Both he and Jack were sad to drop Erin off at the Academy. "What do you think, buddy, should we pick out some flowers to send Miss Erin?"

Jack nodded. "I really like Miss Erin."

"Good, because I like her, too." Aaron drove to the nearest flower shop and took Jack's hand as he led him inside. He had found out that her name would be different as soon as she started pushing Jack on the swings. He had fallen for her the moment she took off her shoes to give him underdogs and then declared a swinging contest.

"Why was her daughter mean to her? I thought we were supposed to love our parents. I loved Mommy so much, but I, I, I don't know what I want to say."

"It hurts your heart to see a friend treated badly."

"Yeah! Is she upset that you two are special friends?"

Aaron looked at his son. "Maybe. She didn't tell me what her daughter said. I do know her heart is really sensitive right now. So what kind of flowers should we send her?"

"Sunflowers! Mrs. Knapp says that sunflowers always make her happy when she sees them." Jack looked around the shop finding the bucket with different colored sunflowers in it. "These purple ones will look great with the regular ones, don't you think, Daddy?" He held up two bunches of the different colored flowers.

"I think she'll love them." Aaron took the flowers from his son and brought them up to the clerk/ "Could you help my son dress these up a little while I look for something as well?"

"Sure. Do you want to pick out some ribbons to tie together your bouquet?" Jack nodded and took her hand. Aaron watched her get his son settled in front of the work table before disappearing into the tubs of flowers.

As he went, he picked out pale pink tulips, blood red roses, and white and red gerbera daises. Then he went over and picked out a tall, thin, vase and began to arrange the flowers. Finally, Aaron was happy with how they looked and took them over to where his son was chatting with the clerk, putting the finishing touches on his bouquet.

"May I have a card to put with the flowers?"

"Sure." The woman handed him a cream colored calling card and he quickly wrote on it, Will you be my girlfriend? Aaron He tucked it into the envelope she handed him and wrote Erin's name on it with a flourish.

"I need both of the arrangements delivered to Erin Strauss at the FBI Academy tomorrow around nine thirty in the morning. Would that be possible?"

"Yes, of course. Have you signed your card yet, honey?" Jack nodded and held out his card, showing them the heart he'd drawn next to his name. "Let me put these in the fridge and I'll come back and take down the information for the delivery and ring you up."

Jack hopped off the stool and took hold of his father's hand. "I like your bouquet, too, Daddy. I hope these make her happy."

"I think they will, Jack." The young woman came back and he answered all her questions as she filled out the paperwork. After he'd paid, he and Jack went back to the car. He'd just buckled his belt when his phone rang. "Hello, Penelope. What do you need?"

"Nothing much. How'd lunch go? Is she okay?"

"She's fine. I think."

"You think? What happened?"

"Molly called and lit into her. Jack told her off, but Erin and I never got to talk about that call. Little pitchers, you know."

"Right. Are you coming back to the office today?"

"It's after five. I think Jack and I will spend the rest of the day together. Send the others home, too. It was a tiring case; they deserve to get some rest."

"Thanks, Boss Man, I'll let them know." She hung up and he set the phone in his center console, suddenly eager to be home.

By the time his clock read 9:31 the next morning, Aaron had checked his watch twice. He continued working on his report for the Prescott case. At 10:30, his phone rang. "Hotchner here."

"Hello, Agent Hotchner. Chief Strauss would like to see you in her office as soon as possible." Carri sounded too happy for it to be a bad thing, and he smiled down at the phone.

"I'll be right up, Carri." He hung the phone up and stood, straightening his suit coat. Ignoring his team's questioning looks, he strode down the hall and out of the bullpen, finding his way to Erin's office quickly. Carri looked up and grinned at him.

"She loved the flowers, Sir. Jack's bouquet was so cute."

"'m glad they went over well." He opened the door and found Erin behind her desk, working on some paperwork. At the sound of the door, she looked up, smiling gently at him.

"Aaron, please, sit down." She motioned to the couch and he sat on the edge, looking at where she'd put the flowers. His were on her desk, while Jack's were on the coffee table. She sat next to him, and he took her outstretched hand. "Yes. And no." He felt his brow furrow and she reached up to cup his face. "I'm not quite ready to be intimate, physically. But I want to be courted, to feel once more. Can you be patient with me?"

Aaron nodded and she sighed, relaxing into him. "We have all the time in the world, Erin. I'm willing to go as fast or as slow as you want."

"Thank you." She looked up into his eyes and he felt lost once more in them. He lowered his lips to hers and kissed her. Her lips were soft against his and he let her lead them on, trying to suss out how far she'd take things. Her arms had just come up around his shoulders when they heard the door open.

"…in there. She's in a private meeting with another agent at the moment," he heard Carri say as they sprang apart.

"I think she'll want to see her daughter," a young voice said, and they looked to the door. "Mother!"

Erin stood up and took a hesitant step forward. "Georgia?" Aaron turned his eyes upon her at the tone of her voice and saw she was extremely pale. As he watched, she weaved a little on her feet before falling back in a faint. He easily caught her and settled her gently on the couch.

"Well, that certainly wasn't what I was expecting. Is she okay?"

"I hope so. Carr! I need a glass of water, immediately!" The assistant ran in moments later and gasped as she saw Erin. Aaron took the glass from her hand, trying not to look too grim. Carefully, he sprinkled the water on her face until her eyes fluttered open.

"Aaron?" she said weakly, staring up into his face. "What happened?" Erin struggled to sit up and he gently held her down. "I'm perfectly capable of sitting up, Hotch." It was the first time she'd used his nickname and he grinned. "What?"

"You're kinda cute when you're peeved. However, we do have a visitor here in your office. The shock must have caused you to faint." He moved so that she could see Georgia, who was openly crying,

"I guess I should have given more notice. I just, I didn't want to chicken out once my advisor okayed the time away from the program. I'm sorry. Would you rather I call you Erin?"

Aaron took a seat at Erin's feet, lifting them onto his lap, as Georgia knelt next to Erin, reaching out to clasp her mother's hand.

"No, no, this is all so sudden. I can't, I'm sorry, Georgia. Not now, not today." She rubbed her temples and pursed her lips as a few tears rolled down her face. "Please, Carri, take my daughter to see Penelope. And tomorrow, after she gives you all the details, we can talk. I'm sorry." Erin turned into the couch, pulling her hand away from Georgia's.

Georgia looked at him, her face lined with sorrow. "Okay." Aaron could tell the young woman had not been expecting this sort of welcome, and he tried to smile warmly at her. She nodded and let Carri take her arm, leading her from the room.

Slowly, Erin sat up and maneuvered her body to rest against his. "I'm exhausted. Honey, will you please take me home so that I may sleep?"

"If that's what you want, of course I will." He stood and held out his hand. She took it, pulling herself upright and then she wrapped her arms around him, holding tightly to him for a moment. "Are you ready to go?" he asked. She nodded against his chest and broke away from the embrace, onl to clasp his hand tightly.

"I don't feel well, Aaron. Could we hurry?" She tugged him over to her desk, grabbing her briefcase. He nodded and let her lead him out the door. He was surprised when she took the stairs, starting down them quickly. "I don't want them to see me in a moment of weakness."

"Why?"

"They think I didn't earn my position, why would I give them more ammunition?" He felt the barb of that comment strike his heart, as he had been one of those people just a few months ago. It was funny how the heart changed so quickly. "I shouldn't care, since no one knows what happened to me, but I do have a heart beneath the Ice Queen exterior."

"And it's very ovely." She looked back at him, a small smile on her face. Once they'd exited the stairwell into the parking garage, she walked next to him, letting her hand brush his. He guided her over to his car, opening the door for her. By the time he got in the driver's seat, she was half-asleep and his mind was made up.

He pulled into his parking spot minutes later and gently touched her shoulder. Her eyes opened and she smiled at him. "I didn't know you knew the way to my house."

"I don't. I brought you to mine." She looked away from him, blushing slightly. "I'm not going to have my wicked way with you, I want you to rest." He heard a muffled giggle and relaxed, knowing she was going to be okay.

Somehow, they made it up to his apartment and into his bedroom, though he could see the physical toll her exhaustion was having on her. As he pulled back the covers on the bed, she sat heavily, ulling him down next to her. "I have to change, Aaron. For too long I've let bitterness and sorrow rule my life. Help me find my joy again."

"We'll find our way together," he said before kissing her forehead.

Aaron went to leave, only to have her grab hold of his shirt. "Stay. Hold me. I'm too far out again." He nodded and swung his legs up on the bed, letting her snuggle close. She was asleep in minutes, her hand splayed out over his heart, a tiny smile on her lips.