Disclaimer : I, much to my bank accounts disappointment, do not own Criminal Minds.

Okay so I'm trying a prompt challenge…it's my first time, so be nice :-P this is going to be totally Hotch/Jack orientated, so enough from me on with the story……

Prompt: BuffyWeight of the World

Don't Let Me Fail.

They had been here, to this place, a lot. When Jack did well at school or had some 'big' news he needed to tell her, his mom. They had come here his birthday and his own, also hers. they laid flowers and kept it all tidy. Aaron tried to bring him every weekend. But he knew, or least worried, that as Jack grew older, he would question him exactly why and most importantly how his mom had died. Why and how she was killed.

Hotch watched his son at his once wife's graveside, lovingly telling her how Uncle Will had tried to cook him breakfast when Aunt JJ was sleeping in, how Henry had bite his finger and he hadn't bit him back, because he was a big boy and he knew it was wrong. He listened as he told her that his daddy had forgotten to turn the bathtub taps off and had flooded the bathroom.

He smiled as his little boy fondly placed and organized the flowers into the holder.

Today was different for Aaron though, it was the one year anniversary of her death. He couldn't really explain that to Jack though. It wasn't like it was something to celebrate, so he let his son continue with his rant about 'that boy at school' as he sat lovingly watching the most precious person he has in his life, talk to what you used to be the most precious in his.

Then he heard his son say something to his mom that he never expected

"You know mommy, daddy is doing a really great job her, I fink you would be really prouds of him, I knows I am."

He felt the tears stinging his eyes. Well at least his son thought he was doing okay, because he wasn't sure himself if he was, he felt he was leaning to much on Jessica and he felt so guilty of that, but at least his son, so far, wasn't resenting the work he did, but he was still young and he had the whole adolescent phase to get through yet. But right now, right here, his son was proud of him.

When they had left the cemetery and were driving home, Aaron interrupted Jacks ramble.

"Jack did you mean what you said? That you think I'm doing okay?"

"Of course…well you don't quite tell stories like mommy used too, but you cans work on that" Jack told him enthusiastically.

"I'm proud of you as well Jack and I love you so much…if you ever want to tell me anything, anything at all, you have to promise me that you will, okay?"

"Okay daddy, I pwomise…can we gets some ice-cream now?"

"After we grab something to eat, you think you could manage a burger?" he smiled affectionately, while glancing between him and the road in front of him.

"Yeah, cans I have a 'nana milkshake too?!"

"I don't think that will be a problem buddy"

Even with everything that had happened over the past year or so, he knew he was still extremely lucky to have this amazing little boy in his life, he knew he was going to grow up and they would probably have tough times a had, but he just hoped they could stay as close as they were right at this moment. He also hoped he could keep the promise he had made to Haley and teach his son how important love is. No matter how dark the world and the people in it could be.

Aaron glanced up at the clouds and silently prayed 'Please don't let me fail'. Because right now it felt like the weight of the world was on all the promise's he had made over the past two or so years and it was crucial now more than ever, that he kept them. For the sake of the little boy sat next to him.