"When are we going?" Anna wanted to know. Melissa checked her laugh and promised her it wouldn't be much longer.
"Spencer just needs to talk to his boss for a couple of minutes, honey."
He was in the bedroom, on the phone with Hotch and Melissa closed the door to give him privacy and to keep Anna's chattering from interrupting.
"Let's choose a couple of your books to take along, too," Melissa suggested and led Anna into the playroom where they kept them all neatly filed in a pair of bookcases.
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JJ sighed with relief as she parked her car in the driveway and made her way to the front door of her house. It had been another difficult case and the prospect of a long weekend was welcome. She realised, as she opened the door that this was their anniversary weekend and she had completely forgotten about it amid the intensity of their most recent investigation.
"Dammit," she said as she closed the door behind her. She gasped when she saw a suitcase, packed and at the ready right by the front door. "Oh my God—" she began.
At just that moment, Henry came barreling into the hallway.
"Mom!" he shouted, reaching up and throwing his arms around her waist in a hug.
"Henry," she returned the hug enthusiastically then indicating the suitcase, asked, "What's that about?"
Henry frowned and told her "I can't tell you."
He looked serious but not sad and JJ couldn't quite read him. Dropping her bag and keys on the table, she took his hand and walked into the kitchen, hoping to find Will there.
"Will?" she called into the empty room.
His muffled reply came from upstairs. JJ ran up the stairs and found him in their bedroom, packing her suitcase.
"What the—"
Will dropped a sheer nightie into the suitcase then stepped around the bed and drew his wife into his arms.
"We are going to New York for the weekend."
"What?! We can't—"
He brandished plane tickets and waved them in her face.
"We leave in," he paused and checked his watch, "about two hours."
"How? What?" JJ was dumbfounded. Will kissed the top of her head.
"I have a crew coming," he teased mysteriously. "Good job, Henry, keepin' the secret so good!" He high-fived his older son. Over the monitor, they could hear Michael stirring and starting to whine as he awoke from his nap.
"Will!" Together they walked to the baby's room. JJ picked Michael up out of his crib and hugged him. Will took the baby from her and directed her to finish packing for herself. He went downstairs, Michael and Henry in tow and just as he reached the bottom stair, the doorbell rang.
"We got it!" he shouted up the stairs to JJ as Henry wrenched open the door and admitted Melissa, Spencer and the happily squealing Anna.
After a brief exchange of hellos, Will apologized.
"Sorry about the timin' but the little feller just woke up and wants his bottle." The group all followed him into the kitchen. He pulled a bottle from the fridge, took the cap off it and placed it in the microwave then invited everyone into the living room. Anna sat between Melissa and Spencer on the couch, and Will asked,
"Hey, Anna, you did such a great job last time, you wanna give Michael his bottle again?"
Her eyes lit up and she nodded. Will put Michael in Anna's arms and helped her arrange herself comfortably. Leaning against her mother, she had Michael in her left arm which she rested against Spencer's right arm for support. Will left and returned with the warmed bottle and Anna fed the baby, cooing at him and giggling with delight when his tiny fingers grasped her hand on his bottle. He responded to Anna who was entranced by his babbling and gurgling.
"She's a pro," Spencer noted as the adults watched the proceedings. Henry sat on the floor playing with a truck. Will excused himself to go hurry JJ along and the two reappeared with luggage a few minutes later. JJ came into the living room, Will continued out the front door with the suitcases.
"He's done!" Anna announced, her face dominated by her beaming smile.
JJ took Michael from Anna and burped him, rocking him up and down as she spoke.
"Thank you guys so much for doing this! I can't believe this. You!" she eyed Reid, "You're just out of the hospital, and here you are—"
"JJ." Reid started. "I've been out of the hospital for almost two weeks. You guys have just been busy with one case after another. While I've been sitting on my ass doing nothing."
"While you've caught up all the files we've all been neglecting for weeks! Hotch told us how hard you've worked on those. Even the ones Morgan and Rossi should have done months ago." She paused to put Michael in his playpen with his favourite toy, ruffled Henry's hair affectionately and continued, "Anyway, the point is, you guys are awesome for taking the boys this weekend for us! I love you so much!"
JJ gave Spencer and Melissa hugs, exchanged a significant look with Melissa and spoke again.
"And we could, you know, pay you back by taking Anna for a weekend so you can, you know," she teased, eyes twinkling.
Will poked his head in the room, and called with just a hint of exasperation in his voice, "JJ? Let's go?" He knelt down and gave Henry and Michael each a hug and kiss, patted Anna on the head then shook hands with both Melissa and Spencer before taking JJ by the hand and practically dragging her out the front door.
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