Anote: Have to get my Hotch/Prentiss fix before it starts bleeding into my Reid stories, which tends to happen often

*Ben and Jerry is a brand of ice cream

Chapter 1-It's just the little things.

Emily dropped the box of pasta on the floor as she felt something clutch her leg.

'Hi, Jack,' she said happily scooping up the beautiful dark haired boy in her arms.

The young profiler looked up and down the aisle sure that her superior was close by and frowned when she saw that her lane in the supermarket was empty.

'Sweet heart, where's your daddy?' she inquired rubbing his tummy through the dinosaur decorated T-shirt that he wore.

The boy giggled but thankfully seemed very sure as he pointed his finger to his right. The woman quickly tucked the toddler against her side and grabbed her cart, hurrying as fast as she dared when she realized what had happened. It was obvious that Hotch didn't know his son was missing as evidenced by the calm atmosphere that pervaded the store. The senior profiler would have had SWAT crawling all over the baking section if the situation was otherwise. Sure enough there he was in the next aisle, engrossed in his comparison of the nutritional value of two cans of soup.

Quietly she wheeled her cart behind him, not wanting to startle him.

'Sir?'

The man looked up quickly at the familiar voice and his face drained of all color when he saw his son in her arms.

'JACK!!' he yelled out loud in frustration. 'How many times have I told you not to wander off without telling me? Are you trying to kill me?'

Naturally the boy turned away and burrowed more tightly in her arms as his father's anger washed over him. Emily glowered at her supervisor over the small head that was now hidden in her neck.

The distraught man walked away and for a few seconds stood staring at the vinyl floor as he struggled to regain his calm. In the meantime, Emily looked at him in pity. He didn't use to be like this. Foyet had taken more than one Hotchner to the grave with him that day. She smiled supportively as he approached them again.

'Buddy?' he said softly rubbing his son's back, 'I am sorry. I shouldn't have yelled.'

Jack looked up and after a second's pause held out his arms to his father.

Emily looked at the two and felt her insides turn to ice with the envy she felt. All she wanted to do now was crawl over to the ice cream aisle and pick up her dates for the night, Ben and Jerry*

'You know Jack' the man began in a more reasonable tone, 'when I am out in the field with Prentiss, she always let's me know where she is'

'That's right honey,' she confirmed as the little boy looked doubtfully at her.

'Why?'

The two Hotchner men looked at her for a response, 'Well when your Daddy bites off more than he can chew, he knows where he can find me.'

The older male scowled at this reply however the little boy began to smile again.

'What I was trying to say' his father began sternly, 'is that when you and I are out in the field, you need to let me know where you are.'

'So that you can find me if you get in trouble?' his son asked seriously.

Emily fought hard to suppress a giggle of her own as the man looked at the ceiling.

'Yes Jack. I need to know where my wing man is at all times.'

The little boy held up his hand for a high five and Emily smiled to see her usually stoic boss engaging in a bit of lighthearted play.

'Sir, you know you can call me Emily outside the office,' she added as the boys turned to look at her.

'EMILY!' Jack shrieked, trying out the new name for himself as his father hesitated.

She waved at her casual attire, 'Prentiss doesn't go with this outfit.'

The man looked at her pale lilac shirt knotted at the waist and her cutoff shorts with matching lilac sandals. But it was the toe polish that really got his attention.

'Lime green?' he inquired tentatively, pretty sure that this fell under the category of things a man could get shot for because he was too clueless to know better.

She grimaced and tried to hide her feet.

'Lost a bet with Garcia, you should see what she made JJ do.'

Hotch nodded quickly- not really wanting to know.

'So Emily okay?' she asked again as she tickled Jack's elbow.

The boy was studying her intently and unexpectedly he turned to his father.

'Daddy, can we take her home?'

At that remark Hotch quickly grabbed his cart and began to wheel it forward.

'Prentiss, tomorrow!' he called quickly over his shoulder.

Emily waited until he was out of sight before she let her shoulders sag.

Anote2: More?