Disclaimer: Criminal Minds and all its characters belong to CBS. I own nothing. Feel free to read and review, but please don't copy.
Previously on Criminal Minds- "Come 'mere Dave" he directed, dragging the flustered five year old onto his free knee and wrapping an arm around the struggling boy. He was comforting Dave whether he wanted it or not.
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"Are you two boys good to go now?" Hotch inquired, smiling fondly at the two cookie crumb covered faces.
Spencer licked the last of the chocolate off his fingers before looking up at his surrogate father, his puppy dog expression out in full force. "Tan we have anofew tootie fiwst?" he hopefully asked.
"That's a wonderful idea!" Dave exclaimed, standing on his chair and reaching for the Goofy cookie jar in the middle of the table. "We should get enough for everybody. I'm sure they're hungry after running and playing most of the afternoon."
Aaron quirked an eyebrow at the two schemers. "The others need one, huh?" he disbelievingly echoed. He fought to keep a straight face as his charges began to nervously squirm in their seats. Rubbing his chin thoughtfully, Hotch let the two tiny conspirators sweat it out for a few moments before smiling and saying, "I guess we could do that."
Whooping, Reid eagerly took the chocolate chip cookie Hotch handed him. He took a teeny bite and then stuffed the cookie into his top overall pocket for when they got outside.
Aaron put the team's cookies in a Ziploc bag, zipped it closed, and stood. Smiling as Spencer jumped into his arms, he quickly settled the youngster on his hip. The BAU leader then reached down to take Dave's hand, frowning when the five year old backed away.
"First things first; you ever breathe a word of what happened here and I will end you." Dave warned, pointing a finger at his friends.
"I wouldn't dream of it." Hotch assured him though his crossed fingers told a different story.
"You'we setwet(secret)'s safe wif…"
"Alright Spider Monkey! Off daddy dearest" a voice called from the photo of Clooney on the wall. "It's time to turn boss into boy."
Nodding, Spencer started to get down and stopped. "Will you tuwn him and the ofews(others) bat to adults at bed time?" he questioned. "Henwy's going to want his mommy and daddy fewe fow him fen."
"Sure Short Stuff" the picture of Clooney agreed. "I'll grow them up at bedtime for you and Henry. But they go back to kids the next morning. Deal?"
"Deal" Spencer replied. Happy with the knowledge that his daddy would return for bedtime, the mini profiler allowed Hotch to set him on his feet.
In the blink of an eye Aaron morphed from a man to a five year old. The grinning boy turned to his friends. "Let's go guys!" he hollered.
The trio raced back outside. Running up to the rest of the group, they were surprised to see something new for them to try out.
"Big Wheels?" Morgan scoffed.
"Not Big Wheels, Green Machines" Will corrected.
"What's the difference?" Hotch curiously asked, fingering the dual stick controllers.
"Watch" Will mysteriously responded. He pedaled his Green Machine down the path and then turned and headed back to the agents at full speed. When he was almost to the other kids, he jerked the controllers in opposite directions causing the vehicle to perform a one eighty.
"SWEET!" Derek shouted. "I wanna try!"
"Me too! Me too!" Spencer hollered, bouncing up and down.
"Well come on then! Loki left enough for everybody" Will said, pointing to the row of Green Machines parked beside the porch.
"AWESOME!" Reid shouted. He dashed over and claimed a ride. "Let's go!"
Laughing, the group of children roared off down the paved path.
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After an afternoon of riding, racing, and spinning, the group gratefully plopped down on the red and white checkered picnic blanket. Starving from their day of fun, they swiftly washed their hands and then flipped open their baskets. Just like lunch all the baskets were filled with each child's favorite foods or foods they were craving.
Mouths watering at the delicious aromas wafting up from their hand woven baskets, the BAU children enthusiastically dug into their meals.
"Ohhhhh! This lasagna is simply scrumptious!" Penelope gushed, taking another bite.
"You think that's good, you ought to try the catfish." Morgan countered.
"It tan't beat the fwied chiten. It's the bet I evew tasted!" Spencer enthused.
"Wait till you try the ribs." Emily threw in, licking the sauce off her fingers. "They're so tender they practically melt in your mouth!"
Reid glanced over at the enormous stack of BBQ slathered ribs. "Tan I twy one?" he hesitantly asked. "I'll give you one of my chiten legs."
Emily smiled. "Keep your chicken, Sweetie. I have more than enough ribs for the two of us." She told him. Spotting several other sets of eyes glued to her meal, she added, "Actually, there's enough for all of us to share." The raven haired girl passed out ribs to the entire group, taking the offered samples of their meals as she went.
Deciding they should all share, the kids scooted their picnic baskets to the middle of the blanket. They took their dishes, made a sitting down circle around the food, and began loading their plates with a little of everything. Licking their lips, the boys and girls then tucked back into their meals.
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"Bathtime Henry!" JJ cheerfully announced.
"You too, Spencer" Hotch called as he walked into the living room.
"O *yawn* tay" Reid replied. He pushed up to stand and trudged over to his now fully grown surrogate father. Fisting his eyes, he leaned heavily against Hotch's leg. After the long day of playing with his friends, he was totally exhausted. In fact he was so tired, it was going to be a struggle to stay awake long enough to bathe. He'd make it, though. There was no way Spencer was going to fall asleep in the bathtub. No way.
Aaron scooped up his sleepy little boy. Smiling as the youngster's head dropped onto his shoulder and tiny fingers began playing with the hair on the back of his neck, the young father hurried out of the room and up the stairs. He'd have to make it a quick bath tonight. Spencer's actions told Aaron that the tot wasn't going to last much longer. And he knew the littlest agent would be beyond mortified if he fell asleep while bathing. Determined to keep the little guy awake, Aaron set about distracting him. "Spencer, have you given any more thought to our Christmas plans?" he asked.
"Y *yawn* yeah" Spencer answered. He wobbled as he was set on his feet. He waited for his daddy to unfasten his straps and then tiredly pulled off his shirt and overalls, not caring where they dropped. "I, I fint we should go bat to *yawn* the pawt. Henwy will love it. And, and *YAWN* we tan finish riding all the good tuff."
"Sounds like a good plan to me" Aaron said as he lifted Reid and set him in the tub. Handing the tiny profiler a wash cloth and a bar of soap, he added, "We'll have to talk to the team and Will about it."
Spencer wearily blinked open his eyes. "Do you fint I tould go *YAWN* see my mom, too?" he inquired, blinking his eyes open once more. "I weally miss hew."
"I think that can be arranged." Hotch assured the tot. "We should have plenty of time to do both. We might even have time to fit something else in, too. Is there anything else you'd really like to do?" He set Reid's toothbrush and toothpaste on the counter alongside his comb. "Maybe a trip to the beach or to see the aquatic animals at Sea World?" When several seconds went by without a response or the sound of water, Aaron spun around to check on his son. He chuckled at the sight of Spencer sprawled out in the water fast asleep. Shaking his head, he stepped over to the tub, knelt down, and grabbed the floating wash cloth. The doting daddy swiftly washed his sleeping little one before gently lifting him out of the tub and wrapping him in his fluffy Stitch hooded towel. After drying and dressing Spencer in his pajamas, Aaron carried the youngster to his bedroom and settled the boy in the middle of the bed. He tucked the blankets securely around the tot and then leaned over and kissed his forehead. "Good night Spencer" he whispered.