Disclaimer: I own nothing.

Chapter Twenty Five: Spit Up

April 2013 (Present Time)

Emily awoke slowly from voices. Wiping at her tired eyes she looked over at the baby monitor on the nightstand. "It's okay I didn't mean to wake you up. Go nite-nite Lily." She heard Jack's tiny voice. Then a small whimper then a whaling cry. Jumping out of bed and racing into the nursery Emily stopped as her feet met Jack's comforter and sheets from his bed.

"Jack, what are you doing?" she said calmly picking the fussing baby up from her crib.

Jack's frown turned into sobs. "I-I don't want to s-sleep alone." He buried his face in his pillow held in his arms.

Emily ran her hand through his hair. "Honey, it's okay. Don't cry baby. Hey look at me." She lifted his chin with a finger. "Jack, it's okay. Why don't we go to my big bed so you don't have to sleep on the floor?"

Jack dried his tears and sniffled "Can Lily come too?"

She smiled "Of course. Come on sweetie." she took his hand and managed to get Jack and herself over the pile of blankets and into her room. Jack jumped on and made his spot bringing the blanket over his body so just his head peaked out while Emily tried to settle the sleepy baby.

Minutes later as Lily dozed in the bassinet next to her bed Emily crawled in and snuggled up with Jack. "Why didn't you want to sleep alone?" she asked wiping at his leftover tear marks.

"I miss Daddy." He simply said.

"You know you can always come in here if you get upset. You don't have to sleep on Lily's floor." Her hand ran through his hair as his eyes fell heavy.

"I didn't want to wake you up." he murmured. Hotch had been gone a few days and Emily was thanking God Jack hadn't had many issues but now it seemed he really was.

"Jack I don't mind you waking me up. And you are more than welcome to sleep here if you need." She knew she was spoiling him some but she did want to sleep alone anymore than he did. She would worry about the backlash later. "Goodnight sweetheart." she kissed his forehead as they both fell asleep.

-CM-CM-

"Jack, don't play with your food." Emily warned the boy as he raced his cut up pancake pieces in the syrup on his plate. "If you don't hurry up you won't have long to talk to Daddy." She said looking at the clock again. It was ten minutes until it was call time for Hotch but after a long night of Jack's fitful sleep and then being woke up from Lily's feeding Jack had been dragging all morning.

"I don't wanna go to school." He said resting his head in his hands. "I think I'm sick."

Emily rolled her eyes. For the past two mornings he pulled the same routine. The first time she was concerned but after he made the slight slip up of saying he wanted to play in his game system she knew he was fine and she sent him on his way. Then the next morning he did the same but after taking his temperature and looking for any other sign of sickness she sent him to school again. "Jack, we are not doing this every morning. Your fine, probably tired but otherwise just fine. Now I need you to finish your breakfast and go get dressed before your dad calls." She said softly but eyed him until he finished his pancake and set off to his room. "Thank you!" she called after him then went to get Lily dressed and ready to take Jack to school.

Walking into the nursery Emily quickly removed the blanket mess Jack made the night before and gathered up Lily's clothes for the day and a diaper. Just on time Lily's small cries came from her bedroom.

Happily smiling at her daughter Emily picked her up from the bassinet and kissed her cheek. "Good morning Lily." She wasted a few minutes cradling her beautiful baby. Every time she held her an over whelming joy took over her heart and didn't let go. "Jack, are you done yet?" she asked through the hall.

"Yup." was all she got in return.

Smiling to herself she changed Lily and went to check on Jack. Finding him still in his pajamas she frowned. "I thought you said you were ready."

"I don't want to go. I want daddy." He pouted falling back on his bed.

"I know you do honey but you have to go to school. Daddy told us both that you have to go while he's away." She reminded him grabbing a pair of shorts and a tee shirt with one hand and tossing them at him. The vibrating in her pocket caught her attention and she pulled out her phone. "Here's dad" she handed him the phone.

Happily smiling like nothing in the world was wrong Jack took the phone and answered. "Hi Daddy."

Emily left the room as Jack went about telling his father about his previous day at school. At Lily's insistent cry for breakfast she plopped herself down on the couch and gave in to the tiny baby.

"Here Emily, Daddy wants to talk to you." Jack came around the corner and gave her the phone then took off for his room again.

"Hey handsome." She answered.

"Hey, how are you? Jack said he slept with you last night." his voice washed over her. Only a few days away and she was already missing him like crazy.

"Yeah, he tried sleeping on Lily's floor but woke her up in the process then me so we had a slumber party." She told him looking at the clock; she was still strained for time.

"Is he having a hard time?" the concern evident in his rough voice.

She thought about how to answer that. She hadn't told him about Jack faking sick and she didn't want Hotch to worry but at the same time Hotch was his father. "Kind of. He's been faking being sick in the mornings but other than that last night was the only time he's been upset."

He sighed heavily. "I'm sorry honey. Do you want me to talk with him about it?"

"No." she shook her head even though he wouldn't see it. "He is just acting out. It's fine. I didn't tell you this so you can worry. We are doing really well except for maybe being a bit late for school today. He was up every time Lily needed feeding last night so we're a little sluggish."

"I can let you go. I love you. Give Lily a kiss for me and tell Jack to be good." he said.

"Okay babe. I love you too." she hung up sitting Lily up to burp. "Jack let's go." She yelled for him and a few seconds later she heard his stomps coming down the hardwood floor of the hallway.

-CM-CM-

Walking into the BAU doors felt good, Emily missed her work fiercely. Holding onto the car seat that held Lily she made her way to Morgan and Reid's desks. "Hey guys" she smiled at Morgan whose head shot up upon hearing her voice.

"Hey Princess and Lil' Princess, what are you doing up here?" Morgan happily took the baby from Emily and proceeded to get Lily out of the infant contraption.

"Came to talk to Strauss. I'm back next week." She smiled proudly. The thought of leaving her baby was sad but at the same time she loved her job and couldn't wait to get back at it.

"That's great." Reid said finally coming up for air from the mountains of work on his desk.

"Yep, do you know where Garcia is? I need her to watch Lily for a few minutes." She looked in Garcia's office before coming into the BAU office but she wasn't there.

"In JJ's office I think." Morgan said cooing at the baby oblivious to the look Reid was giving him.

"Are you good with her for a minute?" she waited for his nod then took off for the blonde's office. Knocking on the door and slowly opening it just to peak in she smiled. "Hey"

"Hey" both the blondes greeted with big smiles of their own.

"Where's my angel?" Garcia pouted.

"She's with Morgan. I went to your office first but you weren't there so Morgan kidnapped her first." Emily laughed as Garcia pushed past her and left the office.

"What are you doing here?"JJ asked taking her seat and offering Emily the one across from her.

"Maternity leave is up so I came to talk with Strauss. Do y'all have a case?" she asked eagerly. She would love to sink her teeth into a case.

"Oh no, we are on stand down for a few days. Last one was brutal so Dave got us a few days to calm ourselves." JJ smiled. "So what are you doing with Lily when you come back?"

"Honestly I'm not sure. Hotch told me to check out the bureau daycare downstairs and I guess that's okay because I'm right here but at the same time…"

"You want someone you trust. I get it. I could always ask Maggie if she would like another one to watch. She's been with Henry since he was born." JJ suggested.

Emily smiled in relief. Emily had met Maggie several times over the years and was impressed with how well she does with Henry. "Do you think she'll do it?"

"Yeah, she only has Henry three days a week now because of preschool but I'm sure she would love a full time. I'm not sure if she would do over nights while we have cases though. Will is always home so she doesn't do that for us but it can't hurt to ask." JJ wrote down her sitter's number.

"I was planning on asking Jessica because she keeps Jack but if Maggie will do it then I wouldn't worry about putting too much on Jess. I think she would do it but I don't know. It might be weird." Emily told the blonde. Emily didn't know who else to ask. Hotch had stupidly suggested her parents but she quickly squashed the idea. She loved her parents and they were great with Lily but she couldn't put that much on them.

"True." JJ agreed. "Funny you just came in Garcia and I were talking about the baby shower you have so cleverly avoided." She lifted an eyebrow.

"Oh really. Sorry to disappoint but I really don't need one." Emily shrugged. She didn't have room in her apartment anymore. Jack's stuff had not only taken over the office but also a corner of the living room. Honestly she couldn't wait until Hotch got back so they could start looking at houses.

"Well I still want to give you my gift and I think Garcia was still buying for Lily last night so I think we need a girl's night." The blonde nodded eyeing Emily until the brunette rolled her eyes in defeat.

"Fine, but just us. Maybe on Saturday because I have Jack and I might talk him into staying at Jessica's. He would be so bored with us." She said giving herself a reminder to call Jessica when she got home.

"Sounds good now let's go see that beautiful baby." JJ smiled and left the office with Emily.

Coming down the stair they both paused as they saw Reid holding Lily slightly in front of him with a horrified look on his face as Morgan and Garcia laughed hysterically. "Emily good take it!"Reid squealed rushing towards her.

Emily laughed as Reid's shirt came into view. Lily spit up.

A/N: So Hotch is gone and Jack is having trouble :( I absolutely love writing Reid interacting with kids so had to take the opportunity presented. Hope you enjoyed. Thanks for all the reviews and wonderful comments.