Chapter 12

December 12, 2008

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Emily was humming as she walked into the bullpen the next day. Though Emmeline and Carissa had been upset their mother had been unable to attend the previous night's concert, Emily knew both girls were well aware Anne adored them through and through. So much so, that Emily had been up late so she could stay and watch the concert with Anne, Emmeline and Carissa. Slight tiredness was a small price to pay to see Anne's reaction and the comfort of her nieces.

She all but tossed her ready bag, freshly packed for the next case, as well as another travel bag, under her desk and almost set her computer bag down on a small, wrapped package on her desk. She wrinkled her brow as she set the bag down just to the side and carefully pulled the card off of the package.

Saw this. Thought of you and children singing Christmas carols.
-Secret Santa

Emily's brow wrinkled. Who the heck could have dropped something on her desk between the previous night and when she walked in this morning? Of course, you left early, her mind reminded her. There was plenty of time for someone to drop a present on her desk. And a Secret Santa? The last time she checked there wasn't a Secret Santa going on in the BAU. Her fingers slid carefully under the tape, lifting the paper off carefully. It was her habit. She unwrapped things with as much precision as she did her job. Inside, was a single package of gourmet hot chocolate.

And suddenly, it all made sense. She couldn't help the way her body warmed at the thought that Hotch had left something on her desk. She wouldn't have figured it out if it wasn't for the reference to children and Christmas carols.

She'd had a fantastic night at the concert. Jack was quite the boy and Emily absolutely adored him. Even so, she'd been surprised when he'd climbed into her lap during the show. Emily had been more than happy to hum along with the songs in the four-year-old's ear. Hotch had moved over during a break in the performances, using the third seat to store their coats and Emily's purse. It had felt a lot like they were there for one of Jack's siblings. At the time, Emily had scolded herself quite thoroughly. Other than the issue of subordinate-supervisor, there was no way Hotch thought of her as anything other than a friend. She'd been there for him after his hearing had gone and she liked to believe her friendship with him was strong. Friends left fun little gifts.

So why hadn't he signed his name?

Hotch had no idea what had possessed him to leave the hot chocolate on her desk. More specifically, had had no idea what had him deciding to buy it in the first place. He'd seen it on his stop for breakfast on the way in and had thought of her. The next thing he knew, he'd picked up the chocolate powder and wrapped it up in fun paper he'd picked up in the nearby convenience store. It had been worth it to see her smile warmly through the blinds in his office.

Which brought him to the second part that had originally baffled him. While he had vowed to himself to go about classically courting the dark-haired woman sitting below in the bullpen, he certainly hadn't expected to start out with such a heartfelt gesture. Emily made him act without thinking, something that was new to him. He didn't do anything without thinking. He didn't take a step without thinking about it first. It was part of what made him so good at his job. Yet, when it came to Emily Prentiss, he'd picked up a package of instant gourmet hot chocolate without thinking.

Speaking of his subordinate, she'd been sitting in the bullpen not five minutes before – he wasn't going to admit how often he'd glanced into the bullpen over the course of the day. Now she was nowhere to be found. He seriously doubted she'd be leaving early two nights in a row. It wasn't generally Emily's style and after working with her for two years, he liked to believe he knew her working habits pretty well. The fact that she'd notified him yesterday of her early departure, also spoke her the chances of her simply leaving without telling anyone. And she owed him her paperwork from the case in Bozeman.

He noticed red before he noticed anything else. New people in the bullpen were rare so he wasn't surprised that everyone's gaze turned to the formally dressed woman. Even though Hotch had seen Emily with her hair curled a number of times, he couldn't remember the last time he'd seen her as formally dressed as she was. He remembered seeing her dressed for fun only a few weeks before as she and Jordan Todd took on the pick-up artist Viper. Now that he looked back on that moment, he'd been very careful not to look at her all dressed to the nines. This time, it was too late by the time he realized it was her not to look.

And he noticed everyone else looking too.

Curls was only the tip of the iceberg. Her makeup was surprisingly simple in comparison to the night she'd headed out to beat Viper at his own game. The dress this time was red with three-quarter length sleeves. The skirt flared at her hips dropping down to her knees. Class met sexy in the deep vee of the neck of the dress. There was no pattern on the fabric, though as she turned, ostensibly to deal with Derek's teasing, he saw the thin string that tied in in a bow at the small of her back. He couldn't take his eyes from her.

His eyes followed her, drawn to her legs as she climbed the metal stairs to his office. He needed something to distract him from how well-defined her calf muscles were in heels.

"In your dreams, Morgan," she called as she stepped through his door. "Hey."

"You're dressed up."

"Anne and I are taking the girls to their annual show of the Nutcracker," she answered. "I'm going straight from here, and since it is quitting time, boss, this is me, heading out for a night at the ballet."

"I didn't take you for a ballet lover," he said, his mouth once again ahead of his brain.

She laughed. "I spent a whole lot of time in Russia, Hotch. The ballet is like a staple."

Why did he always forget that she lived in Russia?

"Plus, Emmy and Carrie like it, so I don't mind going."

"You look beautiful," he told her, honesty and sincerity in his tone.

She blushed. "Thanks. Anyway, here's my Bozeman report. I'll see you Monday."

Emily's mind had not been on the Nutcracker. Which was unfortunate. Emmeline and Carissa hadn't noticed but Anne had known Emily long enough to know when her best friend was not paying attention. "Everything okay?"

"Everything's good," Emily answered, curling her legs beneath her skirt on Anne's couch. And it was. Just... well, confusing.

"I don't believe you."

Emily rolled her eyes at her friend as the other woman took a seat and passed her a glass of wine. Emily had gone back to Anne's apartment to tuck the girls in and catch up. They hadn't had the chance the previous night. "Work is good. Friends are good. Christmas is good."

"And your boss?" Anne crowed in laughter as Emily's cheeks went bright red. "Oh, honey!"

"What?"

"Tell me about it."

The way Anne moved back into the cushions told Emily that she was really going to have to spill. Anne was settling in for a long story. "I don't know what there is to tell."

"This from a woman who couldn't get enough of the little things just over two weeks ago? Something's changed."

Emily blew out a breath. "It's all Jack's fault."

"Jack?"

"Hotchner."

"There's two of them?"

"Oh no. Worse. A father and son."

Anne laughed. "Okay..."

"I helped Jack make a bunch of Christmas decorations about two weeks ago," Emily began. "Occupied him while Hotch finished with his paperwork."

"I don't know what that has to do with the far off look..."

"I'm telling a story," Emily scolded, slapping at her best friend. "Patience."

"When have you known me to be patient?" Anne replied.

"Practice. Those girls are going to hit their teenaged years sooner or later."

"You're avoiding the story."

Emily sighed. "The next night we ended up working late on consults over Christmas music. Then, as you know, there was the case."

"And nothing happened while you were away?" Anne questioned with a raised eyebrow. "Nuh uh, Lady, I want the whole thing. You can't leave things out just because you were 'on a case'."

"He caught me on the phone with Emmy and Carrie."

"Night Before Christmas?"

"Yeah."

"Okay..."

"So I invited him to wrap presents with me for needy kids," Emily replied.

"And it was fun?" Anne mirrored the smile that grew over Emily's face. "I'm still not sure where this becomes a problem."

"It becomes a problem when he brings me my favourite chocolate. It becomes a problem when the warmest and safest I feel is cuddled against him. It becomes a problem when-"

"Whoa! Wait up there, Lady. What is this about cuddling?"

Emily had hoped Anne would just glaze over that little tidbit. Because it was the feeling of Hotch's body that had haunted her dreams almost every night since. And her body could come up with some seriously hot scenarios. "The power and heat went out while we were in Montana," Emily replied. "We were sharing body heat so I could go to sleep."

"Cuddling?"

Emily rolled her eyes. "When I woke up I was wrapped up in his arms."

"And yours were innocently tucked away?" The other woman squealed when Emily ducked her head against her chest. "Emily Prentiss!"

"They were innocently placed," she replied. "Though I can't say the same for his."

Anne's eyes opened comically wide. "What?!"

Emily winced. "Nothing."

"Why do you even bother to try!"

Emily rolled her eyes. "Under my blouse. On my back."

"I told you! Ages ago I told you!" Anne exclaimed

"And ages ago I told you that he was my boss. At the FBI no less. They don't exactly have the most forgiving fraternization policies."

"Is that who the girls were talking about last night? Your friend?"

"He came to the concert with me," Emily agreed with a blush. "He left hot chocolate on my desk this morning."

"Emily Catherine Prentiss, you have to go for it!"

"Fraternization, Annie! And that's just a start," Emily said. "I'm going to head home."

Anne wasn't about to argue. She could only hope as she bid her friend goodnight, reminding her to call when she got home, that one of them would make the first move soon. Emily was head over heels for her supervisor and it was painfully obvious to Anne. Emily deserved happiness of her own and if it was with her boss, then Anne was going to take it upon herself to find a way to have Emily saying screw the fraternization policies.

Somehow...