Lorelai woke up the next morning. She laid in bed for a bit. She knew things were about to change. The life she knew was over. She looked at her phone. It was 8:23 and she had a few texts telling her they would be there around 10. She didn't know if she was ready for this. She didn't have a choice in the matter. It actually made her angry. She had been depending on herself for as long as she could remember. She had made something of herself without help. Well without much help the team had done a lot to help her. But she figured out her own life on her own. Why did this have to happen just because she was lied to. She decided. It wasn't going to change.
She texted Hotch. 'I appreciate how much you seem to care, and I know you mean well but its not fair for me to have to go from the life I have created to one you decided simply because I was lied too. I am not moving.' She pressed send. She put her phone down and started to get ready for the day. She was sure Hotch would let the others know not to come. She started making the coffee when she heard a knock on her door.
Her heart suddenly was in her throat. She knew that knock. She realized how stupid she had been. When Hotch tells you that you are doing something. You do it. She didn't know what to do. She was frozen. There was a second knock this one a little harder. Than she heard her phone ringing. She took a breathe and went to the door grabbing her phone on the way and saw it was Hotch calling, so she just opened the door.
"Hi." She said
Hotch just stared at her. That stare. That wears you down. Till you cave and do what is right.
"Okay, your angry…I get it.
He continued to just stare.
"I'm sorry." She said
He raised an eyebrow
Lorelai sighed "I'll start packing." She said feeling defeated. She went to turn around.
"Wait." He told her.
She stopped and looked up at him.
"Its okay to not be thrilled with this. I realize this isn't going to come naturally. I'm still learning to be a father to my son. That I have had years to learn with. This is new for both of us. Talk to me when something is wrong. I know you don't like this, and I wish things were different but like it or not you are sixteen and like it or not you need a parent." He told her
Lorelai nodded. "I know. I'm sorry."
"Co-operate with things that you have no control over, and I wont have to pull out the parent card. Understand?" He asked her
"Yes Sir." She said
"Good. Derek will be here in about half an hour with boxes the rest of them will be here a bit later." He told her. "Lets start packing what we can in suitcases." He told her
Lorelai got them both some coffee and started packing up clothing. She was glad that she had rented a place that is furnished so she didn't have to worry about the furniture.
It wasn't long till the whole team was there. Including Penny who she didn't see outside work much. It didn't take them long to pack her stuff up. Hotch had spoken to her landlord, and they agreed to one more month rent, and she would be allowed out of her contract. They loaded up her car and Hotch's car with her belongings.
She didn't really want to do this but after several looks from her new foster father and a whispered threat of consequences she wouldn't like when she was getting a little snippy though out the day, she knew better than to push her luck right now.
They pulled up to Hotch's building and started bringing things inside to his spare room. He lived in a three-bedroom apartment. One of the rooms was his son's for when he came and visited and obviously one was his own. She was staying in his third. As boxes were brought up, she started to empty them making room for more. It was definitely hard going from a full apartment on her own, to a bedroom in someone else's home. The group finished up unloading and helping her unpack enough so she would be set for a few days.
Hotch than ordered pizza for the group as they all settled into the living room. Penny looked up at her "So Lorelai, you excited for change?" she asked
Lorelai chuckled a bit "Well. I don't do well with change normally. I am trying to accept it." She said
Penny nodded. "I understand that. I'm not good with change either."
When the pizza arrived, everyone enjoyed, and they talked about random things. It was kind of nice. Seemed very normal 'family' time. After a few hours everyone headed out. Lorelai felt strange staying. She grabbed some dishes from the living room and headed to the kitchen.
Aaron noticed. "I'm not saying its unappreciated but don't worry about that tonight. Its your first night here. Just relax." He told her
Lorelai set the dishes down in the kitchen. "O-okay." She said
Hotch noticed her apprehension and went over to her. "This is your home too now. Yes, you will need to help out but not tonight." He told her.
Lorelai sighed. "I just. Don't know how to act." She told him honestly
"Okay. If you were at home, what would you be doing?" He asked.
She thought. "I would be filling my dishwasher and than watching TV or maybe drawing." She said
Hotch nodded. "Okay, than go ahead. I just don't want you feeling like you are expected to be the one cleaning all the time." He told her. He knew she had been expected to do more than her share in her previous foster home, so he wanted her to know that he was not expecting that here.
Lorelai nodded and did fill the dishwasher but than decided to go to her room and unpacked a couple more boxes. She sat on her bed after she was done unpacking a view. Things were really different already and it was just the start.
