"You made coffee yesterday, did you not?" Emily asked Hotch the next morning.

"I did, and I didn't notice I'd used the last of it. I'm sorry," Hotch said with a shrug. "Learn to go without for just one morning, I guess."

"That does not happen," Emily said, shaking her head violently. "I am not friends with any minute before noon without coffee. You do realize how important today is, right?" she asked in despair.

Hotch laughed.

"This isn't funny," Emily cried, but a moment later, Hotch's oddly high-pitched laughter got to her. "Okay, I guess it is kind of funny. I'm sitting here bitching about coffee when the store is five minutes away and I could just go buy some."

"Or you can stop for some on the way to work, and I'll stop at the store on my way home tonight. We need groceries anyway. Unless you don't want the kids two nights in a row, in which case we can swap cars, I can be chauffeur, and you can do the shopping."

Emily scowled at Hotch. "You talk about the kids like they're a chore."

Hotch grinned. "They're not?"

"You're such an ass," Emily muttered under her breath, her lips turned up into a thin smile again. "I'll take the kids. Speaking of which, it's about that time…"

Hotch nodded and they made their way upstairs. Hotch went toward the nursery so Emily took the boys' room. "All right, guys, up ya get…" she said quietly, hitting the light. "Oh, well look at you," she said, chuckling at Jack, who was already wide awake, but still lying under his covers with his fingers holding the covers right under his chin. "Good morning." She crouched down next to him and put his mussed hair back into place.

"Morning, Mommy!" He sounded like he had been bursting to say it.

Emily's mouth dropped open but soon formed a smile. "Mommy, huh?" She was sure the heat that filled her cheeks was obvious.

Jack grinned and threw his covers out of the way. "I wanna wear my Batman shirt," he said decisively, opening his bottom dresser drawer.

"All right, Batman it is." Henry wasn't awake yet, so Emily roused him. "Wanna try and go potty?" she asked him. He rubbed his eyes clumsily and nodded. "Sooner or later you'll get to wear big boy underwear to bed, just like Jack," she said, holding Henry against her chest for the customary two minutes it took him to wake up enough to do anything. He hugged her neck and watched Jack dress himself.

"Mommy, I want pancakes for breakfast," Jack announced.

"Sorry, sweetie, I don't think we have time for pancakes this morning," Emily said, knowing they didn't have the ingredients for them either. How they'd let the cabinets go so bone-dry she wasn't sure, and hearing Jack's "mommy" echoing in her head made it hard to concentrate on figuring out what they could feed the boys for breakfast. Before she even thought of letting herself cry, she grew suspicious that Hotch had planted the idea in Jack's head. She'd have to ask him later.

Emily's stomach lurched while she waited in front of her building for Hotch to show up. When he did, she didn't really feel any better.

"Hey," Hotch said with a smile. "How's your day been?"

"I've felt nauseous all day. You?"

"Haven't been able to concentrate," Hotch admitted.

Emily sighed. "It's so hard to believe that this is it. I mean, after all we've put into making this work, it could be taken right away from us."

Hoping it would only be taken as friendly, Hotch glanced into Emily's lap and took one of her hands. Thankfully for him, she squeezed back. "What happened to the optimism?" he asked.

"Sorry, I know. I can't help but worry, though. At least if things don't work out, I won't be as disappointed. Low expectations."

"You can be the most depressing person sometimes," Hotch said. "And that's saying something, because usually I'm the most depressing person I know."

"I'm sorry, I really am," Emily moaned. "I'll stop being a drama queen in about half an hour, hopefully."

"It's okay. Let's just talk about something else for a while."

"Good idea. Jack called me 'mommy' this morning when I went to get him out of bed." Emily was glad Jack hadn't repeated it once they were out of his bedroom, as she wanted a chance to make sure Hotch hadn't put Jack up to it before she got too excited.

"Did he?" Hotch asked with a smile, taking a second to switch his eyes from the road to Emily. "You don't look happy."

"I am happy," Emily said quickly. "I mean, it's really sweet. But did you tell him to? Because you didn't have to."

"I knew you'd think I'd put him up to it. But no, I didn't. He asked me last night if he could, and I said yes, and added on that you'd probably like it. It was his idea, though. No planting involved, I promise." Hotch waited patiently for a response, but when he was realizing he wasn't going to get one, he sneaked another glance Emily's way. "Please tell me those are happy tears."

Emily laughed and stole her hand away to catch her tears before they tracked down her face. "They are." She made a decision not to share with Hotch the dread she felt over the possibility of losing Jack, too. She hadn't given much thought as to what would happen between her, Hotch, and Jack, if Henry and Charlotte were taken away. She knew she would be devastated at the loss, and so would Hotch, but what would be the non-emotional aftermath? Would she continue to live with Hotch and Jack, even if only for Jack's sake? Would she move out, be alone again after just having had formed a family?

They spent the rest of the ride to the courthouse, which wasn't long, in silence. They met Will and JJ's attorney on the front steps of the courthouse.

"You look worried," he said immediately to Emily. Apparently she hadn't done a good job of ridding herself of her tears. He smiled. "Don't be," he said, holding the door open for them both. His voice echoed against the cold granite inside. "How are the kids?"

"They're great," Hotch reported.

"Healthy, happy?"

"Very."

The attorney eyed Emily again and laid a hand on her shoulder. "Then why are you so worried? Is your case worker giving you grief?" he asked her.

"She's…feisty," Hotch answered for her.

"Well, just keep in mind that some case workers are actually dedicated to the children. So if she's giving you grief, I'd take it more as advice. I doubt she'd try to take the kids away from you. If she knows she won't recommend removing the kids from your care, then she might just be trying to guide you to act in the kids' best interests. And it would take a lot of big mistakes on your part to get a judge to countermand the LaMontagne's wishes. You both have jobs, you're supporting the kids, and they're doing well. In a few minutes this will all be over and you can stop stressing."

"What did I tell you?" Hotch murmured to Emily, putting an arm around her shoulder as they followed the attorney through security and to their assigned courtroom.

"Shut up," she shot back, but in good humor.

"Still nervous?" he asked.

"I will be until a judge tells me what he just did."

Twenty minutes later, Emily was still marveling at how the fate of her family could be decided so quickly, so cavalierly. But she certainly wasn't about to complain. The attorney wished them well and told them he'd be happy to help them petition for an upgrade from guardianship to adoption to seal the deal completely. Henry and Charlotte weren't going anywhere.

Hotch smiled and strode side-by-side with Emily outside the courthouse and to their car. Suddenly the shining sun and budding trees all made sense. Before they split to get into their separate sides of the car, Emily grabbed Hotch's arm. She hadn't said a word since the judge had let down his gavel. Everything was still sinking in, but at least it was in a good way.

"I'm sorry," she murmured, her cheek pressed against his shoulder as she squeezed the life out of him. He squeezed right back, pressing his chin into her hair.

"Sorry for what?" he asked.

"For being such a worry wart, causing so much drama…"

"Worrying is part of the job description. No one told you that?" Hotch said lightly.

"You don't seem to worry much."

"I worry all the time."

"About what?" she asked, still content in their secure embrace.

"About whether I'll forget to buy more coffee when we run out again."

Emily laughed and punched him in the back, making Hotch join along in her laughter for a short moment. "Want to grab a quick lunch while we're out?" Emily asked. "My treat."

"Well, if it's your treat…" A smirk tickled Hotch's lips as he broke away. "Feel better now?"

"Worlds."

"Good, then let's go eat. I'm starving."

Now that her world was at peace, now that her family was without a doubt her family, Emily could take the time to appreciate all the good things that crossed her path that day. The weather was perfect—they would have to take the kids out and do something after dinner; she still had half an hour to spend with Hotch; and Jack had called her "mommy." Even though other issues loomed over her head—whether Hotch would ask her to be named in his will as Jack's guardian in the event that her world got turned upside down again; her mother and the mending that needed to happen in their relationship; the fact that Charlotte still wasn't feeling a hundred percent—nothing could bring her down right now.

"I don't think we've been out anywhere without the kids since we got them, have we?" Hotch pondered as they took a seat at a café with some pre-wrapped sandwiches and iced tea.

"Not just us, no, except for packing up stuff at Will and JJ's, which didn't really count as going out," Emily said. "Wow. This is really what it's like, huh? A kid-free minute outside of work and you realize you haven't had one."

"You're learning fast," Hotch said.

"Oh, wait, no," Emily said with a mouthful of turkey. "Showers. Showers are my me time. Sometimes I just stand there. I'm not even joking. I'll just stand under the water until my face burns." This elicited a deep belly laugh from Hotch. "Oh, and in the car, when they're not with me. Also spectacular. Sometimes I don't turn the kids' music off, though. But not because I like it. Just because I'm lazy."

"Right," Hotch said skeptically.

"Please. It was on when you picked me up from work. I saw you try to turn it off before I saw. You're just as guilty as I am."

Hotch just grinned and took another bite of his sandwich. "We should do this more often."

"What, lunch?"

"Yeah."

"I usually don't even take a lunch break. I eat a granola bar at my desk and work through my break so I can leave on time."

"How about just once a week? Every Wednesday. The kids won't care if they're at daycare half an hour later. It can be our little secret."

"All right. We'll see how long we can keep it up. So, while we have the time to talk, what else do we have to talk about?"

"Jack calling you mommy?" Hotch suggested.

Emily blushed profusely. "What's there to talk about?"

"Are you glad he said it?"

"Of course I am. Why wouldn't I be?"

"Just wanted to make sure it didn't make you uncomfortable."

Emily's eyebrows slanted downward. "Not at all. Does it make you uncomfortable?"

"Not in the slightest," Hotch said with utter sincerity. "I know you'd do anything for him and I can't even begin to tell you how much that means to me. I couldn't be happier that he finally sees you as a mom."

Emily smiled awkwardly and wondered if this was a good time to bring up the issue of Hotch's will, but she decided the moment was too sweet to go ruining it. She'd tuck this one safely away in her heart before touching on any more sensitive subjects.

Hotch checked his watch. "We should probably finish up," he said.

A hiss of laughter escaped Emily's lips.

"What?" Hotch asked.

"Sorry, mind in the gutter."

"You enjoy ruining moments, don't you?" Hotch quipped.

"Don't even start on me. 'Somebody's poopy. Can't you smell that?'"

"Hmm, forgot about that one," Hotch said with a guilty smirk.

A/N: And everyone breathes a sigh of relief, I hope. Thanks as always for reading, and please leave a review!