Disclaimer: Criminal Minds and it's characters do not belong to me, I'm just borrowing them for entertainment purposes.
AN: Okay, so this is a sequel to "Unlikely Union". I'd like to thank RogueStorm84 for her help with the title. Updates will be slow as I really shouldn't even start posting a new story but I wanted this started for Jekkah for her birthday. So Happy Birthday Jekkah - hope you enjoy this chapter as your gift!
Hotch glanced at the clock on the wall and then out at the bullpen. It was five after five on a Thursday evening, and he could see Reid packing his things up to leave with Morgan and Garcia who were standing nearby. As he had hoped, JJ was still working diligently at her desk, most likely waiting for Rossi to leave. Though they were keeping a low profile about it, he knew the two of them were still seeing each other. On one level, Hotch was happy for the two of them though he was still angry at them for hurting Will. If JJ was going to see Rossi she should have been up front about it, not sneaking around the Cajun's back.
Still, what was done, was done and now all Hotch could do was be there for Will as he healed. That was exactly what he had done these last two months as the New Orleans native had picked up the pieces of his shattered life and put them back together. The BAU Unit Chief was hoping that he would continue to be a part of the new arrangement that those pieces were taking. Hotch enjoyed having Will and Henry live with him, though right now he and Will were simply roommates. The relationship he had with the other man was simply friendship though he still hoped to change that when Will had done enough healing that he was ready for another relationship. Until that time, Hotch was happy with their current relationship.
Morgan, Reid and Garcia leaving the bullpen brought Hotch out of his thoughts. If he was going to do this while JJ was alone, he didn't have much time to waste. The task that he had sent the older profiler on would only keep him occupied for so long. Agent Nichols, a former co-worker of his, might be good at stalling people but even he could only stall Rossi for so long.
Retrieving the papers from his desk, Hotch headed out of his office and into the bullpen. Walking up to the blonde's desk unannounced he dropped the papers on an empty spot on the surface. Surprised JJ looked up to see who was there.
"Hi, Hotch," JJ said, her voice taking on the neutral tone that both of them used around each other these days. She glanced back down at the papers on her desk. "What's this?" she asked, noting that there was no folder with the bureau insignia on it, meaning that they most likely weren't work related.
"Custody papers. Will is petitioning for sole custody of Henry."
"What?" JJ said surprised. Will hadn't even mentioned his intentions of filing for custody of Henry to her. Sure their son was with Will most of the time because of the hours she put in at work but that didn't mean she was willing to give up custody of Henry. She hadn't brought the subject of custody though because part of her just assumed that eventually Will would come back to her. "And he doesn't even have the decency to break the news to me himself?"
"I advised him against it."
"Advised him . . . whose side are you on anyway?"
"In this matter, Will's, seeing as I'm his attorney. Any questions or concerns that you have on the matter can be directed to me. We both hope this can be settled with minimum fuss but if you want to contest it, my client is prepared to go to court over this."
JJ stared up at her boss in shock. She hadn't seen this coming and the mother in her was ready to fight for her son.
"If he thinks I'm willing to just be shut out of my son's life, he's got another thing coming."
"No one is trying to shut you out of Henry's life. Visitation arrangements are totally up to negotiation but it would be best for Henry to have some stability in his life."
"And Will thinks he can provide that? He can't even put a roof over our son's head? Everyone knows he is still living with you!"
"Will has a solid position with the D.C. police now that will provide for him and Henry. The hours are set, unlike your own, and he already has daycare arranged for when he is at work. Yes, Will and I are still living together, but we've got a bigger apartment now which he is paying half of the rent and utilities on - something you would be aware of if you actually picked Henry up or dropped him off instead of making Will come to you whenever you do get around to wanting to see Henry."
JJ let her jaw fall open as she stared up at Hotch. She had known Will had found a job but she didn't realize he was with the police department. She had just assumed it was some minimum wage job as he hadn't moved out on his own.
"The two of you plan on living together then?"
Hotch shrugged. "For the foreseeable future, yes. What we have works and we enjoy one another's company. Jack and Henry seem to be happy with the arrangement too, and their happiness is the most important thing to the both of us," he told her, his gaze holding her blue-eyed glare easily. "Read over the papers and let me know what your decision will be. I've got to go. I'll see you tomorrow."
Without waiting for JJ's reply, Hotch turned away and headed for his office. Quickly gathering up some papers and putting them in his briefcase, Hotch was soon leaving the room again and heading for the elevator. It was Will's birthday today, and Hotch was taking Will and the boys out for a surprise birthday dinner. He had let Henry choose the venue, and the four-year-old had chosen a nearby Mexican restaurant that he said his dad always took him to. Given current circumstances, Hotch felt that the four of them celebrating together was more appropriate than him taking Will out, though that was what he really wanted to do.
"Henry's home!" Jack exclaimed the moment that Will and Henry walked through the apartment door. The first grader jumped up from the board game he had been playing with his aunt and rushed over to Henry. Reaching the younger boy, Jack took his hand. "Let's go play."
Will watched with a smile on his face as the two boys headed for the room they shared. Having Jack around was good for Henry, and he was glad that the two kids got along so well together.
"Guess I've been forgotten," Jessica commented, as she started cleaning up the game.
"I'll clean that up," Will told her, looking in her direction.
"You won't get an argument from me," Jessica said, getting to her feet. "I should probably head home. I hear you all have some dinner plans when Aaron gets home."
"Apparently, though I'm being kept in the dark about arrangements."
Jessica smiled, having gotten the whole plan from her nephew that afternoon. "Just have fun," she told him, patting Will on the shoulder as she walked by him. "You're off tomorrow, right?"
"Yes, so I'll pick Jack up from school tomorrow afternoon."
"Great. And if Aaron goes out of town on a case this weekend, just drop both the boys off at my house while you're at work."
Will nodded. He appreciated that fact that Jessica was more than willing to look after Henry for him just like she did Jack. It saved a lot of headaches for him when he had to work outside the operating hours of the day care that he used.
"I'll remember. We both appreciate all the help you give us."
"I love those two boys. The more time I spend with them the happier I am," Jessica replied, as she plucked her jacket off the coat rack near the door. "Later," she said, a slight wave of her hand as she ducked out of the apartment.
Removing his jacket, Will draped it over the back of the easy chair before setting about cleaning up the abandoned game. Once that was done, he headed for his bedroom to get clothes for the night. After showering and putting on a light-blue dress shirt with dark blue jeans, which he figured looked nice without being over done as he wasn't sure where they were going tonight, Will headed for the boys room to get Henry ready.
Henry was dressed in similar fashion to Jack and both boys had their hair combed by the time that Hotch walked into the apartment. "Sorry, I'm cutting it close. Is everyone ready?" he asked.
"I sure hope so. As you won't tell me what you have planned, I had to guess at attire for today."
As he placed his briefcase down on the counter separating the kitchen and living rooms, Hotch glanced in the direction of the two boys, now playing with two of Jack's action figures on the living room floor. Both boys looked handsome in their dress shirts and slacks. He let his gaze drift from Henry and Jack to Will. Hotch's breath caught at the sight of Will in his jeans and dress shirt. He wanted nothing more than to step forward and place a kiss on Will's lip whispering to him just how good he looked, but he held himself back. Now was not the time to be pressuring Will into anything, not with their sons in the same room and the stress of the custody battle looming over them.
"You all look fine," Hotch said, pausing as he noticed a bruise on Will's left cheek. "Though what happened to you?"
Will looked at him quizzically and Hotch gestured to the bruised area. The response didn't come from the Cajun though.
"Daddy got hit with a book at work," Henry piped up, having already asked and received a simplified answer about the bruise.
Hotch cast a glance at Henry before letting his gaze rest back on Will.
Will shrugged his shoulders. "I was in the area when a couple of our beat officers called in for back-up for a domestic that was getting out of hand. While trying to separate the two of them, the wife threw a book at her husband and it hit me instead. It's nothing."
"Mommy always kisses my boo-boos to make them feel better," Henry piped up. "I kissed it already."
"Yes, you did and it did make it feel better."
"Maybe Aaron kissing it will make it feel more better. Mommy said there is no such things as too many kisses."
"Maybe another time, pal," Will told his son, feeling his cheeks grow warm. He glanced at the two boys to keep from having to look at Hotch.
Dismissing the thought of how much he would like to follow Henry's suggestion, Aaron decided instead to excuse himself to change for the dinner. He elected to follow Will's lead and selected a green dress shirt and black jeans. Standing in front of the mirror, he went back and forth between wearing a tie and not wearing one. Finally, he decided he'd rather have it on for the celebration and selected a plain black tie.
"Okay then, everyone set?" Hotch asked, walking back into the living room.
The two boys shouted their affirmative answers as they rushed for the front door. As he headed in that direction to get the boy's jacket down for them, Hotch felt Will's eyes follow him. The gesture gave him hope that perhaps he could soon start showing the younger man exactly how much he cared about him.
It wasn't long before the four of them were leaving the apartment and heading down to Hotch's SUV. Not wanting Will to see the cake and bag of gifts in the back of the vehicle yet, Hotch quickly offered to settle the boys in the vehicle. With a shrug of his shoulders, Will pulled open the passenger side door and climbed in.
Things were going smoothly. Will had expressed his approval of the venue as the little group walked into the restaurant. They were shown to a corner table and while Will took Henry to the little boy's room, a ploy arranged between Hotch and Henry ahead of time, Hotch and Jack slipped back out to the car for the cake and bag of gifts. Hotch had then given the cake to the waiter for him to bring out after they had eaten as had previously been arranged and had returned to the table. When Will and Henry had returned a small pile of gifts were in Will's spot.
"Happy Birthday," Henry and Jack had shouted as Will paused at the sight of the gifts.
The smile that had graced Will's lips had been all the thanks that Hotch had needed. The group had placed their orders, and while the meal was prepared Will had opened his gifts. Hotch had helped both boys select gifts for Will. Henry had chosen to give his Dad a couple of Jazz CD's, which had required Hotch inquiring through JJ about Will's favorite artists. Jack had picked out a rather loud tie, which Will covered his surprise over very well. Hotch wondered if Will would actually ever get up the courage to actually wear it.
The final gift was from Hotch, who watched with anticipation as Will opened the envelope. Pulling out two plane tickets for New Orleans, Will looked up in surprise at the older man.
"I know you haven't been home in awhile and giving everything that's been going on, I thought it would be good for you and Henry to get home for a few days. See your mother and some old friends. The tickets are for next weekend, as I know you're off. I already talked to your boss and he's arranged for you to have Monday off too."
"I don't know what to say," Will said, surprised by the gesture. He hadn't expected anything from Hotch for his birthday, especially not something so expensive.
"Thank-you usually works well."
Will smiled. "Thank-you," he told him. "This is the best gift anyone could have given me."
Hotch nodded. He knew Will needed this time at home after the last couple of months and it would be good for Henry to see his grandmother.
"Just make sure you come back. The apartment will seem empty without you," Hotch told him, trying to break the silence that had fallen over the table.
"I promise," Will said, as the waiter came to the table with their meals.
Once he knew both boys were engrossed in their meals, Will reached his hand out and under the cover of the table, took Hotch's hand in his. He felt Hotch give his hand a slight squeeze as their gazes met, silent words passing between the two of them. Though he knew things would still need to be taken slowly, the simple gesture of holding hands gave Hotch the reassurance he needed that Will wanted their relationship to move from just friendship too. With any luck, tonight would be the first of many birthday celebrations the four of them would have.