Playing Games by JuliaBC

A/N: The goal of 31 is to get three cards of the same suit that, totalled, equal 31. Example: King, Queen and Ace of Spades. Kings and queens are 10; Ace is 11.

To end the game earlier than that, a player has a choice to knock which gives the other players just one more turn to try to complete their hand. Then the person with the lower score hands in a poker chip.

I still don't think I explained it very well, so please feel free to google it.

Kate leaned back in her chair, a new son snuggled against her side. The hospital had let her out early; contrary to the false labor, after real labor she'd only wanted to go home to her own damn bed.

And thank god, they'd let her. After a few more agonizing hours, of course.

In the next room, she could hear Chris and Meg singing together as they made dinner. Kate smiled to hear the song:

"I like to move it, move it!"

They'd seen both Madagascar together for family movie night last week and Chris couldn't get the song out of his head. And Meg usually groaned and shoved him away but today she was in such a good mood she was singing along, belting out the lyrics along with her crazy uncle.

She smiled even wider to think that they were probably dancing too.

The doorbell rang. "I'll get it!" Meg sang in time to the music and a few minutes later Chris popped his head in the door.

"Hey, champion! You ready for some company?"

"Who is it?" Kate asked. "I think your son here is about ready to nurse, so..."

"It's your boss," Chris answered. "Agent Hotchner."

Kate blinked. "Really?"

"Yeah," Chris said.

"Um, okay, could you see if he'll wait a few minutes?" Kate asked, as the baby's mouth started to look for her breast. "I need to do this."

"Of course, babe," Chris said, darting forward to press a kiss to her cheek before leaving again.

Kate pulled her shirt down and let her son attach, shivering a bit at the unfamiliar feeling. "It's so different doing it like this, baby," she told her son. "So much more intimate. I think I'm going to like being a mom."

He finished soon after and pulled away. "Chris!" Kate called and he came in almost immediately.

"Did you know that it's almost impossible to make small talk with him?" Chris asked quietly.

"Almost, but not actually impossible," Kate giggled. "Show him in, won't you?"

"Do you me to take Chris Jr.?"

"No offense, but ew. I am not naming him Christopher, just no," Kate said.

"We have to fill out the birth certificate someday," Chris urged. "And you didn't answer my question."

"He probably came to see the baby, so no," Kate said. "Or yes. He probably needs to be burped, but bring him back in then, okay?"

"Of course," Chris said, eagerly taking the baby with his capable hands. "Hey, Kate?"

"Yeah?"

"Thank you, for having my son," Chris said, uncharacteristically serious.

"You're welcome, even if birthing him was a bitch," Kate said and met his lips for a brief kiss.

Chris left and Hotch replaced him a few minutes later, still dressed in his work suit.

"You can take your tie off, you know," she said, observing him with tired eyes.

Hotch startled, then looked down at his attire. "I'm just coming home from work," he explained.

"I know, but you could take your tie off, we're not very formal here," she said.

"Okay," he said, loosening it.

Kate resisted the urge to roll her eyes at her boss. Former boss.

Just friend now.

"So, how are you feeling?" He asked. "I know Penelope and Derek saw you earlier, but the rest of us couldn't get away."

"That's fine," Kate said. "I'd prefer for you guys to meet him at home anyway."

Chris returned. "He burped. You want him, Kate?"

"I bet Hotch knows his way around a baby," Kate replied, and Chris nodded.

"Here you go then, sir," Chris said, handing him the tiny baby.

Surprised, Hotch still handled it expertly, taking him and supporting him behind the head and sliding his other arm underneath him. "He's smaller than Jack was," he reflected.

"Yeah, he was actually a pretty small baby overall," Kate said. "Even though he didn't feel like it when he was inside."

Hotch laughed and eased himself into a chair, looking down at the baby in his arms. "What did you name him?"

"We haven't yet," Kate admitted. "Which is embarrassing but they let us take the birth certificate with us and just said to return it in a few days. We filled out everything but that."

Hotch laughed again, a sound that amazed Kate. "I didn't think you were so choosy."

"Somehow I had convinced myself I was having a girl," Kate said. "And then I didn't. So now I don't know what I'm naming him."

"But you learned last week," Hotch protested. "You at least had a week to think it over."

"But I didn't want to," Kate said. "I don't know. I like James. Then I can call him Jamie."

"How are you feeling?" Hotch asked. "After everything? I know Haley didn't really recover for a while. And here you are home already."

"That's because hospitals make me claustrophobic," Kate said. "It was more of a survival decision. I'm still feeling like hell and I plan to spend at least the next week in my bed or this beautiful chair."

"Good choice," Hotch said. "Well, I need to be picking Jack up from a friend's house. I just wanted to see how you were doing."

"I'm doing good," Kate said. "Thank you. I'm glad you did stop by."

Hotch nodded, standing up. "Do you want him or should I give him to Chris?"

"I'll take him," Kate said.

"How's Meg doing?" Hotch asked, almost an afterthought. "With the new baby and all. I know you said she was reluctant."

"Meg is enamored, and I'm relieved. I did think we'd still have trouble, but you should have seen the look on her face," Kate gushed. "Completely in love immediately."

"That's good," Hotch said. "And in other areas? Is she having nightmares?"

"I think her least favorite part of the week is her therapy sessions, but I think she also looks forward to them," Kate said. "Which makes sense. Nightmares...yes, but less frequently."

"If she ever needs to talk, we've got a team of licensed professionals who'd love to help her," Hotch urged. "And Penelope."

"And Penelope," Kate repeated.

"Yeah, I have to go," Hotch said, looking at his watch after seeing the clock on the wall. "I'll see you, Kate."

"Good night," she called after him.

His smile was the last part of him she saw.

She was dozing, but jerked awake when she heard them come in. "Spencer! JJ! You came!"

"Ohmygod, it's the baby," JJ said. "Can I hold him?"

Kate nodded sleepily, shifting to let JJ take him with ease.

"Holding him is bringing back so many memories," JJ said, her voice getting softer as she looked at dark hair, eyes closed tight and tiny fists. "He's so soft. I'd almost forgotten."

"He's small," Reid commented.

Kate nodded. "Yeah, which surprised me. After a point, I was convinced that I was carrying around a whale, but he turned out to only be six pounds, two ounces."

JJ laughed. "I know the whale feeling," she said simply. "You want a go, Spence?"

"Yeah, but you can hold onto him a moment longer," he said and JJ nodded, taking the chair that Hotch had the day before.

"Who beat us to seeing him?" JJ asked.

"Derek and Penelope, of course," Reid said.

"Hotch came by last night on his way home from work," Kate said. "And I think Dave is bringing brunch by later."

"He's so sweet," JJ cooed, balancing him on her bump. "And wow, it's surreal to be doing this with my own baby inside. It makes me wonder how he'll turn out."

"You're having a boy too?" Kate asked. "You found out?"

"I waited last time and just decided to skip that this time around," JJ chuckled. "I just wanted to know!"

"What are you naming him?" Reid asked, jumping into the conversation.

"Possibly James," Kate said. "Or that could be a middle name. I'm just not sure. And I know I should pick a name out but I just can't decide yet. And Chris is not taking it seriously at all. He keeps suggesting Archibald."

JJ looked revolted. "Why?"

"To bother me," Kate grumbled. "And before he came, he was throwing around the idea of naming him Taylor but I don't think I'll go with that. Although Taylor is his dad's name and then maybe my mother in law wouldn't hate me quite so much."

JJ carefully handed the baby over to Reid and Kate watched as the genius studied him with awe on his face. "He's small," he repeated.

"I don't like my mother in law either," JJ said. "She's very old-fashioned and did not like that Henry was born out of wedlock at all. I think that even tainted her view on him for a while."

"It's tough," Kate agreed. "My mother in law never quite warmed up to Meg. She wasn't Chris's real daughter, she wasn't related to her at all. She only recently started treating her like a grandchild. And I know that she isn't, technically. But Chris adopted her and everything." Kate sighed.

JJ nodded. "I could write a book on the slams and digs she's given me," she sighed. "At least it's better this time around. And it's been really good with me and Will. We're closer than we've been in a while."

"I've heard some women say that a pregnancy will either do that or pull you apart," Kate said. "I'm glad it was the former."

"Yeah," JJ sighed. "I've got to go. I'm picking up some things for Sunday brunch tomorrow."

"Who are you having?" Kate asked.

"My mother in law," JJ said. "Okay, I'm leaving. Name your baby, Kate."

With that command she disappeared from sight, leaving Kate to laugh and then sigh as she realized that it was kind of a big thing that she hadn't named him yet.

"What do you think, Spencer?" She asked.

"Of James?" Reid asked. "It's a good name. Alex's husband is named James."

"I was leaning towards James being the middle name though," Kate worried. "So I still don't have first name. Actually, I was considering David too. Or Michael."

"You're going very biblical," Reid said. "Which is unlike you."

"I just like the names," Kate shrugged. "My dad was named Charles. And I just don't want a Charles, you know?"

"I can imagine," Reid said, shifting the baby a bit in his arms. "I have an idea. Let's play poker."

"You have a diabolical idea in mind, don't you?" Kate asked.

"Possibly," he said. "You want him back?"

"Please," Kate said and he handed him back carefully. Reid pulled a small table between them and whipped a deck of cards from his pocket, his hands flying through the deck to deal them each three cards.

"What are we playing?" Kate asked.

"31," Reid said. "It's a bit easier than blackjack, or 21, and I thought you'd appreciate that."

"Okay," Kate said. "And I know how to play so don't bother explaining. What are we playing for?"

"Name rights," Reid said slyly.

"Oh, hell no," Kate said. "I am not naming my son Spock."

"I never said that!" Reid protested, but laughed so hard it was obvious he didn't mind. "Good lord, Kate, I would never do that."

"You have to say what name you want," Kate said.

"My own, of course," Reid said, smiling. "Why not? It would give me such a foothold on the team."

"Fine, okay," Kate said. "But only if Chris says that it's fine."

"Sure," Reid said. "Let's play with three poker chips, or pennies," he said, digging six out of the wallet in his messenger bag.

"Okay," Kate said. "First to lose them all wins."

"Ye—no, Kate," Reid said.

"Why not?" Kate protested, laughing with him.

"Because that's cheating," Reid said. "Now go."

Kate studied the cards in her hand: 5 of clubs, 6 of diamonds and a Jack of diamonds. Well, she knew what suit she'd be collecting.

The card on display was the 8 of diamonds. Kate palmed it and discarded the 5 of clubs.

Reid took the top card and Kate played quickly and easily.

She was going to knock; she had the 6, 10 and Jack of Diamonds, bringing her total to 26 so she was feeling fairly confident when Reid picked up the top card and then displayed his hand with a flourish.

"31," he said, showing the Ten, Jack and Ace of Spades.

Kate sighed and handed in a poker chip.

She won the next round and Reid the one after; she was down two poker chips and if she lost this time she was out.

As Reid picked up the Ace of Clubs, Kate reflected that Spencer wasn't such a bad name after all.

If Chris agreed.

A/N: I feel hesitant to name the baby before I see season 11, which will hopefully tell us what Kate named him in canon. And even though JLH had a boy, Kate is still not guaranteed to have a boy so I'm just waiting.

Ah, and Chris vetoed Spencer after Reid won the game.