"Stop," the brunette sighed, batting away the hand of her worried friend as they drove down the back roads of Matthew's old neighborhood. "I swear to God," she hissed, sending a glare to the older man. "Stop babying me."
Hotch held up the hand in question in surrender before gripping the steering wheel once more. "You've had two panic attacks in the last day," the BAU Unit Chief tried to point out softly, wanting his friend to know how much he cared. "I need to make sure you're ok."
Emily did her best to force her tears back. "I'm ok," she whispered. "I'm just nervous."
Her dark eyes looked out the window to the watch the raindrops fall against the glass, and she quickly picked up her hand to wipe away the tear she felt on her cheek.
How was she supposed to raise a child?
Being career oriented since she was juts a child, the ambassador's daughter had never set her mind on the prospect of having a baby. A child had never been a part of her plan. How could she raise a child? She had no maternal instincts whatsoever; never even held a baby!
But Matthew was her saving grace. Her best friend from childhood had given the most precious gift he had ever received to her, and she couldn't let the poor defenseless girl Matthew had done so much to take care of go into the foster system. Even if she were to stay with her mother's parents it wouldn't be right. The man in question - the one now six feet under the sopping wet ground - had put her as little Grace's guardian.
Her mother.
"Emily?" a familiar voice came. Looking back to the man in the driver's seat, Emily gulped. "Did I lose you?"
"No," she denied, clearing her voice when it came out hoarse. "Are we almost there?"
Hotch slowly nodded his head as they turned at a stop light. "Just a few blocks away. Your lawyer is meeting us there." The girl's grandparents had been notified of Emily's guardianship over Grace the moment Matthew had passed away, and they'd put up a fight, but legally the child was hers.
The brunette woman took in a deep breath, her hands twisting and turning in her lap. "What if they don't give her to me?"
"They have to."
Emily's head shook, feeling the car take another turn. "I don't have anything for her," she whispered frightenedly. "I didn't buy a crib or food for her. I don't even have diapers." How was she supposed to be a mother if she had forgotten every essential need for the baby?
Hearing the tears start in his friend's voice, Hotch reached over and took the closest of the ivory woman's hands. "You just found out yesterday. Did you really expect to get over the shock of this news in less than twenty-four hours and have an entire nursery ready for her? No offense, but I didn't."
"I guess you're right," she sniffled.
"Hey." He slowed the car down in front of their destination and waited until Emily's eyes were connected with his. "You're going to be a great mother."
Emily's lips quivered as she let her friend open her door and help her from the car. Looking to the modest one story home before them, she could feel her chest tightening.
"Agent Prentiss!"
The brunette turned her head to take in a smile cast toward her from her lawyer. "Hey Mark."
Noting his client's tear stained face, the attorney turned his attention toward the unknown face. "Mark Lasel," he nodded, shaking the older man's hand.
"Aaron Hotchner," the unit chief grinned.
"Are you ready?"
Emily kept herself quiet as her eyes stayed glued to the brick house. She was the first up the walkway, knowing that if she didn't get moving soon she'd have Hotch pushing her up the path from behind. "They know we're here, right?"
Her lawyer nodded, reaching out past the reluctant woman and pressing the doorbell. "They were notified the moment Matthew passed. Grace is yours."
Eyes widening as the door opened, Emily bit her lip.
"I assume you're Emily Prentiss," the woman bit out, her red hair just a touch too dark to be considered natural.
Hotch took a step forward and offered the older woman a hand. Knowing how shaken up his friend still was about the entire situation, it made the most sense to let her work herself up to introduce herself. "Aaron Hotchner," he stated politely.
Her dark blue eyes darted to the BAU agent before her. "I don't remember a 'Hotchner' in the will."
"No ma'am. I came along for support."
The woman, Henney Linnape was her name, glared at the brunette in question. "Oh, she needed support to come and take my granddaughter away?"
Emily knew her discomfort showed on her face as she slowly shook her head. "Ma'am, I am so sorry for the loss of your daughter."
"You are, are you?"
The agent's teeth chewed hard into the skin of her cheek. "Ma'am," she said softly, "I just lost my best friend. I had no idea of his intentions, but legally I am to be Grace's guardian." Seeing the anger on the older woman's face, Emily chose her words as carefully as she could. "That doesn't mean I won't let you see her. You are her grandparents."
"Henney," came a voice, "let them in."
Emily's eyes met those of an older man, glasses hanging off the tip of his nose. "Theodore?"
His friendly eyes smiled sadly to her as he offered his hand. "Ted Linnape," he nodded, gently holding the agent's hand in his. "Matthew had told us a little about you before he passed. Very sweet words," the sixty year old smiled.
Emily bit back her tears at the words.
"Mr. and Mrs. Linnape, my name is Mark Lasel. I'm here to make sure the transition goes smoothly."
Ted gave the group a nod before leading them into the home. "Henney, why don't you go and get the little one?" Waiting until his wife had left the room with the lawyer on her tail, Ted took a moment to compose himself.
"Sir?" Emily asked smally. "Are you ok?"
The man with salt and pepper hair slowly nodded his head. "My girl wasn't always the best, but Gracie is the best thing that ever happened to her." He tried to hold back the emotion in his voice at the thought of his daughter. "I know she'll be in good hands with you. Government agent," he nodded, "comes from a good household."
Batting her long lashes, Emily kept herself quiet. He had done his research.
"Just promise me we can come see her?"
"Mr. Linnape," Emily breathed, "I would never keep her from you. I'm just her guardian, but you're her family. I wouldn't let her grow up without you two."
Ted gave a watery smile to the younger woman. "That's very sweet of you."
Watching as the redheaded woman rounded the corner, Emily's breath caught in her throat. The little girl looked directly to her, a chubby little finger stuck in her mouth as she struggled to get away from the woman holding her.
She looked just like Matthew.
"This is your new mommy, sweetheart," Ted smiled sadly, taking his granddaughter and pressing a small kiss to her dark hair. "Here you go baby."
Emily gulped, taking the little girl into her arms. "Grace." She saw those dark green eyes her friend had and almost burst into tears, her arms tightening around the baby.
Ted gave a small wave of the hand. "She's four months, and her birthday is January third."
The redheaded woman brought the clothes and toys they had for their granddaughter and shoved them in Hotch's direction.
"We should get going," Emily's lawyer pointed out, helping Hotch with the few bags the baby had.
When the four month old girl rested her head against her chest, Emily's chin trembled. "Well if possible," she spoke up, her voice husked, "we could have lunch in the near future? Give Grace some time with her grandparents?"
Ted nodded to the brunette. "Thank you, Emily."
"Thank you," the agent whispered, turning with the baby cuddling against her and walking out the door.