Together Again

A/N: Hey guys, here it is. Another short one-shot tribute to our gone but not forgotten OG Unit Chief Aaron Hotchner. I haven't been keeping up with Criminal Minds as closely as I would have liked to this season but I know the team has been through the ringer and deserves something nice.

They really shouldn't have done it. In all honesty, the whole point of witness protection was to stay anonymous but then again, he could see why they did it. It was Christmas morning, Jack was messing around with his Nintendo Switch while Hotch enjoyed a strong cup of coffee and the book he got for himself. It was nice but like always such moments made him think of the rest of his family. Where they were, what they were doing. He glanced to the side as if he could see them standing there. "Merry Christmas guys."

Just then there was a knock at the door that startled him. Who on Earth would be here on Christmas? Hotch got up, Jack tentatively pausing his game while his father got his weapon. He approached the door cautiously and peered through peephole. "What the - " He swung the door opened to reveal the entire team.

"SURPRISE!"

"What are you doing here?!" he demanded, crossed between shock and awe.

"Came to see you bossman and to see Jack-Jack again," Penelope said while entering, Aaron didn't even think to stop them.

"AUNT PENNY!" Jack cried, running to hug her.

"Are you guys insane?" Hotch shut the door behind them.

"It's debatable," Rossi shrugged. "However, we figured we should give you the news in person."

"What news?"

"Scratch is dead," Reid told him. "Fell off a building attempting to escape us/"

"You're kidding, you got him?" Aaron gaped.

"He's gone so you're technically no longer high priority in the program," Luke added. "Which means we can risk a visit every now and then."

"Or you could just come back," Emily offered.

"Two serial killers are two too much," Hotch shook his head. "I can't, I just can't."

"We get it," Rossi assured him.

"But if that is the case," Garcia proclaimed. "Then you are tolerating us descending at least once a year, perhaps twice, maybe three times. We'll see how it goes."

"Do the words 'witness protection' mean anything to you people?" Aaron rolled his eyes, too happy to be annoyed right then.

"Not really no," Emily denied.

"Not when we've had to be separated for so long," Reid half-smiled.

Hotch really wanted to argue with this but dear god it was good see them again. He'd fight with them later…much later. "You're lucky I love you guys so much."

"We love you too," JJ pecked his cheek.

"Okay everyone, this calls for a group hug. Come on, bring it in, bring it in," Garcia called and began ushering them together. Hotch gratefully wrapped his arms around his family once more, whatever came next, at least they were together again.