Ok so this is just after the team find out Hotch and Haley are getting a divorce and Emily is to say the least pissed off that Hotch didn't tell her first.

It's December of 2007, Emily's 37 and Hotch is 42.
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"I have found the paradox, that if you love until it hurts, there can be no more hurt, only more love." – Mother Teresa.
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It had been a weird couple of weeks... with Gideon leaving and Rossi joining the team no one had really noticed that Hotch had been acting oddly as well... but she had.

It wasn't a weird she was going to complain about however, because he was finally... after a year of praying on her part... starting to warm to her, ever since the whole incident with Strauss... or so she thought.

He'd been a bit weird for a few weeks after, but Emily guessed that there was a bit of tension between him and Haley when he got his job back, but after a while he'd started to come out of his shell and go for drinks with the team... even going as far as to go out with only her for drinks after the Katie Jacobs case.

Yes she'd defiantly thought things were getting better... she was even starting to think they were friends again... but after what had just happened she wasn't so sure.

She wish she'd never asked what was in the package... they did say ignorance is bliss after all... but she had and now she couldn't help but feel angry that he hadn't told her... he owed her that at least didn't he?

The team had decided to stay behind and do paper work after Hotch had told them what the package was for... none of them really wanted to go out when Hotch was so miserable, and fifteen or so minutes after they'd sat back down Hotch had come back in and locked himself in his office.

Emily just couldn't focus though. No matter how hard she tried to stop them, her eyes kept darting back up to his office, to where the blinds were partly drawn.

She knew she wouldn't be able to rest unless she said or done something so after another hour of agonising contemplation she finally decided to bite the bullet , standing up from her desk and making her way up the, suddenly daunting, steps to his office door.

She looked back at the bullpen one last time before she went in and wasn't surprised to see looks off horror on the faces of Morgan and Reid, but she ignored them and knocked briskly on the door, with a little more force than she'd intended.

After a moment she heard a voice call her in so she pushed open the door and, after a moment of hesitation, closed it briskly behind her.

"I really don't want to talk right now Prentiss." Hotch said with a defeated sigh once he looked up and seen who it was.

"You know what they say... a problem shared is a problem halved." Emily replied with the slightest hint of sarcasm.

"Prentiss what seems to be the problem here?" Hotch snapped, picking up on her sarcasm immediately.

"Don't 'Prentiss' me Aaron, you know what the problem is." Emily snapped as she took a step closer.

"No I don't Agent Prentiss, so unless you care to fill me in I suggest you get back to work." Hotch snapped again, raising his voice as he was more than a little pissed off that Emily of all people was talking to him like this after what had happened today.

"You really don't know why I'm pissed at you?" Emily asked, a little calmer than before, taking another step forward.

"No I really don't have a clue, so please feel free to fill me in." Hotch replied, also calmer now that Emily wasn't as angry.

"After what's happened... and you still didn't tell me." Emily said, for the first time sounding hurt.

"It was none of your business." Hotch retorted, knowing immediately what she was talking about.

"Maybe so... but after what we've been through... after all the things I told you in Chicago about my childhood... and how I feel, you didn't think 'oh Emily might want to know this.'?" She asked, slightly angry again.

"Emily." Hotch started soothingly. "What happened in Chicago... that was seven years ago... you don't still feel the same do you?" Hotch asked, slightly shocked, after how cruel he'd been to her.

Emily swallowed hard... it was either now or never, she wasn't drunk like last time and he was now single... what had she too loose? Oh yea... her career!

"Aaron of course I feel the same way I did then! I've tried to turn off the part of me that loves you but... I can't, no matter how many date's I go on or how many guys ask me out I always find flaws in them because deep down I don't want them, I want you... it's always been you and even after what you said to me at that dinner party, it always will be you, so I'm sorry Hotch but yea I do still feel the same way." She finished, closing her eyes and bracing herself for his response.

But his angry, hurtful words never came, instead she heard him get up and felt his presence beside her and she opened her eyes to see him standing inches from her face.

"Emily Prentiss." He started. "You're by far the most exceptional person that I've ever met and there's no need to be sorry for feeling the same way that you did back then, because truth be told... so do I... I love you Emily, I think I always have and I've been running from that because it was complicated... but I do love you Emily I always have and I always will." He informed the woman in front of him who was now almost in tears.

"Really?" she whispered, trying not to cry.

"Really, and I'd love for something to happen someday Emily really I would... but right now, I'm not ready, and I'm not able to give you the relationship that you deserve, but if you wait for me, I promise you with my heart and soul that I will." Hotch said, just as quietly, looking down.

"Aaron Hotchner, if you haven't realised yet that I would wait from now until forever for you, you really need your head checked." Emily said after a moment, giving Hotch a bright smile which he returned, showing both dimples.

At this comment Hotch swept Emily into a hug, planting a kiss in her hair as he did so.

They broke away after a moment and Emily gave Hotch an almost shy smile.

"I better get back to work or everyone will wonder where I am." She murmured, not wanting to leave.

"Yea, we wouldn't want them thinking we're discussing out future." Hotch teased.

With that Emily practically skipped to the door before stopping and walking out it professionally, not wanting to raise eyebrows, feeling the urge to do a cartwheel down the steps thanks to the promise that's just been made.

Hotch sat back down at his desk and the smile that's previously been on his face disappeared as he eyed the divorce papers once again... despite the promise that had just been made, he had a tough couple of weeks ahead of him.
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See... thinks back on track! Oh and the Katie Jacobs case is from the episode "Seven Seconds" just if any of you were wondering. Tell me your thoughts please. =)