The rest of the week flew by. Quite obviously also serial killer´s had something like ' silly season ' and the team was able to stay in Quantico . Much to the delight of Derek, who mustered all of his available charms to finally win Emily. He got a tip from Garcia, who told him, Emily liked piano music , so Derek organized tickets for a guest appearance of a famous pianist on Thursday .
On Friday there was a gallery opening and a visit to a new and very hip Italian restaurant on his agenda. Morgan quickly parked the car and rang impatiently at his colleague´s door, but colleague? That wasn´t right, Emily had become so much more for him. Derek tugged at his tie. He always felt uncomfortable in a suit, differently than Hotch, who looked like he had imbibed wearing suits with breast milk. Emily opened in a red, very tight-fitting silk dress and her hair pinned up. Her high heels and her lipstick matched the color of her dress. Derek was just speechless.
"Oh wow, I have to picture that, Derek Morgan is speechless," Emily stepped aside from the door. " I just need my scarf and my clutch. " she said.
" You're beautiful , Em " Derek managed to say when Emily came back.
"Thank you, Derek. Shall we? "
The gallery appeared to be some kind of yuppie hangout, a clique, who shared their pseudo - art knowledge with anyone who would listen, or even not . After some time, Emily and Derek were joking around, entangling the ' connoisseur´s ' into absurd discussions until they were discreetly asked to leave. Still laughing, the two of them stood in front of the gallery. Derek could not resist and kissed Emily, she just looked too nice.
" You´re going out on a limb here, Morgan. We´re in public. "
" Hm, I don´t believe, this is Strauss favorite place to be. So we´re safe here." Derek grinned. It was funny how naturally it felt to kiss Emily, Derek thought in surprise. When he did it the first time, it happened on a whim , but the more time they spent together, the more feelings Derek developed. He, who otherwise was chasing every girl with nice legs and tried to keep it as simple as possible, had lost his heart to Emily Prentiss. He did not know whether she wanted it at all. So passionate, violently and physically their love-making was, Emily withdrew again into her shell when she seemed to have the feeling, he was too close to her. Derek made a mental note, to figure out why this was this way.
oOo
Callie woke up on Saturday morning before Hotch. He had his arms wrapped tightly around her and snuggled against her back. Callie felt his calm, warm breath on her neck. She felt safe with him, safe and secure. She was pain-free, this morning, thanks to the increased dose of morphine, Aaron had to inject her that night. The Vicodin was now almost ineffective.
Hotch breathed her a kiss on her neck. "Hello," he whispered in her ear.
Callie laughed softly, " Hello yourself ," she turned to him and ruffled his hair. " I don´t see you double today, what a pity ," she smiled.
"Not at all, sweetheart. It just means, you´ll pick the right guy this evening." Hotch kissed her lovingly. Today was her wedding day. Hotch repressed any other thoughts, just today was important, nothing else. A 'tomorrow' did not exist.
Callie let her hands wander, she wanted to feel Aaron close, as long as she felt good, she didn´t know, for how long that was.
"This will be a long day today, Callie, maybe you should you prefer to rest ," Hotch said carefully and moaned softly, Callie became very offensive.
"I thought you could do all the work and I could sit back a bit ," Callie smiled ambiguously and intricate Hotch into a passionate kiss.
oOo
Reid had got a quite easy job that day. He had to pick up Ken Baker, Callie´s publisher and lawyer from the airport. The plane from New York was delayed, as the display told kindly. Spencer wasn´t keen on waiting, but the alternative would have been to come up with Garcia to take care of the decoration and decoration wasn´t Spencer´s area at all. So he sat down in the waiting area, cross-reading two books at the same time.
An hour later, Spencer was approached by a guy.
"Hi, I 'm sure you´re waiting for me. Kenneth Baker from NY. " The tall, dark-haired man looked at Spencer from top to bottom. Young , lanky, a little insecure and incredibly sweet. Ken Baker put on a seductive smile. The reason for his visit was sad enough, perhaps this pretty one could cheer his mood a bit.
" Um, yeah. I'm Dr. Reid, Mr. Baker. "
" Ken, please. Do you also have a first name or may I call you ' Doctor' ? "
"Um, actually it's Dr. Dr. Dr. Reid " Spencer replied, turning red. Could this guy probably stop looking at him this way? Kenneth´s smile grew a little wider. That was going to nice, he thought.
oOo
" Good morning, buddy," Hotch stroked Jack 's hair .
"It's morning, already? " Jack muttered sleepily.
" Yeah, it is, Jack. It 's almost nine, we want to have breakfast, before I drop you at Becca´s. Callie has already made cocoa. "
" With cream on it ? " Jack asked and Hotch nodded. " Then I´ll hurry up!" Jack said, and darted into the kitchen to Callie.
"Morning Callie ! " Jack screamed and hugged her violently.
" Hello darling ," Callie squeezed Jack firmly and then put him on a chair. "I've cocoa made for you, Jack. "
Jack nodded enthusiastically, " you must also drink cocoa, then we´re all gonna have a chocolate beard. "
Callie laughed, " Your dad certainly looks funny, with chocolate beard. "
Hotch came into the kitchen, " why would I look funny? "
"Because of a chocolate beard," Jack and Callie said simultaneously.
oOo
After breakfast Hotch drove to Abby and Becca Jensen, to drop Jack. Abby opened pleased.
" Hello Jack , hello Aaron. Becca is in her room, you know where that is, don´t you, Jack? "
" Yes , Mrs. Jensen," Jack raced up the stairs and Hotch handed Abby Jack's overnight bag.
"I have to thank you again, Abby. I know, it hard for you, handling one kid, now you´ll handle two." Abby led Hotch into the living room and offered him some coffee.
"It 's all right, Aaron. It´s just my hip, that hurts sometimes. Jack and Becca are such nice kid´s and they don´t cause any trouble. I understand very well why you don´t want Jack to be at home today. I guess, he would not understand. "
Hotch took a sip . "Do you understand, Abby? "
Abby smiled, " I 'm just an old woman, Aaron. But I remember very well how it is like, to love someone. Callie and you do the right thing. Don´t you doubt it, Aaron, memories can´t be taken away."
" I don´t have doubts, Abby," Hotch said, "I 'm afraid of what will happen, when Callie is no longer with us. I´m scared like hell, Abby."
oOo
Spencer was glad when finally delivered his passenger at Callie´s. Kenneth Baker flirted at him, Spencer was sure about that. And it felt...Spencer didn´t know how that felt. Lack of experience. Reid had imagination enough to know what kind of interest Kenneth Baker had in him. I should feel flattered, Spencer thought uncertain, Baker was an exceptionally attractive man. Muscular, tall, angular face, his dark hair he wore longer. A lovely smile and a lot of humor. One like him caused women to gasp, Reid was sure. Somehow a pity for the women, Spencer thought.
If Ken Baker was shocked when Callie opened the door, he didn´t show it. She had become incredibly thin and looked so tired and worn out, worse than after her first chemo two years ago.
"What the hell are you doing, sweet plum?" Ken hugged Callie warmly and for the first time he was really aware, his favorite girl and author was going to die.
"I am dying, Kenny." Callie replied Ken's embrace. "I 'm so glad you 're here. "
Spencer was standing in the doorway, feeling a little uncomfortable until he got a shove from behind.
"This fits so well, sweet pie, I really need your help with the decoration," Garcia laughed, she was armed with a large cardboard box .
"Hi Callie and Hi ... oh good Lord! Spencer pinch me, is he real?" Garcia started gasping, like Reid supposed earlier.
" Kenneth Baker, at your service ," Ken chuckled and took Penelope´s box.
" Where do you want me to put it, beautiful woman? "
" I- in my apartment , more specifically, into my bedroom. " Pen took a deep breath and Callie had to laugh. Ken had a similar effect on her, when she saw him the first time. The fact that Ken was, however, inclined to his own sex, did not diminish their mutual sympathy, on the contrary.
While Penelope and a very reluctant Spencer Reid took care of the decoration of the roof terrace, Callie and Ken talked about business.
"I changed it the way you wanted it, love." Ken said with tears in his eyes. "I'm so mad at you, why didn´t you tell me? I was with you the first time, I would have done it again. "
Callie grabbed Ken's hand. "I know that , but I didn´t want to put that weight on you again. And it´s different, this time." Callie started to cry. "It won´t be long, Ken, I´m so scared. And I´m so worried about Aaron. He tries to hide it, but I ...He cries at night, when he thinks I´m sleeping."
"We´ll all watch out for him, Cal. I promise." Kenneth held her close, there was nothing else he could do.
He never had written so reluctantly a last will, as this time. He didn´t want Callie to die. He knew her for quite a long time, she had been there for him, when his partner had died in a sailing accident. Losing her now seemed so unreal and so unfair. Callie wanted several changes, the majority of her not inconsiderable assets flowed into her foundation, she had already established during the first outbreak of her disease. Callie named Kenneth Baker und Ike Malone as administrators and patrons. Hotch would get the apartment, he should have to not give up his favorite place in the beach basket. In addition, a large block of shares. Callie decided for Jack, to give him the sole rights of 'Ferdinand, the purple eared rabbit' , Hotch was going to manage them for Jack, until he was 21.
oOo
Hotch still led a long, very intense conversation with Abby Jensen. She told him of the fears that plagued her, in terms of Becca. Hotch talked about Haley and Jack and how hard it had been, after her death, for him and Jack. He wanted to take a quick look in Becca´s room, before he left, but Jack and Becca persuaded him to a few rounds of some card game. Callie is right, Hotch thought, as he looked at Rebecca and his son. Jack needed siblings, he took great care of Becca and the little girl blossomed formally in Jack's company. Hotch could understand Abby's worries about what would become of the little one, even if her grandmother was no longer there.
oOo
When Hotch arrived at home again, it was finally 3 p.m. Callie's apartment was like a dovecote.
The large sofa had been moved to one side and the dining table had found its way into the living room, joining another table, Hotch identified it as on of Rossi´s. Morgan lamented loudly about the alleged herniated disc, which he had contracted by moving the furniture. He was working as a profiler, and he was working mostly with his head, not with his muscles. A comment that made Emily fall into a laughing flash and also animated some others to giggle.
"Hello groom ," Jess smiled and hugged Hotch shortly. " Callie is sleeping. We take care of everything, yet sit down by her. "
Hotch nodded, "thank you, Jess. "
oOo
"So, Dr. Dr. Dr. Reid, why don´t you tell me something about yourself? " Ken Baker handed Spencer a glass of white wine and sat down with him in the beach basket.
"Um...There is not so much to tell about me, Mr. Baker. "
"Didn´t we agree on Ken?" Baker asked with a grin. "And the very lovely Miss Garcia has told me, your first name is Spencer. French / Norman origin, originally a job title ... "
"Distributor of inventories, translated very freely ," interrupted Spencer.
"Kenneth, first king of the Scots, 9th century. Coinneach originally, Kenneth is the Anglicized form. " Spencer sipped his wine.
" Touchè . And I thought I could impress you a little, Spencer. "
" Why would you want that? "
"Maybe I am impressed by you , Spencer. Couldn´t this be possible?"
Reid just laughed, " not likely. "
" Hm," Baker smiled briefly and lifted the cushion on his side. "It must be around here somewhere? "
"What? " Spencer asked irritated.
" Your self-confidence, Dr. Dr. Dr. Reid. " Spencer turned red, he could not imagine, why this man took notice of him. Spencer always felt like the ugly duckling, but now, the little duck was courted by Prince Charming.
oOo
"Hey, baby girl. What 's going on with Spencer and the good-looking tall one?" Morgan shoved Garcia a bit. He was very interested in observing the events on the rooftop.
" Oh, our genius is just expanding his horizons ," Pen grinned. "I would tell you a little more, if you´re gonna tell me a bit more about you and the beautiful dark-haired girl at the fridge." Garcia jerked her head towards Emily.
" Nice try, pumpkin," Derek kissed her on the forehead and helped Rossi with the wine.
At 4.30 everything was addressed so far. The wedding ceremony was to take place by 7 p.m., so Garcia's lights and candles came to advantage on the terrace.
Jess very carefully opened the bedroom door. " Hotch? You´re asleep?", she asked quietly .
"Yes he is," Callie replied instead. She stood up carefully and went to Jess into the hallway.
"All right. Your fridge is stacked, the roof and the living room is decorated like crazy. The caterer with the roast is scheduled for 6 p.m. We´re gonna leave now and get changed. I´ll be back soon enough, to dress you up, ok?"
"Thank you, Jess. I do not know what we would have done without you." Callie hugged Jess , "I always regretted being an only child, Jess. I wish, I had a sister like you."
Jess sniffled, "don´t, Callie. I managed the whole day, not to cry. I don´t wanna start now."
A/N I don´t kow, how familiar you are with the beach basket I´m referring to. I do hope, this link works out. And of course, a happy new year to all of you!
wiki/Strandkorb