Ami's hands shook as she walked up to the door. She was so close to reaching her goal that she could taste it. She wanted to please Aaron tonight, to show him that she was everything that he needed. She'd gone home, showered, and dressed in her favorite blue dress. It was sexy, yet tasteful and she knew he'd love it, just like he'd love her.

A cold rain had started to fall and she smiled, thinking about how they could light a fire in the fire place and share a glass of wine as they planned their future. Reaching out, she rang the door bell.

A minute went by and then two with no answer, so she rang again. After another few minutes, she frowned. Could it be that he wasn't home? She walked to the garage and peered in the window. Disappointment washed over her when she noticed that his car wasn't there.

"Damn," she spat, her mind racing to come up with another plan. As she walked around to the back of the house, she decided to go in through the back door and wait for him inside.

Once she made her way in, she took off her wet coat and hung it over one of the kitchen chairs. Taking her time, she walked through the rooms on the first floor. Taking her time to soak in her surroundings, becoming familiar with each detail, deciding what she would keep and what she would get rid of when the house was hers.

She made her way upstairs, taking but a moment to glance into each of the children's rooms and the office before making her way into the master bedroom suite. She stepped onto the plush dark beige carpet. Slipping off her shoes, she allowed her stocking clad feet to feel just how soft it was. She liked that rug. It could stay.

She walked to the bed and sat on the right side – the side where Aaron slept. Her hand smoothed out the comforter and traced across the pillow. Soon, this would be her bed. Soon, she would share this bed with Aaron. She shivered with anticipation, allowing herself but a moment to imagine their night together.

Pulling herself quickly from those thoughts, she stood and looked around the room. There were entirely too many pictures of "her" in the room. She couldn't possibly consummate their new future with "her" watching. She would have to get rid of them. But that would come later; once he was here he would help her.

As she walked around the bed, she noticed that the digital read out on the alarm clock read 9:55. Hopefully, Aaron would help to put the children to bed and then come back here for the night.

XXXXX

"They're both asleep," Hotch tiredly said, walking into the living room.

"And you look like you should be," Will said, standing. "Man, you look like you're gonna drop."

Hotch snorted, "No time for that, I've got to get back to the house and straighten up. They're probably releasing Gabi tomorrow."

"Hotch," JJ said, walking in from the kitchen. "Why don't you stay here tonight? You're exhausted."

"I need to get home," he protested, although the offer was very tempting. Silvana had straightened up the house yesterday. She'd changed the bed, put away the laundry, and some how she had managed to remove every indication that the Crime Scene Unit had been there. He wasn't sure what more he could do, but something told him he should still stop by the house. "I need to pick up a change of clothes," he tried.

"You've got your ready bag in the car," JJ dismissed, "Stop on your way into work tomorrow for a change."

He thought for a moment about fighting her, but exhaustion was rapidly taking over. "I hate to put you out any more than I already have…"

"Nonsense," Will dismissed, "Come on, I'll fix y'all a sandwich before you crash."

XXXXX

Ami stood in the middle of the large walk in closet, sorting through Gabriela's clothes. She wouldn't have picked out 95% of the items that hung there, but she had to admit, the woman had good taste. She recognized many of the clothing labels and even the ones she didn't recognize were well made and obviously cost some money.

A flash of color caught Ami's eye and she pulled out a dress. It was a simple, but beautiful burgundy sweater dress. Ami sniffed, realizing it was possibly the most sedate thing in the entire closet. Sure, the neckline was a bit lower than she would have picked, but it had long sleeves and the hem would have reached below the knee.

She held the dress to her body, looking at her reflection in the mirror. Smiling, she decided that she would keep this dress. She knew it would look amazing on her. Taking it from the closet, she laid it across the chest at the end of the bed.

Ami yawned and looked at the clock. It was nearly 10:30. Surely, Aaron would be here soon. She contemplated going back downstairs but decided instead to lie on the bed and wait. Carefully, she lay on his side of the bed, resting her head on his pillows, breathing in his scent.

She closed her eyes, feeling close to him, feeling relaxed and totally at home.

"I love you, Aaron," she murmured, as she drifted off to sleep.

XXXXX

At the sound of the alarm, Ami woke with a start. She blinked, looking around the room. As she woke, she realized where she was.

"Shit," she yawned, reaching over and turning off the alarm. The clock read 6:15 am. Running her hands through her hair, she sighed. Aaron didn't make it home last night.

She had wanted to spend the night with him; instead, she spent the night alone in his bed. Her plans had been ruined. She assumed that he'd spent the night with the children; after all, AJ was sick. Damn that kid, how dare he get sick and ruin her plans?!

"Stop!" she said aloud, "He's a little boy. He didn't do this on purpose. He was sick and Aaron is such a great dad that he couldn't leave his side." Ami slipped out of bed and studied her reflection in the mirror. "When they're my children," she said to her reflection, "We'll care for them together. We'll be a real family."

She smiled. "A real family."

XXXXX

"Hotch," JJ began, walking into the office, "What are you doing here?"

"Gabi's waiting for the doctor to come in and release her," he explained, looking up from the file he held, "I've got a few things to finish up here. She'll call when she gets the go ahead."

With a fond smile, she shook her head, "You know, you could go wait with her."

"She told me to come in," he sheepishly said, "She said I'd be prowling around the room, making her nervous."

"She's got a point," JJ gently teased, drawing a smile from him. "Silvana said she'd pick the kids up after school. I've got their bags in my office."

"I'll pick them up before I leave," he agreed. His tone grew serious, "JJ, thank you just doesn't seem enough…"

"It's enough, Hotch," she smiled, "We're glad we could help."

"I…" he fumbled for something more to say, but she cut him off.

"Please," she quietly said. "It's what family does for family."

"It is," he agreed.

"And on that note, I've got some case files to get to," she said. "Let me know when you're heading out, okay?"

"Will do," he nodded, returning his attention to the file in front of him.

A moment or two later, the sound of heels clicking on the tile floor out side of his office pulled his attention. He looked up, expecting to find that JJ had returned, but instead found Ami Walters.

"Agent Hotchner," she began, smiling at him. There was something different about her, but he couldn't quite put his finger on it.

"Ami," he smiled, "What can I do for you?"

"I brought the case files you requested," she replied, setting them on his desk.

As she leaned over, he caught a whiff of her perfume. He knew that scent, it was Jessica McClintock. He knew this only because Gabi had been wearing it for as long as he knew her. He'd never remembered Ami wearing that before, but then again, he never really paid that much attention.

"Everything okay, Agent Hotchner?" Ami asked, a smile on her face.

"Yes," he replied. "Fine, thank you."

"How's Doctor Hotchner?" she asked, absently playing with a lock of hair.

"She'd doing well," he smiled, "She's going to be released from the hospital today."

"That's great!" Ami replied. "Aren't you going to take her home?"

"I have a few things to wrap up, and then I'm going to take her home," he explained. "Thank you for bringing those files."

"Anything to help," she replied, "Please give my best to Dr. Hotchner."

"I will, thank you," he replied, watching as she walked out of the room. As she left, he noticed her dress. Not that he was much into fashion, but it looked just like the dress that Gabriela had worn on their first date, ten years ago. Only Ami didn't have the curves to fill the sweater dress out like Gabi did.

His eyes traveled to the Gabi's picture, taking a moment to linger on her smile. He was grateful that she survived her attack with only minimal damage. She'd make a full recovery, they said. Well, maybe. Her memory might not come back, and as much as he wanted her to be able to tell him what happened, he could live with her not remembering as long as she was healthy and happy.