"Are you coming to see Penelope with us this morning?" Erin asked as she finished dressing Irene. Turning, she looked at him in the mirror, a tender smile on her lips as she cradled the baby.

He smiled back, adjusting his tie. "I'm going to see Dave first and check on his progress. I hope one of them wakes up today. I'm starting to worry."

"It's only been three days, Aaron. Surgery takes a lot out of the body. As long as their vitals remain strong, I know they're getting better." He turned and closed the distance between them, bending to kiss her tenderly. "I love you, Aaron."

"And I love you, Rin." He took her arm and they went down to the kitchen. Jack was sitting patiently at the table and while Erin set Irene up in the high chair they'd dug out of the attic, he poured cereal for his son.

"Momma, may I go with you to visit Aunt Penelope and Uncle Dave? I miss them."

"Honey, you have school to think about first." Erin looked up at him, and he knew what the next words out of her mouth would be. "But have Aunt Jessica run you by the hospital after school. I'm going to be there all day."

"Thank you!" He dug into his food, and Aaron chuckled as he set a bagel down in front of his wife.

"And what about your work?"

"I can conference with Carri over the laptop. Penelope set up the link for me if I ever needed it. I certainly think this counts, Westley." He squeezed her shoulder and then made up a bottle for Irene, while Erin ate. It was weird to thaw another woman's breast milk, but Erin had insisted they keep their goddaughter on the same food she was used to.

When they'd finished breakfast, Aaron herded everyone out and dropped Jack off at school before going to the hospital. "How are you feeling this morning?" he asked as they rode up on the elevator.

"No morning sickness yet, which is good. I have to drive my car to work tomorrow."

"Why?"

"I have an appointment with our OB."

"I want to be there."

"You have a class to teach at that time. You can't get out of it, I already checked. This isn't the big one, anyway. That'll be in twelve weeks or so, when we get to find out what we're having." She wrapped her arm around his waist and pulled him close, so that their hips were touching.

They got to their floor and went separate way, since Dave was in another wing of the surgical recovery floor. A nurse was just coming out of his room and nodded to Aaron as he went in. Dave's chest moved up and down slowly, but he was off the breathing machine, and Aaron smiled as he took a seat next to his friend's side.

"Irene misses her daddy, Dave. You need to wake up soon and see her. I have to teach a class tomorrow, since you're holed up here. God, I hate teaching those kids. None of them ever pays attention to me."

"Maybe, maybe you're boring." Aaron's head shot up in amazement, looking into Rossi's tired brown eyes. "So, what's the damage?"

"Shattered femur, fractured ribs, and a reinflated lung. Erin's ready to crucify Lynch."

"It was him, then. I thought I recognized his weasely face. How're Penelope and Irene?"

"Irene's fine, we've been taking care of her like you wanted." He smiled. "She's good practice for us. As for Penelope, they had to take out her spleen. Other than that, she's fine."

"Wonderful." They talked for a few minutes longer, but Aaron could tell he was sleepy and in pain, so he made his excuses and let to see Erin before he went to work for the day. As he paused outside the door, he heard the happy chatter of two friends, and he began to grin.

"Hello, ladies," he said as he entered the room.

"Hotch! How's my husband?" Penelope asked after he'd kissed her cheek softly.

"Awake and cranky."

"Why does that not surprise me? Thank you for looking after Irene. It means so much that you guys would do this for us. I should have said something about making you guardians but there was never a good time. Erin's told me you've been really good with her."

"Like I told Dave, Irene is good practice for our own bundle of joy coming soon." He kissed Erin and looked at Penelope and Irene. "I'll see you tonight when I come pick up you and Jack." Erin nodded and he left the room, going out to the car. As he drove to the Academy, he thought about what he would tell the class tomorrow He honestly did not like talking to all those kids. If they were all like Reid or Jack, it would be one thing.

Shaking his head, he stepped into the elevator and checked his phone. Aaron smiled when he saw Erin had changed his wallpaper to a picture of her and Jack. He checked his messages and saw a new text from Erin I missed having you tell me you love me this morning. I love you. Buttercup

Landscaping his phone, he quickly tapped a reply. Let it never be said that I don't love my Princess Buttercup. However, you were a little busy talking to Penelope. I love you. Westley

By the time he'd gotten to his office, he already had a reply from Erin. He pulled out his phone and looked at the display screen. Aaron! Wonderful news! They're releasing Penny into my care! I'll be over at their house with Jack tonight, okay? Once again, I love you.

Aaron felt his face relax into a grin as he put the phone back in his pocket. Standing in front of the window, he looked down on the bullpen, searching out his team. Morgan was talking to Emily while Reid was working on some paperwork. He must have felt eyes upon him, as he looked up to meet Hotch's gaze.

Reid furrowed his brow and Aaron gestured with his head towards the conference room. The young man stood up and ambled over to Morgan and Prentiss, speaking to them before guiding them up. Aaron quickly joined them, and they looked to him as he entered. "What's up, Hotch?"

"I just got a text from Erin. Penelope's vitals are looking good enough that she'll be released today."

"We should bring them supper. Neither is going to feel up to making anything, after a day like today. They both like Italian, right?" Morgan asked as he wrapped an arm around Prentiss's waist.

"Uh huh," he replied absently. "Where's JJ?"

"Come to think of it, I haven't seen her yet this morning." They all looked out at the bullpen to see JJ rush in, a pensive look on her face. She set her things on her desk and joined them in the office.

"Sorry I'm late, everyone. We had a meltdown and it took me forever to calm Henry down. Why are we all in here?"

"Penelope's coming home today. We were talking about bring supper over to her, Erin, and Jack, since they won't be up to making anything. Would you like to come along?" Reid asked.

"Sure, I'll just have to let Will know." JJ smiled a little at Reid and then they all split up to do their work. Aaron found he had a hard time concentrating on his files that morning, given the good news they had received. His class went better than he had expected, though he still did not want to repeat the experience anytime soon. He'd much rather face a mountain of paperwork.

"We're heading home now, Erin. Don't worry about dinner, we're going to make it for you," he said as he shut down his computer.

"Thank you, honey. Ugh."

"What is it, Erin?" he asked, concern tinging his voice.

"My stomach hurts, it has been all day. I think the stress from the last few days is taking a toll on my body."

"Then I want you to sit down and stay seated until we head to our home tonight. You need to take care of yourself, Buttercup, and the baby."

"I know, Aaron. I'll see you soon?"

"As soon as we pick up food. I love you."

"Love you, too, my dearest heart." He could hear the quiver in her voice and longed to be there, to hold her in his arms. "Hurry back." Erin hung up and he stared at his phone, hoping that everything was okay with his wife.

Sighing, he stuffed the phone in his pocket and closed his briefcase, picking it up on his way out the door, joining his team in the bullpen. "All right, so it feels like an evening for comfort food. Erin love macaroni and cheese and lasagna."

"I know the perfect place, Hotch," JJ said, and he nodded, wanting nothing more than to be home and to hold his Erin close to his heart.