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Chapter Four: Jack

Early September 2012 (Present Time)

Emily waved back at JJ who was waiting for the brunette and Jack at the entrance of the Zoo. "Hey JJ. Hi Henry." She smiled down at the young blonde boy.

"Jack, Henry was so excited you were coming." JJ hugged Jack then looked back at Emily. "You ready?"

"Of course, right Jack?"

Jack nodded. "Henry do you wanna see the hippos?" Jack asked taking Henry's hand.

"Yeah, hippos Mama!" Henry exclaimed.

Emily took Jack's other hand and led the group into the Zoo. The first stop was to the gorillas which the boys jumped up on the benches and pressed their little faces to the glass.

"So how was it picking him up?" JJ asked quietly so the listening ears wouldn't hear.

"It was weird and Hotch tries to act normal but he doesn't quite pull it off. He ended up yelling at Jack for jumping on me. He doesn't ever yell at him." Emily sighed.

"He is just trying to wrap his mind around you being a mommy soon. I don't know all that happened between you but he was hurt too. He did love you Em." JJ turned to her.

"I know he did. That wasn't the issue but let's just say it's what he chose. I didn't choose to leave him. I still love him but I'm trying to put my life together and live it for me." Emily said taking Jack's hand again as they moved to the next exhibit.

"I'm not saying you shouldn't. I'm so happy for you and I want you to have everything you want. I'm just saying he's trying the same. Give him a little slack." JJ said putting her hand on Emily's arm to convey she meant no harm by her remarks. The boys were entertained by the lemurs jumping around their enclosure.

Emily took in her words and smiled weakly. Maybe she was being hard on Hotch but she had to. If she gave in just a little she would end up in a bad place, a place where she didn't move on. He surely had.

Beth. It had only taken him a month to move on to the other woman. That alone made Emily furious. For him to move on so quickly with the marathon running hussy was too much for her to handle if she gave him some leeway.

So her walls had to stay up and her heart had to be protected. And if not her own sake for her baby's, she would not let her mess relationship with Hotch affect her baby's life.

After seeing the elephants and the tigers the boys were ready for lunch. Emily was ready too. Breakfast wasn't so good when you spend the morning in the restroom tossing your cookies. Making it to the outside café area Emily volunteered to find a table with Jack while JJ got Henry and herself some food.

"Over there Emily" Jack said pointing to an empty table.

"Good find sweetie. Come on." She smiled at him.

Getting settled at the table Jack climbing into her lap and laid his head back on her shoulder. "Tired buddy?" Jack nodded. "Me too. I think we only have a few more exhibits left but you are doing a great job helping Henry."

"He's nice. Daddy said I'm the big boy so I have to help him." Jack told her.

"You are the big boy." She said playing with his hair. "I miss you sweetie."

"I miss you to Emily. When are you coming home?" he looked up at her with his big doe eyes that just made her want to give him anything he wanted.

"Oh honey. I am home but remember when I told you I have to live in a different home?"

"Yeah but I don't want you to. I want you to live with me." He wrapped his arms around her neck. "Please come home Emily."

May 2012 (Flashback)

Emily looked up in anger at Hotch. She wanted to scream and stomp but she didn't. The little boy in the next room could hear every word and she was not going to let him hear what she really wanted to say to his father. Taking a breath she whispered harshly "I want to talk to Jack then I'll leave." Without waiting for an answer she stormed around the corner and knocked on Jack's door.

Waiting for his sweet "come in" she tried to calm herself as much as possible and wiped her tear stained face. She slowly opened the door and smiled weakly down at the boy. "Hey sweetie. Can I talk to you?"

Jack put down his cars and moved to his bed. "Sure"

"Jack, I know you heard me and your dad and I wanted to tell you I'm sorry. Yelling isn't the answer and we shouldn't have done that." She sat next to him.

"It's okay." He frowned.

"It's not and I'm sorry. But honey I think it's best if I go stay at Aunt Penelope's tonight."

"But why? Daddy is sorry too. You can't leave!" he grabbed her hand and held it tight.

"I don't want to but your daddy and I aren't going to see each other anymore so I need to move out. I know you don't understand this but I want you to know I love you very much and even though daddy and I aren't together doesn't mean I don't want to see you. I promise I will come get you and we can go for ice cream and we can play at the park. I promise baby I will always be here for you." She hugged him tight and kissed his head. Both of them in tears and both not wanting to let go Emily pulled back and turned to see Hotch standing the door way.

"Jack?" he said walking in.

"Go away! I hate you!" Jack cried crawling up the bed and stuffing his face into his pillow. "You made Emily leave!"

Emily turned to Hotch with tears streaming down her face. "I'm sorry" she whispered.

Hotch nodded and went to his son's side. "Buddy I know you're upset but it's going to be okay."

Emily watched as Hotch tried to console his son but soon it was too much to watch so she quickly gathered some of her things and left.

Early September 2012 (Present Time)

Emily hugged Jack again and kissed his head. "I wish it was that easy."

"Is it because you have a baby in your stomach?" Jack asked.

"Not really sweetie. You know your dad and I aren't together and he is now dating Beth." She smiled.

"It's not fair." He whined.

"I know" she ruffled his hair and looked up to see JJ and Henry on their way over to the table. "Let's go get some lunch Jack."

-CM-CM-

As Emily pulled her car into Hotch's apartment complex she could feel the day wearing on her. After lunch the boys seem to get their energy back so they finished the exhibits and then went for pizza at the arcade. Emily was exhausted but she was also very happy to have had the day with Jack.

"Home buddy. Let's go see daddy." She said getting out and helping Jack get out as well. They walked to the apartment and Emily knocked while Jack leaned on her. He was also very exhausted.

"Hello" A brunette woman answered the door.

Beth Emily inwardly growled. "Hey, is Hotch home? I was just dropping Jack off."

"Oh yes you must be Emily. Hi Jack. Come on in. Aaron is just on the phone." She moved back so the two could enter.

"I don't want to interrupt." Emily said dropping to her knees to hug Jack. "I love you buddy. Thanks for coming today."

"Cant I stay with you tonight?" he looked at her with his sad eyes again. Her heart sank to her stomach.

"I'm sorry sweetie. You need to stay with daddy." She really wanted to say yes but with Hotch not in the room she couldn't make that promise to him.

"Please? I don't want you to go." Jack let a few tears flow.

"Hey buddy!" Hotch walked in. "What wrong?" he asked turning Jack to him.

Emily got up and frowned at the boy. "Jack its okay. I promise I will see you soon. Remember if you get all the answers right on you're spelling test on Friday we'll go get ice cream on Saturday." She had promised him that in the car when he told her about the test.

"Actually we are going to my parent's house this weekend." Beth piped up.

Emily looked up at her then at Hotch who was just looking down at Jack. "Oh well we'll make it when you come back."

"I don't want to go. I want to stay with Emily!" Jack cried out.

"Jack! We do not yell. Talk nicely." Hotch scolded.

"I'm going to go. I love you Jack." Emily said trying to leave before they could see her tears.

"Can't I stay with Emily and you can go to her parent's daddy? I've been really good! Please?" Jack wrapped his arms around Emily's waist and looked up to his father.

"That's up to Emily." Hotch looked to her "I'm okay with it if you are?"

"Aaron, I thought he was meeting my parents?" Beth asked moving to stand next to him.

"If he doesn't want to then I'm not going to force him." he said to her.

"I would love to have him for the weekend." Emily smiled. Jack smiled brightly and hugged her tighter.

"I'll let you know the plans and you can stay here with him if you want."

"If it's okay I would like to have him at my place." Emily countered. It wasn't that she was trying to be difficult but stay in the apartment where she once lived with them would be unbearable.

"I understand." He said softly.

"Okay Jack, I'm going to go. See you later sweetie and do good on your test." She kissed his head and left.

"Hey Em" Hotch walked behind her out of the apartment. She turned to look at him. "Thanks. He really misses you."

"It's not a problem. I miss him too." and I miss you! She smiled and left.