Reflections of Desire

Some weeks later they were off on another case. This time they were staying in Washington. That meant they could go home each night and help prepare for Christmas. This Hotch and Emily were thankful for.

When they went into the office the first morning of the case Hotch saw a pamphlet for a play Garcia was in.

"Is that you?" he asked.

She quickly hid it and answered, "Please don't tell anyone." She'd only wanted Derek to know. He'd been worried about the content of the play when she first told him.

They were briefed on the case then got working on it. When they found out another victim, had been taken they went to the train station to work out how he took her. This UnSub had left the last body with her lips cut off and text left at the scene of the crime from some old movie.

"So how did he get her without attracting anyone else's attention?" Reid asked gawping at all the pretty ladies that went past.

"Well, not by gawping at all the attractive women that walked by," Hotch answered then added, "like you're doing."

Reid looked stunned and answered, "What?" while Emily tried to keep herself from laughing. Hotch raised an eyebrow at her and she tried even harder. Man she loved him!

"And just like that an IQ of 187 is brought down to 67," she quipped raising an eyebrow at her boss. He smiled back at her. He loved that they shared the same dry wit.

When it came time for the press conference they used Garcia. They'd determined the UnSub was going after blondes. She also had acting experiences. Emily had the wig he'd bought for Garcia to wear since she was now a redhead.

Hotch tried to calm down Garcia's nerves and accidentally slipped out, "What about your theatre thing?" she came up behind her.

"Being onstage is not the same as doing a press conference," she answered.

"What theatre thing?" Emily asked confused. Was Garcia involved in some sort of amateur dramatics that her boyfriend had neglected to tell her about? Well, it wasn't really any of her business what Garcia did in her own time, was it?

"You suck," Garcia spat looking at her boss. She realised she was talking to her boss but she was angry he broke a confidence between them.

He felt guilty but he didn't know they'd show up when he did. "I'm sorry," he answered.

She just glared and went to prepare for the press conference after Emily gave her the wig. Morgan and Garcia stood by her side during the whole conference. There was nowhere else he wanted to be but protecting his baby girl. No-one would ever hurt her again while he was around.

Hotch ended up shooting the killer, Rhett, and saving Penny but he got away. They managed to catch him at his house. Emily's eyes widened as he brought out his mother's skeleton wrapped in a fur coat.

As he was arrested she walked off with her boyfriend. He wrapped an arm around his shoulders and pulled her into him.

"How do you feel about going to the theatre tomorrow?" he asked.

"To see Penelope's played," she answered smiling up at him. He nodded and she added, "I would love to." He smiled down and kissed her.

The next night they prepared to go to Penelope's play. They knew that Derek would be there as well. He'd been there every night to support his girlfriend.

She changed into a black blouse with the top button undone and a pair of skinny jeans. He'd changed into a blue shirt and a pair of jeans. They hated being in suits outside of work. They also put on their matching fleece jackets that Penelope had bought them last Christmas. They slipped on their sneakers and headed to the children.

Jessica would be staying the night to care for them. They kissed them goodnight then headed out to the theatre. They met Derek in the foyer.

"Show starts in ten minutes," he said.

"Let's go to our seats then," Emily answered while Aaron nodded. They all headed to the front row. They wanted Penelope to see they supported her.

Derek sat on the end while Emily and Aaron sat beside him. Aaron was sandwiched between the two of them. Emily had laid her head on his shoulder and they held hands in his lap. She loved being able to snuggle up to him in public since the FBI had granted them their blessing. She wanted the world to know she loved Aaron Hotchner. He wanted the world to know he was hers and she was his.

They watched the play in this position. Penelope was fantastic. Acting was a talent she'd well-hidden from them. She'd managed to blur the line between reality and illusion. She'd totally taken over the character. They were all proud of her.

After the show they went to meet her. Derek greeted her with a kiss and put his hands on her hips.

"Hey sexy mama. You were fantastic tonight," he smiled.

"Thanks hot stuff," she smiled up at him wrapping her arms around his neck. He bent down and kissed her on the lips and she returned it. Aaron and Emily smiled on at their friends then Emily cleared her throat. They looked at the embarrassed while they chuckled. They'd completely forgotten everyone else. They'd been caught up in their own little world for those brief few moments.

"It's not like we don't know you guys kiss," Emily said raising her eyebrow and then gave a quick kiss to Aaron's chin. "See I kiss my boyfriend too," she smiled. Everyone fell about laughing and Aaron kissed her nose. She smiled back up at him. Damn they were cute!

"You were great, Penelope," Aaron said.

"Thanks, boss man," she smiled up at him.

"I agree," Emily added.

"Thanks, my raven haired beauty."

A week later they received a call from Will asking them to look after Henry as JJ was about to have their second child. They agreed and scooted over with their three children. They also alerted the rest of the team that the new baby was making its entrance. They all rushed to the hospital to welcome her.

Emily and Aaron bundled their children into their car and rushed over to JJ and Will's. They picked up Henry then headed to the hospital.

"Uncle Aaron, Auntie Emily," Henry asked concerned.

"Yes Henry," they answered.

"Is mummy going to be ok?"

"Yes sweetie, she'll be fine. She's just having the baby."

"So my sister is finally arriving?"

"Yes sweetheart."

He smiled at them. They soon arrived at the hospital and found everyone was already there. They greeted them and the excited little boy. He was going to meet his sister soon. Everyone had told them all about her now he was going to finally meet her. He'd waited a really long time. He hoped he would be a great big brother like Jack was. He loved spending time with the twins.

The team attempted to keep all the children especially Henry entertained while JJ's daughter was born. They knew he was going to be great with her as he was with the twins. They were also excited about meeting her. She may not be part of their team anymore but she was part of their family.

The nurse soon came to them.

"Are you here for Jennifer Jareau and William Le Montagne Jnr?" she asked.

"Yes," they answered.

"Mother and daughter are fine and healthy."

"May we see them?" Emily asked resting a hand on Henry's long, blonde hair who was bouncing up and down.

The nurse smiled at the little boy and answered, "Sure."

Henry tried to run ahead but they managed to walk in all together. JJ and Will looked up and smiled when they entered. The new mother was proudly holding her daughter. They smiled when they saw her.

"Everyone we would like you to meet Sophie Louise Le Montagne," JJ smiled.

They all smiled and she was handed round the family. When she came close to Henry he kissed her forehead.

"Hi Sophie, I'm your big brother, Henry. I'm going to help look after you and protect you. I love you," he smiled. She smiled up at him. They all smiled at him. He was a really sweet boy. "She's beautiful." He smiled up at his parents.

"She is," they all agreed. "Congratulations."

"Thanks. Aaron and Emily?" they said turning to them.

"Yes," they answered.

"We would like you to be Sophie's godparents," JJ said nervously. "We're all godparents apart for you too."

"As long as that's not the reason," Emily and Aaron joked.

"Of course not. You're great parents so we know you'll be great with Sophie."

"Thank you."

Aaron was handed Sophie and he looked down at her. He gazed down at her and fell in love with her. She had the most beautiful dark blue eyes like JJ and blonde hairs. She smiled sweetly up at him and his heart melted. Emily's did the same.

"Hey Sophie," they smiled down at her. "We're going to take real good care of you."

Only a week later it was Christmas. Aaron and Emily were sleeping in their bed when Jack ran in. Christmas always excited him as it did young children.

"Mummy, daddy, Santa came, Santa came," he shouted jumping onto their bed. They opened their eyes groggily and smiled at the young boy when the mist cleared. Suddenly they heard their daughters crying for them from the nursery.

They got out of their bed and headed for them only to be beaten by Jack who had sprinted to the nursery at the end of the first cry. They found him talking to them and trying to soothe their tears.

"Hey, you can't cry today. It's Christmas!" Jack said excitedly with his eyes full of the wonder of Christmas.

Meanwhile their parents went over to their cots.

"Hey, hey, hey, Ssh, what's the matter?" they asked simultaneously lifting them from their cots. Their sobs decreased as they rubbed their backs gently. "Let's go see what Santa got you all for Christmas." The twins rested their heads on their shoulder.

They carried them down to their stockings and the little girls eyes widened in amazement as they saw their stockings.

"See Santa came for you too," Jack smiled at them. They smiled at him and they all sat on the floor. Alexia was on her father's lap while Eliza was on her mother's. They helped them undo all their stocking presents while they smiled and giggled. Jack showed them all his stocking fillers too. Aaron and Emily smiled at each other. This was all they really wanted for Christmas. To be at home with their children and for them to be enjoying themselves.

"Where are your stockings, mummy and daddy? You're the good guys. Santa should have come see you," Jack said innocently. He looked behind the chair and went, "Oh, here's daddy's. That's weird. Where's mummy's?" Aaron quirked an eyebrow at him accepting his stocking. Jack went to look for it while Aaron went through his stocking.

Emily saw that Jack was about to go behind the tree. "Jack, be careful," she said.

"I found your stocking, mummy," he answered showing it. Emily looked at Aaron who tried to keep back a smile. She raised an eyebrow and he chuckled. Jack pouted and gave her stocking to him and she gave him a hug. He kissed her cheek back.

She dealt with her stocking carefully while her daughter was still on her lap. Ellie clapped as Emily went through her stocking.

After they'd dealt with their stockings they made Christmas tree shaped pancakes. The children were captivated by them. They couldn't believe you could make pancakes that shape. After breakfast they went to Dave's cabin. The whole team including JJ would be spending Christmas together as they always did. Everyone couldn't wait to see Sophie again. She was only a week old though.

When they got there Jack ran up to his Uncle Dave and hugged him while Emily and Aaron followed him holding his sisters.

"Merry Christmas, Uncle Dave," he smiled.

"Merry Christmas, buddy," he answered. He smiled back at him. Dave greeted the girls and Merry Christmas to you two He then smiled up to his best friend and thewoman he loved like a daughter after the twins smiled back. "Merry Christmas, Aaron and Emily."

"Merry Christmas, Dave," they smiled back. They went into the living room which was lit up like a Christmas tree. The actual Christmas tree was in the corner with presents around it. All the presents from the team. They'd all brought them over earlier that week especially Aaron and Will.

Morgan and Garcia soon arrived then Reid, JJ and Will soon arrived with their two children. JJ was holding her newborn daughter while Will had his hand on their young son. They all gushed round to see the newest addition of the family. She smiled up at them all again especially at her godparents.

"Merry Christmas, everyone," Henry smiled.

"Merry Christmas, Henry," they smiled back.

"Mummy, daddy, can I join Jack?"

"Sure," they smiled. He ran to his friend and cousin and they hugged each other.

They sat JJ and Sophie down while some of them helped with the Christmas dinner and others were entertaining the children. JJ allowed her daughter to be passed around.

They were soon all sat around Dave's dining table. Sophie was sleeping in her baby carrier on the sofa. The twins were sat in high chairs next to their parents. Jack was sat next to his favourite Uncle Dave. They helped serve out the dinner. They filled out their glasses with wine while the boys and girls got apple juices.

They all raised their glasses at the same time and said, "We may not all work together anymore but we will always be a family. Christmas is a time for family. As well as catching many UnSubs this year we have also had things to celebrate. A new relationship," he said nodding to Derek and Penelope. "A first birthday," headed nodding to the twins. They all smiled at the twins and their parents kissed them. "And finally the safe and healthy delivery of the newest member of our family, Sophie Louise LeMontagne." They all smiled over at Sophie then back at her mother. "To family."

"To family, "they answered toasting.

"Merry Christmas everyone."

"Merry Christmas."

They clinked their glasses and even Henry and Jack joined in smiling. They felt like grown-ups at that moment. These people were their superheroes. They wanted to be just like them.

After dinner they asked for presents.

"Soon," they chuckled. They just ran to the Christmas tree. Unfortunately their excitement woke Sophie and she started crying.

JJ ran to her daughter and picked her up. She rocked her gently in her arms sshing her. She soon fell back asleep and she sat down holding her. She ran her thumb over her daughter's head while she slept. Boy, she was so beautiful!

"Sorry mummy," Henry said quietly.

"Sorry Auntie JJ," Jack added.

"It's fine. I know you boys are excited it's Christmas but Sophie is still very tiny so you can't be too loud around her."

They nodded and the rest of the team came over.

"Present time," Dave said rubbing his hands together. The boys beamed up at him.

They went over to the presents and started to hand them out. Naturally the five children had the biggest piles. In the last week everyone had done a panic rush to get a present for Sophie even though JJ had asked them not to as she's only week old and couldn't really enjoy anything they got her until she was older.

They let the older children go in age order. The twins didn't mind Henry and Jack going first as they still didn't understand Christmas completely. The boys ripped into their presents excitedly and thanked every one of their aunts and uncles for their presents. They then went off to play with their toys with their parents' permission.

It was now the twins' turn and their parents had them on their laps again while they sat on the floor. They helped them tear off the wrapping paper while they giggled and everyone smiled. They each hugged their presents to them one at a time and Aaron and Emily thanked their family for each of their daughter's presents.

Soon the whole team had gone through their presents and it was Sophie's turn with JJ. She decided to share the present unwrapping duties with her boyfriend while Emily held onto the little girl.

"Look, all these are for you, Soph," she smiled. Sophie smiled back up at her godmother. Emily kissed her forehead. She had always loved children and was so happy she now had three of her own. Never in a million years would she have imagined they would be with her boss.