Emily had grown to dread February 14th every year since she was in grade two and asked the first boy she liked to be her valentine. He had said no, cruelly ripping up the card she gave him, while some of her other classmates laughed.
That foray into love, dating, romance, it set the tone and pattern for her personal life for the next three decades. That's why on her 36th Valentine's Day Emily never expected for anything to be different.
It truly seemed to be the theme in the story of her life. You see, it was because the guy she knew she loved and pined after for so long, would likely, never see her in that kind of light too.
She didn't blame him, couldn't fault him in the least, if he was unable to open his heart again, he had good reason. Considering the last woman he loved, died at the hands of a serial killer, he still felt responsible and guilty for. Emily wasn't sure she ever would expect him to feel ready to move on from that experience.
Hell Emily knew that kind of guilt would probably never go away, that he couldn't forgive himself for the fact that Jack no longer had a mother. But she hoped, one day at least, even if he didn't open him back up to that, that he could at least believe it when someone told him Haley's death wasn't his fault.
So instead of giving into her feelings and making her professional life as awkward and lonely as her personal one, she decided to just love him from afar.
She continued to care for him and support him in the little ways he pretended not to notice. She knew if he ever wanted to be vulnerable, she would be there for him. No questions asked.
Emily never wanted him to feel pitied or weak, so she knew never to make her contributions to him too big, bold, or something she couldn't deliver on. That way she didn't embarrass him or actively make it so he felt obligated to push her away.
He was alot like her in that matter. He just needed to be able to do it at his pace, on his terms, so he didn't feel rushed or pressured. Emily understood that about him probably better than anyone else ever had. So she would bide her time and play by his unspoken rules for the sanctity of their friendship, or whatever they could be classified as.
In some ways Emily felt it was better like this. She could help him, be who he needed, even if she wasn't who he wanted. And never have to worry that he would leave her or break her heart one day.
Yet the biggest plus, was how he slowly let her be involved in Jack's life too, which had become one of the most rewarding and joyful things she had ever experienced.
Emily knew she would never begin to even come close in helping Jack heal the hole in his heart from his mother's absence, but she wanted to try and help him anyway. She was willing to be his friend, listen, make him smile and laugh, bring him every amount of joy she could.
Emily just hoped her presence even eased an ounce of the pain and sadness of his loss. He didn't deserve the tragic curve ball life had thrown his way. She would see to it personally, to do everything she could to make sure his father always made it back home alive. Emily just wanted to help Aaron protect and preserve what was left of Jack's childhood, however she could.
Sometimes she felt guilty encroaching on what little time Aaron had spend with his son. But, he hadn't said anything, and Emily knew he didn't have too many objections to her relationship with Jack. If anything she noticed, he began to rely on her a bit, because he felt Jessica had been doing too much for him and Jack and needed more time for herself.
So Hotch had started to ask her to help with little things that would benefit Jack. Like grocery shopping, baking cookies with Jack, helping teach him to cook sometimes. The things he knew, that she knew he didn't always feel like he could do well or often enough as he would like to with Jack.
Aaron had also asked her a few times to pick up Jack from school if him and Jess were both busy, or if she could occupy some of Jack's time when he needed to bring some of his work home to afford himself whatever extra time he could spare for his son.
He had also even called on her a few times with last minute meetings his attendance became mandatory at, knowing she was home and more than insistent in helping ease his case load, wherever he was willing to cut himself some slack and delegate.
She knew that he knew it made her happy helping him. What she didn't know however, was that her smiles and laughter were quickly becoming one of the few things that made him see a glimpse of something that made him feel happy and alive.
Jack had been the only other person who had been capable of eliciting anything that remotely brought him pride and joy in his life as of late.
So he chose to take a leap of faith and hold onto the life line or little sliver of hope Emily had created for him. Knowing she truly cared about him and Jack, and didn't want anything from him in return, besides their continued safety and eventual happiness.
He knew if, and it was a big 'IF', he ever decided to jump in the deep end and bare his feelings and soul about Haley, work, or anything else, that could trust Emily would always be there to listen, catch him, or pull him to safety.
It was because Emily had a calming effect on him, that her presence alone at work could sometimes soothe him and bring his blood pressure down. He was slowly beginning to notice, he wasn't the only one she was always there for. It seemed she had constantly brought a sense of peace, support, safety, and hope, to the other members of his team too.
He had it on good authority that Emily was trustworthy and a rock for everyone on the team. JJ, Garcia, and Reid's trust and reliance on her had never really surprised him, they were like the younger siblings of the team, everyone tried to protect. But Dave and Morgan's affinity for the woman had been a bit shocking.
He knew both men were strong, stubborn, alpha males(much life himself), who refused to need help or admit when they were wrong. So knowing they too had been able to be vulnerable, to trust and rely on Emily in their own way, it made him realise maybe he could too.
After the whole confusion and mess with her enterance to the team and her subsequently proving her loyalties to him and by proxy the team, he already knew Emily was a much better person than he had originally given her credit to be.
The moment Emily opened the door to see Jack Hotchner in a suit with his hand behind his back, his presence alone made her day. She opened her arms to step towards him for a hug. Emily was a little sad and confused when he shook his head in response, knowing exactly what she had been trying to do.
Emily couldn't understand why he rejected her embrace, until he stepped forward pulling his hands from behind his back, extending the items he had in her direction.
Immediately even before he confidentiality uttered, "Emily, will you be my Valentine"?, she felt the emotional tears well up into her eyes.
It was the way his smile reached his sparkling eyes, that she knew he genuinely meant the words he had spoken. Emily had never had someone make such a kind and selfless gesture towards her with no hidden motives or expectations in return.
She hadn't even had to open the gifts to know they were going to be the best and favourite gifts she had ever received before. Knowing they came from a little boy who had been through so much in his young life. And that he still had the capacity for this kind of act of generosity.
Emily couldn't believe the direction her day had taken. She did the only thing she could do, the only thing she wanted to, she accepted his request to be his Valentine. Because this was the sweetest, most adorable and purest form of love she had ever received in her life.
It took her a moment to realise that Jack wasn't accompanied by his father, but his aunt instead. Emily wasn't sure how much Jessica knew about her, or how uncomfortable or awkward this situation must have been for her.
She hoped the other woman didn't in some way feel slighted or have any ill will towards her. She didn't want Jessica to think she had been slinking her way in, insinuating herself into the spot in Jack's life. The one where Haley belonged, and should have had if she had still been alive.
From the authentic smile and tears in the other woman's face, Emily was pretty sure Aunt Jessica hadn't misread anything. That she was instead delighted by the situation and turn of events. So much so, that in the spirit of Valentine's Day, that she helped Emily and Jack concoct their own little surprise for Aaron.
While waiting for Aaron to arrive, Emily first invited them and opened her gifts from Jack, profusely thanking him from the bottom of her heart for each one.
She could see how delighted Jack was by her antics and excitement as she read his card and carefully unwrapped the presents he had specifically chosen for her.
As soon as she finished opening the last one, the back cat she knew he had chosen in honour of Sergio, she opened her arms. Jack immediately jumped into her embrace knocking her backwards on the couch, them both squishing her new stuffed feline in between them.
Emily heard a click simultaneously accompanied by a bright flash, knowing Jessica had captured a core memory for her in photo evidence. It made her hug Jack a little tighter so overtaken by emotion and love for the little boy in her arms.
Once their hug ended Emily requested Jack's help with choosing a vase and arranging her bright and gorgeous bouquet of flowers. She wasn't quite sure how Jack had known, but daffodils were her favourite.
She had never told anyone but when she was younger, whenever her grandfather came to visit, he always brought her a single daffodil. Coincidentally enough, he also always hid it behind his back, like it was a huge surprise she would never be able to guess.
It made Jack's choice of this particular yellow bloom even more special, with the reminder and connection to the most important and favourite person from her childhood.
Emily carefully grabbed the card Jack had made, as he finished arranging the flowers to his liking. She held it close to her heart beyond overjoyed with how her evening was panning out. Emily place the card smack dab in the middle of the front of her fridge for the whole world to see.
She used her favourite magnets, of little black cats Garcia had given her for her birthday, to secure her Valentine to the appliance. Emily stepped back, calling for Jack to make sure he approved of her placement choice to display his masterpiece. The smile and thumbs up she received in return was the only response she needed.
Noticing he had finished with the flowers, Emily carefully moved them on top of here counter, away from the edge and out of the reach of Sergio, in case he decided to inspect them later.
She reached for her little Picasso's hand, intending to hold and guide him to rejoin Jessica with her where they left her in the living room. When they reached their destination Emily let go of his hand and took a seat on the couch.
Her Valentine approached her, climbing into her lap as his preferred seating choice. Emily was delighted wrapping an arm around him to hold him closer. It was then she came up with her impromptu plan to surprise Aaron, and invited both Jack and Jessica to stay for dinner.
Jack's exclaimations of agreeance with her plan made the choice a no brainer for Jessica. She was beyond amused by seeing Jack in his element with Emily. The way her nephew truly lit up and became a less muted version of the boy he had been since his mother's passing.
Jessica promised to stay for dinner, but planned to leave Jack alone in Emily's more than capable hands to surprise her brother in law. As much as she cared to see his reaction to the reveal of Jack's Valentine, she wanted Aaron and Emily to have some privacy.
Because Jessica knew Aaron had honest and deep-seated feelings for the woman sitting in front of her, and she knew tonight was ripe with possibilities for them.
Jessica fully expected it to be close to Jack's bedtime by the time Aaron had a chance to come around and discover what was in store for him. She didn't want to be around and unintentionally dampen or make things awkward for either Emily or Aaron, depending on how their evening progressed.
Jessica knew she would be seeing more of Emily soon, she was sure of it. And then she planned on sharing the full story with the brunette, about how Jack had surprised both herself and Aaron with his choice of his first real Valentine. She would have done it tonight, but she hadn't wanted to embarrass her nephew in any way.
She hoped Emily would feel comfortable following up the story and telling her about Aaron's reaction to their follow up surprise. Jessica had no doubt today was going to be a special occasion they would all remember fondly for years to come.
Jack's choice of Valentine on Emily's 36th year changed the course and trajectory of the female agent's romantic love life, from that day forward.
As luck would have it, it would also become a turning point for his own father's love life too.
Emily would be the one who helped mend the trauma behind Aaron's wounds and gave him faith in her. She would also be the person who made his father slowly begin to believe the only party responsible for his mother's death was George Foyet.
Aaron in turn, would come to be the man who made up for the last three or so decades Emily had been unlucky in love. He would be the person who showed her the kind of love and stability she had always been searching for. Jack and Aaron would become the family and home she had always deserved.
And for Jack he would in fact get to see first hand his father wasn't always serious. That he could smile, laugh, crack a joke on occasion, and actually have fun. That both he and Emily had the magical powers needed, to make his dad happy.
Through Emily and Aaron's relationship Jack would also experience the power of true and unconditional love. Together they would show Jack the meaning of many life lessons. Some of the most important things he would learn from watching them was support, loyalty, sacrifice, kindness, forgiveness, and how to have a successful marriage.