A/N So I am so happy I got this done in the time I set for myself. Although it was supposed to be this and the first date, but this kept getting longer and longer and so the date will be another chapter. Which if you have something you want to see or a good idea let me know. As ever I own nothing.

Flashback

After that drunken night they started to spend time together. They didn't spend all of their time together just occasionally. They got coffee, or lunch sometimes on slow days at the office. Occasionally they got a drink after a tough case. They never got bombed like that night, they couldn't risk it. The team noticed, but no one said anything. They all knew Aaron was having a tough time, and it seemed like Emily had volunteered to help him get back to normal. No one suspected anything. They were the consummate professional people, they would never hook up after something like this.

A couple of months later Emily walked into the bullpen and was startled to see bouquet of flowers sitting on her desk. She walked over and studied the flowers. She picked up the bouquet and looked it over, there was noting to indicate what it was doing on her desk. She looked around for a note, but she couldn't find any.

"That's nice. You should thank them."

She whirled at Reid and nearly dropped her flowers. Easy girl, we're klutzy remember. "The flowers yeah there are nice."

"Oh, I meant what the flowers are saying."

Emily looked around for a moment and then looked back at Reid confusion all over her face. "Reid. You are aware flowers don't talk right?"

"Not with words, but flowers have been used to send specific messages since the Victorian Era, and the amaryllis flowers you received say that the sender thinks you are a magnificent beauty."

Emily blushed a little, and stared at her flowers. Someone thinks I'm a magnificent beauty huh? Her day made she put the flowers back on her desk and got to work, a big grin plastered on her face. She worked for a couple of minutes. Oh crap what if Hotch sees these? He told me he liked me and I've been giving him space until he's ready. What if he sees these and thinks I've moved on. What if he thinks I already have a boyfriend? Crap what am I going to do? She looked around the office. Ok he's not here now, I need to get rid of these, but they're so nice. I don't want to throw them away. … JJ I'll give them to JJ. …No I can't do that, she'll ask what's going on. And I'm not ready to answer that. Plus if something were to happen with Hotch and me, if anyone found out to soon. It could go badly for both of us. So, I guess I will have to throw them, it's a shame they really are beautiful.

Hotch walked towards his office, as he got to the bullpen he looked down at Emily's desk. He hoped she liked the flowers he sent her. He doubted she would know what they meant, but he had plans for informing her. Where are the flowers? They should have arrived an hour ago. What the hell happened? I guess I have to call the florist and see if they were delivered. Is the world run by idiots? Why can't the florist do something as simple as deliver a bouquet of flowers?

Later he had his answer. He stared at the beautiful bouquet that had been haphazardly thrown into the trash. All of his thought and effort in to getting her a gift, something that was meaningful, and this was where it ended up.

In the trash.

He trudged up into his office, and closed the door and shut the blinds. He didn't know what to do. He couldn't believe his gift would be so carelessly tossed aside like this. I guess she couldn't wait. God this sucks. Hotch reached into his desk a pulled out his emergency whiskey. He poured some into his coffee cup, and took a long drink. This day sucks.

Long after everyone had gone home Hotch stayed in his office. He wasn't ready to go home yet. Today had not gone the way he had planned and he wasn't ready to face going home alone, not that he was expecting to go home with Emily tonight. But now he knew he wouldn't be going home with her ever.

Emily had stayed late finishing up her paper work. She stood up and stretched. Her tired muscles protested slightly. She noticed that Aaron's office was dark. That's odd, Aaron didn't say good night to me. Since that night he has always said good night. He even went to find me once to say good night. I wonder what's going on. Curious she walked up the stairs and knocked on the door before opening it. Light spilled into the dark office. Aaron was sitting in his desk with his back to the door looking out the window. He didn't say anything, just continued staring out the window.

"Aaron are you all right." Emily was concerned she had never seen Aaron like this. He looked lost and alone.

He didn't answer.

"Aaron did you hear me are you all right?" Emily walked in front of Aaron. He didn't look at her.

After a few moments he spoke, breaking the uncomfortable silence. His voice was soft. "What was wrong with them?"

Emily was confused, "Wrong with what?"

"The flowers that you threw away. What was wrong with them?"

"How did you know I got flowers?" Crap did he see them earlier, that's why he is sitting here in the dark. He thinks I'm seeing someone else. I knew it. Dammit.

"Not to sound like a five year old, but I asked you first."

"Aaron those didn't mean anything, I don't even know who sent them. I promise."

"You didn't know who sent them." His voice was distant, and he looked off to the side. "Of course. There was no note, the message was the flowers. Of course you didn't know who sent them. So not knowing you threw them away." He pinched his nose. "Ohh you're an idiot Aaron."

"Wait what are you talking about? What do you mean the flowers were the message? How did you know that? …Aaron did you send the flowers?"

"What?" He wasn't looking at her, his focus snapped back to her. What did she say?

"Aaron did you send the flowers?"

"Yes I did."

"Why didn't you say anything? Why didn't you write a note? Why would you send anonymous flowers to someone who deals with crazy people? Why would I accept flowers sent from an anonymous person? I know what kind of crazy people are out there?" Emily shouted as she paced back and forth across the room.

He said nothing and just absorbed her words. He looked up and caught her eye. "That's a good question. I guess I got so into the idea that I didn't think about all of the angles."

"What idea?"

"Well I was going to send flowers that mean something, Amaryllis, and then Pansies with some purple Pansies thrown in."

"Pansies?"

"They mean pleasant thoughts, think of me. Purple pansies mean you occupy my thoughts."

"That's sweet."

"I thought so."

"Why were you going to do that?"

"I think I might be ready. I want to be with you. But you are an amazing woman, you deserve … well you deserve, I don't know to be wooed sounds stupid. But something like that, you deserve much more than me saying, "I'm ready let's date". So that's what I thought do. I guess it didn't work very well."

"It was a good idea, just needed a little bit better in the execution. Another thing you might have thought about is the team would have noticed if I got flowers on multiple occasions, and they would have started asking questions. And while I don't think they team would have minded, others in the Bureau would."

"See this is what happens when the last time you dated was in high school twenty odd years ago. Apparently I have a lot to learn."

"Well I'm up for being your guinea pig."

"Really what an amazing coincidence. I was thinking about asking you."

"All right when?"

"How about Friday?"

"Sounds good." Emily walked towards the door.

"Emily you were right. It would be best if this stayed a secret. For now can we not tell anyone?"

"Absolutely. It will be our secret."