A/N: Thank you everyone for all the great reviews. They mean so much to me. I try to reply to all my reviews but if I missed you I apologize it was not intentional. Please continue to let me know what you think as we go along. I am not sure how much more this story has as it has taken on a mind of its own. I know it will be at least two maybe three more chapters for sure but will probably be more hahaha.

Chapter 10

"I just want to say first, that I am sorry. I shouldn't have left that way. You deserved an explanation and I am sorry that I didn't give you one. Secondly, we do need to talk but not with Jack around. I promise to tell you everything later. Third, I really missed you." She said and as she said the last part she walked over and hugged him.

She put her arms around his neck and hugged him tightly. Hotch's arms automatically encircled her in a warm embrace.

"I have missed you too. More than you could possibly know." He said and kissed her on the top of her head.

He knew there was a lot to talk about but this was a beginning. Yes that is what it was a beginning.

The three of them sat on her couch and watched 'Dr. Seuss' The Lorax' and were half way through watching 'Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked' when Emily felt the weight of Jack slump against her side.

She looked down to see the boy had fallen asleep against her. She raised her hand and tapped Hotch on the shoulder and pointed down at the little one.

"You can lay him in my room; I don't have the guest room fixed up yet. My room is the first door on the right up the stairs." She said quietly.

Hotch nodded and lifted the little boy into his arms and carried him up the stairs. When he returned he found her in the kitchen cleaning up their little mess. He watched her wash the bowls and glasses.

She was beautiful and she didn't even realize it. She turned around to see him staring out her with a smile on his face.

"What?" She asked.

"Nothing." He replied.

She moved to stand closer to him. "Are you ready to talk since Jack is asleep?" She asked as she looked up at him.

"Yes; if you're ready." He said as he followed her back into the living room.

They took their places back on the couch; sitting side ways facing each other.

"First let me just say, thank you for the DVD. It was beautiful. I didn't know you could sing. I listened to what you were saying and I realized that maybe there was something there that I didn't see. And what I mean by that is that maybe you did have feelings for me that I didn't see before. I know we have been close and I just always assumed that your feelings were nothing but friendship. I have always known how I felt for you. It was too hard for me when you started dating Beth. I knew I had to get away because I just wanted you to be happy and if she made you happy who was I to stand in the way of that? So I ran. I shouldn't have, but I did." She said in a rush, trying to get the words out before she lost all her nerves.

Hotch just sat there and listened to her as she tried to explain herself.

"Secondly, you deserved an honest explanation to why I was leaving and I didn't give you that. I was scared to be honest. I didn't want you to try and talk me out of it. There are other reasons why I left not just you. You just happen to be the main reason. I have had a hard time since I returned, you know that. I couldn't get back to the place where I was before I left and it left me shaken. I know everyone has forgiven me but I guess I haven't forgiven myself completely yet. I am a work in progress you could say. I lost the the trust in myself to be able to take care of all of you in the field. I know that it was unfounded but it is how I felt." She watched as her words registered in his eyes.

"Emily, you have never given us any reason to think that you were anything but capable in the field. You have always been strong and determined; besides Morgan I think you were the one who was always willing to go that extra step regardless of the danger to yourself. You put your safety behind the safety of all of ours. Never did you ever stop and think about what could happen to you; you just stepped up and went for the take down no matter the consequences. I have always admired that in you. There was never a moment that I didn't trust you or your capabilities in the field."

"Thank you for that Aaron. I am sorry I left the way I did. I should have just talked to you and told you how I was feeling. Can I ask you something?" She asked, laying her head on the back of the couch.

"Anything." He said.

"What happened with Beth?" She said as looked him in the eye.

"Well at JJ's wedding I realized a few things. I didn't feel the same way about Beth as I do you. After I watched you leave I ran after you and Dave followed me. I admitted to him that I was in love with you… Beth overheard." He said solemnly but with no regret.

"I'm sorry Aaron." She replied sadly.

"I'm not. It gave me hope."

"I didn't think I deserved to be loved… to be loved by you I guess. I want a family and children. After I had the abortion at fifteen… I feel like I don't deserve any of that. I want it but…" she said as a single tear slid down her cheek on to the couch.

Hotch wiped the tear away and she closed her eyes at his tender touch.

"Emily you deserve that and so much more. You can't blame yourself for what happened in your past. You were young and didn't have anyone to turn to besides Matthew. Whether it was the right decision or not only you can say. But you deserve to love and be loved in return. Don't ever feel that you don't." He said as he pulled her across the couch to him, enveloping her in his arms.

"I think I have loved you since the night I got my divorce papers. I just never realized it until I lost you." He said into her hair where he had buried his face.

"You didn't lose me. I just took a long detour to where I needed to be."

There was long silence as they held each other until Emily broke the silence in quiet voice.

"I'm glad you came." Her breath was warm against his chest.

"I'm glad you called." She could hear the smile in his voice even though she couldn't see his face.