Disclaimer: I do not own Criminal Minds.

A/N: This is sort of a buffer chapter, but in the next one you'll see the first of the weddings and two other big events, one in the flashback and one in the present day. I'll try and update again by Monday night. :)

"A man does what he must - in spite of personal consequences, in spite of obstacles and dangers and pressures - and that is the basis of all human morality."-- John F. Kennedy

Narrator (JJ): "Emotion is a very confusing seven letter word. It's hard to imagine that such a small, bland word could cover such a broad range of things. Emotion ranges from hate to happiness to grief, and each person feels these emotions in they're own way. Some prefer to keep it all in until they're alone and some prefer just to let it out, but however you deal with how you personally feel it's going to be at least a little different than how another person in the same situation would feel. That's what makes emotion such a big factor in the lives of the human race. Emotion also allows you to choose, in one way or another, what kind of person you are. Just like every other thing in the world, emotion has both a good side and a bad side, meaning that it can drive you to do things that you can't imagine. It can drive you to attack someone, to kill, to marriage, to sky dive, to save a life, and so many other things that, depending on how you use your emotion, are a major clue on what kind of person you are. For example if you choose to save a life rather than take one, that would make you a good person, but if you take a life rather than trying to save it, that makes you the opposite . Basically it's how you deal with your emotion that makes you who you are."

FLASHBACK:

"Well I hate to say I told you so, but I told you so JJ. I knew he felt that way about her."

"Ok, ok, all hail the great and wonderful Penelope Garcia, Empress of all things Knowable."

"That's right and don't you forget it."

"Yea, yea. So what now Empress, our mission is accomplished."

"Now the mission is to have fun. Take the good doctor here and vamoose. Get drunk, go dancing, play some blackjack, you know basically what we did last month."

"Garcia I'm right here, I can here what you're saying."

"Reid you have superhuman hearing, you could hear our conversation from all the way in Quantico. Now I'm kidnapping Derek, see you in the morning."

"Garcia wait, what are we-"

"She's long gone Spence. She and Morgan are probably in a dark alley making out by now."

"Ok well what do you wanna do?"

"I say we hit the casinos. Just don't get us in trouble by cheating again, ok?"

"It's not cheating, but ok, I'll only count the cards if we're losing money. Deal?"

"Ok deal, but don't get caught."

"Don't worry, I won't. Now let's get going, the last thing I wanna see is Garcia and Morgan groping each other."

"Don't I know it, ok this way."

Linking they're arms Reid and JJ begin making they're way up the boardwalk to the nearest casino. Once they're safely out of sight Morgan and Garcia emerge from their hiding place.

"Baby girl you don't think they figured out that we're dating already do you? I mean it's only been a month."

"No hot stuff, I don't think they have any idea, I think JJ was just trying to get Reid to go with her. Honestly I wish they would just hurry up and get together! I'm tired of being the one they come to, to talk about the other one. All he ever talks about is her and all she ever talks about is him. Now that I've finally managed to get both Hotch and Emily out of they're shells maybe it's time I work on Reid and JJ."

"Ok but no more matchmaking tonight, I need you're full attention."

"Gorgeous you know all you have to do is ask and you shall receive. Now what do you want to do?"

"Well what I'm thinking involves us, a couple bottles of wine, maybe a little music. Can you guess?"

"I may have an idea."

"Is that so?" Both smirking impishly they start making they're way back to the hotel.

Hotel Roof

"Hotch what are we doing on the roof? The pool's closed."

"I know, but I thought we could sit up here and talk and look at the stars."

"Ok Mr. Perfect. Lead the way."

Taking her hand he leads them to one of the two person lounge chairs and lets the back all the way down so they'll be lying on their backs looking straight up. Once they've settled with her laying her head on his chest and him playing with her hair he covers them with a small blanket.

"So this is nice"

"I agree. So what do you wanna talk about?"

"Anything good that doesn't involve work or serial killers."

"Ok sounds like a plan."

"Just promise me one thing."

"Ok what?"

"If my inner nerd comes out you won't run for the hills."

"Emily if you're a nerd then you're probably the most beautiful nerd I've ever met. And why would I run from someone as beautiful as you who I feel totally at home with? You're going to have to do more than be a nerd to get rid of me."

Leaning up to kiss him she replies, "See I told you, you were Mr. Perfect."

END FLASHBACK

DECEMBER 2008

George Washington University Hospital

"We're looking for Emily Hotchner; can you tell us what room she's in?"

"Are you family?"

"Yes"

"Ok she's on floor eight, room 841."

Nodding their thanks Morgan, Garcia, Reid, and JJ make they're way upstairs and find Hotch pacing in the hallway in front of Emily's room.

"Hotch! What's going on? Have you heard anything?"

"They're checking her again now. The only thing they've told me is that she had something called a placental abruption which caused her to start having contractions and the bleeding means the baby was in distress. They gave her fluids and she woke up and the bleeding stopped which brought the baby's heart rate back down to a normal level. The only thing is they haven't been able to stop the contractions."

"What happens if they can't stop them?"

"Then she'll have to deliver the baby tonight. Basically, depending on if she starts to dilate, all we can do is sit and wait over the next hour to see if the contractions stop."

"We're here for you guys." (While they're exchanging hugs the doctor walks out of the room.)

"Mr. Hotchner?"

"Yes"

"I'm Dr. Jeffery Lin and I'll be taking care of your wife."

"Ok, how is she? Did the contractions stop?"

"She's doing good for now. I'm afraid that stopping the contractions won't make a difference now though since she's begun to dilate, and she's already two centimeters along. She's going to have to deliver tonight, but being that she's very healthy and the baby's heart rate is back down to normal, things are looking good in my opinion. Both of them should come out of this healthy and strong, even if it is a little under two months early. We'll still be monitoring her closely, but she is dilating rather quickly. I'd say it'll be time within the next few hours."

"Thank you, I understand. Can we see her?"

"Yes, but I don't want her under any kind of stress. So try and keep her calm and relaxed. I'll be back every thirty minutes to see how she's doing."

(Once the doctor is out of sight down the hall they head into Emily's room. She is surprisingly calm, but a bit sniffly from crying.)

"Well I guess you all heard what's going on."

"Yes, sweetie, but the doctor said everything's going to be fine." (Hotch is sitting in a chair by her bed and holding her hand and the others are spread out in chairs around the room.)

"I know. I'm trying to think positively, but how can we have this baby Aaron if we don't even have her name picked out yet?"

"We still have time to pick one out for her before she gets here."

"How? We don't have the names book with us."

"Garcia's got her laptop. We can use that to look them up."

Nodding Garcia replies "Garcia to the rescue. Now where do you want to start looking for a name? Any specifics?"

"Just something semi-traditional, nothing too crazy. I do have a name I kind of like though."

"What's that?"

"What do you think about naming her Gabriella and possibly calling her Gabby?"

"My grandmother's name?"

"Well, Em, you told me that story about how she was always there for you and was your best friend until she died, so I was thinking this could be a good way to honor her memory."

Starting to tear up she replies, "Thank you, you have no idea how much that means to me. We still need a middle name though."

"Well that's up to you, but no Kathleen."

"Ha, ok I get it. You don't like that name. What about using Catherine after your grandmother? She would be Gabriella Catherine Hotchner."

"I think that's perfect Emily."

"Did you call my mother and your brother?"

"Your mom is on her way here from New York where she was speaking at a conference and Sean's coming as soon as he finds someone to cover his shift."

"Ok"

Entering the room the doctor announces, "Sorry to interrupt but I need to see how she's progressing. If you would all just wait in the hall for a few minutes, I'll let you know when you can come back in."

After about ten minutes he comes out of Emily's room saying, "Mr. Hotchner everything is still looking very good. Your wife has dilated another centimeter. You can go back in and see her now."

"Thank you Dr. Lin."

(The doctor leaves again and Garcia, Morgan, JJ, and Reid go back into Emily's room leaving Hotch and Sean in the hallway alone.)

"Aaron! How's she doing?"

"Everything's going good so far Sean. They were able to stabilize her, but they couldn't stop the contractions so she's three centimeters dilated and counting. She'll have to deliver the baby tonight."

"Oh I'm sorry Aaron. Is they're anything I can do?"

"We just need to be there for her and keep her optimistic. The doctor said to keep her calm and relaxed."

"Ok, did you call mom?"

"Yes, but she made it pretty obvious she didn't want anything to do with us or the baby. I told her not to come."

"I'm sorry."

"It's okay. If she wants to miss out on the birth of her grandchild because she can't get over some things that happened almost a year ago then that's her problem. She just better not come to me looking for an apology any time soon."

"I understand. Have you picked a name?"

"We just did. We're naming her after Emily's grandmother and Grandma Kitty. Her name's going to be Gabriella Catherine, but we're thinking of calling her Gabby."

"That's beautiful; now let's go see my favorite sister-in-law."

"Ok and Sean?"

"Yea?"

"Thanks for coming."

"I wouldn't miss this for anything big brother. There's nothing you could do to keep me away."

(After a brief hug they head back into the room to join the others.)

"Be sure you put your feet in the right place, then stand firm"--Abraham Lincoln