She walked across the back stage area to Rossi. "I'm sorry! I should have told you were I was."

He studied her face and noticed the purple shadows under her eyes, he took in her appearance noticing she'd lost weight.

"Yes, you should have. We've been looking for you. I went to San Antonio, they said you turned down the job. You just disappeared! Why?"

"I was going to take the cowards way out and run. I decided to stay here, I wanted to get to know you..."

"Then why leave the BAU? Why hide in plain sight?"

"I didn't leave the BAU. I was pulled because of my relationship with Aaron, because you're my father. There's a difference. Then Aaron broke my heart. I didn't even know if you wanted a relationship with me..."

"You didn't give me a chance.."

Another instructor poked his head behind the curtain. "Izzy, it's time to start case studies! "

"I'll be right there Adam." She started to walk away, when he reached out to stop her.

"Can we have dinner tonight? "

"I'd like that." She wrote down her adress. "I get done here at 4, see you at 5?" She hugged him before she walked away.

"Did take you to be a fangirl Cooper!"

"Zip it Leeds! That's my dad!" She walked away to start her afternoon of case studies with the cadets.

"Wait, Dave Rossi is your dad? How did I not know this?

"Long story!"

XXX

Aaron watched her walking away with the man from the auditorium. The sunlight was reflecting off her hair, she threw back her head and laughed at something he said. He knew he had no right to be but he was jealous. She had moved on fast, it had only been nine weeks since he ended their relationship. He was still picking up the pieces.

"She's lost weight." Morgan said.

"I hadn't noticed." Came Aaron's reply.

"Come on Hotch. Why are you doing this to yourself. Go over there and get her back."

"I can't. She's moved on, can't you see that?"

"No, I don't see it.."

XXX

Izzy stopped walking with Adam and looked over to the black SUVS, she felt eyes watching her. She was tempted to walk over and talk to the occupants but she didn't have time. She had to get the cadets started on the case studies.

She closed her eyes and wiped away a tear, she didn't think she would ever be able to think of Aaron without crying. She pulled open the door and walked into the gym.

"Good afternoon Cadets. Today you'll be working on actual FBI cases. Before you are crime scenes for you to process. The clues will lead you to your Unsub. Each of you picked a poker chip when you came in the door. This is your team, meet up, find your scene and get busy. Good luck future crime fighters! "

She sat down and let them get started. There were arguments on team leaders, which direction they should take, who found a leed. After a hour of arguments, she and they other instructors had marked off for teamwork.

They were getting no where fast. "Cadets, you are working as individuals, you need to work as a team. Put your packets and notes down. We'll pick this up tomorrow."

Izzy checked her watch she was going to be late, she drove home. Rossi met her at the door "Give me 5 minutes. "

He came in and sat on the couch, she rushed into the bed room and changed clothes.

"Sorry, I was late."

"I take it the afternoon didn't go well?"

"They have a lot to learn about teamwork."

He put his arm around her waist and guided her to the car. He drove them to a quiet restaurant in town.

"I'm sorry for everything. "

"Tell me what happened. "

"Cruz came to Aaron's apartment and told me I couldn't be apart of the team anymore because of our relationship. It was too dangerous. I should have called Aaron and told him, but I was upset and confused. I went back to my townhouse to put things in perspective and think. I couldn't do it at Aaron's. Cruz said he'd tell the team. I ignored calls, I was wrapped up in my own hurt and confusion. I fell asleep, I listened to my voicemails, I called Aaron back and left him a message. He called me back and ended our relationship. I told him to be sure because I wouldn't be around if he changed his mind. He told me he was. The next day I made my decision, I had my choice of three places. I chose Texas, I got there, fully intending on accepting the position, something changed my mind when I got there. Since the academy had requested me as an instructor, I accepted."

She took a drink of her wine, and waited for his response. "Why not tell me? Did you blame me for be removed from the team? For you and Aaron?"

"No! I was afraid of being rejected by you too. The man I was in love with..." She started to cry.

"Izzabelle...please don't cry. Why would you think that?"

"I'm sorry, it was just something I had in my head."

He took her hand. "I could never reject you...I'm proud to be your dad!"

"Thanks."

"Do you still love him?"

She knew better then to even attempt to lie. "Yes. God help me. I still love him. Being that close to him today was torture."

"What about the young man that came for you this afternoon?"

"Adam?"

"You two seemed close."

"We are, but he's engaged! We are just friends."

They finished their meal, Rossi took her home, he kissed her on the cheek and hugged her. "I'll call you later in the week."

"Good night dad." It rolled off her tongue before she could stop it, she tensed waiting to see his reaction. He turned and smiled at her.

"Good night kid."

She went inside her apartment and sat down, tonight hadn't gone half bad. She locked the door and got ready for bed, tomorrow was going to be a long day.

XXX

Rossi walked into Aaron's office. "We need to talk!"

"What's going on Dave?"

"It's about Izzy?"

"I rather not talk about personal business." He said in a defensive tone.

"Good thing most of it is work related. Did you know she didn't quit the team Cruz removed her because of us. She went to her house to think, she ignored our calls because she was trying to get perspective. Yes, she should have called you as soon as she found out."

"What?"

"I know, that's not the story we got. She did plan on running away to Texas to start over, but changed her mind. She was requested for her current position so she took it."

Dave stared at Aaron waiting for him to say something, anything. "Thank you for telling me."

"That's all you have to say?"

"What do you want me to say?"

"That you still love her! Don't bother lying, we all know you do. We saw your reaction when the cadet said her name yesterday."

"She's moved on, it's too late."

"Then go fight for her! It's never too late."

"She warned me she wouldn't be around if I changed my mind."

"She is around, go get her!" Rossi left Aaron's office going back to his own.

Aaron knew it was too late, he'd seen her yesterday with the other man. He couldn't interfere with her happiness.

XXX

The cadets did better with the case studies today, they started working together as a team. They were able to put together a profile and search for an unsub, they missed several things. The instructors went over the case notes, grading them, making notes on what went wrong. One team was able to arrest the unsub and rescue the victim. The other three teams didn't fair as well, they had to go over and redo the case study.

Izzy was tired when she got home, she just wanted to eat dinner and go to bed. She started the final phase of training tomorrow for the FBI triathlon, she and a couple of other instructors were running in it, next month. She was already in excellent shape, she just need to bring everything together. In the morning she was going for a long run before work, she headed to bed early.

She had settled down and was just about asleep when her phone, beeped singalong a text message. She rolled over to check her phone, she was surprised to see it was from Aaron.

Thinking of you always! Sweet dreams! Aaron

She wasn't sure how to respond, she decided to ignore his text. Maybe he texted her by mistake or he was drunk texting. She rolled over and went to sleep, five am was awful early and she wanted to get at least seven to ten miles in before work.

She groaned when her alarm went off, she rolled out of bed and got dressed. She stretched out and hit the streets, it felt good to run. It helped clear her mind, put things in perspective. She thought about Aaron's text last night, she decided it was probably meant for someone else. She felt a pang of jealous, he had obviously moved on. Maybe she should try to move on too, as much as she still loved him, she needed to get over him.

She had made good time on her run, she ran a lap around the block to cool down. She stretched out, so her muscles wouldn't cramp up. Her phone beeped, she pulled it out of her pocket and Che ked her messages.

Hope you have a wonderful day! Still thinking of you! Aaron

She looked at her phone and made a face, obviously he'd lost his ever loving mind. Sending her two texts. She climbed the stairs to her apartment, unlocking the door. She kicked off her shoes and called her dad.

"Belle, good morning! '

"Morning dad!"

"What can I do for you?"

"Let Aaron know he's texting the wrong women. He's texted me twice now."

"Why do you think it's a mistake? "

"Has he lost his mind?"

He chuckled. "I don't think so."

"Just tell him, he texted me by mistake. I've got to go." She ended the call and headed to the shower. She had enough time to get ready for work, and get a cup of coffee.

XXX

Rossi sat back and smiled he was glad that Aaron took his advice, now if his daughter would stop being stubborn. He was interested in seeing how Aaron planned on winning Izzy's affections back. He finished his coffee and headed to the office, he thought to himself things are about to get interesting.

XXX

Aaron was a little disappointed and concerned sent two texts to Izzy and no response. He didn't want to ask Garcia or JJ for help but he might have too. Just to see where Izzy's heart and head was at, if he really stood a chance to getting her couldn't ask Dave that wouldn't be fair to either one of them.

He picked up his phone and dialed a number. "Garcia, I need a favor. It involves a matter of the heart. Will you help me?"

"Sir...of course! "

"It's a secret mission."

"Understood sir. When do I start?"

"Today. Come to my office and bring JJ."

The two ladies listened to his plan, they looked at each other and smiled. "We're in!"

XXX

It was Friday afternoon, it had been a long week. She;d been getting texts from Aaron all week, she thought if she ignored them he'd stop, but it seemed to just encourage him. Her phone beeped for the third time that day, she rolled her eyes and checked her messages.

Meet me for dinner tonight...please? Aaron

She had enough, she sent him a text back.

I don't know what kind of crazy kool aid you're drinking over at the BAU, but please stop texting me. Cooper.

She put her phone down, in her back and got ready to run the obstacle course with her cadets, she found it was a great moral booster and it helped keep her in shape. She finished the course well ahead of most of the cadets, there were a few right on her heels. She high fived them and waited for the rest of her cadets to finish, she dismissed them after the last one finished. She walked back to where she left her back and a single red rose was laying on top, with a card that read:

"If I had a flower for every time I thought of you...I could walk though my garden forever" Lord Alfred Tennyson

Adam read the card over her shoulder. "Whoa! Who's that from Iz?"

"I have an idea."

"Do tell!"

"A certain crazy BAU Unit Chief. I don't know what he's doing."

"Looks like he's trying to win you back."

"I don't know if I want to be won back. I need someone who isn't going to run at the first sign of trouble, or when things change. He's done that twice now. I can't take another heart break."

"You still love him, don't you? The last time we talked..."

"I've been thinking about moving on...I'll see you tomorrow. We're still meeting at six for triathlon training? "

"Yeah, here at the pool." He watched her walk away, at least she didn't throw the card and flower away. She took it with her.

Adam pulled out his phone. "I'm not sure you're going to win her back...she talked about moving on. She got it!"