Hotch and Morgan were right she made him work for it, and work for it he did. Not by giving her things, for he knew that she saved and bought the things that she wanted and needed.

He didn't want to buy his way back into her life. He want to show her just how much he loved her. So he spent time with her doing the little things that showed just how much he loved and wanted her in his life.

A smile, a cup of hot tea, sharing their lunch hour, helping her learn her lines for her newest play. But mostly he spent time with her, sometimes just watching a movie, other times just watching as she installed a new program in his laptop and repair his laptop when he breaks it,

He loved her very much and he was willing to go to great lengths to prove it to her. He wanted more with her but was willing to let her take the lead. If all she wanted was a lover and companion that that is what he was willing to be. If she wanted a husband to love and be loved by then he wanted that as well. As for children he knew he was old too old for children. But if she wanted children then they would have to cross that bridge when they came to it together he hoped.

He kept her safe when she came with them out in the field, which was far and few between. He was grateful for that, having her with them was nerve wracking. He had no idea how Morgan did it all those years making sure that she was kept safe and unharmed.

So he kept her in his room and in his bed just were she belonged.

He called her every night when they were away, once they were done for the night and he was safely ensconced in his hotel room. He would shower and get comfortable in the bed. They would talk anywhere from fifteen minutes to an hour. The need to hear her voice was overwhelming. Once he knew that she was safe in her own small apartment only then was he able to relax and try to get some sleep.

Somehow she still managed to surprise him, surprise the whole team. For his birthday the team was stuck in the middle of Texas they were hot, sweaty and cranky. But that all changed when a delivery man came in to the police station while they were going over the needed information with her on the open speaker.

Laughter soon filled the air as the team opened the containers of food that the delivery man had left on the table. Three kinds of cold pasta salad, a plate of antipasti and one of cookies nothing to heavy that would slow them down. Looking carefully at the plate of cookies the agents can see a birthday greeting spelled out in small frosted letters.

"Thank you Kitten."

"You're welcome, now all of you enjoy your lunch and get to work catching the baddie. I'll call you back as soon as I narrow it down more. Oh and Dave Happy Birthday." She said trying to be professional for now at least.

It was the look on her face when he walked into her office the next day that told him all that he need to know. He was forgiven and she was willing to start anew with him.

A new start with a clean slate, he knew that she would never mention the past because his Kitten didn't have a mean bone in her body.

"So I thought you could take me to Case di Rossi, I can make Asparagus Risotto and you can show me how to mix chocolate pieces into a brownie batter."

"Kitten." He says softly.

"But only if you are willing to share your very best 18 year old Scotch with me."

"Always with you my Kitten, always." He tells her then kisses her sealing the deal forever.