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Chapter Twenty Three: Breakfast and Garcia

Early April 2013 (Present Time)

Emily sighed happily walking around her bedroom the next morning. Being home with Lily was an amazing feeling. After all the worries and struggle she finally felt like her family was complete and Lily being home was a major step in that. Now the mess that came with the infant, she bent down to pick up a discarded onesie, not so much an amazing feeling but she shrugged thinking about it, she'd take it.

As Emily walked out of her bedroom Hotch's phone buzzed on the dresser. Picking it up and seeing Rossi's name she gladly answered. "Hey Dave" she said picking up the forth burp towel she found from the bed to the door.

"Hey Em, how was the first night?" Dave asked.

"It was good actually. I thought I would be up all night but Lily did really well. She woke up about every two hours to eat but she went back to sleep right after." She told him making her way to the laundry room and tossing in the items she picked up to start another load. Most of the night was spent in her room with Hotch running back and forth getting anything they forgot so things were thrown all around between the both of them.

"That's great. Was Aaron any help?" he chuckled.

"Yes he was." She smiled turning the corner and peaking into the nursery where Hotch was busy getting Lily changed and dressed for the day. Hotch had been amazing taking Lily after she nursed so Emily could get a head start on sleeping and letting Emily sleep in when Lily didn't go back to sleep after eating early in the morning.

"Well I'm glad everything is going well. Can I speak with him?"

"Of course" she handed the phone to Hotch and took over at the changing table. "Hello baby girl. Are you being good?" she finished buttoning the onesie and picked Lily up cradling her in her arms. She glanced at Hotch who was standing in the hallway with his free hand running over his face and talking quietly.

Brushing it off she left the room and made a b-line to the kitchen for some breakfast. Placing Lily in the bouncer seat and strapping her in Emily reached into the fridge for eggs and a few other items.

"I can't! End of story!" Hotch yelled in the hall making Emily jump slightly. Glancing at Lily and seeing she was content looking around the room she took a few steps towards the hall but didn't go to him. She winced as he threw the phone and leaned against the wall.

"Are you okay?" her voice was soft. She was concerned why he was upset but she really wanted him to calm down so he wouldn't scare the baby.

Hotch's face snapped up and immediately he regretted letting things get to him. "I'm sorry. I-I just…"

Emily walked to him and took his face in her hands. "What's wrong? Talk to me."

Staring into her chocolate eyes he took a breath. "When I came back from Afghanistan I took vacation time to stay with Lily but now it is out and the Director wants to see me. And Strauss is pissed because I kept ignoring her calls so she sent Dave after me. I just know what the Director is going to say and I can't leave you. I can't go back."

Emily's heart ached just think he would be away again but she also knew it was his job. "When do you have to meet with the Director?"

"Tomorrow" he shrugged.

"Okay so here is what we are going to do. We are going to go eat breakfast then Jack is going to come over and we are going to spend the day loving our kids and…"

"Emily" he interrupted her. He would much rather mope around.

"No Aaron. We are not going to think about you leaving until we know for sure. So we are going to have a good day and tomorrow we can deal with what needs to be done." She told him softly.

When a small cry came from the kitchen she kissed him quickly and went to her baby. Hotch stayed where he was in complete awe of her. The way she handled things like that had always amazed him. Whether it was her compartmentalization skills or her being the strong independent woman he fell in love with he didn't know but he envied her. He only wished he could push back his worries and focus on his family.

"Aaron, breakfast will not cook itself." Emily called from the kitchen putting half hearted smile on his face and an eye roll.

"No it won't but didn't we agree you were cooking and I was on baby duty?" he asked emerging from the hall. He gently picked up Lily and winked at Emily. Before getting out of bed they agreed that Hotch would get the baby and Emily would get breakfast but apparently she was choosing to ignore that.

"That was before you broke the rhythm with your phone call and I had to finish dressing Lily plus she is probably getting hungry and last time I check you just don't have the right equipment to help her with that. Right, honey?" Emily ran her finger over the baby's cheek as she rested on Hotch's shoulder getting a soft coo out of her. "See, she agrees." She smiled taking the baby from him. "Now cook!"

With that she left leaving Hotch to shake his head and roll his eyes once again. God how he had missed her!

-CM-CM-

Emily chased after Jack as a knock at the door sounded and the boy ran to answer it. "Jack, wait for me honey." She told him causing him to stop right in front of the door. "Thanks" she ruffled his hair opening the door.

"Aunt Penelope!" Jack jumped up and down as the blonde greeted Emily then turned to him.

"Hello my handsome stranger. How've you been?" she asked placing the bags she brought on the floor.

"I'm good. Guess what?" he said excitedly taking her hand and pulling her through the apartment.

"What?" she asked just as excited as he was. Emily followed behind them shaking her head and laughing. Garcia was great with kids mostly because she was one.

As they rounded the couch and came in front of Hotch laying down with Lily snuggled onto his chest, Jack pointed. "Lily came home! And I get to hold her but only if Daddy or Emily are next to me."

Garcia melted at the sight. "Oh my gosh she looks so cute! You too sir but look at those tiny feet. Oh heavens!"

Emily gently took Lily from Hotch and placed her in Garcia's arms. "Lily meet your Aunt Penelope."

"Hello little angel. You are just the cutest thing I have ever seen." Garcia cooed as everyone watched. "Oh Em, JJ said she'll come in a few days. Henry had a cold a few days ago and she doesn't want to bring that here." she explained taking a seat.

"Not a problem. I'm glad you came though." Emily sat next to her watching the blonde fawn over the small infant.

"Jack lets go get some take out and let Emily and Garcia talk." Hotch suggested. Walking over to Emily after Jack ran to get his shoes he asked "Anything in particular?"

"No, whatever is fine. Thanks." She told him with a kiss to the lips.

"Do you want anything Garcia?" he asked putting on his own shoes and grabbing the keys.

"No sir, I'm good." she waved him off keeping her attention solely on the baby.

After the boys left and Lily nodded off Emily put her in her crib and went back to the couch where Garcia sat. "So ya'll have any actual cases?" she asked with a smirk.

"We just finished one but I think they might be heading out again tomorrow. So ah…Rossi told me about the director meeting with Hotch. Is everything okay?" she trailed lightly. Getting into people's personal lives was her job but she didn't want to cross any lines with the brunette.

"Honestly I'm not sure. Hotch thinks he wants to send him back to Afghanistan because his team is still there." Emily took a sip of her water. All day she had been avoiding the issue more for Hotch's sake but some for her. They had just started getting back to where they were and now he might have to leave for an unknown amount of time and it scared her. It wasn't because she had a baby and needed help heck she was going to do it solo from the beginning but it was the distance between the two of them that she feared.

"What are you going to do if he does go back?" Garcia asked looking at her with concern.

"Deal with it I guess. He can't really tell the Director of the FBI he can't go. Besides he was gonna have to go back to work eventually. I can handle Lily on my own." She said vaguely.

Garcia squeezed her hand. "But can you handle being away from him? You guys just sorted everything out. I mean what is it going to do to the both of you? And Hotch is so attached to Lily and…" she trailed off seeing the fear and anxiety run over Emily's face.

"I guess we will just have to wait and see." Emily shrugged schooling her emotions. "Did you see how cute Jack was with Lily?" she changed the subject and with a sad smile from Garcia the blonde did the same.

A/N: Thank you so much for the reviews! What do you think the Director wants? Hmmm…