"I still don't think that this is a good idea", Hotch sighed as he and Emily stood in front of huge mansion, which still looked like he had remembered it.
This was the place where it had all began.
"It's all going to be okay", Emily smiled and patted his arm lightly. "Trust me."
A few months had passed and Christmas had been rolling around quicker than they had expected. Emily hadn't realized which time of the year it was until the snow had started falling.
The months that laid behind Emily and Aaron had shaped and changed them, as well as their relationship. There had been many fights, along with deep conversations. Even though both of them had at least once thought that they wouldn't make it, it turned out that this was exactly the relationship they both needed to stay human and that their relationship grew stronger from day to day.
And of course, there hadn't been only bad times. Many rather romantic nights and moments laid behind them, too.
Strauss had not been very happy to learn that the two of them were in a relationship, especially since she had always hoped that Emily would one day change her mind and chose her career over her team - but she couldn't have been more wrong. However, she had no choice but accept the circumstances, especially since the two agents still provided the most solved cases and kept things really professional at work.
Haley had also learned about the new relationship her ex-husband was in, but she hadn't bothered to say a lot about it. It had been that one afternoon, when Hotch had picked up Jack for the weekend when she had asked him about it, and that had been the first and last time they had spoken about it.
It had surprised her that Emily was the new woman at Hotch's side, as she hadn't even considered the brunette agent to fall for him. However, she couldn't deny that she had recognized that her ex-husband had changed for the better, so she figured that Emily was probably the right person for him.
Along with that, Emily had even started to form a really good bond to Jack. He had liked her from the very beginning, it had actually been Emily who had been really insecure around him. But Jack was very grown for his age, and was happy as long as his father was happy, too.
"I trust you", Hotch sighed. "But this evening is going to end in flames."
When Emily had told him about the invitation from her parents to spend Christmas Eve with them, he had tried to run immediately. He knew that Emily had told them that she was now with someone, but she hadn't exactly told them who it was.
Hotch had tried to talk her into going alone, as he didn't want to keep her away from her family, but she had insisted on him joining her. And if Emily Prentiss was one thing to Aaron Hotchner, then it would be convincing. She was able to change his mind about everything. Well, almost.
"They'll find out sooner or later, anyways", she had shrugged when he had pointed out that things weren't quite the friendliest between him and Elizabeth Prentiss, despite the fact that Emily had literally promised her mother to not get involved with Hotch again last year.
The brunette took one step on the huge stairs and held her hand out for him.
"I told you, even if they don't approve, I don't care", she reminded him. "And it's Christmas; the time of family and love, even for my parents."
"I kind of doubt that", Hotch smiled slightly and took her hand. "What if they kick me out again?"
"Then you and I are going to spend a cozy Christmas Eve at your place", Emily smiled. "But that won't happen."
"You better be right about that", he sighed and interlaced their fingers as he slowly walked up the stairs to be at the same height that she was. The snow was still falling and got caught up in her dark hair, but she didn't mind.
As he stood next to her, she moved closer and leaned against his chest. Automatically, he wrapped his arms around her and she pressed a soft kiss to his jaw.
"I love you", she whispered.
"I love you, too", he smiled and down at her before leaning down, kissing her. "Merry Christmas, Em."
"Merry Christmas", she smiled, too. "And now let's get going, we're already late."
Aaron took a deep breath and nodded. And with that, they walked towards the door of the huge mansion, hand in hand, neither of them knowing what exactly was awaiting them behind it. However, they both knew that whatever it was, it wouldn't tear them apart.
There was nothing that would ever tear them apart again. After all, they had waited 19 years for each other.
The end.
_____________
A note from the author:
Helloo y'all! I cannot believe that I have actually managed to write a full sequel to "10 things I hate about you - Hotchniss", years after the story ended, but here we are!
First of all, I have to say that I am so, so endlessly thankful for every single one of you, who read and commented this story! Without you, I would've never written it in the first place. So, thank you!
I always forced my dear bf to read the chapters before publishing them, and in the end he pointed out that a few things were still not very clear, so I decided to answer the most important questions quickly down below.
1. Why didn't Haley die in this story?
If you have read any of my other stories, you'll notice that Haley either is alive or does not even exist. I never dealt with her death, as I find it very difficult. Regarding this story, I decided to not have her killed as I figured that this would have a huge impact on the development of Emily's and Aaron's relationship. However, this story is supposed to be able to blended into the actual, canon TV series and it ended somewhere in season 5. Haley is killed in 5x09, so I guess if I had continued writing the story, she would have died very soon, for the sake of the 'reality' of this story. I just want it to be visible to have actually have happened in the series.
2. Did Hotch ever find out that Emily wasn't really smoking when he found the package of cigarettes?
Of course he did. Nevertheless, I imagine them having some arguments and discussions when Emily is happening to crave for a cigarette after a really stressful and tough case. She never really smokes again, though.
3. Why didn't they get married/ have kids?
(Spoiler alert for my other stories!) In all my other stories, "Little do you know", "Safe with me" and "A second chance", they are/get married and have children and I really love the idea them having a family. I considered Emily getting pregnant in this story, too, I even thought about a miscarriage, but then again: this wouldn't have gone along with the canon series. So no kids and no wedding.
If there are any other questions you have, feel free to post them in the comments, I will answer them all!
Also, I thought about writing a book full of Hotchniss OneShots, consisting of YOUR requests for situations, etc. Please let me know what you think about that, too, and feel free to comment your OS requests!
Once again, thank you so much for sticking with me through my stories and - hopefully - see you in the next one!
- jisbons
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10 things I love about you - Hotchniss
Fanfiction[Sequel to 10 things I hate about you] Quantico, 2006. Emily Prentiss has just received the offer of her dreams: to work at the BAU. However, she is faced by someone she has been trying to get over since she was 17 years old. Is this a second chanc...
