Criminal Minds

Meeting Marcella

Chapter 9

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Hotch and Emily stared at the Pediatrics Specialist. "What's wrong? What's happening?" the anxious parents asked.

He shook his head, "No worries, Mr. Hotchner, Mrs. Hotchner." He assured them.

"Then why are you here? They said the procedures would take at least two hours." Emily stared at him. "You are out within half."

He smiled at her. "Well, we took an X-Ray of Marcella's ears, and you'll never believe what's happening..."

"What?" Emily rushed on. "Please tell me!"

"She's a late developer." He grinned.

Taken aback at his answer, Emily frowned, "What's that suppose to mean?"

"Just that, she's a late developer. Her ear drums and most of the major pieces like the stapes, Molleus, Incus and especially the Cochlea organ is just now developing."

"You mean she's going to be able to hear soon?"

He nodded, "Probably in a year or two. We'd still have to implant some hearing devices to help her for the moment but pretty soon, she'll be independent and eventually outgrow them completely."

A relieved look on Emily was evident as she was speechless.

"Oh...by the way, I looked at her throat as well, and I did see a tiny bud forming in her larynx as well." He nodded, "Like I said, a late developer, not unusual for children like Marcella but certainly special and fortunate."

"Oh...my god!" Emily held her mouth. "Oh my god...I can't believe this! Marcella, she's going to be able to hear and talk."

The doctor nodded, "Oh yes, eventually. She'll need lots of therapies to help her but yes, she'll gain her speech and hearing."

Unable to hold her emotions, Emily cried as she unexpectedly hugged the doctor, thanking him.

"Oh...you're welcome, Mrs. Hotchner, but I do have to get back and place an implant into Marcella's ears." He nodded to them before the left.

She turned to Hotch and smiled, "She's going to be normal again, Hotch."

He smiled, "Emily, our daughter is normal. She is perfect to me."

She look at him and nodded, "You're right, she is perfect."

He opened his arms out, "Will you come here?"

She came willingly into his folds and they hugged tightly, Hotch took a deep breath, "Thank you, Emily. I've been waiting for a long time to do this and to tell you I love you."

She opened her eyes for a moment before closing them again, "I love you too, Aaron."

….

At a not-too-far distance, Elizabeth and Yasmina saw the couple in an intimate embrace.

Elizabeth smiled, "Well, I hope this is a very good thing."

Yasmina looked at the Ambassador uncertainly, "Why is that, Mrs. Prentiss?"

Continuing her smile, "Oh...trust me Yasmina, trust me, they've been dancing for quite a long time."

Give the older woman an odd look, Yasmina watched Hotch and Emily who were still in a tight embrace and said, "Dance? I don't see them dancing?"

Elizabeth laughed, "When you fall in love, you'll dance forever."

Yasmina finally understood her, nodded, "Are they going to marry?"

"They better! But probably not right away, they have some things to work our, but mark my words, I'll give them a year." She grinned. The young nanny stared at her but she didn't say a word as they walked to the happy couple who told them of the happy news about Marcella.

…...

True to her words, one year later, after meeting Marcella, Hotch and Emily held a grand wedding at their new house.

Marcella who was now a thriving and happy three years old was their flower girl was able to hear and talk on her own but she still needed speech therapy with the help of her nanny Yasmina who remained with the Prentiss-Hotcner household.

Elizabeth Prentiss, the Ambassador, now retired bought a house not far from the Hotchners. As well, she was hired by the government to train soon-to-be US Ambassadors.

Clyde Easter continued his position as senior officer at the INTERPOL in France, and was a regular visitor at the Prentiss-Hotchner residence, was here for the wedding.

"It's bloody time you two got together and make it official." Clyde smiled as he stood next to his God daughter. "Marcella has been asking me about the two of you." He arched his brows.

Hotch shook his head, "My daughter did no such thing, Clyde."

He laughed, "Shows how much you know about goddaughter." He signed to her.

Hotch frowned, "She can speak perfectly, Clyde."

Easter nodded, "Oh I know, Hotchner. It's just a habit..." he shrugged. "And besides, it's a secret between a godfather and his goddaughter, hey Mon petite?"

Marcella giggled as she nodded and signed to him.

He laughed, "Yes, they are."

Emily stared at her old friend and her daughter, "Clyde, Marcella...what are you two plotting?"

"Oh...nothing, not really...just that, well...I was telling Marcella about a surprise wedding gift I had for the two of you. Any plans for next week?"

Emily turned to Hotch in surprise, "Not really...we were going to take a few days off, I guess. Why?"

He shrugged, "Oh...nothing special just that, remember the Chateau my grandmamman and I lived?"

Emily nodded, "Yeah...you said your family had to sell it when she passed away."

He nodded, "Well, I managed to purchase the property and estate.

Emily gave him a surprise look, "You mean, the Easter Chateau..."

He smiled emotionally, "It's mine and renovated, this past year and a half."

"That's why you've been so mysterious, Clyde." Emily grinned.

"And you and Hotchner will be the first guests at Easter Chateau in France."

"Oh my...Clyde! We...what about Jack and Marcella?"

"Jack, Marcella and I will be fine." Clyde grinned at the kids gathered along with the rest of the BAU team as they stood and listened to their conversation.

"Aaron, go...you and Emily need this vacation and honeymoon." Dave encouraged him.

The team nodded as they noisily pushed them.

Hotch finally nodded, "All right, everybody. We will go. Thank you, Clyde." He reached over and shook his hand gratefully.

"You're welcome, Aaron, and Emily, you are after all my family." He looked fondly at Marcella, "You gave me a most precious gift."

Marcella smiled and said, "I love my family, each and everyone!"

They smiled at the little girl as they hugged her with much love.

That night, as they retired to their bedroom, Hotch and Emily smiled at each other, "I love you, Emily Hochner."

She smiled at him, her eyes full of love for him, "I love you, Aaron Hochner."

…...

The End

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Thank you hodgepodge for reviewing every chapter of this story! and your encouragement! Love you much! ;)

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10th muse

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