Present Day

With a start, Hotch realized that the previous skater had moved into the 'Kiss and Cry' area with her coach and was awaiting her scores while Paige had stepped onto the ice and was warming up some small jumps. He thought back to the many times he, his family, and the team had held their breaths while they waited to see the judges' scores. However, it was the major competitions that he remembered so clearly.

Two Years Previously

Paige passed her Senior Level tests with flying colors the same week that Reid received formal notification that he had successfully completed his apprenticeship and was now officially an accredited caller with the International Skating Union.

"Two major milestones to be celebrated!" Rossi declared, holding up his wine glass with one hand while juggling Baby Diana with the other. "Congratulations to the both of you!"

As soon as both events had been officially confirmed, Rossi had immediately begun planning this party in his backyard, and he was now clearly in his element, playing host to the team, their spouses, and their children.

"And," he continued once the cheers had died down. "While everyone is here, I have an announcement to make."

"You're getting married again," Morgan suggested.

"Maybe – Maybe not," Rossi replied ambiguously. "But, I have decided to downsize. This house is too big for just me and I am putting it on the market."

"Where will you live?" Garcia worried as she rocked her and Morgan's newborn son, Bradley,.

"The apartment over our garage?" Hotch suggested with a smile.

"You're welcome there any time," Laurel reminded him.

"Thanks – But No Thanks," Rossi told them. "However, there is a house down the street from you that is for sale and I have put a bid in on it. The real estate agent thinks I'll have no problem getting it."

"So, this is the last time we will all be here?" JJ asked quietly.

"It doesn't make any difference where we are," Blake told her as she grasped James' hand on one side of her and put her other arm around Reid. "As long as we are all together."

~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~

The competition season soon began in earnest and, before anyone realized it, it was February and they were headed to USFSA Nationals in Seattle, Washington.

"You're finally here as a Senior!" Laurel and Paige had stopped off at the ice arena while Hotch and the others had continued on to the hotel. "I really don't believe it!"

"I don't either," Paige had her arms wrapped around herself. "And, Mom, it's kind of scary."

"I know, Honey," Laurel put an arm around her daughter. "But, you can handle it. I know you can!"

"You're as prepared as you have ever been," she added. "And, you have two solid programs all ready to go."

"Thanks, Mom," Paige smiled at Laurel. "And, now, what about if I go get checked in and pick up my 'goodie bag'?"

~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~

Paige's short program flew by to the accompaniment of the now familiar cry of 'Go Paige'.

"You were kind of slow on your serpentine footwork sequence," Ian told Paige afterwards as they, along with Laurel, waited in the lobby of the arena for the rest of the team to join them.

"I don't like serpentines," Paige complained. "They are all twisty and turnie and everything."

"Think of them as an opportunity to show off the flare of the skirt on your new dress," Laurel suggested. "You've never had a full one like that before."

"Aunt Penelope didn't make my new dress," Paige pointed out petulantly.

"I know," her mother conceded. "But, Penelope's a little busy right now with taking care of Baby Bradley and having another baby on the way. She did sprinkle it with fairy dust for you, though."

"I remember when she used to do that for me and Jade," Paige said sadly. "I miss having Jade with me."

"I know Sweetheart," her mother replied. "But, Jade quit skating after her father died and now she has other things that need her attention."

"We also need to work on your artistic component," Ian added to his comments. "That was where you lost a lot of points. And that probably means – " he looked over at Laurel.

"We need to hire a professional choreographer?" she guessed.

"I think so," Ian confessed. "Paige is at a level where she really needs an expert."

"See if you can get some recommendations while we are here," Laurel told him. "And, then I'll see what I can do."

"More changes!" Paige groused unhappily.

Laurel looked over at the team as they walked towards them, and nodded knowingly to Rossi. He smiled back as he took out his cell phone and stepped away from the group.

"Mrs. Hotchner? Mr. Hotchner?" the call echoed across the lobby and when Laurel looked over she saw Don Wong hurrying in their direction.

"Don!" she exclaimed. "And, it's Laurel, you know that."

"Okay, Laurel - I just want to thank you again for what you did for me in Estonia," the man told her. "I really appreciate it!"

"It was no big deal," Laurel assured him.

"We were glad we could help," Hotch added.

"How are you doing now? Is everything okay?" Laurel continued.

"Better than okay," was the assurance. "I followed the advice of Ms. Jareau here and just gave noncommittal answers to any questions that came my way. I also started seeking out more skating opportunities for my students – Exhibitions, skating camps, things like that - You know. And, I even created couple of opportunities myself. Anyway, I now have more students than I have ever had. I can't begin to tell you how much I appreciate your help."

"You have some skaters here?" JJ asked.

"Yes," was the enthusiastic reply. "A Junior Pairs team and a Novice Man."

"Pairs? That's hard!" Blake exclaimed. "Getting two people to move in the same direction at the same time is not easy!"

"I started out skating pairs with my sister," was the explanation. "So, I kind of know what it's all about."

"I am so glad everything worked out for you!" JJ smiled at him.

"And, now, if you'll excuse me," the coach smiled back. "I need to go get my pairs skaters ready to skate their short program."