A/N So I apologize for how long it took to update. The direction of this story has changed about four times since I last posted, but I think I know what I am going to do with it now. So updates should be more regular. This is a post ep for "Birthright" Although I've changed it for my own purposes.

Also a bit of shameless promotion, everyone should check out my story La vie on Rose. It's a really good story, one of if not my best story. And as ever I own nothing.

Flashback

Hotch stared at the divorce papers. Rationally he knew why she sent them to the office. He spent far more time here than anywhere else. It made sense that she would send them here. But still, it smelled like one final shot. Like she was saying, "I sent these to your "Home"".

It's over. Twenty years of marriage, a kid, and it ends like this. With a piece of paper. The granddaddy of all anticlimaxes. God I need a drink.

"Hotch I have that paper you-. Hotch are you ok? You're clutching that paper pretty tight."

Emily moved forward and slowly pulled the paper out of his hand. He resisted, she gently overcame his death grip. Maybe I shouldn't do this, he deserves his privacy. No I love him. I want to be there for him. And I bet I know what this is. Yep. Divorce papers.

"What a bitch. Sending these to the offices, and not to where you're staying."

"Prentiss."

"No this was cruel. One final shot at you. She could have done this so many other ways. This was just done to hurt you. C'mon you need a drink or ten."

Hotch smiled a sad smile. He allowed her to drag him out of the office and to some bar. They didn't talk much. They mostly drank. There were no words that could be said. So each enjoyed te silence for what it was. What they wanted it to be.

Later in the cab when they pulled up to her place he spoke, the largest amount of words he had said since he got the papers. "Thank you for coming out with me. I'm glad it was you. It made it easier. You make it easier."

Emily sobered up just little bit and leaned forward and kissed him. It took him a couple of moments to respond, but he did matching her with the intensity that he brought to every case.

Oh my god he is good at this. Why would you ever give this up?

He pulled away and looked down at the ground. "Good night Emily."

"Hotch I-."

"Emily please."

She sadly got out of the car and forlornly watched it drive away. She stared at it until it pulled around a corner. All she saw was the back of his head. She hoped he would turn around and look back at her. He didn't. What have I done? I've ruined everything. Who kisses a guy the day he recieves divorce papers? What is wrong with you? She went upstairs and cried.

She was sober now.

He waited. He waited until they turned the corner. It took too long. It was an eternity. He was losing his grip. Finally they turned the corner and he looked back. He couldn't see her, a house blocked his view. But in his mind's eye he could see her. And he held onto that image until Morpheus came for him.

Oh god my head hurts. Ok stop the room from spinning I want to get off. I really should lay off the tequila. Why did I have tequila?

Aaron.

His divorce.

That kiss.

Good Night Emily.

Fuck.

Does he remember? What was that? He was drunk. He was sad and lonely. He would have kissed anyone. Yeah but he wouldn't have pulled back for just anyone. Don't do that. Don't build up hope. You're just going to get hurt. He has to work with you. If you had slept together it would have made things really awkward. He was protecting the team.

But he called me Emily.

The voice didn't have an answer for that.

He was waiting for her. She had barely made it to her desk before he called her into his office. Ok calm down girl. Just breathe. It's going to be ok. No it's not he's going to break your heart. And you're going to let him. I have to let him. He just got divorced. What kind of person would hurt him now? I love him. This is what has to be.

He closed the blinds, shut the door and locked it. He motioned for her to sit on the couch. He moved over and sat near her but not quite next to her.

"Pren-, Emily I want to apologize for last night."

"Sir there's no need to apologize. You were drunk and lonely. It happens. I can just forget it. Nothing needs to change."

"Is that what you want? To just forget it."

"Hotch I…"

This is it are you going to grow a pair and go for what you want? What you've tried to ignore. What you tried to say doesn't exist. It's why you went to her apartment and brought her back. This is it the moment. Tell her. "I don't."

His voice was soft. She wasn't quite sure she actually heard it or if she was imagining it.

"What did you say?"

"I said I don't want to forget it."

"You don't." She couldn't keep the excitement and joy out of her voice.

"I don't. I stopped because we were drunk. But more importantly, I stopped because I'm not ready. I need to heal. If we got together now it could only end badly. … Can you wait for me?"

"Wait. You just told me you want to be with me. If you want I can fly."

Hotch raised an eyebrow. "I don't think I need you to fly, just wait."

"I can do that." She smiled and walked back to her desk a bounce in her step. She was happier than she had been in a long time.

A/N Reviews are wonderful things, and everyone's world should be full of wonderful things.