Their weekend had passed uneventfully, save for Jessica taking Jack home with her Friday night so that they could relax. And he had made her relax, bringing her breakfast in bed and catering to her every whim.
Erin woke him up before their alarm went off, kissing him softly. "Good morning, Aaron."
"Good morning, darling. How do you feel this morning?"
"Surprisingly good. Will you make me pancakes for breakfast?"
He kissed her once more before nodding. "If that's what you want. Are you going to shower this morning?"
"No, I took one last night, while you were talking to Dave." She climbed out of the bed and walked over to their closet, pulling out a loose fitting black dress.
Aaron watched his wife dress, loving how the dress clung to her baby bump. "You are so beautiful, Erin."
"And you are so not getting ready. Come on, lazy bones. The day is wasting." She went over to her vanity and began to do her hair and makeup. Dragging himself out of bed, he went into the bathroom and took a quick shower. Stepping out from the steamy warmth, he found Erin had laid out clothes for him.
Dressing quickly, he found her sitting at the kitchen table, sipping a glass of apple juice. "Do I meet your approval now, Erin?" he asked as he pulled out the pancake mix.
"You've always met my approval, Aaron. I just couldn't show you how much for the longest time." She rubbed her tiny bump, smiling beatifically. "And now I'm creating another child, with you. If that's not approval, what is?"
"I don't know, Princess." He came over to her side and kissed her cheek. "Now, do you want anything added to your pancakes?"
"If we still have them, those delicious cinnamon chips would be nice." Aaron nodded and opened the cupboard next to the fridge, pulling out the half empty bag. It didn't take long to whip up a stack for each of them, and he set the plate before Erin, who dug right in. It was so wonderful to see his wife have a healthy appetite, especially since things had been so touchy on Friday. "So, I was thinking that we could head out to the Smithsonian after work today, if you're not called out on a case?"
Erin was glancing at Jack, and Aaron realized that she wanted to have a family date. He hadn't had the opportunity to do something like that with Haley, and it made him smile, thinking of how much he wanted that experience with her and Jack. "I think that sounds wonderful. After all, it's supposed to rain, and what's a better way to spend a rainy day?"
"Watching movies and eating pizza?"
Erin let out a breathy laugh as she shook her head. "Well, yes, but there will be plenty of that later on in my pregnancy. We have to get out there while I can, okay?"
Jack nodded solemnly. "All right, Momma Erin."
It didn't take long for them to finish breakfast, and Jack loaded the dishwasher without even being prompted, which allowed Erin and Aaron to relax a little over their coffee. "Are you sure you're not going to be too tired if we walk around the museum complex?"
"I think I should be okay. And if I get a little too tired, there are places for me to sit and wait for you. Really, Aaron, I want to give him these experiences before I have to go on bedrest, if I have to. I've been preparing for that eventuality, though, given my age and previous pregnancy experiences."
Reaching out, he picked up her hand and squeezed it encouragingly. "We're all here to support you, I hope you know that."
"I do." She gave him a warm smile before lifting his hand to her lips and giving it a soft kiss. "Can I be honest with you?" He nodded. "I feel like there's a cloud hanging over me, and that things are going to be extremely rough from this point on. I want, so desperately, to be optimistic, but I don't think that things will lend themselves to that."
"You have to trust your instincts."
She nodded a little. "I know, and that's why I'm glad that the team has really started to thaw to me. Knowing that I have that support with me, too, will make things a little easier." The smile that spread across her face was gentle and tender, and Aaron found he couldn't help but get up and go to her side, dropping a kiss to her forehead before helping her to her feet.
"We're a family, Erin, and you're part of that now. Are you ready to head to work?"
"Yes." Aaron helped her to her feet, and she sighed in pleasure as they went out to the garage, Jack skipping ahead of them. The drive in to work didn't take too long, and he pecked Erin's lips before leaving her office and heading into the bullpen. Thankfully, they were just working on a consult for the Cedar Rapids police department, which meant that he could go see Erin for lunch.
"Your mind really isn't here today, is it?"
Startled, he looked up to see JJ giving him a whimsical smile and he shook his head a little. "Sorry, my focus is divided a little right now, since I'm trying not to be concerned about Erin and keep myself on task."
She nodded a little as she went over and sat next to him, leaning forward a little as she reached out and rubbed his shoulder. "And she's in the beginning of a high risk pregnancy that's complicated by the stress of her job. It's okay to have your mind on your wife at a time like this. At least when I was pregnant, Will knew that you guys were watching out for me every day, with Erin, she's in her office, sequestered away from most people, and so there is going to be a louder what if voice in your head."
He dipped his chin a little as he leaned back in his chair, letting out a long breath. "There's also the guilt to contend with."
"Guilt?"
"Jack was a high risk pregnancy, too, and I didn't spend nearly enough time with Hailey, as I should have. And if things continue as they are, then I'll spend just as little time with Erin. I should be making time for her, for them, and it seems like I'm mired ever deeper in the darkness that coats some souls."
"You should have stuck with being a lawyer, Hotch. You still know how to turn a phrase." They both chuckled as he sat up and shook his head. "Look, if you're that worried about her, why don't you bring lunch by? I'm certain she'd love to spend more time with you."
Aaron tapped his fingers against his thigh before standing and making his way over to the door. "I think I'll go and see what she'd like me to pick up, and maybe take a long lunch. I think that you all have this case covered?"
JJ smiled at him and nodded. "We more than have this covered, Hotch. And I'll come get you, if we should need anything."
Somehow, he knew that she would do everything in her power to ensure that he and Erin were uninterrupted until whenever he chose to come back to the bullpen. It was so good to know that his team had his back in matters like this, and he let out a pleased breath as he started down the stairs and made his way through the bullpen, nodding to Emily and Morgan as he passed by their desks. He found himself torn between concern and happiness as he thought about spending the morning and early afternoon with his wife, quietly working with her as he tried to not make it clear that he was hovering. Even though he knew that she would know he was hovering.
He waved at Carri, who was talking to someone on the phone, and she waved back, a warm smile on her face. He was glad that Erin had such a competent, kind, assistant to help her with her work, since that meant she would have a good helper for when she did have to go on bedrest, since Aaron was almost certain that Erin would be working from home, despite doctor's orders. Taking a deep breath, he opened the door to Erin's office and immediately began to look around for her when he noticed that she wasn't sitting behind her desk.
"Erin!" he cried out when he finally noticed her laying on the ground next to her coffee table, a large, wet, stain almost haloing her head. Fearing the worst, he rushed over to her side, and knelt on the ground, pressing his fingers to the stain and then looking at them. To his immense relief, the liquid was a light brown and smelled strongly of tea, which told him she hadn't hit her head, but he was still concerned with the fact that she hadn't reacted to his voice. "Carri! I need you in here, now!"
Moments later, the woman ran in, a sharp gasp escaping her lips when she found them. "What happened?"
"I don't know, I found her like this. I need you to call an ambulance, since we knew that this was going to be a high risk pregnancy. Has Erin given you the name and number of her OB?" Carri nodded. "Good. After you get an ambulance on the way here, please call her and have her meet us at whichever hospital the paramedics choose to send us to."
"Of course, Agent Hotchner. Would you like me to also inform the team what's going on?"
He shrugged as he stroked Erin's hair, frantically wishing that she would wake up. "I assume that they're going to know when the paramedics arrive on this floor that something out of the ordinary is happening. Please, hurry."
Carri gave him another frantic nod before rushing over to Erin's desk and picking up the phone. Aaron heard her speak into the receiver, though he wasn't paying attention to what she was saying as his entire focus was on his wife and her too still form. At least she was breathing, and didn't appear to be in early labor. Not that he had much experience with that, but still, he was willing to take whatever small sliver of hope that he could hold onto in that moment.
Aaron wasn't certain how much time had passed before he heard the commotion of people rushing into Erin's office, but then he was gently being pushed aside so that the paramedics could do their job, and he did his best to answer all their questions. "All right, are you going to ride with us to the hospital, or follow in your own vehicle?" the lead paramedic asked, and he looked up at Carri.
"I'm going to ride with you. Carri, one last thing. Please call Jessica and have her take care of Jack. She'll know what needs to be done, I just can't split my focus at the moment."
"I understand, sir. I'll let her know what's going on, and tell her where you are." Carri gave him a tremulous smile as he took hold of Erin's limp hand and went with the paramedics out into the hall, his full attention only on his wife and hoping that everything would be all right in the end.