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Chapter Two: Telling the Team
Late August 2012 (Present Time)
Waking up to an annoying buzzing sound Emily blindly reached for the disturbing device and after several tries she managed to turn the alarm clock off. Groaning loudly she flung the covers back over her head. Safe in the cloak of darkness she opened her eyes slowly. She knew she needed to get up but she couldn't bring herself to move from the warmth of her bed.
After several mental pep talks she managed to sit up right but that led to other issues. Running to the bathroom as her stomach rolled she made it just in time to empty the contents of her stomach into the cold porcelain of the toilet bowl. Emily slid down the wall when she finished and tried to gulp as much air as possible. Her hand lazily rubbed over her clothed stomach. "That's going to be fun." she sighed. "Don't think I won't pay you back for that. I can be that embarrassing parent when you're in high school."
Finding her bearings she rose from the floor and went to the sink to brush her teeth. Looking in the mirror she couldn't help the smile creeping onto her face. Even if she had to endure morning sickness she was still so excited and in complete awe that this was happening. She had a growing baby inside her. The emotions she had from that was something she just couldn't explain.
Emily's morning routine went without anymore hitches. Well except for her morning 2 cups of coffee before work. She pouted at the sight of the magnificent machine sitting on her counter top. "I guess you can go in a cupboard for nine months." She said unplugging the coffee machine.
She decided early on when she went for the artificial insemination consults that if she got pregnant she would change her eating habits along with whatever the doctor told her to do. Which was going to be a challenge, Emily was more of a pizza and beer kind of girl and especially with her job, fast food was her best friend. Dave might just have to give more cooking classes so she could learn how to boil water and not burn it.
Making it to the office Emily walked through the glass doors of the BAU with excitement pumping through her. After her talk with Hotch she decided to tell the team sooner rather than later. She knew she would have to tell them all at once too. If she told the girls first Garcia wouldn't be able to hold in her excitement and if she told the guys first Morgan would be mister protective and she wouldnt get anything done. Hotch had agreed to let her take the floor at the mornings briefing before they took off on another case. She figured it would be some happy news to their normal grim work.
"Morning" she greeted both Morgan and Garcia who were chatting over coffee which made Emily's mouth water. Patting her tummy she reminded herself this was for a very good cause.
Moaning at the pile of paperwork on her desk which was not there the night before she looked up to see Reid smiling coyly at her. "Whose is this?" she asked pointedly. She knew all the files couldn't be hers when Morgan's desk was nearly empty.
"I have no clue as to what you are talking about." Reid stated trying hard to hide his lying eyes.
"Sure you don't. I don't want to be part of your ongoing shenanigans." she took half the pile and slapped them down on Morgan's desk. Then she went about organizing her desk.
She hated having an unorganized desk. She had even been accused of fixing up JJ's disastrous desk once. Never admitting she was the one who really did it she safely accused Dave instead.
Opening her top drawer to put some papers away she found an old picture of her and Hotch. It was not long after they started dating and they were at her apartment being lazy. She smiled sadly at it. She was so in love with him she couldn't see straight sometimes.
She still had a hard time believing he even asked her out. The poor guy was so nervous when he did it she had to hold in her laughter.
February 2012 (Flashback)
Emily walked into the elevator in her apartment building and pressed the number 3 to her floor. Hotch followed in after her with a small smile on his face. After a case from hell he kindly drove her home and for some reason had to walk her up. It was hard enough that he saw her cry for the first time in six years but she didn't need him walking her up to her apartment like some kind of kid. She was a grown woman even if she cried like a baby in front of him.
As the doors opened and Emily stepped through Hotch put his hand on her lower back. The touch alone sent chills down her spine and made her stomach do a weird flip. All her rude thoughts disappeared as her knees went weak. For the past few weeks he made a point almost every day to somehow keep touching her, whether it was bold like grabbing her arm or something simple like slightly bumping into her when he passes by on the jet. It was all making her have crazy thoughts though.
"Thanks for walking me up." She turned to him after opening her door.
"No problem." He bit his lip nervously. It's now or never Hotchner! He told himself.
"Well goodnight."
"Wait. Um- I…" he stopped. He didn't know how to do this. It's been years since Haley and he wasn't sure how to ask a woman out anymore. He was young when he started dating Haley so it was the cool line of 'Wanna hang out sometime?' He didn't know how to do it now.
"What's wrong?" Emily asked but by the look on his face she knew the answer. She tried not to chuckle as he closed his eyes probably from embarrassment she thought. "Hotch, you can tell me anything. Hell I just bared my soul to you." which was true. Ever since the day she promised him she would tell him if she had a bad day she has been talking to him about everything that happened with Doyle. Emily even talked to him about when she was undercover with the man.
It wasn't easy to open up to anyone but Hotch was different. He has been through some of the same things. Foyet was after his family just like Doyle went after hers. They both fought their monsters in different ways but at the end of the day they both beat them.
"I know but…damn I don't know how to do this." He took a breath and rushed it out. "Would you like to go to dinner with me on Friday?"
Emily smiled at his wavering face. "Yes, I would love to. See wasn't that hard." She joked.
"I guess not." He smiled brightly.
Emily took in the way his eyes brightened and his dimples peaked out just slightly. A chill ran up and down her body when he stepped closer and took her hand in his and his dark eyes grew darker. Then her breath caught.
"I'll see you tomorrow." He kissed her cheek, happy that his confidence was back.
"Sure" she breathed as he walked down the hall to the elevator. After one last wave she went into her apartment and closed the door. Letting the last few minutes sick in she leaned against the door. "See you tomorrow." She sighed.
Late August 2012 (Present Time)
"Briefing room please!" JJ walked by Emily's desk making the older woman jump in surprise. "Sorry" JJ smiled an apology.
Emily smiled back shoving the picture back in her desk and gathered her things to follow the blonde up to the briefing. Taking her usual seat her eyes met Hotch's dark orbs. She smiled weakly and he nodded briefly back.
All night she thought about his reaction and it ended up just pissing her off more. She knew his stand on kids but this man who told her she was the love of his life in the same breath didn't want to father her children. Getting her mind to wrap around that was going to be a nightmare.
"Garcia before we start Prentiss needs to tell us something." Hotch said cutting the blonde technical analyst off when she stood to go over the case.
Garcia's head snapped to Emily with concern written all over her face. "Are you okay Sweetie?"
Emily smiled softly "Yeah, I'm fine."
She waited until everyone took their seats then she stood up. "I'm not going anywhere so everyone stop looking at me like I'm about to kill your dogs." She joked making everyone chuckle.
"So what is it Princess?" Morgan asked looking up from his file.
Taking a deep breath she smiled "I'm pregnant."
Cheers and laughter came tumbling out of everyone. Garcia raced to the brunette and wrapped her in a hug then let go and patted Emily's stomach. Emily gave her a look and Garcia immediately stopped and moved back mumbling an apology.
"Who's the papa?" Dave asked eyeing Hotch closely.
"A guy I pick out of a catalog." Emily joked but it was true.
"Really?" JJ asked.
"Kind of. I was artificially inseminated with donor sperm."
The room was silent for a moment then Reid broke through spouting the statistics of single women raising children. That seemed to ease everyone somewhat.
"You're going to do this alone?" Morgan asked.
Emily shook her head. "Not alone. I have you guys. I know it sounds crazy but I want to be a mother. And if I wait much longer…"
"Your child bearing years are coming to a close and even at your age right now it's…" Reid stopped as Morgan slapped at the back of his head. "What?"
"Kid you don't know when to stop. You never talk about a woman's age." The dark man whispered.
"Oh, sorry Emily. I'm sure you're going to be just fine." The boy genius smiled awkwardly.
"Thanks I think." Emily turned back to the table.
"Okay let's get back to work. Garcia?" Hotch got everyone to settle down and get focused again.
"Yes sir. No one is going to like this but two weeks ago 8 year old Tammy Keller was with her family at the local YMCA in Dallas Texas. During one of the routine timeouts, when all the swimmers have to get out, she was found at the bottom of the pool. Drowned obviously. At first they thought it was an accident but two days later at the same YMCA 10 year old Candice Adams was also found at the bottom of the pool. And now the toll is up to four. Jessica Tobin and Abby Martin 9 and 10 died this week but at a different pool. They were at an amusement park call NRH2O."
"No witnesses?"
"No it's summer so the pools are packed and there is registration for the YMCA but you don't have to sign in if you are a member so we don't know who was there." She replied.
"There was bruising around their necks in a hand shape like they were forced under that's why they called us." Hotch informed.
"An estimated 5,000 children ages 14 and under are hospitalized due to unintentional drowning-related incidents each year and 15 percent of those die in the hospital and as many as 20 percent suffer severe, permanent neurological disability." Reid spouted mainly to himself.
"Wheels up in 30. I want to hit the ground running on this." Hotch said walking out.
Emily gathered her files and was about to head out when JJ grabbed her arm.
"Hey, congratulations. I'm so happy for you. How far along are you?" the blonde hugged the older woman.
"Eight weeks." She answered then was engulfed by Morgan.
"I can be your baby daddy." He smirked.
She laughed as did the rest in the room. "Thanks but I don't think so."
"And why not? I would make a great dad!" he pouted.
"I'm sure you would but I don't need a baby daddy." She grinned walking out followed closely by Garcia.
"Sugar plum, I'm so happy for you and I promise to spoil Mini Prentiss just like Henry."
"Thanks. I know you will." Emily squeezed her hand and followed the group of out the BAU doors.
Hotch trailed the group quietly listening to all their congratulations for the baby and all he wanted to do was tell her this was wrong. He just knew it was.
A/N: Thanks for the reviews. Keep'em coming.