Hotch knows Em's deep, dark secret, and now he has a plan. Will it work?

What You Won't Do For Love

"What are you doing?" Em whispered angrily.

"Saving the sanity of my two favourite agents. Now hush." Leaning over to the DJ, Hotch spoke quickly.

"Aaron Hotchner, what are you doing?" Em demanded.

Turning toward her, Hotch thrust a microphone in her hand. "If you can't tell him in mere words, tell him how you feel in song."

Em pushed his hand away. "No. No. No way. Have you heard me sing?"

"I have. It's not bad, Em."

"I can't."

"You can. What do you have to lose? Besides, wasn't it you who said they wanted to turn over a new leaf?" he taunted.

Closing her eyes, Em gave a dejected shake of her head as she gave in. "Okay." She took the microphone. "What do you want me to sing, Mr. Cupid?"

"This." He handed her the sheet music. "You're on in two minutes. Learn it fast." He kissed her cheek. "Good luck."

"Hotch!" she called out, but he was already gone. "Damnit!"

"Uh, Miss, are you ready?" the DJ cautiously asked.

"Yeah. Might as well get it over with." Quickly her eyes scanned the sheet. At least it was a song she knew. Deep breath, Em. Deep breath.

"What's going on?" JJ asked as she curiously watched her best friend on the stage fiddling with a sheet of paper as though it was a death sentence.

"Righting the universe," Hotch replied enigmatically. "Dave, I want you to remember that we are good friends."

Before the older agent could reply, the spotlight came on.

"Hi, everyone," Em's voice amplified thru the bar. "I hope you're all having a good time." She looked at the team, then back at her hands. God, she wanted to bite her nails. "Um, I…have you ever made a New Year's Resolution and forgot to keep it? Well, a friend found out about it…he's not my friend any longer," she amended quickly. The crowd laughed lightly.

"Any way," Em continued, "he thinks I should do it with a song." She looked to the DJ. She gave a nod.

The music started. Quickly, the team looked at each other, then Hotch. Then at Em.

"I guess you wonder where I've been;
I searched to find a love within.
I came back to let you know,
I gotta thing for you, and I can't let go."

Em's voice shook but grew stronger as the song continued. She caught Dave's eyes. He smiled at her, so she continued.

"What you won't do, do for love.
You've tried everything, but you won't give up.
In my world, only you make me do for love
What I would not do."

The song was over and the crowd was applauding. She had done it. She had told him how she felt. Now she could leave.

Placing the microphone on the stool, Em hurried off the stage and across the floor - despite the cheers for an encore. She wanted to get home and take a shower and forget the night ever happened. And pray that everyone else got hit with amnesia too.

Hitting the main door, she stepped out into the cold, frigid air of the winter that gripped the area. A few snowflakes danced on the breeze. Reaching into her purse, she pulled out her car keys.

"Em! Wait!" Dave called out.

Spinning around, her heeled boot hit the frozen sidewalk and she lost her balance. Before she could hit the ground, a pair of strong arms caught her.

"Are you alright?" Dave asked as he held her up.

"I…I'm fine," she assured him. His arms were so strong, so protective. "What are you doing?"

"Keeping you from hurting yourself."

"I mean, why did you follow me?" She didn't want him to think that she had fallen for him on purpose, so she gave a bit of a struggle. "You can let me go now."

"No." He shook his head.

"Why not?" she croaked since her mouth went suddenly dry.

"We need to talk." He gave her that crooked smile that could charm any one and her heart went into free fall.

"Umm, Dave…."

"That song was for me?" His eyes searched hers for the truth.

"Compliments of our fearless leader," she chided.

Dave tightened his embrace. "Did you mean it? Did you come back for me?"

"Dave…I…"Em struggled to find the right words.

"I confided in you all those nights after Caroline died. I let you in to see my grief and my heart. I trusted you not to betray me." He brushed her hair back from her face. "Now it's your turn to let me in and trust me not to betray you."

Before Em could reply, Dave covered her mouth with his. Tentative at first, he slowly kissed her until she relaxed. Moaning deep in her throat, Em parted her lips and let him in. Dave took that moment to claim her for his. Tongues mating, he pushed her until they both had to come up for air.

"Wow!" Em breathed. She wanted to say more, but her brain refused to work. She felt the ache in her knee. "Um, Dave, I need to stand up." Gently he pulled her to her feet, but he didn't move his hands.

"Better?" he asked.

"You kissed me," she said stupidly.

"I did. You kissed me back," he pointed out matter of fact.

"It took us long enough."

"It did," he agreed. Bending down, he nuzzled her neck and felt her pulse beat rapidly. "You liked it."

"I did," she agreed.

"There's more where that came from," he offered.

"Dave…."

He pulled back and looked at her. "Em, we've been dancing around this for years now. I know how you feel about relationships, and you know my track record. I think we have enough experience between us to reach a happy medium." He dipped his head and dropped kisses along her jaw line.

"Dave," Em protested, "people are watching."

"Let them watch. They're just jealous because I'm holding and kissing a beautiful woman."

Em flushed hot. "Dave."

"We could move this inside. I mean, we could keep kissing…." he trailed off. "Your place or mine?"

"I'm closer," she pointed out.

"So, your place in fifteen?" Dave asked. His lips were just mere inches from hers.

"Fifteen? I thought you were a trained federal agent, Dave Rossi," she teased.

"Oh, trust me, Em, I can be there in five if I needed to."

Em looked confused. "But…"

"I need the extra minutes to kiss you to make up for when you're not in my arms."

"Oh." She smiled as the truth dawned on her. "Then by all means, kiss away."

Dave needed no extra prompting as he kissed Em to remind her of what she would be missing during those minutes apart.

From the foyer, Hotch watched the pair. He should have felt jealous, but inside his heart jumped for joy. At least two people got a happy new year.

"Hotch?" JJ asked and touched his arm. "Are you alright?" She noticed the far away look in his eyes.

Hotch turned toward her. "I'm fine. Dave and Em are okay."

"I know." JJ smiled gently. "Who knew a song would bring those two together?"

"Yes."

JJ tugged on Hotch's arm. "That reminds me, I have a resolution I need to fulfill."

"What do you mean? Jayje…what are you doing?"

"It's resolution night. And I'm up next."

"Oh?" Hotch smiled. "What did you choose?"

"'Turn Your Love Around'. What else?" She gave him a wink.

"Ah. I think you already have," he told her.

"I'm sealing the deal," she stated firmly. Walking confidently to the stage, JJ picked up the microphone.

Hotch smiled. Then his heart fell…just like Dave's.

For good.