Disclaimer: I own nothing with Criminal Minds except for my dvds.
Author's Note: Special thanks to deeda (it's coming, I promise!), canny-bairn (I'm hoping my longer chapters make up for my longer time in between updating chapters), DaisyAngel (I'm glad you're still enjoying Anna), SkySydfan24, and ChocoboMuffins (I'm going to carry you around in my back pocket for morale boosts! Thanks soooo much!) for the reviews! And thanks to everyone who's reading. Feel free to drop a review and let me know if you love/hate the direction this is going or if there's something you'd like to see that you haven't yet.
Another note: The Second Annual Profiler's Choice Awards have begun (voting runs September 1st through October 15th)! Check out the Chit Chat on Author's Corner forum for details. These mods work incredibly hard at this so let's show them some love!
Of Moving Dates and Galas
"You really got them to move in together?" Reid asked Anna. The two of them were laying on the empty living room floor in the new house, staring at the ceiling. They were shoulder to shoulder.
"So, it would appear," Anna replied, lightly.
"How did you manage to pull this off?"
Anna shrugged, crossing her legs. "I just gave them the means to do it. They did the rest. They very much want to be a family. They just don't know how to admit it yet. That's where I come in."
"You don't think it's too soon after..." Reid's voice dropped off, not wanting to mention Will's name.
Anna tensed. "I'm not suggesting they run off and get married right. It'll take awhile. It would be too soon if JJ and Will had been involved, but they broke up almost a year ago."
"Rossi knows. No one else seems to suspect they're anything more than best friends or at least they're not talking about it. Garcia's a little put out by their friendship," Reid observed. "You haven't talked about any of this with her?"
"No." Anna hesitated. "We haven't really talked since I had that fight with Derek. I don't think she's quite forgiven me. That's fine, though. Derek's where her loyalty lies."
"My loyalty lies with you," he promised, quietly.
She bumped him with her shoulder. "And mine lies with you, little brother."
"How are you and Morgan anyway? You never did say what that fight was about."
"And I'm not going to. What about you? Did you ever make a date with the cute blond from the Christmas party?"
"Twice. Had to cancel both times because of work. You ignored my first question."
Anna smiled. "We're doing okay. We're still going through some growing pains. Sex is great, though."
"Anna!" Reid sighed, exasperated.
She giggled. "You sounded just like Hotch there."
"Can you believe you've almost been here a year?" he asked in a desperate attempt to change the subject.
"Sometimes. Sometimes, it seems like I've been here forever. Sometimes, it seems like I haven't been here that long. It's been a crazy year." Anna sobered. "I have a favor to ask you, but I kind of need it to stay between the two of us."
"It's not illegal, is it?"
Anna rolled her eyes. "You really are starting to sound like Hotch. No, it's not illegal. It's this family thing I have to go to in a couple of weeks. It's a dinner for one of the charities that my grandmother created. It's formal."
"Why don't you ask Morgan?"
"It's not really his kind of thing and I'd rather that he not meet my family."
"Sure, I'll go, as long as we're not called away on a case."
"Thanks."
"What's going on in here?" Morgan asked, walking into the living room with Hotch. They had been walking through the house to determine what rooms needed painted before moving in.
"We're just waiting on you," Anna told him, not bothering to sit up. "Did you get everything you need?"
"I think so." Hotch looked to Morgan, who agreed. "I think just JJ's room, the boys' rooms, and the dining room will need painted. Oh, and your room, if you want."
"Maybe," she replied, nonchalantly.
Morgan stood over her, his eyes twinkling. "Are you just going to lay there all day?"
"I'm thinking about it. We have to wait for JJ, Penelope, and the boys anyway. They're out shopping for new stuff for the boys' rooms."
"We're back," Garcia said, breathlessly, entering the living room. "Taking two little boys shopping for new rooms is not an experience I want to have anytime soon. You guys are not moving again anytime soon!"
Hotch frowned at Garcia's statement. He looked worriedly as JJ entered, leading Jack and Henry. He smiled slightly when instead of looking tired, she looked excited. JJ walked right up Hotch.
"The boys are all set. Jack, no surprise, wants a superhero theme. Henry has decided to go with trucks."
"Henry picked out his own theme?" Hotch asked, an eyebrow raised.
"Well, he got to choose between the two I found. He picked the trucks over the frogs."
"Smart kid," Hotch chuckled earning him a glare.
JJ sighed. "How'd the walk through go?"
"Not bad. We should be able to get it all done in under two days."
"Great. Who are you hiring?" JJ smirked at him.
"Oh, ha-ha. You know, you-"
"Ow, Henry!" Jack shouted, suddenly. "JJ! Henry bit me!"
"Henry, no! We do not bite!" JJ picked Henry up and walked him into the hallway. She put him on the stairs for a timeout. As she walked back into the living room to check on Jack, she heard a thud behind her. Henry had thrown himself to the floor and was now gearing up for a massive tantrum.
"No, Mama! No!" Henry screeched. He kicked and punched at JJ when she tried to pick him up. JJ felt her own tears running down her face.
"Henry, stop," Hotch ordered, walking into the hallway. Henry stopped hitting JJ, but he continued to cry. Hotch took him from JJ. He placed a hand on her shoulder before bending down to kiss her forehead. "It's going to be okay."
JJ nodded, wiping her tears away. She returned to the living room where Jack was standing with Anna, sniffling. Ignoring the looks from everyone, she took Jack's hand to lead him into the bathroom so they could wash both of their faces. Hotch and Henry joined them a few minutes later. Henry's tears were gone.
"Sorry, Mama. Sorry, Jack," Henry told them solemnly. "No bite."
"It's okay," Jack reassured him, his tears having long dried up. "Come on. Let's go get Uncle Spencer to play."
Jack grabbed Henry's hand when he wiggled down from Hotch and the two boys ran off.
"What's happening to my sweet, little boy?" JJ asked Hotch, tears welling in her eyes again.
Hotch brushed a piece of hair from her forehead. "He's two, he just lost his father, and he's going through a lot of changes right now. He'll be better when things stabilize. That's one of the reasons that we're doing this."
"You're right. I know you're right." JJ rubbed her eyes and planted a smile on her face. "I don't know what I'd do without you. You're the only one who seems to be able to calm Henry down when he gets into one of those tantrums."
"Anna calls them 'monster tantrums.' Don't forget, it goes both ways. You're the one Jack wants to talk to in the middle of the night."
"We're doing the right thing here, right? Moving in together?"
Hotch peered at her. "Are you having second thoughts?"
"On my side? No. You are wonderful with Henry; you always have been. I mean, look at that: you got him to calm down with just two words." She smiled at Hotch's proud grin. "And I adore Jack. I am so honored at the place you and Jack have allowed me to have in his life."
"But?"
"But you have always been an incredibly private person and I don't want make you uncomfortable. I don't want you to think you have to do this."
"You're pretty conservative yourself, JJ. And I don't think I have to do this. I want to do this. I know this is an odd situation, but I think it works for us; for our kids. I want to do this. I want to live with my best friend."
JJ reached down and grabbed Hotch's hand to squeeze it. "Come on. Let's go get Uncle Spencer to play."
"Oh, that is just disturbing," Hotch cringed, following her out of the bathroom.
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Moving day was just under two weeks later. They hired movers to move the big stuff from both houses, but the BAU team came to help with the rest. Per Jack's strict instruction, only Morgan was allowed to move his superheroes and their cave as he was the only one who was strong enough to carry them. Morgan preened the rest of the afternoon. Anna had both boys' room unpacked and ready to go by dinnertime. JJ put Reid and Garcia in charge of organizing the kitchen while she supervised the rest of the team. By the time everyone left near midnight, only the dining room, the offices, bits and pieces of the adults' bedrooms, and pictures need to be completed.
The Friday evening after moving day found the BAU team sans Reid, JJ, and Hotch gathered in the bullpen, trying to wrap up for the weekend. Reid had taken a half day, but hadn't shared with anyone what his plans were. They were speculating what his plans might be from guest lecturing to date with a porn star to being called away on a secret mission for the FBI. They were all in a jovial mood; it had been an easy week and the weekend lay before them.
"About ready?" JJ asked, standing in Hotch's doorway, catching just snippets of the bullpen conversation and laughter.
Hotch looked up and smiled, setting his pen down. In the week they had officially lived together, he had learned to leave whenever JJ said it was time to go. It saved him from a long, tense car ride home. "Just need to grab some papers."
"You guys out of here already?" Prentiss asked, surprised when JJ and Hotch walked down the stairs, packed up for the weekend.
"Anna has some mysterious plans for this evening. She left the boys with Mrs. Nickson," JJ explained. Mrs. Nickson was a kind, older woman from Hotch's old neighborhood who generously offered to watch the boys whenever they needed. This was only the second time they used her.
Morgan held up his hands with a shrug when they all looked at him. "She wouldn't tell me either; just mumbled something about an obligation and... changed the subject."
"'Changed the 'subject,' huh?" Prentiss teased. "That's what causing the blush on your face?"
Morgan waved her off with a glare as Rossi, Prentiss, JJ, and Garcia all laughed. Hotch groaned.
"Agent Hotchner, good, you're still here," Erin Strauss said, walking into the bullpen, seemingly ignorant to the sudden tension she brought, "as is the rest of your team."
"Is there something we can help you with, ma'am?" Hotch asked, stiffly, stepping forward.
"Yes. I need you and your team to fill in at a charity dinner tonight. The team that was supposed to go has been called out on case. Here's all of the information." Strauss handed him a packet of papers. "I expect to see all of you there."
With that final order, she turned and walked away.
"Seriously, Hotch?" Morgan questioned.
Hotch skimmed the papers. "Apparently so. It's a charity that supports law enforcement; the Kathleen O'Leary foundation. Looks like every major branch is sending in a team. It's formal, being held at the Xavier Hotel."
"That is fancy," Prentiss muttered.
"Looks like we're leaving from here in two hours so I suggest everyone get home and get ready. They got limos for us." Hotch sighed when they all protested. "Hey, you heard her. We're not getting out of this."
"I'll call Mrs. Nickson," JJ grumbled.
JJ was still grumbling when they all met up just over two hours later, dressed to the nines. She grumbled on the way to the limos and on the way to the hotel. She didn't stop grumbling until they entered the ballroom of the Xavier Hotel. The overwhelming ostentation caused them all to become speechless. The room was filled with important looking people dressed in their formal bests. They could see at least three bars, two appetizer buffets, and a 16 piece orchestra. Giant floral arrangements adorn each table, decorated with crystals.
"This is... something even for me," Rossi commented.
"Guess we should try to find our seats," Prentiss mumbled. Hotch breathed out slowly before nodding, leading them through the crowd.
Anna was standing with Reid near the back bar, a vodka tonic in her hand. Reid was babbling on about the advantages and disadvantages of private charities over public aid, but for once, Anna was barely listening. Instead, her focus was completely on looking for and avoiding any relatives. Anna sighed audibly when spotted her older sister walking towards her wearing a blue ballgown, her blond hair pinned up.
"Is that a tiara?" Anna huffed in disbelief.
"Huh?" Reid asked, confused. He followed Anna's gaze to see a tall woman wearing a diamond tiara in her hair and a sinister smile on her face.
"Anna, dear, hello," the woman greeted, kissing the air by Anna's cheek. "So glad you could come."
"Alexandra," Anna replied, stiffly. "Spencer, this is my sister, Alexandra. Alexandra, this is my little brother, Dr. Spencer Reid."
"Little brother?" Alexandra repeated. She rolled her eyes when Anna only stared back at her. Alexandra held her hand out to Reid. "It's nice to meet you, Dr. Reid."
Reid took her hand. "You, too."
"Spencer is an FBI agent. He works with the BAU out of Quantico," Anna explained, a hint of pride in her voice. Reid blushed slightly.
"Oh, I invited the rest of your team here this evening. They're right over there," Alexandra pointed out smugly.
Anna folded her arms, her heart dropping to her feet. Blood pounded in her ears. "You really are a bitch. It's no wonder Grandmother preferred me over you."
"That old bag felt sorry for you. You came from nothing. You are nothing."
"And still you're jealous of me."
Alexandra puffed and jerked her chin out before storming off under the pretense of finding someone "more important" to talk to.
"So, that was your sister," Reid said, flatly.
Anna nodded. "One of them anyway."
"That certainly explains a lot."
"Thanks," Anna said in mock anger.
"Uh, Anna?" Reid tapped her. "I think we've been spotted."
Anna looked to where he was pointing and saw the BAU staring at the two of them with various degrees of surprise on their faces. Anna grabbed Reid's arm to lead him to the table, determination on her face as butterflies swarmed her stomach. Reid just had a big smile on his face, excited that his team was there for the night.
"Did you get called in, too, Reid?" Garcia asked, trying to piece together why Reid and Anna were there and deciding that maybe Strauss had called Reid and he had begged Anna to come.
"Uh, no," Reid replied, looking to Anna to expand further.
Anna squirmed uncomfortably. "Kathleen O'Leary was my grandmother. This was her foundation. It's the one family obligation that even I attend each year."
"And you brought Reid?" Morgan questioned her.
"I-"
"Anna!" a male voice called out, interrupting her. A man in his early fifties with graying hair and piercing blue eyes escorting a woman in her forties walked up to the group. He gave Anna a quick kiss on her temple. "I heard you were here. And you've found our FBI group, the Behavioral Analysis Unit, I believe. Excellent. Alexandra said she handpicked them."
"Hello, Teddy, Catherine. This actually is the BAU. Allow me to introduce Aaron Hotchner, Jennifer Jareau, Penelope Garcia, Derek Morgan, David Rossi, Emily Prentiss, and Dr. Spencer Reid. This is my eldest brother, Theodore Kingston, Jr. and his wife, Catherine."
Teddy shook each of their hands, pausing at Prentiss'. "Emily Prentiss? Elizabeth's daughter?"
"Um, yes," Prentiss replied, surprised. "Do you know my mother?"
"We were on a few committees together."
Anna purposely ignored the glances from the team. "Teddy, Aaron and Jennifer are actually my bosses."
"Right," Catherine said, condescendingly. "We heard about you little... job."
"You know, Father is here. You really should come with us to say hello and to meet wife number, what is it, darling? Five? Six?" Teddy turned to his wife, who rolled her eyes.
"Seven," Anna supplied.
"That's right. This one's already expecting. I guess, he's wasting no time in his old age." Teddy sighed. "Anyway, you should really come greet them. That little... incident was so long ago."
"Incident?" Anna repeated, but her voice was swallowed by Alexandra arriving with another man.
"Teddy, dear, it's almost time for the welcome speech." Alexandra raked her eyes over Anna. "Anna, perhaps you want to freshen up before the picture. It'll be in just twenty minutes or so."
"Really, Alexandra, what can you expect from her?" the man with her said as Alexandra and Catherine tittered.
"Alexandra, Thomas, that's enough. We're all family," Teddy said, firmly, causing all three to shut down instantly. "We'll see you for the picture, Anna."
Anna sighed frustrated as they group walked away. She balled her hands up to stop herself from rubbing her face. Anna jumped when she heard Morgan whisper in her ear, "Can I talk to you?"
Anna nodded and let him lead her to a darken corner in the lobby. Morgan stood apart from her, his irritation evident in his folded arms. "Why didn't you tell me about this?"
"I didn't want you to know."
"Don't you think I would have been here for you?"
Anna sighed, also folding her arms. "I didn't want you to meet my family."
Morgan checked hard. "You don't want me to meet your family? Are you ashamed of me? Of us?"
"No!" Anna practically shouted. "I'm ashamed of them! That, in there, was them on their best behavior! I never know what they're going to say; how they're going to act. I didn't want them to meet any of you."
"But you asked Reid to come?" His anger was dissipating slightly, but his confusion was growing.
"I didn't think I could face them without someone, not after this year, and Spencer's fairly harmless, and he'd hide in the back with me."
"If you dislike your family that much, why do you even bother to come?"
Anna shot him a self-deprecating smile. "I wouldn't come at all except this was my grandmother's pet charity. I do it for her."
Morgan unfolded his arms. He took a few steps forward and grabbed her elbows. "I guess I can understand that."
"I'm sorry." Anna put her hands on his chest, feeling his heartbeat through the crisp, white dress shirt. "I never meant to hurt you. I thought I was protecting you."
"Don't protect me. Talk to me instead. Got it?"
"Got it."
Morgan leaned down to kiss her, but was stopped by the voice of a young girl calling out, "Aunt Anna! Aunt Anna! It's time for the family picture!"
The little girl was no more than seven and had the same red hair as Anna. Anna caught her in her arms and swung her around.
"Derek, this is my niece, Michaela. Michaela, this is my friend, Derek," Anna introduced.
"Your boyfriend"" Michaela asked in a sing-song voice.
"Yes, my boyfriend," she answered in the same voice.
Michaela looked him up and down. "He's cute."
Anna and Morgan both broke out into laughter. Anna carried Michaela back into the ballroom. Morgan followed them, veering to the table while Anna and Michaela went to the stage for the picture. The team looked on in awe as nearly fifty family members were crammed together.
"She really doesn't like her family," JJ muttered to Hotch. Anna was at the edge of the picture surrounded only by children.
"No," Hotch sighed.
JJ turned to look at him. She placed a hand on his knee. "What's wrong?"
"She hid this from me. I didn't know anything about this. She's been coming here for years and she never told me. I didn't think she lied to me."
"She probably doesn't think of it as lying. It's clear that it's an obligation for her and nothing more. She seems embarrassed to be here."
"I suppose," Hotch agreed, reluctantly. He pouted through the picture, through dinner, and through the first dance, where it seemed everyone in the O'Leary family had to join in. Hotch wasn't alone as Morgan seemed to deflate as the evening wore on, despite the talk he had earlier with Anna. Garcia and Prentiss spent their time discussing the other party-goers, including Reid who seemed to have caught the eye of a pretty brunette in Anna's family. Rossi searched the crowd for anyone he knew, whether to seek them or avoid them, he wasn't sure.
Tired of Hotch's moping by the fifth song, JJ grabbed his hand to pull him onto the dance floor with the other couples. She had one of his hands on her waist and the other in her hand by the time he recovered enough to take the lead from her. She drew in as close to him as she could while still maintaining eye contact.
"So, I know it hasn't been a week, but how do you think things are going?" JJ asked him, uncertainty running through her eyes.
Hotch smiled at her to ease her nerves. "Jack's ecstatic that you and Henry and he and I and Anna are all under one roof. I haven't seen him this happy since... I haven't seen this happy in a long time. Henry seems to be adjusting already."
"I'm afraid it's just a honeymoon period and his monster tantrums are just around the corner. In fact, I'm waiting for a phone call from Mrs. Nickson any minute now telling me to come pick up my hellion of a son."
Hotch chuckled. "JJ, you worry too much. The boys are already in bed. If there were any issues, we would have heard by now. Try and relax."
"I'll relax if you relax, deal?"
"Deal."
"How are you handling sharing your home with two women?"
"Two?" Hotch looked down, perplexed.
JJ raised her eyebrows. "Um, me and Anna?"
"Oh." Hotch shrugged. "Anna's just Anna. I don't really think of her as a... you know."
"A woman? Does that mean you think of me as a woman?"
"I, uh, well..." Hotch felt the back of his neck grow hot. "Yes, I am always aware that you're a woman."
JJ bit her bottom lip, pleased at his response.
"And to answer your question, I love having you... and Henry... around."
They fell into a comfortable silence. JJ laid her head against his shoulder, breathing in his scent. She noticed Morgan and Garcia dancing not too far away. Glancing around the room, she could see Prentiss and Rossi engaged in a heated conversation at the table and Anna and Reid in a group of people near the edge of the dance floor.
"What's going on with Anna and Morgan?" JJ asked.
Hotch laid his cheek against the top of her head. "I don't know. I'm trying to stay desperately in the dark."
Hotch and JJ remained dancing close for another three dances, stopping only when Hotch noticed Rossi grinning at them from the table, whatever discussion he had been having with Prentiss long laid to rest. Inwardly, Hotch groaned as he led JJ off the dance floor when Rossi rose to meet them at the edge.
"You guys look great out there," Rossi told them, enjoying their matching blushes. He decided to go easy on them. "JJ, you have to save me a dance to teach me how to do that. I always seem to trip over my partner."
"Sure, Dave, but fair warning, if you step on my feet, I'm going to hit you," JJ deadpanned.
Rossi laughed, but took her warning seriously. "Anna seems to have quite the family here. I recognize a few of them from other galas."
JJ and Hotch turned towards Anna on instinct. She and Reid were standing not thirty feet away from them. Hotch sighed before replying, "She doesn't like to talk about them. I'm not even sure how many brothers and sisters she has."
"May I have this dance?" Victoria, the pretty brunette, asked Reid. She held her hand out to him.
Reid looked at Anna who smiled her permission. Reid took Victoria's hand and led her onto the dance floor.
"Care to dance with your big brother?" Teddy asked, walking up to Anna. She had to stop herself from looking around for Hotch as she smiled and nodded. She let Teddy lead them onto the floor.
Teddy moved them deeper and deeper into the crowd, making polite conversation with the couples as they went, ever the politician. He failed to notice Anna's face growing paler as the crowd grew thicker. She bit her bottom lip hard to bring her breathing under control. Someone brushed up against her back, causing her to tremble.
Hotch had been watching Anna with growing concern. He saw her clamming up and his stomach clenched. He tried to get Reid's attention by hissing, "Reid!"
But Reid was a bit too far away and the music was a bit too loud for him to hear Hotch. Hotch's near panicked tone, however, had drawn the attentions of Garcia and Morgan who were standing nearby. They both looked to what had Hotch's attention and saw Anna now white as a ghost. Her brother was talking to the man beside them and hadn't noticed anything. Hotch went to take a step forward when he was stopped by Morgan brushing past him.
Morgan expertly sleeked through the crowd. He reached Anna and Teddy to find Anna's eyes closed and her breathing heavy. He cut in between the two of them with a polite nod to Teddy. Teddy barely noticed, too involved in his conversation. He quickly found another dance partner in his arms.
"Anna," Morgan whispered into her ear. "Anna, open your eyes and look at me."
Anna opened her eyes, breathing a huge sigh of relief when she saw him smiling at her.
"Stay close. I'm going to get you out of here."
Shivering, Anna tucked into him, laying her head into his neck, breathing in his scent to calm herself. Anna closed her again and let Morgan twirl them through the crowd. He made it look so natural that no one had any idea what had transpired other than Hotch, JJ, Rossi, Garcia, and Morgan.
"Are you okay?" Hotch asked when Morgan made his way back to the group.
Anna shook her head, still gripping Morgan tight. "I need to go, right now."
"We'll get you a cab." Morgan kissed her temple to calm her.
"My car's here. Can you make sure Spencer gets home, please?" Anna looked at Hotch, whose entire body was tense. "I'll be okay, Hotch. I just need to be out of here. I'll call Mrs. Nickson on my way home to let her know I'm coming."
"Okay," Hotch agreed, "but we're having a talk tomorrow."
"Looking forward to it." Anna rolled her eyes, the sarcasm allowing her to regain her composure. She clutched Morgan's hand in hers as they quickly left the hotel. She was quiet as he drove home, staring mindlessly out the window, though she kept her hand firmly in his. She changed into pajamas and checked on the boys while Morgan made sure Mrs. Nickson got to her okay. He found her on the couch, her knees drawn to her chest.
"Are you ready to talk about it?" Morgan asked, sitting down next to her.
"No." She shifted under his scrutiny. "It was a stressful situation being with my family and then all of you showing up. The crowded dance floor was just too much. That's all. I just want to forget about it; forget about the whole night."
Morgan wasn't happy, but he agreed to drop the subject for now, pushing down the doubting voices in the back of his head. He stayed with her until JJ and Hotch arrived home, promising to return in the morning with her car. Anna went to bed right after he left to avoid a second talk with Hotch, leaving Hotch and JJ alone in the living room.
"This was definitely a different night," JJ commented to break the silence.
Hotch turned to her with half a smile. "Just think, this afternoon we worried about whether to grab pizza or Chinese."
"Do you think Strauss helped to set this all up?"
"Does it really matter?"
JJ shrugged. She moved to the stairs, pausing on the bottom step. "For what it's worth, I had a lot of fun with you tonight."
"I had a lot of fun with you, too," Hotch told her. He kept the silly grin on his face as he watched her walk up the stairs. He went into the kitchen to grab a drink.
"This was either the best idea or the worst idea that Anna has ever come up with," he said aloud to himself, remembering the feel of JJ in his arms. "Here's hoping it's one of her best."
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A/N2: I struggled a bit with this chapter and there's more Anna than I would have liked, but I just couldn't wrangle the story that way. The next chapter should be JJ/Hotch heavy if it goes the way I plan. Thanks for sticking with the story!