Ok so this is after the episode's Lo-Fi and Mayhem. Emily realises she could have lost Hotch and they talk again about their relationship.

It's May of 2008. Emily's 37, Hotch is 42.
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We are not put on earth for ourselves, but are placed here for each other. If you are there always for others, then in time of need, someone will be there for you." – Jeff Warner.
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Emily smiled as she walked away from Agent Coopers room. She was glad to see that he was ok and happy to know that he was after all a Mets fan and that she'd given him the right tickets, but she had bigger fish to fry, and not very long to fry them.

She walked quickly down the corridor and out of the hospital doors, making a bee line for her SUV, wanting to make it back to the hotel as quickly as possible.

While talking to Cooper she'd realised that the events of the last few days could have spelt the end for either her or Hotch and yet here they were, tip toeing around each other since he'd signed his papers instead of grasping the possibility of a relationship with both hands.

Before she realised that her feet had carried her this far, she found herself standing outside the door of Hotch's hotel room, knocking on his door.

After a minute, just as she was about to turn and leave, guessing he had already gone, she heard movement behind the door and a second later the door opened to reveal a less than perfect looking Hotch.

He wordlessly stepped aside to let her in and as he closed the door behind her Emily took the opportunity to get a good look at him.

His tie had been loosened and the top button of his shirt was open, and from the redness of his eyes and the fact that they were a shade darker than normal... something that she'd noticed happened to Hotch's eyes after he'd been crying... she could tell Kate's death had affected him more than he'd let on to the team.

Once he turned to face her she done the only thing she felt was right in this situation, and closed the gap between them, pulling him into a warm hug and burying her face into his neck.

She could feel his barriers drop and after a long moment she felt him give a defeated sigh and she then slowly moved him towards the couch in the room, her arms still around his waist.

"I'm sorry about what happened." Emily whispered once they were sitting, keeping one hand on Hotch's upper leg as a means of silent support.

"Thanks." Hotch replied, equally as quiet, as he picked up her free hand which had been resting by her side.

"Are you ok?" Emily asked, staring down at her small hand, which was almost fully covered my Hotch's larger one.

"Mhm... I am now." He replied as he began to trace over Emily's knuckles with his thumb. "I'm just glad we're both here... and okay." He added, making subtle reference to the fact that it could have been Emily that rounded that corner first and not Cooper.

"So am I." Emily agreed, as she allowed herself to get slightly carried away by the soft strokes of Hotch's hand against her knuckle.

"You know... when I was looking at Kate... in the theatre, and on the street, I couldn't stop imagining that it was you there and not her... and it was really scaring me." Hotch confessed quietly after a while.

"I couldn't help but think that Cooper was you as well." Emily whispered, remembering how scared she'd been in that alley.

"Emily..." Hotch began, looking deep into her eye's and allowing Emily to see all the emotion that was brimming in his own. "I could have died."

"I know." Emily whispered, feeling the emotion rise within her as she thought about a life without Hotch in it.

"I could have died, yet all I've been able to think about since then is the fact that if I had died, I'd never have gotten to take you to dinner." He said.

"Are you asking me on a date Aaron Hotchner?" Emily asked, the faintest smile playing on her lips.

"Sort of." Hotch replied, which caused Emily's brow to furrow. "I mean I am." Hotch clarified once he seen the confused look on Emily's face. "Just not yet... not until we're back in DC and the team is settled again... this was a tough case." He finished.

Emily nodded her head in agreement.

It had defiantly been a tough case, with Hotch almost dying, her almost getting shot and Morgan almost blowing himself up... not to mention the fact that JJ was pregnant... it probably wasn't the best time to be making any big plans.

"Though I'd like to go out to dinner once things get back to normal." He asked, with a small smile.

"Well in that case how can I refuse?" Emily joked, feeling happiness swell inside her.

"I was hoping that would be your answer." Hotch said also smiling.

It was then that Emily decided that it was now or never, and she leaned over, intending to give him a small kiss. She was stopped however by a hand coming between their mouths.

"I'm sorry, I didn't... I'm sorry." She stuttered, feeling a blush rising in her cheeks once she realised that Hotch may not have reached the stage of wanting to kiss her... even if it had been eighteen years.

"No, no, there's no need to be sorry." Hotch said quickly. "I just... ok this may sound ridiculous, but I just don't want to ruin what we may have by jumping into things to fast... because I know you were only intending to kiss me, but believe me when I say that I have to use all my restraint not to kiss you now... and do a lot more besides, and I don't want a 'quickie' in a hotel room to be the start of our relationship, because you're so much more than a 'fling' or a 'quickie' Emily." He informed her, hoping that she'd understand.

"You may not believe this," Emily said after a brief moment, tears rising in her eyes, "but that is the by far one of the sweetest things anyone has ever said to me."

"Well you better get used to it sweetheart." Hotch said, giving her a small kiss on the fore head before he stood up. "Well we better get ready to leave, you have a plane to catch." He reminded her.

"Mhm, and you have a fun car ride home... Are you sure you don't wasn't me to drive you?" Emily asked as she to stood up.

"No, as much as I'd love the company, I think I'll be sleeping for most of the trip thanks to the damn pills the doctor gave me, so I wouldn't be much fun." Hotch told her.

"Ok... see you in DC then." Emily said, giving him another quick hug before heading out the door to her room, a huge smile set firmly in place.
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Right so there we go, as the title said, things are changing slowly now. Tell me what you thought.