When they got back into the hotel, they found Rossi and Reid waiting for them at a table in the coffee shop.
"I heard from Garcia," Rossi announced as soon as everyone had sat down. "She sent me a list of doctors."
"Good," Christine commented. "If you can get it to me, I can check them out on-line. Then, I'll contact my first choice to see about setting up a 'get acquainted' appointment. I need to make sure the doctor understands my 'special circumstances' and is sympathetic."
"You think that might be a problem?" Hotch questioned.
"Actually, that's why Dave found out about this whole situation to begin with," Christine explained. "He arrived at The Yoga Center for the weekend, just as I was getting back from my first appointment with the only OB-GYN in the area. After the doctor said 'twins', I tried to explain to him exactly what had happened, both in the past and also more recently. Well, let's just say he wasn't exactly sympathetic and really laid into me with facts and statistics and accusations, as well as his own personal opinion."
"I am not an idiot! I am perfectly aware of the fact that I screwed up royally, and I really don't appreciate some stranger rubbing my nose in it! Anyway, Dave took one look at me and could tell I was upset about something. He started asking questions, and that's when I broke down and told him the whole story."
"Don't worry, we'll find you an understanding doctor this time," Rossi assured her as he picked up her hand and held it. "You won't have to go through that again!"
"Do you want me to come with you to interview the doctor?" Hotch offered. "I remember some of the things we covered with Haley's OB."
"Thanks, but I think I should handle the initial appointment by myself," Christine decided. "I don't want to begin my relationship with this doctor by parading half of the FBI through his office, terrifying him and his staff!"
"If you change your mind – " Hotch let his offer stand.
"Spencer? Reid? Are you okay?" Christine noticed that he hadn't said a word and was sitting at the table with a dazed look on his face.
"I just don't know what I am going to tell JJ," he confessed as he stared into his untouched cup of coffee.
"We need to tell the entire team," Hotch decided. "This situation is going to affect everyone. Why don't you wait until then?"
When Hotch finally arrived at his office, it was early afternoon. After hanging up his jacket and sitting down at his desk, the first thing he did was take out his cell phone and make a call. For the first time in a long time, Aaron Hotchner sent flowers to a lady.
That evening, as Reid was leading the twins in their nightly discussion of science topics (this week it was stars), he looked into the two pairs of child-size hazel eyes that were focused on him, and wondered what it would be like to have a third, adult-sized pair, also looking back at him. Later, after the twins were in bed, he unlocked his desk drawer, took out the still sealed envelope, and opened it.