Aaron helped Penelope change, grabbed her bag and went to wake up Sean. He quietly told him Penelope's water broke and they were on the way to the hospital. He told him that when Jack woke up to call him. He wouldn't admit to Penelope but he was worried. They had three weeks until her due date. He knew she was probably worried as well. They made it to the hospital in record time. They went straight up to labor and delivery and soon were in a room. They asked all the routine questions and she changed into a gown. They checked her and put her on a monitor.

"It seem you are indeed in labor. You are dilated two centimeters. I'm going to tell the doctor and let him know you are here."

"Okay."

"Relax and try to get some sleep. We are monitoring your contractions and the baby."

The nurse and Aaron sat on the bed. "Everything is going to be okay."

"It's early. We have three more weeks to go."

"Well apparently baby Hotchner had a mind of his own and wants to come now."

The doctor came an hour later and examined her. He read the papers from the monitor for a few minutes. He then turned to them.

"Your still at two and your contractions are that intense yet. The baby looks good and your blood pressure looks good. This is your first baby and this may take a while. Get some rest while you can."

Jack called when he woke up and Aaron talked to him. He wanted to talk to Pen so he talked to her too. She reassured she was okay and that he could come up as soon as she had the baby. Sean told her he would take Jack to the pizza place for kids to take his mind off everything. He also told her to call to let him know what was going on. The team was the next on the list and they were all excited for them and said they couldn't wait for the call announcing baby Hotchner's arrival.

After about two hours Penelope hadn't progressed but for another centimeter. If she hadn't made any progress in an hour they were going to give her Pitocin to help move her along. While they were alone they talked about Jack starting school in a week. They talked about the how excited Jack was and knew he wasn't going to wait long before wanting to come to the hospital. She slept with Aaron holding her hand. The only sound was the heartbeat of their baby.

Penelope wasn't progressing like the doctor had hoped. So, they started the Pitocin drip. She had been in the hospital for hours. Jack was getting impatient that she told Sean to bring him for a bit. The contractions grew a bit more intense with the Pitocin. She breathed through each contraction and let out a sigh after each one. Jack came in and stared at the machines and cocked his head when he heard the baby's heartbeat. He started asking questions and Aaron answered them as best he could. The team came by to show their support and JJ said she would wash all the baby clothes and blankets since Pen didn't have time to get to it. Aaron told them that was okay and where everything was at.

Sean took Jack home after a couple of hours, he didn't like seeing Pen in pain so they thought it was best that he leaves. The team left as well telling Sean they would pick up dinner and be over a little later.

It was now five in the afternoon and Penelope had been in labor for fourteen hours and was only dilated to five. She tired, hurting and was waiting for them to come do an epidural. She had wanted to go natural but she the doctor said with the problems with her blood pressure, he had advised getting the procedure.

Aaron watched his wife from his seat on the bed. She was holding his hand and squeezed it every time she had a contraction. He noticed her blood pressure was slightly creeping up. He wiped the sweat from her forehead.

"You're doing good baby."

"It hurts so bad. My back more than anything." She whispered.

"They already ordered the epidural."

"I hope it gets here soon."

The door opened and in walked the anesthesiologist. He introduced himself and told her what he was there for. Once he was done he left and it was about ten minutes or so before she felt any relief. She never felt this pain before but then she's never had a baby before. At seven there was a shift change and another nurse came in and she was so cheerful that Penelope liked her immediately. They talked about the baby and she talked to her about Jack. She looked at the papers studying them

"Every time you have a contraction, your blood pressure goes up." She said. "Do you have a headache or anything seem off?"

"I have a little bit if a headache."

"Let me call the doctor and see what he wants to do."

Arron whispered words of encouragement and reassurances. She knew he was just trying to support her. The nurse came back in a few minutes later.

"The doctor said he would be here in about fifteen minutes."

"He didn't say anything else."

"No. I told him about your blood pressure. Don't worry everything will be okay."

They waited for the doctor who came not an hour later. He studied the readout and the looked at her chart. He turned to them.

"Your blood pressure is slowly creeping up. I'd rather not take the chance of it getting higher. So let's do a C-section."

Aaron looked at Pen who communicated with his eyes. He turned to the doctor. "If you think it's the best decision."

"It is." he turned to the nurse. "Schedule an OR room and get her prepped, she already had the epidural so we should be good on that. I hope you are ready mom and dad you should be meeting your son in about an hour."

Aaron and Penelope looked at each other and nodded. The doctor left and the room bustled in activity, he made a call to Sean telling to bring Jack. He said the team was there.

With her hand in Aaron's, they listened to the doctor. They were told everything they did. From what the doctor said, it would be only a matter of minutes.

"Okay Penelope and Aaron, are you ready?"

"Yes."

"Here we are." A second later, a loud angry cry sounded in the room. "Seven thirty on the dot. He is not happy at the moment. Congratulations you have a boy."

Penelope and Aaron were crying as they listened to their son's cries. They were loud. He was handed to a nurse who took him to the warmer and started to clean him up. His cries grew more intense.

"Go Aaron, go look at your son." Penelope whispered.

He kissed her and went to their son. He started taking pictures. He was weighed and they were told he weighed six pounds and eleven ounces, he was nineteen and half inched long. His APGAR was at a nine. The nurse wrapped him in a blanket and handed him to Aaron. He took him to Penelope.

"Baby say hello to your son."

"Oh my he's so beautiful. Look at all that black hair."

The nurse spoke. "We need to get him to the nursery and clean him a little better and let the pediatrician look at him since he's three weeks early. You can come with us."

"Go with him."

"I can stay with you."

"No I'm fine. Go with him."

"Go with your son Aaron. Penelope is doing dine and she'll be in recovery for about an hour." The doctor said.

He nodded. "I love you baby."

"I love you too."

He found Penelope in the recovery area. She was asleep but woke when she heard him. She smiled at him.

"How are you doing baby?"

"Tired and sleepy. How's the baby?"

"He's doing really good. The doctor said he is perfect for being three weeks early. He is maintaining his body temp and breathing fine."

"That's good."

"He sure has a set of lungs on him. He was mad when they were checking him. He also has a lot of hair. The nurse said they would bring him when you were in your room."

"He has your hair color." She said. "They said I would be in here for an hour and then take me to a room. They are monitoring my blood pressure and it's okay. Have you seen Jack?"

"He's in the waiting room with the others. I told them all the important info but he can't wait to see you. I think he wants to see for himself that you are okay,"

"I can't wait to see him either." She whispered.

"Go to sleep baby, I'll be right here."

Penelope was moved to her room while she was still sleeping. She woke up when they moved her to her bed. She smiled tiredly at Aaron. When the nurse left, he moved to the bed to sit.

"I'm so proud of you baby. You hung in there as long as you could. I know you wanted to have a normal birth."

"I did but I didn't want anything to happen to me or our baby. Can you wet a washcloth and bring me my brush? I sweat so much."

He got those things for her and watched as she wiped her face and neck. It hurt to move so Aaron did her hair. She was looking for a ponytail holder when there was a knock on the door. a nurse peeked her head in.

"I have some here that wans his mommy."

"Please bring him in."

Aaron moved to the door to hold it open while the nurse wheeled the basinet in. She stopped right next to the bed.

"Oh my." She whispered. "He's so small."

The nurse picked him and handed him to Penelope. "We weren't told if you were breast feeding or bottle feeding, we went ahead and gave him a bottle. He should be good for at least two hours until he's hungry again. There are bottles, diapers, wipes and extra blankets. There is also a pacifier or if you have your own you can use it. The pedestrian will be in to talk to you. when you're ready to send him back just call the nursery."

"I have a question." The nurse nodded. "Can I wrap him in the blanket that I brought for him."

"Sure."

"Thank you."

She studied the new little person in her arms. She touched his eyebrows, ran a finger down his nose, touched his perfect lips. She took the little hat off his head and gasped. She looked at Aaron who was smiling at her.

"Look at his hair." she whispered. "It's so black like yours."

She marveled and the little bundle in her arms and gasped when he moved and made little grunts. Aaron sat next to her and cupped their son's head with his hand before placing a kiss to his forehead. Penelope leaned her head on his shoulder.

"I love you little man so much." She whispered turning to Aaron. "I love you so much Aaron."

'I love you just as much if not more." he said kissing her. "Thank you for our son and loving Jack."

"He's mine too, in every sense of the word." She said. "Bring his blanket and then ask Sean to bring just Jack. I want him to meet his brother alone."

He made the call while getting the blanket. Minutes later there was a faint knock. Aaron went to the door and went out. Sean gave him a hug.

"Congrats man."

"Thank you. Give us a few minutes with Jack and then I'll text you."

"Take all the time you need, we understand."

Aaron lifted Jack to carry him. "You ready to meet your brother, Jack?"

"Yes. Is mom okay?"

"She's fine. Just tired and sore. She had to have an operation we have to careful and take care of her."

At Jack's nod, he opened the door to reveal Penelope sitting in the bed with the baby in her arms. She had the biggest smile on her face."

"Come meet your brother Jack?"

Aaron carried him to the bed and settled him next to Penelope. Instead of looking at his new brother, he was looking at his mom.

"Are you okay now?"

"I'm fine Jack. I'm even better now that I have all three of the Hotchner men with me."

That made Jack smile and he hugged her. He then looked at his brother. "He's so small."

"He is. He's going to need his big brother to protect him and watch out for him."

"I'll do it mom."

"I know you will honey and you'll be the best big brother ever."

"Do you want to hold him Jack?"

"Can I mom?"

"Sure."

"Come sit over here in this chair." Aaron told him. He took the baby from Penelope and placed him in Jack's arm, telling him how to hold him. Aaron stepped away just a little and took out his phone. He snapped some pictures and then heard sniffles behind him. He turned around. Penelope shook her head and he turned back around. They watched their sons.

"I'm your big brother Jack. I have waited a long time to meet you." He whispered. "There are bad people out in this big place but you don't have to worry. Daddy takes care of the bad guys and if he can't I will always protect you."

Now she was really crying and so was Aaron. He took the baby from Jack and handed the baby back to her. He hugged Jack and then placed him next to his mom. She hugged him hard even though it hurt. A few more pictures were snapped and then he texted Sean. They came instantly with Sean leading the way with balloons, flowers and stuffed animals. Aaron took the baby from her and walked toward the group with a big smile on his face. They oohed and awed.

"Everybody I would like you to meet Jacen Alexander Hotchner."