A/N: Hey all! So, this is my newest JJ/Hotch story. The idea for the story came from Bren Gail. And I thank her very much! Hope you enjoy and let me know what you think!

Disclaimer: I do not own Criminal Minds.

Prologue:

It was a rare day that Tuesday afternoon. The team was actually not on a case; the only thing they had to work on was paperwork and that wasn't very urgent either. So, it seemed like the perfect time to sit and catch up with each other.

Morgan was visiting with Penelope and JJ in her lair. And Reid and Emily were sitting in the break-room having that heart to heart that they'd needed to have ever since she'd gotten back.

At the exact same moment, David Rossi was harassing Aaron Hotchner about his love life, or rather, lack thereof.

"Dave, drop it," Hotch said seriously.

"What?" the slightly older man replied, trying for a look of innocence but failing. "All I asked was who you're dating lately?"

Hotch frowned at his old friend. Never one to talk about his personal life, he especially didn't like to talk about it at work. Dave on the other hand had no such issues.

"And I said drop it, ok?" Hotch said sternly.

Dave frowned back at his friend. "Ok…"

Hotch let out a sigh. "Look, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to bite your head off. I'm not seeing anyone…"

Dave was about to retort that maybe that was why he was so tense lately. But then as he glanced at his friend it seemed he'd lost Hotch's attention completely. His eyes were riveted straight ahead and past Rossi's head. And if he wasn't mistaken that twitch of Hotch's lip was the beginnings of a smile.

Rossi turned in his chair to see what had stolen the man from their current conversation. He wasn't surprised when he found Jennifer Jareau standing there, pretty as a picture in a black, pencil skirt and red, clingy sweater.

"Hi," she said brightly, her smile enveloping them all.

"Hi," Hotch murmured back.

Rossi stared back and forth between the couple. Are you kidding me? he thought. This was so obvious, it screamed romance movie.

"Um… just wanted to make sure we'd see you later," JJ wondered out loud. "For the movie. I'm off to pick up Jack from Jessica's."

"Sure," Hotch answered quickly.

"Good," JJ replied happily.

"And, you're still ok to take Jack to hockey practice in the morning?" Hotch asked unsurely. "Because, if you're not, I—"

"Hotch, its fine," JJ assured.

He gave her a smile that shocked the hell out of Rossi.

"Ok, then I'll see you later. Henry can't wait to show you what he did in school today. He's left me five messages to make sure you come over tonight," JJ let him know, a hint of affection in her voice.

Dave was even further surprised when Hotch chuckled. "I'll be there."

"Ok." JJ nodded, decidedly, and then she noticed that they weren't alone in the room. "Oh, hi Dave."

"Hi," he replied in a daze.

And then she was off.

Ever since Will had up and left his little family Dave had known that Hotch was helping the blonde out. But he hadn't known they were this close.

"Aaron?" Rossi started slowly, almost warily.

"What?" Hotch questioned abruptly.

"You and JJ," he continued. "You aren't… seeing each other, are you?"

Hotch frowned at him. It seemed to take him a moment to realize what he was asking. "What? No… no, we're not… we're just friends…"

His words said no, but the blush on his face said he'd liked to have said otherwise.

"Why not?" he asked the pertinent question.

Hotch looked at him as if he were the most clueless man in the world. "Because… we don't see each other in that way. And besides… we're co-workers, I'm her superior…"

"There's ways around that, you know…" Rossi hinted.

"We're friends, Dave," Hotch finished. "End of story."

Obviously they were friends, but Dave thought the feelings definitely went deeper. You didn't take a co-worker's son to an early am hockey practice if there wasn't more. Your co-worker's son did not want to show you what they did in school that day if there wasn't some sort of deeper connection.

"How's Henry doing?" Rossi asked instead.

The look of complete affection on Hotch's face said it all to Dave. Hotch loved that little boy as much as he loved his own son.

"He's great. You know, I'm helping to teach him how to read," Hotch said in praise. "He's five and he's learning to read quicker than I ever thought a child could learn."

Dave nodded. "That's great," he said, and then added cautiously. "He's not missing Will too much?"

Hotch's face took on a disgusted look. "Will? Why would he?"

"He's his father, Hotch," Dave pointed out. It was clear to him by the expression on Hotch's face that he'd forgotten that fact.

"He's a poor excuse of a father," Hotch grumbled. "No, I think Henry's adjusted pretty well without Will. He's an amazing kid."

Rossi had to wonder how much of that adjustment had to do with the sudden spike of Hotch in his life. It was clear to Rossi that Henry saw Hotch as his new father figure. And this concerned Rossi, especially since the two, JJ and Hotch, weren't even together.

He was about to voice his concern when Hotch's phone suddenly rang.

"It's Jack," Hotch said, as he glanced at the ID. "I've got to take this."

He flipped open the phone before Rossi had the chance to leave. "Hey, buddy," Hotch said affectionately. "Yeah, JJ's on her way to pick you up… I'll be over a bit later… Pizza?... Sure we can have pizza for dinner…"

Rossi shut the door behind him. He stood there shaking his head. Those two needed an intervention, it was clear that they fit perfectly together. He hoped someone braver than him would intervene and dare to incur their potential wraths.

Well that's it for this chapter, just a short introductory one. Hope you enjoyed. And I hope you'll let me know your thoughts. Thanks!