Aaron Hotchner was home while JJ was at work, going over some files on his computer and that were scattered over the table, when his three year old daughter, Annabelle Jareau Hotchner, or AJ Hotchner, came running into the room. JJ was at work. She held up her arms and Hotch closed the file and computer he was looking at before happily picking up his daughter and holding her tightly like a princess, rocking her back and forth. She took one of his hands and began tracing the lines on his palm. He watched her, wondering how he and JJ would ever explain their jobs to the innocent child in his arms. How would he explain that their were bad people in the world and to catch them, Mommy and Daddy had to think bad thoughts and sometimes do bad things like killing the bad guy.
AJ looked up at her daddy. "Where Mommy?" she asked.
"Mommy's at work," he answered, closing his eyes and leaning his head back. She climbed out of his arms and when he opened his eyes she was standing over him, her hands on his shoulders. He smiled up at her and blew her a kiss. She placed her fingers to her lips and then to his nose. He smiled again.
"Mommy's gonna be home late so it's just you and me for dinner… So, what's it gonna be?" he asked.
"Curry," she said happily, jumping up and down.
"Yes," Hotch said, picking up the little girl and walking into the kitchen. "You are the best at making choices, y'know that." Curry or stir-fry was her favourite food and Hotch's specialty.
She clung tightly to her father's neck. He sat her on the counter as he cooked. "Will mommy be on t.v?" she asked.
Hotch shook his head. "Not tonight, princess. She just needed to work on some files." Turning his back on her, he said silently, "I hope."
After placing two plates of curry, he poured some juice into a cup for AJ and some wine into a glass for himself. He ate slowly watching his daughter eat, helping her with chunks of meat. His mind was mainly on her facial features. Everyone they met said she looked just like Hotch but whenever he looked at her, he saw JJ. She had hazel brown eyes and light, almost blonde, brown hair, but she had JJ's soft complexion and large eyes. Everytime he looked at her he couldn't help but think that this was what JJ looked like when she was AJ's age.
The front door opened and JJ soon walked in . AJ jumped from her seat and ran to her mother. "MOMMY!" she yelled, wrapping her arms around her mothers legs.
JJ bent down, tightly wrapping her own arms around her daughter. She looked up at Hotch and the two shared a smile.
She scooped up her daughter. "Something smells good… enough for me?" she asked, as she bent down to kiss Hotch on the cheek.
"Plenty…" He turned and captured her lips. AJ turned and pushed her head into her mothers shoulders, looking away from the kiss. Hotch looked and laughed. JJ carried her daughter into the kitchen and came back out with a plate in her empty hand. Hotch had taken out a glass and poured wine into it. The three sat down and ate their dinner as a family.
As JJ was doing the washing up, Hotch and AJ were sitting in the front room with a deck of cards. He was teaching her how to play 'gin'. When she had finished cleaning she stood in the door way and watched as the cards in front of he small family become straight. She knew AJ was quickly getting the hang of it. "Hey, soon you'll be able to beat uncle Spence at any card game, huh?" The little girl nodded happily, and then yawned.
"I think it's time we all went to bed…" Hotch said.
"Daddy tuck me in," she said, walking over to her dad.
Hotch picked her up and walked her over to JJ so she could give her mother a kiss goodnight. Then he carried her up the stairs, saying things to her and making her laugh.
JJ watched happily before turning back into the kitchen to switch off the lights. As she was passing the mantel piece she stopped and looked at the pictures of her family. There was one of her, Aaron and AJ when she was only a few hours old. Then there was one of JJ and the baby taken outside the house by Hotch. The next was of JJ, Emily, Garcia and AJ on her third birthday. The next one was of AJ and Hotch on the same day. The middle picture was of JJ and Hotch, arms around each other. They were outside in a park with a lake behind them. Hotch was wearing a suit with a black tie. JJ was wearing a white dress. On both their left hand ring-fingers were matching wedding bands. JJ's was underneath a large diamond ring. Both looked so happy.
She ran upstairs and jumped on the bed, on top of Hotch and kissed him on the lips passionately. He ran his fingers through her hair and touched the bare small of her back. She pulled back. "What was that for?" he asked as she climbed off of him and grabbed her pyjamas.
"I missed you today… I just needed you."
When she finally jumped into bed, Hotch wrapped his arms tightly around her. She turned around to him and kissed him quickly. "Please tell me you don't have to go to work tomorrow?" she asked.
"I'm sorry, babe, I have to. Got any plans for your day?"
"I might take Age to the playground… Aaron?"
"Yeah?"
"I love you."
"I love you too, sweetie… I always will."
A/N: This is my sequel. Review to tell me what you think. I hope you've enjoyed my first chapter.
