RED

warmth, fear, and love

word count: 2543

Emily stirred awake, her body cocooned in a warmth that she hadn't felt in weeks. Her eyes fluttered open, and she blinked against the soft morning light filtering in through the bedroom curtains. For a moment, she didn't quite remember where she was. The bed was too comfortable, and the room was too serene. And then she felt the solid warmth pressed against her back, the steady rhythm of breathing just behind her.

Hotch.

The memory of last night washed over her—him helping her shower, his tenderness, the weight of his arms around her as she drifted off to sleep. She hadn't slept like that in weeks—months, even. Deep, undisturbed, the kind of sleep that restored something inside her that had been broken. She hadn't felt safe in so long. But here, next to him, she did.

She let herself lie there, soaking it in—the feeling of his body molded against hers, his arm draped protectively over her waist. She felt his warmth seep into her bones, melting away the coldness that had settled in her chest ever since that first message from Clyde. For the first time in weeks, the tension that gripped her shoulders, that clawed at her insides, seemed to ease just a little bit.

Her thoughts drifted, slow and languid in the soft morning haze. She hadn't realized just how much she'd been holding back, how much she had walled herself off from everyone and everything. But here, with him, those walls felt...different. Less like a fortress and more like a fragile barricade. She found herself thinking back to all the moments between them—the lingering touches, the late-night conversations, the way his eyes softened when he looked at her. She'd always known they had something. But lying here, in his bed, wrapped in his warmth, it felt like...more. So much more.

And then it hit her. Like a punch to the gut.

Oh my god. I'm in love with him.

Her breath caught in her throat. Her heart gave a jolt in her chest, like it had been shocked back to life. She lay there, wide-eyed, staring at the empty space in front of her. Her mind went into overdrive, a thousand thoughts racing all at once. She hadn't let herself think it, hadn't let herself feel it. But now there was no denying it. She was in love with him. Deeply, achingly in love with him. And it terrified her.

Holy shit, Emily. What the hell are you going to do now?

Her mind spiraled, imagining every possible outcome, every consequence. What if he didn't feel the same? What if he did? Would this change everything between them? What if—

Her frantic thoughts were interrupted by a slight shift behind her. She felt Hotch stir, his arm tightening around her waist, pulling her closer. She held her breath, feeling his breath on her neck as he shifted closer, his lips brushing against the nape of her neck. A soft, barely-there kiss that sent a shiver down her spine. She could feel him waking up, feel the warmth of his chest pressed against her back, his breath slow and steady against her skin.

"Morning," he mumbled, his voice still rough with sleep, and she felt a flutter in her chest at the sound of it.

She bit her lip, trying to keep her breathing steady, trying to keep herself from turning around and blurting out everything she'd just realized. She could feel his hand moving, fingertips brushing lightly against her stomach. Her heart hammered in her chest, and she couldn't help the small smile that tugged at her lips.

Before she could get lost in her thoughts again, Hotch gently turned her to face him. His eyes were still heavy-lidded with sleep, his hair tousled in a way that made him look softer, younger. His gaze softened even more as he looked at her, and she felt herself melt under his gaze.