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"Are you finished sulking, Connie?"
"I'm not sulking. I was just thinking about what you said." She twisted her hands in her lap. "You're right; I need to stop freaking out about Morgan all the time."
Anya turned her icy blue eyes on Connie. "It's about time!"
Connie stuck out her tongue at Anya. "Do you have to be right all the time?"
"No, but I usually am."
"That's very funny."
"Will you two shut up?"
"Oh, who knew that Stanley could get so riled?"
"Well, he can get pretty worked up over Dr. Reid and his constant jeopardy."
"You guys, the tape is about to begin. Don't you care, Anya?"
"Of course I care. Angels always care for their charges." She looked pointedly at Connie.
The other angel deliberately turned her back and indignantly ruffling wings on Anya and picked up the large bowl of popcorn from the white end table next to the fluffy cloud they occupied in front of the observation screen.
Stanley's head moved from one female angel to the other. How had he got stuck with these two for three days? Maybe he shouldn't have been so eager to leave Dr. Reid behind.
"See, there it is… Let's see what Kyle came up with."
---
The six pm news featured two anchors, both blond, blue-eyed and perky. It was like they had come out of a mold specifically made for television personalities.
"Thank you George," the blond woman said with a wide vacant smile. "There will be more details on this breaking story at 11."
"Next up we have Carlton Page with a special New Year's Eve treat."
The screen changed to show another impossibly handsome man with dark hair and eyes. "Thank you Stormy. The New Year is closing in on us and before we say goodbye to the old year, we have a special request from a viewer in Washington DC."
The picture changed again and a very handsome young man stood looking extremely nervous at a point off screen. Then someone seemed to get his attention and he looked back at the camera. His rough voice began to speak. His hand fluttered around as if he wanted to use them, but then he forced them back to his sides.
"Beth, I wanted to surprise you on New Year's Eve. I wanted to tell you that I love you very much. I want you to be my wife. Will you marry me?" The young man pulled a black velvet box out of his pocket and showed the diamond engagement ring to the camera.
The tape ended and Carlton Page was back grinning at the camera. "If your answer is yes, Beth, you know how to get in touch with Kyle. We at channel nine wish Kyle Parker good luck.
---
"--I can't believe you did it.--"
--I can't believe I did it. How did I sound?--
"--Yeah, your voice was pretty rough, but I think the ring speaks for itself.--"
"Yeah my man, you don't have any worries, trust me. When your girl sees that, she's going to be over the moon."
At that minute Kyle pulled his Blackberry out of his pocket. He looked at the screen and a happy grin spread over his face. He gave the device to Chase and Morgan looked over her shoulder.
Yes, yes, yes, yes, OMG how did u do that
"--Looks like that's a yes. Congratulations Kyle.--"
Kyle hugged her and then grabbed Morgan in a bear hug that surprised the FBI agent in its strength. "Yeah, good luck my man." He patted the younger man on the back.
Kyle grabbed the Blackberry back and began to text a lightening speed while Morgan and Chase ticked off another chore on their list.
---
"He did it! Jorge's going to wish he hadn't missed this."
"No problem Stan, I taped it."
Anya popped the disc out of the recorder at the base of the screen. "Stephen gave me permission to make that for him."
"I'll bet you can't wait to share all those pictures of Morgan."
"You're right, I can't wait. Come on Connie… It's fun to see how the other half lives. It'll make us better angels, which is why Stephen suggested this in the first place."
"I know. I'm just worried."
"Morgan can take care of himself. I just wish he'd look out better for Dr. Reid, then my job wouldn't be so hard." Stanley looked very dejected.
"Cheer up, Stan. It's almost over."
---
"I'm so glad that is over."
"You were great, Hotch!"
Hotch grunted and pulled his red nose off his face. Jack was deeply involved in watching Reid hide and recover coins from his little ears and the collar of his shirt.
"Aaron!"
"Here comes trouble." Oliver said under his breath and smiled innocently at Hotch when the man glared at him.
The thing was that Hotch's glare lost its impact under the blue hair and white face paint. Instead he reminded Oliver a bit of Pennywise the clown from Stephen King's It. He supposed that that might frighten others, but to him it was hilarious.
"Haley."
"Jack and I are late. Brad's waiting for us."
Oliver snorted laughter again and had to turn away when Hotch tried to glare at him again.
"I though you were out of town for the weekend."
"If you must know, Brad's boss called him back into work. He can't seem to let him off for a holiday weekend."
"I'm sorry."
"No you're not. I'm sure that profiler brain of yours is rejoicing over my inability to find a guy that isn't a workaholic."
"That's not true Haley."
"Save it Aaron. Come on Jack."
The child ran from her and launched himself at his father's legs again. "Want to stay with Daddy."
"Jack!"
"I promise I'll come see you tomorrow. We'll build a snowman, okay."
"Alright," the little boy pouted.
"Come on." Haley led the boy away from his dad. She knelt in front of the boy. "Daddy will see you tomorrow, but for today you have to stay with Mommy and Brad. When he gets home we're going to play lots of games and watch movies."
"Yay…" The boy perked right up.
She turned back to Hotch "You can see him tomorrow. How about we meet up around three pm at the new house. If you can't make it please call me. Brad and I are going to his folks tomorrow night if he's finished with work and you can have Jack stay the night with you."
"Okay, I'll call you in the morning." He watched Jack wave goodbye and felt tears threaten again.
"Hey Hotch, you okay?"
"I'm fine! Let's get out of here." Hotch marched out of the large room, leaving several disappointed children in his wake.
Oliver shrugged his shoulders at Reid and the younger agent shook his head.
"Cheer up Hotch, just think about what I have to do and that will put a big smile on your face."
Hotch smiled and Oliver said "Yep, just like Pennywise."
---
Stephen switched off the view screen and picked up the memo to his Boss. The angels were doing a great job with their temporary charges, even Charlene and Stanley. He finished his daily report that would look very good for the Big Guy. It had been a good idea for them to do this. It kept everyone sharp.
His only concern was for Haley Hotchner. He hoped that Elaine could get through to Haley and help her see that her embittered attitude toward the father of her child was hurting the boy. She let him see his father when he wanted, but she always made him pay for it in one way or another. But that was for another day. Right now his attention needed to be on the swap and his angels.
He put his pen down and turned his attention to the game. It was going well except for Dr. Reid. So far he was the only one to not complete his task. Knowing what was coming for the young man made Stephen laugh a belly laugh he hadn't experienced in centuries. Though it meant little to the immortals, he was glad that the teams were ringing in the New Year with some fun. He couldn't wait to watch the rest of it play out.