Chapter 1

It's been six months since the whole Mordecai incident, as they've taking to calling it, and Kahlan was actually enjoying her new job. Hotch didn't like the fact that she came home bruised up now and then, but she assured him that it was nothing. Everything had been going well for their whole extended family.

They had enrolled Joey in a private school for gifted children since Joey could already read, and while she was learning at an amazing rate, her teachers often worried that Joey knew too much for her own good. Kahlan had to hide a smile when the head teacher called her in for a meeting and explained that Joey had taught all of the kids how to pick the lock on the snack cabinet. While Kahlan thought that was hilarious, she turned the tides on the teacher and asked where the teacher was when all of that was happening. The teacher adamantly told her that Joey had accomplished it right under their noses. Kahlan told the teacher that she would have a talk with her daughter and assured the teacher that Joey would not be a problem in the future.

Sean and his wife Catherine, or Cat as everyone called her, had a beautiful baby boy they named Terrence Michael. They had even spent Christmas with Hotch and his family. When Cat saw Kahlan looking at Mikey lovingly, she asked her if there were any more plans for another child in their life. Kahlan laughed. "No. I think Aaron and I are past the diaper phase, but it is nice having all of you guys around to help me get my baby fix."

JJ was on desk duty because she was getting very close to her due date, and she had surprised everyone when she announced that the doctor had found two little hearts instead of just one. Will almost fainted when he heard the news. Eventually, they found out they were going to have one boy and one girl. Joey was ecstatic; to find out she was going to have two little cousins living so close to her was 'awesome.'

Cameron had surprised everyone at the New Year's Eve party at Dave's house when he proposed to Garcia. She accepted and they were married on Valentine's Day. JJ, Kahlan, and Mack all noticed Garcia looking at baby clothes on one of their 'Girls Night Outs' and Kahlan wasn't sure if she was thinking about JJ's new ones or maybe a future of her own.

Mack had settled into the BAU family nicely. It took her about a month, but she eventually stopped being so afraid of Hotch. Seeing him outside of work and actually smiling and having a good time, made her finally believe that he was actually human. The whole team loved her and she meshed with them and made them even stronger than they were with Blake. Morgan said it was because she reminded them of a younger version of Emily, and they all agreed. The green eyed, dark auburn haired young woman brought a renewed vigor to the team.

Chuck had become Kahlan's assistant, and he and Vinnie had actually moved in together. When they announced they were going to have a baby, Hotch jumped on Chuck about making Vinnie an honest woman. "You better marry her," Hotch told him seriously. "That baby needs to have a real family."

"Damn, Hotch. We don't live in the eighteenth century," Chuck told him with a smile. Everyone knew how old fashion Hotch was.

"I don't care. You need to man up and take care of your responsibilities. Think of the example you're setting for the boys."

Chuck sighed. "Ok, but I don't know if she'll accept."

"You won't know unless you ask."

"Alright, Damn. Calm down."

Three weeks after Garcia's and Cam's wedding, Chuck announced that Vinnie had accepted.

XXX

Everyone was getting along great; in the beginning, the only relationship Kahlan was really worried about was Dave's. Kahlan wasn't sure how she felt about Dave being with her mother. She loved Dave, but thinking about him in the spot her father used to fill was a little awkward. No man could ever compare to her Daddy, and she was having a hard time dealing with it. "Kahlan, you know Dave would never want to hurt you," Hotch told her one night.

"I know."

"And yet, you really have a problem with him being with your mom?" Hotch asked her.

She could hear the surprise in his voice. "You may have a daughter and understand that bond from your prospective, but don't try to say you understand it from Joey's perspective."

Hotch sighed. "I know no one can replace your father, Kahlan. Dave is not trying to do that, he's just trying to make your mom happy and be happy himself. He will break it off if you can't handle it, though."

She studied his face. "He said that?"

Hotch nodded. "He never wanted to hurt you. He thought with as much as you liked him that it wouldn't be a problem. He can tell you don't like it, though."

She sighed. "It's not that I don't like it. . ." She shook her head. "I just. . ."

Hotch pulled her into a hug. "You what?"

She took a deep breath and smiled up at him. "If anyone can come close to Dad, it's Dave. I will talk to him and let him know he has my blessing."

He smiled and pulled her to him more closely. "I told him you'd be fine with it."

She chuckled. "You know me better than I know myself sometimes."

Within a month, Dave and Cindi were spending a lot of dinners at Hotch and Kahlan's, and within three months, the boys had started calling Dave, Grandpa. Kahlan actually saw Dave tear up the first time Wyatt called him that. Rossi joined Kahlan in the kitchen as she cleaned up after dinner. "It's ok that Wyatt called me that, right?"

Kahlan smiled. "Well, it did sound kind of weird when they said 'Hi Grandma and Uncle Dave'." Rossi smiled. She pulled him into a hug. "They couldn't ask for a better Grandpa. You know they have always considered you like that anyway."

"Yeah, but it's nice to actually hear it. Kind of makes an old man's heart melt."

"You're not old!"

XXX

On Father's Day, Hotch awoke to breakfast in bed. Hotch could tell by the amount of powdered sugar on the French toast, that Joey had made that part of the breakfast. All three of the kids kept giving Hotch weird little looks and Hotch could tell something was up, but he had no idea what. They let him enjoy his breakfast, but as soon as he was done, they were pulling him out of bed and down the stairs. Joey quickly gave him the card she had made, then Jack gave him a card he had bought. Once he was done with those, Wyatt stepped up to him. "I didn't get you a card, but I got something for you to sign," Wyatt told him as he sat a file folder down in front of Hotch. Hotch looked at Kahlan questioningly. She just smiled.

Hotch picked up the folder and opened it slowly. His eyes grew wider as he read the document. He looked up at Wyatt quickly. His eyes had filled with tears. "Is this what you really want?"

Wyatt smiled widely. "It's about time, don't you think?" His eyes teared up, too. "Unless, you don't want to sign it."

Hotch jumped up and pulled him into a hug. "Of course I'll sign it. I already consider you my son, and having you take my name. . ." Hotch took a deep breath. "I couldn't ask for a better Father's Day present, Wyatt." He let go of Wyatt and pulled Kahlan into a hug. The kids smiled and went outside to let their parents be alone. "I never really thought you'd actually let me adopt him. You are an amazing woman Kahlan Hotchner."

Kahlan smiled. "He wanted to have your last name. They're tired of having to explain how they are brothers and yet have different last names. They are going into middle school this year, and I guess they didn't want to leave any room for doubt."

Hotch looked at her seriously. "You don't think Collin would mind?" Hotch knew Wyatt didn't remember his father at all because he lost him when he was two, but a man's name is a powerful thing.

Kahlan smiled again. "I think Collin would be honored to know that such a great man is raising his son."

Hotch smiled and pulled her into a kiss. When he pulled back for air he smiled again. "Thank you."

"Thank you for always loving him as if he is your own."

Hotch chuckled. "That'll look nice on their football jerseys."

XXX

As soon as Hotch made it into work the next morning, he went to Dave's office to tell him the news. Rossi looked up and smiled when he saw Hotch's smile. "What?" Rossi asked.

"Do you know what Wyatt and Kahlan did for me for Father's Day?"

"No, but apparently it was nice."

Hotch sat down in one of the chairs in Rossi's office. "Wyatt handed me adoption papers."

Rossi sat up straighter. "That's great!"

Hotch chuckled. "Yeah. Kahlan's going to file it today. He will officially be a Hotchner before school starts."

Rossi smiled widely for him. He could just imagine how proud Hotch must have felt.

Garcia stuck her head in the door. She noticed their smiles and had to smile herself. "Sorry to interrupt, but we have a case."

They both stood up and Rossi patted Hotch on the back on their way to the conference room. Within an hour, the BAU team was on their way to Kansas to deal with a serial rapist. As soon as they were landed and at the local police station, breaking news was on all of the local stations. They didn't pay any attention to it as they started going over the details of the case with the local detectives. Rossi stepped out of the conference room to call Garcia to run down a few names, but his breath hitched in his chest as he heard what was playing out on the screen. He watched in horror as the reporter talked about several courthouses in Virginia that had come under fire as several shooters were reported to have killed and wounded several people at each location. He dropped the phone in his hand as the scene showed the courthouse in Manassas. Living in Prince William County, Kahlan would have had to had gone to that courthouse to file the adoption papers. He looked at Hotch through the glass of the conference room. Hotch looked up just in time to see Rossi's face. His chest tightened as he made his way out of the conference room and went to his unofficial father. "What?" Hotch asked desperately.

Rossi pointed to the closest tv. "The Courthouse. . ."

Hotch turned to the tv and his heart sank as he watched the broadcast. He took out his phone as everyone else on the team joined them and also watched the scene unfold. "What's going on?" Morgan asked quickly, knowing it was more than just the shootings that had the two men so upset.

"Kahlan was supposed to go to the Prince William Courthouse," Rossi told them.

"Damn it!" Hotch yelled as he turned back to them, and they all knew he hadn't gotten ahold of his wife

"She may not have been there, Hotch," Mack tried to sound reassuring.

Hotch nodded and almost dropped his phone as it went off. He looked at it quickly, hoping it was Kahlan. His chest tightened a little more to see Section Chief Paxton on his caller ID. "Hotchner," he answered quickly.

"Yes, Sir. We're actually watching it right now. Yes sir. If you'll. . . Yes, Sir." Hotch ended the call to everyone giving him questioningly looks. "Chief Paxton wants us home. He's sending out another team. Apparently, the courthouses are just the beginning." Hotch shot Rossi a look.

If they had heard from whoever was responsible, and they were claiming more targets, then they both knew what type of unsubs they were dealing with. Rossi took a deep breath.

"Terrorists?" Mack asked as she considered the information.

"Yep," Morgan told her as he clenched his teeth. He had dealt with enough terrorists in his career, and he hated them.

"I need to tell the locals," Hotch told them as he turned to go. "Wheels up in thirty."

They all watched him leave. They all knew he was worried about Kahlan, but they all knew he was professional enough to take care of things while he was worried.

Morgan took out his phone. "Hey, Baby Girl."

"Oh my God, Derek. Have you. . ."

"Yeah, we know. Kahlan was supposed to go to the Courthouse in Manassas." He heard her suck in her breath. "And Hotch can't get ahold of her. Check traffic cams, track her GPS, whatever you can. . ."

"I will find her," Garcia told him seriously, and he could hear her pounding on her keyboard.

"Paxton wants us back home. We should be back in a few hours."

"I will call him as soon as I know something. Tell him. . . tell him. . ."

"I will, Mama."

Morgan ended the call and Rossi gave him a small smile. If anyone could find out if Kahlan was indeed at the courthouse, it was Garcia.