This chapter is personally one of my favourites, and I really like this one. Sorry for not updating in a while. It also marks the last of the pre-written chapters. I have four other Castle fics on the go, plus this one and The Family Scrapbook (and associated challenge pieces which go inside it), so updates may be even slower.

Please leave me a review on the way out. I'd like to know if people are still reading this :s

Chapter 11 (June 2012)

Though she was somewhat expecting it, the shock still hit her.

Emily stepped over the threshold and was greeted by her family and friends; the entire BAU team, including Henry, her parents, for some strange reason, Aaron's parents, Aaron's brother Sean and his new wife Stephanie, Erin and Robert Strauss, and, of course, Jack and Audrey.

"Happy Birthday Em," Aaron whispered into her ear as she pressed back against him. "Also, congratulations on your promotion."

Emily smiled ear to ear; glad her family was there to celebrate with her. Jack, Henry and Audrey were wearing stupid hats but having the time of their lives, and the adults were acting mostly the same.

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY!" they screamed together, laughing their heads off at the same time. To Emily, her guests were acting like they had hit the alcohol early. Erin Strauss and Elizabeth Prentiss seemed to be the only restrained and responsible adults at the party, and Emily wanted to take full advantage of the situation.

"Thanks!" she called loudly, throwing her hands, and inhibitions, in the air, joining her friends, who were also in possession of the alcohol.

"Na, ah, sweetcheeks, presents first," Penelope snatched the bottle of beer from Emily's hand. "I wanna see what Boss-man got you!"

Emily smiled widely and squealed. "Presents? I haven't had birthday presents since I was a teenager!"

"And for good reason!" Morgan called back in a teasing voice. Emily poked her tongue out at him, and let Henry and Jack tackle the man to the ground.

"Your first present is in the garage, Em," Aaron announced. Their family waited with bated breath, with the exception of the playing children, as she headed over to the door which would lead her to said garage.

"What is it?" she asked curiously. Aaron shrugged, giving her a 'Wait and see' look. She grumbled at him before opening the door, and was immediately bowled over by a big ball of black fur. "What the hell?"

Aaron laughed as the dog pushed her to the ground. "Sweetheart, this is Pepper. She's a purebred Standard Poodle, totally hypoallergenic, doesn't shed hair, and is very friendly."

Though she hugged the dog from her position on the ground, and she had a look of sheer happiness on her face, Emily couldn't help but shoot Aaron a death glare before rubbing her silky smooth ears. Someone else snapped a photo of the two before passing another round of beer to those who were empty-handed, easily splitting off into the groups they were comfortable in.

Aaron shook his head as the ladies started drinking from the bottle, Emily's presents abandoned for the time being, as they were finally allowed to let loose and party.

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Several hours later, Amelia brought the massive chocolate cake, iced and decorated, into the living room and placed it on the coffee table. It was conveniently the only empty space in the whole room; every other potentially empty space was taken up by beer bottles, wrapping paper or drunk family members.

"Birthday cake!" she called over the conversations. Emily popped her head out of the group she was currently occupied by, obviously drunk, and shooshed everyone dramatically.

"First, shut the hell up, the kids are asleep," she whispered loudly, waving her hands in the air and sloshing beer out of the bottle all over her hand. "Second, Amelia has been baking this monstrosity for most of the day, so sing then help me eat it."

Audrey, Jack and Henry had been put up to bed hours ago, but Amelia had been periodically checking on them; she was one of the few completely sober adults in the house, therefore totally responsible for the kids. Emily's parents, Aaron's parents and the Strauss' had left not long after dark, leaving the 'younger' generation to party on.

Even though they were drunk, more drunk than they had been for a while, both Emily and JJ knew they had to keep everyone under control, lest they disrupt the kids' sleeping patterns. It was bad enough they were all sleeping in a house full of obviously drunk government employees, not to mention the noise that was escaping from the living room.

Suddenly, a black bundle of fur jumped on the couch, right on top of Garcia's lap, and the blonde squealed. "Pepper! What are you doing?"

The dog jumped from person to person, bouncing on the couches, and various body parts of the team, obviously excited that someone had let her in to join the party. Rossi, obviously a lover of dogs, scratched between the fluffy poodle's ears when she reached him, and the puppy settled down on his lap, also spreading over on JJ where she was sitting next to her partner.

Emily, watching her new puppy make herself at home, started laughing uncontrollably when JJ and Dave realised the dog had… passed wind… on their laps. Moments later, once everyone else had also realised what Pepper had done, they too started laughing, with the exception of the couple said poodle was comfortable on. Pepper looked mighty pleased with herself, as much as puppies could, and started licking Dave's face excitedly.

"Pepper!" Dave laughed, trying to push the dog away from him. "Pepper, go away!" Everyone else continued to laugh as the dog once again jumped all over him and JJ, the alcohol in their systems making everything seem even funnier.

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Amelia picked her way through the passed out adults littered around the living room floor, the older woman trying to clean up around them without disturbing their drunken slumbers. It was just before five am, the sun was close to rising, and she knew Audrey was due to wake up within the next half hour. She grabbed the various beer bottles, abandoned plastic plates and birthday cake, and threw them into the trash bag she was hauling around with her. Who knew a bunch of thirty- to forty- somethings could make such a mess… they were about as bad as a bunch of college students on spring break.

One of them moaned loudly and Amelia stopped, trying to avoid waking them for as long as possible. She sighed with relief when the offending drunk rolled over and continued to sleep, while she continued to clean up after them.

"'Melia?"

The nanny/housekeeper turned around quickly, and saw Jack standing at the bottom of the stairs. His hair was a mess, his eyes half open, his pyjamas in shambles, his beloved, ratty teddy bear firmly secured under one arm. "Good morning, Jack. Did you sleep well?"

The boy nodded and rubbed his face with his free hand. "Pepper slept in my room with me and Henry," he announced softly, his voice still tinged with sleep. "She protected us and kept us safe." The eight year old was proud of his parent's choice of pet, and wanted to let everyone know.

"That's nice, sweetie, but Pepper can't sleep in your room every night," Amelia told him, making her way back through the passed out adults. "Are Henry or Audrey awake yet? I need to know what you guys want for breakfast."

"Can we have choc'late chip pancakes, please?" he asked. "They're Henry's fave'rite, and Mommy likes to eat them after she's been drinking."

Amelia tried not to laugh at the innocent little boy's observation of his mother; the fact that he knew her hangover food was amazing. "Sure, sweetie, I'll make lots so everyone can pig out."

"Can I have fruit pancakes pwease 'Melia?" Henry asked, appearing at the top of the stairs, Pepper nuzzling his hand. "I like them too, and so does Mommy when she can."

"What does mommy like?" JJ asked from the floor. She was leaning against the wall pulling her clothes out of various orifices. "Amelia, I think I may still be just a little drunk."

"Well it's a good thing today's Sunday then."