A/N: Thank you hot4booth for being my beta for the first chapter. You're a doll and you always make me smile. You're the best *kisses*. Sorry I had to go back and edit the lyrics out of this to follow the guidelines on FF. Sorry about that.

Chapter 2

The song that had been playing ended and Hotch began to pull away until Emily stopped him with a squeeze to the hand that was holding hers.

"One more dance? Please?" she said as the song she wanted Penelope to play started and he nodded pulling her closer to him.

The melody was soft and flowing through the night air as he felt her relax a little against him. He had seen her give Penelope the CD earlier and had wondered why. The song that was playing was 'Lovesong' by Adele.

Hotch listened to the words; wondering what was so special about this song for her. What was she trying to tell him?

Emily moved closer to him as they swayed back and forth. Their feet barely moving now as the song wafted around them. She leaned in to him more and could feel his breath on her neck. She closed her eyes to try and stop the tears from falling.

Could it be possible? He thought as the words caught him by surprise. Was that what she was trying to tell him? He never thought about her having feelings other than friendship for him.

He had never thought it a possibility. Of course he had fantasized about her before. What man wouldn't? She was beautiful, sweet, kind, smart and loyal to a fault. His hand that was around her waist moved lower to rest on her lower back; his fingers splayed across the top curve of her ass. He had to bite back the moan building in his chest as she moved against him to the music.

Emily could hear the wheels turning in his head as they danced. Did he understand what she was trying to tell him? Well, without actually saying the words out loud. She slid her fingers across his neck gently and she heard his breath hitch against her ear. He could feel her heart beating against his chest. It was fast and strong and he knew it mirrored his own.

Emily looked up at Hotch and he could see the tears in her eyes. Before he could say anything Emily leaned up and kissed Hotch on the corner of his mouth and then turned and ran toward the house.

Hotch turned around to find Beth staring at him from the side of the dance floor. He could tell she saw what had happened. Could she see what he was feeling on his face? God he hoped not. He was torn between staying here with a woman who had been nothing but kind to him; or running after the woman who had stolen his heart years ago.

Hotch turned and ran in the direction Emily had gone. He made it through the house and out the front door and he saw her tail lights going through the front gate.

"Damn," he said as he watched the tail lights disappear in the distance.

Hotch turned to go back in to the house and found Dave standing in the doorway.

"So are you going after her?" Dave asked.

"No. I can't just run off and leave my date and Jack here. She is supposed to meet me in the morning; she said that she needed to talk to me."

"Aaron let me give you a word of advice. Stop wasting time and wake up and take a good look around. What do you see for your future? Don't be like me and waste your time on the one you know has no place in it."

"Dave you are the one who told me to get back out there. You said it was like riding a bike." Hotch said as he squared off his shoulders in front of his friend.

"Don't go getting all defensive on me Aaron. I wanted you see that you were ready to get back out there. You needed to date someone to feel comfortable with it again. You needed to do that so you would realize that what you want has been in front of you this whole time. Emily has been here for you Aaron for so long that I think you have taken it for granted that she would always be here." Dave said as he stared at the man, his friend standing in front of him.

"What are you saying Dave? You know what she wanted to tell me don't you? Is she leaving the team?" Hotch said and Dave could hear the fear in his voice.

"Yes, she is leaving. Why don't you think about why that might be. Why would she fight so hard to come back to this team to just turn around and leave us all over again?" Dave said as he crossed his arms across his chest.

"Why wouldn't she talk to me first? I thought we could tell each other anything. Hell Dave I have told her stuff that I have never told anyone, not even you. She could have come to me. I would have listened." His voice was quiet and shaking at the realization that he might have just lost the most important person in his life besides his son.

"Do you love her Aaron? Do you love Emily?" Dave knew the answer but asked anyway.

Hotch stared at his closest friend; besides Emily, and knew he couldn't hide anything from that man. Lowering his head he thought for a moment before answering. "Yes. Yes I love Emily. More than I thought possible."

"Aaron?"

Hotch raised his head to see Beth standing behind Dave. 'Ah fuck.' Was the first thought to run through his head.