Secret To Be Kept

Chapter 4 - I have a daughter?

"Aaron" was all that Emily could cry out after minutes of just sitting there in silent. She was a mess, tears running down her face, makeup all over the place but Aaron didn't care, all he cared about was what was wrong and why was it making Emily so upset.

"Hey babe, it's ok we have all the time in the world to talk about whatever it is ok"

"But ... but you're going to hate me, and I can't live without you ... I love you Aaron and I've made soooo many mistakes starting with breaking up with you 24 years ago then everything started falling apart because ... then 7 years ago and then the miscarriage happened. I can't do it anymore Aaron, I'm so tired and sick. Lord I don't know why I feel so sick at the moment"

"Emily, I love you too okay and nothing you could say will ever change that. I've never stopped loving you since the day I meet you I knew; I've always known it was you... So, what happened?" Aaron made a mental note to come back to Emily feeling sick and tired and maybe they should have a real talk about the miscarriage because all that was said the last time were really hurtful words. "What happened Emily, why did everything start falling apart?"

"I ... um ... before ... before the miscarriage 5 years ago ... I had been pregnant before" Emily couldn't meet his eye; she knew that he hadn't pieced it all together yet, but she needed a second to breathe before the next words exited her mouth.

"1 week after we broke up ... 24 years ago ... I ... I found out that I was ... um ... pregnant Aaron"

"I don't understand, you don't have any kids Emily. When you joined the team 7 years ago you would have had a 16- or 17-year-old but you don't... ... ... ... but 1 week after you and I broke up ... that means ... I have a kid?" Aaron asked in a whisper slowly as he pieced each detail together, taking his time and thinking through the logic of the situation.

"Yes, you have a kid but it's not as simple as that" Emily whispered back

"What do you mean. Explain it Em because I clearly don't understand" Aaron started to raise his voice at Emily, and this was the part that she didn't want to say.

"Okay. So, let's start at the very beginning with us breaking up and why, you don't know this but the reason I broke up with you is because Mother was going to have you charged with rape because we were together when I was 17 and you know how Mother is. So, I begged and begged her not to and the only way she wouldn't was if I broke it off and Aaron you were just starting your career and I couldn't let her do that to you, so I agreed.

Then a week later I found out that I was pregnant, and I told Dad because I knew he would have supported me and would have helped me find you, but he didn't and told Mother. They made the decision to give the baby up for adoption, I would have given anything to raise that baby and find you, but I had no choice. So, when Isabella Clementine Hotchner was born I had no choice but to give her to Rose and Thomas Burton. Aaron, you have asked me why I have been acting different since Charlotte joined the team it's because she is our baby Aaron. She is the perfect little mix of you and I, and she knew who I was as soon as she arrived at the BAU." Both Emily and Aaron had tears running down their faces, unable to hide their emotions and if Aaron was being honest, he knew something was up about Charlotte is was just the way she reminded him of that young Emily, reading her books and she excited to learn new things.

"Aaron, I'm so sorry I should have never kept this from you. I guess I was just scared. It's okay if you hate me too, I will understand"

"OMG Emily. I have a daughter?" Aaron asked staring straight into Emily's eyes with a smile pecking through.

"yea" was all she could say before more tears started to flow.

Both of them just sat there in silent for a little bit, neither dared to say something. That was until Aaron turned quickly and before Emily could even understand Aaron was kissing her, it was nothing like all the other kisses they have shared this was intimate and understanding.

"Aaron?"

"Marry Me?"