Chapter 1: Start of Something Beautiful (Episode: Epilogue)

Emily rubbed her hands over her stomach as she buttoned up her coat, looking over at Hotch as he shrugged his own coat on and placed a note in the tip jar on the counter. Emily held out her hand, unable to help the smile that grew on her face when Hotch looked back at her, a glimmer in his eyes. Hotch took her hand in his and they started out of the restaurant door, onto the sidewalk and heading home.

"I'm guessing from that look on your face that Spanish tapas was a good choice for dinner," Hotch said softly, squeezing Emily's hand in his.

It was a beautiful November night and Hotch was walking down the street, holding hands with Emily. They'd just shared a delicious dinner and were on their way back to his house, where he was hoping to enjoy some time getting to know her lips a little better. Two weeks into their relationship they'd finally found time for their first real date, and all things considered, Hotch thought things were going pretty well. They already knew almost everything about each other, but he was finding out even more about this wonderful woman than he'd ever expected.

Emily chuckled and nodded, "Let's just say, I'm glad that we're walking home, because I am stuffed," she replied with a grin, "That grilled eggplant was incredible."

Hotch looked over at Emily with a raised eyebrow as he squeezed her hand, "Does that mean you don't want dessert?" he teased, "Because I'm fairly sure the boys were planning to make brownies."

Emily let out a puff of air and shook her head, "I don't think I can fit anything more into my stomach," she replied, "My dress is already getting a little tight around the middle."

Hotch chuckled and shook his head, dropping Emily's hand and wrapping his arm around her waist, "You're deluded, Em," he replied, "I'd actually say you're almost too thin."

Emily snorted and squeezed Hotch's side, leaning her head against his shoulder as they walked, "Honey, you don't have to lie to me to get me to make out with you…" she paused and looked up at him, running her finger over the dimple on his cheek, "… I'm more than happy to do that without the buttering up."

"Hmmm," Hotch replied, leaning over to kiss Emily's hair, "I'll keep that in mind."

They walked in silence for a while, enjoying the relative quiet of the evening and thinking about the past few days. They'd returned from St Louis and had taken the opportunity to celebrate Hotch's birthday with the team, at the same time revealing their relationship to the others. It was a casual affair, not requiring any formal announcement, and the others had kept their interrogations to a minimum. At one point, Emily had gone inside with JJ and Garcia, using the excuse of Jack and Henry needing to be carried to the den to get some sleep. Hotch had known exactly what was happening, unsurprised when they hadn't returned until thirty minutes later.

In the meantime, the men had talked about everything except the revelation of Hotch and Emily's new relationship status. Football, a new law around the policing of fireworks, and opinions about the scotch Rossi had brought out for everyone to try were the topics of conversation. Hotch knew the others were curious, but none of them were game to ask him about this turn of events. Rossi already knew, but the others would have to wait until it was time to go home. Morgan, Reid and Garcia had carpooled, so she'd likely share Emily's version of events with them. And Will seemed to be more than happy to wait until the drive home with JJ.

Since then, they'd just been focusing on getting comfortable with each other. Emily had made it clear that she wanted to take things slow, and Hotch was fine with that. He knew that she was still processing being back in her life, and even without that complication, this was a big shift for them. They'd been growing close before she'd left for Boston, and both of them admitted to having spent their seven months apart wishing for the day when they could be together, but that didn't mean it wasn't still an adjustment.

Hotch squeezed Emily's side as he let out a sigh, bringing them to a stop as they reached the traffic lights across from Jack's school. Emily looked up and Hotch took the opportunity to kiss her softly, reaching up with his spare hand to run his calloused thumb over her cheek. The crossing signal beeped and he reluctantly pulled his lips from hers, adjusting his grip on her waist and starting them across the road.

Emily let Hotch take the lead, keeping a hold on his coat as they made their way onto the sidewalk and continued their journey home. She had enjoyed the steady stream of conversation they had shared over dinner, relishing the fact that even with everything they knew about each other, there would always be new things to learn. Hotch had told her about the summer of his sophomore year of college, when he'd lived in a small rural town in South Carolina and worked on a farm. He told her that he loved to ride horses, but never got the time anymore.

The whole night had been a wonderful start for them, their official start with a proper date, where Hotch wore a tie that wasn't in his work rotation and Emily got to break out a dress for the evening. Their work was a little too messy for dresses, so she was excited to show Hotch another side of herself, a side that he didn't get to see that often. She smiled as she thought about his reaction when she'd opened the door of her apartment and his jaw had dropped. If Tom hadn't been there to pick Declan up, Emily might have thrown all of her plans for a slow pace out the window and dragged Hotch into her bedroom.

Emily furrowed her brow slightly at that thought, wondering what it would take for her to be ready to move things forward in that department. She appreciated Hotch's patience, but she knew she couldn't wait forever. She just couldn't figure out how to get past the images that she saw every time she looked in the mirror. The branding that Doyle had burned into her chest was one thing… it was relatively faded and Emily's plastic surgeon in Paris had done a great job of covering it up. But the scars from the follow-up surgeries were still there, eternal reminders of what had happened. The worst of the two was the large scar left from the table leg… it had been a little harder to mend, and no amount of cosmetic work would erase it completely.

And there was still one question that Hotch hadn't asked yet, which Emily was just waiting for. She knew it was coming, and she'd been working hard to come up with an answer that would help Hotch to move on. She just wished that Hotch would ask the question, so they could put it all behind them, but so far, he'd kept it to himself. And while the scars would never disappear, and all Emily was waiting for was the moment she accepted them, it was that question that was hanging over her head like the sword of Damocles.

As they turned onto Hotch's street and took the final hundred metres to his front gate, Emily let out a sigh, causing Hotch to tighten his grip on her side.

"Everything ok?" Hotch asked, his hand on the gate as he brought them to a stop.

Emily nodded, leaning up to kiss Hotch gently, standing back and offering a small smile, "Everything's perfect," she replied.

Hotch nodded, pushing the gate open and letting Emily walk in ahead of him. She reached back as she continued down the path, Hotch taking her hand and squeezing tight as they made their way across the yard and up the front steps. Hotch unlocked the door and held it open for Emily, following her inside and turning to help her with her coat. As he gripped the shoulders of her coat, Hotch leant down to kiss the side of her neck gently, before he turned back to hang it in the closet next to his.

Emily kicked off her shoes, pushing them to the side of the hall, and walked through the house, coming to a sudden stop on the edge of the living room. She turned back and gestured for Hotch to hurry, and when he joined her, he started to laugh.

Zac and Jack had pushed the armchairs and the coffee table to the sides of the room and had set up Jack's new pop-up tent in front of the fireplace. Both boys were hanging out of the tent, holding sticks in the fireplace, toasting marshmallows. They looked up when Emily and Hotch started to laugh, Zac holding out his stick, with the freshly toasted marshmallow on the end.

Emily shook her head with a smile as Hotch reached out to take the candy off the stick, offering a bite to Emily before he popped the rest of it in his mouth. Zac held out a hand-wipe to him, which he gladly accepted with his gooey hand, while Emily dropped down on the floor next to Jack, reaching over to run her hands through his hair.

"Looks like you two had fun tonight," Emily said, "What else have you been up to?"

"We watched The Jungle Book and ate pizza for dinner and Zac showed me how to make a fire by rubbing sticks together," Jack explained, "And now we're cooking marshmallows!" he exclaimed, swinging his stick a little too enthusiastically. He watched in horror as the marshmallow flew off the end of the stick and landed on the ceiling, and his eyes grew wide as he looked at his dad.

Hotch's eyes followed the marshmallow's path and watched as the candy fused to the ceiling of the living room, and when he looked back at Jack, he couldn't stop his mouth from twitching. Jack looked terrified, but his face brightened up as Hotch burst into laughter, dropping to the floor next to Emily.

"I'm sorry Daddy," Jack said, his face lit up but his voice quivering slightly.

Hotch shook his head and reached around Emily to ruffle his son's hair, "Don't worry about it buddy… it'll come down eventually," he replied, glancing down at his watch, "But it's getting late and you need to get to bed."

"Actually Dad," Zac started, glancing at his mom before looking back at Hotch, "If it's ok with you, I thought Jack and I could camp out in the living room tonight."

Hotch shrugged and nodded, smiling softly at both boys, "I'm ok with that, so long as you still brush your teeth," he replied.

Jack nodded fervently and pointed down at the bag, "Can I do one more marshmallow first?" he begged, "Since my last one… flew away?"

Emily snorted and leant down to kiss Jack's hair, glancing back at Hotch with a smile.

Hotch chuckled and nodded, "Ok buddy," he replied, leaning around Emily to kiss Jack on the head, before pushing himself up from the floor and holding out his hands for Emily, "One more and then brush your teeth…" he paused as he rested his hand on Emily's shoulder, wondering how much information the boys needed and tipping his head, "See you in the morning."

"Goodnight!" Jack and Zac called out in unison as Emily and Hotch disappeared down the stairs.

It had been agreed that Emily would be hanging out for a little while before she headed home. Since the living room was still occupied, Hotch figured the next best spot for them to spend some quality, private time together was his office. While they could easily set up in one of the chairs in the bedroom, he didn't want her to feel pressured to do something she wasn't ready for. At least the office was a nice, neutral zone with a sofa and a fireplace.

"Zac's babysitting techniques are almost as good as yours, Em," Hotch started, leading Emily down the hallway towards the office, "In terms of creativity," he shrugged.

Emily chuckled as she stepped into the room and closed the door behind her, "I definitely think I should get credit for Zac's ideas… since they're modelled off things we did when he was a kid," she replied, crossing the room and dropping onto the large leather sofa, as Hotch lit the fireplace.

When the flames had started, Hotch made his way over to join Emily on the sofa, and when he held his arm up, she shuffled over and leant into his side, letting out a deep sigh as her head settled on his chest. Hotch ran his hand over Emily's arm and inhaled the scent of her shampoo, kissing the top of her head as he watched the flames dance.

"Did you have fun tonight?" Hotch asked, mindlessly tracing a finger over the bare skin of Emily's arm.

Emily nodded, her cheek rubbing against Hotch's chest, "I really, really did, Aaron," she replied, pushing herself up to look him in the eyes, "Did you?"

Hotch nodded, smiling softly as he reached up to grip her chin, leaning forward to kiss her gently. It was only meant to be a gentle kiss to punctuate his answer to her question, but as Emily pressed herself against him, Hotch decided to let her take her lead. He was happy to take things slow, even if it meant he needed to take a cold shower at some point, and he trusted Emily to know her limits.

Emily relaxed into the kiss, holding herself against Hotch and wrapping her arm around his neck. As the kiss deepened, Emily shifted, gripping the back of the sofa and swinging a leg over Hotch's thighs, sitting back in his lap and leaning forward as he ran his tongue over the roof of her mouth. Emily's heart beat fast as Hotch ran his hands up her legs and hips, pulling her forward so he could wrap his arms around her waist. Emily shivered and ran her fingers through Hotch's hair, as he started to run kisses down the sides of her neck, pulling herself closer to him, his stubble running over the neckline of her dress.

Emily's eyes opened suddenly when he undid the tie on her dress, his hand sliding under the fabric and running over the bare skin on her waist, while his lips grazed over the top of her left breast. He was unknowingly running his lips over one of her scars, while his calloused fingers ran over the other, and Emily knew she had to call time-out.

Emily shivered again, which Hotch took as a good sign, but before he could explore any further, she pulled away from him, climbing out of his lap and turning away as she re-tied her dress. The sudden loss of contact was shocking and Emily shivered again, this time at the cold.

Hotch furrowed his brow, reaching up to run his hands over his face and standing from the sofa. As he approached Emily, he held out a hand to reach for her shoulder, but took it back, unsure if Emily wanted him to touch her right now. He gave her a minute, waiting for her to finish tidying up her dress and giving himself the opportunity to let his own body calm down from all the excitement, before he reached out again.

Emily stood and stared at the map on the wall, closing her eyes and taking deep breaths to calm her heart down. She'd been enjoying the intimacy with Hotch, right up until the moment that he had unintentionally touched her scars. She felt the tears start to well and tried to blink until they disappeared, but they started to fall down her cheeks and she had to reach up to wipe them away. She closed her eyes when she felt Hotch reach out and touch her shoulder and she turned, looking down at first and slowly bringing her eyes up to meet his. She ran her hands up his chest and locked them at the nape of his neck, pulling him into a hug, finally starting to relax when Hotch dropped his chin over her shoulder.

"I'm sorry," Emily whispered softly, the emotion still evident in her voice.

"You have nothing to be sorry about, Em," Hotch replied in kind, wrapping his arms around her waist and holding her tight against him, "I figured you'd know when you needed to stop, and you did."

Emily nodded against Hotch's shoulder, "I was really enjoying that," she whispered, "It's just…" she paused and let out a sigh, "… never mind."

Hotch shook his head, standing up straight and tipping his head towards the sofa, "Tell me," he begged, leading her back over so they could sit down. This time, Hotch turned to face Emily, so they could see each other's faces when they spoke, their hands a tangled clump on her lap.

Emily wondered whether she should share, given that this was her hang-up, not his. He didn't know the issues she had with her body, and she didn't want Hotch to blame himself for her getting upset at his touch. She wanted to have his hands on her body, one day, when she was ready, and she'd hate for her current upset to cause any problems for them in the future. And that thought made Emily realise that, if they had any future at all, she needed to be honest with Hotch and share her worries.

That's what being partners was all about.

Emily took a deep breath and looked up at Hotch. She reached over and ran her hand through his hair, bringing it to rest on his shoulder. She cleared her throat and offered a sad smile.

"My scars haven't healed, and probably never will," Emily explained, "And I'm afraid that you'll see them and be reminded of everything that's happened, and it will scare you away."

Hotch furrowed his brow and bit his lip, shaking his head as he looked down at their joined hands, "We both have scars… we both have histories… and I know when I think about your scars, all I see are reminders of how incredibly strong and resilient you are…" he paused and swallowed hard over the lump in his throat, nodding at Emily's chest, "… I see those scars as reminders of you surviving something that no one else could have. And those scars remind me of how lucky I am that you're letting me anywhere near you."

Emily let out a sigh and picked up their joined hands, kissing Hotch's knuckles and looking up at him, "Ok… that was kind of a perfect answer, except for that last part… but as lovely as all of that is, I can't even look at them in the mirror without wanting to throw up, so I can't imagine what you will do when you actually see them."

"Em, I feel the need to remind you that I think you are the most beautiful woman in the world… scars and all," he replied, smiling shyly as he tipped his head, "Actually, I think you're the most sexy woman in the world… scars and all… and when you're ready, I'm ready, because I can't think of anything I want more than to make love to you."

Emily groaned, leaning her head against the back of the sofa and closing her eyes tightly, "When you say these perfect things, I think I'm an idiot for not just saying yes now, but…"

"Em," Hotch started, interrupting her and running his hand over her hair, "There's no rush… seriously… we have the rest of our lives to figure this out," he explained, tugging on her hands until she rested her head on his chest, "We can take things slow and make out a lot and sleep in the same bed if you want to, and when you're ready, you can show me your scars and I will show you mine, and we will be happy."

Emily thought about what Hotch was saying, realising that what he was insinuating was that he wanted a lifetime with her, and sex was just one part of it. She couldn't believe that he was offering to share a bed with her, without the promise of sex, but he was.

Emily thought about what it would mean to share that space with Hotch… to fall asleep with his arms around her waist and wake up with him in the morning. She wondered if it was too soon to bring that aspect to their relationship, but she figured this romance was years in the making and they were the ones who got to make the rules.

"Do you really think you can sleep in the same bed and not have sex?" Emily asked, looking up at Hotch as her brow furrowed deep in doubt.

Hotch nodded, reaching over to brush his fingers through Emily's hair, "I wouldn't mind waking up next to you, whenever we can swing it," he replied with a smile, tipping his head to the side, "Unless you feel like that's too much pressure on you."

Hotch hoped that he wasn't saying all the wrong things in this moment. Really, he just wanted the time with Emily, as much time as they could get. Between their jobs and their kids, the opportunities for time together would be limited, so they would need to be creative about it. And if sleepovers a couple of times a week would give them that time, Hotch would gladly take a hundred cold showers.

He looked up nervously as he waited for a response from Emily, studying her face carefully and kicking himself that he'd fallen in love with a woman who was a profiler. She was adept at hiding her tells, but as she touched the tip of her tongue to the tip of her lip and let out a small puff of air, he felt his anxiety start to dissipate.

Emily dropped her head back to Hotch's chest and nodded, her cheek rubbing against his shirt as she inhaled deeply, taking in the lingering scent of his aftershave, "Do you have a spare toothbrush?"

Emily pulled the SUV into the parking lot and pulled up the handbrake, looking through the windscreen and spotting Hotch under a tree, pacing back and forth. She looked over at Reid and pursed her lips, holding up her hands and cupping one fist in her palm.

"Rochambeau?"

Reid huffed and shook his head, "You know you handle him far better than the rest of us," he teased, opening the passenger door and sliding out onto the ground, "I'll see you inside."

Emily huffed and smiled, "See you inside," she called out after Reid, starting down the hill and coming to a stop at a respectable distance from Hotch. His hands were shoved in his pockets, and he was still pacing, back and forth on the dirt. He looked deep in thought, but Emily could tell from his stance that there was more on his mind than just the case.

Hotch looked up and found Emily stopping in front of him, a small smile growing on his face instinctively when he saw her, but the furrow in his brow offering some insight into his actual emotional state. He'd been working hard to keep a safe distance from Emily since they'd landed, wanting to maintain those all-important boundaries between their work and home lives, but seeing her now, he just wanted to reach out and touch her. Instead, he kept his hands where they were, firmly pressed into his pockets.

"How did the presentation go?" Emily asked, crossing her arms across her chest and watching Hotch's face carefully for indications of what was going on for him.

He shrugged, staring down at Emily's feet, "It was fine," he replied, "What did you find out at the ME?"

"He couldn't revive the latest victim," Emily explained, "The ME thinks the unsub is sick and is losing his strength when it comes to subduing and reviving the victims."

Hotch nodded, looking up and out at the lake, unsure of what else to say. They needed to get back inside to the rest of the team, but even a few minutes alone with Emily was giving Hotch more energy than the cups of coffee he'd been mainlining since they'd arrived back at the station that morning. His concerns about the case were one thing, but there was something going on with Rossi, and no matter how much Hotch tried to get him to talk, the older agent was staying silent.

"What do you need, Aaron?" Emily asked softly, stepping closer to Hotch and dropping the volume of her voice. She knew it was risky, calling him by his "home name", but they didn't have time for this. They had an unsub to catch.

"Something's going on with Dave, and I need him to talk to me," Hotch replied, not fighting Emily like he usually would. She was right… they didn't have time for him to hold back, so he needed to tell her what was causing him trouble so she could help.

"I know what's going on," she replied, huffing when Hotch looked up at her in surprise, "Well… I might know what's going on." She was hoping that her revelation might give Hotch the peace of mind to continue working the case, but the look on his face suggested otherwise.

"If there's something I need to know as Unit Chief, you should tell me," Hotch said, "So… is there?"

Emily shook her head and looked over Hotch's shoulder and locking eyes with Rossi as he stepped out onto the front steps of the station. He looked at her for a moment, before he turned and walked back inside, the door closing behind him. When she turned back to Hotch, Emily tipped her head, "I'll talk to you when we get home."

"Em, you've got enough going on right now," Hotch said, concern clear in his tone, "You don't need to take this on with Rossi too."

Emily rolled her eyes and shook her head, lowering her voice, "Hotch, it's fine," she replied, "I can handle this. Rossi is our friend and he's confiding in me, so of course I'm going to listen and help as much as I can… as much as he'll let me."

Hotch shook his head and stepped forward, but before he could get any closer, Emily gestured with her thumb over her shoulder, "I'll go and check on him now, and if he wants me to share what's going on, I will," she explained, taking a tiny step closer to Hotch, "But if he says that he wants me to keep his secret… for now… you have to trust me."

Hotch let out a breath and pursed his lips, nodding and looking down at his feet. When he looked back up, he nodded, knowing that was his only choice. Emily was a caring, affectionate person… it was one of the things he loved most about her… and if their friend needed her right now, there wasn't much that Hotch could do.

"Ok," he replied softly, "But the second I think this is too much for you, I get to call it."

Emily held out a hand and smiled as Hotch shook it, "Too bad we can't seal it the way we normally do," she teased, resulting in the small smile she'd been hoping for. As they started to walk back towards the station, Emily glanced over at Hotch and tipped her head, "I'll go and find Rossi now… I'll let you know if he wants me to share."

Hotch opened the door to the station, waiting for Emily to walk through first, before he followed, hoping that Rossi wouldn't make Emily keep his secrets for too much longer.

Emily pulled the car up to the lights, glancing over at Hotch in the passenger seat and furrowing her brow. He'd been quiet the entire drive home from Quantico and while Hotch was typically a man of few words, this silence was anything but comfortable. Emily reached over, laying her hand on Hotch's thigh, and when he took her hand in his, he held it with a grip so strong it hurt a little.

Emily wanted to ask if everything was ok, but she wanted to be free from distractions for his answer, so she kept her mouth shut and swallowed back her questions, waiting until they got home. It would only be a few more minutes, and with Jack already in bed, she figured they'd have some time to themselves for that conversation.

She pressed her foot down on the gas and turned onto the small lane that ran behind the row of houses, pulling up outside Hotch's garage and waiting for him to reach into his briefcase and press the remote for the door. Once it was open, Emily pulled the car into the spare space and switched off the engine.

Hotch looked over at Emily and nodded in the direction of the house, "I'm guessing you have time to come in for a little while?" he asked with a sigh.

Emily nodded and leant over, placing a gentle kiss on Hotch's lips, "I can stay as long as you want me to," she mumbled, before pulling away.

Hotch huffed and raised his eyebrows, "That's a dangerous offer there, Agent Prentiss."

Emily offered a crooked smile and waved her hands in front of her, "Look around you, Aaron… this is Emily's territory."

Hotch snorted and nodded, "Alright then, Emily," he said as he climbed out of the car, grabbing their ready bags and briefcases from the back seat, "How about we go inside and see what food there is to eat? I am starving."

"Hmmm," Emily replied, meeting Hotch at the door to the backyard and pressing the button to close the garage door behind them, "Some dinner would be amazing."

They made their way across the lawn, opening the door to Hotch's bedroom first, where he dropped both of their ready bags on top of the bed, then down the hall to the office, where he dropped both of their briefcases on the floor. Once their belongings were stowed, Hotch took Emily by the hand and led her up the stairs, listening out for any noises. There were none, but that wasn't a surprise. It was already ten, so Jack would be in bed by now.

As they made their way into the dining room, noting silence from the entire first floor, Hotch led the way into the kitchen, where they found a note on the island counter.

Hey Mom and Dad,

I have to be up early to get Lucy from the Amtrak station, sorry I couldn't stay up to say hi. We made enchiladas for dinner and there's a heap leftover. See you in the morning.

Love from Zac and Jack

P.S. Declan wanted us to say hi and bye for him. Tom will drop him at your apartment/here on Sunday, just text him where.

Emily chuckled and jabbed Hotch with her elbow, "Good lord our kids are awesome," she joked, turning to the fridge and taking out the baking dish while Hotch went around to start the oven. He took the dish from Emily and slid it into the oven, before turning back to face her.

Emily held out a beer and after Hotch took it, they started towards the living room. Hotch placed his beer down on the coffee table while he leant over to switch on the floor lamp in the corner, casting a gentle glow over the room.

Emily sat down on the sofa, waiting for Hotch to drop down next to her before she reached up to run her fingers through his hair. They had some time before dinner would be ready, and she wanted to get to the bottom of his reticence before she left for the night… if she left. It was becoming habit for her to just stay over on nights when they finished work late. She had her ready bag, so after she washed its contents, she'd have enough clothes to last her a couple of days. Depending on the progress of their conversation, Emily made a mental note to check with Hotch about the sleeping arrangements.

"Do you want to tell me what's going on in there?" Emily asked softly, tapping Hotch's forehead and watching his face carefully for indications of what was going on. She hoped he wasn't going to press her for more information about Rossi, since he hadn't yet given her permission to share. It wasn't that he was being secretive… Rossi just didn't have the words to fully explain what had been going on for him.

Hotch shrugged and took a sip of his beer, looking down at the label and running his thumb over the red star, "I uh…" he paused and took a deep breath, letting it out in a sigh as he looked up at Emily, "I suppose I'm just worried about Rossi."

Emily furrowed her brow and shook her head, "I told you he'll be ok, Aaron," she explained, "And I promised him that I wouldn't say anything until he's ready."

Hotch nodded, "I know," he replied softly, "But he's one of my oldest friends and… I just worry."

"I know you do, Aaron…" Emily paused and huffed, "… it seems like that's all you do sometimes, but I'm begging you, please don't worry about this."

Hotch nodded, reaching up to rest his forehead in his hand. He felt awful trying to lie to Emily, but he just wasn't sure how to bring up what was really going on in his mind. He really was worried about Rossi, he'd seen his friend acting strangely the last week, but he wasn't about to force him to confide in him. Especially not if he'd chosen Emily as his confidante.

Emily frowned and played with a button on Hotch's shirt, looking up at him when he cleared his throat, "Is there something else on your mind?" she asked, "Because you still seem…" she paused and shrugged, "… distracted."

Hotch nodded, shifting in his seat and turning to face Emily. He lifted his arm to rest on the back of the sofa, and leaned forward to kiss her gently, tasting beer on her lips. Emily reached up to run her fingers through his hair and he let the kiss linger for a moment, before he pulled away, smiling softly as Emily's lips chased him. When she opened her eyes, she furrowed her brow slightly and Hotch ran his thumb over her cheek.

"I've been thinking about what you said today at the station, about when you coded," Hotch explained softly, turning his head to look out the back window and up at the bright moon in the sky.

Emily didn't say a word, knowing that right now, there were no words to say. The experience had been terrifying, and by the time she'd woken up, she'd been so focused on staying alive and going into hiding. It wasn't until she was finally alone in Paris, with seven months to fill, that she'd taken the time to process what had happened to her. She had seen a hypnotherapist, and with her help, they had discovered that Emily had seen what she'd described to the others on the team.

Darkness.

Cold.

Nothing.

The whole experience freaked Emily out, and she genuinely thought she was bound for somewhere terrifying when she died again. It had made her wonder if she needed to change something about her existence. She honestly couldn't think of anything she could change… she believed what she believed and couldn't see that shifting anytime soon.

Emily was roused from her thoughts when Hotch squeezed her knee and she jumped at the pressure. She looked up to find him staring at her, concern evident on his face, and she smiled softly.

"I'm sorry," Emily said softly, reaching down to squeeze Hotch's hand where it rested on her leg, "What do you need to be ok with knowing this?" she asked.

Hotch raised his eyebrows and shook his head, "It's not what I need, Em," he replied, "I wanted to know if you needed anything. If there was something I could do to help."

Emily pursed her lips and shook her head, staring down at their hands while she played with Hotch's fingers, "I'm ok," she replied, smiling sadly, "Actually, these past couple of weeks have been the first time since I came back that I haven't been having those nightmares, so…" she paused and winked at Hotch, offering a cheeky smile, "… something's working."

Hotch huffed and tugged Emily's arm, pulling her into a tight hug and running his hand down her back, "I'm glad I could help," he replied, kissing the side of her hair and leaning back to look her in the eyes, "And if you ever want to talk about it, I hope you'll come to me. This is supposed to be a partnership, and I want to be there to listen when you remember things or if you need to talk through something in your life."

Emily swallowed hard over the lump in her throat, nodding as she looked into Hotch's eyes, marvelling at the level of trust she had in him to keep her safe, and to keep her secrets. She ran her hand over his shoulder, squeezing hard and smiling softly, "One day, when we're both ready, we will talk about everything that's happened," she said, "I promise… but for now, can you just hold me?"

Hotch nodded, pulling Emily into his side and running his hand up her arm and shoulder and bringing it to rest on the side of Emily's head. He turned his head and kissed her hair, inhaling the scent of coconut and smiling at the sensation. Emily might have described a terrifying experience, but right now, she was safe. They were on the couch, in Hotch's house, two of their sons upstairs asleep, while their third was safe with his dad.

Emily let out a long sigh, her breath tickling Hotch's neck, and she went back to playing with the button on his shirt. She wasn't lying when she said that one day, she'd be ready to talk about everything that had happened. She hoped it would come sooner, rather than later, because she wanted the rest of her life with Aaron, and she didn't want to keep any of her secrets from him anymore.

Emily furrowed her brow as her cell began to buzz, sitting up slightly to take the device out of her pocket and pursing her lips as she read the caller ID. She looked up at Hotch as she answered the call, holding her finger up to her lips.

"Dave… is everything ok?"

Hotch watched while Emily listened to their friend on the other end of the line, his heart beating as he realised that this was more serious than he'd initially thought. The fact that Dave was now calling Emily to seek out her help and wasn't calling him… it heightened his concern even further.

"Alright… text me the details and I'll be there as soon as I can," Emily replied into the cell, "Do you want me to bring anyone else?"

Hotch furrowed his brow and held up his hand for the phone, but Emily shook her head and reached over to squeeze his hand. He watched her carefully, noting the pinch in her brow and the tight purse of her lips, and he wished he could just take the cell out of her hands and ask Dave what was going on. But for whatever reason, his friend was reaching out to Emily, and he had no right to tell anyone what to do. This was clearly a personal issue, and Hotch had been trying hard not to act like the boss when they were in Aaron and Emily's world.

"I'm pretty sure that's only ten minutes away," Emily said, standing from the sofa and placing the beer on the coffee table. She made her way into the kitchen, where she'd left her keys, Hotch following close behind. Emily watched as Dave talked to her and Hotch went to the pantry, turning back to her with a bottle of water and a granola bar.

"I'll see you soon," Emily said, ending the call and tipping her head as she looked at Hotch. She took the water and snack out of his hands, placing them on the island counter while she stood up on her tiptoes and placed a gentle kiss on his lips. As her arms played with the hair at the nape of his neck, Hotch's arms circled her waist and he held her tight.

Hotch let Emily decide on the extent of their embrace, and when she started to pull back, he bit his lip, a thousand questions on the tip of his tongue. He settled on one that he hoped wouldn't land him in any hot water.

"Is there anything I can do?" Hotch asked, rubbing his hands down Emily's sides.

Emily shook her head, pushing the hair away from Hotch's face, "Not right now," she said, "I have to go and meet him, and if he lets me, I'll let you know what's going on."

Hotch nodded, letting out a sigh as Emily took a step back. He grabbed the water and snack from the counter, following Emily through the back door and down the stairs, taking her offered hand when they started across the yard towards the garage. He opened her car door for her and as she slipped into the driver's seat, Hotch leant down to place a gentle kiss on Emily's lips.

"Drive safe," Hotch said softly, hitting the garage door remote and standing up to close the car door, "And if you want, you can come back here when you're free."

Emily wound the window down, hanging her arm and head out for one last kiss, running her fingers through his hair and smiling sadly, "I love you, Aaron," she whispered.

"I love you too, Em," he replied, standing up and watching her reverse into the lane. He walked over to the opening, watching her drive away and as the lights disappeared onto the street, Hotch pressed the button on the remote again.

Emily walked through the back door, following Jack, Zac and Declan down the hall, everyone's arms full of groceries. They had big plans for tonight and had to get a move on with their cooking. As the Prentiss' family representatives, Zac and Emily took charge of the sauce, while Hotch and Declan set about chopping up the vegetables. Jack oversaw the entertainment, finding songs for them all to dance to as they set to work in the kitchen.

Working together as a team meant that the pot was simmering on the stove in no time at all, and while Hotch got started on the pasta, Emily ran downstairs for a quick shower and Zac got the boys upstairs to get changed into something more appropriate for their plans.

Emily made quick work of getting her things ready, leaving her dress in the closet while she undressed and climbed in the shower. It was only a quick shower, enough to rid her of the sweat and dust from a day of kicking a soccer ball around the park with all her boys, so before Hotch had even made his way downstairs, she was already done drying off.

Emily was in the middle of slipping her arms into her dress and pulling it up when Hotch made his way into the closet, taking a step back when he saw her in a state of undress that he hadn't yet had the pleasure to witness.

"Sorry sweetheart," Hotch said, shielding his eyes, "I thought you'd be ready."

Emily chuckled at his bashfulness, making her way over and reaching up to take his hand away from his eyes, "Honey, it's fine… I'm surprised you haven't seen me naked already as it is," she joked, "But now that you're here, zip me up?"

Hotch swallowed hard over the lump in his throat, reaching down to tug the zip on Emily's dress as he placed a gentle kiss on her shoulder. It was an intimate moment which, considering their day was spent kicking a soccer ball and listening to fart jokes, seemed to be a rare opportunity for the two of them.

"I like seeing you in dresses," Hotch remarked, running his fingers gently over Emily's shoulders and wrapping his arms around her waist, "Not that you don't look totally badass when you're in fatigues with a gun on your hip."

Emily snorted, turning around and gripping Hotch's elbows, standing on the tiptoes of her bare feet to kiss him gently. As she leant back, his hands locked at her lower back, Emily raised her eyebrows suggestively, "I like seeing you in your pyjamas," she teased, tipping her head to the side, "Not that you don't look totally badass when you're wearing your suit and Kevlar."

Hotch chuckled and squeezed Emily's waist, placing a quick peck on her lips before he let go, heading into the bathroom and tugging his shirt over his head, "As much as I'd love to keep going down this track," he called out, "We do have to get going soon."

Emily let out a sigh and nodded, "I'll see you upstairs in ten," she called back, "And we'll put a pin in this discussion until we get home tonight."

Hotch chuckled as he started the shower, climbing in and running his head under the hot water. He really was starting to think about this house as Emily's home, and while he knew it was too soon to ask her to move in, he was enjoying the fact that she felt so comfortable in the space. She'd left a supply of clothes, an assortment of work and weekend outfits, as well as some things for Declan. Which was proving to be a blessing for them tonight since he was coming along on this particular mission of mercy.

Hotch climbed out of the shower and quickly dried himself off, hurrying into the closet and grabbing fresh clothes, getting dressed in record time. He stopped in the bedroom to pull on his socks and attach his ankle holster before he ran back upstairs.

Emily turned when she heard the footsteps in the stairwell and smiled when Hotch rounded the corner just as she was draining the pasta in the sink. She quickly tossed the ingredients together and fixed the lid to the top of the pot. Hotch called out up to the boys to hurry them up, and just as he was making his way to the kitchen, there was a stampede of footsteps coming down the stairs.

"Ok," Hotch called out, "Declan, help Mom with the food, please. Zac, help Jack with his shoes," he said hurriedly, walking over to the liquor cabinet to take out the bottle of wine and turning back. Everyone was ready and waiting, and as they made their way over to the back door, Zac started to chuckle.

"Uh… Dad?" Zac started, pointing at Hotch's feet, "You might need some shoes."

As he pulled the car into the driveway, Hotch looked in the rear-view mirror and smiled, squeezing Emily's hand where it rested on his thigh. She looked up and saw what Hotch was nodding to, their three sons, Declan squeezed between Jack and Zac, engaged in an epic competition for the grossest joke in the history of the world. Emily looked over to Hotch and raised her eyebrows, the corners of her mouth curving up in a shy smile.

Hotch brought the car to a stop by the path leading up to the front door, and they all filed out of the car. Emily stopped by the back door and took the large pot from Zac while Declan helped Jack unbuckle his car seat and climb out.

Emily and Hotch led the way, the three boys walking behind them, and coming to a stop on the front steps of the house. Hotch rang the doorbell and they waited, hearing the latch turn on the lock and the creaking of the door as it opened.

"What… are you doing here?" Rossi asked, a furrow in his brow as he took in Emily and Hotch's family on his front step. It was a sight that was years in the making, and in many ways, it made the pain in Rossi's chest ease a little. As upset as he was, he was still so happy to see Emily and Hotch making this work.

Emily held up the large pot and smiled sadly, "We figured you wouldn't be up for cooking, so we made a batch of comfort pesto... if you're up for some company?"

Rossi nodded, swallowing hard over the lump in his throat as he stepped back and held the door open for the Hotchner/Prentiss clan to make their way into the house. He closed the door behind them and led the way down the hall and into the kitchen, where Emily placed the pot on the stove. When she turned back, she held the sides of Rossi's face gently, kissing each cheek and then placing a light kiss on his forehead.

When Emily dropped back, Rossi shook his head and smiled sadly, "You guys are too good to me."

Hotch huffed, stepping forward and patting Rossi on the shoulder, "This is what family's for, right?"