I shouldn't have let her go in on the interrogation of Father Silvano, but Emily wouldn't let up unless I let her. But after getting off with the State Department, I have to let him go. He has diplomatic immunity, we have no way to hold him any longer. "Father, you're free to go. We're sorry if detaining you has caused you any hardship." He turns to walk out of the room before turning and speaking to Emily.

"I hope you find peace."

"My office." I say to her before leading her out of the interrogation room. I can feel her anger rolling off of her so I don't say anything to her until we get to my office. "Are you actually accusing the Italian government of authorizing this man's assassination list?"

"He admits he was present at every death." Emily fires back.

"The case is over."

"You said you'd give me leeway." The fire in her eyes is ever present.

"And I did." I try to stay as calm as possible. "I understand your frustration. There are some things that we cannot control. Take some time off."

"What?"

"I don't wanna see you in the office for the next few days."

"Then I don't want to see you at my house for the next few days." She spat back before turning to leave my office. I know going home to an empty house apart from Jack will be a disappointment, so I decide to take as long as I can at the office tonight before heading home. It's not even four when she leaves. So I decide to take some time looking over other cases to decide which one we should take next and signing off on past cases. At about six, Dave walks into my office.

"We need to talk."

"What's wrong?"

"He's performing another exorcism."

"How do you know?"

"Prentiss and I went to see Matthew Benton's parents."

"I gave her a direct order."

"This one is all on me."

"Well, that's fine, Dave, but the state department's all over my ass! Where's Emily now?" I fume.

"She and Morgan went to stop it." Dave states like he did nothing wrong in sending them.

"I can't protect them."

"I don't accept that." Dave fires back.

"Dave, governments don't really appreciate being accused of accessory to murder."

"Why not go straight to the Vatican?"

"And what are we supposed to say to them?"

"Say, 'talk to the Italian government. Help us stop this man from perverting your beliefs'."

I pick up the phone but before I dial I say, "This comes down on all of us."

"I'm fine with that? You?" When we finally get the Vatican to agree to assist in dealing with Father Salvino, Dave and I hop into an SUV and head over to meet Morgan and Emily.

Cooley kisses her on the cheek before being led into the ambulance. There was a moment in between them that passed as we were getting out of the car but all I hear is her call out to him,"I'll check on you later." Her eyes catch mine and she makes her way over to me and Rossi. "If you want my gun and badge, I understand." I simply shake my head, knowing there is more to be said to her but it's neither the time or the place for it. But Morgan walks up with Father Salvino in cuffs next to him.

"There's a plane ticket in your name to Rome. Agents Morgan and Rossi will drive you to the airport. Any of your belongings can be shipped to you."

"You have no right to deport me." Father Salvino says harshly.

"The Vatican intervened. The Italian government has rescinded your diplomatic status." Rossi states.

"They'll do with you as they see fit when you're back in their jurisdiction." I add.

"You've all just made the world a much more dangerous place." He turns to Emily. "Possa l'amore di Dio essere con te."

"E con te." Although I normally love hearing Emily speak in other languages, she sounds like she wants to kill this man. An officer leads him away from us.

"I saw that guy up there. He was certain he was fighting against some kind of evil." Morgan says.

"We all have to be certain." Rossi throws out.

"Rossi, don't tell me you believe in evil." Morgan seems shocked to hear this.

"Don't tell me you do this job and you don't." Rossi counters.

"I believe there are evil acts, but those are choices, brain chemistry. What do you think, Hotch?" Morgan asks.

"I think deep down, we're all capable of unspeakable things. Where it starts or what you call it, I don't know."

"Let's get him out of here." Rossi says to Morgan. Before Morgan can walk away Emily turns to him and says two quick words to her partner.

"Thank you."

"Always." He says. As they walk away, Emily and I are left standing in front of Cooley's house. Emily seems to be focused on the falling snow though. We still will have to talk eventually, but right now I'm more concerned about her than anything else.

"What are you thinking?"

"It's like the end of 'The Dead'. When Gretta remembers the boy she loved when she was younger and she says 'I think he died for me'."

"You know, James Joyce also said, 'there is no heresy or philosophy so abhorrent to the church as a human being'." I want to pull her into my arms, but instead I just say. "Want me to drop you at home?" She shakes her head.

"I think I'm going to walk for a while."

"Do you want me to…" I trail off with my offer of staying with the kids so Sarah and Laura can leave when I remember what she said earlier. "I'll pick up Jack from your house and let Sarah know you'll be a little bit later."

"Or…" She's the one to let her voice trail off this time.

"Or…" I push her to continue.

"Or you could stay if you want." She says quickly.

"Do you want me to be there?" It takes a moment, but slowly her head nods.

She takes a breath and then admits, "I don't want to be alone tonight."

"You never have to be alone if you don't want to. I'm always here by your side." She offers a watered down smile and I don't expect much more from her on a day like today. "I'll meet you at home." There's something hiding in her eyes, but I don't push on it right now. She gives me a slight wave before walking off around the corner. I watch her for a moment, before making my way to the SUV. After stopping at the office to swap it for my car, I head to spend time with the kids until she gets home. When I walk in the door, four sets of feet come thundering towards me.

"Daddy!" Jack's voice shouts.

"Aaron!" Melissa, Nathan, and Natalia's voices aren't much softer. Small hands wrap around my legs.

"Where's Mama?" Natalia's voice asks, her head peeking around me trying to find her mother.

"She'll be home in a little bit. Have you had dinner?" I try to distract them and luckily it works.

"Not yet." Melissa says. "Sarah was going to make us dinner."

"But as soon as she was about to start it, someone came in the door." Sarah's head comes from around the corner to finish the thought that Melissa started.

"Is Laura still here?" I ask as I heard the kids back towards the living room.

"No she had to head out to make it home before traffic gets bad. I told her I could stay in case you got a case." Sarah says.

"That's fine. If you want to head out you're welcome to. Emily should be home soon and I can get dinner for the kids." I lie a little bit since I have no clue when Emily will be home, but getting dinner for the kids and keeping them occupied until it's bedtime shouldn't be an issue. "Also I gave Emily a few days off, so we'll let you know if we need you the next few days."

"Ok, if you're sure." Sarah grabs a bag of her things from the couch. "Au revoir mes petits." She says to the kids before making her way to the door.

"Au revoir Sarah!" Melissa and Jack say.

"Bye bye!" Nathan and Natalia add.

As Sarah walks out the door I ask the kids, "what do we want for dinner?"

"Nuggers de poulet." Melissa calls out.

"Macaronis au fromage." Jack says at the same time.

"Hmmm, let me check the kitchen and see what we have." I walk into the kitchen, hoping Emily has at least chicken nuggets or mac and cheese. In the freezer I find some dinosaur chicken nuggets before I look in the pantry for mac and cheese, which I manage to find as well. Looks like both will make for a good dinner. I put some water to start boiling on the stove while the oven preheats. The kids are playing in the living room as I make their food.

It doesn't take long for the food to cook so once everything is finished, I scoop it onto plates and set it at the different spots at the table. "Dinner time!" I call out to the kids. Nathan and Melissa come running into the kitchen so I strap Nathan into his high chair which Melissa climbs into her chair. "Jack, Natalia, come on. Dinner!"

"Coming Daddy!" Jack's voice comes from the living room. Soon I hear two more sets of feet making their way towards the kitchen. Jack makes his way into the seat next to Melissa and I help Natalia into her own high chair. "Mac and cheese!" A smile fills Jack's face as he sees his favorite food waiting for him.

"I love mac and cheese!" Melissa states before putting a big spoon of it into her mouth. "Can you make mac and cheese for us all the time?"

"I don't know about all the time, since there are so many other yummy foods out there, but I can make it again for you soon. I make it for the people I love."

"You love us?" Melissa says with wide eyes.

"How can I not?

"I love you too." Melissa says before stuffing a huge bite of chicken nugget in her mouth. I get up and place a kiss on the top of her head before moving to the counter to put away some of the left over food. I keep an eye on the kids as I do this to make sure they are being careful eating, but all four of them are fairly capable of eating on their own.

"Daddy, can I go play?" Jack asks as he finishes his last chicken nugget.

"Can you bring me your plate?" He hops down from his chair and brings his plate to me.

"I'm done!" Nathan calls from his high chair. I come over and let him down from his high chair and since Natalia only has one chicken nugget, I let her down too and just hand her the last nugget. Melissa is scooping the last of her mac and cheese into her mouth.

"Aaron, is Emly almost home? I miss her." She asks as she eats her mac and cheese.

"I don't know. I'll message her." I look at my phone to see if I have any messages from her, but I don't disturb her since I know she needs time. Melissa climbs out of her seat and brings her plate over to the sink.

"All done." She offers her plate to me.

"Thank you Melissa." I place the plastic plate in the sink with the other plates. "Do you want to go play?"

"Will you come play too?" She offers her hand up to me. I take it before responding.

"Of course I will."

I'm sitting with all the kids in the living room when the front door opens up. Melissa's head pops up first. "Emly?!" Emily comes around the corner, snow still in her hair as she takes off her coat and drops it over the chair in the hallway. Melissa drops her stuffed dog as she gets up to run over to Emily. "I missed you so much Emly."

"Hi sweet girl. I missed you too." She scoops Melissa into her arms and walks into the living room. A chorus of "Mama"s rung out as the little kids realize that their Mama is home.

"Aaron beat you home."

"I know he did. I wanted to see the snow for a little bit." Emily explains and she sits down on the floor, sliding Melissa into her lap as she crosses her legs. Melissa tugs on Emily's shirt ever so slightly and motions for her to lean down towards her. "Hmm?"

"Aaron made us dinosaur chicken nuggets and mac and cheese for dinner." Melissa attempts to whisper.

"Did he now?" Melissa's little head nods. "Well you all are very lucky. Maybe next time he'll make me dinosaur chicken nuggets and mac and cheese too." Melissa motions for Emily to lean down towards her again.

"He could make you some. He makes it for people he loves. He told me so." Melissa whispers loudly. Emily's arms wrap around Melissa tightly.

"Maybe in a little bit he can make me some." Emily glances at her watch. I can guess she's thinking what I am; that it's bedtime for at least the three smallest ones. Technically it's a little past bedtime, but I didn't want to put them to bed before she had the chance to see them today.

"Melissa, do you want to help us put everyone to bed?" Melissa looks up at me from Emily's lap as I speak. She nods quickly. Nathan makes his way over to his mama from where he had been sitting playing with Natalia.

"Mama, up please." Emily picks up Nathan and holds her son close. Melissa scampers out of her lap and sticks her hands out.

"Talia, Jack, hold my hands?" Natalia and Jack push off the floor and grab their big sister's hands. Natalia grabs Ms. Duckie off the ground. I follow the trio up the stairs towards the nursery as Emily follows behind rocking Nathan in her arms. She's whispering something to him in French, but I barely catch a few words here and there of it; it almost sounds like a lullaby. By the time we get to the nursery, Nathan is basically asleep. She flicks on the nightlight with one hand before placing Nathan in Natalia's crib after placing two soft kisses on his forehead. She walks over and clicks the playlist of lullabies that I've heard many times and a Mozart lullaby comes on.

I reach for Jack to pick him up, but he surprises me, "No. I want Mama, not Daddy."

"Mama's here Jack." Emily says as she picks up our son, who leans into her shoulder. Natalia is standing next to Melissa still but she looks like she's thinking over something. I'm about to pick her up when she reaches into the air and speaks out softly.

"Up please Daddy?" Emily catches my eye over Jack's head, but doesn't say anything to correct Natalia. I pick up and hold the mini version of Emily close to me.

"Daddy's here." I can feel Natalia's hold on my heart lock into place as I say it and I know I will do anything to keep this little girl safe.

Author's Note: I borrowed dialogue from Season 4 Episode 17. However I did tweak it so that the conversation could happen between Emily and Aaron instead of her and Rossi. It fits the story line better in this case. Let me know what you think.

-Lizzy