Garcia's eyes lazily flickered open as she sat up on the swivel chair in her lair. She slowly stood, stretched then hit the answer button on her phone that was ringing madly as she sat back down.

"Hey, baby girl. We're coming home" Morgan said with a smile on his face as he settled into the jet's seat. "Where's Reid?"

Garcia twirled her chair round and her eyes settled on Reid lying asleep on the couch. "He's asleep on my sofa" Garcia said with a smile as she watched his steady breathing.

"I'm not asleep" Reid mumbled as he sat up sleepily.

"Oh… He's not asleep on my sofa. He's just lying on it" Garcia said with a little laugh as he rubbed the sleep out of his eyes and looked round the room.

"What time is it?" Reid asked sleepily as he searched for a clock.

"Clock's over there, sugar" Garcia said as she pointed out the clock above the door. "Its 4:30am" She added as he pushed a few strands of hair out of his face.

"We'll be home by 6" Morgan added.

"Why don't we stop off at Jenny's to get something to eat when you get back?" Garcia asked as she swivelled back round to the phone.

"Sounds good to me" Morgan agreed.

"Me too" JJ added with a smile as she moved closer to the phone.

"What about you, Hotch?" Morgan asked as he turned towards him.

"I've got Jack" Hotch explained as he closed the folder and turned towards the group.

"Bring him along! I haven't seen him in ages" Garcia pleaded.

"Yeah, come on, Hotch" JJ begged.

"Alright, alright" Hotch gave in with a hint of a smile.

"What about you, Rossi? Pancakes at Jenny's?" Garcia asked.

"What else would I want to do at six in the morning with you guys" Rossi said, his voice thick with sarcasm but the little laugh at the end told the team he was up for it.

"We'll see you when you get back" Garcia replied sweetly down the line before she hung up and spun round to Reid. "You're coming too, right?"

"Sure" He replied sleepily as he rubbed his eyes again and looked over at the woman illuminated by the computer screens behind her. "Just let me get a coffee first"

The team were leaning against the main counter of the American styled Jenny's diner as they waited for their food to be served.

"Hey Jack!" Rossi called to the little boy who was closely followed behind by Hotch.

"David!" Jack called in his familiar little voice with a big grin on his face as he looked at the team that had become like his family.

"Hey buddy" Morgan greeted Jack with a smile and high five as he hopped excitedly around the team.

"Seven plates of pancakes, come 'n' get 'em" The waitress called as she placed the last two plates on the serving table.

The team strolled over to the table and took their plates, Hotch and Jack at the end of the group. "Thanks" Hotch said as he handed the woman a ten dollar tip for serving such a large order as fast as she had. The waitress smiled at Jack and gave Hotch a thankful nod then went back into the kitchen to continue her early shift.

"Pancakes, pancakes, pancakes!" Morgan chanted as Hotch and Jack sat down. Jack laughed at him as Garcia gave Morgan a playful nudge and handed him a fork.

"You're such a big kid!" Garcia laughed as Morgan poured even more maple syrup over his extra large portion of pancakes. Reid watched the two of them fuss over forks and couldn't help but smile, it had been four months since he'd ended up at Emily's grave with a gun and this was the first time he'd seen the whole team relaxed and happy together since.

Hotch picked up a napkin and wiped sticky syrup off of Jack's chin with that caring look he'd only showed to him since Haley had died.

"Just try some syrup!" Morgan laughed loudly as he poured the syrup onto Garcia's pancakes.

"I don't like syrup!" She protested as she attempted to wipe the syrup off.

"How can you not like syrup on pancakes?" JJ asked as she took it off Morgan and poured some onto her plate. "Everyone likes syrup!" JJ added with a laugh.

"It's too sweet!" Garcia exclaimed as she took a bite of pancake.

"Nothing's too sweet" Morgan said as he licked syrup off his thumb.

"Spence, you like syrup, don't you?" JJ asked as she passed the syrup back to Morgan.

Reid nodded with a smile as he chewed on a mouthful of pancake.

"See! Even Spence likes syrup!" JJ pointed out as she handed the syrup to Morgan.

I just don't like it!" Garcia protested defensively as she took another bite of pancake.

"Hey, Jack" Rossi whispered to the little boy who was shovelling pancakes into his mouth as fast as he could. "Penelope doesn't like maple syrup"

"Penelope!" Jack called down the table as he swallowed his pancakes. "You have to like syrup!" He exclaimed with a big grin and laugh.

"Fine, fine! I'll try some syrup… I won't like it, though" Garcia said as she finally gave in and poured a tiny amount of syrup onto her pancakes.

"Eat it, eat it, eat it" Morgan started chanting with a big grin on his face. Garcia picked up a little bit of pancake but played with it as she decided whether or not to try it. JJ and Rossi laughed and joined in with Morgan's chanting, soon the whole team were banging their forks on the table and Jack's contagious grin had spread through the whole group.

Garcia slowly put the piece of pancake in her mouth and scrunched her eyes closed as she quickly chewed and swallowed. "Wooo!" Jack called down the table with a big smile on his face as the sugar from all the syrup hit his bloodstream.

"How was it?" Morgan asked as he picked a pancake off of Garcia's plate.

"Horrible" Garcia said dramatically and took a big gulp of water from her glass. The team laughed a little then slowly went back to eating what remained of their pancakes until everyone's plates were empty.

"Come on, Jack" Hotch sighed with a little rare smile on his face as he stood and ruffled his son's hair.

"Aw!" Garcia complained with a little laugh.

"Can't we stay a little longer?" Jack asked hopefully as he looked up at his dad.

"Sorry, buddy. You've got soccer in a few hours" Hotch explained to him.

"I gotta get going too" Rossi said as he stood to leave.

"I've gotta pick up Henry" JJ added as she got up.

"And I've got a pile of paperwork waiting for me" Morgan sighed as he followed the rest of the team.

"Alright, you win" Garcia admitted as she stood to leave followed closely behind by Reid. The team slowly dispersed once out of the diner's doors until it was just Garcia and Reid left. "Where're you going?" Garcia asked.

"I've got a load of files I need to catch up on" Reid answered as he pulled his car keys out of his messenger bag. "Hotch says if I finish them I can go on the next case with the rest of the team" He added with a hint of excitement.

"So, I'm gonna be alone again?" She gasped dramatically then smiled at his enthusiasm. "Don't worry about it" She said as concern flashed across Reid's face. "You finish that paperwork… I'll see you tomorrow" She added as she walked back to her car.

Reid smiled back at her then slide into his car and put the key in the ignition. As he started up the engine he smiled at the diner. He thought about Emily, how she'd have liked to have hung out in the diner like the team used to after they'd arrive back in the early hours. Maybe this was what Hotch had told him about, Reid thought. He was thinking about her, thinking about her smile and the way she tilted her head, and he wasn't upset. He still missed her but he'd finally come to terms with it all. He knew if there was a heaven Emily would be there, just as happy as he was then.

And with that thought Reid drove back to the office and worked through the paperwork for the rest of the day with the smallest hint of a smile on his face.

Yay! A long one! For anyone wondering when Emily's coming back, I've worked out the next few chapters and Emily will be home by the end of the week. I can't wait to get her back and finally write the twist I've been waiting to write for so long! As always, the reviews are really appreciated and they make me even more eager to write the next chapter. I hope you liked this chapter :)