PART THIRTEEN

A month later, Emily wrinkled her brow in frustration as she tried to button her jeans. Then she pouted. She was getting too big for her pants and she really wasn't sure how she felt about it.

"Em? Are you coming?"

She sighed as she looked at herself in the mirror. "In a minute." She picked up the phone, hitting 4 on the speed dial.

"Hello?"

Emily smiled slightly. "Hey Will. Is JJ around?"

She heard Will call for his wife. "JJ was telling the truth then?" he asked, his accent still strong even after nine years in Virginia. "You're gonna be a Momma?"

Emily found a soft smile spreading across her face as her hand come up to rest on her lower stomach. Her baby bump was starting to show now, and it was really no surprise that her clothes really weren't fitting anymore. "Yeah," she answered.

"Congratulations then. Henry, give Adam back his bear. Here's JJ."

"Thanks," Emily said chuckling. Chaos was the norm with JJ and Will and their two boys.

"Hey, Em. Everything okay?"

That was always JJ's first question, especially recently as Emily continued to call with questions. JJ promised she didn't mind and admitted she wished she had someone to ask those same questions to when she was pregnant the first time. "I'm going apartment hunting and I have absolutely nothing to wear." Tears well in her eyes and she cursed the irrationality of hormones.

"Define nothing to wear," JJ replied, voice completely calm and rational.

"Everything either makes me look fat or fits too tight," Emily responded with a sniffle. "The only thing that isn't irritating is the pair of track pants I stole from Hotch months ago."

"First of all, Em, you're not fat, you're pregnant. There's a huge different," JJ answered, her voice still calm. "Second, rubber bands."

"I'm sorry?" Emily asked.

"Loop a rubber band through the button hole and around the button," JJ responded. "It's the greatest temporary fix until you can go shopping. Or until we can go shopping. How's next weekend for you?"

Emily felt herself calming at JJ's quick and efficient way of taking control. "Barring a case it should be fine," she answered.

"It's a date," JJ agreed. "I'll call Pen. Maybe Will can take the boys out somewhere for the day."

"I think Hotch has Jack next weekend. I can see what his plans are," Emily suggested heading out of her bedroom to hunt down a rubber band in the kitchen drawers. She smiled when Hotch arched an eyebrow at her in question. Evidently he'd heard her suggestion.

JJ laughed on the other end of the phone. "We might as well invite all the men at that rate."

Emily bumped the drawer closed with her hip, the elastic triumphantly in her fingers. She leaned against the counter, back to Hotch, the phone between her ear and shoulder. "A boys' day can't hurt," she replied, breathing out a sigh of relief as the elastic released some of the pressure on her waistline. "You are a godsend."

"I know," the blond responded cheerfully. "I'll call Pen about next weekend."

"Thanks JJ," the brunette said sincerely.

"Always," the mother of two chirped back. "I'll see you Monday."

"Do I want to know?" Hotch asked from where he was flipping through a magazine.

She sighed. "I'm getting fat."

"Not fat, Emily," Hotch answered, standing from her couch. He came up beside her, settling his hand over her bump. "This is our little girl. You're making sure she makes it out into the world to meet her Mommy and Daddy."

She rested her hand over his. "That was smooth."

"You think so?" he asked, a look of consideration coming over his face. "I wasn't sure if it was overdoing the reassurance."

She chuckled, a hand coming up to brush a tear from her eye. "You're a good man, Aaron Hotchner."

"We're going to be late picking up Jack," he murmured, kissing her forehead.

Emily smiled up at him. "Let's go house hunting."

Jack was bouncing in his seat as they hit their third house of the day and Emily sighed. She was getting tired and quickly. It was moments like these she cursed the small life growing inside of her.

"There should be nuts in the glove compartment," Hotch murmured to her, seeing her faltering. He, meanwhile, turned the car into the driveway of the address written on the post it in front of him in Emily's loopy writing.

She smiled her thanks as she dug them out, offering them to Jack when she climbed out of the car. But Jack was too preoccupied with the house in front of him.

"Wow," he said.

Emily locked tired eyes on the two-storey-plus-basement red brick and smiled. The picture had done it justice, something she was incredibly thankful for. It had three existing bedrooms, and three bathrooms, but it had been the den that had really caught both Emily and Hotch's attention. They did work a lot and the way the den was nestled into the back of the house made it perfect for a study they could both work in. The fact that it just felt right at this point had her grin widening.

"You must be Emily Prentiss."

Emily smiled and held out her hand to the real estate agent that greeted her. "I am."

"Matt Rock, but Matt is fine," he replied, his smile warm.

"Emily." Her hand went to her stomach and she felt Hotch's hand rest on her back.

"Aaron."

His deep voice made her shiver pleasantly.

"Come on in and I'll show you the place. You've only seen the front."

Hotch's head was spinning as they exited the house an hour and a half later. He knew Emily had fallen in love with the place, and he liked many of the practical aspects that Matt had pointed out along the way. The living room looked perfect for their little BAU family and it had a large backyard for Jack and their new addition. He'd fallen in love with the hard wood flooring in the dining room and what was going to be the study and he'd been happy to see that the basement had a room they could work on for Jack as he grew up. The master bedroom would be Emily's by default, if only because of the massive bathtub in the master bath. Hotch had absolutely no problem relinquishing that to her.

"Aaron," Emily murmured as Matt walked Jack through the basement that was basically going to be his. "We're putting in a bid."

He didn't have to argue with that. "You think Derek and Dave will help me settle Jack in down here?"

"I think Will and Reid will help you settle Jack down here," she replied with a glint in her eye.

He chuckled, well aware of what that glint meant. They'd help if only to ensure they were avoiding Emily's wrath. "As soon as Jack and Matt are finished, I'll put in our bid," he promised, wrapping an arm around her.

He felt his body tingle as she absently cuddled into his side. He smiled. They'd chosen their house.

I just realized that I didn't do all of the regular bells and whistles to make this easier to read. I guess I was just way too excited to get it posted to worry about something little like formatting.