Chapter Eight

Disclaimer: Not Mine

A/N – I'm finally at the end. Sorry it took so long to get here. I almost stopped at the last chapter but I felt it needed just a little bit more. No beta so all the mistakes are mine.

Hotch sighed as he watched the pair make their way down the hospital corridor hand in hand. He certainly wasn't one to judge but he knew that he would be losing an agent soon and the idea of losing either of them didn't make him happy.

"You just missed the rest of the team." He zeroed in on Emily. "I need to apologize for not following up with you directly. I got the all clear from the medic but I should have touched base with you."

Emily grinned, touched at his concern. "I'm fine Hotch. I know that you had more pressing matters to deal with."

"Yeah and I'm sure that Derek gave her a complete and thorough check over. Probably more than once." JJ hollered from inside her room.

"Let's just say I'm on top of things and monitoring the situation closely." Morgan said, flashing a smile.

"Eww gross, let's not." JJ made a face as she adjusted herself on her hospital bed. "I just had a nasty visual."

"What's going on with you little mama? Baby Hotchner not ready for her grand entrance yet? I thought your water broke." Derek asked the obviously still pregnant woman.

"It was a water bottle in the car. Just part of my wife's theatrics." Hotch bit out.

"You idiot, do you have any idea what could have happened?" Emily grumbled moving to her friends' side. "If you weren't laying in a hospital bed I would so kick your ass."

"Well that's a fine thank you." JJ grumbled.

"Oh because I would have felt wonderful if something happened to you or the baby in your backwards attempt to rescue me!" Emily words were sharp but she pulled her friend into a tight hug.

Not quite willing to admit that she was wrong in front of her husband the blonde uttered, "I took a small risk."

"You took too big of an unnecessary risk. Following the vehicle at a safe distance was one thing. Engaging the unsub was another altogether." Hotch growled, clearly indicating how upset he still was over the situation.

"And that's why his daughter doesn't want to come out." JJ sighed rubbing a hand over her stomach. "Don't worry baby, Daddy is made at me not you."

"You won't even admit that you were wrong!" Hotch exploded.

"Why don't we get a coffee, Hotch?" Derek said, intervening before JJ could respond. The older man sighed but allowed himself to be ushered from the room.

"So," Emily asked, crawling into bed with her friend, "What's new."

JJ leaned into her friend and sighed heavily. "Yesterday I did something really stupid and Aaron is really mad at me." She sniffled. "I don't think he's ever been really truly mad at me."

"Have you tried apologizing?" Emily suggested helpfully. "Really apologizing."

"Yes but he won't let it go and now it's pissing me off." JJ whined. "I know it was really stupid and I wasn't thinking. I'm well aware that it could have gone to shit. But it didn't." She wiped at her nose and looked at her friend sadly. "How long do you think he's going to be mad?"

"You know, he wouldn't be so mad if he didn't really love you." Emily told her consolingly.

"I know." They sat in a comfortable silence for a few minutes as JJ calmed herself. "So anything new with you?"

Emily blew out a breath. "Yesterday I got to play dress up, then hide and seek." Her voice faltered slightly and her grip on JJ's hand tightened momentarily, "And then I had a late night visitor and we played the horizontal hokey pokey. Twice." She grinned then added, "And once this morning."

JJ understood that she didn't want to make a big deal about the abduction and being her friend she was going to follow her lead. "Whew, you had an exciting day of fun and games."

"Yeah, by the way I understand I have you to thank for my costume." She said drily.

JJ frowned still playing over the events of the previous day in her mind. "I don't know why we didn't think to put a device on that stupid thing."

Emily glared at her. "Please, where would you have put it?"

They stared at each other a full moment before finally giving in and giggling at one another. JJ sighed. "True. So, Derek."

Emily nodded. "Yep, Derek."

"Soooo? How was it?"

"JJ." Emily groaned, not sure if she was ready for this conversation.

Her friend protested. "Aw, c'mon. You're not going to give me any details? What kind of pal are you?"

"One who likes her privacy?"

"I tell you all kind of stuff." JJ complained.

"I know, there are times I can't even look at Hotch because of things you tell me."

"Please, I don't even tell you all the really good stuff." JJ snorted.

"Thank God for small favors." Emily laughed, then smiling at her friend she went so far as to concede, "It was nice."

"Nice? Nice is boring." JJ retorted.

Emily rolled her eyes. "Whatever. Fine, it was wonderful, it was everything I hoped it would be and more."

JJ's mouth dropped open and she looked at her friend in wonder. "Oh, Em, you're in love with him!"

The brunette nodded. "Yeah, I am."

"Wow. That is just – She broke off as a grimace crossed her face.

Emily looked at her a little alarmed. "You think it's a bad thing?"

"No I just – Again she couldn't prevent a wince.

"Well why do you keep making that face? What's wrong with Derek? You know, I expected a little more support from you of all people. Did I make funny faces at you when you told me you were over the moon about Hotch? No, I did not. And I'll be truthful, I didn't really understand it because I guess I just don't see in him what you do but as your friend I supported you."

"Em –

"I know that you might think he's all fluff and no substance but there is a lot more to Derek than what he lets a lot of people see."

"I know –

"Then why do you keep scowling?"

"Aaron –

"I know that we're obviously going to have to do something because we work together and I know that Hotch isn't going to be happy but we'll figure it out. I mean, again, did we give Hotch grief when he started nailing you and you had to move to another team? Well, I mean, we did, but it was all good naturedly. OW!" She cursed as JJ's hand tightened on hers. "What is wrong with you?"

"Tell Aaron the baby's ready now." JJ bit out.

For a minute all Emily could do was stare at her then she sprang into action. "OH! Holy cow." The monitors that were hooked up to her were obviously working as a nurse rushed into the room.

"Looks like she's finally ready." The nurse stated as she moved efficiently over to the bedside and started to do an exam on JJ. "I think we need to get you over to a delivery room."

"Emily." Hotch looked up to see the brunette racing towards them as Derek stood in concern. "What's wrong?"

"JJ – baby!" She stuttered, out of breath from having run to find them. "Who the hell gets coffee in a dead zone when his hugely pregnant wife is expected to deliver any minute?" She growled, although it was to Hotch's back as he was already moving out the door.

"Wait, wait they've moved her!" She yelled, chasing him out the door.

Derek quickly caught up with her at the elevator bank. "Don't worry, he'll find her." He grinned and reached for her hand. "Guess we better gather the troops."

Rossi was the first to show up. "Are we sure it's the real deal this time?" His gripe was offset by the fact he was carrying a large bouquet of flowers and an even larger teddy bear with a huge pink bow.

"They wheeled her into delivery and she was crushing my hand so I'm going to guess yes." Emily confirmed.

"Plus we haven't seen them come back yet and it's been almost 45 minutes." Derek offered.

Will was the next to arrive with a rambunctious Henry who wanted to make sure he was there when his baby sister arrived.

Jack was of the same mind and he and Jess were the next ones to arrive to await the newest member of their family.

"So Emily, you think you're going to get in on this racket?" Rossi asked her, not failing to miss the obvious change that occurred between her and Morgan and having an unholy love to stir the pot.

The question threw her. "Well that's a little premature…"

"The baby's premature!" Garcia wailed, having only heard the last sentence as she entered the waiting room.

"The baby's fine Mama." Morgan reassured her quickly.

"Then why would you say that?" She huffed angrily fixing the pair with a fierce glare.

"He was referring to Emily's baby." Will said with a grin, knowing that would spin the TA up even further.

She stopped, completely dumfounded. "I'm sorry, Emily's what?" Her head swung back and forth between Emily and Derek. "Is there something I should know?"

"Relax PG, I am not having a baby." She sent a warning glare towards both Will and Dave.

"That she knows of. If I'm right," Rossi announced to the room, "And I usually am in these matters, Agents Prentiss and Morgan have a completely different kind of partnership going on." He wagged his brows. "But, if she is pregnant we'd be in for a long wait." Rossi stated, enjoying the flush that covered the brunettes face. "Conception would have been in the wee morning hours."

That was met by a smattering of chortles.

"Do you want kids, Emily?" Reid questioned having arrived during the exchange.

Emily looked a little startled by the question and the unwanted attention. Then she answered honestly. "I don't know Reid, I've never really been in the position to give it much consideration." She looked at Morgan for support and he gave a good naturedly shrug.

"And now?" Garcia dug.

Emily exchanged a grin with Derek. "Now we're back to it's a little premature."

"Interesting." Garcia purred. "That's not exactly a no."

Emily laughed and conceded. "You're right Pen that is not exactly a no."

"Well if it's going to be a yes I would suggest you start working on it. You're not exactly a spring chicken."

"Dave!" The female members of the team objected.

"Actually he's got a point." Reid stated. "Statistically as you age it gets harder to conceive. That's true for both men and women."

"Unless apparently you're Aaron Hotchner." Derek stated.

"Yeah, we'll he had a backlog from all of his years of living like a monk." Rossi hypothesized.

"Excuse me?" A nurse interrupted the gathering. "I'm looking for Henry and Jack." Both boys scrambled to their feet and the nurse smiled down at them. "Your mom would like for both of you to come back and meet your baby sister."

After the boys were introduced to the newest Hotchner the team went back in pairs of two. Morgan and Emily were the last pair to visit the new parents. Any earlier friction between the parents was completely gone as Hotch smiled down at his wife and daughter.

The pair was slightly subdued as they left the hospital. "I don't think I've ever seen Hotch smile so much." Emily said softly.

"It was kind of creepy." Morgan stated with a laugh.

"No, it was nice. He is so completely besotted." She commented with a touch of awe.

Derek looked over at her. "What's going on in that head of yours Princess?"

She lifted a shoulder. "It's really beautiful, isn't it?"

"Are we talking about the baby?" He questioned.

Emily shook her head. "No, not exactly, but she is really beautiful, too." She glanced at him out of the corner of her eye. "You know, I once told you that I envied my friend and I wanted what she had."

The grin on his face spread. "Yeah, I kind of remember that conversation." He reached for her hand and intertwined their fingers.

"What do you want, Derek?" She asked him sincerely.

"I was thinking maybe some dinner, then maybe if you're interested I could get back to exploring all the contours of your body. There are parts that still need my attention." He winked down at her cheekily.

"I'm not talking about that." Emily said with an eye roll. "I'm really surprised to find that I really am interested in the whole ball of wax. I want a guy that looks at me like Hotch looks at JJ." She looked over at him and announced boldly. "I might want to have a baby. Or maybe I don't have a baby, maybe we adopt." She shrugged. "I don't know, all I know is I want that little unit of love." When he didn't respond she continued. "I realized today that I already have some of it. I have a group of friends that I consider my family, but I want a mate. I want someone to get mad at me because I take unnecessary risks. I want someone to love me unconditionally. I want…" She broke off and looked up at him. "I want it all." He didn't still didn't say anything and she prompted him. "Well?"

He gave her a crooked smile. "I'm sorry, I wanted to say, 'I want to give it to you', but that sounds kind of dirty." He said with a laugh. "You were having a heart felt speech and..." He stopped speaking as she smiled luminously up at him. He grew serious as he asked, "So, how do you feel about marriage?"

She pursed her lips like she was considering the question. "It's not a deal breaker." They resumed walking and she added. "I would prefer that we lived in the same house."

"It would make it a lot easier to get my hands on you." He smiled at her rakishly.

"But it's still a little soon." They had only just got together. "We might be moving too fast." Although she wasn't sure she felt like it was moving too fast herself. It felt like she was moving towards something that she had waited for and wanted for a long time.

Apparently Derek wasn't so sure either. "Personally I think we have some time to make up for but you can call the shots here."

Her heart gave a little flutter. "Your dog isn't going to eat my cat is he?"

Morgan considered it before offering, "Sweetheart, siblings fight, they'll work it out." He swung his arm around her.

"What is your mom going to think?"

He didn't hesitate when he said, "If I'm happy my momma is going to be happy."

Emily stopped again. "Well what about Pen?"

Derek laughed. "Pen is going to be over the moon. She adores you. She may want to be the first kid we adopt."

Emily smiled. "Are you sure? She is a little," She paused to think of the easiest way to describe their friend, "Territorial when it comes to you."

"She only wants the best for me." He studied her, worried that she was already backtracking. He was quick to call her on it. "You're not getting cold feet here are you Princess?"

The question surprised her. She hadn't been. She meant it when she told him she was all in. Emily stopped walking and grinned up at him seductively. "It may be that I require a little more convincing."

His grin exploded. "I think I could probably help you with that."

"You're the only one that can."

THE END

Thanks for reading! A big thank you to all of you that were so kind to comment and to follow the story, it was much appreciated!