A/N First of all, thanks to everyone, who is still following. I appreciate it a lot. After this one, there are only three chapters left, so we´re coming close to the end. Then, Merry Christmas to all of you! Hope you´ll enjoy your holiday season, have fun! And maybe, there´s a tiny present for me, one or two reviews?
Derek's and Emily's phones were beeping simultaneously.
"From Hotch ," Emily said. " An invitation for Saturday, in Callie´s apartment. There´s going to be a little celebration."
Derek nodded, " I've also got this text. He´s going to marry her, don´t you think, Em?"
" So would I," Emily replied and poured Derek some fresh coffee.
"What would you do? " Spencer intervened and held out his mug to Emily.
"Marry, Reid. "
"Whom? You´re not even engaged, Emily." Spencer asked blankly. Interpersonal affairs were unchartered territory for Reid, as always.
"Hotch and Callie want to get married, we assume." Derek said , "Didn´t you get the text? "
"Yes, but it 's just a little celebration, it says. And it wouldn´t be logical, I mean, given the circumstances ? "
"Especially because of the circumstances, Reid. It's like a sign. We´ll celebrate life, even if death is going to win in the end, Reid."
Emily sniffled. "Sorry " , she fled into the lady's room. Emily closed the cabin door. Oh, how she hated to be weak. Emily Prentiss doesn´t cry and she doesn´t have an affair with one of her colleagues. But this Emily Prentiss, who sat on that toilet seat, did just that.
" Emily? Are you in there?" Derek was a knocking at her door.
"Go away, this is the lady's room , Morgan!"
" I don´t care, Emily, let me in."
" And if I won´t, you´re kicking the door in?"
Derek laughed shortly , "this door doesn´t need a kick, Em. I just stare her down. So what now? "
Shortly afterwards there was a clunk. Derek quickly slipped inside and closed the door again behind him.
"Quite tight in here," he said.
Emily blew her nose. "Yes, smartass. This loo isn´t meant for groups, Derek. What are you doing here? "
"I thought you need me. " Morgan answered.
"I do not need anyone, Derek . "
" Oh, no? 'That´s why you´re sitting here, crying?"
Derek pulled Emily up and sat down on the lid. Then he placed her on his lap.
"That's better, " he smiled, " and now let's talk a bit about you and me. What is about to be with us?"
"I don´t know, if there is even an 'us', Derek."
"I dream about you, Emily. I don´t dream about my affairs. Never. "
Em smiled briefly.
"I also dream of you," she admitted and put her arms around his neck.
" Nightmares, I suppose? " Derek grinned and kissed her.
" Only when I wake up and you're not there anymore. " Emily said a little later, when she was able to breathe again.
oOo
Also Jess and Dave interpreted the text correctly and made their way to Hotch and Callie. Hotch opened with a very worried expression and let them in.
"I had to call Dr. Malone, it was a bit too much yesterday. I made fresh coffee, sit down please."
Dave and Jess just looked at each other.
" Hotch, Callie is asking for you. " Ike Malone entered the living room. Hotch nodded.
" Ike, these are my sister-in-law Jess and my friend Dave Rossi. Help yourself with the coffee. " Hotch went quickly back into the bedroom.
"I think I can´t do this climbing thing today, Aaron. " Callie said softly as Hotch sat down at her.
He reached for her hand. "That's not so bad, love. You simply gather a little strength for Saturday, what do you think? "
"I forgot what day it is today, Aaron. "
" Wednesday, Callie. Today is Wednesday. "
oOo
Ike was talking with Rossi and Jess, meanwhile.
"And that Prof. Dietrich has said the same thing?" Jess asked.
"Yes, unfortunately. Actually it was clear to me, but sometimes one hopes things, that are not realistic. I think that's one of the reasons why Callie and Hotch still want to marry. And it is good, they want to do it quickly. "
"I'll go check on them," Jess said and walked towards the bedroom. The bedroom door was ajar.
"Hey," Jess said and came in, " something I can do for you? Perhaps some tea for Callie? "
Callie sat up with Hotch 's help and Jess was shocked about how bad the young woman looked at the moment. Callie had a patch over her right eye, Malone explained earlier, that would be because of the double vision, Callie had since this morning.
"I would like to talk to Jess alone, Aaron ," she said.
"Sure," Hotch kissed her on the forehead, "but not for so long , Ike said, you need your rest. "
Hotch went back to Dave and Ike into the living room.
" Girl talk ," he said.
" How are you? " Rossi wanted to know .
" I jumped out of a plane yesterday, Dave. And, hell, it was great . Could you imagine that?"
Dave looked incredulous, " out of a plane ? Aaron, are you kidding me?"
"Oh, no. He isn´t," Ike said. "Callie has persuaded him to do so. Unfortunately, I 'm too old for something like that. " Ike smirked.
oOo
"I've probably already told you, Callie. I 'm so sorry," Jess said softly and hugged Callie warmly.
"I know Jess. I also wish it was different, but unfortunately it is not. I wanted to ask you, to arrange something for Saturday with me, I might need a little help. "
"What do you want me to do, Callie?"
"It´s gonna be only be a small celebration, I don´t know how much I still can manage myself. I´m running out of time, Jess."
Jess was crying silently and grabbed Callie's hand. " What do you want me to do? " she asked again.
" Ike has a friend, who is Reverend, he will marry us. Outside, on the roof. It has to be decorated a bit and we need a ... What were we just talking about?"
"About your wedding on Saturday, Callie. " Jess tried to explain.
" My Wedding? But who would I ... Oh God , of course, Hotch. I'm getting married to Hotch on Sunday. No, on Saturday."
Jess nodded, " that's true, Callie. And you´ll have to worry about nothing, you just have to look pretty, for Hotch. Alright?"
oOo
Jess and Dave decided to stay with Callie while Hotch was picking up Jack and Becca from school. He met Abby Jensen there, who handed him the safety seat for Becca.
"It is a pity, your fiancée cannot be here," Abby said. " I´d really love to meet her."
"I know, Abby. Callie is sorry, but she is having a very bad day. But Jack is looking forward to the trip with Becca, I did not want to disappoint him. Wouldn´t you like to come along? Becca won´t feel alone, finally, she doesn´t know me. Wouldn´t be a problem, if Callie was around, too. But now?"
Mrs. Jensen nodded, " I understand what you mean, Aaron. " A very caring and prudent man, Abby thought and sighed softly. She was worried about the future. One of the reasons why Becca got along so well with Jack was that she had no mother, too . Abby's daughter-in-law had died giving birth to Becca and now Abby´s son Mark was ill too. Abby knew, Mark was going to die and Becca was going to be an orphan. Abby was realistic enough to know, she would not live forever, too. And then what about Becca? Abby 's heart broke when she imagined her beloved granddaughter in a orphanange. Yesterday, there was a glimpse of hope, Abby had the idea to ask the Hotchner couple for being a foster family for Becca, some day. But obviously Callie was just as sick as her son Mark.
"Oh, why not, Aaron. There is nothing on my agenda for today, I hope, you don´t expect me, to climb like a monkey."
Hotch had to laugh, " certainly not, Abby. " Hotch suddenly became serious.
"Abby, I got a request. You don´t have to say yes, maybe I´m asking too much."
" What can I do for you? "
" Callie and I are getting married on Saturday, a private wedding. Actually, we´d love to have Jack around, but it´s way too much for him to handle. I don´t want him to look at Callie as..." Hotch could not continue talking. Abby took Hotch 's hand.
" You do not want him to look at Callie as his new mother. I do understand you very well. Jack can sleepover on Saturday, that's no problem."
" Thank you," Hotch said quietly, putting on a smile for Jack and Becca.
It took a while for Becca, to gain enough confidence in Hotch. He was looking so serious, all the time, but then, he started to make fun with Jack and her, he suddenly looked so different. Finally, she dared like Jack, to climb the child-friendly, small climbing wall.
" I cannot go on, Uncle Hotch ," Becca said, looking down.
"Sure you can, sweetie. Look on your right, Becca. Yes, exactly, well done. You´ll make it." Hotch gave a hint, the little girl was a bit unsure , but with Hotch 's help and Jack's cheers she made it to the very top. Hotch let her down the two and a half meters very gently. Becca was smiling proudly, getting downwards. Jack was jumping excitedly, rock climbing was great. There was also a large wooden fort and a chain bridge, ideal for fun and games. And Becca and Jack had a lot of fun, this afternoon.
"Thank you, for taking Becca with you." Mrs. Jensen said, while she and Hotch had a coffee. "I am far too old for this. Mark, my son, he always did these things with Rebecca. Horse riding, camping and all that stuff. Becca has become so quiet, Aaron. "
"Children should not have to experience the death of their parents," Hotch agreed quietly .
oOo
Callie´s apartment, meanwhile, looked a bit like a bee hive. Jess had sent Dave to raise a caterer, who was getting the job done, last-minute and then called Garcia, who appeared with JJ in tow. Emily apologized, she had to settle something urgent. Garcia suspected that it was related to her chocolate bunny, who was very tight-lipped regarding Emily . What Garcia surprised a lot , but that would come to light, it always does.
The guest list wasn´t very long. The team, Garcia, Will, Jess, Ike Malone and Ken Baker, Callie´s publisher, lawyer and friend from New York. Garcia would take care of the decoration , the other ladies were responsible for the salads and dessert. For the men it was unanimously decided to draw them to ' lower ' tasks, like schlepping extra tables and to move some furniture. Callie felt better with the other women around, the light chatting and the laughter. It was clearing her mind off. It was good to think for a while to plan a normal wedding.
"I'm on it," JJ offered when the doorbell rang .
"I hope it 's not all good job 's are gone," Emily grinned, armed with pizza boxes, she finally mad it.
"We still need someone to take care of the drinks, Emily", Callie said, opening one of the boxes.
" But then you'd have to borrow me Rossi , Jess. That's our wine specialist. " Prentiss grin became a bit wider and Jess blushed, " the BAU is like a tabloid newspapers, everyone knows everything about everyone. You can have my Dave, but only exceptionally, Emily."
oOo
Hotch and Jack heard the merry laughter of the women already at the door.
"I think Callie´s got some visitors, Jack. " He unlocked the door and Jack rushed immediately to Callie .
"I missed you soooo much, today," he said, jumping to her on the couch.
"I missed you too, sweetheart. " Callie hugged Jack lovingly.
"Are you a pirate today, Callie? " Jack asked curiously and carefully touched her eye patch.
" Guess so, Jack. You think, I look dangerous?"
Jack shook his head, " looks cool , Callie. Hi Aunty JJ. " Jack made his turn, hugging his nominal aunts and took a closer look at the pizza boxes.
"I also got one with extra cheese , Jack," Emily pulled the bottom box out and Jack laughed happily.
"But first we´re washing your hands, Jack," Hotch said and Jack disappeared like a flash of lightning into the bathroom.
"Sounded like you´re having fun, love," Hotch kissed Callie quickly.
Callie nodded, " it's all set up for Saturday, Aaron. "
"Yes, and that's why we´ll go now and leave you lovebirds alone. We stay in touch, Callie. Ok? " Garcia said and squeezed Callie shortly. JJ and Emily said good-bye too and so Hotch and Callie were alone with Jack and Jess.
"Dave is picking you up?" Hotch asked harmless and earned a small nudge from Jess.
"Yes, dear brother-in-law, Dave picks me up in a few minutes." Jess laughed. "I've already said thank you, right?"
"You don´t have to, Jess. Get happy, that's all that's important."