Great Loss (a hotchniss story)

epilogue

"Come on, we have to get you to school soon."

"Daddy, I don't want to go to school."

Hotch looks back. "You have to, Athena. I'll tell you what, I'll let you bring the photo book to school okay? It's your first day."

Athena nods and looks back at her Mom. "Mommy, Daddy said I could bring it!"

She smiles.

"For how many?"

"Four," Hotch says.

"Okay, follow me to this booth," the voice says.

The kids follow Aaron, Emily follows behind, on her phone. She takes a seat after letting the kids go first.

"Can I get you started on anything?"

Emily looks up. "A cof—"

"It's you," Emily whispers.

The waitress smiles. "Been a while since I seen you around here, Sweetheart. Is this your daughter?"

Emily nods. "Yeah, it's been 6 years last time I saw you. We rented out the diner when I got engaged."

"Oh my stars, you're that couple?" the waitress asks. "I was in the hospital after an accident I had in the kitchen. I slipped and broke my tailbone. But look at me now. I'm back and better!"

Aaron looks at them both. "I'm sorry, how do you know each other."

"Love, this is the waitress that served us for the first time, when we had lunch here and you told me about my offer," Emily explains. "We talked when I was pregnant with Athena, for Gideon's funeral."

"That's right," Aaron reassures himself. "Good to see you again."

The waitress nods. "Likewise. Now what can I get you guys?"

They order and the waitress walks away. She comes back with two coffees and waters. Every time she came back, Emily would talk to her.

"I knew you two were going to get back together," the waitress grins. "Now look at you, you have kids and I'm assuming you're married?"

She nods. "More than two years."

Emily looks over at their kids, looking through the photo book, filled with pictures of their family, then as babies, etc.

The waitress then comes back with their food. And they begin to eat. "Jack are you ready for a new year?"

"Mhm," he mumbles, stuffing his face with waffles. He smiles with food in his mouth.

Aaron looks to his side, helping Athena eat. "And how about you Angel, are you excited?"

Athena shakes her head. "I'm scared."

Jack swallows his food. "Don't be, Athena. You're going to color and make friends."

Emily and Aaron make eye contact with each other, smiling. "Look at our babies."

"I know, I'm thankful," Aaron smiles.

They pay the bill and give the waitress a big tip. They abandon the table and head out the door. But before leaving, Emily needed to do something.

"Hey," she calls the waitress. "I've been here multiple times and I still haven't gotten your name. What is it?"

"Sydney," she says. "This is my diner, where dreams happen."

She winks and heads to another table to take an order.

Emily chuckles and feels a tug on her jacket. "Come on Mommy!"