A/N Hello and welcome. Time for another chapter. Special thanks to Guest and DebbieOz. Of course also to everyone reading and following.
Late Sunday morning Hotch, Renee and the kids packed their belongings together and made their way back to DC. They stopped by at Granny Abby´s house. Becca wanted to spend some time with her Granny, before she had to go into surgery.
" Did you have a nice weekend, my dear? " Granny Abby asked, squeezing her granddaughter lovingly. Becca nodded brightly, "I can call Renee Mum, Granny."
Abby smiled, " that's great, my child. Why dont´you go upstairs with Jack a little? There´s something I have to discuss with Hotch and Renee."
Becca nodded again and Jack took her hand.
"I hope this is ok for you, Granny Abby" , Renee asked, after the children went upstairs. Abby smiled, "oh, of course it is. All Becca ever wanted was a mum. Her mother died, giving birth to her, there was just me and my son Mike. He didn´t want to get married again, after she died." Abby wiped away a few tears and grabbed Hotch and Renee 's hands. "But now she has everything she needs .. "
"But I don´t wanna hear you say, you can die in peace now, Abby," she was energetically interrupted by Hotch.
Abby laughed, "no, I didn´t wanna say so, Aaron. But I 'm almost eighty and of course I think about it. Would you pour us some tea, Renee ? "
"Sure, Abby."
"I was also thinking about your suggestion with the house, Renee. It is quite reasonable. I met with your grandfather, yesterday. His house is really nice and a lot more age-appropriate than this. And he´s a sweet guy. "
Hotch looked at Abby and Renee in surprise.
" Oh, I did not tell you? Abby and I were talking. This house is far to huge for one person and Abby isn´t getting any younger. I suggested a flat share with Ike. After I moved into your apartment, he´s alone, too. So why don´t put them together? And this house will be for rent, or maybe sold, that´s Granny Abby´s choice. An additional income for Becca."
Hotch nodded, he thought it was an excellent idea. "Is there actually something, you don´t care about, my angel?"
Hotch knew, Renee invited Prof. Dietrich, because of Mrs. Coffin. Renee laughed heartily, " I take everyone under my wings, that you know that." She looked lovingly at Hotch and he put his arm around her. Abby Jensen was pleased with what she saw. Rebecca would have a wonderful home with Aaron and Renee.
" I do not want to nay-say, you two. But I would like you to know, my last will and all the important papers are in the top drawer of the cabinet over there. And that I entrust to you both, Becca´s safe with you. Just in case."
"Oh Abby," Renee said softly and hugged the old woman warmly. "The hip surgery is fairly routine, you don´t have to be concerned. I´m gonna get you into the hospital, tomorrow, if you want. And I can be present at your surgery, I'm sure that's no problem."
"You 're such a good girl, Renee. Do you know that?" Abby grabbed Renee's hand.
" I'm trying, Granny. I try real hard."
oOo
Derek almost got shaking knees. Mona had, of course, cancelled the date on Saturday. But she wanted to meet with him, for brunch.
He understood this very well. Who knows how he would have reacted, if he was told such kind of a story. A date in public and in broad daylight was reasonable. He already saw Mona sitting at a table, she held a little chat with Brenda, the owner of the Parisienne. Mona waved cheerfully when she noticed Derek.
Go in and win, Derek thought and smiled. "Hi Mona, did I keep you waiting?"
She shook her head . "No, you 're on time, don´t you worry. I 'm always way too early, a little tic, I have. But sit down, please. I promise, I won´t hit you with my handbag again." Derek ran his hand over his head, "I honestly do wonder what you women always carry in your handbags. Dumb bells? "
Mona chuckled, "well, dumb bells would probably be your area, I guess." She glanced blithely over his upper body. Morgan was wearing a tight-fitting shirt, it didn´t leave very much room to Mona´s imagination.
She felt warm. Derek was a handsome man, there wasn´t the slightest doubt.
"I didn´t say' Thank you ', yet. I mean, the situation was really more than questionable and you didn´t have to believe me, Mona. "
Mona nodded, " no, I didn´t have to. But Jess Brooks has spoken so nice about you and quite honestly, it´s incredibly cute, what you 've been trying to do for your friend. Though, it was a bit crazy. "
"Crazy? " Derek repeated, "it was totally stupid, Mona. But sometimes you just get this ideas. Especially when you´re feeling lonely, yourself. " Derek admitted quite abruptly.
"Did you already order something? I´m starving." Derek changed the subject.
Mona laughed, "You´re right. I could eat half a cow. Speaking of eating, did your socks come to light, again?"
Derek chuckled, " I'm afraid, torturing Clooney with sauerkraut was completely useless. Poor Cloonster. The socks reappeared near the washing machine. Out of nowhere. I'm sure my washing machine is a black hole, making things disappear and reappear in a blink."
"I got the same sort at home, Derek. " Mona confirmed.
They decided do make use of the buffet and Derek and Mona had great fun together until Derek's phone rang.
" Excuse me, I do have to answer that. Hi Baby Girl. Don´t you say we´ve got a case." Derek sighed softly, of course they had.
" You have to leave? " Mona asked, when Morgan had hung up. His face had darkened during the call.
"I'm sorry, Mona. We´re heading to the Canadian border, in two hours. I have to go. "
"That's okay, Derek ," Mona said sympathetically. "Your job is important. Leave, but I 'm assuming, you´ll come back safe and sound. Finally, you owe me a mambo and I 'm sure Miss Brooks would be disappointed if ... "
" Oh, please. Don´t you remind me `bout it. " Derek frowned. Previously, he had successfully repressed this matter. "I 'll call you, when possible. That all right for you?" Mona kissed Derek quickly, " more than that, Derek. Please, take care of yourself , okay?" Morgan grinned, " you're a darn nice girl, Mona. Course, I´m gonna take care." Derek kissed Mona good-bye.
oOo
Renee appeared as promised on Monday afternoon at Abby´s. "Ok, got everything you absolutely need? " Renee grabbed Granny's suitcase for the hospital. Abby thought for a moment, "I guess so, dear. We can go."
Renee helped Abby in the jeep. "Is everything all right with Aaron? " Abby wanted to know in the car.
"Yes, he's fine, as far as one can tell. They´ve got three bodies and still no evidence." Renee shivered, " I could not do this job," she said firmly and hit a garbage can.
"Oops, where did that come from? "
Granny Abby began to laugh, " I think she bravely jumped in front of your car, Renee." Renee giggled, "You think, she´s suicidal? Then she is right with me, I´m a therapist. " Renee stopped, to take care of the bin.
oOo
Hotch and Spencer entered crime scene number four. "Just like the others, Hotch."
Hotch nodded in agreement, like the other three victims, the UnSub also presented number four to the public. Hotch sighed quietly, actually, he´d rather be with Renee and the children, now.
" You´d probably rather be somewhere else," Spencer mused, " I honestly do." He had to think of Ken, who was pretty upset yesterday when they were suddenly uprooted from their idyll. Fortunately, Ken was but a very sympathetic husband, he didn´t give any accusations to Spencer, his anger was more likely on the UnSub, who caused mischief. Last night, when they were on Skype, Ken announced to stay a few more days to see some real-estate agents.
"Ken is moving to DC," Spencer said, when he was sitting in the van with Hotch again.
"That's a good idea, Reid. This travelling thing must be unpleasant. Did you already find something new? "
Spencer shook his head, "no, we decided just yet. We are looking for a house with a garden, for ..."
" For your children? " Hotch completed Spencer´s sentence. "You´re thinking about adoption?"
"We don´t know, Hotch. Kerensa has offered, to be our surrogate Mum. But we're not sure if that 's such a good idea."
" Kerensa? Oh, Ken's sister Kiki," Hotch had to think briefly, who Kerensa was. "What 's she like? " Hotch wanted to know.
Spencer smiled briefly, " actually she´s like Ken. Would get along well with Renee, I think."
"Oh well. Then tell her, she´s invitetd to Renee and me when she´s in DC again. We´ll check her out." Hotch said, grinning barely noticeable, before he became serious again.
"We really need to find out what the victims have in common."
oOo
"Rossi? You're staring at your cell, like you´re gonna hypnotize it. What´s so important?" Derek asked.
" Jess has a check-up, Morgan. Actually, I wanted to be with her, instead I 'm stranded in nirvana, here. "
"At least you have good company, " Morgan grinned. For him, such appointments were double dutch. But he was genuinely pleased for Rossi and Jess . Even if Jess was giving him hell. He wondered, how many Scotch he probably needed to be loose enough. Because pinching was out of the question ...
oOo
"And you got rid of your news? " Renee wanted to know, handing Jess some orange juice.
"I don´t see anything," said grass widower Ken, looking at the ultrasound image upside down. Will shook his head and started laughing, "You´re such a beginner, it´s this way around." The group bursted out laughing. Ken, Jess, Will and Henry had gathered together at Renee´s, to have dinner.
"Yes, I told him. He feels guilty, he isn´t here. I told him, not to worry about it." Jess grinned. "Guy´s I´ve got an idea. What if me make this dinner a tradition? Whenever our heroes are on the road, we come together for dinner, in turns? What do you think? "
"This is a fantastic idea, Jess. Did I already tell you, I´m moving to DC? Bought a magazine, I´m starting a new business."
"Really? Pretty good idea. What did you buy? " Will wanted to know.
" The INSIDER. Yeah, I know. It´s broke, but it belongs to me, now." Ken laughed merrily. " Shall we set the table, Renee? "
" That's nice, Ken . And you can also pick up the kids, the food is ready . Oh and maybe I do know the perfect house for Spencer and you. "
Jess went on into the children's room, where Henry was sitting peacefully with Becca and Jack on the floor. He was listening attentively to Jack, who was telling him about collecting sea shells, lighting up candles and Mum topless.
Jess had to smile, so her slightly reserved brother-in-law had sex on the beach? That was shocking, Jess giggled.
" Dinner is ready, dwarves, you´re hungry?"
"Yes, we are," was the answer and the kids stormed outside. Jack, however, had to ask his aunt something.
"Sure, Jack. What do you want to know?" Jack hemmed and hawed a bit, then decided to finally ask her.
"Do you think, it´s all right for Mommy, if I´m gonna call Renee Mum?"
Jess leaned over to Jack, "Your Mommy Jack, wants this more than anything else. She always wanted you to be happy. And I´m sure, she would have liked Renee. And Renee is a great mom, right?" Jack nodded happily, "the best, Aunty Jess."