Chapter 3

Everyone agreed to meet out front at 8:30pm Emily was starting to feel normal again, but her back had begun to mildly ache from her naps in the car. Emily started to get undress on her way to the bathroom to steam in the shower, surely a hot shower can make anyone feel like a human again. Emily let the hot water come streaming down her spine until it rested towards the dimples in her back. She knew she was taking too long and would likely be late meeting the team if she took any longer. As Emily walked out of the bathroom to go through her go bag she noticed her box of Tampax and the gears in her head started to spin. It's not possible right? She's 37 years old and single?!

A small knock on her door shook her from her thoughts she was in her robe when she opened the door to Hotch, who's cheeks were now a slight pink.

"Prentiss umm…It's 9pm I wanted to make sure you were alright so I sent them ahead to the restaurant, they'll umm…. save us some seats. Do you… want me to wait out front while you finish getting dressed?" Hotch was starting to become red which only embarrassed Emily, to be standing in front of him in only a robe was awkward paired with her recent realization she was too stunned to hold a conversation instead she mumbled 5 minutes and closed the door.

The ride to the Buffalo Wild Wings was short but thankfully quiet. When they arrived Emily went into normal Emily mode and started to crack jokes with JJ about Morgan and Reid. It was as if her appetite had suddenly come back and she finally ate her full meal and even finished Morgan's fries. The meal was delicious but she usually had leftovers anytime they went out to eat. Her body was probably begging for the calories after the last few days so she decided to go with it.

"I always said you secretly take a long time getting ready, you must wake up super early to be on time for work. I'm glad I don't have hair to style or make up to do I don't think I'd ever be on time again." Morgan laughed.

"Ha…ha, Derek very funny I actually just took too long showering I could care less how I look when going to eat with you!" Emily replied with a huge smile.

The night went on pleasantly between the four of them, but anytime she caught Hotch's eye she started to feel the heat rise in her cheeks. She tried to avoid looking over at him and Rossi as they sat with their Scotches, but she could feel Rossi staring a hole into her. JJ said she was too tired to get up on time for the jet in the morning so they all started to pay and pack up. Eventually it was just Hotch and Emily left walking out.

"Are we ever going to talk about this?" Hotch said glumly. His face said he couldn't take it anymore. "If it's me I've been receiving calls about heading the training program full-time in September it would be a permanent job change."

"No!" Emily blurted out.

"Then what do I do? How can I help you? Do you want to leave? Are we ever going to talk about you running out of my apartment before I could even wake up to talk?" Hotch's voice raised.

He had obviously been holding all of this in and it was affecting him deeply. Emily noticed her eyes were watered really badly and she knew the moment she blinked they would fall.

"I'm sorry! Is that what you want? I like you! A lot and I know I'm not supposed to because you're my boss but apparently the alcohol we consumed didn't care about reason or fraternization rules!" Emily was surprised herself with her speech.

"I'm sorry I didn't mean to blow up like that but it's important to me that you don't leave this team. The team deserves you as the leader. If anyone should leave it should be me I-" Emily was cut off by Hotch pulling her in for a deep kiss.

"Emily I don't regret what happened and you are not alone. If I didn't want to be with you in that way I wouldn't have, but if I'm being honest with myself I have always found you attractive, even when you were leaving for Brown." Hotch looked into her eyes with a smile deep enough to show his dimples.

"Yale" Emily smiled as she corrected. "And I think we have some things to talk about if you feel the same way I do."

"My room is between Dave's and yours I can come by in 10 minutes so we can talk without anyone being nosey?" Hotch suggested.

"Perfect. And before you go getting any ideas I'll be wearing more than a robe this time." Emily said as she walked to her room.

The moment she said it she realized what she said about the robe incident brought up the thoughts that led to her opening the door without the thought of clothing. She was really going to talk to him about that in a matter of minutes? Her mind was still reeling from hearing he felt the same way for her as she did him. Emily changed into her old FBI sweats that were a size to big and started to pace the floor with anticipation and worry.

What if she was pregnant? What if he didn't want any more kids? Would this change his mind about her? How was she even going to explain her suspicions without blurting out like she seemed to be doing lately? Maybe that's how, maybe blurting it out would be quick like a Band-Aid?

A light knock on her door pulled her from these thoughts, time to face the music.