Derek woke up next to a platinum blonde, moaning softly. The night had been damn short. As always, when they arrived at home late at night, Derek ended up in a club, to unwind. However, it was not planned to hook up with a woman. He couldn´t even remember her name, something with 'M' , he thought. Derek's conscience woke up. He behaved like an adolescent teenager, even Reid had finally managed to be in a committed relationship. And his little genius had become a completely new person. Derek was surprised, he envied Reid? Derek had to admit this. Reid´s relationship with Kenneth was stable and enriched. And Rossi? He was about to marry Jess and as he assessed the two of them, very soon little Rossi´s were running around everywhere. Derek suddenly felt lonely. He stood up very carefully .
"You´re leaving? " ' something with M' muttered and sat up.
" Uh, yeah. I have to change my clothes and I have to be in the office. I'll call you ... ?"
" Veronica " , helped the blonde out, "and spare me that call. "
She turned around and went back to sleep. That´s great, Derek thought. Veronica. I didn´t even remember her bloody first name.
oOo
"Mrs. Coffin. I didn´t expect you," Hotch said quietly, as he had digested the first shock.
" Well, Mr. Hotchner, I announced some surprise visits, did I? "
"Of course, I just didn´t think ... you just missed Jack and Becca, I dropped them at school, some minutes ago." Hotch was still standing there, with red roses in his hand.
" Renee, sorry. They're for you. The vases are in the pantry. I 'll show you exactly where. " Hotch pushed Renee forward and disappeared with her in the small storage room.
" What's going on, Renee, why is she thinking, you´re my girlfriend?" Hotch asked flatly.
"It´wasn´t my fault, Aaron. I swear. " Renee tried to explain as quiet as possible."You were barely out the door, when it rang. I 've just taken a shower and thought you might have forgotten something. So I opened up. She has made her own conclusions and I thought, I better be your girlfriend, than one of your ' changing acquaintances '. That´s what she was suggesting."
"I don´t have that kind of...well. We have to make the best out of this situation, don´t you think?" Hotch decided, handing Renee a vase. Hotch put on a smile and went back into the living room.
" You wanna take a look around in the apartment, ? " he asked. Coffin nodded, " that's why I 'm here. Has your late wife set that up?"
"Yes, she did. Callie was a very creative person. She... " Suddenly it was hard for Hotch, the memory was back, and with the memory came the pain, that almost made him speechless.
"I can show everything, Aaron. " Renee realized immediately, something was wrong. She came closer to him and took his hand.
He shook his head. "It's okay, Renee. Thank you." Hotch took a deep breath, recollecting himself. " Jack´s room is on the left, I´ll show you." Hotch was glad, Renee still held his hand firmly. It took away at least some of the pain.
Mrs. Coffin kept an eye on Aaron and Renee. She liked, how the young woman was supporting her boyfriend in such a loving and caring way. Although it certainly put a strain on the obviously fresh relationship, if the partner was still struggling with grief over someone else.
"As I said, this is Jack´s room, at the moment." Hotch said, "with the spare bed when Becca is with us. The wall here and in my..um...our bedroom is only made of dry mortarless construction, according to the plan, 30 sqm are hiding behind that wall. Becca will have her own room and I´m thinking about an extra bathroom. There´s enough room for this, I guess."
Tilly nodded in satisfaction. Actually, she wasn´t convinced, Becca would be in good hands here, but now she was changing her mind.
"You´re working, Dr. Malone? "
"No, not right now. I´ll be working for Crisis Intervention Center in six weeks, but only part-time and limited for 3 months. The city administration is running out of money." Renee smiled briefly.
"You´re so right. Childcare Services is chronically understaffed and further reductions are announced." sighed. "Reminds me of my schedule. I´d like to talk to both of you again, say on Monday at 11 a.m. in my ... Or maybe better in your office, then I´m going to talk to some of your colleagues, too."
"Won´t be a problem for me." Renee agreed.
" Aaron? "
"I hope, it isn´t for me, either. Unfortunately, the criminals are not idle. "
"But it's good to know, someone keeps an eye on them. Goodbye, Mr. Hotchner. Dr. Malone. "
oOo
"Bad night, Derek? " Spencer wanted to know. He was putting some coffee in his sugar and looked questioningly at Morgan.
"Hm," Derek just said, pouring completely absent also sugar in his coffee. Reid was surprised, but said nothing, Morgan would already know what he was doing. Maybe he just wanted to try something different?
"Good morning, you two," Alex Blake sounded cheerful. " What's going on, it's Friday and we only have a short debriefing, then we´re off for the weekend. My husband and I are going to Vermont, we've got a small hunting cabin there. What are your plans? "
"I'm heading to NY today," Spencer literally beamed. " Ken and I spend the whole weekend together. "
"I bed, I suppose?" Derek growled and grimaced as he sipped his coffee, why the heck was sugar in there? Spencer began to laugh.
"That's the plan, Morgan. Why don´t you join us, a possibility to expand your horizons a bit. " Spencer was laughing again.
"You´re pulling my leg, pretty boy? "
"Oh no, it never crossed my mind, Morgan." Spencer walked back to his desk, whistling.
"Did he just invite me to a threesome? " Derek asked, grinning.
Blake grinned back, "a matter of interpretation, I think. Oh, hello, Hotch. "
"Yes, hello. What are you interpreting here exactly?"
Morgan laughed, "You don´t wanna know Hotch, believe me. Can we start? "
Hotch shook his head , "we are still waiting for Dave, he and Jess got an important appointment. "
oOo
"All right, Miss Brooks. Let´s see, if we have some good news for you. Try not to tense up now, this may be a bit unpleasant. "
Jess held her breath, Daniels was right. A vaginal ultrasound was unpleasant. Jess grabbed Dave's hand tighter. He smiled warmly at Jess, " I am right here, Cara mia . "
"I do hope so, Mr. Rossi. " Dr. Daniels said, pointing to the screen. "You see that? It does look like a small bean."
" Madonna mia, that tiny? " Rossi was surprised and a bit shocked.
Jess laughed, " it will grow very fast, but don´t you worry, Dave. My wedding dress can take it. "
"When are you getting married, Miss Brooks? " Dr. Daniels wanted to know.
" In ten weeks," Dave replied, still looking completely fascinated at the screen.
"Well, by then I probably can tell you, if it´s a boy or a girl." Daniels pushed a button and two minutes later he handed Dave a picture.
"I´m gonna prescribe a few vitamins, Miss Brooks. Otherwise, no caffeine, no alcohol and no nicotine. "
Jess nodded, " of course not. " She kissed Dave lovingly." Are you excited, love?"
"More than I can tell, Jessy ," Dave replied happily.
oOo
Jack and Becca spended their lunch break sitting on the swings of the school´s playground. "Renee is really nice. I do like her a lot, Jack. She´d be a perfect Mum for us." Rebecca said and took a bite of the sandwich, Jack had shared with her.
"I do like her a lot, too." Jack agreed with full cheeks, "and you can snuggle up so good to her, she's so soft and cuddly. " Jack had tested this extensively, when Renee took care of him.
"Soft and cuddly is good, Jack. That´s how a Mum must be. Do you think, Hotch-Dad likes that, too?" Becca asked. Officially, it was still ' Uncle Hotch ' , but Becca secretly called him Hotch-Dad. Her real Dad had been ill for quite a long time. Rebecca had indeed often visited him with her Granny, but most of the time he did not even notice, she was there. And Becca needed a Dad so much. A Dad, who was there for her, when she had bad dreams or felt sad. A Dad, who loved and hugged her. Someone like Jack´s Dad. In the beginning, she was a bit afraid of him, he always looked so serious. But Rebecca quickly noticed, he wasn´t serious at all. He treated her, like he treated Jack. Like she was his daughter. So Rebecca loved Hotch with all of her heart. And she was praying every night, for the Childcare Services to say yes.
" I think so, Dad´s snuggling up with a pillow and that´s soft and cuddly too. And he looks at Renee, like Uncle Dave is looking at Aunty Jess. And they are loving each other a lot, I saw it." Jack chuckled softly.
oOo
An hour later, Dave rushed into the meeting room. "I 'm late, I know. But, ladies and gentlemen, I have a very good reason." Dave pulled the photo out of his pocket and laid it on the table.
JJ squeaked, "that's what it looks like? " Dave grinned and accepted the congratulations of his colleagues. Oh, man. I knew it. Derek thought, little Rossi's. And I´m still looking for the right one when I´m 85 and in an old folks home. Maybe, I´ll meet her at the food counter. Somehow Derek didn´t like that idea. Suddenly he longed for someone, who was waiting for him at home. Someone who loved him and whom he loved. And he wasn´t referring to Clooney, this time.
He tapped Dave´s shoulder, " Congratulations, Dad. "
Reid looked at the picture very closely. He was genuinely pleased for Dave and Jess. And for the first time in his life he asked himself this very important question. Do I want to have children?
oOo
Dave entered Hotch´s office after the debriefing. "How did it go with Jack and Renee? Aaron I´m cuious, just tell me.", he asked Hotch.
Hotch nodded. "Everything is just fine with Jack, Becca and Renee. However, you and Jess should be more careful, when you´re having fun, you know what I mean? Jack has been watching you. I now know more about you and Jess, I wanted to ever know. Oh, and you don´t know the best thing, yet. Renee and I are together." Hotch said as casually as possible.
Dave had to sit down. "What?"
"Childcare Services is thinking, Renee is my partner, Dave. And I did absolutely nothing to clear this mistake."
A/N next chapter Derek will meet someone special and Hotch is going to have a conversation with Ike, who encourages him. And there is gonna be some Spencer and Ken.