AN: Sorry it took me a while to get this up. There was a whole bunch of reasons but its finally here!

If you have anything you want to see please let me know :)

This chapter was co-written with TriciaMarie23 - Thank you for being an awesome help!

Upon arriving home, the two got straight to work in painting the bedroom. JJ had settled on the Kilz brand, drop of teal. It wasn't too bright and wasn't too dark. It was perfect, to go along with all the white furniture and butterflies which had been picked out the day before, most of which had now been delivered and were in flatpack boxes in the front room. Emily put painters tape around the room, along the trim, and placed plastic on the floor, so they wouldn't get paint on the floor by accident.

Emily had painted all-round the edges of the room, so in the end it looked neat, while JJ sat with a mini roller, painting the lower half of the walls, and Emily with her normal roller was doing the top half. So far, they only stopped so JJ could have a nap and some lunch, while Emily had lunch and sorted through everything that had been delivered, for when it was assembled later on.

They were back doing a second coat of paint, when JJ started to get a little bored. She saw Emily distracted, sat on the floor and she started on the lower half of the walls, having done the other two walls, and leaving JJ to do her own. So, the small blonde smiled. The kid in her, taking over for a moment. She dipped the roller in the wet paint tray and stood, walking over to Emily who had her back turned. She put the roller on the top of the woman's head, rolling it back and forth as the paint spread over dark hair and even down to her forehead.

It took a moment for Emily to even understand what was happening. She sat frozen as something cool and wet spread over her hair and then down her face. She heard JJ giggle and knew she couldn't be mad. So, when she felt the girl step back, she turned round to face her friend one eyebrow raised.

JJ dropped to the floor as she laughed hysterically at the profiler's face. "I got you." She laughed.

Emily picked up the paint brush, which had been discarded earlier, and swiped it over JJ's nose and cheeks. Chuckling herself when she saw the shock on the blonde's face. "I got you too."

That's where it began, a paint fight between the woman and child. Both chasing each other round the room with rollers and brushes in hand. ***Just when Emily thought the paint fight was over, she picked up her discarded roller, and got back to work. JJ, with a cheeky grin on her face, stuck her small paint brush in the paint, and flung the paint brush, that's dripping with paint, at Emily. The brunette turns around just as the paint is flying towards her, and splashes all over her face, and her shirt. The young blonde starts laughing uncontrollably.

"Why you little turd," Emily tells the girl, giggling.

The young child starts giggling all over again, "I-I couldn't help myself!" JJ tells her in between giggles.

Emily walks over to the girl, starts tickling her. "Alright kiddo, we need to finish this room up. Time to get back to business." Emily tells her, with a fake stern look, arms crossed.

JJ just looks at Emily, gives a salute, "Yes ma'am!"

"You're being awfully cheeky little girl," Emily jokes. Both girls picked up their paint rollers and got back to painting the room.

By the time they finished painting, Emily realized they had run over and were supposed to be meeting Hotch and Jack at Applebee's, they had an hour to shower and get dressed. Which for two girls wasn't long enough. So, Emily had quickly showered herself and gotten dressing in black skinny jeans, a chunky burgundy sweater with a turtleneck, and her favorite chunky heeled boots, before she stuck JJ in the shower helping her clean up, and then dressed her in a blue skater dress, which was thankfully plain on the top and floral on the bottom half, so they paired it with some pale pink tights and cardigan, and blue dolly shoes.

Emily sets JJ on her hip as they make their way over to Hotch and Jack who she can see in a booth both looking down at something on the table as they sit next to each other. "Hi, I'm so sorry we're late." She says as she places JJ on the seat.

She leans over to Jack ruffling his hair, as he sat toward the wall of the booth, then leaned down to Hotch giving him a quick peck before she sat down on her side of the booth, locking JJ in next to the wall. "We got a little bit carried away painting the walls, which are now fully finished by the way." Her and Hotch had discussed if things were to go okay tonight between the children, then he would come back like they originally planned, for a sleepover, and while the kids were sleeping, they would put together the flat packed furniture.

"It's fine," Hotch waved them off with a smile. "Jack was just telling me about some of the things he did with Jessica this week." With the case running long and then the excessive paperwork and meetings he'd done the day before, he only just got Jack back early this morning, just as the 8-year-old usually did, he spent the day talking about everything he'd done in detail, even if it was just a couple trips to the park.

Emily loved to hear the stuff Jack did with Jessica, and she would make sure she showed the boy just how much she loved the time he spent with his aunt. She always had a fear that as Jack grew up, he would resent her, she didn't want him to think she was replacing his mother, or his aunt Jessica. She wanted him to spend as much time as he wanted with Jessica. "Ooo," she said excitedly. "I bet you've had the most amazing time." She grinned at the boy. She then put her arm around JJ, making the blonde look up from her knees. "Jack, this is JJ. She's come to stay with me for a while."

"Why?" The brunette boy asked, tilting his head slightly.

The profiler frowned slightly. "Why what?"

"Why is she staying with you?" He asked bluntly, looking between Emily and JJ, his eyes following the pale arm over the girl's shoulder. Both adults noticed his eyes looking round taking in what was in front of him.

"Jack," the unit chief said, scolding him mildly. "What did I say about those questions?" The father asked his son, knowing he'd not long since had a chat with Jack stating that Emily was bringing a little girl, and certain things might make her upset. Hotch didn't know what else to tell him to avoid him asking questions they couldn't answer.

Jack looked to his dad, with a pout on his face. "Sorry Daddy. I forgot." That pout could get him to forgive for anything and Jack knew it. He would always pull it out whenever he was in a smidge of trouble.

JJ had sat watching, biting her bottom lip. She was so unsure how to behave, she could feel the child in her twitching to come out and grab some of the crayons on the table and start coloring, she could feel the adult in her telling her to calm down and sit quietly, and she could also feel the way Jack wasn't best pleased she was here and taking his favorite aunt from having his full attention.

"It's okay Jack-Jack." Emily smiled softly. "JJ is staying with me until she can go and stay with her family again." She prayed the boy wouldn't ask many more questions.

The school aged boy looked at his aunt and looked at JJ. He then looked to his dad who was looking down at him eyebrow raised. He sighed and looked back to the girl smaller than himself. He could tell she was shy and different from other kids in his class. She seemed quiet reminding himself how he was after his mother died. "Aunt Em' is really cool. You'll like staying with my aunt Em'." He said to JJ softly. He saw Emily smile and out the corner of his eye saw his dad relax. He knew then he'd done the right thing.

"Okay." JJ mumbled pushing herself into Emily's side a little.

One of the many things that worried Emily and Hotch was that there would be jealousy. They both noted they had shown a slight hint of jealousy a couple moments ago but had relaxed when paying attention to how everyone was acting. It was something they were going to have to continue to keep an eye on because jealousy can pop up at any time. They could also see how JJ was having her own battle, unsure of what to do, say, or even how to be, and was instead becoming clingy and shy to hide whatever was going on.

"Do you like to color JJ?" Jack asked.

"I guess." She shrugged, whispering, and felt a bout of anxiety as she felt Hotch's eyes on her, as she interacted with his son.

Jack grabbed the crayons opening them onto the table. "Here, what's your favorite color?" He asked, not looking up from the few crayons he had in front of him, already trying to plan out where he was going to use the colors on his own picture.

Emily softly nudged JJ to not hide "Blue."

"Mine too, you can use the blue first." He held out the blue crayon waiting for the younger girl to take it from him.

JJ looked up to Emily who moved her slightly prompting her to interact. So, she got onto her knees, kneeling up so she could see the picture properly and reach the crayon which was being held out. "Thank you." She whispered as she took the blue crayon and put it to the paper.

Seemingly happy Jack took the red crayon and began on his own picture.

While the kids colored both profilers picked their food, both settling on a pasta dish, before then wanting to tackle what the kids wanted to eat. Hotch turned to Jack while Emily turned to JJ. "JJ, do you know what you want?" She asked JJ, interrupting her from coloring the sky in her picture.

"No." The blonde shrugged, turning back to her paper, tongue stuck out between her teeth as she focused intently on her picture.

Emily pushed the menu toward JJ, it slightly overlapped her picture which made JJ look up to Emily then down to the menu. "Look at the menu with me." The dark-haired profiler prompted.

Looking over the menu, JJ tried to focus, she could recognize the letters, if someone was to ask her that she could name the letters easily. And she knew deep down she knew those words on the page. But her brain couldn't seem to put them together. There were sections she could make the sounds like 'th' or 'ch', 'ee' and the word 'dog' but figuring out how to put them together was something her new brain was refusing to do. "I can't read lots of the words." She said shuffling closer to Emily and back under her arm with a pout.

"That's okay. I'll help you."

Jack sat watching his aunt with the new girl. He wanted her to help and not his dad. "Aunt Em, help me look."

"One second Jack-Jack. Let JJ pick and then I'll help you."

"But I want to pick now." He pouted, crossing his arms over his chest. This was the jealousy they were just thinking about.

Hotch sighed, he raised an eyebrow looking down to the boy who's eyes wouldn't stop flickering between Emily and JJ. "Jack, if you want Emily to help you have to wait your turn. She will help you." He emphasised to the boy now looking up to him an angry pout on his face. "But how about for now you have a look over your menu, so you have an idea what you want." He really wanted this to work, but he knew that with Jack being a single child he got all the attention and now with JJ he wouldn't get all the attention. Clearly the boy was realising that. This wasn't just going to be a learning thing for the adults and JJ, but Jack as well. He was going to have to learn to share the adults.

Jack still sported his pout to his dad. "Why's JJ getting help first?"

The father looked up to see JJ was fully engrossed in the menu and Emily was splitting her focus between the little girl and their conversation. "Because she can't read yet," Aaron said with his voice a little quieter, in case that was something JJ didn't want broadcasting to the restaurant, luckily she still seemed to focus on the paper on the table. "but you can, so take it in turns alright bud?"

"Fine." The brunette boy pouted.

After JJ had chosen what she wanted Emily was then able to help Jack, and from then on dinner went well. Jack was talking about his friends, school and his aunt Jessica. It kept everyone involved in the conversation. He even managed to get JJ talking about soccer, when he was telling them about the soccer team in school. It was a relief to both Emily and Aaron when the two kids got on. Continuing to color and chat, and Jack even offering half his fries when JJ knocked most of hers onto the floor.

With it very quickly going past the kids bed time they decided to leave and the Hotchners decided they would go for a sleep over at the new house. The children were strapped into the car, and Emily and Hotch took a few minutes to themselves outside while the two in the car had a few minutes alone where they could see them out the corner of their eyes.

Emily was stood arms round Aaron's neck, looking up at him after taking a glance at the kids in the car. "Is it okay leaving them in the car like that?" She asked softly.

"Yes," The profiler smiled down at his girlfriend in mother mode. "We can see them both. Let's just see how they get on without you there." He lowered his head capturing glossed lips with his own, having a couple seconds of adult time.

After being strapped in the car and left alone the two kids sat silently. JJ was grateful for the quiet. Her head ached so much, she was exhausted, her stomach felt over full, and a small chill came over her. All through the rest of the meal as her mind switched from adult to child continuously, she noted how Jack seemed to be a little jealous of the fact she was there, he wanted his Aunt Em, even though the boy understood why JJ was with Emily, it didn't stop him wanting the older woman to help him as much as she was helping JJ. The little blonde could feel her eyes closing as she waited for the adults to do whatever they were doing, when Jack's voice disturbed her.

"Ewww aunt Em and Daddy are kissing, look!" He said pointing out the front window, scrunching up his nose.

JJ leaned over so she could see through the middle and out the front. Before she could think or let her adult mind do anything, she said "Gross." Grimacing at the adults kissing. The adult which was slipping deep inside her was smiling internally she was glad to see Emily this way.

Jack turned to JJ as she sat back in her seat. "Do you kiss boys?" the Hotchner boy was always one to be asking questions, adults and kids he didn't care. He was a very curious 8 year old and wanted to know everything.

"No, do you kiss girls?" The small girl asked Jack, who now, there was no adults around, was more at ease, JJ noted in her head.

The young boy scrunched his eyebrows and pursed his lips. "No, girls have cooties."

"Boys have more cooties." JJ protested.

"I don't have cooties." Jack whined wanting to win this debate. "Daddy makes sure I don't." He said matter-of-factly crossing his arms and pointing his nose up for a moment, before hurriedly looking round the car for something in an almost panic. "Did you bring your picture?"

JJ sighed relaxing back in her seat now. Yawning a little "Yeah, your daddy has it with your picture."

"Oh cool." A silence settled between them. JJ slumping further and further into her seat and Jack humming swaying from side to side, contemplating something when he turned back to JJ asking, "Why are you staying with auntie Em?"

A soft sigh came from JJ as she tried to think of a good answer. It took a couple minutes before she was able to reply with. "I'm not allowed to be with my family." That seemed reasonable. Surely the boy would understand that. It was true she couldn't be with her real family, they were, well either dead or in jail. So it was the most truthful she could get with him.

"Oh, are you sad." Jack asked curiously.

"Dunno." The young girl replied, shrugging her small shoulders.

Jack nodded. "Well, we can be friends, so you're not sad." He smiled.

Through a big yawn JJ huffed out an, "Okay."

Jack watched JJ his head tilted slightly. "Are you tired?"

The little agent was exhausted, it had been a long day for someone who was now as small as she was. "Yeah. I want to go to bed now."

"Here Auntie Em always keeps a blanket in her car," Jack reached onto the parcel shelf pulling the navy blanket down and helping JJ cover herself with it. "She said it's for me in case I get cold or tired. You can use it." JJ could tell her and Jack would probably be able to get on well while she was like this, they would just need an adjustment period so he could get used to having her there, and so she could get used to being a child and not feel as anxious around him.

"Thank you, Jack-Jack." JJ yawned once again as she pulled the blanket high, resting her head against the door of the car letting her eyes flutter closed. "Night night." She mumbled out, as she fell to sleep.

"Night night JJ." Jack said softly. He watched her for a moment before shrugging, maybe she wasn't actually that bad and they could be friends he thought. He just loved his Aunt Em so much he didn't want her to forget he was there too.

*Outside of the vehicle*

Peeking inside the car, Aaron could see his son giving JJ the blanket, and helping her lay the blanket on top of her. "Think the kids are getting along."

Emily looks into the vehicle, "They indeed look like they're getting along. Wonder how long that will last. This is of course their first evening together."

"True enough. They'll get it worked out. Their kids. There is bound to be jealousy." Aaron tells her.

"You're right," Emily tells him. She looks inside the vehicle one last time. "We should get them home." She turned back to look up to her boyfriend. "You two sure your staying over tonight?" She asked double checking he still wanted to stay. To everyone they saw a confident Emily, but Hotch saw the, shy, insecure, woman she could be. Always double and triple checking things, and doubting herself even when there was no need.

"Yes," the unt chief chuckled shaking his head, before placing a kiss to the top of a pale forehead. "If you would still like us to come over. I know the kids seem like they're getting along." Aaron answers. The both smile heading to their cars which are parked side by side, he turns to Emily watching her turn to the car about to open the door but he says, "You know, you have paint in your hair."

"Ugh, do I?" Emily groans, reaching the back of her head. "I thought I had gotten it all out. Little missy decided she wanted to have a paint war." She pulled at the spot she could feel the paint hoping maybe it would just crumble out her har now it had dried. No such luck, she'd need another shower later.

Laughing, Aaron replies, "Oh really? I'd say she must have gotten you good. Seems like she's starting to settle in." He smiled before getting in his own car, as Emily got in hers with the kids, so they could both drive to their home.