After 4 months away from the team you finally returned officially, Dr. y/n l/y. You hadn't told anyone that you were returning mostly because you didn't know when you were going to finish. You parked your car and saw everyone was there. Walking in you were met with many familiar faces. After getting off the elevator you could see right through the glass doors, Derek and Reid were at their desks and you could see Hotch in his office, Rossi was nowhere to be found. You push through the doors and Derek glanced up and smiled.

"Welcome back," Derek said and hugged you.

"Thanks." You put your stuff down at your desk. Spencer hadn't yet taken his eyes off the book he was reading. You walk over and started reading over his shoulder. You were almost done with the page but he turned it.

"Hey, I wasn't done." You said and pouted. He turned around and his smile grew.

"Well, you have to work on your stamina."

"I'll be sure to do that." You walk back over to your desk and grabbed some papers that stated that you finished school. The blinds to Hotch's office were slightly closed but you could see that he was on there. You knock on the door and heard a muffled 'come in.'

"Hi." You smile more than you should've. You look and see that Rossi was sitting in the chair across from his desk. He got up and gave you one of the best hugs you've had in a while. He announced that he was going to give you guys a minute to get everything situated.

"Welcome back." He hadn't looked you in the eyes yet.

"It's nice to be back." There were no words. "I have these papers just stating that I have my doctorate and it's not just a piece of paper that has my name on it." You place the papers on his desk. Still nothing. "Is anyone in there?" You asked trying to find his eyes. He was looked at the paper he had yet to write anything on.

"What's going on? What could I have done I just got back?" You kept questioning.

"I'm sorry." He said. Still not looking up.

"For?"

"Everything that happened in Connecticut." You knew exactly was he was referring to, but you acted like you didn't.

"It's fine, everything was gonna come up eventually right?" You shrugged.

"I guess so." He said. He took the paper that had been sitting on his desk. He examined it and tucked it away in some random file. There was nothing else to say so you stood and walked back to your desk. You were greeted by more hugs from Emily and JJ. The files on your desk hadn't piled up as high as you thought they were. You slowly chipped away at the stack, but your mind wasn't there.

Did he forget? Did he forget he had you pinned to your counter? It makes sense that he hadn't told anyone. But not to mention...

"OH MY GOD!" You were startled at Penelope's high pitch screech. She started running towards you. Well as fast as someone can go in 5-inch heels. You stood up just in time for her to hug you.

"Oh, it feels like it's been an eternity since I've last seen you."

"I wasn't gone for that long." You said.

"You were gone for 4 months." She said and pulled out of the hug.

"That's not that long." You pointed out.

"Too long."

"Never again I promise." You smiled.

All the girls went out for lunch to talk about what's been happening since you were gone.

"We're convinced that Reid has a girlfriend," Penelope said and picked at your food.

"Really?" You couldn't believe someone besides yourself could handle him.

"Yeah, but he won't tell us anything," JJ said.

"And Hotch has been kind of an ass." Emily chined in from next to you.

"Well, that's nothing out of the norm." You said.

"No everyone has been walking on eggshells around him, even Rossi." That was shocking Rossi was just about the only person that could tell Hotch to take a step back and he wouldn't get mad. You hadn't said anything longer than you thought, all the girls were looking at you. "What?"

"Your very quiet after hearing about Hotch." JJ pointed out.

"I was just thinking to when I walked into his office, all he said was welcome back and he was sorry."

"Sorry for what?" Emily turned to read your body language.

"Everything that happened on the case, I said it was fine cause everything was gonna come out anyway." You shrugged.

From the corner of your eye, you could see JJ swallow hard and look at her food. At least JJ wasn't acting as weird as Hotch was. He wouldn't even look at you. Which sucked cause that kiss was one of the best ones you've had, and you've kissed a lot of people. It was one of those kisses where you forgot what time it was. That was one of the many things that you couldn't get out of your mind while finishing school. Well more like the only thing.

Your mom had asked what was wrong cause you seemed more closed off. You didn't know how to tell "My boss kissed me in your house, as a matter a fact he pinned me to the counter and kissed me in your house." Not even gonna mention the stuff that happened in the basement earlier the day before. Or what happened that night in the backyard. All in all, there were a lot of things that you were closed off about you just didn't know how to say it.

After deciding if you guys should interrogate Reid about his secret girlfriend or just leave him be. You voted to harass him until he cracked. You missed picking on him. One thing you knew for sure was that Morgan filled in for you when you left.

But knowing Hotch wasn't himself after you had left was worrying.

~~~~~

The time stuck to 6:30 when you finally decided to go home. You stood up and pack up your stuff.

"Where you going?" Derek asked.

"Home, I'd rather have a glass of whine by my side while I finish these files." You waved the files.

"Let's go get a drink." Derek said not as a question.

"Derek I'm tired, I just got back."

"You just said you were gonna drink might as well be with us." Derek had a point.

"Fine." You didn't feel like arguing. Derek went to go inform Penelope of the plans because everyone else had overheard the interaction. You walked up the stairs to see if Rossi and Hotch wanted to come along, Rossi said he was gonna buy the first round to celebrate your return. You walk to Hotchs office and knocked followed my a soft come in.

"Hi." You said and closed to door behind you. He didn't say anything. You walked up to his desk and placed the finished files in a basket.

"Were all gonna go get a drink, do you wanna come? Rossi's buying the first round." He was just ignoring you at this point. "Hotch? Are you just gonna ignore me forever?" He turned the page in his file. "Aaron!" That was the first time you had ever used his first name. He looked up eyebrows raised.

"Are you never gonna talk to me again?" You repeated the question.

"I don't know." That was his answer. 3 words. That was it.

"Do you want to come with us to get a drink?"

"No." You couldn't say anything without getting mad. You walked out.

"Is he gonna come?" Emily asked.

"What do you think?" You asked back in a joking tone.

"Dumb question." Everyone jumped into their cars and head to the bar that they always went to. You found a table that could seat almost everyone but there was a high chance that Penelope and Derek would be dancing more than half the time.

You spent a while trying to convince Reid to have an actual drink instead on just a soda. His stubbornness got the better of you and you gave up. You sat and talked with everyone for a while when Reid spoke.

"Y/N."

"Yes." You turned your attention to him.

"When Hotch told us that you were gonna finish school I looked up what was the fast way to finish the last credits you had?" He started.

"Ok?"

"I read that the fasts way was to take all the classes at once, it would be a lot of work but you could get it done in 2 months." Everyone was listening to this conversation and you knew it wasn't going to end well.

"Yeah they didn't offer that at my school." You tried to save yourself.

"Yes they did, I looked at the school records and it was the most used one for kids that only had a few credits left. Your name was on it, but then it was taken off before you started."

"Were you trying to get away from us longer?" Penelope asked, you could the hurt look on her face.

"No, no, no, no, I wasn't. I wanted to make sure that I earned the credits."

"Y/N your a genius, you earn all the credits you have." Derek said.

"I know." That was all you said.

"Then why did you stay longer then you needed too?" Spencer asked.

"I don't know." Lie. "But I swear on everything that I wasn't trying to avoid you guys, in fact I missed you guys so much." They believed you they just looked sad. "I'm sorry." You said and looked at each of them. They smiled silently excepting your apology.

After being at the bar for another two hours, you finally called it a night. You were slightly buzzed but not drunk. Ok enough for you to drive home. You got home and dropped everything at the door. You take a hot shower to relax yourself from the interaction with Hotch, even though it had happened 4 hours ago. There was a high chance that he was never going to talk to you again and that would really suck. You got out of the shower and through your hair in a bun. A sweater and underwear was all you had on considering you were going to go to sleep because it was almost midnight. You walk back to the front door and pull your phone out of your purse. There was 3 messages from Penelope and two from Emily. They both asked if you had gotten home safely followed by some pictures you guys had taken. You start to walk back to your room when there was a knock at your door.

"Who the hell?" You asked and walked back. You stood on your tippy toes to look through the peep hole. It was Hotch.

"Shit." You whisper to yourself, pants, you need pants. You grab the short that had been laying your couch since you guys left for Connecticut. You run back to the door.

"What are you doing here so late?" You asked and opened the door.

"You should really answer the door with pants on." He said and looked at your legs.

"I am." You lift up your sweater to reveal the shorts.

"Well longer pants." He stated again.

"Did you come here to criticize my clothing, or do you have an actual purpose?" You move to the side of the door offering for him to come in. You walks in and stops at the kitchen to admire your apartment.

"I wanted to apologize for my behavior." He put his hands in his pockets.

"Was that the apology or..." You trailer off.

"I'm sorry that I've been such an ass to you." He said, you laughed at his choice of words. "What's so funny?" He asked.

"You saying the word ass is quite amusing." You hung your head and realized how much it did look like you weren't wearing pants. You pick your head back up and saw that he had a small smile.

"You know you look kind a normal when you smile."

"Mmm." He hummed. You folded your lips and exhaled deeply trying not to let that one sound effect you. "I'm going to assume that Reid has said something about you taking the 4 months to finish school." He changed the subject.

"Yeah he did." You played with your fingers.

"Can I ask why chose to stay longer?"

"You just did." You were deflecting, he knew why.

"Was it because I kissed you?" He asked. You looked at your hands knowing that all the response he needed.

"Maybe." You responded anyway.

"I'm sorry about that too, it was highly inappropriate."

"No kidding." You joked, but it wasn't the right time. You both were silent for a while.

"For what it's worth..." You started and stepped closer. "I don't regret it. I was never gonna work up the balls to do to, or saying thing for that matter. But I'm glad you did." That was all you needed to say. He walked up to you and kissed you. Your breath hitched when he pushed against the wall. He picked you legs and wrapped them around his hips. His hand were on your ass holding you up. Your hand intertwined with his hair. One of his hands trailed up your leg and under your sweater. He hummed when realizing you weren't wearing a bra. You slightly moaned when his cupped your boob, you hadn't realized how big his hands were until that moment. You bring your hand to his chest and slightly push back. You forehead is on his and your both breathing heavily.

"As much as I'd like to continue this...and I'd very much like to continue this." You pointed out. "I want this to be something, not just some one night stand and we never talk about it." He put your down and took his hands back.

"Do you really think I would just come here sleep with you then leave?" It was a genuine question he had.

"I never thought you were going to kiss me, so anything possible." You smile to yourself. He put his hands back on your waist.

"I would never just sleep with you and forget about it. I want this to be something too."

"So are we agreeing we want to start something?" You wanted things to be clear.

"I guess we are." He smiled.

"Good." You grabbed his tie and pulled him into one more kiss. The kiss was slow. Your other hand wrapped around his neck to pull him closer. This is what you had been wanting for the last year and you didn't want to screw it up.

~~~~~

It was 5 in the morning when your phone started ringing. You look at the bright screen. Penelope Garcia. Penelope calling at 5, that's not good.

"Go away." You answered.

"I wish I could sweet pea, but about 5 hours ago a 6 year old girl was taken from her home."

"Oh crap." You said more awake. "Ok I'll be there in like 20 minutes." You through on the first thing you saw and headed out the door. Considering it was 5 in the morning there was no traffic. You got there with in 10 minutes.

"I see you didn't follow the speed limits." Reid said as you walked in.

"No I didn't."

"I know cause it would've take you-" Reid started.

"18 minutes and 48 seconds, I know." You cut him off because you already knew the answer. You sit down and wait for everyone else to get there.

Your head was in your hands, you were exhausted. 3 hours of sleep wasn't what you had expected to get when Hotch left at almost 2 o'clock. It was nothing but heavy make out and some conversation. But you were so focused on getting here you didn't think to stop for coffee. Before you had a chance to get up to get some a mug was placed in front of you with a sticky note on it. You, me, dinner, Friday night. You knew exactly who it was from. You look up and meet Hotchs eye. You nodded slightly and smile, but it quickly goes away when you see JJ and Emily walk through the door. Their hair was a mess and they were wearing the same cloths as last night.

"Looks like you guys had a long night." You laugh and sip the coffee.

"An hour." JJ said and sat down next to you.

"An hour?" You needed helping putting it together.

"An hour of sleep. You guys left while me and Emily kept the party going at her house." You slid the coffee to her, she needed it more than you did in the moment. You stand to fix you and Emily some coffee while listening the rest of the team talk.

"I tired to tell you guys to go home but you didn't want to listen." Derek through his hands up.

"It's your fault for coming back." Emily said to you.

"I didn't even want to go out, I was gonna go home. It was Derek's idea." You placed the coffee in front of Emily.

You went back to your seat and start to think about all the good things that came out of last night outing. If you had never asked Hotch to come out he wouldn't have been and ass and would've never came to your apartment to apologize. Things wouldn't have happened and he would've never asked you out. So in the end you were very happy that you did go out ot get a drink even though Emily and JJ got the short end of the straw. In the middle of Derek and Emily's argument Rossi walks in with his shirt missing a few buttons.

"Sorry to interrupt your...night." You gestured to his shirt.

"Pensa agli affari tuoi." Mind your own business. Rossi point at you and as the only other person that know Italian Emily laughed.

"Lo sientio." You apologized and waited from Penelope to start presenting. From the corner of your eye you could see Hotch smile just a little bit.