Author's Note: Special thanks to jenny crum and p95000 (my faithful reviewers to these!) for the reviews!

PROMPT #22 – JJ/HOTCH

Collin Hay - "Waiting for My Real Life to Begin"

The day after Will walked out the door, JJ announced to her entire team that she was single, but she was okay. None of them believed her. Reid took it upon himself to show her magic trick after magic trick. Morgan ran with her every morning before work and sparred with her in the gym twice a week. Rossi dragged her to a new restaurant nearly everyday, never once allowing her to pay. Prentiss dragged her to clubs and bars whenever JJ could find a baby-sitter. Garcia signed her up for every dating website and gimmick she could find. Only Hotch remained quiet on her situation.

Until the two of them were standing alone in front of a white board.

"Why weren't you upset when Will left?" he asked her out of the blue, his voice low even though no one was within earshot.

JJ paused for a moment before she turned to face him. "I guess it just felt like the entire time I was with Will, I was waiting."

"Waiting for what?"

She shrugged. "I don't know. Just waiting."

"And now?" He swallowed nervously.

"Now? Now, it feels like I'm living."

Hotch grabbed her hand and squeezed it. "That's good." He released her and began to walk away.

JJ grabbed his arm suddenly and spun him back towards her. She reached up to grab his neck, pulling his lips to hers. By the time they broke apart, he had his hands in her hair and she was molded to his body.

"You ready to start living too?" she asked, her face flushed.

"Absolutely," Hotch replied, once again capturing her lips.

PROMPT #23 - JJ/HOTCH

"What Makes A Man" - Westlife

Hotch couldn't believe he was letting her go. With her golden brown hair and light brown eyes, she looked so grown-up, but he saw only the tiny bundle of joy he had brought home from the hospital. She was the apple of her father's eye; the joy in her mother's heart; the spring in her brothers' steps. She was the little miracle that drew them all together as a family and now, she was leaving.

He watched as she said good-bye to her mother, gently kissing the tears that fell from her mother's blue eyes. He bit the inside of his lip as her brothers teased her hair and poked her side before whispering "good luck" when they thought no one was looking. When it was his turn to say good-bye, he gathered her in his arms, holding her tight until his wife pulled him away. With one last kiss to her forehead, he let her go, watching forlornly as she walked bravely away from them, tears falling down his face.

"Geez, Dad," his youngest son, Henry, said, standing next to his (step)father. "It's only kindergarten. She'll be back in a few hours."

PROMPT #24 - JJ/HOTCH

"Who's David" - Busted

"Well, you can just bite me!" Garcia shouted, pushing Kevin in the middle of the hallway, just outside of the bullpen. She whipped around and stormed away, people scrambling to get out of her way. Kevin huffed once before scurrying in the opposite direction.

"What was that all about?" Hotch asked JJ and Prentiss, walking up behind them.

They both jumped, not expecting him.

JJ recovered first. "It appears that Kevin accused Garcia of cheating on him."

"And Garcia didn't take too kindly to that," Prentiss continued.

"And she dumped him in the middle of the hallway," JJ finished.

Prentiss' eyes lit up when the elevator doors opened to reveal Morgan. "If you'll excuse me, there's someone I need to go get dirt from."

Hotch remained close to JJ, his body heat intermingling with hers. He leaned over so that his lips just grazed her ear as he spoke. "Jack's staying with Jessica tonight. Henry's with Will, right?"

"Mm-hm."

He permitted himself a small smile. "Want to come over and-"

"JJ! Emily!" Garcia screeched, roaring back into the hallway. "I need you! Girls night at the bar!"

JJ nodded her acceptance to Garcia before turning to Hotch. She grinned at his sad face. "Tell you what. I'll get Emily to drive tonight. If you swing by the bar about eleven-thirty, I'll be able to sneak out then. I'll even wear that red thing under my clothes."

Hotch's eyes lit up. "The red thing with the lace and-"

"Yep. What do you say?"

"You got yourself a deal." He glanced around, noticing no one looking in their direction. He kissed her with just enough heat to leave her weak in the knees. "See you tonight."

PROMPT #24 FOLLOW-UP - MORGAN/GARCIA

(Written for Bonesbird)

Hotch swung by the bar around eleven. JJ had spent the entire evening sending him tantalizing text messages until he thought he would burst. Prentiss had turned down the evening miserably. She had dinner plans with her mother. Knowing it would be that much more difficult to extract JJ from Garcia's grasp, he brought Garcia a gift.

"Derek!" Garcia squealed, well on her way through her sixth cotton candy martini.

She threw her arms around him as he slid into the booth next to her. "What are you doing here?"

"I came to see you, of course," he replied with a grin.

She responded by kissing him squarely on the mouth and nuzzling into his neck.

"I'm glad you're here."

"Me, too," Morgan agreed. He wrapped his arm around her shoulder.

"You okay with her?" JJ asked, standing up. She stumbled a bit into Hotch.

Morgan nodded. "You kids have a good rest of your night." He waited until they left the bar before lifting up Garcia's chin. "Now, you want to tell me what's going on?"

Garcia sighed. "Kevin... He, well, he..."

"Spit it out, Mama."

"He accused me of cheating on him with you."

Morgan's eyes grew wide. "He did what?"

She laid her head on his shoulder. "It doesn't matter. He was the longest relationship that I've ever had and somehow I blew it."

"Hey, hey, listen to me." Morgan kissed the top of her head to insure he had her attention. "You didn't blow anything." He shook his head as she giggled like a schoolgirl. "If he couldn't trust you, then that's all on him. You are the most trustworthy person I know."

"What if I never find anyone else?" Garcia whispered softly. "What if I end up alone?"

Morgan sat up, suddenly, knocking Garcia from his shoulder. He cradled her face in his hands. "That'll never happen. You are too amazing of a person to ever end up alone. Do you understand me?"

Garcia nodded, not trusting her voice. She closed her eyes as Morgan placed the whisper of a kiss against her forehead. "I love you. Don't you ever forget that."

She looked up at him, a lopsided smile on her face. "I won't. I love you, too."

Morgan pulled her face close to his. He covered her lips with his own in a sweet and tender kiss. "Someday soon, when you're ready, I'll show you just how much."