A/N: Just a short chapter with a little fun and a little blood. Hehe. Enjoy. Please read and review.
DISCLAIMER: I don't own Criminal Minds.
Hotch was exhausted already. He'd been carrying Jack for most of the afternoon, the now six-year old having slowed them down. He made his way into the bookstore where he'd left Emily before the need to pee had overcome his son. He smiled and wrapped his arm around the brunette's waist and kissed her cheek. "Found Reid's book yet?" he asked. He felt a hand slap his face and he looked up, stunned. But it wasn't the slap that caused him to lose his ability to speak. It was the strange face attached to the body he'd just touched. Not… Emily.
"Who the hell do you think you are? That's my wife!" a voice boomed from behind Hotch. Hotch swallowed hard as he turned, and came face-to-face with a man whose neck had a similar circumference to an oak tree. He put up his hands, but before he could say a word, the man sucker punched him. Hotch felt the blood run down his face and drip to the floor. A sales clerk tried to intervene but Hotch was too quick. He reached up, grabbed the man's arm, and pulled him to the ground.
With one hand holding the brute's arm behind his back and a foot to his throat, Hotch reached up with his spare hand to wipe his nose. "Look man, I'm sorry, but I thought that was my girlfriend. This is where I left her ten minutes ago," Hotch explained. The brute held up his hand. "Ok, I'm sorry. Instincts you know?" he said dramatically, clearly surprised that this man half his size had managed to floor him. Hotch held his foot to the man's throat, then let go.
"I'm sorry. As I said, my girlfriend was here before, I thought that was her," he said as the other man stood up. The brute was about to say something when…
"Hotch? What's going on?" Emily asked. There was a crowd of people standing around Hotch, Jack, and a woman. When Emily saw that the woman had similar hair and clothes, and looked to be about 30 weeks pregnant, she sighed and rolled her eyes. Can our family ever have a normal Saturday at the mall? she wondered to herself.
She looked up and noticed the blood on Hotch's face and gasped. "Honey, what happened?" she asked, reaching up and touching his cheek gently. Hotch nodded to the large man standing across from him. "Just a little misunderstanding ma'am. I didn't mean to do that," he said, holding up his hands. Emily frowned at the man and turned back to Hotch.
"Do you want me to beat him up for you?" she whispered. Hotch smiled and shook his head. "It's fine. The situation has been… resolved," he said, nodding towards the man. Emily turned to see him stretching his arms and pulling at his shoulders. She turned back and smirked, before she looked down at Jack. "You alright buddy?" she asked, patting his chest. Jack nodded and grinned. "Daddy beat up the big man," he said. Emily smiled and bit her lip. Then she turned and breathed a sigh of relief to see that the "big man" and his wife had walked away.
The rest of the crowd had dispersed and Hotch looked down at Emily's hand to see she'd found the book she was after. But she was more concerned with going to the bathroom and cleaning up his face. They still had JJ's, Rossi's, and Jessica's presents to get before they could go home. This was really their last chance, given it was just over ten days till Christmas. She quickly went to the counter and paid for the books, then took Hotch's hand and led him to the bathrooms. They walked out five minutes later, Hotch closer resembling a member of the human race and less like Muhammad Ali after six rounds with a challenger.
Emily sighed and threw the bags on the kitchen counter before she returned to the garage for another load. She chuckled as Hotch and Jack walked through the door, Jack struggling to carry the small load his father had given him. She quickly grabbed the rest of the bags and closed the boot.
When she made it inside, Hotch was handing a small bag to Jack and whispering to him. When he looked up and saw Emily, Jack looked over, then bolted down to the basement. Emily sauntered over, placed the bags on the counter, then walked over to Hotch. "What was that about?" she asked coyly. Hotch shook his head and mimed zipping his lips and throwing away the key.
"You'll never make me tell," he whispered. Emily smiled mischievously and ran her fingers over the waist of Hotch's jeans. She gently touched his lips with hers, without applying any pressure, and whispered back, "I'm sure I could find a few ways," before she pulled back and chuckled, "And if all else fails, my Dad taught me a few CIA interrogation techniques." Hotch huffed and turned to help her unpack their purchases.
They were joined by Jack, a few moments later, and he nodded to his dad. Then they set about wrapping the presents. Jack had bought a present each for his two best friends, Oliver and Lucy. Ever since their fight at school, the two boys had been inseparable, and were further united by their fierce protection of Lucy. When the wrapping was finished, Emily watched from her spot on the floor while the boys placed the presents under the tree. She looked at their handiwork and nodded. Thank God. Another year of Christmas shopping complete. And she was exhausted.
Emily tried to push herself up from the floor, but to no avail. Hotch was turning from the tree and frowned. "Hey honey, let me help you up," he said quietly, holding out his arms. Emily sighed in frustration and took his hands. When she was standing, he wrapped his arms around her waist and kissed the top of her head. "I hate this. I'm a federal agent who can't get myself up off the floor," she whined. Hotch huffed and pulled back, looking down at her face. "Honey, you're human. It happens," he said, trying to console her. Emily rolled her eyes. "Fine. I'm human. Let's see you remember that next time you're injured in the field or during training, and complain when you can't button your shirt," she teased.
Hotch smiled and nodded. "Fine, we're both human. Now why don't you go and take a nap Wonder Woman. I'll set Jack up for his nap then come and join you," he suggested. Emily nodded and walked towards the stairs. She would be so glad when this pregnancy was over. As incredible as it was, she just wanted the small children currently holding her hostage, to release her body. She wanted to be able to run… hell she wanted to be able to walk again. And shoot a gun, and do calisthenics. And stay up past 10pm. And drink coffee. The list went on.
