They had discussed how to tell the team and had come up with the perfect idea. Emily had suggested a team picnic and Hotch agreed. It would be a good chance for all the kids to play and the adults to relax. They were going to meet at the park around the corner from Emily's that Saturday morning at 11.
Emily and Emma made their way down the path and found Hotch, Jack, and Morgan setting up the blankets. "Hey Em's!" Morgan called out, racing over to Emily and taking Emma in his arms. "Emly!" Jack called out, racing to his dad's girlfriend. Emily picked him up and gave him a hug. "How you doin big fella?" she asked. Jack giggled when she tickled him. A few minutes later JJ, Will, and the boys came over. JJ gave Emily a hug while the guys shook hands.
Henry ran over to play with Jack on the jungle gym, while JJ sat under the shade of the tree next to Emily. Will sat next to his wife with their two-year old, Adam, in his lap. Morgan stood near them, holding Emma and keeping an eye on the boys. Hotch moved over and sat next to Emily. He and Will started talking about the boys while Emily and JJ talked about getting together with Garcia for a girls only shopping day. Soon enough, Reid, Garcia, Kevin, then Rossi arrived. Reid stood next to Morgan, playing peek-a-boo with Emma while Rossi sat next to Hotch. Garcia and Kevin sat down too and soon enough it was time for lunch.
Emily and JJ started unpacking the food while Rossi and Kevin poured everyone drinks. "Jack! C'mon buddy. Time for lunch!" Hotch called out. Morgan passed Emma over to Emily. "Here you go mommy," he said as Emily reached up to take her daughter. Emily smiled and sat Emma in her lap. But just after she sat her down, Emma stood up and walked over to Hotch and sat in his lap. The others stared, wide-eyed, as Hotch smiled and kissed the little girl's head. He looked up, and saw the surprised faces around the blanket.
"Something you wanna tell us Hotch?" Morgan said, his eyebrows raised. Hotch rolled his eyes and turned to look at Emily. She took a deep breath and looked around at the others and nodded. JJ squealed with delight and Morgan's jaw dropped. "How long?" he asked. Hotch looked at Emily and wrinkled his brow as he did the math. "Uh… almost six months," he said. Emily grinned as the others looked shocked. "You guys have been together for almost six months and you hadn't told us?" Reid asked. Hotch looked at the younger agent's face and nodded. He looked shocked.
"Wow… you guys are good!" JJ said. Emily blushed. "Well… we wanted to wait a bit… just to make sure we could do this and work together. And now… we have the proof," she explained, reaching over and running her hands through Jack's hair. "Besides, we needed to give ourselves some time to prove to the Director that we could do this," Hotch said. Rossi nodded. "Jim called me up to ask if I knew and I told him I had my suspicions but nothing concrete. But he was genuinely impressed with you two," he said.
Hotch nodded and smiled. "Yeah, he said that yesterday afternoon when we met with him. He wanted assurances that we wouldn't let this effect our work and that if it became too difficult to separate work and home then we'd discuss one of us changing teams," he explained. As they all ate they discussed what this meant for the team. Hotch and Emily both wanted to make sure they all understood that they were going to make sure that their personal life didn't affect the team's work. And the others expressed support for their friends.
After everyone was finished eating the girls took a walk down to the lake to talk in private while the guys watched the kids. They stopped just in the line of sight of the blankets. Hotch was standing, holding Emma's hands as she walked along the grass. Emily watched and couldn't help but smile at the care he took with her daughter.
"Geez, you're gone Em," Garcia teased. Emily blushed. "You love him?" JJ asked, watching Hotch pick Emma up and kiss her cheek. Emily nodded. "I do. I really do," she said, tears springing to her eyes. "What is it honey?" Garcia asked, wrapping her arm around Emily's shoulder. Emily shook her head. "It's nothing. I just… when Peter left I thought I was going to be miserable forever. I didn't ever think that I would end up back here… with all of you. And now… with Hotch. I feel like I don't deserve this. Like this is all too good to be true and I'm going to wake up one day and it'll all be gone," she said.
Garcia rubbed her shoulder and JJ took her hand in her own. "Emily. That man, over there… he loves you. He was so miserable after you left. It's obvious he felt that way for a long time. And now… now you have him and your little girl, and his little boy. You have a family," she said. Those final words of JJ's were enough to push Emily over the edge as she blubbered a thank-you. She stood, apologizing to the girls and wiping her tears away. She looked up at Hotch and Emma, and watched as Jack ran over to them. Hotch knelt down and Jack held out a flower and gave it to Emma. "Family," she whispered.
It was getting late in the afternoon and Emma was crashing. "We'd better get home," Emily said. Hotch was still holding her and nodded. Emily and JJ packed up the food in the baskets and Will carried them over to their car. Kevin took Garcia's hand and they walked to their car. Will picked up Adam who had fallen asleep on the blanket. Reid and Morgan folded the blankets and JJ took them to the car. She gave Emily a quick hug. "See you Monday," she whispered and Emily nodded. Then JJ gave Hotch a hug, running her hands down Emma's back. "You take care of them…" JJ started, then pulled back, "Or else you'll have me and Garcia to contend with." Hotch smiled and nodded. "Ok, Henry! Let's go son," Will called out. "See you guys Monday," Emily said as she took Jack's hand and followed Hotch along the path. JJ and Morgan stopped and watched as Emily ran her right hand up and down Hotch's back, bringing it to rest in the middle. Morgan shook his head. "So I guess I owe you fifty bucks hey?" he said to JJ. She nodded and held out her hand. Morgan chuckled.
That afternoon Hotch walked back to Emily's, Emma in his arms. When they got inside he passed her over and watched as Emily walked her upstairs. When she returned Emily found Hotch and Jack sitting on the couch watching TV. She dropped down next to Hotch and he put his arm around her. "I was thinking… do you guys want to stay here tonight?" Emily asked. Hotch looked over at her and nodded. "Sure," he said, kissing the top of her head. "I should probably go home and grab some clothes though… Jack's a bit dirty," he said. Emily nodded. "Are you ok with him here?" Hotch asked. Emily smiled and nodded. "I think I can take care of him," she assured him.
Hotch smiled. "Hey Jack. I'm just gonna run home and grab some stuff. Em's gonna hang out with you here alright?" Hotch asked. Jack was completely tuned out watching the TV so he didn't hear what his dad said. Hotch shook his head and gave Emily a kiss. "I'll be back soon," he said. "Pizza or Chinese?" he called out. "Uh… Pizza," Emily answered before leaning back on the couch.
Jack fell asleep in the middle of the movie. Hotch picked him up. "Oh… he's getting too big for this," Hotch joked. "Awww poor Daddy's getting too old huh?" Emily teased. Hotch chuckled lightly. "Considering I'll be forty-eight in a month… yes, Daddy's getting too old." Emily smiled and he continued, "I'll be back in a second," he said. Emily watched him climb the stairs and smiled as she settled back on the couch. A few minutes later Hotch walked back down and found Emily asleep. He paused for a moment and watched her sleep. She looked so peaceful. He sat on the coffee table and brushed her hair back.
"Hey beautiful," he said quietly. She reached over and put her hand in his. He leant forward. "It's been a long day. Why don't we go get some sleep?" he suggested. Emily nodded and sat up. She hit the remote and turned the TV off. He took her hand and pulled her up, wrapping his arm around her waist. They climbed the stairs and stopped to check in on Jack first. He'd kicked the blanket down off the bed so Hotch walked in and picked it up, tucking his son in again before kissing the top of his head. Emily went quietly into Emma's room and tucked Emma's teddy under her arm before kissing her goodnight. She felt Hotch's hand on her back and stood up. He took her hand and led her out of the room.
When she'd closed the door she led him down to her room. She went about her routine, grabbing her pajamas from the bed and going into the bathroom to change. When she came back Hotch had already taken off his jeans and shirt, leaving him in just his boxers and tee. Emily smiled and walked over to the bed, pulled back the blankets and climbed in. She looked up at Hotch and smiled. He looked so nervous.
"Hey… we're just gonna sleep. No need to be so nervous honey," she teased. Hotch rolled his eyes and climbed under the blankets. As she spooned into his body he sighed. "Not nervous. I was just thinking how incredibly lucky I am to have you in my life," he whispered in her ear. Emily reached over to switch off the light. She snuggled back into Hotch and ran her fingers over his arm. "I love you too Aaron," she whispered. He kissed her neck and listened to her breathing even out as she fell asleep. He closed his eyes to follow.
A/N: So just some nice family/team moments and of course, the nervous Hotch... he's fun to write too.