Epilogue

Spencer and Aaron were at the local mini golf course having a round of golf with Jack, Lily, Danny and his daughter Shannon. They loved coming here and it was their way to unwind after heavy cases. They always brought the kids here to play.

It had been five years now since Aaron had spent time in Pakistan and thankfully he was fully healed even though he'd have the occasional nightmare. His hair came back eventually full and thick as ever and he kept it just that bit longer nowadays as it hid the scars better.

Jack was now fourteen and at high school. He was doing rather well academically yet still had time for girls. His current girlfriend was a fellow classmate who Aaron and Spencer often found doing their homework together. He was relieved it was homework rather than sex. He felt his son was still too young for that though he'd given him the talk.

Lily was now seven and also doing well at school. She was also very creative and loved nothing better than to write about FBI agents hunting down criminals. They just hoped she wasn't able to imagine the full extent of what they saw on a daily occurrence.

They'd even welcomed twins, Natalie and Robert, four years ago via surrogate. They'd been so happy when Garcia had agreed to be their surrogate even though it took Morgan some convincing. Spencer was their biological father and they were both rather intelligent though tended to also ramble on about things.

They were currently in the nearby paddling pool with Emily and her son, Stephen. They believed they were too young for golf currently but would teach them next year like Danny was Shannon. She'd been so excited when she'd been allowed to play a round of mini golf with her dad, uncles and cousins.

Danny and Emily had married shortly after Shannon was born and couldn't be any happier even when their attempts for a third child hadn't proven fruitful, They decided they were happy with their two anyway even after his brother had brought up the ideas of adoption and surrogacy.

Shannon was now five and just started at school. She was enjoying every minute of it and would always come home full of tales of what she'd done that day. She had a number of friends also who accepted her uncles were gay.

Her little brother Stephen was three and had Downs Syndrome so Emily had quit the FBI to look after him and his sister. Despite the condition he was a happy go lucky boy who loved nothing better than to play with his cousins. Everyone all agreed he was a handsome, little boy who looked like his father despite the physical symptoms of his condition. Shannon adored her brother and was always very protective of him.

Shannon was on the first hole when Danny took both her hands and taught her how to swing at the ball. It hit the ball and she jumped up and down as it went through the hole and out the other side. Once again he taught her how to tap the ball and it went in. She was thrilled to pieces that she'd got a hole in two as it was more than her cousins very gently.

They went round the golf course and every time Spencer got a hole in one they rolled their eyes. It was just like him to always get a hole in one. He beat them every game they played but they wouldn't let it take away their enjoyment of the game.

"What?! It's just a case of simple trigonometry," he defended.

"We don't need to hear this every time we play, Spence. We get it by now," Aaron answered kissing his cheek. "Let's go back to the others."

Danny nodded smiling and took his daughter's hand. He was forever thankful Emily had tamed him and settled him down. He wouldn't trade his wife and children in for the world. If he was still chasing girls he wouldn't know how wonderful it was to come home at the end of a shift to a loving family ready to greet him. He always smiled as Stephen and Shannon ran up to kiss him.

When they got to the pool they found Emily looking rather distressed and only two children with her. Natalie looked around frightened for her twin brother while her cousin carried on playing and looked none the wiser that his cousin, Robert, was missing.

"Where's Robert?" Aaron asked worried.

"Oh Aaron, I'm so sorry," she answered distressed. Their hearts tightened as a multitude of what ifs ran through their minds. "He wandered off. I thought he was going to the toilet so I let him go."

"It's fine. It's not your fault," Aaron answered trying to keep calm but wondering where the hell his youngest son had gone. He was only four. What if someone had kidnapped him? It only takes seven seconds kept going through his mind.

"Aaron and I will go look. Stay here with Spencer and the children," Danny ordered gently.

"Can't I go too? I'm fourteen, you know, not a child anymore," Jack answered.

"Fine. We're taking Jack as well and the rest of you stay with Emily. We can't lose any of you as well."

Emily looked up at him nodding with tears in his eyes He bent down and stroked her hair kissing her lips. "Babe, none of this was your fault. Please don't blame yourself. You're a great aunt and mother," he assured.

"Can we get to looking for Robert, please?" Aaron answered agitated. He'd been through enough already. He didn't need to lose his son as well.

They searched the whole local area and the toilets twice. They soon found him giggling in the swimming pool and Aaron stood at the edge tapping his foot and his arms crossed.

"Robert James Reid Hotchner," he said firmly but loud enough for him to hear.

The young boy looked round and gulped when he saw his father not looking best pleased but headed towards him knowing the game was up. He only wanted to be one of the big boys. He was five soon and hated being in the little kiddie's paddling pool. He was going to school soon like his older sister.

Once he was out Aaron wrapped the towel around him and he started crying fearing he was going to be hit. Aaron hugged him close to him sorry for frightening him but he'd scared the living hell out of him. He hadn't known if he was going to find him dead or alive or even at all.

"Robert, what were you playing at? You scared us! We didn't know what had happened! We were worried something really bad had happened," he said gently.

"Sorry daddy, I only wanted to play in the big pool. I didn't mean to scare or worry you," he replied with his lip quivering.

"I know but please be careful. There are bad people about. That's why we need to know you're safe at all times."

He nodded and cried, "Sorry daddy."

"It's alright. You're safe. That's what matters most." He nodded. "Now let's go back and say sorry to Auntie Emily. You scared her half to death."

He nodded again and he picked him up and carried him back to the others. When the others saw he was safe and well they ran up and hugged him after Aaron put him down. He apologised to each and every one of them.

"Auntie Emily, I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to worry you," he said.

"It's alright. You're safe now. That's what matters," she answered hugging him trying to slow down her heart rate.

He nodded. "That's what daddy said."

"He's a wise man."