"Sirs. Wait a minute!" Penelope called, hurrying towards them across the bullpen. "I'm so glad I caught you before you left." She panted.

"What's up, Kitten?" Dave asked.

"Emily forgot her Blackberry. I found it in the ladies room. Is there anyway one of you could drop it by her house? She says she really needs it."

"I can't." Dave grinned broadly. "But I do believe that would be on your way home, Aaron." He stared pointedly at the unit chief. "Isn't it?"

"Oh if you could do it, that would be awesome, Sir." Penelope smiled.

"You can't drop it off, Garcia?" Hotch sighed, reaching up to pinch the bridge of his nose.

"I would, Sir. But Kevin and I have reservations for dinner. I'm late already."

"You heard the woman, Aaron." Dave laughed. "She has dinner reservations." Reaching out he took the Blackberry from Garcia's hand. Grabbing Aaron's hand he slapped the offending item into his open palm. "You're not doing anything. Now take Prentiss her Blackberry."

"Fine." Aaron hissed. Stuffing the Blackberry into his jacket pocket, he turned towards the glass door. "Against my better judgment, I will take Prentiss her Blackberry. Is everybody happy now?"

"I am. Have fun." Dave called out to Aaron's retreating back.

Dave and Penelope watched as the elevator door closed. Turning to each other they "high fived" and laughed.

"Go get Derek" Dave said. "We need to call Kevin."

"Yes Sir." Penelope saluted sharply.

The three conspirators gathered around the phone in Garcia's office listening to it ring.

"Hello" Kevin Lynch's voice came from out of the speaker.

"Hi Baby. You're on speaker, I've got Dave Rossi and Derek with me. Hotch just left the building. Are you in position."

"I am. But I don't like this one bit."

Rolling her eyes dramatically, Penelope spoke sweetly. "Honey, all you have to do is go unlock her front door and leave it slightly ajar."

"I realize this Dumpling. But what if she hears me? What if she comes after me with a gun?"

"Well if she comes after you….." Penelope hesitated.

"Run." Dave finished for her.

"Run." Kevin muttered. "Okay. I'm almost at her door. Stand by."

They waited anxiously, trying to hear what he was doing. After what seemed like forever, Kevin's voice came back on the line. "Okay, mission accomplished. The door is unlocked and ajar. Now what should I do?"

"Wait and make sure no one but Hotch goes in."

"Okay." Kevin said. "I'll call you when he gets here."

HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

Ring, Ring.

"It's Kevin." Penelope cried, grabbing the phone and turning the speaker on.

"He just pulled up."

"Okay Baby. Give us a play by play." She bounced in her seat with excitement.

"Okay. He's parked and he's getting out. He's walking up the path. Now he's at the door." Kevin paused. "He's just standing there, staring at the door. Why isn't he knocking?"

"Coward." Dave muttered.

"Shhhhh" Penelope hissed.

"Okay, okay. He's knocking now. Oh wait, the door moved. It's open. Why's it open? He's pushing it open. He stepping in. He's in and the door is closed."

"Thanks so much Kevin." Derek called into the phone.

"Yeah Baby. Thanks for your help. I'll see you in a bit." Penelope hung up the phone and sighed. "Well he's in."

"Now it's up to them." Derek sighed.

"Yep." Dave agreed. "I sure hope she doesn't shoot him."

Standing on the front porch of her brownstone, Aaron tried to figure out what he was doing there. All the way over he had argued with himself. The note made it clear. She wanted to see him. But did he want to see her? He did. He couldn't deny his growing attraction to his raven haired agent. Everything she does is beautiful, everything she does is right. Rossi had seen it; he couldn't keep his eyes off of her. Right or wrong, there was no place he would rather be then with her. Taking a deep breath, he raised his hand and knocked on the door. His fist hung in mid air as the door swung slightly open at his touch. Confused, Aaron reached out and pushed the door open.

Stepping into the foyer, Hotch brushed back his suit jacket and placed his hand on his service revolver. His instincts told him he didn't need to draw the weapon, but he wanted to remain cautious and at the ready. Glancing around, he noted that the kitchen and living room where empty. Stepping into the living room, the flicker of candle light beyond the sliding glass doors caught his attention.

Emily glanced up; startled as the glass doors slid open and a tall figure stepped onto her deck.

"Hotch? What are you doing here? You scared me."

Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out the cell phone and held it up. "Garcia found your Blackberry."

"Oh. You didn't need to bring it. I could have gotten it tomorrow."

Aaron stared at the women, only her head was visible in the bubbling water. "Garcia said you really needed it, that you had to have it tonight."

"I never said that." Emily voice sounded confused. "How did you get in?"

"Your front door was ajar. You didn't leave it that way?"

"No." She said shaking her head. "I even locked the deadbolt. Why would I leave my door ajar?"

Shaking his head, Aaron pinched the bridge of his nose. "And you didn't write the note either." He muttered, almost to himself.

"What note?"

"This note." He said, reaching into his pocket and holding up a piece of paper.

"Let me see that." Emily held a dripping hand out to him. Taking the note she read it several times. "I didn't write this." She whispered. "But since it's in Italian you would think either Dave or me."

"Exactly. And I would really hope that Dave wouldn't write me a love note. Does anyone have keys to your house?"

"Yeah. Garcia does." Emily said, rolling her eyes. "And it was Garcia who sent you here with my Blackberry."

Aaron Hotchner sighed heavily. "Is that Champagne?" He asked, staring at the bottle on the deck.

"Yeah. Do you want some?"

He motioned his hand for the bottle. Taking it from her, he tilted it up and took a long drink. "I think we've been set up." He said, handing the bottle back to her. "I'm going to kill Dave Rossi."

Gazing down at Emily in the hot tub, he smiled sadly. "I'm sorry I disturbed you. I'll just let myself out." Turning, he reached for the glass door.

"Hey Hotch?"

He turned back towards her, his face impassive in the candle light.

"If you thought I wrote that note." Her voice faltered for a moment. "Saying those things to you, inviting you here….why did you come? You could have just refused."

"I don't know." He said softly, his voice barely audible over the sound of the water. "I guess I…" He shrugged, unsure how to finish the sentence.

"Well." She spoke slowly, staring down at the water, unable to meet his eye. "What would you say if I told you that I could have written that note?"

Taking a deep breathe, he blew it out. "I'd say….that I came here because I wanted to see you." Looking up he fixed her with an intense gaze. "And that I don't know why, but I just can't keep my eyes off of you."

"Well." She whispered softly.

"Yeah, well." He repeated. "Is that water as nice as it looks?" He asked smiling shyly at her.

"It's better. You should join me."

"I don't have a swimming suit."

"That's okay. Neither do I."

His eyes widened and he stepped closer to the tub, trying to peer through the bubbling water. "You mean you're…."

"Naked. Yep." She smiled up at him. "Come on. Live a little. Join me."

"Well I do have this thing in my back, from the last case." He said, twisting and pointing to a spot in the middle of his back.

"Oh this is wonderful for a sore back." She nodded seriously. "Nothing better. Come on, join me."

She watched as a myriad of emotions and thoughts crossed over his face. "Nothing has to happen, Hotch. We can just be two friends, sitting in a hot tub together."

"Naked." He teased.

"Naked." She agreed.

"Oh what the hell." He muttered, shrugging out of his suit coat.

Glancing around the deck, he saw a small table and chair. Placing his jacket on the table, he pulled his holster off and laid it next to his jacket. Sitting down on the chair he untied his shoes and removed them. He peeled off his socks and tucked them carefully inside his shoes. Pulling up his right pants leg, he unbuckled his ankle holster and laid it on the table. As he reached up to loosen his tie, his eyes locked with the woman in the hot tub. "So are you planning on watching me remove all of my clothes?"

"Oh yeah." She sighed. "I wouldn't miss this for the world. It's like a dream come true. Aaron Hotchner without his suit. I've waited years to see this, so please, go slow."

"Years." He laughed, pulling his tie off and laying it on the table.

Standing up, he slowly unbuttoned his white dress shirt, his eyes fixed on hers.

"Hey. Do you think you could do a sexy little dance too?" She teased.

"What like this?" He asked, shimming his shirt down his back, before tossing it aside.

"Yes. Exactly like that."

"No." He said, laughing at her frown. "Now behave yourself, you're embarrassing me."

"Oh well." She sighed, dramatically. "This is good too."

"I'm glad you approve." He quipped, pulling his undershirt over his head.

Though his forearms and hands were covered with dense dark hair, Emily was surprised to see that his chest was almost boyishly bare in comparison. "Oh I more then approve." She whispered her voice husky.

Smiling a shy smile again, Aaron reached down and slowly unbuckled his belt. Watching her face carefully, he unhooked his trousers and slowly eased the zipper down. "You're looking way too excited over there Emily." He teased as he slowly lowered his pants, removing them from one leg and then the other. Tossing them on the table, he turned to face her, clad only in his boxers.

"Looks like you're the one who's excited, Aaron." Emily said staring pointedly at the tented front of his underwear.

"Hush." Aaron blushed, running his thumbs under the waist band of his boxer shorts. "These too?" He asked, quirking an eyebrow at her.

"Definitely those too." She moaned, leaning forward in the water.

Taking a deep breathe, he lowered his eyes and slowly pulled the waistband of his shorts out, past his erection. Bending over he pushed them down his legs. When they were off, he tossed them with his pile of clothing. Still not looking her, he climbed the stairs and slowly lowered himself into the hot water.

"Feel good?" She asked.

Walking over to her, he pressed his lips gently against hers, his tongue lightly touching hers. His hand rose slow to lightly cup her breast.

"It feels wonderful, Emily. Happy Valentine's Day."

THE END.