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Hotch observed Morgan from his office. He knew this last case had taken a lot out of the younger man. He'd been forced to relive his past and the nightmare it had been. Deciding that he shouldn't be alone Hotch made up his mind to invite him to have dinner with he, Jack, and Christi. Christi was a result of a one night stand shortly after he and Haley divorced. She was now six and Jack was eight.

"Hey Morgan, what do you say to dinner with the kids and I? I'm sure they'd love to see their Uncle Derek."

"Okay, I guess, I'm ready whenever you are," Derek answered.

"Just let me get a few files then we can head out. If you want we can just take my car and you can get yours tomorrow," Hotch offered.

"Okay, thanks," answered the younger man.

"Don't worry about it," Hotch said as he went back to his office and gathered the files he needed before joining Morgan and leaving the BAU. XXXX

The ride was a silent one until Morgan broke it.

"Hey, Hotch?"

"Yes?"

"Is it okay if I talk to Jack and Christi about what Buford did to me and that if they have someone try anything like that they can tell one of us? I mean I know they probably know that, hell, I know you've told them that, but..." The unit chief held up his hand stopping Morgan's ramblings.

"If you're comfortable telling them what happened that's fine with me. Just remember they are both still very young and I'm not ready to have the birds and the bees talk with them. It's an important subject and they need to know what happened," Hotch concluded.

Derek nods and sighs. They eventually pull up to the apartment complex where the Hotchner's lived. Since Hotch lived on the ground floor both of the kids were sitting in living room window looking out waiting for their father to get home. Once they saw him they got up and ran over to the door and waited for him to get home.

"I bet that's a nice welcome home every time you walk through the door." Derek says with a small smile.

"Yea. They knocked me over the other night."

"Hard to imagine a six and eight year old did that." Derek says with a smirk.

They walk up to the apartment and Hotch opens the door and Jack and Christi run over and jump onto Hotch.

"DADDY!" they shout jumping on him nearly knocking him over.

"Hey kiddos." He said picking Christi up and holding her on his hip.

"Daddy, I got a yellow card today." Jack said.

"Why did you get a yellow card?" Hotch asked the third grader.

"Because I pushed Jimmie. He was picking on Christi, he made her cry."

Hotch sighs and says, "I appreciate that Jack that you were defending your sister but violence isn't the answer next time I want you to get an adult am I understood?"

"Yes daddy."

"And you're going to be punished for two weeks. No video games or TV."

Jack sighs and nods then says, "Yes daddy."

It's then Christi spots her favorite uncle and reaches over to him.

"UNCLE DEREK!" she squeals and giggles reaching over to him from her fathers arms.

Derek smiles and scoops her from her fathers arms. Just holding his niece/goddaughter always made him feel better and reminded him that there still was innocence in the world.

"Hey kiddo, how are you?"

"Good! I got two gold stars today!" she giggles.

"What did you get the stars for?"

"Helping my teacher clean up from art and the mats from story time."

"Being a little handy helper today weren't you kiddo?" he asks.

She smiles and nods.

"What do you guys want for dinner?" Hotch asks as Jessica finishes getting her stuff and leaves.

"Tacos!" both Hotchner children yell giggling.

"That sounds good." Derek said.

"Tacos it is."

"Have you finished your homework kids?" Hotch asks getting everything out for tacos.

"Yes!" Christi giggles.

Jack just looks down.

"Go finish it Jack." Hotch said knowing his sons actions very well.

He nods and goes to his room to finish it.

Derek goes and sits on the couch with Christi snuggled in his side.

Once dinner was completed, eaten and the kids were put to bed Hotch and Derek sat on the couch and put on Cheaper by the Dozen staring Steve Martin. They both needed a good laugh from the most recent case they just had.

"I can never imagine having a dozen kids. I think I would much rather shoot myself then have a dozen kids." Derek says laughing.

"Any kids you have would love you, but I agree, a dozen is a bit much," Hotch replied. XXXX

The movie had just ended and Hotch glanced over and saw that Derek had dozed off on the couch. He could understand why. It had been a tough case for all of them, but most especially for Derek. At that moment, Derek began thrashing in his sleep and crying out. Recognizing the signs of a nightmare, Hotch made his way to the other man and placed his hand on his arm.

"Morgan, wake up, it's okay, it's just a nightmare." The touch of Hotch's hand caused Derek to jerk back and cry out.

"No, please I don't want it," he whimpered. Realizing his mistake, Hotch held his hands up and spoke softly.

"Derek, listen to me. It's Hotch, you're safe. No one can hurt you. Do you understand?" Slowly Hotch's words registered in the younger man's mind and his eyes opened and he started to cry. Moving slowly so he didn't startle him, Hotch settled on the couch and placed a comforting arm around Derek's shoulders. Needing the comfort and glad for who it was coming from, Derek leant into the embrace and cried for all the awful things that had been done to him.

His sobs went on for a few minutes, but finally they eased up and he lifted his head. Staring directly into Hotch's eyes, Derek saw something shift. He wasn't exactly sure what it was until Hotch moved in and kissed him with extreme tenderness. When they pulled back, Derek stared at the older man, he'd never been kissed like that but he definitely wanted to be again especially by Aaron Hotchner.

TBC?