A/N: Apologies guys for this chapter being so late. I've started a new job and been trying to adjust to a new schedule so things have been a little hectic in my own life. Really had a lot of fun writing this chapter, for reference, this takes place during 4x07. I also would like to say thank you so much for all of your wonderful support and amazing reviews. I read them all and I really appreciate them.

Hope you guys enjoy this chapter.

Early November 2008

Two days had passed, and Reid, Morgan, and Rossi were still in Las Vegas investigating a case involving Spencer's family. While Emily, Hotch, and Garcia did what they could to help out from Quantico, the dynamic at the BAU felt strangely odd.

The team rarely split up to work cases from separate ends of the country. And although Emily enjoyed the peace of not hearing endless bickering between Morgan and Reid, she couldn't help but feel completely out of whack.

JJ had been weaving in and out of the case whenever they needed her support, but her attention had been on Agent Jordan Todd, who would be the blonde's temporary replacement while on maternity leave.

With the realization that her best friend would soon be leaving them, Emily already felt her absence lingering in the air. She was overjoyed and bounding with excitement for JJ to meet the little guy and explore a new chapter of her life, but things would be different for everybody as they adjusted to a significant change and learned to work with someone they hardly knew.

Remembering the difficulty of trying to fit in when she first joined the team, Emily wanted to do everything in her power to make the transition as smooth and easy as possible for Agent Todd. And from what she'd profiled of her, the woman seemed friendly, competent and motivated to do right by JJ in her absence. In saying that, Emily could only hope that the team fell into a new rhythm, with Jordan still figuring out the ropes.

She would miss JJ terribly, but it comforted her to know that the situation wasn't permanent.

Having everyone go their separate ways meant that Emily had spent the last couple of days working alongside Hotch in his office. Either that or they were in Garcia's neck of the woods coordinating with the others on any new information.

As they trawled through evidence and investigated possible leads, Emily felt the lingering gazes Hotch sent in her direction each time she inserted her thoughts on a subject. And it had blood gushing to places in her body where it didn't necessarily need to go. Each time it happened, her mind kept wandering to Vegas, thinking about that moment they'd spent together in the elevator.

The warmth of his skin through his shirt fabric...
His calloused but gentle hand brushing through her dark hair…
How an arm wrapped around her like a vine, pinning Emily's body close to his…

Emily hadn't revealed to Hotch her memory of those few minutes, and that was partly because she was terrified about how he would react. But the main reason was because she felt confused. Whether Hotch really did share the same feelings as her or whether it was because they were both intoxicated and way out of their depths… The brunette couldn't make sense of what she'd tangled herself into.

And with Hotch being such a hard person to read… Emily just didn't know what the truth was anymore.

As she pondered in bed late at night, the woman reflected on how far their relationship had come. It made her laugh to think how they absolutely resented each other when they started working together; Hotch doubted her decisions, didn't trust her, accused her of false agendas… The list could go on. But once they had learned to quickly build a foundation of trust and integrity, that had slowly paved a path for friendship.

Emily realized through reflection that many things had brought her and Hotch closer together, with the biggest one being their passion and loyal dedication to the job. She'd bonded well with the other team members too, but with Hotch, it was the way they combed through scenarios and nit-picked at every detail so effortlessly that grew their friendship and made him so easy to work with. And although they occasionally had their minor disagreements concerning particular subjects, their direct communication continually smoothed things over like it had never happened in the first place.

Not only that, but Hotch had a completely different side to him and could be incredibly fun to work with. Long gone were the days where Emily used to walk on eggshells around him, worried that he'd bite her head off for talking too much or invading his space. Now, Emily hardly hesitated in speaking her mind in his presence. Their bond had evolved to a point where they both teased and joked with each other so openly that they had unintentionally opened the door to something more.

It was in the times of hardship where they had really learned to support and be there for each other. With Hotch's divorce and adjustment to life as a single father to Emily's rare meltdowns in her own personal life, they'd seen each other at some of their most vulnerable moments. And as hard as it was for the brunette to admit, it had been the days where Hotch dragged her out of the office for a coffee and took her out for drinks when she was upset that had made her fall for the guy even more.

With the tight bond they'd developed, and the mutual concern they had for each other, the line between companionship and love became blurrier each day.

Trying to get inside his mind and figure out what he was thinking was like walking through a labyrinth. So, the brunette had put all her energy into work, attempting to find the best way to help Spencer and bring this cold case to a close.

But it was draining…

Personally, the brunette was having a tough time digging through the genius's private life, and it had her flashing back to when Morgan was framed for that murder in Chicago. Ever since then, the concept of trudging through the secrets her co-workers held most dear just seemed wrong and felt like a complete invasion of privacy- even if it was necessary to understand the events that led up to Riley Jenkin's death.

"I don't get it," Emily muttered, leaning back in the seat opposite Hotch, "why would Reid's father just abandon him the way he did, but yet still keep tabs on him for his entire life?" The investigation had suddenly pointed to William Reid as the main suspect- a man who, frankly, hadn't bothered maintaining a relationship with his son.

Hotch tapped his pen on the desk and simply shrugged, not having an explanation. He couldn't help but reminisce to his own childhood, remembering the very strained relationship he had with his own father. Even after being dead for two decades, Aaron still couldn't forgive the horrible man for all the pain he inflicted upon him and his family.

"Maybe he just gave up," he concluded, "some people don't have the capability or strength to take care of a child."

The brunette bit the inside of her cheek and glanced sullenly out the window. Unfortunately, Hotch was right, and it was a sad reality still happening far too often across the country. "You know… I never realized how much I didn't know about Spencer. I always assumed that he came from the perfect family with the perfect support from his parents. But to think that he hasn't had a relationship with his father for all this time… It must be hard."

Nodding ever so slightly, Hotch kept his gaze fixed upon the files in front of him. "You think this case could reconcile them?"

She hesitated for a moment, crossing her arms together, "I don't know… I guess I can't relate. My father was away all the time, but at least he bothered to call me every night before I went to sleep. For Spencer, it's been nearly twenty years… If it were me, I wouldn't be so quick to forgive."

Noticing how Hotch's eyes had completely glazed over, Emily suddenly fell concerned for the man, "Hotch?"

He glanced up, immediately snapping out of his trance before picking up a sheet of paper and examining William's past finances. "There's nothing in these records to suggest that this man killed Riley Jenkins. He's a completely normal citizen paying his taxes and not overspending on anything. If he did murder the kid, there'd be evidence of trauma and compensation for his actions here, but there's not."

Not forgetting his momentarily pained expression, Emily picked up an identical piece of paper and nodded, "okay, well… That would suggest that there's nothing to pin on him. Which doesn't make sense because he has that connection to Riley Jenkins."

Absolutely braindead, Aaron asked, "coffee break?"

"Please," Emily replied in an instant, following Hotch out to the kitchen.

As Aaron scooped a few teaspoons of coffee into his and Emily's respective mugs, he bit down on his bottom lip. Very rarely did cases trigger traumatic memories to come bubbling to the surface. But upon hearing about Reid's abandonment issues with his own father and watching the young man relive some of the rockiest days of his life, it had launched Hotch back into a reality he so desperately yearned to forget.

Even after all of these years, the memory of his mother's quiet sobs for help never failed to haunt Aaron, sending chills down his spine and welling his throat up with emotion. Then there was his younger brother, Sean. A troubled brother who Hotch barely had a relationship with growing up; the two of them only bonded by the verbal and physical abuse hurled in their direction daily from their father.

Remembering how that man had shattered apart their family, scarred Aaron for life, ruined the only environment where he felt safe… It had Aaron's knuckles as white as clouds.

When his fists curled up into tight balls as the water boiled, that's when Emily realized something was a little off with Hotch. And she wasn't forgetting his pained expression only moments earlier, the man gazing into the abyss of his own mind. So, as she added a tiny pinch of sugar to each cup, the woman asked, "Hey, is everything okay?"

Turning so that his lower back leaned up against the counter, Hotch crossed his arms and looked to the ground. No… Everything wasn't okay, and talking about an aspect of his life with Prentiss that caused him great pain wasn't exactly something he wished to discuss. "Yeah… It will be." The sooner they could wrap up this case, the sooner he'd start to feel better.

Sensing his hesitation to open up, Emily simply nodded with the tiniest of smiles. She didn't have a clue what on earth could possibly be bothering him, but the brunette wasn't about to pressure him to talk. Knowing Hotch, he probably just needed some space. So, as Emily tidied up the empty sugar packets littered on the ground, she let Hotch do the honors of pouring in hot water.

That all came to a halt though as JJ, Jordan and Penelope came bombarding through the doors announcing the blonde's impending arrival of her baby. Both stunned by the sudden news, Hotch and Emily dropped everything they were doing; Emily and Penelope guiding JJ to the elevator while Hotch raced downstairs to get the car ready.

"OH MY GOD, JJ! This is so exciting!" Emily practically yelled in the back seat of the car.

"Last guesses for weight?" Hotch asked from the driver's seat as he glanced in the rear-view mirror to see all three women beaming in delight.

"At least 8 pounds," Penelope estimated, rubbing a hand over JJ's shoulder as she winced slightly.

"Hmm…" The brunette lingered, "I'm gonna go on the lighter side and say 6 and a half pounds, JJ?"

"Um… This is really happening?"

"Yeah, this is happening!" Penelope clarified, "he's going to be here! OHHHH, I can't wait to hold him. I'll be dying in the waiting room for the entire duration." Out of the blue, JJ started bawling her eyes out, "OH JAYGE! I'm sorry, I didn't mean to make you cry!"

While JJ caressed her stomach gently through her tears, Garcia rested her chin on the blonde's shoulder while the brunette wrapped her arm tighter around JJ's back. "No, no… I'm not gonna cry, I'm not gonna cry," JJ said, fanning at her face, "I just can't believe this is all happening, Garcia… Don't worry, you didn't upset me."

"It doesn't matter now because you've got me crying too, girl," Penelope laughed, dabbing at her eyes.

"Oh, you guys!" Emily said, squinting out the water pooling, "let's just be emotional wrecks altogether."

As the sound of wet sniffles and JJ's tiny winces echoed throughout the car, Hotch wished more than anything that he could take a picture of the three women sobbing together in the back seat. He'd often hear stories of their drunken shenanigans over the weekends, but the stories never quite encapsulated the closeness of their friendship. It was quite a sight to behold, and not to mention incredibly sweet, realizing how this job had tightly bonded them together.

The way Garcia clutched at JJ's shirt while Emily caressed a hand over the blonde's swollen belly, how all three women smiled at each other through their reddened eyes and puffy cheeks; it really had lightened Hotch's mood. Everything that had been bothering him not even 30 minutes earlier had entirely flown out the window.

He glanced protectively at the women every few seconds through the mirror, making sure that JJ was okay, even though Emily and Garcia were doing a fantastic job of that already. While the blonde labored through her contractions, both women whispered words of support and encouragement, with the brunette making the occasional joke about Will, causing everybody to chuckle.

When they arrived at the hospital, they rushed JJ straight up to the maternity ward, where Will was waiting eagerly for their arrival. Wanting to give both of them privacy while delivering their first child, Garcia, Hotch and Emily hung around in the waiting area, all bundling with nerves and excitement.

As Hotch paced around, hands in his trousers' pockets, flashbacks of driving Haley to the hospital to have Jack overwhelmed him. He remembered the anxiety he felt as the woman labored for an agonizing day and a half, exhaustion overwhelming Haley in every bone of her body. But the immense emotions he felt as Aaron saw his little boy for the first time… There really wasn't a feeling more powerful in the world.

He watched as a couple exited from a doctor's office, hand in hand with the woman caressing her tiny belly. They both had humungous smiles on their face, and Aaron concluded that they had just gotten out of an ultrasound.

Both of them looked so happy.

Hotch hadn't realized it until he'd stepped into the maternity ward how many treasured memories he'd pushed under the rug. The little grey blobs on the screen slowly becoming more human with each scan… Haley's cries of joy as they found out they were having a little boy… His anxiety of hearing the heartbeat and wondering if everything was okay with their son…

Back then, life seemed like a breeze.

And Aaron never thought in a million years his family would end up where they were today… Broken.

It was all starting to overwhelm him though, so Hotch decided he'd go for a walk to a coffee shop and grab some much-needed caffeine. After offering coffee to Penelope and Emily, the tech analyst decided she wanted to stay nearby and finish knitting a little woolen coat for the baby. On the other hand, the brunette was more than happy to take a little hike with Aaron.

"I didn't hear your guess for the weight," Emily piped up as they exited the building.

"Sorry, I was too busy watching you all cry your eyes out," Aaron clarified, smiling at the brunette. "You okay, by the way?"

"Oh, yeah, yeah, I'm good. They were happy tears, I promise." She hesitated for a moment, looking up to see rare dimples in his cheeks. It pleased Emily to see him in a much happier mood than earlier, and as much as she wanted to ask him what had happened before, she really didn't want to ruin the moment. "So… What's your guess?"

Aaron didn't have much of a clue when it came to the subject of pregnancy and birth. He remembered Jack was almost a week overdue when he was born, and he was a massive baby at nearly 9 pounds. JJ wasn't actually due for another three weeks, so logically, Aaron thought the birth weight would be lower. "If I had to pick… 7 pounds."

"That's reasonable."

"What about the name? You manage to pry anything out of JJ?" Aaron asked, remembering the other night where the brunette was practically praying to any God to know the baby's name.

The woman laughed, "tried and failed. As long as she doesn't steal 'Sergio,' I think I can wait for the big reveal."

"You know that's what I wanted to name Jack," Aaron explained to her with a smirk.

Her eyes widened, "no way! I've loved that name for as long as I can remember."

"Great minds think alike," Hotch joked.

"I take it Haley didn't like the name?"

"She did," Hotch said, scratching at his temple, "it just didn't seem like the right fit, and besides, I don't think Jack looks like a Sergio."

Nodding, Emily chuckled, "yeah… When I hear the name, I always imagine this 30-year-old Italian man with a mustache. And no… I'm not talking about Rossi." Hotch stifled a laugh. "What made you choose Jack?"

"It was my grandfather's name," Aaron explained, stuffing his hands into the pockets of his trousers, "we had a few others in mind, but that one jumped out the moment we saw him."

"Funny how life works like that… He suits it."

Emily cursed as a small gust of wind blew from behind them, causing her wavy hair to go flying in all sorts of directions.

Hotch took the opportune moment to notice the curve of her slender neck, watching the shadows from her rogue wisps of hair dance along her pulse. The temptation to curl a strand around his finger nabbed passionately at him, and Aaron used all his strength to avert his eyes away and grip the insides of his pockets.

With the impulses this woman gave him… Aaron didn't quite know how he'd kept his sanity. It felt like it got harder to keep his hands to himself every day, and being in such close proximity to her for the last two days hadn't helped his situation either.

After deep reflection over the past few months, Hotch realized it wasn't just physical attraction to the brunette that had him hooked; it was also her vibrant yet mysterious personality. From the way she dealt so heroically with trauma and pain through to having this ability to make anybody feel like they were the only person in the room… Incredible was the only word he could think of to encapsulate how he thought about her.

And there was still so much more beyond the surface that he craved to know about.

Aaron often fantasized of scenarios between them as he lay in bed at night, one of the only things that helped him to fall asleep. And the more he did it, the more Hotch realized he wanted to move forward with his life.

He still hadn't completely healed from the divorce, and there would always be a part of his heart that loved Haley. But he needed a breath of fresh air… New experiences… Somebody to teach him what else life had to offer rather than just being stuck in the same place for his entire existence. He wanted a person beside him who he could rely on wholly, a partner who he could laugh and cry with and not critique him for his flaws.

And Emily ticked all those boxes.

Aaron didn't think he had the capability to love anybody else after Haley. But after nearly losing Emily in Colorado and realizing that his feelings for the woman were something bigger than just a little crush, Hotch suddenly couldn't imagine himself with anybody else.

The only thing that had been holding him back from making a move had been the logistical nightmare of dating a co-worker. Aaron wanted Prentiss so bad, but he couldn't help but think of the consequences that it would have on their job, the team, and not to mention his little boy. The more he thought through the effects a relationship would have on the others, the more wrong the idea felt in the first place.

Maybe it was in his wildest dreams to believe that they could be together, but he kept hoping.

After returning to the hospital and delivering much-needed caffeine to Garcia, all three waited with patient excitement. While Garcia worked quickly to finish knitting the blue coat, Emily skimmed through dozens of trashy celebrity magazines, laughing occasionally at the bad journalism written. On the other hand, Hotch walked laps around the waiting room, counting roof tiles and profiling the odd pregnant woman in for an appointment.

Remembering that she hadn't bought balloons yet, Garcia raced downstairs in a panic to the small gift shop in the hospital, also grabbing flowers for JJ at the same time. She returned barely five minutes later with an entourage of giant blue balloons. Emily was genuinely surprised the woman hadn't lost circulation in her hand with the strings wrapped so tightly around her wrist.

Out of breath, Penelope started rambling, "Oh my God, I can't believe I wasn't more prepared for this." Hotch helped the tech analyst out by taking a few of the balloons. "These were all the last ones they had left."

"And… You took all of them?" Emily asked amused, quirking an eyebrow.

"It's the little guy's birthday," Penelope reasoned, "he has to come into the world with some sort of welcome. And besides… It ain't a party without balloons."

Rolling her eyes, Emily focused her attention on a crossword in one of the magazines. Garcia and Hotch, not having anything better to do, decided to help the brunette with the puzzle.

"Espionage," Emily read out, "well, that's easy. Spying."

Hotch pointed at the next clue as Prentiss wrote in the previous answer, "Idol."

"for megastar?" The brunette said, squinting her eye, "no… It's gotta be diva…"

"Bara is also a possibility," Penelope added, to which the other two agents looked at her oddly. "that screen superstar Theda Bara from the 1910s? Nicknamed the vamp?" Emily looked bedazzled while Hotch slowly shook his head, "oh come on, please tell me I'm not the only one who knows that legendary goddess. Emily Prentiss, I expected more from you being a goth and all."

"You were a goth?" Hotch asked with a smirk before the brunette even had a chance to react. He shouldn't have been all that surprised. When he worked for Ambassador Prentiss, Aaron recalled Emily lining her eyes so heavy with eyeliner that Hotch could have sworn she looked like a raccoon.

Emily scoffed while a slight flush made itself known on her cheeks. He obviously hadn't seen her yearbook photo from school…

"Okay. Let me get this straight… I only drew inspiration for my style AFTER the wars, PG."

"Hmm, that still doesn't excuse you for not knowing who the amazing Theda Bara was, though. 'The Serpent' and 'The Galley Slave'…" Penelope kissed a couple fingers into the air, "two of the greatest films to ever exist. You should watch them."

"I'd rather stick to Shakespeare," Emily muttered half-heartedly as she wrote in another answer. Upon filling in the boxes around the mystery clue, it turns out Hotch was right in the first place.

"Oh yeah, there's no possible way that it can be idol, right Prentiss?" Aaron mocked under his breath, causing the brunette to uncontrollably roll her eyes as she held back a smirk. God… What was it with him and bragging about his insignificant achievements? The man just couldn't seem to help himself.

"Oh, just keep rubbing salt into the wound, Hotch. It'll only get you so far," Emily warned him, tapping the pen against her two front teeth.

"That one's wrong too," Aaron suddenly realized, pointing at another answer.

Giving up, Emily just scoffed and handed the entire book to Hotch, "fine. You complete the darn thing if you're so clever at it."

As the brunette peered over Hotch's shoulder, observing with a watchful eye for any mistakes, Penelope amusingly watched the entire exchange between the two.

She was by no means a profiler, but the tech analyst hadn't realized until now how incredibly comfortable Emily and Hotch seemed together. And from the way they'd been playfully bantering with each other to the deep subjects they discussed daily, Garcia wasn't at all surprised. She also couldn't forget that they'd spent the last couple of days essentially inseparable and often partnered up together in the field. So, no wonder they had developed such a great friendship.

But Garcia also couldn't help but observe their closeness. She'd noticed Emily softly smiling in his direction as they came back from grabbing coffee; how Hotch had placed his arm securely on the back of the chair Emily was sitting on as he read the crossword clues… It honestly was kinda sweet.

Their behaviour also seemed completely different when they were together. Penelope felt like Hotch was smiling more, and as for Emily, anybody could see in her expression how relaxed and at ease she was in his company.

The more Penelope thought about it, the more she realized how there was something special between them that she couldn't quite place her finger on. Whether it was how their personalities complimented each other so perfectly or the mutual respect they had for each other… There was no denying the great chemistry between them as they worked effortlessly to complete the crossword puzzle.

As they laughed at one another and forgot about everything else around them, Penelope picked up her knitting needles and wondered whether their friendship would ever evolve to something more.

"JJ…" Emily whispered, sitting down on the edge of the bed, "Oh my goodness… He is precious."

Arriving into the world at 7 pounds and 8 ounces, the brunette couldn't take her eyes off of little Henry La Montagne. And as his mother cradled him in her arms, the brunette could already see that he was an exact clone of Will. Even though he was considered a 'big baby,' all his features looked so incredibly tiny, from his adorable eyelashes to his sharp fingernails.

To say that she was in awe would be an understatement.

"You want to hold him?" The blonde asked to which Emily nodded with the biggest smile imaginable.

As JJ gently placed Henry in the brunette's arms, Emily gasped in joy.

"He's a heavy boy, right?" Penelope stated, sitting down on the other side of the bed.

Indeed, he was… Listening to his tiny gurgles and wheezes, the brunette couldn't wipe the smile off her face. She tried remembering the last time she'd ever held a newborn baby, and Emily concluded that it must have been nearly a decade ago. God, he was so incredibly perfect. Everything about him had these uncontrollable motherly instincts swirling deep inside her, and even though this wasn't her own baby, Emily could easily have snuggled the little boy for hours on end.

She felt Hotch walk behind her and peer down at the little guy over her shoulder before placing his pinkie finger into Henry's palm. As the baby squeezed his pinkie, he too couldn't erase the deep dimples embedded into his angular cheeks.

Aaron felt so thrilled for JJ and Will. Although it saddened him to see the blonde leaving them so soon, he could see in her expression how incredibly happy she felt to have finally had her baby. Still having his finger grasped by the wee dude, Hotch felt his heart swell up with emotion. He didn't realize how much he'd missed little moments like these. In his son's first few weeks of life, Aaron did the exact same thing with Jack as he rocked him back to sleep in the early hours of the morning.

It all evoked indescribable feelings of love and ecstasy.

Aaron watched lovingly as the brunette glanced down at the baby with the sweetest expression he'd ever seen. Emily's tranquil eyes were gently crinkled at the corners while her finger gently caressed Henry's plump but soft cheeks. Seeing how she interacted so tenderly with the infant had butterflies flittering through every bone and muscle in Hotch's body. Taking care of children came so naturally to Emily, and Aaron could see how much joy that brought the woman in her expression.

"Aww… I just want to take him home with me," Emily whispered, not taking her gaze off the boy.

"I think Em's got baby fever," Penelope joked, reaching over to stroke Henry's blue hat.

The brunette hummed in response, reluctantly handing the infant to Hotch, who gently swayed with him in his arms. As Emily glanced up, making sure that Henry was secure in the man's embrace, she couldn't help but blush at how Hotch completely mellowed all in a matter of seconds.

It was adorable… And those dimples definitely weren't disappearing anytime soon.

Upon the little guy starting to whimper, Hotch handed him back to JJ, who immediately began to shush her son back to a gentle slumber.

"Hotch, you made him cry," Emily joked, suddenly feeling a pang of sadness upon hearing the sharp newborn shrills.

"I'm a scary guy."

After JJ swaddled the baby and managed to get him back to sleep, Spencer finally arrived at the hospital. While he and JJ talked, the others, including Will, walked downstairs to grab some caffeine.

Never in her life had Emily felt this overwhelming urge to have a child, and after cuddling with Henry, she knew that the feeling wouldn't go away overnight. But the more she thought about it, the more the idea of having her own child saddened her. Emily was well into her late thirties, with her biological clock diminishing by the day. And even though it was entirely possible to have children at her age, it was no secret that the risks of miscarriage and birth defects got higher with every year that she aged.

Emily had pushed away the chance for motherhood countless times over the years, and suddenly her heart was swarming with so much regret.

What would her life be like if she hadn't prioritized her career over family life? Would she have finally found somebody who she loved unconditionally and have a houseful of children? Or would she still be struggling to find the right person to fall in love with? And what about if she hadn't chosen to abort that poor little unborn baby all those years ago? What sort of mother would she have been?

And most importantly, would she have been happy?

As the barista handed Emily her coffee, she listened in on the conversation Hotch, Will, and Penelope were having about all the fun things to do with Henry as he got older. And she couldn't help but wonder where the hell her life would end up in another five years. Whether the universe would give her some sort of miracle or if things would still be exactly the same… Either way, thinking about her future terrified Emily.

One thing was for certain, though…

She had baby fever.

And she had it really bad.