DISCLAIMER: I don't own Criminal Minds.
Emily was cleaning up Emma's face after lunch. As she picked her up from her high chair, the phone rang. Emily checked her watch and smiled. She turned to her daughter. "Guess who that is?" she chuckled. Emily held Emma to her hip as she picked up the cordless phone. "Emily speaking," she said brightly as she walked up the steps to put Emma down for her nap.
Hotch smiled at the happy greeting. "Hey. It's me," he said, glancing around the cabin at the rest of the team. Reid and Morgan were playing chess while the girls were looking over a gossip magazine together. "I know I said I'd call when we were back but we're only fifteen minutes out," he said, not finishing the thought that he couldn't wait that final fifteen minutes to call her back. Emily chuckled as she placed Emma on the change table. "Well, I'm glad you called now because with my daughter's light sleeping God knows the phone would've woken her up," Emily teased as she changed the diaper, "And that would've had disastrous results for you."
Hotch smiled. "Well then, I guess I'm turning out to be a pretty good choice then hey? Reliable, lovable, and now psychic," he joked. Emily laughed. "Oh my, I really lucked out didn't I?" she teased, "And you forgot one thing… your dimples." Hotch smiled again. He realized he'd never smiled this much in his life and in the matter of minutes, a conversation with Emily had him grinning all over the place. Why he hadn't done this sooner he had no idea.
"So how was it when you got back to the hotel last night? Any questions?" Emily asked as she tucked Emma's teddy in her arms. Hotch nodded, though she couldn't see it. "Well, not last night but this morning at breakfast Rossi asked me what we talked about last night," he answered quietly. Emily smiled. "And what did you tell him?" she asked, walking down the stairs. "I just said that we talked about you coming back and where you would live and I said that I offered assistance when you were moving," he answered.
"Ok folks, we're about to start our descent so if you could please go back to your seats and make sure you don't use your cells or laptops." James said over the speaker. "Uh, I'm sorry sweetheart but I've gotta go. We're about to land," Hotch said, surprised that he'd just called her that but liking how it felt… natural. Emily pouted. "Alright. Uh… I'll call soon," she said, "I love you Hotch." He smiled. "I love you too," he replied. "Ok… that's my new favourite phrase. It's definitely kicking "what you talkin bout Willis?' ass," she teased. Hotch chuckled. "Well… I'd say it again but I don't want it to lose it's poll-position. Uh… I really have to go now," he said. Emily nodded. "Ok… talk to you soon." And with that he hung up. Hotch sat back in his seat and stared at his cell.
Emily sat at her desk and looked at the boxes on the floor. She couldn't help but smile as she held the phone to her chest. "I love you Aaron," she said to herself.
A/N: Ok, so another propellant chapter. He promised he'd call so I made sure he did. Plus it was a good way to gauge what the team is thinking. As well as getting them to talk about talking soon. It'll be another couple of months before she's back in DC so they'd have to establish their relationship via phone/email/other communications.
Please R&R PEOPLE! You know you love it as much as the writers.