You groan as the phone rings. Aaron opens his eyes slightly before grabbing his cellphone. You turn your body away from him as he answers.
“Hotchner?”
You feel him immediately get out of bed, pulling on clothes. “Yeah… just—tell the others to meet on the jet. We’ll debrief there. Thank you, Garcia.” He ends the call as he slips on his shoes.
“Is everything okay?”
Aaron leans over and kisses the top of your head. “A case.”
You hum. “I’ll tell the kids.”
Aaron sighs, running a hand through his hair. “I totally forgot… today is Jack’s talent show.” You can see the guilt written all over his face.
“It’s okay. I’m sure he’ll understand. Go!”
Aaron nods. “Okay. See you soon.”
“Mhm. Love you.”
His heart stops. He turns to see you had fallen back asleep.
That was the first time you had said you loved him in this relationship. Not that he didn’t know—years ago, you’d told him—but now it was different. They were officially dating.
Aaron wanted to talk about it—about the next step, about what it meant—but he knew it had to wait. A child had been found in Arizona, disheveled and battered.
Aaron had always hated cases involving children. Now, as a father of two, the thought of harm coming to Jack or Lizzie made his stomach twist.
When he finally arrived, he waited patiently for the team. Once everyone was on the jet, they took off immediately.
“Sorry for the cryptic late-night text,” Garcia began as she briefed him. “I promised I’d fill you in on the way here, and I’m a girl who keeps her promises. This boy was found two hours ago in the middle of nowhere—technically, outside Crockett, Arizona. He’s clearly been through hell and escaped some form of captivity.”
“How do we know he wasn’t just dropped off there?”
“Well,” Garcia said, “he has fresh cuts on the bottoms of his feet from the local cactus fields—far from any through roads. And his skin is rubbed raw around his ankles from chains.”
“He must’ve had a chance to escape… and he took it.”
“Or the unsub could have had him in transit,” Aaron added.
“My God, look at his eyes,” JJ whispered.
Aaron felt sick. He couldn’t understand how someone could harm a child like this. This kid hadn’t seen sunlight in who knows how long. He nodded at JJ; she was thinking the same thing he was.
The team ran through theories. When Reid asked about other missing children in the area, Penelope had more information.
“Earlier tonight, another boy was reported missing in Flagstaff.”
“That’s not far. It can’t be a coincidence,” Morgan said.
“Technically, it could be,” Reid countered, “but Arizona has the lowest abduction rate in the country, so the chances of these cases being unrelated are slim.”
“Child Abduction Rapid Deployment will meet you on the ground,” Penelope added.
“The Flagstaff abduction is Billy Henderson, thirteen. His parents said he was coming back from a friend’s house after dinner. He never made it home.”
“Roadblocks are set up, but the unsub has a head start,” Aaron said.
“Our best chance of finding Billy is figuring out what the first victim knows,” Reid concluded.
“Exactly. Morgan and JJ, go to the hospital and see if you can get through to him. The rest of us will set up at the police station. Losing this victim has likely enraged the unsub. No telling what he’ll do to Billy.”
Later, you woke up and made breakfast for the kids. Once you finished, Jack and Lizzie came running in just in time. You served them first before sitting down yourself.
“Mamma, where’s Daddy?” Lizzie asked, munching on her pancakes.
You sipped your orange juice and gave her a small smile. “He had to work, bug.”
Lizzie sighed sadly. You hated seeing that look but knew how important Aaron’s work was. You could never understand how he compartmentalized so much—the most horrid aspects of humanity—then returned home to his family and somehow remained a loving father.
Watching him light up at the sight of you and the kids always baffled you. But you knew he was making the world safer for you, Jack, and Lizzie.
“It’s okay, Liz! Daddy’s just catching the bad guy,” Jack said. You smiled at him lovingly.
“Yeah… just… miss him,” Lizzie shrugged.
“Me too. He’ll be home soon, right?”
Lizzie nodded, returning to her pancakes happily.
Hours later, after Jack’s show, you and the kids returned home. As you were ordering dinner, your phone rang.
“Hi… is everything okay?”
“Yeah. Could you put Jack and Lizzie on the phone, please? I need to hear their voices.”
You handed the phone to Jack.
“Daddy?”
“Hi, buddy! How are you?”
“I’m good. Are you okay?”
“Yeah, buddy. I just… I miss you and Lizzie so much. I’m sorry I couldn’t see your talent show.”
“It’s okay. Are you on your way home?”
“Not yet. Where’s Liz?”
“Right here, Daddy.”
“Hi, bug. Did you enjoy your brother’s show?”
“Yeah.”
“What’s wrong?”
“Just miss you, Daddy.”
“I miss you too, baby. I promise when I’m back, you, me, Jack, and Mamma can go to an amusement park. Doesn’t that sound fun?”
“Yeah! Can we, Mamma?”
You looked at your daughter and hummed. “Sure, bug.”
“See? Boss says it’s okay. I just called to tell you both I love you, okay? I promise I’ll be home as soon as possible. You both listen to Mamma.”
“We will, Daddy. Love you.”
Jack handed the phone back to you. You thanked him before heading back to the kitchen.
“How bad?” you asked.
“It was… this kid was abducted and locked away for years. He was thin, frail… the doctors couldn’t even touch him. Derek connected with him, and we found another child being buried. We saved him just in time. It made me think of Jack and Lizzie. I needed to hear their voices,” Aaron said.
“Where are you?”
“We’re headed back tomorrow morning.”
“That’s good. Get some rest, Aar. Jack and Lizzie are safe. You can rest easy.”
Aaron sighed in relief. “I’ll talk to you tomorrow. Give the kids kisses for me.”
“I will. Bye, Aar.” You ended the call and called the kids for supper.
A few weeks went by. Aaron was in his office when his phone rang.
“How’s your sister?” he asked Derek.
“She’s awake. She’s talking.”
“Good. Morgan, take as much personal time as you need.”
There was a pause before Derek spoke again. “Hotch… I think I might have a case.”
“What do you mean?” Aaron asked.
“I need to come clean about something. I lied about someone being dead.”
“I’m sorry?”
“Last year, that fisherman unsub dumping bodies in the Atlantic claimed my cousin was one of his victims.”
“Falsely. You deduced he’d never met her.”
“I told my family it was him. Cindi had been missing for eight years, and my aunt needed closure. I lied because I wanted my family to move on. But now there’s evidence she’s alive. You still there?”
“We’re on our way.” Aaron ended the call and dialed his girlfriend’s number.
“Jack, please be careful pushing your sister on the swings!” You yelled in the background, making him smile.
“Hey… so, you have a case?”
“Yeah. Are you still at the park with the kids? You’ve been there for nearly two hours.”
“You know how persuasive your daughter is… she kept giving me those puppy-dog eyes,” you said. Aaron chuckled.
“Yeah… she can be very convincing. I’ll try to be home as soon as possible, honey. Derek needs us to fly down to Chicago.”
“Oh… is everything okay? Did his sister recover?”
“Yeah. She’s fine. Just… it’s an old case and a family matter.”
“Alright. Be safe, Aar.”
“I will. Give the kids my love, okay?”
“I will. Bye.”
Aaron ended the call, grabbed his go-bag, and informed the team he’d brief them on the jet.
“So your cousin fled Chicago eight years ago because a co-worker was stalking her?” Emily asked Derek over the phone. The whole team was on the jet now, reviewing Cindi’s file—from her stalker to her missing persons report.
“Yeah, a guy named John Hitchens. Cindi and Yvonne came to me asking if they should be worried. Her emails and phone logs showed classic stalker behavior.”
“Multiple messages every hour, gifts he sent that she later returned—that would enrage a stalker,” Spencer added.
“But until they become violent, they’re smart enough to skirt the law. HR at the investment bank wouldn’t act, and Chicago PD couldn’t either. So Yvonne and I convinced Cindi to move. She contacted us from Charleston on her way to Savannah… and then she vanished.”
“And Hitchens blew his brains out two weeks later in Chicago. That was enough for local PD to conclude he’d killed her,” Emily continued.
“Except one major detail: we never found the body. If his endgame was suicide, he wasn’t organized enough to dispose of it permanently. That’s why I never stopped looking. I just didn’t think she’d resurface back in Chicago.”
“We need to reopen both cases—Cindi’s disappearance and Hitchens’ suicide. The discrepancies in each could explain her current behavior. Morgan, I need to talk to you when we land,” Aaron said.
“Can’t wait,” Derek replied, and the line went dead.
“Detective Palmer, what do you have?” Dave asked.
“I wish we had more to give you. You know how missing persons…”
“Actually, there’s quite a bit here. These were found in Hitchens’ apartment after the suicide—some blown up from the original film stock,” Spencer interjected.
“So if Hitchens took them, he didn’t zoom in digitally—he’s an old-school shutterbug,” Emily said.
“Reid and Prentiss, check Hitchens’ photographic background. Even eight years ago, most people had gone digital,” Aaron instructed.
“The gun Hitchens used to kill himself was traced to this dealer,” Dave stated.
“Local guy. Completely by the book. No record,” Spencer added.
“The .40 was the only gun Hitchens possessed. That’s a big gun to kill yourself with,” JJ observed.
“We should talk to the dealer, find out his mindset when he bought it,” Aaron concluded.
The team dispersed to their assignments. Aaron stayed behind, reviewing the files, when his phone rang. Everyone looked at him.
Over the years, Aaron had started answering personal calls during cases. After everything with Haley and almost losing Jack, he had learned to be a more attentive father. Now, with YN and Elizabeth in his life, it was even more important. Family came first—always.
“Excuse me,” Aaron said, standing and moving to a secluded area.
“Is everything okay?”
“Yeah, sorry. Lizzie wanted to hear your voice. I tried to tell her you were busy, but she threw a fit until I finally gave in,” YN said, handing the phone to their daughter.
Aaron listened to Lizzie chatter about her day. He knew he should get back to work, but he couldn’t tear himself away. He had missed the first years of her life—he wasn’t going to miss a single moment now, even while chasing a sadistic psychopath.
YN ended the call after twenty minutes, letting Lizzie know her dad had to “catch the bad guy.” Aaron returned to his team.
“Everything okay?” Dave asked. Aaron nodded, slipping back into unit chief mode.
“So Cindi had two stalkers?” Derek blurted.
“No. Only one. Ford fits the profile better than Hitchens,” Dave said.
“Ford had multiple assault and harassment charges—all filed by ex-girlfriends and women he met randomly. Garcia found credit card purchases for black-and-white photographic equipment.”
“So this guy killed Hitchens and planted the photos to throw off your investigation,” Emily pointed out.
“Hotch, I want to bring this guy in and question him personally,” Derek said.
“Garcia just sent his address. Morgan,” Aaron stepped closer to Derek, “have you told your aunt about any of this?”
Derek exhaled. “She… yeah.”
“We need to know how Ford found Cindi. You ask her,” Aaron instructed.
“That’s it?” Derek asked.
“That’s it,” Aaron said, walking away.
The team stood with a group of police officers, reviewing Malcolm Ford’s profile.
“After eight years in captivity, we believe Cindi Burns’ ego has been shattered,” Emily explained. “As a result, he could give her a degree of freedom and trust she would stay with him.”
“Which is why it’s going to be very difficult to get Cindi away. We believe she’s suffering an extreme form of Stockholm syndrome,” Aaron added.
The team discussed Malcolm’s methods—how he got Cindi to believe in “the company.”
“What’s the company?”
“It’s a sadomasochistic role-play scenario,” Spencer explained. “A cabal of men tells their submissives they can be traded at will. If they displease their master or try to escape, the company will kill them and their families.”
“The voluntary submissives understand it’s fantasy, but Ford got Cindi to believe it’s real,” Aaron said.
“How?”
“Documentation we found informs our profile and will guide the manhunt—it might indicate where Ford is now,” Spencer said.
“The language speaks of an underground network, meaning he has a few men he trusts,” JJ added.
“So what started as an S&M game could now be a ring,” Dave concluded.
Aaron walked over to Dave, both staring into the one-way glass. Malcolm Ford was inside the interrogation room.
“He hasn’t asked for a lawyer yet. He’s baiting us. We need a strategy to throw him off,” Dave said.
“He’s expecting Morgan.”
Emily and JJ entered the room, chatting lightly.
“So then I get home and, of course, he’s still up past his bedtime,” JJ said.
“Reminds me why I’m not married,” Emily laughed.
“Neither am I, technically,” JJ added. They both chuckled.
Malcolm tried to interrupt, but JJ playfully dismissed him.
After light conversation, they shifted to the investigation.
“Mal, you want to confess now or just go straight to prison?” Emily asked.
“I had a disagreement with my wife in that store,” Malcolm said casually.
“Whoa—wife?”
“Yes. About John Hitchens. His suicide looks more like a murder. The gun traces back to you,” Emily stated.
Malcolm remained silent. Emily and JJ exchanged amused glances.
“Okay… let’s talk to this wife,” JJ said, standing—but Malcolm stopped them.
“You’re here because of Cindi,” he said.
“Caught us,” Emily replied, smiling. They sat back down.
“You hang yourself with your own tongue—so please, keep talking,” JJ said.
“What are you doing here, with a baby at home being raised by a man you’re not married to?” Malcolm scoffed.
“It’s work. But we make it work. Where’s Cindi?” JJ asked.
The interrogation yielded nothing. Later, they learned Cindi had bailed Malcolm out. He had her wrapped around his finger.
The six agents regrouped, trying to figure out what they missed.
“We need to rethink the profile. This isn’t Stockholm,” Dave said.
“Could be battered wife syndrome,” someone suggested.
“No, it’s not,” Derek countered.
“Morgan, the way they hugged—she genuinely loves him,” JJ observed.
“That’s not the woman I know,” Derek insisted.
“Then what is it? Why would she behave this way?” Dave asked.
“She said she needed to cook dinner for him. That’s what you cook for your husband?” Derek asked, holding up Spaghetti-Os as a point.
“No,” JJ said, shaking her head.
“Exactly. When I was growing up, this is what Cindi and I ate. Hotch, what did your mom make for breakfast?”
“Oatmeal and orange juice,” Aaron said.
“And you make the same for Lizzie and Jack?” Derek asked.
Aaron nodded.
“She might have been cooking, but not for Malcolm Ford,” Derek concluded.
“You think they have a child?” Emily asked.
“Yes,” Derek said.
“No evidence of one in the home or their lives,” Spencer noted.
“Unless Ford keeps the child to control her. That fits the profile,” JJ added.
“It’s a stretch,” Dave said.
“It’s the only theory that explains her behavior,” Derek said.
“All right, Morgan. Prove it,” Aaron ordered.
Derek did. After talking to Malcolm and Cindi’s lawyer, the team learned where the child was located. Agents and police gathered and drove to the cabin.
Malcolm Ford was arrested. Cindi Burns was free. That night, the FBI agents boarded the jet, finally ready to go home and relax.
When Aaron arrives home, he immediately slips into bed beside YN. She turns toward him, a tired but genuine smile on her face.
“Hey,” she murmurs.
Aaron brushes a soft kiss across her forehead, holding her close. She buries her face in his chest, listening to his steady heartbeat.
His mind drifts back to the case. He can’t fathom anyone doing to YN what Malcolm did to Cindi. It was dark, inhuman, evil.
Aaron loved YN more than anything. She, Jack, and Elizabeth were his world. If anyone hurt them, he would be lost. He had already lost Haley once, and he vowed never again to let anyone harm the people he loved.
YN lifts her head slightly, concern knitting her brows. “You okay?” she whispers.
Aaron exhales, running a hand over her back. “Yeah… just—this case was heavy.”
“I bet it wasn’t easy for you,” she says softly.
“Me?”
“Yeah. Your team is your family, Aaron. When someone hurts the people you love—or the people they love—you feel it harder and focus more than others.”
He knows she’s right. Everything she said is true. He hates seeing the people he loves hurt. If he could, he’d wrap them in bubble wrap and shield them from danger—especially YN, Jack, and Lizzie.
Aaron presses a small smile to her temple, planting another gentle kiss atop her head.
“How’s Derek?” she whispers.
“He’s good. Staying with his family for a little while,” he answers.
“That’s good. You all deserve a break. You work too hard, catching evil every day.”
“Possibly… but hopefully we won’t have another case for a bit. I was thinking the four of us could finally go to the museum Lizzie’s been yapping about,” he says with a small smirk.
“That sounds fun… I’d like that,” she murmurs, too tired to lift more than a soft smile.
“Me too, honey. Now get some sleep, yeah?” he whispers, brushing his lips over hers gently. She hums softly, too weary to argue.
“Goodnight, Aar,” she whispers.
“Goodnight, YN,” he replies, holding her a little tighter as sleep begins to claim them both.
alright so i have been working on this since i wrote the last chapter and its just been sitting in the drafts since.
i apologize for the delay. hopefully you all still enjoyed it.
episode 20 was obviously one of my favorite episodes. i wanted nothing but to see jj and emily punch malcolm in the face when they caught him.
Eddie groans as he feels someone tugging on his hair. He tries to keep his eyes closed, hoping it’s all in his head.
“Daddy?!”
Eddie opens his eyes and sees his only son. Big brown eyes stare right back into his.
“What’s wrong, peanut?”
Aster sniffles. “Bad dream, Daddy. Sleep with you and Mommy?”
Eddie can never say no to his kids. He lifts his baby boy up and places him between himself and YN. Aster cuddles up to his father.
“Wanna talk about it, peanut?” Eddie asks softly.
The little boy shakes his head, puts his thumb in his mouth, and quickly drifts off. Eddie and YN are trying to help him break the habit, but he just looks so innocent and adorable that they’d probably let him get away with murder.
Eddie kisses the top of his son’s head and slowly falls back asleep.
When the sun rises, the house turns chaotic. Every morning follows the same routine. The oldest kids come barging into their parents' room, waking both Eddie and YN, begging for breakfast—while the youngest ones start wailing, most likely hungry too.
When Eddie isn’t home, YN gets help from Wayne and her dad—or Eleven, depending on whether she has school. But when Eddie is home, he takes charge of the older kids and makes breakfast, while YN handles the newborns, breastfeeding in the privacy of their room.
“Daddy! Daddy! Daddy! Are we having cakes?!” Jasmine screams at the top of her lungs.
She’s got Eddie’s personality through and through—loud, adventurous, and playful. She may have inherited her mom’s looks—though YN swears she’s Eddie’s twin—but she’s just as playful and unapologetic as her father. The neighbors might complain, but Eddie couldn’t care less.
If his baby girl wants to be loud and obnoxious, then dammit, he’s gonna let her be!
“Yes, baby!”
Jasmine cheers. Pancakes are her favorite because she believes it’s actually cake. Neither Eddie nor YN corrects her—if it gets her to eat them, it’s a win.
Eddie chuckles at his daughter and soon hears babbling. He turns to spot YN holding the twins.
They’re six months old today. Eddie had made a joke about them going off to college the other night, and YN had burst into tears. Eddie had to comfort her and hold back his laughter.
“How are my favorite twins?” Eddie asks, kissing the tops of their heads.
Poppy and Azalea babble happily. Eddie grins and goes back to cooking.
Once breakfast is ready, he sets the table, and together he and YN make plates for the kids. YN sets the twins in their bin, and the whole family sits down to eat together.
On weekends, Eddie and YN usually take the kids to the park. Their oldest two are used to going out and playing thanks to preschool and kindergarten.
Eddie chases Jasmine across the grass while YN sits with the younger kids, keeping an eye on the rest.
Aster plays in the sandbox. Lunaria and Lily play nearby with toys. The twins babble from their stroller.
“Mama! Daddy caught me!” Jasmine shouts.
“He did?!” YN gasps playfully.
Eddie laughs and walks over to them. Jasmine climbs into YN’s lap and kisses her cheek. She’s always been affectionate, and both Eddie and YN melt every time.
“You tired, baby?” YN asks, running her fingers through Jasmine’s hair—she definitely got Eddie’s curls.
“No,” Jasmine replies—but she yawns right after.
“We need to head home anyway, sweetheart. Uncle Stevie and Uncle Dusty are coming over!”
Jasmine lights up. She loves her uncles—especially because they always bring treats.
“Really?!”
“Yep! So let’s grab your brother and get going, yeah?”
“Yeah, Mommy! Aster! Uncle Dusty and Stevie are coming! Gotta go home!” she yells to her brother.
YN and Eddie laugh at her excitement.
“K,” Aster replies, walking over. Eddie grabs his hand, then lifts him into his arms.
“What we havin’, Daddy?” Aster asks, always curious about dinner.
“Don’t know, ask Mama!”
Aster turns to YN. “Hmm, I’m thinking spaghetti and meatballs!”
“Yum, Mommy. Love spesgettie,” he says.
“I know you do, baby. Come on, let’s get you all in your car seats.”
Back at home, YN starts on dinner while Eddie heads outside to take a business call. Now that the twins are here, he’s shifting focus back to the band.
YN is excited for what’s coming with Corroded Coffin—especially the money that’s starting to roll in. With six kids, they have to make it work.
Eddie still earns from the band occasionally, but Corroded Coffin hasn’t quite hit “big money” yet. Y/N also earns from her agency and gets paid for Instagram posts, but again—it’s not much.
They’re still living in a three-bedroom trailer, dreaming of a bigger house where their kids don’t have to share rooms.
And Eddie wants YN to have her dream wedding—the white princess dress, flowers everywhere, all their loved ones gathered. Her perfect day.
YN tells him over and over that none of that matters. She always says she’d marry him next to a dumpster if it meant spending forever together. But Eddie wants her—and their kids—to have everything.
YN knows why. It’s how he was raised—before Wayne stepped in.
Little Eddie had suffered. An abusive father, a mother who left him behind… he refuses to let his family feel the way he once did. He’s determined to show them how deeply they’re loved.
And YN constantly reminds him—he’s nothing like his father. Their babies are cherished beyond measure.
When Eddie walks back inside, Steve and Dustin are right behind him.
“Uncle Stevie!” Aster is the first to spot them.
“Aster! How’s my favorite little dude doing?!” Steve scoops him up.
“Had a bad dream, Uncle Stevie,” he pouts.
Steve frowns. “Oh no! What happened?”
Aster shakes his head and rests against Steve’s shoulder. He doesn’t want to talk—he just wants cuddles. Steve happily obliges.
“Daddy! Uncle Dusty gave me candy!” Jasmine calls out.
Eddie glares at Dustin. “Did he now?”
Dustin grins cheekily. “Can Daddy see?”
Jasmine shows him the small handful of candy. Eddie takes them gently and kisses her forehead.
“You know the rules, baby.”
“Mhm! Din first, then candy!”
Eddie hums. “Good girl. Dinner’s almost ready. Why don’t we all go wash up, yeah?”
“’Kay!”
Steve, Eddie, and Dustin help the kids wash their hands while YN sets the table. Soon, everyone gathers for dinner.
Afterward, Eddie and YN tuck the kids into bed while Steve and Dustin wait patiently in the living room.
When Eddie returns, he heads to the fridge, grabs two beers and a soda. He hands a beer to Steve, the soda to Dustin, and flops onto the couch, switching on the TV.
YN enters and curls up beside him. Eddie drapes an arm along the back of the couch as she leans into him.
“So, when’s the next big gig, man?” Steve asks.
“Next Tuesday. We’re headed to New York City.”
“Dude—the Big Apple? You’re really making it, huh?”
Eddie hums, sipping his beer. YN smiles at him with pride.
“Before you know it, Corroded Coffin will be selling out shows worldwide,” she says.
Eddie laughs. “Let’s not get ahead of ourselves, baby.”
“You kiddin’, Eds? You’re gonna be a legend. Top of the world, dude! Bigger than Metallica!” Dustin chimes in.
“Okay, Dust, now you’re really getting ahead of yourself,” Eddie says with a smirk.
Dustin shakes his head. “Nah, Eds. You’re a star.”
Eddie smiles. Deep down, he knows the band is on the rise. Sooner or later, they’ll have millions of streams, packed shows, and people lining up for merch and CDs. He’s ready for the full 180.
And everyone else in this godforsaken town can kiss his ass.
They doubted him from day one. Said he’d grow up to be a criminal—he became a good man. Said no one would ever love him—YN, the smartest and most beautiful woman he knows, fell for him. Said he’d be a deadbeat like his dad—he’s a devoted father who would die for his kids. And the worst? They said he’d never amount to anything more than trailer trash.
Well, now he’s signed to one of the biggest names in rock history.
Eddie Munson keeps proving every single one of them wrong.
“When you make it big, Eddie, you better not forget us,” Steve teases.
“Oh, Harrington,” Eddie smirks. “How could I ever forget Mister Hair himself?”
The next morning, the house is buzzing with its usual chaos. Breakfast dishes are stacked in the sink, cartoons play softly on the TV, and the twins babble from their play bin. Eddie stretches out on the floor with the kids while YN tidies up.
Lily crawls into his lap, giggling as Eddie blows a raspberry on her cheek. He grins proudly—right before she grabs a fistful of his curls.
“Ouch! Holy shit! You got the heaviest grip on ya, kid!” Eddie curses, wincing.
He’s gotten used to his kids pulling on his head over the years. Hopper keeps telling him to cut the damn thing, but Eddie tells him his hair is off-limits! Though YN loves his wild, curly hair, she thinks he should cut it as well.
It’s become a huge problem with their babies. She just doesn’t want one of them to yank too hard and pull his hair out.
“I think you should cu—”
“Don’t say it, YN! My hair is off-limits.”
YN chuckles at Eddie’s antics. He’s being very silly about his hair. It’s not like it won’t grow back. But there’s no reasoning with the man.
Eddie sets his daughter down into the playpen. YN wraps her arms around Eddie’s neck. She stands on her tiptoes before gently kissing him.
“Come on, baby! I think you’ll look absolutely sexy.”
Eddie groans. “Don’t try to seduce me into cutting my hair, YN. That’s a low blow.”
“I wouldn’t be able to keep my hands off of you, rockstar!” She kisses his cheeks next. “You’d look absolutely ravishing. Want you all day, all night, from the bed to the kitchen floor, hmm?”
Eddie shakes his head. She knows she’s close to convincing him. Just gotta get a little push.
“Just think, baby, I might even let you do that thing you’ve been asking for the longest.” She bites her bottom lip.
Eddie stares at her with wide eyes. “That’s low, baby.” He sighs “Even for you.”
“What do you say, Mister Munson? Gonna cut off that mane of yours?”
Eddie groans. “Fine! But it’ll take away my rockstar image!”
YN rolls her eyes. “Eds, you’re a rockstar no matter what hairstyle you’re rocking because you’re Eddie fucking Munson, yeah?! Born to be a rockstar, baby. Plus, it’ll grow back. And it’ll be healthier because we’ll take better care of it!”
Eddie sighs. He knows she’s making great points. He gently kisses her before smirking. “You’d really let me, you know?”
YN makes a face. Eddie gives her a pleading look. “Only once! Just to try it out.”
“And if you like it?” Eddie whispers in her ear.
“Then I’ll let you do it more, baby.”
Eddie groans at the thought.
Eddie’s leg shakes as he waits for the barber. He’s still hesitant about cutting his hair. It isn’t just hair to him. He’s been growing it since the moment he got away from his father. To Eddie, growing it meant shedding all the memories of the man who hurt him most. He knows he’s more than just his hair, but still—it feels like losing a piece of himself.
He also knows in the end it’ll stop his kids from pulling it, and he can start fresh, take better care of it. He just hates that all the growth will be gone.
“Oh, calm down, boy! It’ll grow back faster than you think!” Jim claps his future son-in-law on the shoulder.
“Munson, you’re up next!”
Eddie stands and sits in the chair. He closes his eyes as the barber gets everything ready.
The first snip of the scissors makes his stomach drop. He peeks through one eye and groans as locks of curls fall. The barber continues cutting until finally finishing up.
“That wasn’t so bad, was it?” Jim teases.
The barber hands Eddie the biggest chop of his curls. Eddie groans, staring at the hair in his hands.
“This is gonna take some getting used to,” he mutters.
“You look good! I think you should keep it this way, son!” Jim says.
Eddie looks at him like he’s grown two heads. “Over my dead body!”
“Let’s get you home, crybaby.” Jim shakes his head, pays the fee, and drives them back to the house.
“Oh, look at how handsome Daddy looks!” YN beams, pointing to Eddie as he walks into the house, Jim right behind him.
“Daddy!”
“What happened to your hair, Daddy?” Aster asks.
“The haircut fairy came and took it.”
“Haircut fairy?”
“Mhm!”
“Did she give you a dollar like the tooth fairy?” Jasmine asks.
Eddie pulls two dollars from his wallet. “She gave me two! Told me to give them to my big boy and girl.” He hands them each a dollar.
“Yay! Put it in my piggy bank!” Jasmine squeals, running to her room. Aster follows right behind her.
“How was he, Dad?” YN asks.
“Cried like a baby,” Jim chuckles, kissing the top of his daughter’s head. Eddie scoffs.
“As if,” he mutters.
YN laughs. “How’s El?”
Jim sighs. “She’s having a hard time in school. Kids are picking on her.”
YN frowns. “What kids?”
“I think it’s Jason Carver’s little brother.”
Eddie groans. “Of course the little dipshit’s brother is an asshole too! The whole Carver family’s full of asshats.”
Jim hums in agreement. “Apparently they’re telling her she’s an unwanted orphan. Saying I only adopted her—and you—because I felt bad, not because I actually care and love you two like my own.”
“The fuck?!” Eddie blurts.
“Yeah. And I don’t even want to repeat what they’re saying about you, darling. Kids can be cruel.”
“Steve and I can take care of this!” Eddie says firmly.
YN shakes her head. “Gonna threaten a couple of kids, Eddie? Come on.”
“Baby, they’re seniors in high school! Plus, El is family. I’d be damned if another fucking Carver threatens my family.”
“Forget it, Eddie! We have kids to think about. Dad will handle it. Right?”
“Damn straight, darling. They messed with the chief of police. No one’s getting away with hurting my babies.”
YN smiles. “If she needs to talk, tell her I’m not too far. She can visit her big sister anytime.”
Jim hums, kissing her forehead once more before saying goodbye to his grandkids and heading out.
“I’m sorry, babe. I just lose it when people mess with anyone I love.” Eddie pulls YN tightly into his arms.
“I know. Just… I don’t need you getting into trouble. Just because my dad is the chief, doesn’t mean he doesn’t answer to people. You could get in real trouble. The kids and I need you.”
Eddie kisses the top of her head. “Promise I’ll be a good boy.” He smirks.
YN playfully pushes him. “You ruined the moment, Eds.”
Eddie chuckles. As YN walks away, he smacks her ass lightly, smirking.
“They’re too busy watching Peppa Pig,” he says when she points to the kids.
YN rolls her eyes but curls up with him on the couch, the two of them cuddling close while their babies giggle and play.
harrystyles you act like i never take you guys out 🙄
corbstyles @harrystyles sorry dad! i needed this. high school is kicking my ass!
harrystyles @corbstyles sucks to be you!
longhairharold payton hair is so long!
ynrry i miss yn. i know she’s on a bit of a cleanse from social media but it’s been a week since she posted. all thanks to #that side of the fandom 🙄
ynylnstylesud @ynrry same! they piss me off not gonna lie. but it’s probably best for her mental health and whatnot. which is why im happy she’s gone. she’s looking out for herself and her family.
ynharry oh my god, i love themmmm
corbstyles
3,674,000 Likes
corbstyles older brother duties while mom and dad enjoy date night!
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stylesfamily corbin!!!! how tall are you exactly?!?!
corbstyles @stylesfamily 6ft even. almost taller than my pops!!
finelineera how old is hayden now?
corbstyles @finelineera he’s about to be eight months in three days.
harrystyles look at my babies. they’re so well behaved!!! can’t wait to come home and cuddle all three of you
corbstyles @harrystyles you’re ruining my bad boy rep
louist91 @corbstyles you have no bad boy rep, nerd!
corbstyles @louist91 and you wonder why @zayn is my favorite uncle!!!
louist91 @corbstyles hey!!
zayn @louist91 @corbstyles 😎
harrystyles
10,900,633 Likes
harrystyles three beautiful kids and one amazing wife has made me the man i am today! also, my daughter is amazing at golf! niall would say it’s because of him but in reality, it’s her old man that’s taught her!!! 
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niallhoran wrong again! she gets it from uncle nialler
louist91 pfttt @niallhoran your golfings got nothing on football!! ⚽️ she will be a star, i promise!
annetwist so glad you found love, baby. even if you were so young. you and yn belong together!
unclejessie my nephew is getting tall. stop growing little dude @corbstyles
corbstyles @unclejessie don’t think i can, uncle jessie
ynhotchner i gave birth to my new best friend four months ago, and it’s been the greatest four months of our lives. 🤍 aaron, jack, and i couldn’t be happier with the newest addition to our growing family. bryson rolen hotchner. our angel.
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ahotchner and what a wonderful four months it’s been. love our bry 🤍
ribadgirls congratulations, mama!
rinews how cute 🥹
dojacat i still can’t believe you’re a whole mom now
derekmorgan his favorite uncle already!
ynrihanna i—congrats, baby! 🥹
acab can’t believe you had a baby with a federal agent.
ynhotchner excuse me? i’m allowed to love, marry, and have children with whoever i choose. who are you to speak on my family? absolutely not.
On the plane ride back to Quantico, Derek keeps staring at Spencer with a knowing smirk.
Spencer does his best to ignore it. Eyes closed. Head resting back. For a few blessed minutes, it almost works—until he feels it. Two sets of eyes burning into him.
He sighs and opens his eyes.
Derek and Emily are both watching him expectantly.
“Yes?” Spencer asks flatly. “May I help you?”
“So,” Derek says, grin widening. “Y/N, huh?”
Spencer frowns. “What about her?”
“You never told us about her.”
“Actually, I did,” Spencer replies. “Multiple times. On many occasions.”
Emily shakes her head. “No, you said you had a friend back home. Someone who was basically family. You never mentioned she was that pretty. So—what’s the story?”
“Story?” Spencer echoes.
“Yeah,” Derek presses. “Is she the one that got away?”
“The lifelong crush who never knew?”
“The right person, wrong time?” Emily adds.
Spencer exhales sharply. “This isn’t some novel. She’s just the only person who truly understood my potential.”
“Oh, come on, Reid,” Derek says. “You can’t tell me there’s nothing there. That hug alone said otherwise.”
Spencer shakes his head. “Nothing. I mean—she means more to me than a friend, sure. But she’s like… she’s like the sister I never had.”
They both wait.
“Y/N was there when my dad left. When my mom got sick. When I skipped grades. When I was bullied. When I got into college. She was there for all of it,” he says quietly. “She’s the only family I have besides my mom. Nothing ever happened between us. It’s strictly platonic.”
Derek leans back. “So you wouldn’t mind if I asked her out, then?”
Spencer smirks. “Go right ahead, Morgan. She’d turn you down so fast it’d hurt. You’re not her type.”
“Oh yeah?” Derek challenges. “And what is her type, pretty boy?”
Spencer pauses, genuinely thinking this time.
“She likes older men,” he says slowly. “Men who take control. Masculine, but soft where it counts. The kind who’ll protect her but still let her live freely. Tough exterior. Secretly nerdy. Loyal. Grounded.”
There’s a beat of silence.
“You just described Hotch,” JJ says casually.
Everyone turns.
Hotch is seated a few rows up, focused on paperwork. He looks up at the sudden attention. “Is everything all right?”
“Yeah,” Derek says quickly. “Just chatting.”
Hotch nods and goes back to work.
“I—” Spencer swallows. “I guess I did.”
The truth settles heavier than he expects.
Hotch is exactly your type.
Spencer knows it. He’s always known it.
And he doesn’t quite know how he feels about that.
You’re his family. The person who protected him when he was small—standing up to bullies, defending him without hesitation. Hotch is family too, in a different way. A protector in his adult life. A steady presence. A man he looks up to, second only to Gideon.
In his mind, the two of you make sense.
Two people who protect others. Two people whose dreams were never fully understood by their families. Two people who have lost more than most.
Maybe that’s why the thought doesn’t hurt as much as it should.
Maybe it even brings him a strange sense of peace.
Maybe Hotch is exactly the kind of man you need—not just romantically, but for stability. For grounding.
And maybe… Spencer could help make that happen.
****
“Welcome back, my lovelies!” Penelope announces brightly. “I got you donuts and freshly made coffee in the break room. Also—Reid, you have a visitor. Said her name was Y/N. She’s pretty.”
She smirks.
Spencer sighs, already knowing exactly who she means. He nods once and makes his way to his desk—only to find you sitting in his chair, spinning it slightly as you examine one of the figurines he keeps neatly lined up.
“I told you I’d meet you at your hotel,” he says.
You glance up, grinning. “I got bored. But Miss Penelope here—who I now adore—showed me her batcave. She has the coolest office.”
Penelope beams. “Thank you, sweet thing!”
You stand and turn to the rest of the team. “So… is it okay if I steal your boy genius for the afternoon?”
Spencer instinctively looks toward Hotch.
“All of you go home,” Hotch says calmly. “Paperwork can wait until morning.”
The team doesn’t argue. Not even a little.
“I’ll be right back,” Spencer says quickly, already jogging after Hotch.
He slips into Hotch’s office and closes the door behind him. Hotch looks up, expression neutral as ever.
“Everything all right?”
“Yes, sir,” Spencer says. “I just—Y/N is new here. She’s thinking about moving permanently. She doesn’t really have anyone besides me, and she’s looking for a job.”
Hotch listens.
“I remembered you mentioned Jessica’s been busy with your ex–father-in-law,” Spencer continues. “You said she barely has time for Jack. You’re looking for a new live-in babysitter and—”
Hotch nods slowly. “How good is she with kids?”
Spencer smiles. “She loves them. She’s CPR certified too. This would really help her—she’d have a place to stay and a job.”
Hotch leans back slightly, thinking.
He’s seen too many cases. Too many parents who trusted the wrong people. But Spencer has known you since childhood—and Spencer’s judgment, when it comes to people, is solid.
“Bring her in,” Hotch says. “I’d like to speak with her.”
Spencer nods eagerly and opens the door, motioning for you.
You blink. “Uh… okay?” You shrug and follow him in, nerves creeping in as Spencer leaves you alone with his boss.
You sit across from Hotch, frown deepening. “Did I do something wrong?”
“No,” Hotch replies. “Spencer mentioned you’re thinking about staying here permanently.”
“Yeah,” you admit. “He’s the only family I really have. My parents… they’re not awful, but they’re not great either. I’d rather be close to someone who actually believes in me.”
Hotch hums quietly. “I understand that. I’m not close to my family either.”
There’s a pause.
“How do you feel about babysitting?” he asks.
You tilt your head. “Babysitting?”
“Spencer says you’re looking for work. I’m looking for a babysitter.”
“Oh,” you brighten immediately. “I love kids. Always have. I used to want to be a teacher. How old is your child?”
“Jack,” Hotch says, a softness entering his voice. “He’s eight. Loves drawing, Legos, and reading. He’s a big Superman fan—but he prefers Batman. Though if you ask him, his favorite superhero is Spider-Man.”
You smile. “I’m sure that’s not true.”
Hotch frowns slightly.
“You fight bad guys for a living,” you say gently. “I’m pretty sure you are his favorite superhero.”
Something unreadable flickers across Hotch’s face—then he smiles. Small, but real.
“I need a live-in babysitter,” he says. “And since you need a job and a place to stay… I’d like to offer you the position.”
Your eyes widen. “Really?!”
“Yes. It would be a huge relief.”
“Yes!” you breathe. “Absolutely. Thank you—thank you so much—”
“It’s Aaron,” he corrects.
You grin. “Thank you so much, Aaron. You won’t regret this.”
Outside, Derek eyes Spencer suspiciously. “What was that about?”
Spencer shrugs casually. “Hotch offering Y/N a job as his live-in babysitter.”
Derek, JJ, and Emily exchange identical smirks.
“You sly little genius,” Derek says.
Spencer pretends not to hear—mentally patting himself on the back as he watches you walk out of Hotch’s office smiling.
