Cases came and went, the team jetting to a new city almost every week, go bags becoming laundry bags, and Hotch was sure he heard all three women complaining about not having time to do their laundry properly, or even sending it out to dry clean.

And so, when that morning Hotch told them that they needed to catch up on paperwork, and look over their late consults, they all sighed in relief, and plopped down in their chairs without much protest.

A quiet day of meaningless bureaucracy wasn't all that bad after the few weeks they've had.

Amalya was hunched over her own pile of paperwork scribbling, one ear bud sticking in her left ear, as she listened to some music to accompany the mind-numbing task, when she heard someone call her name. She frowned, instantly recognizing the voice, but not entirely sure what brought the man it belonged to here.

"Selim!" she exclaimed in disbelief as she rounded her chair, and came face to face with his trademark smile.

"Miss me?" he teased, stretching his arms to the side in an invitation for an embrace.

"Never!" she quipped, pulling the ear bud from her ear, as she got to her feet and walked into his open arms, and hugged him. "Everything alright?" she inquired, and he released a sigh she knew all too well. And so, she pulled back from him, eying him critically.

"Quit profiling me." He said, "Why don't I take you to lunch?" he suggested.

She checked her watch, about to tell him that it wasn't lunch time yet, but was surprised when she saw that he was only a few minutes early. "Let me get my stuff and let Hotch know, then we'll head out." She told him.

"I'm here." Hotch's voice from behind her made her jump, as she cursed under her breath.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to startle you." He apologized sincerely, and she shook her head.

"No, you're fine." She shook her head, "do you mind if I head out a few minutes early?" she asked him.

"Not at all, but I need you to give this case a quick glance if you don't mind." He replied.

"Sure, what's it about?" she wondered, as she moved closer to him to get a better look at the file in his hand.

"It doesn't have to be right now." He objected half-heartedly.

"It's okay; you said it's a quick glance." She pointed out, as she took the file from his hand.

"I'll grab your stuff for you." Selim informed her, and she nodded without lifting her gaze from the paper she was reading, missing the way Hotch side-glared at Selim, and the rest of the team hiding their smirks.

Emily had texted JJ and Garcia the second Selim walked into the bullpen, and they both immediately left their offices, and were now leaning against the brunette's desk. Rossi was watching the entire situation unfold from his office, his head resting on his fore and ring fingers. Morgan had come in just as Hotch left his office and couldn't help but smile at the way their usually-stoic-boss was looking at the handsome Selim, especially when the latter hugged Amalya.

"They're looking for a team." Amalya stated, as she finally looked up from the file and over at Hotch, frowning slightly at the look he had. "They're co-dependent on each other; their dynamic is very rare, which is why most survivors recall only one of them. But the discrepancies in the behavior can be explained by a team." She relayed.

"I think you might be right." He backed up her profile. "Thanks."

"Anytime." She said sincerely, still trying to decipher the strange look he had.

It was true that Hotch wasn't easy to read, but she'd gotten pretty darn good at it.

"Ready?" Selim's voice interrupted her thoughts, and she reached out her hand to take her purse from him.

"Ready." She announced. "See you guys in a bit."

Selim put a guiding hand on her back, as she slung her purse over her shoulder and both headed for the elevators. Emily, JJ and Garcia watching the two of them until the elevator doors closed behind them; while Morgan and Rossi watched Hotch, who made a beeline for his office without another word to anyone. And Reid…. well, he was watching his team members trying to understand why they were all so interested in the dynamic between Selim and Amalya, and where Hotch fit into it all.

Morgan walked over to Emily's desk, and leaned down so only they could hear him. "Are we really not gonna talk about this?" he asked in disbelief.

"The hell we're not. It's lunchtime, let's head out." Emily deadpanned, as she got up and grabbed her purse.

"We have to let him know, and check if he wants to come too." JJ informed them regretfully. The team sometimes had lunches together if they didn't have anything specific planned, so she felt bad that they would all just leave him behind.

"I don't think he'll be in a very festive mood after what just happened." Morgan countered.

"No harm in asking then." JJ exclaimed, as she headed for the office. She saw Rossi leave his office just as she made it to the top of the steps. "Rossi, wanna join us for lunch?" she offered, and he shook his head.

"Nah, I think I'll stay in today. You kids have fun." He told her smiling, as they both walked into Hotch's office.

"Hey, Hotch. We're going to lunch, wanna join?" she extended the invitation. But like Morgan suspected, he shook his head in decline.

"Thank, JJ. You guys go ahead."

She gave him a small smile, and walked back out.

"It's just us, Rossi is staying in too." She announced. "Come on, Spence." She beckoned.

Reid frowned at the Cheshire-cat grin Morgan had on his face; the glint in Emily's eyes; the enthusiasm in Garcia's entire body language; and the done-with-it-all-but-still-very-curious look on JJ's face, but he followed them all towards the elevator nonetheless.

Rossi waited till he saw the elevator doors close behind the team, before he took his seat facing Aaron. "So, are you going to do anything about it? Or is glaring at any man who comes too close to her enough for you?" he deadpanned, and the pen that Hotch was using to write in a-bit-of-an-angry pace came to a complete stop.

Hotch's eyes looked up from the paper he was focused on, and fixed Rossi with a hard glare. "What are you talking about?" his voice was even, Rossi had to give him that, but it didn't do much to fool the veteran profiler.

"Come on, Aaron. You like her; and I don't mean as much as you like the rest of us…"

"I'm not sure I like you right now!" Hotch interrupted him, and Rossi chuckled at his friend's attempt to deviate from the subject.

"Nice try, Aaron. She means more to you, and I don't understand why you won't do anything about it!" he stated.

"Dave, I don't know what's gotten into you. First you set it up in Alaska so she and I end up in the same room; and now this." Hotch objected.

"Because what you feel for her isn't gratitude for killing Foyet and saving Haley; it's not what you feel towards a colleague; it's not a passing fascination. Aaron, you forget that I started this unit. And as good of a poker face you try to use when it comes to her; it won't fool me. You're falling for her. Something deep inside you is going against your defenses, your fears, your walls, and your desperate efforts to make sure you don't get too close to someone again, and is falling for her. And I, for one, think you should go for it." Rossi spoke softly, but encouragingly. "And I'm not the only one who thinks so." He implied, and Hotch sighed audibly.

"Dave, I…" Hotch trailed off, not entirely sure how to finish. Rossi wasn't wrong; what he felt for her had nothing to do with Foyet. If it did, then it would've gone away as time went by. But it's been almost a year, and he still felt the same about her. If he were to be honest; then it's even gotten stronger.

"I know. But I don't think she'll tender her resignation if you risk it and she doesn't feel the same. And if you're worried about Jack, I don't think you have anything to worry about; that kid adores her, and she loves him just as much. Test it out; allow your feelings to show. She's a brilliant profiler; if they're unrequited, she'll let you know."

And with that, Rossi simply leaned back into his seat, and the last words Hotch thought he'd say at the moment came out of his mouth. "So, what are we gonna have for lunch?" he asked simply.

Hotch couldn't help but laugh at the abrupt change of subject; but he smiled appreciatively at his friend nonetheless. He gave him his two cents, and was letting him mull it over without pushing too hard.

Emily chose the closest place to Quantico where food was good, and told Morgan to head for it. They'd all taken one car since parking in that area around lunchtime was a bit of a nightmare.

"Ok, so what is the deal with those two?" Morgan asked once they were far enough from FBI headquarters. None of them had dared ask that question when there was a chance Hotch – or anyone – would be within earshot. Yes, they wanted to gossip! But they didn't want the whole building to talk about Hotch's business. They team was very protective of one another.

"I don't know!" Garcia giggled. "Hotch is not the same around her. I mean, if any of us had tried ordering him to leave his office like she did…." She trailed off.

"We wouldn't even dare!" JJ provided.

"Even Rossi wouldn't!" Morgan chimed in.

"Rossi tried a million times before, but he never succeeded. But one look out of her, and he's heading for his car." JJ corrected.

"I think he genuinely likes her!" Emily alluded.

"He likes all of us!" Reid countered.

"No, I mean like like her! As in have feelings for her!" Emily elaborated.

"No, come on. You saw how he was when Foyet was hunting Haley! When Foyet had a gun to her head! He loves Haley! I think it's just gratitude for what Amalya did!" Reid ranted quickly.

"He and Haley have been divorced for three years! Yes, he was devastated when she was on the run, but don't forget that she also had Jack with her. And when Foyet had a gun to her head, even I was heartbroken. He will always care for her, but I don't think he's in love with her anymore." Morgan objected.

"But it's not like Hotch!" Reid protested.

"To what?" Emily wondered. "To notice a beautiful woman? To have feelings for someone? To be attracted to someone?" she listed.

"Hotch closed himself off after Haley filed for divorce," JJ started. "He's scared that whomever he lets in will break his heart like Haley did; that his job will ruin whatever relationship he may have." She continued.

"Yes," Garcia acknowledged. "But who better to break through those walls than her?" she countered.

"She broke through it without even realizing that she did; something about her broke through all his defenses, and right now he's playing offence! He's trying to stop himself from falling harder for her," Morgan pointed out.

"He took a step towards you two when she got in your face in California!" Reid spilled without really realizing the impact of his words.

"Excuse me!" Morgan exclaimed in surprise.

"Morgan, we all knew you wouldn't hurt her." Emily soothed. But before anyone could say anything else, they realized they were at their destination, so they got out of the car, and headed for the restaurant.

"Table for five, please." JJ told the smiling hostess.

"Always the mama hen," Garcia quipped, and JJ rolled her eyes at the laughs the other three gave in response, as they all followed the young woman to their table.

"Your server will be with you shortly." She said softly, as she handed them their menus, and took her leave.

"As I was saying," Emily said once the hostess was out of earshot. "Morgan, Hotch knows you'd never lay a hand on any of us." She repeated her earlier statement.

"I know. Which proves my point!" he stated, "I'd bet my badge that it was subconscious! He knows more than all of us that she's a force to be reckoned with, and doesn't need any protection, let alone from me! But all he saw was that she could be in danger…." He explained.

"Do you think she knows?" Garcia asked the question that all of them had on their minds.

"She's a brilliant profiler; she knows how to read Hotch; and I think today when he was glaring daggers at Selim may have tipped her off." Emily counted off.

"But she didn't see the daggers, she was always looking away!" Garcia pouted.

"She knew something was off; she was frowning at him." JJ told her.

"Do you think she feels the same way?" Reid inquired, and they all sighed loudly.

"That is the mystery." Morgan said in defeat.

"Should we say something?" Garcia wondered.

"No." Morgan, Emily and JJ chorused at the same time.

"He has to be ready to admit those feelings to himself; then to her!" Morgan elaborated.

"But what if she doesn't feel the same way? It'll break his heart!" JJ pointed out.

"Now, that we can do something about." Morgan announced after a moment's thought.

"What?" Emily was confused.

"How?!" JJ wasn't sure it would be a good idea.

Morgan's eyes gleamed, as he motioned for them to come closer – almost as if he's worried some random customer would overhear them and ruin their plan – and they all huddled around the table as he laid down what each of them would do.

The team decided to put their plan into action that night; since it was paperwork day, they were all done at five. Morgan, JJ and Garcia walked over to the bullpen, each with their own pile of files. Amalya looked up from packing her purse, and chuckled at their purposeful march.

Emily and Reid looked up from their own files at her chuckle, and immediately got to their feet. She frowned at them, as she grabbed her own pile and purse. "What's with the military formation?" she quipped.

"Well, you owe us a Turkish meal and dance." Morgan reminded her. "And with Selim here, we get two teachers rather than one." He added, as they all took turns walking up the steps. They saw Rossi heading out of his office with his own pile, chuckling at the purposefully marching team headed for Hotch's office. It didn't skip his notice that the team had made sure Amalya was the last of the bunch; no doubt to test Hotch.

It appeared that the 'children' – as he often fondly referred to them – not only suspected as much as he did, but weren't going to sit on the sidelines for long.

Hotch looked up at the commotion outside his office, furrowing his brows at the sight of his entire team marching towards his office.

Morgan entered first.

"Those are all the late reports for our cases, and all my consults." He declared, as he set the files on Hotch's desk. "They just need your signature." He added.

"Thanks, Morgan." Hotch's voice was distant, but appreciative nonetheless. The team had been lifting more than their own share of paperwork lately, and he suspected that a certain brunette had something to do with it.

JJ, Emily, Reid and Garcia filed in after Morgan and placed their own piles on top of Morgan's, all chiming, 'that's mine' as they did.

"We're making Amalya take us to that Turkish place," Morgan informed him.

"I have Jack tonight," Hotch told him. He was about to decline the offer and claim work as an excuse, as he usually did, but that excuse hadn't really been working since Amalya joined the team.

"So, bring him, Will is bringing Henry, and I'm sure watching Reid fumble around with his feet will be entertainment enough for them." JJ suggested, and Reid scowled.

"I'll ask if he's up for it." Hotch told them, as he stood up, and gathered his own things.

"I'm sure the second he hears Amalya's name, he'll be on board for anything." Garcia pipped up, and Hotch chuckled as he followed them out of his office. He couldn't really argue with that.

"And Mal, don't forget to call Selim." Emily threw over her shoulder as they walked, and Hotch's step faltered.

Rossi knew the team – unlike him – had decided to do something about Hotch's hesitance, and that this 'family dinner' was their way of boring holes through his armor and resolve. And Selim was the human equivalent of an RPG. He wasn't sure if Hotch had caught on or not.

The older woman smiled gleefully at the sight of the young brunette, immediately walking out from behind the counter, her arms open wide in greeting, her elation obvious from her tone despite none of them understanding the language.

They each smiled when they heard their own name as she introduced them, neither of them missing the gleam in her eyes at the sight of Hotch. Before her eyes landed on Selim, and her warm smile turned into a face-splitting one.

Their suspicions were confirmed when Selim chuckled, and Amalya groaned. They all side-eyed Hotch, and knew that he too realized what the conversation was about when he didn't look all that impressed.

The woman was hoping Selim was Amalya's significant other.

They opted to sit at a table since it would make it easier for JJ to put Henry in a high-chair rather than try to wrangle him on the ottomans. They were a large group, ten adults, a child and a toddler. Jack had immediately declared that he'll sit next to Amalya so she was between him and Selim, with Hotch taking the seat on the other side of his son, next to Rossi. Will and JJ had the highchair between them, with the rest of the team scattering around the table. Amalya and Selim ordered an assortment of dishes for all, while making sure to order a couple of kid-friendly things, with promises to Jack that he will get his mac and cheese if he didn't like what Amalya ordered.

Laughter, stories, and embarrassing tales were shared. With the team taking full advantage of the arsenal of stories Selim had on Amalya.

"I am starting to regret saving your behind in Russia!" she grumbled.

The team's plan was going smoothly; Selim's presence served a double purpose. On the one hand; he bore holes into Hotch's resolve. But on the other; no one knew Amalya like he did, so the stories he shared also helped their closed-off boss know more about her, which may give him a nudge in the right direction.

But before they could get to the dance portion of the plan; a cranky Henry, and a yawning Jack cued their parents to the end of their evening.

"Why don't we all call it a night? Get a good night's sleep?" Morgan suggested, and the rest nodded.

Selim stood by Amalya's car, watching as she tried to wrangle an already half-asleep Jack into his booster seat, and chuckling at the five-year-old's attempts at convincing Amalya that he wasn't sleepy so she would agree to go watch a movie with him. His eyes shifted to the usually-hard-to-read man standing behind her crouching form, and he frowned. He had only met the man twice – three times if you count this morning as a stand-alone time – but he knew that he wasn't one to show his emotions easily. So, the serene, and almost serene smile on the man's lips caught him off-guard. But a closer look at his eyes told Selim all he needed to know.

"Why didn't you get in? I unlocked it for you." Amalya commented, as she walked towards the car after promising Jack she'll set a day with his dad to watch a movie with them.

"I wasn't exactly paying attention to the car." He told her truthfully.

"What? See something you like?" she teased him, as she climed into the driver's seat.

"Ha ha." He mocked, as he climbed in next to her. "But I'm pretty sure Hotch does." He added, and she looked over at him in confusion, as she put the keys into the start, and turning it.

"What are you talking about?" she wondered.

"He likes you, Lya." He deadpanned, as they both buckled their seatbelts.

Her head whipped towards him, her eyes bugging out in shock. "Did you hit your head or something?" she scoffed, "because you're talking out of your ass!" she added incredulously.

"He does." He doubled down, "you didn't see the way he was looking at you when you were dealing with Jack."

"He was looking at his son, Selim, not me." She objected.

"Lya, you know how you always tell me that women understand women?" he reminded her. "That an innocent phrase to us can have a not-so-innocent meaning that went over our heads?" he added, and she sighed, already suspecting where he was going with his analogy. "It's the same with men. He wasn't looking at his son; he was looking at you!"

"Selim, he's still in-love with Haley. You didn't hear how he was when he thought Foyet was about to kill her!" she argued.

"You were ready to nail Hoyt to the wall for putting her in this situation, and you'd never met her before." He disputed, "he's not a monster, Lya. He didn't want her to die, but he's not in-love with her either."

"I don't…." she tried to protest, but he cut her off.

"Look, I'm not saying you should do anything about it. I don't even know if he's aware of his own feelings, or if he's ready to admit to them yet." He stated, "and I don't want you to change how you are with him," he continued, "but I do think you should think about what you'll do if he does make a move."

Hello, a long chapter for you all. Hope you like it, and looking forward to reading your reviews.

The conversation between Selim and Amalya at the end would have been in Turkish.