November 2011

Kids' Ages

Jack Hotchner - 6

Henry LaMontagne - 3

Morgan

To a passerby, he looked like any normal father with his infant child spending time together at the park. However, that was not the case. Derek Morgan had not gotten a date in over a month. Not since he brought home that brunette -He thought her name was Cheryl or something else starting with a C- from the Halloween party.

Now with Thanksgiving having come and gone, and Christmas rapidly approaching, he was desperate to have a honey to kiss under the mistletoe. It didn't help matters that his mother's phone calls were increasing, asking when he was going to bring home a nice, respectable woman.

He was so desperate that he had taken the 30-minute drive from his house to the house of his buddy John, to ask -no, scratch that, beg- to borrow his ten-month-old son Garrett. He had seen the idea in a movie and thought it was brilliant. After all, chicks love babies, right?

The only problem was, they'd been out here for what seems like forever with no results. The air was getting significantly colder with each half an hour that passed and Derek was worried about Garrett getting sick. John would never let him babysit again if the little guy caught a cold.

He was just getting ready to leave when a young woman with golden brown skin and wavy black hair sat down on the other end of the bench. She was drinking something out of a to-go cup and wearing white scrubs with colorful woodland creatures on them. Not wanting to make a move too quickly and scare her off, he didn't say anything. Instead, he made a big deal out of playing with Garrett, hoping to catch her attention.

"Cute kid," The woman spoke suddenly.

Derek shot his award-winning smile at her. "Thanks. This is Garrett. Garrett, can you say hi?" The baby sloppily waved his hand.

"He doesn't look much like you," the woman observed. "No offense."

"Oh, yeah. He's not mine. He belongs to a buddy of mine."

The woman laughed and Derek thought she looked even more beautiful. "So this is the classic guy-uses-baby-to-get-a-date."

"I was desperate," Derek admitted. "Is it working?"

"Y'know what. Typically I would stay away from guys who have to resort to using babies to bait women into dating them, but you're cute so I'll say yes," she said. "I'm Savannah. Savannah Hayes." Savannah stuck her free hand out to shake his.

"Derek Morgan," he greeted her. "So about that date?" He didn't give a crap about sounding desperate.

"I'm free next weekend. Do you know Roni's?" She asked, referring to a small family-owned restaurant not too far away. It wasn't Derek's typical scene, but he had decided that for this woman, he'd do anything she asked him to.

"I do."

"Good. Meet me there next Saturday at 5."

"Oh, uhm. Here's the thing: I work for the FBI and sometimes we get called away over the weekends. Can I give you my number just in case we get called away and I can't make it in?"

"Cute, good with kids, and works for the FBI, I got lucky." Savannah searched for her phone. "Crap! I left my phone in my locker. Umm, okay. If something comes up, just call the Bethesda Hospital, and they'll get you in touch with me." She took a look at her watch. "I gotta go. I'll see you later, Derek. Bye-bye, Garrett." She waved and then took off in the direction she came.

Derek's smile grew imposibly larger. "We did it, Dude!" He cheered, hoisting the baby into the air. "You are the best wingman ever!"

The wind blew, chilling him. "Now let's get out of here."

Hotchners

Excitement and nerves coursed through both Emily and Aaron's bodies. Today, if everything went well, they would be learning the gender of their baby. They had discussed it at length and decided they'd rather know than be surprised. Emily had nearly thrown up from nervousness while the nurse completed the general check-up. Now the couple were alone in the room as they waited for the ultrasound tech.

"Last guess, what do you think Baby Hotchner is?" Emily quizzed.

"Em, I told you a thousand times, it's a girl."

"Well, I think it's a boy. Call it mother's tuition."

Aaron chuckled. "Oh right, you women get mother's intuition, and we guys are just wrong."

"Did you guess Jack correctly?" Emily pondered.

"For your information, I did," Aaron answered. "Does that sway your opinion that I'm right?"

"Nope," Emily responded, popping the P sound.

There was a knock at the door then, and the nurse walked in, carting the ultrasound equipment.

"Good afternoon. Mr. and Mrs. Hotchner," the nurse greeted cheerfully. "Are you ready to find out what you are having?"

"Very," Emily answered. "My husband here will not give up the idea that we're having a girl. I'm ready to prove him wrong."

"Don't worry, Mr. Hotchner. Every mom thinks their mom-tuition would never lead them wrong," the nurse assured Aaron with a smile.

"And how many of those moms are right?" Emily asked.

"About 80%," The nurse told her. She began preparing the equipment. "Alright! Let's get this show on the road. Mrs. Hotchner, if you could lift your shirt. I'm afraid this will be a bit cold."

Emily readjusted her hold on her husband's hand, flinching when the gel touched her belly.

The nurse moved the wand around slowly scanning the computer screen. A larger screen was on the other wall mirroring the images for the couple to see their baby as well. It seemed as though Baby Hotchner didn't feel like cooperating, as they wouldn't uncross their tiny legs. It took a few minutes, but eventually, the baby complied, allowing the nurse to see what she was looking for.

"Congratulations, Mr. and Mrs. Hotchner, it appears that you will be having a girl!"

The room was silent for a moment until Emily's mouth opened. "Son of a bitch, you were right."

Jareau-LaMontagne Household

"Happy birthday, happy birthday to youuu," JJ and Will sang to their son. Today was Henry's third birthday. JJ couldn't believe her baby was now three years old. They decided to keep his birthday small this year and celebrate with everybody else later on.

Henry eagerly blew out the candle as soon as the song was over. He wasted no time digging into his cupcake, getting chocolate and red frosting all over his face. JJ had just taken a bite out of her cupcake when her phone rang.

"This better not be Hotch," she grumbled, searching for her phone. She found it on the kitchen counter and pushed the accept button after seeing that it was Penelope. She didn't even get to greet her friend before the woman on the other end began rambling.

"Is it a case?" Will asked his girlfriend, coming to stand in the kitchen doorway.

JJ held a finger up to him, furrowing her eyebrow as she tried to discern what Penelope was saying. "Pen? Honey, slow down. I can't understand you."

Penelope finally stopped freaking out enough for JJ to understand her.

"What? Hold tight, I'll be right there." JJ snapped her phone shut and rushed to grab her purse and shoes.

"Ma Chérie, where are you going?" Will asked, following her into the bedroom, carrying Henry on his hip.

"Penelope needs me," she explained hastily, putting her shoes on.

"Jen, it's our son's birthday," Will reminded her.

"I know. I won't be gone long. An hour tops," she promised, dropping a quick kiss on his cheek and one on Henry's head before rushing off.

Will sighed, watching his wife leave. "Guess it's just me and you, little dude. Whatcha say to some Sesame Street?"

Garcia Household

Penelope was in the bathroom when JJ burst into her apartment. She could hear the hurried clicking of her heels on the hardwood floor growing closer and closer until they were right outside the bathroom door.

"Pene, are you there? I'm coming in," JJ called out before pushing the door open.

Penelope was sitting on the lid of the toilet. JJ stopped, catching sight of the thing that was causing so much turmoil to her best friend.

"Wow," she breathed out, studying the little stick with the positive sign.

Penelope let out a fake laugh. "Yeah, tell me about it. You know, it's funny, I always dreamed of having a baby, but now that it's happening, I'm freaking out."

JJ stroked her friend's arm, silently supporting her.

"Kevin's gonna be pissed," Penelope mentioned. "He never wanted children." She grew up without a father for many years until her mom met the man who gave her her last name. And even then, she only had him for a couple of years before he was ripped away from her. She never wanted the same for her child, but there was no way that Kevin would want to raise a baby with her. Still, she had always wanted a baby, and a part of her was thrilled when she saw the test and found out she was carrying one.

"You don't need him Pen. You can do this without him. You're Penelope Garcia, you can do anything."

"I know," Penelope said, attempting a small smile.

"Besides, you'll have the whole team behind you. We'll get you through this. You'll forget all about ol' What's His Name."

Her smile fading, Penelope's breath accelerated and she burst into tears. "Oh, JJ, I'm so scared!"

JJ wrapped her in a hug. "I know, Honey, I know."