A few days later, Aaron and the team got back from their case. It had not ended well, and he felt like the team was more fractured than ever. Emily wouldn't even speak to him, barely looked him in the eye. They touched down on the airstrip shortly after noon and he was surprised to see Penelope there, sitting in Esther.

She raised her arm, waving at them as she got out of the car. She approached them, and a hurt look crossed over her face as Emily brushed past her, JJ following closely behind. Morgan stopped by her side, giving her a searching look. She reached her hand out, and he flinched away, looking off into the distance as he walked on by. Tears pooled in her eyes as she tried to smile at Reid and Rossi, who had stopped by her side.

Reid enveloped her in a warm hug. "Hey, you're looking great! I'm sorry I couldn't get to you in the hospital, we had to go back, and then we had case after case. Did you get the flowers I sent?"

"Yes, they were lovely. Thank you for thinking of me."

"No problem. So, you're pregnant."

"Well, thank you, Captain Obvious. I would never have figured that one out on my own," she said, a true smile on her face. "He's due in August, and well, I think you'd make a really good godfather. You're great with Henry."

He blushed and ran his hand through his hair. "Anything you want Gar – Penelope. It's just good to know you're all right." He looked up and saw the other three drive away. "Hey, how are we going to get back to the office?"

"I have to go back to the office with Aaron, anyway. Strauss needs to talk with us. There's more than enough room in Esther, just ride back with us."

Reid and Rossi went over to her car, getting in the back. Penelope went up to Aaron and wrapped her arms around him, laying her head against his chest. "I missed you. I wish you had been there when I got out, but you had a job to do. Did the information I sent to you help?"

He nodded and kissed her forehead gently. "Why does Strauss want to see us?"

"No clue, Boss Man. All I know is we're not in any trouble. Oh, and the entire office kind of knows we're married," she said in a rush, moving back from his slightly, biting her lower lip.

"They were bound to find out sometime, I suppose."

She let out the breath she'd been holding and threaded her arm through his. "Let's get back. I don't want to keep Erin waiting." They walked to the car and Penelope got behind the wheel, driving the short distance back to the office. She parked near Aaron's car and they walked into the office together. The other three team members were huddled around Morgan's desk, intently talking about something, and from the looks they shot their way, Aaron knew it was about them. He wrapped an arm around Penelope and led her up to his office. Rossi trailed behind them, closing the office door once he was inside.

"Something has to give, Aaron. Have you tried speaking to them?"

"Yes, and it's gotten me nowhere. Dave, what could I have done differently?"

"We could have told them about the pregnancy right away. It's not like we planned for that sort of initiation rite when we went out there," Penelope replied, sitting in one of the chairs.

"Initiation rite?" Rossi asked, looking at Aaron quizzically.

"Yes, Cox's own special loyalty test. We passed with flying colors, obviously."

"Aaron," Penelope said, trying not to smile, "the baby is extra credit on the test." She began to giggle, then gave herself over to her full, rich laugh. He and Rossi joined in, and they were soon wiping away jovial tear. "But we really do need to get up to Erin's office before she begins to wonder where we are."

"Of course," he replied, helping her to stand.

"I am so glad you're okay, Kitten," Dave said, patting her shoulder gently. She smiled and quickly hugged him, before opening the door and walking back out into the bullpen. Aaron followed her down the stairs, while Rossi went to his office.

A few of the other agents congratulated them as they walked through to the elevators. Penelope made small talk with some of them as they waited for an elevator to open. Finally, one got there, and they entered and she pressed the floor number they needed. Once they got on the right floor, Aaron took her arm, leading her along the way.

He rapped gently on Erin's door and moments later they were showed in. "Sit, please," she said, pointing to the chairs in front of her desk. Penelope sat down first, then Aaron sat next to her, moving the chair closer to her.

"Why did you want to see us?" she asked hesitantly as the other woman took a seat behind her desk.

"I've been thinking about what Dr. Mulder said the night before he released you. I know you've been eager to get back here, working again, yet I can't help but feel he was right. You do need to get away from all this for a while. I've given you no time to decompress, just expecting you to jump back into your life here, and that won't work. Both of you need this time away to be a family, without having to worry about saying something that might blow your cover."

"What are we talking about here, Erin?"

"Two months paid leave, starting Monday. Your flight leaves at 6:30 in the morning, so I'd get plenty of rest this weekend."

"Wait, back up, where are we going?" Penelope asked, gripping Aaron's hand tightly.

"England. I've booked the three of you first class tickets out and back, along with renting you a suite in the Haymarket Hotel. This will be a wonderful time for you as a family."

"But what about the team?"

"Oh, I'll be leading them while you're away. Someone needs to bring Prentiss and Morgan back in line, and I'll take great pleasure in doing so." She smiled a bit ferally and looked at Aaron, who didn't envy his team this punishment they would be receiving. "Don't worry, they'll all be in one piece when you return. Have a wonderful time, write often, call when you can, and don't think about what's happening back here."

He nodded and helped Penelope to her feet. Slowly, they walked back to the elevator. "I suppose I should begin packing tonight, then," she said as they stepped inside. "Does Jack even have a passport?"

"Agent Hotchner, wait!" A young man came running up to the elevator bank and Aaron held the door. "Thanks. Director Strauss forgot to give this to you." He handed them a thin envelope and went on his way.

"Look like this answers our question," he said, holding out two passports. "One for you, Mrs. Hotchner, and one for Jack. She doesn't miss a thing."

"That's probably why she's the director. I'm leaving right at five today. All of my teams are home, so I just need to finish up some paperwork and I'm done. I'll pick Jack up and see you at home."

He nodded and took her hand in his, squeezing gently. When the doors reopened on their floor, he let go and stepped out, waiting for his wife. She smiled at him then disappeared into her office. Ignoring the look he got from Prentiss, he quickly climbed the stairs, entering Rossi's office.

"How'd it go with Erin?"

"Fine. I just hope the team survives two months of her, though." Dave looked up at him in shock. "She's sending us to England for mandatory R&R. Paid, Dave. Whose arm did she have to twist to get that?"

Rossi shook his head. "Not a clue, Aaron. But England will be nice. Far away from here."

"She's going to be hard on Emily. Watch out for her, will you?"

He nodded. "When does your leave take effect?"

"We leave Monday morning. First flight out, I assume."

"Have a good time and take care of your wife. I don't think she's quite gotten over being shot for the second time. At some point, she's going to break."

"I know Dave. I'm going to be there to pick up the pieces this time." He shook Dave's hand and went to his own office, filling out paperwork of his own.

"I heard you're going on a trip," Morgan said, stepping into the office some time later. "Could you, would you tell Penelope to take care? I-I'm just not ready to talk to her yet, but I don't want her thinking I don't care. It's just so much to take in."

"Morgan, she's still the same Penelope, and she misses her friends. You made her cry today when you flinched away from her. She need to talk to her best friend before she breaks."

Morgan looked away from him. "I wish, I don't, just look out for her. I didn't do a very good job of that, obviously."

Aaron so badly wanted to tell him it was his call that got her kidnapped in the first place, but didn't want to push the other man any further away from Penelope. "What's done cannot be undone, we can only make things right. We'll see you in two months." He got up and grabbed his briefcase, brushing past Morgan and going down the stairs. Most everyone had left already, though Rossi's light was still on.

The drive home helped calm him down, and by the time he parked in the garage a small smile crept onto his face. Away from everything for two months would be heaven. Erin hadn't been kidding when she said she would do anything for him and Jack, and now Penelope.

"We're going on a trip!" Jack yelled as he ran up to his father, nearly knocking him back into the car.

"Yeah, we are, buddy. Have you been helping Mama pack?" He nodded solemnly. "Good."

Jack pulled him inside and he kicked off his shoes. Padding about in his socked feet, he smelt supper cooking. He took a quick look at his watch. "It's awfully late for food. Have you eaten already?"

"Yeah. Mama wanted to wait for you, though. I'm supposed to go to bed now, but maybe…"

"No, Jack. You can't stay up any later. Get to sleep, we're all going to need lots of rest this weekend." He hugged his son close and then directed him upstairs. Aaron went into the kitchen and found his wife sitting at the table, a dreamy look on her face. "Who are you thinking about?"

She looked up at him. "Not who, what. The Tate Gallery; it's always been a dream of mine to see it, and now I'll be able to. Well, that and stalk Prince William."

"There will be no stalking of royals on this trip, Mrs. Hotchner. We'll be there to relax, and that is not relaxing at all. You know, even with two months, we won't see even a quarter of what there is to see."

"We're not going to plan this out, Aaron. I kind of just want to go where the wind takes us. Of course, we'll have to stop at some of the boutiques in London." She smiled at him, and he nodded.

"We can do that, too. But you should still make a list of things you really want to do so we don't miss them."

"Ever the practical one, my love," she said as she lifted her head for his kiss. "And I wouldn't have in any other way." She kissed him again, just as her stomach growled loudly.

"We should eat and then get to bed. A little more notice for an extended trip would have been nice." He got up and went over to the oven. "Is everything ready to go here?" She nodded and he served them, watching her fight to stay awake as she ate. She pushed her plate away from her, resting her head on her arms as she watched him finish his food. He quickly put the dishes in the washer and led her upstairs to their bedroom.

She sat on the bed, and he turned to grab a nightgown for her from the bureau. When he turned back, she was fast asleep, curled up on his side of the bed. He shook his head and changed into sweat pants, then got in bed himself, pulling her close to him. She seemed to melt against him, curving her body to fit his, and he wrapped his arms around her stomach, falling asleep to the feel of their son moving against his hands.

"What time is it?" she asked with a yawn, stretching as she sat up.

"Time for us to go to the airport. We have to be there somewhat earlier than normal, since it's an international flight," he replied as he dressed.

"How can you be so awake at such an early time?" She got up and began pulling on the clothes she'd laid out the day before. She ran a brush through her hair, pushing it back with a coordinating head band, then put on her makeup. "They are feeding us, right?"

"Yes, one of the perks of first class."

"Good, I don't want to fix anything right now." She went to go wake Jack up while he took their carry-ons to the car. They joined him ten minutes later and he took off for the airport. For all the earliness of the flight, there were still a number of people milling about, waiting for flights to leave. He used his credentials to speed up the screening process and get Penelope back to a place where she could sit down.

Another of the perks of first class was first seating, and he helped his wife up as soon as it was announced for their flight. Jack took his hand, and Aaron showed the gate attendant their boarding passes. She checked them in and they walked down to the plane.

She took a seat while he put their carry-ons in the overhead compartment. "Aaron, I'm going to need an extender for the seat belt. Our son is making it a little difficult to get this fastened."

He nodded and went up to one of the flight attendants, who quickly got what he asked for, handing it to him with a smile. He gave it to Penelope who attached it to the normal belt. "Do you want your laptop?"

"Yeah, no point in getting it out later." She took it from his hands moments later and he sat down, fastening his own seat belt. They'd given Jack the window seat, knowing he'd want to look out the entire time, anyway. The flight went smoothly, though she hardly touched the laptop, falling asleep against his shoulder about an hour into the flight.

He shook her shoulder as the captain announced their descent. Groggily, she opened her eyes. "I've been sleeping the entire flight, haven't I?" He nodded and she sighed. "So much for getting anywhere in my game."

Once they had landed, he went and grabbed all their luggage and then hailed a cab to take them to the Haymarket. They were checked in with no problems and the valet took their bags while they went straight up to their suite.

"There must be a mistake, Aaron. We can't afford to stay here for two months," Penelope said as he opened the door.

He looked around the room and saw a vase of fresh flowers on one of the tables, a note propped up on it. He went over and picked it up, reading the short letter rapidly. "We don't have to worry about that. It's been paid for already," he replied with a smile, holding the card out to her.

Jack ran in and looked around while she read the letter. "They didn't have to do this for us," she whispered, trying not to cry.

"I suspect they wanted to, Penny. Dave's like that, and Erin, well, Erin probably feels like she owes us this. She's strangely wired like that, thought you wouldn't know it at first glance." They went over to the window and looked out at the marvelous view they had. It was going to be a wonderful trip.

The two months seemed to fly by as they filled their days with exploring the country. Jack had loved riding the Eye, and had begged to do it again, though they had never gotten around to it. At the Tate, Penelope had found the painting she'd wanted to see ever since reading 'The Lady of Shalott' in high school. Every new place they visited had brought them closer together as a family, and he felt his love for her only deepen.

Soon, though, it was their last full day in England, and she wanted to spend it in London. Their first order of business was touring the Houses of Parliament. Even as late in the summer as it was, there was a made crush of people, and they had hardly made it to their tour on time. Penelope kept a tight hold on Jack's hand, not wanting to lose him in the crowd.

Aaron placed a protective hand on the small of her back, guiding them through the throng. They met their group with a minute to spare. It was an enjoyable eighty minutes for them, though Jack got a bit bored with it all by the end of the tour.

"I know what we should do next, since we're rather close to it, anyway," Penny said, a mischievous smile on her face.

"What?" Jack asked, smiling back.

"I think the London Eye is calling for one last ride before we head home."

"Really? I thought you had forgotten I wanted to ride it again! This is so awesome!"

They strolled over to the attraction, Aaron taking pictures along the way, and then queued up to take their ride. Penelope pulled out her cell phone and dialed Rossi's number.

"Hello?"

"Hi, Dave. Just called to see how everything's going back home."

"Good, though Strauss is really riding Emily's ass still. I think she'll be glad to have Aaron back after this."

"That was the point, most likely. So, we fly home tomorrow, and we'll be back to work on Monday. Ooh." She grimaced and touched her stomach lightly.

"What's wrong, Kitten?" he asked, concern filling his voice.

"I don't know. My stomach just cramped up again. It was doing that all day yesterday, too. I just figured it was something I ate, but they're starting to come closer together. I don't need to be worried, do I?" She gripped tightly on to the phone, hoping he would reassure her, calm her nerves.

"Can you get to a clinic before you leave? I would at least have them check you out before you fly home."

"I have two months to go, Dave."

"I know you do, and that's why you need to get checked out. Promise me you'll do that, Penelope."

"I will, I promise." She hung up the phone and stepped into the car with Aaron and Jack. The half hour ride only increased her level of discomfort, and she could tell something was wrong. They stepped off the ride, and she grabbed on to Aaron's arm. "I think, I think we need to go to a hospital, Aaron."

He looked at her and, seeing how pale she was, guided her over to a bench. "Jack, stay here with Mama. I'll be right back." Jack nodded solemnly and held onto Penelope's hand, watching his father go up to one of the workers.

"Excuse me, my wife isn't feeling well, and I think she needs to get to the hospital. Where's the closest one?"

"What do you think is wrong, Sir?"

"I think she's going into early labor."

The worker blanched and picked up her phone, dialing the emergency number. She spoke quickly to the person on the other end of the line, and then hung up. "The ambulance will be here in about ten minutes, Sir. Please, take me to your wife."

He nodded and led the woman over to where Penelope sat. "Is it getting any worse?" he asked, sinking down next to her. She nodded and bit her lip, tears pooling in her eyes.

"Ma'am, I need to ask you a few questions. Where are your pains located?"

"In my stomach, it feels like it's cramping, almost as if I ate something off. But they're coming closer together." The woman nodded sympathetically as she asked more questions, a concerned look on her face.

"They've sent an ambulance, it'll be here soon. Until then, try to keep calm; I'll send the paramedics over as soon as they get here."

Aaron nodded at her and then wrapped an arm around his wife. She leaned into him, laying her head on his shoulder. Hot tears rolled down her cheeks, soaking into his shirt. "Shh, sweetheart. Everything's going to be all right," he whispered, rubbing her shoulder gently. She nodded slightly, curling her hand against his chest.

The minutes dragged by, even when they heard the sirens get closer and closer. She grimaced in pain as another cramp came, just as the paramedics rushed up to her. The two men got her onto the gurney and began pushing her through the crowd, Aaron and Jack following behind.

"We need to ride along, I'll never find the hospital," he began, the anxiety in his chest causing him to babble.

"Of course, Sir. Say, buddy, do you want to ride up front with me and work the siren?" Jack nodded and took the man's outstretched hand, letting him help him up into the front of the ambulance. Aaron got into the back, not letting go of Penelope's hand. They zipped through traffic, finally pulling in at what Aaron assumed was the emergency room drive of University College Hospital.

He followed the men into the hospital, zoning out on what they were saying. Everything in this world had suddenly boiled down to Penelope and his son, and he couldn't focus on anything else.