Never Together Nor Apart

[Chapter 23]

Hotch's POV:

I watch up to one of my arms asleep, along with the other rising and falling. The memories of last night come flooding back. I see them in pictures, just flashing across my closed eyes. I groan, opening my eyes to a peaceful Emily. Her head was resting on my arm. I watch her eyes flutter a bit, she was dreaming. Her lips were curved into a smile, causing me to grin. I shift my weight a bit, but it causes her to stir.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to wake you," I panic.

I wasn't ready to talk after what happened. I have the urge to laugh, I've never been nervous about a women, but Emily? She did something to me no one else could... not even Haley.

"Hotch?" She sounds confused.

I stay silent.

"I thought that was just a good dream," she faces me.

Good? So it was a good thing. I let out a breath through my nose. I feel my confidence regain for my next words.

"So you enjoyed it?" I stare at her with a questioning glance.

"And if I did?" She challenges me.

I hold in my laugh, same old Emily.

"Emily, what did we do?" I become serious, wanting to know how much she remembered.

"I remember everything Aaron," she speaks my name again.

If only she knew what she did to me. She smiles. I lean in, placing a long, sweet, tender kiss on her plump lips. I notice her neck has multiple bruises on them.

"Shit," I mutter.

"What? Did I do something wrong?" She looks concerned.

"No! No. It's just your neck," I begin, but she doesn't let me finish.

She jumps up, only to land back down with a slight whimper. She places her hands on her inner thighs.

"Fuck," she whispers.

I sit up, placing myself next to her.

"Sorry..." I say guilty.

"I'm fine, just shocked," she gives me a quick laugh.

I watch as she carefully gets up, limping with each step. I follow her to the bathroom as she examines her neck.

"Oh, it's nothing makeup can't fix," she assures.

She turns to face me quickly, her back pressed against the sink.

"Was this a one time thing?" She uses her hands to motion between us.

I contemplate what to say. I wasn't quite ready to address it just yet. I knew it was now or never.

"Is that what you want?" I place the question on her, deflecting.

"Aaron," her face is serious.

I fold my arms.

"Emily," I reciprocate.

"It's a simple yes or no question. If you can't even answer it then I'll know my answer," she folds her arms, matching me.

"Emily, it's not that simple," I plead.

"What's not simple Aaron? The fact your fucking me one minute, caring for me, and then 'not knowing'?" She seems angry.

"It's not like that," I begin.

"You know what Aaron? Your just as much as the dick you were when I met you for this job. It's nice to see you haven't changed at all," she yells.

"Emily. Your not being fair!" I call out.