A/N: I didn't expect to keep writing this story, but the after the wonderful feedback I received I felt like I had to! I hope you enjoy the second part of Emily's night with Jack!
A while later Hotch was waiting impatiently by the door, zipping up Jack's spring jacket. It was unusual for him to be this anxious but spending a the day with Emily and his son definitely knocked him off his game. He heard the water stop running and a moment later Emily appeared in the foyer with her wet hair pulled back in a ponytail and slightly rumpled jeans from her go bag. Hotch couldn't help but stare at her. She looked beautiful and in a strange way, maternal.
She raised an eyebrow at him. "Are you two ready to go to the park?"
"Yay! Let's go, Miss Em'ly!" Jack cried, picking up his soccer ball and throwing the door open before he raced down the hallway.
"Jack, wait at the stairs!" Hotch called after him, smirking as Emily hurridly grabbed her own jacket and dragged him behind her after the boy.
"You'd think you were five too," Hotch pointed out as she started after Jack, who had already raced down one flight of stairs to the landing. Emily turned back and grinned at him.
"It feels good to do something normal!" She shot back over her shoulder, rushing down the stairs. Hotch heard a boyish scream echo up as Emily caught him up in her arms and carried him down the rest of the stairs.
They arrived at the park a few minutes later and Jack immediately barreled towards the jungle gym, leaving the two special agents dawdling behind. Hotch sneaked his hand into Emily's, twisting his fingers through hers. She smiled down at their twined hands and leaned closer into him. They found a bench close not far from where Jack was playing, underneath a few trees.
"So I was thinking that tonight I'd order in a pizza for Jack. And I know you only signed up for the park but if you wanted to stay and have pizza with us, you could?" Hotch offered.
"Of course I would. Actually, only if it's a meat lovers." She replied.
"I guess we could do that," He conceded, pulling her down beside him. "Emily," He started, his tone suddenly serious, "You know we're going to have to tell the team about this."
"What's your hurry, Aaron? Can't we just… enjoy this for a little while?" She asked sweetly, resting her head on his shoulder. The gesture warmed his heart a little and Hotch pulled her closer. From a distance he could see Jack quizzically observing them. But then he found interest in the monkey bars and went back to playing.
"I suppose it couldn't hurt." He murmured, kissing her forehead.
"If we're going to make this work, we need to get one thing straight, Hotchner." Emily told him, "You need to stop being so uptight and by-the-book."
"I don't know what you mean," Hotch replied stiffly. She just laughed.
"I'm just saying we can just do this the way we want. We don't have to tell anyone yet. Not the team, or Strauss or anyone. At least for a little while it can just be… us."
"I'd like that." Then he added, "Unless it interferes with work. Then I'm going to have to-"
"Aaron, it won't." She interrupted, squeezing his leg in reassurance.
"It's gotten in the way of work for Will and J.J." Hotch pointed out.
"Will you please stop worrying and just relax?" She asked, laughing. "Honestly, if it really becomes that much of an issue it'll probably be worth it anyways. We'll figure it out. Can't you just get on board and enjoy the ride?"
Hotch's eyes playfully twinkled at her and she just laughed, shoving playfully against his side.
"Daddy! Daddy! Look at me!" Jack cried from the top of one of the slides, breaking into their heartfelt moment. The pair watched as Jack flew down the slide, a blur of clothes and giggling. When he hit the bottom of the slide he bounced backward into the sand. Emily immediately went rigid, waiting for the cry. But Jack just sat there, looking down at his foot intently in the sand.
"Dad?" He called, unsteadily.
"Yeah buddy?" Hotch yelled back, "Everything okay?"
"I really hurt my foot." Hotch shot up off the bench and rushed, dropping down beside Jack in the sand and taking his leg into his hand. The boy just watched him, clearly in pain but as stoic as his father.
When Hotch removed the shoe Emily could see the ankle had already started to swell. It was turning a deep purple and Jack squirmed as his father gently pressed along the outside of his foot.
"Daddy it hurts." He mumbled, squeezing his eyes shut.
"Maybe we should go to the hospital?" Hotch asked, glancing up at Emily.
"I'll run back and get the car." She agreed.
Not to their surprise, the emergency room it was packed. It was as busy as could be expected on a Saturday morning. Jack's ankle appeared to be the least of anyone's worry and finally two hours later a doctor was able to see them and confirm that Jack had indeed broken a bone.
"I can't believe how brave you were," Emily told Jack as he waited patiently on the hospital bed for the initial cast the doctors were preparing. They would come back in a week's time for the permanent cast then again a few months later to have it removed.
"It didn't hurt that bad Miss Em'ly." Jack told her firmly. "I'm pretty tough. Like Daddy." Hotch grinned then, putting his arm around his son and hugging him to his side. The boy leaned into him, content.
"Em, why don't you go home? Who knows how long it'll be until they put the cast on. No use in us both sitting around in the hospital all afternoon." Hotch told her. Emily just frowned at him.
"I'd rather stay."
"We could call you when we get home and you could come back over for pizza?" Hotch suggested, slowly.
"If you really don't want me to stay…" Emily replied doubtfully. In the back of her mind she was already thinking of the hundreds of things she should have been doing today. Such as the pile of laundry building in her closet and the stack of dishes in the sink. Among other things, Sergio was probably pretty hungry by now.
"Go. Honestly, we'll be fine and we'll call you when we're home."
"I'll pick up the pizza on my way back." She told him, kissing him lightly on the cheek and Jack on the top of his head. Jack surprised her by wrapping his arms around her neck and hugging her tightly.
"Good luck with your cast, honey. I'll see you later."
"Bye, Miss Em'ly."
It didn't take Emily long to do the laundry or clean the dishes. It took even less time to feed Sergio and sort through the mail that had been piling up. After she just sat at the kitchen table, anxiously waiting for her cell phone to ring. Everything had happened so quickly it was hard for her to really process it all. All she had figured out at this point was that this felt right, and so it must be right. The connection between them had always been there. Since the first day she had walked into his office, eager and willing to learn under him. Before that even, when he had worked for her mother.
Now it was happening and it felt as though everything was finally falling into place for her. Everything felt right.
Then, almost two hours after leaving the hospital her phone rang, flashing Hotchner across her screen. If she was ready, she was more than welcome to come back over – with pizza of course – to join them for supper. Jack had decided on The Emperor's New Groove for the movie and it was non-negotiable.
Not long after Emily arrived back at Hotch's house.
"How is he?" She asked, shrugging off her coat. With a smirk, she handed him the two pizza boxes and the six pack she had picked up on the way over.
"He's okay," Hotch replied, glancing over his shoulder. Jack was sitting on the couch, his leg up on some pillows. He didn't seem particularly focused on what was playing on the television, but flipped through the channels idly.
"He looks sad." She sympathized.
"I just told him he can't play any more soccer this season." Hotch explained, softly. "Ever since Haley died the only thing he seems to get particularly excited about is soccer season. They always played together."
Emily's heart ached for the boy. "Hey Jack?" She asked hopefully, sitting down on the couch and wrapping her arm around him. He just leaned into her, not taking his eyes off the screen. "It's going to be okay. So you miss one summer of soccer. Maybe you can do something else instead?"
"Like what?" He asked sulkily.
"Maybe we could get some cool model airplanes or something to build instead? We could make a whole collection this summer?" She suggested. Hotch finished plating the pizza and joined them on the couch, taking the seat beside Emily and offering her a beer.
"That sounds like fun, doesn't it buddy?" Hotch prompted, flipping through the television settings until the DVD started.
"I guess." He murmured.
"I'll get you one tomorrow. We'll start building it this week, okay?" Emily continued, biting into the pizza. Jack just sighed and snuggled further under her arm, munching sadly on his own slice.
The movie started and they sat there in silence until Emily realized Jack had fallen asleep against her. "Aaron," She whispered, "He's asleep."
"I'll tuck him in." He said, picking up the sleeping boy and returning a few minutes later. Emily had stretched out on the couch, taking up most of the space. When he returned he raised an eyebrow at her, looking pointedly at his hijacked end of the couch.
"You can sit over there," She deadpanned, pointing towards the armchair in the corner.
"Oh really?" He replied, looming over her. "Because I thought I could just fit here," Hotch leaned over her, keeping his weight on his arms. For a moment he had startled her but then her eyes went dark and she wrapped an arm around his neck, tugging him down.
Their lips met and Emily felt her stomach turn over in excitement. Although she felt guilty for feeling this way when Jack had been hurt in the hospital, she had been looking forward to their time together all day. She wasted no time skimming her hands up his back, under his plain t-shirt. The muscles tensed under her hands and shifted deliciously as he leaned into her.
Hotch ran his fingers through her hair, feeling its silky smoothness under his fingertips. The sighs escaping her mouth as his lips travelled down her throat intoxicated him. He couldn't help but smile and groan when she bit down on his earlobe. Then licked it.
"Stay." He growled, claiming her lips again.
"Maybe I should just move in." She teased, breathlessly.
"Maybe you should." He countered, tracing the curve of her cheek. Emily pulled away from him, her face expressionless. Hotch felt his stomach sink and realized he had gone too far. Even though he had been craving her for months, imagining this for months, there was a strong possibility it was more one-sided then he had expected.
What was he thinking? Casually asking her to move in. Of course he wanted her to. To be around this beautiful, intelligent, motherly creature every moment of the day was his idea of heaven. Though it was looking more and more as if it wasn't hers.
"Em, I–"
"Hotch, wait. Before you say anything, just listen." Emily took a breath and gently pushed against his chest. He sat back and pulled her up with him, watching her intently as she ran a finger through her hair. When she had collected her thoughts, she started again. "Aaron, I really care about you and I know that you know that. I know that this has been a long time coming and now that we're actually together I don't want to be away from you either.
"But it's been 24 hours. In a day we went from being friends and coworkers to lovers and I love that. It's just all happening a little fast. I'm not saying never. I'm just saying not right now. It would be too confusing for us, and too confusing for Jack. Let's just enjoy what we have right now. No pressure, right?" She murmured, threading her fingers through his.
Hotch watched her a moment longer before smiling at her, his cheeks dimpling.
"I think that sounds fine." He admitted, pulling her against him and stealing her lips again in a kiss that left them both breathless. He tugged her shirt up over her head and reached for the clasp on her bra. The urgency to have her overpowered him.
"Aaron, Aaron!" She said, pulling away and looking up at him with dancing eyes.
"What?" He asked, impatiently.
"Maybe we should go to the bedroom." Emily suggested, grinning.
"Come," He murmured, taking her hands and leading her back to his bedroom, kissing her the entire time. She may not have decided to move in, but she was there tonight and Hotch planned to spend every moment ravishing her gorgeous body.
Emily eagerly tore his shirt off over his head and did away with his belt in an instant. Hotch encouraged her enthusiasm, shoving her pants off her hips and pulling her against him as he backed towards the bed.
Without warning she pushed him backward, crawling on top of him and tugging down his pants and boxers at the same time. A flicker of surprise crossed his face but then she was kissing him again and his eyes drifted shut.
Hotch ran his hands down her back. Her skin was creamy and smooth and cool to the touch. He thought for a moment he might lose himself in her. When she sunk down on top of him, drawing his aching erection into her body he thought he would lose his mind all together.
"I like to have a little bit of control," She admitted huskily, rocking her hips against his. Hotch couldn't help but smile at her remark. He pumped impatiently into her, digging his hands into her hips.
"Are you in a hurry or something?" She teased, dragging her nails across his nipples. Rolling her hips again she kissed him softly, holding back.
"Emily," He groaned, biting into the soft skin of her shoulder, "Let's not play games."
"I like games," She replied.
His control breaking lose, Hotch flipped her suddenly, rolling her onto her back. Chocolate eyes looked up at him in surprised, narrowing with desire.
"On your knees," He rumbled quietly, kissing her chastely but forcefully. She complied, resting on her arms as he swiftly slid into her from behind. With a gasp she arched against him, her body shuddering with pleasure.
"Fuck," She groaned as he pressed deeper, leaning over her and kissing between her shoulder blades. Palming her ass, Hotch smacked her, hard. She had to press her face down into a pillow to keep from crying out. "Again," She gasped and Hotch obliged, smacking her again and leaving the faintest red outline on her pale skin.
Watching her indulge in pleasure was almost too much for him to handle. He reached beneath them and circled his fingers over her centre, exciting a low groan as she pushed back against him.
Emily cried out, shuddering against him as she found her release. He was quick to follow, pulling back and spilling his seed onto her back before tugging her up to ground his mouth onto hers. She kissed him back eagerly as the last of the tremors ran through their body.
"That was amazing," She breathed, resting her forehead on his shoulder.
"You're amazing," He murmured, sliding away to wipe the stickiness from her back. The pair collapsed back onto the bed, panting.
"I think this may have been the best decision I ever made." Emily said thoughtfully, resting her head on his chest.
"I would have to agree."
"Do we have to go back to work on Monday?" She asked, sleepily.
"No, we'll just stay in bed forever." Hotch murmured, stroking her hair.
"If you say so, sir." Emily mumbled against his chest before she drifted off to sleep, wrapped in blankets and his protective arms.