As the first group of Senior Ladies skaters took to the ice for their warm-up that evening, Hotch reached over and grabbed Laurel's hand.
"Are you ready for this?" he whispered to her.
"Not in a million years," she replied as she turned her head to look at him. "But, here we are." She leaned over to share a kiss.
"Quit That You Two!" Garcia hissed. "You might be on camera!"
"So what?" Lois asked. "I think they are cute and nobody is going to be offended by a husband and wife kissing."
"If they don't like it, they can lump it!" Joel added defiantly as he grasped his wife's hand and then leaned over to give her a kiss.
"Now, let's see what these ladies have in their programs," JJ suggested. "One of them may be a client of mine some day." She smiled happily.
Jack and Jade were sitting in the row behind the adults with Sophia sandwiched between them. Jack was chewing determinedly on his bottom lip while Jade was trying hard to look nonchalant as they watched the skaters warming up their maneuvers.
"Glad you came?" Rossi put his arm around Joan, who was sitting next to him. "I know I would have missed you terribly if you hadn't been able to make it."
"I am glad," Joan smiled lovingly at him. "Really, really glad!"
~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~
When the final warm-up group was announced, even the usually stoic Morgan moved to the edge of his seat. "Where is she?" he asked peering at the ice. "Where is she?"
"That's her – In the red and black pirate-themed dress." Garcia pointed. "I've been a little worried about it because I was late getting it finished, but she doesn't seem to be having any trouble skating in it."
"It's great," Laurel confirmed. "Everything was fine when she practiced in it a couple of days ago."
"Where is Alex?" Lois was looking around for the linguist.
"In that area right over there," Hotch pointed to the left of the entry onto the ice. "There are some differently abled relatives of one of the skaters seated there and she is helping out as an interpreter."
"What order does Paige skate in?" Joel asked as he began searching for his copy of the day's program. "I remember what you told me yesterday, so I know that's important."
"It's right here, Dear," Lois took the program out of his jacket pocket and opened it to the proper page. "And, it looks like Paige skates third after the warm-up."
"Now, do both of you remember how to yell?" Rossi teased nervously.
"Go Paige?" Lois suggested nervously.
"I fully intend to get a sore throat tonight," Joel assured him.
~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~
"One more skater," Garcia chanted hypnotically half an hour later. "One more skater to go."
"Does she have a chance to beat Paige?" Joan asked nervously.
"Only if she gets a really, really high technical score," Jack muttered. "Otherwise, it's Paige."
"I can't stand this!" Lois sounded close to tears. "I honestly don't know how all of you can do this!"
"Come on Paige!" JJ whispered as the final skater's music filled the arena.