It's been ages since I've posted anything, and I'm sorry! But I didn't want to start something and lose interest again. I've gotten a bunch of this story written already and definitely plan to finish it! : )

Emily groaned at the sound of her alarm clock going off, lazily reaching over to silence the noise. She rolled over and opened her eyes when she felt the empty space next to her. She frowned- Hotch never left without telling her where he'd gone. She sat up in bed, stretching and letting out a yawn. It was then she noticed the note on his pillow. She picked up the piece of paper, reading her name scrawled messily across the folded page. She sighed and opened it, though she was sure she already knew what the note said.

"Em, we caught a case in Chicago. I didn't want to wake you. I know you were up late with Layla last night. I made the boys' lunches and put them in the fridge before I left. I'll call you later, I promise. I love you more than words, Aaron."

Emily sighed and folded the note back up, setting it on her dresser. She had left the BAU almost three years ago, right after JJ and Will were married. She didn't want to be at the BAU anymore. She considered Clyde's offer to return back to Interpol, but that would mean she'd have to move halfway across the world. She didn't want to leave the team; she'd just gotten them back. And Declan, she couldn't leave him all alone. Not after what he'd been through and not after she fought so hard to keep him safe. So she'd taken a desk job as a Linguist, translating things for various different cases, among other things. She liked the normalcy, and she liked being able to drop Declan off at school in the mornings and being able to be home by dinner every night. She liked being guaranteed weekends.

During the first year Emily left the team, she remained in contact with all of them, but Hotch the most. Beth had broken up with Hotch about 6 months after the LaMontagne/Jareau wedding. She got a job offer and she couldn't say no. He couldn't hold her back, so just like that; the once happy couple was no more. The night it all happened, Hotch had called Emily more upset than Emily had seen him since Haley's death. They talked on the phone for a while before Emily had suggested he come over. Declan was conveniently at a friend's house for the night, and Jack was spending the weekend with Jessica.

That was the night their friendship took a turn. They'd gone out several times before Emily had left for Paris, but the both of them were just too stubborn to see what they had in front of them. Emily had always been wary of letting people in; of getting too close to anyone in particular. Every time things felt like they were moving into something serious, she ended it. However, the night that Aaron Hotchner showed up at Emily's doorstep clad in sweatpants and an old t-shirt with a bottle of wine in hand, Emily realized she wasn't afraid any more. The man standing in front of her knew her darkest secrets, and still he stuck around. So that night, they finally gave into their feelings. Ever since then, they'd been inseparable.

Hotch and Jack moved in with Emily and Declan not long after that. They got married soon after. Hotch adopted Declan and Emily adopted Jack. A year later, Layla came along. She was definitely a surprise, and one neither Hotch nor Emily had planned for. Despite their initial shock and fear, and a less than stellar pregnancy for Emily, they now had a two-year-old running around the house, repeating everything anyone in the family said.

Emily rose from the bed, making her way into the nursery just across the hall. The little curly-haired girl was still fast asleep in her crib. Emily smiled, deciding to let Layla sleep awhile longer, since it hadn't been that long ago that Emily had put her back to sleep. She had a half hour before she needed to start getting the boys up, so she meandered down to the kitchen and started a pot of coffee.

She sat down at the bar, wishing there hadn't been a case. Emily knew how important solving these murders was; she'd lived that life not too long ago. But this weekend he'd promised to stay home. Declan's fifteenth birthday was Saturday and he'd promised to be there no matter what. It was Friday morning and Emily highly doubted the case would get solved that quickly. She knew she shouldn't be upset, it's not like serial killers planned around anyone's lives but their own. But this wasn't the first time he'd said he would stay back on a case for something only to break his promise and go. He was supposed to be working less in the field, in preparation for retirement, but it seemed like every time the team left, so did he. If it wasn't an actual BAU case, he was consulting with another team because of his expertise; or he was at conferences, or in late night meetings, or giving lectures to college students.

For a man on the verge of retiring, he certainly was busy.

He'd missed their first anniversary, several of Jack's soccer games and Declan's lacrosse matches. He'd missed Declan's piano recital, in which he was awarded a scholarship, which was a huge deal since the boy was just fourteen at the time. He'd just gotten back from a case when Layla was born, but he missed her first Halloween, and he'd been gone this past Christmas.

She didn't mind him still working with the team, she didn't mind him going away on cases so much. But when he missed something he promised to be there for, and Emily had to tell Jack or Declan he wasn't going to be there, it broke Emily's heart. The boys understood, probably better than children their age should, about why Hotch had to leave, but the disappointment was always evident on their faces.

Hotch's dedication was something Emily admired about him even from her first few days on the team. But now, he had three children and a wife. If he promised to be there, especially when he was no longer required to work every case, then he should be there. Honestly, sometimes Emily felt like a single parent. Her life was stable, but it seemed like Hotch was always on the go. He needed to slow down, but he never listened to Emily.

Emily jumped at the sound of footsteps barreling down the stairs. She blinked several times, and the next thing she knew Jack and Declan were in the kitchen, still wearing their pajamas. Declan had Layla in his arms, who was squirming to get to Emily.

"Hi!" Emily greeted them all with a forced smile, rising from her chair and walking over to the three of them standing in the doorway, planting a kiss on each of their heads before taking Layla from Declan.

"You guys are all up early." Emily noted.

"Layla was crying." Jack, the now-ten-year-old complained. "Where's Dad?" he asked, noting the obvious absence.

Emily bit her lip, distracting herself by putting Layla in her high chair.

"The team caught a case in Chicago." Emily relayed the information warily, knowing Declan would be crushed. He may not show it, but Emily knew the boy well enough to know that much.

"Oh- so he won't be here tomorrow?" Jack asked sadly, hopping up on a chair.

"Not unless they can solve this case super-fast. I'm sorry, guys. I know he said he'd be here." Emily said sadly.

The boys just shrugged. "It's not the first time." Declan said, though his tone wasn't bitter.

"Right…" Emily said- a bit taken aback that they weren't more upset. "Well, I guess you all want some breakfast before school. Pancakes sound okay?" Emily asked, not waiting for a response before she went over to the fridge and got out all the ingredients, giving Layla some dry cereal and juice before starting on the pancakes. She wasn't sure if her anger was rational or not, but she found herself even more angry that Jack and Declan had grown accustomed to not having Hotch around. Emily knew she loved their children, she knew he loved her, but lately he certainly had a terrible way of showing it. Sometimes she found herself praying for a wakeup call, something that would make Hotch realize what he had before all three of the kids were grown up and out of the house. She didn't want him to watch them grow up through pictures and videos, which is how he'd been living lately. As soon as this case ended she'd talk to him, she decided.