Disclaimer: Nothing new – I'm still just a dow'ner...

Author's note: Have I mentioned how cool you guys are? Actually reading my stuff! TY!

Anyway – I feel kind of sorry for Hotch all of a sudden. Dating really isn't that easy!

He sat at his desk in his office. He leaned back in his chair and marveled at the fact that the meeting with Strauss hadn't drained all of his energy. Instead he felt rather energized. He flipped through some of the papers when suddenly the thought hit him. Had he just invited Annie Adams, his son's nursery teacher out?

Hotch felt his light mood darken and the usual frown return. He rose from his chair and walked determined towards the door when Prentiss knocked on it and peeked inside.

"Hey Hotch, I have a question concerning this..."

"Not now," Hotch interrupted her and strolled past her and rushed to Rossi's office.

Morgan gave Prentiss a quizzing look which she returned with a shrug.

Hotch shut the door after him and gave Rossi a dark look.

"I need your help." Rossi returned the look with concern.

"With what?"

"I think I invited her out."

Rossi leaned back and laughed. "You made me all nervous there old boy. Congratulations!"

Hotch settled in the chair in front of Rossi's desk.

"I don't think you quite get how serious this is. I haven't been on a date for years. I haven't been on a first date since High School." The smug grin on Rossi's face withered away as Hotch described his situation. "I have absolutely no idea of what when and how. I feel positively helpless, and way too old to go down this path again."

"What did she say?"

"What did who say?"

""The woman you think you invited out."

"Oh, yes." Rossi's eyebrows rose.

"Then what's the problem. Most of us find the accepting part of dating to be the hardest part." He gave Hotch a knowing look. He just looked back blankly.

"So, what did you agree on."

Hotch sighed heavily and closed his eyes. "Nothing really." He opened his eyes and glanced at the paintings on the walls. "I said I would like to take her out as a thank you for looking after Jack and she said it sounded okay..." He turned his eyes to Rossi again. "What do women mean by okay?"

"That's really a question you should ask of a woman. I've been divorced three times – I have absolutely no idea." The older agent tried hard to hide his amusement, but the situation and state of the Unit Chief was just to unusual. He smiled. "But it sounds to me like you just have to call her and plan a date." Hotch tensed body revealed how uncomfortable and scared he felt. "Find a day, a place and call and ask her if it's alright with her."

"What kind of place?"

"Ask her what kind of food she likes and find a restaurant to match. It should be that hard." Hotch nodded thoughtfully.

"Then you pick her up. Eat dinner with her. Talk about books, music, films, and whatever comes to mind. Then you bring her home and say goodnight."

Hotch looked at him doubt in his eyes. "It's that easy?"

"It really is." Rossi watched his friend and colleague rise and walk towards the door. "One thing you should remember though." Hotch stopped and looked at him. "For God's sake, don't talk about work!"

Oh my God, oh my God, oh my God! He asked her out! Annie couldn't believe how lucky she was. She was doing her best not to throw herself at table in front of her and scream from happiness.

As she walked to her bus stop she found it hard not to dance and sing.

The bus driver gave her a disturbed look when she shot at big smile at him and paid the bus fee. She found a seat and looked out her window with a dreamy look on her face. He actually asked her out! On a date! Or wait... The smiled faltered and her mood dropped. Was this an actual date?

Doubt swelled in her chest as she went through her purse in the search for her cell phone. There was only one person who could solve this.

I need 2 talk 2 you! She wrote and watched her phone impatiently when she waited for the reply.

I'm at work right now. What's the rush?

Emergency! She could feel the tears of frustration in her eyes. This was why she hadn't dated for so long.

I'll be at your apartment in 30. If anyone asks you fell down the stairs.

Whatever, just hurry. She clutched her phone tightly and wished for the bus to move faster.

The kettle boiled when she heard the urgent knocks on her door.

"What's going on?" She poured the water in two coffee mugs and turned to face her sister.

"He asked me out." Charlotte slipped off her jacket and rested against the kitchen table.

"Clothes-crisis?"

"I'm not sure if this is a date or not." Annie watched her sister frown.

"What do you mean?"

"He wants to take me to dinner, but I'm not sure what he means with it?"

"You've completely lost me."

Annie told about the get-together in Starbucks as they took their coffee to the living room.

"So what you're saying are," Charlotte summed up as she settled on the couch. "Is, that he – out of the blue – offered to pay for you babysitting his son by taking you to dinner."

Annie nodded. "After we just spent almost an hour..."

"After you spent an hour together."

"Mostly talking about his son." Charlotte looked thoughtful for a moment.

"But not entirely about his son?"

"No," Annie smiled shyly. "He made a few jokes."

"So you had some fun too."

"And he smiled!"

"... Well... That's... good?" Charlotte felt a bit taken aback. In her experience men smiled from the moment they spotted her to the moment the fell asleep afterwards. Now she watched her sister's face light up as she thought about a single smile.

"He doesn't smile very often."

"He sounds a bit gloomy." She received a stern look from her sister. "He doesn't smile very often? Come on!"

"He works for the FBI – he catches serial killers for a living – how much would that make you smile?"

"... Anyway! I think it's a date. You have something in common and had a bit of fun too. It sounds to me like he likes you."

"I just knew you were the right one to call!"

"Of course." She gave her baby sister a reassuring smile. "Now, what are you going to wear?"

I hate dating.