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As people started to file out of the room, Emily was startled to realize that it was already evening. Outside the skies were already darkening and cars started to fill the streets as people went home to their families. A light touch to her elbow had her turn her attention towards her lover, who stood beside her with the rest of the unit. "You all right?" She smiled and stood closer to him, glad that she could draw strength from his silent form. "Yeah, I'm fine. What's going on now?"

Hotch nodded towards JJ and Reid, "We're going through what Sam Carlton told JJ and Reid, and I was thinking we'd call it a night." She smiled and squeezed his arm before moving towards the group, "I'd like that."

Reid, with his hands in his pocket, recounted their interrogation. "So Sam Carlton admitted to being at every after party that Wilson High has had with all the high schools the victims went to, which isn't a surprise because he's on the football team." JJ sighed and crossed her arms across her chest, "He recognizes every one of the girls but says he only talked to them." Derek frowned and leaned against the white board, "We talked to Gillian Miles, Patricia's friend and she said Patricia was seen leaving with Carlton and two other boys from Wilson High."

Dave nodded, "That puts Carlton as the last person to have seen Patricia. Gillian also gave us the descriptions for the other two boys, one of them was from the football team and the other wasn't." The others turned towards Hotch, awaiting his orders. He took in their tired faces and smiled a little. Aaron Hotchner was proud of his team, and he wouldn't give them up for anything in the world. "Reid, tomorrow you and Dave will go back to Wilson High and find out who these boys are and talk to them. Derek, I want you to interrogate Carlton again tomorrow, see if he gives away any information. The rest of us will run things from here and monitor the hotlines. JJ, I don't think I need to stress to you how important it is that no one, not even the mayor herself gets to the media. Other than that, I want everyone to go home and get some rest. I don't want to see any one of you before 9 am tomorrow. Good night."

Derek stretched with a satisfied groan and slung an arm around Reid, "Come on kid, I'm taking you out for a drink. Pen's waiting for us at the office; you are not getting out of this one." Dave rolled his eyes at Reid's futile protests before shooting a smirk at Emily and Hotch. "Behave kids; don't do anything I wouldn't do." Emily just snorted and threw a wad of paper at him but before she could shoot off a retort, a childish yell made her turn around just in time for something, or rather someone to run straight into her legs.

"Emmy!" The brunette laughed and swung Jack in the air before hugging him, "Jack! What are you doing here? Where's your Aunt Jess?"

Both JJ and Dave were surprised to see Emily so affectionate and familiar with the little boy, and even more so at the tender smile on the unit chief's face. Dave chuckled a little and waved a silent goodbye to JJ. It was definitely about time.

Jessica walked in just then and kissed Hotch's cheek. "Hey Aaron, Emily. Sorry to drop Jack off here, but I have to stay late at the office and was hoping you didn't mind if I dropped him off early." Emily smiled at her as she held Jack at her hip, "It's more than fine Jess, and we were just heading home anyway. Thanks for watching him today." The blonde smiled and shook her head, "Don't need to thank me Emily; anyway, I have to go so I'll see you tomorrow then." The brunette carefully placed Jack on the floor before pushing him gently towards his aunt. "Go give your Aunt a hug Jack." The little boy ran over to her and gave her a tight hug and kiss on the cheek, "Bye Aunt Jess! I love you!" She laughed and ruffled his hair, I love you too Jack. Be good for your daddy and Emily all right?"

JJ, enjoying the heartwarming scene before her, cleared her throat and smiled when Emily turned to her, a blush staining her pale cheeks. "Something you'd like to tell me Emily?" Jack, recognizing Henry's mother waved happily at JJ, "Aunt JJ! Emmy promised she'd watch a movie with me and daddy tonight! She's gonna make popcorn for us!" The media liaison smiled and patted the little boy's head affectionately, "That sounds great Jack! Be sure to have a good time ok?" He nodded earnestly, "I will Aunt JJ, thanks!"

Hotch, seeing an opportunity to escape JJ's inevitable inquisition, smiled apologetically at his lover before picking his son up. "Come on Jack; let's get you into the car while Emily and Aunt JJ have a talk." The brunette glared at him and sighed resignedly, turning to face her best friend. JJ raised a brow, "Well?"

Emily groaned, "Ugh, come on JJ. What?" "When were you going to tell us that you were dating?" JJ crossed her arms, "Or for the matter, how long have the two of you been together?" Emily bit her lip, tossing her hair back. "Uh, four months? And we were going to tell you guys, I swear. Just…just not now." She was surprised when the blonde just smiled and took her hand, "I'm kidding Emily, I'm really happy for you. It's about time you and Hotch got together." Emily couldn't believe her ears, "Wait, you knew?"

The blonde rolled her eyes, "Em, even Reid could see something's changed between the both of you. We all knew it was going to happen either way; it was just a matter of time. We didn't say anything because we wanted to give you guys your space, but yeah, pretty much everyone knew there's something going on." Emily groaned and smacked her forehead with her palm, "Great. And here we were thinking just how great we were at keeping our relationship a secret. I hate working with profilers." JJ laughed at her before giving her a hug, "Occupational hazard Emily, deal with it. Now go, don't keep your boys waiting." Emily gave her a small smile, "Thanks Jayje. See you tomorrow."

JJ waited till the other agent was gone before pulling her phone out and dialing Penelope's number, a wide grin on her face. "Pen, you'll never guess what I just saw." Penelope Garcia's ecstatic squeal could be heard throughout the empty station and on the streets, and JJ shut her phone, feeling immense pleasure. Mission complete.

Emily woke up with a lazy stretch, reaching over for the warm body next to her. She turned to take in her sleeping lover, running her hand through his dark hair and marveling at how innocent and vulnerable he seemed. His breathing changed and she dropped a kiss on his cheek, squealing a little when his strong arms wrapped around her waist and pulled her flush against him. His low voice rumbled deliciously in his chest, sending wonderful tingles throughout her, "Good morning."

Turning in his hold, she kissed him, sighing when he delved deeper into her mouth as his hand moved to cradle the back of her neck. They broke apart and she buried her face in the crook of his neck, breathing heavily. "Good morning. What time is it?" He smiled and ran a hand through her sleep tousled hair, "Just a little over 8. I need to get breakfast ready, and I was thinking we could drop Jack off at his daycare together?" Emily nodded and released him with a sigh as she swung her legs over the bed, "Great, I'll just take a quick shower while you get breakfast done and I'll wake Jack."

Hotch just lay back and enjoyed the view of her swaying hips as she walked towards the bathroom. The brunette, feeling his heated stare on her and smirked, throwing a sassy grin towards him, "Breakfast isn't going to make itself, you know." He rolled his eyes and reluctantly left the warmth of his bed, stifling a yawn as he shuffled to the kitchen. Contrary to popular belief, Hotch didn't leap into the stoic Agent Hotchner mode straight out of bed. He liked his sleep, even more so now that Emily was here to share his bed and even he had days where sleeping in and missing work called out temptingly at him. Yet murder waited for no one and he forced himself wide awake as he pulled out Jack's favourite cereal and started to make coffee.

"Daddy!" Jack, who seemed to have developed the notion that he was a speeding train and not a little boy, came barreling into his legs and Hotch grunted at the impact before pulling his son into his arms. "Morning Jack. Cereal for breakfast ok with you, buddy?" The blonde child nodded happily and reached up to give his father a hug. "Emmy said we could go to the zoo this weekend!"

Hotch raised a brow and turned to take in the delicious sight of his lover leaning against the doorway, dressed in his shirt. "Did she now?" Jack bounced in his father's arms, "Yeah! Can we daddy? Please?" Hotch smiled affectionately at him and ruffled his hair before placing him down on the floor. "Of course we can. Now go sit at the table and eat your breakfast. I don't want you to be late for daycare." The little boy ran to his seat and dug into his cereal as Emily dropped a kiss on his head and slid into the seat before him.

Hotch filled two mugs with steaming hot coffee and handed one to her, to which she rewarded with a bright smile. "Thanks Aaron." He returned her smile and the trio ate their breakfast in companionable silence, occasionally broken by Jack's random ramblings about what Uncle Spencer told him the other day about dinosaurs and how tiny their brains were, or about the new friend he just made last week. Emily threw in a comment or two at times, but she was content to just lean into Hotch and enjoy the feeling of belonging to a real family. She couldn't help but marvel at her luck at having these two wonderful men love her as they did. Hotch took in her dreamy look and sneaked a kiss on her lips, to which Jack responded with a loud "Eww!" and scrunched up face, showing his displeasure at the 'ickiness' as he called it.

Emily and Hotch entered the station together after dropping Jack off to find the station abuzz with activity. Emily spotted JJ's blonde head and headed towards her after discreetly squeezing Hotch's hand. "Hey Jayje, anything new?" JJ looked up at her friend and shot her a smile, "Morning Em. Nothing new I'm afraid. Reid and Dave just came in; they're heading out in a moment to talk to our mystery guys." The brunette nodded, "Did Garcia find anything else about Carlton or the girls?"

The laptop before them flared to life and the tech's face filled the screen. "Good morning, sugar buns and no, I did not find anything else. I cross referenced everything from the girls' lives; credit card expenditure, the places they frequented; zilch. I doubt they even crossed paths." Derek came up behind them just then, "Hey baby girl. I need you to give me everything you have on that restraining order Selina Camden had on Carlton, and the ones from his other ex-girlfriends."

Penelope's fingers flew as if dancing across the keyboard, "Ok, one stalker order coming your way. Selina filed that restraining order on April of last year because Sam Carlton kept showing up at her home and everywhere else she went. She disappeared 2 months later. Two more restraining orders were filed on him before that, one in January of 2012, and another one in May of the same year."

Derek shot her a lazy grin, "Thanks baby girl. I'll talk to you later." The blonde winked at him and purred, "Oh you better do. PG out, chicas."

He chuckled a little and nodded to the two female agents, "I have to go interrogate Carlton. I'll let you know if anything comes up." Emily gestured towards him, "Want to hear what Carlton has to say?" JJ shrugged, "Sure, maybe we'll pick up on something."

Derek entered the interrogation room and sat before Sam Carlton. The boy was frowning, body tense, "Look, I've done nothing wrong and you have no right to keep me here!" Derek looked at him calmly, not reacting to him. "The police have the right to detain you for 24 hours before letting you go without any evidence or further cause to detain you. Now if you're really innocent, we'll prove it and you can go. But you have to answer my questions, understood?" The blonde's gaze hardened before crossing his arms and leaning away from the agent. "What do you want to know? I've already told the other agent everything yesterday."

Emily watched on, informing JJ of what was going on, body language wise. "He's crossing his arms; classic defense posture. See how he's leaning away from Derek? He's trying to distance himself from the offending object, or in this case, Derek." JJ nodded, "But that's not to say he's guilty, right?" The brunette leaned against the window, "Yeah. Hopefully Derek will be able to get something out of him."

Derek tapped the notebook before him, "Sam, I know you're lying. You said you only talked to the girls, but an eyewitness saw Patricia Morton leaving with you and two other guys from Wilson. You were the last person seen with her, man, and that's enough for an arrest warrant, if not for murder then accessory to murder."

Sam's fists slammed against the table as he shot out from his chair, "But I didn't touch those girls! Damn it, why don't you believe that?" Derek glared at him, "Sit down Sam. Now." Sam stared at the agent, willing him to back down first but Derek won out, and the young man reluctantly dropped back into his chair, "I didn't kill those girls. Yeah, my friends and I fooled around with Patricia but I never touched her."

Derek leaned forward, "You said 'I', Sam, not 'we'. So your friends touched them, but you didn't? Is that it?" Sam closed his eyes and let out a deep breath, "Dude, no. Look, we hung out with Patricia at the spot next to the river, but I had to leave all right? I left and went home." Derek jotted that down in his book, "What time did you leave? Can anyone verify that?" Sam shook his head, "Around 11, I guess? I can't remember. Hank Howards and Keith Barnes will tell you I left; they were the guys who were with me."

"What makes you think they'll tell the truth or you for the matter? They could be covering up for you after you left with Patricia and killed her." Derek watched with narrow eyes as Sam shook his head furiously, clearly agitated. "I told you, I didn't kill her. We made out for a bit and I left. I'm not lying, I swear!" Derek raised a brow, "You've got a few restraining orders in the past 2 years, all 3 from ex-girlfriends, including Selina Camden. Do you want to explain that to me?"

Sam sighed and buried his face in his hands, "Look, I've made mistakes with my ex-girlfriends all right? I didn't want to break up with them but when they ended things I just couldn't let it go." He mussed his hair agitatedly, "I guess I freaked them out when I wouldn't leave them alone." Derek snorted, "I'll say. Were you physically abusive to them?" Sam's head shot up, eyes wide, "What? No! I- Look, I'll admit I'm not the best guy out there but I never hurt them, all right? I cared about them, including Selina and I don't know who would want to kill her, but it wasn't me, I swear!"

Emily sighed, "Great." JJ looked at her, curious, "You don't think he's the one who did it?" Emily shook her head, "His frustration was genuine, as was his shock when Derek suggested he was physically abusing his ex-girlfriends. Sam Carlton's no angel but he's no killer." JJ bit her lip and was about to add something before her phone rang. It was one of her contacts at the mayor's office and she took the call. "Jareau." All blood rushed from her face and Emily was alarmed at the horror on the blonde's face. "JJ? What's wrong?" JJ shut her phone and stared at Emily, worry clouding her light blue eyes. "The mayor's gone to the media."