"Paige's school has a program where everyone is entitled to a hot breakfast regardless of their financial status," Laurel explained a short time later as they sat eating in a café down the street from the rink. "It makes things so much easier for us and also gives her a chance to visit with her friends. With our schedules, I'm afraid she doesn't get much of a chance to do that."

"I eat some cereal in the morning before we leave for the rink," Paige explained. "But I'm hungry again after I'm done skating. But, sometimes, what they have – " she made a face.

"I know what you mean," Hotch sympathized with her. "I know that some days Jack doesn't like the food at his school either."

"What grade are you in now?" he asked curiously.

"Fourth," Paige replied as she took a forkful of her French toast. "Sometimes it's kind of boring but – " She shrugged.

"What about Jack?" Laurel asked. "What grade is he in?"

"He's in eighth," Hoch told her proudly. "And thinks he is king of the middle school."

"I'll bet all the girls are going crazy over him," Laurel smiled. "Do you have a picture?"

"Since you asked," Hotch smirked as he pulled out his wallet. "I just happen to have this with me – " He took out a photo and handed it to Laurel.

"He's going to be tall like you," Laurel commented as she looked at the picture. "And, just as good looking."

Hotch had the grace to blush.

"How did the two of you end up in Chicago?" He changed the subject.

"Involved story," Laurel told him. "And, I don't know if I have time to tell you all the details before we need to get Paige to school and me to work."

"I'll tell you what," Hotch proposed. "I should be able to get some time off this evening. What about if I drop by with a pizza and you can tell me everything then?"

"That sounds workable," Laurel agreed as she finished up her meal. "And, now, we do need to get going if Paige and I are both going to be on time this morning. I work several buildings down from the school, so one stop will do for both of us."

"You work close to the school?" Hotch asked.

"Within yelling distance," Laurel confirmed. "After all these years, I am still paranoid."