This is my first Criminal Minds Fan Fic. This story actually came to be in a dream..

ENJOY!

Please comment after!

Grace

Chapter 1

It couldn't be happening, she couldn't leave us. I know it is for her safety, but what about Leah? What about me? I wasn't even allowed to speak with her. Only JJ was going to. JJ was in charge of making sure Emily was safe and that Doyle would never find her. However, it bothered me that I couldn't talk to Emily in person. How was I supposed to tell Leah that her mother wasn't coming home for who knows how long. It just wasn't fair.

"JJ how is she?" I asked JJ as she arrived back into lobby of the hospital. The rest of the team was sitting in the waiting room quietly.

"I'll be honest with you she's not taking the news so well. She thought we got him. She understands that she needs to leave, but she wants to take Leah with her. -"

"Why can't she? I have no problem taking care of her, but Emily and I have only been dating for a couple months now. Leah doesn't really know me."

"Hotch, she knows you! What are you talking about? Leah has known you since the day she was born. You took Emily to the hospital, you were the one Emily called when Leah got really sick! Hotch, if you didn't take Leah in she would be heart broken. She thinks of you like a father! And don't you ever think differently!" I looked into the waiting room. Leah was sitting on Morgan's lap. After rescuing Emily, Morgan drove to Leah's day care and had picked her up early and brought her to the hospital. Although she didn't know the full extent of her mother's injury, Leah was sad and scared. Which you would expect from a three year old, "Well, I suppose we should tell her then."

JJ and I walked into the waiting room and took a seat across from Leah and Morgan.

"Leah, guys, JJ and I need to talk to you about Emily... she never made it off the table." I couldn't take it. Garcia broke out in tears, Morgan put his head in his hands, Reid looked like a scared little boy and Rossi sat there quietly.

Leah got off of Morgan's lap and walked over to JJ and asked, "Where mommy?"

"Honey, your mommy had a really big boo-boo. The doctors did everything they could, but... she died Leah." Said JJ in her most soothing voice. This wasn't right. Lying to the team for one thing, but to lie to Emily's own daughter, it just didn't seem right.

"I want mommy!" Cried Leah as she was picked up in JJ's opening arms.

"I know sweetie. Everything will be okay."

" We're all here for you" said Garcia handing Leah her stuffed elephant. "Leah, you will never be alone! You will always have us! Leah, we are your family!"

Leah soon calmed down and sat in JJ's lap, and soon fell asleep listening to us talk.

"What's going to happen to her? Will ambassador Prentiss take her?" Asked Reid.

"I don't think so. When Emily told her mother she was going to have a baby out of wedlock, the ambassador pretty much told Emily never to come back. You know the ambassador, she likes to follow the rules and is very old-fashioned." I explained.

"We could all take turns having her live with us." Suggested Garcia.

"That's a good idea baby doll, but I think what Leah is going to need is stability. And I'm not quite sure that is what your idea will give her. Hotch, why doesn't she come live with you?" Asked Morgan. The team didn't know about Emily and my relationship. The only thing they knew was that Emily relied on me for help with Leah. I even remember when Emily told me she was pregnant.

FLASHBACK

It was almost four year ago and the team was flying back from Utah. It had been a tough case, but the team had managed to stay strong and bring down the unsubs. Reid, Rossi, Morgan and a Garcia were sitting at the table on the plane talking. Emily was sitting in one of the lounge chairs before the table; I knew something was bothering her, but I didn't know whether or not I should confront her. I decided I should seeing as though it could have been something that affected the entire team.

"Emily. Are you okay?" I asked walking over and sitting down on the chair next to her.

"Yes. I'm fine." Emily just sat there staring out the window.

"Emily, I've known you long enough to know that something isn't right. Now, please tell me. Maybe I can even help!" "Hotch, I'm just tired. This has been a hard case. Please, I'm fine. Really!" I could tell she just wanted me to leave, but it wasn't working. Something was really bothering her.

"Are things okay with you and Stephan?" Stephan was her boyfriend who Emily had been dating for six months now. Emily turned her face so that she was looking out the window more. I leaned over to look at her; she was crying.

"We broke up last night! He said that I wasn't around enough and told me to quit." She began sobbing, but soft enough so that the rest of the team could not hear. "Then I told him that I was pregnant, and it was his. He got even more mad and said he didn't want anything to do with it. He even suggested that I get rid of it!" I pulled her close to me and let her headrest on my shoulder.

"Emily, if that's what he said then he is no good or you or your baby. Don't worry. You are going to be okay! The whole team is here for you!"

"Wait, I don't want to tell the team about the baby just yet. Or at least until I go to the doctors. So can we just keep this a secret for now?"

"Of course we can. Emily, when did you find out that you were pregnant?"

"Before we left for Utah. That's why I have been so distracted. I'm sorry."

END FLASHBACK

After walking the team out of the hospital I walked back up to the waiting room and helped JJ wake Leah up, which turned out to be a bad idea. When Leah awoke she just sat on JJ's lap and looked around.

"Where mommy?" She asked.

"Honey, don't you remember? Mommy died." I said. Perhaps, Leah was just hoping it had been a dream.

"No! She's not. Mommy just sick!" Leah wiggled off of JJ's lap and onto the floor and began screaming. "Mommy! Mommy!" JJ just picked her back up and gently rubbed her back. Soon enough Leah's screams turned into tears streaming down her face. "I want be with you towight."

"Honey, I thought you were going to live with Aaron."

"You smell like mama," said Leah putting her head on JJ's shoulder.

"JJ why don't you take Leah for the night? Maybe she just wants to be with you because you remind her of Emily. Its no big deal, unless you don't want too."

"No its okay. So should I just bring her to work with me tomorrow?"

"Yes. I'll bring a change of clothes tomorrow. Emily, left some at my house when she stayed over last."

"Okay." I watched as JJ hoisted Leah onto her hip and walked out of the hospital. Leah gave me a little wave right before they turned the corner heading to the parking lot. There I was. Standing alone in the hospital waiting room.