#j.hotchner

[mustbecm]

Bonding Has Guidelines

Emily smiled as the fire's heat radiated onto her. Her curled hair had been pulled up all day, now causing a small puff as she took it out of the ponytail. She heard a laugh and immediately looked up from the fire, trying to find a more comfortable position on the log she was occupying. "What?" 

Hotch chuckled, grasping the stick in his hand tighter. "Your hair looks cute like that."

Emily's laugh echoed off the trees, causing Hotch to smile wide. "Why thanks. Of course, the day I choose not to straighten it you say its cute."

She watched as Hotch nodded, sending his caring smile towards her. "It's natural. And has more… volume, I guess you'd say."

Emily narrowed her eyes, but was interrupted just before she could get any words out. "Look what I got! Look what I got!"

Both adults turned to Jack, who quickly ran towards Emily. "I got a new friend mommy!"

Emily's eyes softened, hearing his new name for her for only the third time. "Really? What's his name?"

"Roy!"

Hotch's laughter was heard as Emily smiled down at the young boy. "So where is your new friend."

Jack held out his clasped hands to his smiling mother, his blond hair shimmering from the light of the fire. "In my hands. You wanna see him?"

Emily hid her laughter as she nodded.

Jack smiled wide as he opened his hands, revealing a small black spider. "Meet Roy, mommy!"

Emily screamed as she ran towards the ten, her hands shaking. "Jack, go put him back in the woods."

"But mommy-"

"Jack this is not up for negotiation. Go set him free in the woods with your daddy."

Jack's sad eyes turned to his father, who was kneeling next to him. "Do I gotta daddy?"

Hotch shook his head as he rubbed his son's back. "Emily, it's just a spider. There's no harm in Jack having it."

"Aaron it could be poisonous. I do not want Jack getting hurt." Emily continued to feel her heart race as she grasped the tent's fabric in her shaking hands. "Go put it back in the woods, Aaron."

"Mommy why are you scared?"

"Baby I don't want you getting hurt by… Roy."

Jack shook his head as he stepped a little closer to his mother. "But mommy he's real tiny."

"Jack, either put him down or throw him in the fire."

Jack's sad eyes widened as he held the spider to his chest. "Mommy why?"

"EMILY!"

Emily sighed as she reluctantly let go of the tent and knelt in front of the sad boy. "Ok, sweetie look. Tiny things, such as spiders, can hurt you. Even accidentally. Because sometimes, he could get really scared and do it to protect himself."

"But I don't wanna hurt Roy!"

Emily nodded as she ran a hand through her hair. "But he doesn't know that, baby."

Jack shook his head before whispering down to the crawling spider. "I'm not gonna hurt you Roy." He then looked up to his slightly confused parents, Hotch now standing behind a kneeling Emily. "See! Now he knows!"

Emily and Hotch both grinned at Jack's wide smile. "Bud, maybe you should listen to your mother."

"But why daddy?" "Ask your mommy."

Emily sighed and held a finger up before Jack could get a word out. "I just explained to you why you need to get rid of him. If it helps at all, I'll get you a spider from the pet store when we get home." "But he wont be Roy!"

Emily nodded, rubbing her hands over her knees as Jack stared up at her. "Ok, I'll make you a deal. You put him down on the ground and we'll all go to bed. Then, if he's still here when we all wake up, you get to take Roy home and we'll set up a nice place for him in your room. Ok?"

Jack immediately began to jump up and down, before running over to the fire and setting Roy down a crinkled, brown leaf. He then turned back to his mother, and ran over to the tent. "Come on guys, we gotta go to bed!"

…

Emily sluggishly opened her eyes when there was a noise outside of their tent. She slowly, but awkwardly, sat up, with Jack's head laying in her lap. She looked around her, seeing no shadows casting on the tent except for those of trees, and the slight light from the moon.

She looked over to her feet, only to see Roy the spider, climbing onto her big toe.

"AHH!"

Hotch immediately shot up, taking the canteen in hand, while Jack sat by his side, rubbing his eyes. "What? What's wrong?"

"GET THE DAMN SPIDER OUT OF HERE!"

(MeGkAtHeRiNe)

[mustbecm]

Graduation Day

When I was four years old my Mother was killed by a serial killer who had a beef with my Dad. I was there, but I don't really remember any of it. You would think that after my Mother was killed, my childhood would have been lonely, a boy raised by a single working father, but even with my Dad having to be gone for days at a time because of his job, it's hard to be lonely in a family as big as mine.

Both sets of my grandparents had passed away before I was born, and my only other family besides Dad was my Mother's sister, my Aunt Jessica, who would look after me when Dad was busy with a case. When Dad was home, it was just him and me. And the rest of our family: his team.

I should probably explain: when I was a little boy, I thought my Dad and his team were super heroes. They went up against the very worst of the bad guys all the time, and won. Now that I'm older I still think they're super heroes, but I know now that they didn't chase around baddies like Captain America or Iron Man like I did when I was five, but that they are some of the best criminal profilers in the world, the FBI's (in)famous BAU team 2.

They are a tightly-knit group, the team. They have to be - the things they see are often worse than the most horrific thing you can imagine, and because of it they formed a family, a group of people who support each other unconditionally no matter what.

Aunt Penelope fascinated me as a child, with her bright colors, big smile, and crazy hair. She always snuck me a piece of candy behind my Dad's back when I was little, and when I started learning how to use a computer she taught me better than my teachers at school ever could. Uncle Derek still calls her his goddess, which Uncle Kevin accepts with a good-natured smile.

Uncle Derek still hasn't settled down, joking that if he can't have Aunt Penelope than he will have no one at all. Aunt Pen always laughs at that, and then asks how Uncle Derek's latest girlfriend is doing.

I saw Aunt JJ and Uncle Will a lot growing up, because their oldest son Henry is my best friend. Aunt JJ always makes me smile, especially when she's teasing Uncle Reid about something he doesn't get (which is more often than you'd think for a super-genius), and Uncle Will, who on top of making a wicked shrimp gumbo took me to a lot of my sports practices when Dad was in the field.

Uncle Reid. I can't call him Uncle Spenser, or even Uncle Spense like Henry does, it's just odd to me after growing up having everyone call him Reid. He's a genius with an eidetic memory, knows more about random esoteric things than Wikipedia, but you can still confuse him with pop-culture references all the time. Whatever you do though, don't start a nerd-culture-knowledge drinking game with him: no one's liver can handle that much alcohol - some of my college roommates tried, and failed.

Uncle Dave is Uncle Dave. He knows a good joke that could make a sailor blush and taught me how to cook some amazing Italian food, which has saved me from the wrath of my girlfriend many a time.

My Dad, the leader. Always calm and serious on the job to the point where he often appeared emotionless, but he's got a sense of humor, especially when we're at home. After my Mother was killed, he was sad for a long time. He blamed himself for what happened, but eventually he started to be more like his old self again. I have Emily to thank for a lot of that.

Emily. There has always been more to her than meets the eye, and not just her complicated past. When I was five I remember her funeral, and how sad everyone was. When I was six she came back (a very long story), and that's when she and my Dad started spending more time together outside work. Over the years that followed my Dad and Emily's relationship became the worst-kept secret in the whole BAU, and probably the entire FBI. Not one person said anything for all those years though, everyone had too much respect for the team in general to risk anything getting to the Deputy Directors. The day Dad retired from the FBI he finally proposed to Emily. That was five years ago now.

Today each and every member of my family is here, sitting together in the third row. Aunt JJ, Uncle Will, and Henry, Aunt Penelope and Uncle Kevin, Uncle Derek, and Uncle Reid. Uncle David is there, between Uncle Derek and Uncle Reid, 82 years old and still going strong. And then there's Emily and Dad, both trying to keep a serious face to fit the occasion, and failing every time they sneak a look at each other and grin.

They're legends within the FBI. The BAU team that caught more bad guys and put them behind bars than any other two teams combined. The team that fought the bureaucracy tooth and nail to stay together, passing up promotions and fighting transfers. Now they are all retired, not that that stops the Bureau from calling them in from time to time to profile some especially nasty unsub.

They are my family. A large, somewhat dysfunctional family, one that has been there for each other, and been there for me whenever I've needed them. Even those times when I sincerely wished that I had a normal family, and not one that automatically profiled all my friends and every girl I ever took to a High School dance.

It's been twenty years since my Mother was killed, and even though she can't be here today, I know she would be just as proud as the rest of my family.

Because today is the day I graduate from the FBI academy, Special Agent Jack Hotchner.

[criminalmindsffn]

Because today is the day I graduate from the FBI academy, Special Agent Jack Hotchner.

Graduation Day

(AkimaDoll)

[mustbecm]

A Night With The Hotchners

"Daddy?" Jack called for him as he took a bite of his Mac & Cheese.

"Yeah buddy?"

Since he was home for the night, they had been spending the evening together. It was progressing like every other night before. First, they would toss the ball around a bit. Jack had an outstanding arm for his age. Then, both of them would get hungry, and Aaron would make something simple like Mac & Cheese. Jack loved it, he loved it. To finish the night, they would play the Wii or Netflix a movie. It had proceeded thus far normally, until his four year old threw him for a loop.

Jack finished chewing before he spoke, Haley had taught him well. "Can Emily come over?"

Of all his hours spent profiling, he admitted he didn't see that one coming. "Emily from my work?"

"Yeah daddy." The mini Hotch sat up in his chair, and continued, "The one who works the case with you."

Aaron didn't know what to say. Why would he want Emily to come over? "Uhhh…. I don't know. Are you sure, Jack?"

Jack made a serious face, "Do I look kiddin' daddy?"

He smiled at his son's little charade. Jack was far too adorable to say no to. Plus, seeing his face after he did, made him feel sick. Though Aaron had no idea what his son had planned, he reluctantly agreed, "I'll give her a call."

Surprisingly, Prentiss had no plans tonight. She would shower and be right over. When Jack heard this, he quickly put his bowl in the sink, and began to tidy up their already spotless living room. So he was trying to impress her? Aaron was still baffled.

Emily rang the bell less than twenty minutes later. Jack was fiddling around in the kitchen, so Aaron answered the door.

Prentiss stood there, smiling softly. "Hey."

His stomach lurched a little bit. "Hi. Come in." He smiled then, flashing his rarely seen dimples.

Aaron was indeed nervous. Prentiss was a very attractive woman, and she was in his house. Now that they were out of the Bureau, he allowed himself to really look at her. She looked much different in casual attire. Her bangs were pulled back by a pin, but her raven tresses were still as glossy as usual. She had on a tight pair of dark wash True Religions, a lacy black shirt, and a boyfriend jacket over. All matched with a pair of heels. In other words, she looked incredible. Sure, even beautiful. Maybe, he should use his son as an excuse more often.

After a moment of uncomfortable silence, Aaron finally spoke up. "Would you like a drink?"

"That'd be nice." Her gaze seemed to be lost in random places around the room.

Aaron disappeared into the kitchen, Jack nowhere in sight, and came back sprouting two glasses of Merlot. Emily was relaxed on the couch. It seemed she was trying to make the situation comfortable, even though neither of them had any idea of what was going on.

"Jack?" No reply. "Hey buddy, Emily's here to see you."

All he received for a reply was a soft play of Jazz, which seemed to be getting louder. His son had gotten a hold of his Louis Armstrong CD, the one he would listen to with Dave when they were drinking or when Sinatra wasn't available. It was a bit too slow for him, but Rossi always enjoyed it.

That was when Aaron figured it all out. Jack was trying to set him up with Emily. He had seen the eleven year olds pull it off in The Parent Trap, but his four year old son? Damn, they had raised a smart little boy.

"Jack? Come out here."

The young boy then appeared from down the hall. "Bedtime." Aaron couldn't help but laugh, it was all too adorable. Emily laughed as well.

"Don't you want to stay up and hang out with Emily?" He took a sip of his wine.

Jack started up the stairs. "I'm tired daddy."

"Alright, I'm coming to tuck you in." Aaron set his glass down on the table. "Sorry, I'll be down in a minute."

The brunette chuckled, "That's fine."

Upstairs, Jack got ready for bed quickly. He didn't suggest a story tonight, just straight to bed. "Night daddy." He pulled the covers up.

"Hey," he started, trying not to laugh, "what's the real reason you wanted Emily over tonight?"

The younger Hotchner let out a deep exhale, "I just want you to be happy, daddy."

"Did you come up with this idea on your own?"

He shook his small head yes. There was no way he could have; Aaron still considered it very sweet.

"Well, thank you, Jack. "

"You like her daddy?"

"I do. Do you?"

He nodded again. There he had it. Jack was one of the only things that still mattered to him. He cared about his opinion most.

"Goodnight Captain America."

Jack giggled, "I love you, daddy."

"I love you too." He replied as he pressed a kiss to his son's temple.

Aaron made his way back downstairs. He saw Emily, perched on the couch, swaying her body slowly to the smooth Jazz. Joining her on the couch, they worked their way slowly into a nice conversation. One which would go better over dinner the following week. He would definitely thank his son in the morning. Without him, he wouldn't have ever been where he was.

(twoBQ23)