Spring Break week arrived. Hotch didn't want to know how Garcia had managed to get him a week's vacation time, but he made sure she know how much he appreciated it. Then, on the third day of Laurel and Paige's visit, he found that he had to make a 'quick' trip into the office. When he told Laurel about it, she immediately asked if she could come along.
"I want to see where you work," she explained. "And, I can visit with Penelope while you go deal with whomever it is that you need to intimidate today."
Hotch smiled. "Of course," he told her. "And, I know Garcia wants to see you, too. Something about a new competition dress for Paige?"
"Yes," Laurel replied. "The rink is getting a group of skaters together to complete in the 'Spring Fling' competition being held in Milwaukee. It will give them a chance to skate against a group of skaters that they don't normally compete against. Paige is getting new music and a new program, and that means a new dress is in order."
~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~
"So, how are you and Boss Man getting along?" Garcia questioned. The two women were sitting in her lair sharing a take-out lunch.
"It's been great!" Laurel told her enthusiastically. "We've been to the zoo and a couple of the museums and the botanical garden. We have also met Jessica, and she seems really nice. Paige is loving it."
"What about – You know – Getting together with Boss Man – Just the two of you?" Garcia asked. "I know that you and Paige are staying in a hotel. Is there room in the suite for privacy?"
"Penelope, Aaron and I have never been alone together," Laurel sighed. "With two kids, plus friends, relatives, neighbors, and whatnot, we're lucky if we can have a private telephone conversation."
"You mean to tell me that you have never – "Garcia hesitated at the description.
"Had a romantic interlude?" Laurel suggested.
"No," she continued. "Like I said, we have always had Jack and/or Paige with us and you can't exactly get 'friendly' with chaperones like that around."
"Well, that has got to change!" Garcia declared as she took out her cell phone and pushed a speed dial number. "And the sooner the better!"
"JJ," she spoke into the phone. "Are you up for a 'Kid's Night Out'?"
~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~
"You certainly look – different," Hotch volunteered the next evening as he stood in the living room area of the hotel suite, ready to pick Laurel up for their date.
"I went shopping with Penelope," Laurel explained shyly. "She is the one who convinced me to get this dress. I have never had anything like this before. Plus, these shoes." She looked down at the 3" strappy heels she was wearing.
"And JJ took me to get my hair done," she continued. "Lately, I've just had my neighbor Cary cut it for me."
Hotch took another look at her in the fitted black dress. He had always known she was slender but now the one-shoulder top showed off her pale skin while the fitted, slit skirt revealed her long legs.
"I must remember to thank both Garcia and JJ the next time I see them," he said with a smile. "Thanks to them, every other man in the restaurant is going to be insanely jealous of me."
Holding out his hand, he asked, "And, now, what about if we have our first real date?"
Hotch had made reservations at a restaurant down the street from the hotel. "They have a reputation for good food as well as excellent service, and we can take a walk around the grounds afterwards," he explained as they waited to be shown to their table.
"Oh My Gosh!" Laurel exclaimed several minutes later as she examined the leather bound menu. "I have never seen anything like this before! Aaron, you are going to have to help me. I really don't know where to start."
"Well, what about if we just start at the top of the first page and work our way down?" Hotch suggested. "I'm sure we can find something you like."
"I think I already see something I like," Laurel replied with a seductive smile.
The leisurely dinner in the candlelit restaurant was a pleasant change from the family style restaurants the couple usually patronized. Hotch discovered that he enjoyed watching Laurel's excitement as she tried and commented on various new foods, while Laurel discovered that she enjoyed the attention that she was receiving from the darkly handsome man in the well-tailored suit.
Afterwards, Hotch led the way as they wandered outside onto the restaurant's grounds.
"Aaron, this is beautiful!" Laurel gasped as she looked around at the trees filled with fairy lights. She pulled her burgundy pashmina closer against the cooler outside air.
"Let's walk," Hotch suggested, tucking her hand into the crook of his arm.
A short stroll later, Laurel came to a stop and sank down onto a bench. "It's these shoes," she explained. "I'm just not used to heels this high."
Hotch promptly sat down next to her and put his arm around her, pulling her close.
"Thank you so much for this evening," she told him. "I have never – "
She leaned over and kissed him on the lips.
Hotch looked into her eyes for a moment, and then kissed her back - Hard.
As his tongue began exploring her mouth, he suddenly stopped and pulled back from the kiss.
"I'm glad you did that," he told her seriously. "Because, I came here tonight prepared to propose to a woman I had never really kissed."
"Propose?" Laurel echoed weakly.
"Propose," Hotch replied firmly as he took a ring box out of his jacket pocket and opened it to show her a diamond engagement ring.
"Laurel," he began. "We have known each other for almost eight years now. And, even though we haven't spent a lot of time together, I do know that I love you and that I want to spend the rest of my life with you. And, I hope you love me, too. Will you marry me and come to live with me and Jack?"
"Jack knows about this?" Laurel asked.
"We discussed it," Hotch assured her. "And, yes, he agrees with me that you and Paige need to be part of our family.
"In that case, the answer is 'Yes'," Laurel was fighting back the tears. "Yes, Aaron, I do love you and, Yes, I will marry you!" She watched in wide-eyed amazement as Hotch slipped the ring onto her finger and then passionately kissed her again.
"Now, if you would like another ring - ," Hotch began after they finally broke apart.
"I love this one!" Laurel declared, holding up her hand so she could admire it. "And, it is going to stay on my finger."
"Did you tell Dave that you were planning on proposing?" she asked abruptly.
"Well, I may have asked him for a recommendation for a jeweler," Hotch admitted. "Why?"
"Because he had a bottle of champagne delivered to my suite just before you arrived," Laurel smiled. "I wasn't sure why and thought maybe I should just keep quiet and see what happened."
"Now," she said as she stood up. "I think we need to get back to the hotel room. With no under-aged chaperones underfoot, we can open that bottle of champagne and enjoy it. Also, there are some things I have been waiting an awfully long time to do with you."
Hotch was smiling as he stood up and held out his hand.