I know I said I'd take a break from this, but I just don't think I can! So here we go again...

November 1, 2012

"There's one more present, Leah." Sailor Amsel, Morgan's fourteen year old daughter, spoke up grabbing the small jewelry box from behind the birthday girl.

"Oh." Leah Prentiss-Reid took the box from Sailor and looked at the gift tag. "From Papa, and Mom." She opened the small box as a small smile made its way across her face. "It's beautiful."

She slowly removed the silver necklace from the bed of padding. It was a thin chain. There was a solitary charm that dangled from it: a silver heart with a green gemstone on it – her favorite color. The one word engraved on it was what got to her – Daughter. She tilted her head to the side, looking at it, and instantly realized that a tear was on the brink of falling if she did that. She rolled her eyes towards the ceiling and took a deep breath.

"Oh, honey, don't cry!" Garcia gasped.

From Leah's left side, Emily wrapped her arms around her daughter. "Do you hate it that much?"

"No." Leah laughed a little, laying her head on her mother's shoulder. "I love it." She stopped and looked at the necklace her mother had almost entirely hidden under her blouse. She had had a gold one that held her engagement ring to Hotch, but she wore the ring on her finger now. So…"Mom, what's that?"

"Oh, um…" Emily released her offspring and pulled the necklace into sight.

Leah's mouth dropped open. A silver chain and heart like hers. The difference was that this heart had a yellow gem and said "Mother".

"Mom…"

Emily smiled. "There's a letter in the jewelry box."

Leah took it out and eagerly opened it.

Dear Leah,

Papa John here. I won't wear it on a necklace, but I have a charm too (a circle, not a heart) that has a blue stone on it. It says "Dad". I just wanted you to know that. I love you, so much, mia dolce.

Love,

Papa John

Leah smiled. "I love you too." She turned to Spencer, her husband. "Can you put this on me?"

Spencer put the youngest of their septuplets, Andi, on the floor and complied with her wish. Leah was about to set the box aside, but a slip of paper under the cotton caught her eye.

Her eyebrows drew together and she dug it out and opened it. She began to read.

Dear Leah,

No one knows I put this letter in here, but I just wanted you to know, I have one too – a charm. It's like Dr. Cooley's. It has a green stone, though. Nobody else knows I have it but you and me. Our secret?

I'm proud of you, even if I don't tell you so. You came in here and wrapped this entire team around your little finger, including me, and I'm still trying to decide how you did it.

You would never say so, but I know you're nervous about your mom and the baby. Can I tell you another secret? I am too. You have a double train of thought to your nervousness, I can tell. I'm sure Emily and I deciding to name the baby Rachel didn't help. I know in the Bible, Rachel is the prettier sister, and favored over Leah, but if you want my opinion, I think their father loved Leah more.

I'm not saying I'm going to pick favorites in my children, I'm saying I'm not going to. I love you just as much as I love her, or Jack, or Declan. I just thought I should tell you that while I'm at it.

I'm not good with words like you are, so here's something I can say that it's pretty hard to mess up. I love you.

Love,

Hotch (Dad)

Leah quietly folded the letter. Around her, her team and their families and the CAC team, the only guests at her birthday party, had went back to talking amongst themselves. She put the letter in her pocket.

"Do you need this?" She looked up to see Hotch standing over her, a tissue in his hand.

She got to her feet and took the thing from him, drying the tears that had begun to fall. "It's your fault." She accused him.

He smirked a little.

"I love you too, Dad." She whispered.

Later, as the whole group was eating cake, Jordan Todd snuck up beside her and asked, "What are you thinking about, Birthday Girl?"

"Colors."

"Colors?" Jordan repeated.

Leah nodded, fingering her necklace. "You can't get green without blue and yellow, but green is closer to other greens than anything no matter where it came from, right?"

"Yeah…" Jordan nodded slowly. "I guess so."

As he listened to the two media liaisons, no one noticed Hotch smile from the other side of the countertop.

Please review! Thanks!

Also, a list of the Reid kids and who they're named after, just because I'm not sure if we'll need it or not and it's better safe than sorry.

Emilia Aeryn (Strauss, Hotch, and Emily)

Gideon Ross (Gideon & Rossi)

Johanna Kaylee (John Cooley & Caleb Curtis)

Ashton Cole (Seaver & Katie Cole)

Nellie Jennae (Garcia & JJ)

Ricky Todd (Morgan & Jordan Todd)

Andi Elisabeth (Anderson, Ambassador Prentiss, & Greenaway)