When Will I See You Again

A/N: This is my take on how the season finale (season 7) and the beginning of season 8 should have gone and should go. The songs in this are Love Song and Don't You Remember both by Adele.

Disclaimer: I do not own Criminal Minds or the songs. The show belongs to CBS and the songs belong to Adele.

Summary: Emily leaves the BAU and her friends behind. How does Hotch deal with her saying goodbye?

Chapter 1

Emily put the CD in her friend's hand before she lost her nerve to follow through with what she had planned.

"Emily I am so mad at you right now that I can't even see straight. I don't want you to leave again. We need you. Who is going to keep us centered? Who is going to keep us grounded?" Penelope Garcia cried to her friend.

"Oh Pen I know you are, but I just can't do this anymore. Everyone else is moving forward and I am stuck in my past. You and Kevin are going to get back together. JJ just married Will, Rossi has… well Rossi seems to have Strauss at the moment. Derek has all his little playmates for whatever night of the week he chooses. Reid has his mom and from what I hear he met someone recently. Hotch has Beth and Jack. He is moving on and who do I have to go home to at night besides Sergio?" Emily whispered lowering her head as she felt the tears begin to flow.

"Emily, give it some more time. He will realize that she is not the right one for him."

"I can't wait Pen; it hurts too much to see him every day and not be able to… Please just do this for me. Wait and see if he asks me to dance and if he does just play this song. Please." Emily said as she looked at Penelope sadly.

"Oh Emily please don't do this to yourself. It doesn't have to be this way. I know if you would just tell him he would want to be with you." Penelope said as she pulled Emily into a hug.

"I can't do that to him Pen. He deserves to be happy with her and I won't stand in the way of that. No matter how much I love him." Emily was quiet, broken in defeat.

"Oh sweetie, I just want you to be happy that's all and if you think leaving will bring you happiness then all I can say is that… I am so gonna miss you."

"So you will play this for me if Hotch asks me to dance?"

"Of course I will. But you have to promise me to not forget about us and to keep in contact. You have to pinky-swear to call me at least twice a week."

"Deal; as if I could ever forget any of you." Emily said as she laughed and wrapped her pinky around her friend's before hugging her again.

There she was being swung around the makeshift dance floor by Dave and all she could think about was the man on the other side of the floor dancing with Beth. She had nothing against the woman, really she didn't. She could have been friends with her if it weren't for the fact that she was in love with the man she was now dancing with. She had something Emily would never have. She had Aaron Hotchner and that was the reason she could never be friends with her. That was why she had to leave. Was she going to take Clyde's offer? Probably not. All she knew was that she couldn't stay and watch the man she loved be happy with someone else. It was hard enough when he wasn't dating; but now that he was dating Beth, it was just too difficult to be around him. Hearing him talk to Dave about the other brunette was like a knife to her heart. She knew it was unintentional on Hotch's part, but that didn't change the fact that it hurt. It hurt like hell to see him in the office every day and know he was happy. She was happy for him that was she wanted for him.

"Penny for your thoughts." Rossi whispered in her ear as he twirled her around.

"Just thinking that's all." She said quietly.

"You know she's just a step to where he is going." Rossi said looking into Emily's eyes.

"What are talking about Dave?" Emily asked the older man.

"Beth, she is she is just a stepping stone. He needed this to make him realize what has been in front of him the whole time," he said smiling at her with a crooked grin.

"I'm leaving Dave." Emily whispered in his ear.

"I know and I know why. I knew it was coming; but remember what I said, this is just a step he needed to take. So don't give up on him yet. Okay?"

"I'll remember." She said as Dave felt a tap on his shoulder and turned to see who was interrupting their dance.

"Mind if I cut in old man? It's not nice to monopolize Emily's time Dave," Hotch said as he pulled Emily away from Dave.

All Emily wanted was to melt against the man who held her. His hand was resting on her lower back while the other was holding her hand. What started out as proper dance form transformed into something more intimate as he pulled her a little closer and brought their hands closer; holding her hand against his chest. Her other hand rested on his shoulder until unconsciously she moved it to wrap around his neck slightly.

The song that had been playing ended and Hotch began to pull away until Emily stopped him with a squeeze to the hand that was holding hers.

"One more dance? Please?" she said as the song she wanted Penelope to play started and he nodded pulling her closer to him.