Revelations

Hotch was meeting Beth at a cafe to have a serious discussion about their future. Beth had told him before the case she'd taken a job in New York and given him time to think about what he wanted to do.

During the case he hadn't been able to get Emily off his mind. He dreamt of her every night. He just couldn't get her off his mind and missed her like crazy. He had to face it. He'd fallen for her since she left.

"Beth, I'm sorry, it wouldn't be right if we stayed together," he said taking her hand.

"I knew it," she answered looking down. "You've been slipping away since Emily left."

"I am sorry, Beth, you're a really great girl and I really did think I was in love with you. I was in love with you. You didn't do anything wrong but it's true I am in love with Emily."

"It's fine."

"No it's not. She's engaged to Daniel."

"It's never over till it's over. The only things you can regret are the things you didn't do. You'll never know if she loves you or not if you don't speak with her."

"You're right," he smiled at her. "Thanks Beth. You really are a great girl. I hope you find the man for you."

"Thanks Aaron. I hope you're successful."

They hugged each other and he was soon setting off to London.

He found the park he'd been told Emily frequented regularly and may be found in. He walked around the park hoping to bump into her. He had no idea how this would go but Beth was right he had to take the risk.

He stumbled upon the playground and saw a woman swinging her son on the swings who looked just like Emily. It couldn't be Emily, could it? She didn't have a son when she left. Maybe Daniel had a son. If he did that meant she was still with him.

He approached them and the boy looked up at him with his own eyes. He couldn't believe it when he saw the boy's eyes were just like his own and realised he was old enough to be conceived in Paris. They had a son! Why did she never tell him? Why did she feel the need to keep him hidden? Did she really feel he was that bad a parent? It had been two years for Christ's sake!

Why had she never told him he thought as the anger and pain coursed through his veins? How could she not tell him? Didn't he have a right to know they had a son? Why had she hidden him from him? Why had he never told him or ever let him know about their son?

He glared at her and walked off while she picked up Adam and ran after him. He had to know she'd never done it to deliberately hurt him she'd been trying to protect them both. It had been a matter of life and death when she gave Adam up. She'd never wanted to hurt Aaron with the truth that he had legal rights to his own son as she'd had to sign them over when Daniel adopted him to save his life.

"Aaron," she said desperately while he tried to shake her off. "I DIDN'T HAVE A CHOICE. My husband had to adopt him legally to save his life. If I hadn't signed over both our rights to Adam Doyle could have come and killed him. I chose our son's life, Aaron. I chose to give him the best chance of living. How could I ever tell you Id signed over your legal rights to our son? It would have killed you."

He couldn't believe what he was hearing as a lump formed in his throat. She'd signed over his legal rights to his son before he even got a chance to know of his existence. She and Daniel were married and were obviously hoping to raise him without any interference from him. He closed his eyes trying to keep the tears back. He wouldn't give Emily the satisfaction of seeing him cry. He couldn't have his son she'd legally given him away without a word to him. There was no chance she'd want him either she was married to Daniel. There was no hope. He'd lost the woman he was madly in love with and their son before he even got to know they'd had one.

He tried to shake her off again but she placed her hand on his arm. "Aaron," she said pleading for him to look at her. He finally looked at her and she saw all the pain and anger in his eyes. "Please don't do anything stupid."

"What do you care what I do?! You're no friend of mine! You took my son from me!" he shouted then walked off trying to swallow the pain and hurt.