Chapter Two:

Before Jack knew it, he had faced a whole week at school and, although he wasn't quite the same, life was beginning to return to normal. His Aunt Jessica was around a lot, helping his Dad out. He was getting used to living with his Dad again, and he was enjoying it immensely. They would have movie nights and if Jack was missing his mom, Aaron would get out photos of her from when she was younger and tell him stories until he fell asleep. He woke up on Saturday morning in his own bed, the sunlight pouring in through his window. His mother's funeral had been yesterday, and it had been a lovely service. The whole of his Dad's team had been there, and it was really nice to see all of them again, even though he wished it had been under better circumstances. Jess was there with her mom and another girl whom he assumed was her sister. He got out of bed, got dressed and headed into the living room.

His dad was sat at the table with a cup of coffee and his Aunt Jessica was still here. She had been helping them to move from New Jersey to Arlington again. He hoped this is where they would be staying. He didn't know what his Dad was going to do, was he going to stay in the FBI, was he going to leave, where they going to have to move again. He hoped they weren't going to move again. He liked being here, he liked being at home, he liked being with his friends.

"Oh, Jack, I've got Chief Strauss coming round this morning, so I'll need you to be good."

"Sure Dad. Why is Jessie's mom coming here?" he asked

"We need to talk about somethings to do with work in light of what's happened recently."

"Are you going to leave?" he asked

"I don't know. I have to do the right thing for you."

A couple of hours later, Jack and Aaron were working their way through the boxes of Jack's toys. This was definitely the most fun that they had had while sorting out all the boxes.

"Okay Jack, I want you to figure out where you want to put all your toys, okay?" Aaron asked his son.

"Ok Daddy." He replied smiling.

There was a knock at the door.

"All right sweet, boy." Aaron smiled as he went to see who was at the door. He looked through the peep hole and saw Erin Strauss stood outside. He let her in.

"Chief Strauss, I appreciate your coming to me." He said.

"Oh of course, this isn't a time for you to be away from your son." She said, looking at Jack.

"Come in." Aaron said and he shut the door behind her, "Jack, can you say hello to Chief Strauss?

Jack waved and smiled. He recognised her as Jessie's mom although they hadn't spent much time together.

"Hi Jack." She said.

"Hi" Jack replied.

"Have a seat."

Jack watched as his Dad sat down opposite Jessie's mom. She seemed like a nice woman. She had that kind, caring face that Mom's had and she had come all the way out here to make sure that he and his Dad were doing ok. And then something clicked in Jack's brain. Jess only had a mom and he only had a Dad. What if they got together? Then he would have a Dad and a mom and Jess would have Mom and a Dad!

"Dad…" he called across the room.

Aaron looked up, "What is it Jack?" he asked.

"Can I use the phone to call Jess? I want to check something for school next week?"

Aaron smiled, "Sure thing kiddo. Just go in the bedroom ok?"

Jack nodded and climbed down from his chair. He grabbed the phone off the wall and headed into his bedroom. He knew the number for Jessie's house as they called each other often. He dialled the number into the keypad and waited for it to connect.

"Hello?" came Jessica's voice down the end of the phone.

"Jess, it's Jack!" he smiled.

"Oh, hey Jack. How are you?"

"I'm ok." He replied, "Listen, you'll never guess whose at the apartment right now?"

"Who?" she replied.

"Your mom!"

"What?"

Jack filled her in on what was happening at the apartment and the idea he had just had.

"I don't know Jack… your dad has just lost your mom. I don't think he would be up for dating right now."

"But he had split from mom before she died."

"True… okay. Maybe it could work. How are you going to do it?"

"I hadn't thought about that. Maybe we could arrange a play date at the park at the weekend and do it that way?" he asked

"Yeah, sounds good to me!" Jess replied, "Just think… we could be brother and sister!"

"I know! It would be so cool!"

"Jack, I have to go. I'm supposed to have tidied my room before Mom gets home. It Film Night Friday and if I tidy my room, Mom's going to by takeout pizza!"

"Yeah, I'm meant to be sorting out my toys. Talk to your mom about the playdate when she gets back and I'll talk to Dad!"

"Awesome. See you on Monday, Jack!"

"Bye Jessie!"

Next weekend, Jack and Aaron were heading for the park to meet up with Jessie and Erin. Not only had the kids managed to secure a play date but their parents had agreed to take them out for dinner that night.

Jack and Jess ran off to play, all the while keeping an eye on their parents. They seemed to be getting along. Jack's dad was smiling, which Jess told him was a good indicator that things were going well. Aaron and Erin were pleased that Jack and Jess were spending time together and Hotch was pleased to see his son doing so well. There were a couple of nights where Jack would crawl into bed with him and they had finally moved all of his stuff into the apartment. He had his own room and was adjusting well.

Dinner was lovely. To anyone who saw them, they looked like a happy family unit; Mom, Dad and two kids. Jack and Jess couldn't believe how well it had gone.

"You'll ask him when you get home?" asked Jess as they walked to the car.

Jack rubbed his eyes. It had been a long day. He hadn't done this much since his mom died. He nodded, "and you'll ask your mom?"

Jess nodded in reply, "They can't say no, considering how well today has gone!"

"What are you two plotting?" asked Aaron turning round and smiling.

"Nothing!" Jack and Jess said together, trying their best to look innocent.

"C'mon Jess. Time to head home!" said Erin smiling at her daughter.

Jess hugged her friend and left with her mom. Jack climbed into his Dad's car and tried his best to stay awake. They got back to the apartment and Hotch had Jack wash his face and teeth and into his pyjamas. He went into his son's room to tuck him into bed and say goodnight.

"Dad?" asked Jack, as he settled against the pillows.

"Yeah?" he replied smiling.

"Will you marry Ms Strauss?" he asked so innocently and sincerely that Hotch choked on his own saliva. When he had finished coughing, he looked down at his son and saw that he was serious.

"Jack, where would you get an idea like that from?" he asked.

"Well, Ms Strauss was at Mom's funeral, she came over to make sure that you were okay and then today you had fun with her while Jess and I played and you paid for dinner."

Hotch had to smile. "Did you and Jess plan today in the hopes that we would get together."

Jack shrugged, "She has a mom and I don't, I have a dad and she doesn't."

"Jack, Jess has a Dad, he just doesn't live with them." He sighed, "I appreciate you looking out for me, buddy, I really do, but it's just not going to happen."

"Why?" asked Jack.

Aaron sighed again and sat on the edge of Jack's bed. "You have to love someone to marry them. I loved your mom, I loved her from the moment I first saw her. I loved her until the day she died. Erin Strauss is my boss, and while I like her outside of work, I don't love her. It wouldn't work and we wouldn't be happy and that's the important thing. You have to be happy in a relationship."

"Is that why you and Mom separated?" Jack asked.

"It was one of the many reasons." Hotch said. "When you're older and less tired, I'll explain."

Jack smiled, "I'm sorry Dad."

Hotch shook his head, "You have nothing to be sorry for Jack. It was a sweet idea."

"I love you Dad."

"I love you too, buddy, so very much."

He settled Jack down, kissed him on the forehead and switched the light off. He stood in the door and watched him fall asleep for a bit. He then left and went to the lounge. He took out his phone and text Dave saying:

THINK STRAUSS AND I HAVE JUST BEEN SET UP BY OUR KIDS.

To which Dave replied:

YOU SAID NO, RIGHT?

Hotch smiled and sent back:

DON'T WORRY. SHE'S ALL YOURS!

THE END