AN: Apologies for the delay in posting this chapter and for any concerns about the story being abandoned. I'm NOT abandoning this story. I want to finish it and see what all of you think about the direction I'm planning for Hotch and Emily. RL just got crazy for a while and left me with little time to write. This did not work well with the writer's block I was experiencing. Hope you enjoy the chapter.
Dave Rossi glanced down at his work before closing the file and placing it aside. Distracted from his work, he walked across his office and looked out the window into the bullpen not wanting to miss whatever was going to happen.
Earlier when he had gone down to the breakroom for coffee, he had immediately sensed that Garcia was up to something and whatever it was Reid was also in on it. Garcia's mischievous smile as they spoke to each other in quiet voices was a clear indication. It was a sensation that even after months on the team had put him on alert.
Having successfully returned his office unscathed, he was now fairly confident that he was not their current victim. He had been working on learning each of their tells after having been the target of the team's pranks multiple times. With the theory that it wasn't him he was now watching as he wondered who was and what the prank was going to be.
As Dave looked out the window and around the office he was sure Hotch wasn't either. Reid was much too calm for them to be planning anything that involved their Unit Chief. That left JJ, Emily and Morgan who were all currently away from the bullpen. JJ was attending a seminar that the rest of the team had attended while she was on her annual leave. Emily and Morgan were over at the Academy in a skills clinic with the trainees.
As he continued to observe the bullpen for more clues he unsurprisingly found that Garcia was still hanging out with Reid in the bullpen. After a couple of minutes, he chuckled to himself about how in the relatively short time he had been back on the team how his opinion had changed about the antics of his teammates.
He could still remember his tense conversation with Hotch on the way back from Montana about them watching the Animaniacs while eating popcorn and drinking smoothies on the jet. However Hotch had been correct in his explanation that day and since about their work ethic. Since then Dave had found himself relaxing as the hijinks had stayed out of the field. Or mostly relaxed as he was never quite sure when he would fall victim to one of their pranks.
It wasn't long until his observations were rewarded when JJ hurriedly entered the bullpen on her way to Hotch's office. From the fact that Reid and Garcia didn't really react, Dave was able to surmise that their target was not her but either Emily or Derek. Looking at his watch he noticed that they should be back soon given that it was shortly before Hotch had adjusted the team's daily conference time to for today based on when all three agents would be done.
####
Having arrived in the office early that morning, Hotch sat at his desk working through the pile of reports that the team had turned in after he had left the previous evening to have dinner with Jack. As he thought about his son, he put down his pen, turned and picked up the picture of the little boy.
It had been a week since Jack's frightening seizure that led to their trip to the ER. He was pleased that last night at dinner, Jack was back to his usual energetic self.
The experience had been what he hoped was a turning point in his post divorce relationship with Haley. She had been mortified and apologetic when he explained what had happened. He had attempted to reassure her with what the ER doctor and Jack's pediatrician had told him about how quickly ear infections can develop in kids his age and that some kids are just prone to febrile seizures, mentioning that he remembered Sean having one at a similar age.
As contentious as their relationship had been since Haley walked out on him, he couldn't let her continue to feel guilty when according to what he had been told, it wasn't anyone's fault. That as tense as things were between them, he knew she loved Jack. All he could hope for now is that they could build on it and find a way to co-parent with less animosity; however, getting past her betrayal was still a work in progress.
He was brought out of his thoughts by a knock on his door. At his response the door opened and in walked JJ.
"Did you just get back?" Hotch asked, remembering she was scheduled for a meeting that morning.
JJ nodded as held out a file folder, "yes and unfortunately I have something for you?"
"A new case?" Hotch asked as he straightened up in his seat preparing himself to evaluate whatever the case was to determine if he was going to need to mobilize the team.
"Yes and no." JJ responded before continuing at his raised eyebrow, "it's a case but not new. It's one the BAU was involved in a few years ago. There has been a major change."
"Change?" Hotch asked as he opened the file and began to read through the information that had been sent to JJ.
"Yeah, apparently the suspect just came out of his coma." JJ answered as she watched Hotch nod as he continued reading.
Hotch looked up, "OK, I'll take care of it. Are the others back yet?"
"I didn't see them but can't say for sure." JJ answered as she looked out the window into the bullpen not seeing Derek or Emily.
"OK, that will give me time to look at this. We are starting the meeting when they get back." Hotch replied.
"OK." JJ stated before she turned and headed out of his office and back through the bullpen.
Looking down at the file he quickly remembered the case involving Brian Matloff as their suspect. How he had been severely injured falling from a roof in his attempt to escape when they went to arrest him. Now reports were that he had woken up and Roanoke was requesting assistance.
As he thought back on the case he frowned as another thought came to him. About the prosecutor on the case at the time. Continuing through the file, he came to the page he was looking for and there it was. Cece Hildebrand was the person requesting them.
Sighing, he picked up the phone.
####
When Emily and Morgan did enter the bullpen, Derek, who had been facing the desks, shook his head when he saw Reid and Garcia. He quickly excused himself to the break room for coffee before going right up to the conference room. Unfortunately for Emily she had not looked in the direction of the desks until she was only a couple of steps away. She rolled her eyes and sighing as she recognized the wide smiles on their faces.
Turning, she glared at the back of Morgan's head as she now realized why he suddenly decided to go to the break room first when they entered the bullpen. When he turned and caught her glance he grinned and shrugged.
She would plan her revenge on him later for letting her walk into an ambush. For now she was just going to try and ignore them until their meeting started. That would be the most challenging with Garcia as Emily knew she could stare Spencer down if needed.
Taking the last couple of steps, she sat down and started to examine the new files on her desk while ignoring the pair. She was hoping yet not really expecting them to lose interest while also willing Hotch to step out of his office to call them to the conference room.
She had only gotten to the third file in the stack when she heard her name. Sighing Emily raised her glance to make eye contact immediately recognizing the playful look on Garcia's face and the poorly hidden amused one on Reid's.
"Yes," Emily replied distractedly.
"We have another file for you to look at." Garcia stated as she placed the file folder she had been holding onto Emily's desk.
Emily raised an eyebrow at them and paused, not sure if she wanted to see what was in the file. Convinced that whatever was in it wasn't BAU business, she asked, "oh, what case is it?"
"It's not about a case." Reid answered.
With no further information coming from either of them, Emily rolled her eyes and picked it up as they watched her with amused anticipation. Upon opening it, she was confused in the few seconds before she realized what Garcia had been able to dig up.
She gasped as she recognized a version of herself that she never wanted the team to see. A photo taken during what had been a dark time for her after Rome. Taken when she was in boarding school once she had returned to the US for the last couple of years of high school.
The conversation continued with them teasing her and her giving short replies as her attention was focused on the younger version of herself in the picture.
She was pulled out of her thoughts when Hotch's door opened and he stepped out. Emily quickly turned it over and slid it under her keyboard, definitely not wanting him to see it.
They were getting closer and as a profiler seeing this picture of her would lead him to ask questions that she still wasn't ready to answer particularly when it was such a stark contrast to the young woman he had met in that bookstore just a few years later.
As they made their way to the conference room, Emily asked, unable to keep the annoyance out of her voice, "what's the reason for digging that picture up?"
Garcia smirked as she answered, "evidence that you do like to dress in costume."
####
Hotch shook his head after hanging up from his call with Cece Hildebrand. As expected after looking at the information JJ had handed him, Cece confirmed that Matloff's doctor had informed her office that Matloff had unexpectedly woken up from his coma. She was also requesting his assistance.
It wasn't an unexpected request given the BAU had been involved on the original case years earlier. And with the team not having any active cases right now, he didn't really have a reason to refuse outright. However he considered it remained to be seen how much assistance the BAU could offer at this point.
Unlike the initial case, they had Brian Matloff in custody. Given that he had only woken up a few hours earlier, the local police and prosecutors hadn't really had much time to interview him. The BAU wasn't generally involved on site at this stage of the prosecutorial process.
However the unique circumstances had convinced him to agree to consult. To determine if he was convinced they could offer substantive assistance. At least as long as the team didn't get called about an urgent case.
That decided he now needed to decide how to approach it. The whole team didn't need to come. Really shouldn't come given the team's current caseload of consults.
And at this point there wasn't really the justification to bring everyone. Most of the legwork they generally did onsite for cases had been done years earlier. Additionally someone needed to be on standby for any incoming urgent cases.
For the original case, only Reid and Morgan were with the team. With the need to recall facts from this case, it made the most sense to bring Reid with him. As for Morgan, it presented a good opportunity to leave him in charge again.
The topic of Derek being given more responsibilities had come up in a meeting with Strauss to discuss the case in Phoenix when he returned after Jack's illness. Hotch had been relieved that the team wasn't going to face a repeat of the investigation and subsequent upheaval as they did after Flagstaff. Strauss had been irritated that the investigation she had planned hadn't come to fruition.
During the meeting as they reviewed the case Strauss had turned to lecture him about not being present on the case the team had picked up though he knew from reports that the team had glossed over the extent that he had been unreachable.
Then she had complimented how well Morgan had led the team. She continued on to remind him that as Unit Chief part of his responsibilities was to give his subordinates opportunities to advance their leadership skills in preparation for when the FBI needed them to take on another role.
Initially Hotch had been somewhat surprised that Dave hadn't taken on the lead role during that case even after his determined stance since he returned to the team that he didn't want to lead the team again. However, that said, if Dave had had any doubts about Derek's abilities, Hotch was sure Dave wouldn't have hesitated to step up himself.
Hotch couldn't argue that Morgan had done a good job leading the team on that case particularly given the circumstances and that he had walked off a plane right into the case and the unexpected responsibility of leading.
Despite that, because of Morgan's trust issues Hotch still had concerns about Morgan's ability to be successful in leading a team. However the best way to determine if he would be able to handle the responsibility was by giving Derek opportunities with either him or Dave around to mentor him.
Now more than ever Hotch needed to know if Derek would be able to handle leading the BAU team. While he had agreed with Strauss' assessment of him being ready to take on another role in the FBI, Hotch had his own selfish reasons for assessing Derek's readiness. While he presently had no plans to leave, Hotch wanted to make sure that the BAU would be in good hands if that day ever came.
He glanced out into the bullpen until his eyes rested on Emily's still empty desk. Now that he and Emily were working on reestablishing their relationship, he wasn't going to let anyone or anything stand in their way this time. That included the BAU and Strauss as far as he was concerned.
He had been willing to leave the BAU for Haley and if it became a prudent choice he would do so for Emily. The difference was that Emily would not ask him to give up the BAU. If it came down to it, he was sure that she would offer to leave instead given that she has already quit once to protect his position.
He frowned as he thought back to when she had quit and why. Strauss was still a foe for them as their relationship developed. The Section Chief still considered Hotch a rival to her future career advancement. He had no doubts that she was still looking for any ammunition to halt any potential upward trajectory in his career even after he told her that he had no plans to leave the BAU.
The plan to give Derek experience leading the team would help with Hotch's back up plan for himself and for the future of the BAU. While Derek hadn't given any indication that he wanted to leave the BAU, it wasn't Hotch's decision to hold him back. Hotch's plan B if his relationship with Emily compromised his position as unit chief would be to nominate Derek to take over the position. This would protect the team from Strauss assigning a new person. Someone who may not have the profiling experience to be successful in the position.
Strauss already revealed her goal of removing him not only from his position but from being able to be promoted. He needed to protect the BAU and Emily's position as much as he could even if it was at the cost of his own position.
But he wasn't the only one at risk. Emily had her own complications with Strauss after she had outmaneuvered the Section Chief by quitting instead of spying on the team. Then after Milwaukee she had come back to the team. Emily's return to the team had been with an unspoken threat of Strauss watching her for any infraction which would give the older woman a legitimate reason to sanction Emily.
The thinly veiled animosity that Strauss had for Emily was evident to him when he had stated during their meeting that he was working to strengthen the leadership skills of both Derek and Emily. Not surprisingly Strauss had quickly rebuffed his inclusion of Emily in that plan.
He observed as Strauss repeatedly tried to formulate a rationale for why he should only focus on Derek yet was forced to concede given their respective experience levels. While Derek had been in the BAU longer, Emily had been in the FBI longer. The time that each had been an SSA was roughly equivalent.
Furthermore Strauss could not mount a legitimate objection to exclude Emily as she herself had put Emily in charge of the BAU for the two weeks while he had been suspended without issue. After an internal debate as Hotch sat in front of her, Strauss had just nodded about it as she could not make an official argument against his inclusion of Emily without revealing her own misdeeds.
So for this case, he would leave Derek in charge at the office with Dave there as well to back him up as needed though Hotch would remain reachable by phone. With that thought, his eyes caught Derek standing in the breakroom. His glance continued around the bullpen to the desk where he noticed Emily at her desk quietly contemplating what was on the sheet in front of her as Reid and Garcia teased her. He shook his head having not missed that those two had been planning something all morning though hadn't known what it was until just now.
He picked up the file JJ had brought him for the case and walked across his office and out the door. He just got a glimpse of the picture Emily was holding before she, uncharacteristically flustered, hid it on her desk.
As he walked towards the conference room, he wondered why that picture of Emily was at the BAU. From her reaction he didn't expect that she would have brought it in to show around the office. No if anything it appeared that she wanted as few people as possible to see it.
He would check in with her later but for now, they needed to discuss the case before he and Reid needed to leave.
####
On the way to Roanoke, Reid sat quietly looking out the window of the SUV. In the driver's seat, Hotch seemed to be just as disinclined to make conversation though that wasn't unexpected as Hotch generally stayed focused on cases as they were traveling to them.
The earlier interaction in the bullpen kept replaying in his mind complements of his eidetic memory. While aware that he frequently missed social cues among his teammates this time even he realized something was off about Emily's reaction to that picture.
As the interaction kept replaying in his head, Reid couldn't help but feel guilty for upsetting a friend who had helped him on numerous occasions. As far as he knew he knew Emily better than anyone on the team. She had shared various stories with him that had given him insight about her childhood not only during their chats in the bullpen but also when he had been staying with her.
Earlier that morning when Garcia had pulled him into her office saying she had a picture to show Emily. He hadn't been too surprised at Emily's appearance in the picture. At this point not much about her would surprise him. He was always interested in learning more about her as he was with each member of the team. As they waited for her, he had been expecting her to laugh about it with them. To explain it as something she did to piss off her mother or some other expression of teenage rebellion.
Yet just the opposite happened. He had thought she had just been joking when she initially suggested that Garcia had altered the picture. She then seemed to have gotten lost in thought as she ran a finger over the picture as Garcia confirms that she didn't change anything and even seemingly missed his attempt at a joke in mentioning a dissociative fugue.
However, what really impacted him was when she had mumbled that it was some other life before hiding the picture as Hotch stepped out of his office to call the team to the conference room.
Reid was certain that they had touched on something but at this point had no idea what. And with leaving so soon for this case, he hadn't had an opportunity to talk to Emily privately to find out how irritated she was with him. He didn't want anything to damage their friendship. He would plan to talk to her when they got back. In person.
Also he would talk to Garcia about dropping it though, he sighed, that was probably an exercise in futility.
####
In the driver's seat next to Reid, Hotch was focused on an entirely different woman. One with whom he had a history. One who could potentially damage his developing relationship with Emily.
Cece Hildebrand
He and Cece had met in law school. There had been an attraction though neither wanted a relationship as neither wanted anything serious. They quickly discovered they had chemistry in bed and agreed to a friends with benefits arrangement. After graduation their respective careers took them in different directions and they soon lost touch.
Then fast forward to the original Matloff case several years back. He had been surprised to see that she was in the local DA's office. They had both been involved in the case before and after the arrest attempt that resulted in Matloff being in a coma. It was during that time that they reconnected and were together for the rest of the time he was in Roanoke.
It had been shortly after he arrived back in the DC area that Haley had approached him about getting back together stating she was ready to take the next step in their relationship. Less than a year later they were married.
But now even from their brief phone conversation, Hotch was certain that news of his divorce had unfortunately reached Roanoke. Not that it really matters as Hotch knew from his complicated history with her Cece would be looking for a ring as soon as she saw him. And the lack of a ring would be enough for Cece to consider him available. Except for he wasn't.
From previous interactions Hotch expected that she would flirt with him, they'd work closely and then at the end of the workday Cece would invite him to socialize which would be foreplay to going back to her place.
He also knew from experience that Cece was territorial. If he were to bring the whole team and Cece picked up on any feeling to or from Emily, Cece would intentionally try and push Emily's buttons. And he was not going to let Cece become another obstacle just as he and Emily were starting to make progress in their relationship.
As much as Hotch respected Cece as a lawyer, their personal relationship was in the past. There were never any romantic feelings between them, just a physical one. He wanted more than that with someone he loved. He wanted more with Emily.
As he notices how close they are from a road sign, Hotch broke the uncharacteristic silence in the SUV to make a comment that had them focusing on this case again.
####
After Emily finished her reports and consults for the day, she grabbed her gym bag as she headed down to the Bureau gym. So much about this case had her feeling off center.
The case had started shortly after that picture from her past was brought up. Then there was the debate during that case about whether Matloff with amnesia should be held responsible for his previous crimes. She and Reid had both argued against it as he does not remember the crimes for which he is being accused. Meanwhile Rossi and Morgan strongly disagreed with them about it. She had been upset yet not surprised when Hotch had split the difference and stated that it was up to the courts to decide.
She had been repeatedly questioning herself after the actions of Matloff earlier in the day had supported the position argued by Rossi and Morgan had been the correct one. While he did have amnesia, somewhere along the line he had started to get his memory back without telling anyone.
It hadn't been established if his returning memory was a natural part of his recovery process or from the tests done to measure his brain waves when looking at pictures or exposure to the crimes during the trial. Or some combination. As it turned out it could have been anything that would bring up those memories. Ultimately the how didn't matter. Whether she had wanted to believe it or not the potential had always been there.
And she had been wrong. Her brain couldn't let it go of that as she thought about the danger Matloff could have brought if he decided to pick up where he left off had he been released.
With a last punch to the bag, Emily stepped away, took a drink from her water bottle and then headed to the locker room before heading home.
An hour later back at her apartment, Emily poured herself a glass of wine as she settled in for the night. After leaving the gym, she had run into Reid. They talked for only a few minutes, which was mostly him apologizing for his role in finding that high school photo of her before rambling about costumes and ComicCon. With the late hour and that he still needed to finish some paperwork from the case, they decided to have breakfast the next day.
Just as she finished the Chicken Tikka Masala she had picked up from her favorite Indian restaurant on her way home, her doorbell rang. Confused as she wasn't expecting any guests, she walked over to the door and looked through the peephole. When she saw who it was she opened the door before saying, "Aaron, I wasn't expecting you."
At Emily's gesture, Hotch stepped into the apartment. As she closed the door he said, "I'm sorry for coming by unannounced. Is this a bad time?"
Emily shook her head as they walked into the living room, "No not at all. Can I get you anything? I just opened a bottle of wine. Did you eat? I can heat something up for you."
Hotch shook his head as he answered "no I'm good. Reid and I got back in time so I had dinner with Jack."
Emily nodded as she replied, "yeah, I saw Reid earlier when I was leaving after my workout. I just thought you would be buried in paperwork tonight from what he said about how the case ended."
Hotch sighed because yes it was going to be a lot of paperwork for him. "No, I'm planning on going in early in the morning to work on it. I wanted to come by and see you. I really didn't see you much this week."
As he explained Emily noticed his nervousness and uncertainty. She came back to a comment Reid had made in passing about the DA being interested in Hotch. She had tried not to think of it too much on the drive home. It wasn't unusual for someone on the team to have one of the locals show interest in them. However it wasn't generally Hotch as his serious demeanor generally kept people at arm's length.
But having heard that and now being able to feel the tension coming off him, Emily worried. Did that have something to do with why he was here? Looking directly at him, Emily stated, "you are here to tell me something."
Hotch nodded before quietly answering, "yes. I knew the prosecutor from the Roanoke case."
"I'd expect since you worked… Oh you mean…", Emily replied though she could feel her gut tighten.
Hotch, looking somewhat embarrassed, responded, "yes. We first met in law school."
Emily saw something cross his expression and then she knew for sure so she stated, "you were in a relationship."
Hotch shrugged before looking back at her. "No, not quite. More like friends with benefits. I didn't want a relationship and neither did she. Haley and I weren't together at that point. We lost touch after we graduated. That was the first time…"
"So you were together more than once?" Emily questioned, looking for confirmation.
Hotch nodded before continuing wanting to get the whole story out, "we briefly connected again during the Matloff case. Again neither of us wanted anything serious. Until this week we haven't spoken since shortly after we paused the case due to Matloff's injury."
"Did she want to rekindle this time?" Emily asked.
Hotch sighed before answering, "she seemed aware of my divorce. Made some overtures which I ignored. After a few she backed off and didn't even seem surprised when I refused a drink after we finished the case earlier."
Emily nodded as he spoke remembering Reid's comment in passing about Hotch being invited for a drink just before they left. "I'm glad you are back. It was strange without you in the office this week."
Hotch looked at her surprised, having expected more of a reaction "you believe me? Any questions?"
Emily nodded as answered, "I have no reason to doubt you. Thank you for coming over tonight. For telling me."
Hotch answered, looking much more relaxed than when he had arrived, "of course."
"I know you said you didn't want to talk about this but since we are on the subject, I should tell you…" Emily started.
Hotch, as he realized what Emily was starting to say, interrupted, "no. I still don't want to talk about it Emily."
Emily looked at him and blurted out exasperated, "why Aaron? Why won't you even hear me out on this? If this experience has shown you anything it is that this situation can not only happen but go both ways."
"Then just like today together we will talk about it." Hotch responded.
Emily sighed as she saw him digging in on his resolve to not have this conversation. Realizing that she wasn't going to get any further tonight with him she stated, "given our roles, I just think it's a bad idea to not at least have a conversation about past relationships and who could potentially hurt us."
And when it came down to it that is what she worried about - them being caught off guard by someone who could hurt them individually or as a couple particularly as their relationship was becoming more serious. While they were both used to dealing with unknown threats in the form of UNSUBs as part of their jobs it did not make sense to Emily to not avail yourself of potential threats when they are known.
While Ian Doyle was the most potentially dangerous she was limited in what she could actually share about him. But he had been arrested and as far as she knew was still being held in a Russian prison. Furthermore since submitting that picture she had heard nothing about him or from anyone that was on JTF-12.
However Doyle wasn't the only person who could hurt them. Having grown up in political circles and having followed a different path that her mother had planned for her had put her at odds with powerful men who she had briefly been involved with and/or wanted to marry her and she rejected. And that didn't even include most of the men she dated who turned out to be jerks.
After taking a couple of steps closer to her, Hotch envelops her in a hug and holds her as he says,"Emily, I love you. No one can hurt us unless we let them come between us. Can we please drop this for tonight and watch a movie or something?"
Emily looks up at him and sighed before glancing down and slowly nodding, "yeah, you find a movie. I'm going to make some popcorn. Do you want a drink?"
"I'll have some water." He sees Emily nodded before walking to the kitchen and lets out the breath he had been holding. He is relieved that he was able to put off the conversation she wanted to have about past boyfriends at least for tonight.
It had just been a long and stressful week. All he wanted to do was to have a relaxing evening with Emily. Something that wouldn't be possible if they were going to have the conversation she wanted to have.
While he recognised the unfairness of sharing a part of his past while asking her not to do the same he didn't think they were the same. The interaction with Cece had already happened. He wanted to talk to her about it before Emily heard it from someone else. He didn't want to appear to be hiding his past with Cece from Emily.
He really didn't want to hear with whom Emily had been intimate particularly after their separation. As an alpha, just the thought of her with someone else frustrated him. It brought up all of the negative feelings about her parents' machination to separate them. And that led to the guilt he felt about the situation and how easily he had walked away without waiting to talk to Emily about the rumors he had heard.
If it was up to him, they wouldn't have the conversation at all. But as Emily kept bringing it up, he had to admit that at some point he would need to hear her out. What was sticking with him right now was her mention of someone hurting them. While he would handle whatever was thrown at him, he remembered the marks and that Emily had already been hurt.
One of his worst fears was unwittingly placing a member of the team into a dangerous situation in the field. As much as he knew Emily could take care of herself, he questioned if he would be able to keep his temper in check if he was ever to find himself in front of one of her exes, especially one that had hurt her. This was particularly true since he had seen those marks on her months earlier. Marks that weren't there when they had previously been together. He needed to know who in order to protect her as much as she would hate the characterization that she needed protecting.
But that would need to be another day. After scanning her DVDs he picked one he thought they would both enjoy. He placed it in the player and stepped back. As he heard the popper still running, he went over to the dining room table having noticed some files on it. As he looked at the files Emily had brought home, a single sheet of paper floated down to the table. Picking it up to put it back into the correct file, Hotch smiled as he noticed the image in front of him.
Just then he heard a flutter in front of him caught his attention and he looked up. Standing just outside the kitchen was Emily whose facial blush was a deep crimson as she stood there looking back at him speechless holding his drink and a bowl of popcorn. He placed the picture back down on the table and walked over to her.
After taking his drink and picking up hers from the table together they walked over to the couch. As they sat down, Hotch immediately noticed that Emily still hadn't said anything and was sitting away from him and rather stiffly. Moving slightly closer, he asked, "Em what is it?"
He watched as she shook her head before answering, "that picture. I hadn't wanted you to see it."
Hotch chuckled before stopping when he noticed her glaring back at him before he revealed, "I've already seen that picture."
Emily looked at him confused before sputtering, "What? How?" before exclaiming, "Mother!"
Hotch nodded, "close but not quite. It was one of the pictures in the file they had for you when I was assigned to your mother. It was why I didn't realize the Ambassador's daughter was the same person I had met a couple of months earlier until we met at the house that summer."
"You saw that and still chose to be with me." Emily said.
"Of course. Anyone who was a teenager in the 80s deserves understanding when it comes to questionable fashion choices." he paused before he asked, "Garcia?"
Emily chuckled before responding, "yes. Apparently she went looking and found it after I refused to dress in costume at ComicCon."
"I'm assuming that is what she and Reid were into the day you and Morgan were over at the Academy." Hotch stated though was already almost certain of the answer.
"That would be correct. Spencer has apologized and we are having breakfast in the morning. Garcia toned it down over the course of the week. Hopefully she will be focused on something else by next week." Emily answered.
"We can all hope. Are you ready to watch this movie?" Hotch asked as he held a hand out to her.
"Yes, let's watch it." Emily replied as she moved over and curled up next to him.