Hotch stood staring at the door for a few seconds, thinking about the woman behind it. It scared him that he wanted to please her and that he was looking forward to spending more time with her. He also realized that he was going to have to guard his emotions or Emily just might become aware of his true feelings for her tonight. He quickly donned his swim trunks and a robe. Before he reached for the door knob to leave, he turned around and faced the mirror. For a reason not entirely clear to him, he checked himself out in full length mirror. "Not bad for a middle aged man," he muttered to himself, before taking a deep breath and walking out to join Emily.

There was no one else at the pool at this time of the night and very few lights. In fact, Hotch thought they might be breaking some rules hopping into the pool but for some reason his logic seemed to vaporize in the heat. Holding a finger to her lips, Emily smiled at Hotch and slipped off her robe. Before she jumped into the water, Hotch took a moment to admire her long legs as well as how well Emily filled out her bikini top.

Emily gave a little yelp when she hit the water, but it quickly cooled her off. "Come on chicken," she called out to Hotch when he hesitated to take off his robe. "I'm dying to see what you look like in swimming trunks."

Embarrassed, Hotch was glad that his red cheeks were hidden by the darkness of the night. When he was finally ready to join her, he stood on the edge of the pool ready to dive in. Emily watched as the moonlight reflected off his bare chest and followed him as he effortlessly dived into the pool.

He met her in the middle of the pool where she had been watching his perfect dive. When he came back up to the surface of the water, Emily couldn't help but notice at how well cut his arms and chest were. She bit her lip in admiration of his perfect body and when their eyes met, Hotch realized that this little escapade was going to change their relationship.

They reached for each other instantly; their lips colliding in a feverish manner while their arms wrapped around each other. So lost in their kiss, they didn't realize that they had pushed themselves over to the wall until Emily's back crashed into the edge. While she initially wanted to use the pool to keep cool from the heat, Emily now shivered from the intense warmth she was feeling. When she felt him try to pull away, she wrapped her legs around him and brought him closer dispensing any notion that he might have had to stop the inevitable.

As though of their own volition, his swimming trunks and her bikini top and bottom were scattered along the edge of the pool. Their joining was quick and frenzied and in their finally throes of rapture, they cried out each other's name. Once their breathing returned to normal, Hotch wordlessly carried her over to their towels and laid down beside her starring up at the stars. Finally he asked, "Emily, what have I done?"

Emily stood up and gave him a mystified look. "You? What have you done? I have not waited all these years, until you were free to pull up anchor now. Hotch, we are adults and obliviously this is something that we both wanted." She ranted while she slipped on her robe covering her naked body.

Hotch reached for his robe to cover his own nakedness. "Emily, it's true. I've wanted you for a long time. To be truthful even before I was able to, I had feelings for you. But I was selfish tonight. I know that now. I shouldn't have let my guard down. It was a mistake. It can never happen again. We'll blame it on the heat and forget that it ever happened."

"You really don't understand, do you? I don't want to forget it, you pompous ass…I wanted this to happen. I wanted this to change things. For God sake, I pretty much planned this!"

When he didn't answer, she continued. "Why do you think I suggested that the two of us go through the files? Because I wanted you alone. Why do you think I unbuttoned my shirt and made a whole stink about how hot it was? Because I wanted you to look at me and really see me as a woman. And why do you think I suggested a dip in the pool? Because I know that where there is smoke, there is fire. I knew that you'd see me in my little itty bitty bikini and you wouldn't be able to resist me. I wanted this to happen because otherwise we'd still be going through the motions of being just colleagues when you and I both know that we are infinitely more."

Surprized at her admission, he realized that he too was hoping that it would happen. He knew when he agreed to this little escapade that there was a very good chance that he was going to finally make a move. What he didn't realize was how determined she was to make sure that they were not longer a just colleagues.

Running his fingers through his wet hair, Hotch tried to convince her that they couldn't continue that taking that step. "Emily, we can't. If Strauss found out…."

"Dammit, I don't care about Strauss. Hotch… it's you I care about and I'm willing to do anything it takes to keep you in my life, even if it means leaving the BAU. Please, Hotch, after all this time…after all we've been through…You have to choose us." Emily pleaded grabbing his hands in hers.

Hotch reached out to touch one of Emily's cheeks. She looked so innocent and yet so sure of herself. Looking into her eyes, he could see how much she cared for him. He knew that his feelings were as deep for her as they were for him. He knew that this was a second chance for him….for them… to find love in the midst of all the evil in the world. God help him he wanted it with every fiber in his being. Not just because he wanted somebody in his life, but because he wanted Emily in his life.

In answer to her question, Hotch enveloped her in his arms and placed a gentle kiss on her lips. "Come we've only got a couple of hours before we have to be back on the station."

"Hotch?"

Smiling, he placed an arm around her shoulders, pulling her close to him. "And I would really like to spend them in a nice soft bed with the woman I love."

Excited, she grabbed his robe and pulled him to her. "Do you mean…?"

"That I want to give this a try. Hell yes. We'll have to keep it under our hats for a while until we know it is what we both want. But we have options. The only thing we don't have is a choice to stay apart anymore. Agreed?"

Her heart full of joy, Emily nodded. Sealing their agreement with a kiss they practically ran back to Hotch's room. Luckily they didn't have to double up with anyone so they could go back and start working on their 'relationship'.

After several hours where they did anything but sleep, the new founded couple lay in each other's arms sharing all the secrets of a couple in love. Before they finally succumbed to sleep, Emily sleepily told Hotch that she hoped their next case also had buildings without air conditioning. When a puzzled Hotch asked why, Emily smiled her sly secret little smile and said, "Because some of us like it hot. And besides, the next time…I'm not going to wear anything under my dress. Good night"

And with those words, it took a long while before Hotch could finally settle down to sleep.