Emily followed behind Hotch in her car and parked in the spot next to him. They made their way up to Hotch's apartment in comfortable silence. Opening the door, Emily heard small feet running across the floor and was pleasantly surprised when a loud "EM'LY!" came towards her.

The young agent squatted down and opened her arms to the young boy who happily ran into them and wrapped his smaller ones tightly around her neck. "Hi Jack!" Emily beamed as she ran her hands quickly up and down the boys back.

"What are you doing here Em'ly? Daddy didn't say you were coming over! If I knew I would have cleaned my room."

Laughing softly Emily pulled back slightly to look into Jack's eyes. "I didn't know I was coming."

"Emily is going to be staying with us for a while Jack, is that okay?" Hotch asked his son as he fought the smile that was threatening to grace his lips as he watched his son interact with someone he cared deeply for.

"She is?" he quickly asked his father before turning his gaze back to Emily. "You are? Can you sleep in my room? We are going to have so much fun," the young boy rambled on as he wrapped his arms back around Emily's neck and nuzzled his face in her neck.

"I am," she confirmed as she smiled again. Somehow this little boy always knew how to make the world seem like a better place. His innocence had a way of making her wish that she was going to be spending time with him under different circumstances.

"How about we cook Emily some dinner Jack?" Hotch asked and felt that smile finally come into play as he watched his son's head snap up and a large grin attack his small face. "Would you like to help me buddy?"

"Yes! I'll go wash my hands!" he squealed as he ran towards the bathroom.

Standing up Emily held a hand up, "Hotch I don't want you to change your routine because I'm here. You don't have to cook me dinner. It's late and I know Jack already ate, so please don't go through any extra trouble because of me."

"I'm not," Hotch lied. "You have to eat don't you? Besides I'll eat with you."

Before another word could be said on the subject, Jack skipped back into the room and showed his father his hands. "All clean daddy, let's cook Em'ly dinner," he cheered as he grabbed a hold of his father's hand and pulled him towards the kitchen.

Laughing along the way at Jack's excitement Hotch turned his gaze back to Emily. "Go, sit, and relax Prentiss. Watch some TV if you want, the controller is on the table." Seeing Emily's discomfort he pulled his hand out of Jack's and walked over to her. "Stop thinking so much. It's dinner, no special treatment, I promise. And don't worry about anything else, you're safe here. I would never put you or my son in danger. Believe that," he stated firmly as he turned her around and gave her a gentle push towards the couch. "Dinner will be served shortly," he informed her as he made his way back to his son.

Emily plopped down on the couch and ran a hand through her long hair. Regardless of what Hotch told her to do her mind traveled to Arnold. Where did he get that picture of her from? Why did he only have her picture in his cell? How did he escape and why would he be coming after her? What was she supposed to do? Stay here until he was found? Karl might not even be coming after her, and if that was the case, he was never going to be found, and did that mean that she was going to be stuck living here forever? Forever, she thought to herself, that wouldn't be bad at all.

Her thoughts traveled from Karl to Hotch and she couldn't help but smile. Her feelings for her unit chief were becoming increasingly stronger and she wasn't sure she could deal with it. There were rules against being together and if he wasn't willing to leave the BAU for Haley, she had no doubt in her mind that he would never do anything to jeopardize his position there for her. Sadness washed over her when she realized that no matter how much she wanted the man who was currently in the kitchen making her dinner with his son, she was never going to have him. It wasn't destined to be. Emily knew Hotch blamed himself for taking her along to see Arnold in the first place, so he felt the need to protect her, but thinking that it would be better to stay with Morgan crossed her mind. She made a mental note to tell him that later.

Before her thoughts could run away with her anymore Jack rushed over to her side. "Dinner is ready Em'ly." Grasping her hand firmly he led the way to the dinner table where Hotch had two plates set up. Macaroni and cheese was placed in between the plates waiting patiently for the two agents to dig in.

"Okay buddy how about you go get your pajamas on and brush your teeth and pick a book for me to read and I'll be in to tuck you in once we're done," Hotch said.

"Okay," Jack whined slightly at not being able to spend more time with Emily. "Night Em'ly," he said as he wrapped his arms around her again.

"Good night Jack. Thanks for making dinner," she smiled and ran her hand through his soft hair.

"You're welcome!" he blushed and ran away towards his room.

"He likes you."

Emily looked up and saw the look on Hotch's face at his words. "I'm glad," she smiled. "I like him too." She watched as Hotch dished some macaroni onto her plate then his own. She took two bites before she took a deep breath because she knew Hotch wasn't going to like what was going to leave her mouth. "I was thinking it might be better for me to stay with Morgan while everyone searches for Arnold."

Hotch put his fork down and a flash of hurt ran over his face before he schooled his features. "Why would that be better?"

Squirming slightly under his gaze, she felt her heart speed up. "He doesn't have a child that he might be putting in danger because I'm staying with him."

"I already told you Emily, I would never put Jack in danger. If I thought you staying here would cause him harm, I would never have offered."

"Yes you would have," she said quickly. Hotch arched an eyebrow and waited for her to continue. "You feel guilty because you took me with you when we went to the prison. But I don't know how many times I have to tell you that you don't. You didn't send him that picture of me, and you didn't let him escape. None of this is your fault, so I don't think you should feel like you need to protect me when you have Jack to worry about."

Hotch leaned back in his seat and sighed softly. "He has a picture of you because I had you bait him. I used you Emily to get what we needed, and now look where that led. He has escaped and he's after you. There is no way that that is not my fault."

"You have no idea that he's after me, he didn't—"

"I have no doubt in my mind that he's after you Emily! And regardless of what you may think, this is my fault, so you are staying here until we find him. There's no more to discuss!" he stated as he picked his fork back up to continue eating his dinner.

"God you're so stubborn!" she cried out in frustration. "You aren't listening to what I'm saying."

"I am listening, but you aren't saying anything that is worth discussing, now please finish your dinner before it gets cold. I'm sorry it wasn't something better, but it's late and Jack and I are good at making it."

Emily shut her eyes to calm herself. She didn't want to fight with him, there were more pressing matters, and she didn't want to make things strained between them. If she was going to be staying there she needed them to be on speaking terms.

"Thank you for dinner," she said softly before locking eyes with Hotch.

"You're welcome." After that the pair finished their dinner in silence and Hotch said he'd return after he tucked Jack in.

Emily reached down and picked up her go bag from the floor and started towards the spare bedroom. Flicking on the light she smiled at how spotless the room was. Clearly Jack didn't play in here at all. She placed her bag lightly on the bed and started to remove her earrings.

"Is this okay?" Hotch's voice startled the beauty.

Turning around to face Hotch she put a smile on her face. "Of course."

"The bathroom is down the hall and my room is straight back. If you need anything at all, let me know."

Emily nodded, "will do."

"Night Emily," he said softly before starting to close the door.

"Night," Emily whispered, "see you in the morning." She watched as Hotch nodded and tightly shut her door. Emily sat down on the bed and flopped back so she was lying down. Tomorrow she'd have to start over when she tried to talk to him. There would have to be no more talk about staying somewhere else, and no more about him being guilty. They would need to focus on finding Karl Arnold so things could go back to normal and she could go back to her apartment. She wasn't sure how long she could sleep down the hall from the man who without knowing it held her heart.