A Delicate Light

Part 23

Taking Lila Home
February 12, 2010
    The past two days in the hospital with Lila had been nothing short of magical. Hotch and Emily were able to learn their baby girl as she learned them. But, Prentiss was antsy to get home. She couldn't wait to shower in her own shower and sleep in her own bed. She missed Jack and she was ready to get settled into their new normal. They're being discharged this morning and Jess is bringing Jack home at lunch time before the team comes over for dinner. It seemed like a lot, but she was excited.
    She's dressed in a loose fitting black top and a pair of grey sweatpants as her hair is secure in a ponytail. Aaron was packing up their stuff while she changes Lila's diaper and puts her in a new onesie. "Everything's packed up. You two ready to go?" Hotch asks. Emily smiles down at her daughter, "You ready to go home, Lila Girl?" She coos. The baby stays stoic. "I'll take that as a yes." Emily jokes. Hotch presses a kiss to her temple as he chuckles, "I'm gonna load these in the car and then I'll be back up to get you two."
    It feels like no time has passed when he returns with a wheelchair. Emily scoffs, "Hospital policy." He tells her. She rolls her eyes and lifts Lila out of the bassinet before Hotch helps her sit down in the wheelchair. He wheels her out to the curbside pull up where he parked the car before helping her up. Prentiss secures Lila in her car seat, "I'm going to ride in the back with her." She says and he nods, "I wouldn't expect anything less." He smiles and kisses her forehead before she climbs into the car.
    She smiles as she watches Hotch be attentive on their drive home. He'd joked how he now has two loads of precious cargo with him. Honestly, he could've driven like a NASCAR driver and she wouldn't have known because all of her attention was on Lila. She's spent the last 48 hours of her daughter's life completely in awe of her. She couldn't get over that she and Aaron had created something so perfect. Once they arrive home, he insists on helping her out of the car before she grabs Lila's car seat and he grabs everything else.
   Once they're on the front porch, he turns to look at her, "You ready?" He asks. She smiles and nods before he unlocks and opens their front door, "Welcome home, Lila Brooke." Hotch says. Emily smiles as she walks into the entryway of their home with their baby girl. They walk into the living room and place everything on the couch and just stare down at their daughter whose fast asleep in her baby carriage. "What do we do now?" Emily asks as she looks around the home. It seems so familiar yet so different. "Whatever you want for the next few hours until Jack comes home." Hotch tells her as he lays his hand on her waist.
    "I think I'm going to go shower before she gets hungry again." She says. "That sounds perfect. I'll put her in the bedside bassinet while I unpack our bags and start a load of laundry." Hotch says. "I can start the laundry once I'm out of the shower." She offers, but he just shakes his head, "Not a chance. You need to rest." He insists. She doesn't try to argue. They make their way upstairs, Emily with some help from Hotch.
    Once they make it to their room, Emily disappears into their bathroom while Hotch carefully and expertly moves Lila from her carriage to the bassinet and then busies himself by unpacking their hospital bags. In the bathroom, Emily strips herself and for the first time since giving birth, she truly sees herself naked post-pregnancy. She stands in front of their floor length mirror that's in the corner near the closet and sighs. She knew she wouldn't look 100% back to normal, but now she was starting to wonder if she'd ever look like she did before she got pregnant ever again.
    She shakes off the self consciousness and opens the shower stall door before stepping inside and letting the warm water surround her as she has her first proper shower in days. Once she's done, she gets dressed and brushes out her hair before walking back into the bedroom where she finds Aaron walking in front of their bed with Lila in his arms, "Hey, how was your shower?" He asks, "Heavenly. She okay?" Emily gently lays her hand on Lila's back before Hotch nods, "She was starting to get fussy, I think she might be hungry." He says.
   Emily nods before she makes her way to her side of the bed and climbs in. She settles herself under the sheets and duvet and grabs her nursing pillow. Once she unbuttons her top and unsnaps the cup on her nursing bra, she accepts the baby from Hotch. They both watch and wait for Lila to latch. Once she does, Emily lets out a soft hiss as the sensation is still slightly painful, "You alright?" Her boyfriend asks. She nods, "Yeah, it's getting easier." She assures him. He leans down and kisses her forehead. After a few moments of silence, he watches as Emily relaxes.
    "Honey, why don't you go shower? That way we can both try and rest before Jack gets home." She suggests. "Are you sure?" He asks. She nods, "We'll be fine." Hotch takes a quick shower. By the time he's walking back into their bedroom, Emily is lowering Lila back into her bassinet. They both wander back to the bed and cuddle under the covers. "You're such an amazing mother." Hotch whispers. She blushes. "You're a great dad." She responds. He kisses the tip of her nose, "Let's get some sleep." He whispers. They both settle down in the bed for a few minutes before Emily sits up and looks over at the bassinet, "She's breathing, right?" She asks Hotch.
He sits up and leans over his girlfriend to stare at the baby whose content and nestled in her bassinet. "She's breathing. She's fine, Em. Come on, get some sleep." He ushers her down to lay against his chest. He runs his fingers up and down her spine until he feels her breathing even out and then he shuts his eyes to join Emily and Lila in sleep.
They only get to sleep for about an hour and a half before Lila wakes up demanding to be fed. While Emily feeds her, Hotch switches out the laundry and gets a text from Jess saying she's on her way with Jack. "Jack and Jess are on their way." He tells her once he's back in their room. She nods while detaching Lila from her chest and propping her up to burp her. "Okay, once I'm done, will you change her so I can put myself together a little bit?" Emily asks. Hotch nods. After a few minutes of patting the baby's back, Hotch takes Lila into his arms while Emily goes into the bathroom.
Fifteen minutes later, Lila is sleeping in her baby swing in the living room while Hotch prepares lunch for Emily, Jess, Jack, and himself when there is a knock on the door. "I got it." Emily says, "No, sit back down." Hotch says already beating her down the hall. She sighs and rolls her eyes as she sits back down on the couch. "Daddy!" She hears immediately when Hotch opens the door. "Hey Buddy. Did you have fun with Aunt Jess?" Hotch asks as he hugs his son. Jack nods, "Where's Lila?" He asks.
Hotch chuckles as he sets Jack down and moves to the side so he and Jess can walk in, "She's in the living room sleeping in her swing. Emily is in the living room too, why don't you go see her? She's missed you." Hotch says. Jack races to the living room with the widest smile when he reaches Emily, "Emily!" He exclaims. "Hi Sweet Boy! How are you? I've missed you." She wraps her arms around the young boy and kisses his cheek repeatedly, "I missed you too." Jack says then turns his head to look at Lila. "Can I give Lila a kiss?"
"Of course, just be gentle and make sure you kiss the top of her head." Emily instructs. She watches as Jack does just that before she stands to greet Jessica, "You look great." Jess praises her, "Oh, thank you. Come in, Aaron was just finishing up lunch. Jack, go wash your hands please so we can eat." Emily requests. Jack races up to his room where he drops his bag and washes up for lunch. They enjoy lunch with Jess and Jack before Jess leaves and Hotch settles Jack down for his nap. "He go down okay?" Emily asks.
Hotch nods as he smiles at her as she sits on the couch feeding Lila. "How're you feeling?" He asks. "Tired, sore, in love." She smiles as she gazes down at Lila. "Sounds about right." Hotch chuckles. She looks up at him and leans in for a kiss. "I love you." She says. "I love you too." He replies. They stay content on the couch until Hotch gets up to begin putting dinner together for their friends who will be coming over any minute. Jack is up from his nap and is sitting on the couch holding Lila with Emily's help.
The doorbell rings, "It's open!" Emily yells out. It's less then a millisecond when the BAU fills their house with cheers and smiles. Garcia wastes no time scooping Lila out of Emily's arms while Dave starts a conversation with Hotch, Derek and Reid take over entertaining Jack, and JJ sits with Emily. They enjoy conversation about the couples' first few hours home with Jack and Lila. Once dinner is ready, Emily places Lila in her baby swing and everyone sits down at the table. "Jack, what do you think of your baby sister?" JJ asks the little boy whose sitting next to Henry.
"She's cute! She looks just like Emily." Jack says. They all chuckle as Emily looks back at her daughter. Since the moment Lila was born, she was told nonstop how much the baby was her twin. After dinner, Garcia and JJ insist on helping with dishes while Morgan holds Lila in his arms. "When are you guys going to bring Little Mama to the BAU for the first time?" Morgan asks. "Maybe when Mommy and Baby get on a decent schedule." Emily jokes. "Alright, my turn." Dave says as he holds his arms out for Lila.
The baby is passed around amongst the group until she gets fussy and Emily and Jack get tired. The team say their goodbyes and then the adults tag team getting Lila settled along with getting Jack through a bath and into bed. It's two hours after everyone left when the two collapse into bed. "So, how are you enjoying life with a newborn?" Hotch asks. Emily chuckles as she rests her hands on her stomach, "It's exhausting, but so rewarding." She answers. "You're doing amazing." He whispers. "Thank you. Let's get some sleep." She says. They cuddle under their sheets and quickly fall to sleep.
Part 23! So sorry for the delayed update. I've been moving and preparing to go back to school, so it's been crazy. I will try to be more consistent, but these next few weeks will also be crazy to bear with me please!