Author's Note: I've been thinking about writing a collection of short stories that showed the more familial side of Hotch FOR A LONG TIME. So, when I introduced Avery in "Pink," I realized that I had literally given myself the perfect chance! So, there will be several chapters, each encompassing a new milestone (or just another random moment) in Emily, Aaron, Jack, and Avery's lives. Hope you enjoy! :)

Disclaimer: If I owned Criminal Minds, Paget Brewster's last episode wouldn't be airing this Wednesday. (She would stay on the show forever.)

Aaron woke to the sound of crying coming from the nightstand monitor. His eyes travelled to Emily, sleeping peacefully beside him. Slowly, he got out of bed, so as to not wake her. She was barely getting enough sleep before they had Avery, and now…

The crying persisted.

He quietly made his way to the nursery. A smile touched his lips as his gaze landed on his newborn daughter lying in the crib, a stuffed pink elephant situated nearby. He gathered the bundle of joy into his arms, gently rocking her back and forth.

"Shhh," he crooned softly. "It's okay, baby. Daddy's here. Shhh…"

The crying died down, but Avery continued to fuss, a little whining noise seemingly caught in the back of her throat.

Aaron ran his fingers through the smattering of brown hair on her small head, trying to soothe the troubled child. "It's okay," he murmured, pressing a kiss to her forehead. "I know I'm not as good at this as your mom, but Mommy's asleep right now." He smiled softly, gently bouncing her up and down.

Avery looked up at him, her chocolate brown eyes wide open. Slowly but surely, the fussing stopped and the newborn broke into what looked like a shy smile.

His heart skipped a few beats as he watched his daughter. She was so beautiful, so precious.

So…perfect.

"I love you, sweetheart. Now go to sleep," he whispered.

But sleep was the last thing on the baby's mind, especially when she saw someone else enter the room.

"You make an awfully cute daddy."

Aaron turned around to see Emily leaning against the doorframe. He smiled as she approached him, and he pressed a soft kiss against her lips. "I thought you were asleep," he murmured against the smooth skin of her jaw.

"I was. But I heard a certain little one fussing over the monitor." She kissed Avery on the nose. "Your daddy's right, you know," she said as Aaron placed the child into her arms. "You need to go to sleep."

Aaron laughed as Avery managed to deliver a pout that was so like her mother's. "God, she's like your mirror image.

Emily smiled. "Not exactly. She has your nose and your ears," she pointed out. "And they make her look adorable."

"But her eyes…" He shook her head, the corners of his lips lifting slightly. "She's going to be a heartbreaker."

"Really? Why do you say that?" Emily asked, both amused and intrigued.

"They're one of my favorite things about you. Your eyes," he clarified. "And well…I'm pretty sure my heart was yours the moment I looked into them for the first time. She has the same ones."

"You're too sweet." She turned her attention back to Avery, who was currently burying her face into the crook of her mother's neck. "Someone's getting sleepy again…"

"I told Avery that you're better at this than I am," Aaron said with a chuckle.

Emily gave a slight roll of her shoulders; the action was far too elegant for one to call it a shrug. "I think you do just fine. You're the one who managed to stop her crying. That takes skill," she teased. She pulled back to look at Avery, whose eyes were fighting to stay open. "I think it's time for a lullaby," she said quietly.

"She likes it when I sing 'Over the Rainbow'," Aaron suggested unsurely.

Emily tossed him a gorgeous smile. "I don't blame her. Your voice…" she trailed away. "She has another favorite, too, though."

"Really? Which one?"

In answer to his question, she began to softly sing "Au Claire de la Lune," the soothing French melody immediately causing Avery to fall asleep.

"Worked like a charm," Aaron whispered in awe, watching as Emily gently laid her down in the crib.

"It always does," she answered, folding her arms against his chest and kissing him soundly.

"Hmmm…" He broke the kiss reluctantly. "Damn it, I can't wait until the twenty-eighth."

She chuckled. "I saw that you marked it down on all of your calendars. What is March twenty-eighth again?" she taunted, obviously already knowing the answer.

"March twenty-eighth is the day that your doctor ensured you could go back to…how do I put this…engaging in certain strenuous activities," he flat out growled, a handsome smirk playing at his lips.

"Two more weeks," she whispered, taking his hand in hers and leading him out of the nursery before they woke Avery up again.

"Oh, trust me, I know. In the meantime, however, I just might sing you to sleep tonight, as well," he proposed.

Her expression softened. "I'd like that."

He kissed her on the forehead as they entered their bedroom. "Only if you're a good girl," he said with a quiet laugh.

She looked up at him, her eyes sparkling. "Don't worry. I promise I'll behave."

Author's Note: So? What do you think? Please drop me a line; your feedback means the world to me! :)