"Bella – A Bambino!" Rossi sprang from his chair and rushed around the table to kiss Laurel on both cheeks and then envelope her in a hug. "That's wonderful!"
He then turned to Hotch and began vigorously shaking his hand and slapping him repeatedly on the back. "You are a lucky man, Aaron Hotchner!" he declared.
"Congratulations you two!" Jessica chorused. "I am so happy for you!"
"Mom?" Paige looked distinctly puzzled. "A baby?"
"Yes, Sweetheart," Laurel told her. "It's kind of like a surprise package that we'll have to wait about five months to open."
"Five months?" Rossi questioned, looking over at her.
"Yeah," Laurel wrinkled up her nose. "It kind of took me a while to figure out what was going on."
"That means we don't have to wait as long," Jessica smiled happily.
"Jack?" Hotch looked anxiously over at his son. "Buddy?"
"Yeah, Dad. That's just great," he mumbled. "Is it okay if I go do my homework now?"
"Before desert?" Hotch questioned. "I think your Aunt Jessica has something special planned."
"That's okay," Laurel interrupted. "You can always get a snack later on if you want it."
"Thanks," Jack started to stand up.
"Before you go," Rossi spoke up. "I have an announcement to make. Not that I want to usurp you two –" he smiled at Hotch and Laurel. "But, I just want to tell everyone that I have put in for my retirement. The paperwork was sent through today and I gave The Bureau three months notice so they can start looking for my replacement."
"Dave?" Hotch was stunned. "Are you sure?"
"I'm sure," he smiled. "And, I'm starting to think my timing couldn't have been better. I'll be available to help the mother-to-be while you are out in the field so you won't have to worry."
"As much as I appreciate that – I don't know what to say." For the first time anyone could remember, Hotch appeared to be stuttering.
"Just say 'Congratulations'," Rossi suggested.
"May I be excused?" Jack raised his voice.
"Of course," Laurel told him.
~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~
"I know you aren't too happy about this." Laurel was sitting with Jack in his room later that evening. "But, I promise you that things aren't going to change that much, especially at first."
"Yeah - Right!" Jack muttered sarcastically.
"You need to realize," Laurel chose to ignore his attitude. "A family is a living thing. It needs to grow and expand or it will die."
She took a deep breath. "I remember a couple of years ago when it was only Paige and me. We were okay and were doing just fine, but then you and your father came along and things got even better. And, then, after I met the other members of your father's team and your Aunt Jessica, things continued getting better and better as the family grew. Yes, things changed and over the years they will continue changing. But that doesn't mean that anything bad is going to happen."
"I love you and Paige and I always will – Whether you want to believe me or not."
"Will I have to share my room?" Jack challenged her.
"What?" Laurel asked puzzled.
"If it is a boy, will I have to share my room?" he repeated. "Like Garry Williams has to now that his mother had a baby."
"Whatever gave you that idea?" Laurel asked. "And, the answer is 'No'. For the first couple of weeks the baby will be staying in your father's and my room. Babies wake up a lot during the night and I'll need to be close to take care of it. Also, you and Paige don't need to be getting woken up in the middle of the night. After that, I was planning on putting the baby in the room at the end of the hall where I currently have my desk and books and stuff."
"You're giving up your room?" Jack asked in surprise. "You were so excited about it when we moved in here."
"I'll just share your father's study," Laurel explained. "I'm always in there anyways, borrowing his law books, so I'll just be in there a little more. Besides," she smiled at him. "I like his furniture much better than mine."
"But, that's the stuff from – " Jack hesitated.
"From your old house," Laurel finished. "From when your mother was alive. I know. I also know that your father likes it, so I'm not about to change it."
"You know, I've been thinking," Jack said slowly. "I could be a bigger help to you and the new baby and all if I had my driver's license."
"You really think so?" Laurel chuckled.
"Well, Yeah – I could drive Paige to the rink and to school and all, and you to – Well wherever it is that you need to go," Jack explained.
"I agree," Laurel told him. "And, you are almost old enough to start Driver's Ed. However, the final decision is your father's. I would suggest you get your arguments in order and present them to him. I won't object."
"Really?" Jack perked up. "It's okay with you?"
"Only if it is okay with your father," Laurel reminded him. "Now, how about coming downstairs and joining me in the kitchen for a bedtime snack?"