#holty

"Can we talk?"

Hotch looked up from where he was leaning against his kitchen counter as Emily walked out of the bedroom. They'd been sleeping but Hotch's thoughts had woken him and he'd come to get something to drink.

"Sure," he nodded. "what's up?"

Emily bit her lip as her gaze fell to the ground. She'd been so sure of what she was going to say before she'd come out of the room but now, actually standing in front of Hotch, the words were stuck. Hotch watched Emily's face and noticed she was struggling. Taking a quick moment to profile her, he took in the fact that she was biting her lip, gazing at the ground and nervously playing with a strand of hair. So she was nervous but not bad nervous or she'd be tapping her left foot as well and playing with her nails instead of her hair. He decided to try and ease her mind.

"Whatever it is Emily, you can tell me." Hotch said, moving from the kitchen to where she was standing by the dining room table.

Emily nodded. "I know. I'm just trying to figure out how to say it."

Hotch nodded towards the couch. "Let's sit down. Might make it easier."

Emily took Hotch's hand and let him lead her over to his couch. Sitting down, they faced each other as best they could. Hotch kept a hold of Emily's hand, trying to give her a bit of comfort while she gathered her thoughts.

"I didn't mean to do it." Emily said. "I know we agreed when we started this and I tried but over time, it just happened."

Hotch frowned some. He thought he knew where Emily was going with this but wasn't going to jump to any conclusions.

"What happened?" Hotch asked softly.

Emily tried to focus on the couch cushion but Hotch slid his free hand under her chin and lifted it so they were looking eye to eye.

"I broke the rule." Emily said softly. "It was supposed to be no strings attached so neither of us got hurt but I broke the rule."

Hotch smiled as he took in Emily's words. "You're not the only one who broke the rule."

Emily's bugged a bit. "Really?"

Hotch nodded. "Really."

Emily smiled. "So what now?"

Hotch exhaled. "Now we keep things the same, only we don't hide from the team and I'm taking you on a date."

Emily leaned forward, resting her head right where Hotch's neck met his shoulder, smiling into his neck. "I like the sound of that."

Hotch held Emily close. "Me too."

~'~'~'~'~'~'~'~'~

Later that night found Emily and Hotch laying on the couch together, music playing softly in the background. Hotch was running his fingers through Emily's hair as she drifted off to sleep on his chest. Bryan Adams' Everything I Do, I Do It For You came on and Hotch found himself nodding to the lyrics as he realized the song fit them. He closed his eyes, letting Emily's breathing and the beat of the song drift him off to sleep.

Emily stood in her living room. She couldn't move. She could barely breathe. She stood staring at her front door. She couldn't believe what just happened.

  Only ten minutes ago, Hotch and Emily were arguing.

"Emily, I need to tell you something." Emily couldn't believe it. She thought she was finally going to hear him say thise three words, 'I love you.'

"Emily, I think we should end this before we get too serious." With these words, Emily's world came crashing down.

"Aaron, I think you're a little too late."

"What are you talking about, Emily?"

"Aaron, I love you. I've loved you for so long. Please don't leave." Emily begged. Tears filled her eyes, but she wouldn't let them fall.

"Emily, I'm sorry. I just don't feel the same way."

"Fine. You really need to leave now. Bye Hotch."

Hotch walked out of the front door without looking back.

Emily couldn't believe it. In less than 10 minutes, her world came crashing down. It seemed like nothing was right and she couldn't fix anything. She was completely heartbroken.

  Emily knew what she needed to do. She went into work the next day. She put a smile on her face and pretended everything was perfect, even though she was breaking inside.

At the end of the day, she went to her computer and typed two letters. One was addressed to Hotch.

Dear Hotch,

I'm sorry. This is what I have to do. I can't change the way you feel about me. This is the only way. I need to get over you. Goodbye- forever.

-Emily

The second letter was her resignation. When everyone left, she went up to Hotch's office. He had just went to the garage to get something from his car. She opened the door and placed the two letters, her badge, and gun on his desk. She left his office, grabbed her things, and left Quantico for the final time.