For Old Times' Sake

Chapter 7

"I love you, Aaron." you breathed out.

"Oh no, but I love Emily. Would you perhaps be interested in a threesome?"

"EMILY!" you shouted, slapping your colleague on the shoulder, bursting into a fit of giggles at her comical imitation of your boss' mannerisms.
"He would die before suggesting something like that."
Emily's eyes twinkled with mischief. "Such a gaping hole in his impeccable demeanour? My God. Would  you be up for it, though?"
"Would you stop already? Seriously, Em. I'm trying to practice saying 'I love you' to him, and all you can think of is orgies."
She laughed, her features lighting up beautifully. Who else was better to rehearse confessing your feelings to the love of your life with than your brazen best friend?
"Okay, okay. I'll cut it out. When are you telling him, though?"

Taking a deep breath, you told her all the plans you'd made. Dinner reservations at his favourite Thai restaurant, a nice walk back home, and then... when the moment was just right, you would lean in for a kiss... and whisper it against that gorgeous smile of his.

I love you.

Je t'aime.

Te amo.

You could say it an infinite amount of times, chant it over again and again reverently like a prayer in all the languages of the world.

And they would be enough. Like capturing an ocean in a bottle, those small words would sum up the entirety of the raging, ravishing ardour you felt for him.

"I love him, Emily." you said to her, heart already racing in anticipation.
Would he be shocked? Would he embrace you, promising to never let go? Would it be everything you ever dreamt of?
Or not?
"Good, because he loves you too." Em's smooth voice cut into your reverie. 
You blushed, biting your lip. "God bless you and your sugar coated words, Emily Prentiss."

*****

"What's up with Y/N today?" Hotch wondered in his office, trying unsuccessfully to concentrate on paperwork. "She's more enthusiastic than usual. Flitting about the quadrangle like a butterfly, she keeps alternating between the other women of the team."

"Dinner reservations are at 9:00, Hotch." she had said earlier in the car while driving to work. "What? What about Jack?"
"Emily's offered to watch him for tonight."
"But... why are we having  dinner at a restaurant?"
"I just felt like having a candle-lit dinner." and then she had beamed at him, her disarming smile making his heart skip a beat.

"Get a hold of yourself, Hotch." he thought. She's just your childhood best friend. Nothing more.
But what about those stolen glances, those nearly imperceptible brushes of her fingers against his, those moments when it felt like the world had stilled...
"It's all in my head... isn't it?" He mumbled, less sure of himself than he was used to being.

*****

"Okay," smoothing your dress down, you exhaled. Dinner had gone great, and you had stolen into the ladies' room to give yourself a mini pep-talk.
"I can do this. It's just three words. I. Love. You." Exhaling again, you felt your palms sweat.

What if he says no? What if he gets angry? What if he just wants to be friends?
Trying to shake the discouraging thoughts from your head, you shut your eyes tightly, taking a deep breath.
Walking out, you gave him a smile. "Let's go."

You felt cold as the two of you walked back, the chilly air making you uncomfortable.
Sensing your inconvenience almost instinctively, Hotch slipped off his neatly pressed blazer, slipping it over your shoulders.
"Always the gentleman," you smiled, basking in his warmth, his scent, and the split-second of contact his palms had made with your shoulders. 
He smiled back. "You look beautiful, Y/N."
A blush crept to your cheeks. "Thanks, Aaron. You look amazing too."
He shrugged his shoulders, but you could see a glint of mischief in his eyes. "Eh. I'm always wearing suits. Nothing special."
"Well, I will have you know that I have a weakness for men in suits."
"Oh, I know. Judging by the traffic in my bedroom, most women do."

You looked at him, mouth wide open in feigned shock. "Getting bold, are we?"
Hotch laughed at your expression. "I'm just kidding. Hey, we're almost home."
You pressed your lips together. This was it.

As the two of you neared the door, you started to speak. "I need to tell you something," you said, looking at Hotch.
Strangely, he didn't seem to register what you said as his eyes narrowed, his pace increasing in his walk to the door.
Surprised, you stopped in your tracks to follow his line of sight as he reached the door.
There was a woman standing there.

"Aaron?" she said, smiling.

"Beth?!"