Episode: ... And Run

"I thought buying a house and setting down roots would fix everything but it just... I just feel confused now." Music drifted into the room from outside and the gentle sound of laughter and people speaking should have calmed her, but instead just made Emily tense up.

"So is that what Hotch and Jack are, roots?"

"No, god no. They're everything. You guys, them, you're all the whole reason why I haven't just packed up and left already." Emily looked up at Derek who sipped at his drink as casually as if they were discussing the weather.

"So what changed?"

"I'm not sure. Maybe the job offer, maybe that was just an opening for me to say what I've been feeling. But Hotch—Aaron—stabilised me. He grounded me and now I don't know anymore, Derek. I'm afraid that if I leave I'll be leaving behind the best things in my life."

"And if you stay?"

"Am I doing enough here?" Emily held Derek's gaze for a beat and he lowered the glass, placing it on the counter beside him.

"How can you say that? You saved Will, you saved that couple who were hiding in the bank, you save countless people every case we have-"

"-And lose countless more." Emily finished, her voice pleading.

"It sounds like you want to go."

"Like I said, I'm confused."

"I think you two need to talk about this, Emily."

"Derek, I can't,"

"Can't what?" Garcia appeared, practically out of nowhere, eyeing the two viciously.

"It's nothing, Penelope, let's go and show Kevin that he and his date aren't the only ones who can own the dance floor, hm?" Derek threw one last glance back at Emily as he stalked away, his arm wrapped around Garcia's shoulders.

"Well, that's something new, I guess," Emily braced herself as Hotch came in behind her, trying not to laugh as Garcia garbled on about Kevin. Emily sipped her drink in reply.

"Ok, how are you?" Hotch reached forward, turning Emily's shoulder so she could face him. Emily exhaled slowly, her breath shuddering and as long as the list of things she was trying to sort in her mind.

"That bad?" His genuine concern was plastered across his face and Emily was hit by the dizzying need to cry. Maybe not here, maybe not even that day, but she could tell that whenever she broke, she was going to break hard.

"... What?"

"That's your tell," Hotch's face had fallen into his profiler's gaze and Emily tried not to feel like an UNSUB, hiding secrets.

"I-It is?"

"Mhm."

"For how long?"

"Uh, ever since... I've known you?"

"Uh... well, you have one too."

"I do," he grinned, a laugh bubbling up through his chest and Emily... Emily just wanted to cry more. But she laughed instead, continuing on with her charade.

"Only I'm not going to tell you what it is or you'll stop doing it."

"I see," he held the smile for a moment before continuing. "Do you wanna talk about it?"

"Absolutely," Emily nodded, knowing everything that the question encompassed. "But not now,"

"First thing tomorrow?"

"It's a date."

"Okay," Hotch dipped his head, jerking his head towards the yard. "I'm going to be out there. Come find me when you feel like it."

And then he was gone, and Emily was suddenly alone.

OoOoOoO

They're playing our song
They're playing our song
Can you see the lights?
Can you hear the hum?

"Hey," Emily crept down the path, stepping onto the dance floor and suddenly being pulled in by Reid, of all people.

"Why Spencer, I do believe you clean up nicely," Emily grinned at him as they twirled around in a circle. He was grinning from ear to ear, but something in his eyes told Emily that he knew. Derek had told him.

"Thanks, and I probably shouldn't keep you too long, but Hotch is all tied up with Garcia so I thought this would be a good time to say that," he spun around again, trying to think of the right words to say and coming up blank. In a fit of desperation, he blurted out what came to mind. "-That... it would suck if you didn't stick around. You're basically the big sister I never had and always wanted and if you left, just sort of disappeared on me, well," Reid stopped spinning and they slowed to a gentle sway. "Well that would just be the absolute worst thing that I could think of right now. And you and Will almost got blown up by a bomb, so put it in perspective."

Emily could feel the tears welling up, but she tamped them down, pushing them away as she smiled what felt like a watery smile and pulled away from Reid, whispering a thanks and being swept up instead by...

"Derek," Emily shook her head. "I should've known."

Of our song
I hope they get it right
I hope we dance tonight
Before we, get it wrong

"Indeed you should have, Madame," he grinned and spun around, dipping Emily down and pulling her back up. "Havin' a chat with Spence?"

"You told him."

"He guessed and I agreed."

"I think... I think I might have decided, Derek."

The man froze, Emily leading him so they continued to sway gently back and forth as she raised her chin and whispered in his ears. Stepping back, Emily gave Derek a sad smile, then turned away from him and found herself tangled up in Rossi's arms.

And the seasons
Will change us new
Be the best I've known
and you know me
I could not be stuck on you
If it were true

The old Italian raised his eyebrows at her, as if daring her to say something to him.

"You knew I wasn't dead, Dave," Emily snorted. "I know you know what's going on, too."

"Wasn't going to push, but yeah, I know. Have you made a decision?"

"I have."

"Is it the right one?"

"God, I hope so,"

"Well then," Rossi looked over Emily's shoulder, spotting Hotch crossing the dance floor and moving towards Emily with a singular desire. "I think it sounds like you need a bit more convincing,"

I was swimming
My eyes were dark
Til you woke me
And told me that opening

is just the start
it was

Emily groaned good naturedly as she found herself being passed along back to Reid, being turned in a flurry and finding Derek there instead, then somehow joining up with JJ and Garcia, all the while having words of encouragement and pleas whispered in her ear while Hotch seemed never to be far from the corner of her eye.

Finally, she found herself back with Rossi, pointedly eyeing Hotch who was moving ever closer.

"Emily," Rossi's face was dead serious now. "Are. You. Sure?"

Emily's shoulders drooped and her head dipped down, eyes running across the reflection of the fairy lights that hung above. This could all be hers someday.

"Yes," Emily's head shot back up and she trained it on Rossi's gaze, neither wavering in the slightest.

Now I see you, til kingdom come
You're the one I want
To see me for all the stupid shit I've done

A cough came from behind them and Emily reached forward as she pulled away from Rossi, who made some joke that was lost on both Hotch and Emily as the two moved close to each other.

"I was scared you actually weren't going to come find me," His voice had never sounded so good as it did that moment and Emily couldn't help the grin that spread across it as they swayed slowly, other dancers whirling all around them as time slowed to nothing. Hotch's hand clasped in Emily's and his hand rested on her hip as she splayed hers across his back, leaning closer.

"Please, don't flatter yourself, you were near the food."

"I'm not now, though,"

"No, you aren't, are you?"

"I'm tired," Hotch paused, realising for a moment that he actually was. "Want to grab a drink?"

"Yeah," Emily sighed. "I really need a drink."

Soil and six feet under
Kept just like we were
Before you knew you'd know me
And you know me

Hotch grinned as he tugged her off the dance floor, never letting go of her hand as he poured them both drinks. He was still scared on the inside, of her being shot, of her being blown up by a bomb, of her leaving him. But the gentle squeeze of her hand in his was comforting, to say the least. There would always be something to be scared of, but that didn't mean it was worth the time.

Hotch pulled Emily over, sitting them both down on a bench, off to the side where they couldn't be seen as well. For a moment, neither spoke.

"It's midnight."

"Is it? I'm not really surprised, we've been here a while," Emily looked over at Hotch, who was looking down. "Why, what's the significance of midnight?"

"It's first thing tomorrow morning."

Emily closed her eyes, nodding slowly. "Alright. What do you want to know?"

"You were thinking of leaving. Probably to Interpol, seeing as Clyde Easter called you. Not to mention that you were having some long winded discussion with Morgan earlier today."

Emily didn't say anything at first, unsurprised in the least at how good Hotch's profiling skills were. "Yeah, that's all true,"

"So are you still going to leave?" Emily's heart was breaking at the sound of Hotch's voice. It wasn't a plea, it was just a question. He wasn't trying to sway her, he just wanted an answer. Emily looked up into Hotch's eyes.

Blooming up from the ground
3 Rounds and a sound
Like whispering you know me
And you know me

"No," She opened her mouth to say more, but suddenly lips were being molded against hers, an enormous sigh of relief visibly running through Hotch's body. The tension eased and his free hand crept up, winding through her hair and Emily just felt the bubble that had been swelling up through her chest burst, kissing back as if her life depended on it.

For a moment, they were alone in their own universe, nothing distracting them except the music, some song that drifted high above them as the pair slowly forgot everything. Soft kisses peppered each other's lips and slowly they drew apart with one last long, lingering kiss.

"No regrets?" His hand ran down her neck and Emily could see the deer in headlights look or worry flit across his face.

"Not one."

So this was our song
This was our song
I still see the lights
I can see them

By one, people had dispensed, Will taking Jack and Henry back to his and JJ's place, fond farewells mingling through the air and soon it was just the team left, JJ still in her dress and dancing with Rossi, laughter bubbling up through the air. Garcia was trying unsuccessfully to dance with Reid, who apparently didn't get the concept while Derek just laughed, trying to pretend that he was being serious.

"I'm sorry," Emily and Hotch were swaying again, drifting all over the dance floor, careful to stray away from Reid, whose arms apparently had a mind of their own. "I know how much uh, panic I caused you."

Hotch shrugged lightly, leaning his head lightly against hers. "I guess so, but I'm just happy you're sure now." He rolled his eyes, nudging her lightly and smiling in spite of himself. "Nothing like a bomb to make you realise what you're missing out on, hm?"

And the criss cross
Of what is true, won't get to us
Cause you know me
I could not give up on you

Emily sighed in agreement, watching her friends move around, lights above mixing with stars in the reflection upon the floor and giving everything a yellow-white glow. Soft words mingled with the music that nobody was really paying attention to and it hit Emily a second time that one day, she wasn't even sure when, but she was going to marry this man. The same image of her slowly walking down an aisle, the white dress, team on either side, Hotch...

"You okay?"

The words were old now, almost a cliché, but Emily really was okay this time. Everything was okay and it didn't matter what happened in the future because she was with him.

"Yeah," Was all she could think to say. "Yeah, everything's more than okay."

And the criss cross
Of what is true, won't get to us
Cause you know me
I could not give up on you

"So if I were to, I don't know, tell you that you look even more beautiful than the day that I met you and that I swear to god, I'm pretty sure I fell for you the moment I saw you, would you still be okay?"

Emily laughed, shaking her head. "Careful, Aaron, you're going to lose your rep as scary."

"I think I can let it slide," He whispered, head rising up as he made eye contact with Garcia, whose face lit up as she turned to JJ, shaking with excitement. Hotch looked back down at Emily smiling broadly as she gave him a puzzle smile. "Aaron?"

"I just thought I'd give you a heads up on the plan that Garcia and JJ and I put in motion a while back."

"Oh? Should I be jealous?" Emily teased as Hotch stepped back, plucking a box out of the air as Garcia tossed it to him from inside her jacket. Derek, Rossi and Reid had stopped dancing, watching, puzzled, the events slowly unfold.

And the fog of what is right
Won't cover us cause you know me
I could not give up a fight

Slowly, Hotch turned back to Emily, glancing down for a moment at the velvet black box in his hands, then back at her. Emily's face was morphing from confusion to utter surprise and Hotch grinned as he lowered down on one knee, opening the box and displaying the ring that he, JJ and Garcia had picked out only a week ago.

It had been in a tiny, dingy store and they'd only gone in because Garcia had insisted. They walked in and immediately the analyst had fluttered around the dual cases (they only had two!) her excitement contagious.

"This one?"

"No, too big."

"What about this?"

"Too... not her."

They'd almost left when Garcia had stopped, grabbing Hotch's sleeve and jabbing her finger towards a small ring, silver with a diamond right in the middle, two blue jewels on either side of it and a small swirl engraving along the rest of the outside of the ring.

"Oh," was all JJ could say, her hand going to her mouth.

"Oh," was all Hotch could say as he waved the attendant over to get a better look at the ring. "That's the one," he whispered, looking up at Garcia. "That's the ring I'm going to propose with,"

And he did.

"Emily Prentiss, would you do me the honour of being okay with Jack and I for the rest of our lives?"

Silence. Emily stared, dumbfounded at Hotch as he kneeled in place, smiling up at her. Her mouth opened and for another moment still, she said nothing. Finally, she found her voice, looking up at her friends surrounding her and back down at the ring before her.

"Yes, of course, yes."

A cheer went up through the other team members and they all crowded around as Hotch stood, sliding the ring onto Emily's hand and pulling her into a kiss.

"I love you," He whispered, as Rossi went to get champagne to toast them.

"I love you too," Emily whispered back, pressing closer to Hotch, arms wrapping around her, the team gathering in some kind of group hug, laughing and congratulating and Emily realised that she could never leave.

And she didn't want to.

Soil and six feet under
Kept just like we were
Before you knew you'd know me
And you know me

3 Rounds and a Sound – Blind Pilot