A/N I own nothing.

Emily looked at her watch. It was just a few minutes after one, she was supposed to leave to go meet Aaron for lunch. This was the most annoying part of the clandestine relationship. They would leave the office at different times and meet up at the restaurant and then have to leave the restaurant at different times. Before they had dated they would on occasion have lunch together. No one had said anything. It was no big deal. But now they had to be sneaky. If they were going to fool the world's greatest profilers, they couldn't give them any clues.

Hotch was on his way out of the office when his office phone rang. He knew he shouldn't answer it, but he couldn't help himself. "Agent Hotchner." As the voice on the other end started speaking. He paled. Oh my God.

Emily had almost gotten to her car when her cell phone rang. "Agent Prentiss."

"Hello is this Emily Prentiss speaking?"

"Yes who is this?"

"I am sorry to inform you but your mother Ambassador Prentiss has been found shot. She is dead, ma'am."

Emily's world narrowed to only the sound of the person on the other end of the phone. "What did you say?"

"Your mother is dead. We need you to come to the morgue and identify the remains."

"Yeah ok thank you." Her world was spinning. And as she lost her balance a pair of strong hands grabbed her steadying her. And then she smelled him. And she calmed just a little bit.

"It's ok honey. Easy. I got you."

"Aaron my-."

"I know your mom's dead. I just got a call."

"How did you get a call before me?"

"Your mother was a high profile target. They want us to catch the guy who killed her."

"They need me to go to the morgue, and identify …"

"C'mon I'll drive you." He put his arm around her waist and guided her to her car. He took her keys and opened the door for her.

They drove in silence. Hotch didn't know what to say. What can you say in a moment like this? Everything sounds trite and clichéd. Emily was lost in her own thoughts.

They stood outside the room where her mother's body lay. Emily couldn't go in. If she didn't see the body it wouldn't be real. As long as she stayed outside it was just a bad dream.

Hotch held her to his chest. He was going to be her rock. She could lean on him, like he had leaned on her during the Foyet ordeal. He silently stoked her back, and massaged the back of her head. She sighed and he felt some of the tension leave her body. "Are you ready to do this? Cause we can stand here all day, and I'll make sure no one says anything even if they close. I'll make sure you see the body."

Emily smiled at her boyfriend. My boyfriend. It was first time she called him that even if it was only in her mind. "I don't think I'll ever be ready. But let's get this over with."

"I'll be right beside you."

"Thank you."

The walked in. The M.E. pulled out a drawer that held the body of Elizabeth Prentiss. Emily let out a gasp, and buried her face into Hotch's shoulder. The tears that she had been holding back started to flow.

She's dead. She's really dead. How did this happen? Who would do this? What am I going to do now? Forgotten for the moment were her complicated emotions about her mother. All that was in her mind was grief and confusion.

/

They drove in silence. They got to a stop sign. If they went left they would go to Emiy's place. Right would be Hotch's house and Jack's school. Hotch looked at Emily, she was still glancing out into the distance seeing nothing. "Em, do you want me to drop you off at your place?"

"Don't you have to pick up Jack?"

"I do. But do you want to see him today? After everything?"

She looked at him. They sat there in silence. "Let's go pick up Jack. Being around him might do me some good."

They drove to the school in silence. They both knew that the silence would soon be gone and wouldn't come back until late tonight.

Jack bound into the car a whirlwind of five year old activity. "Hey daddy. Hi Emmy."

"Hey buddy"

Emily put a smile on her face. It wasn't fake, well not totally fake. She loved this boy. Deep in her heart she thought someday he might be mine. Haley would always be his mother, but she would love him just as much. "Hey Jack."

"Emmy what's wrong?"

Emily smiled inwardly. It was amazing how perceptive this five year old boy was. So like his father. "Nothing baby, I'm just tired."

Jack nodded satisfied with her answer. And immediately started to regale the adults with tales of his day at school.

The three spent the day having fun. They went to the park and played for a while. Afterwards thy got ice cream. Then they went home, and enjoyed the evening together.

Later after Jack had gone to bed, when the silence descended on the house. Emily stared out a window.

"Hey beautiful girl."

Emily smiled but it never made it past the top of her lips.

Hotch walked over and put his arms around her and lightly kissed her neck.

Emily closed her eyes and leaned back into his arms. It was odd that she needed this comfort. She couldn't remember one time her mother had said that she loved her. She didn't know why she cared. But she did. She cared a great deal.

"Did you have fun today?" Hotch said breaking the silence.

"I did, Jack is an odd balm. But he was just what I needed." She turned in his arms and rested her head on his chest.

They stood in silence and she listened to his heart beat. They stood wrapped in each others arms for a long time. After an eternity she pulled towards the bedroom.

"Are you sure?"

"I need this. I need to feel alive. I need to forget. Make me forget."

Later she slept. She slept peacefully. Outside of this recent tragedy she was happy. She had a family for the first time ever she had a family. And the man that lay beside her kept her safe. He kept the nightmares at bay. And for the first time since she had gotten that phone call she smiled.

A/N Hopefully you enjoyed this latest chapter, if so drop a line in the reviews and all day long you might have good luck.