CHAPTER FORTY-TWO

11x01 The Job

In the past, she never would've thought it was possible to fall asleep on her feet, but as she rode up the six floors in the elevator, she almost did. The thought of putting in a full day of work on one hour of sleep sounded impossible. The ding of the bell shook her back awake. Emily stumbled out of the elevator and into the squad room.

"Emily Prentiss…" Morgan said with an amused look on his face.

"Don't start," she said holding up a finger. Derek stood from his desk and approached her.

"Those little boys of yours keeping you busy?"

"You have no idea. Everyone always says two changes everything, but we never even got to experience one." Emily smiled in spite of herself. She was exhausted - yet she'd never been happier in her entire life.

"Well, you look great," Derek said sarcastically. She glared at him but got distracted by the mug in his hand.

"Is that coffee?"

"Yeah, if you want some there's a pot in the -" Emily cut him off by taking the mug out of his hand, smiling sarcastically, and walking towards her desk. Derek stood in shock for a moment before smiling and shaking his head.

"How's JJ doing?"

"She's… amazing. She's so good with them."

Emily looked off into space for a moment. She already missed them. All three of them. But the team needed her. And she was only working three days a week. The other four days were all about her family.

Aaron Hotchner was walking quickly when his phone began to ring. He sighed frustrated. The last thing he needed was another thing to do. But when he checked the caller ID, he couldn't help but smile.

"Hey, how are you feeling?"

"Good. Good. Michael just fell asleep and mom's with Henry, so I just wanted to reach out," JJ answered in a soft voice. It was obvious that there was a sleeping baby nearby.

"Well, if I remember correctly, mom is supposed to sleep when the baby does."

"Right. Look, it - it's hard knowing that cases are still coming in and I'm not there. Do you want me to come back?"

"Do you want to come back?"

"Yes. Just -" She glanced down at the sleeping baby in her arms, "not right now. Two babies is no joke, Hotch."

"JJ, take your time. We're all doing jobs we don't normally do, but we'll manage. And Emily being back part time will definitely help."

"You sure you don't need me?"

"We do need you. It's just your family needs you more. Your job will be here when you're ready."

"Thank you."

"Sure. And keep sending the baby pictures, okay?"

"Well, as Penelope says, 'already sent.'"

JJ appeared around the corner pushing a stroller. Emily stood quickly and made her way over to her. She reached out and took one of their sons into her arms. She gingerly supported her sleeping son's head. Emily watched his groggy eyes open a little and look up at her. It had only been one day back at work but Emily was already wondering if she'd come back too soon.

"How were they today?"

"Let's just say, you're on the night shift," JJ said with an infatuated smile.

"That bad?"

JJ didn't answer. She was too busy watching Emily with their son. She was completely wrapped around their tiny fingers. JJ's eyes shone with adoration.

"Where is everyone?"

"Conference room," Emily replied absentmindedly. She was preoccupied with the baby boy in her arms. JJ picked up the other boy and gestured with her head. Emily followed her up the stairs. As they came around the corner, Spencer was the first to look up. His eyes brightened.

"What are you doing here?" He asked, grinning from ear to ear.

"I thought you could use a surprise," JJ said back, looking at the team, then back down to the baby in her arms.

"I thought I gave you strict orders to get this place out of your head for a while," Hotch said with narrowed eyes.

"My bad. I couldn't help myself." JJ looked at her boss' stern disapproval. But when he looked down at Michael she thought she saw a flash of a smile on his face.

"I heated them up! Room temperature right?" Garcia said, push her way through the group and over to JJ. She was holding two baby bottles. JJ looked up in surprise.

"How…? Did you just have that ready to go?" JJ asked Emily, amused.

"Not me…" Emily muttered, raising her eyes to meet JJ's. She looked just as surprised as JJ and was doing her best not to laugh. JJ shook her head in disbelief. Penelope Garcia never ceased to amaze her.

"You know," JJ continued, "With all that we do and see in this room… I just wanted at least one good memory to hold on to."

"Excuse me, kid," Derek said, edging past Reid to get to JJ. "Um, JJ, uh… can I?"

JJ smiled, "Of course." She gently passed Michael to Derek.

"Okay, you gotta hold his head up," Emily said nervously. "Careful, careful." JJ glanced at Emily. Her jaw was clenched, eyes full of intensity as she watched Derek. JJ smiled at her protectiveness.

"I got it, I got it," Derek said softly.

"No, you don't got it, you're smothering him," Garcia countered.

"I got it. Look, see what he's doing? What's he doing? He is smiling at Derek Morgan." Derek was bouncing gently and smiling.

Emily and Penelope looked at each other. "Gas."

Derek's eyes whipped up to glare at both of them. "Give me that," he said, taking a bottle out of Garcia's hand. Emily looked down at the little boy in her arms. She felt JJ's hand squeeze her shoulder and turned to look back at her. JJ smiled.

"Hey, little man…" Derek cooed softly.

Emily looked past JJ to Hotch. JJ followed her gaze. He was happy. Or at least as happy as Aaron Hotchner ever really looked. "You're smiling."

His eyes flashed in their direction, "Yes." Hotch glanced back at the baby in Morgan's arms, then to JJ, and added, "We miss you."

Emily walked over to Hotch. "Do you want to hold him?"

Hotch peered down. He hesitated for a brief moment before opening his arms. Emily placed the boy into his arms. "This is Henry," Emily said in a whisper. Hotch seemed transfixed by the sleeping baby in his arms. There was something profound about the sight before Emily. She and Hotch had come so far since she had first joined the BAU. Back then, he didn't trust her - he thought she was nothing more than a political spy. Now he was rocking her sleeping son in his arms.

"Hi Henry. I'm Aaron. It's very nice to see you again."

JJ smiled at her boss. Only Aaron Hotchner would talk to a baby like an adult. Dave appeared between Emily and JJ and clapped a hand on both of their shoulders. "I've gotta admit - you two kids did good. And those boys couldn't ask for better parents."

"Thank you, Dave," Emily said appreciatively.