Growing Together

Here Comes the Sun

April 2013

Kids' Ages

Jack Hotchner - 7

Henry LaMontagne - 4

Elaine Hotchner - 1

Olivia Garcia - 8 ½ months

Reid-Garcia Household

There was a knock at his bedroom door. When there was no answer, Penelope stuck her head in the room, blinking as her eyes adjusted to the darkness. All the blinds were drawn, allowing for minimal lighting. Spencer sat in the corner of the room in the leather armchair he loved. His hair had grown out considerably and his face was littered with patchy stubble. His eyes, which had once been full of boyish charm and innocence but now lacked depth, flitted from the wall to his best friend's face. It seemed as though he was looking through her rather than at her.

"Livvy and I are headed out to Ellie's birthday party. I just wanted to double-check that you didn't want to go. Of course, It's okay, Em and Hotch understand. It's just that we all really miss you. And we just want you to be okay."

It had been three months since it happened. Three months ago, Spencer met the woman he had fallen in love with. Three months ago, he had stood in front of that monster and offered his life for hers. It hadn't been enough. Spencer had to watch the woman he swore he was going to marry someday be killed right in front of him.

There was no response so Penelope backed away, beginning to close the door behind her. But then miraculously, Spencer stood up and made his way across the room, grabbing clothes out of the closet.

"Give me 15 minutes and I'll be ready."

Closer to 20 minutes later, Spencer exited the bathroom freshly showered and shaved and wearing his typical attire of light brown trousers, a button-up shirt, and a tweed vest.

Olivia, who had just learned to walk, toddled up to Spencer. She mumbled something that sounded remotely like "Uncle Spencer." Spencer showed a smile that had been nonexistent over the last couple of months. He picked her up and cuddled her close. The baby put her head on his shoulder.

"Oh, Livvy, you have no clue how much Uncle Spencie missed you."

Hotchner Household

Emily woke up on the morning of April 14, 2013, with a smile on her face. Today her baby was one year old. Beside her, Aaron was stirring awake.

"We made it. One whole year with two kids" was the first thing he said.

"Now it's time to add another one," Emily half-joked.

Aaron laughed. "You're kidding, right? Em, Ellie just turned one."

Emily shrugged, her smile dropping. "I know, I just, I want more."

Aaron reached out to his wife, pulling her towards him. "So do I. I just don't think now is a good time."

Emily's fell farther.

Aaron's eyebrows rose. "W-Wait, you're not pregnant now are you?"

"I don't know. I've been feeling weird. And my period's late, but that's not really out of the ordinary."

"You should take a test later."

"Yeah, I'm going to." A cry came over the baby monitor that was on the side table. Emily got out of bed and headed toward the door.

"Hey, Em," Aaron called.

Emily turned to face her husband.

"If it's positive, I'll be happy."

"My decorations were much cooler," Jack says, observing as his father hung streamers from the ceiling. "Why do babies need birthday parties anyway? Ellie isn't even going to remember this. She's only one."

"You a party when you turned one," Aaron informed his son.

"I did?" Jack's nose scrunched.

"Sure did. It was Sesame Street themed. Your mom spent weeks planning."

Emily entered the room just then, holding onto Ellie's hand. The little girl was wearing a white long-sleeve romper with a sparkly pink one emblazoned on it and a pink tutu. Her dark hair was put up in two miniature pigtails on top of her head. Emily looked at her watch.

"Jack-Jack, the guests should be here at any time. Do you want to take Ellie and greet them?"

Jack nodded enthusiastically, picking up his sister. Emily had to stifle a laugh looking at the pair. Ellie looked like she was half Jack's size. The kids went out to the hallway. Their parents wouldn't be surprised if their noses were pressed against the window, watching for their family to arrive.

By the time Emily and Aaron finished setting everything up, the living room was swarming with friends and family. Ellie was eating up all the attention. She spent most of the time bouncing between family members. When Aaron took her away from Derek and put her in her highchair so she could eat the smash cake JJ had made for her, she cried.

The rest of the party went even better than either parent could have imagined.

Later on in the day, the party was drawing to a close. The kids were distracted by the other adults, so Emily took the chance to sneak away to answer a question that had been on her's, and unknowingly, her husband's brains all day.

Around five minutes later Emily came back downstairs. She motioned for Aaron to join her away from everyone else.

"It was negative."

Aaron gathered his wife in his arms, resting his chin on her head. "I'm sorry."

LaMontagne Household

"That party was so cute," JJ says, entering her bedroom that evening.

"It was. Ellie's adorable," Will agreed.

"I miss having a baby. Henry's four now."

"You think we're ready for another one?"

JJ shrugged. "I think so. But I don't know if I want to fully start trying yet."

"We can start tryin' whenever you want, Darlin'." There was a pause. Will grinned at his wife. "In the meantime, it can't hurt to practice."