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The Best Christmas Ever
Chapter 2

"Dad." Jack walked into his dad's office shutting the door behind him and sat in the chair facing his father's desk.

"Jack?" Hotch wanted to laugh but the serious look on his son's face told him it wasn't a good idea.

"We need to talk." He looked at the folder in his dad's hands. Understanding that his son wanted his undivided attention he quickly closed the file placing the pen on top of it.

"I'm all ears."

"We need to settle down." He paused thinking carefully about his words. "Mom's been gone for three years and I know you're not happy." Hotch had to remind himself his 7 year old was talking.

"Jack." Hotch got up from his desk and sat in the seat beside his son turning it to face him. "I'm happy. There's isn't anything in the world I want besides you." Hotch wasn't sure where this was coming from and he worried his son wasn't happy. "Are you not happy Jack?" He hoped to God the answer was yes.

"I'm happy daddy. I just want you to be happy too." He paused once again a serious look on his face. "Look dad, we're not getting any younger." Hotch couldn't hide his smirk. He decided he'd humor his son.

"Did you have someone in mind Jack?" He shouldn't have been surprised when his son answered.

"Yup. Emmy." How was he going to tell his son he wanted nothing more then to add Emily to their small family? She's all he thought about at times. He wasn't surprised Jack had picked up on that, profiling must be a family trait. Jack waited for his father to respond. When he didn't, he continued, "You're always happier when she's around. So I invited her to come to my play tonight, but she doesn't think she can make it." Hotch wanted to reach over and hug Jack as the look of disappointment appeared on his face.

"Did she tell you why she couldn't make it?" He knew Emily was always honest with Jack. It's one of the reasons he liked her so much more.

"Well…not exactly." Jack looked guilty.

"What do you mean Jack?"

"I couldn't find Emmy at her desk so I went to the break room and she was on the phone. She didn't know I was there."

"Jack. What have I told you about eavesdropping?"

"Well I was gonna tell her I was there but she was real mad on the phone so I waited. Her mommy is not very nice. She wants Emmy to start a family and I don't want her to start a family with someone else I want her to be our family." Jack wiped angrily at the tears streaming down his face.

Hotch knelt in front of his son wiping the remainder of the tears from his eyes. "Buddy I know you want Emily to be part of our family but we need to see what Emily wants. We can't make decisions for her."

"Well she told her mommy that she didn't want to settle down and start a family 'cause she already had one." Hotch smiled at his son.

"I'll tell you what Jack. I'll talk to Emily and invite her to your play and then we'll take it a step at a time. How does that sound?" Jack nodded with a big smile showing several of his missing teeth. "Now I want you to go apologize to Emily for eavesdropping and tell her that I wanted to talk to her."

"Okay." Jacks smile disappeared. He walked out of the office and slowly made his way to Emily. He stood by her desk silently for a few seconds before getting her attention.

"Emmy." He tapped her forearm and waited for her to turn her chair to face him. "I'm sorry I was eavesdropping while you were on the phone." Emily tried to keep a serious face when all she wanted to do was laugh but she knew that would hurt jacks feelings. She looked at his red eyes and knew he'd been crying.

"It's okay buddy. I'm sorry I didn't know you were there." She apologized trying to make him feel better.

"Daddy wants to talk to you." He pointed to his father's office as if she didn't know where it was.

"Okay. Why don't you see if Uncle Spencer has any new magic tricks to show you?"

"Okay Emmy. Uncle Spence!" Jack ran to Reid. Emily wondered for a second why everyone in the BAU was referred to as aunt and uncle except for her. Once Jack reached Reid's desk she headed to Hotch's office.

"You wanted to see me?" She knew she shouldn't be nervous, but she couldn't help herself. Being alone with Hotch always made her nervous, in a good way of course. Hotch stood up to shut his office door before taking a seat next to her. What she didn't know was that Hotch was just as nervous, if not more.

"Did Jack apologize?" She nodded. Her nerves kicked up a notch. If he knew that Jack was listening then Jack probably told him about her conversation with her mother. Emily looked towards the door counting the steps it would take for her to be out of the office.

"He really wants you to come to his play tonight."

"I know. He asked if I could make it, but unfortunately I have to go to my mother's function. She guilted me into going." Hotch's eyebrow shot up in surprise. He wasn't sure anyone could peer pressure let alone guilt Emily into doing something she didn't want to do. As if sensing his thoughts Emily continued. "She said it was a fundraiser for an orphanage."

He smiled in understanding. Emily always had a soft spot for children. "What time is your mother's party?"

"Five, and I really don't want to go. Every year I go she tries to set me up with the city's most successful bachelors and then we end up fighting." Emily quickly covered her mouth, her face a crimson color. "I'm sorry Hotch I didn't mean to share all that."

Hotch smile. "It's okay Emily. Besides I think it's cute when you blush." Now it was his turn to turn red. "Um," he cleared his throat. "Well Jack's show doesn't start until seven. It would mean a lot to Jack if you're there. It would mean a lot to me." His voice was sincere.

Oh how she wished she could just cancel on her mother. "Hotch I would rather be there than anywhere else, but..."

"Leave early," He interrupted, his reply confident as if that would solve everything.

"I wish I could. My mother sends a car to pick me up. After several years of me leaving early, she got clever." It was hopeless.

"I'll pick you up then." Hotch knew he sounded desperate but he didn't care. His son was right. He needed to settle down and he couldn't think of a more perfect woman then the one sitting beside him.

"You'll be late to Jack's play Hotch. I can't ask you to do that. Besides, I'll be overdressed."

"I don't care if you're overdressed. I'll stop by to pick you up at 6:30." Seeing the look of uncertainty he put on his best puppy dog face. "Please."

"Fine." How was she supposed to say no when he looked at her like a wounded puppy? She reached over and grabbed a pen and sticky pad from his desk scribbling down the address.

Emily left the office with a smile on her face. Maybe tonight wouldn't be so bad. She had something other than her mother's party to look forward to.

Hotch reached for his phone. "Sean I need a favor." He prepared himself for the 20 questions.

"Can you be at my place around 5:30 instead of meeting us at Jack's school?"

And so they began. "I need to pick someone up." He smiled as his brother went on. "Yes, Emily. She has to attend a function for her mother. It's going to be a surprise for Jack. He really wants her there." Hotch played with the sticky with Emily's writing. His heart fluttered a bit thinking about her.

"Yes I want her there too." He wanted to punch his brother for all the teasing he was doing.

"Okay. I'll see you tonight."

AN: Two more chapters to go…Hope you enjoyed...