Elopement

On Monday he headed into work with his daughter. Beth had some work to do and as they currently weren't on a case he'd agreed to take Emily Haley into the BAU. It was the first time she was coming in since being diagnosed and starting chemotherapy.

She came in holding her father's hand and they found everyone but Reid in the bullpen. She beamed when she saw the team and they smiled sadly at her. They couldn't believe this little girl was so sick. She touched her striped bandana self-consciously. She'd been wearing bandanas ever since daddy had shaved her head. She'd tried to get him to wear one into work but he said it was against FBI regulations.

"Daddy shaved my head like his to stop my hair falling out," she explained touching her bandana.

"You look cute. Father and daughter matching haircuts," Garcia smiled at the little girl.

"Thanks Auntie [Penelope," she beamed while daddy smiled slightly at her appreciating the attempt to keep things light.

Everyone else commented that Emily Haley looked cute with her shaved head and bandana and she smiled at them. They understood why he'd shaved her head and she would always be cute to them. They could see that through this she was determined to be strong, brave and try to be happy for them. They admired her strength and bravery but she was her daddy's girl; always had been.

"Where's Reid?" he asked noticing that the second to youngest agent wasn't there. For the last seven years Seaver had been the youngest agent.

Just then Reid came running in apologising but clearly trying to keep a huge grin from his face. Well, obviously someone had received good news. He was glad of it. With the fact that they would be losing his daughter they needed some good news.

"Where were you?" he asked.

"Nevada," he answered not looking at anyone but his boss noticed the ring on his wedding finger.

"Congratulations," he smiled a slight smile.

Morgan saw the ring clearly too. "Yo, my man. The kid got married," he smiled patting his back. "Congratulations kid."

"Thank you," he smiled blushing though over the moon to have finally married Maeve. Everyone crowded around and congratulated the newly married agent.

"I hope you married Auntie Maeve," Emmy said firmly.

Everyone laughed while he got down and crouched down saying, "Yes I did, Emily Haley."

She smiled back at him. "Good."

"We should go out for drinks to celebrate tonight," Rossi suggested.

Everyone but Hotch agreed as he looked down at his daughter. He didn't really want to spend one moment without her now she was going to die. Cases were going to be even harder now he knew he was going to lose her this year. He was almost tempted to not go but he knew Emmy would want him to.

"Come on just one night, man. We understand but you and Beth need this," Morgan tried to convince him.

"Daddy, you should go," his daughter said looking up at him.

"Are you sure?"

"I don't want to stop you and mummy doing the things you like. You have to go, daddy. It's to celebrate Uncle Spencer and Auntie Maeve's marriage."

"Ok honey," he smiled down at his little girl stroking her head then nodded at his team. "Come on, Emmy. Work to do," he added picking her up and taking her to his office.

Since she'd started spending time at the office he had things to entertain her so he got them out to occupy her while he dealt with all the paperwork on his desk. Every now and again he looked up to see her happily drawing and he smiled a little. He hoped that smile on her face would never fade.