It felt like a start to a normal day. It was mid-November so it was getting colder.

Thanksgiving was in a couple of weeks and Rossi was saying something about having a big dinner party.

There was some hope that Aaron would be back by then. You had been getting updated that the work he was doing was almost complete.

It's been so long since you've been with him you had started to forget what it felt like. But hopefully, you'd remember soon.

As you pulled into your regular parking spot. Your phone started ringing. It was Aaron. It wasn't a skype call, it was just a regular phone call.

"Hello?" You answered.

"Hi."

"Why do you sound wide awake?" You asked and grabbed all your papers.

"Because I am." He answered simply.

"Well, it's pushing midnight over there so I suggest shutting your eyes." You locked your car and walked into the building.

The sudden gust of warm air hit your face as you walked to the elevator.

"Why are you at work so early?" He asked.

"Since Rossi is allergic to paperwork, I am the one that gets to go to the budget meeting." You placed the phone between your cheek and your shoulder so you could get a better grip on the papers in your hand.

He was quiet. You could only hear his steady breathing, at least you knew he was there. The doors of the elevator opened.

"Why are you calling me so late?" You asked.

"I just wanted to apologize for not calling you last night." He finally spoke.

There had been many nights when he didn't call. You never blamed him. You also knew that every spare second he had, he called Jack. It was hard for him to be away from his son. He hated leaving whenever you guys had cases.

"It's ok. At least I can hear your voice." You smiled.

"I'm so sorry." He apologized again.

"It's ok," you repeated. "Besides I fell asleep early." You added trying to lighten the mood. It sucked because you couldn't see his face. You couldn't tell him his mind was running or if he was just waiting for you to say something else.

"Do you have any advice for me before I go into this meeting?" You changed the subject and stepped off the elevator.

"Yeah try not to zone out." He laughed.

"That's gonna be difficult because I haven't had any coffee" Penelope came rushing down the hallway from her office. "Hey Pen what are you doing here so early-"

"Why don't you or Derek pick up your phone?" She asked.

"I'm talking to Aaron-"

"When I need you to answer your phone you don't. And you know when it's this early everything is still kinda blurry even if I'm wearing my glasses." She rambled.

"Penelope what's going on?"

"I think it's him." She finally said. Your face fell. "But like I said my eyes are still kinda wonky and the camera is far away so it's pixelated. But you said he would come and it's been a while and thinks he's here."

"Ok ok, breathe let me look." You started walking with her back to her office.

"What is she talking about?" Aaron asked. You had forgotten he was on the other line.

"I have to go." You're trying to avoid the question at all costs.

"Y/N what is she talking about?" He asked again.

"Aaron I will call you back later." You removed the phone from your shoulder and hung up. Putting all your files on the corner of Penelope's desk you walked over to her.

She started to reply to the footage and suddenly stopped when a car was passing by. She has zoomed in on the face that could be seen from the window.

Ian Doyle.

"Fuck. That's him." You stood up straighter and placed your hand on the back of your neck.

"What do we do?" She asked.

"Call Derek." You said trying to figure out what else to do. "Fuck it, call the whole team."

~~~~~

Derek had explained everything you guys had done. Setting up the camera, the extra security, the secret conversation you, Derek, and Penelope had been having.

No one was surprised. They were all smart enough to know that you and Derek weren't going to just let Ian Doyle walk around freely after what he did.

The one thing no one wanted to do was tell Aaron it had been going on. Derek swore he had mentioned it to him before he left, but you didn't believe it. You hadn't mentioned anything because you knew he was going to shoot down the idea.

But you sometimes convinced Derek to call Aaron and let him know everything that was going on. You mentioned how you hung up on him earlier and how he probably didn't wanna hear from you right now.

Take the shot

That's all he said.

When Derek had the opportunity to take the shot he didn't. And you didn't blame him, you both wanted him alive to make him suffer the way he did Emily.

Everyone thought it would be a good idea if you didn't go into the interrogation. They were right there was a high chance you would reach across the table and strangle him. Derek was able to control himself.

You stayed with Penelope to look at the other footage you had. Fast-forwarding through the video you saw someone cover the camera. You showed Penelope and she went to go inform Derek.

The rest of the footage didn't have anything on them. The camera was still covered so you moved on to the next tape.

"JJ wants to talk to all of us," Penelope said and you stood up to talk with her.

Penelope was in front of you as you both walked into the room. You were in the middle of saying something when you saw him.

"Hi." You could hardly hear yourself as you spoke. You couldn't believe what you were seeing.

"Hi," Aaron said back. He had a big smile on his face. You could hardly see his dimple through his beard.

Without thinking about it you walked over to him. He quickly wrapped his arms around your waist, something he hadn't done in literal months. You took a deep breathtaking in all his cologne.

He was skinner- more muscles. It didn't feel real, having him in your arms. It wasn't long before his grip around you loosened. You slowly let go of him and stepped back. Turning around you saw the rest of the team had walked in.

"Sorry." You felt the heat start to rise to your cheeks.

You stepped back to stand next to Derek.

"He's back, good. You can stop calling me now." He nudged your arm.

"You love me." You teased. You felt him roll his eyes. He did that every time you said it.

After everyone was settled, Aaron began to speak.

"Seven months ago, I made a decision that affected this team."He started. Arm crossed on his chest, head hanging low.

"As you all know, Emily had lost a lot of blood after her fight with Doyle."

We all know what happened, we were there. You thought to yourself. Where is this going?

"But the doctors were able to stabilize her, and she was airlifted from Boston to Bethesda under covert exfiltration. Her identity was strictly need-to-know, and she stayed there until she was well enough to travel."

What?

"She was reassigned to Paris where she was given several identities, none of which we had access to, for her security."

She's alive?

"She's alive?" Penelope beat you to the punch.

"But... we buried her," Reid says next.

"As I said, I take full responsibility for the decision. If anyone has any issues, they should be directed toward me." Aaron said again. His expression hadn't changed.

"Any issues ?" Derek said "Yeah I got issues-" You waved a hand over him, telling him to stop before he got himself into trouble.

The sound of approaching footsteps — heels — draws everyone's attention. Heart in your throat, shock fogging over your thoughts, you follow everyone else's lead and turn towards the doorway.

There she was. Emily Prentiss in all her living glory.

This isn't real. You thought. You're having a dream, a very detailed dream but a dream nonetheless.

"Oh my god." You whispered. Her eyes scanned the room meeting everyone's eyes. Then they land on you and Derek.

She slowly steps closer. It takes everything in you not to take a step away from her. You're not mad, just in shock-everyone is. You're finally drawn out of your thoughts when you hear your voice being called.

"Agent L/N." It's Strauss.

What could she possibly want this very second?

You take one last glance at Emily then at Aaron as you walk out the back of the room. Strauss is waiting for you at the end of the stairs.

"Yes ma'am." You said.

"I just wanted to know how everything is going." She seemed interested in the answer.

"Uh- we may have a lead, but with the return of both Agents Hotchner and Prentiss we may be able to get more soon." You tried not to stumble over your words.

"Is everyone adjusting well?" She asked.

"Everyone is still in shock with Prentiss' return. Hotchner is still getting used to being back after having the leave." You stated, she furrowed her eyebrows at your word choice.

"He didn't have to leave." She put it simply.

"Excuse me?"

"When Agent Hotchner was offered the position, I made it very clear that he didn't have to take the job. Other applicants were just as qualified. He insisted he'd be the one to go. I was in shock when he said that, considering everything that was happening with your team. I would've thought he wanted to stay because you had already lost 2 agents." She said.

She was right, Emily died- well apparently she didn't- JJ went back to the pentagon to finish up something. At that time Aaron had left too. It was a rough month being down 3 Agents.

"By the look on your face, I'm going to assume you didn't know that." She said.

"I did not know that, thank you for informing me." You gave her a small smile and walked back up the stairs and into the room.

Emily was already looking at the evidence board putting things together. From the corner of your eye, your saw Aaron. His stance hadn't changed. He was watching over everyone.

I made it very clear he didn't have to take the job.

Her words repeated over and over in your head. You weren't mad about them keeping Emily a secret. They needed to do what they had to to keep her alive. You knew that. You are just glad that she's alive.

So he just left, pretended that it was forced on him. Like he couldn't say no. He could've been here- with Jack, with the team, with you. But he left.

Before you knew it everyone was leaving the briefing room. Where were they going? You had no idea. You instinctively went back Penelope back to her office. When you opened the door the girls were already there.

Emily was the first to walk up to you. She didn't say anything just stood in front of you. You felt your eyes start to water. You wrapped your arms around her.

She is real .

"I am so so sorry." She whispered to you.

"Don't be." You pulled her away to see her face.

"If you're mad at me I completely understand, I would be pissed at me too. I mean you didn't carry my casket but you gave my eulogy and I know that was hard-"

"Emily," You shook her shoulders to get her to stop. "I'm just glad you're alive."

"Ok let's do this," Emily said

~~~~~

The day ended and 3 terrorists were dead and you saved a boy's life.

You had to distance yourself for Aaron pretty much the whole time. He kept giving you side glances wanting to say something. He had mentioned talking after you guys finished the case. But you didn't give him the chance.

After arriving back to Quantico you grabbed your files and purse before anyone had a chance to say anything.

Emily had asked you for a ride back to her apartment, that she still had no.

The whole ride there she told you about all the different things she experienced. And she couldn't stop going on about this one girl she met at the beginning of her exfiltration.

"How long did that go on for?" You asked.

"Only like a month." She shrugged.

"Well, that's better than nothing." She was quiet. When you looked over you saw she was picking at her thumbnail. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing." She shook her hand.

"Emily you may have been dead for the past 7 months but I still know you." You smiled.

"It was JJ." She whispered. You pulled over to the side of the street to look over at her.

"What the hell did you just say?"

"JJ," She said a little louder. "She stayed with me while I was still in the hospital. When I was able to fly she came with me to Paris. I told her to leave so many times, to go back home and be with you guys, but she didn't want to. That was one of the best months of my life." She had the smallest smile on her face.

"I hate that you guys are cute." You said and put the car back in drive.

"You act like you don't have a boyfriend waiting for you at home." She said and you tried and gave her your best smile.

~~~~~

After getting out of the shower you made your way to the kitchen.

Am I really hungry?

You asked yourself as you looked in the fridge. You settled on a box of peanut m&ms. Wrapping yourself in the cardigan you were wearing. Sitting down on the couch you start going through the tv channels. Eating m&m after m&m there was a knock at the door.

Please don't be Aaron, please don't be Aaron

Just your luck, it wasn't Aaron, but one very smiley Derek Morgan.

"What the hell are you doing here?" You asked once you opened the door.

"I wanted to check on you, you were in a rush to leave the office." He was right you just left.

"Do you blame me?" You moved aside so he could walk in.

"No, just wanted to make sure you were ok."

He walked in and sat in the same spot where you were sitting. You took the seat next to him and waved the box of candy in his face offering him some.

"Where's Hotch? Is he here? Cause I can go." He said while chewing on his m&m.

"No he's not here, I don't know where he is."

"You don't? I thought you guys would've wanted some alone time cause he's been gone for so long." He shoved your shoulder with his. You knew what he was getting at but you weren't smiling.

"Yeah well..." You trailed off and stared into space.

"What happened, cause he must've done a lot for you to be this quiet about-"

"He left on purpose." You cut him off.

"What?" He sat up and looked at you.

"Strauss gave him an out to the investigative task force." You looked at him, he was still giving you a confused look. "I know it's small, and so shouldn't be this mad about it but-"

"You're allowed to get mad." He cut you off this time.

"I hate lying." You said and played with your fingers. "When anyone does it, I can't stand it."

"I know you do." You reached into the box to grab another piece of candy.

"But why lie about leaving?"

"I don't know." He said even though you weren't looking for an answer.

"It was still taking everything in me to get out of bed every day. And up until this morning, we were all in pain."

"I know, just try and talk to him." He patted your arm.

"I don't know what I'll do when I see him." He furrowed his eyebrows in confusion. "When I see him I don't know if I'll break down in his arms, or slap him I don't know."

"Well, I can't picture you doing either." He laughed and it made you smile. "I say to keep a safe distance away."

"I'll keep that in mind."

The two of you sat in silence for a while, slowly chipping away at the box of candy. Getting up from the couch you threw away the box and grabbed a bottle of water. On your way back to your living room there was another knock at your door. You threw the water to Derek and looked through the peephole.

"Fuck." You groaned and stood back on your feet.

"Is it him?" Derek asked. You nodded.

Taking a deep breath you unlocked your door. Opening it to Aaron.

"Hey, can we talk? Please." You stepped out of the way for him to walk in. Derek was already standing ready to walk out. When Aaron saw him he froze in his steps.

"I'm just leaving," Derek said and started walking to the door. "It's nice to have you back man." He shut the door behind him.

You stood frozen in the middle of your apartment. Your arms wrapped tightly around your self pulling the cardigan closer to your body. You stared at your feet as if they were the most interesting thing in the world.

When you looked up you saw that he was in the same position you were- arms crossed feet together.

"You have a beard." You pointed out the obvious.

"You already knew that." He said and took a small step forward. You took a step back remembering what Derek said about keeping distance.

His face fell when he watched you move away from him. There was no easy way to bring this up, there was no right way to bring this up.

"You're still wearing the necklace." His eyes fell to the chain that was in the middle of your chest.

"I haven't taken it off." Your hand fell to the necklace. "You wanted to talk." You reminded him.

He exhaled deeply and shoved his hands in his pockets. He rocked back and forth on his feet trying to find the words.

"I'm sorry." He said.

"For what?" You asked.

"For not telling you about Emily." He stopped rocking on his feet.

"That's not what I'm mad about." You said and did think twice about it.

"That's not what you're mad about?" He asked. Your face froze.

"I understand why you hid it and I'm not mad about it, it was for Emily's safety. You couldn't say anything-"

"Damn it Y/N." He almost yelled. "Can you just answer my question." You tried your hardest not the flinch at his words.

"I know you lied to me about leaving." You said.

He didn't even try to defend himself. He hung his head and tried to step closer to you.

"I said I'm sorry." He was softer than before.