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Chapter 45 –
Hotch opened the door, not stopping to knock and gave Emily a wry smile as she shrugged her shoulders.
"I think Jack would have been proud of that."
As soon as Emily saw Hotch's dimples emerge as he finished speaking she couldn't help but let out a small snigger.
"Yeah well it made me feel better!"
Hotch edged closer to Emily and put his arm around her waist, the tears had dried but he knew how upset she really was and breathed softly as Emily snuggled her head into his neck.
"I'm glad, come on let's get out of this room, there's too much mess for us to get comfortable."
Emily opened her mouth slightly, in preparation to protect but she hadn't the energy to fight anymore as she allowed Hotch to lead her into her bedroom.
"So..."
Hotch sat down beside Emily on the bed turning his head so that their brown eyes met.
"I've done enough talking, I just want to move on now. I owe Natasha an explanation first but after that I want to put all of this behind the both of us."
"What are you going to tell her?"
"The truth, she deserves to know, I haven't kept anything from her before and I'm not going to start now, I couldn't do it whilst she was in hospital but now that we are back home and I've got the file to show her, it's time."
"But first you need to rest, you are exhausted Emily."
"Are you trying to seduce me Aaron?"
The glint in Emily's eye gave her away at Hotch shook his head and gestured for her to lay down as Emily sighed and shifted her body.
"Will you stay with me?"
The sadness evident in Emily's voice left Hotch with no choice as he nodded and moved to lay beside Emily, resting his left hand on her stomach and his right on her head as he whispered softly into her ear.
"I've got you Emily."
Emily breathed in deeply and allowed herself to relax, safe in the knowledge that not only Natasha was safe but she was too as she placed her hands on top of Hotch's as it rested on her stomach, it didn't take long for the exhaustion to catch up with her as she drifted off to sleep.
Garcia stood up and walked through to the kitchen, the sun had now risen and the silence from upstairs was reassuring as she picked up her turquoise bag. Beaming as she sat down beside Natasha and looked at a confused JJ as she brought out her laptop from the colourful bag.
"Well if I remember correctly, someone has got a birthday coming up!"
JJ squeezed Natasha's shoulder as she smiled at the young woman who shook her head and closed her eyes.
"It's a big one two Pen, 21!"
"Guys slow down!"
Natasha sat forward as she watched Garcia log onto the internet and started opening various browsers, working so quickly that Natasha couldn't keep up.
"This is just what you need Natasha, we're not going to let you not celebrate your birthday, it's probably best if you just go with the flow!"
JJ grinned as she watched Garcia reserve a table at their favourite Chinese restaurant.
"Yeah well it would be good to get out, if I'm allowed to move off the bed or sofa!"
"Hey sweetie just think of it as a reason to rest and something to look forward to!"
Garcia stopped typing for a second as she bent over and kissed Natasha on the cheek, relieved to see a look of happiness cross her face.
"So that's the Spa booked for the afternoon, I've emailed the details to your account Natasha."
Garcia spoke quickly, the excitement evident in her voice as she turned around to look at the young woman who had curled up on the sofa as JJ busied herself in the kitchen.
"Thanks Garcia, it sounds wonderful what you've planned."
"It's my pleasure sweetie, we've just got to think about presents now!"
Natasha went to open her mouth to protest but seeing the genuine smiled and look in Garcia's eyes she just smiled and nodded back to the older woman.
"Hey I think that it's time that you took these!"
JJ walked back over carrying a tray laden with three mugs and a glass of water, placing it the table she smiled at Natasha and passed her the tables that had laid beside the water.
"Thanks JJ."
JJ passed the water over so that Natasha could wash down the pills before she passed a warm cup of tea over to Garcia.
"So how are the preparations going then Pen?"
"I think that we're just about done, it's going to be great!"
"Oh I've no doubt about that Pen!"
JJ grinned as she moved to sit down next to Natasha, she quickly noticed the yawn that the young woman tried stifle and put her arm around her easing Natasha's head towards her.
"All the excitement must have tired you out sweetie."
JJ spoke softly as she watched Natasha curl her legs up and tuck her feet underneath Garcia.
"Do you mind?"
Natasha looked at JJ as she lifted her head slightly but JJ's hand quickly eased Natasha's head against her shoulder.
"Of course not, I'll be right here."
Natasha's breathing eased slightly as she relaxed and allowed her eyes to close once again.
Emily's hand lay still on top of Hotch's, her body resting peacefully, deep in sleep but through her subconscious her fingers started to twitch. At first the movements were small enough as to not catch or waken either of them but then Emily opened her eyes and automatically ripped her hands away from Hotch's. Blinking her eyes she listened carefully but it only took her a matter of seconds to realise that she hadn't been mistaken and the sound of Natasha crying was carrying up through the apartment. Emily didn't stop to look at Hotch as she tore herself away from his safe grasp and ran down the stairs, her eyes still adjusting to the light as she reached the sofa where Natasha was sitting between Garcia and JJ. Emily looked at her two friends as they anxiously smiled at her, both of them in the process of trying to calm Natasha down but neither of them were having much success.
"Natasha, sweetie it's mom, come on look at me."
Emily placed one hand on top of her daughter's hand and with the other one she reached down and gently touched her cheek as she knelt down and peered underneath the blonde hair to find Natasha's tear stained face.
"It's ok Tasha, you're safe."
Emily felt Natasha lean in against her hand as she mover her body to wrap her daughter up against her body, holding her securely as JJ looked at her.
"Sorry, we didn't manage to wake her before the nightmare took hold."
"That's ok JJ, I can't thank the both of you enough for looking after her for me."
Emily turned and smiled at Garcia as her eyes caught Hotch as he walked down the stairs. Taking the decision not to let go as she felt Natasha's breathing failing to slow down, Emily closed her eyes momentarily, allowing Hotch time to join them before she spoke.
"Thank you all for being here for us...but I need to speak to Natasha."
Emily looked at the three people who had held her and Natasha together the last few days but she was relieved when she saw them nod their heads in approval and silently leave, JJ stopping briefly to touch Emily's arm but it was only a couple of minutes before it was just her and Natasha alone once again.
