A/N: You all deserve a little plot building fluff so here you go!

As always, I don't own Criminal Minds

"Aaron." Strauss's curt greeting could be overheard by Penelope sitting on the sidelines at Rossi's dining table just after everyone finished an unsatisfying Rossi and Tabby-less breakfast of cold cereal and burnt toast. Strauss had made it clear that she still wanted to have her meeting with him this morning and of course Penelope set up a video conference to save from having to drive and meet her at some coffee shop or something. The BAU offices were still closed due to power outage and there was simply no way anyone would let that woman in their home.

"Director." Hotch was pretty sure Erin was wearing pajama bottoms despite her top being clad in a collared shirt and blazer. That's what he was doing after all. It definitely feels strange wearing sweat pants with a tie but he was going to get whatever comfort from the situation he could.

"I'm going to cut to the chase. I have yet to put in for the extension of your suspension and since I can't do it now." She was purposely avoiding saying why she can't. "You are expected to resume your position on Wednesday if the office is opened."

That was surprising. Both his and Penelope's eyebrows rose up though he was able to school himself out of shock much quicker. "Alright." In his mind he was running through about a hundred possibilities as to why Strauss wasn't able to just continue the extension. It made no sense but he wasn't going to argue. He wanted to get back to work. "Did you happen to get Tabby's statement for yesterday? Or would you like me to take that over?"

Erin slightly ground her jaw. She wasn't sure if Tabby was friends with these people or not but even she had to admit it would mean nothing if she were other than a protective instinct. She was the most forthright person she ever met and as much as she despised her young success she did respect it. "That is taken care of. There should be no questions regarding that case. Excellent job by the way."

Hotch felt like telling her to shove it up her ass. An agent down, an assistant director and a doctor down and an unsub dead does not a perfect case make. But, her previous statement did remind him of something important. "And what progress is being made on Reid's investigation?"

He was surprised to see Strauss actually rub her forehead with the heel of her hand in frustration. "The inquiry panel has been scheduled for next Thursday."

Penelope, listening intently to all of this could feel her pulse pick up. It's actually going to panel. This isn't good. It's really, really bad actually and she suddenly felt the need to go snooping and find everything she could on the panel members and their histories to see if there was anything Reid could use to—Aaron must be a mind reader because he was giving her a scolding look. She got the message, time to leave the dining room.

Aaron patiently waited until she was out of earshot to continue. As much as he trusted her he did need to keep work things separate from their relationship. "May I ask why you aren't extending my suspension?"

Strauss was less than pleased that he was pushing this but it had to happen at some point. "I'm simply not allowed to. Don't take this as approval of your fraternization, and don't take that as disproval of your relationship."

Aaron caught that tone and wisely decided that instead of poking the beast he would try to get what he could from Tabby. "Alright then. Now, I was looking over the details of…" he talked for several minutes about a case where some details on the motives were still shady. Strauss had told him it was fine as is but he wanted to work more on the profile, interview more of the unsub's relatives and coworkers to be sure the case was fully wrapped up and ready for prosecution.

"Aaron, I told you. Let it be. These people are influential in their community and we don't need to piss off the locals."

Hotch grit his teeth. "This is just like with that congressman. I'm not just sitting idly by and letting him slip through the cracks of the system. He killed eleven women! Doesn't that mean a hell of a lot more than 'oh, his father is influential?' come on."

Strauss knew this was heading for an argument and for once she was actually a little happy for Tabby's method of discipline. The woman had been more than fair in the list she accumulated of potential arbitrators. All would be very fair. "Aaron, I will not be discussing this further. If you have an issue with a case which you do not agree with me on there are channels to solve this." she typed the names of two arbitrators and their numbers into the conversation. "Call one of them."

Hotch could see she was trying to pass this off as something he had done wrong, like he hadn't been paying attention to how things work. He knew for a fact that this was abnormal but wisely said nothing. "I have to go. I will see you Wednesday."

"Good. And Aaron, I want the teams to start considering some cold cases while you are still on partial stand down."

Hotch agreed that would be the best use of their time and hung up, relieved once the conversation was over. He walked back into the living room to find Penelope but she wasn't to be seen so he tried their bedroom and finally ended up walking to Morgan's room to check for her there. Sure enough she was cuddled onto the small settee in his room crying on his shoulder.

"Sweetheart." He pat her back as he crouched in front of her. "What's wrong?"

She shook her head and kept sobbing into Derek's muscles. "Hotch man." Derek sighed. "I'm so sorry about the case open against you guys. We won't let them get away with this." He just spent a good fifteen minutes talking Penelope out of destroying their lives with her magic. "They are scared is all. They don't want to lose their grandson. He is their last link to their daughter."

Hotch sighed and sat next to Pen, pulling her away from Derek and into his embrace. "Honey, Derek is right. You said it yourself that the social worker will see right through it." He sounded a whole lot more convinced of that than he felt. In his heart he was shredded to bits at the possibility of losing Jack.

"Aaron, I know when you are just saying something." Like she couldn't see right through him. "I know he's not my son but I love him too and—"

Hotch suddenly shook her. "Don't you dare say he's not your son." He was angry, not at her but at life for not letting her feel like his mother. "You are. We all know it. You've been the woman in his life since after Haley died. Who did Jack tell his sadness to after she died? Who has him light a candle for her whenever he misses her? Who cares for him and makes him feel better? Helps him with homework and teaches him about life? You are his mother goddamnit and you rock at it."

Suddenly Garcia exploded in haughty laughter. "OMG you just said you rock. That is definitely not a Hotchism."

Hotch furrowed his brow at Derek's accompanying snicker. "Hotchism?"

"Yeah man, you have a whole list of words you say, and a list you don't." He shook his head, happy to see his baby girl giggling and in the arms of her fiancé. "This one has really opened you up."

Aaron nodded in full agreement. "What else would you expect when one meets their opposite? Now honey." He tilted Pen's chin up to his and kissed her tears away. "We will work this out. I promise. We did it last time didn't we?" When Haley's parents pulled it back then she really was a partner in non-crime with him. It was probably back then that he first allowed himself to feel some of what he repressed but she was a taken woman and he hadn't been ready to move on yet. Dating Beth had let him do that, practice getting back into the dating world, getting ready for this very woman in his arms.

"Fine." Peneleope reluctantly sat up and wiped her tears. "But if they start anymore shit I'm setting them up for an audit and fudging some of their tax returns."

"I wouldn't expect anything else."

-Criminal Minds-

"Oh Lord, please. No more Jell-O." Rossi was at his wits end when it came to hospital food and it was only his first meal since his surgery other than that piece of toast Kathy made him eat. "An overly salted broth, overcooked oatmeal, Jell-O and 1% milk? What am I? A toddler?"

Tabby chuckled as she picked at her food as well trying her hardest to not be picky. Sure, Dave did have an odd assortment for breakfast but that was because they didn't want to upset his stomach with the heavy drugs he had been on all night. They already told him he would be ready for regular food by lunch. "Just pretend to eat it when Kathy is around. Derek is bringing us coffee and pastries." She knew she could have some caffeine while pregnant but had to try to limit it. So, she decided she would lightly sip on her coffee and by the time it cooled to where it was undrinkable there would still be half left. Hopefully Derek wouldn't get suspicious that way.

Dave nearly did a happy dance. This food was honestly terrible. "Thank God. Because I think I would rather eat something you make than this." he sniffed he grimaced as he tried the oatmeal.

"Hey!" she threw one of her sugar packets at him but then conceded with a pout. "At least I can bake."

"Yes." He chuckled fondly as he pushed his tray aside. "I believe Pumpkin did say something about orgasm scones."

The smile on Tabby's face that had been there since she got the big news last night grew at that memory. "I always knew I would like her from what you had told me and then Derek of course. But I fell in love with that girl when she came into my office and named them that. She's a trip. None of that fake ass bureaucratic crap that I tote around."

Dave knew that bite of her lip. She hated that part of her job, the part where she holds everyone at arm's length yet charms them to her will. She was good at it, really good. And he could see it bothered her because other than this group and her sister she was never herself. He is pretty sure that's one of the big reasons she had liked him years ago, he didn't buy into her crap and so she just let herself be real. And for once, she hadn't shunned any sort of physical connection. She was pretty notorious for a few quick handshakes and nothing else. She was almost like Hotch in a way, plus cookies. "None of that. You fit in with all of us perfectly and it's because you are you. Morgan knows you, all of you."

She had a faraway look about her, thinking back over her relationship with the man that will soon find out he's going to be a father. "It was electric between us from the beginning. He had no idea who I was either." She giggled with a dirty smile. "He's buttoning his shirt back up in my office and first didn't realize it was my office… I think he thought I was the assistant. And he didn't even know my name. Good times."

That surprised him. He'd known her for six months before they had that short lived affair. "So you talked to him today already?" It was only a few minutes past nine and he woke up when his 'breakfast' arrived.

"Dave, I've been up since five. Which you know for me…"

"Must be the drugs keeping you so sleepy." He shook his head, she was always an early riser. The girl never sleeps. She just gets up at three or four in the morning, bakes and comes into work too early. "I hope Morgan is taking advantage of all that extra time in the morning." It was so much fun having her trapped in the bed next to him. He could poke her with innuendo all day long and unlike some women she was more than happy to throw it back. And for once, no weird sexual tension existed between them. That (almost deadly) kiss snuffed the rest of that out.

"Oh trust me Dave. Derek knows what I like in the morning."

"Sure do sexy." Derek wore a large smile as he carried in a bag of pastries and three cups of coffee, handing one to Tabby. "Coffee and sex, and she takes them both black."

"Oh dear God." Emily moaned with amusement, her own cup of tea in hand plus fruit and hardboiled eggs she picked up at the shop. "I really don't need to get a visual of you two in bed. My morning sickness isn't entirely gone ya know."

Dave spared just a quick glance to Tabby and immediately shut his trap. She would toss her burning hot coffee right on him if he let even a vague hint slip. He was overjoyed though, to see Emily. She might be the source of a great deal of heartache in his life with her not answering his proposal but lord did he love her and feel lucky just to have her in his life. Never mind carry his baby. "You are exactly what I need right now." He wrapped his arms around her waist nearly sending her off balance as he pulled her to him and down to his lips. "And how is this one?" He spoke right into her belly. "Gatti e bambini - piu belli da piccini."

Emily snickered and rubbed her hands through his hair. He was so in love with their baby already. The night she told him, which was the night he proposed he laid in bed with her talking into her belly and said the very same then. "Always with the Italian proverbs. By the time this one is born he or she will be fluent."

"Trust me Cara, that is not a bad thing. Now, have you been eating?" He knows he is being over protective but he refuses to ever take that chance again. Her in a coma was his personal version of hell. He never felt so awful. Not during any of his three marriages or divorces, not during any of the times he was shot or during a case, not even when Caroline died. No, she was everything to him.

She rolled her eyes and divided the fruit salad into four dishes. "Le piante vogliono essera annaffiate, ma non affogate" she shot back at him. He ought to learn she can throw Italian proverbs in his face too.

Derek waved a hand to get their attention. "In English for your onlookers?" It's been pretty well established that there were going to be very few private moments in visiting these two.

Dave chuckled. "The first was me saying how precious children and kittens are when they are young. But Miss Prentiss here is telling to stop suffocating her." He bopped her nose to indicate that's simply not going to happen before turning back to Derek. "Now, will you tell me what she's been eating?"

Emily interrupted. She did actually find this all incredibly sweet, by everyone. They just wanted her safe and she knew they could all see she was really grateful under her complaining. "We all had cold cereal and toast which we burnt over the fire. To be honest, I am starving."

Derek shook his head, sparing a quick second to wonder why Tabby was only lightly sipping at her coffee. Usually she chugs it down. "Rossi man, she's been eating like crazy. She ate Reid's lunch and then her whole double burger meal last night. Plus a frosty, large fries, half of my fries and whatever other scraps she could scrounge up. That's not to begin with the s'mores."

Another death glare was sent Derek's way. "Just hand me my damned bear claw."

Tabby took a quick second to wonder what pregnancy will be like for her. Thankfully she is only in her early thirties so hopefully she will be complication free. But looking at Emily she just realized that both JJ and Penelope are trying for kids and she and Emily are pregnant… they should start a club. "Don't worry Em, I got your back. I'm sure someday my pregnancy cravings will include raw onion and peanut butter sandwiches just like all the women in my family had."

"Oh that's just disgusting." Emily shook her head. She was successfully hiding the fact that last night she snuck onto the porch to the coolers and ate a good half of a cucumber with barbeque sauce. "But I promise if you do end up knocked up I won't be hounding you like these two."

Tabby gave a noncommittal thank you and turned to Derek to have her own conversation with him and let Emily and Dave talk on their own. "So, I have an examination in half an hour. And another one later. Are you going to be around or do you have work?" She was praying he would get to make it to this.

He wiped his hands clean with his napkin and stroked her hair. She seemed worried. "Not going anywhere today sweetness. Em and I are here all day and the others will come visit at some point. Hotch and Pen got the house. They went to shovel themselves a way in."

She clapped her hands in excitement. "Oh that's great! When are they planning to move?"

Derek nervously scratched the back of his neck. Garcia ended up crying a bit on his shoulder this morning when Hotch was still on his conference with Strauss. "Well, life is busy for them right now. The investigation is open and at some point there will be a house visit and—what are you doing?"

Tabby reached right for the phone on her bedside and called Penelope. It was picked up on the first ring.

"Hello?" Garcia tried to keep amusement from her voice as she watched Aaron try to use Rossi's plow to go through their drive way. He ended up burying the entrance to the garage. She was standing on the plowed walk out front with Jack near the mail box where the realtor had been extra sweet and put 'The Hotchners' on it.

"It's Tabby. Listen, when was the investigation opened?" She was ignoring the fact that everyone on her end was listening in.

Penelope sighed and pulled a snow-suited Jack close to her leg. He was giggling up a storm as they watched Aaron try to figure out how to shovel a way into the house. "Friday."

"Good. That's just enough time." She silently instructed Derek to grab the tablet of paper and a pen off her night stand. "A nice tip I picked up a while ago is that if you are told you have a case then your home visit is mostly a formality as more of an excuse to test your family dynamic rather than safety and even better, they are put on the back burner. You have at least a week. So, let's get you moved in this coming weekend." Everyone looked at her like she had three heads. If she could see Penelope's face she was sure that would be the same expression. "Trust me Pen. I know what I am talking about."

Penelope shook her head clear. She was hoping that the visit would take place at the new house. She wanted to show off the life they would be having and as nice as Aaron's apartment is even their lawyer told them that a house creates a perception of stability. "I know. I just don't know if we can pull it off. I mean we would have to call movers and then there is the packing and all of the other stuff."

Tabby tisked at her friend. "I'm getting out of here in two days with Dave and have all the time in the world to make the calls. You my dear and your future hub have accumulated more vacation days than the bureau likes. I'm pretty sure you both hit your max so if you don't take them this year you lose them. Take Friday off, pack and let me run the show. I organize people for a living sweetie."

Derek chuckled. He knew she was going to get her way. Neither she nor Dave would be up for heavy lifting any time soon but they could help with the unpacking of things, hanging pictures and whatnot. "Tell her I will take Friday off too and help out with the packing." Tabby simply held the phone to him. "Baby girl, none of us are clear for new cases until after Reid's inquiry. We'll have the weekend to help."

Penelope almost started crying. "Really? Because I was wondering if you could help us with the small renovations. Like the bathroom downstairs." Both friends shuddered. Yellow polka dots and a leopard print toilet? Even Penelope thought it was too much.

"Alright, how 'bout I do that on Friday and we will all pitch in for the move over the weekend. It's going to take a lot to get you unpacked and make the house personal."

Aaron was coming up to her by this time. He had successfully plowed his way into the garage and they could get in through there. "What's up?"

Penelope jumped him in a hug. "Remember when I told you our family is the best? Well, they are organizing our move this weekend."

Hotch smiled and shook his head in happiness. "I should have expected something like that. Is that Morgan?" She nodded so he continued. "Tell him Em and I will take him ring shopping in the afternoon while you and Jack visit."

Her face rose with delight and surprise. "Did you hear that?"

Derek smiled and hoped that Tabby hadn't. "Loud and clear. Transport is here to bring Tabby to something. Gotta go."

Tabby watched his face as he hung up. "You're hiding something."

He looked right back at her as the transport people undid the brakes to her bed. "So are you."

-Criminal Minds—

Jack stripped out of his snow suit the second they got inside. "I want to go to my room!" He was so excited to have a house again. He would get to have friends over and he had a play room and all sorts of cool stuff here.

Penelope chuckled a bit. "Alright. Let's take a look and make a list of things we need to buy ok?"

Jack nodded and pulled her with him knowing his father was following close behind. Once in his room he went on a little rant about how his old room is 'lame' and he wants to paint this one blue. "Can I get a new bed?"

"You don't like your bed either?" Hotch was more than delighted to see his son so eager.

"It's fine. I just want bunk beds so Henry, or Kevin or Amelia can stay over too." He really didn't care about Kevin anymore. He was still really mean to Amelia and she was nicer.

Penelope smirked almost reading his mind. "Well, if you and Kevin become good friends again I am sure we could have him come too. But Amelia and Henry would love a bed to stay over I think." She was thoughtful for a moment and turned to Aaron. "I'm going to end up watching Henry and the other babies that might come when you're all off in the field aren't I?"

Hotch nodded. "Probably, if you don't mind."

She didn't mind that at all. "Nope. We'll put the babies in the nursery." She took a look around the rest of Jack's room. "Well, I have some catalogs we can look at for furniture Jack. Your room is the only one we really have to buy for. Maybe Tabby could help us when we visit? She seems pretty bored right now."

Jack snickered. "I love Aunt Tabby. Will she and Uncle Derek get married? Because if they have babies then I can complete my team."

"Oh Jack." Aaron mussed his hair. "You are such a practical child."

"Definitely you father's son." And hers as well.

Jack decided to take charge of a notepad and make a list of the things he wants for his room while Penelope and Aaron toured the rest of the house doing the same. When they got to the master suite they both sat on the pink sofa and this time it was Aaron to break in tears. "Maybe I should leave the BAU though. I can't lose him Pen. I can't."

Penelope sighed. Derek had told her that the next few weeks would get quite emotional because of the case. There were going to be ups and downs and lots of second guessing. He kept trying to prepare her, not scare her and she knew that. Because things like this can sometimes cause problems in a marriage. He didn't want to see it end before it began.

"You won't. I am not letting that happen." She sighed and melted into him. "Maybe," she sighed even deeper. "Maybe I should reach out to her parents. Maybe if they could just see how much of a family we are… honey, I don't want to take Jack away from anyone."

Aaron pulled her closer to him and simply held her for a while. She's the only person he could trust to show tears around. This was the most personal of anything he could share, worry with his son. "You sure you want to do that? It's going to be hard facing them."

She nodded through her sobs. "After we move we should invite them over. And, I don't know. Talk to Steve? See if maybe we can find some sort of grandparents rights thing we can give them. I want them to still have access to Jack. He's there's just as much as he is mine."

"You're so beautiful you know that?" He couldn't help but admire that pout in her lips and bounce of her hair. She was radiant even when depressed. He hoped this custody thing wouldn't be her undoing. He would never forgive himself if he was the reason that she lost that about her.

She shook her head. "Only you think that."

"Hey." He sternly turned her head back to looking at him and ran his other hand over her thighs, across the swell of her breasts. "You have no idea what you do to me. Every curve you have turns me on." He grabbed her hand and placed in over his groin. "That proof enough?"

She chuckled. "You're insatiable which is good right now because it's day two of ovulating." She swung her leg across his lap. "Want to christen the bedroom?"

Hotch's eyes lit up. "Jack!" he yelled knowing his son would get bored soon. "Watch TV while mommy and I talk!"

"Ok Daddy!" Jack yelled, excited to get to be the first to use the big screen TV the other owners left. When his mommy and daddy decided to buy the furniture and everything else in the house he was excited about the TV most.

Penelope snickered. "That is why practicality is sexy."

Hotch smiled into their kiss and picked her up, spinning her onto their new bed. "I am going to make such sweet love to you that you won't remember your name when I'm done."

"Oh god." She cried, helplessly believing that was going to be the case. "You always have that effect on me."

Hotch smiled proudly at her as he stripped off her clothes and his own, lowering his body on top of hers. "Trust me sweetheart, you've only scratched the surface."

-Criminal Minds—

After Penelope and Hotch had left with Jack to head to their house JJ was pacing about Rossi's living room nervously.

"What's wrong?" Reid's face held nothing but concern. "You seem off the last couple days." He walked over to stop JJ's progress. She immediately wrapped her arms around his waist and buried her head in his chest.

He hated seeing her this way. He wanted to do something for her but it really wouldn't work if she was upset. "You know, I know you are worried about Hotch and Garcia. You just keep up with talking to the social worker and everything will be alright. I swear."

She sighed. "Sometimes I regret falling in love with a profiler. You read me too well."

He chuckled. "Trust me, I have a hard time when it comes to you. Had I been better at reading you I wouldn't have let you walk out of my apartment that first night."

She looked up at him, amazed he is so good at changing her mood. "What do you mean?"

He sighed and sunk into one of Rossi's overstuffed chairs. Henry was down for his nap, the fire was roaring and he was with the woman he loves so he pulled her onto his lap. "You were scared that I wouldn't be ready for anything real weren't you?"

She nodded. "You were just so innocent and great Spence. If I didn't leave then I would have fallen hard and let's face it. Few people end up with the first person they date."

Spencer rubbed her nose with his in an eskimo kiss. "I did. And I am glad, whatever the pain I went through back then that I have you now. Because you are the woman I compared every other person to. Lila, those girls that Derek set me up with. It was always you. Always will be."

JJ felt like her whole world suddenly made sense. And, she felt guilt. "I'm so sorry Spence." She stroked through that large tangle of crazy locks she loves on his head. "I should have never left and I shouldn't have ever gotten with Will."

Spencer felt distinctly awkward talking about her pregnancy, back then and now. He had been under the assumption that the baby was Will's and he hated it. It was why he was so reluctant to feel up her belly. But he did love Henry to begin with. He could never not love a part of JJ.

"I um." His palms were sweaty as he reached into his pocket. "The mistakes we made are the past. I have a son, I have you and that's almost all I want."

JJ smirked. "Almost?"

Spencer bit his lip and nodded, finally getting what he was looking for out of his pocket. He held it in front of him between his and JJ's shared gaze. "There's one more thing I want. And I hope you want it too."

JJ gulped, taking in the shiny metal and glistening diamonds of her ring. "I- I definitely want that."

Reid's chest swelled with air. "So then, Jennifer Jareau. Will you marry me?"

"Say yes mommy!" Henry called from his post, his head poking out of the fort.

JJ and Reid smiled at one another as JJ brought her lips to his. "Yes. I will marry you Spence."

Both Spencer and Henry gave identical fist pumps. "Yes!"

-Criminal Minds—

"So what exactly are they checking for?" Derek asked as he stood by Tabby's side. They had been waiting in the hall outside of her room for fifteen minutes waiting for the next shift of transport people to pick her up and bring her to her second exam of the day. The first had been a trip to radiology to look at her skull. All went well, it appears they got all the little shards that let loose from the bullet for which Derek could not have been more grateful.

The whole time Tabby had been trying to figure out how to tell him. Several times she had decided she would just point it out on the ultrasound screen but then she remembered she would get a pelvic exam first and her doctor would be doing all sorts of talking. Not to mention the second he sees they are in the maternity/obstetrics ward he will figure it out.

She reached for his arm to get his attention. "Honey. I have something important to tell you."

Twenty thousand things went through his head ranging from anything to do with her health, their relationship, Rossi, the bureau, a joke she might throw out. "What is it?" He realized he was sitting down on her bed only when she scootched over to give him space to sit more fully.

She wrapped her arms around his waist and took a deep breath. "I know we haven't been together a long time but I know for a fact you are the one for me."

His heart was thudding a mile a minute. He wished he already had the ring so instead he just bent to her lips and kissed her passionately but sweetly. No funny business in the hall or in public was pretty much her rule. "You're all I want. You know that? I meant what I said the other day about my mom and rings. I plan on asking you sooner rather than later. Leesh gave her blessing"

She bit her lip and felt the happy tears build. "I- Oh Derek. I can't wait for that." She pulled him into her impossibly closer. "But I hope you want more."

His eyebrows drew together. "What do you mean?" What more is there?

"Like, a baby." God she was nervous. She couldn't even just come out and say it.

'huh?' Was all he could think. They had both talked about someday wanting kids before. It was pretty much official date number one's main topic. "You know I want kids with you girl. Why? You want to start trying once you get out of this bed?" He wiggled his eyebrows suggestively and got a cute little set of giggles from her. They were his favorite feature of her. So cute, innocent and naughty all at once.

"Well, no need. Congrats daddy." She was bursting at the seams watching the comment bounce around in his head.

"You, you mean?" He rested his palm gently against her lower belly and looked up to her eyes askance. When she nodded with happy tears in her eyes he damned the PDA rules and pretty much made out with her in the hall. "You have made me the happiest." He couldn't stop kissing her lips and stroking her hair. "the happiest man."

She giggled, so relieved at his response. "I found out last night. Dave overheard."

"Don't care." He mumbled as he bent to kiss her belly. "You know my mother is going to demand to stay with us when the baby comes. She started as a Doula a few years back."

Wow, he was already preparing for the post delivery. "You're already such a good dad."

They both smiled at one another when the transport people cleared their throats to get their attention. Ten minutes later she was waiting in one of the maternity exam rooms with Derek holding her hand more than anxious.

The doctor came in happy to note that Tabby had someone with her. He was pretty much God's gift to women in her opinion but she reserved comment on it. "Hello again Tabby. Is this the father?" She held out her hand to Morgan.

"Yep, Derek this is Dr. Marlin. She's the one that told me last night. Um, doc. Should I worry about the anemia?"

Dr. Marlin took a seat on the other side of the bed. "Well, we will be checking your blood twice a day but I don't think so no. You did lose an awful lot of blood but I don't think that should have any lasting damage at this stage."

Derek, unlike some men when they first experience a pre-natal visit, was quite direct in his questioning. "How far along is she?"

"Well, last night we talked about how someone." She accused Tabby in an amused tone. "Doesn't keep track of her cycle. But her hCG is consistent with about six to eight weeks. We'll do an ultra sound in a few minutes. But first do you two have a family history of any of the following?" She rambled off a list that pretty much exhausted everything she could think of. This was one healthy couple.

"Now, is your job always this risky Tabby?" Dr. Marlin was concerned and going to order her out of the field if she had to.

"Oh, no no." Both she and Derek laughed. "I sit at a desk all day. This was an anomaly."

Derek was so thankful for that. He is never letting her near a case again.

"Good. One good thing about it happening though, other than finding out about the pregnancy is that you have a great bone density so that will be great for you and the baby. I think I'm going to trust that this one." She pointed to the obviously health nut Derek. "Will make sure you take your prenatal vitamins and eat right. Other than that, do you have any concerns?"

"Uh, yeah." Derek raised a hand.

"Sex?" That's always the male question. "Generally its fine. Even if it is rigorous. I just need to check her out to tell you for sure. Ready?"

Tabby nodded and braced herself for the exam. She hates gynecological exams. They make her feel exposed but at least she had Derek by her this time. And this doctor was pretty darn efficient. In and out. "Everything alright?"

Dr. Marlin nodded. "Picture of health. Let's check the inside shall we?"

They both nodded and braced themselves with anticipation as the doctor slathered the goo on Tabby's belly. Tabby actually hiccupped in surprise when the ultrasound wand touched her."See right there?" she pointed to a little splotch. "That's the—hmm."

"Hmm what?" Tabby didn't like hmmms when it involves her baby damn it! 'Wow, I'm protective already.'

Dr. Marlin chuckled. "Well, this here is the yolk sac." She circled a tadpole shaped splotch with her pinky. "But this here is the other."

Derek had been standing. Now he came crashing back to his seat. "Twins?"

"Twins?" Tabby echoed, the exact same surreal tone to her voice.

"Twins." Dr. Marlin confirmed. "Congratulations. I'm dating you at exactly six weeks."

"You two are so cute. Listen to their heartbeats." She watched as Derek and Tabby's eyes widened listening to the incredible vibratos of their children's heart beats.

"So fast." Derek commented in a mesmerized tone. It hit him, he was going to be a father too. Now every man in their group of friends would experience fatherhood and he could feel is protective instincts kick up notch. He started planning how he would remodel his house for the twins, wondering what type of car to buy. Maybe Reid could point him in the direction of a good caravan dealer.

"What are you thinking so hard about?" Tabby giggled once the doctor finished her work and told her she could use the bathroom now since she had to go to the ultrasound on a full bladder.

Derek helped her into the toilet and left the room at her insistence until she was done when he helped her back onto her bed.

Dr. Marlin popped her head back in their room. "I'll send up a print out of the sonogram and a video to your room. When you go looking for OB's I would love to have you as patients." She held out her hand to them each. "Again, double congratulations."

The two were still in a daze all the way back to the room. When they got there all their friends and Alicia were gathered with expectant faces. Tabby narrowed her eyes at Dave. "You told them all didn't you?"

He chuckled a guilty laugh. "I knew you already told him! That's all I promised."

She shook her head at his antics and held nothing but a smile. "Well Derek. Since you didn't get to tell them the news I guess you can tell them how it went."

He looked at her, thinking she would have been the one to tell them the news but she had that insistent look on her face. He understood. While this was becoming her family too this had been his forever now. "Well, good news is we need to pick out two sets of God parents."

It took a second, the only person understanding being Penelope. "Oh my freaking God!" Penelope jumped up and down and propelled herself into a hug to Tabby. "Twins! Twins! A dynamic duo!"

Everyone else joined in large congratulations and settled into several happy conversations for an hour or so. Finally Derek shot a look to Hotch and Emily. He needed that ring more than ever now.

"Morgan, as happy as I am for you I need you and Prentiss to come with me to the office for a bit. Then I can let you both have tomorrow off to stay with them." That was Aaron's line and he was sticking to it.

Derek was so thankful for his friends. "Alright Hotch. Honey, I'll be back in a while." He kissed Tabby's forehead reverently. "I love you, all three of you so much."

"I love you too sweetie." Tabby hugged him and turned to Emily for her hug goodbye. "What are you smiling at?" Pointing out the fact that Emily had been grinning from ear to ear since she found out.

"Just thinking about our conversation earlier. Twins… your cravings are going to be frightening strong." She teased. "I am so glad to have a friend to go through it with."

Emily called her a friend! Like this day couldn't get any better. "Me too Em."

The three left and Penelope, JJ and Reid pulled their chairs close between the two friends in their hospital beds. "So um, Tabby?" Reid asked nervously.

"What's the matter Spencer?"

"Well, I was wondering. What happens now with all of us with work. I mean, Rossi and Emily and you and Derek are having babies. Hotch and Garica and JJ and I are engaged—"

"You finally asked!" Rossi and Penelope clapped in unison.

Reid's cheeks flared a bright scarlet and he leaned into his future wife for a long kiss.

"Reid." Tabby's voice was filled with happiness. "I don't want you to worry. Now, I can't say much but I do have a plan. I always have plans."

Rossi stuck up in agreement. "Seriously, she does. If anyone can figure out how to keep us all together and still preserve our repuations and her own then it would be her."

JJ was happy to hear that. "So then, do we need to do anything?"

Tabby shook her head. "Nope. Just pretend that you heard nothing and let me steer the ship. I might need you and Penelope at some point, but I'll let you know."

JJ nodded her acceptance and Penelope's curiosity was peaked. "Just exactly how evil geniusy are you?"

Tabby pat Penelope's hand. "Oh trust me. I have built up enough political capital over the years to get us all what we want. I just need to do it right."

"She's a crazy plotter that one." Dave cut in. He had no worries that she wouldn't get them all out of this, somehow. She might not be able to keep them from more disciplinary action but she can at least find a way to keep them all on the same assignment areas so no one has to permanently split up. Strauss better watch her back, Tabby is nothing if not protective.

"That my dear sir, is exactly the truth." Her grin held pure determination.