A/N: I know... I'm a terrible writer for taking three months to upload this. In truth, I'm not entirely happy with how this chapter turned out. I tried experimenting with a new way of writing to try and combat writer's block, and I just don't like it, LOL.

Anyway, this chapter takes place after episode 4x20 and before 4x21.

I applaud you if you finish the chapter, haha.

"Something about a closet makes a skeleton terribly restless." - Wilson Mizner.

Early April 2008

The familiar rhythmic tap of her boots outside his office draws Hotch to glance up from his paperwork. He meets her dark eyes with a soft smile as she slips into his warm office, carrying with her two takeaway coffee cups from their favourite café down the road. Usually, it takes all his might not to let the smell of her unique perfume intoxicate him, but that, combined with his severe caffeine addiction, is enough to give in.

"Hey," Aaron whispers as the brunette approaches, taking one cup while he simultaneously greets her lips with a few quick pecks. Immediately, he tastes the sweet chapstick she uses to hydrate her lips, which tempts him to pull her onto his lap and savour the moment for a little bit longer.

Holding her coffee out to the side, Emily hums in satisfaction with a smile as she plumps herself sideways across his dark trousers. The door is creaked slightly ajar, office blinds open for Strauss to peer in and fire them on the spot, but she couldn't care less. "I missed not waking up with you this morning," she confesses, rubbing a finger along his cold earlobe.

Deciding the coffee could wait another couple of minutes, he places the cup next to his papers before returning to the crevasse of his chair, where Emily melts herself into him. His hands meet at her upper left thigh, cupping it softly through her light brown trousers while she lays her head against his shoulder. He can tell she's freshly showered from the strong vanilla scent radiating from her hair; it's a smell he can't get enough of as he kisses softly along her hairline. "I did say you could stay last night…."

"No," she hums back, feeling the coarseness of his blazer, "it wouldn't have been fair to you or Jack… He would have loved spending the night with you."

After suffering countless bouts of tonsilitis, poor Jack was due to go into surgery in a few days to get his tonsils removed. Hotch usually didn't have Jack on Monday nights but seeing as though he was about to undergo his first ever operation; he couldn't help but feel the need to spend some quality time with his son. And Aaron had loved every second of it.

"He asked after you a few times…." Hotch tells the brunette, knowing that mentioning the boy never failed to evoke a smile.

Emily coos as she sips her coffee. "Aww… Sweet boy. How is he? Does he know? Or understand what's going to happen?"

"Haley and I have just been telling him he's going to have a sleepover at the doctors while they make him feel better… Whether he understands it or not, I don't know. He seems happy enough at the moment."

Emily nods, giving a tiny squeeze at Hotch's hand resting tenderly on her thigh. It may have seemed like Aaron had everything together, but in reality, the poor guy had been stressing all week about Jack going under the knife. And who could blame him? Just the thought of watching your child going through a procedure as painful as that was enough to stress out any parent, let alone the actual event.

"Jack's so tiny anyway that chances are he won't remember it happening. He'll have his superhero daddy there to protect him, so he'll be fine."

"Superheroes aren't allowed in the operating theatre," Hotch retorts.

"Yeah, I think there's a reason only superheroes with a medical degree are only allowed back…." She says, watching as he sighs hopelessly. "Aaron… It's a great hospital with an amazing paediatric unit. They do hundreds of these procedures every day. Jack couldn't be in safer hands."

"I know… It's just… Different when it's one of your own. I almost want to do it for him."

"The younger they are, the better it is," Emily explains, flashing back to her own tonsillectomy surgery a handful of years earlier as an adolescent. Remembering they ARE at work, she hopes off Aaron's lap and takes a seat on his desk. "For one thing, they actually feed kids jello and ice cream after they wake up."

"Are you trying to say you never got special treatment at the hospital, Prentiss?" He teases, grabbing at his coffee.

Emily rolls her eyes before peering at the paperwork sprawled across his desk. To her surprise, the name 'Foyet' is the first thing that greets her eyes. "I thought you said not to worry about any of this…." Emily whispers, using her thumb to flip through the pages.

Hotch sees disappointment in her expression, but he doesn't bother hiding the evidence. Nor does he try justifying his reasons for digging further into a rabbit hole that seems impossible to escape from by the minute.

"It's merely going over evidence we might have missed. Nothing more."

Evidence that we went over a hundred times, Emily thinks to herself. "Did the Marshals put you up to this?"

"No," he barely utters, sipping his coffee.

"Is this about the other night?" The brunette asks tenderly, watching his little wrinkles furrow as he thinks.

Nobody on the team liked to admit it, but nightmares were, unfortunately, a common side effect of their job. Whether they had you bolting upright, screaming, or waking to a soaked pillow, Emily didn't think either her or Hotch combined went more than three days in a row without startling at least once in the night.

She'd almost shed a tear three nights earlier, comforting the man she loved tossing around hopelessly as he whimpered away in the dead of darkness. It surprised Emily that she'd woken up to it. On weekends, she was such a heavy sleeper that she'd drown out the sound of his loud snores and be dead to the world.

Whatever he dreamed about didn't last long, with Aaron mumbling something incoherent before rolling back to sleep. In the morning, Emily asked, and Hotch claimed he didn't remember much of the night terror, nor did he say who was in it. With the number of dead bodies they saw and the cold-blooded killers they encountered, it could have been anyone. So, Emily had simply shrugged it off.

It hadn't occurred to her until now that Foyet could have been a likely candidate.

"I can't get him out of my head," he confesses reluctantly.

Emily meets his eyes sadly, not realising that this had manifested into something more profound. "Well… Looking through his files over and over again isn't helping your cause. What do you expect to find reading over these? A clue to the treasure we've already unearthed?"

"I don't know," he answers honestly, sighing as he rubs his eyes. "I just can't help but think there's more to the profile. More characteristics and traits that I've repressed over the years. He's always been that one unsub that I just can't seem to crack."

"There's always one," Emily shrugs, staring off to the side distantly. "Hotch… I know just how horrific it was… Being there, the manipulation… And with what happened to Morgan... Maybe you need to talk with someone about this," she suggests, trying not to let the hesitation in her voice show. Not that it makes any difference to Aaron, who can read her like an open book.

"It's not trauma."

"I didn't say it was," Emily quickly clarifies. "I just mean that sometimes talking to someone about it can help. Let's be honest, nobody here does it enough…."

"Nobody likes to talk about it."

She quirks an eyebrow, letting the statement resonate momentarily. Before she replies, there's a knock on the door. It's JJ, letting them know the team meeting is in five minutes. As quick as JJ's in, she's out again with a friendly smile; the sound of her heels becomes fainter as she walks away.

"I'll listen…." Emily whispers, glancing at Aaron lovingly.

He stands up, shutting Foyet's folder, before taking another paper file underneath his arm. Emily assumes it's for their team meeting. She strokes her hand down the sleeve of his dark blazer, not knowing what else she can say or do as a way of reassuring her beau.

"I know…" That is all Hotch can say as he briskly pecks her on the lips again and makes his way to the team conference.

"Daddy!" Jack yells, running immediately into his father's open arms.

Hotch smiles as he buries his nose in his son's hair. He's wearing his favourite red and blue spiderman T-Shirt- a shirt which sends Jack into a big tantrum whenever it needs washing. In his arms is his soft brown teddy bear Lukas, and it takes Aaron a wee second, but he also spots a mini spiderman figurine buried amongst the fur of his bear. They're the two toys he'll drag around wherever he goes.

There's no sense of apprehension about the surgery from Jack as Hotch starts to tickle him and giggle. He only complains of hunger and thirst, which Aaron promises to satisfy once he wakes up from his big sleep. Haley walks out the front door of the house seconds later, carrying a night bag for herself and Jack. She looks tired, with anxiety in her expression as clear as day.

"Hey," Hotch greets, hoisting Jack onto his hip. "You alright?"

She quickly smiles, locking the door behind her before walking up to Jack with a big grin and squeezing his cheeks. "I'm okay," Haley says, "you ready to go, my sweet baby?"

"Mommy, I want a drink…."

"I know, sweetie. I can't give you one at the moment," she explains as they walk over to Aaron's car.

"But I want one!" Jack starts to grizzle.

Aaron feels terrible as he attempts to buckle Jack into his car seat. The little boy fights back with powerful resistance before succumbing to a hopeless tantrum. "I know, buddy," is all Hotch can say as he drapes a woollen blanket over his legs. Jack just kicks it off to the ground.

He'll be happier coming home, Aaron thinks to himself.

"I'll sit in the back with him," Haley suggests, already taking a seat next to their son. Aaron nods before climbing into the driver's seat.

Jack's tantrum luckily only lasts a few minutes, with Haley distracting him with books. He feels guilty thinking about it, but it's a strange yet familiar feeling, them all being together under one roof. He'd always enjoyed the sound of Haley reading out loud. Something about her voice gave it a soft ambience, easing Hotch's nerves. That, combined with Jack chatting and pointing at pictures in the stories, put a smile on his face.

He could have easily fooled himself that nothing had changed.

Hotch and Haley don't converse much as they arrive at the paediatric ward. They merely focus on Jack as doctors and nurses pop in and out of the room. As surgery lingers, Haley helps their son change into a white gown draping just above his ankles. It makes Jack look so tiny. Moments later, the anesthesiologist arrives and sits on the edge of Jack's bed. She's incredibly down-to-earth and light-hearted, making everyone in the room feel at ease as she explains the process in a way that makes sense to Jack.

When it's time for their little guy to head into surgery, they're not allowed to walk him into the operating room and be with him as he falls asleep. So, Aaron and Haley give their little boy big hugs and kisses before he trots down the hall happily with one of the nurses. It reassures Hotch not to see Jack freaking out about the procedure; meanwhile, Haley can't help but shed a few tears as she puts her son's life in the hands of strangers.

"I'm okay. I'm okay," Haley whispers, fanning at her eyes as Hotch puts a hand on her arm.

"Coffee?" He asks softly, needing a caffeine fix.

Haley shakes her head as she takes a tissue out of her pocket and sits in the waiting room. "No. Thank you. I'm too anxious to drink caffeine at the moment. Besides… I want to wait here in case something happens."

"Bring you back a hot chocolate?"

After a moment of hesitation, she nods, "I'll give you some cash-"

"I'll get it."

As Hotch stands at the café waiting for the drinks, he feels a buzz in the back pocket of his jeans. It doesn't surprise him to see a message from Emily, who had been called out to a case in Georgia with the team. As soon as Jack was out of the hospital and settled back home, Hotch would join them.

Hope everything is going well. Give my love to Jack xx

Aaron smiled at the message.

Just gone in… No fear from him at all.

Emily writes back almost immediately with a smiley face emoji.

A brave little boy just like his daddy xx

No need to worry about the case. We've got it under control.

Hotch replies,

Think you'll be back by tonight?

…

Can't make any promises, but it's looking that way.

Gotta go… Talk soon. I luv you xx.

…

Keep me posted… I love you too.

Hotch shuts his phone, grabs the two hot drinks and heads back to the ward. He returns to Haley reading one of the many trashy gossip magazines lying around the place.

"Thank you," she whispers, taking the drink with a smile. There's a heavy pause between them as Hotch sits down, an empty seat separating them. Both of them are in their own worlds… Their own thoughts. "How's the job going?" She asks, breaking the ice-cold silence between them.

Hotch moves his mouth, but no words seem to come out. He clears his throat.

"Busy…" He finally says.

Haley nods, taking a sip of her drink.

"And Emily?" His ex-wife asking about his lover takes Aaron by surprise. Then again, Haley had always had a soft spot for the brunette. "Jack's been talking about her a lot at home lately…." She continues.

Aaron can't help but let a smile slip as he thinks about Jack's tender bond with the brunette. He hadn't exclusively disclosed to Haley his newfound relationship for the pure reason of not wanting to hurt her any more than he already had. But it wasn't hard to connect the dots if your three-year-old came home every weekend talking about another woman.

"She's okay," Aaron answers, twirling the cup around in his hands. "We're… Together. If Jack hadn't told you already…."

Hotch expects her expression to be pained and miserable when he turns to look at her; instead, she's smiling with an understanding nod. "I figured."

"Haley… I-"

"Aaron," she mutters, laughing awkwardly. "Please… Don't explain yourself. Of course, I'm… Sad… That you've moved on and that Jack will never have the both of us under one roof. But when I think about what could have been, the simple answer is I can't imagine it." She pauses to sip her drink. "It's good that you've moved on… We both have. And you know as long as Jack's happy, then that's all that matters."

For a moment, Hotch struggles to know what to say. He hates that there's this massive strain between them, with the only thing connecting them nowadays, Jack. Talking to Haley used to be so easy… So light-hearted. Aaron remembered coming home every day and divulging all his secrets to the woman, loving her with his entire world. She'd make him forget everything wrong that happened in the world and remind him to live for the present.

He knew the reasons why they separated.

He understood Haley's reasoning.

But the one thing Aaron still fathomed was how they'd lost their friendship. Losing an almost lifelong bond with the one person you'd grown up with. Well… That was bound to make anybody feel depressed.

"Hey, stranger…"

Emily's so engrossed in her book that she doesn't even notice JJ take a seat opposite until the woman speaks. She smiles timidly, folding the corner of the romance novel before placing it on the table between them. "Heyyy. So, did you win?" She asks with a grin, referring to the intense poker match ensuing at the opposite side of the cabin.

"Against the 27-year-old genius on the jet? No." JJ answers with a smirk. "I need your expertise."

The comment makes Emily scoff. "I'm flattered that you think I can give you advice to beat Reid at poker. It's like asking a cockroach to teach you maths."

"You've beaten him once, right? Or is that just a rumour?"

"Well… I think that particular time was more luck of the drawer than anything else," she explains, recalling one game on the jet when the odds had landed in the brunette's favour. Even Hotch had been surprised that the woman had managed to stump the young doctor to the curb. "There's no point," Emily continues, "the guy uses statistics and the laws of physics to persuade his decisions, so you might as well just milk the game as much as you can."

JJ laughs before leaning back in the leather seat and crossing one leg over the other. "You up for a game at all?"

"I don't know," Emily sighs, glancing at her reflection in the window. The sun has just set with beautiful shades of mango, periwinkle and crimson gracing the horizon. This time of night is her favourite time to fly, and it's hardly bumpy. "I'm a little tired..."

"Yeah. Those beds at the motel felt like you were sleeping on cardboard." JJ brings a finger to her lips before whispering, "I suppose you were missing Hotch last night too…."

The brunette grins lightly, trying not to bring attention to herself. The blonde's probably right; Emily doesn't sleep well at the best of times on a case, and with Hotch away, it felt like she'd hardly slept a wink. "It's weird without him here."

"Have you heard from him since Jack went into surgery?"

"Yeah," Emily replies, scratching at leftover red nail polish remnants on her nails. "According to Hotch, he's devouring jello and ice cream and watching cartoons."

"Oh, that's so sweet," JJ says with a smile. "I'm glad it went well."

Emily nods. "I think Hotch is glad it's all done and over with. Poor guy's been stressing out about it for weeks. I've-" she hesitates for a moment. "I've never actually seen that side of him before. I mean… Seen him stressed out because of work, yes. But as a dad… It's quite adorable how concerned he gets when something is going on with Jack."

"He's a great dad…."

"Oh, he's a natural at it," the brunette adds, staring off peacefully into space.

There's a moment of silence between them before JJ asks, "do you think it'll happen one day? You and Hotch… And… Kids? I know it's a little," she searches for the right words while Prentiss glances at her with a smirk and quirked eyebrow, "presumptuous of me to ask. I just think you'd make great parents together."

"Aren't you still getting used to the fact we're actually together?" Emily teases her.

"Well… I," JJ laughs. "I think there will always be an element of surprise when I think about you and Hotch together."

The brunette, not quite knowing how to reply to that, grins with a slight blush to her cheeks.

"I'm sorry, I'm just being nosey. Let's talk about something else."

"It's fine…." Emily answers softly after a moment of contemplation. "To be honest, I don't think it'll ever happen. I mean," she laughs, thinking about the brief conversation Hotch and her had only a few weeks earlier. "We've essentially only been dating for a few months. And so many factors are still hanging up in the air that could destroy everything we have going. It's still… Early days to know what we want."

"But you'd like it to happen, wouldn't you?" JJ kept pressing.

The brunette can't help but shrug as she fumbles for words. For some reason, she's finding it a challenging subject to talk about. "I mean… Yeah… One day. What about you and Will? How's it been with Henry?"

"I think if we have another one, I want to take more time off… The Mom guilt has been eating at me the last few weeks. Thank God for Will."

"It's hard, isn't it?" Emily whispers, resting her hands along her waist. "No matter what you do…."

JJ hums in response. "Are you going to visit Jack when you get back?"

"I want to," she confesses. "I think Hotch is staying the night with him. And I feel like if I did go, it wouldn't be fair on Haley… You know, JJ, navigating this whole co-parenting thing is… Something else."

"Well… I'm happy if you come over to mine after we land and discuss it with a glass of wine?"

Emily smirks. "How'd you read my mind?"