"Did Hotch tell you why he went to Boston this morning?" David Rossi asked Emily as they sat at the kitchen island at Rossi's house. Jack was running around the entire house followed by Mudgie, Dave's chocolate lab. Every time they made their lap around the kitchen both adults would remind the 3 year old, and the dog, not to run in the house. Luckily for Rossi, once he found out that the Hotchner's were expecting a baby, he "baby proofed" his house so they knew that they weren't in any danger of Jack or Mudgie breaking anything of importance.
"He said something along the lines of him meeting someone that he worked on a case with years ago." She shrugs her shoulders, not too concerned about her husband leaving for the weekend.
"Huh, must have been after I retired. I don't remember any cases in Boston while we worked together."
"Well, he was the Unit Chief, so I'm assuming you were working on wife number 5 or on a book tour or something." She laughs into her tea, knowing just what to say to get him going.
Settling her with a glare, he crossed his arms. "Hey, hey, hey. I've only been married 3 times. A completely reasonable number of times."
Cackling, Emily placed her mug down before raising her arms in mock surrender. "Okay, okay."
"But we're not here to talk about my love life, or lack thereof." Dave turned serious and leaned closer to her. "What do you think is going on with the whole Boston thing?"
"I don't know Rossi." She let out a sigh. "It could be nothing, it could be a matter of national security. Like I told him, I'm not going to worry about it until we know there is something to worry about." She let out a tight smile.
"But you're worried?" He asked knowingly.
"I, um, I'm just concerned. When have you known of a detective from a previous case calling up the Unit Chief that he worked with, like 5 years ago?"
Mulling it over, he pursed his lips. "Never."
"Exactly." Getting up, Rossi made his way behind her stool before kissing the top of her head.
"I'm sure it's going to be okay. If I have to kick Aaron's ass, I'll do it."
Laughing, she shook her head. "Get in line. I'm probably going to beat you to it."
"And I expect nothing less Bella." He laughed with her, before surprising Jack as he ran into the kitchen. Joining in on the chase, he caught Jack around his center and swung him around slightly. The flash of a camera made him turn around with an upside-down Jack in his arms. Holding onto Jack with one arm and his shoulder, he pointed over at Emily. "I swear if that picture makes its way around the Bureau …" He left the threat empty.
Smirking holding the phone, she taunted back. "Or what?"
A small voice peeped up as well. "Yeah Unca Dave, or what?"
Rossi glances down at the boy that is still dangling in his arms. "Or the tickle monster will get you!" As soon as the words left his mouth, his free hand came up and tickled Jack softly on his exposed stomach. Letting out a shriek, he reached for his Mom who was sitting a few feet to his left. Without hesitation, Emily scooped him out of Dave's arms, putting him upright and kissing his really red cheek.
"Okay, I'm going to give you a pass on this one. But if we get into work on Monday and Garcia has changed the desktop wallpaper on the Bureau computers with it, you're gonna get it." Rossi shakes his head before heading to the fridge to get out the materials for lunch that Rossi has invited them over for.
"Can I help Unca Dave?" Jack looked up from Emily's arms with wide eyes. "Pwease." Jack added after Emily whispered in his ear and popping him up and down slightly.
"How about both of you help me. Lord knows that your mother could use some help in the kitchen." Rossi says causing Emily to stick her tongue out at him. Raising an eyebrow he adds, "Who is the child again?"
"Me!" Jack screamed excitedly when Emily carefully sat him down on the counter using herself as a backboard for the tot.
"That you are." Rossi tapped Jack on his little nose with his left pointer finger. Clapping his hands, Rossi got class into session. "Alright, the key to any important dish a la Rossi is to perfectly season the water you are about to boil for the pasta."
He turns around to get the pot under the tap to pour a bit of water into it. "Measurements are important. So, we're doing about 6 cups of water, meaning you need a little more than just a pinch of salt to add to the water before boiling."
"Dump the whole container of salt in, got it." Emily smirks with her smart ass statement that has the older man shooting her a glare.
Leaning across the counter he leans in towards Jack and no so quietly whispers, "Don't you listen to her, I once watched her burn water." Wide eyed, Jack leaned his head back so he could look up at his mother, who looked scandalized.
"That was one time! And I was pregnant with this one and forgot that I put a pot on the stove." She pouted slightly, knowing that the man was right. There were more times that cooking mishaps have happened, she's just very thankful that Aaron wasn't there to help with the ribbing.
"Okay, okay I'll give you that one." Turning on the burner, he asks over his shoulder, "what excuse do you have for trying to serve Aaron raw chicken?"
Under her breath she angrily whispered. "Oh, he is in so much trouble."
"What's next Unca Dave." Jack broke the two of them out of their banter leaning closer to the chopping that his Godfather was doing. Emily saw what was about to happen and slyly scooted him backwards so there would be no casualties.
"Next we chop up the pancetta that we are going to brown on the stove in some garlic and oil. But while the water is boiling, we just want to prep everything first. If you cook the pancetta too early, then it'll be cold by the time the spaghetti is done which we don't want."
Jack nodded along eagerly and turned his head towards his mother. "Got that Mama?"
"Yep." She blew a raspberry into his cheek making him giggle before rolling her eyes at the knowing look on Rossi's face. She totally zoned out and has no clue what Rossi is talking about.
"Alright Jacky boy, the water is boiling, so do you know what that means?"
"Pasta time?"
Picking up the boy from across the counter, after having moved the cut up pancetta and anything sharp, he said "Yep. And you get to help me put it in."
Emily wished she got her camera out again because the look of pure joy and wonder on her sons face was one that she never wanted to forget. Slowly she slid her hand down to her barely there bump wishing slightly that her husband was there with them to take in this moment. Lost in her thoughts, she didn't notice Rossi look at her with a knowing smirk. Filing it away for another time when a toddler isn't in the room, he announced that it was time to put the pancetta in the pan that was already heated up with the oil and garlic.
"But I'll need both hands for this, so I'm gonna send you back to your Mom, ok?" Without waiting for a verbal response from either Hotchner, sat Jack back on the kitchen island over the sink lightly pushing him towards his mother. Without skipping a beat, Emily pulled the squirming boy towards her chest and kisses the top of his head.
"Do I need to keep explaining, or is it just going to be a waste of time?" Peeking over his shoulder he sees the smirk on the younger woman's face giving him his answer. Quickly searing the food in the pan, he moves fast putting the strained pasta into the pan and incorporating it together.
"Okay Jack man, do you want to help Mommy set the table to eat?" Emily kisses the tot on the top of the head again before placing him on her hip. Not letting him answer her, she grabbed the plates that were sitting to their left with her free hand before letting the 3-year-old slide down her body. Once his feet hit the ground, Jack ran to his spot at the table and climbed up into his seat. "Not what I meant." She muttered under her breath, with a smile still making its way across her face.
She places the plates at their respective seats, making sure to place the Mickey Mouse shaped plate in front of Jack. By the time each plate has silverware and napkins and a glass of water in front of each, Rossi has the pasta dish done and is scooping servings onto each of their plates. Eating was a casual affair, Jack keeping the two adults amused with his musings of anything and everything a toddler can think of.
About an hour later has the two profilers relaxing in the formal living room, Emily reclining on the loveseat and Dave in the armchair. Jack sprawled out on the floor coloring with "magic markers" that Rossi bought for him, so he doesn't draw on any of the expensive pieces of furniture.
"So, how far along?" Dave asked casually into his glass of scotch.
"I – what?" Eyes wide, she almost drops the glass of water she's holding.
"You know what I'm talking about." His eyes glance down at the toddler on the floor, not wanting to spell out everything knowing how well Jack can keep a secret. Not well at all.
"Damn you." Shaking her head, a small smile formed. "I should have known that you'd be the first to figure it out."
"You can't keep anything from me, you of all people should know that by now." Placing his glass on the table next to him, he leans forward and claps his hands. "Now, if I were to guess I'd say about 10-ish weeks."
"9 actually." She murmured into her cup.
"Ah. So how long have you known?"
"About 2 weeks. Aaron made me take a test when I started crying at a Kitty Litter commercial." Her face turned a light pink and Dave decided to give her the benefit of the doubt.
"Is this going to be a big secret too?"
She let out a sigh. "I don't think so. We want to wait, being that we just told them that we were married. This might send Garcia to her grave."
Chuckling softly, Rossi grabs his glass and raises it towards her slightly. "Too right you are." Taking a sip, he ponders his next question before raising his eyes back to her. "So, this is another Hotchner secret I have to hold?"
"Yeah. But only for a couple more weeks. We want to wait until at least the second trimester. Anything can happen, especially with our jobs."
"Do you really think Aaron will let you out in the field?"
"No, but I'm gonna try."
Getting ready and getting Jack out of the house to make it to work on time became harder than Emily thought. She tried to fall back into the routine they had when she was still in Counter-terrorism and Aaron was away on a case. The only thing that broke that routine was the fact that she was pregnant and currently hunched over the master bathroom toilet seeing her breakfast. Giving up on trying to be on time, she laid her head gently against the cool tile of the bathtub. Emily was focusing so hard on not dry heaving that she didn't hear the timid knock on the door.
"Mommy? You 'k?" Jack pushed the door open when he didn't hear anything other than a weak groan. He slowly makes his way to his mother; steps slow with fear.
Blinking her eyes open she tried to smile. Swallowing heavily, she reached out and stroked his small face. "I'm okay baby."
"We go?"
"Yeah baby. Go put your shoes on. I'll be right down." Closing her eyes again at the sound of Jack padding out of the room. Swallowing tightly, Emily let out a breath before using the wall to help her up. Feeling her way to the sink she splashed some water on her face and brushed her teeth.
By the time she was ready to go, stomach finally settled enough to be able to drive, Jack was unamused. Making her way down the steps she sees her husband's mini me standing there with a scowl that could rival Hotch's.
"Are you seriously tapping your foot at me?" Raising an eyebrow at her child, she tries to swallow her smile.
"We late!" His little foot stopped tapping, but he looked up at her with wide eyes.
"Alright. Led the way then." Opening the front door, she shook her head at Jack as she followed behind after locking the door.
By the time they made it to Jessica's house turned Daycare, Jack was in a much better mood. He was swaying along to the music playing through the radio and talking to his stuffed Winnie the Pooh doll. Parking the car, Emily checked her appearance in the rearview mirror before turning towards Jack.
"Ready to play with all of your friends today?"
"YEAH! Let's go!" Jack enthusiastically replied, trying to get himself out of his car seat. Emily got out and stretched before walking over to his side of the car. Opening the door, she was surprised to see him almost fully out of the seat. Before she could stop it, she felt a single tear fall down her face. Jack looked up at her curiously.
"Mommy sad?" His chubby little hand came up and wiped away the tear.
She clears her throat and wills the tears away. "No baby. You're just getting so big is all."
"I super big!" He exclaimed as she manages to unclasp the last buckle and wrestles him out of his seat. Before placing him on the ground she drops a kiss to his forehead.
"That you are baby. Now let's go. We're late." Holding out her hand for him to take it, she closes and locks the car before leading them up the driveway. She lets Jack ring the doorbell as she checks her watch to make sure she's not too late to work. The door opening makes her head snap up from the watch.
"Running a bit late I see?" Jessica has a relaxed smile on her face. Licking her lips, she nods her head. But before she could say anything Jack spoke up.
"Mommy sick. Blegh." Emily froze, staring at her son's retreating back as he found one of his friends. She barely even heard his goodbye. If he didn't turn back around for a second, she would have missed it.
Jessica leant against the doorframe; smile transformed into a mischievous smirk. "Sick, huh?"
"I – uh," Biting her lip, she looks down before rolling her eyes. "Yeah."
"Not telling anyone yet?"
"No, we haven't even told Jack yet. Usually Aaron takes him, but he's out of town until later today so he was in the house when I was curled over the toilet."
"Yikes." Both women laugh before a crash is heard in the distance followed by crying. "I better get back in there, Haley's going to kill me if I'm missing for too long. Congratulations. I'll keep it to myself." Leaning in for a quick hug the unlikely friends parted ways.
"Well hello Princess. Nice of you to finally show up." Morgan teased as Emily put her stuff down onto her desk. She just rolls her eyes before booting up her computer.
"Hey Em, when's Hotch supposed to be back?" Reid stopped spinning in his chair when Morgan announced her arrival and leaned on the desk to stop the world from spinning.
Looking at her watch, she tries to remember. "Around 1 or so. But I haven't heard from him this morning so I'm not entirely sure." Shrugging she organizes her desk in the way that only makes sense to her before reclining back into her chair.
"Does that mean it's going to be a paperwork day?" Derek's eyes light up.
"I hope so pretty boy, it's the perfect way to get back into work after a nice weekend off."
"Sorry boys, not so fast." JJ comes strolling in from her office with a case file in her hands.
"But Hotch isn't back yet." Reid tries to complain as he gets up to head over to the conference room.
"And he won't be, we're meeting him in Boston." The quickly shut everyone up and they all raced towards the round table. Once everyone was seated, JJ got the presentation started.
"As you know Hotch spent the weekend up in Boston meeting with a former detective that he worked with. I don't know too many details, but the case was brutal with many fatalities until the Unsub dropped off the radar."
"Oh yeah, it was the Reaper case. Morgan I believe you were here for it, right?" Reid piped up, staring at the pictures that littered the small screen in the front of the room.
"Yeah, it was one of my first cases in this unit." His eyes scan the file in front of him for a second before continuing. "We never caught the guy, but the trail went cold for a while, so we had to come back. We figured that if he started killing again, we'd just make the trip back up to Boston, but he never did. I don't get it, nothing new has popped up, so why does Hotch want us in Boston?"
JJ answers, face grim. "That's where the detective comes in. But it's best if we hear this story from Hotch, wheels up in 20."
And we're back! A lot of Jack fluff with Uncle Dave and Momily, and a bit of a filler, but buckle up we are about to get started! As most of you probably guessed it, yes it's Foyet. Because of the nature of this particular story line, there will be deaths, but no main character death. I'm saying it now, I cannot kill any of them. I promise. (Spoiler?)
Anyways, if you don't follow me on tumblr (criminalshminds) you are unaware of my current health problems that has been keeping me away from writing (and like everything) for a little bit so that is why this chapter took so long to come out. Also because I want these chapters to be longer than those of the first story and the first chapter. I wanna dive deeper into this world and in order to do that I will need to spend more time with each chapter meaning my original upload schedule won't work. I'm trying to do one chapter a week, but with my health right now that could possibly change but I'll try my best not to have you hanging for too long.
Rambling done, let me know what you think, any ideas and anything I can fix and change and I'll see you all in the next chapter! (I usually do a heart here, but it's been deleting the less than sign so I guess I'll leave it out)