We're nearing the end folks. Only a handful of chapters left, but plenty of story in them. Enjoy.

Chapter 64: Moving Day

When the family woke up Saturday morning, they were greeted with several bodies moving about their living room, and it wasn't as creepy as it could have been.

It had been a long few days, but it was finally moving day, and they were excited for that. Knowing the turmoil and drama surrounding the family, Dave rallied the troops to help with the move.

After the crash, things were a little hectic.

When they came home from the hospital, Nate was trying not to be too clingy, but Emily could see he needed a good hug and comforting mother-son day. She considered that, maybe, with the crash probably bringing up memories and the potential epilepsy relapse for James, she should get him back to his therapist. It had been a good year since the last time Nate saw the doctor, but Emily was aware that Nate previously showed some separation anxiety after events like this. She didn't want to leave it unaddressed, but didn't want to force the issues out if there weren't any there.

He was almost 12. As much as she wanted him to want nothing more than to be glued to her side, she knew that wasn't the healthy thing for him or anyone approaching their teen years.

"Do you think, especially with the possibility of James having seizures again and acting like he did before, that Nate should start seeing Dr. Garland again?" Emily asked that night.

Nate had been a little on edge, but calm given the situation. It took him a little longer to get to sleep. When the boys finally did, Hotch helped Emily ready for bed herself. Washing up in the shower was hard, but she was determined to do it. She needed a hand, though.

Now, as they lay in bed, Emily couldn't seem to fall asleep.

Emily continued, "I want him to be prepared for what could come. I want him to live a normal, happy life. Maybe seeing the therapist more regularly could help."

"Maybe. I think we should see how this goes, give him a few days, and see what he does. If he starts getting so clingy you can't breathe or that he's acting inappropriately, we'll address it. We don't need to jump the gun yet."

"Yeah. You're right. I'm just…"

"Being a mom. It's ok to worry. I worry about him too, but he'll be fine. We'll make sure of that."

"I want James to be ok, too."

"I know. I hope he is. We've had our differences, but I know he's a good dad to Nate and, mostly, I don't want Nate to lose anyone else."

Nodding, Emily said, "We should get some sleep. I'm going to wake up sore and I know Nate will want to go to the hospital first thing."

She wanted to go too. Needed to.

"Do you need anything? Did you take the pill the doctor gave you?"

"What they gave me at the hospital still hasn't worn off. I'll be fine for the night. Just… hold me."

"That I can do," he said, pulling the covers up around them and moving closer. "I love you."

"I love you too."

Sleep wasn't exactly easy, but it came, and it was needed.

Nate and Jack were both dressed and ready for the day by the time their parents were up. Emily knew that meant they were worried, and they would all be starting their day early.

"You don't look so great," Jack told Emily, honestly. "I'm sorry. You're still beautiful," he compensated. "But you're all bruised."

"Are you ok?" Nate asked.

"I'm sore, but I'll be fine. The doctor said to expect this. Looks worse than it is, and it looks like you boys are ready to go out."

"We made breakfast, too."

"For before we go see Dad," Nate added.

"Alright. Give it an hour. Collin left me a message with an update and said that they were taking him for some more tests this morning. He'll be back in his room around 9. We'll get there for then."

"Ok."

"Try not to worry too much, Nate," Emily told him. "We'll learn what's going on and take it one step at a time."

"I'm not worried," he lied. "We should eat before everything gets colder."

"Sir, yes, sir," Emily teased, moving to the kitchen table.

"I'll get us some coffee. I think we'll need it."

"Thanks."

Emily took a seat at the table with the boys. When Hotch joined and the coffee was served, they sat through a quiet breakfast. They wanted to act as normal as possible, but the lack of lively noise skittering about the room was a clear sign it was anything but.

"I can see that we're all anxious to get out of here," Emily said, pushing her full plate away. "But before we do, we need to talk about a few things."

The boys quietly waited for her to continue.

"First, Jack, you don't need to come. I know you're trying to be supportive, but we might be there all day and I don't want you to have to stick around too. You and your dad can hang back… go about your day."

"No," both Hotchner men said.

"Emily, that wasn't what we talked about. I'm going with you."

She put her hand on his and was about to speak when Jack did instead.

"I'm going too," he said. "Nate has become like my brother. We're all family here, and family goes places they don't want to and does things they wish they didn't need to because they love each other. I don't care if I'm there all day, I want to be there for both of you."

"That's very sweet of you Jack…"

"No buts. I'm going and so is Dad. We're a family. That's what we do."

Emily smiled proudly and nodded. "Ok. Then I will say this. I think James is doing ok. That's what Collin said. He's coherent and talking, so there was no major damage, but he hasn't said whether this will be a continuous thing. When we get there, he might still have the wires on, you know the ones he had last time to track brain waves."

Nate nodded.

"I just want to prepare you. We don't know what's going on, but, right now, he's ok. We need to focus on that."

"Alright," Nate said. "I'm not scared."

"It would be ok if you are."

"I'm not. I just know that if I was in the hospital, no matter how scary things might be, you and Dad would be there. I want to be there for him."

"You are a good young man, Nate."

"I know."

"And no longer a humble one, it seems," she teased. "Alright. We should get going. Just know that there's going to be a time today when your dad and I need to have some grown up talk, just between the two of us. We won't keep medical stuff from you, but there are things your dad and I need to discuss that just aren't your business."

"Like what?" Nate asked.

"Didn't I just say it wasn't your business? There are some things that don't concern you. There are things between adults and conversations between us that aren't meant for children."

"Doesn't that just mean you're fighting?"

"No. It means we're talking without you."

"Fine."

"Fine. I guess we go. Shoes on. Grab your raincoats, too. Weather is supposed to be bad today."

"Yes, Mom," Jack said teasingly as he got up from the table.

Emily silently shook her head and waited for them to leave the table before turning to Hotch.

"I know he didn't mean it, but I didn't mind the sound of that," Emily said.

"Me either."

He reached his hand out to take hers.

"Are you sure you're feeling alright? Not too sore?"

"I'm plenty sore, but I'll manage."

"Ok. I guess that means we should get ready and go. Promise me, though, that if the pain gets to be too much, you'll let me take you home."

"I'll be ok. But yes. If it's too much, we'll come home."

"That was too easy. Should I be suspicious?"

"No… I just… I have a feeling that all the work between James and I to be civil could easily just disappear in an instant. If that happens, I'll be begging you to take me home."

"I'd be more than happy to do it. Now, come. Let me help you change, and we'll go."

She nodded and allowed him to do just that.

When they got to the hospital, James was back from his tests. He was looking good… Normal, even with the IV and head gear.

"How are you feeling?" Emily asked.

"Tired. But good," he said, looking sheepish. "Are you… Are you ok?"

"A little banged up, but I'll live."

"I'm… I'm really glad."

Emily could feel the anger building again. She was reading his remorse and it just made her angry. It was confirming her fears.

Taking a deep breath and squeezing Hotch's hand a little too tightly, Emily gave him a tightlipped smile and nod.

"Are you okay, Dad?" Nate asked, breaking the tension that he wasn't even aware of.

"I'm doing fine, Nate. Don't worry about me."

"You didn't get hurt in the crash?"

"Just a couple of bruises. Did your mom tell you what happened?"

"You were in an accident together and you had a seizure."

"That's right… It was scary for me. Probably for you too."

"I don't like you or Mom being hurt, but you're both ok, so I'm not so scared."

"It would be ok if you were. I was scared, but you're right. We're both fine."

"Are you going to have seizures like last time?"

"I hope not, Nate. My doctor is going to help me come up with a plan to try and prevent that. We'll do whatever we can to make sure that doesn't happen."

Feeling her stiffen beside him, Hotch leaned and whispered in her ear, "Let's give them a minute alone. We can check in with the doctors."

Emily nodded and excused them, telling the others that she wanted Nate and James to have some time to themselves.

"Are you okay?" he asked her as soon as they were away from the room.

"I don't know. I'm just… Feeling a lot of things. I don't want to lose it in front of the boys but…"

"But you're thinking that he knew… That he has been having seizures for a while and knowingly put you all in a dangerous situation."

She just sighed, a heavy exhale.

"Is that true?" Jack asked, surprising them.

Damn it, they both thought.

"How come you're not in the room?"

"I offered to get Collin some coffee. He looked like he could use it."

"That was very nice of you."

"Yeah… But back to the subject at hand… Did he know? Is he the reason you were in the accident?"

"We don't know, Jack."

"But you think so?"

"It's a possibility," Hotch said, not wanting to lie.

There was no point. His son wasn't a small child anymore. He had seen and experienced his fair share of hurts and horrors. He was a teenager who understood the world wasn't perfect and people, even people they cared about, did stupid things sometimes.

"We don't know for sure," Emily added again.

"He was driving when you crashed," Jack mused, "If he knew and he drove anyway… He could have killed you!"

"Jack, hun," Emily started, walking to him and putting her hand on his shoulder. "I'm okay."

"But it could have been worse."

"I know. We both know that, and that's why I'm upset, but we don't know all the details yet and we're trying not to react without that knowledge. It's hard, but we expect the same from you."

"I get to be angry too," he told them. "I'm not a little kid anymore. I get why you might not want Nate to know this, but I deserve to know. You may not be my mom, Emily, but I love you like you are… He could have taken you away from me… and for what?! Because he didn't care? Because he didn't want to tell you the truth?! No. That's not okay."

She watched the emotion play in his eyes and it broke her heart. Not saying a word, she used her uninjured arm to pull him to her as tightly as her body would allow.

"I love you like you're my son, too," Emily said, holding him against her chest. "And I am fine. We can be upset, but you must let me handle this. Whatever else he is, James is Nate's father and it's important that we be civil with him."

"I just… I don't want to lose you."

"You haven't. You won't. I'll handle this."

"We will," Hotch corrected. "We'll get to the bottom of everything and address these concerns. That's our job, though. Not yours."

Pulling away from Emily, Jack said, "I get to be angry."

"You can be. We are. But don't act on your anger. Please don't be angry in front of Nate. People do stupid things, but sometimes, reacting to those stupid things isn't worth hurting people we care about."

"Like Nate," Jack surmised.

"We know you're not a kid anymore, Jack. I don't think you've been one for a few years now, but you will always be a kid to us… Our kid," Emily said. "Same thing goes for Nate."

Jack huffed and responded, "I don't want to hurt Nate, but I don't think I can go back in there and not be angry because all I can think now is what if… What if things were worse? Nate could have lost both of you. He knows what it's like to lose a parent. I know what it's like… He doesn't deserve to go through that again."

"Here's the thing, Jack," Hotch said. "I agree with you. I feel that too, but there's still a chance that he could lose James. We don't know what the doctor has to say yet, but the seizures, if they're back, could very well take James away from him. So, no matter what happens, he's going to need you to be the big brother he sees you as and be there for him."

"I'll always be that for him. Right now, I just need to be angry."

"Then let's be angry together," Emily said. "Let's get that cup of coffee. You and me."

Jack nodded.

"What about Dad?"

"I think your dad can stay here and watch out for Nate."

Hotch agreed.

Emily and Jack took a much-needed moment to themselves while Hotch returned to the room.

"Where's Emily?" James asked.

Pointedly, Hotch responded, "She went with Jack to get the coffee."

The two men locked eyes for a second before James looked away. Hotch would bite his tongue, but they were going to get to the bottom of things, and he wasn't sure how he'd react if he knew for sure whether James knowingly put Emily in harm's way.

He wouldn't have to wait too long for his answers. After an awkward hour talking small talk and listening to an oblivious Nate engage with everyone, the doctor came in.

Collin and Emily were in with James as he met with the doctor. Hotch took the boys away from the room. The moment Emily came face to face with Hotch, he knew that James knew what was happening. Her jaw was clenched, posture stiff, and anger was radiating despite doing her best to tamp it down.

Emily held it together while they were in the room listening to the treatment plan, but now she just wanted to scream. Hotch wanted more than anything to help her let it out, but it was not the time or place. She was holding it in for Nate, and he respected that, but he felt his own anger swell.

"We need to leave," she told him. "I can't talk to him right now."

"Take the boys to the car. I'll be there in a second."

"What are you going to do?"

"I'm going to get your bag," he said, clearly leaving some things out.

"I already yelled at him," she quietly told him.

"Then I guess it's my turn. Go. I'll be right behind you."

The problem was, however, that he didn't want to hold back when he saw James. Even as he entered the room, Collin looking upset, but comforting James, Hotch only felt worse.

"How could you do it?" he asked, voice sharp and angry. "How could you risk her life like that?"

"I…"

"Don't give me any excuses. I want to know how you, a man who lost someone he loved, who watched his son lose a parent already, were willing to chance losing the only parents he had left. For what? To keep it quiet? To remain ignorant?"

"I wasn't thinking," James declared. "I was scared and didn't want what was happening to be happening. I wasn't having seizures like that… Just tremors. I thought… I thought it was just a side effect from my medications. I wanted to believe that."

"I get that James. Truly. But here's the thing… You could have killed her. If you want to put your own life in danger, I can't stop you," Hotch calmly, but forcefully stated, "But I love Emily. My son loves Emily… And we've already lost enough. I'm not going to yell at you. I just want to leave you with this. Imagine what you would have done to Nate if Emily was worse off. Imagine how he would have felt about you if he knew you were responsible for hurting his mother. I don't think he would forgive you. Do you? Especially not if it was more serious… It would have been one thing if you didn't know this was happening, but you had an inkling – you know it was a possibility – and that should have been enough. You don't get to take chances with other people's lives. You don't get to play god with others' lives."

"I wasn't trying to."

"But you did. You made choices, kept quiet, and put lives in the balance. If you were healthier, I'd have half a mind to… I'm not a violent person. Not usually, but I would be and could be if you do anything like this again."

"I'm sorry."

"I know you are. I just don't know if it's enough. I'm sure Emily will be the bigger person and be there for you for what comes next. She'll sweep this under the rug… But know that she's angry and scared. She didn't deserve this."

James wanted to apologize again, but knew it was no use. Hotch was right, and that pained him to even think. He hated himself a little for what he did. He was just thankful Emily would be ok. Hotch had one thing right. If Emily hadn't been alright, no way would he still have his son. If Nate even knew that the accident was his fault, because of his own poor choices and inability to face reality, he could have lost his son.

Nate wouldn't forgive him.

But Nate didn't know. James had to thank Emily for that. She wanted things to be calm, as calm as they could be, especially with whatever came next with James' health.

Emily wouldn't say anything as they drove home, but Hotch saw her fist clench into the fabric of her jeans the entire ride. They wouldn't talk about it until the boys were otherwise occupied and they were alone in their room.

"I could kill him," she said. "I could do it and get away with it."

"You could, and I would help you, but we both know you won't."

"I know, but I would like him to know that I could."

"Tell me what happened."

Sighing, Emily began to explain that James wasn't having full blown seizures, nothing as spastic and dangerous as what happened while he was driving, but the warning signs were there.

"The doctors at the rehab explained the signs. He knew what was happening. He convinced himself that it was a side effect of the medicine he was on, and that was possible, but he had to know. He said he scheduled an appointment for next week to see. He was having isolated partial seizures. The scar tissue that formed created localized seizures, I guess," she told. "It was probably happening for the past few months even without him noticing. But it's been worse over the last few weeks. He's been having tremors in his hands and legs. Sometimes, it probably wasn't even noticeable, but he knew… He knew what was happening."

Hotch sat beside her and offered her the comfort she needed in that moment.

"I don't want to go through this again."

"You don't have to. Not alone. It won't be the same."

"He needs surgery," Emily whimpered into his chest, allowing the pent-up emotions to flow again. "In two weeks. They say the sooner the better, but they want to get a few more comprehensive scans and create a full treatment plan before he goes under. There are… there are risks."

Other than the obvious, that James could die or lose brain function if things went wrong, there was a chance that the lesionectomy wouldn't relieve the seizures. He would be having brain surgery, and it could do nothing for him.

"He'll have a six to eight-week recovery… and that's if everything goes as planned."

"He'll be fine."

"I'm not worried about him," she snapped.

"You are, and that's ok. Nate is who you're most worried about, but no matter how angry you are at him, you want him to be ok."

She nodded, allowing him to pull her back into his chest and just hug him.

"Why am I so tired?"

"It was a long day," Hotch suggested. "How's your arm feeling?"

"It's sore."

"You keep admitting that, and that scares me."

She smiled.

"It's not that bad, just a little bruised and beaten."

"Want a bath and an early night? Jack and Nate sensed something was up. Nate seemed to know not to ask. They're doing the last of their packing. Jack's going to take Nate down the block for an ice cream at Sal's. Want me to have them bring you back something?"

"No. But I will take that bath. Help me?"

"Absolutely. I'll start the water now."

The night and the next day were calm. Emily and James spoke only through text to keep updated. Nate called and talked with his father but wasn't trying to go see him. James was released and back home, so that was enough for Nate.

Thankfully, though, spring break was still upon them and there would be time to move before they went back to school, even with all the drama. They were all looking forward to that. When they woke up Saturday morning, boxes ready to go into a moving truck, they were thrilled with the surprise.

"We thought you could use the help," Dave told a half-awake Emily as she walked out of her bedroom into the commotion.

The boys were awake and getting ready. She could hear them pushing around boxes in their room. Smiling, sleep waring off, she walked closer to their room and reminded them to strip the sheets off the bed.

Hotch was in the kitchen getting breakfast ready so they could put the last of their kitchen ware into boxes after, and the team was organizing the boxes to load into the truck they rented for the weekend. The move was in high gear and she wasn't even out of her jammies.

"Thank you," Emily said. "We could definitely use the help."

She walked over to Hotch who had a cup of take out coffee for her.

"Why didn't you wake me?"

"You were up late last night and you're not going to be of much help with the bum arm."

"I can help."

"No."

"I can."

"You'll supervise and make sure we're all hydrating. And you'll wrangle in the boys who will definitely get bored at some point."

"I'll be wall art."

"You'll have an important, less physical role."

"Already like an old married couple," Dave bellowed. "Kiss and make up. There's breakfast waiting. I brought bagels and muffins for everyone."

"Thanks Dave."

"Truck's here," JJ said, walking into the apartment. "Will got it as close to the entrance as we're allowed."

"I guess we get started," Emily said, resting against Hotch's body.

"We get started."

"I'm going to help," Emily muttered.

"JJ, you're on babysitting duty… Emily sitting."

"Not nice," Emily complained.

"Come on, Em," JJ said. "Enjoy it. You get out of the heavy lifting."

"I don't like being useless."

"Consider yourself Hotch for the day, overseeing all BAU activities."

"At least Hotch gets to go in the field," she rebutted.

"You'll dictate everything, just no heavy lifting," Hotch reworded, passing her a bagel. "The guys are waiting. We're going to start loading some of the furniture. You should be happy you don't have to try to wrangle a couch down a few flights of stairs."

"Oh, that part I am thankful for," Emily teased. "Have fun."

"Come on old man," Hotch said to Rossi. "Derek and Reid are on their way up. We're going to start with the boys' bedrooms."

Alone, JJ looked at Emily with a smile.

"Don't look at me like that," Emily said.

Feigning ignorance, JJ asked, "Like what?"

"Like Penelope… Like I'm some lovesick fool."

"Aren't you? It's not a bad thing, you know. To be happy, even with what's going on."

Emily took a deep breath. "I know."

"You want to talk about it?"

"The love?"

"No, the rest… We'll save the love parts for when PG gets here. You know she'll just make you repeat it."

"Things are… what they are," Emily told her. "There's nothing else I can do about it."

"It's also ok to be angry," JJ said. "With him and with the situation. Hotch told us a little… Well, he told Dave and then Dave told us all to get us here and help out."

"I am angry, but what does holding onto that do for me or my family. Me being angry will make Nate upset. Nate is going to have enough to deal with when James has surgery. He doesn't need to know what happened… or, really, why it happened. He's having brain surgery… He could die. How can I be angry when that can happen?"

"Easy, you feel what you feel. You can't help that."

"I can let go. I can focus on the good right now. I'm getting the family I always wanted. Hotch and I… We're solid. And Jack… God, when did he get to be such a grownup."

"I think he was born that way. Hotch genes."

"Maybe. He'll be driving soon. Nate's going to be a teenager soon. It's crazy."

"How time flies. At least Michael's still got that baby feel."

"He's a little menace, but we love him."

"Think about having any more?"

"Two is more than enough, thanks. I love my boys, but I barely have time for anything as it is. Another baby… No thanks."

Emily laughed. "Who will Pen bug to give her god babies then?"

"Reid's up… Or Derek. I think she'd be thrilled with either."

"We'll have to see about that." Emily picked off a piece of the bagel and threw it in her mouth. "I guess I should get dressed. We've got a lot to do today."

"You can be just as effective delegating in pjs as you can in jeans."

Emily rolled her eyes and went to get dressed. JJ went to check on the boys and see what she could do there.

Before long, they were heading over to the new house. Pen met them there saying that, though she wasn't above heavy lifting, her job required the ability to type and she wasn't risking it by moving around couches and whatnot.

"Whatever you say, Pen," Emily wrote it off.

"No. No. No," Pen countered when Emily tried to one-handedly grab a box off the truck.

Penelope grabbed the box from her.

"No lifting. We can't have you no-handed because I let you do stupid things."

"Pen I can…"

"No you don't. I've got it."

"Ok," Emily said, one hand up in surrender.

"Hey, you did that on purpose."

"Did what?" Emily asked, faking innocence.

"Oh, you're good. Fine. You win this round Prentiss, but you bet your pretty little butt that whenever I decide to upgrade my abode, you'll be doing all the heavy lifting."

"I'd do it myself… If you'd let me."

"No need to guilt me. I'm already doing it," Penelope huffed, walking away with the box.

"She's too much fun," Emily said to herself as she grabbed a small bag and followed the blonde into the house.

Things were really coming together. Emily did her best to follow instructions and not do any heavy lifting. Everyone caught her doing something she shouldn't at one point or another.

"Mom, you're not supposed to do that," Nate chastised. "If you want something done, ask. Jeez… Women."

He walked away shaking his head.

"Why are you laughing?" Hotch asked, sneaking up behind her.

"My kid is twelve going on twenty five. Way too serious sometimes."

"He gets that from you."

"Whatever you say stick in the mud."

"I am not… Anymore. Much."

"Keep telling yourself that."

"I can prove it."

"Yeah? How?"

He leaned to whisper something in her ear, something that made her blush.

"Here? With everyone here? Why, Mr. Hotchner, you're a naughty boy."

"Is that a yes?"

"Absolutely not."

"Now who's the stick in the mud."

"Still you," she said, walking away. "Now get moving. One more load to go."

"You're no fun," he yelled back to her.

"That's not what you said the other night," she teased. "Get moving. Dave's waiting."

"All my guys are crazy," she thought as she headed into Nate's room to help get things ready.

By the end of the day, all their stuff was in the new house, some haphazardly placed, but in the right rooms at least. Beds and rooms were the priority, so everyone spent their time trying to get those set. Emily got a little frustrated when her shoulder started bothering her.

"You've done too much," Hotch told her. "Don't think I didn't see you pushing around furniture and moving around boxes."

"I'm fine."

"You'll feel it more later."

"Why don't you go pick up some food for everyone? Take a break and rest the arm."

"Hotch…"

"Please? For my sanity."

"Ugh. Fine. I'll go be lazy, unhappily. Beer and pizza or should we spring for something more high class?"

"Beer and pizza should be fine. Maybe pick up some wine too."

"You're lucky I love you, you know. Sending me off on tasks when we should be putting in the work."

"You're lucky I love you, too. Making my life more difficult by attracting danger. I'm trying to help you."

"I know. And I am lucky." She moved to kiss him. "I'm going to call over to that place we saw down the road. Guy's, I think. We can get to know the food in our neighborhood. Try to have the rest of the bed stuff set up before I get back, please."

"As you command."

"It's a request. Not a command."

"It's both, and I understand that. I'm even ok with it," he assured her. "Can you pick up some ice cream or pops for the boys? JJ just left to pick up Henry and Michael from the sitter, but she said she's going to come back. Henry can help Nate with his stuff. Dinner and ice cream will be a nice thank you."

"I'll get all their favorites. No worries."

"Take someone with you, too."

"All these requests…"

"Please."

"I won't even drive," she promised.

Pen offered to drive Emily, and, together, they ended up buying double what they needed, but it left them some food to put away and make the next day a little easier. Easter wasn't celebrated much this year. The family, all of them, stayed late getting as much done as they possibly could. For the most part, the major stuff was done. The apartments were emptied. A lot of stuff was donated or trashed, and they were left with exactly what they needed. Boxes were organized in the right rooms, important stuff that they needed right away was unpacked, and they were just about done for the day.

"Everything looks good," Hotch said. "The paint job really did come together well. Wasn't sold on that orange color for our room, but I like it."

"It's called humble gold, Hotch. It's really not that orange. It just brightens up the room more than cream."

"I'm glad you convinced me."

"Me too. Nate's room looks more teenager than little kid though, and that terrifies me. He's growing up."

"You'll have to get used to it."

"I know. The blue is nice, and the new bedsheets really bring it all together. You can tell Jack is old now. He went with gray. Thought for sure he'd pick something more vibrant."

"I think he just listened to what you said. Dark colors are hard to change, and everything goes with the gray he chose. Plus, it was a compromise. He got that paint color, and I let him get those stupidly expensive sheets. I don't know what's so special about them."

"They weren't that expensive."

"If you say so."

Hotch carefully put his arm around her as they sank into the couch together. Noticing her flinch away, he quickly pulled his hand back.

"Are you ok? Did I hurt you?"

"Sore… Again… Or still. I'm not sure which it is."

"I tried to get you to take it easy."

"I tried to listen…"

He gave her a skeptical look.

"Sometimes, I tried, but this is our house. I just want everything to be perfect."

"It'll never be perfect, but it will be ours and that's all that matters."

"That's sweet… And stupid. I want us to be happy here and comfortable, so I had to put in a little work. I really didn't use my arm at all."

"It was hurting even before the day began. I'm sure," he made air quotes, "not using it didn't help."

"Don't be mean to me. I'm in pain."

"I'll grab you one of the pills."

"No… Just… Just sit with me."

"I can do that," he said, carefully moving closer.

"I think we're going to like it here."

"I think so too."

"Welcome home," she said, resting her head against his shoulder.

"Welcome home," he mimicked, placing his cheek against her head. Together, they cozied up on the couch, temporarily forgetting the recent drama and upcoming battle with James' surgery. They just enjoyed their new home, hearing the laughter of their sons playing video games in their new shared living space.

Despite the throbbing pain in her shoulder and the weight of what came next for Nate's father, Emily was content in Hotch's arms. He made her feel safe and happy.

There was no one else she could picture that exact moment with.

"I love you," he told her.

"I love you too."