Hey everyone.

So, I'm calling it done-this story is done as far as I'm concerned. Although, maybe I'll do an epilogue or something but I'm very satisfied with the way this story turned out. (and the support I received was unbelievable so thanks so much!) I got a lot of comments about Hotch being a jerk (putting it nicely) and I have to say that I totally agree with you. At least he is in the first two, I think he redeems himself in this chapter. Honestly I guess I made him sort of a jerk due to ilovetvalot's story Unexpected Surprises (if you haven't read it...what are you waiting for? She's a genius!) Hotch is a really big $$bag in her story and he makes me want to kick him in the shin so unconsciously I was sort of taking that Hotch and using that jerkiness in this story. I didn't mean to in the beginning but it worked.

Please enjoy and review.

I'm a bad boy, for breaking her heart.

~John Mayer (Free Fallin')

- - - - -

Emily found it increasingly difficult to focus on the popcorn when she could feel Aaron's eyes constantly and silently begging her for forgiveness.

At the moment she was at a loss for words but once she had a moment when Jack was nowhere near her and his father, she would find those words once more and let them out. She was not going to berate Hotch when Jack was a few feet away: She wasn't that mean. Emily figured she'd send Jack upstairs to watch a movie in her room as she and Hotch 'got the snacks' and then let him have it. If he thought he could hide behind his son then Aaron Hotchner had another thing coming.

There were some flaws with that scenario though, the major one being after watching a movie with Jack and Hotch it would be really late and no matter how angry Emily was, she wouldn't make Hotch drive at such a late hour when he was obviously exhausted and had his son with him. No, even if she hated his guts she wouldn't let Hotch do something like that. Emily guessed it was a good thing she had a spare bedroom because there was no way she was letting Aaron Hotchner sleep in her bed tonight, she wasn't that forgiving.

It was hard for her to sort her feelings into perfect little boxes.

On one hand she was glad he was there, making an effort to right his wrongs; on the other she wished he'd never come because his presence only sent her spinning deeper into a chaos vent of molted emotions that couldn't get along. She wanted him and didn't at the same time. So much for consistency.

Hotch for his part was waiting for her lecture and found his nerves electric with tension and anxiety. If she wanted to yell at him, he wished she'd get it over with already. It was true he was a patient man, but when it came to the affairs of the heart his sense of time and meaning flew out the window. It didn't help that his own son had scolded him for hurting Emily either. He couldn't catch a break, but Hotch felt like he didn't deserve one in the first place.

Hotch looked away from Emily and saw his son sitting comfortably on her couch drifting in and out of consciousness. Hotch felt his guilt increase ten-fold but the fact Jack had insisted on coming when Hotch had picked him up and explained that he had to get some things for Emily real quick made him smile for a second. Jack had no problem loving Emily unlike his father. Hotch's smile faded as the microwave went off, signaling that the popcorn was done.

Emily grabbed a large bowl and poured the popcorn in before walking past Hotch out of the kitchen and into the living room where she stopped. Jack was out like a light, snuggling with the fleece blanket Emily had been covered up with earlier. She sighed, but with a fond smile set firmly on her lips, Emily put the bowl down and picked the little boy up in her arms. She had to admit Jack certainly was a deterint for her rage at his father and maybe if she kept in mind he was upstairs, she wouldn't yell at Hotch as loudly as she would: If she yelled at all that is.

Hotch waited patiently downstairs as Emily tucked his son in. He didn't try to ignore the warmth in his heart as he pictured her kissing Jack's forehead after tucking the blankets snugly against his small body. She was a natural with children, especially Jack.

It seemed to take Emily no time to walk down her stairs with a small smile on her face. Hotch briefly wondered what had caused that smile but once her eyes met his and her smile disappeared he realized, with a new bought of anxiety, that they were going to talk now. He opened his mouth to speak but Emily shook her head.

"Don't, just don't," she said with an air of sadness that made Hotch's mouth run dry. He couldn't for the life of him figure out how to make this right. He decided it was best to do as she said though and let her lead however she wanted to. He owed her than and so much more.

Emily wasn't ready for this, but she had to deal with Hotch sooner or later: She preferred sooner so they could dispel the awkward cloud that hung over them like a thick smog. There was so much she wanted to say to him, but she was torn between hitting him and kissing him. Indecision sucked.

Emily took a deep breath in and watched as Hotch stared at her letting her lead. Emily had to give him points for that: Aaron Hotchner didn't step down gracefully often.

"I don't know what you hoped to accomplish by coming here tonight, but let me just say bringing Jack was low." Emily began, feeling Jack was a safe starting point. She paused but didn't let him defend himself because the minute he opened his mouth and formed those sentences Emily was sure would render her incapable, she would lose this fight she rightly deserved.

"Honestly I'm surprised you showed up at all. I was under the impression you wanted to pretend nothing ever happened between us." Emily said letting her hands rest on her thighs not trusting them to not throw something at Hotch who was silent. She almost wished he'd try and defend himself, but shoved that wish into a deep part of her heart. She wanted to vent and by God he was going to have to take it like a man.

"I get it, why you ended it. Really I do. It's true though, that Jack could get hurt and you know I'd never hurt him on purpose. I never intended for him to grow so attached to me, but things like that you just can't control: And I'm not about to pretend that I haven't grown quiet fond of him as well." Emily said letting the words flow from her mouth as they popped into her head.

Hotch nodded and waited for her to continue. He wanted her to let it all out. It was therapeutic.

"What I don't get is why you ran from me." Emily said, her voice a soft echo in her apartment. Hotch studied her as she shook her head as if her words didn't quite fit.

"No, I do know why: You're scared I get that. But I'm scared too and you don't see me running with my tail between my legs because someone is getting closer than I originally intended." Emily said hotly feeling the dam she had created to hold back her intense emotions crack under the pressure of Hotch's steady gaze.

"You can't possibly expect to show up, after getting ripped a new one by Dave or whoever, and make everything okay. It doesn't work like that. You should know that already." Emily said a fire burning in her dark eyes.

Hotch felt frozen in place as Emily's emotions spiraled like a great flame burning him. The anger he could take, it was the tears he couldn't. He hoped she'd put those off as long as she could.

"I mean, shit Aaron! I'm not sure whether or not to laugh because you actually showed up or kick your ass out of my apartment and make you suffer like I suffered!" Emily all but shouted, still mindful of the sleeping boy upstairs.

Hotch tired to hold back his flinch at her words. Foyet he could take, but Emily Prentiss was on another level entirely. She scared him in a way no one else had, after all she was armed and very dangerous. He had wronged her and as far as he was concerned she had every right to shot him. He didn't think she would, but at the wild look in her eyes Hotch began to wonder.

Emily paused to collect herself. He always made her so unhinged and passionate whether about sex or other things. It was true he made her feel alive, but this kind of pain was too much. She didn't want him if it meant feeling her heart break with every time he looked at her. She looked at him and silently gave him his cue to jump in and try to save himself before she ripped into him again. She needed to hear his voice, unsure of its effects on her.

Recognizing the sign, Hotch cleared his throat and looked down at the floor before meeting her ambivalent eyes.

"I'm not sure what to say. I…I screwed up and I wouldn't blame you if you didn't forgive me. I realized though that I can't just run away when I become afraid because that's not fair to you." Hotch said sincerely, trying desperately to string the proper words together.

Emily listened and felt her anger lessen to a dull burning in the pit of her heart as she absorbed his words. He wasn't trying to snake his way out of the blame he so rightly deserved and Emily remembered that it was his ability to accept his wrongs that drew her to him. He tackled challenges head on and if he did damage he took the repercussions like a man. Emily almost wished he'd fight her so it would be easier to be angry at him, but when he stood there so calm and accepting it deflated her rage towards him.

"I didn't think about you in the beginning. I didn't think about what our actions would cause and for that I am sorry. I don't regret being with you though, I just wished I had seen the signs and faced my feelings instead of hurting you." Hotch's words made Emily's heart twitch in a bittersweet emotion. If he kept saying things like that she'd never be able to fully express her inner rage and sadness: He had to be cheating.

"Looking back, I was faced to confront that which I've grown to fear: Falling in love and then waking up one morning in a cold bed because I screwed up again," he confessed seeing Emily's eyes widen at his confession. He knew coming into this he'd have to be honest and if that meant baring his soul to her, he'd do it. Anything to get her back.

Emily swallowed the lump in her throat, feeling the knots in her stomach tighten. This was not what she imagined. She had wanted him to open up to her for a very long time and now he was standing in her living room basically opening his heart for her to look in and see what went on in there. It was both exciting and terrifying: Just like him, just like loving him.

"I'd never hurt you: I thought you knew that." Emily said with conviction and a truth too powerful to be ignored.

Hotch broke eye contact to look at his hands. Emily covered her shock with a cool mask. Hotch never looked away.

"I know Emily, if there's anything you've shown me over the years it's that I can trust you with anything; my life and my heart…" Hotch broke off, unsure of where he was going with this. If she didn't forgive him Hotch truly feared he'd be in that cold bed for the rest of his life and at the same time it was difficult for him to talk of such things.

Emily bit her bottom lip as she witnessed the inner struggle Hotch fought through as he summoned up the courage he needed to prove to Emily he could do this. He could make them work-he would make them work.

"I don't always say everything I should. I'm horrible about expressing myself and since Foyet I've been afraid to let you get close, for fear of losing you. Before Foyet though, I was hesitant about letting people in. I didn't want to feel like I failed another woman because of my inability to be that man. The doting husband, the father who's always there…I didn't want to disappoint you and watch you walk away from me; but t seems by not taking that risk that I managed to push you away and I can't stress how much I hate that."

Emily felt her eyes sting with the tears she had been withholding all night.

Hotch was quiet, letting his words hang in the air. He didn't know if he could say more. He feared saying those three words in case she found them lacking. He wanted to tell her on their terms, on a more solid ground. They should never be used as a way back into someone's heart especially when they could end up being used as weapons against that person's heart. She had to know though: He had to tell her with more conviction that he couldn't lose her.

"Emily I can't lose you. I'll do whatever it takes." Hotch said matching his blazing eyes with her watery ones. They clashed like yin and yang and yet complimented each other like men and women often do.

Silence permeated the tense atmosphere for a few painful minutes before Emily spoke.

"This isn't a three strikes and you're out situation Aaron. There's only so much my heart can take and if you break it again I will not let you back in because there will be nothing left." Emily said quietly staring Hotch down, letting him know she was dead serious.

Hotch nodded trying to quell the hope that soared in his chest at her words. She was giving him a second chance. He couldn't breathe. Emily saw the spark in Hotch's eyes and felt her face soften until a small smile graced its surface. Suddenly the feet between them felt like miles and they made their way to each other like magnets.

Emily couldn't help herself. She wanted him in the best way and as she replayed his words over in her head she heard the unsaid words that crept between the lines. Her eyes burned with joy laced tears but she was still careful. She believed he wanted her and he was going to try, but she wasn't one-hundred percent fixed. It would take time.

Hotch wrapped his arms around her the second she was in reach and she melted into his welcoming embrace. Hotch kissed the top of her head gently, deciding it was best not to push in any way until she was ready. She was still hurting and Hotch knew he'd have to really prove to her he could do this.

Honestly, she wasn't asking for a lot. She just wanted him to stay and as she snuggled tightly into his arms and Hotch breathed her in he realized he was never going to run from her again.

There was no where else he's rather be and if he had to spend the rest of his life proving that to her, then so be it. He had time-they had time.

- - - - - -

Perhaps the feelings that we experience when we are in love represent a normal state.

Being in love shows a person who he should be.

~Anton Chekhov

Well there you have it. Now I can focus on The Changing Tides, which I hope to have the 8th chapter of up by tomorrow (goodness this story arc had gotten wild and out of control-i like it!) So keep those eyes pealed for that goody. Also let me know if I should do an epilogue thing with this, I have 5 days off after tomorrow so I can dedicate those to college stuff (for I graduate High School in June) and fanfic writing (which I'll continue for a very long time) I hope you enjoyed this story.

Peace out.