Author's Note: While in the shower one day, Emily notices a lump on the underside of her breast. Please mind the genre and rating - this story will be trying, and its themes even more so. Also, the beginning is kind of steamy; you've been warned. As always, thank you so much for reading! Feedback would be much appreciated.

Disclaimer: I do not own Criminal Minds or any of its characters.

Emily could feel it rising, just as astutely as she could feel the warm water cascading down her back, setting fire to millions of nerve endings in the process, just as astutely as she could feel his hands on her hips, on her breasts, in her hair…everywhere. The pressure within her kept building, and still he kept coaxing, until…until…

"Oh, God!"

With a growl of delight rumbling deep in his throat, Hotch covered her lips with his and swallowed her cry of pleasure with a bruising kiss. Peaking mere seconds later, he held her limp body tightly and moved so that they were standing directly underneath the spray of the shower. Coming off their highs together, he kissed her slowly, sensuously.

"I don't want to go," Hotch eventually murmured.

Emily breathed a chuckle against his cheek. "I don't want you to go, either. But you have a case, and the team needs you, Aaron."

"Mmm…yeah, but I need you, Emmy," he practically whined, dropping his lips to his wife's collarbone.

"And you've got me," she assured. "For the rest of the night."

"Thank God for that." Hotch was backing her up against the cold tile of the shower wall for the third time when Emily unhooked her leg from his hip. Bereft, he sought her gaze, a question dancing in his eyes.

She smirked slightly. "I love you, but in case you forgot, I was kind of in the middle of something when you joined me –"

"– and consequently rocked your world," he interrupted with a salacious grin.

Emily leaned forward and met his lips for another kiss. "You sure did, Mister. But now you've gone and gotten me all dirty again," she chastised with a teasing smile. "So, go. Get out of here and let me take an actual shower, Aaron."

He opened his mouth to speak, but instead, she opened the fogged up glass door and playfully shoved him out, admiring his naked ass on his way out.

Obeying orders, he left her to herself. Emily couldn't help but laugh, however, as she heard him murmur, "But when I get my hands on you later…"

She shook her head, regardless of the fact that he couldn't see her. What a man. An unexpected warmth spread through her body as her mind replayed, on an endless loop, his previous words. Closing her eyes, Emily took the bar of soap in her hands and began to create a lather. Then, running her hands over her body at a leisurely pace, she let her mind wander as she gazed at the trail of iridescent bubbles her fingers were leaving behind.

With her senses heightened and water caressing her face, Emily could almost taste him on her tongue, smell his musky cologne, feel his skin melding with hers…

Eyes still closed, she felt her heart pounding against her chest like a pair of hummingbird's wings. Her breathing became shallow, her cheeks flushed as she deftly massaged her breasts.

God, after nearly eight years of marriage, he still has the ability to burn my insides with just one glance. She licked her lips slowly. He is right outside…all I have to do is call out and he'll come running…

Emily was seriously contemplating the idea when her thumb and forefinger slipped an inch along the underside of her left breast and her eyes flew open.

No.

No.

Her heart pounded loudly in her ears, this time for an entirely different reason.

It can't be.

But it was. There, barely pronounced against the regularly smooth skin of her breast, was a slight irregularity that hadn't been there before.

A lump.

~.~.~

The sparsely lit bedroom was silent save for three sounds; the rustling of sheets, the quiet squelch of two bodies moving as one, and Hotch's rhythmic panting as he thrust into Emily slowly. This time, his actions were gentler, less desperate but more passionate.

Seemingly unaware that he was getting no reaction from Emily, he propped his chin up on her shoulder as he spooned behind her and continued. Not one word slipped past her lips, not one sigh. Emily simply stared straight ahead as Hotch whispered sweet nothings in her ear, her mind racing.

A lump.

What did it all mean?

It was minutes later, when he wrapped his arms around her and cupped her breasts in his huge palms, that she stiffened in his embrace and shut her eyes tightly.

He noticed.

Halting immediately, he maneuvered so that he could rest his forehead against hers. "Hey," he murmured. "What's wrong?"

Emily answered just a beat too late. "Oh, uh…I'm fine," she said, shaking her head. "I guess my mind was somewhere else."

Hotch idly toyed with a lock of her hair, his gaze all the while on hers. "You want to stop?"

She shrugged and turned away slightly. "We don't have to," she muttered.

He frowned, worry lines creasing his forehead. "Are you sure you're okay?" he asked, running his thumb lightly over her jaw-line. "You look kind of pale, Em."

A lump is nothing definitive, Emily, she told herself. It could just be benign. It could just be a cyst.

"Emily?"

But…but it could be…

Emily's stomach lurched violently. "I need a glass of water," she choked out, before moving off the bed, throwing on a robe, and stumbling out of the room.

Without hesitation, Hotch pulled on his boxers and followed her path to the kitchen, where he found her leaning over the sink and emptying out her stomach contents. Wordlessly, he reached forward to hold her hair back, his hands trembling slightly. "Honey…"

"I'm okay," she managed after several steadying breaths. "Probably just ate something bad, or caught a stomach bug, or…or something," she rambled. Gladly taking the ice cold glass of water Hotch was holding out to her, she downed it quickly.

Still, Hotch didn't utter a word. Feeling his unrelenting gaze on her, Emily looked up from the empty etched glass to see concern visibly swimming in his eyes. "What?"

He spoke slowly. "Do you want me to call Morgan and tell him I'm sitting this one out?"

Yes. Stay with me, please. "Aaron, I'm fine. I can take care of myself."

"I know, but I don't like leaving you alone when you're sick," he sighed. "Hell, I don't like leaving you alone, period. I just –"

From its perch on the dining table, his cell phone rang.

Emily managed a small smile. "That's probably JJ."

"What I'm trying to say is, I don't have to go," he persisted.

"Yes, Aaron, you do. You're just doing your job. I get that, I really do. I used to work for the BAU, too, you know," she quipped.

He leaned in and kissed her cheek. "You'll be okay?"

I hope I will. She nodded. "I'd answer your phone before JJ gets worried."

Emily had, of course, been correct in her assumption. Glancing at the caller ID, Hotch brought the phone to his ear almost reluctantly. "JJ?"

"Hotch, sorry if I woke you, but it looks like New York needs us sooner than I thought," the Media Liaison reported with a tinge of sadness.

Despite the fact that she couldn't see him, Hotch nodded. "I'll be there as soon as possible."

"Alright. Give Emily and the kids my best."

"I will."

~.~.~

They stood by the half open door, the cool night air drifting into the house slowly. Emily hugged her robe tighter around her body. "You already said goodbye to Jack and Avery?" He nodded. "You have your go-bag…briefcase…cell phone…"

"Everything," Hotch assured. He straightened his tie. "You'll call me?"

"Of course." Her lips quirked upwards slightly.

"If…if you need anything, if something happens, or if you just want me to come home…I'll come home." He cupped her cheek tenderly. "All you have to do is say the word."

Her voice was husky with unshed tears when she finally spoke. "I know."

"Okay." His other hand moving into her hair, he brought her in for a kiss. "I love you."

"I love you, too," she whispered, burying her face into the crook of his neck. After a long moment in his arms, she reluctantly pulled away. "Bye. Be safe."

"You, too. Bye, honey."

And as he walked away to his car, Emily closed the door behind him, dropped her body against the hard oak surface, sank to the floor and cried.

Author's Note: Thank you sincerely for taking the time to read. If you have the time, please leave a review or two - they are the best motivation and inspiration for me, and I treasure them like the finest gold. Stay tuned for the next chapter!