A/N: Here's my contribution to the Masquerade Challenge. My chosen pairing is JJ/Rossi and the costume I got assigned is angel. Hope you enjoy!

Disclaimer: Same as always...

Halloween Revelations

1

JJ smoothed her dress and took one last deep breath before she raised her hand to knock on Aaron Hotchner's door. She knew the moment that she'd finally have to tell her team the truth had come, thanks to little Jack Hotchner's idea of a Halloween party. JJ had briefly considered to claim a last minute illness or something along those lines to avoid attending, but then she didn't have the heart to say no Hotchner junior. She felt bad enough that she couldn't bring Henry even though Jack had specifically asked her to do so.

The boy was so excited about having all of his aunts and uncles from the BAU over for a party – an idea he had no doubt cooked up with one certain technical analyst – that none of them was able turn down the invitation. They even agreed to let young Hotchner choose their costumes, and all had to admit that he had them completely wrapped around his little finger.

When he proudly handed them his self-made invitation cards and told them they'd find their required costumes inside, they all were a tiny bit afraid to open their envelope. But judging from the obvious relief on everyone's faces, none of the costumes Jack came up with were too over the top.

Only moments after JJ had knocked the door opened and she found herself face to face with Indiana Jones, aka Aaron Hotchner.

"Hey, JJ. Come in," he greeted her. " Everyone's already waiting for you."

"Sorry, I know I'm late."

"Don't worry about it. Where are Henry and Will?" Hotch wanted to know.

"Ah, well..." JJ started and looked at him hesitantly. "I'd rather only explain it once if you don't mind."

Hotch understood. "Sure."

He stopped her before walking to the living room with her.

"'Hey, if you're not in the mood for a party, it's okay. Jack will understand," he told her gently.

"I'm good, Hotch. Besides, Jack was so excited I couldn't say no. He'll be disappointed enough that I couldn't bring Henry."

"Why didn't you say something sooner that you and Will had problems?"

"Remind me again how long it took for you to tell us about you and Haley separating?" JJ gave back.

"Touché," Hotch smiled. "Come on, let's go to the others."

They entered the Hotchner family room which was fully decorated with various kinds of Halloween items. Garcia had no doubt spent the whole afternoon with the two Hotchners, because there was no way they had come up with all of that by themselves.

"Aunt JJ!" Jack exclaimed the moment JJ appeared in the door-frame. He ran over from where he was standing with Reid and gave her a big hug.

"Wow, you really are an angel!" He said in awe and smiled widely at her, obviously pleased with himself that he had chosen the right costume for her.

JJ glanced around in the room to take a look at the costumes Jack had selected for the others. There was Reid as Willy Wonka, Morgan as the Incredible Hulk, Prentiss as Supergirl and Garcia as Mary Poppins.

And then her gaze dropped to Rossi, dressed up as the most handsome Phantom of the Opera she'd ever seen. Her knees weakened and she was sure her heart skipped a beat, when he turned fully toward her and gave her his most charming smile. If Jack hadn't caught her attention again, she would certainly have started to drool right there in front of him.

"Aunt JJ, where is Henry?" the little boy wanted to know and JJ noticed the questioning looks in the others' faces, demanding to know the very same thing.

She knelt down to Jack's level.

"Well, you know, sweetheart, Henry and his dad are down in New Orleans to visit Henry's grandmother. And they're celebrating Halloween there."

Jack looked a bit disappointed, but his face lit up again when JJ promised him she'd bring Henry over for a play date some other time.

As soon as Jack announced that the party had now officially begun, and ran out to get the cookies from the kitchen, JJ was surrounded by her friends and co-workers.

"Gumdrop, when exactly did you plan on telling us that you and your southern beau have split?" Garcia pouted. "How long has this been going on?"

The others nodded in agreement, waiting for an answer.

"Ah, about three months, give or take," JJ replied sheepishly. "Look, I didn't want to say anything at first, because I thought that maybe we were just going through a tough phase and needed a break for a while."

"Oh buttercup, why didn't you? We all would have been there for you," Garcia went on.

"I know, Garcia, and I really appreciate it."

"Was it because of your job?" Emily asked, remembering one brief conversation with JJ after her return to the BAU.

"Yeah, this and some other things," JJ answered, avoiding to name the specific reasons for their split. She hoped they'd let it go for now, since she didn't really have any desire to go through all the things Will had said and done to her again.

Thankfully, Jack came back with the cookies.

"This conversation is not finished," Emily whispered to her quickly before they all turned their attention back to Jack.

JJ caught Rossi's gaze and he made it clear that he was thinking the same, and she realized that while she may be able to avoid Emily's and Garcia's nagging questions for a while, she would not be so lucky with him. She just hoped he'd give her the evening to prepare for it.