A/N: A quick note to thank Celina79 for my first ever review. This is my first fanfiction so it was really exciting to find out someone not only read my story but enjoyed it too. I really hope I'm getting the characters alright but I dunno. We'll see.
DISCLAIMER: As always, I do not own Criminal Minds or any other entity mentioned in this story.
They were flying back from Rhode Island. Emily was anxious to get back. She knew that Peter would be there to pick her up from the office pretty much as soon as they arrived. When they landed, Emily grabbed her gear and hurried the others to the cars. They quickly drove back to Quantico and, even before the car had stopped moving, Emily was jumping out, running towards the elevator. The others weren't in quite the same rush and casually walked over, catching the second lift from the carpark. When they got upstairs Emily's bags were in the bullpen, but she wasn't. Morgan and JJ stopped at her desk, while Reid sat down at his. Hotch and Rossi both went up to their offices. Rossi rejoined the others and talked about maybe going out for dinner. They all agreed.
Morgan's jaw dropped when the glass doors opened and they all looked up to see Emily dressed in a red dress. "Emily Prentiss!" JJ called out, while Morgan wolf-whistled. Emily grinned, putting her dirty work-clothes in her ready-bag, then twirling to show off her dress. "Em, it's gorgeous! Where did you get it?" JJ gushed. Emily couldn't wipe the smile off her face and explained to JJ where she'd picked it up… on sale.
Hotch looked up when he heard JJ and Morgan. He looked out of the window in his office and his jaw dropped when he saw Emily. She was wearing a knee-length red dress and red heels. The top part hugged her curves, running down to her waist, where it fanned out. When she spun, the dress fanned out even further, showing off her legs. Hotch swallowed hard then frowned. He shook his head and threw the files down on his desk. He sat in his seat and groaned. When he looked out into the bullpen again, she'd left. Hotch rolled his eyes and sat back. A few minutes later Rossi knocked on his door. Hotch looked up from his paperwork and frowned. "You coming out for dinner?" Rossi asked. Hotch shook his head. "No. I want to get as much of this done before I pick Jack up from Jessica's tomorrow," he replied. Rossi nodded. "Alright. I'll see you Monday," he said, quietly closing the door.
- - - - - - -
Emily was so excited. She had arrived downstairs and Peter was waiting, with a limo. He helped her into the car and they drove to the airport. Emily looked at Peter as their car pulled up next to a small plane. He led her up the stairs and the door quickly closed behind them. He gently put a blindfold over her eyes and whispered in her ear, "I've got a bit of a surprise and I don't want to ruin it." Thirty minutes later the doors opened and Peter led her down the steps to another limousine. He held her hand the whole way. When they arrived at their destination Peter helped Emily out of the car and led her up some steps, invoking strange looks from passers by. He led her through the building and over to the elevators. A quick ride up and, as the elevator doors opened he released her blindfold. Emily's eyes adjusted before she looked into the restaurant of the New York Marriot, overlooking the city. Emily's jaw dropped and the maitre de led them to their table.
Emily ran into the bullpen and straight to her desk. In her rush to get downstairs to Peter, she'd left her cell phone in her ready-bag. And given the events of the evening, she would definitely need it. "Prentiss, what are you doing here?" Hotch said, walking out of his office and onto the landing. Emily stood up quickly and grinned. "Hi, Hotch. Sorry, I was just coming to get my cell… I forgot it before," she said. Hotch nodded and walked down to join her in the bullpen. "What are you still doing here? It's past midnight," she asked. Hotch pointed his thumb over his shoulder. "Uh, paperwork. Just finishing my report. Which reminds me… can I get your version of the take-down as soon as possible? The sooner you give it to me to sign off, the sooner I can close this case," he said. Emily was furious. "Sorry Hotch, but I don't think I'm going to be able to get much done this weekend. It'll have to wait until Monday," she said. Hotch frowned.
"Prentiss," he started. Emily turned and shook her finger. She thought back over all the time she'd wasted, staying back late to finish reports, just to be close to him. "No Hotch. Just because you don't have a reason not to work 24/7, doesn't mean the rest of us are the same. I'm finally getting the chance to have a life outside of this place and you're expecting me to do reports? Where's your son Hotch? Why don't you put Agent Hotchner to rest for a couple of days and just let Aaron get out? If you're not careful, you're going to work yourself to death one day, and then what?" she said, trying not to let the tears fall. Hotch shook his head. "Agent Prentiss…" he started again, trying to warn her with his tone.
But Emily shook her head. "I'm not Agent Prentiss right now. I'm Emily. And Emily wanted to tell her friends, including Aaron, that she just got engaged." Hotch tried hard to stop his face from reacting to the news. But, as made apparent by Emily's face, he wasn't successful. "Yeah, that's right. Peter proposed tonight," she said, holding up her hand and holding back the tears. "He flew me to New York and took me to dinner at the Marquis. After that we went for a walk through Central Park. He got down on one knee and told me he loved me and that he wanted to spend the rest of his life with me. I said yes," she explained, tears starting to fall down her face.
Hotch's heart sank. He hadn't wanted to make her cry. He was just trying to stop himself from telling her how he felt. "I said yes and the first thing I wanted to do was call all of you. Because you and the team, you're my family. And after our sucky year I wanted something good. And then you had to go Agent Hotchner all over it," she said through the tears, "Grrr," she groaned out loud, "I promised myself I wouldn't be a girl about this." Hotch tried to reach out to her to hug her and tell her he was happy for her (even though it was a lie) but she stepped back, holding her hands up. "No Hotch. You don't get to do that now. I'll see you Monday," she said, grabbing her cell and walking quickly from the office.
Hotch stood there for a moment, frustration boiling up in his heart. Before he knew what he was doing he kicked her desk, knocking her stationary cup and photo frame over. He picked up the frame and looked at it. It was a photo of the team from the previous Christmas. Dave had organized a BBQ at his place just outside of the city. Will had taken the photo. Hotch scanned from left to right, Rossi, with his arm around JJ who was holding Reid's hand. Reid and Morgan had their arms around Garcia. Morgan was leaning on Emily's shoulder and she was leaning on Hotch's shoulder. Morgan had just made a joke so even Hotch was laughing in the photo. Hotch couldn't help but smile as he looked at their faces. In spite of the fact that it was just after Hayley's death, the team had helped him see that he wasn't alone. They were his family. And he knew then, just as she had helped him through the toughest time in his life, he knew he had to celebrate with her, the happiest time in hers. He sighed as he set the photo down again and fixed up her pens before he headed back up to his office.