George Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue-a 1924 musical composition by for solo piano and jazz band, which combines elements of classical music with jazz-influenced effects

While most of my fellow band and orchestra students were packing for a week long trip to Chicago, I was also packing my other belongings into boxes to be moved while I was away. It was official: Hotch and Haley were divorced. She and Jack would be moving back into the house while Hotch and I moved into an apartment. It would become my third address in one year.

I was sad for them, in ways that I really didn't know how to express. Granted, with my parents' unorthodox arrangement, maybe I was just more prone to hold marriage sacred, or maybe not. But I knew the point Haley was trying to make by forcing the divorce through. She loved him still, she knew that he loved her fiercely, but she couldn't put up with The Job anymore. However much I knew this whole thing was slowly killing Hotch inside, I knew if they had stayed together, it would have worn them both down until they hated each other.

Haley had made it a point to sit down with me just the two of us even before Hotch did. Actually, that was because I had known she wanted an uncontested divorce before he did.

"I want you to know, as Aaron is your legal guardian now, you are part of the divorce settlement and custody," Haley had told me. We had met at the Crown Café where I was able to use my discount to buy us mochas.

"What does that mean exactly?" I had asked. "Won't custody be hard to arrange with the out of town cases?"

She had seemed so tired, not even her mocha was perking her up.

"With Jack… I want Aaron to have visitation, of course, but custody would be difficult for exactly why you said. But you are almost an adult and with everything that's happened lately, I think you deserve to tell me what you want to happen. You can stay with me and Jack at the house, or you can go with Aaron."

I sat there, stunned, for several moments. It hadn't even occurred to me that Haley would offer this. In my mind, I wasn't her problem or responsibility. I thought about living with her, seeing her every day, having someone around on a regular basis. I pictured Jack running around me as I came in from school or work, watching me practice my flute, or giggling while I made brownies and trying to eat the batter. Stability, constancy, normalcy.

It was homey, it was comfortable-it was painful. I had had my life with Mom almost like that. And just as Hotch wasn't taking my dad's place, I knew Haley wasn't taking Mom's. But the more I thought of it, I knew that it wasn't my place to intrude on her life with Jack, however short-lived it would be.

And I couldn't help but picture Hotch, alone and lonely in a bland and empty apartment, knowing that his family was somewhere else. I knew what it was like to feel abandoned by the people you love the most. Even if I wasn't his family in strictest terms, I couldn't leave him, especially after all he'd done for me. I couldn't do any less.

When I explained all this to Haley, she smiled gently and reached out to squeeze my hand.

"All right, if that's what you want. But you call me if you need anything, you hear? Jack misses his favorite baby sitter."

I told Hotch about it when I got off of work that day. He hadn't seemed surprised that Haley was pushing him to sign so that they wouldn't have to spend money going to court. But I think I really caught him off guard when I told him about my choice.

"I would have thought I would remind you too much of your father," he had admitted, just a trace of bitterness in his voice. "Obviously, our job doesn't make family life easy."

"You're nothing like him," I said low and serious. "You'll never walk out on your family. And no family is easy. It all comes down to how much work you want to put into it."

He had stared at me with such admiration, I blushed.

So I had to pack everything up again with the thought that I would be packing up again in a year and a half for college. I was already receiving recruitment letters in the mail and I had the SATs to look forward to next month. I was still clueless as to where I wanted to go and what I wanted to study besides music which was a given.

The morning we were flying out was the first Monday of spring break. We would all leave from the school to Dulles, thankfully, or I was certain Garcia would insist on the whole BAU seeing me off. As it was, she and Kevin drove me to school since Hotch and Reid were prepping for a custodial interview and the rest of the team was catching up on paperwork.

"Be safe, have fun, remember you can walk into any FBI field office that exists and drop our names to get help," Garcia reminded me as she made Kevin carry my suitcase inside. From the look on his face, she was promising him something special in compensation, or he was just her lapdog already.

"I really don't think I'll need the FBI on a school band trip," I pointed out.

Garcia was not convinced. "You call me at the first hint of trouble and get to that office likity-split, chica."

"I hear and obey, your majesty," I promised, executing a mocking half-bow.

"Enough flattery, go join the other adolescent mortals."

I got a crushing hug from Garcia and an awkward one from Kevin before they left. It looked like half of the students were in the band room already, the floor crowded with suitcases. I checked in with Mr. Rose and then joined Liz who was leaning against one wall.

"You'd think I was going away for a month the way they carried on," I muttered.

Liz grinned. "Your new guardians?" she asked.

"Fairy godmother and her willing slave," I answered with a grin of my own.

My tour roommate accepted this answer.

"So what are you looking forward to the most?" I asked.

Our tour schedule included four concerts, at three churches and one high school, with home stays for most of our nights. For fun, we would be visiting the Shedd Aquarium, the Field Museum, the Chicago Botanic Gardens, and Six Flags Great America. We would also have some down time when we could choose what to do, depending on what our host families were willing to do for us.

"Aquarium, definitely," Liz answered. "I'm thinking of studying marine biology in college, especially dolphins."

Liz was a calm, steady, and caring girl. She would be perfect with animals. I felt even more clueless for not knowing what I wanted to study.

Ten minutes later, Michael walked in and hesitantly approached us. It wasn't as if everyone hated him, but most seemed to avoid him on principle. Even Liz, who was one of the most sensible teenaged girls I knew, said a quick "hello, excuse me, good bye" before she went off to talk with some other kids.

"Another point for my social life," Michael muttered.

"It doesn't help that you glower at people," I told him.

"I don't glower," he argued petulantly. "I stare in a forbidding manner."

Within a half hour, everyone was present and checked in, so we loaded ourselves and our instruments into the buses to take us to the airport. Checking in there was tricky with the brass and percussion instruments, making me grateful again for my small flute case. It wasn't until I was boarding the plan after sitting at the gate for an hour that I remembered the last time I had gone on a plane.

Flying to Georgia at the crack of dawn after being woken from a dead sleep by the deranged psychopath who had abducted Reid. My stomach churned at the memories and I drank ginger ale from the drink cart

"Nervous flier?" Liz asked at one point.

"Something like that."

The week went according to plan with no major train wrecks or SNAFU's. On the tour bus, I would either sit with Liz and some others, or I would sit with Michael on our own. When I didn't, at least Michael could hang out with the other percussion guys. Otherwise I would have felt guilty for leaving him alone when I was the one who had insisted that he come.

We had a tour of the city by bus when we landed and then checked into hotel rooms for the night. Most kids gathered for parties in each others' rooms until late in the night. A small group ended up in Liz's and my room where I proceeded to beat just about everybody at poker and won myself a pile of coins and small bills.

The next day, we went to the Shedd Aquarium which was great, especially the dolphin show. For our first concert that night at a Methodist church, it went very well. Half the program was the band with Mrs. Kessler directing and the other half was orchestra with Mr. Rose. It was that night I got a major surprise.

Liz and I were waiting with everyone else to receive our home stay assignments once the concert was finished.

"Gideon, Peterson," Mrs. Kessler called out.

We made our way to the front of the crowd and found an older woman, on the high side of middle aged, with another younger woman, maybe mid-twenties. What was striking was that the older woman was white with curly red hair and the younger was African-American with straight black hair.

"This is Fran and Desiree Morgan, they'll be your host family for the next two nights," Mrs. Kessler told us.

While Liz responded with "Nice to meet you both, thank you," I was staring hard and wondering if it was coincidence.

Fran caught my gaze and smiled widely. "Yes, I'm Derek's mother. He told us you would be in the area and asked if we wouldn't mind taking you in for a couple of nights."

I smiled, touched that Morgan had done this, touched that his mother was doing this, and then a little embarrassed that it was all happening.

"I'm so happy to meet you," I said, shooting a look at Liz that I would explain later.

Fran was a fabulous host, letting Liz and I get settled in one of the bedrooms without hovering. Once we were alone, I told Liz who Morgan was and why he would want his family to look after me, even if just for two nights. Well, I only told her that the team liked to look out for me without all the details why they would be so protective of me.

Over dinner, we were also joined by Morgan's sister, Sarah, and I got a few blackmail stories out of them to use against the FBI agent when I got back. I found out from them that they had apparently met the team last year when they'd come to Chicago on a case. Apparently, they also thought that Reid was pretty cute in a geeky way. But Fran didn't let us go on too long and was able to also ask both Liz and I what our interests were and what we had planned for school in the future.

It wasn't until I was back in bed that I realized what case had happened last year which had called the BAU out to Chicago: Morgan being arrested for homicide. I had never heard the ending of that case besides the obvious fact that Morgan had come back, free of homicide charges.

I had troubled and vague dreams that night, making me tired and withdrawn while we were at the Field museum during the day. I was so tired that when Liz met up with some others of our group to hang out at the mall, I asked to stay behind. I sent quick texts to Hotch, Reid, and Garcia to say I was fine and having a good time so far—not quite a lie, but not exactly the whole truth.

The knock on the door startled me, but I relaxed when Fran poked her head in.

"I thought you might like some tea," she offered, bearing two mugs in her hands.

I summoned up a smile. "Thank you."

She came to sit next to me on the bed, handing me one of the mugs containing chamomile and peppermint tea.

"Thank you," I said again. "I still can't believe that Morgan called you."

Fran smiled at that. "Well, he didn't come right out and ask us, you know. He just talked about you and mentioned your tour and how he would feel better knowing that someone was checking in on you."

I grimaced. "I've got the whole freaking team playing mother hen," I complained under my breath.

"Yes, I did notice the strong bonds the team has for each other," Fran agreed. "I'm glad for it. I know my boy isn't alone, facing all these dangerous people, and I know he's a good man to be looking out for them."

I didn't ask her what had happened a year ago, it still wasn't my place to know. I didn't ask her what Morgan had told her about me and my parents. But we shared our tea and talked about Morgan and Reid and the others, just the light-hearted stuff.

Once Fran left, I picked up my phone again and sent a text to Morgan, thanking him for what he did. Then I dialed Garcia.

"Hey, Penelope. Would you like to have something really sweet and adorable to hold over Morgan's head?"

I was still feeling out of sorts the next day, so I walked through the Chicago Botanic Gardens on my own for the most part. I made it through the English garden, Japanese garden, and Dwarf Pine garden on my own, reminded constantly of my mother as I looked at the flowers and trees. She had always gardened at home, happy to work outside after being cooped up inside at the clinic all day. Mom had believed in the power of nature, making sure we had tons of indoor plants that she tended and maintaining potted plants at the clinic instead of the fake kind most hospitals used.

Michael caught up to me at the Waterfall garden where I was playing at becoming one myself.

"I just miss her so much," I admitted, knowing Michael would just listen. "It hurts like I can't breathe sometimes."

Michael sat next to me on a bench and took my hand in his. We sat together for maybe an hour before it was getting close to our pick up time to get to our concert venue for the night. On the way out, I stopped and pulled out most of my money to leave in the donation box. Maybe Mom wouldn't want me to give away that much, but I felt like I had to. Michael followed my example without a word.

I was fine for the concert and joined Liz and her group the next day at the mall for some shopping. By Saturday, I was back to my usual self for the most part, riding coasters and eating Dippin' Dots at Six Flags Great America. Our final concert went as well as the others and we were flying back to Dulles the next day.

Hotch, Emily, and Reid were waiting for me at the airport. Most of the other kids would be bused back to the school to be picked up there, but I had called and asked Hotch to meet me when we landed. It had only been a week and despite the good times I had had, I was desperately homesick. As soon as I had my luggage from the carousel and had checked out with Mr. Rose, I was booking it to the exit gate.

I hadn't expected Emily or Reid, but when I saw them with Hotch, I picked up my pace. Profilers all, they must have read my face to know what I needed because as soon as I was close enough, all three had pulled me into a group embrace that I sank into like water into sand.

"Thank you," I whispered. "Thank you."

I pulled away, not caring that my classmates were walking past me and thinking God knows what.

"Let's go home," Hotch said, grabbing my suitcase for me. "Morgan's waiting with an SUV."

I laughed when I saw Morgan had sweet-talked the traffic cop to leave him and the SUV alone. Whether he used his usual charm or his badge, I would never know, but I came up and kissed him on the cheek while Hotch loaded my suitcase into the trunk. Morgan drove, Hotch rode shotgun, and I was sandwiched between Reid and Emily in the back.

I spent the ride detailing my week, slipping in one or two stories I had from Morgan's sisters that made him sputter and deny all charges to everyone's amusement. I talked about the aquarium and museum for Reid, and both Hotch and Emily wanted to hear about the concerts. All in all, it felt really good to share my stories with them like I would have with Mom and Dad.

Hotch and I got dropped off at the apartment complex that was our new home. The condo Hotch had decided on was a two-bedroom suite with one and a half bathrooms, living room, side office, and kitchen. There was even a closet off of the office with a washer and dryer so we could do laundry right there. Hotch already had his boxes and suitcases in the larger bedroom with my blessing. He had the larger bathroom with a tub while my bathroom just had a shower. I was just thankful we each had our own, no matter which of us had what.

My bedroom was about the same size as my room back at Dad's old apartment, but since Hotch would let me use his desk and computer in his office, I would have more space in the room without my own desk. So Morgan and Anderson had apparently gone to the storage unit where my furniture from my old house was being stored and brought in my double bed, bookshelves, nightstand, and dresser. The closet was just large enough that I could step inside but not much more. I had enough room under the bed for storage.

Best of all, Garcia had brought Hannah and her things over earlier in the day. Garcia was apparently spending the day with Kevin but had left me a welcome home present in the form of a stuffed bunny laid out on the bed she had already made up with brand new light purple sheets and a vivid green and purple bedspread.

I dropped my carry on back pack and suitcase on the floor next to my stack of boxes and flopped on the bed. Hannah came up to join me immediately, purring her own welcome and crawling to nestle on top of my stomach.

"Everything all right in here?"

I looked up and saw Hotch standing in the doorway. I propped myself up on my elbows, ignoring Hannah's protests.

"Yeah, it's good."

It may have been the third bed and room that I've had to call my own in the last year and I hadn't even slept in it once. I had yet another address to remember and I still had no idea where Dad was. But I still had a home: I had my cat, I had Hotch and Reid and the team, I had Michael. It would never be the home I still longed for in my dreams, but it was enough.


Notes:

So sorry about the tardiness of this chapter, but it's been a crazy week as I'm sure everyone can relate. I hope you all had a fun and safe holiday and enjoying whatever time off you may have still from school/work/life.

I had to choose Gershwin for this chapter because of the Chicago connection. Fran was a last minute addition that literally flowed out of my fingers without checking with my brain first. My brain then thanked my fingers profusely. What I did always have planned was most of the team picking Rachel up at the airport. It's shamelessly based on events from my own life. My grandmother died the night before one of my European tours and my family insisted that I should still go because that's what my grandmother would have wanted. So I did go, missed the funeral, and like Rachel, I had a lot of good times mixed with some sad moments. When my parents picked me up at the airport, I literally ran up and collided with them just as I had Rachel do. Hence, my inspiration for how you can still have a good time and grieve at the same time.

Sad to say, this now marks the second "break" until I finish up with Mvt III. I've got another one or two chapters in the works and then I should be ready. After that, we've got Mvt IV to look forward to. Thank you all for reading and commenting. Hope you liked it.

Cantoris