A/N: Hey everyone, I am so sorry for the long wait. I have a lot going on in my life so I didn't have much time to update. I hope this chapter makes up for it.

Special thanks to Christiangirl, K8e1, Westie80 and red2013!

I don't own criminal minds!

Chapter 5: Making-up

JJ rose from her chair in a hurry after briefing Owen on the case. She grabbed her purse, put on her coat and turned around to say goodbye to her partner. Well, he former partner. And now her present partner, once again. They could work well together if they allowed themselves. They were a great team when needed, but JJ felt like it wasn't the right time to have Owen back into her life so unexpectedly. She hadn't seen him since Paris and now they were just supposed to figure it all out. Together… I hate my job sometimes. And I am late for my date with this great guy. I really liked him and now he'll think I'm a senseless bitch.

Owen stepped behind JJ and she nearly bumped into him when she turned around. ''Where are you going, JJ?'' he asked curiously, noticing his partner was edgy. ''You can tell me anything, hon.''

JJ felt like exploding right in front of him but she decided to keep herself together. ''Shut up, Owen!'' she shot back at him. ''I am going home so leave me alone!'' she said before leaving the conference room. She had all her stuff with her as she hurried out the building and onto the parking lot. She realized she was an hour late, but a part of her hoped Hotch would still be at the restaurant. A part of her knew she'd regret it forever if she messed up a chance with a great guy like him. So she raced through traffic, not caring about her speed.

Hotch was sitting at the bar, waiting for the blonde beauty to walk through the doors. But there had been no sign of her yet. So he ordered a drink after thirty minutes of waiting. He couldn't believe she wouldn't show up. She seemed so sweet and polite that he didn't even want to think she would stand him up. So he stayed glued to the bar and waited. And waited. And waited…

It was an hour later that he decided to leave. He no longer had any reservations, so he put on his coat and put a twenty dollar bill on the counter and left. He wasn't angry, he was disappointed. Most of all in himself, for believing that a girl like JJ could actually like him. He could almost yell at himself for going out on a date at all. The pain he had experienced with Haley was still so fresh. He didn't even know if he was ready to date at all. Let alone start another serious relationship. Maybe, he needed something casual and quick.

God, no! That's not who I am… He said to himself. He couldn't be one of those guys. He was serious and committed. He only looked for monogamous relationships. He would never be able to date multiple women at once. He knew that dating just one girl could be hard enough. So he was going to keep it that way. He just had to search for someone ridiculously sweet and polite. JJ seemed like it. But he knew her appearance was the first thing that really intrigued him. She looked like an angel, coming from heaven. He knew it sounded ridiculous, even in his own head, but it was just something about her.

Hotch stepped outside, feeling the chilly evening air hit him. A chill went through his body as he walked down the street to get to his car. He was only a few feet away when he heard someone calling out his name, so he turned around to see the blonde running towards him, like a race car. She was insanely fast, in high heels to boot. He couldn't believe that any girl could run that fast in the heels she wore. But his amazement was quickly replaced with the disappointment he had felt earlier. So he turned around and kept walking, hoping she would just vanish into thin air.

JJ kept running like a maniac. Well, she did run like one. It felt like she was trying to catch a target or like she was running for her life, which fortunately wasn't the case. But in the moment it all seemed just as important as catching up to the apparently angry man. He was ignoring her at all costs and she couldn't blame him for it. ''Aaron, wait!'' JJ said as he stepped inside the car. The door was closed before she could say another word. So she hurried to the passenger's side and jumped in without invitation. ''Hey!'' JJ said, her chest heaving from the intense run. She wasn't tired or warm, the excitement had just taken a toll on her body. ''Can we please talk? Or at least let me explain?''

Hotch put his keys in the ignition as he waited for her to just leave, but he realized she was probably too stubborn to do what he wanted. So he turned to face her. ''You stood me up! I get it.'' he began. ''I'm not the kind of guy you would date. You could probably have a younger and more model like version than me. It's no problem.''

JJ put her hand on his shoulder, feeling awful for what he was thinking. She didn't want him to believe that crap. In reality, he was ten times more attractive than anyone she'd ever met before. ''Are you kidding?'' she gasped. ''My boss called me when I was on my way to the restaurant. There was an emergency with one of the employees and he needed me to fix it. So I went to work, thinking I could make it and when I tried to text you that I was late, my phone died.'' she said, putting her phone in his hand to show him the evidence. She took her hand from his shoulder and went on because he wasn't saying a word. ''I really want to get to know you, Aaron.'' she went on. ''You seem like an amazing guy and I would never have been late if my job didn't intervene, but I did and I am really sorry.''

Hotch knew she was telling the truth. He was a profiler after all and her expression was sincere, not to mention that her voice made him melt. ''I'm sorry for freaking out on you.'' he said carefully, giving her the phone back. He hoped he didn't screw up their plans. Well, the date at the restaurant was ruined. ''I know how demanding a job can be.'' he agreed. ''So what do we do now?''

JJ knew exactly what she wanted to do. She always thought it would be the perfect date, she just never did it with anyone. But Hotch seemed like the type she could enjoy it with. ''We can go back to my place and I cook us something. I love to cook when I have spare time.'' she suggested happily. A part of her was careful because she was brining someone back to the apartment that was for her cover. But she wanted to live her life and the CIA didn't need to know about it. She deserved to have a private life after all. ''What do you say?''

''It sounds perfect!''

''Great,'' JJ smiled widely. ''I'll go get my car and then you can just follow me to my apartment.''

''Yeah, I'll see you soon!''

The apartment was one of those things you would see on TV. He immediately noticed it was small but very comfortable. The atmosphere was pleasing and Hotch followed JJ through the small hallway and to his right was the kitchen, the living room adjoined and he guessed the door at the far end wall led to the bedroom. He turned around realizing the style seemed exactly like the blonde. It was perfect and he instantly felt at home there. Hotch was still checking out the apartment when he noticed that JJ was already pulling ingredients out of cabinets, so he stepped next to her. ''What are you going to make?'' he asked curiously.

JJ put everything on the counter and stepped out of the small kitchen and pulled off her coat. She laid it in an empty chair and then returned to the kitchen. ''Well, since we were supposed to eat Italian, I was thinking pizza.''

''Oh, that is…'' he stopped when he turned around to look at her. She'd rid herself of the coat and she was wearing a tight red dress that made him choke. She looked… Oh, amazing, beautiful, stunning, breathtaking…and sexy…

''Aaron?'' JJ asked as she went back to the counter. ''Pizza?''

''Uh, yeah! Sounds great.'' he said, still looking at her. She looked absolutely amazing. ''You look really beautiful.'' he complimented as he stood next to her.

JJ turned around and looked into his brown eyes, feeling herself light up instantly. ''Thanks!'' she whispered as she realized he was still wearing his coat. ''You can put your coat with mine.'' she suggested, being completely oblivious that Hotch was checking her out from head to toe.

Hotch slipped his coat off of his shoulders and put in the chair and walked back to JJ. ''How can I help you?''

JJ turned around and put her hands on his chest, pushing him out of the kitchen. ''I want you to sit down and let me do the work!'' she warned, her voice filled with joy. She watched as he sat down on the couch. ''What do you want to drink?''

''I already drank at the bar, so a soda will be fine.'' he replied.

''Are you sure?'' she asked as she opened the fridge. She grabbed a glass from one of the cabinets and filled it up. ''I have plenty of beer, wine or even scotch, if you want it.'' she said as she handed him the glass.

''I'm sure. Thanks.'' he said as he sat on the edge of the couch and watched as JJ walked back to the kitchen to prepare the dough of the pizza. She seemed really in her element and Hotch liked watching her. It was a moment he wouldn't forget any time soon. He'd never even met a girl who would make him dinner right off the bat. So he was surprised, but in a very good way.