Disclaimed!
HI to everyone who is still taking the time to read. I love hearing from you, as it encourages me to write more.
It's pizza night again in this chapter.
As always, let me know what you think.
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Sitting in her chaotically cluttered sitting room, JJ rested against her partner's chest and smiled in joy as his fingers lightly traced her growing stomach. She had started showing increasing in certain areas early on in the pregnancy, although it was not necessarily obvious that she was pregnant. Other than blood pressure issues, the doctor quickly advised weight gain and suddenly not only did her stomach expand but she gained a more than generous bust.
However, the increasingly, well defined large bump appeared one morning, much to the amusement and intrigue to Hotch.
His hands stilled suddenly and he pressed a soft kiss to her temple. "We're having a boy, can you believe it?"
"I'm so outnumbered." JJ groaned with mockingly.
"Today was amazing. You are amazing." He announced lovingly.
JJ frowned as she rested her head back against his shoulder and met his eyes. "Why am I amazing?"
He hummed contently. "You were so calm. The Doctor was so impressed with the way you reduced your stress and with how healthy you are since the car accident."
"Well, I've been forced to relax by my totally over protective partner." She retorted dryly.
Hotch gruffly laughed. "I hear the guy is a dick."
JJ ran her hand along his rough chin. "I'd beat the crap out of anyone who called him a dick, because he's the love of my life."
Hotch took hold of her hand gently, and pressed a caste kiss to her palm. "You held my hand the entire time and you've had this huge grin on your face ever since we heard the heartbeat. I love seeing you this happy."
"I've been a little moody lately, haven't I?" She grumbled as she snuggled tighter into his chest.
He shook his head in disagreement. "No, you've had a lot on your mind. I'm just glad you're finally enjoying this pregnancy."
"I've done a lot of thinking lately, and I'm ready to let the grief and my worries be put to rest, so I can enjoy our future together. Thank you for that." She replied with a gentle smile.
"What have I done?" It was his turn to frown at the statement.
"Aaron, these last few years, we've been through so much and I couldn't have got through it without you. I know things have been a little hectic, with the baby and my Dad drama, but you've brought me so much happiness. I really do love you, so much. I wouldn't be this happy if it weren't for you." JJ whispered affectionately.
Hotch grinned broadly as he replied. "I love you too."
"And your son loves you." JJ brought their hands back to her enlarged stomach.
"I love him too." Hotch cooed.
"Three boys, it's insane." JJ whistled lowly.
The father smiled wistfully. "Henry and Jack are going to be so excited."
"Let's hold off on telling them, just for a few days. Jack's birthday is just around the corner and Henry has his check-up at the doctor's next week. I want it to be about them for a while." She explained with a small sigh.
Hotch smiled at her thoughtfulness. "Of course, but you realise they don't feel left out or anything right. We're good at loving all of our kids equally, aren't we?"
JJ responded to his assessment with rolling her eyes sarcastically. "Yeah, but..."
"Honey, no offence, but our parents weren't the best examples for parenting multiple children. Your Dad favoured Ali and your Mom let him. My Mom wasn't exactly maternal and for my step dad, it was all about Sean when he came along." The profiler stroked his partner's hair soothingly, while exploring her insecurities. "We've learned from their mistakes and we're great parents in our own right. All three of our sons' are going to live, long happy and healthy lives because of how we raise them. You don't have to worry about them."
"I know we had messed up childhoods and I know that we love our children more than anything, but I don't want to screw up our kids like our parents did with us." JJ scoffed harshly.
"We won't."
"Promise?" She asked uncertainly.
"Yes." Hotch kissed her lightly. "Now, is it too soon for you to think of names?"
"Honestly, I don't know." She paused hesitantly. "Why, have you got a name you're thinking of?"
"Not really, how about Herbert?" He joked lightening the suddenly serious mood between them.
"No way." She scoffed her rejection.
Hotch chuckled lowly. "Cornelius?"
"Have you lost your mind, I thought we weren't trying to screw up our children?" The mother-to-be questioned in humour.
A knock on the front door, interrupted the pair. As Hotch stood to greet their visitor, he raised his eyes in a query. "Why don't I ask your Dad for name suggestions?"
JJ balked in jest, as she listened to her partner and father make small talk in the hallway. "Evening. I bring pizza. One extra spicy with extra jalapenos, peppers and red onions for that daughter of mine, meat special for you and the little ones, and my Hawaiian."
"You're a life saver. Come on in." Hotch went for plates before instructed the elder profiler into the living room.
"Where are the kids?" Rossi called out from the hallway after he wasn't assaulted by the two boys.
"Will took Henry to the cinema and Jack tagged along, but I'll save them both, a slice or two." The Unit Chief explained from the kitchen.
Rossi mumbled before turning in the doorway. "That was nice of Will."
JJ smiled brightly at his, and the pizza box's, presence. "Hi Dad. Oh yum, my favourite."
"Hey sweetheart, you look happy. I'm assuming today went well." He paused hesitantly before kissing her cheek.
"It went very well, both mother and child are in perfect health." JJ beamed enthusiastically.
Hotch returned with plates and utensils, with identical happiness etched into his expressions. "Thanks for watching the office today."
"Not a problem." Rossi shrugged off his coats while eyeing the couple expectantly. "So?"
Hotch looked to JJ for confirmation that he could be the one to share their news. "It's a boy."
"A boy!" Rossi repeated ecstatically before bringing Hotch into an excited bear hug.
JJ interrupted with a small cough, in amusement. "Okay you two, you realise that I'm the one with the boy inside of me, right?"
Rossi wiped away a stray tear before enveloping his daughter in a gentle embrace. "Oh sweetheart, I'm so happy for you both."
"Are you crying?" JJ's bottom lip quivered at the sight.
Rossi exhaled in relief. "I'm happy. Italians show emotion. We don't care about propriety."
"Let's eat." Hotch encouraged before the waterworks started.
"So are you sure they said everything was good?" Rossi asked as the three of them sat down to eat.
JJ nodded reassuringly. "I'm the model pregnant woman."
"No doubt about that." Rossi sighed happily.
Hotch and JJ shared a look before JJ continued. "But we have to talk about our trip."
"Our trip?" Rossi parroted with a small frown.
"Our trip to Italy. The baby is due right in the middle of our trip and I won't be able to fly that distance, that far along in my last trimester." JJ expanded nervously.
The acclaimed author failed to hide his disappointment. "Oh."
"We thought we could postpone it by a year, until next Easter. That way the baby will be old enough to travel." Hotch offered as an alternative plan.
Rossi took a bite of his pizza before answering. "Right, of course, that makes sense."
"I'm sorry, Dad." JJ stated apologetically.
Ross took hold of her free hand surely. "Don't be, you and the baby come first, JJ."
"We could still take a trip somewhere, all together." Hotch said quickly.
JJ smirked. "Yeah, we could go back to Commack, and see your old neighbourhood."
Rossi questioned. "You want to trek to Long Island?"
"It's an idea." The other male profiler shrugged.
The older man conceded before shaking his head at his omission. "You know, I totally forgot that you wouldn't be able to fly."
"I am sorry, Dad." JJ sighed, feeling tears form in the back of her eyes.
Rossi placed his plate onto the coffee table before wrapping his expectant daughter into a comforting hug. "No, don't be, it's not as if it's the end of the world. Do you know how excited, I am to be a grandpa again?"
The father of one glanced over to the protective boyfriend, when he tried to diffuse the inevitable tears from his partner. "We were talking about names before you came, apparently Herbert and Cornelius are out."
Rossi laughed at his friend's humour. "What about Silvio or Michelangelo?"
"Veto." JJ mumbled into her dad's shoulder.
Hotch smirked in humour. "Boris?"
"Julio?" Rossi countered.
JJ sat up in annoyance, forgetting her earlier sadness. "Are you two ever going to take this seriously?"
"Of course honey, we're just playing with you." Hotch retorted with a small laugh.
She stared at the two friends with a grimace. "It's not nice to mock a pregnant woman."
"How are you feeling about having another boy around here?" Rossi asked changing the subject.
JJ smiled as she rubbed her stomach. "As long as the baby is happy and healthy, I don't care if it's an extraterrestrial."
"You can start your own soccer team soon." Rossi patted Hotch on the shoulder as JJ rested back on the couch.
"Hey three kids are good enough for me." JJ replied instantly.
Hotch caught her eye line in curiosity. "You don't want any more children?"
"Do you?" She asked pointedly.
The Unit Chief tilted his head to the side in thought. "A girl would be nice."
"I have no control over the gender buster and if you want a girl, you can carry the next one." JJ retorted snappily.
Rossi frowned in uncertainty. "So you're both open to the idea of one more, or are you not open to the idea of anymore kids?"
"We're not committing." They answered in unison.
Rossi shook his head. "Huh, you two have a very strange relationship."
"Like you and Erin haven't." JJ imitated his look of confusion.
"Excuse me?" He voiced defensively.
Hotch rolled his eyes. "Please Dave, you and Erin are a little sickening at times."
"We're sickening?" Rossi placed his hand above his heart. "Have you seen you two together?"
"We're cute." The former profiler interjected brightly.
He nodded mockingly. "Right."
"We're cute?" JJ pouted.
Hotch leaned across the coffee table and kissed her puckered lips. "Of course we are babe."
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Thanks for reading!
