Persistent reminders of who comes today finally sank into the young mind of Jack Hotchner.
"Dad, can you see her?" It had only only been the thirtieth time Jack had asked since Hotch steered him to stand with his Aunts and Uncles.
Hotch bends down," here." He pulls his son up and let's Jack seat considerably on his father's shoulders.
"It's to crowded," Henry confers grumpily. They hadn't seen Emily in months and the young boys really missed the fun crazy aunt that Emily normally presented herself as.
"No," Jack kicks his father's ribs in excitement as he throws his arm forward. "There!"
Emily Prentiss had wanted nothing more than to fall head first into bed but as soon as she saw the blonde boys excitedly squirming on their father's shoulders she knew that wouldn't be happening.
"Emily!"
She jogs towards them and Jack and Henry take off to her like wild dogs out of cages. "My boys." She holds them to her as best she can.
"Have you two been good?" She smirks at the pair as they look at eachother and hesitantly confirm that they have been.
"Princess." Morgan greets pulling her into a tight hug.
After spending so much time away from them Morgan's axe had finally left her senses. She's happy to greet it back.
"I see you're still using that nasty ass cologne." She comments with a smile and a return of his friendly hug.
He rubs her back and chuckles at her to familiar hatred of his particular taste in smell. "Yes. I still do."
Emily is released from his grip and quickly thrown into Garcia.
"Oh, I missed you so much!"
Emily can't help but laugh. "You couldn't have missed me that much." She looks over Garcia's shoulder to the others. "You've been plenty busy without me."
Judging from the sad smiles that are shared between not only sons and parents but also the floor, she's wrong.
She mirrors their sadness," I wish I could stay with you guys forever."
Jack smirks from where he's standing in front of his father. "You could come live with us, Em."
Never, in the years that they had worked with him, had they ever seen Aaron Hotchner blink. Hell they'd only ever seen him smile a handful of times but the undeniable blush is embarrassing.
Emily handles Jack wonderfully, another great thing about her," that's a wonderful offer buddy but I wouldn't want to take daddy's office. He needs that."
Jack nods in defeat and Will silences Henry with a hand over his mouth as Henry puffs up about to talk.
Rossi steps forward and greets the agent with a kiss to each cheek. "Who's hungry? I'm buying."
A chorus of 'hell yeas' fill the air and Emily falls behind Rossi and Garcia enough to catch Hotch and Jack.
"Are you guys coming?" She hopes they will.
Jack walks happily beside his father, carrying his brightly decorated sign in one hand and his father hand in the other.
"Would you like us too?" Hotch asks looking down at Jack and then to Emily.
Emily smiles mostly at Jack," I'd love for you too."
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"Are you sure?"
Dinner had gone smoothly, except for one spilt drink and a pickle theft, and Emily can't imagine how hard it's gonna be to leave them again.
"We've for plenty of room and this way it cost you nothing." Hotch's blue shirt had been untucked after it met with the not so friendly ice water. He more relaxed now in this calm dad mode.
"Ok," they're still with in ear shot of the others so she's careful. "How's Jack been doing?"
Nice. Safe topic.
"He started counting down the days tell you came back two months ago." Said child is slumped over his father's body.
"Henry too." JJ kicks Will under the table for his interruption of the brunette agents conversation.
"Nooo," Emily says a redness coming to her cheeks that she tries to cover with her hands.
"He woke me at six this morning to remind me." Hotch admits and looks down at his sleeping son.
Emily frowns," no wonder the little guys so tired."
Hotch shakes his head. "He'll be 7 soon."
There's a sadness that over comes the table as they look at it's youngest members.
"They're not baby's anymore," JJ says rubbing Henry's back.
Emily begins to think how much harder it must be now. What things would have changed if Jack and Henry had been older.
Jack and Hotch might not even be alive. Foyett would have killed Jack and that would have lead Hotch down a one way street to nowhere.
"Emily, I'll give you a ride if you'd like to go now." Hotch offers standing from his chair slowly to avoid waking his son.
Emily looks around at the others," uhh, thanks. I think I'll take you up on that."
Goodbyes are exchanged and the two brunttes make their way to Hotch's SUV.
"Thank you so much Hotch for your hospitality."
He smiles and starts the car," that's what you said friends do. Help one another." She'd said that to him many a time. Finally it seems to have stuck.
"Right." She smiles remembering telling him that. "Right. We do."
He smiles too and she just prays that maybe those lips will one day touch her own.
Okay so for the idea I'm kinda thinking of titles. I like 'Jet Lag' but if you have any other ideas just tell me.
'Moving In Together' is next!
