Author disclaimer: If you don't like Declan this story may not be for you.

Chapter 9

It was hot in El Paso and everyone's nerves were wearing thin. Emily's in particular. It was day three and they still had nothing new to go on for their profile. The information they had so far was the same they had on the jet despite the three new bodies. Emily snapped on Spencer three times yesterday, today he was afraid to even look in her direction. Emily was walking out of her room at 4:30am. She looked back at Aaron sleeping peacefully in her bed and wrote him a note explaining her departure. She changed into a pair of black joggers and debated wearing her sports bra as a top but as she checked her outfit in the mirror she noticed a slight swell that hadn't been as noticeable last week and opted to throw a light jacket over her sports bra. As she walked out she ran into Morgan who was also in his workout attire. He gave her a funny look and appeared to be profiling her.

"We actually running together?" He asked.

"Why wouldn't we?" Emily asked.

"You've been cancelling out spar sessions lately, you're not avoiding me are you?" He looked hurt as he asked.

"I've been busy Morgan, why would I avoid kicking your ass?" She joked.

He took her word for it but still looked her up and down taking in her appearance.

"You're going to overheat in that. You usually just wear your sports bra, your scar bothering you again?" He asked concerned. Emily should know by now her scar wasn't something she should be ashamed of. He had held her hand that night and knew how traumatic the night had been. He was the only one she let see it due to their morning workouts.

"Kind of." She admitted.

"Emily you know I don't judge you. You know you can be yourself around me, you can trust me." He looked hurt as he spoke.

"Are we going to talk or are we going to run?" She said as she started running without him.

"Easy deflection Em." He said to himself.

When they finished mile four Emily found herself lucky at avoiding continuing the talk as her phone began to ring.

"Hello my child" Emily greeted. Emily was greeted by little giggles which brought a smile to her face. Morgan looked at her confused as she answered the phone in French and not with her usual 'prentiss'.

"Mama when are you picking me up? You said you had a surprise for me!" He asked excitedly.

"I got called out on a case, but I'll be coming to get you for the weekend if we leave by Friday" She replied with a smile.

"And the surprise?" Declan asked.

"And the surprise will be with me. Unless you don't want to know." She teased.

"No, no, no I definitely want to know! I have to go to class now mama." He replied sadly.

"Okay sweetie I'll be there Friday if we get to leave in time. If not I'll call you back to let you know when." She replied sadly. Emily was sad she couldn't fully be there for him all of the time but that's what this job means right? Would he be happy about Baby? Would he be okay with her newfound relationship? How the hell was she going to handle a newborn and Dec? She hadn't talked to any of her team about Declan but figured if anyone could understand it would be Aaron. She planned to tell him when they got back to D.C. If she didn't chicken out first.

Morgan was confused not only was she only speaking in French but she also went through 4 different emotions in one call. He was concerned and decided he would be watching her closely for now. He wasn't going to let her face something big alone again. They split up and went back to their rooms to get ready to meet up with the team at the station.

Emily dressed in a simple navy tee shirt that was a little loose in the abdomen but definitely showed a little more cleavage than usual and her classic tan cargo pants when she walked in to the crowded station. Earlier when they first got to El Paso she offered to help with the geographical profile with Spencer which had been the cause of so much of her stress. She knew he didn't mean anything negative when he said they needed more data but all she heard was that someone else had to die.

Suddenly Emily became nauseous and excused herself to make some tea in the break room in hopes to settle her stomach.

"So Emily's new boyfriend is French I think." Derek stated causing JJ, Reid, Rossi and Hotch to look up.

"Why French?" Reid asked.

"She was talking to someone in French on the phone after our run this morning at first she was happy, then she got a bit upset. Maybe they're fighting?" He suggested.

"She's going to kick your ass for talking about her behind her back." Emily stated loudly as she walked back into the room with her tea. Derek visibly gulped while everyone turned their backs and pretended to be busy with other tasks.

Everyone started to look over the files, Emily and Spencer started to go over their geographic map.

"I don't know how we're going to finish this with more d—"Reid stated before he was interrupted.

"More what Reid?!" Emily snapped. "More bodies? More grieving families?"

She peered around at the team who all stopped what they were doing to look up. Emily immediately felt guilty for being so harsh with Spencer. When anyone else wanted to yell shut up when started to spew facts Emily had always indulged in his nerdy nonsense. She seen him as a little brother and knew he didn't mean that but her hormones weren't letting her be a sane rational human today.

"Oh my god Reid I'm so sorry! I didn't mean that! I know you don't want people to die. I'm sorry—I'm just…..frustrated." Emily said with red cheeks while fumbling to tuck a few strands of hair behind her ear. JJ caught the look and started to cackle while making eye contact with Hotch. Hotch took a minute to become confused before also became red upon realization that Emily was FRUSTRATED in more ways than he expected. This threw JJ into a whole new level of laughter. Morgan joined in even though he was unsure of what she was laughing about but JJs laughter seemed to be contagious.

"Umm. I was thinking. If he keeps them for 3 days before dumping one how is decomp so fresh with this heat? He kills them almost immediately after taking them." Spencer blurted out refocusing the group. "And I accept your apology Emily. I know I can be a bit much sometimes."

Emily took Spencer into a hug while whispering into his ear that it wasn't his fault she yelled and that he wasn't a burden.

"Meat Locker!" Morgan yelled at the thought crossed his mind. "I'll call Garcia to see what she can give us."

Twenty minutes later the team were making their ways to the shiny black SUVs. Hotch barked directions at everyone but didn't mention Prentiss anywhere in his orders. Emily looked to him in confusion.

"Prentiss head to the hotel and start the checkout process for the team." He directed lastly as everyone looked around confused JJ shrugged and led everyone away towards the SUVs.

"Hotch I—" Emily started to protest before she felt his hand touch her swollen bump. Nobody saw this action, but in this moment she knew he was trying to protect his baby by keeping her at a distance from this takedown. Aaron made that decision, not Hotch, Aaron was protecting his family while Hotch would utilize all of his agents.

Emily was carefully repacking her go bag when she heard her phone chime.

Easy takedown, everyone's safe.

Before she could respond it chimed again.

Got a second?

For you? Of course. She responded.

Open up?

Before Emily could respond she heard a small knock. As Emily opened the door Aaron made his way inside. He immediately took her in his arms and kissed her with fever. When they finally separated her lips were swollen, her cheeks were flushed rose and her shirt raised a few inches.

"Frustrated huh?" Aaron said with a small half smile with his dimpled cheek appearing.

"Cocky ass." Emily huffed while gathering her composure.

"I'll have to do something about that." Aaron replied with a husky baritone to his voice.

"Come over tonight? Emily asked. She hated how weak she sounded asking for company.

"Jessica's dropping Jack off at 5:30." He replied.

"I've got a spare room with plenty of Disney, Pixar and Dreamworks movies for Henry. I'm sure he wouldn't mind sharing with cousin Jack." Emily suggested.

She didn't want to sound desperate, but she'd been dreaming of their night together for weeks and her hormones had her patience and nerves wearing thin.

"Em, I'd love to give you everything you've been craving but if memory serves right Disney movies may not be loud enough and Jacks a light sleeper." He whispered in her ears he placed a kiss to her neck.

"Sound proof walls Aaron…..sound proof." She purred heavily against his throat.

"I'll be over at 6. What do you and Baby feel like for dinner? Chinese? Thai?" He asked.

"MCDONALDS! Please lord get me some fries!" Emily begged. Hotch barked out laughing.

"So you're done trying to eat as clean as possible?" He asked out of breath.

"If I see another salad or another grilled chicken I may die. Also I can finally keep meals down all day so I have time to make up for here." She exaggerated.

"Anything for you sweetheart." The words rolled of the tongue as if he'd been saying them for years. He placed a soft subtle kiss to her lips as he backed up. "Our jet leaves in 30 minutes you may want to wear something baggy when we board. Reid and Morgan have been staring at Baby a lot and I don't know if you're ready to say anything yet."

"I'm actually out of baggy clothes at this point nothings really loose anymore. I think it may be time to tell everyone about baby anyway. They probably already know somethings up seeing as how I'm no longer helping Derek bust down doors." She smiled at the memories. "And unless they ask about the father or specifically you we could come clean. If that's okay I mean? I can't keep Baby a secret much more, but I do like having you all to myself."

"Sound great to me Em. I like having you to myself too. I'll see you two at the airstrip, but for now I need to repack my bag." He said while rubbing her stomach and placing gentle kisses to her soft blushed lips.