded and squeezed Emily's hand.

"Yes, yes of course, these are terrible days."

She liked this woman . . . she had kind eyes. And as Ileana's own eyes dropped down to see Aaron clutching his friend against his side, Ileana knew that her brother-in- law liked this woman very much too.

Good . . . she let go of the other woman's hand . . . this was very good.

Because he needed somebody to look after him. Somebody to love him. Ileana had not been able to believe it when Haley had left him and taken Jack.

Jack.

Her head quirked to the side . . . had Emily met Jack yet? Actually . . . Ileana's brain started whirring . . . did she have any children of her own? Maybe they were blending families.

Did they live together?

Hotch saw Ileana was about to open her mouth again . . . he could imagine the twenty questions about to be shot at Emily on rapid fire . . . so he cut off the inquisition before it could begin.

"Emily needs to lie down, so I'm going to take her to the bunk room," he projected his voice over to his brother still seated, "come find me if the doctor comes out before I get back."

Sean nodded, "of course."

Well . . . his eyes crinkled slightly . . . of course Aaron had wiggled his way out of that one. His brother had never done anything in his life that he didn't choose to do of his own free will. And he clearly didn't want Ileana talking to the new girlfriend yet. Which was probably just as well, because as soon as Sean had told his wife about Aaron's mysterious friend, she'd begun preparing a laundry list of questions to ask her.

Clearly . . . he waved as Aaron and Emily turned and started out of the room . . . his brother had found a way to get that inquiry postponed.

Ileana and Gabby came back over then and sat down next to him. His brow quirked up in curiosity as he looked at his wife.

"So what do you think?"

"I think," her eyes tracked the couple leaving the room hand in hand, "that he is in love."

/*/*/*/

After he got permission from the charge nurse to let Emily take her nap, Hotch guided his new girlfriend (another term he was getting used to) down the corridor and to the end of the other hall, where he knocked once on the door labeled Break Room door. And hearing no response, he turned the knob and slowly pushed the door back.

It was dark inside the small room, but after Hotch had flicked on the light switch by the door, Emily saw two sets of bunks lined up across from one another, each freshly made up with sheets that looked like they were made out of the same material as the nurses' scrubs. Not super cozy.

At least they looked clean though.

And fortunately there was nobody in there already sleeping, because as soon as Emily saw the pillows her eyes started to get heavy.

Those looked nice.

But before she'd taken more than a step into the room, and Hotch had closed the door behind them, he started unzipping her jacket and taking off her scarf. And as he took over, her exhaustion began to set in. Then he sat her down on the lower bunk to the left, and quickly untied her boots, before he slipped them off and placed them up against the wall.

He was being gentle and taking care, and her heart began to fill with something that felt suspiciously like love.

Then his hands began slowly working their way back up her calves, stopping only when they'd reached the top of her thighs. He slowly brought his eyes up then, and when his gaze caught with hers, she leaned down to kiss him.

This kiss was not as chaste as their kiss hello, but . . . she opened her mouth and let her tongue get reacquainted with his . . . it definitely didn't approach the wantonness of the one the other night.

It was something in between.

And as she ran her fingers through his hair, pulling him in even closer, all she could think was how much she was looking forward to spending the next few decades categorizing all of his kisses. She let out a faint moan.

It would be an excellent use of her time.

As soon as Hotch realized he was starting to get a little too hot under the collar . . . this was definitely the wrong place for things to get out of hand . . . he reluctantly broke the kiss.

When he looked back up at Emily, he saw that her face was flush and her lips were swollen . . . she looked absolutely beautiful. Even under the circumstances, he felt a small wave of joy rise up.

Now he was allowed to touch her and kiss her . . . the back of his fingers brushed down her cheek . . . and soon they would make love.

These were gifts that he wouldn't take for granted.

Feeling the little smile cross his lips, he kissed her once more, just a quick peck, before he let his hands slide down he could gently guide her back up on the bed. Once she was lying down, he pulled the folded hospital blanket up from the bottom of the mattress.

As she shifted back onto the pillow, Hotch looked down at her for a moment before he asked hesitantly, "would you mind if I lay down with you?"

Even after their talk, and all of the other the physical developments today in their relationship, he still wasn't sure if he was being too forward asking to crawl directly into bed with her.

But he really wanted to stay.

Emily's brow wrinkled slightly in confusion.

"I had already assumed that you would be," she squeezed his hand, "I came to see you, so I wouldn't stay down here without you."

Like she would have agreed to lie down if he wasn't going to be with her!

His expression softened.

"Okay then, thanks," he began to untie his own boots, "I didn't really sleep last night either. I was too worried about my mom, and of course I was worried about whether you'd received my message too."

God had he been worried about that message! If another day had passed without them speaking, this moment might have been lost to him.

Feeling a sting at his, she knew full well . . . unintended, rebuke, Emily's eyes stung as she rubbed her hand down Hotch's back, feeling the softness of his fleece jacket under her palm.

How very stupid she had been.

A few second later he'd moved his boots over next to hers against the wall, so she slid over on the mattress and held the blanket up for him.

Though this was definitely not a bed made for two people, as Hotch inched his way over, and she wrapped her body around his side, she could see that it was just big enough. And then feeling felt his arm come up around her shoulders, pulling her in even closer, she turned her face into the curve of his neck and inhaled deeply. Her eyes crinkled slightly.

God, he smelled good.

But then a second later she felt guilty for her happiness. Again, she was only here with him now because of his mother's accident, so being happy just didn't feel right, even though that was her predominant emotion every time he touched her.

It was most definitely . . . their fingers laced together on his stomach . . . an emotionally confusing situation.

And for a moments then they were quiet, before Hotch turned and kissed her temple.

"I know it's only been a couple days," he murmured, "but I've missed you so much," his voice faded, "so very much."

Funny how something like that could sneak up on you. They'd known each other for years, first wary colleagues, then warm ones, finally friends, real ones. And now suddenly . . . or at least it seemed sudden . . . she had become all that he wanted in the world.

And he wanted her with him all the time.

Emily's eyes stung as she pressed her lips to his ear.

"I missed you too. And I know that I said it before, but I'm just so sorry I wasn't here earlier." Her voice cracked, "I'm sorry you were here dealing with this by yourself!"

Damn Catholic guilt! She was THIS close to spilling her guts about all of the awful things she'd been thinking the last forty eight hours!

But no . . . she took a quick heaving breath as she tried to get her emotions back under control . . . that would just make her feel better for a millisecond. And then the relief would be gone and she'd feel ten times worse. Because she knew that he'd be so hurt that she'd avoided his calls and that she'd thought such terrible things about him.

As though he'd ever lead her on and then go off with some other woman.

Even thinking about it now, she couldn't believe that she'd let her brain run crazy like that. A tear ran down her face.

It was so just nuts.

Feeling the moisture on his throat, and assuming that Emily was getting emotional because she was overtired, Hotch rubbed his hand down her back while soothing.

"Shhh, it's okay. You didn't even know what was going on until last night," he tipped his head down to kiss her temple again, "and then you jumped right on a plane to come see me," he paused, "I can't even tell you how much that means."

When Haley had left he had thought that was it for him for love, companionship . . . support. But with that single act from Emily his faith in so many things had been restored. And there were was so much that he wanted to say to her, but this wasn't the place or the time to get in touch with their feelings. Perhaps back at his brother's they could talk more, but for now he quickly got back on point as he finished softly.

"You have nothing at all to apologize for, Emily."

Again feeling the sting of regret at his words . . . and knowing that the apologies on her tongue would cause him nothing but pain . . . Emily knew that actions were all she had at her disposal. So she hooked her leg over his thigh so she could move closer.

Then she kissed his throat and whispered. "I'm still sorry you were alone, but I promise that you won't be anymore," she slowly exhaled as she wiped the tears off her face, "so let's get some sleep, and then when we wake up we should hopefully have good news on your mom."

Helping Hotch keep a positive thought was still the most important thing she could do here. The rest of it . . . she swallowed . . . well, the rest of it she needed to put behind her.

"Right," his eyes crinkled slightly, "good news."

The Emily Prentiss approach to life . . . positivity. Another new word in his vocabulary. So Hotch closed his eyes, making himself focus in on her the warm breath on his throat, and Emily's soft body lying on top of his.

And for just a brief flicker of a moment . . . life was good.

A/N 2: The next one will focus back in on Hotch's mom specifically. It just seemed like they should get a little more time together. And really, like only an hour has passed since Emily arrived so it's not like so much would be crammed into that small window. It was enough for them to connect, have a bite to eat and meet his family.

The candle thing, yeah I have no idea if you can find candles anywhere but in Catholic churches/chapels. I think the only chapels I've been in have been in Catholic hospitals, so I have no context for ones run by other denominations. But, chapels in general are SUPPOSEDLY non-denominational and lighting a prayer candle didn't seem (to me, lapsed Catholic girl) to be anything contrary or offensive to another faith, so I thought they might have them. google.

Okay, off to bed. Thank you everyone!