"I need to talk to you asap!" Amber said, dragging her older brother into the house and up to her room.

"Calm down what happen?"

Amber was quick to shut the door, "I overhear mom talking with dad, he told her that he wanted to work things out between them."

"Since when did you start calling him dad again?"

Amber rolled her eyes, "Oh shut up, you call him dad behind closed doors too."

James shook his head and sat on her desk chair, "When did you hear this?"

"An hour ago, dad flipped when he saw Mark and I in the kitchen together. We both said some things before mom and Uncle Sean broke it up, he gave us money to go to the store and then pushed us out of the house. I was just about to get in the car when I came back in for my jacket and saw mom pushing dad into her office. I know I shouldn't have listened at the door but I did, she explained some things to him and then told him that she still loved him!"

James' eyebrows rose, "She still loves him? After everything he did to her? After he threw out 20 plus years of marriage and is sleeping with a younger woman?"

Amber nodded, "That's how I reacted and then she kissed him!"

James looked angry, "What did she say to him asking to have her back?"

Amber shrugged, "All I heard before running back outside was her telling him that she would think about."

The older boy looked like he wanted to punch something or someone, he kept his hands fisted at his side and took several deep breathes.

"I don't care about him or his feelings but I am going to protect mom no matter what. He wants to toy with her and hurt her again, then we can all play his game."

Amber made a face and looked at Mark on her bed, the older boy looked confused as well, "What do you mean J?"

"Here is what we are going to do..."

The older kids came down stairs a few minutes later, there plan starting to take form much to Marks dismay.

"Does everyone know the plan?" James asked before opening the door that cut them off from the party.

Amber nodded, "Sadly."

James pulled her into a hug, "I know that neither of us want to do this but we have to try something."

The younger girl nodded, "I want this over with,"

The three stepped outside and each located their targets, taking a deep breath and giving each other one last look the group slip off in their respected paths.

Amber made her way to the bounce house, "Bonnie and Clyde get over here."

Alex and Jordan made their way to their older sister, "What's wrong?"

Amber smiled, leading the girls off to the side, "I need your help with something."

~~~~~
James smiled at his Uncle, "What time is Darren coming over?"

Sean made a face, "He should be here soon, why, excited about tonight?"

James smiled, "Yes, but that's not why."

The younger boy walked away and sat down next to his grandmothers waiting for Sean's friend to arrive.

He looked over to his left and saw Amber telling the twins of their plan, he then looked at Mark and had to stiffen a laugh, the older boy looked so uneasy talking to his dad.

~~~~~
"So how long have you and Amber been seeing each other." Arron asked, his arms folded and a glare on his face.

"I would say a little under 6-months sir."

"How did you two meet?"

Mark shifted under his eyes, "I met her and Emily at one of the football games at school, they both came to cheer on James and after we won, J introduced me to them. We went for dinner and that gave me the chance to get to know your daughter and ex-wife."

Hotch nodded, "Why are you still in school, shouldn't a 23 year old have their degree by now?"

"I'm getting my Doctorates in Criminology sir, I'm about half way done with the 10 year program. I have my bachelor's and I'm about to start the second year of my master's."

"What's your GPA?"

"4.6, sir"

"Where do you work?"

"My father is a Lawyer and my mother works at Yale as a Professor, I was lucky enough to get a job with both. I work in the Biology department with my mother part time and the other half of my time is helping my father with his cases."

Aaron nodded his head, "This isn't an interrogation Hotch, let the boy breathe."

"I'm getting to know my daughter's friend Rossi."

"Boyfriend, Aaron, Mark is Amber's boyfriend." Rossi hinted to him, grilling more meat and putting the cooked ones on the food table.

"Thank you, David"

Mark smiled, "Sir, I love your daughter. I know that my age is something that you are worried about. Yes, I can drink legally and yes, she is under age in every aspect but she is a very smart woman and brings out the best in me. My younger siblings and my parents love her, I would never hurt her."

Aaron kept his arms crossed, "It's not that easy but OK."

"OK?"

Aaron nodded, "We're not done here but you passed for now."

Mark nodded and looked over at James, when Hotch turned to grab another drink. James motions for him to continue talking with his dad and Mark glared back.

"What are you waiting for?"

Mark coughed and turned back to his girlfriend's father, "I didn't know if you wanted to know more about me?"

Hotch glared and folded his arms, "Not really."

Mark gulped, "OK sir, I'll guess I'll be going then."

He was quick to get up and say goodbye to both Hotch and Dave before making his way towards Amber.

"Remind you of anyone?"

Hotch made a face, "Not at all."

"Oh really, maybe you should ask Emily's father that."

"Right and get shot in the process."

Rossi didn't say anything to him, he thought his best friend was a complete idiot for letting Emily go and if he wasn't with Erin now, he would have tried to be with her himself. But Rossi had pulled his own bullshit and cheated on his first wife, so he had no room to talk. Which is why he had volunteered to stay by Aaron's side threw the divorce, even when everyone else refused too.

"You might have a point; the man never comes to anything that you would be at anymore."

Aaron sighed, "I know and Elizabeth glares at me hard enough for the two of them. But I can't blame them at all for what I did."

Hotch was quick to stop talking as Beth came back from the washroom and sat down next to him, "Hello, honey."

Aaron smiled and put an arm around the girl, Rossi could see that his smile was tight, never reaching his eyes.

The older man shook his head and excused himself from the two, letting another father take over cooking, Rossi went into the kitchen and found his wife in the living room with baby Henry. Rossi smiled and hugged with blonde from behind, pulling her close.

"He's an idiot Erin, completely lying to himself about being happy."

Erin rocked Henry slightly and leaned into Dave, "He told her that he wanted to try and win her back."

Dave rolled his eyes, "He's told her that before Erin, even the night she found out he cheated."

Erin elbowed him in the ribs, "I know that!"

She turned around and saw the laughter in Dave's eyes as he rubbed his side, "But this time, she said that she'd thinking about it. She told me that she really will think about it."

Rossi gasped, "She said what? She really wants to take him back?"

Erin nodded and she placed the now asleep Henry in his portable crib and sat on the cough with Dave, "That's what I asked her, Em said that she isn't willing to get hurt or put the kids threw any of this if it does work. But, she will think about all of it. I know how much she misses him being home and with her but she can't forgive him cheating just like that. It will take time."

~~~~~
James smiled sitting down with his siblings and Mark, "Ok, Uncle Sean told me that Darren just got off the freeway, we need to make sure that dad is very close when he comes in."

It wasn't a big secret that Darren and Emily were into each other, they had gone out a few times and planned on seeing each other again soon but now Amber was sure there would be a doubt in her mother's mind.

"We just need to get them together fast today, I'm sure mom is thinking about dad's offer but once she gets close to Darren, let's hope his charm can persuade her otherwise."

James nodded, he really needed Darren to hurry up the street. He saw his mom out of the pool now and placing her wrap back on her hips, "And that's my cue. Mark, go wait by the door."

"Why am I even helping in this," the older boy sighed but got up and walked towards the house.

The twins ran over to their dad and started talking to him about anything, trying to get him to come inside.

Amber and James moved over to their mother, "I really hate you for this," the girl growled out. She sat down next to Beth and did her best to say hello.

James felt a little bad but soon reached his mother, "Mom!"

Emily turned and smiled at her son, "Yes honey?"

"Don't you think we should get the cake now? It's already 3pm." He said, referring to the invitation saying they would end at 4pm.

Emily nodded, "Thank you for reminding me J, let's go into the house and maybe you can carry it for me."

James smiled and followed his mom, Emily turning to see Amber and Beth talking, Amber looked very uncomfortable.

Emily would have stormed up to the two but they were at a party, she kindly made her way over, "I'm sorry to interrupt but I need to borrow my daughter for a minute."

Beth nodded and tried to sink further into her chair at the look behind Emily's eye, Emily pulled Amber up and in front of her, pushing her into the house. "What a bitch," Emily breathed under her breath and opened up the fridge for James. Emily heard the door bell and excused herself in time for Mark to open the door and let him in.

Emily froze in her tracks as Darren walked into the house, her smiled grew as he got closer to her.

"Thank you Mark, good to see you." His sexy English accent spilled out with ease as he made his was to the beauty waiting for him. Darren was grateful that Mark took the gifts from his hands and left them be, now he was free to pull the lovely woman close to him.

Darren reached for her with his hands, they went to her hips and pulled her to him. Emily smiled up into his eyes as she let her hands rest on his strong arms.

"Hello my darling, I've missed you so much." Darren said, leading one of his hands run up her side and cupped her cheek.

Normally neither of them would show such affection in this setting but everyone was outside and it was just the two of them left in the house.

Emily bit her bottom lip and let her hands fold around his neck, "I missed you too."

The younger woman leaned forwarded and let Darren claim her lips so well.

The two pulled apart and Emily wished he could claim her lips again, but this wasn't the place. "Are you staying longer?"

He nodded, "I promised James that I would take him out for winning Fridays game. It will be us two, Sean, Mark and I think Derek said he wanted to come along."

Emily smiled, "He mentioned going out with you guys, I think Will and David wanted to tag along too."

Darren smiled, "Oh that's perfect! It can be a proper boy's night out then!"

Emily laughed in the older man's arms; he was near Hotch's age but only 2 years younger. She did enjoy having him here, although they weren't in a relationship at all, Emily still liked him here when he was around but something further was still a step to far for her right now.

"Anything exciting happen while I was away on business?"

Emily shook her head, "Nothing big at all, James won on Friday, Amber got an A on that History project and the Twins made the soccer team."

Darren grinned, "I'm so proud of them all, I have to make sure to tell them that and have to do something with the girls so sure now!"

Emily shook her head, "Darren, you don't have to do anything, we aren't really.."

He placed a finger over her lips, "Dating or not dating Emily, you have invited me over every time Sean is here. We might not get to that point but I really like the shy kisses we share and the chance that I can help out your children anytime. I know I don't need to, but I want too. Even if you start seeing someone else, I still want to be friends at the least."

Emily smiled and gave him a hungry kiss, "Dating is very fast for me but I like what we share now. We can always take baby steps."

"What kind of baby steps?"

Emily raised her eyebrow a gave him a smile, "Oh you mean that, oh yes please Miss. Emily Prentiss."

She smiled, leaning in to kiss his lips again but instead was pulled from Darren's embrace and watched as Aaron punched him, sending the English man to the floor.

"Aaron!"