Hotch went to see Jack at his bed and, after gave him a big goodnight kiss in his forehead, he tucked him in and got out of the room with some blankets and a pillow and headed off to his bedroom.

"Hotch, I really don't want you to sleep on the couch. You need to rest too, I'll take the couch"

"Hey, you are not staying in the couch. Stay here, don't worry"

"Could I ask you a favour?"

Hotch saw that gaze in her face that always drove him crazy, a mix between innocence and mystery. How could he say no to whatever she was about to ask with that gaze? "Whatever you want" He said.

"Stay with me" she requested, and as soon as she was conscious of how daring her words sounded she added "at least until I fall asleep?"

For a second she felt like a little girl, scared and forgotten. She had been without someone to hug for so long, without having someone to entrust her fears. Hotch left the blankets at the end of the bed and took a place beside her, putting his arm around her shoulders making her feel safe and sound even when there were no risk around them at that moment. It was weird asking her boss to stay with her, but in that moment he wasn't SSA Hotchner, in that moment she only could see Aaron holding her.

JJ wanted to thank him, to make him notice how important that was to her but she didn't want to ruin the moment. Hotch could feel the warmth of her hand against his chest and slowly, and without thinking about nothing else than her by his side, his eyes went closed down because of the fatigue.

"Thank you, Aaron" JJ whispered before she fell asleep too.

9:27 am. JJ looked at her watch and then she remembered where she was. It had been an amazing night, even when they did anything else but sleep. The sheets were softly embracing her and when she tried to turn around and get to sleep again she felt a strong arm around her waist. And then she was conscious about the breath at the end of her neck, making her felt a tingle from her neck till the bottom of her abdomen. She smiled.

JJ sat up on the edge of the bed, the bedrrom was a little cool. She remained there, thinking how would be waking up every day beside that hefty man, and she bit her lower lip. Her thoughts were interrupted when a little boy came in into the room, and as soon as he noticed her he opened his eyes surprised.

"Miss JJ!" Damn! JJ thought, she had wanted to leave the house without leaving track but she hadn't had in mind that Hotch had a little boy like her own. Now, how she was supposed to explain to him the situation? JJ felt a rush coming to her face; she didn't want Jack to have the wrong idea about her relationship with his father even when she wanted to change the friendship status...

"Good morning, Jack. How are you?" JJ searched his shoes while trying to recover some inner peace.

"I'm fine" Jack said while watching her and smiling "Would you breakfast with me? I'm so hungry" JJ felt a big relief when she heard no questions about why she was there or something like that. She followed Jack to the door "Why don't you wear this? It's cold out there."

JJ couldn't hide a smile. Little Jack was like his father, a little protective gentleman, took the sweater he was offering to her and then she had the chance to inhale Hotch's scent: fresh and elegant but sweet.

She went out of the room, following Jack until the kitchen where he was already fishing out a mug.

"Want some?" Jack asked as he was reaching for the cereal box.

JJ doubted for a while and then asked "Would you mind if I make Hotcakes?"

Jack opened his eyes as much as he could relish the thought of the Hotcakes just by name. That was heart breaking for her, that boy had been through a lot and even so he was still being so sweet that she couldn't stop loving him as she loved Henry, her own son. How long had been since the last time Jack has eaten Hotcakes? She turned around to see the little boy reaching a yellow bottle from the counter and a smile was on her lips.

"Jack, I think you have mistaken the ingredients to make Hotcakes." Jack didn't understand what his mistake was; he had seen his dad making Hotcakes several times.

"I think you don't know how to make Hot-cakes. Daddy does them with this" he defended himself.

"I'll make especial Hot-cakes for you but I need you to tell me where the secret ingredients are, ok?"

"Are we in a mission, ma'am?" Jack asked

"Yes, we are, Agent Hotchner. The Hotch-cakes Mission is very important. We need to cook the most delicious Hotch-cakes to feed the Hotchner division, so I need you to bring me the ingredients so we can complete successfully this mission. Are you ready Agent Hotchner?"

"Yes mom...ma'am" she got frozen, Jack laughed and then he ran to get the ingredients JJ was asking for. Quickly they got the mix and the first Hotch-cake was about to be ready.

"Mommy used to make us Hotcakes but she never let me help her" he told her while putting more mixture on the pan with her help. JJ felt her heart crushing again at his confession "Each time daddy makes Hotcakes I can feel him sad. Is daddy going to be sad today, miss JJ?"

"No, Jack. He's not going to be sad this time because these are different. Want to know why?" Jack nodded and she came closer to his ear "Because this are Hotch-cakes" Jack smiled widely "Now we have finished successfully the mission, Agent Hotchner, tell me with what you want your Hotch-cakes. We have..." JJ checked the shelves "…nutella, honey, strawberry jam"

"Nutella! My favourite!" JJ smirked, Nutella was her favourite complement as well as Henry's "I like you're here JJ" and after saying that, Jack smeared his Hotch-cake "Miss JJ, Will you come live with us?" her heart stopped, what could she say? Although she wanted that doesn't meant Hotch loved her as she loved him, besides, her divorce wasn't approved yet. She turned to the fridge, got the milk and served it in two glasses and when she put the glasses in the table she saw Hotch. Did he have heard what his son just asked her? He seemed refreshed and relaxed and he was still wearing his PJ pants and a pullover.

"Good morning" he greeted at JJ and then gave to Jack a kiss on his hair "Good morning buddy. Who did those Hot-cakes?" referring at his son's almost non-existent breakfast.

"JJ! And she let me help her"

"Really? You are a chef now?"

"No daddy, I am Agent Hotchner. And we just finished successfully the mission. Want to taste our Hotch-cakes?

"Hotch-cakes?" Hotch asked JJ inquisitive with a funny look. JJ couldn't stop blushing and she averted her eyes from his gaze.

"Yep, JJ named them that way because of us, daddy! We got our own breakfast! It's great, isn't it?" Jack asked happily "these are the best I have ever eaten!"

Hotch jested with Jack with a resentful look, he knew, only by the smell, that those Hotch-cakes would be the best he would taste ever. Jack gave him a dish and JJ served out a pancake. He ate it in three mouthfuls and couldn't help but let scape an approbation sound.

"These are the best, right daddy?"

Hotch stood up and adopted a serious pose.

"Agent Hotchner, Agent Jareau, these are the best Hotch-cakes that I have ever tasted. Mission Accomplished. Well done Agents" Jack smiled so widely for the second time in that morning as Hotch hadn't seen him in a long time, making Hotch himself smile as JJ had never seen him.

Jack went out the kitchen with another Hotch-cake in his dish and went to sit down in front of the TV. Hotch turned to JJ who was still enjoying the Hotchner' smiles until she perceived Hotch was observing her with interest.

"Thank you JJ" it was all Hotch could say but she felt all his love in those words and his gaze. He reached her hand and intertwined her fingerers between his, and the warmth of her smile and the physical contact made them know that they were both in a new home, a home gathered by the Hotch-cakes.