"This was a good idea," Hotch commented as he and Laurel sat at a quiet table in a nearby restaurant. "We don't get a lot of time by ourselves."
"With two kids and you being out of town so much lately, we haven't had much of a chance to get together at all," Laurel commented as she studied her menu.
"Now, what did you want to talk about?" Hotch looked over at his wife.
"One disadvantage of being married to a profiler," Laurel observed with a smile. "How about waiting until after we order?"
The waiter quickly took their order and then Hotch looked expectantly at his wife.
"Okay?" he questioned.
"There is one thing we have never really discussed," Laurel began slowly. "And, that is children – Whether or not we want more of them and, if so, how many and when and all the other details."
"We already have two, a boy and a girl," Hotch observed. "So, I never really thought about it. But, you're talking about the two of us having a baby of our own – Aren't you?"
"Something like that," Laurel told him. "We've never really discussed it."
"You want to have a baby," Hotch realized. "With me!" His face split with a smile.
"Well, I can deal with that," he declared. "As a matter of fact, loan me your cell phone and I'll call Matt Cruz. I can take the afternoon off and we can get started on it right away."
"Um – m – m - m, Aaron, Sweetie, it's a little late for that," Laurel confessed. "I'm already pregnant."
"You're pregnant?" Hotch questioned. "You're sure?"
"Two home pregnancy tests and a doctor's visit this morning," Laurel reported. "You can't get any surer than that."
"But – how – when?" Hotch stuttered. "We've always been careful."
"I seem to remember one night on the couch in your study," Laurel dropped her eyes and looked embarrassed. "And, apparently, that's all it took. It seems that your little swimmers are extremely efficient."
"But that was, what, four months ago?" Hotch asked. "You're four months pregnant? How long have you known?"
"About three days," Laurel replied. "I couldn't fasten my jeans the other morning and I couldn't figure out why. Then, when I started thinking back, I couldn't remember when I last had a period. You know I have never been on any kind of a real schedule and with my constant rushing around and everything, I guess I just kind of didn't notice."
"You are four months pregnant?" Hotch stared at her. "You haven't been sick or anything?"
"Aaron, I don't have time to be sick," Laurel pointed out. "I have two kids, both involved in sports, and my law school classes, and a house to run. Even if I don't feel good I just keep on going."
"But, you are okay?" Hotch persisted. "You and the – the baby?"
"We are both fine," Laurel assured him. "And the doctor doesn't foresee any problems. He would, however, like to speak with you and get your health history."
"Of course – Of course," Hotch readily agreed.
"A BABY!" He suddenly exclaimed. "We are going to have a baby! I need to call - We need to tell – " He began grabbing for his missing cell phone.
"Let's start with the kids and Jessica," Laurel suggested. "And, maybe, Dave. They need to hear it from us. Then, once we have everything settled there, you can move on to telling the team and the rest of the world."
"Tonight?" Hotch suggested excitedly.
"Jessica is making dinner tonight," Laurel told him taking out her cell phone. "Let me call her and see if there is room for one more. Then, you can check and see if Dave is available."
"You do know that if Jessica is making dinner that means we are eating in the dining room with complete place settings," Hotch smiled. "And, somehow, that seems appropriate."
"And, now, for the rest of this afternoon," Laurel smiled seductively at him. "If you would like to spend it reviewing exactly how we got into this situation?"