Just a quick little author's note.

I have no idea where this story came from, all I know is that as a writer, you search and search for that one place that you find comfort in, your niche, and I think with this pairing that I have finally found mine. Because I mean, there just isn't enough Hotch/Garcia in the world.

Anyways, this story is separate from 'Heaven Is In Sight', my other Hotch/Garcia, so don't fret if you haven't read or caught up on that one yet, everything in this story should still make perfect since, I hope. And if you haven't read it, I think you should cause it is up for an award for Best Hotch/Garcia in the Profiler's Choice Awards after all.

And finally, of course, I still don't own Criminal Minds. And they won't even let me borrow them.

A Colorful Heart

Chapter 1: To Ignite

She found herself in a very familiar position, sitting at the oak bar in an empty club drowning her sorrows in a glass of something fruity and yellow. Easing her finger around the rim of the tall skinny glass, she thought how well she knew this feeling.

Penelope Garcia once again found herself alone, and it had been this way since she and Kevin Lynch had called it quits, some months ago now. She would find a date, every now and again, but those just ended in disaster. With every crash and burn, Penelope found herself in this exact place almost every other night, unless work changed her plans.

Now, by no means had she become an alcoholic, she just simply drank to ease the pain. She lifted the brightly colored paper umbrella from her glass, and twirled it around between her fingers as she listened to some throaty woman belt colorful lyrics describing exactly how her broken heart felt.

"Garcia?" A deep, familiar, one that invaded her dreams often, called softy as the man slowly approached the bar. "Penelope?" He whispered as he rested his hand around her shoulder, in attempts to not startle the colorful woman.

Turning slowly towards the voice, Garcia frowned as she met the brown eyes of her stoic boss.

"Hotch? What are you doing here?" she asked softly as he took the vacant seat beside her.

"Jack's at Jessica's; she's taking him to see Haley's parents this weekend. And after this past week, I just really am not looking forward to going home to an empty apartment," he informed her as the bartender approached them. Garcia frowned as gently placed her hand over Hotch's as he ordered them both drinks, adding 'whatever she is drinking' to his tab.

"Well, you are more than welcome to keep me company," she invited sadly as she took a large gulp of her drink.

It was now that Hotch had first noticed her unusual attire, her normally bright colored dress, was replaced with a more subdued navy blue dress falling just before the knees and a brightly colored purple scarf. Her hair fell softly around her shoulders, as he watched her stare intently at the bright pink umbrella resting in her drink. She lifted the brightly colored liquid towards her brightly colored lips, it was then that Hotch realized even in her sadness, she was a beautiful woman. Of course, he had noticed how beautiful she is before, she was different from other woman and that's what entranced him about Penelope Garcia. Garcia felt his eyes on her as she sipped her drink. He watched her intently as she self-consciously licked her lips, and his mind immediately flashed to images of her brightly colored lips wrapped around his.

Aaron, Derek Morgan will kill you if you even finish that thought, his mind screamed.

"Garcia, if you don't mind me asking…um… you look different," He commented, gesturing towards her dress.

"That's not a question, boss man," she quipped softly.

"I'm sorry… What was I saying?"

"Now that is a question," she said with a chuckle.

"Garcia…" he warned softly.

"Sorry."

"As I was trying to ask before, what's with the style change?"

"I had a date," Pen replied with a shrug of her shoulders.

"Had?" Hotch probed. He couldn't help it, he was a profiler.

"He 'cancelled'," she said sadly. Her fingers gestured the quotation.

"That's his loss, Pen."

Pen snorted and sipped her daiquiri. "You always know how to make a girl feel better, sir."

"Right now, I'm not sir, just Aaron," he corrected with a crooked dimpled grin.

"Okay, Aaron." She said softly, a soft blush covering her cheeks.

"Well, we can't have you getting all dressed up for nothing. Have dinner with me," he offered quickly.

"I don't want a pity date, Aaron." Pen laid the umbrella on the counter top.

"That, Penelope, is one thing you will never be. This isn't a pity date. This is me, taking a beautiful woman to dinner."

"That's supposed to make me feel better?" She raised her eyebrow in question.

"Actually, it would make me feel better."

"That's a cliché, if I ever heard one."

"Dave's the one with the talent for putting words together."

"Aren't you afraid of taking me out and breaking the Fraternization Rule, which our very own Lothario helped put into effect?" she asked smoothly but her heart was beating faster than she ever thought possible.

"As I said, it isn't a date."

"Then what is it?"

"It's two friends spending quality time together catching up on the all the important things."

"Smooth, boss man. Are you sure that you haven't taken a lesson or two from Casanova about weaving a line or two?"

"Honestly, my talent lies on the dance floor."

"You don't say." She was smiling. He was getting through to her. He kept on.

"Three years of ballroom dancing. What do you say? Dinner, talk and dancing…?"

"And then what?

"Let me take you to dinner and we'll see where it goes from there. It never hurts to have someone to talk to."

"You've got yourself a deal, Aaron."

"Okay, let's go," he said as she stood, grabbing her clutch and then grabbing his hand.

xxxxx

Two glasses of wine, one flirty dinner conversation, and three dances later, Penelope Garcia found herself pressed against Aaron Hotchner's front door, scarf and clutch in hand. His body pressed against hers as his lips trailed a scorching path down her neck. He dropped a kiss to the swell of each breast as Garcia's head dropped back against the door. Lifting his head, he took in the sight of her flushed face and slightly swollen lips before swiftly unlocking the door and pulling her inside.

Quickly they stumbled their way into his apartment, as their lips and tongues danced and their hands roamed. Garcia giggled when she almost lost her balance when the back of her legs hit the coffee table.

"Sorry," he murmured against her neck.

"S'okay," she responded in a gasp as she pushed the jacket off his shoulders. Grounding her hips against his, he let out a low groan. His shirt, her dress, and his pants quickly formed a heap with his jacket on the ground as his hands slipped up her legs, squeezing her thighs softly. He began trailing kisses all down her body as his hands stroked her hips. A cheeky smile crossed his face when he heard her moan as his lips reached the lace cups keeping her hidden from him.

"So beautiful," he breathed huskily as he took her breasts into his hands, thumbing her nipples.

"Oh Aaron," she called out as he released her bra, and he began lavishing her breasts as swirled his tongue around one nipple then the other one. Garcia whimpered softly as his hands continued their every so torturous path down her body. Lifting her hips towards his seeking hands, Garcia gasped as his hand slipped beneath her final barrier. The second he touched her heat, her eyes closed and goose bumps formed as he stroked her closer to the edge, all while whispering sweet nothings in her ear.

She moaned, grinding herself into his expert hand, attempting to heighten her pleasure. He captured her lips as he silenced her cries. The sensation was too much to bear and Garcia felt herself fall apart in the hands of Aaron Hotchner, as wave upon wave of ecstasy crashed over her.

Letting her head fall against the back of couch, she sighed in contentment, before her eyes opened. The sight that greeted her added fuel to the raging fire that had spread throughout her body, and threatened to consume her; she was greeted by his eyes dark with passion as they raked over her body. He couldn't help but swell with pride when he noticed all the marks he had left on her otherwise perfect skin. Dropping his forehead against hers, he kissed her lips, softly before dropping his head to the crook of her neck.

Her delicate hands reached for him as he nipped and kissed her neck. He released a guttural growl as her delicate hands wrapped around his swollen, throbbing flesh. With every delicate stroke of her hand, he moaned as his hips thrust to meet her hand.

"Penny," he groaned as her lips slid from his neck to his jaw.

"Aaron," she whispered back as she swept her thumb against his moist tip.

"Stop doing that," he warned, grabbing her wrist. "Penelope," he said. His voice was like silk as it fell around her.

"Aaron, please," She begged, arching against him. She hated begging, but this is what he had reduced her to. He was getting pleasure from it, and she wanted hers. It was only fair.

He smiled and ran a hand down her arm, as the other traced down her body, feeling each curve, every contour. She reached for him as he positioned himself over her.

Wrapping her legs around his waist, she pulled him down for a hungry kiss. Lining himself up, he slowly pushed inside, watching her face flush and contort in pleasure. She ground her hips, crying out as she tried to make him move, make him come closer, make him go deeper. He built a slow pace, her fingers clawing at his back as she bucked against him, trying to get him moving faster.

"Oh God!" Her head lulled forward as his hand found her bundle of nerves. She could feel herself building, she knew that she wasn't far from the end.

"Aaron," she moaned softly, and that was all it took. His pace had finally started to speed up, becoming more erratic and sloppy and they both came to their peaks, before tumbling over the edge of ecstasy together.

When they came down from their high, he kissed her lips softly, pulling her tighter against him. Stroking her face, he smiled at her. Running her fingers through his hair, she returned his smile.