The gym was packed. Emily was just thankful the carnival was just for the lower grades. If the high school had been present it would have been horrible. They'd taken four cars—ten people and four cars. Emily couldn't figure that one out. But she and Cody had ridden with the Hotchners and the little boy had kept up a running, if somewhat garbled, conversation with the little girl beside him.
Cody hadn't really been around little kids, so Emily watched her for a bit. She seemed fascinated by Jack, instead of put off like some kids would be. Hotch hadn't said much, but Emily could easily sense that he was more relaxed than usual. Just like he had been when having dinner Wednesday.
Cody clung to her hand as the group entered the gym, big crowds made the little girl slightly nervous. Emily understood it—the more people, the bigger the threat. The bigger the risk they'd get separated. "Cody, honey. Put my cell in your pocket. If we get separated, you can call Mr. Hotch or Mr. Dave or anybody else on the list, ok?"
Cody nodded, her little face relaxing once she knew she had that security blanket. "What are we gonna do first?"
"How about we find something to eat?" JJ asked hopefully, rubbing the bump exaggeratedly, "Bump is hungry!"
Everybody laughed, including the two kids who didn't really understand, and agreed. Emily's mother and Dave led the way to what appeared to be several food stands. Emily's eyes narrowed on her mother's face as the older woman smiled at the older profiler. There was a definite hint of interest, and it didn't take a profiler to see it. And Dave was looking back.
She turned toward the man on her left. "Hotch?"
"Hmm?" He leaned down, one hand still anchored around his son's bottom. The little boy's hands were clapping in a sort of match for the bright music flowing overhead. The boy was ready! "What is it?"
"Dave isn't about to flirt with my mother, right in front of me, is he?" Her lips quirked at the humorous slant the evening was about to take.
"Ahh." Hotch paused a moment to run a profiler eye over the two eldest members of their group. "I think so."
"Ugh. Weird." Emily snickered, then looked at Cody. The little girl was restless. "Cody, what do you want to eat?"
"Pizza. They said at school there would be pizza!"
"Yummy." JJ chimed in again. "Pizza sounds great! But so does nachos, chili dogs, cotton candy, candied apples…"
"Trust me, Agent Jareau, you really don't want all that tonight." The ambassador laughed. "You'll pay for it later. With me it was always jalapeños. She still eats them like candy."
They ate quickly, the two children demanded it. Jack settled between Emily and Hotch, then stood on the bench of the picnic table itself, marching between the two adults. "Go! Go! Go!"
Emily smiled at his dad. "Is he always this excitable?"
"Oh yes." Hotch's smile was the most genuine she'd ever seen, lighting up his dark eyes and sending the dimples flashing deeply. She was struck by the latent attractiveness of his laughter. "Sometimes worse!"
"Mom, are you about done?" Cody asked. "I want to try the games. And Tanesha said there would be rides. Just little ones, but still…"
"Hang on. We're just about done. Why don't you decide what you want to do first?" Emily said, wiping her hands with a napkin and turning to the rest of the group. "So are we going to do this as one giant group or are we splitting up?"
"Splitting up." Garcia declared. "I saw some awesome video game booths near the entrance. Who's with me? JJ, you'll do!"
"Only if I get cotton candy and soon." The slightly younger blonde said. She eyed the French fries still on Reid's plate with clear intent. Nobody was surprised when she stole one—except maybe Reid. Hotch smiled at the exchange.
"Reid and I will go check out the offerings." Derek declared. No one—except Reid—misunderstood. He wasn't checking out the games, he was checking out the single mothers. And dragging poor Reid along with him. Hotch thought it would be good for the young genius.
"I'd like to view some of the exhibits in the hallways." Dave said, "Ambassador, would you like to accompany me?"
The ambassador just nodded. Hotch glanced at Emily when she snorted softly beside him. He was glad she seemed ok with the exchange between her mother and her colleague.
"I want rides!" Cody declared, impatient, looking at her mother pleadingly. "Please?"
"Of course. This is your night, kiddo. But don't' forget we have to check out the activity displays, too. Hotch? Think Jack wants to check out the rides?" Emily's eyes were bright as she smiled at his son and Hotch felt a smile touching his own lips. The little boy must have thought her idea sounded good. He stepped closer to her and wrapped his little arms around her neck.
"Ride. Ride. Ride. Ride. Com'n Daddy, let's go ride!" He squealed right in her ear. She just laughed, and he was struck again by how comfortable she was with children. She was one hell of a mother and he admired her for that. It wasn't easy being a good parent in their line of work. In the two weeks she'd been doing it, she really impressed him.
Soon it was just him and her, and the two children. Just like he'd fantasized about on the plane ride back from Seattle. "So where first?"
"I saw bumper cars." Emily suggested. "I'm sure Cody wouldn't mind sharing a car with Jack."
"Sure! But I get to drive!" The little girl said, one hand rising to pat the little boy's back where he rode on Emily's hip. He'd yet to let go of her after wrapping his arms around her neck. It was as if he thought she was his ticket to the rides.
"Let Jack help you, ok?" Emily instructed, bouncing the little boy. Hotch looked at her, then. Jack's hair was lighter than Emily's but his eyes were equally as dark. He looked entirely comfortable on the woman's hip, and with Cody standing slightly in front of them, they looked like they belonged together. Hotch could definitely get used to the idea of it. He took Emily's hand, not wanting to lose his group in the milling crowd. She didn't pull away, her smaller hand tightened around his. Her other arm rested behind Jack's back as she carried him. Cody walked slightly in front of Hotch guiding the way through the crowd. Hotch's free hand rested on the little girl's shoulder as they walked. He was intrinsically pleased at the way they were all joined. Connected, as one unit, for anybody and everybody to see. They were together.
They found the bumper cars, and the line for it. It took a while for their turn, but when it was time, Cody led the little boy to a bright blue car. They climbed in and Hotch and Emily both watched them as Cody carefully fastened the seatbelts around the little boy and herself. Cody seemed pleased with the responsibility of the child and Emily smiled. "She's having a good night already."
"So's he." Hotch laughed aloud as he watched Jack and Cody bump into another car. His son's driving skills would definitely need work in about a dozen years, but the grins on two childish faces were priceless. His shoulder bumped Emily's, then rested there against her. She didn't pull away. "So am I."
She laughed again, her eyes trained on the children. She had a pretty laugh and if he was honest with himself, it turned him on to see her eyes sparkling, and her mouth smiling. She was alive, bright, and passionate—everything a woman should be. And he wanted to taste that passion.
He took a bold step forward in his plan, and dropped an arm around her waist.
(stay tuned for more carnival goodness sometime this evening—maybe…)