{Inspired by two amazing stories: Dextolan's From One Leaky Roof to Another and ficdirectory's What Makes a Family Series.
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Kid Fic: Finding out she couldn't bear children, Haley takes in a foster child without Hotch's permission. She later explains that it's only going to be one child, to two, then three, and then four. Every child has a story, and Hotch and Haley learn how to be foster parents. [WARNINGS: drug abuse, child abuse, violence, cancer, mental illness]
This is a major AU, where all the characters ages are drastically changed in order to fit the story.
Character Ages from Oldest to Youngest:
Emily Prentiss: Age 13
Derek Morgan: Age 10
JJ: Age 7.
Spencer Reid: Age 4.
UPDATE 8/26/18- Penelope Garcia will be added into the sequel of TTC, called TCAL (These Children Are Loved)
Also, for the sake of how the story plays out, Aaron Hotchner and other CM characters are not FBI Agents.
Disclaimer: I don't own Criminal Minds. As pointed out by a reviewer, this is partially inspired by the TV show The Fosters, which I don't own either.
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Her stomach was flat.
Haley Hotchner sighed at her reflection in despair, tears streaming down her face. This was her worst nightmare. She actually wished she was fat, but not in the way most women would dread. She and Aaron had been trying for over two years now, and nothing has happened. The couple had visited several doctors, and they had all said the same thing: Some of these things take more time.
Haley scowled; she always knew doctors were full of shit.
Except for one, and she really wished he had been. Now, she wished this doctor had told her it would take more time. Haley remembered waiting in the clinic with Aaron, looking more nervous and frightened than ever. Haley had taken Aaron's hand and squeezed it...
"Aaron?"
"Yes dear?"
"I love you,"
"I love you too,"
"I'm scared," Aaron squeezed her hand back in reassurance,
It'll be okay, dear." He was trying to be helpful, and she surely appreciated it, but it was no use. She tried not to be so pessimistic about it, but she knew that no good news was about to come.
She was right. The doctor had gotten into a long ramble about a fertility test that she had taken. But she hadn't heard anything else after she heard the word "infertile".
Infertile. That was such an ugly word that was prepared to haunt her forever.
The color had drained from Aaron's face; he swallowed a lump in his throat, which was most likely was a scream wanting to be let out. Haley let out an audible gasp, she felt tears well up in her eyes, but she blinked them away.
"I'm terribly sorry, I'll give you two a minute alone."
And the doctor was about to leave the room, until Haley stopped him,
"No, we're okay," Aaron looked at his wife worriedly, surprised that Haley hadn't burst into tears by now. He doesn't like seeing Haley cry; but she was a very emotional person. He had known that Haley wanted children for as long as he could remember. Back in high school, she told him about her fantasies of having a large family. It was a dream of hers, they'd have Aaron's smile and her hair and eyes, but it'll no longer come true.
Aaron didn't exactly think of these things often; he figured it would happen eventually. That's why he was very appalled when the doctor told them they'd be unable to have children. Aaron was mostly upset that Haley's dream wouldn't come true. He watched as Haley remained emotionless, staring into nothingness. He wanted to hug her, comfort her, and tell her everything would be okay...but he was selfish...he was scared himself.
Haley's back staring into the mirror now, reflecting on how her stomach wouldn't grow with child. She would never be told by anyone that she was glowing, she would never have those weird food cravings, and she would never give birth to Aaron's child, an honor she wished she'd have. She believed she would never be a mother.
Now, she had a burning hatred for those teen pregnancy shows that'd pop up on her TV screen time to time. These girls whining that they don't want a baby. Now, she'd kill to be in their shoes.
She felt a presence behind her while looking in the mirror. She turned around and saw the gorgeous, yet distraught face of Aaron Hotchner, "Honey-" Haley finally broke down into tears, her knees buckling down to the floor. Aaron was at her side right away, bending down to her level. She hid her face in her hands, sobbing uncontrollably, "Aaron...I-I-"
"Shhh...It's okay," he tried to comfort. He held her in his arms, and she latched onto him, not wanting to let go. She threw her arms around his neck, her head leaning on his shoulder while she kept crying,
"Honey, I-I don't understand. How?! Why us?! I can't believe this! What's our next step?!" Aaron's heart was torn at his wife's cries, he knew she was going to break down eventually, and he absolutely dreaded it. He tried to calm her down,
"We'll figure it out, okay? It's okay, Haley-"
"I really wanted a child," Haley's tears were unstoppable, it didn't look like she was going to stop, "It's all my fault, I'm sorry I can't get pregnant-" Aaron pulled back a little bit, trying to be firm,
"Haley, look at me," she does so, her eyes red from all the tears she had gotten out. "It's not your fault, honey. We'll figure this all out. Everything's gonna be okay." Haley's head went back on his shoulder, trying to get out all the tears that she had saved up since the clinic,
"Why u-us?! We-we've been together f-for so long-"
"I don't know, dear. But everything's going to be fine, I promise. We'll figure stuff out, okay?" Haley nodded, always trusting him. She hugged him even tighter as the sobs wracked her body.
"Shhh...shhh..." He had kept repeating over and over, in order to try to soothe her. He stroked her hair lovingly and watched as her sobs and cries turned into quiet whimpers. His eyes were wide with fear and uncertainty. He was glad that Haley couldn't see the silent tears going down his own face. What's our next step?
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A/N: I had forgotten to add an author's note. I'll look into any suggestions you guys have, as this will obviously be a multi-chapter story.
Thanks!