Letting the brunette woman strap their daughter into her car seat, Hotch rubbed his fingers across the creases in his forehead. "When do you want them home by?"

Emily gently shook her head, standing up and smoothing out her skirt. "I'll be furnishing the house all night; getting my stuff from storage and bringing it over. Anytime before ten," she nodded. "They go to bed at seven-thirty, eight if they're good."

Hotch frowned. "Do you need help? You can't take it all up into your place by yourself."

The brown eyed woman's brow rose, smirking to the older man. "Did we forget how strong I am, Agent Hotchner?"

Laughing, Hotch shook his head. "No, I remember," he smiled, watching those beautiful chocolate eyes sparkle when they both reflected over their years together.

"Thank you though," Emily smiled gently, turning to wave at her son who was calling to her from the inside of the car. "I have some movers coming to help me with everything, so you don't need to come."

Hotch stared at the beautiful woman he'd fallen in love with. "And you have Castle."

Emily rolled her lips into her mouth, nodding to the older man's words as she kept her eyes on those of her ex. "Yeah," she breathed.

"I'm not mad."

Emily's eyes filled with tears at the look on the Unit Chief's face, and she sucked in a breath before closing the door to the car. "I had to move on," the mother of two shrugged, hating herself for causing the pain she saw trying to hide in Hotch's eyes. "We both did."

"I know," he nodded. Stepping forward, he leaned in and pressed a gentle kiss to Emily's head, holding her in his arms for just a second longer before letting her go. "I'll see you tonight."

She stepped away from the car and watched her ex drive away, smiling when she saw her twins waving at her from the back of the car.

"Ready?"

Emily turned to see her boyfriend walking up behind her, and she smiled when he pressed a loving kiss just where Hotch had. "Yeah."

...

Jack let his mother kiss his forehead before he walked himself up to his father's apartment door, knocking quickly so he'd be out of sight of his mother and new stepfather. "Dad!"

The older man laughed as he opened up the door, taking his son into a hug and waving to his ex so she knew to drive away. "How are you, buddy?"

The twelve year old shook his head, letting his father feel his forehead for any remains of a fever. "I still feel gross. Do you mind if I lay on the couch?"

"Not at all," he smiled, walking with his son into the living room. "So remember when I said I had a huge surprise for you?"

Jack frowned, covering himself up with the blanket that always lay on the back of his father's couch. "I thought it was that I didn't have to wait until Saturday to come over," he laughed, rifling through his bag for his phone.

Hotch sat himself down on his coffee table, clasping his hands before him. "I have to tell you something."

The almost-teenager's eyes darkened on his father. "Are you dying?"

"What? No," the fifty year old scoffed. "But, do you remember Emily?"

Jack smiled, nodding softly at the name. "I remember her. I haven't seen her in years."

Hotch nodded. He had told his son, only seven years old then, that Emily had to go away and she'd come back when they knew it was safe for her. "Well, I told you that it wasn't safe for her here and I would make sure to bring her back one day."

Jack's eyes widened. "Is Emily back?"

"Emily's back," the father grinned, watching the shock on his son's face turn into the biggest smile he'd ever seen him wear. "But there's something else."

"Is she here? Can I see her?"

Hotch held his hands up, quickly calming down his son. "She's not here, but I have to run to her house later if you want to come with me."

Jack grinned. "I'd love to."

The Unit Chief took a breath, not wanting to spoil the smile on his son's face with the next piece of news. "There's something else I have to tell you."

"Is she ok?"

"Of course," Hotch nodded, scooting closer to the edge of the table. "But um, Emily kind of brought us a present of our own."

Jack's bow furrowed. "What do you mean?"

The brunette man paused, staring straight into his son's eyes that matched his, and he shook his head. "You have two siblings."

Jack's expression grew even more confused, his bewilderment obvious in his eyes. "What?"

"You know Emily and I were in a relationship," he nodded, hating the look on the twelve year old's face. "I loved her very much, I still do. But when she left, she didn't know that she was pregnant."

The almost-teenager pushed his father's hand away. "So I've had two siblings and you've never told me?"

Hotch watched his son push himself farther into the couch. "Jack, I just found out myself."

"What do you mean? She never told you?"

"She couldn't," the older man tried.

Jack's eyes bugged from his head. "You've had two other children and Emily never told you? What kind of a person does that?"

"Jack listen to me," his father stated firmly, holding his hands out to calm the young boy down. "Emily's life was in danger. If she were to call or write and tell anyone about the children, then they would have been in harm's way too."

The twelve year old tried his best to soften his face, giving himself a second to relax. "So, they're twins?"

Hotch smiled. "They are. Marcus and Alisanne."

Jack firmly nodded his head. "I want to meet them."

Hotch gestured behind the couch, keeping his smile in place as two little bodies came sprinting around into the living room.

The twelve year old's eyes widened on the little boy and girl, their dark hair, eyes and perfect ivory skin a complete mix of Emily and his father. "H-Hi," he stuttered, watching as their matching smiles appeared. "I'm Jack."

Alisanne was the first to step forward. "You know, we share a daddy."

"Yeah," Jack breathed. "I heard."

Marc stepped forward and poked his older brother's hand. "You look like me," he giggled.

Hotch felt his heart swell as his oldest son smiled to the little boy.

"I can see," the twelve year old nodded.

"Can you speak French?"

Jack slowly shook his head, realizing that that's where Emily must have been hiding the five years she was away from home. "No, I can't."

"I can!" Alisanne shouted proudly. "Je suis fier d'être votre soeur."

"What does that mean?"

The ebony haired little girl smiled. "I'm proud to be your sister."

...

Emily wiped the sweat from her brow as she set the couch into place, hearing her boyfriend thanking the movers as he ushered them out of the newly furnished apartment. "My God," she sighed, throwing her hair up in a ponytail as she looked around the living room.

Castle sprinted back over to the brunette in the living room, grinning into her hair when she squealed. "How do you like everything?"

"Everything looks perfect," the agent nodded, letting her boyfriend wrap his arms tight around her waist as her eyes scanned the room. "Oh, that lamp doesn't go there."

Castle shook his head, his arms pulling the younger woman back when she tried to leave his arms. "Will you relax just for a minute?"

Emily frowned when she turned in his arms. "It's just a lamp."

"First it's a lamp, and then it'll be a couch cushion, and then you'll find something else to criticize and redo and we'll be at it all night."

The ivory skinned woman grinned, stepping up on her tip toes and wrapping her arms around his neck. "Would you rather be at something else all night?" she whispered seductively, laughing wholeheartedly against her boyfriend's lips when he vigorously nodded his head.

Hearing a knock at the front door, Emily sighed, letting the older man peck her lips. "That's Aaron." She quickly spun on her heels and went to the apartment's door, swinging it open to see her twins both clutching to their father's legs. "Hey there sleepy babies."

Marc yawned into his father's pant leg, his eyes shut tight.

"Oh," she chuckled, leaning down to take her son into her arms. "You want to help me bring them upstairs?"

"Do you mind if Castle does it?" Hotch asked, hiking his sleepy daughter onto his hip. "I need to talk to you."

Emily's brows furrowed but she nodded her head, both she and her ex setting the twins into the author's arms and waiting until he lugged them up the stairs. "What's up?"

Jack turned the corner and looked up to the familiar face in the doorway, his eyes stinging when he saw surprise written all over her face. "Emily?"

The brunette woman's jaw dropped open, ushering the twelve year old into her arms as his tears began to fall.

"I missed you," he cried, hugging the older woman tight as she peppered kisses to his head of hair.

"I missed you too, sweetheart," Emily whispered. "I'm so sorry."

Jack backed away, pausing before leaning forward and kissing his father's ex's cheek. "Thank you for coming back," he hiccupped, feeling his father's hands on his shoulders. "And thank you for them. I love them."

Emily shared a smile with the young boy, feeling her ex's eyes on her as she ushered them inside.