Disclaimer: Are you going to keep torturing me by making me confess I don't own the show? Or have we established the fact I only own Esmee, Aces&Spades, Intuition Studios, Eva McCord, The Baron and Baroness, Mercy Lee, and Silverwood Institute? Wow… I own a lot of stuff. :)

Thanks again to my lovely reviewers. This chapter is to tide me over till the new episode comes on. Much love.

Currently Untitled (help?): A Criminal Minds Fic

Chapter Six: Chocolate and Time

"Just leave your stuff at the door," Esmee stated as she and Hotch entered her home. "Can I get you anything?" What Hotch wanted was a stiff drink, but he knew that would be the last thing Esmee would have in her home. She had always hated the burn of alcohol.

"Whatever I'm smelling sounds good," he replied as he stepped into the kitchen. Esmee had abandoned her shoes by one of the barstools and her long ringlets were now clipped on the top of her head. She swayed slightly, back and forth as she moved with ease about the stone floor kitchen with marble countertops.

"Take a seat," she said, pointing to a vacant bar stool with a brilliant blue knife. It was serrated, and the tip of blunt. From what Hotch could tell, it was plastic. He observed closely as Esmee produced some chocolaty looking desert from the oven and she grinned at him.

"You're lucky you brought me home when you did or this sucker would have burned," she stated as she cut through the moist layers, the warming aroma filling the kitchen. She knifed a piece onto a plate and handed it, along with a fork, to Hotch who was close to salivating at this point. He took a large mouthful and nodded in approval.

"Sean did teach you a thing or two," he appraised and Esmee took that as the sign to cut herself a piece and join him. As the two ate, they reminisced about times past all the while Hotch kept a close eye on Esmee's body language. Occasionally, her legs would tremble or her hands would fidget. She was quick to catch on and stop herself though, which told Hotch this had been going on for a while. Warily, he glanced towards the plastic knife and when his gaze returned to Esmee, he found her gazing at him with saddened eyes.

"Just because I was released doesn't mean I'm okay," she stated solemnly, trying to lighten the mood with her half smile. Hotch reached over and grasped her hand, keeping her from moving away from him.

"How long ago were you released?" he implored gently and Esmee shifted her eyes to the clock behind his head.

"Three years ago," she stated, "I stayed in Europe for a while where I met Eva McCord and Liam Harrington. We started the Eva McCord and Aces&Spades lines together. Then I started to work with Intuition Studios as a lyricist and eventually started doing some minor singing- duets mostly. And I had been writing for quite some time before that, so sending in a manuscript and getting it published took relatively no time."

"Jesus Esmee," Hotch said under his breath, but she still heard him.

"I was in hell Aaron," she whispered, "and I needed to get out. I needed something to distract me."

"You were supposed to take it easy," he shot back and she ripped her hand away from his before he could tighten his grip.

"I couldn't take it easy!" she shouted, stepping away from him as she did, "I was locked in a white, windowless room every day for three years! When I was released all I wanted to do was live my life!" Hotch stood, half out of anger and half out of concern and pulled a struggling Esmee into his arms.

"I wanted… I want…" she trailed off, voice fading into deep and aching gasps as she wept into Hotch's shoulder. And he held her, close to his heart and with strong arms. He held her like he never could before.

"What do you want?" he whispered, "Tell me what you want and I'll give it to you." Slowly, almost unsurely, Esmee pulled away shaking her head and looked up at him with brave eyes.

"You just be happy," she said as she placed a hand on his cheek, "that's what I want you to do for me." Hotch lifted a hand and gently grasped her cool fingers in his warm ones and smiled tenderly at her.

"I love you," he whispered and Esmee felt another hot tear run down her cheek.

"I told you not to love me," she reprimanded, although her voice failed to hold the authority needed, "I told you it would be your undoing." She pulled her hand away and wrapped her arms around her midsection as she took a step back. Hotch took this as his sign to leave and gave a quick nod before disappearing from her kitchen at her house. It was only after the door banged shut that Esmee allowed herself to slip to the floor as she wept unabashed.

"I was right."

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an: Yay, another chapter done, and just in time for the new episode. In case anyone was wondering, the apples are to show my Mac love since I'm writing on a MacBook. Anyways, review as always, it really makes my day. Constructive criticism even gets me to smile.

Now it's time for the new episode!

Cheers.

Changer.