He had only been in his office for fifteen minutes when he heard a commotion out in Carri's part of the office. Setting down his coffee mug, he peeked his head outside the door to see that Penelope and Blake were speaking conspiratorially with Carri. That immediately made him suspicious, and he cleared his throat as he approached the three women. The only one to look slightly guilty was Carri, and a bright blush stained her cheeks as she focused on him. "Ah, Agent Hotch, Chief Hitchner, Aaron!"

He chuckled as he shook his head and fixed a look on Penelope, somehow knowing that she was the little ringleader of whatever they were currently planning. "Why do I have the feeling that there's something going on that I won't like?" he asked as he leaned against Carri's desk, fixing his gaze on Penelope.

"I wouldn't say that, no, Hotch. I think this is a really good plan, I just have to get you to agree to it. And then we'll need a little information from you, so that everything can go perfectly."

Aaron quirked one eyebrow upwards as he turned his gaze to Blake. She was giving him a cool smile, as if she knew that he would agree to whatever scheme they had concocted. "And just what is this thing that I have to agree to?"

Penelope grinned as she sank down into one of the chairs in front of Carri's desk, making herself comfortable as she looked up at him. "Well, it has been decades since Erin had a child, and there is no way that she's going to have everything that she needs to properly kit out our little Nessa. So Alex and I were thinking that the best thing would be to throw her a baby shower. Now, before you protest, I'll tell you that we'll host it at our home, since we have more room, and Alex, Carri, and I will take care of all the details. All you'll have to do is get Erin there on the right day at the right time."

"And let me guess, this is to be a complete surprise?"

"I'd like it to be, but Carri and Alex don't agree with me on that, given the issues that Erin has had in the pregnancy so far."

"I am more inclined to agree with them, Penelope. I know that you have the best of intentions, but I have to think about her wellbeing first and foremost. If you want, I can tell her that you're planning a small party in her honor, and let her be surprised at the number of guests there when we arrive?"

He knew that it was a rather large compromise to make with Penelope, but there was a warm glow of happiness that was blooming in his chest at the thought of her friends loving her so much that they would want to do this for his wife. "I knew that you'd agree with me, Hotch. Now, since we have your approval to plan this party, we were thinking that it should be next week."

Aaron felt his eyes bug out a little at that little revelation, and he glanced over at Carri, seeing that she was giving him a sheepish look. "How long have you three been planning this?"

"For the last six weeks. We have all the details mostly ironed out, we just need to get you to agree. And we also need Becca's address or phone number, because she should be here, too, to celebrate this newest addition to her family. We've already addressed an invitation to Molly, but who knows if she'll show up or not. I'm hoping that she will, since I know that it means a lot to Erin."

He nodded as he sat down a little more fully on Carri's desk. "It would, yes. But things are still rocky between them, so I wouldn't expect her to say yes. I'm assuming that you'll want to throw this party next Saturday?"

"Sunday, actually. We got a better rate on the caterers if we chose a Sunday brunch package."

Aaron shook his head slowly as he chuckled. "You three really have thought of everything. How did you manage to keep this under wraps?"

"A lot of emails back and forth, actually," Blake replied, giving him a small wink. "Now, Molly's information?"

"I'll send it along during my lunch break. Is there anything else that you three want?"

They all shook their heads in tandem, and he let out a fast puff of breath before getting up from Carri's desk and heading into his office to get to work. The day went by quickly, though he did have to field a few emails from the trio of women about small details to finalize what would happen at the shower the next Sunday, and then he was packing up to head home. "Have a good evening, Aaron!" Carri sang out as he passed by her desk, and he turned to give her an askance look. From the expression on her face, he knew that there was more afoot for this shower than what he had been let in on, and he shook his head a little at her innocent smile.

"Remember, the goal is to keep Erin's blood pressure within normal range so that she can have a little bit of freedom for the rest of her pregnancy. I do not want to have to deal with her anger and sadness if Doctor Heth decides that her health is at risk again."

Carri nodded enthusiastically in response to his gentle reprimand, the smile never dimming from her lips. "You have my word, sir, that we will make it so that everything goes smoothly next Sunday. We just might have a few surprises lined up that might not pan out, so we don't want to get anyone's hopes up."

"All right, I'll try not to worry so much."

"Exactly! You look after Erin, we'll look after the details. And let her know that I miss seeing her face around the office. You're nice and all, but we're still learning to work together. Erin and I just had such an easy rapport that I haven't found with you yet. I know that it will come as we work together longer, but there's still that longing for the familiar."

"I completely understand that feeling, because I miss having her here in the office, too. You know that you're welcome to stop by our house at any time, right?"

She nodded again, her smile dimming a little as she sighed. "I do, I also know that you're so busy trying to create your family unit that I haven't wanted to intrude."

"You wouldn't be intruding, Carri. And I'll expect to see you at supper tomorrow night. I'd invite you over tonight, but it's rather short notice. Quite like this baby shower you've been planning," he teased gently, and Carri's smile brightened once more as she nodded. "Have a good evening."

She gave him a small wave before he left the office and Aaron hummed a little beneath his breath as he sauntered over to the elevators. He knew that Erin would be happy to have a break in the monotony of being around their home day in and day out, and the excitement might add another calming effect to Erin's entire system.

The drive home passed uneventfully, and then he was stepping into the house, hearing Jessica and Georgia talking in the kitchen. The easy banter between them touched his heart, since he wanted all parts of his family to integrate well. The only holdout appeared to be Molly, yet, and he just hoped that by the time Vanessa was here, she would have relented a little. "Hello," he called out as he set his briefcase on the counter so that he could hang his coat in the closet before stepping out of his loafers.

"Aaron! You're home early tonight."

"It was an easy day at work. Is my wife in the living room?"

Jessica nodded as she stirred the pot on the stove. "Jack's working on his homework, and Erin was reading when we came in here to start supper. It should be ready in forty minutes, since that's when we were expecting you."

"I would have called, but I was too excited to get home," he replied as he left the kitchen. Peeking his head in the doorway to the living room, he smiled to see that Jack was curled up against Erin, reading his own book, as his wife stroked his hair absently while she read. "Hey."

"Daddy!" Jack exclaimed as he folded his page down to mark his place. Aaron watched him toss the book onto the coffee table before he slid off the sofa and ran up to him, hugging him tightly. "I got to feel Vanessa move today!"

"Really?" he asked as he led Jack back to the sofa, taking a seat next to Erin while his son snuggled in on his other side.

"Yeah. It felt weird, but Momma said that was okay, since it meant that she was growing and getting ready to make her appearance in the world."

"That's right," he said as he reached out to splay his hand on Erin's bump. In a heartbeat, she took hold of his hand and drew it to a different spot on her body, pressing it down a little more firmly. "Erin?"

"This is where I've been feeling her most often," she replied, giving him a warm look. "I hope you don't mind that Jack got this experience before you, but today was truly the first day that I could feel her on the outside of my body."

"This is fine," he whispered as he waited with bated breath. It took a few minutes, but then he finally felt the first fluttering of movements from their daughter. Though he tried not to tear up, there was something so beautiful about that feeling that he couldn't help but start to cry. "She's there."

"She is. And I can't wait to let everyone else feel her move at the party next Sunday."

Those words caused him to pull away and look into her face, seeing the sheepish expression on her features. "And how long have you known about this surprise party?"

"Since Georgia spilled the beans this afternoon. She was trying to be so secretive with Jessie, but I needed to get some more water and managed to get the drop on them in the kitchen. I'll try to act surprised when you bring me over to David and Penelope's next week, but I'm not certain how good my poker face will be."

Aaron chuckled as he shook his head. "Hopefully, good enough to fool Penelope, since she's so eager to plan something that will make you feel better after your long confinement. Oh, and Carri is coming over for supper tomorrow. She misses seeing you in the office."

"And I miss seeing her. Thank you for offering to let her come over." He nodded before leaning in the kiss Erin softly, relishing the feel of her lips against his. There was something so special about this moment, and he hoped that they could find other moments like this as her pregnancy continued.