A/N: Hello again. Sorry for the long wait. I've been working on my Christmas Gift Exchange fic for the challenge on Chit Chat in Author's Corner and some original stuff, so I didn't have a lot of time for this story. But I'm back with another chapter. I hope you all enjoy! Please R&R, thanks!

Disclaimer: I do not own Criminal Minds.

Pre-Wedding 4:

"JJ, I'm so happy for you!" Garcia exclaimed.

JJ laughed. It was probably the hundredth time since she'd told her friends at the BAU two days ago that Garcia had exclaimed her favouritism of JJ's status change.

"Thanks Penelope," JJ replied.

"Hey JJ, what do you think of this one?"

JJ turned around to see Emily holding out a very elaborate, lacy wedding dress concoction.

"Emily," JJ protested. "I'm looking for subtle, remember, subtle."

Emily frowned at her. "Who wants to blend in on their wedding day? You should stand out! You need to go all out!"

After JJ had told her friends of Will's proposal both Penelope and Emily had insisted that this weekend would be devoted to dress shopping, even though no date had been set or even talked about. But her two best friends were not only eager to get JJ the perfect dress, but were eager to go bridesmaid dress shopping as well, having correctly assumed that JJ would want them to be part of her day.

JJ returned Emily's frown with her own.

"Ok, ok," Emily replied grudgingly, replacing the dress on the rack. "Subtle it is."

JJ let out a sigh. She couldn't help feeling that she was doing this dress shopping thing wrong.

"Keep looking guys, I'm going outside to get some air."

She pushed open the store's door and stepped out into the chilly air. She wrapped her arms around herself to keep her warm. She needed a couple of minutes alone. Her friends were excited for her and she was sucking the fun out of the day. She couldn't help it, but she knew if she kept up the attitude her friends would start to wonder what was up with her. And she couldn't begin to explain why she felt so… down. JJ couldn't even explain to herself how she felt and why.

JJ looked down at the sidewalk, kicking at some invisible rocks with her black boots.

Suck it up, JJ, she thought to herself. You love Will, remember? This is a good thing.

JJ spun around to look at the beautiful white gown in the window of the bridal shop they were currently at. It was stunning like many of the dresses in the shop. So why didn't she get that wondrous feeling most brides-to-be got?

"You'd look great in that," a familiar voice said from behind her.

JJ felt her heart skip a beat and a smile came to her face instantly. She turned around to see Hotch, casually dressed in jeans and a pullover fleece sweater, giving her a small, but genuine smile.

"Hotch, hi," she said breathlessly.

She was even more elated to see him when his smile widened at her brief greeting.

"Hello JJ," he replied simply.

She felt her cheeks start to warm as she continued to stare at the man in front of her.

"Uh…" JJ stumbled. "What are you up to?"

"Just running some errands," he answered. "Jack's with Jessica and his cousins so…"

JJ nodded dumbly.

"I don't have to ask what you're doing," Hotch said politely.

JJ looked at him quizzically, wondering briefly why his smile seemed to dim. Hotch pointed behind her and she followed his finger.

"Oh… oh yeah," JJ answered uncomfortably. "Yeah… Emily and Penelope… they dragged me dress shopping."

"Dragged you?" Hotch said perceptively, frowning.

She blushed. "Well… uh… this just seems silly…" JJ continued to stumble, as Hotch began to look concerned. "I mean… Will and I haven't set a date yet. So…"

Hotch nodded in understanding. "It doesn't hurt to start early," he offered.

JJ just shrugged.

"You know…" Hotch started, glancing at his watch. "I've got some time… I could give you some tips…"

"Oh no… Hotch, I couldn't take your time up like that," she protested.

She was super surprised when Hotch put his arm around her shoulders. Her heart fluttered once again. In her shock she let herself be led back into the store.

"Come on JJ," Hotch was speaking again and JJ did her best to focus on his words and not how good it felt to be pulled close to his body. "I've done this before; I can give you the inside scoop."

JJ laughed as they entered the store. "The inside scoop? You know wedding dresses, do you?"

"I sat through ten different stores and fifty different dresses before Hailey found the right one," Hotch confessed. "Trust me, I know dresses."

"Ok," JJ said amused. "I leave myself in your capable hands."

"You start on that rack, I'll look over here," Hotch ordered.

JJ nodded. She turned to the rack, and began to push through the dresses. JJ looked over her shoulder at her former boss. Hotch was already busy looking through the dresses. She smiled. She felt a surge of affection for the man. And for the first time that day she felt something more than anxiety.

"Ms. Jareau," a saleswoman got her attention. "Your friends asked me to tell you that they are upstairs trying on bridesmaid dresses. They also said that if you don't join them shortly you forfeit your bride-ly duty of choosing the ugliest dress you can find for them. That was the red-head's words, not mine."

JJ chuckled. "Thanks!"

JJ decided to leave it alone. Her friends would know what looked best on their bodies. She was sure that they thought she would be upset being left all alone. Shooting Hotch another look, JJ was not alone and glad for his company.

Going back to the dresses she found herself looking at them more eagerly. Each one looked more beautiful than the last and they all had potential. None really stood out, but she wasn't feeling down like before.

"What about this one?"

JJ turned around to see Hotch holding up the most gorgeous thing she'd ever seen. Her face lit up instantly.

"I thought you might like it," Hotch said happily.

JJ moved her gaze from the dress to meet his gaze. He was watching her with a brilliant smile on his face. There was something akin to happiness in his eyes. But as she continued to gaze into his eyes she something else. Something a bit darker, something like… sadness.

Was he sad for her? Why would he be sad for her? Of course, he wasn't sad for her! He was probably remembering dress shopping with Hailey. Hailey was his first love, the woman he'd always love.

"JJ?" Hotch asked with a hint of concern in his voice.

JJ quickly shook away the sad thoughts. "It's beautiful," she murmured.

"Why don't you try it on?" Hotch asked softly.

Holding his gaze, still wondering at the sadness, she reached for the dress, fingers brushing Hotch's. She felt a jolt of electricity at the touch. Sure she was the only one that felt it, she glanced into his eyes only to find him looking at her intensely. She was not alone in the feeling.

"Uh… I'll go try it on," she said quickly.

JJ all but ran to the dressing room with the dress in hand. She paused for a moment to look at herself in the mirror. She was a bit on the flushed side, giving her pale skin some color and she was glowing. She felt as though she was radiating. And for the first time in a while she truly felt beautiful. JJ hadn't felt this way in a while, not since her pregnancy or the first few months of Henry's life.

Quickly, she undressed, and then pulled up the satiny sheath dress up her body. The straps were single strands of iridescent beads. The dress had a layer of beadwork starting from the top of the dress at a point in the middle, spanning down and outward to wrap around her waist, all the way to the back of the dress and down. It left her sides covered in plain, white satin. The dress had a bit of a train as well, also satin and covered in beads. The dress was simple, yet elaborate. The beads probably made it impractical, but she didn't care. The dress was beautiful, it was perfect.

She could just imagine walking down the aisle, holding a bunch of orange and white tiger lilies. Taking every fateful step towards the man of her dreams. She saw herself smiling at the crowd of her family and friends. And then she was looking down the aisle at the tall, dark, and handsome man she wanted to spend the rest of her life with.

JJ was jolted back to reality when the man she saw standing at the altar was not Will, but Hotch.

JJ frowned at herself in the mirror. That wasn't right, was it? She loved Will, he was everything to her. He was the father of her child. So why was Hotch in her happy fantasy? That was wrong, wasn't it?

JJ's head was spinning. Why was she suddenly fantasizing about Hotch?

"JJ?" came Hotch's voice, outside the dressing room. "Everything all right?"

JJ shook her head. She was fine, she told herself. Just fine. She was fantasizing about Hotch because he was here and he had found the dress. Yeah, that was it. Her confused brain was just mixing situations and people up. Yep, that was it.

JJ resolved herself to being just fine. She took a deep breath and turned around. Counting to three, she opened the dressing room door. Stepping out to the sound of a gasp, JJ looked around in search of the owner of that surprised utterance. But the only person in sight was Hotch.

Glancing at Hotch, she found him staring at her, eyes wide, mouth dropped open.

"So…" JJ started nervously. "What do you think?"

"JJ…" Hotch murmured, she watched him swallow before continuing. "You look… breathtaking."

It was a simple statement, but it had her blushing profusely. Especially since he continued to stare at her with such intensity, amazement, and… something else she couldn't put her finger on.

"Hotch…" JJ practically whispered. She wanted to say something to him, anything. But she wasn't sure what she wanted to say. And luckily or unluckily the moment was suddenly disturbed.

"Oh JJ," Garcia exclaimed. "You look like an angel!"

Emily was nodding enthusiastically. "You look beautiful!"

"Thanks," JJ gave them her attention. "Uh, Hotch picked it out…"

She pointed out her friend sitting in the chair.

"Hotch?" Garcia questioned looking at her unit chief. "When did you get here?"

Hotch, JJ noticed, had still been watching her, and finally turned to acknowledge their friends.

"Not too long ago," Hotch answered. "But… uh… I've got to go now."

"Really?" JJ said in surprise. Hotch turned to look at her apologetically.

"Yeah… I've got a couple more things to take care of before I need to pick up Jack," he told her.

"Oh ok," JJ said, too mentally exhausted to hide her disappointment. "I guess I'll see you later?"

Hotch nodded. "You will," he assured, giving her a small smile. "And JJ…"

"Yeah?"

"You look amazing… that's the dress," he finished and then she was watching him leave the store.

She didn't realize she was staring after him until Emily spoke up, startling her.

"Uh… JJ, are you and Hotch all right?" she paused. "You seemed…"

"Intense," Garcia finished.

JJ nodded emphatically. "Oh yeah… we're fine, we're great… we're friends…"

Hotch took in a deep breath, his fourth one in a row since exiting the bridal shop a moment ago.

It had seemed like a good idea at the time. Helping JJ get excited over one of the biggest days of her life; it seemed like a good thing for a friend to do for another friend. But after finding her that perfect dress, and seeing it on her, seeing how it fit like a glove, how it made her glow, he realized that going into that shop with her had been a mistake.

JJ was marrying another man. He had to accept that. He would accept that. He just had to avoid JJ in wedding planning situations until he did actually accept it. It was just that simple. He would continue to see JJ under play-date circumstances. Everything else would have to be suspended until he could get over the image of seeing her at an altar standing next to him out of his mind.

Hotch was convinced that all this was just a bit of a crush he'd developed for her after she'd left the BAU. After seeing JJ almost everyday for the past six years and then going to seeing her maybe once a week, if he was lucky, just made him feel deprived of her.

Yes that was it, his feelings for the gorgeous, caring blonde only stemmed from the absence of seeing her.

But as he started to walk away from the shop a phrase he'd heard awhile ago popped into his head, something about absence and the heart wanting more. What was it? Oh yeah, absence makes the heart grow fonder.

He took another deep breath, letting it out in a long suffering sigh. He was in big trouble.

Well that's it for now. Hope you enjoyed. Let me know what you think! Thanks!

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