Don't Own.

Please R&R

Happy Turkey Day People!

Last night at dinner my family and I went around the table and said what we were thankful for. I just wanted to add one more thing. I'm thankful for all of my wonderful reviewers.

Enjoy!

…

Penelope sat quietly on a bench outside the FBI. She sat with her arms crossed over her chest fighting the cool wind of the September evening because when she'd been pulled onto the elevator by Aaron, she hadn't had her coat with her. It was still up in her office along with her purse but she wasn't yet ready to go inside. Instead she stared blankly at the cars streaming past on the road by the office building.

After Aaron had basically run from the elevator, Penelope made no effort to move. She had been stunned, completely and utterly, she never imagined her boss would kiss her.

When the doors began to slide shut she reached forward causing them to open again and stepped out. Without thought, she strode over to the bench and plopped down; she sat there in almost complete darkness with the only light being from a street lamp that kept flickering.

"Pen?"

Startled Penelope looked up to see Emily staring at her in concern.

"Hey," she mumbled quietly.

Emily frowned "What are you doing out here?" she asked.

Penelope shrugged.

Emily sat down beside her. She had been heading to the parking lot and almost missed Penelope. Her keys had fallen while she was walking and when she turned back to grab them she had seen the hunched over figure of her friend.

Her canary yellow dress being a dead given away that it was Penelope.

"We thought you went home," Emily said as a shiver ran down her spine "it's freezing out here. Aren't you cold?"

"A bit," Penelope said with a slight nod.

"Well then we should get you inside or you're going to catch a cold."

Penelope nodded again but she made no move to get up.

That worried Emily.

She touched Penelope's shoulder softly "Okay," she stated "What's wrong?"

"He kissed me." Penelope mumbled, looking at the ground.

"I'm guessing we're not talking about Eric right? Cause, well that wouldn't be much of a surprise."

"No," Penelope said her voice trembling "Hotch..."

Emily was surprised, of course she had known how Hotch felt about Penelope but she had never expected him to act on his feelings.

But she guessed every man had their breaking point, even Hotch.

Not noticing Emily's lack of response, Penelope continued. "I was going to go home but then I found myself headed back here. I was just so angry at Hotch and wanted to know what it was I did wrong. Why he has been treating me as he has the past few months? So I confronted him and naturally we got into an argument. He wanted to go home but I wouldn't let him and followed him to the elevators where I yelled at him some more. We were kinda causing a scene so he pulled me into the elevator and that's when it happened. He leaned in and kissed me."

Penelope sighed and ran a hand over her face. "Now everything makes sense," she muttered "Hotch's bad mood started right after Eric came into my life."

The two sat in silence for a moment.

Penelope turned and looked at Emily "I love Eric…" she whispered quietly and Emily found that the hope she had been keeping for both Penelope and Aaron to walk away from this situation happily began slipping.

"But," Penelope continued "I…if there was a chance for me and Hotch… I mean I know that's horrible to say, Eric is such an awesome guy and I obviously don't deserve him after this, but I've always had a bit of a crush on Hotch. Plus when he kissed me…I felt something, I could feel this passion that I've never felt with anyone, not even Eric. I kissed him back and was disappointed when he pulled away."

Penelope shook her head "This is all just so messed up. I wish I had known about Hotch's feelings before I had met Eric."

Emily held her hand out to Penelope "I'm sorry Pen," she whispered "what are you going to do about it?"

"I don't know," Penelope stated "but for now, I think I'm going to go home. I really have to think about it before I make any decisions."

Emily nodded "Do you want me to give you a ride? I'm not sure if you're really in the best shape to be driving."

Penelope thought about it for a moment. She wanted to tell Emily no because she really just wanted to be alone but she knew she was in a distracted state of mind and it would be best if she didn't drive.

"You don't mind?" Penelope asked.

"Of course not," Emily said.

"Okay thanks," Penelope said "I just have to run upstairs and grab my stuff."

"I'll wait right here," Emily said as Penelope headed inside. When Emily could no longer see her, she pulled out her cell phone.

…

Dave frowned as he hung up the phone and walked to his front door.

He hadn't been expecting anyone but someone had been insistently knocking for a good 30 seconds.

He was peeved that he had to end his phone call but the pounding had gotten increasingly louder when he didn't immediately rush to the door.

Dave pulled open the door mid knock and Aaron Hotchner just about fell inside.

Dave frowned as Aaron caught his balance and walked inside without even a 'Hello.'

"Of course, come right in" Dave muttered sarcastically as he watched Aaron walk into his kitchen.

He shook his head and closed the door, going to see just what was up with his friend, though he already had a pretty good idea.

When Dave walked into the kitchen Aaron was leaning against the counter with his head in his hands, it was obvious to Dave that his friend had been drinking.

"So...?" Dave prompted.

Aaron looked up at him "How about some of your famous scotch? I could use it right now."

"I bet." Dave said under his breath but Aaron was too preoccupied to listen.

Dave got two tumblers out of his cupboard and then pulled out a bottle of half empty scotch. He poured Aaron a drink and passed it to him.

"It's really..." he began as he watched Aaron pick it up and swallow it down "strong."

Aaron put the empty glass down in front of him and sighed "I kissed Penelope."

Dave watched him closely, he had already known since it had been Emily he had been talking to when Aaron showed up. She had told him everything Penelope had told her.

When Dave didn't say anything Aaron continued "I don't know what came over me. I shouldn't have done it but she looked so beautiful even in her anger and I just couldn't stop myself. I've been holding myself back the last few months and making a complete idiot out of myself in the process and I just snapped. She must hate me. I would hate me. I've treated her badly for months and then I practically jumped her in the elevator..."

Dave took a sip of his scotch and hummed. "I doubt she hates you, though that would be the natural reaction after the way you have behaved. However Penelope's not one to hold grudges, luckily for you."

Aaron shook his head "Still I never should have done it. I could have cost us our jobs and though at the moment it's obvious I don't deserve to keep mine, I don't want to get Penelope in trouble. I've abused my power."

"That's true," Dave said "though not in the way I think you're thinking."

Aaron stared at him, not understanding.

"You abused your power earlier tonight, not when you kissed her but when you yelled at her in the police station."

"Yes I did, but it was also an abusive of power when I kissed her." Aaron stated.

Dave shrugged.

"What?" Aaron asks annoyed.

"Well," Dave asked "what was her reaction?" even though he already knew the answer.

"She...kissed me back" Aaron said.

"There," Dave said "if she kissed you back than she probably wasn't all that upset about it. Penelope's not some faint hearted fool, she knows you would never willing do something to hurt her."

Aaron shook his head a little harder, he shouldn't be trying to make it okay. There was nothing okay about it. Penelope had a boyfriend and it was against the bureau's fraternization rules.

"It was still wrong, I shouldn't have done it," Aaron said "you know how Strauss would react if she found out."

"I do but I don't think you can say the same thing," Dave said "the fraternization policy was put in for guys like Derek and my younger self. Stringing women along and leaving broken hearts in our wake, just waiting for a lawsuit. It's different with you and Penelope though..."

Aaron still didn't look convinced.

"Of course," Dave added "it would be rather hypocritical of Erin if she came down on you and Penelope."

Dave said it with a shit-eating grin and Aaron gaped up at him.

"So the rumors are true?" Aaron questioned.

"Yes," Dave replied, slightly proud of himself that even at sixty he could still make it into the rumor mill "most of them."

That information caused Aaron to pause and really think about us predicament.

Dave poured him another scotch in the silence.

Aaron looked up after a really long time "I really do like her." he stated.

"That's obvious." Dave said.

Aaron scowled at him.

"If she'd give me a chance, there's nothing more I really want. I mean I've tried fighting it but that's gotten me nowhere."

Dave nodded.

"It's just..."

"Eric?" Dave supplied.

"Yeah" Aaron said.

"That is the one thing," Dave said.

Aaron looked up at him.

"I hope you're really willing to commit to Penelope because I know she likes him and I could see them having a future together. He can give her what she wants and needs. I have a feeling she would give that up if there was a chance to be with you but it wouldn't be fair to her if down the line you decided that she wasn't the one for you."

Aaron stared blankly at him.

"If it was under any other circumstances I would tell you to go for it and see how it goes but she has something good Aaron and you and I both know she deserves something good. So only go into this if you're really sure about it."

That seemed to sober Aaron up.

"I should go," He said.

"Why don't you stay?" Dave asked "I don't think you're in any state to leave."

"No," Aaron responded, "my place isn't that far and I need the walk to clear my head."

Dave followed Aaron to the door "Are you sure?" Dave asked worriedly.

"Yeah," Aaron said opening the door "oh and thanks for the scotch."

Dave nodded and watched his friend start down the road.

…

Penelope flopped onto her couch when she got home. She curled into a tight ball and let her thoughts consume her.

Emily had just dropped her off.

Penelope groaned when her cell started buzzing and pulled it from her jacket pocket. Her stomach lurched when she saw Eric's grinning face on the caller ID.

Biting her lip she schooled herself to act normal and picked up the phone "Hello?" she said.

"Hey Gorgeous," Eric replied "So…what are you up to?"

."Not much," Penelope said "lazing on the couch, I just got home from work."

"Oh?" Eric asked a teasing quality to his voice "You don't think you might have forgotten something do you?"

"No I…" Penelope began but then it hit her "Oh my gosh, I…we had a date! I had a stressful day at work and totally forgot, I'm so sorry."

"Penelope relax," Eric said calmly "It's fine, I figured as much. I was just calling to make sure you were okay."

Penelope felt her chest tighten painfully, why did Eric have to be such an amazing guy? "That's so sweet…" Penelope mumbled "Yes I'm okay, other than a little tired."

She felt so bad lying to him. How could fate be so cruel? She had never had anyone like Eric or Aaron want her and now she had two. It just wasn't fair.

She didn't know what she was going to do.

"Do you want me to come over?" Eric asked "I could bring you dinner, maybe give you a foot massage…relieve your stress?"

Penelope could hear the arousal in his voice and normally she would have had no objection but the idea of seeing him and having to act normal after the night she had was out of the question.

"As nice as that sounds, I think I'm just going to go to sleep." Penelope answered.

"I understand," Eric said his voice sympathetic "Sweet dreams, I'll call you tomorrow."

"Okay," Penelope said quietly "night."

She hung up the phone doubting there would be anything sweet about her dreams that night.