╭ ⊸⊸⊸⊸⊸⊸⊸⊸⊸⊸⊸⊸⊸⊸⊸⊸⊸⊸ ╮

𝑹 𝑬 𝑴
❝ 𝚕𝚒𝚗𝚊, 𝚗𝚘 ❞

╰ ⊸⊸⊸⊸⊸⊸⊸⊸⊸⊸⊸⊸⊸⊸⊸⊸⊸⊸ ╯

ㅤ𝐀𝐋𝐈𝐍𝐀 𝐖𝐀𝐓𝐂𝐇𝐄𝐃 𝐀𝐒 𝐆𝐖𝐄𝐍 𝐏𝐔𝐋𝐋𝐄𝐃 𝐒𝐏𝐄𝐍𝐂𝐄𝐑 𝐀𝐒𝐈𝐃𝐄, a hint of a smile on her face as she stared at the two who are so clearly head over heels for each other. Even though she doesn't really like the concept of love and spending the rest of your days with one person, she couldn't help but think that if she were to think the best example of love this earth has to offer, it would be Gwen and Spencer's.

"What's going on?" Aaron frowned a little in confusion, walking up and standing in between Alina and JJ, who both had their eyes set on the couple, both with unreadable expressions on their faces. "Is something happening?"

Alina leaned a little towards him. "Just watch."

Aaron frowned, before focusing his attention on the young couple. Gwen had her arms wrapped around Spencer's waist, words spilling from her mouth that were unreadable. But he can clearly see how Spencer's expression went from sadness, to confusion, to shock, and finally, realization. The genius fell down to the floor, hands moving to cover his mouth.

"Are you serious?" Spencer exclaimed, and even through his mouth, everyone could hear his words clearly, and the entire team turned their heads towards the source. "You're not just...you're not..." All Gwen could do was nod. "Oh my God!" He removed his hands from his mouth and stood up, pulling his girlfriend into a tight hug, his tears of sadness turning to tears of joy. "I'm gonna be a dad!"

Aaron's jaw dropped. "Excuse me, what?"

Alina finally turned to him and grinned, jumping up and down. She let out an excited squeak. "Spenguin's gonna have a baby!"

"...S-Spenguin?"

But Alina ignored him as she rushed towards the couple, instantly pulling the two into a hug that nearly toppled them with the force of her impact. "I'm so happy for the both of you! I'm godmother, alright?"

"I--" Before Spencer could say a word, the others had stood up and wrapped the two of them in hugs, all except for Aaron—who was still confused—and Seaver, who wasn't really as close to the two as the others.

"I'm so happy for you, Spence," JJ whispered to Spencer, who's been someone she considered a brother since the beginning. "I'm really, really excited to meet the little one."

Spencer gave her a bashful smile, unable to say anything as Penelope pulled him into a hug.

The now-blonde tech analyst sobbed. "The babies are gonna have babies, I can't believe this!" She fisted his shirt, letting the tears freely fall. "This is a good sign, a very good sign. I'd bet Emily would watch over this baby like nobody's business."

The genius gave her a teary smile and nodded in agreement. "I...I'd bet," he nodded and chuckled. Only Alina and JJ saw how Gwen's own smile faltered for a second.

After Penelope let go of Spencer, she headed over to Gwen and wrapped her in a hug too, animatedly talking about dressing up the baby in certain styles vowing to have them wear the best clothes money can buy, just as Derek moved forward and wordlessly pulled Spencer into a hug. The dark-skinned man rubbed Spencer's back, patting it like an older brother would.

"Congratulations, Reid," Derek nodded. "I'm happy for you."

"Thanks, Morgan." Spencer nodded as he let go. He watched with a smile when Derek did the same to Gwen, hugging her tightly and whispering inaudible words into her ear. He jumped a little when Rossi moved forward and grabbed his face, kissing his cheeks.

"This is wonderful news!" The Italian stated. "Congratulazioni! We must celebrate!"

Spencer nodded, smiling at him widely.

As more and more compliments and congratulations were thrown around, Aaron finally got into the middle of the circle and gave the two a smile. "Congratulations, you two. I wouldn't doubt that your kid would be the most attractive and smartest kid in their school."

"I agree," Alina raised her hand. "Which is why, if I'm not godmother, name the kid after me. I'd be happy with either."

"David is a good name for a boy," Rossi offered.

"Excuse me, Derek is better."

"Penelope for a girl!"

"Guys, I think it's better for the parents decide," JJ laughed. "Although, Jennifer is, of course, a great choice as well."

"Dear God," Aaron jokingly groaned, earning chuckles from the team. "How about...Gwen sets up an appointment with her OB-GYN first?"

Gwen grinned. "I think that would be a better step to take first before we decide on a name," she threw an amused glance towards Spencer, a hint of something behind her eyes. But it disappeared nearly as quickly as it came. "We'll set up a schedule."

"I'm coming," Alina raised her hand again. Aaron watched her in amusement, and can only assume that the reason she liked to raise her hand was to compensate for her height. He was always very entertained when they stood side by side; she barely reached his chin, and he practically dwarfed her.

"I assume everyone else wants to come too?" Gwen shook her head a little in laughter, but quickly sobered up. "We'll...um," she looked towards Spencer, who nodded encouragingly, playing with the ends of her hair. "We'll schedule one after...after the funeral."

The happy atmosphere somewhat turned somber again as they all nodded in agreement, coming to the realization that though they were gaining a new family member, they were still in the process of saying goodbye to another. 

The funeral came sooner than later, and Alina found herself wearing a black satin dress that reached her ankles, paired with some strappy heels. Since the weather was still cool, she decided on throwing a black trench coat over it as well. She decided on putting on her everyday, natural makeup, and wore her locket that held a very special picture.

Alina walked arm in arm with Gwen, using her best friend as a sort of anchor. She watched as the men of the BAU team helped carried the casket, and a pang of guilt shot straight into her heart, knowing full well that she aided in fooling the team that was more like a family than anything. She wasn't as close with Emily as the others, but that doesn't mean she couldn't sympathize, especially with Gwen, who had a baby on the way, yet was carrying the weight of this lie on her shoulders.

She looked up at Gwen who was staring into space as she followed the casket and squeezed her arm subtly as a way to remind her that she was still here. "Hey," she whispered, "don't think about...all of this too much. Emily's safe, okay? She's healing, and soon she'll be in Paris, drinking wine and hanging out with hot French people."

Gwen held back a smile. "You're right, you're right. I just..." A tear fell from her eye and she was quick to wipe it away with the sleeve of her pinstriped suit dress, her expression turning into a frown. "Spencer's taking it hard. He loves Emily, you know? They're family. And..."

"Gwen, right now, what you have to worry about is that little bean growing inside you," Alina sighed. "I know that you can't help yourself from feeling negative and guilty, but it's not gonna be any good for the baby, okay? Just...just imagine Emily smiling. I don't doubt that that's what she's doing right now."

She nodded, gulping a little, before making eye contact with Aaron as she walked towards where the casket was laid. She also made eye contact with JJ as she settled beside Spencer.

Alina shook her head a little at her best friend, before taking her place right beside her, next to the Unit Chief, who wore his signature frown as he stood across from the priest. One by one, they all laid a red rose on top of the casket, before they all took their place, surrounding the casket. Now, Alina wasn't at all a religious person, and was someone who found the notion of believing in something no one could see a little ridiculous. But her mouth remained closed, knowing that it wasn't the best time to start a debate with the priest.

Once the service was over, she found herself remaining, rooted in place. Gwen and Spencer had already left, with the former promising that she'll be the first one to know the time and date of the appointment. Soon after the lovers left, one by one, the others went back home too. But surprisingly, Aaron stayed.

"I never asked," Aaron spoke up, "how do you feel, about doing all of this?"

Alina looked up at him. He had moved to stand right beside her. "What do you mean?"

"You don't...exactly have the same emotional ties to this team as Gwen does, so..." He tilted his head a little in thought. "I wanted to know how you fell about being in the know while the others aren't."

She shrugged. "Honestly, I don't care. I don't mean to be crass, but you're right, I don't have emotional ties to this team as strong as Gwen's. Which is why I remain indifferent. I did what I was asked to do, and I did it well. I'm just hoping what we did won't have catastrophic effects on my best friend. If this," she gestured towards the casket, "hurts her even more than she already does, I don't know what I might do."

Aaron regarded her for a second before nodding. "I understand."

"Good," Alina wiped her hands on her dress and pasted a smile on her face as she finally faced Aaron properly. "Now, how's Jack? I miss him."

The effects of her words were immediate as a smile graced Aaron's lips. A rare smile, that he only ever showed off when he wasn't working, or when he was with his son. "He's doing good. Misses you," he admitted. "I think you're his favorite now. Used to be Gwen, but I think you dragging Captain America by his ear earned you some serious brownie points."

Alina grinned at him. "As I should! It's not very easy trying to wrestle a super soldier, you know."

"I know," Aaron smiled. "He wants to know when he can see you, actually. Either that, or if he could visit the compound again."

She hummed. "What about both?" She began walking away from the casket, glancing at it for a second, smiling a little when she noticed him following her. "When you have another case, I can pick him up from your office or your house, whichever you prefer, although I don't know where you live, which reminds me, we still have to debug all your houses--"

"Lina."

"Right, just coordinate me, and I can pick him up and bring him to the compound with me," she told him. "I assure you, I am very well-versed in the art of babysitting, given my first-hand experience with Dora, as well as Spider-man." She made sure to call him by his codename.

"Dora, right, your sister who's a hacker," Aaron nodded a little. "Still can't believe you're related to her."

"Believe it, Hotchner," she laughed. "Anyway, what do you think? Aunt Alina to babysit Hotchner junior?"

Aaron smirked at her. "Sure, next case."

She fist pumped the air. "I will be patiently waiting for the next psychopath to make some noise."

Aaron then frowned. "You shouldn't."

"Well, how else would I babysit Jack?" She scoffed. "Besides, psychopaths, serial killers, they don't have a set schedule. Which, by the way, is very annoying."

"Very true."

"Ooh, what if...the purge?" Alina suggested, raising her eyebrows as she lifted up her finger to point it at him. She had stopped walking, which prompted him to stop too. He glanced down at her finger before using his left hand—which easily covered her entire hand—to gently push it down.

"No."

She immediately pouted. "Won't it lessen crime though?! I mean, we don't have to do it exactly like the movie! We can have, like, rules! Even though it defeats the purpose of a lawless society, still, it could force people to wait for that day, so no crime would happen at any other time of the year. People will anticipate it, you won't even need to work for the FBI anymore--"

"I don't think that's a good thing--"

"You can be, like, one of the bodyguards for the uber rich that have those vaults in their houses that have cash and stuff inside--"

"Lina, no."

"Lina, yes."

"Nope."

"Hotch--"

"I thought you were smarter than this, Miss-I-have-four-PhD's," he joked, rolling his eyes a little, looking at her with a fond smile. "But let's not think too much about the purge. No government in any country on this planet would even agree to that ever happening. Not only would it be insane, it would also make way for socio-economic inequality. The wealthy will have all the resources they'd need to not even move a single toe, while those who are not privileged would most definitely have to fight for their lives, with no possible chance at surviving if they don't have the resources. Not only that, the wealthy would end up abusing their power. Because they can afford to prepare for the purge, they can end up causing more and more carnage each year by allowing their psychopathic tendencies to rule over their common sense; they'd end up enjoying watching what might happen to the less fortunate."

Alina blinked. "Uh...this ain't a courthouse, sir. But that was a whole-ass persuasive speech. Wow, I was moved. A very good job. And the jury agrees. Case closed. Purge; bad idea."

"Given your views on the purge, I don't think you'd be a good babysitter."

"Hey!"

author's note: alina brings out the childish side of aaron hotchner and i love it.