I don't own Criminal Minds
"So, I think you'd like her." Aaron innocently suggested as he examined the lane to his left, trying to maneuver through all the traffic out of the airport. "She's a little stressed out still but—"
Sean shot his older brother a look. "Well, yeah. It took two whole hours to find her daughter if what Jack said is anything to go by. She really hid in the library because a bully threw a frog in the car?"
It's been a week since Hotch had received the call from Penelope panicking over a missing Amelia and a crying Jack. He ended up making her give the phone to Emily, who had put out an Amber Alert, closed down the traffic around the school, threw it in lockdown and pretty much ran the show. He had to say he was impressed at how well she handled the pressure of it all and how she had quickly figured out Amelia had run off and wasn't taken as Penelope had suspected from hearing about that date. They did check the guy out later though, he was simply very lonely and missed his own kids.
"Yeah, she's been taking the bullying hard. Jack's her only friend and her father had left that morning, ahead of schedule to go to California. I guess he had showed up at her school before it started and said goodbye. She cried and was made fun of for that too. I can honestly say from the time I have spent with her that raising a daughter is so different from raising a son." He felt so sad when he finally found Amelia cuddled up in a ball on the and asleep, half covered in a pile of books in the library, evidence she had been crying quite clear. "Jack is good with her though. He stands up for her and when he found her with us he kissed and hugged her until I thought her head would pop off."
Sean chuckled at that imagery. "He's a little ladies man then."
"Well, Penelope will tell you it's only for Amelia and I think she's right." He sighed happily, he was excited that his brother would finally get to spend time with his future wife. He was happy for the time with her too. Only a few hours after finding Amelia was the team called into the field for a case in Michigan. He got back last night and made love to her over and over again. He had to apologize somehow for missing out on Palm Sunday. "So, Annette has been so paranoid since then she's spent most of her time with Penelope at our house. She stayed a few nights over in the guest room with Amelia sleeping in Jack's room but she seems a lot better now." He was describing his friends that would be spending dinner tonight after Maundy Thursday mass with them, as well as those who would be there for Easter. With Joe and Kevin gone, Annette and Amelia were on their own for the holiday and in typical Penelope Garcia-soon-to-be-Hotchner fashion, his fiancé insisted on them joining their party.
"So, this Annette. She cute?" Hey, what he just heard was a woman who was single and already Hotchner approved. And he liked kids. This Amelia sounded like she just needed someone nice around.
Hotch smirked at his brother. "Seriously? Not finding many women up there in New York?"
Sean scratched behind his ear. "I didn't say that. Just, ya know. I don't have much time with trying to sell the restaurant." He had to grip the dashboard as the car swerved. "Jesus, where did you learn to drive?"
"Are you kidding? You're selling?" He was shocked, he thought for sure that food had been his brother's final passion. He had worked very hard to learn his craft and much like any Hotchner became highly successful in his field. "Are you giving up cooking?" He hoped that didn't come off as judgmental.
Sean furrowed his brow. He thought a lecture would be coming but was glad it wasn't. "Well, we haven't talked in a while so I guess you should be surprised. My business partner is getting married and is moving down this way actually with his fiancé. He's selling his portion and left it up to me whether I wanted to try to buy it off him. I don't want to have full ownership yet to be honest. I'm not very happy with the location and I am sick of New York. So, we decided we would sell and open up a new place in D.C. Didn't Jack tell you?"
Hotch couldn't believe he was hearing this. "You told Jack?" They were only a few minutes off from the house now, he would be talking to his son for keeping this from him. He was very, very happy. He didn't realize how much he missed his brother.
"Yeah, I'm his e-pen pal in computer science. Penelope set it up a week and a half ago." He really liked that woman too. He's still not quite sure how she figured out she was looking at that particular digital billboard in Times Square where she put a banner add to call his family up since he had let his phone's charge die down. She certainly had a sense of humor about her, and impressive skills. She was already a little sisterly with him.
"I swear, I need to read the memos everyone else seems to get on my life more often. So, will you be needing a place to stay when you get to DC?" He was hopeful. "Because you're always welcome to stay with us. I think our basement is getting a walk out guest apartment built in it."
"You think? You don't know?" He never would have pegged his brother to not micromanage something like that, but then, the change in his demeanor was evident from when he stepped out of baggage claim. While still the same old responsible man he was also a little more, free.
Aaron smirked to one side, pulling into his drive way. "When you're renovations are being done at cost you really don't complain. One of our friends is on a rampage down there. Until we hear about whether or not Jack stays for good he's doing whatever he can for us, feels the need to keep improving things down there." And he was thankful. Both he and Tabby, now fully back together, have been wonderful in supporting them. In fact, it seemed that Tabby hadn't quite stopped in tracking down what exactly is going on with the case but she wasn't getting much information either. He didn't expect she would but it was nice to have someone who could back him up. Even Strauss seemed to be more amenable lately and he was pretty sure that had something to do with the fact that she registered her relationship with Director Gibbons the moment she returned from Seattle.
Sean slid out of the SUV, trying to keep his snicker down at how stereotypical his brother's choice in vehicle is for an FBI agent. He was impressed though at the house. "This is really nice. How can you afford it?"
Aaron grabbed one of the larger bags from the back of the truck and headed towards the front door. "I had the same reaction but we found it before it hit the market. You would be surprised how much cheaper things are here, its an up and coming neighborhood. Anyhow, Penelope makes just as much as me as an expert in her field." He had been surprised at just how high on the GS scale she had climbed when he had looked too. "She's the best at what she does."
Sean whistled. "You really have found the right girl haven't you?" He hadn't seen that kind of light in his brother's eyes since he told him he was joining the FBI.
"Of course he did." Penelope, clad in an orange sundress and red cardigan, orange flats and a floral apron, which she whipped off just then, hugged Sean with all her might.
He was pretty sure he now understood the idea of being hugged until your head pops off. "Never doubted it sis, if I may call you that."
She playfully slapped his elbow. "No may about it, you better." She linked their arms and grabbed one of his bags. "Now, Jack is off buying flowers to give his little girlfriend tonight but he should be back soon. We only have an hour before mass." She hadn't been to a Maundy Thursday mass since she was eighteen. She had sort of lost interest but being a mom made her all the more committed to her faith again and all the relationship changes and pregnancies seemed to have the same effect on everyone. Even Reid who doesn't have much use for religion decided he would go with JJ since it is important to her. She wondered just whose feet she'd end up washing tonight and whether she could maneuver Sean towards a certain recently single lady.
"Here's your room. Bed is comfortable I'm told by our last two guests." In fact, Annette told her she never slept better. She had fun having the woman stay over the weekend with Amelia too. They got to know each other more, had a girls night with Tabby and Jack and Amelia taught them some fun science experiments with food over the course of the weekend.
"Wow, I still can't believe you guys moved in only two weeks ago." This room was very nice and fairly large housing a queen sized bed, desk, dresser and closet. It even had a separate bath. "Can I get the Penny tour?"
Penelope was quite excited. She had made a few changes to the house to make it a little more her but didn't detract from the much more plain tastes of Aaron and Jack, mostly Aaron. So she had painted the laundry room a deep purple which offset the bright red washer and dryer. The family room got a sparkle treatment of glittery throw pillows and beaded edges on the drapes and the back splash in the kitchen was replaced by a brightly colored mosaic. She liked that Sean seemed impressed by the house and that Aaron actually took the tour with him.
"Honey, did you know that Sean will be moving to DC at some point?" He counted out the three seconds it took her to process that and jump his brother.
"You are staying with us, you hear?" she was not above threatening. "I think Derek is making an apartment downstairs."
"You don't know either?"
She shrugged. She was surprised that Aaron handed control over like that too. "We gave him free reign other than a rec room for Jack. He's run with it." Speaking of which. "Honey, Tabby said she couldn't get details but we can expect an answer tomorrow about Jack."
'Oh thank God.' Aaron wasn't sure how much more waiting he could take. "Good. We'll know before Easter then." He could see the worry on her face. "Hey, I told you we will pass this. We have to. What could they possibly find this time that they didn't before?"
Penelope nodded, that was true. But she still felt worried and was sure Sean could pick up that. He did. "You know, even if they do find something I doubt they would take him away. They'd give you a chance to fix it, right?" If it is something as simple as Aaron leaving his job, well he knew he would do it.
"Right. Honey, I think we let our fear cloud our looking at this right. We don't have any bad problems. Neither of us is in any trouble, well other than your former hacking days but I don't think she can hold that against you. And I am pretty sure Tabby has still been working on a way to threaten the hell out of the head of the department if anything does go against us. You know her, you saw what she did."
Sean raised a hand as they hit the top of the landing to the second floor. "Uh, I don't."
Penelope chuckled. "Tabby is crazy good at politics. Saved our butts, she scared the bejeezus out of a powerful senator." She hadn't thought a ton on it other than being thankful for her and now that the memory was brought up she turned to Aaron curiously. "Did she mention Seaver in her threat to him?"
Aaron nodded, he did ask her about that. "I tried, but couldn't get the deets."
"The deets?" Both Penelope and Sean asked with amused expressions. Sean shook his head in a laugh. "You are really good for him Penelope." He was being led into a room which was clearly the master bedroom. "So this is where all the action takes place then." He nudged his brother, wondering just how much this woman loosened him up.
"A few times every night." Hotch replied with some smug satisfaction. Hey, he's not going to hide the fact that they have an incredible sex life. Even when he was in the field he knew she was getting use of this bedroom in that fashion when she called him up before sleep… she gives great phone, something he never got Haley to introduce into their sex life.
"Woo. You two." Sean snickered and was shown their joint office. It was nice seeing that his brother had an obvious partner in this woman. He remembered when they were kids and they would visit this mom and pop diner near them. Aaron always loved that the owners worked together all day, spent their nights together and still didn't get enough of one another. With Penelope he was sure it was like that, plus super crime solving added to the mix. For them, work would never be an issue like it was with Haley. "Is that Jack's room?" he pointed to the door across the hall.
"Nope, nursery." Penelope opened the door to reveal the room, watching her future brother in law's face.
"You wanna tell me something you two?" He was hopeful, very hopeful.
Aaron laughed at the accusation. "Still trying. Any luck and she'll be a few months knocked up at the wedding. Speaking of which." He led him through the bathroom to Jack's room. "I was wondering if you would be a groomsman." They had to rethink the wedding party again to add Tabby in. Derek was still going to give Penelope away though, and he wanted his brother part of this.
"Of course. I'll probably be living down here by then."
"Uncle Sean!" Jack yelled with excitement, throwing his hands up to be twirled around. "Like the flowers I bought my girlfriend? You're gonna meet her tonight."
Dave chuckled as he watched the exchange between uncle and nephew. He had just spent the last hour with Jack, the two picking out Jack's flowers for Amelia and preordering his flowers for Emily, next Friday will be two years since the day he told her that he was in love with her in Paris and for him it was an anniversary worth celebrating. "Come on all of you. We'll be late otherwise. And Penelope, do you have any crackers? Emily is starving again."
She smiled at him and pat her purse. "Always packin' when I got my preggers friends around."
Dave gave her a quick hug. "I'm glad, and do me a favor? Try to keep her off of me at Mass. Don't want to make a scene in church. She's been nonstop on my favorite pregnancy symptom since we got back."
Penelope rolled her eyes at Dave's mock expression unhappiness. "Yeah, like you aren't enjoying the hell out of that."
-Criminal Minds—
"Did you tell them yet?" Amelia wasn't very focused on eating her dinner. She's been clutching her flowers that Jack gave her since she walked through the door and it was one of the happiest moments of her life. Jack was the best friend and kid boyfriend a girl could ask for. But, he's been keeping secrets from his mommy and daddy who are also really, very cool.
"Not yet." He whispered is a rush so the adults at the dinner table wouldn't over hear, and neither would Henry, he's not good at keeping secrets anymore. "I'm gonna wait until we know about the case, so if it's bad news then I can make them happy again." He stabbed his lamb with his fork, a little angry that they still don't know if he would be taken away. He had been trying to plan all week on when to tell them his good news but daddy was away on a case and he had decided he liked having a secret. "Besides, Mrs. Masterson has been busy all week." Mrs. Masterson is Jack's principal. All week she had been running meetings with the school board and the PTA and safety experts since Amelia had disappeared back into the school. In a way it was a good thing, it showed a real flaw in the safety of pickup time. Had Amelia been taken by an unsub he could have brought her into the school easy peasy to do his work since all the doors are unlocked for those fifteen minutes. Now, bus monitors are locking down all but the front two doors and no one is going back through them without writing their name in a ledger.
"Yeah, sorry." She was still apologizing all week. "James asked me if I was going to run away again today." James was her worst bully. He's been teasing her for weeks and he's the one that threw the frog in through her open window.
Jack slammed his fork down. "What else did he say?" He demanded, which got the attention of the whole table.
"Jack, what's wrong?" Penelope was a little on edge this week. Jack seemed even more angry and protective of Amelia ever since they found her. He had been very upset during the search but proved instrumental to getting into the head of a scared Amelia. Apparently she always hides away in the library with him during lunch when she's upset.
Jack crossed his arms and leaned back in his chair, examining Amelia and ignoring the question asked of him. "Well, what did he say?"
Amelia blushed and tried to focus on her food. "I told him he was stupid and that I hated his shoes."
Jack seemed a little pleased with that. They had decided they would throw mean comments back at James. "And… he said…"
"And he told me I shouldn't be your girlfriend." She bit her lip, she knew Jack hated James for many reasons, one of them being Jack thinks James has a crush on her. She thinks Jack is the coolest person ever though, he's so nice and smart and cute. And he tells her she's pretty even when she's crying. According to mommy and Aunt Penelope, that's a good man.
The rest of the team was watching this exchange between Jack and Amelia with effort to not say "aww" at how sweet they are together. It was adorable watching the shy Amelia crawl out of her shell a bit and Jack seem to echo his father when it came to jealousy. Emily couldn't help the forceful snicker that escaped her lips. When Hotch gave her a look asking what she thought was so funny she leaned across the table to whisper. "Just remembering when you broke that glass."
"You broke a glass? Why?" Penelope was never ashamed to admit that she eavesdrops.
"Uhg." Aaron palmed his face. For one thing, he didn't feel like fessing up to this. Also, Sean had seemed to take quite a liking to Annette and he was pretty sure it was him under the table that was playing footsy but kept getting his foot instead. "When we had our first fight. I was upset."
Emily and Dave snorted. "Yeah, upset." Dave shook his head disapprovingly and took a sip of wine. "From what I hear you were jealous." He pointed his thumb towards Jack and Amelia. "Father like son."
"You were jealous?" Penelope couldn't think of a reason why.
"Is that a Hotchner trait?" Annette was admittedly quite enjoying this excessive flirting session with Sean which started during the foot washing at mass when he took just a little extra time to tickle her feet. Since then they have been like teenagers and she needed a real ego boost. Since last Thursday she's been very down on herself, not forgiving that she left Amelia alone for even a few minutes where someone could have taken her. It made a real impact on her soul and had it not been for Aaron and Penelope she was quite sure she would be spiraling down into a depression.
"Definitely a shared trait." Rossi supplied, wondering exactly what might come of that situation, which earned a glare from Aaron. He knew his best friend had become protective of Amelia since 'the incident' as it was being called. But come on, this is his brother. Surely he could see how nice it would be.
"I, it's not important honey." He started rubbing the back of his neck which he regretted since Penelope knew that comfort gesture. She could read right through him better than some of the world's best profilers at this very table.
"Out with it or no sex till Sunday." She knew she was incapable of carrying through with that threat but she could always bluff.
He knew she was bluffing, but the threat was enough. "Fine. I thought you had slept with Morgan."
Tabby chuckled and put her hand over Aaron's which started gripping the table cloth at just the memory. "Trust me, we don't have to worry. I keep him plenty satisfied and I hear you do the same for her."
Reid laughed a hard belly laugh in agreement. "And please, if it was going to happen between them under any circumstances it would have long ago." He shook his head, some profilers these guys are. He pointed to Emily and Rossi, JJ and himself and Aaron and Penelope. "These relationships have been under the surface for years guys. And I still take offense to you all thinking I was a virgin until a few weeks ago."
"Spence, Henry is right there." She pointed out the three kids all talking with one another. Henry has already been asking questions about where babies come from and if he can make one himself because his mom and dad haven't yet made another one.
"Oh he's not paying attention. Besides, I never thought that Spence." Emily was very satisfied with the blush to rise on his face. There had been a night years ago, before diluadad when she and Spence both got a little drunk and there was a good amount of heavy petting. It didn't advance beyond that because one, he's a good guy and two, they both knew it was mainly a reaction to Spencer being upset about JJ with Will and Emily having had a large number of bad dates that year and Rossi having stalked off from the bar that night with a busty red head. But what they did do was enough for her to realize he knew what he was doing.
"Shut up." He ordered but it was more of a beg. "Anyhow, do we think we are case free for the weekend?"
Hotch stood to grab dessert. "Yeah, since we covered Christmas on call, one of the other teams is taking Easter. We're on stand down until next Friday. So, we'll get a chance at some of your cold cases this week."
"Good." The whole rest of the table responded, Penelope loudest of all. She needed this to be a great holiday. It was their first to share as a family and she had lots to do.
As if on the same thought JJ leaned closer to her. "By the way Pen, Emily and I are forcing you to let us help with cooking and decorating." She looked to Tabby who was about to add herself in. "You only get to do things sitting! You've been running too hard for someone still healing from a bullet to her head."
Sean leaned to Aaron for an explanation and was surprised to hear how close the beautiful women who was obviously with Derek came to a horrible injury. "Well, I volunteer to be put to work cooking. And I know some really cool household things we can use to dye eggs guys."
"Cool!" Henry jumped up. He loves holidays, especially holidays which can be held outside like Easter this year. It's expected to be perfect spring weather and his dad bought him a special sweater vest and collared shirt they picked out together so he can be all dressed up. Jack was going to dress up too, and Amelia picked out a pretty dress. "Will the Easter Bunny come help too?"
Spencer loved that excitement on his son's face, even if he hated the fact he was voted to play the Easter Bunny this year. He wasn't quite excited to spend an hour in that sweaty costume but for his son, anything. "He might stop by I heard, right JJ? I wish I would get a chance to see him."
"That's ok!" Amelia squealed. "I'll take lots of pictures."
-Criminal Minds—
"So, Emily and I already had the 'how's he in bed?' talk. What about Spence?" Penelope nudged JJ's shoulder. It was just the two of them in the kitchen this morning, a rare occasion since JJ's recovery. Most of the other blonde's time was being spent looking into the market for a new house, establishing Spencer's paternity and trying to decide on a date for their wedding.
"It's funny actually. On the road he's incredibly nervous, as if we are going to get caught when everyone already knows. He's not used to not having to sneak around yet. But at home? You wouldn't believe our nervous Spence is the same person. He's incredibly confident and let's just say his IQ is not limited to his work for the BAU."
Penelope gave a weak snort. "No wonder why we all seem happier, we're all having great sex."
"Yeah, that'll do it."
Sean flopped out of the hall and into the kitchen with his head in his hands. He hit the wine awfully hard last night. "Please tell me you ladies made coffee."
Penelope handed him a mug and pointed to the pot. "Someone have fun last night with a certain recently single mom whose daughter had a sleepover with my son?" Yep, she noticed Annette's car still in the driveway.
"Shh, just give me another cup to bring to her." Sean liked having a sister of sorts. He could tease more, throw little comments back and forth. "We only slept."
"Suuuuure." JJ and Penelope both teased. "That's why you have a hickey." JJ pointed to his neck.
"What?" He checked quickly in one of the hung mirrors and narrowed his eyes when he saw nothing. "Very funny."
JJ shrugged. "Not my fault you fell for it. Even the kids wouldn't have."
He shrugged in surrender. "Ok, so we made out a little. It's not like we're getting married." Just a nice potential tryst. One they both need at the moment. She went six months without sex and while he just had it a few days ago a gentleman must see to the needs of a lady… at least that's what David Rossi helped him justify it as. He rather liked the man.
"Here." Penelope handed him a cup of coffee and closed his hand around it. "It's just as she likes it. Wake her up, don't care how you do it. We have to get ready for church again."
"Again? We went last night."
"Yes, again. It's Good Friday. And we have tomorrow night too… that's the long one." She narrowed her eyes at Sean's expression of distaste and a groan. "Don't make me hack into the power grid and turn off the lights to your restaurant."
Sean looked to JJ. "She serious?"
JJ looked right back. "You wanna take the chance she's not?"
Sean sighed and retreated back down the hall to the guest room muttering on how his new sister is one scary woman.
"So, I've been thinking. And I want your opinion." She was a little nervous. "Spence wants to have Aaron as Henry's God Father and you guys as his guardians if something happens to us." She had to drop her knife on the counter as Garcia closed her in a vice grip. "Can't. Breathe."
Garcia just squeezed tighter. "Deal with it. Oh!" She finally released her and pulled her back in for some kisses on her cheeks. "I'm pretty sure we're both a yes for that but we'll have to talk to Aaron."
"Talk to me about what?" He and Spencer were both heavily burdened with several bags each, filled with all the items the ladies listed that they needed for decorating and Easter baskets. It had been a fairly extensive list and he could only imagine what else was being purchased by Emily and Tabby who had their own shares in this. He was pretty sure his house would be a pastel circus by the end of tomorrow afternoon.
Spencer cut in. "I assume you told her about the guardian thing?" At JJ's nod he looked to Hotch. "We want you guys to be Henry's guardian just in case."
"Of course we will, right sweetheart?" He was sure everyone would be exchanging guardianships soon enough. A lot has changed recently. Engagements, pregnancies, new strengths to their friendships. This was to be the expected next step.
"Duh!" She wrapped them all in a hug which was quite a feat. "Let's get this show on the road, wake Jack and Amelia for me sweetie?"
"Henry already ran up to do it. I don't know how we distracted him enough so he didn't see we were buying all his Easter candy." Aaron tossed the bags into a tote they were using to disguise everything in the pantry closet. Really, that kid was a very observant young man but he spent the whole time in the store lost in his video game. Perhaps Reid really is a natural at parenting.
"Daddy!" Jack slid in his sock clad feet to grip his father's legs. "I had a cool dream last night. You and mommy had your wedding and I spent the week of your honeymoon with Henry and we found buried treasure."
This was a new phase Jack had gotten into just last night when he and Amelia began discussing a recent pirate movie. He announced to the whole table he wants to learn how to deep sea dive. "Really cool. Go get ready ok?"
He nodded and ran up to his bedroom with the other kids in tow just as Dave rang the doorbell and a recently showered Sean opened the door.
"So, Annette spent the night I see."
"Does everyone know about my love life?"
Dave pat him on the shoulder and called back to rush everyone along. "I have the pregnant women in the car with Morgan and if we don't get going they'll both come in here and eat you out of house and home!" he looked to Sean. "In this family, we all pretty much know everything. Get used to it."
-Criminal Minds—
"I swear, that woman is nuts." Dave snapped his phone shut and relaxed back into the lawn chair across from Aaron and Penelope, next to Spencer in the Hotchner back yard. Everyone had a tall glass of lemonade in hand and for some time had just been relaxing in silence until Tabby called Dave.
After the service JJ and Emily took Jack and Henry shopping, apparently they were planning a surprise for Hotch and Garcia and so they weren't allowed to come. Derek took Tabby to Home Depot with him because he needed some more supplies for fixing up the basement and Tabby just tagged along because she loves that store. She had spent a good twenty minutes convincing Derek that they needed to buy a new circular saw.
"What's she up to now?" Spencer was pretty sure Tabby was one of his favorite people. The way she stood up for him at the inquiry is permanently burned into his eidetic memory of course, but even if he didn't have that feature he was sure he would always remember the feeling of when she covered his microphone and tore everyone there a new one. But, she was also pretty darn quirky. What woman loves home depot?
Dave shook his head in laughter. "She needed my profiler advice on convincing Derek into teaching her some basic plumbing. I am pretty sure those twins will be unstoppable if they are anything like their parents."
Penelope had been a nervous bundle most of the day and it was only getting worse as the afternoon waned on. They still hadn't heard anything yet about Jack and Aaron was trying to distract her from worry with lots of kisses. "Honey." She pulled away to try to catch her breath, aware that Reid and Rossi were doing their best to ignore the two. "It's not going to work."
"What?" he looked at her in fained shock. "You don't think I have it in me?" He leaned closer to her ear and whispered in his most sultry tone. "Because let me tell you sweetheart… you forget I always meet expectations."
She hated herself, but his words made her shiver at the memory of when he sent her chocolate and flowers, his card saying just the same. A little shyly and guiltily she peaked over at Dave and Spencer, each with a knowing smile on their face. "Go on." Dave urged, shewing them towards the house with his hands. "Me and the kid are gonna have a long talk."
Spencer laughed aloud watching the two scoot into the house with obvious excitement. "You know, they bring out so much in one another. He makes her comfortable and supports her wild emotions, even submits to the craziness this place is going to become over the next two days. And she, well you've seen him."
Dave couldn't agree more. "We're all better for our women I think."
Spence caught that gulp, the sudden sip of lemonade Dave took to keep his mouth occupied less he continue speaking and reveal what's really on his mind. "You know, I am a profiler too. What is it?"
'Damn it.' Dave sighed and sunk lower in his chair. "Emily."
"Ahh. Yes." Spencer turned his chair to face Dave and leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. "She's still fighting tooth and nail huh?"
"Well, its gotten a bit better. She brought Sergio to come live at my place. So I guess she's officially moved in there now. She still avoids the subject in conversation and if I weren't such a horny bastard she wouldn't be able to use her body to distract me."
"Oh don't be so hard on yourself, she has a fantastic body." He sensed that probably isn't something he should mention to the possessive man so he changed his focus. "If it helps, she told me she couldn't imagine any other person she'd rather raise a child with."
Dave's head whipped around to Spencer. "Really?" There was so much hope in his tone he was taken aback at himself. He hadn't really realized just how hurt he is by this. He doesn't blame her but he's aching to know she won't reject him. It's sort of like Pumpkin and Aaron's situation with Jack… waiting is a killer. "I didn't think I'd get this chance again. I'm an old dog ya know."
"You're not that old. You're in better shape than me." Both chuckled at that.
"Sort of off topic here. But, did you ever find out if you did get JJ pregnant that night?" He was thinking back to the conversation they all had while golfing the day Emily fell into her coma.
Reid shook his head. "No, she got her period and we thought it over more and think it might be nice if the next one is actually born in marriage. We're taking our time for that too, JJ wants everything she didn't get with her first wedding which I can't deny her. All I know is I have heard the phrase 'processional on horseback' far too many times for my own comfort."
Dave burst into a whole load of deep belly laughs at the horrified look on Reid's face. Finally he calmed down enough to hear a slight banging sound coming from the front. "You hear that?"
"Yeah." Reid put his lemonade done and rose from his chair. "It's the front door. I'm gonna answer, judging by how those two looked at one another earlier I doubt those two can even hear it never mind get dressed and grab the door."
Rossi followed through the house, noticing the knocked getting a little more insistent. "Hold on!"
Dave threw open the door with Spencer behind him. "Spence, go get Aaron and Pumpkin."
"Why? Who is it?"
"Their social worker."
Spencer ran up the stairs with haste but skidded to a stop at their bedroom door. 'oh god, they've started.' and they were quite loud too. He took a calming breath and knocked, stepping back to distance himself from the knowledge of what was happening on the on the other side of the door.
Aaron and Penelope froze which was fairly difficult to maintain in their current position. "Um, did you hear that?"
"Guys please!" Reid's cry startled them out of their state and Penelope ran into their closet for a dress to throw over her head while Hotch pulled his jean back on and went to answer the door. "What is so damn important?" he'd been trying to talk her into that position for a week.
Spencer nervously rubbed his wrist. "Yeah, sorry. The social worker is downstairs with Dave."
"Shit. Honey!"
Penelope rushed out and past him. "I heard, get a move on."
The three flew down the stairs with Hotch almost tripping from being blind as he put his t-shirt on.
Dave let out a quiet breath as they entered the living room. "Let's go check Morgan's progress downstairs kid."
Spencer nodded and hoped with every fiber of his being that this was good news.
"Hey, what's all the yelling about?" Sean asked rather loudly in the hall, surprised when Rossi pinned him to the wall and shushed him.
"The social worker. We'll listen from here." he pointed to the corner of the kitchen where they could get a peak of Penelope and Aaron but be out of sight of the social worker. They saw their friends notice their presence as they sat down.
Aaron took Penelope's hand in his. "I hope we didn't keep you waiting long."
Caroline shook her head. "Not at all. This won't be long. I had some concerns about how present you both were in Jack's life but I have seen nothing to suggest you as unfit and I am well aware of the motivations which brought your former in-laws to launch the case." Caroline flipped open her file folder and read from it. "There are two things I would like to discuss with you. First, I want to encourage you to reconcile with the grandparents because while you are now in the system for this to not be repeated they may try something more extreme in the future and if they claim abuse then we still have to investigate."
Penelope took a deep breath. "Understandable."
"The second is that Jack is a very impressive child and I want to encourage you to take advantage of one of the state's programs for advanced students. I'll leave you a packet and I already sent in a referral."
Garcia just sat there blinking for a bit. She wasn't sure what this meant. Were they done?
Aaron was also similarly struck. "So, case closed?" he had to ask he needed confirmation. This had been tormenting him for weeks and it suddenly ending, it just—he needed to be sure.
They could hear the front door open, interrupting Caroline's reply. "Daddy, you're gonna like your surprise!" Jack's sing song voice floated into the living room ahead of his slide in where he stopped in his tracks looking at Caroline. "No!" he yelled, feat clear on his face. "Don't take me!"
Penelope scooped him up. "Honey, calm down sweetie pie."
Caroline walked closer to him. "Jack you are a very brave boy like your parents. No one will be taking you. This is all over."
He looked up from where he was hiding his tear soaked face against his mommy's shoulder. "Really?"
Emily, JJ, Dave, Sean and Spencer all exchanged glances to one another in the hall all biting their lips to keep from crying in happiness. This was plaguing them all and now it was over. They were almost all headed to where they were supposed to be.
"Over, over!" Caroline reassured him and was rewarded with a hug before seeing herself out the door.
"Yes!" everyone jumped into the living room wrapping the family in a hug.
Happy tears ran down Aaron's face as he kissed his wife and son. "I love you both so much."
"We love you too." They responded in unison and broke into a cute fit of giggles and eskimo kisses.
Dave couldn't stop smiling. He was so happy for them and he seemed to remember an extra bottle of champagne in the refrigerator. "Alright then! Let's celebrate!"
-Criminal Minds—
"He's finally sleeping in his own bed again." Aaron smiled down at his son. By this time, around midnight Jack had been crawling back into their bed ever since Caroline's first visit to the house. But tonight, he was out like a light after a bit of an impromptu party with their friends.
"I still can't believe it's over." Penelope whispered back to him. "We should get some sleep ourselves. The Easter makeover commences in ten hours."
Aaron stood with a small disgruntled groan. "Pastel paradise?" He whispered, letting Penelope out to the hall first and wrapping his arms around her as they walked to their own room.
"Did you expect anything else when you asked me to marry you?" She snickered with mischief. "Just wait until Christmas. We'll light up the whole block with our lights."
"That," he slightly bit her earlobe, effectively distracting her from simply opening the door to their bedroom. "I look forward to but not as much as I look forward to this." He reached around her belly to untie the belt of her dress.
"Wait." She turned around to him, kissing him with such passion it entirely disarmed him. "Come with me."
"Where are we going?" He liked when she got that look on her face. It always promised she was up to something, and they would both enjoy it.
"Shhhsh." She pulled him to kissing her against the door to their office. "Come on lover boy." Penelope cooed and pulled Aaron inside their shared office, locking the door. "I seem to remember we both have fantasies about of you doing me on a desk."
Aaron licked his lips watching her unbutton her dress and discard it in front of him. "It's not the BAU but this," he looked over as causally as he could manage at their joined desk and suddenly picked her up and laid her across it. As if testing it out, he took his time kissing and petting her, removing her bra and suckling her puffy pink nipples. "Yes, this will do."
She chuckled and pulled his shirt over his head, removing her dress as he lowered his pants. "So sexy boss man." She ran her hands over his exposed chest and bent in to gently bite his nipples.
Hotch moaned and pinned her back to the desk kissing her deeply. He got lost in the sensations of her hands running along his back, slightly scratching at his skin in ways that sent him into a frenzy of need. "That makes me lose my control too." He whispered, sucking on the pulse point under her left ear.
"Oh god." She breathed it out as if in prayer. His hands had just drifted south and all she could focus on at the moment was how much more contact she needed from his teasing her through the fabric of her lace panties. "Now Aaron, we can do slow later." She was craving him and she was pretty damn sure he was craving her too.
Hotch grunted in satisfaction. He was helpless to do anything than give her what she wants. "Hard baby?" he asked permission as he lowered his and her underwear, standing between her legs and pulled her so her ass hung just off the edge of the desk. "Because we haven't really done it rough."
"Oh yes. Please." She squealed when he smacked her ass fairly hard. "Oh, more." That bit of pain radiated pure pleasure throughout her lower region.
Of course, he complied with a smug grin on his face. She was incredible, so diverse they would never get enough in bed. He knew she had a little spanking fantasy from their phone sex this week and he was sure to give it to her. "You've been bad Ms. Garcia."
She snickered, loving this side of her soon to be hubby. She quivered her lip as if afraid of a scolding. "How bad boss man? Do I need to be punished again?"
He flipped her over on her stomach and gave a small series of smacks to her behind, careful to not be too hard but enough to pink her skin. "Have you learned your lesson?"
God she was turned on right now. She was dripping, she just needed him to fuck her already. "I could use some positive reinforcement."
"That, I can do." He lined himself up and a second later both were moaning in appreciation of the exquisite feeling of his endowment entering her warm canal. "Like that do you?"
She was breathless, already about to come just from this. "Ye-yes." She nodded, her voice telling just how lost in this she was. Which was all Aaron needed to start pounding into her with wild abandon.
He was so deep and his pace was so strong she felt she had a whole course of small orgasms before a large one smacked her out of nowhere forcing her to grip the edge of her desk to hold on. "More!" she looked back at him and demanded. "More boss man!"
"Fuck." He wasn't going to last longer with her looking back at him, demanding him on so flipped her back on ass and pushed her fully across the large desk, kneeling between her legs and using her them to pull her pelvis up to his, her torso laying back. He reentered her and in this position could see the action and fondle her breasts in tune to his thrusts. "Fucking hell you're hot." Her jiggling breasts where his personal land of happiness, joining with her- nirvana.
She gripped his thighs under her, sure she was leaving bruises. He was riding her hard, harder than she had ever taken it and she loved it. So, so much. He can do sweet and sensual, adventurous, raw and everywhere between. "Kiss me."
He changed to leaning back over her, his legs still mostly under her and this was the moment he connected with the fantasy he once shared with her in a letter. She was holding on for dear life as he rode her hard and fast kissing her until she almost suffocated. He would have hand shaped bruises on his back, maybe even half-moon bloody spots from her nails cutting into his skin and it was enough to drive him to the brink.
"Yes!" They cried out together, collapsing on top of the desk in a tangled heap of limbs.
They took several minutes to just lay there and catch their breath. "I am so glad we did that." Penelope declared, stroking and soothing the few cuts her nails caused along her fiancée's back. "Though, I didn't mean to draw blood."
He looked up at her with a chuckle. "It did me in Pen. So hot. I never had sex like that before."
She grinned at him. "You've been pretty straight laced haven't you?"
He raised a brow at her. "Have you ever met me? Of course I've always been straight laced."
She pulled his face back to lay on her bare chest and ran her fingers lightly over his hair having learned the difference between what strokes turn him on and what soothe him. "It was so nice, to just let go of everything like that. I didn't realize just how anxious I was about Jack and that it was still pent up even with the good news. I should have seen it with how I jumped to conclusions about Amelia… you know, I think I will be such a worry wart of a parent."
He smiled against her bare skin, always amazed at how soft her flesh is. It's so giving, so supporting, so much like home. "We'll, we always have this for stress relief."
"Oh you. I love you."
He moved up to kiss her. "Love you too." He looked at the clock and noted the time and then to the door. "Think we can make it through the hall undetected?"
She rose with him and moved to the door to poke her head out and then back at him. "I think the coast is clear. Get ready to run though."
He snickered and bolted out the door with her close behind, the two panting when they got to the safety of their suite. "We should shower." She suggested.
"Let's make it a bath." He countered and stopped in his night stand on the way there. "I bought this for you yesterday. It's supposed to soothe us to sleep."
She smiled at him and added the bubbles to their bath, lowering herself in and having him slip in front of her. She frowned when she saw the marks. At least they were only a tiny bit bloody. They would be healed by tomorrow. "I think this is still my favorite feature of the house, this tub."
He smiled to himself loving the feeling of her soaping him up. "I had told Dave that a claw foot was a requirement."
She bent to kiss him when he turned back to her. "I love you."
"I love you too." He took her loofah and washed her in turn. "Ready for bed? We have a long day tomorrow and we still don't know if Haley's parents are coming or not. With the case closed, they might come around to their senses."
She had forgotten about that invitation. She took his offered hand and let him towel her off while she did the same for him. "I hope they come. Jack deserves his whole family."
He nodded in agreement and tossed the towels in the bin, picking her up like a bride and carrying her to their bed, tucking her in. "At least, we know we have a start."
She snuggled against his chest and took comfort in his arms wrapping strongly around her. "Goodnight my love."
"Goodnight Penelope."
She smiled against his chest, loving how he says her name as if it conveys his whole heart. She was in bliss and so she decided that tomorrow morning before the Easter Saturday decorating began that she would go and visit a special lady in her heart.
A/N: Mad I led you guys on last chapter? Happy for Amelia, Jack, everyone? Let me know! Reviewers are the best people out there.
Also: I think there is one chapter left for this story as stands. I will do either a multi-part epilogue or a sequel, so share your opinions on that.
Want to see more on some of the other character realtionships? Taking requests. Rossi/Em in Paris will certainly be a side story but willing to address whatever you guys are interested in. I have full story lines for everyone.