Christmas Eve in the Hotchner house was a noisy affair. Emily was sitting on the lounge, trying to read after Hotch had said he'd settle the kids with a movie. But apparently, a quiet house was a pipe dream for Emily. She called out to her fiancé in the other room and he quickly popped his head into the lounge. "Enjoying your book sweetheart?" he asked. Emily tried to suppress the grin as she looked behind him and saw Jack sneaking up behind his dad, hoping to surprise him.
But Hotch, the ever-vigilant FBI agent turned, just as Jack was about to jump on his back. Emily laughed as Hotch picked up his son and tickled him. "Uh, honey, someone's gonna have an accident if you're not careful," she warned. Hotch chuckled as he let go of Jack. He walked himself over to the lounge and dropped on the couch next to his soon-to-be wife. Emily wrapped her arm around his neck and kissed his cheek. They sat there for awhile, Emily running her fingers through Hotch's hair while she read. He was flicking channels on the TV, trying to find something to watch.
They'd been sitting there for about a half hour when the doorbell rang. Hotch jumped up from the couch and Emily laughed as Jack ran down the hall yelling "I'll get it!" Hotch walked behind him and laughed as he checked the window. He turned to his dad. "I don't know who it is," he said. Hotch chuckled and leant over his son to peek through the window.
He opened the door and frowned. Peter looked surprised to see Hotch standing there. "Agent Hotchner. Uh… what are you doing here?" he asked. Hotch folded his arms and looked down at Jack. "Buddy, go back into the family room please," he said quietly. Jack nodded and took off down the hallway. "I could ask you the same question Peter," Hotch said.
Peter raised his eyebrows. "I called up one of Emily's cousins to ask for her address and she gave me this one. Is Emily here?" he asked. Hotch looked over his shoulder briefly then turned back to Peter. "She is. But I'm pretty sure she doesn't want to see you," he answered. Peter shook his head. "Look, Hotchner. I understand that you and the team are protective of Emily. But she's the mother of my child. I made a mistake. And I deserve the chance to tell her that," he said loudly. Hotch frowned and shook his head. "You don't deser…" Hotch was cut off by Emily's voice.
Emily went back to her book when she heard Hotch's footsteps behind Jack. A few minutes later she saw Jack running back down the hall singing the theme song for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. She smiled and turned back to reading. After another few moments she heard hushed voices at the door and stood to see who it was that was interrupting their quiet Christmas Eve. She walked into the hall and stopped midway when she saw him. "Peter?" she called out.
Hotch turned when he heard her voice. With him temporarily distracted, Peter pushed his way through the door. "Emily. We need to talk. I know you probably don't want to hear my excuses or apologies, but I need to tell you something," he started.
Hotch, who had been surprised, followed Peter down the hall. He grabbed the man's shoulder and stopped him from going any further. "You have no right to come in here Peter. Believe me when I say I will kick you out if you don't leave right now," Hotch said angrily, trying to keep his voice down. "Hotch, it's ok," Emily started. Peter got a smug look on his face as he watched Emily walk up to Hotch and place her hand on his arm. "Why don't you go check on the kids? I think they wanted to watch the movie now. I'll handle this," she said, trying to assure her partner. Hotch peeled his eyes from Peter and looked over at Emily. Her voice was steady and her eyes were calm. Hotch let go of Peter's shirt and nodded. "Alright," he said, touching her arm, "I'll be in the family room. Call out if you need me."
Emily nodded and watched Hotch walk down the hall towards the kids. When he was out of sight she turned to Peter and grabbed his arm, dragging him towards the door. She closed the front door behind them and stood on the front porch, her arms folded across her chest. "What the hell were you thinking? Why are you here?" she asked angrily. Peter put his hands up. "I know you must be confused. Believe me, I know. But Emily, I've spent the better part of the last two years trying to figure out what went wrong, what happened to us. And trying to remind myself why I left. But I haven't come up with anything. Every day I'm reminded that I left you and that I left our little girl," he started. He stepped closer to her.
"Emily. I still love you. And I want to try to make this work. I want you back," he said. Emily shook her head and put up her hands. "No. No. You left. Do you know how hard it was for me? Do you understand what I went through when you left? How hurt I was that you, not only left me, but didn't even have the guts or the decency to say those words to my face? I had to come home to find you gone. Everything you owned was gone. Our closet was half-empty and you had left. And I probably would've been alright if you'd just left me, but you left our little girl as well. You signed over your rights the day you left us," she cried out, the tears beginning to fall.
Peter tried to reach out but Emily wouldn't let him touch her. "No. Don't Peter. Don't," she said, stepping back. She steeled herself as she wiped her eyes. "I've moved on. I'm doing well. And I'm engaged to a man who loves me and my daughter. And the day we get married, she will have a daddy again… no… strike that. She has a daddy again," she said. Peter's jaw dropped, but he saw the hurt on Emily's face. "I'm sorry I hurt you Em. I honestly didn't want to," he started. He took a deep breath, "Tell Emma I love her. Please. I'll… I'll just go," he said dejectedly. Emily wouldn't look up. She couldn't. She heard his footsteps on the pavement and heard his car door close. When she heard the engine start and the car drive away, she took a deep breath, turned, and walked back into the house.
She closed the door and slowly made her way down the hall to the family room. When she stopped in the doorway, Hotch looked up from the movie. Emma was sitting in his lap and Emily walked over and sat down next to them. She reached over and picked up her daughter and held her tight. Hotch gave her a moment before he wrapped his arm around her back. She leant into his body and let out a whimper. He kissed the top of her head and smiled when Emma touched his face. "I don't know if this will make you feel better, but… I love you sweetheart," he whispered. Emily pulled her head up and looked at Hotch. The man who loved her. The man who TRULY loved her. And though she'd once thought that about Peter, she knew this, Hotch and Jack and Emma, it was the real thing.