Sure enough, Emily feels fingers on her face twenty minutes later.
"Momma."
"What is it, sweetheart," she murmurs, her eyes fluttering open. Her heart clenches because AJ can see over the edge of their pretty high bed now. Her four-year-old is growing up too fast.
"I wanna play."
Emily reaches out, strokes her hand over AJ's hair. "What does the clock say?"
"Eights," AJ answers. "I play in mine room. Like Dada say."
"Good girl," Emily praises, because AJ's and early riser. Emily normally is too, but Baby Three and her hormones have been wreaking havoc on her energy level. She hates it, feels like she can't get near the amount of things done in a day she wants. She sighs, because if AJ's awake, it'll be mere moments before Katie is too. She seems to have this second sense for when things are happening around her and without her.
"Momma, eights means uppie."
Actually, Emily's pretty sure she could hit nine before really feeling like she wanted to wake, but her daughter demands attention. She sighs and tries to will herself up. Except a moment later, Aaron's shifting at her back (oh, she'd forgotten he'd stayed home) and AJ's squealing at her father's presence.
"Dada!"
Aaron laughs, propping his chin on Emily's shoulder. "Come here, Princess."
Little feet patter around the bed and Aaron makes an exaggerated sound of effort as he lifts his first daughter to their bed. Apparently, he really is set on a lazy morning, evidenced by the way he leans back with AJ on his chest. She giggles.
"Dada work."
"Not today," he answers around her little fingers. "Daddy's not going to work today."
Emily smiles as she rolls over. It's precious minutes, she knows, because the minute Katie cries, Jack'll be up too. Their youngest, minus the one she's currently building, isn't really the quietest of toddlers.
"'Prise!" AJ exclaims, throwing her hands up and everything. Aaron and Emily both laugh as he drags their daughter down to raspberry her neck. AJ giggles.
"That's right, sweetheart," Aaron says, pressing kisses over their little girl's cheeks. "Surprise." He cuddles her close, pressing against her back and AJ sags against him. "What do you want to do today?"
AJ hums a little, just like her mom. Aaron grins at Emily so wide she thinks his cheeks must hurt. "Play."
"Play what?" he asks.
"'Side!"
"Oh, baby, no," Emily has to say. "Look."
AJ pouts as she catches sight of the rain. They've had pretty dismal weather for Jack's break, actually, and certainly unseasonal weather too. They're getting rain, not snow, and Emily's had to keep all the kids cooped up inside. Katie's pretty easy to entertain, thankfully, but AJ's getting cranky with all the inside stuff.
"'Side, Momma."
She sounds so forlorn that Emily's chest aches. She rubs her hand absently against the ache. She hates it when she can't grant her kids' simplest requests.
"I have an idea," Aaron pipes up, jostling AJ on his chest. She giggles again and slides off, curls up in a small ball between her parents. He leans down until he can get his forehead against their daughter's. "How about a fort?"
AJ's eyes light up. "Castle," she breathes. "Dada make castle!"
Emily laughs, feels her chest clench again. She's warming up to the idea of Aaron spending the day at home with her and the kids, not only because it lifts the burden but because it's been too long since they've done things as a family, just because. Their weekends are always packed, and that's whenever he isn't marking or prepping lessons, whenever Jack doesn't have soccer or there aren't any BAU family gatherings or playdates.
"Yeah," Aaron says, kissing AJ's head. "We'll build a big fort. In the TV room."
A whole room. That's going to take all day. Emily grins because she can't help it.
"But first," he growls, leaning in so he can blow raspberries against AJ's stomach now. "Mommy wants pancakes."
"Oh yes, Dada," AJ agrees breathlessly, love and admiration shining in her eyes. These are the moments they both live for. "Cakes. Now, Dada?"
Emily laughs as Aaron huffs. AJ's a demanding little thing. She sees his mouth open, is pretty sure he's about to attempt a convincing tale of how they should wait just a little bit longer when the baby monitor goes off with a cry. That changes his tune.
"Yeah, sweetheart," he says, sifting to lift AJ into his arms. "Let's go get those pancakes started."