AN: This drabble was prompted by floating_amoeba who requested "JJ/Hotch, JJ is jealous but can't do anything about it."

Disclaimer: I do not own Criminal Minds and its characters.


The doorbell rings. They are here. She promises Henry she'll be back in a minute, but Iron Man is on, he doesn't even notice her absence.

She opens the door, and there they are. The perfect family. Jack smiles at her, "Aunt JJ!"

"Hey Jack!" She bends down to hug him. "Henry is in the living room watching Iron Man," JJ tells him while helping him out of his coat. The little blond boy runs passed her. He doesn't even say bye to his father.

She rises from her crouched position, and forces a smile, a smile she has perfected over the past few years. Her experience as a former media liaison agent is still useful.

"Hey Hotch, Beth," JJ tries her best to keep the disdain out of her voice.

"Hey Jay, thanks for babysitting Jack again for us," Hotch says.

Us – as if Jack is Beth's too. She hadn't even known Haley, the kind of mother she was. Beth is nothing like her, she can never replace her. But JJ… is it pretentious to think that she could make up, even a tiny bit, for the loss of his mother? Jack always draws pictures for her, and he had requested she make his birthday cake last month.

"It's not a problem, Hotch. You know how well the boys get along. It's always a pleasure to have Jack over with us."

Us – JJ and Henry's little family. A family Jack is part of. A family that would gladly include his father. A whole new "us".

There's an awkward silence following her reply.

"Well, we should get going. We'll pick him up first thing in the morning."

"I hope you two have a great evening," JJ tells them.

"Bye," Hotch.

"Bye," she whispers.

JJ watches them walk back to their car, hand in hand. She feels a pang of jealousy in her chest. She should be the one holding his hand, laughing with him, kissing him. Hotch turns around, and waves goodbye. If only JJ hadn't been afraid to admit how she feels when she had the chance. She could have it all. But it's too late now. Once again, she closes the door on what could have been, and joins the boys in the living room.


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