It was a cold, snowy day in Boston when Hotch and the team arrived there. Blake and James were waiting to welcome everyone with open arms and warm hearts.
"It is so good to see all of you!" Blake was waiting in the lobby of their hotel.
"Welcome to Boston!" James added his greeting. "I am so glad you could all make it!"
"And, this young lady gets prettier every time I see her," he added smiling at Paige.
Paige blushed. "Uncle James!" she protested.
"Where are your terrible twosome?" Blake asked JJ, looking around.
"At home with their terrible thirdsome," JJ replied. "I am getting a break for a few days, and I intend to thoroughly enjoy it!"
~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~
"This dress for her short program has got to be one of my all time favorites," Garcia told Blake as she held up the outfit in question. It was later the same day and Blake had joined Garcia in the Hotchner family's suite for some girl talk.
"It is bright and bouncy, just like her music," Blake agreed. "And, the hair decorations are certainly unique. Are you sure they will stay in during the program?"
"They did during her practices," Garcia assured her.
"However, the dress for her long program - ," Garcia paused to shake her head as she held up another, more traditional, dress.
"Paige is growing up," Blake pointed out. "Her music for that program is much more serious than anything she has used in the past and her dress needs to reflect that. Personally, I like it. I think you did a great job!"
~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~,~
"I just doesn't seem right without Jade being here," Paige complained after her first practice session. "I miss her!"
"I know, Honey," Laurel agreed. "And, I miss her mother, too. However, Jade didn't qualify for Nationals this year and, with her father being so sick, they just couldn't get away to come watch you skate."
"So, we will just have to take a lot of pictures for them," Rossi suggested.
"And Aunt Tovah isn't here either," Paige continued. "This competition just seems –Weird!"
"Aunt Tovah hasn't been feeling well lately and her doctor advised her not to come," Laurel reminded her. "However, Uncle Spencer is here and I am sure he will be giving her a play-by-play account of both your performances. It won't be as good as having her here, but she won't be entirely left out."
"You do realize," Laurel continued softly as she gathered Paige in for a hug. "That things change. And, you are just going to have to change with them. It's kind of like getting a new program."
"I know," Paige sighed. "But sometimes I like the old program better!"