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juniperskye · 1 month

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Who Are You Again?

Based on the following ask: I had another plot thought! Aaron x BAU Reader (female or gender neutral) where Reader disobeys an order to save a victim and gets hurt really bad. Reader wakes up in the hospital to Aaron who is angry at first but then is shocked when it turns out that Reader has retrograde amnesia from the injury. Reader has forgotten their entire career in the BAU and even that They and Aaron were secretly dating! Last thing Reader actually remembers was attending a lecture in college where Aaron was a guest speaker and Reader developed a crush on him! Now Aaron has to carefully navigate helping Reader recover without outing their relationship to anyone else. Or maybe he wonders if it's better they forget? But for a HEA ending definitely Aaron doing something romantic sparks a memory and helps everything come flooding back. @nyxwolph thank you for requesting again and trusting me with your ideas! – I did have to change things up a bit (I struggled big time with this one)

Aaron Hotchner x BAU! Fem Reader

Angst/Fluff

Word count: 5336

REQUESTS ARE OPEN - not edited - please be kind. Requests are open and feedback is welcome if it's constructive!

Warnings: My blog is 18+, minors DNI, age gap, some language, BAU canon typical violence, mention of parent death, mention of kidnapping, mention of Haley and Jack, secret relationship, let me know if I missed any!!

That being said I do not own the characters portrayed in this story.

“In chaos theory, the butterfly effect is the sensitive dependence on initial conditions in which a small change in one state of a deterministic nonlinear system can result in large differences in a later state.” Essentially, something as small as a butterfly flapping its wings could cause something as catastrophic as a tornado.

Aaron wondered what small event happened that led to this moment right now. A moment that would change the trajectory of your lives forever.

*36 hours earlier*

“Garcia has the unsubs location; he’s headed down a backroad just east of the 95.” Aaron said.

“He’s devolving, he’s probably going to try and dispose of his latest victim.” Morgan chimed in.

“Not if we have anything to do with it.” JJ replied.

“His location is being shared with you all, everyone be safe, at this point he’s going to be willing to do anything to avoid prison.” Hotch added.

“I’m close by, I am going to go try and cut him off.” You suggested.

The team expressed their worry and care and urged you to be careful. The only thing you had on your mind, however, was saving the five-year-old boy this unsub had hidden. You drove as fast as your vehicle would allow, you had to get to the unsub. You had to save that boy.

As you got closer to the location Garcia had shared, you could see the dust trail the unsubs car was leaving down the road. You thought about your options, and you made a snap decision. Drive on, no matter the consequences – take out the unsub’s car. So that’s what you did.

You drove forward and your car t-boned the unsubs, only you hadn’t considered that he’d be driving a semi tractor. Upon impact, your SUV was crushed, in your rush to get to the unsub you’d forgotten to put on your seatbelt and your body was ejected through the windshield.

The accident was enough to stop the unsub long enough for the team to arrive. As they surveyed the scene, Aaron’s stomach dropped. He immediately began barking orders, demanding medics, and sending agents to the unsubs’ farm to find the boy. Throughout everything he refused to leave your side.

*Present Day*

“Sir, we had to place her in a medically induced coma to allow the swelling in her brain to go down.” The doctor explained.

“Is there an estimate as to how long it’ll be until she wakes up?” Aaron asked.

“With these kinds of injuries, it’s hard to say. The brain is a tricky thing, and no two injuries are alike. We just have to wait and see.”

“Thank you.” Aaron said, shaking the doctor’s hand.

Your doctor made her exit and Aaron moved to the seat beside your bed. He gently took your hand in his own placing a kiss to the back of it before returning it to your side. Aaron had thought back to the night everything changed.

*One year earlier*

“Hey Hotch, here’s that report you asked for. You aren’t staying are you?” You asked, glancing at your watch.

“Thanks, and yeah I had a few things I needed to finish up.”

You made your way over to Aaron’s couch, dropped your bag to the floor, and shrugged your jacket off. You pulled your phone out to see what was still open for delivery in the area. Aaron and you had shared many nights like this, spending late nights together in his office. The two of you had grown very close over the years, so much so that David had outright asked Aaron if you two were dating. To which Aaron let out an awkward chuckle and denied the accusation. If only he knew.

“What are you doing? You should head home.” Aaron said.

“Well, you should too, and you aren’t, so I guess that means we’re ordering dinner.” You smiled at him.

“I love you.” Aaron said simply.

“What?” You were stunned.

“I’m sorry, that was inappropriate. I didn’t – I um….”

“Say it again.”

“I love you.”

“I love you too.”

Aaron made his way over to you, gently caressed your face and kissed you. It was everything you had ever imagined. There had been this tension between the two of you over the last two years and it was all finally coming together.

After that night, Aaron and you had agreed to keep your relationship under wraps, to avoid any potential disruption to the team, but also any question as to your position on the team. Aaron didn’t want anyone to question the fact that it was your skills and resume alone that got you to where you are.

Yours and Aaron’s relationship blossomed after that night, but not without hardships. Aaron and you faced a lot of adversity in multiple aspects of your relationship; you had a hard time trusting people, Aaron had been self-conscious of your age gap, and you both couldn’t help but feel that you weren’t good enough for the other (not that either of you would bring it up).

*Present Day*

A tear fell from Aaron’s eye, he couldn’t fathom losing you. This was all part of the reason he didn’t want to get serious with someone after Haley, but then you came into his life. You’d come in and made yourself known with your kind eyes and witty charm; how could he not fall in love with you.

Aaron fell for you slowly then all at once, it came naturally, and he couldn’t help it. He knew that the team had their suspicions and honestly over the last year there had been some close calls, but you had ultimately maintained the secrecy of your relationship.

In this moment, Aaron couldn’t help but feel a pang of guilt and regret over the fact that he’d asked you to keep things quiet. Had he let the team in on your relationship, he could’ve done a better job at keeping you safe.

*2 Weeks Later*

Aaron had been by your side as much as possible over the last two weeks, which is exactly where he was when you started to stir. Aaron shot straight up in his seat, his hand quickly reaching for your own.

You couldn’t help the groan that escaped your throat, your body hurt so bad, and you felt very confused. You attempted to open your eyes but immediately regretted it – the bright fluorescents adding to the pounding in your head. As you blinked through the brightness of the room, you glanced over to your bedside, noticing a tall man seated there.

“What on earth were you thinking? Driving into the unsub like that, you could’ve been killed. Your actions were reckless and unacceptable.” The man scolded you.

You couldn’t find it in you to reply, your head was pounding. You brought your hand up to your forehead and gently press the heel of your palm into it, hoping to alleviate some of the pressure.

“Sweetheart hold on, I’ll go get your doctor.” A deep voice sounded from your bedside.

Before you could question the pet name, you heard the sound of his dress shoes clicking against the linoleum floors.

The man returned with your doctor; he dimmed the lights slightly on his way back to your bedside. He moved to grab your hand again, to which you shifted, wringing your hands nervously in your lap.

“Hello, I’m doctor Raynor. How are you feeling?”

“Like I was hit by a truck, what happened?” You questioned, giving your doctor and the man a once over.

You recognized the man; it was Special Agent Hotchner of the BAU. What was he doing here? What happened?

“Well, you were involved in an accident, can you tell me what you remember?” Dr. Raynor inquired.

“I um, well, I was leaving a lecture.” Your gaze shifted to Agent Hotchner “Your lecture actually, you were talking about MO’s. I guess the accident was after that?” You couldn’t help but notice Agent Hotchner’s expression faulter.

Your doctor looked over at Agent Hotchner and he shook his head. The two of them seemingly knew something you didn’t. You couldn’t help but feel like you’d just given the wrong answer in front of the class. Dr. Raynor had gone through the rest of your injuries with you, multiple lacerations that had required stitches, a few broken ribs, a broken wrist, and of course your TBI. Once she was done she gave you a somber look.

“Would you excuse us for just a moment? I am going to send in one of your nurses to check you over and I’ll be back in just a moment.” Dr. Raynor said.

“Oh, okay.”

Dr. Raynor and Agent Hotchner left your room, and you tried your best to listen to their conversation.

*Hotch’s POV*

She doesn’t remember me, well us. It’s like the last five years have just disappeared.

“Agent Hotchner, I gather that the lecture she’s referring to did not occur two weeks ago when she was brought in.”

“No, that lecture was nearly five years ago.” I explained.

“This would be a case of retrograde amnesia, if she’s lost recent memories.” Dr. Raynor replied.

“Will her memory return?”

“It’s hard to say.”

While Aaron was completely devastated, he couldn’t help the doubt that creeped into his mind, telling him “This is for the best”.

*Normal POV*

Dr. Raynor and Agent Hotchner looked extremely serious, and you started to feel nauseous. Something was obviously wrong. You watched as their conversation ceased and they made their way back into the room.

Something must have happened, why would Agent Hotchner be here.

“Alright, it would appear that due to the brain trauma you sustained in your accident, you are experiencing what we describe as retrograde amnesia. This is when you can’t recall memories from your past. Based on your most recent memory, it appears as if you’ve lost approximately five years.” Dr. Raynor explained.

“Five years? Five years of memories are just gone. I don’t understand. If that’s true then why are you here?” You asked gesturing to Agent Hotchner.

“Well, you work for the BAU. You have for about three years now.”

“I do? I – I, this is a lot. What does this mean? Have you called my emergency contact?” You asked.

“I uh – I am your emergency contact.” Agent Hotchner spoke up.

“What, why? It has always been my mom, I don’t understand.”

“I’m so sorry, your mom, she uh – she passed last year. That’s when you switched it over to me.” Agent Hotchner’s gaze shifted down to his shoes.

“She’s gone?” Your voice cracked.

“Okay, this has been quite a bit of information. The most important thing right now is getting healthy. We want to keep you here a little longer to continue monitoring the swelling in your brain. Once we’ve confirmed it has gone down, you’ll want to get back in your usual routine, that is the best shot at getting your memory back.” Dr. Raynor gently patted your leg.

“How am I meant to get back to my normal routine when I don’t know it? The one person I had, I just found out is dead.”

“Given that Agent Hotchner is your emergency contact, we would be able to release you into his care. For now, we just need to stay positive.” With that, Dr. Raynor made her exit.

“I know this is a lot, but the BAU, we’re like a family, that includes you. Each member of the team is going to be willing to do anything to help you throughout this process.” Agent Hotchner said.

Part of you knew you could trust him; he had kind eyes, and you knew he was genuine. However, the other part of you felt so hopeless, like a lost kid in a department store. How were you meant to go home with this man who you didn’t know.

*Five Days Later*

“Do you have everything?” Aaron asked.

He had been with you every day for the last five days. He had brought you some things from your apartment and asked you to call him Aaron for now while you were “getting to know him”. You had to admit, it had been pretty nice talking with him the last few days.

“I think so!” You looked over at him. “I know that I am meant to be staying with you, at least until I’m fully healed, but could we go to my apartment first? I’d like to see it and maybe go through some of my things?”

“Of course we can.” Aaron nodded, gesturing towards the door.

The drive to your place was filled with small talk, mostly you asking Aaron questions about the BAU and the time you’ve spent there. It felt weird asking the man who is technically your boss about your personal life.

When you arrived, Aaron made sure to open your door for you and carry your bag into your home. He led you inside and you couldn’t help but notice how comfortable he seemed in your place, like he’d been there before. Like he belonged there. You shook the thought from your mind.

“I got you a new phone, it’s all set up for you.” Aaron said handing you the device.

“Thanks! Were they able to back up the old one? I was hoping to go through old texts and pictures to gather some insight into my life. God that sounds weird.” You huffed out a breath.

“I have our technical analyst Penelope Garcia working on that for you.” Aaron informed you.

“That’s great, thank you.”

The truth was, Aaron didn’t have Garcia backing up your old phone, at least not yet. He knew that if he had brought it to her she would uncover all the private texts and photos that you two had shared over the last year. He didn’t want to risk everyone finding out about your relationship, especially now when he wasn’t sure what your future would hold.

Aaron watched you as you made your way around your apartment. You wandered slowly around letting your fingers graze the spines of books on your shelves, picture frames on the walls and tchotchkes that were strewn about your desk and shelves.

He so badly wanted to pull you into his arms, kiss your head and tell you that everything was going to be okay. He wanted you to know that he wasn’t just your boss. But he also thought about all the things that could go wrong if he told you. You could question your own ethics and fall into self-loathing with the thought that you’d potentially slept your way to the top – this was the furthest thing from the truth, but he knew you and the way your mind spiraled. He wondered if it would just be easier if he let you find yourself all on your own, to let this thing between you go and hope that maybe you’d find your way back to him again.

When he looked over to you once again, he saw that you had found a photo album. It was one he was very familiar with; Garcia had gotten it for you on your 1-year BAU anniversary and filled it halfway. Since then, you’d continue to add to it all the photos you’d taken with the team.

You hadn’t realized you were crying until a tear had fallen onto the picture you were currently examining. Your emotions were running high, looking through the album was so strange it felt like looking at a stranger and yet it was you in photo after photo looking happier than ever with these people you couldn’t remember.

You felt the couch dip beside you and Aaron gently rubbed his hand up and down your back.

“I can’t imagine how overwhelming this all must be. I know that I can’t understand but I am here for you and I’m happy to lend an ear if you want to talk about it.” Aaron quietly soothed you.

“Thank you so much Aaron. I just don’t know how to wrap my head around this being me but not remembering it. Clearly you all mean so much to me and yet I have no recollection of any of this.” You sobbed.

Aaron and you sat like that on your couch for a while. He gave you the time you needed to calm down, while holding you, whispering sweet nothings to you. You felt oddly comfortable there in his arms, your mind shifted to the thought that enjoying the way his arms felt around you was also incredibly inappropriate given that he was your boss. At that thought you shifted slightly. You thought back to why you had signed up to audit Aaron’s lecture and while the main reason was the knowledge he’d lend you, a part of you allowed his looks to give you that final push in signing up.

“I should probably grab a few things so we can head out.” You whispered.

“Do you need any help?” Aaron asked.

“I should be okay, but I’ll let you know!”

Aaron drove the two of you back to his apartment, for the time being he had asked Jessica to keep Jack, this way you could adjust, and Jack also wouldn’t out your relationship. Aaron had his guest bedroom set up for you, he’d set it up with some of your favorite things. A lavender scented candle, extra pillows, a fluffy blanket, and he made sure to set a small trinket dish on the dresser, so you’d have a place to put your jewelry.

These of course were all things Aaron had previously had at his place for you. When you two had gotten increasingly more serious, he encouraged you to leave some stuff at his place and he’d gone as far as to supply some of your favorites around his home for you.

Aaron led you into his home and you couldn’t help but glance around, really taking in your surroundings. You couldn’t help but take note of a few things as he showed you around; there was a photo missing from the side table next to the couch (you could see the tiny bit of dust that must’ve collected around it), the pantry was stocked with quite a few of your favorite snacks, there was a pink coffee mug in the cabinet, and lastly, tucked under the shoe rack near the front door were a pair of fluffy gray slippers.

You couldn’t explain why, but there was a slight pang of jealousy in you as you thought of Aaron having a girlfriend. You knew you had no right to feel that way and it would be incredibly inappropriate, but it was a gut reaction.

*One Week Later*

Aaron and you had fallen into a weird sort of routine, it started to feel a lot like the 50’s, you making dinner and cleaning while he worked. You were starting to get a bit stir crazy, which is exactly why you were so excited today. Garcia would be coming by to see you; she was bringing over a bunch of photos and videos of you with the team throughout the last three years.

It was a paperwork catch-up day for the BAU, so Aaron had given Penelope the go ahead to take a long lunch and spend some time with you. So, when a knock on the door rang through the apartment, you couldn’t help the burst of excitement that coursed its way through your veins.

“Hi Penelope!”

“Hey babe! How are you feeling?” She asked, giving you a look of concern.

“I’m feeling pretty good, you know, except for the missing five years of memories thing.” You let out a low chuckle.

“Oh goodness! Well, I’ve brought a ton of stuff that might help bring some stuff back. I read that sense of smell is the sense that links with memories the strongest so have a bunch of things for you to smell while you look at photos in hopes something will come back to you.”

“That sounds like a great idea!” You smiled at Penelope.

The next hour or so went by with Penelope showing you photos and videos along with passing you various items to smell in hopes of bringing back some of your memories. And while it wasn’t like a wave crashing over you, bringing all your memories back, it did bring some things back. You could remember the members of the BAU and some of their quirks, you remembered the feeling of being in the bullpen (thanks to the smell of some very burnt coffee). What you were struggling to regain was your emotional memories, you couldn’t quite pinpoint the relationships you had with anyone from the team.

“I am glad that this helped! I should probably get out of your hair though; I can tell you have headache.” Penelope

“Thank you Penelope, I really appreciate all of this!”

You led her to the door, and she reminded you to get some rest and to take it easy. She also suggested that you come by the BAU for lunch in the next week or so to see everyone. The team had been doing a good job of not overwhelming you and allowing you time to get back in the swing of things.

“Oh, Penelope before you go, did you get a chance to back up my old phone? Aaron said you were working on it.”

“Oh, hon. He must’ve forgotten to mention it, but I will get started on that right away! I’ll text you as soon as I’m done, okay? We will just be able to pull the backup and put it on your new phone!” She said pulling you into a tight hug, before making her exit.

Why would Aaron have lied to you about your old phone? Maybe Penelope was right, and it just slipped his mind, he had been dealing with a lot, taking care of you, and having you stay with him.

You hadn’t meant to snoop, honestly, but after having talked with Penelope, the feeling Aaron was hiding something from you was extremely prevalent. You decided to look around a bit, you know, while putting the laundry away. You needed to put the towels away in Aaron’s bathroom, you just happened to notice the second toothbrush in the holder, the dress hanging inside his closet (come on, the door was already open), the ring box tucked in his sock drawer, what shocked you the most were the photos in the hall closet. It was a photo of him and a tall brunette that had you spiraling, where was this woman? You had clearly been invading his space long enough and you couldn’t bear the thought of coming between him and this woman who was to be his fiancé.

You needed to get back to your life, and out of Aaron’s hair. You decided that you’d tell him that night over dinner, you were going to move back home.

“Hey, I’m home!” Aaron called.

“Hey, how was your day?” You asked.

Aaron explained that his day was good, and he asked you about your get together with Penelope as you finished up dinner. Aaron set the table as you followed behind him plating up the food.

“I’m glad to hear things went well with Penelope. I think lunch with the team is a great idea.”

“Aaron I’m gonna move back home.” The words flew out of your mouth faster than your brain could catch up. “I’m sorry, I just don’t want to impose on your life any more than I already have.”

“It’s truly not an imposition, but if that’s what you want.” Aaron looked deflated.

“I just think it’s important we both get back to our usual every day.”

“If you think that’s best.”

You two ate in silence. Afterwards you both went to the kitchen, cleaned up the dishes and made your way to your separate rooms. You began packing up your belongings and Aaron scrolled through photos of the two of you from before the accident.

*Two Days Later*

“Good morning gorgeous!!! I am calling to inform you that the backup from your old phone is ready, and I also think it is the perfect day for you to come in and have lunch with everyone!” Penelope sang over the phone.

“Okay, what time should I come down there?”

“Ummm maybe around 12:30? Everyone is usually ready to eat by then. I can call and order in something too!”

“Oh, and uh Pen, I don’t know the address, and I’m not cleared to drive.” You said shyly.

“Oh shoot, okay! I’ll see who is available to come and pick you up, no worries.” Penelope reassured you.

You took some time getting ready, most of the team hadn’t seen you since before the injuries, and while the cuts and bruises have faded and scarred, you still had a very broken wrist and frequent headaches, along with PTSD and anxiety attacks thanks to the TBI. You felt like you had been doing well, and based on your recent check-up with your neurologist, things are trending up in regard to your health. Though you began to worry that the worst had yet to come.

A knock on your door shook you out of your thoughts, as you made your way to answer it, you wondered who Penelope sent to get you. Pulling the door open revealed someone you were hoping you wouldn’t see so soon.

“Hi Aaron.”

“Hello, were going to go pick up the food on the way back to the BAU, if that’s okay.” Aaron explained.

“Yeah, that’s fine.” You nodded.

The drive was filled with tense silence. You couldn’t help but wonder why Aaron would harbor any negative feelings towards you. You’d only moved out of his apartment so he could get back on to his life, if anything he should be grateful that you’ve gone home. One of the main reasons you’d really decided to go home was because of the fact that you were growing far too comfortable.

Things at Aaron’s house were starting to feel right, like it was where you belong. You had no idea how you had been able to work with him over the last few years, the crush you had on him all those years ago had only proven to grow stronger.

“I’ll run in and grab the food.” Aaron said, pulling you out of your thoughts.

Before you could reply, he stepped out of the car and made his way into the restaurant.

Aaron got you signed in with a visitor’s badge (as you weren’t cleared to work) and then he led you up to the sixth floor, BAU bullpen. Upon walking in, you felt an odd sense of familiarity. You knew that it would make sense for the BAU to bring memories back and that you would have muscle memory to help lead you through the building, but it felt very strange.

You looked over at Aaron, “I need to go see Garcia, do you mind pointing me in the right direction?”

“Of course, her office is that way. Second door on the right.”

“Thanks.” You smiled.

You wandered through the corridor, catching a glimpse of Garcia through her open door. You lightly knocked on her door and walked into her office.

“Oh! Hello gorgeous!” Garcia squealed, standing, and pulling you into a hug.

“Hey Pen!”

“Let’s get your phone squared away and then we will go eat.”

You handed your phone over to Penelope and she began downloading the last backup from your old phone.

“This should only take a few minutes.”

Penelope and you made idle chit chat for a few moments while waiting on your phone. When it finished uploading, she unplugged it and handed it to you. The two of you then made your way to the bullpen.

Lunch with the BAU was overwhelming to say the least. It was fun talking to everyone, but you could tell everyone was walking on eggshells and you could see the pity flash behind their eyes as you sat and explained your lack of memories with the people sitting before you.

After lunch, Aaron let everyone leave early. It had been a paperwork day and the team had been very productive. He told them all to go home, but of course to leave their phones on, just in case they had to leave. Emily offered to drive you home, given the close proximity of your apartments.

When you got home, you changed into some comfortable clothes and sat on the couch. You took a deep breath and unlocked your phone. There were two things you noticed while going through everything, the first being a significant number of photos saved and the second being the texts exchanged between you and your boss.

You decided to go through the photos first. There were plenty of you with the various members of the BAU, but what caught your attention was one image in particular, in it, you were laid in bed with your head resting on a man’s chest…the man being none other than Aaron.

You quickly switched over to your messages app. Clicking Aaron’s name, you saw the most recent text…

“Be careful sweetheart. I love you.”

Your mind was racing, what were you meant to think, why would he keep this from you? Was the ring meant for you? You needed to see him.

You ordered an Uber and made your way to the FBI building. You signed in, getting a visitors’ badge and headed up to the sixth floor.

“Aaron” You called out into the bullpen.

“Is everything okay? What are you doing here?” Aaron asked as he walked out of his office.

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Tell you what?” Aaron questioned.

“That we were together.”

You gestured to your phone. Aaron dropped his gaze for a moment, before looking back to you. You could see the pain behind his eyes.

“Sweetheart, we had been keeping it a secret, and I don’t know, I guess I thought that maybe you’d be better off. I figured you might find someone more appropriate for you.”

“That wasn’t a choice for you to make. Aaron things have been confusing enough, losing my memory. But to have you lying to me, it’s total bullshit. How am I supposed to get my memories back if you are keeping such a big part of me a secret.” You couldn’t help the frustrated tears from slipping down your cheek.

Aaron reached for you and let his thumb brush the tear off your cheek. He stepped closer to you and brought his other hand to your cheek.

“I am so sorry. I should’ve told you from the get-go, I was scared. I thought that maybe I would tell you and you’d have to get to know me again and maybe you wouldn’t love me the way you did before. I also couldn’t help but think that I don’t deserve you and this was your perfect out. But that was selfish, I should’ve told you the truth.”

You leaned your head onto Aaron’s chest, and he wrapped his arms around you. He pressed a gentle kiss to your hairline and then he pulled back.

“Can I show you something?” Aaron asked.

You nodded and followed him to his office. Aaron led you around his desk and gestured for you to sit in his chair. He pointed to his computer screen, and you took note of the screen saver. It was a slideshow of pictures taken throughout your relationship, there were pictures of you at the FBI Gala, Jack’s soccer game, art museums, at Aaron’s home, at your apartment, etc..

It happened slowly, then all at once. A warm feeling flooded your veins, and a dull ache filled your head. Tears were steadily streaming down your face. You looked up at Aaron, and he met your gaze. A moment was shared before understanding washed over Aaron.

“I remember.”

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alexblakegf · 6 months

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Literally possessed with VSAngel! Reader x Aaron 😍😍😍 could I request a pt 2 like a proposal/wedding edition?? On my knees I'm so in love with him

aaron hotchner x victoria secret angel instagram posts - wedding

taglist 🏷️:

@itisdoctortoyousir @kalixxh @fdl305 @urfavesim @sponsoredbytonystark @rosaliedepp @Ghostisnotpresent @Sukunaleftoverfingers @beaurielas @prentissesredtanktop @meheksthings @SSAspencerreidswife @kenziegrace1 @fanof051 @luhwithah @mel-knee @haley-hotchner-blog @ah-blossom @floralsightings @someones-name-inserted-here @agent-tempest @eyes-on-display @dj-bynum3718

be added to my taglist here

send requests and asks here

#criminal minds #aaron hotchner #criminal minds x reader #criminal minds x you #aaron hotchner x reader #ssa aaron hotchner #aaron hotchner x you #aaron hotch imagine #aaron hotchner x y/n #instagram au #mimi’s requests

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squadmuse · 13 hours

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GET TO KNOW THEM ALPHABET

THE AARON HOTCHNER EDITION

Accessories: do they wear them and what kind?

Aaron likes ties, but other than that he doesn’t wear much in the way of accessories other than his briefcase which he carries for work.

Bad habits: do they have any?

Aaron is a workaholic and has really unpredictable work hours that mean he isn’t always around much or available.

Clothing: what's their style and what do they wear at home/out and about?

Aaron usually wears a business suit for work but he wears casual clothes when off duty such as polo shirts, jeans and trainers.

Date: what would their ideal first date look like? Do they enjoy datenights when in a relationship?

Aaron would definitely take you out to dinner, granted he wasn’t called out to a case. He wouldn’t introduce you to Jack right away and after you’re in a serious relationship, having met Jack & maybe even married, Aaron would spoil you to different things for date nights.

Emotional: are they an emotional person?

Aaron has seen a lot with his work and can compartmentalise his emotions but he doesn’t hide them from you or Jack and any other children he has with you. Some might think he’s unemotional but he feels so much.

Fears: what are they afraid of?

Aaron is afraid of losing you and Jack and any other children. He’s already lost Haley, and he’s afraid of driving you off like he did with Haley once upon a time.

Gifts: what makes them happy?

Aaron is a simple man with simple pleasures. He is happy seeing you and Jack and any other children he has with you, happy. He loves handmade gifts from Jack and any other children.

Helpful: do they help others, or are they rather selfish?

Aaron is very humble and thoughtful, he does acts of service and helps as much as he can whoever it is.

Insecure: do they have any insecurities?

Aaron is insecure about his presence at home as he’s away from home a lot due to different cases and working long hours. He’s insecure about himself being a potential threat to you and you being targeted by an unsub.

Jealous: are they of jealous nature?

Aaron isn’t a jealous guy.

Kitchen: can they cook? Do they have a signature dish?

Aaron is a decent cook. He can make a good breakfast, lunch and dinner but he isn’t as good a baker. He gets an easy enough pasta recipe off Dave and it becomes his signature recipe to make for you.

Laugh: what makes them laugh?

Aaron laughs at the happiness of you, Jack and any other children you have. He loves seeing you laugh and being carefree. He also loves classic comedy like Chaplin and he has a great love of different comedy genres.

Morning routine: what are they like in the morning?

Aaron gets up, has a quick shower and then gets dressed before waking Jack up while you shower and dress. He gets Jack washed and ready before meeting you in the kitchen where you’re fixing breakfast for the three of you usually.

Night routine: how do they unwind before going to bed?

Aaron will tuck Jack into bed and do their nightly candle connection chat with Haley while you tidy up the house and get ready for bed yourself. Aaron will then comes to bed where the two of you chat a bit and sometimes watch a movie or read a book together.

Occupy: what does their home look like?

Aaron has a tidy home and it has signs of warmth, family and love with pictures of him, you and Jack and any other children you have together. Children’s toys are sometimes scattered, the odd Lego lying on the ground unseen.

Pet peeve: what are things they absolutely can't stand?

Aaron can’t stand disloyalty or people not accepting their commitments or stepping up. He also can’t stand arrogance and bullying.

Quirky: what's their quirky trait?

Aaron collects fridge magnets from each city or town or state he visits. It helps him remember that there is more to the place than the unsub.

Relax: are they easily stressed out or do they go with the flow?

Aaron has a high stress job but he isn’t stressed out by it or show it. He has learned to deal with it by now.

Spontaneous: are they?

Aaron is quite spontaneous due to his job being unpredictable and whenever he has free time or no cases happening then he will whisk you or you & Jack off to somewhere or something.

Truthful: how much of the truth do they tell others?

Aaron doesn’t talk about his cases and will gloss over them. But he is genuinely a truthful guy and values honesty and transparency and integrity.

Upset: are they upset easily? And what upsets them?

Aaron again has seen a lot of horrific things happen within his career and doesn’t let his emotions show then but he lets his emotions show when around you, Jack and any other children you have together. He gets upset thinking about losing any of you or any of his team.

Vain: how vain are they?

Aaron isn’t the most vain. He works out, likes being fit and healthy and wears nice suits with his hair trimmed neatly.

Work: what kind of job do they have/would they like?

Aaron is a profiler and ex-attorney. But he wishes his job would let him be home more often.

X-factor: do they have a talent for something?

Aaron has a talent for reading people due to his job but he also has a talent for acting to an extent due to his past.

Yield: how easily do they give in to something/someone?

Aaron can be somewhat unyielding.

Zealous: what are they enthusiastic and passionate about?

Aaron is passionate about his family and about his job.

#aaron hotchner #aaron hotchner x reader #aaron hotchner x oc #aaron hotch x reader #aaron hotchner fanfiction #criminal minds #thomas gibson

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ssahotchnerr · 1 year

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so i’m writing dadsbestfriend!hotch x reader (but christmas edition) and it’s everything i ever needed - are you kidding me? mistletoe and secret santa and aaron looking so goddamn fine in a red button down, sleeves rolled up to his elbows so that when he’s shrugged off his suit jacket you can see every chord of muscle right down to the veins on his arms !!

and because it’s not even thanksgiving yet and i’m impatient, i’m leaving this here because little details like this have me giggling and kicking my feet

“i come bearing gifts.” he holds up a tupperware container. “dessert. jack and i made sugar cookies. granted, they might not be recognizable - jack was a bit overzealous with the frosting - but they are delicious, and,” he offers you a neatly wrapped present, complete with a red bow, “for the now not-so-secret santa.”

he chuckles at his own joke, a warm and light sound that rumbles low in his chest, and considering that aaron's laughs are a rarity, few and far in between - and reserved for altogether special company - it's that knowledge that has you, despite the cold, feeling such warmth; straight out from your heart to the tips of your fingers and toes.

pls hit me with ur holiday hotch thoughts 🥺💗

STOPPPPP the way that is so incredibly and absolutely perfect i am MELTING 😭🥰 if you're comfy with it, pls tag me once you've finished i would love to read it fully 🫶🏻

cw; mentions of food, quick reference to haley's death

UGH but holidays with the hotchners 🥺🥺🥺 i have many many thoughts hehe i hope you're ready!!!!

i can see aaron being the type to wait until after it's thanksgiving to really begin prepping or whatnot, BUT you, along with jack's help, are pulling all the christmas boxes out of storage within the first week of november.

AHHH imagine aaron getting home from work, and as he opens the door he is immediately greeted by the blasting of christmas music and boxes piled in the living room. at first, he freezes and is like what in the world ????? but then jackers runs up to him all excited that he's finally home so the three of you can finally start decorating because he's been waiting way way too long 🥹🥹🥹 you join the two of them, just as excited as jack, and aaron looks at you amusingly and is like "wasn't it halloween not even a week ago?? what happened to thanksgiving?" but hehe nonetheless, that night aaron sets up the tree and you all decorate the apartment together <3333

and that's just the beginning of all the festivities 🥹 the first day it actually snows a decent amount, you and aaron take jack sledding <3 UGHGHGN aaron all bundled up in a puffy coat with a hat and scarf 😭😭 he's also very adamant that you and jack are equally as bundled up, there will be no frostbite on his watch >:( but the three of you all race one another down the hill, and take turns going down with jack 🥹 speaking of aaron gets so <3333 seeing you and jack sliding down the hill together. on several occasions the sled topples over, throws you both into the snow and the two of you are just laughing and laughing 🥺 and despite the cold aaron is just feeling so so so warm because he feels so happy and what more could he want in the world than his two favorite people 😭 and afterwards!!! it only makes sense to indulge in hot chocolate and watch a christmas movie <3 the three of you cozy up on the couch (and yes, you did talk aaron into matching christmas jammies) with blankets and your hot chocolate and have a sweet night in <3 this year, jack can't seemingly get enough of elf but he barely makes it twenty minutes, falling asleep from the super fun day he had <3 hehe that leaves you and aaron 🥺 you're curled up at his side and he has an arm around you <3 AH he just keeps giving you kisses and his eyes are so so full of love when he looks at you 🥰😣

and the week of christmas!!!!!! full of making cookies, last minute shopping, the three of you work on a gingerbread house together, and jack is nearly bouncing off the walls with excitement from the second he wakes up until he's tucked into bed that night <3 and just the thought of aaron in cozy sweaters or crewnecks <3333 omg

on christmas eve, dave has his big get-together at his mansion, for dinner and gifts with the team. and then christmas day is just a day for you and your boys 🥺<3 jack is in your room right at dawn, jumping onto the bed to wake you and aaron up because you've been asleep for far too long and he needs to see if santa stopped by!!!!!! hehe aaron gets up first much to jack's dismay, because he has to wait just five more minutes, solely just to put some coffee on <333 but that gives you an opportunity to give jack some quick snuggles and tell him merry christmas 🥹 and finally when aaron is ready hehe, jack runs out and is completely enamored by what he sees 🥹 you and aaron watch him open his gifts, and then jack surprises you with gifts of his own!!!! it's different crafts he made at school, but you can easily tell how hard he worked on them and jack is also very proud of himself that he managed to keep this a lil secret without letting it spill🥺 and then it's the rest of the family gifts!!! heheh you and jack got aaron a gift, and aaron and jack got you one <3333 ughbgh there is just so much love in the air and everything is absolutely perfect <3 the three of you also stay in your pajamas all day long 🥺

ALSO!!! it wasn't until after you entered aaron's life that his holiday season became more festive 😭 while he was with haley, they did the per usual; decorating, presents, christmas cookies, made it as fun as they could for jack- all that. but after the divorce, everything changed since it was just him. he would still have a tree, he would decorate cookies with jack, but the season just didn't feel as magical anymore :( and it didn't help that he had such a busy work schedule. plus before haley died, he only spent a few hours with jack on christmas, meaning he spent most of the day alone :((((( but now, he has you and will never feel sad or alone during the holiday season as well, which now quickly become his favorite time of year 🥹 plus let's not forget how you are driven to make sure jack has an amazing holiday season after everything he went through too :( you just want to supply your boys with the most love possible 🥺

so even decorating earlier works in aaron's favor then, because since you never know when he'll be dragged away by serial killers, you have a more open window of time to make sure aaron is included and doesn't miss out on anything <33333

#aaron hotchner #aaron hotchner x reader #hotch x reader #aaron hotchner imagine #aaron hotchner fanfiction #aaron hotchner fluff #aaron hotchner imagines #aaron hotch x reader #criminal minds drabble #criminal minds x reader #criminal minds imagine #criminal minds

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alicewonderao3 · 5 months

Text

Mutual Pining

Title: Mutual Pining

Characters: Aaron Hotchner, David Rossi, Spencer Reid, fem!original character.

Pairing: Aaron Hotchner x fem!original character

Warnings: None, fluffy. Use of fem!character, mentions of violence typical for criminal minds, Aaron has a nickname for her.

Summary: She's been pining after her gorgeous boss for a while now, and is unwilling to believe the older man might possibly return her feelings. What happens when she gets injured on a case, and he proves her wrong?

Authors note: So this is something I've had in my drafts for a long time now. I started writing it and just never had the motivation to finish it until today. I didn't realize I used one of the prompts for @the-slumberparty's naughty or nice challenge until after I'd edited the piece, so I'm submitting it at as well. I'm rewatching Criminal minds and working on a piece out of my wheelhouse, a soft!dark Aaron Hotchner. It's gonna be good. As always, I have no beta, and if I missed any warnings or tags, let me know, and all spelling and grammar mistakes are mine. Enjoy!

Word Count: 2,553

Life can be cruel sometimes. It can be downright nasty, but right now, I can't help but curse life with all my being. I'm working at my desk, and I'm supposed to be studying crime scene photos and helping form the profile so we can catch this latest in a long line of bad, bad men, but I can't. How can I be expected to focus when Aaron's just standing over there, talking with Rossi about something, I'm not sure what, looking as gorgeous as he is?

It's a shame. I sigh, returning to my work when I see Rossi's eyes catch mine, watching me admire Aaron, and my cheeks flush and I duck my head, my dark curls hiding my face as I examine the crime scene photos with a sudden interest. The two walk by my desk, but say nothing. Rossi is the only one in the office who knows of my crush on Aaron, revealed one night when I arrived early at his house for a team dinner.

He's the only one who knows how much I like him, and admire him. He's told me to make my move several times, but it's hard. I don't know if Aaron even likes me in that way, let alone if he even notices me. Sometimes he tends to look right through people, with that single-minded determination he's got.

It's easy to like Aaron Hotchner. So easy. The man is gorgeous, and tall, with dark brown eyes and hair that is never out of place. And don't get me started on the suits he wears. They fit his muscled frame beautifully, and the man has no idea the effect he has on me by simply walking in. But it's not just looks. Aaron's funny, intelligent, and incredibly sweet.

There is a lot hidden under that cool reserve he has, that mask he uses to keep the world out. He keeps people at arm's length and has ever since Haley died. He keeps Jack close to him, and I can't help but adore the little boy. After his dad, I'm his obvious favorite, and he loves hanging with me at my desk. I keep a special drawer in my desk just for Jack, full of dinosaurs and his favorite snacks, plenty of crayons and coloring sheets, and books.

I sigh again, glancing down at the crime scene photos with a wince. I should be working, not here daydreaming about my older, but attractive boss, but he doesn't make it easy for me. Lucky for me, he's also completely oblivious to my feelings. Or how women view him in general. He hasn't dated anyone since he broke up with Beth a few months ago.

I glance up as I feel a pair of eyes on me and see it's Aaron, standing outside his office, looking over the bullpen. I know he's making sure we're making progress, and his eyes catch mine for a moment, making my heart skip a beat and my breath catch. I look up at him, sending him a warm smile, one which he returns, to my delight.

He wanders back into his office, and I sigh. I jump when I hear Rossi's voice. "When are you going to tell him how you feel?" I sigh, fidgeting with my fingers for a moment. "I don't know. I don't even know how he feels," Rossi sighs again, his voice frustrated. "You won't know until you talk to him, you know. Maybe he returns your feelings?"

I sigh, but there's something about Rossi's remark that catches me off guard. "Wait, what do you know?" I asked him, and he just shook his head. "Uh-huh, flower. If you wanna know, you go ask him. Better yet, tomorrow is casual Friday. Wear that pink sundress you wore to the last team dinner."

He walks off and I watch him, shaking my head. Flower was Aaron's nickname for me. It was only his nickname for me. He did have sort of a soft spot for me, although I insisted he didn't treat me any differently than the other agents. He was the only one who was allowed to use it in regards to me and everyone knew it.

Morgan had nicknames for everyone but me, and when he'd innocently called me flower, hearing Aaron do it, was the last time he'd used it. Aaron had turned to look at him and raised an eyebrow. He didn't speak or ask any questions. Morgan held his hands up and never called me that again, but he did tease me about being the only agent allowed to call Hotch by his first name.

I decided to take Rossi's advice and showed up for casual Friday wearing said dress. It was a soft pink color, with tiny white flowers scattered on the fabric. It was modest enough for work while still hugging my curves, my leg poking out of the slit as I walked through the office. I couldn't wear the pink heels I'd worn at the team dinner with this outfit, but I wore pink Converse instead. My dark curls were loose, pulled back in a half-ponytail with a flowery clip.

Aaron was standing outside his office, observing the agents as we all arrived and his eyes met mine. I could have sworn I saw something in his eyes as he saw me, but it was gone. I smiled warmly up at him, and I wasn't surprised when Rossi handed me some files to go drop off to him.

I knocked softly and walked in, meeting his eyes. "Good morning, Aaron," I said softly, my voice warm and gentle. His eyes met mine and I saw his face relax. "Good morning, Flower." My smile got wider as I walked in, setting the files on his desk. "Rossi asked me to give these to you."

He nodded at me, and said, "Thank you, flower." He picked one up and it was a clear dismissal. I nodded and left his office. Rossi met my eyes and said, "Well?" I shrugged my shoulders. "I gave him the files," I said softly.

I walked away as Rossi shook his head. Then he caught my attention. "Hey, Alice?" I turned to face him. "Spencer needs help with that profile, help him will you?" I nodded.

I spent the morning in one of the conference rooms with Spencer helping him. My soft laughter and giggles filtered out into the hallway and bullpen as we worked. I enjoyed working with Spencer. We liked a lot of the same things and had the same sense of humor. He always made me laugh. I may have missed the way Aaron would stare extra hard when Spencer made me laugh, but Rossi hadn't although I didn't realize this at the time.

Spencer was in the middle of telling me a joke when we heard a throat being cleared. I was facing him, and my eyes were fixed on Spencer's as I looked up at him, my small hand on his arm as he made me giggle, and we both turned to see Aaron standing in the doorway. He had his arms crossed. "Sounds like more giggling in here than actual work." His voice was tight, almost as if he was restraining himself.

"Sorry, Hotch." Spencer said, "We're working." He said, gesturing to the whiteboard. I nodded, my dark curls bouncing. "Yeah. He was just telling me a funny joke." I said, "We are working, Aaron, I promise." I missed the way Aaron relaxed at my words, missed the way his eyes softened as he looked at me, but Spencer didn't.

The team loved to tease me about Aaron's supposed soft spot for me. I said they were crazy. They begged to differ. Spencer's grin got wider a moment and then he casually draped his arms over my shoulders, his hands brushing my sides, making me giggle again. "Spencer!" I said, slipping from him.

I missed the way Aaron's eyes darkened as Spencer's arms slipped over my shoulders, and even more so when I'd darted away and giggled. All I heard was Aaron's voice sharp, as he raised it in my direction for the first time. "Alice, there is a time for laughing and now is not it." He said, and his tone took me by surprise. My whole face fell, but I schooled it.

My voice was softer, subdued. "I'm sorry Aaron," I said, and he just turned on his heel and left, leaving me alone with Spencer, wondering what I did wrong. I helped Spencer with the profile and took it to Aaron later, my voice hesitant, as I set it on his desk. "I have that profile for you," I said, meeting his eyes.

He didn't even look up at me at first, and when he did, his voice was tight, as if he was restraining himself. "Thank you." It was only two words, but the way he said them made my heart sink and my stomach twist. Was he mad at me? I had to know, so I asked. "Aaron?" I asked, my voice soft.

He looked up at me, where I stood in front of his desk, my small hands twisting together, shifting my weight from foot to foot in my soft pink dress and I asked, "Did I do something wrong? Are you mad at me?" My warm honey-brown eyes were locked onto his and I saw him set the profile down, his whole expression softening at the panicked look I'm sure I was wearing.

"No, Flower. I'm not mad at you." He said, his voice gentle, as he stood up, taking one of my hands in his. "I was just disappointed to hear you and Spencer fooling around." He said, and his choice of words made me pause. "We weren't fooling around," I said, confused as I met his eyes. "Spencer was just telling me jokes and picking on me," I said, my head tilting as I looked up at him.

"Well," He said, as he stared down at me. "Didn't seem that way," He said, as he patted my small hand softly. "Now that you've helped Spencer, why don't you-" but he was cut off when Rossi came back in, saying we had a lead on the suspect. Garcia figured out which bar he was getting his girls from and Morgan made the suggestion someone go in as bait.

Everyone's eyes turned to me at once. "What?" I said, meeting their gazes, before realizing what they meant. Aaron was the only one who was against it until Rossi pointed out that it was our only means of catching him. And that's how I found myself at the bar, wearing my communication device and fielding the advances of several men.

The whole time I could hear Aaron's almost tight tone in my ear, "Move away from those men, you need to seem available to the unsub." He says, and I hear the controlled giggles of a few team members at his tone. I slip down the bar and this time when I'm approached, I know it's our unsub. He's charming as he flirts with me, his eyes focused on mine, as he carefully reaches out to tuck my curls behind my ear.

We know his MO is to drug his victims, to get them out of the bar, and so when I set my drink down and turn for the briefest second, I know he's drugged it when I hear that frustrated sound leave Aaron's throat, followed by, "Do not drink that, flower. Get him to take you out near the alley, we're waiting."

I do a good job of pretending I'm drugged, but instead of taking me to the alley behind the bar, he steers me out front, toward the white van waiting across the street. I can hear the team as they scramble to make their way around, and all pretenses dropped, I struggle in his hold, as tight as it is.

He shoves me into a wall, my cheek scraping against the hard brick as he kicks my feet apart, and when his hand covers my mouth to attempt to silence my screams, I bite him, prompting him to shove me harder into the wall, turning me around to slap me just as the team rounds the corner and finds us.

He's taken with brutal force after he's shoved me forward and into Aaron's waiting arms. My cheek is bleeding as Aaron's large hands cup my face, his concerned brown eyes meeting mine ."Are you okay, flower?" He asks, his thumbs gentle as he turns my face this way and that, examining it.

I nod, "Just my cheek," I murmur, and I see his expression grow concerned as he pulls me to the side, bandaging me himself. "How did that happen?" He asked gently, and I saw him tense as I told him how he shoved me into the brick wall. His hands are gentle as he patches me up, and I can't help but say, "Have a lot of practice patching up Jack huh?"

He laughs, the sound soft and gentle. "Yeah, he's always scraping his knee." He says, as he gently cleans my scrape and places a bandage over the scrape. His eyes focus on mine as he sighs. "There, all better." He says, his finger lingering on my cheek.

I don't know what prompts me, but the words leave me before I think them over, my cheeks flushing, "Kiss it better?" I see him tense, his eyes searching mine for something before he nods, leaning in close to me as my heart races in my chest, his lips gently brushing over the bandage. I'm breathing a bit heavily as he pulls back a little.

His voice is husky, "Better?" I shake my head, my curls fluttering along my cheeks with my movements. "Again?" I ask, my eyes soft and voice pleading, as his hand gently cups my face. "One more time," He says, and this time he leans in, his lips brushing across mine with a tenderness I'd never seen from him before. His kiss is soft and gentle, my heart racing in my chest as he kisses me like I'm the most important person in the world to him, our surroundings melting away as he kisses me.

We're interrupted mid-kiss by the catcalls of the team as they catch us, and my cheeks flush as we both pull away from each other. I can see the faint blush on Aaron's cheeks as we hear the team teasing us. Rossi walks up and claps a hand on his shoulder. "I knew you'd do it sooner or later, Aaron." He winks at me as he walks away, and I realize that the team was indeed right. He did have a soft spot for me.

Aaron's fingers are gentle on my face as he promises, "We'll do that again later, without witnesses, flower." And it's the husky quality of his voice, the gentleness of his touch, that makes my heart skip a beat as I can't wait for later. Later, which comes in his office when we make it back to the mission, as his lips find mine again, and the door closing so we have no witnesses this time.

#aaron hotchner 💞#thomas gibson #criminal minds #navy and roo sleepover #aaron hotchner imagine #aaron hotchner x oc female character #mutual pining

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spacecowboyhotch · 2 years

Text

In the East & West

gif credits @hotch-girl

summary: hotch and reader realize some things.

pairing: gn!reader x aaron hotchner

contents: canon typical violence, kidnapping, unsub death, idiots in love, fluff, get together, some kissin’

an: something i wrote when i was trying to get in the right headspace for writing seeing him part 6!

word count: 1.2k

cm masterlist | requests are closed

There’s only one other time that Hotch has felt this heavy weight crushing his chest. This feeling is linked to events years ago, when he drove to his shared home with Haley, racing the clock. It feels like the world is moving in slow motion as he and Emily move through the corridors of the power plant, trying to find you. He’s grateful to have her by his side, as he can cling to the hope that backup always warrants better statistics.

But, the way he feels like he’s dying comes to him as a surprise. If there’s anything that he can count on in this life is that the two of you will disagree. Somehow you’re too similar and too different all in the same breath. You will grind his gears, like clockwork and he’ll frazzle your nerves until you feel like you’re going crazy. Both things are as fated as the sun rising in the east and setting in the west.

But he has to get to you. He would do anything to see you again, and while he’s not sure how his feelings for you have silently developed inside him, he doesn’t plan on hiding them from you. All he can do is hope that he gets the chance to tell you. The pessimist in him doesn’t expect anything but rejection.

They find you and the unsub in a steaming hot boiler room. He’s already dead, laying on your lap from where you’d strangled him in the cuffs he has you in. Your brow is bloodied, your face stained with tears. Hotch and Emily move quickly, getting the unsub’s body off of you and you out of the cuffs in just a few minutes.

Much to his surprise, you reach for him immediately, wrapping around him tightly. He holds you close, burying his face in your hair and soothing you as you continue to cry. The reunion, whatever it is, is short-lived as Emily starts to speak into her comms, breaking the bubble. Gathering your wits, you pull away from him, murmuring a soft thanks to him. The three of you start through the power plant again, having a much easier time finding an exit now that they’ve been through practically the entire property.

It isn’t until you’re back in Quantico that Hotch pulls you into his office, wanting to talk about the events. You both sit at his coffee table, he in one of his chairs, you on the couch. It’s all protocol, recounting the events and editing reports up until the end.

He closes the files and takes a deep, steadying breath as he broaches the next subject, “There’s one last thing that I wanted to touch on.”

“About me attaching myself to you, I’m sorry. I don’t know why I did that. Thanks for not making it awkward and just taking it,” You let out a nervous chuckle, running your hands up and down your knees.

“I wanted to do that for you, there’s no reason for you to thank me.”

His admission gives you the courage to say something further, “I don’t know what the hell was going on but all I could think about is you. I don’t know what that means.”

“I was experiencing the same thing, and I think I do know what it means,” He shifts in his seat and you look at him inquisitively, your eyes asking him to go on. “The…panic that I felt when I was trying to get to you…I only felt that when…”

You immediately know what he’s talking about and hurry to cut him off, “Hotch, you don’t have to-“

“I think if we’re talking about my dead wife you can call me Aaron,” He says bluntly.

You run your tongue over your bottom lip, raising your eyebrows, “Fair enough. Aaron.”

He closes his eyes, trying to organize his thoughts again, and once he’s ready to speak he opens them again, “What I’m trying to say is that there’s something here between us, and I know that because of how helpless I felt when I couldn’t get to you.”

“And then there was the relief…” You admit softly, looking down at your hands as your face grows warm.

“I saw that you were okay, and it felt like I was breathing for the first time.”

You nod slowly in agreement, looking up to stare at him for a few beats. The emotions inside of you are a mixture of surprise and endearment. It’s the last thing you expect from him, to not only feel a way for you but to be vulnerable about it. It’s strange to think that your feelings for him are now as clear as day too.

“Can I…can I be near you?” You ask timidly, your fingers knotting together in your lap.

He doesn’t reply with words, just holds his hand out to you. You move with no hesitation, panting yourself firmly in his lap with your arms wrapped around his neck. The intensity of being this close to him, surrounded by his scent and staring into his eyes makes you a little light-headed.

“My turn to ask for something.”

“Ask away.”

One of his hands leaves your waist, caressing your cheek. His gaze is deep and tender, “Can I kiss you?”

“Please.”

He closes the gap between you two quickly, eager to feel your lips against his. Unlike the tentative conversation, he kisses you confidently, his mouth soft and sure. Your hands find their way into his hair promptly, knotting in it to bring him closer. His hand tightens around your waist just as he dips his tongue into your mouth, exploring the taste of you. The act has you crumbling against him, a weak moan sounding in the back of your throat. The hand cupping your face runs back over your hair, before finding its place at the nape of your neck to bring you even closer as if you’re melting into him. It makes it easier for him to kiss you even deeper.

And once you’re breathless he pulls away, planting a shorter kiss on the corner of your mouth before he tucks his face into your neck. After a few moments, he hums appreciatively, “Mmm, have you always smelled this good?”

“What the hell is that supposed to mean?”

“Well, I just figured with the attitude…” He keeps his face deadpan and your mouth drops open.

“Are you saying I have a stank attitude?”

He gives you a look as if he’s mulling it over, “In so many words.”

“You’ve got some nerve for a man who hardly smiles.”

“It worked somehow,” His eyes are smug as he quirks an eyebrow.

“So did my quote-on-quote stank attitude,” You retort but there’s a cheeky smile on your face.

“I have to be honest, I thought the bickering wouldn’t come back so quickly.”

“I think the bickering is our thing…it’s here to stay,” You run your hand through his hair affectionately, before pressing your forehead to his.

“And so am I,” He whispers, pressing his lips to yours once more.

if you’d like to be on my hotch taglist let me know!

tagged: @ssahotchsbitch, @chelseyjoyce, @ssamorganhotchner, @kuolonsyoja, @heliotropehotch, @averyhotchner, @zetasaturno99, @art-and-thoughts, @laurensprentiss, @ssa-montgomery, @thinking-bucky, @silvermercy, @ashhotchner, @fightingdragonswithreid, @moonshine-evelyn, @emlynblack, @ssahotchnerxx, @sunshinexhotchner, @angelfxllcm, @wheelsupkels, @jaspxr, @gspenc, @sadgirlml, @hotchs-bitch, @crowfootwrites, @wilbur-rabbit, @hotched, @aaronhotchy, @reidselle, @honeybrowne, @eternal-silvertongued-prince, @scargarcia-magshotchner, @my-rosegold-soul, @mayasreadingnook, @anlin2058, @mojo366, @hotchandspencearedilfs

#aaron hotchner x reader #reader x aaron hotchner #gn reader x aaron hotchner #aaron hotchner x gn reader #aaron hotchner/reader #aaron hotchner x you #hotch x reader #hotch x you #aaron hotchner fic #criminal minds fanfiction #arson writes

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masterwords · 7 months

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Okay @hosseinis, so I went to edit this into a different story (becasue I had a better idea and I'm an impulsive little gremlin) and tumblr went wild and zapped the whole thing into non-existence. SO I started fresh. And even though this was written in 15 minutes and is SUPER rough, I think it's better than the first one.

I love me a good tear fest. Both, I choose both of them crying. Savory salty kisses coming right up! (~1100 words)

(Send me a kiss (or LOTS of them) and I'll write you some hotchgan!)

“How is Jack?” Hotch asked, giving only the slightest inclination of his chin, the quickest movement of his eyes to even indicate that he’d been the one who spoke. Derek stood over him, still in his vest, still with sleeves smeared with blood, frozen.

“He’s okay. Will came and picked him up, he’s taking the kids to the police station.”

Hotch hummed, a low gravel sound deep in his chest. He’d been sitting in the waiting room, curled up in the corner around a small cup of ice water for two hours. JJ dropped him off, intending to sit with him and wait but he said no. He wanted to be alone. The scene was processed, the gruesome scene that used to be his home and he still wasn’t finished here.

“Have you been seen yet? Do I need to go knock some skulls?”

“They’re busy,” Hotch rasped. “No rooms. A doctor came out to see me, he wants a chest x-ray. Soon.”

Derek sat down beside him, careful not to touch. He’d been up and down those stairs, through every room in that house and he simply couldn’t understand how Hotch walked away. The battle that raged in his mind as he tried to retrace their footsteps was astounding. “Chest x-ray?”

Hotch just looked at him, held him in a glare for a moment too long, and let his head drop again like the strain of holding it up it had just been too much. “Just a precaution.”

Just a precaution sounded like a flimsy argument. He wanted to argue, to call bullshit. He was only months out from a traumatic injury and now he was right back in here, it was more than just a precaution. And Hotch wasn’t leaving, wasn’t arguing, was just sitting docile and quiet in the waiting room. Just a precaution sounded like a lie. But they waited, side by side in silence, neither of them doing anything more than breathing.

“Aaron Hotchner?”

Derek glanced up first and stood, arching his back, stretching life back into his limbs. “Yeah. That’s him.”

The nurse looked from Derek, with his bloody sleeves and his intense but worn eyes and smiled. “We’re ready for him in radiology.”

Hotch made a slight move, just a slip of his hips to move to the front of his chair and stopped. He squeezed his eyes shut against a wave of dizziness, gripping his cup tight enough to dent the sides. Derek crouched beside him, still afraid to touch him, and looked up into his face.

“Can I help you?”

“Just need a minute,” Hotch whispered with the softest hint of an embarrassed smile. “Been sitting too long.”

“Yeah. I’m sure that’s it.”

All in all, the entire day was spent in the hospital. Hotch didn’t put up a fight when they asked him to sit in the wheelchair, he didn’t put up a fight when they asked him to lie down and he didn’t put up a fight when they told him he needed to rest. Of course, what he did at home and what they told him to do would likely look very different but he never said a word. That was the difference, Derek realized, between having something to fight for and losing everything.

He took the back roads to Hotch’s apartment, slowing down through broken city streets and neighborhoods that had seen better days. Avoiding the suburbs with their manicured charm.

It was Derek that cried first. He would have put money on it going the other way, but he just kept looking at his hands, feeling Haley’s cold skin beneath his fingers, thinking about the last time he’d seen her. He pulled over the parking lot of an abandoned grocery store, the streetlamps flooding parking spots with faded paint and cracked asphalt, killed the engine and fell into the silence.

There was nothing to say, no apologies he could make to take it all back. It was his fault at the end of the day, it happened on his watch. He’d held himself together, taken charge at the scene, given his team direction, and what did he have to show for it? More paperwork. An internal affairs investigation. And beside him, a man who had lost everything.

Hotch’s hand covered his as it sat on the stick shift, squeezed his fingers gently. The bandages over his knuckles were soft white clouds in the saltlamp glow and Derek cried harder. Until his chest constricted and his breath stuck in his lungs. “Dammit. I’m sorry.”

There wasn’t anything for Hotch to say, there weren’t words for this situation. Not yet. He reached up and touched Derek’s chin, turned his face toward him and slowly let himself fall against Derek. He groaned at the effort, his cracked ribs protesting every movement but they’d been separate all day and right now he needed to be close, to not be alone.

“We’ve gotta stop this,” Derek whispered, dropping his chin, leaning close until their foreheads touched. “Can’t be doing this right now. I need to get you home.”

“It’s your fault,” Hotch whispered back, finally finding his voice. He’d begun crying too, silent tears that came and went without warning. He began swiping at his cheeks with a little more force than was strictly necessary, tired of the sticky feel of tears on his cheeks. Derek stilled his hands and pressed their lips together in a delicate kiss, all slick saltwater warmth and shaky breath. They were alone, in the car in the parking lot in the entire neighborhood entirely alone, and the universe still felt thick and heavy. Beneath his clothes, Hotch’s skin was on fire but there was a strange calm that Derek had crafted in that kiss, and with a shuddering sigh Hotch kissed him back. Derek’s hands were cradling Hotch’s jaw, and Hotch’s hands balled up into weak fists in the fabric of Derek’s shirt and if they weren’t sitting in a bad area of town he might be content to stay here all night.

“Let’s go get Jack,” Derek whispered against Hotch’s lips, his eyes heavy-lidded and dark in the shadows. He was dead on his feet exhausted and still had so far to go before rest. They would get Jack and set themselves to whatever it was that people did in the evening when the earth hadn’t been blown to bits – dinner, bath, bed. Life always had to march on even when it felt like everything had come to a halt.

Hotch nodded, pressing his face against Derek’s, dragging his broken nose up the scruff of Derek’s cheek. Softer than rough, like the little sheets of sandpaper Derek discarded from his belt-sander, he loved the feel of it against his skin. It was lazy Saturday mornings after a long, hard week. It was walking in the door after a hard case and knowing you were home. It was looking up from your waking nightmare in a hospital waiting room to see salvation glowing above you, sitting beside you, driving you home.

“Thank you Derek.”

#aaron hotchner #derek morgan #hotchgan #criminal minds #ficlet #please im so sorry the first one was eaten but it wasn't as good as this anyway so i guess it worked out

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jaspxr · 7 months

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inspo: x // pictures: @masterwords

[Quotes by Nitya Prakash/Richard Siken]

#aaron hotchner #jack hotchner #haley hotchner #hotchley #criminal minds #criminal minds edit #cm edit #jasedit

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hotchs-bitch · 1 year

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Superman [angst]

Summary: In which Haley Hotchner's life stops resembling a fairytale, and starts resembling a sad pop rock song

Pairing: Aaron Hotchner x Haley Hotchner

Word Count: 5.7k

Warnings: Angst, references to child abuse but nothing explicit, Haley is just kind of slowly losing her mind, you might recognize a couple of episodes in here if you squint, this is basically canon compliant but make it spicy and sad

A/N: Massive shoutout to @leftoverenvy for editing this & helping me maximize pain on this one, and to @sadgirlml and @greg-montgomery for yelling about the first draft enough that I was inspired to continue writing this.

As with all song fics (but particularly this one, line for line), it is eerily similar to its inspiring song so I recommend giving that a listen! Find it on ao3 here, or under the cut!

Happy reading <3

I watch superman fly away Come back, I'll be with you someday I'll be right here on the ground When you come back down

Haley’s life has fallen into a routine. She doesn’t know when it happened, and she’s not too sure that she likes it.

Every morning, Aaron’s alarm goes off. She wakes up to that and wakes up a second time when he whispers, “Good morning.” On the days that her eyes open a bit, he kisses her. On the days that she wakes up and keeps them closed, he doesn’t. It seems that the ritual of saying ‘good morning’ is more routine than she is.

She stays awake after he gets out of bed to shower and gets ready for work in the bathroom, and the empty space next to her grows as cold as their marriage is becoming.

The sound of his briefcase always wakes her up a third time right when her eyes are starting to flutter shut again, alerting her to the world with the sound of metal clasps and shuffling papers. He says ‘goodbye’, calls it out from the kitchen after scarfing down something for breakfast, and then he’s gone with the sound of his car rumbling to life in the garage and then pulling away.

He’s off to work, off to save the world, and she doesn’t know if she’s going to fall asleep in a cold, empty bed tonight. She never knows.

He wasn’t always like this. When they lived in Seattle and he was a prosecutor, he’d been around more. He was home in the evenings, he left later in the mornings, and she often woke up to find him making breakfast for both of them before going to law school or- later on- the office. He’s always had a steadfast sense of ambition, but the hours were never quite as long as they would one day come to be in his future at the FBI.

She had asked Aaron about the hours he worked as a prosecutor, once. They had been on the couch with her legs strewn over his lap, sipping the dredges of the bottle of red wine he had picked up. He was complaining, lamenting about the boss who implied he should be working overtime as the senior DA’s did.

“Why work yourself to death?” she had asked, combing her hand through his hair. It was cropped shorter than it had been in college and he hardly put any product in it, the locks just long enough to drag her fingers through.

“I don’t know.” He had grabbed her hand at the wrist and kissed the back of it, giving her that brilliant smile she fell in love with so many years ago, the one that reached up to the eyes that reminded Haley of his mother. “I’d rather be here with you. Nothing is more important than that.”

When had that changed? Was it when Aaron started working at the BAU, or after he took on the role of Unit Chief? They’d always been a close couple- being high school sweethearts played into that, the idea of navigating life with your best friend and being able to tell the other person anything. When he works long hours now, she wonders if he knows just how much she misses him.

In the blink of an eye, she was desperate for him in a way she hadn’t been for years. His touch in the evenings, his kisses whenever he was within reach, and his voice when he called her from the office or from a hotel room. It was never enough, not anymore. Gone are the days when she didn’t have to cling to every word that spilled from his lips as if it would bring him back to her arms that same minute.

This is the new routine, the one she hates more than anything else in the world. This routine is a phone call, never before 9 PM. This routine is Aaron’s smiling picture on her home screen, never there for more than a split second due to how quickly she answers. This routine is a “Hello?” from her husband, sometimes spoken through a yawn. It’s a reminder that he exerts all of his energy during the day, and he gives her whatever is left over when he’s back in his hotel room.

“Hi.” She can always hear his smile, the tired relief in his voice. He’s told her more than once that she grounds him, brings him back to earth and reminds him of the love in the world when his work shows him the opposite. It’s a little ironic that she hears from him less often during the difficult cases. “How are you?”

“Just fine,” Haley says, and then she doesn’t know what to say. Aaron never used to ask her how she was doing. There were always more important things to discuss, and for years he always knew how she was doing. He could read her like a book annotated just for him, and he was around to do that whenever he wanted to. He never needed to ask, not when he was right in front of her.

‘How are you?’ is a grappling hook, thrown across the chasm that has slowly begun to split them apart. It’s an admittance that he doesn’t know how she feels at any given point, even though they’ve been together for half their lives.

“That’s good,” he murmurs. She can picture him now, still in the suit that he only takes off when he needs to, his tie loosened after a long day of keeping it done up tightly around his neck. He gets antsy with the restriction on his throat; his impatience with the garment rises after eight hours, and he left for work nearly fifteen hours ago. Is he sitting at the hotel room desk, or lying back on the bed? Does it matter, when he’s not here with her either way? “We’re making progress. I’m hoping to be home in a couple of days.”

Haley wonders if her voice sounds hollow and brittle. She wonders if he’ll even notice if it does, or if his mind is still focused on whatever sick, twisted criminal he’s responsible for this time. It’s a repulsive thought, one she hates herself for having; that she could be jealous of these monsters, of the victims her husband helps, because he thinks about them more than he thinks about her while he’s gone. “That’s good to hear.”

Definitely hollow.

Aaron doesn’t seem to notice.

“I can’t wait to be home,” he promises. “I’ve missed you.”

“You, too. Jessica had a dinner party last night. She invited us.” She doesn’t know why she’s telling him. The information is only going to hurt him, and he can’t change the past now. Maybe she doesn’t want to be the only one hurting, as petty as that is.

“I'm sorry, Hales.” The apology is delivered with a guilty sigh. Good. “We’ll make it to the next one; you can hold me to it. Listen, I’ve got to go. Morgan is finally done in the shower; we’re going to review the file again and then get some sleep. Goodnight.”

“Goodnight, Aaron.” When she pulls the phone away from her ear to hang up, she can already hear her husband speaking to someone else. Paying her no mind as the call cuts off in the middle of, ‘The file, pass me that-’. Forgetting about her, just as quickly as he’d seemed to remember.

It’s not until she’s ready for bed, curled up on her side of the queen-sized mattress with the memory of Aaron occupying the other cold, empty side, that she realizes he didn’t say ‘I love you’ while on the phone. She didn’t say it either.

Gone are the days where it was used as loose punctuation after every conversation, every kiss, after every meal shared and after quiet laughter died down and it was the only thing they wanted to say. Gone are the deliveries of those three words, lips to skin, elation at hearing them as though it’s the very first time all over again. Haley isn’t sixteen anymore, isn’t kissing a handsome senior in the backseat of his dad’s car and hearing those words and thinking, ‘I’m going to marry him’. Over the years she has grown up, the same way Aaron has.

Maybe it doesn’t matter if Aaron forgot to say it, or if Haley did, or if neither of them forgot and just didn’t want to say it all. Either way, she knows she’ll love him forever.

They’ve discussed having kids. They talked about it a little more seriously, back in Seattle. Even more seriously when they were younger. There’s some sick irony there, of them wanting to grow up too soon and now that they’re there, grownups with jobs and a house, things are less certain than they’ve ever been.

That’s not to say Haley hasn’t thought about it recently, because she certainly has. She’s thought about a little girl with her eyes and Aaron’s dimples. A little boy, with Aaron’s cowlick and her childish giggle.

A child, half Aaron and half Haley, a little one to spoil and love and dote on. A kid, to be around and stay home with her when her husband doesn’t. She wants one, and he used to want one, too. It’s hard to say if he still does.

One night, he brings it up. Over dinner and red wine on a rare weekend off, he asks her if she’s thought about having children lately.

“What would I tell them when you leave for work?” she asks, letting the clink and drag of utensils sit in the empty space until he fills it. “You know. You’re off saving the world, keeping busy. We’d just be here.”

“I know that. But you’d both be here, whenever I come back.” He says it passively, with no nerves to be found, like it’s just a fact. Whenever he comes back to the ground, off the jet after being away for days at a time, she’s waiting for him. When that familiar grin flicks across his face, she waits for the punchline. “Just tell them I’m Superman.”

Haley rolls her eyes good-naturedly at that. “I don’t know about that,” she says, and they don’t bring it up again that night.

Alone again the very next night, Haley wonders if maybe her husband is Superman. Tall, dark, handsome, and overcommitted to the lives of random people. Superman would probably take more interest in his wife, she thinks bitterly. Tonight’s phone call hadn’t lasted a full three minutes. Maybe if they had a child, he would linger on the phone a little longer.

Aaron’s relationship with fatherhood is… complicated. That’s the word she decided on a long time ago, and she’s never seen a reason for that to change. His own father was awful, she knows firsthand. Aaron carries around a go bag alongside a suitcase full of irrational fear, things he hasn’t confessed in the dark in a long time but she knows in her heart are still true.

He thinks he’s capable of drinking excessively. Of hitting, and hating, and hurting. He told her that once- in fewer words- the week after his nineteenth birthday when they had gone for a drive after seeing a movie. “I want kids,” he had confessed, driving away from any street lights that could show her his face during such a vulnerable confession. “But, with my… I don’t want to be like him, Hales. I couldn’t do it.”

“You aren’t like him,” she had promised, grasping his hand where it sat on the gearshift- a leftover habit from when Haley’s dad taught him how to drive for the first time with a stick shift. “You don’t have a mean bone in your body, Aaron. You’re perfect.”

And, sure, she had been a lovesick 18-year-old, full of hope and adoration and on the cusp of adulthood with her high school sweetheart on her arm, but it had also been true.

Down to her bones, back when she was 18 and still now in her 30s, she knows that he could never inflict a fraction of the pain that was thrust his way for years. Maybe one day, he’d believe it too.

Maybe they should have a kid. A baby, one to fall in love with immediately and never stop loving. She wants to have one, he wants one and needs to see that he can have one, that being a hateful drunk of a husband and father isn’t who he is. It makes sense.

Maybe when he realizes he isn’t any sort of danger to their child, he’ll take her away from here, settle their family down somewhere safer. They could go anywhere, do anything. The FBI is stingy, but Haley’s husband does good work at an important job and he’s certainly compensated properly.

They could buy a house in California or Georgia, maybe. They could go to Ohio, the middle of nowhere, unrecognizable to everyone. They could be known as the happy couple, the next-door neighbours with the cute kid, the husband and wife who love each other so much that it annoys everyone else.

That particular dream deflates when one night, in a flurry of ‘what could be’ fantasies, Haley is browsing houses on Zillow in Logansport, Indiana. Aaron slides into bed beside her, kisses her temple and then peeks at her laptop screen.

“What are you up to?” he asks, and she shrugs one shoulder. “That’s a nice city. I was there in March.”

That’s that dream deflated, her balloon of possibility punctured due to the reminder that he’s solved murders in practically every habitable city in the country. “Nothing.” She closes the laptop, sets it on her nightstand, and rolls over with her eyes closed. Aaron settles one arm over her waist, and they fall asleep like that.

When Jack arrives a little over a year and change later, neither of them brings up relocating. Aaron is probably happy with the current arrangement. Haley, for her part, doesn’t want to find out exactly how many other cities her husband’s job has tainted. It’s tainted far too many places, including the FBI building itself.

It always surprises Haley when she visits Aaron at his work. He’s so different there, and she’s not so sure that she likes Unit Chief Hotchner.

She’s heard all about his reputation. Impenetrable, a hardass drill sergeant, a bully. She’s heard all the cracks made about him in that quiet moment before the bullpen notices her, when he’s still in his office.

His team appreciates him, and they respect him. She knows that, but something about the way they groan good-naturedly when he tells them to get to work has always rubbed her the wrong way. She can’t bear to listen to it.

To their credit, he’s a different person when he’s at work. He’s all stiff shoulders, narrowed eyes, his beautiful smile sloped down like he’s trying to hold back a frown all the time. They don’t see him the way Haley does. They don’t see his brown eyes, deep with emotion when he apologizes to her, when he holds her close, when he holds their baby.

He’s not all bad. They just don’t see it like she does.

She brings Jack to the office one day, her beautiful bundle of joy swaddled in a blanket as if that can protect him from the horrors regularly discussed in his dad’s workplace. Aaron is standing on the landing outside of his office, bent over to speak to Spencer at his desk.

He’s Hotch here, not Aaron. Haley doesn’t think she likes Hotch all too well. Aaron shines through a bit, cracks Hotch’s armour when he sees her. “Hi. I didn’t know you were dropping by.” His voice, rough and low and describing something gory she couldn’t make out a moment ago, is something closer to the excited tone she’s used to.

“Hey. I thought we’d pay Daddy a visit.” She bounces her son, and the coo he lets out melts her heart as her husband makes his way over.

“Hey, handsome boy,” Aaron croons, taking the blanketed bundle from his wife. “Are you giving Mommy any trouble?”

“Only twelve dirty diapers today,” she half-jokes.

“Oh, he’s so cute!” Penelope, the tech analyst- Haley’s favourite of Aaron’s coworkers, if she had to choose- has caught wind of Haley’s presence, causing the BAU team to cluster around them.

“He’s so gorgeous,” JJ sighs, peering at the bundle in her boss's arms.

Haley thanks her, and then smiles up at Aaron when Spencer speaks. “If you find baldness and wrinkles attractive,” he comments.

There’s no spite in his words, but Penelope touches his chest to shut him up. “Look at his little widdy biddy nose,” she coos as Derek walks up, and she turns to him. “Don’t you want one of these?”

Derek smirks, still in motion on his way to the coffee maker. “Mmm, I’ll stick to practicing.”

The group laughs and scoffs, and Aaron snorts a laugh as his agent walks away. He’s different with Jack in his arms, in the BAU. He’s not quite Aaron, but he’s not quite Hotch, either. He’s in some sort of middle ground, and Haley misses her Aaron but she doesn’t have a single complaint about the smile on his face.

“Congratulations.” Elle, a member of the team that Haley isn’t too familiar with yet, appears out of thin air over her left shoulder with a folder.

Haley and Aaron thank her in unison, and Haley smiles a little more genuinely when Aaron says, “She’s amazing. I’m a little terrified.”

It’s a little funny and a little too true, but Haley doesn’t have much of a chance to think about it. Elle had approached them with her eyes trained on Aaron and a file folder in hand, obviously not over here for the social call that everyone else is.

She passes the folder to Aaron, and Haley cringes at the sight of her son and an FBI-insignia folder in her husband's arms at the same time. She knows, logically, that whatever is in that folder isn’t going to jump out and taint her perfect, innocent baby. That doesn’t mean she wants him anywhere near anything related to the horror’s of Aaron’s job.

She can see it happen; the moment he becomes Hotch again. His gaze hardens slightly, his mouth draws into that downward purse, and he brushes a quick kiss to the top of Jack’s head before handing him back to Haley.

“Well, we should get going,” she says, taking Jack back and holding him to her chest. “You’ve got places to be.” Neither of them needs to say, There’s a case. Not anymore. It’s too routine.

“Sorry, sweetie. I’ll be home before either of you know it.” The pet name sounds wrong coming out of Hotch’s mouth. It sounds like it’s mocking her. “I’ll see you soon, I promise.”

“It’s okay, we’ll be just fine. It was nice seeing you, everyone.” She waves and Jack stretches his arm as though he’s waving too, and everyone coos and laughs and wishes them well before she steps back onto the elevator. The doors close in her face, and the last thing she sees is the concentrated, almost angry look on her husband’s face as he looks through the file.

It’s not lost on her on the drive home that neither of them said, “I love you.”

“Your Daddy is a superhero, Jack.” Haley is speaking to the infant in the backseat as she drives, periodically checking on him in the little mirror she’s put up against the seatback. She likes talking to Jack, truthfully.

He knows her voice, and his eyes light up when she says his name like he already knows it and knows her. She doesn’t know why she’s saying this, whether she’s trying to convince herself or maybe just get him used to this reality before he has a chance to learn anything else, but she keeps going. “He’s a very busy man. He saves the world every single day! Isn’t that exciting?”

Jack gurgles. He’s a great listener, but not much of a conversationalist yet.

“Yep, it is!” She coos. Her upbeat tone fools him more than it fools her, hopefully. An airplane flies overhead, low to the ground like he’s taking off. “Maybe that’s Daddy there. He flies away like Superman sometimes, Jackers.”

She doesn’t need to say the next part. Jack is a few months old; he doesn’t understand a word she’s saying. Maybe she just needs to hear it said out loud, and if that’s crazy then she’s glad no one with working memory is in the car with her, to hear her baby-talking reassurance. “He always comes back, though. Yes, he does, that’s why we can wait for him. Maybe someday he’ll stay here every day, wouldn’t that be so fun?”

She keeps talking in circles for the rest of the drive, cooing about how Jack’s dad is so cool, how he flies around the world- sue her for the exaggeration, but Jack is a baby and ‘world’ sounds a little more exciting than ‘country’- and how he meets so many people.

That night on the phone, she finds out that Aaron did, in fact, meet a lot of people today.

“We did a lot of canvassing. Reid got propositioned by every prostitute we talked to,” he says through a sigh, and Haley laughs a little at that.

“And how did you do?” she teases. Aaron’s silence is all-telling. “Come on, you can tell me.”

When he speaks, it’s hesitant. “Well, I- Just three or four of them, really, and I wasn’t-” It’s cute that as a grown man, she can get him just as flustered as when he was 18. “I didn’t try to, uh-”

“Aaron, Aaron,” she speaks over him, giggling. “I know you didn’t. They need money, and they could do a lot worse than you. I’m not upset.”

She can hear the smile in his voice. “A lot worse than me, huh?”

“Oh, yeah.” She lays down in bed, setting her phone on Aaron’s pillow while she talks. “There are a lot of guys out there, and not all of them are handsome FBI agents with a Gucci tie.”

“For the last time, Dave bought that for me before he retired, you don’t throw away gifts, Hales, and I wouldn’t wear it while I’m speaking to prostitutes.”

“Not unless you want them to think you’re loaded,” she teases, and he does that half-laugh exhale that she loves so much. “But, really, it’s okay. I’m not jealous.”

Aaron hums, and she wonders if he’s already in his own bed. “You’re not? That’s good.”

“That’s right, I’m not. Because I know you’re coming home to me, Mr. Hotchner,” she says.

“I certainly am, Mrs. Hotchner. Listen, you should get to sleep soon; it’s getting late. Tell Jack I miss him, okay?” Aaron asks.

A soft sigh escapes Haley’s lips while she makes herself comfortable; it’s more of an exhale than anything. “Of course. He misses you, too. I think he thinks you’re better at holding him,” she jests.

Aaron chuckles, and Haley hears a shifting of fabric that tells her he’s definitely in bed too. “And tell him I miss his mom, while you’re at it. I can’t wait to see you, sweetie.”

“I’ll let him know. I miss you,” she whispers, her voice so soft that she wonders if the phone will pick it up.

“I’ll be home before you know it,” Aaron promises. “I love you.”

“I love you too,” Haley responds, her chest aching with it. She loves him so much, she just wants him in her arms, but he’s not here.

Silence on Aaron’s end of the phone stretches out for a long moment before he speaks. “Goodnight, Hales,” Aaron says quietly, and she returns the sentiment softly before hanging up.

While she’s falling asleep, Haley thinks about her husband being propositioned. He’s never been anything but loyal, but their sex life has been lacking ever since Jack came along. She wonders if he was tempted, even a little bit.

Sex was never an important part of their relationship. They both enjoy it, of course; being with the same person for over a decade means memorizing exactly how they like to be touched, and maybe Aaron and Haley are both a bit of a profiler in that sense.

Sex is nice, not necessary. Sometime in their late twenties, when they became real adults, it became more of a chore than anything. Passionate nights still occurred, but they were fewer and farther apart than they had been. Their relationship didn’t suffer when their sex life started to, but Haley doesn’t know if they’ll get it back the way they had it.

Now, they have responsibilities. They’re parents, and Aaron is always busy, and neither of them gets a fraction of the rest they need. If they’re in the same bed, they’re both fast asleep. Unless Jack cries, of course.

Sometimes, Haley wakes up at night when Jack needs something, before he makes a sound. Call it mother’s intuition. Haley wakes ready to comfort and nurture and protect. Aaron is primarily ready to protect. In his half-asleep haze, that brief moment before awareness, all he thinks about is protection.

Haley can see it in the differences between them waking up. She opens her eyes at the first cry, blinks to get herself alert and awake, and then stumbles to the nursery in the dark to see what her son needs. Aaron shoots up to a sitting position when his son cries, one hand reaching for the nightstand where he keeps his gun and the other reaching out to touch Haley.

It breaks her heart the first time he does it, and every time afterwards too. He’s a light sleeper- it’s a wonder he can even sleep on cases, given the noise in hotels- so even after she tells him that she’ll get up in the middle of the night, that he doesn’t have to move a muscle, he still wakes up the same way.

He used to be a deep sleeper. She remembers the first time he slept over in the childhood bedroom, his snores being the first thing she heard when she woke up. Her father was walking around the house, and Haley was not allowed to have boys over. She had muffled the snoring with her pillow when her dad walked by her bedroom door and paused as though he was listening.

When Aaron woke up, he understood why she had done what she did, but was playfully irritated. “Damn near killed me,” he had mumbled, pulling her in for a kiss. “How are you gonna make it up to me, Brooks?”

That was the very same day she decided that, yes, she could wake up to the same face every day for the rest of her life.

At the time, she had no clue that that face wouldn’t be around every day, and that their waking up together in the middle of the night would seem to trigger some kind of trauma response in Aaron whenever he thought their child was unsafe. She had no clue that the cry of their baby would imitate the cries that her husband heard in his nightmares.

Tonight when Jack cries, Haley wakes up in an empty bed. Aaron should have been home by now, the case had wrapped up hours ago, so she picks up her son and goes to look out the kitchen window.

Jack just needs some attention. She rocks him in her arms, hums to him under her breath, and she keeps swaying after she feels him fall back asleep. The sky outside is dark, tinted with the last echo of dusk.

Maybe Aaron stayed late at the office. Maybe there was a delay with the jet. Maybe she should just be able to trust that her husband will make his way back to her, to their home.

Maybe she can’t do that.

She digs her phone out of her pocket and sends him a screenshot of the house’s location on the Maps app.

Haley: <attachment:1 Image>

Haley: Did you forget the address?

Aaron: Very funny. I’m finishing off the case report. I’ll be home before you know it.

Jack is returned to his crib once he’s good and asleep with low chances of stirring. Haley falls asleep in a cold, empty bed. Aaron doesn’t make it home before midnight.

Usually, Haley thinks that she’s very understanding about Aaron’s work situation. He works long nights, late hours, and during just about every holiday she can think of. But he cares. He’s sorry whenever he misses an event, and he’s always a little extra lovey when he gets home after not seeing his family for a week.

Usually, she’s very understanding. But usually, Aaron doesn’t forget her birthday.

They’ve been together for nearly two decades. Haley knows Aaron’s birthday as well as she knows her own, and she knows that he’s had her own memorized since she turned 16.

That’s why when she gets a flower delivery on the morning of her 34th birthday, it’s a disappointment to see the accompanying card signed by the coworkers she hasn’t seen since she went on maternity leave. Jessica comes by to visit and they go out for lunch and play with Jack, and if Haley didn’t know the ache of missing Aaron like a deep frost in her chest, it would feel like any other day. She doesn’t hear from him at all.

Her phone rings that evening, and she thinks maybe, and then she sees the picture of her dad pop up on her screen. The phone call with her parents is nice- a chance to catch up, something they haven’t done in far too long- and she laughs and chats and when she hangs up, she stifles a sob behind four fingers.

Jack is asleep, and she’s careful not to cry too loudly. It’s just a birthday, she’s being stupid, Aaron has been celebrating her birthday for over half her life, and what’s one missed in the grand scheme of things?

And maybe it wouldn’t be a big deal, maybe she wouldn’t care so much, except that she’s got 17 years of memories to compare today to. 17 years of homemade cake and clumsily-draped banners and gifts wrapped in paper that seemed to get less shoddy and more polished as the years flew by.

Her 16th birthday had been the first one they were together for. It had been memorable and fun, everything she could have asked for in a sweet 16. Her parents thought she was sleeping over at Sarah’s house, and after the festivities, she had packed a bag and gone to Aaron’s instead.

They didn’t spend much time at his house, and they both knew why. But his father was out of town, his mother fast asleep, and his little brother too timid to say a word, so Haley had slipped through the front door and found herself in his bed. It was their first time together, and she would always remember it as gentle, slow and loving. Worshipping each other’s bodies, murmuring, “I love you” in the dark, soft kisses wherever they could reach. It was clumsy and a bit awkward, sure, but it was the most romantic thing she’d ever been a part of.

When they finished Aaron had pulled out and disposed of the condom, wrapped his arms around her, and whispered, “Happy birthday, Brooks. I love you.”

He calls her ‘Brooks’ on her birthday. She’s heard that one sentence like clockwork, once a year for 17 of them straight, even when she became ‘Hotchner’. Not hearing it today, not having him here, feels like a betrayal of some kind.

She remembers how that first time had felt, how she loved him from the very beginning, the very first day that he had stumbled into the theatre, caught her eye, and quickly backed out.

Grateful that no one has seen her cry now that her sobs have calmed, she wipes away any traces of the tears she had shed. Her other hand fumbles for her phone, but before she can unlock it a message pops up.

Aaron: Hey. Sorry for not calling- we’re on standby at the station waiting for a call.

Haley: It’s okay. When will you be home?

Aaron: I’m not sure. It’s going to depend on how tonight goes. I miss you both.

Haley: We miss you, too. Stay safe, please

Aaron: I promise.

Haley watches her phone, the text bubble appears and disappears a few times, and she wonders if Aaron is trying to figure out what to say or if work is demanding his attention.

Aaron: Happy birthday, Brooks. I love you.

This time, the sob that rises in her chest sits in a bubble of relief. He didn’t forget- of course, he didn’t. He’s Aaron, the same guy who could probably tell her what time of day their first date was. And he loves her.

Haley: I love you too. Be careful out there, Superman

When Haley tucks her phone away, Jack is just starting to wake up. She holds him in both arms, snugly to her chest, and sways him while she speaks.

“He’s very busy,” she murmurs, “But he’ll be here for all of your birthdays. Daddy is very good at birthday parties, too.”

Jack coos, and Haley sighs quietly. “We just need to wait for him,” she says, some sort of twisted mantra-turned-bedtime-story. “He knows we’re waiting, and that’s why he always comes back to us.”

When Jack falls asleep and exhaustion starts to overcome Haley, she puts him in bed and crawls into her own. As her eyes slide shut and she tries to get comfortable in the too-large, too-cold bed, she wonders how long Lois Lane had to wait. Forever and ever, or was there an end in sight for her?

But this is the routine now. She doesn’t know when it happened, and she doesn’t know if she likes it, but it is what it is. Superman will come back for her. She just needs to hold on.

—————

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14buddy22 · 2 years

Text

Father's Day

Aaron Hotchner x Single Mom!Reader

Part 7!

WC: 5234

Series Masterlist // Masterlist

Everything was just right. You had gotten your pictures back from the photoshoot of your family. You wanted to surprise Aaron with the picture of him, Haley and Jack for Father’s Day. The photographer did a beautiful job editing her into it. You were going to surprise him for Father’s Day, but you also were working on another surprise for Aaron. You were getting ready to talk to your kids about how they would feel if Aaron could adopt them.

“Joey, Tyler, Grace, I want to talk to you while Aaron and Jack are out.”

They climbed up next to you on the porch swing. They snuggled into you and you kissed your 3 kids on the forehead.

“So, Father’s Day is coming up. This is the first father’s day we’re going to celebrate with Aaron. I was thinking that because Aaron and I are getting married in a couple weeks and because Grace already calls Aaron, Dad. How would you boys feel if Aaron adopted you? You still don’t have to call him dad, but if something were to happen to me, Aaron would raise you and take care of you so you three don’t have to be split up.”

Tyler said, “That’d be so cool! He’d be our Dad! Jack’d be our brother!”

Grace was on board already, she was babbling about her dad. She loved Aaron, their bond was so strong, everything you hoped for in their relationship. You imagined her sneaking in past curfew, her first boyfriend, first break up - Aaron being her go-to person. You know Grace would love it.

Tyler, well he wasn’t calling him Dad yet but he was getting excited that Aaron would become his legal guardian. You think he was holding back on calling Aaron “dad” because Joey wasn’t calling him Dad yet and he was there when Joey lashed out on Grace for calling him Dad.

Joey said, “I’ve been thinking about it Mom and I think I’d really like for Aaron to become my legal guardian. He’s going to become our stepdad soon, and I love Aaron like I loved Dad. I don’t know if I’m ready to call him Dad yet, but I’m ready for him to become my legal guardian. If something were to happen to you, I’d want Aaron to raise me.”

That brought tears to your eyes. You knew Joey had always had an internal struggle with choosing to be close with Aaron. That’s why it took so long for them to find something he had in common. Joey had talked to you about an interest in Aaron’s job but you weren’t wanting him to get that close to the job. You just weren’t ready to have Joey become interested in a job where Michael and Haley died. The job in which the bad guys had won.

“Joe. I’m very proud of you. You know that, right? You’ve really stepped up to being a big brother to Jack, you’ve found something in common with Aaron. I know it’s not something that’s the best, but it’s something unique to you honey. Just as Tyler goes golfing with him and Grace, well Grace just likes being around him in general.”

“He also coaches me. That’s something too.”

“That is, baby.”

You were so proud of your son, he was choosing to start seeing the good in this. You know Aaron would be proud of him too. Aaron always felt hesitant due to the fact that Joey had once told him that he never would be his father. That day still broke your heart, how you handled the situation is something you’ll never forget and you’ll regret no matter what. But, this was your son, your son who was old enough to know who his father was, at least for now, until the memory of Michael started to fade away and all Joey would only remember very little about him since he was so young.

“We can’t tell Aaron about this, okay? Not until Father's day.”

Joey said, “How are we going to tell him?”

“I want to let you decide. I think you’ll come up with something special in your own way. Would you like to come up with an idea?”

“Yeah.”

“Hey Mom, Joey?”

Joey looked at your youngest son and said, “What’s up, Tyler?”

“Can I call Aaron, Dad?”

You didn’t know how Joey was going to react. Joey and your son were close, but Tyler was also the closest to Aaron between your two boys. Maybe it was because Jack and Tyler were only a few months apart. But, then the reaction from your son made your heart melt.

“Of course you can Tyler, he is our Dad. I just don’t want to call him Dad yet, but I will soon.”

Joey and Tyler hugged and then Grace said, “Daddy!”

She saw Aaron moving around in the kitchen and then Jack came running outside. Joey! Tyler! Grace! Do you want to go swimming?”

Tyler said, “Yeah!”

The kids all went inside and you followed. Aaron was putting groceries away and said, “Hey honey!”

“Hi! How was your afternoon with Jack?”

“It was nice. We had a good time.”

Joey, Gracie, and Jack had gone outside and Tyler was standing by you. Aaron was looking at a shopping list and he said, “I forgot BBQ sauce, damn it. But that’s okay, because I’ll go tomorrow after work.”

“Hey, dad?”

Aaron looked at Tyler and he said, “What’s up, buddy?”

Tyler said, “Are you going to come in the pool with us?”

“Yeah buddy. I am. Come here.”

He looked at you then picked your son up. You didn’t realize Tyler would call him Dad so quickly, but you were happy he did and Aaron was happy. He may have been caught off guard but recovered when he saw Tyler was a little hesitant to call him that.

Your son was rubbing his thumb and forefinger together, something that your youngest two picked up on when they saw Aaron do it. It was cute, really, the little things that they’d pick up on. Even all your kids including Jack had the Hotchner glare.

“Is it okay if I call you Dad? Because I really want to because you’re marrying mommy and you do Dad things for me. You take me golfing, you make me breakfast and pack my lunches for school, you coach Jack and I’s soccer team.”

“Yes, of course it’s okay. I’d be very happy if you called me Dad, I just didn’t want you to feel uncomfortable.”

Aaron kised Tyler’s forehead and Tyler said, “Mom, will you go swimming with us?”

“Yeah, let me talk to Dad and then we’ll get our swim suits on.”

“Love you mom, love you Dad.”

“We love you too.”

Your son ran out and you walked over to Aaron. Aaron was in disbelief, you could profile it even if you weren’t a profiler.

“Talk to me.”

“He wants to call me dad.”

“How do you feel about that?”

“It’s not so much about how I feel, it’s about how Joey feels. I know Joey doesn’t see me as his father, and I guess that’s okay, it hurts. It does hurt, you know. I’d put my whole life on the line for him, for all our kids and you. I know he’s only 8, I get that, but sometimes it hurts knowing that your best is not good enough.”

Your heart broke for Aaron and yourself. Joey was your son, Aaron was your soon to be husband. You know he was doing his best. Always trying his hardest to get your children to like him. Your children loved him, but what hurt you was knowing that he felt like that. You wish he’d told you sooner. All this doubt that was built in him, you know he struggled with it and him trying to be a father to your kids was making it worse.

If only Aaron knew what the kids were okay with doing, asking him to adopt all three AND they wanted to come up with a way of surprising them, Joey letting Tyler call Aaron dad without any backlash. It was a big step for Joey. You’d say even bigger than the one he took when Grace called Aaron “dad”.

“Honey, Joey was okay with Tyler calling you Dad, we just had a conversation talking about it. We’re okay. Joey’s okay with it. I’m sorry you feel like this, I’m trying the best I can, but Aaron come on, you’re an FBI agent, you know about trauma more than anyone, you know kids struggle in a new relationship when they had a parent that passed. You know what, I try to remember everything about that morning to what the kids had for breakfast after we left that bed but some things I can’t remember. But there’s gotta be something that’s eating Joey up. I know it.”

In the middle of the night, you jolted awake. You were having such a realistic dream. Michael had come to you, he’d been trying to tell you something but it just wasn’t clear enough for you, yet it somehow triggered a memory for you. You now know why Joey was having such a hard time with Aaron.

Aaron had sat up with you and turned on a lamp. He didn’t exactly know what was going on. All he knew was that you jolted awake, out of his arms, at 2:38 in the morning. What the hell was going on?

“Aar, I remember that morning. I remember Michael had woken me up early. I had asked if something was wrong with the kids but nothing was wrong, he was taking Joey hiking. It’s something that they’d done since Joey was young. Joey and Michael went hiking that morning. Joey spent the last few hours of Michael’s life with him, doing what they loved. Oh my god, I’m a shitty mother. In two years, I hadn’t asked Joey about anything. He never even mentioned it.”

You were having a breakdown in the middle of the night. Like a full blown breakdown, how could you be such a shitty mother. Your son needed you and you were over here falling in love with a man. You should’ve been a better mother. What the fuck were you thinking? Planning to marry a man, putting yourself first before your children. You couldn’t do this not to Aaron and Jack. They deserved everything. Aaron deserved everything.

You immediately got out of bed and walked into the bathroom, shutting the door behind you, and you began to cry harder. You heard a knock on the door but you didn’t know what had made you this upset. The fact that you had to break up with Aaron, break off the engagement, break up this family, because you’re a shitty mother?

“Hey honey, can I come in?”

You wiped your tears and Aaron came in. He looked at you and then he made his way to come sit on the floor with you. His back would hurt in the morning, but he wanted to be with you, he needed to be with you. He pulled you in between his legs and pulled you in close.

“Aaron, I-I don’t know if I could do this anymore.”

Aaron’s body tensed at your words. What the hell just came out of your mouth. That’s all he wanted to know. Were you serious? He was ready to spend the rest of his life with you. Were you really throwing it all away because of some dream?

“No, I can’t accept that. I won’t accept that. You’re my fiance, you and I AND the kids have all come so far for this family. I understand things are tough. Father’s day is coming up, it’s the 2nd father’s day without Michael. It’s getting tough, I’m not saying it’s not hard without Haley. I know you’re struggling because the day Michael died, your whole world stopped, you’re slowly putting the pieces back together. But, Jack and I are the pieces that are helping you put it together, if you lose us, it’s going to take even longer to fix yourself. I’m sure there’s someone better out there for you because you’re you. But for Jack and I, there is no one better for us. You’re perfect for me. The kids are perfect siblings for Jack. The kids are the perfect addition to my children. We’re a family and we have to stick it through.”

Aaron wiped your tears from your cheeks and you looked at him. You truly were lucky. Of course Aaron thought there was someone better for you than him. But that wasn’t true. You were just emotional because of how hard you were on yourself and now you’re realizing that you’re a shitty mother.

“And no, Y/N, you’re not a terrible mother. It’s been hard, I understand that honey. Let me help you through it though so you’re not always crying at 3am in the morning.”

3am? How had it already been a half hour since you were in the bathroom? Aaron’s alarm goes off at 5am for work, but he’s usually up at 4:30am to go for a run before his alarm even goes off. Now you were probably ruining your day. All this self doubt is ruining you for the best.

“I’m sorry Aaron, I guess with father’s day coming up, it’s just been an internal struggle with myself because I lost Michael, you’re here and you’re a great father to Joey, Tyler, Jack, and Grace. But as a mother, I feel like I’m the worst mother ever. I’ve pushed Joey off to the side instead of listening to him.”

“No, you are. You are listening to him. Joey just doesn’t open up, you and I both know that. I haven’t been hiking in a while, but maybe on father’s day I can take Joey. Just him and I.”

“That’s not much of a father’s day with you. You should be spending one on one time with Jack, that’s your son.”

“While your kids may not be my biological kids, they are my kids. Joey’s caught on to my Hotchner glare, so has Gracie. Tyler rubs his thumb and forefinger together when he gets nervous or he’s thinking. He’s picked up on things that I do. They’re just as much “my” kids even if they don’t have the same DNA as me, but that doesn’t matter to me.”

You leaned into Aaron. This was why he was so good at being a Unit Chief, he talks people off the ledge. He’s an amazing father and an even better soon to be husband. You were very lucky.

You stood up and pulled him up. You pulled him into a kiss and then hugged him. He held you tighter and you two stood like that for a while. Just two lovers, two lovers who began this relationship as single parents, falling in love harder and harder every day.

“Thank you for that. I really needed someone to talk me off the ledge.”

“You’re a great mother, honey. Don’t you ever forget that, and if you do, just come find me and I’ll tell you what a great mother you are.”

“Thank you for that.”

“Now, let’s get back to bed, we’ll make the kids breakfast in the morning.”

Within a few days, you were prepping the kids for father’s day. After the other night at 3am, crying in your bathroom, you realized that your fiance was the best thing to happen to you. You decided that while Aaron was at work, you were going to do father’s day crafts with the kids. You’d gotten the adoption papers and had put them in a file.

You haven’t gotten around to asking Joey about that morning, but Aaron was. Aaron was going to suggest that Joey and him go hiking at one of Michael’s favorite places. It’ll be a good thing for Joey to remember Michael and celebrate him while also getting some one on one time with Aaron on father’s day.

Saturday night rolled around and you were watching TV with Aaron and Joey. The others were in bed and it was just about time for Joey to head to bed. You looked over at Aaron. You knew what he was going to ask. You just didn’t want your son to be overwhelmed.

Aaron looked at your son and said, “Hey Joey, is there anything special you want to do for Father’s day tomorrow?”

“Not really, Aaron. Just stay at home and swim maybe. Did you have anything planned?”

“You know, I saw some pictures of you and your Dad when you were younger and it seemed like you two liked to go hiking. I was thinking that maybe you and I could get up early tomorrow and go hiking at one of your Dad’s favorite trails?”

Joey looked at you then looked at Aaron. “You would do that for me?”

“Yeah, of course I would. What do you say? We don’t have to, I just thought.”

Joey moved away from you and into Aaron’s arms. He held onto Aaron and Aaron was shocked. Out of all the reactions, this is the one he least expected. He held Joey in his arms. This was as good as the time they talked about Grace calling him Dad. Maybe this was a breakthrough that Joey needed. Maybe you were a good mom. Talking to Aaron about it and Aaron taking it a step farther. Taking your son hiking on Father’s day. Aaron and Joey oculd bond more and Joey could miss his father while doing something to remember him.

When Sunday morning rolled around, you heard Aaron getting dressed. He sat on your bedside and kissed the top of your forehead. You woke up to him. This was his first father’s day with your kids. Hopefully by the time next father’s day rolled around, he’d be celebrating his first father’s day with a child that is half yours and half his, but only time would tell.

“Happy father’s day, Aaron.”

You kissed him again and pulled him on top of you. This is how you spent father’s day with Michael, but this father’s day was going to be different. Aaron didn’t know it yet but this was going to be a father’s day for him to remember, if he didn’t get freaked out. He moaned into the kiss and you heard a knock at your door.

Aaron got off you and smiled. “It was fun while it lasted.” You chuckled and you sat up. Aaron made his way to the door and opened it. Joey was standing there with his backpack and he said, “Good morning, Aaron! Good morning, Mom! Happy Father's day, Aaron!” He hugged Aaron and came to sit on your bed.

“Are you ready to go on your hike with Aaron?”

“Yeah, I’m excited! I slept so well, but look! I packed my own backpack this morning.”

Aaron sat on the edge of the bed next to Joey and Joey dumped out his bag. Candy and junk food fell out of his bag along with a sweatshirt and an extra pair of gym shoes and a small towel.

“You are ready to go little man.”

They grabbed their backpacks and you packed Aaron’s backpack with a little more sustainable food for him and Joey.

“Okay, get with Aaron for a picture.” Joey put his arm around Aaron and they both smiled.

“Alright, you boys go, have fun, enjoy your hike. When you come back, breakfast will be ready and the other 3 will be up. Then we’ll go swimming and Uncle Sonny is coming over with Amanda, Jesse and Bille.”

“Okay mom. I love you.”

“I love you too. Have fun with Aaron.”

Aaron kissed you and you watched them leave. You decided to start cleaning around the house, make a grocery list for next week, do some laundry, and if you were lucky you’d clean the pool. Something to keep your nerves calmed before your kids were going to ask Aaron to adopt them.

Aaron and Joey had gotten to the trail and began their hike. Aaron was excited, he had talked about it non-stop with you last night and before he had asked Joey. Maybe he was excited because it was finally something that he and Joey could bond over. Aaron always got excited when Tyler asked him to golf.

Aaron and Joey had been hiking and made it to a spot to watch the sunrise. They stopped to have a snack and sat on a rock.

“Hey Aaron?”

“What’s up, Joe?”

“Thanks for taking me hiking today. It means a lot. I miss my Dad all the time, and I love you. You’ve been a great Dad to me. You know, that morning, Dad took me hiking, and that was the last one on one time I had with him before he died.”

Joey had leaned into Aaron and Joey whispered, “I miss him, Aaron.”

Aaron held onto him. Aaron knew Joey needed this right now. If Joey never called Aaron “dad”, that didn’t matter to him anymore, he and Joey were always going to have this moment now. Aaron felt like in the relationship he had built with Joey, this was the first meaningful thing they had with each other. Well, the first BIG meaningful thing, Joey had opened up to Aaron, and on father’s day on top of it.

You had gotten an update from Aaron that things had been going well. They were hiking back and would be home within the next hour.

“Aaron,

Happy Father's Day. Thank you for being the best father to our 4 children. Jack is so lucky to have you as a dad as well as Joey, Tyler, and Gracie. You’re a bonus dad to them and I couldn’t be any more luckier. When Michael passed, I thought I’d never find love again. I was a single mom who was worried that some guy wouldn’t love me because I had three young children, but I think my kids made you love me even more. Seeing you interact with my children, our children is my favorite thing in the world. Everyone can see how you’re such a great dad. Even if you’re not Joey, Tyler, and Gracie’s biological dad, it seems like it to the outside world. I love you Aaron Hotchner. Even though you doubt it, you’re a great dad. I see that every time you’re around our kids. When you fed Gracie for the first time, you weren’t weirded out that she was clinging on to a weird man who she’d only known for a little bit. But that was a bond that began and it’s only grown so much from there, to you taking naps with her to you coming home after a long week and dressing up in a crown and drinking tea. Thank you for being there for Tyler. Your bond with Tyler is strong. For Tyler, you go golfing with him. It started when he showed interest in the Masters, you were patient with him, hitting flight restricted golf balls in our front yard, taking him to the range, to just completing his first 18 round course in Florida. For Joey, thank you for being so patient with him. While it may sometimes seem that Joey doesn’t care about you or is mad at you, he’s not. I think he’s just mad at the world for taking Michael away. I don’t blame him. He was 6 years old when his Dad died and then less than a year later, we met you and Jack. But, don’t fear, your bond with Joey is growing strong, even Joey mentioned how much he loves you. Taking him hiking and remembering Michael is something I think Joey will remember for the rest of his life, oh and of course taking him to that fancy restaurant in Flordia where you both wore dress pants and dress shirts. And Jack, your biological son. Your baby boy. He will always be your baby boy Aaron. I know your relationship with Jack is much different than the ones you have with childrena and that’s OK. I would never ask you to change that because while it may be different, I know the amount of love for the 4 kids is all the same, and I thank you for that.

Thank you for being the best dad to my three kids and your son.

Maybe next father’s day you’ll have another kid running around. Half me and half you. What do you say, Hotchner?

Love,

Future Mrs. Hotchner

You weren’t going to lie, that was really the first heartfelt message you had written out since Michael had passed. You wrote Aaron a nice birthday card, but this one was more, you had talked about your children and maybe the fact that you hinted at making another baby. One that would be the perfect mix of you and Aaron.

You put the card on the table at his chair and got dressed for the day. The three kids had woken up and you helped them get dressed. They got their crafts ready for Aaron and you had put a card on the table for him. You wrote the card after he had gone to bed last night. It made you tear up so you figured that he would maybe tear up.

Aaron and Joey walked through the door and the kids all yelled, “HAPPY FATHER’S DAY!”

Aaron knelt to the ground and all three kiddos ran to him and hugged him. He kissed all of them and Jack held onto him. Aaron stood up and carried Jack and Gracie over to the table. He put them in their chairs and walked over to you.

“Happy father’s day, Aaron.”

He kissed you and whispered, “Things went really well with Joey, I’m glad we went.”

You hugged him and the kids all sat down.

“Dad! Dad! Open presents!”

Aaron sat down and he looked at all the crafts the kids had made for them. He opened up a gift bag that had a new tie in it from all the kids.

“Thank you, I love each and every one of my pictures, crafts, and my new tie! I’ll be wearing it to work tomorrow.”

He had smiled and kissed each and every one of them. You grabbed your picture that the photographer had photoshopped and you brought it over.

You set up your phone to record and you wiped your tear.

“What’s wrong, honey?”

“Well, I know as a father, you’ve had your doubts, but I know you’re doing the best you can, keeping your promise you made to Haley. I know how much you cherish the picture of Haley and Jack and you. It was one of the last family pictures you had and I wanted to do something for you and for Jack.”

Jack climbed on Aaron’s lap and you gave them another gift. Jack unwrapped it and Aaron immediately began to cry. Not a bad cry, but one that you heard when he was upset. One time on a case, he blamed himself after a case had gone badly, a little 5 year old girl was killed, Aaron had been right outside the house.

Jack had yelled, “Daddy! It’s momma! Look!”

It was the picture of Aaron and Jack and Haley had been photoshopped into it. Aaron wiped his tears and he pulled the picture out to look at it more. You had wiped your tears and your kids all went to hug him.

He stood up and walked over to you. He kissed you and immediately engulfed you into a big Hotchner hug. Being in his arms was completely different.

“Thank you so much. I absolutely love it. So does Jack. You don’t know how much that means to me.”

He kissed the top of your head and then you wiped his tears and your tears.

Later on in the evening, your brother, his girlfriend and her kids were all over and everyone was having a nice night.

Tyler said, “Hey Dad?”

“Yeah buddy?”

Joey walked over to Aaron along with Tyler.

Joey said, “Aaron, you’ve been very important to us these past 2 years and you’ve been really good to my mom. We couldn’t be more thankful for you, especially after our Dad died.”

Gracie climbed into his lap and you looked at your kids. Your brother had looked at you and then back at Aaron and the kids.

Joey said, “You’re good to my sister, to my brother, and to me. I love you, dad.”

Your heart stilled. You didn’t expect Joey to say those words. He hadn’t even talked to you about it, he did it on his own. You were so proud of your son. So proud of the kid he was.

Aaron said, “Thank you for being the best kids in the world. I love you all.” He hugged Joey and Joey said, “Wait, Dad, we want to know something.”

“What’s that?”

“Dad, will you adopt us?”

Joey and Tyler held out adoption papers and Aaron blinked back tears. For a unit chief, these surprises caught him off guard. It caught you off guard. You didn’t know how they were going to ask, if they were going to go through with it, but they did and you were so proud of them.

“Yes, yes, of course I’ll adopt you three.”

Aaron kissed Gracie and Dominick took her from his lap. He leaned in his chair and pulled your two sons in for a hug. Tyler wiggled his way out while saying “Dad, you’re squishing me.”

“Sorry bud.”

Joey held onto Aaron and whispered, “Thanks for being the best Dad to me after my Dad died. Thank you for loving me even when I’m mad at you.”

“I love you so much Joey. Don’t you ever forget that. No matter what you could say or do to me, I’ll always love you.”

Sitting in bed that night, Aaron made his way to you after changing. He held the card out and he said, “Thank you for being the best fiance I could ask for, the best mother to our children, for loving Jack and I. Everything that you did for me today will go down in history as the best father’s day ever.”

“I didn’t know Joey would call you Dad today.”

Aaron laid in between your legs and rested his head on his stomach. He was such a softee, always needing to be touching you, he wasn’t overly clingy, but you understood why, everything could be taken from him in a blink of an eye, and it did and he would never let it happen again.

“So, you do want another little one running around by next father’s day?”

“I do, do you?”

“With you, absolutely. You’ve made 3 beautiful children already, so what the hell, let’s make a 5th. One half me, and one half you.”

“Let’s get started then, huh?”

You had pulled Aaron up to kiss you and he put his hand underneath your shirt. This was going to be a long night.

“Thanks for giving me the best Father’s Day I could’ve ever asked for.”

Next Part

#aaron hotchner x reader #aaron hotchner fanfiction #aaron hotchner #jack hotchner #aaron hotchner x single mom!reader

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juniperskye · 2 months

Text

Stick to What You Know.

Sneak peek: Reader is asked to join the BAU by none other than Director Cruz himself. She is a child psychologist and Cruz thought she would make a great asset; it would seem though that Agent Hotchner doesn’t agree.

Aaron Hotchner x (Fem) Reader

Angst

Word count: 3134

Guys...I feel like this is shit, I wrote it in like 3 hours soo…. it’s not edited - please be kind. Requests are open and feedback is welcome if it's constructive!

Warnings: My blog is 18+, minors DNI, implied age gap, some language, one use of y/n I think, Hotch is a DICK in this for a minute (SORRY), reader has children, talk of dissociative identity disorder (in reference to a case), canon case talk/info, mention of murder (in reference to a case), Reader in a child psychologist, reader is friends with Director Mateo Cruz, implied death of Haley. I think that’s all, let me know if I missed anything!!

I do not consent to having my work translated or reposted to any other site. That being said I do not own the characters portrayed in this story.

You were so late. You were thanking the lord that you knew Mateo well from having previously worked with him, otherwise your lateness would probably come across as a lack of seriousness or appreciation for the strings he had pulled to get you here. And of course, being lost in thought while simultaneously rushing through an unfamiliar building had you barreling into a handsome stranger…or maybe a handsome acquaintance.

“I am so sorry!” You’d hurried out.

His large hands steadied you with a gentle but firm grasp on your arms. Your eyes glance upward to meet his.

“No worries, are you alright?” He offered.

“I’m good thank you. Wait, you’re Aaron Hotchner, I’ve sat in on a few of your lectures at the university.”

“I am, and thank you, I hope you were able to take something from them.” He blushed.

“I did, oh shoot sorry! I have to go; I am so late!” You said, speed walking away from him.

Aaron couldn’t help but watch as you walked away from him. And you couldn’t help but think to yourself that he was far more handsome up close.

After explaining your tardiness to Mateo, he led you to the sixth floor to officially meet your new team. The rest of them anyway.

“Mat, you told them I was joining right? I ran into Agent Hotchner, and he didn’t show any signs of recognition. And I told you I didn’t want to join a team who wasn’t ready and willing to have me.” You ranted.

“Yes I told him, you have nothing to worry about.” He lied. “You head down into the bullpen and meet the agents; I will go up and talk to Agent Hotchner.”

You nodded in agreement and made your way to Emily and Spencer. You exchanged greetings, and Emily took you around to meet everyone else.

“Director Cruz, what can I do for you?” Hotch asked.

“I have a new recruit for you. She will be starting today.” Mateo gestured toward the window.

Aaron glanced out, finding the beautiful woman from this morning standing amongst his team. Morgan must’ve tried to harm her because she threw her head back in laughter with the most beautiful smile. Why her? Why did she have to be joining his team?

“Why didn’t I receive her file?”

“Truthfully Aaron, I didn’t have it together. She and I have worked together on some classified cases. But I have a file here with some of her info. She specializes in child psychology which is something your team is lacking, I figured that she could work with your team on all of your child related cases, but then can occasionally consult with other teams should they need her expertise.” Mateo explained.

“Okay.”

It had been three months since then, and things had not been going well. You had gone on all but one case with the BAU since you’d started. Every single time, Aaron kept you at the local precincts, not allowing you out on any real field work – this was hindering your ability to do your job effectively. You needed to observe the unsub’s home and belongings and dumpsites etc. but he was denying you the opportunity.

The rest of the team had been nothing but welcoming, inviting you into their little family with open arms. None of them could have predicted that Hotch would ice you out the way he was.

Every time you offered a theory or statistic or any sort of information, Hotch shut you down. He would belittle you, constantly making you feel small, and he purposely called you agent instead of referring to you as doctor and well, why should today be any different.

You had been called out on a case and based on all the information the team had acquired so far, you had a pretty good working theory.

JJ, Spencer, and you had been sitting in the room the local precinct had designated as yours for the duration of the case.

“I have an idea…it’s a little out there but hear me out,” You started, your gaze shifting to JJ and Spencer, who both encouraged you to continue. “Okay, so some of the details in this case match, while others are all over the place, like the MO is essentially the same but some of the victims’ injuries show signs of hesitation where others show none, I know hotch mentioned multiple unsubs, but what if it is one unsub, with multiple personalities.”

“Like dissociative identity disorder. You know that would make a lot of sense considering people with DID tend to have highly varying alters or identities. They can range in race, gender, age which would explain why the murders have been so different, it would also explain why the comfort zone is so small.” Spencer validated you.

“See that’s what I was thinking too, they would want to stay close to home in the case that perhaps there was a switch in alter, that way they would be somewhere familiar and be able to return home…”

“That’s enough Agent!” Hotch’s voice boomed through the small room. “I have put up with this for far too long. You came in here unannounced and have continued to provide absolutely ridiculous theories that do nothing but waste our time and resources…”

“Hotch” JJ tried to calm him.

He lifted his hand to silence her before continuing, “You have continued to get in the way of my investigations again and again and I won’t have it anymore. Cruz spoke so highly of you and frankly I don’t see it. I’m sorry if I’m the first one to tell you this agent, but perhaps you should stick to what you know.” Hotch finished.

There was no way in hell that you were going to let yourself cry in front of this asshole. You refused to let him win in this moment.

“You know what Agent Hotchner, I have done nothing but work my ass off for this team and I have provided valuable feedback and information that has led to the capture of multiple unsubs over the last few months. But if you want to sit up there on your high horse and act all delusional, go ahead. I don’t want to be a part of a team who is led by someone so pompous and misogynistic. And one last thing, if you are going to sit there and berate me then you will address me properly. It’s Doctor, not agent…I know that may be hard to remember since it’s a title you don’t hold. Goodnight.” With that you grabbed your jacket and bag and made your way outside.

You ordered an uber and made your way back to the hotel. The nerve Hotch seemed to have filled you with rage, but you wouldn’t stick around to entertain his outburst any longer, you had a call to make.

“Hello?”

“Mat, I need a flight home.” You said, the tears finally beginning to fall.

“Is everything okay? What happened?” Mateo questioned.

“It’s fine, I just have a personal emergency and I need to get home as soon as possible.”

“Sure thing, I am booking your flight now, can you be at the airport in two hours?” He asked.

“Yes, that’s perfect. Thank you.”

With that you hung up the phone, packed your bag, ordered another uber and made your way outside. You were purposely ignoring the texts coming in from Spencer and JJ. You made sure to slide a note under Spence’s door before leaving.

“Has anyone seen y/n this morning?” Dave asked.

“She left.” Spencer confirmed, holding up the note.

“What why? Is she okay?” Emily asked, concern laced in her tone.

“I can’t blame her. You guys should have seen it, Hotch yelled at her. And I mean full on yelled. I’ve never heard him speak that way to anyone before.” JJ chimed in.

“What are you talking about? He yelled at her. About what?” Morgan questioned.

“He completely flew off the handle. She and Spence were going over a theory about the unsub and he just started yelling, telling her that she was wasting our time and resources.”

The team was in disbelief, Hotch wasn’t mean or condescending, so why was he acting this way now? How could he treat arguably the sweetest member of the team so disrespectfully?

Dave shook his head; he was pretty sure he knew exactly why Aaron was acting out this way. He just couldn’t believe that Aaron had said such harsh things to the girl. His heart broke for her knowing that someone she idolized had been so awful to her, and for all the wrong reasons.

The team had wrapped up that case fairly quickly, you had been right, and the unsub turned out to be a nineteen-year-old male who had been struggling with dissociative identity disorder. Hotch had felt uneasy knowing that he had questioned your intelligence, despite you being an excellent agent.

Upon returning to the BAU, Dave was sure to confront Aaron about his inappropriate behavior. Telling him that he couldn’t treat you terribly just because he couldn’t wrap his brain around the feelings for you he was refusing to acknowledge. Aaron had scoffed at him and told him that he didn’t have feelings for you, but Dave knew he was lying.

You had quite a different experience since returning. The first thing you did was cry, you let yourself release all the pent-up frustration you’d been holding onto since you had started at the BAU. Then, you texted Mat, letting him know that you needed to meet with him.

He was curious and waiting for answers, but he ultimately agreed and waited to ask all his questions until you were face to face.

“So, what’s up? This meeting request was so formal.” Mat laughed.

“I know and I am sorry I have been so vague about everything, but I am here to resign.”

Mat’s smile fell from his face immediately.

“What happened? Did something happen, because I promise you I have looked into the complaints filed against Agent Morgan and Ms. Garcia and I can assure you, they just have a strange friendship.” Mateo tried to explain.

“Mat, slow down! It isn’t like that. I just don’t think it is a good fit, there’s just too many differences between how I work and how the team operates. It’s okay really.” You tried to smile to really sell your lie.

“Well, I can’t help but be disappointed, I really thought that you would be a perfect fit for this team.” Mateo trailed off.

“I know and I am so sorry. I know you had to pull a ton of strings to get me here and I don’t want it to seem like I am not grateful because I can assure you, I am!”

“I know, and it’s alright! If it’s not a good fit then it’s not a good fit.” Mateo flashed you a sad smile.

A few weeks had passed since you had left the BAU, and truly, you had been doing well! You had spent some much-needed time with your family. You had reached out to a good friend of yours and inquired about a job teaching at the local university, which you were truly looking forward to. It had also meant that you would have a free summer to spend some quality time with your kids.

Tonight, you had one of your best friends over, your kids had grown up together and so you liked to do these big “family” dinners together at least once a month, that however meant chaos in the house. Kids yelling, teenagers gossiping, dinner burning…I guess that means you’ll be ordering a pizza.

Your friend and you had been talking about your new job and the excitement you were feeling for it, a movie long forgotten playing in the background, the kids were playing some card game you didn’t recognize when the doorbell rang.

“Oh, I bet that’s the pizza!” You said, making your way to the door.

“I left the cash on the table there!” Your friend shouted.

“Hi…Oh. What the hell are you doing here?” Shock painted its way across your face. Standing at your door was not the pizza delivery guy, but Aaron Hotchner.

“I uh, I came here to talk to you. I know that I do not deserve your time, but I am truly hoping you’ll allow me a few minutes to explain myself.”

“Dude, do you need help or…oh, shit. Sorry! Did you guys need a minute?” Your friend interrupted.

“Um” your gaze shifted from Aaron to your friend. “Agent Hotchner, why don’t we go to the back. Can you keep an eye out for the pizza?” You suggested.

“Of course! You go.” She replied.

Aaron and you made your way to the backyard, in doing so he took note of all the children sitting in the living room, sprawled out across the floor and couches.

“I didn’t know you had children.” Aaron started.

“There’s a lot you don’t know about me. Is that why you came here agent Hotchner? To see my home and profile me?” You questioned him.

“No of course not! I was making an observation. I’m sorry. Like I said, I am here to explain my behavior, none of which will excuse how I acted but I am hoping it might help you to understand some of it.” His gaze shifted around your face. “From the moment I first laid my eyes on you, I knew I was ruined. You were breathtaking, even when you plowed right into me in your rush to the director’s office. You bumped into me and God, then you looked up at me with those big, beautiful eyes and I was a goner. But then you said something to me, and I knew I was done for. Do you remember what you said?”

“I apologized and then I told you I’d gone to some of your lectures. Hold on Agent Hotchner are you saying you were horrible to me because you had a crush on me? What are we? Seven-year-olds on the playground! That is such bullshi….” He didn’t let you finish.

“Hold on. You did mention that you had been to my lectures, but it was what you said as you walked away that had me hooked…you said, “he’s far more handsome up close” and I don’t think you meant to say it out loud, but at that moment I told myself that I was ready. I was ready to move on and I was going to ask you out later that day, but then you walked into the bullpen and Cruz said you’d be a part of the BAU, and I knew it wouldn’t be possible. I couldn’t date my subordinate and I didn’t know what to do, you had called me handsome and I…”

“Now wait a minute! I didn’t mean to say that out loud and this still isn’t…”

“I’m not finished. You had some sort of attraction for me even if it was just an appreciation for my looks. I already had it bad for you, and to top it all off, you came in and just had to be the sweetest, most loving person in the BAU and I couldn’t have you. It wouldn’t be appropriate. I figured the easiest thing to do would be to make you hate me, then I’d be able to shake these feelings for you, but no. You continued to be kind to me, even if I was awful to you and I couldn’t take it. My breaking point was the look on your face after I yelled at you on that last case. I felt sick with myself. I couldn’t leave things like that; I needed you to know that I don’t think those things. You are an incredible agent and an even better person and I’m sorry. I am so sorry.” Aaron finished, looking down at his shoes.

You were speechless. While it felt amazing that the man you had harbored feelings for, returned your feelings. It also felt terrible that he wasn’t mature enough to just be upfront with you from the beginning. Instead, he felt the need to play some arduous game with you. It would be so easy to just throw yourself into his embrace and kiss him and call it all forgotten, but what if this is some insight into his communication skills, or lack thereof?

Your mind and heart were battling one another like an angel and devil on your shoulder. It was a back-and-forth quarrel that seemingly had no correct response, both had the same potential outcomes; you getting your heart broken, regret, potential happiness. What were you meant to do?

“I um, I don’t know what to say. You said some horrible things to me and that doesn’t just go away. Agen Hotchner, we’re adults.”

“Please call me Aaron, or at least Hotch.”

“Aaron we are adults and you acted like a child. Am I meant to just forgive and forget the way you made me feel?”

“No, I would never expect that. I do hope that one day you can forgive me, and if you give me the chance, I would truly love to make it up to you.” He explained.

“Okay.”

“Okay?” He questioned.

“Okay, you can make it up to me. And maybe, just maybe I will forgive you. It’s not going to be easy though.” You said.

“I wouldn’t want it to be easy.” He smiled.

“Alright well you can start tomorrow. I’d invite you to stay but this is a family dinner and with all the kids it might be a bit chaotic.” You told him.

“That’s fair.”

You could see the wheels turning in his head, he’s trying to figure out the dynamics of your little family, and maybe you could spare him a little bit of leeway.

“Her and I combined have nine kids. I have five and she has four. And before you ask, only two are biologically mine. A close friend of ours passed and I was listed as the personal guardian for her kids. That’s also how I have a teenager.” You explained. “That’s all you get for now.” You teased.

“I will take what I can get. Thank you, for giving me this chance.” Aaron smiled at you.

You smiled back and led him to the door, not missing the shit-eating grin your friend was wearing on her face. You bid him goodnight with a promise to text him to make some sort of plan. You didn’t know what would come of this, or if you’d end up together, but for now, you didn’t need to know. For now, you’d take it one day at a time.

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