Ok so Emily's on a trip to Seattle with her new boyfriend and she bumps into Hotch... Awkward much!
It's October of 1996. Emily's 26 (Just after her birthday) and Hotch is 31.
"A friend is one who knows us, but loves us anyway." - Jerome Cummings.
Emily walked around the shop's dragging Mick behind her.
They'd been going out for a month and things were going ok... she couldn't see a future in the relationship but he'd been nice enough to get her a weekend break in Seattle for her birthday.
What bothered Emily however was even though Mick had gotten her this trip, all expenses paid, she still felt happier the day before they'd left when a card had come in the post from Aaron... or Hotch as she now called him as a joke.
Ever since she'd told him her birth date at his wedding he'd sent a card every year... god only knew how he'd gotten her address, though it probably something to do with the FBI.
It was around lunch time when Mick had gone to find a bathroom and Emily was browsing through some sale clothes that she heard a man clear his throat behind her.
Presuming she was in his way she stepped aside only to hear him laughing at her.
She turned around in confusion and immediately broke into a huge smile when she seen Aaron standing there smiling at her.
She immediately leapt on him and hugged him, only stepping back when she realised in reality she'd only met this man three times and they probably hadn't quite reached the leaping into each other's arms stage.
"Hey." She said meekly.
"Hey to you to." Aaron said, laughing at how excited she was to see him.
Sorry for... um... jumping you there." She mumbled, looking away and blushing as she spoke.
"It's good, working in the FBI has given me some muscle, so I can take a woman jumping me every now and then." He joked.
"Pfft... yea you're not that strong Hotch." She laughed.
"You're just jealous of this muscle." He smiled, flexing his arm to show off.
"Mhm... whatever show off." She teased, secretly wishing he'd show off to her again.
"Happy birthday as of yesterday by the way." He said suddenly as if he'd just remembered.
"Aw thank you... and thanks for the card, and all the other card's you've sent me for my birthdays." She added happily.
"You're welcome Emily." He said with a smile. "So how's life?" He asked.
"It's really good actually, I'm done at college... so you'll be glad to know I've left Yale... and I've actually just enrolled in the FBI." She said proudly.
"No way! That's great! What department are you in?" He asked, hopping they'd one day get to work together.
"Well I'm in Chicago now, working in the field office there." Emily said with a proud smile... she'd never say this but it was actually because of Aaron that she'd decided to join the bureau.
"Wow that's impressive! I'm happy for you." He said giving her another quick hug.
"Hey get away from my girlfriend." A man shouted from behind Aaron, who quickly turned.
"Excuse me?" Aaron asked in shock.
"You heard me, get away from her, now!" The man growled at Aaron.
"Mick stop being so childish, this is Aaron, he's a friend of mine who worked for my mother, and Aaron this is Mick... My boyfriend." She added quietly, wishing Mick would just leave the two of them alone to catch up properly.
"It's a pleasure to meet you Mick." Aaron said, forcing a smile and offering a handshake.
Emily had a boyfriend! He didn't know why he cared, I mean he'd been married for four years... but for some reason he felt... hurt.
"Yea, you to, now why the hell were you hugging my girlfriend?" He spat ignoring Aaron's out stretched hand.
"Mick please stop, we're just friends, honestly!" Emily tried to reason.
"Please, I know what you did when you lived in Georgetown you little s-" He started angrily, but Aaron cut him off.
"Stop talking right now." Aaron whispered menacingly, using is two inch height advantage to intimidate the other man.
"Or what?" Mick sneered.
"Or I'll arrest you for causing a scene, and don't think the charges won't stick, because I'll make sure they do." Aaron threatened.
"Whatever." Mick responded, before shooting Emily a dirty look and storming off.
Aaron turned to Emily, who'd become extremely quiet, to see that she had tears in her eyes.
"Are you ok?" Aaron asked worriedly stepping closer to her.
"I'm... I'm fine." She whispered, wiping the last tear from her eye and giving Aaron a watery smile.
"Are you sure... you seem pretty shook up." Aaron said rubbing his hand up and down her arm.
"Yea I'm fine honestly... though I think we should get out of here, people are starting to stare." She whispered, motioning with her head to the half dozen people who were now staring at them like they were a circus act.
"Yea, let's go." Hotch said looking around the shop as well.
Once they were out in the fresh air again Hotch turned back to Emily.
"Do you want to grab a coffee now or something, you still seem pretty shook up." He enquired.
"No, if I know Mick he'll be at a bar now so I think I'll go back to the hotel and pack my stuff so I can be gone when he gets beck." Emily said with a sigh.
"Do you want me to come with you... for backup." Aaron asked, not wanting Emily to get hurt.
"Don't worry I'm sure I'll manage." Emily said with a smile. "I'm a big tough FBI agent now."
"Hey the job isn't as glamorous as you think remember." Hotch said smiling knowing that if she was making a joke of things she was ok.
"Yea, yea." Emily said as she turned to walk away.
Aaron also turned to leave but the sound of Emily's voice made him turn back.
"Hotch." She called using his nickname. "Do you want my new address?" She asked.
"Why?" He questioned once she'd walked back up to him.
"So we can... you know, keep in touch properly even now that I'm moving to Chicago." She said meekly with a small smile.
"Ah... of course I do... though I won't be writing much for a month or so because I might be getting transferred , but if you give me your address I'll write to you as soon as I'm settled." He offered.
"Oh transferred to where?" she asked as she wrote her address on a piece of paper she'd gotten from her bag.
"Hopefully the BAU." Hotch said with a smile as he watched her write.
"Seriously! Wow that's brilliant Hotch." She said in amazement.
"I know, I'm pretty excited... though Hailey's not to thrilled about moving again." He added with a tone of guilt in his voice.
"Don't worry, she loves you so she'll move." Emily said, almost saying 'I know I would' at the end but stopping herself and instead handing Hotch the paper with her address.
"Thanks." He said smiling at her as he accepted the slip of paper.
"Well bye, and I hope we talk again soon." She said with a smile.
"Bye." Hotch said, "and yea, we'll talk again soon." He added standing and watching her walk away.
There... tell me what you thought. =)