Author's Note: Enjoy chapter four!
Emily stepped out of the shower and rubbed her hair with her towel. She threw on her clothes and hung her towel back on the rack. Jack ran up to her and wrapped his arms around her leg.
"Hey buddy", she chuckled.
"You smell good", he giggled, covering his mouth with his free hand.
"Thank you", she winked, "Did you have breakfast yet?"
He nodded against her jeans.
Hotch walked into the room in a fresh shirt and jeans, his hair still slightly wet. He placed his large hand on his wife-to-be's shoulder.
"Aaron, I'm going to make some coffee. You want some?" she asked.
"I'm actually heading to Starbucks to discuss some things with Dave. I'll see you later, alright?" he said, placing a kiss on her smooth cheek. She smiled and patted his shoulder goodbye.
"I'll see you later buddy", Hotch said, kneeling down in front of Jack and kissing his forehead. Jack threw his arms around his father and said goodbye.
"Bye daddy!" he said. Hotch smiled and locked the door on his way out.
Emily started up the coffee maker and leaned against the counter. There was an awkward silence between her and Jack.
"Emily?" he said softly.
"Yeah, buddy?" she replied.
"I'm happy you're my mommy", he said quietly.
Emily was elated.
"I'm glad you're my little boy", she smiled at him. She picked him up and placed him on the counter beside her.
"Don't fall off", she warned, turning to the coffee maker. She hear his giggles as she poured her coffee.
"Can I have a sip?" he asked.
"Sure. It's hot though, so be careful", she smiled. He placed his little boy lips on the rim of the cup and took a tiny sip. He pulled his mouth back, contorting it into a look of disgust.
"Ewwie!" he yelled, shaking his head. Emily tilted her head back and laughed.
"Trust me little dude. You're gonna like this sooner or later", she chuckled, taking a sip. He frowned and shook his head.
"I'm never gonna like coffee", he pouted, picking up a toy car and running it across the counter.
"What do you wanna do today bud?" she asked.
"I dunno. What do you wanna do?" he asked.
"I'm not sure. You want to go practice soccer at the park?" she asked.
He nodded, paying more attention to his toy car.
"Do you want me to see if cousin Henry can come too?" she asked, ready to dial JJ's number.
"Okay", he said, hopping off the counter. Emily's breath hitched as he hit the ground. Although he landed on his feet, Emily almost threw up. She knew he was old enough to get off a counter, but if he hurt himself again while he was under her watch, she didn't know what she'd do with herself.
"Jayje? Jack and I are going to the park to play soccer. He wants Henry to come. You guys free?" she asked.
"Of course. Could you pick us up? Will is using the car", she said.
"Yeah, of course. We'll be there in like, ten minutes, okay?"
"'Kay. See you guys", JJ said, hanging up.
"Jack? Get your cleats and stuff. We're leaving for JJ's in five minutes" she called to Jack. Moments later, he returned with his soccer ball and cleats, donned in an oversized T-shirt and basketball shorts.
-Ten minutes later-
Emily stepped up and knocked on the wooden door of JJ's home.
"Jayje, I'm here", she called. Jack was kicking his ball around as JJ opened the door.
Henry came out and gave Emily a small hug. Emily rubbed his back.
"Wow. Look at Henry, Jack. He's got cleats like yours!" Emily said. JJ chuckled.
"He insisted" she laughed, closing the door. Emily smiled.
"It's fine. You ready to go?" she asked. JJ nodded and they started down the hallway.
Once they reached the park, Henry and Jack were excitedly bouncing in their car seats, trying desperately to unbuckle the straps themselves. Emily and JJ grinned at the two boys and assisted them in their endeavors to escape the car.
"Come on, Emmy!" Jack yelled, already ahead of them. Henry ran quickly to catch up.
JJ smiled at Emily's nickname and began to run after the boys to make sure they didn't stray far.
JJ turned with a sly grin on her face.
"Yeah! Come on, Emmy!" she winked. Emily raised her eyebrow and chased after JJ.
"Shut up", she growled playfully. JJ smiled and set their things down on a bench. Emily sat down with a sigh and pulled out her phone.
"I'm gonna call your cousin now" Emily said. JJ nodded and stood up.
"I'll go join the boys", she said. Emily nodded and watched JJ run off.
Ring, ring. Ring, ring.
Emily heard the phone pick up.
"Hello, this is Christina Jareau", a woman's voice came from the other end of the phone.
"Hello, Christina? Hi, my name's Emily Prentiss", she said.
"Hello. And may I ask why you're calling?" Christina asked in a snobbish tone.
"Um, I'm friends with JJ and I was wondering-" Christina cut her off.
"Oh, I'm so sorry! I didn't know you knew Jen. You're calling about the wedding, right?" Christina said apologetically.
"So she told you already, huh?" Emily chuckled.
"Yeah. She called me this morning", Christina replied in a kinder tone.
"Cool. So, um, how do I go about this? I'm not really experienced with weddings", Emily admitted sheepishly.
"It's fine. Do you know if we could meet somewhere sometime?" Christina asked.
"Sure. Does tomorrow work for you?" Emily asked.
"Yep. Where should we meet?"
"Is Starbucks okay?" Emily asked.
"It's perfect. I'll meet you there at three", Christina replied, snapping her phone and writing the details in her pocketbook.
Emily closed her phone and leaned back on the bench. Jack ran up to her and tugged her arm.
"Mommy, come play soccer with us! It's gonna be me and Henry against you and Auntie JJ", he said. Emily grinned.
"Of course", she said, getting up to join her son and "nephew" in a game of soccer.
JJ gave Emily a high-five and leaned menacingly over Henry.
"You're goin' down, boy", she grinned. Henry threw his arms in a fleeting hug around his mother's waist and turned to join Jack on the other side.
Emily puckered her lips and whistled, initiating the start of the game.
"JJ! Here!" Emily yelled, running across the field towards Jack's goal. JJ cut the ball to Emily. She received it with the inside of her foot and worked it towards the boys' goal. All of a sudden, Jack ran up to Emily and did a sort of slid tackle. They both tripped, falling next to each other in the grass. Jack rolled on top of Emily and frowned.
"We'll beat you, Mommy!" he announced proudly. Emily feigned sadness. Jack shook his head.
"No, no, no, Em'ly! Don't be sad! I was kidding!" he said quickly. Emily smirked and got up.
"I know you were. I'm a profiler, kid", she chuckled. She ruffled Jack's hair as he ran to scheme with Henry.
JJ placed her forearm on Emily's shoulder and gestured to the boys.
"Just think. They'll be in varsity soccer soon", JJ chuckled. Emily nodded with a half-grin.
"Oh, by the way, I'm meeting your cousin tomorrow at Starbucks to discuss the wedding", she told JJ.
"That's great! Hey, I think the boys need a little help", she said, pointing at Jack trying to tie Henry's cleat. JJ jogged to the boys, and Emily looked on.