AN: This is my hope of how they write Hotch leaving the team and Prentiss's return. It ties into my other stories about H/P. I'll admit the writing isn't fantastic (I was trying to get it up before Prentiss came back) but I think the general idea is a good one so indulge me.

Part 2 & 3 will be the goodbyes.

"The big boys are reading comics, Michael has some blocks and the little guy is in the playpen," Rossi said handing Savannah the tablet attached to the baby monitor. He took a look around his full living room. "Diner with be ready in about twenty minutes. Do any of you need drinks?" After receiving a chorus of negative responses he settled into a cushy arm chair. The entire team, Morgan included, came over with their families. Hayden had been in Paris for about two weeks and he was starting to feel lonely in his big house.

"Not that I need one, but was there a reason you invited us all over?" Morgan asked. Looking around the room he saw that most of the team shared the same question.

"Yes." Hotch cleared his throat. "I have an announcement," he added while standing. JJ and Reid exchanged raised eyebrows and Garcia clutched Morgan's arm. Rossi, Tara and Luke surveyed everyone else. "As of a week from Monday I will no longer be with the BAU."

"But Sir!" Garcia protested as she made to jump up. She stopped when Hotch held his had up to her.

Luke and Tara shared looks of confusion as JJ and Reid cried "What!" in unison. Rossi just stared intently at Hotch waiting for an explanation.

"Hotch, man what happened?" Morgan asked, not even hiding the anger in his voice.

"I was asked by the Director to head the development and implementation of a training program for local LEOs. The hope is that with better negotiating skills and understanding of behavior the number of officer involved shootings will decrease."

"It's about time they did something. We have cops shooting at unarmed men with special needs. And missing them," Rossi scoffed.

"I didn't see any transfers. I could have stopped it!" Garcia pouted.

"I knew you would have," Hotch told her gently. "I made him wait until I told you guys before he put any paper work through."

"Don't we have a BAU training department and HRT for that?" Reid questioned.

"It's a group effort. It will be a few agents from each of those departments and we will liaise with a few Metro PD beat cops," Hotch stated.

"Why so soon?" Tara wondered.

"The President is pushing for us to get training started by the New Year."

"You'll really be gone that long?" Luke asked with imploring eyes. He had been quiet until then trying to process the loss of the man who got him onto this team. He was getting along with everyone, even Garcia was warming up, but it was Hotch he connected with. He didn't understand how he could give up on hunting the bastard who made it personal.

"Could be more than a year depending on how soon we revamp training for local use and how well we can get the training out to the officers."

"And then what? You come back to the team?" Rossi was skeptical.

"I don't know. Maybe," Hotch shrugged. "The Director mentioned there is still interest in moving me up the chain but we'll see how it goes."

"What about Jack? And us? We're a family," Garcia whined.

"I'm not going anywhere. My new office with be an Academy training room two buildings over. It will be minimal travel depending on the roll out. This will be good for Jack. I need to be around for him."

"And the team? We are already buried with cases," JJ huffed.

"I already called in reinforcements." There was a smirk on Hotch's face.

"Chocolate Thunder, are you coming back?" Garcia started bouncing in her seat.

"He better not be," Savannah muttered.

"No Mama, I would have told you." Morgan placed an arm around both the women in his life to calm them down.

"Kate?" JJ ventured a guess.

"Alex!" Spencer's eyes lit up.

"Seaver?" Rossi asked hopefully.

"Did you get desperate and call Elle?" Morgan asked adding his guess. It earned him an eyebrow raise from Hotch.

"And you call yourselves profilers!"

Everyone whipped their heads around to the kitchen to make sure their ears didn't deceive them.

"Emily!" The cry was almost in unison. Luke was hanging back watching the commotion as everyone got up to greet Emily.

"How did no one think it was me?" Emily sauntered into the living room with a twinkle in her eye and a smile on her face. She was happy to be in the same place as her family again.

"You seemed to love Interpol last time we talked," Rossi said while pulling her in and planting kisses on her cheeks. Garcia pushed him away to wrap her in a tight hug.

"Are you back for good?" Reid was eyeing her nervously.

"Hey Miss Thing," Morgan greeted. "If all it took was getting rid of Hotch to get you to come home, we could have done that sooner."

"Really," JJ scoffed, "he asks and you come running," her eyes darted over to Hotch who was watching the exchange with a blank face. "Wished it worked for me."

Luke's eyes had been flicking between Hotch and Prentiss watching them watch each other as she greeted everyone. "Oh, I get it," he mumbled smugly. The leaned over to Tara to whisper something in her ear.

"The last time it was for you. And I said no once," Emily said swatting JJ's arm as she let her go. "I'll answer all your questions in a minute."

Emily hugged Tara, Will and Savannah, exchanging quick hellos, then moved over to Hotch and Luke.

"Agent Luke Alvez, Emily Prentiss, formerly of Interpol, new BAU Unit Chief," Hotch introduced them.

"I've heard some good things about you. It's nice to know we have a designated door kicker on the team again." Emily gave him a wink, ignoring Hotch's frown at the playful banter.

"Ah jokes. Already better than the last boss." Luke gave Hotch a friendly pat on the back. Hotch sent him a brief glare before breaking into a grin.

"Morgan," Emily called over her shoulder, "you couldn't leave sooner so we could have gotten him earlier."

"Ok, ok, I see how you play." Morgan winked at her from across the room.

"Besides the chance to boss us around, why come back now?" JJ asked once they were all settled into seats again.

"I realized that D.C was home. It's where my family is," Emily said wistfully.

"And Interpol?" Tara asked.

"I'm sure Clyde didn't let you go easily," Rossi noted as he handed her a glass of wine.

"There were no American posts open, at least not for a year or so. I didn't want to wait," Emily shrugged. "When Hotch told me the Director was pulling him and he got to pick his replacement I jumped at the chance. I can always move back to Interpol when something opens up. After my success in London they agreed to a year sabbatical."

Jack and Henry came in with Michael and Hank in tow just as the timer went off in the kitchen.

"It's all my favorite junior G-men!' Garcia called warmly.

"Emmy!" Henry called as he ran and jumped on Emily's lap. Michael toddled after with a squeal.

"Thank you sweetheart," Savannah said warmly as Jack handed baby Hank over to his mother. Jack then moved to say hi to Emily.

"Boys, Emily isn't going anywhere, let's give her some room to breathe," Will said softly swinging Michael to his chest.

"You will all get plenty of quality Emily time when you help me move to my new place next weekend." She gave Henry a last squeeze before setting him down. "I just flew in and I'm starving. Can we eat yet?"

AN: Some context or any non-American readers. Officer involved shootings have been a major issue here in the last year. And there was a case in Florida where an officer shot an unarmed man trying to assist his patient even though both men were on the ground.