Author's note: Hi again guys! I can't believe it's been nearly a year and a half since I've written anything. To be honest, I was so heartbroken over Paget leaving I kinda lost the drive to be actively involved in fanfic tion and Criminal Minds, but here I am at 3.30am writing again! I've been writing this story for a while, having only recently been able to get back into it.
This is the second part to 'The Power of Infinity' and around two months after Emily moves to London. I hope you like it!
Disclaimer: I do not own Criminal Minds nor do I have enough money to make Hotch and Emily cannon on the show. *sighs* All discrepancies and mistakes are mine.
Emily Prentiss was many things.
When a case involving a fellow colleague and personal friend was turning out for the worst, she compartmentalized to keep herself focused on catching his abductor.
When she and the same member of her team were held hostage, she took beatings in order to protect him from harm.
Heck, when her mother tried to set her up with nice men, albeit… strangers, she grit her teeth throughout dinner then went home and drunk her sorrows of being a lonely, 40-something year old woman living with a cat, away.
But Emily Prentiss was not someone who got homesick.
Growing up and moving around from place to place as a result from her mothers' job ought to have prepared her for moving to London. From Ukraine to France, Italy, even the Middle East left her with different skills and personalities, being fluent in Arabic, Spanish, French, Italian, Russian and even Greek. Although growing up wasn't ideal, it was mandatory. So when Emily packed her bags and waved goodbye to her friends, loved ones and family at the airport, she couldn't stop that heart wrenching feeling of leaving a part of her behind.
As he watched her leave to check-in for her flight, a heavy feeling urged him to run after her and ask her- no beg her to stay. Alas, he knew this was what she needed. Hotch could feel her slipping months before anyone had noticed; a slight hesitation while the team brainstormed ideas, a lost thought while giving a profile to the local police and as he spoke to her in general conversations, he could feel her mind was in a different place. Even when he plucked up the courage to mention to her that things weren't working out with Beth, Emily had seemed somewhat skeptical about anything happening between them on the rebound, leaving things relatively awkward. So there he stood, watching one of the greatest women he had ever had the pleasure of meeting being torn away from him.
The street lights glared through the few broken slates of the window blinds, while the faint sirens of police cars occupied the atmosphere of her two bedroom apartment. An unease arose in her stomach as she tossed and turned, looking for the cold side of the pillow in the warm July heat. Emily couldn't sleep. This was the third night she found herself looking for the clock she had repeatedly thrown against the wall which disturbed the cosy and only, relationship she held in London; with her bed.
3.35am
She was standing in front of him, dressed in a floor length navy dress, eyes twinkling as she smiled at him. Her arms beckoned for his body while her lips blew kisses towards him. The rest of the picture was blurry, and as he walked towards her she seemed to fade away.
Hotch awoke abruptly and realized he had fallen asleep in front of the television. Flicking through the TV guide before settling on a shopping channel, he felt like remaining in the living room a while before making his way to a lonely bed. As he inattentively watched a demonstration on the latest cleaning appliance, his thoughts pondered on whether his dream was a sign to call the woman who had been on his mind.
Emily knew she wouldn't be able to get him out of her head and before she changed her mind, she dialed his number.
Hotch looked at his caller ID and for a split second he couldn't tell whether he was actually awake.
"Emily." He inhaled as he waited to hear her voice.
"Hey Hotch. I er- just thought I'd say hi."
"Emily…" He looked over to check the clock beside the sofa, mentally calculating the time difference. "It's half three over there."
"I couldn't sleep."
There was a brief pause, where Emily felt embarrassed to be calling her former boss so late while Hotch was simply glad to hear her voice.
"How's London treating you? Is it as tough as here at Quantico?"
Emily smiled as she thought back to the BAU. "It's... different. A great opportunity and there's never a dull day . The people I work with also are some of the best in the country. "
"Not as fine as the BAU of course" She added as a brief smile appeared.
It was as if he had heard her smile through the phone and he automatically closed his eyes and tried to picture the last time he saw her smile; what seemed like a century ago.
"I guess it's understandable to feel an element of sadness after leaving the most skilled profilers and certifiably accomplished dream team" he stated matter-of-fact-ly while smirking.
Emily rolled her eyes and shook her head as she tried to suppress a laugh. "How modest of you Hotch; have you always been this witty or have I just been deprived of it for the last two months?"
"I'd say deprived. However I must admit I have always been amusing, aside from the times where we've been busy catching killers… which is pretty much all the time." He sighed.
Emily grinned. "Aside from the killers and the 'Hotch stares' you mean?"
"What are these 'Hotch stares' I've infamously heard so much about?"
"You mean, you haven't noticed people nervous while talking to you because they're afraid your eyes will pierce into their souls? Heck, I was scared to make eye contact for a solid month"
"I am neither familiar with what you are referring to nor shall I reply to such accusations." Hotch missed this. Talking to Emily felt like the last two months hadn't occurred and she wasn't halfway across the world. It was as though she was right there with him.
"Until you realized there's more to Aaron Hotchner than sophisticated suits and 'Hotch stares'"
"Until I realized there's more to Aaron Hotchner than sophisticated suits and 'Hotch stares'" she mimicked.
They both laughed for a moment, before the conversation became silent.
Emily inhaled deeply before speaking, "hey Hotch… thank you for this. The call. Well for staying on the phone."
"Is something the matter Emily?" he inquired.
"Everything is good. I just needed a little bit of Virginia, that's all."
"You're welcome to phone or text anytime whenever you want to talk; day or night. I meant what I said to you a few months ago. Good days or bad, I'm here" Hotch replied; wishing she was more here than there.
"Thanks Hotch, I appreciate it" she looked at her clock and saw it was nearly 4am. "I'd better try to sleep now, given I'm supposed to be waking up in three hours for work."
"I guess I'd better prepare Jack's lunch before going to sleep myself." he said, somewhat reluctantly.
Emily wished they could stay on the phone for longer, but in-between her job, his and the time difference, it was difficult to get a hold of each other. Still, she was glad he'd picked up and they talked for this long.
"Good night Hotch. Give my love and send hugs to Jack for me, will you? It feels like just yesterday one of the Prince Zach stories went on for an hour past his bed time!" She smiled fondly at the thought of Jack; forming an ache in her heart.
"I'm just surprised he managed to stay awake throughout it all! Although, you do have a knack for creative stories; it's always a pleasure to learn of the adventures of a young Emily Prentiss" he added.
"I guess my childhood wasn't as exciting as it may appear which lead me to creating something magical. I'm glad I can share them with someone."
She thought about all those months ago when she first told Jack a story; based on the different places and incidents she'd experienced, the character of Prince Zach was formed on Jack. He'd been on many adventures fighting crime in the Middle East against Egyptian mummies, solving the mystery of the missing Eiffel Tower in Paris and the terrorists holding national supplies of cheese hostage in Italy.
While reminiscing, Hotch interrupted her thoughts; "I think it's also partially to do with you being his favourite."
"What can I say? I can now add super-Emmy to my resume" she said proudly.
"Good night Emily, don't mention the years I changed his nappy, woke up in the middle of the night to feed him, or runny noses I've tended to." he added sarcastically.
"Ooh, sarcastic Hotch too? Boy did me leaving change things" Emily laughed.
If only you knew, Hotch thought.
"I hope you're aware that I'm giving you the 'Hotch stare' through the phone right now."
"I wouldn't have it any other way" she replied honestly.
"Good night Emily, sleep well"
"And you Hotch, sweet dreams."
Emily held the phone to her ear a moment longer, before she pressed 'end call' and clutched the phone to her stomach. Even though he was roughly 3,800 miles away, Hotch could still make her feel better. She missed him and his presence dearly and thought about his smile before rolling over and attempting to sleep.
He waited for a moment after she'd hung up and stared blankly at his screen. After checking on Jack to make sure he was fast asleep, Hotch made Jack's packed lunch for his final days at school. He checked the house was locked and secure before using the bathroom and climbing into bed. He lay there and his thoughts drifted to the last time he'd saw her; with the hearty laugh and warm smile she wore so beautifully the last thing he pictured before falling asleep. Sweet dreams indeed.
I know this chapter is based on them being on the phone; do you like it? Hate it? Want to cry because Emily left and Hotly was never canon? I wanted to display their relationship while Emily is away, and keep it light hearted. I have a two or three more chapters lined up after this and I PROMISE they will be out quicker than a year and a half! Thank you for reading!